Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3576 to 3600 of 4508 results

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

The Great Commandment: The parable of the wedding feast (vv. 1–14) is regularly considered to be an allegorical revision of an earlier more straightforward parable told by Jesus. Fenton lists as allegorical elements that strike the reader as strange and unnatural the killing of those who brought the invitation (v. 6), the destruction of the guests (v. 7), and the burning of a city while a meal is ...

3577. Don't Mess with the IRS

Sermon

King Duncan

It is a familiar saying, even to non-believers particularly in the King James translation: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” There are only two things which are inevitable goes the old expression, death and taxes. At least death doesn’t increase, someone has opined, every time Congress meets. The Eiffel Tower, someone else has s...

3578. Like Parent, Like Child

Sermon

King Duncan

A little boy was in church one Sunday morning with his grandmother. Everything went well until it was time for the offering. The grandmother began to frantically search through her purse, but she couldn’t find her offering envelope. Apparently she had left it at home. It was a most embarrassing moment for her as she kept looking through her purse for something to put in the collection plate. Her ...

3579. Save The Tokens For Uncle Sam

Sermon

King Duncan

A sportswriter once asked Joe Louis, "Who hit you the hardest during your ring career?" His reply was "Uncle Sam." Oscar Wilde, the master wit, once protested about the taxes on his house. He was told that by living there he used the protection and services of the government even while he slept. Wilde is supposed to have answered, "But I sleep so badly." A prominent citizen of Washington, D. C. ...

3580. God And The Irs

Sermon

King Duncan

This morning I want to talk about God and the IRS. I know that it is a long time until April 15 and I don't want to spread a lot of gloom this morning. Someone has noted,however, that besides being income tax day, April 15 is also the day the Titanic sunk and the day that Lincon was shot. Someone else has said, "You may not agree with every department of the government, but you really have to hand...

3581. The Things That Are God’s

Sermon

Truth is where you find it, and not always where you expect. Remember the old story about a chicken and a pig who wanted to show their gratitude for all the farmer’s care and protection? The chicken decided that, given the limitations placed upon them, the best they could do was to provide the farmer with a delicious ham and eggs breakfast. So the chicken told the pig what she had decided. The pig...

3582. You Figure It Out

Sermon

Several of the recent texts in this series of gospels from Matthew (the lectionary "A" cycle) have focused on collisions between Jesus and the Jewish church power structure, focused in the Pharisees. Today’s text is another in the series. As the movement in Matthew races inevitably to the final showdown and the crucifixion, the confrontations become more pointed, the accusations more shrill. In t...

3583. Proper 24

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 99:1-9 First Lesson - Moses experiences as much of the divine glory as is possible and permissible. Exodus 33:12-23 Second Lesson - Paul gives thanks for the faith of the young church in Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Gospel - In response to a loaded question from his adversaries, Jesus gives a pithy proverb to guide us in dividing our loyalties to God and country. ...

3584. No Trapping God

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship Come before your Lord with no other intent except to praise and worship God! Collect For this precious hour of peace we praise your name. Open our hearts and minds to the comforting - and convicting - words of salvation in your book. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, forgive me for every time I have skeptically bargained with you, not content with the gift of grace but determined ...

3585. Allegiance to Nation and to God

Bulletin Aid

Call to Worship Leader: Allegiance to our nation is God's will; but it must not hinder our allegiance to God. People: And allegiance to God ought not to keep us from being responsible citizens in our nation. Leader: Our nation deserves our loyalty. But every government is finally responsible to God. It cannot claim what belongs to God. People: We thank God for our nation, and pledge our allegiance...

3586. Render Unto God Joy

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Come, all who are followers of the Lord; come into God's Holy Temple. People: We come with gladness and joy, for we have each known God's mercy. Leader: Tell of it boldly, for we have each been lifted from the depths. People: Must we each proclaim it boldly? Is not our presence here enough? Leader: We must shout it out daily, for God's mercy is for all to hear! All: Blessed...

3587. Separation of Church and State

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes The conversation depicted here must be understood in its original setting, in which the distinction between state and religion was blurred in a number of ways, not the least being the claim of the Roman emperor to be divine (and so designated on coins)! Jesus' famous dictum about "rendering," therefore, is a cleverly "safe" way of dealing with a question meant to entrap him, but also ...

3588. Proper 24

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Exodus 33:12-23 (C) Moses seeks the favor and sight of Yahweh. Yahweh is still angry over the golden calf. True to Yahweh's promise, Moses is to lead the people to the Promised Land, but Yahweh says he will not go with them lest his wrathful presence destroy them. To overcome the wrath, the people take off their ornaments to express their repentance and to appease Yahweh. In...

