Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3851 to 3875 of 4943 results

3851. The First Hole

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... . Maybe that's why I'm not especially sympathetic when our most seasoned members cite age for begging off boards, committees, and so on. Besides, the tired, tested, and true always have a lot more to offer than ecclesiastical rookies. That's why our pastor emeritus continues to be so vital to us. It takes a long time for theory to catch up with practice. Anyway, Miss Blanchard had just crossed the century mark when I showed up in her class with nine other boys. She only taught boys. Whenever we asked why ...

3852. Leave It On The Course

1 Timothy 3:1-16

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I was lying on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live." "Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes I read, 'He's a dead ...

3853. The Upside Of The Practice - Performance Equation

Galatians 6:1-10

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

You reap whatever you sow. -- Galatians 6:7b Even as cancer continues to ravage her body, Nancy Meider's personal relationship with Jesus as saving Lord enables a joy to radiate from her soul, through her eyes, and into the hearts of all who are blessed to know her. We've talked about many things over the past several months. We've ...

3854. Take Dead Aim

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

My wife and I were discussing the state of affairs in America. I said every child of the 1960s knew there was a credibility gap when he said he didn't inhale. I said every golfer knew character would be a continuing issue after correspondents for several golf magazines caught him cheating during a round with two of his predecessors. I said everybody knows he cheated on his wife for years and lied to family, friends, colleagues, and employees. I said he admitted to an inappropriate -- s-e-x-u-a-l -- ...

3855. Life Beside The Falls

Ezekiel 47:1-12

Sermon

David O. Bales

... 's high school years, and his relationship with his mother, were darkened by the confrontations. A year after she began her daily discipline of writing, she approached the newspaper editor for a weekly column, but he refused. So Mildred went back to her desk and continued writing essays and articles, and when she submitted them to newspapers elsewhere her copy was often accepted. When a new editor arrived in town she showed up in his office with a stack of her clippings and he agreed to try her out. By the ...

3856. Where The Halls Cross

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

David O. Bales

... you have to." "I see." "Sure," Andrea said, "if you don't you get gobbled up." "Yeah," Josh said, "but it's not just banging around. You learn the lines and the moves. Everyone knows the game. We know when to zig and when to zag." The discussion continued as students built variations onto the image of the junior high social world as a video game. I then asked, "Can you change the rules of the game? If you did, what would happen? What change would result in Leon Griffith Junior High being the best of all ...

3857. Why Do People Suffer?

Mark 15:33-41

Sermon

David O. Bales

... we will never understand. God's ways are beyond ours, not only in quantity, but also in quality. Thus God sees the large picture, we see only a few shards of color." "Sure," Susan thought, "Adolf Hitler had reasons we could never understand. But the Bible continually tells us God is merciful and forgiving. God gave us Jesus and Jesus didn't go around killing people. That's hard data. What kind of ruined mind would say God has reasons for allowing people to die when Jesus spent his whole career healing and ...

3858. Palm/Passion Sunday

Drama

Betty Lynn Schwab

... trial this claim was remembered by the people. This claim was a scandal for them. Child: What does the roasted egg mean for us today? Reader 2: As Christians we are called by Christ to be both temple and sacrifice in our world today. We are called to sacrifice ourselves continuously out of love for love. We are called to see our own bodies as the very temple of God. How we treat our body in our daily living and how much we live for others is the reflection of our faith today. Reader 1: Let us pray together ...

3859. Palm/Passion Sunday

Drama

Betty Lynn Schwab

3860. Outlook Determines Outcome

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... the message of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. In this book we see a distinctive shift in the outlook of the followers of Jesus. The book begins with a statement of purpose. Clearly the writer wants us to know that this letter continues a previous conversation with a friend or acquaintance. Beginning with the faithful in Jerusalem, the church begins to take shape through the words of the disciples. This book is about what happened during Jesus' earthly ministry, but more importantly this book is ...

3861. Tell Them

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... from the dead and conquered sin and death, we now have forgiveness of sins and a new relationship with God. Some commentators have said that Peter's short sermon sums up the entire gospel. While Peter certainly hits the main points, the good news of the gospel continues to speak to us in new ways each and every day. Just like Peter and the others who experienced Christ went forth sharing the good news, we are called to share our witness. But what witness do we share? A look at the average church newsletter ...

3862. Take A Second Look

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... fact a chosen instrument. From enemy and persecutor to "my chosen instrument." I guess God can use anyone, perhaps even you and me. Acts 9:17-19 concludes with Ananias laying hands on Saul who is both healed and receives the Holy Spirit. Saul's transformation continues with his baptism and celebration of the Lord's supper. Could this Saul really be a changed man? Perhaps we need to take a second look. Transformation is God's gift for our redemption. Thank God, God takes a second look and gives us a second ...

3863. God's Gift Is For All

Acts 11:1-18

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... for us to turn people around. Transformation is an act of supreme love, especially when we allow ourselves to move beyond old boundaries, habits, and traditions and experience God in new and exciting ways. It's hard to turn others around when we continue to reject people because of the color of their skin, the difference in their dialect, or the difference in their sexual orientation. If Peter were seeing this vision in our day, that "large sheet" would be filled with a culturally and ethnically diverse ...

3864. Membership Has Its Privileges

Acts 16:16-40

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... : "O let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love. Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul. O let him have the things that hold you, and his Spirit like a dove will descend upon your life and make you whole." The refrain continues: "Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs. Jesus, Jesus, come and fill your lambs." What about you? Are you willing to let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love? Membership has its privileges, why not give your life to Christ today? 1. Foster ...

