Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3676 to 3700 of 4957 results

3676. Good News...Really?

Luke 1:46-56

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... have tended to avoid Mary as if she belonged only to the Roman Catholics, and in the process perhaps we have missed the beauty and the power of her place in the sacred story. Jason Byassee reminds us that in Mary, the church makes its radical claim to "Incarnation;" that in fact through her, God has become human flesh, born of a woman, nursed on a mother's knee, diapered and wiped, calmed and encouraged, taught and tutored by Mary. The very ordinariness of Mary proclaims the church's faith in a God ...

3677. FEAR NOT! You've Got To Be Kidding!

Luke 1:26-37

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... world. 3. Mary, don't be afraid, because God keeps his promises. Here is the word of hope for tomorrow, the word which helps us to see beyond the present into God's good future. Faith for a time of fear looks beyond the immediate and the present and claims the assurance of God's kingdom coming, God's promise of a future. Remember the story about the guy who hated his wife's cat? He just hated that cat with a vengeance, but his wife loved the cat. One day, the cat disappeared. His wife was grief-stricken ...

3678. Strong in Faith: A Little Dab'll Do Ya

1 Corinthians 16:13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... lives the Christ-centered, cross-shaped love of God would become a tangible, down-to-earth, flesh-and-blood reality. We would keep Jesus at the center and use all our powers to live in solidarity with him. [2] In a day of diverse theologies and conflicting claims, we boldly place our faith in the living, giving, transforming name of one who gave himself for us. Ask ye what great thing I know, What delights and stirs me so? What the high reward I win, Whose the name I glory in? Jesus Christ, the crucified ...

3679. Joshua: Why These Stones?

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... , "Oh, we Anglicans know how to care for old buildings." But come Sunday, the place was empty! Tell me, what good is taking care of old buildings, piling up old stones, remembering what God has done in the past, if we aren't connecting with people today and claiming the future for Jesus Christ? The stones look back and give thanks, but in the words of Charles Wesley's great hymn, the stones call us to "cross over:" To serve the PRESENT age, our calling to fulfill; Oh, may it all our powers engage to do my ...

3680. The Twenty-Ninth Chapter of Acts

2 Timothy 4:1-22

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... church focused on its central message: God's love made known in Jesus Christ; to hold fast to the bedrock conviction of the Gospel, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; to remember the central claims of the Gospel: Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life." So keep the faith. 3. And Timothy, come before winter. The third request to Timothy is really a poignant appeal. Just come. Come now. Bring my books, my cloak, but just come. I need your ...

3681. What a Serve!

Acts 6:1-7

Sermon

John E. Harnish

It didn't last long, really, the disciples' first attempt at communal living—selling everything they had, bringing it together for distribution, so that no one claimed anything as their own, but everyone had enough. Just two chapters later, what happens? The Hellenists—that is, the Greek Christians—complain because their widows aren't getting as much aid as the Hebrew Christian widows. Maybe it was greed or racial prejudice on the part of the Hebrews. Maybe ...

3682. The Church of Your Dreams

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... human eye, but it will remain ‘till earth and the works thereof are burned up!'" All that…on a thirty-nine year lease! Now that's boldness! The great British preacher Colin Morris comments: In an act of cavalier disregard for the local authorities, he claimed that his edifice would remain until the end of the earth… Although the legality of his action is dubious, the theology is sound. The multi-million-dollar decision of the recent past to build the CLC was a similar act of boldness; the decision to ...

3683. What Are You Looking For?

Acts 1:1-13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... oldest clergy member of our conference, and thus became the bearer of the "conference cane"—a real cane which is passed from generation to generation, always kept by the oldest living clergy person. Once you have it there is only one way to lose and one way to claim it! (A side note: The cane is currently held by Rev. Konstantin Wipp, who emigrated from Estonia in the 1940s and served most of his ministry in the U.P. Today he is one of our living links with the newly emerging church in the Baltics and our ...

3684. Toward the Cross

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... Who knows? In the Vatican museum, there is a chamber with incredible paintings by Raphael depicting Constantine at the Battle of the MilvianBridge in 312 A.D. In one scene, Constantine sees the vision of the cross and the promise, "Under this sign you shall conquer." He claims the cross of Christ as his sign, paints what we now call the "Chi Rho" on the shields of his soldiers, and in the next panel Raphael shows him on a white stallion slaughtering the enemy under the sign of the cross. It's a great moment ...

3685. In the Upper Room

John 17

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... from bleeding-heart liberal Phillip, who was always ready to give away the farm. · Macho men like Simon the Zealot gathered with the band of women like Mary Magdalene and the other women. · Sons of Thunder James and John, alongside reflective, thoughtful Thomas, the doubter. Jesus claims them all as a gift from God, and around the table he creates a new community of love and grace. One of the best new books I've read lately is Brian McLaren's Generous Orthodoxy. His sub-title is "Why I Am a Missional ...

3686. The Magna Carta of the Human Soul

Romans 12:9-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... were created to be before we messed up the garden with our desire to be above ourselves, our dreams of being “like God.” It is this absolute unique place in creation that Jesus, both wholly divine and wholly human, pushes and pulls us into claiming. It is the divine gift of human duality – of dust and divinity – that Jesus calls us to inhabit. We are human beings who were made “from the earth” but “in the image of God” for praising and serving, suffering and persevering, rejoicing, weeping ...

