Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3576 to 3600 of 4976 results

3576. All Your Facilities Intact

Acts 17:16-34, Colossians 1:15-20

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... be described as losing our faculties, the senses that enable us to see that there is more to life than meets the eye. That's what senses do for us. So maybe it is to keep faculties intact that the Incas built temples to the sun, and the Greeks built the Acropolis, and the Christians fashioned their creeds. Creeds are there to keep your faculties intact, so you can see there is more to Jesus than meets the eye. This man, who was just like us, is also "very God of very God," "the first-born of all creation ...

3577. Here We Go Again

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... generation has earthquakes. Every generation has comets. Halley's Comet arrives every seventy-five years, right on schedule, to scare the "apocalypse" out of everybody. It comes in every age. Every age empires will fall. But that doesn't deter them. Why is that? Why do they keep predicting? The answer is important. To be a human being is to expect that life is going to be better than it is now. That is why the most human characteristic is "hope." That is what it means to be human. To be human means to be ...

3578. How about Something Different?

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... going. God's part is up to God. I have nothing to do with that. But my part is to assume that God is already at work, even if I cannot discern it, for God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform. My role is to start out, keep on going, never give up, and see what happens. Donald Streater graduated from Georgetown Law School when he was forty-seven years old. For twenty-three of his forty-seven years he was an alcoholic and a drug addict. At thirteen he had his first drink. At fifteen he smoked ...

3579. How to Be a Blessing

I Peter 3:8-12

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... , that God loves them, and they have great potential, that they can even fail and it doesn't matter because we all make mistakes, because you have it within you. You can tell them this, to do better because you are a child of God, so keep on trying. And the chances are they will keep on trying, and eventually succeed in their life. So you have given a blessing to them when you do that. Or you tell a child that they are unique, there's nobody else just like them, and therefore what they have to offer in this ...

3580. Lord of the Dance

Mark 2:13-22

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... way through the first chapter with back to back stories of Jesus' healings and his exorcisms, casting out demons. Which is there at the beginning to announce that the Messiah has come to defeat the evil powers of this world, the powers that control our lives and keep us from the fullness of life that God intended for each one of us in the creation. So to call Jesus Messiah, according to Mark, means that he is the one who can release you from bondage, whatever holds you back from life. And this story which ...

3581. Serpents and Other Signs

Numbers 21:4-9

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... signs as moorings of hope. The scene is an intensive care unit in a hospital, the patient lying unconscious, in a coma. No one knows what will happen, whether life will be there. The doctor says to the family, "All we can do is wait and see." So the family keeps a vigil around the bed. They look for a sign. They look on the monitors to see a sign. Someone holding the patient's hand, says, "He squeezed my hand. I felt it. He squeezed my hand." That's all that happened. But they rejoice because it's a sign ...

3582. The Source of Self Esteem

Romans 8:14-25

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... people at the top, and a great number of people at the bottom. The rules and the customs of society were designed to keep it that way. So fairy tales were tales told by the people at the bottom as a literature of hope, telling the stories ... pain of growing up. The pain that comes from rejection and failure. The pain that you experience when you want to be somebody, but the world keeps putting you in your place, and saying you're a nobody. Paul wants you to know that the gospel means, that's not right. You ...

3583. They Grow Up Fast

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... up through the crowd, "Jesus, your mother is here." Jesus points to the crowd, to strangers, and says, "Here are my mother and my brothers." It must have broken her heart, hurt her terribly. Poor Mary. You would think, when will she ever learn? Why does she keep doing these things? She keeps doing them because she is a parent, and she behaves like a parent. She knows her son is special. She didn't need angels to tell her that. She also has an image of what her son is going to become, what she wanted him to ...

3584. Uses of the Past

Philippians 3:4b-16

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... to the Philippians because he has received a letter from them. In the letter they ask a number of questions, specifically, "What about these Judaizers?" That's what they called them. "Judaizers" we could designate as conservative Christians, who wanted to keep Christianity the way it was, keep it tied to Judaism. They reasoned that Jesus was the Messiah. The Messiah came for the Jews. Therefore to be a Christian, you had to first become a Jew. Paul disagreed. His whole career had been based on the belief ...

