Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 326 to 350 of 1967 results

326. The Rabbi's Apprentice

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

In 1797, prominent German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote a poem called “Der Zauberlehrling,” in which an apprentice of a master sorcerer is left alone with chores to do. Invoking magic that he was not yet properly trained to use, the apprentice commanded a bucket and broom to do his work. Because he could not properly control them, everything got quickly out of hand, and chaos ensued. Finally, the master returned and restored order to the mess. Walt Disney famously employed the plot of the poem in ...

327. WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD

Drama

Angela Akers

SUBJECT: Perseverance, aging, appearance CHARACTERS: Great-grandmother, Great-grandson, Mother (of son, granddaughter of great-grandmother) SETTING: At home PROPS: None necessary Great-grandmother: "Well, sweetie, how did you like your bedtime story?" Great-grandson: "It was a good one. Thanks." Great-grandmother: "You''re welcome. Now, go wash that handsome face of yours and brush your teeth, and I''ll tuck you in bed." Great-grandson: "Okay. Are you going to wash your face and brush your ...

328. Dinner Parties With A Difference

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

Religious leaders have had varying attitudes regarding dinner parties. Take John the Baptist, for instance. It is unlikely you would ever have gotten him inside a fine house around a beautiful table of exquisite crystal and china and gourmet food. That rustic, ascetic outdoorsman probably would have thought it a waste of time and money, an unnecessary frill to the essentials of life. Many men today call themselves "meat and potatoes" men. No fancy foods for them. Just the basics. Forget all the fuss and ...

329. Coming Clean

Mark 7:1-23

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting Use the hymn "O For a Heart to Praise My God" for the worshipers' response below. Leader: Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah saying, "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me." Congregation: God, save us from giving mere lip-service! Leader: Children of God, Jesus said, "It is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come." Congregation: Sing "O For a Heart to Praise My God." Prayer God of truth, cut through the camouflage of ...

330. Step Seven - Humiltiy

Mt 23:25-36 · 2 Ti 2:20-26 · Ps 51:1-14

Sermon

John A. Terry

Step seven: "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." Psalm 51 is basic to the biblical foundation of this step. The introduction to this Psalm sets the context for its writing. Nathan, a prophet of God, went to David, the King of Israel, after David's affair with Bathsheba. David had gained fame and power and wealth. David had not only committed adultery with Bathsheba. When he discovered she was pregnant with his child, David sent her husband, Uriah, into battle, had the troops around him pull back ...

331. If Only We Would Do The Obvious ...

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Ann, a new member of our church, gave the outward appearance of having her life all together. Tall and good-looking, she dressed well, was extremely neat, and seemed secure in pursuing an advanced degree after some years of teaching. She immediately became active in the life of the church and was especially gifted in creating excitement in some of the programs. The staff was concerned about overloading her with responsibilities, but her graciousness in accepting them and the efficient manner in which she ...

332. The Upper Room

John 13:1-17, John 13:18-30

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A photo from the internet of Jerusalem "Upper Room." It was the day before the Passover began when Jesus met with his disciples and told them that he had made a reservation for them to celebrate the Passover meal at a guest house in Jerusalem. A guest house was usually an upstairs room that people kept for special friends. Many homes still have a guest room that is kept extra nice for friends who visit from out of town. We don’t know who invited Jesus to use their home on this special occasion, but ...

333. Pontius Pilate - Adamant, But Acquiescent

Luke 22:66--23:25

Sermon

Carl E. Zahrte

Was I there? You surely don’t need to ask me that question, do you? You know very well that I was there. Every week of the year, millions of Christians all over the world speak my name every time they confess their faith. They say in the Creed that Jesus Christ, God’s only son, their Lord, suffered under Pontius Pilate. Yes, I am Pontius Pilate, the man who had the authority of Rome, and the armed might of a trained army, but the man who capitulated to an unruly mob in what some claim was the greatest ...