3687. Romans 13:8-14

Romans 13:8-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Despite Paul’s ongoing insistence that those who are “in Christ” are no longer “under the law,” the apostle uses the indebtedness language of “the law” to drive home the primacy of this love. By continually loving each other Paul claims that Christians have “fulfilled the law.” As examples of “law” Paul then cites commandments seven, six, eight, and ten-—all commands from the Second Table of the Decalogue, all dealing with the relationship of men and women towards each other. The ...

3688. Taking a Necessary Step

Acts 19:1-7

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... you to take the next step. Plateaus may be nice and comfortable but they are also debilitating. In time, as opportunities come and go, they can so erode that they won't support much of anything that is truly valuable. Don't allow the awful shame of such a predicament claim your place in God's kingdom. Stand tall or fall on your knees, whichever is required, and move forward in the spiritual life Christ intends. You will never lack opportunities. He continues to stand at the door and knock.

3689. Being Single-minded

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... searched the world over and found the pearl of great price, discarding gladly all the others. Whenever the end comes, either with the Second Coming or our deaths, we are hopeful in ways foreign to those who do not have this Savior and Lord. Well, are we claiming too much? Is Paul pointing us in a direction that is never realized? Are we so peculiar we have our heads in the sand and could possibly be having hallucinations? My answer to this not uncommon inquiry is, "But, my dear friends, have you tried it ...

3690. Gift of Positive Thinking

2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... we have found! From a spiritual viewpoint this can be a major turning point in the way we view events and, in particular, people. It finally dawns on us that God decides what is success or failure. While it is humbling, there is a solid positive for all who claim Christ as Savior and Lord. For one thing, we don't have to succeed or fail on our terms. Our vision and information are so limited. For another thing we sense a profound security. It is cause for joy. It is not easy to accept the idea that Christ ...

3691. Making Disciples

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... with the Lord. Paul absolutely knew what he was talking about! The delightful dove moves about, providing demonstrations of day breaks. How can we be sure we are saturated by the Spirit of the Living God? That's a tough question, isn't it? Some who claim to be led seem all too often fumbling and stumbling with little to show in a factual sense. Efforts are made, perhaps with sacrifice, and all appears to be in near perfect order. Then something or someone moves out of kilter, at least, in our assessment ...

3692. Proclaiming Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... that is only supremely done by losing ourselves in him. Is there room for compromise? Of course and there always is. You and I may very well choose that broad pathway like countless others. If we do, let's admit to ourselves what we have done and not claim the opportunity was never presented. Full commitment and spiritual success go hand-in-hand. Being lost in Christ is full commitment. In college we used to joke about being a "B" or "C" student and not to take the trouble of striving for an "A." Who needs ...

3693. Birthpangs of the New Age

Romans 8:22-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

3694. Finding Unity through Christ

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... community. The early church tradition is filled with heroic stories of martyrs, like Ignatius of Antioch, Felicitas, and Perpetua. History tells us of infamous persecutions under Nero, Diocletian, and other Roman Emperors. The Jewish community was often hostile as well. Jesus' claim to be the Messiah was rejected by many and his proclamation to be the Son of God was abhorrent for it threatened the monotheism which was so central to Jewish belief. The Acts of the Apostles (4:32-37) specifically says ...

3695. God’s Wisdom or the World?

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... before the human race distinct options that require humans to choose between God and the world. The Genesis account of creation related how God gave Adam and Eve all that they could possibly need or want, yet, they were not satisfied. Satan tempted them by claiming they could be like God, but in reality they were being asked to choose the world over God. They took the bait; they chose unwisely, seeking ambition over what they had been given. The end result was the disorder and wickedness in the world, what ...

3696. Our Prayers Are Our Thanksgiving

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... them to destruction. But Jesus reigns supreme. Christ Jesus — who gave himself as a ransom for all — Christ Jesus reigns eternally. His is the power to restore a rebellious humanity to a holy God. His is the desire to reconcile embattled nations. He is the one who claims our deepest allegiance by the power of his love. His is the promise to ultimately establish "liberty and justice for all" for all eternity. Ours is the challenge to pray for it, to watch for it, to give thanks for it, and to live for it ...

3697. When God Began to Create ...

Genesis 1:1-5

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship Light from darkness, order from chaos, God names and claims and calls it all good! It's all good! God is well pleased with us! Let us rejoice and praise God's name! Collect God of creation, your light shines on all the people. In this light we see the glory of beginnings. Let this be a day of new ...

3698. I Can See Clearly Now!

Mark 1:4-11

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... we might see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Holy Spirit, patiently wait for us to catch up to your promise. In the face of your goodness we hold back, wrapped in our prejudices, fears, and grudges. We claim the waters of baptism, immersing ourselves in the new life. The time is now! We confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen. Hymns O Day Of Rest And Gladness Come, Gracious Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine

3699. You Explain It

Isaiah 25:6-9

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... God. We give thanks to you. We rejoice and are glad in you today. This is the day you have made for us. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Your steadfast love endures forever. As we proclaim your resurrection to others, challenge us, call us, claim us, as we seek to live by your words and your actions. Let our worship today mirror your steadfast love and encouragement as we minister to each other and the world. Amen. (Based on Psalm 118:22-29) Prayer Of Confession Jesus died. Jesus is risen! Jesus dwells ...

3700. A New Name, The Right Name

Psalm 103:8-12, Hosea 2:14-20

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship O that we should look past our idols, our distractions, and see God as God! Collect We have pruned our vineyards down to bare branches. Call us to new life. We claim that covenant you made for us with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground. We renounce the bow, the sword, and war in our land, as you have willed, so that all might lie down in safety. May we bear fruit for ...

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