3585. When Saying No Means Yes

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... complained that God was not doing his job. That's what is called, "tempting God." It assumes that God and I are partners in this business. If I keep up my end of the deal, if I do what I am supposed to do, then God, by god, better do his job. And we know what ... during that experience that there was nothing I could do. But that didn't help. I was still distressed. I tried to keep busy. I went through my briefcase, reading everything that was there. I did some correspondence. I watched the Utah Jazz play the ...

3586. The Problem Is Not Faith

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... words in a more contemporary setting, we might imagine paying our light bill. When you send that small fortune off to pay for your utilities, you don’t expect a letter back from the president of the power company saying, “Well, done! You paid on time! Super job! Keep up the good work! We’re proud of you!” No, we pay our bill because that is our responsibility, particularly if we don’t want our lights turned off. Or, when we pay our taxes, we don’t expect a letter from the commissioner of the I.R ...

3587. A Discussion Among Angels

Matthew 24:36-44

Drama

Matthew Powell

... the fierce with the whip of terror! We would stand guard, with weapons drawn, around the innocent, the gentle and the kind, and keep the peace of God with the swords of the angels! Storyteller: As Michael spoke, his hands were lifted to the hilt of his ... passed over them, the fields sparked around him, giving back his radiance. And there were in that country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone ...

3588. Why The Evergreen Trees Never Lose Their Leaves

John 1:1-14

Drama

Matthew Powell

... every leaf that it touched fell from the tree. North Wind: May I touch every leaf in the forest? Narrator: Asked the north wind in its frolic. But God answered, Voice Of God: No. The trees that have been kind to the little bird with the broken wing may keep their leaves all winter long. Narrator: That is why the spruce, the pine, and the juniper are always green, and that is why the evergreen tree is the symbol of kindness and of the birth of a new life at Christmastime. The End Source: There is a version ...

3589. The Burglar's Christmas

Luke 15:22-24

Drama

Matthew Powell

... , but she was not afraid. Mother: Willie, Willie! Is that you? Narrator 2: He struggled to loosen her arms from him, to keep her lips from his cheek. Will: Mother - you mustn't! You don't understand! Oh my God, this is worst thing possible! ... , broad-shouldered man, with iron-gray hair, and a face alert and stern. (Father enters) Mother: James, it is William in there, come home. You must keep him at any cost. If he goes this time, I go with him. Oh, James, be easy with him, he has suffered so. Father: You go ...

3590. In the Darkness of Fear, There Is the Light of Joy

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... shines. Would you be willing to face these fears this morning and in this joyous season of the year? I Let this light of joy shine on you and let it be a surprise. You can do that. Saint Luke tells us there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks. There, they had the surprise of a lifetime. Saint Luke writes, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.” I have been to that place where the shepherds were ...

3591. In the Darkness of Anxiety, There Is the Light of Peace

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... the darkness of anxiety, the light of peace still shines on us. Saint Luke tells us there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks. When the angel of the Lord appeared to them, they were told a Savior had been born in Bethlehem ... the middle of her prayer, I heard our cat come running through the house. It was a bitter, cold night, and we had decided to keep him inside, but here he came, headed for the open front door. I yelled out in the middle of her prayer, “Grab the cat, quick!” ...

3592. Epiphany 2

Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-34

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... personal witnessing to the unchurched. How many members can take witnessing seriously? How many participate in the congregation's evangelism program? The need is to motivate the laity to witness as John the Baptist witnesses to Jesus the Christ. Outline: He who knows it can't keep it, because – a. A Christian knows who Jesus is - vv. 29, 34. b. A Christian knows what Jesus does - v. 33. 2. A Middle Man For Jesus (1:35-41). Need: The purpose of this sermon is to show the congregation that each is needed to ...

3593. Epiphany 6

Matthew 5:17-37, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 3:1-23, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119

Bulletin Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... , Moses calls for a renewal of the Sinai covenant which calls for obedience to the Decalogue (Lesson 1). The prayer refers to our understanding "the things we ought to do." The Psalm promises happiness to those who walk in the Law. Since we do not always keep the Law, the Hymn is a prayer asking for forgiveness. Epiphany Season and Epiphany 6 The Epiphany theme of the manifestation of God's glory in Jesus continues in Epiphany 6. In the Gospel, the glory of God in Jesus is seen in his interpretation of ...

