Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3701 to 3725 of 4914 results

3701. 1 Samuel 16:14-23

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The First Testament is filled with stories so suspenseful, plots so convoluted and interwoven, that even in this unshockable age they continue to leap off the pages. Amidst all the cliffhangers and catastrophes, however, the tragedy of Saul and the triumph of David remain one of the most memorable - confounding our sensibilities and astounding our expectations. Last week's text introduced the guileless David into the divine plot to overthrow the unsuspecting Saul. This week the noose of God's judgment ...

3702. James 1:17-27

James 1:17-27

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The Epistle of James was unflatteringly dubbed "an Epistle of straw" by that forthright reformer Martin Luther. Luther felt that James focused entirely too much on works, to the detriment of the gift of God's grace. James does have a different agenda than Paul (or Luther for that matter). But that does not necessarily indicate that James disagrees with Paul's masterful articulation of the great gift of the gospel. If James' work is to be characterized as "straw," it should be qualified as builder's straw. ...

3703. Colossians 1:15-28

Colossians 1:15-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

As we continue in the opening chapter of Paul's letter to the Colossians, this week's reading begins with what has been recognized as a Christ-hymn of the early church. Paul's use of it here establishes without question the supremacy of Christ. Some scholars have argued for a pre-Christian dating of this hymn with the church then merely taking it over and attributing the deity's qualities to Jesus. But there is so much that is unique to Christian theology in its content that such arguments are hard to ...

3704. Proper 25

Mark 10:46-52, Psalm 34:1-22, Job 42:7-17, Hebrews 7:11-28

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22) First Lesson—Job’s encounter with God leads to deep humility and a new chapter in the book of life. Job 42:16, 10-17 Second Lesson—Jesus is exalted as the priest par excellence. Hebrews 7:23-28 Gospel—The loud and persistent cry of a blind beggar is not ignored by Jesus. Mark 10:46-52 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Rejoice and sing aloud for joy. People: The Lord has done great things for ...

3705. Christ The King

Psalm 46:1-11, Jeremiah 23:1-8, Luke 1:67-80; 23:33-43, Colossians 1:11-20

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Luke 1:68-79 or Psalm 46 First Lesson—The prophet declares that the God of Israel will have to gather the scattered flock of people driven away by their irresponsible human shepherds. Jeremiah 23:1-6 Second Lesson—All Christians share in the inheritance of the royal Jesus. Colossians 1:11-20 Gospel—A criminal’s cross is a grotesque enthronement for the King of the Jews. Luke 23:33-43 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. ...

3706. Proper 21

Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-72, Matthew 21:23-32, Philippians 2:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 78:1-4, 12-16 First Lesson - A miracle is required for God to provide water in the wilderness for the thirsty Israelites. Exodus 17:1-7 Second Lesson - Paul gives the Philippians the prime example of genuine humility that all of us require. Philippians 2:1-13 Gospel - Jesus uses some provocative language and a parable in replying to the chief priests and elders of the people. Matthew 21:23-32 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And ...

3707. Easter 2

Psalm 16:1-11, John 20:19-31, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 16 First Lesson - Peter calls Israel by his bold preaching to believe the apostolic witness of the resurrection of Jesus. Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Second Lesson - Even those who were not first-person witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus can love the one unseen and have salvation through their faith. 1 Peter 1:3-9 Gospel - Thomas and all doubters are invited to believe in the Risen Christ. John 20:19-31 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: ...

3708. Easter 7

Psalm 68:1-35, John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-19

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 68:1-10, 32-35 First Lesson - The clouds are a curtain brought down on the end of the final act of the earthly drama of Jesus of Nazareth. Acts 1:6-14 Second Lesson - Peter holds out the hope for us that after the ordeal of suffering will come exaltation as experienced by Jesus. 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 Gospel - This climactic prayer of Jesus is for the unity of the apostles and the church to come. John 17:1-11 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ...

3709. It’s Humble or the Umbles

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

You know you’ve crossed into some new station in your life when you visit the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and realize as you are leaving that you completely skipped all the paintings. That’s right, the entire Renaissance wing just was not on the agenda. Suddenly it hits you: You are no longer a student, or a tourist, or an art lover. No, you are a parent of small, squirming children who need to see something big, and strong, and hard-hitting. So your museum tour was through the pyramids. Your ...

3710. The Paralysis of Analysis – The Fear of Failure

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Sermon

James Merritt

I am beginning a series of messages today that I am entitling - fear factor. I would say practically all of us today will remember this picture which has been shown thousands of times and is seared into our memory. If it is true that, "A picture is worth a thousand words" you will never see a more graphic picture of fear than this one. Psychologists and sociologists agree that since 9/11, fear has been at an all time high in America. Indeed, the entire world at times is paralyzed by fear. There is a word ...

3711. What Do I Do - When I Don't Know What To Do?

2 Kings 4:1-7

Sermon

James Merritt

I had graduated from college and thought that I wanted to go to seminary, but I began to have doubts about whether or not that really was what I should do. Even if it was what I wanted to do, I had been going to school non-stop for sixteen years and I was burned out. Quite frankly, I was at a crossroads in my life where I didn't know what to do. Should I go on to seminary or not? Was I really called into the ministry or not? If I didn't go to the seminary, in the meantime, what was I going to do? For the ...

3712. The Climb

Joshua 14:6-15

Sermon

James Merritt

A Ph.D. - a Doctor of Philosophy degree is the highest degree awarded in academics. Three to four years of seminars, literacy required in three to five different languages, and three years of continuous research on a dissertation that must be totally original in its subject, meaning that no one has ever written on it before. This dissertation must then be presented in written form and passed by three professors with three different fields of expertise all of which you must study and include in your ...