334. Jesus’ Baptism by John

Matthew 3:1-12, Matthew 3:13-17

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: In introducing John the Baptist and narrating Jesus’ baptism, Matthew announces the restoration of God’s kingdom through Jesus’ own covenant faithfulness for all those who will repent. Understanding the Text Having narrated Jesus’ birth, Matthew fast-forwards to the events leading up to Jesus’ public ministry, including Jesus’ baptism by John (chap. 3). Matthew indicates that John the Baptist’s ministry prepares for that of Jesus (3:3; cf. Isa. 40:3) and also resonates with Jesus’ ministry, as ...

335. Preparation for Ministry

Mark 1:1-8

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The first verse of Mark summarizes the content of the Gospel and functions as its de facto title. The opening word, “Beginning,” recalls the opening word of Genesis (so too the book of Hosea and Gospel of John), implying that in the gospel of Jesus Christ a new creation is at hand. “Beginning” should probably be understood not as the first of several things in a sequence but rather first in terms of “source” or “essence.” Mark’s Gospel thus intends to set forth the essence of God’s redemptive work in Jesus ...

336. A Blind Man Sees

John 9:35-41, John 9:13-34, John 9:1-12

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: Sometimes the blind can see better than those who have sight. Summary: A man, blind from birth, is healed by Jesus but faces opposition from the temple authorities. The man sets them straight and then believes in Jesus. A humorous retelling of the old story. Playing Time: 5 minutes Place: The Holy Land Props: None Costumes: Dog, bird, peasant, Temple official Time: Bible times Cast: Dog -- a clever mutt Disciple -- not as clever as the mutt Bird -- a passerby Jesus -- the leader Man -- needs healing ...

337. Proper 17

James 1:19-27, Song of Songs 2:1-17, Mark 7:1-23

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Purity is an inside job. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 The whole of the Song of Solomon is a love poem. In this passage the bride hears the voice of her lover as he approaches her house, then with desire sees him through the lattice. He joyously announces that the winter rainy season is past and that the earth is in full bloom. He beckons his lover to come and celebrate love and life around them and within them. Old Testament: Deuteronomy 4:1-9 Epistle: James 1:17-27 James ...

338. Suffering Soapsuds

1 Peter 2:20

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Detergent used for washing clothes or dishes and a jar of hot water. Good morning, boys and girls. A few days ago a little boy asked me if I had ever heard of the Dead Sea. When I said yes, he wanted to know what had made it sick and how it died. That is a very interesting question. The Dead Sea is in the Holy Land and it is the lowest spot on earth. In the water there is a lot of salt, just as there is in the ocean, but the water in the Dead Sea has nowhere to go and the Sea just gets saltier and ...

339. Diagnosing “Leprosy”

Lev 13:1-59

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God is associated with life and wholeness. Understanding the Text Leviticus 13–14 continues the section of Leviticus on ceremonial uncleanness (Lev. 11–15). Unclean animals (Lev. 11) and uncleanness due to childbirth (Lev. 12) have been discussed, and discussion of uncleanness due to sexual emissions follows (Lev. 15). The present chapter concentrates on the identification of skin conditions (loosely, “leprosy”) that render a person unclean as well as the identification of similar-looking molds ...

340. Setting Up the Lamps

Num 8:1-26

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Lamps and Levites: Emphasis on the tabernacle continues in this narrative flashback section (7:1–10:10). The community prepares to depart in a kind of promise and fulfillment motif. The concluding note of chapter 7 on the Most Holy Place leads to a comment on the lamps in the sanctuary. 8:1–4 Further revelation comes through Moses to Aaron concerning the lamps and lampstand. These verses refer to the instructions in Exodus 25:31–40 and 37:17–24. The seven lamps are to be set up so they will light the area ...

341. The Setting Apart of the Levites

Numbers 8:5-26

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

342. Seeing A Familiar Friend All Over Again For The First Time

John 13:1-17 · Philippians 2:5-11 · 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

An Examination And Preparation For The Love Feast I'm a native Californian and I'm living in Indiana. I've lived in many different places in the country and one thing I'm impressed by is how each place can become home. There are so many different places to live, with their own customs, foods, and speeds. And they're all good. Recently I went to visit my folks in Silver City. That's a small town about a mile in altitude in the mountains of southwest New Mexico. The pace is slow in this very old part of the ...