3589. Proper 24

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Separation of church and state Exegetical note The conversation depicted here must be understood in its original setting, in which the distinction between state and religion was blurred in a number of ways, not the least being the claim of the Roman emperor to be divine (and so designated on coins)! Jesus' famous dictum about "rendering," therefore, is a cleverly "safe" way of dealing with...

3590. Proper 24 & Pentecost 22

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE Since this Sunday will fall on the first Sunday in November in 1990 - and it doesn't really matter whether it is celebrated as the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost or All Saints Sunday, or even as one of the Sundays in the annual stewardship campaign in many congregations - the eschatological framework of the church year will be obvious for those who are liturgically informed...

3591. The Question About Paying Taxes

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

Suggestions: Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture readings. Speakers: 1 young woman 1 young man 4 middle-aged and older men Key: 1 = young woman storyteller 2, 3, 4, and 5 = men from oldest to youngest 6 = young man Jesus 1: Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, 2: "Teacher, we know that ...

3592. God And The State

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: How do Christians ethically relate to their government? Summary: They're at it again. They won't give up. The Pharisees are trying to catch Jesus in another trap. This time they think it's fool-proof, the money trap. Will they corner Him and trip Him up on His own words? Very unlikely. Playing Time: 4 minutes Setting: Jerusalem Props: A large coin Costumes: Contemporary, casual Time: ...

3593. Save the Tokens for Uncle Sam

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: A dollar bill Boys and girls: Quick now, I have a dollar bill. (Swish it in front of them.) Who's picture is on the front of it? (If they don't know, let them get a glimpse.) That's right, George Washington's. Once some people wanted to trick Jesus. They ask him whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked for a coin and asked whose picture was on the coin. They answered Cae...

3594. I Belong to God!

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Title to a car; a name label on an article of clothing or a sign designating name and position such as Mr. Jones, Vice President in Charge of Sales Good morning, boys and girls. How are you today? Look what I have here. Do you know what it is? (Hold up car title and let them guess what it means. Try to get them if possible in a few seconds to say that you own it) The title to my car. All ...

3595. Jars of Bad Candy

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A jar full of candy. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have heard the word "hypocrite" spoken by someone? (Let them answer.) It is one of the favorite words for big people. They use it a lot. It is usually someone else they are talking about, but sometimes they use it when they are talking about themselves. It is a big word. Say it with me, hypocrite. One more time, hypocrite....

3596. In Whose Likeness?

Sermon

Chris Ewing

Okay, teacher, you think you're so smart — is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor? Talk about your loaded question! If we're talking about the law of Rome, the law of the imperial government, the law of this part of the world, of course it's legal to pay taxes to the emperor — it's illegal not to! And just in case Jesus was hoping to fudge a bit on the answer, there are among his questioners m...

3597. The Cry Of Freedom

Sermon

Eric Ritz

This past week we celebrated Independence Day. This day is a special time, set aside to celebrate many gifts and opportunities that "Freedom" brings to the American citizen. It celebrates our independence from England and our dependence on God. I remember watching President Carter receive the distinguished Medal of Freedom in Philadelphia. It was an inspiring moment for me to see Jimmy Carter get ...

3598. Caught Between God And Caesar

Sermon

King Duncan

Tony Campolo may be the closest thing we have to a prophet in the church today. Many of you are familiar with him. Tony is a well-known Baptist preacher. And he is a professor of Sociology at Eastern College in St. David's, Pa. Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Tony takes unpopular stands. Anyone else taking the same stands would get run out of the country. But Tony is so fundamentally sound...

3599. Do Politics and Religion Mix?

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

Do Politics And Religion Mix? It was a trap. The Pharisees set it. Jealous that Jesus was gaining a following, they were eager to destroy him, and they'd do it by using his own words against him. So they brought Christ a coin, asking him, "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?" If he said yes, he'd anger the Jews because they were an occupied nation suffering the indignities of the Roman army. If ...

3600. Leave Your Calculator Home

Sermon

King Duncan

Only two things are inevitable, said a wise person long ago, death and taxes. The Eiffel Tower, someone has said, is the Empire State Building after taxes. Another wit asks if we have heard about the new tax payer’s wrist watch? It doesn’t actually tell the time. It just wrings its hands! A burglar, needing money to pay his income taxes, decided to burgle the safe in a store. On the safe door h...

Showing 3576 to 3600 of 4508 results