Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 351 to 375 of 1795 results

Philippians 1:3-11

Sermon

Mary Austin

On this second Sunday of Advent, we hear Paul's words to the church at Philippi, a church he knew well. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of ...

352. God Doesn’t Always Behave Like We Think He Should

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... the Cross,” Martin Luther called it), explains the problems we talked about at the beginning of this sermon — how life has not turned out the way we wish, how the childhood dreams did not all come true, and how loved ones have been lost. God’s style of working through contrasts and opposites helps explain why God often seems far away or irrelevant to everyday life. Passion Sunday and Holy Week teach us that God works in hidden ways (like He used death on a cross to give life). God seems so powerless ...

353. A Young Man's Vow

Luke 14:25-33

Sermon

Richard Hasler

A young man awakens in the morning and hears the birds singing. He realizes how fortunate he is. It is summer time and he is back home in his father’s parsonage in Gunsbach, Germany. Recently, he has been reading about Jesus’ call in the gospels: “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” “From everyone to whom much is given, much will be required.” Whoever would save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel shall save it.” What do ...

354. Passover Or Passalong?

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Sermon

John B. Jamison

They had done this before. Some of their earliest memories were of their families celebrating the Passover Seder. It was a high point of the year. It was also a celebration that involved every member of the family, from youngest to eldest, they all played a role. The adults would read the important lines of the ritual, the younger would take turns asking the required questions, and the youngest would join in the search for the hidden matzo that represented desert. As they joined around the table tonight, ...

355. Charging the Assembly

1 Chronicles 29:21-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Having addressed Solomon in front of the assembled leaders in chapter 28, David now turns to the entire assembly in 29:1–5. Most of this speech expresses the reasons why the leadership needs to fully engage (29:5) in the temple project. These include the inexperience of his successor Solomon (29:1a), the magnitude of the task ahead (29:1b), and the generous example of David in the past (29:2) and present (29:3–5). The response of the leadership in 29:6–9 is described as willing, wholehearted, and ...

356. Is This The Season To Seek Salvation

Jeremiah 8:4--9:26

Sermon

James McLemore

... kingdom of heaven." Youth, we don't want to seek salvation in our youth, do we? Because in our youth we are busy being preteens, and then we are busy being teenagers. It's all right for us to go to shows, and dance at the parties, and dress in style with style. But don't forget what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 12:1: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.' " Mature adults, we don't want to seek ...

357. What To Do With A Self-willed Child

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... these days is having a good time. The problem is not with young people for whom having a good time is high on the list, but with young people for whom that is the only thing on the list. But let's not blame the youth. They learned this style from an older generation, whose commitment to much of anything beyond themselves is often mighty thin. I listen to high school teachers lament that their classes are filled with glassy-eyed students, who look at them for two minutes at a time as if to say, "Go ahead ...

358. Holy Love and Herod's Love

Matthew 2:13-18, Matthew 2:19-23

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... Christ was born to die a violent death. We remember that we cannot separate birth from death or Christmas from Good Friday, Bethlehem from Calvary. I would suggest a related reason: We have in the Christmas story and in the Herod story a study in contrasts in styles of loving. There are some striking similarities, to be sure. Herod is a king who wants his people to love him. Throughout the Old Testament, God is acclaimed as Israel's king. And he, too, wants his people to love him. Herod is jealous of his ...

359. At The Right Place At The Right Time

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... Eddie was one of the roars of the Roaring Twenties. He worked for the mobster Al Capone, running a dog track. It was Artful Eddie who mastered the simple technique of fixing the race by overfeeding seven dogs and betting on the eighth. Eddie had it all: wealth, status, and style. Then one day his young son held up a mirror to him and Artful Eddie did not like what he saw. Eddie decided that he wanted out of the mob, but knew it would not be easy. He turned himself in and informed on his boss Al Capone. His ...

360. Lent 2

Philippians 3:12-4:1, Genesis 15:1-18, Luke 13:31-35, Jeremiah 26:1-24

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... ; it is your disobedience to God. Kill your preacher for what God told him to say and you just add to your sins. Epistle: Philippians 3:17--4:1 1. "Take me, for example!" How shall we live as Christians? There are all kinds of laws, traditions, customs, new styles of life. How can we obey all the moral codes? Haven't times changed and brought changes in more customs and values? The best way to learn to live a Christian life is by having a model, imitating a worthy example. Paul in this lesson asks us to ...

361. Easter 4

1 Peter 2:13-25, Acts 7:54--8:1a, Acts 6:1-7, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... good shepherds. The sheep were ready to listen to the voice of their shepherd. Leslie Newbigen, in his little book, The Good Shepherd, tells of a gathering of bishops which he attended. They were discussing the nature of the office of bishop and the various styles in which that office is lived out. One bishop voiced a rather traditional view of the bishop as Father. Another said that he viewed his job in light of Ephesians 4, that of equipping the saints for ministry. An American bishop cut through all the ...

362. Proper 26

Joshua 3:7-17, Amos 5:18-27, Micah 3:1-12, Malachi 2:1-9, Matthew 23:1-39, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Old Testament: Joshua 3:7-17 Change of command. Moses had died and Joshua took over the task of bringing the people to the land of promise. Would the people follow? They were so used to Moses' style of leadership and this young leader might not command their respect. To help Joshua in his new role, God shows forth his presence with his people by stopping the flow of the Jordan. This demonstrates that religious leadership isn't just a matter of ...

363. Church As Redemptive Community

Acts 4:32-37

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

... away with selfishness and self-interest. Even the best of us are prone to feel the promptings of those lesser motivations. The Bible uses the word "sin" to describe this human characteristic. The time would come when a realistic appraisal of this well-intentioned style of life would necessitate a major adjustment to reality. In fact, we have here a forerunner of the Church. Let's think for a bit about the close association of basically good people which comes to mind when we contemplate the Church. In fact ...

