Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3476 to 3500 of 4938 results

3476. The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

The parable has given us a new meaning for talents. At the time of the parable it was a unit of measure for silver or gold. Now we have talent shows, talent searches, talent contests. The beauty pageants that came under attack from feminists for being sexist with their emphasis on bathing suit competitions have tried to shift to the talent of the women. Scholarships are offered as prizes so that talented competitors may continue to develop their talents. Some people still put the emphasis on the monetary ...

3477. Proper 17

Exodus 3:1-22, Jeremiah 15:15-21; 20:7-18, Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:1-8

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Suffering for righteousness' sake. Both Jeremiah and Peter rebelled against the idea of suffering for the sake of the kingdom of God; both of them had to be reprimanded by God and brought back into a state of obedience. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 3:1-15 Moses observes the mysterious burning bush on Mount Horeb and draws closer for an examination. An angelic presence is seen in the fire and then the voice of God calls out to Moses. The voice identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and ...

3478. The Unclean Spirit

Mark 1:21-28

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

This healing story is the first pronouncement story in Cycle B. The pronouncement formula presents a situation, builds to a climax, offers a solution and gives a statement of the issue. In the early church, this format made for easier recall of the story for oral retelling. While healing on the sabbath is mentioned in this miracle, the main issue is authority. In another Cycle B miracle for Epiphany 7, healing the paralytic (Miracle 4), Jesus observes rumblings and questions among the scribes (Mark 2:6) ...

3479. A Road Map to the Kingdom

Mark 10:13-16

Sermon

Thomas Peterson

I hope for each of you that your journey on planet earth has been a good one and will continue to be so. One of the conditions that determines the worth of a journey is its destination. I keep on my shelf an old axiom: No wind blows good to a ship which has no destined harbor. It is true of our lives; if we don’t know where we’re going the starts and stops do not make a difference. Good or bad breaks mean little, for they do not move us along to a destined goal. Life is just one big distraction. We can ...

3480. Remember Me?

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved befew?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ...

3481. Is the Lord Among Us or Not?

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Can the story of an event, which occurred almost three thousand years ago have anything meaningful or significant to say to us in our contemporary, human situation? The exodus of the people of Israel out of enslavement in Egypt happened that long ago. It is a story with which most of us are familiar; our lesson is a part of that story. In the lesson we find the people of Israel somewhere in the desert wilderness of the Negev, or Sinai area of the southern part of Israel, on their journey toward the ...

3482. Lent 2

Genesis 12:1-8, Psalm 105:1-45, Matthew 17:1-13, John 3:1-21; 4:5-42, Romans 4:1-25

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE Lent is structured so that those who keep it will go through devotional exercises designed to bring about conversion of the penitent to the life in Christ. Lent is really the altar (font) call of the church, at which the believers will find forgiveness of their sins and renewal of the gifts God gives in baptism to those who will have him as their God in Jesus Christ. Sunday is seen in the Roman Church, as always, from a sacramental perspective; some pastors in other churches approach Lent ...

3483. Food for Faith

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

Pentecost XI Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to ...

3484. What Is Caesar's and What Is God's?

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Brett Blair

A young lady was soaking up the sun's rays on a Florida beach when a little boy in his swimming trunks, carrying a towel, came up to her and asked her, "Do you believe in God?" She was surprised by the question but she replied, "Why, yes, I do." Then he asked her: "Do you go to church every Sunday?" Again, her answer was "Yes!" He then asked: "Do you read your Bible and pray everyday?" Again she said, "Yes!" By now her curiosity was very much aroused. The little lad sighed with relief and said, "Will you ...

3485. Spin-masters Need Not Apply

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

King Duncan

Anne Watson tells a delightful story about her mother's family from Tennessee. Grandma was a country schoolteacher. Her brother Ed was a country lawyer. Ed was a big man. He stood over six feet in his socks. He didn't look like a smart person. "Why, just to look at Ed," says Watson, "œyou'd feel sorry for the man. You'd think 'Here's a soul to be specially kind to.'" Ed cleaned up on this. He had a little office in a town right on the Arkansas border. He handled all the law for miles around, which wasn't ...

3486. Worriers Or Warriors?

John 14:15-31

Sermon

King Duncan

A commercial airline pilot on one occasion made a particularly bad landing. The wheels of the big jet hit the runway with a jarring thud. Afterward, the airline had a policy, which required that the pilot stand at the door while the passengers exited. He was to give each of them a smile and say, "Thanks for flying with us today." In light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment, but no one seemed annoyed. Finally everyone ...

3487. Trusting the Truth

James 1:1-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Over the last two weeks we've looked at the first chapter of James and discussed the author''s instructions on Triumphing Over Troubles and Tripping Up the Tempter. Today we continue in our examination of the book of James with verses 5-11 in Chapter one--learning how to Track the Truth and Trust it. James bases his instruction on the realization that the average person tends to turn to God as a last resource in trying to discern truth, rather than at the beginning of the process. He writes in verse 5, "If ...

3488. The Discipleship Question: Do You Wish To Go Away?

John 6:60-71

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

John C. Purdy, a staff member of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., has written a challenging book entitled Returning God's Call: The Challenge of Christian Living. In it, Purdy suggests that we need a new metaphor for the Christian life. He points out the inadequacy of the old metaphors such as "a soldier in God's army," "a scholar in the school of Christ," "a traveler a long the Christian way," "a citizen of the commonwealth; "and a member of Christ's body." Each of these metaphors has served us well in the ...