3594. Easter

Acts 10:23b-48, Colossians 3:1-17, John 20:1-9, John 20:10-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... - goodness, truth, love, and peace. PREACHING POSSIBILITIES Preaching Problems On Easter 1. Short-changing the sermon. The sermon may be sacrificed for the celebration of Easter: special music, holy communion, etc. The temptation is to turn the sermon into a brief meditation to keep the service within an hour. Easter should be the one time of the year when the preacher should have the full amount of time to give the Easter message - a declaration of victory and hope. It is the greatest day of the church ...

3595. Easter 2

Acts 2:14-41, 1 Peter 1:1-12, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Preaching During The Easter Season In the new ecumenical lectionary Easter has changed from a Sunday (Easter Day) to a season. Sundays are now called "Sundays Of Easter" rather than "Sundays After Easter." This presents the preacher with certain problems. 1. How can he keep up the interest and activity of his people for the seven weeks of Easter? Easter can be a let-down. Easter 1 is known as "Low Sunday" because of the low attendance contrasted with the crowded Easter Sunday. 2. How can a preacher deal ...

3596. Easter 3

John 20:19-23, Acts 2:14-41, 1 Peter 1:1-12, John 20:24-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Preaching During the Easter Season In the new ecumenical lectionary Easter has changed from a Sunday (Easter Day) to a season. Sundays are now called "Sundays Of Easter" rather than "Sundays After Easter." This presents the preacher with certain problems. 1. How can he keep up the interest and activity of his people for the seven weeks of Easter? Easter can be a let-down. Easter 1 is known as "Low Sunday" because of the low attendance contrasted with the crowded Easter Sunday. 2. How can a preacher deal ...

3597. Easter 6

Acts 17:16-34, 1 Peter 3:8-22, John 14:15-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... and comes to your aid. The disciples are soon to be left alone in the world. Jesus is soon to depart. They face the world with its opposition without their leader. They, like us, will need a helper, a Counselor. Outline: The Spirit will come to help - a. Us to keep the commandments - v. 15. b. Us to know the truth - vv. 17, 20. c. Us to love Christ - v. 21. 3. You Can Have The Spirit (14:15-21). Need: Many church members are not sure they have the Spirit. If they do not, they are interested in knowing how ...

3598. Proper 14

Genesis 37:1-11, Genesis 37:12-36, 1 Kings 19:9-18, Jonah 2:1-10, Romans 9:1-29, Romans 9:30--10:21, Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... love for the sinner, this passion for the non-Christian are the taproots of evangelism. In a time when Christians are prone to seek Jews as Christian converts, this passage of Paul's concern for Jews may be embarrassing. Outline: Why I'd go to hell for you. a. To keep you from going to hell. b. To persuade you that Christ is the Savior. c. To enable you by faith to have an abundant life. 2. Every Reason To Be Christian. 9:4-5. Need: This text reminds us that Jesus, according to the flesh, was a Jew. The ...

3599. Proper 21

Exodus 17:1-7, Ezekiel 18:1-32, Philippians 2:1-11, Philippians 2:12-18, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... ). Need: It is quite self-evident that almost every church needs to be united in harmony and peace. It is an exceptional church that does not have cliques and power structures competing with each other. The average pastor is constantly walking on eggs in trying to keep all parties happy and cooperative. Even Paul had the problem of a split church in Philippi. What can be done to have a united church? Paul writes the prescription. Outline: To have a united church – a. Have the same mind - v. 2. b. Have the ...

3600. Proper 22

Exodus 20:1-21, Isaiah 5:1-7, Philippians 3:1-11, Philippians 3:12-4:1, Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... himself as a Christian of the first order through the mercies of God. Yet, he does not think he has it "made," but keeps striving for complete devotion to Christ by becoming one in the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ. Because he imitates Christ, he is ... a. Not to obey is the sin of omission. b. To do other than what is commanded is the sin of commission. c. To obey is to keep in covenant with God. Old Testament: Isaiah 5:1-7 1. A Sad Love Song. Need: Isaiah sings a love song to God. It is about ...

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