364. Standing Firm

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

Some years ago, a Methodist Bishop of national reknown was asked to speak at an annual conference of that church. It so happened he had recently taken a strong stand on a very controversial issue and was being criticized rather widely among some of the brethren, not always with a lot of charity. So the Bishop spoke on the text of Jonah and the Great Fish. After acknowledging that others had a right to their own opinions on the issue so long as they were expressed in a Christian way, he then made this ...

365. Resist Temptation

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... , it does include important observations which are most important for us to note. Spirit-driven The very first thing Mark records is that our Lord was involved in this encounter with Satan, because he was Spirit-driven. Mark relates his accounts in reportorial style. That style reveals a genuine sense of urgency, which is obvious in the temptation account. Jesus, according to Mark, had appeared on the scene when he came to be baptized by John. At his baptism Jesus had been anointed with the Spirit of God ...

366. Bread of the Eucharist (Bread of Life IV)

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

... . Four: By the turn of the century, the church had its liturgy. John’s challenge was not to tell “how” it began, but “what” it means. With that, we are obliged to move on from a potentially offensive literalism to something that matches up with John’s style. Let’s start with the “Bread of Life.” Food is essential for life. When you get hungry, you either sit down for a meal or go out for a snack. Your stomach begins thanking you for what you have ingested. We celebrate with food and drink ...

367. Leading as Loving

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... where to find the address, but indicated he would lead me directly to it. That’s a very simple illustration of involved leadership. A good leader delegates, but delegation does not mean abandonment or withdrawal. Long before some of the creative Japanese managerial styles came to this country, I worked for a large corporation as a summer employee. In that company the pecking order was very clear. The folks to whom I reported were foremen and they in turn reported to a man who was called “the supervisor ...

368. Easter 4

Psalm 23:1-6, Acts 4:1-22, 1 John 3:11-24, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... one in the world requires that we spend more for sophisticated weapons and a stronger armed force to enhance our security. Are not these the assumptions and values that enter into the fold and scatter the flock today? 5. The Role of Leadership. Two differing styles of leadership can be observed. One is to exercise power and dominion over people. It uses force to make people do what they don't want to do. It seeks power and benefits for self-aggrandizement. Such leadership generates resentment and hatred. It ...

369. Easter 4

John 10:1-21, Acts 4:1-22, 1 John 3:11-24

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... sheep, not of his fold; he must bring them into the flock so that there might be one flock and one Shepherd. The image of shepherd is widely employed by the prophets to describe the leadership of God's anointed king. Jesus employs the shepherd style of leadership for those who follow him as the Christ. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION Epistle: Acts 4:5-12 The godfathers. After the arrest of Peter and John, there was a confab amongst the high priestly clan Annas, Caiaphas, John and Alexander. They were the godfathers ...

370. The TV Audience

Sermon

Michael Rogness

... is worth more than a carefully worked out speech. Kate Moody examined the effect of television on young children and observed: Experienced teachers, those who have taught long enough to know several generations of children, are coming to alarming conclusions about current learning styles and abilities: Kids can't listen for any length of time ... they can't pay attention ("When I read them stories out loud, they squirm and say, 'I can't hear it without pictures.' ") ...13 How long should today's sermons be ...

371. Living The Alternatives

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

... change the landscape," he tells the disciples. Clearly, his reply is at the very least insensitive to their request, not to mention our soul's sincere desire. And at worst, it exhibits callous cynicism. But Jesus is not one to offer thoughtless answers. That is not his style. So, it is not that he is trying to put his disciples down or make us feel stupid. It is rather that he is cutting off at the pass our assumptions about faith. Faith does not have to do with God, heaven, or anything else spiritual. On ...

372. Black Preaching: A Four-Cornered Universe

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... which both undergird and inform our perception and action in the world around us. While our being in the world and style of existence is principally poetic, our ways of knowing and grasping, of feeling and thinking contain an aesthetic value essential to ... preaching. Imaginative insight can be seen in everything from the cultivation of catchy sermon titles to the peculiar narrative styles adopted to illuminate the central ideas of a text. Drama, allegory, metaphor, simile, and other idioms are not ...

373. The Road To The Wilderness

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... when Jesus faced the temptation to be less than he was. That was another thing Jesus did. Mark does not give us all the details about the temptations of Jesus in the way Matthew and Luke have recorded them. He merely writes in his brief, swiftly moving style, "He was in the wilderness 40 days tempted by Satan." It is from those other gospels that we learn what those temptations were. They tell us Satan tempted Jesus to use his power in the wrong way, for selfish reasons, to gain an easy victory, an easy ...

374. A Plan For Difficult Times

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... it all mean for us? We are not likely to stand before diets, be tied to stakes, or to look into the noose of a gallows. And how do we understand the prediction of international wars, earthquakes, famines and the fireworks of the cosmos? This is a style of writing popular among the Hebrews from the days of the exile and into the first century. There was the belief that the world of this "age" was evil and unredeemable. As the next "age" of righteousness breaks in with God's intervention, the powers of evil ...

375. Repent Your Way To A Merry Christmas

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Brett Blair

... who he was but his message to their ears was clear: Repent. There comes a moment when the preacher longs for his hearers to lose sight of everything except his message. "Don't listen to my accent. Don't look at my clothes. Don't comment on my style. Don't search my biographical details for my University pedigree. Just listen to what I am saying. Repent! I would like to suggest this morning that Repent was the first component of John’s message. There are two others. Let’s take a look at the first. I ...

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