3489. From Russia With Love

Acts 3:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I'm told that they used to tell a story in Russia that Adam and Eve were Russians and they came at that from very logical deduction. They were improperly clothed, they had only one apple between them and everybody was always telling them that they lived in a paradise. Today you can't tell that joke in Russia. No one, not even the most ardent, die hard, hanging on, Communist dreamer. No one would even begin to hint at the possibility that the people in Russia and in the Union of Independent States are ...

3490. Proper 12

Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:16-24, John 6:1-15, 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Samuel 11:1-15 Here is the story of a tragedy of a great man's downfall, of one who committed two crimes both worthy of death. And can it be that one who killed a giant in the strength of the Lord, who by his playing stilled the nerves of a mentally ill king, one who was anointed king by God's prophet, one who could write, "The Lord is my shepherd," one who could offer a most beautiful prayer? David had reached a plateau of success, power and wealth. He lived a life of luxury ...

3491. Bring It On

Hebrews 4:15-16

Sermon

James Merritt

The way Rocky faced the Russian is the way every Christian should face temptation; not because we deal with temptation in our strength, but in His strength, that is, in the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that is true if you believe what Heb. 4:15:16 says about Jesus: "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help ...

3492. When God Speaks

Psalm 29:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

It was a young adult Sunday school party back in the days when I could still be considered a young adult. It was supposed to be a pool party, but as people gathered, it started to rain. As a pastor, I don't like it to rain on people's parties. I always get the blame. “Howard,” people say, “Can't you do something about the weather?" Normally I reply, “I am in sales not management." That day my explanation gave no satisfaction. So in an act of desperation I stepped up on a picnic table, stretched my hands to ...

3493. An Invitation to Tired Souls

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome, on this July 4 weekend. Tomorrow we will be celebrating one of the remarkable documents ever created, the Declaration of Independence. We give God thanks for our freedom. And we pray that in our own small way we will contribute to the coming of the day when all the world’s people will be free. There is a delightful story about an elderly lady who had always wanted to travel abroad. She’d never even been out of the country, so she started the process by getting her passport. She went to the ...

3494. Barren No More

1 Sam 1:1-20–2:11

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord, the incomparable King, vindicates his loyal followers. Understanding the Text The judges’ period was a low point in Israel’s history. God’s people, without effective leadership, hit rock bottom morally, ethically, and spiritually. The final chapters of Judges contain alarming accounts of gang rape, civil war, mass slaughter of entire tribes and cities, and kidnapping. The book ends by declaring, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judg. 21:25). First Samuel ...

3495. Flying High

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

King Duncan

In the backwoods of the Appalachian Mountains, you don’t see too many people hang gliding. But ol’ Zeek decided to save up and get a hang glider. He goes to the highest mountain, and after struggling to the top, he gets ready to take flight. He takes off running and reaches the edge‑‑into the wind he goes! Meanwhile, Maw and Paw Hicks are sittin’ on the porch swing talkin’ bout the good ol’ days when maw spots the biggest bird she had ever seen! “Look at the size of that bird, Paw!” she exclaims. Paw ...

3496. When the Small is Great, and the Great is Small

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Will Willimon

I am at that age when it's tough to see. A decade ago, I was forced to obtain reading glasses. Then, a few years later, came bifocals. Next trifocals. Now, it's contacts. For someone whose vision for more than thirty years was 20/20, it's tough to be reduced to stumbling about in the early morning until my eyes are in. (You parents will know of what I speak.) I have this fear of being caught out on the road, alone in a Days Inn, abandoned, with no contact lenses, no glasses. I'd be lost forever! It's tough ...

3497. Is There Any Seed Left In The Barn?

Haggai 2:19

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

About eight years ago I first considered moving from Los Angeles to northern Indiana, from the city to the country. I'm a city boy, born and bred, and I still love the city, but I thought to be fair to my children they should experience both ways of living. So we loaded up the truck and we moved to a mildly rural place called Dunlap, located halfway between Elkhart and Goshen, Indiana. I say mildly rural because the Concord Mall is only a mile and a half north of us, but we're surrounded by cornfields and ...

3498. Moses's New Job

Exodus 4:18-31

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

September 5, 1982 Comment: It was Labor Day weekend and it was also a time when I found myself involved in a bit of a confrontation with some leaders in my Annual Conference. That led to a strange com-bination. But knowing the story of Moses and realizing that he undertook the mission to free his people, I found myself putting together the few bits of data about Moses' wife in all that and came up with a fictitious correspondence. It was easy to find a reader for the Zipporah part because the church had a ...

3499. Physical Fitness For The Soul

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Erskine White

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. (James 3:10) Americans of all ages are on a physical fitness craze and many people are paying a great deal of attention to their waistlines. They worry endlessly about their weight and want their bodies to be just the right size. If your name is not Michael Jackson, it seems the fastest way to earn a fortune in this country is to write a new diet book. The next-fastest way is to open an aerobic dancing studio or an exercise club. Today I speak about another ...

3500. The Cross And Our Shadows

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

Carl Jech

Many of us grew up singing the hymn "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" with it's memorable line: "I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place ..." This image of "the shadow of the cross" has been used in many different ways by poets and writers. In the hymn, it refers to a place of refuge and rest "from the burning of the noon-tide heat and the burdens of the day." The hymn also refers to the strength-giving character of the cross by comparing it to "the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land." Surely ...

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