343. Feet and Hearts

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

Mary Austin

A generation or two after Jesus’ life, when the gospel writers wrote down all their memories, the writers recalled this night differently. John remembered Jesus washing the disciples’ feet — a sign of being a servant to them, a nudge to help them serve others. Matthew, as well as Mark and Luke, all remembered a meal. Both can be true in the heart sense of true, because they call to mind the same thing — Jesus is saying farewell to the people who have been so close to him and giving them a way to remember ...

344. Slices of Life

Drama

Sarah Walton Miller

Here are some short skits to be used as springboard to discussion. These little "Slices of Life" point up some of our less desirable characteristics. Make up your own questions. IN THE DRESS DEPARTMENT two girls ONE: I can hardly wait to try these dresses on! Hand me the blue lace. TWO: This one? But this one is a size too small. Here - read the tag yourself. ONE: I did already. TWO: Shall I go see if there’s one like it in your size? ONE: There isn’t. I looked already. I’m going to try this one. Maybe it’ ...

345. Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves

1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

This paragraph serves as something of a transition in the argument. On the one hand, it flows naturally out of 4:11–16, with a set of two more imperatives to Timothy (in the second person singular), and the content continues to reflect concern over Timothy’s relationship to the church community, now in very specific ways related to his own youthfulness. This content, on the other hand, also serves as a kind of introduction to what follows: a long section on widows, old and young (vv. 3–16), a section on ...

346. Acres of Diamonds

1 Timothy 6:10

Sermon

Russell Conwell

I am astonished that so many people should care to hear this story over again. Indeed, this lecture has become a study in psychology; it often breaks all rules of oratory, departs from the precepts of rhetoric, and yet remains the most popular of any lecture I have delivered in the fifty-seven years of my public life. I have sometimes studied for a year upon a lecture and made careful research, and then presented the lecture just once -- never delivered it again. I put too much work on it. But this had no ...

347. The Work of An Evangelist

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I was driving down Poplar Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares in Memphis, when I noticed a bumper sticker on the car in front of me. In large letters, it said, “I AM A GENERIC CHRISTIAN.” Well, that got my attention. I never thought about anyone being a generic Christian. I saw that something else was written on the bumper sticker and I wanted to know what it was. I’m afraid I got dangerously close to the rear end of the fellow, so that I would be close enough to read what was there. It said, “Ask me ...

348. A Gratitude Adjustment

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

We've got a little girl living with us, right now. She's a foreign exchange student whose family is originally from South America but she grew up in Arlington. She lives with us now because her parents no longer want her. They brought her to Mary's class one day and when the Christmas holidays came, told Mary to keep her, they didn't want her any more. Talk about cruel. So, Pearl has exchanged her home with one of the students to a home with one of the teachers. But that's OK, Pearl, she's a guinea pig by ...

349. Easter 4

Revelation 7:9-17, Acts 13:13-52, Acts 9:32-43, John 10:22-42

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 9:36-43 Peter's prayer restores life to Dorcas. In this lection, there is no reference to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Though Dorcas had died, fellow-Christians sent for him in Lydda which was 12 miles from where Peter was staying at the time. In this case Peter was a good shepherd in coming at once and by his prayer Dorcas was brought back to life. Dorcas herself was a good shepherd evident in all the clothing she made for the poor. Epistle: Acts 13:15-16, 26-33 Paul preaches the ...

350. Known By Our Love

John 13:31-35

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

Jesus and the apostles were celebrating that last supper together. Because Jesus was aware Judas was going to betray him, the Lord confronted him. It is an especially uncomfortable conversation that Jesus concluded by telling Judas, “Do quickly what you must do” (13:27). After the apostle of betrayal slithered out of the room, Jesus turned his attention to those who remained. After a few preliminary remarks, Jesus delivered one of his more familiar teachings. “I give you a new commandment, that you love ...

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