3865. Call Home

Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... believing and belonging we have a right to call home whenever we need to. What about you today? Are you certain that your relationship with Christ is secure? We just don't one day have faith; it comes from a relationship of trust that begins in our seeking God and continues in his acceptance of us and ends in our knowing that because he is never far from us there is always a place for us in God's eternal home.

3866. Reach Beyond The Break

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... redeemer, so too the Jews once again rejected God's initiative. The result of rejecting God's initiatives in our lives usually results in alienation and loss. We move away from God's intent and begin to pursue our own interests. Yet, God's covenant continues to draw us back to a promise of redemption. It is in that promise of redemption that covenant and promise become salvation and reconciliation. The Passion/Palm Sunday is not so much about winning and losing as it is about surrender and service. The ...

3867. Joy For The Journey

Drama

Karren Boehr

... is the third day. MIRIAM: Hannah ... please, it has never been done. You will see. HANNAH: (Serenely) Yes, I will see. I have never had a reason to doubt the Christ's words. I do not doubt now. With a strange new joy in my heart, I continue the journey of faith. Faith in my Lord and Master. He will never leave me or forsake me. Of that, I am certain. Scene II Scene: A wagon train headed west Characters:SARA: Young woman, uncertain, frightened, very open about her feelingsANNA: Young woman wise for her ...

3868. A Widow's Plight

Luke 18:1-8

Drama

Karren Boehr

... arm) Woman, excuse me, we are in a very great hurry. I assure you, as I have done many times before, if I have any extra time, I shall consider your case. However, you must bear in mind I am a very busy man. (TWO JUDGES continue walking, exiting far right. WOMAN, dejected, slowly walks off left) Scene II (TWO JUDGES enter from right. Again, they are in a hurry, in active conversation. As JUDGES reach center front, WOMAN enters from right in frantic pursuit) WOMAN: (Calls out) Judge Matthew, Judge Matthew ...

3869. The Compelling Call

Drama

Karren Boehr

... thank God for that. Yet, Peter, they have not gone far enough. And they have the authority to reject everything that has been revealed to us through Jesus Christ. I tell you now, as much as I love you, if tomorrow the council does not understand, I will continue the direction my God has called me to follow. I have no recourse. PETER: (With assurance) Paul, I have faith in these men. Tomorrow, present your case. I will stand by and plead your cause. Our mission is to get out the good news of Jesus Christ. We ...

3870. A Call To Worship

Drama

Karren Boehr

... is in dire need of some Christian compassion and love. If you'll excuse us, I think it's time to put God's church into action. (The three READERS gather around 4TH READER, placing their hands on her shoulder and begin to pray silently. With concern and conviction, they continue to pray as the congregation sings the opening hymn. On the last stanza the four READERS embrace one another, then exit stage)

3871. Grand Finale

Drama

Karren Boehr

... was giving the commencement address. ANDREA: (Adjusting mortarboard) Do I look okay? Really, be honest. This cap does nothing for me, does it? Mom said I should wear some hair in my face; Abby said I shouldn't. Marcus, what do you think? MARCUS: (Ignores ANDREA, continues to glance around at all the people) Ya, sure, you look fine. ANDREA: No, really, Marcus, how do I look? Maybe I should wear it farther back on my head. (Takes mortarboard off and tries to rearrange it) MARCUS: (Finally helps ANDREA get her ...

3872. Holy Hype

Matthew 11:1-19

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... a teary-eyed appeal for a conclusion that will melt even the hardest heart and get those people to part with some of that green stuff. After all that's what it's all about, isn't it? We have to keep the money pouring in so the ministry will continue. Huh? Well, of course it's not your style, but that's what we're changing. We're working on your image, here. No more backwoods preacher. No sir. You're going to be a snappy dressing Madison Avenue type. Hold on, now, let me finish. As I said you ...

3873. Everyman And Woman

John 17:6-19, John 17:1-5

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... CONFESSION, EVERYMAN SEES THAT HE IS WRONG AND MAKES AN EXCUSE FOR FORGETTING HIS LINE) I've had to work overtime four times this week. CONSCIENCE: Can we get back to it? Listen, Everyman, why don't you just admit you messed up the line and we can continue the rehearsal. EVERYMAN: Do you know how much sleep I got last night? CONSCIENCE: Of course I know how much sleep you got. You got five hours sleep. EVERYMAN: Yeah. That's right. Five hours. How did you know? CONSCIENCE: You told us when you forgot your ...

3874. The Lesser Commision

Matthew 28:16-20

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... we have voiced some serious doubts about what He said. MATTHEW: Hey, you know, you're right. We have voiced some serious doubts. THOMAS: I doubt if Jesus would want us to have doubts. MATTHEW: I doubt it too. JOHN: I doubt if He wants us to continue doing this. THOMAS: Doing what? JOHN: Doubting, Thomas. THOMAS: Oh, yeah. MATTHEW: Well, what then? THOMAS: What do we do? JOHN: I doubt if Jesus would want us to doubt at all. MATTHEW: I doubt it. THOMAS: I really doubt it. JOHN: I doubt it, too. (THE DISCIPLES ...

3875. The Word Of The Lord Came To The Prophet Haggai

Haggai 1:1-15

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... there, just waiting. And it wasn't a long job either. A few Saturdays, a handful of weeknights, spread over the course of a few weeks, and it was done. New bedroom. That's what Haggai was. A prophet in season. Meanwhile, the outside world continued. In the year 522 the emperor Darius ascended to the throne of the Persian empire. Over the next two years he consolidated his empire, appointed Zerubbabel governor of Judea, and gave permission for work to start again on the Temple. Enter the prophet Haggai. On ...

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