3713. The Fishing Business

Mark 1:16-20

Sermon

James Merritt

How many of you have ever been deep sea fishing? I was shocked to learn that more than 2.4 million people participated in this sport last year, resulting in retail sales of almost $2.4 billion dollars and a total economic impact of almost $4.5 billion dollars. Deep sea fishing provides jobs for nearly 55,000 people. You may be asking what does deep sea fishing have to do with the church? You are going to see over the next four weeks that deep sea fishing is a picture of the deep soul fishing we are to be ...

3714. The Dream Work of Teamwork

Nehemiah 3:1-32

Sermon

James Merritt

Apollo 13 reminds us that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, but it does take a team to have success. If you watched that video carefully you noticed that there were actually three levels of people involved in helping to devise a contraption that would keep the air pure enough for the astronauts to survive until they could get back to earth. B.C. Forbes, the founder of Forbes Magazine, once said, "You spell success T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K." That is truth in every area of life. Show me a successful coach ...

3715. Mary’s Magnificat

Luke 1:46-56

Sermon

Gary L. Carver

Christmas songs have a way of staying with us from childhood. In fact, if you were to ask someone their favorite Christmas song it may range from, "Silent Night" to "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." Many Christmas songs do carry the element of the holy in their lyrics and sometimes in the melody. Most of all, though, Christmas stands alone from all other holidays by the fact that it carries its own genre of music. The message of this season can be sung as well as spoken. The world has come to know the all ...

3716. Keeping His Word

John 14:23-29

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

Keeping our word has a long and positive history in our nation. For generations, a man was known by whether or not he kept his word. His word was his bond. Deal after deal was made on that basis. The essentials of the business world found it always helpful and even necessary for commerce to run smoothly. Some of us can remember vividly how these agreements functioned. Woe be unto that man who did not keep his word! If it happened more than once or twice and there were no extenuating circumstances, he was ...

3717. As Seen from the Solitary Broom Tree

1 Kings 19:1-18

Sermon

Stan Purdum

I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out — call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us. A study ...

3718. A Miracle Child

Exodus 2:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I’m sure that our parents here today would identify at least with the sermon title today, A Miracle Child. The truth of the matter is that every child is a miracle. Where did you come from baby dear? Out of the everywhere into the here. Where did you get those eyes so blue? Out of the sky as I passed through. Whence that three cornered smile of bliss? Three angels gave me at once a kiss. Where did you get this pearly ear? God spoke and it came out to here. Where did you get those arms and hands? Love made ...

3719. Startled By Jesus

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Years ago I read the supposedly true account of a judge in Yugoslavia who was electrocuted when he reached up to turn on the light while standing in the bathtub. His wife found his body sprawled on the bathroom floor. He was pronounced dead and was placed in a room under a crypt in the town cemetery for twenty-four hours before burial. However, in the middle of the night, the judge came to, realized where he was, and rushed over to alert the guard. Startled, the guard promptly ran off, terrified. ...

3720. A Word to Prodigals

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

King Duncan

Retired seminary professor Fred B. Craddock was preaching on the parable of the prodigal son. After the service a man said, “I really didn’t care much for that, frankly.” Craddock asked, “Why?” The man said. “Well, I guess it’s not your sermon, I just don’t like that story.” Craddock asked, “What is it you don’t like about it?” He said. “It’s not morally responsible.” Craddock asked, “What do you mean by that?” “Forgiving that boy,” said the man. Craddock asked, “Well, what would you have done?” The man ...

3721. Only Jesus

Mark 9:2-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

A little boy asked his mother, "Marriage makes you have babies, doesn't it, Mom?" The mother reluctantly answered her son, "Well, not exactly. Just because you are married does not mean that you have a baby." The boy continued his inquiry: "Then how do you have babies?" His mother, not very enthusiastic about continuing, answered, "It's kind of hard to explain." The boy paused and thought for a moment. He then moved closer to Mom, looked her right in eye, and carefully said, "You don't really know how it ...

3722. On the Road with the Hemorrhaging Woman

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

James W. Moore

Some years ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote these powerful words. Listen… “How do you measure success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a redeemed social condition, or a job well done; To know that even one life has breathed because you lived… that is to ...

3723. Exit and Entrance

Galatians 4:21-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

It was in the newspaper back in the late 1950’s, at the height of the civil rights movement - an unforgettable picture which captured not only the emotion of one man, but the deep sense of freedom and joy and release and affirmation of a whole people. A black man, who must have been over 100 years old, was being carried on the shoulders of a group of young men. They were taking him up the steps of a courthouse in a Southern town to register to vote. The caption beneath the picture said he was born a slave ...

3724. Judas, A Person Like Us

Mark 14:43-52

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Would you ever consider naming one of your children Judas? We name our children James and John and Matthew and Peter and Andrew and Thaddeus. You may not have thought of the apostles of Jesus when you gave these names to your sons. You may have been thinking of a father, or grandfather, but the names go beyond that, back to those disciples of Jesus. But Judas! The name is not in our repertoire of treasured names for our sons. Yet, the name was common among the Jews. There are several Judas’ in the Bible. ...

3725. When It's Time to Wait

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

It has been reported that the average American in a lifetime will spend five years waiting in line, two years returning telephone calls, eight months opening junk mail, and six months staring at traffic lights. In spite of all our modern technology, the first words we often see on the computer screen is “please wait". Anyone who makes a telephone call these days is likely to be put on hold long before they hear a human being on the other end of the phone. Some of you got to church today in a “holding" ...

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