Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3851 to 3875 of 4972 results

3851. Daily Choice

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Sermon

... . She belonged right up there with the other great prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Moses. Then it came, the big "four-O." The seminary where I had been teaching closed its doors. Suddenly job security was gone. My best friend in the Paulist Fathers told me he was leaving to get married. It seemed the brotherhood in the Paulist Fathers was not that stable either. I went to Russia just before my fortieth birthday. When I came back I was so sick I thought I was going to die. Is this the Promised Land, I asked ...

3852. A Faith-Life To Emulate John W. Cobb

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

... making of the decision to proceed. First, Abraham was a son whose early experiences included sharing life with a father who as an old man had a vision. The destiny of his descendants would be in another land. For whatever reason Terah was willing to leave the place the world knew as the "fertile crescent" to journey into the unknown. This quotation of King George V of England, made in his 1939 Christmas message to his people during the darkest days of World War II, seems to express the spirit that motivated ...

3853. Pilgrimage of Faith John M. Cobb

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

... ? Or, do we maybe do some of this, but long and strive after something much different? Do we also strive after the service and help for other people and not just ourselves, strive after the praise and worship of God and not just ourselves? Let me leave that thought with you for this afternoon, to carry around with you for this week; and then, let me also add the following: How, specifically, can my life be oriented (or reoriented) to concern itself mostly with the needs of others and the praise and worship ...

3854. Exodus Crossings

Exodus 13:17--14:31

Sermon

James G. Cobb

... , he sees two sets of footprints in the sand - his and the Lord’s. But over the lowest moments of his life, he sees only one set of footprints. The man, feeling betrayed, questioned the Lord: "I don’t understand why when I needed you most, you would leave me." The Lord’s answer is "it was then that I carried you." The theology of "Exodus" has become Good News for all people. The story is an ever present reminder of a God who delivers his people from the forces of slavery and oppression, sin and death ...

3855. The Cry for God

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

James G. Cobb

... God and spoke like God" and the flailing forces3 there, even of nature obeyed him. They were awed and now even shocked or fearful in a new way, exclaiming unto themselves, "Who is this that even the winds and the sea obey him?" The word from St. Mark’s Gospel leaves no doubt: this is the God who has come to live and dwell among us; this is God in the flesh, God incarnate in Jesus Christ. Now, in our fear, like the little boy in the thunderstorm, we have someone with skin on. We have someone who is the ...

3856. Proper 4

Matthew 7:24-29, Matthew 7:15-23, Romans 3:21-31, Genesis 12:1-8

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-9 Theme: Faith to follow God Call to Worship Pastor: God has called us to leave behind a life without purpose, and become his people. People: Our faith assures us God will bless us with his love and kindness. Pastor: God calls, not only to bless us, but that he may bless others through us. People: May we follow in faith, and rejoice in the life ...

3857. Teachers Without Chalkboards

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

... mine alone. Or so it seems. A recent article in a denominational magazine asks "Is There a Higher Goal than Baptisms?"1 It points to the fact that while one thousand persons per day become members of the denomination, two hundred seventy-eight per day take offical leave. It goes on to plead for a change of goals and uses the Great Commission of Matthew as its guide. Baptism, the article insists, is listed in Matthew as only one step in the process. "A disciple is not just someone who has been baptized but ...

3858. Parking Lots and Traffic Jams

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Richard L. Thulin

... persuaded to care. To say that we must reach for Jesus suggests that our relationship with him depends upon our effort and that we must prove our need or our faithfulness before he will come to us. These suggestions add up to a massive dose of bad news. They would leave us grasping for a Jesus who is out of reach. They would have us work to make ourselves worthy of his presence. And that is all backwards! Jesus' words to Nicodemus are good news rather than bad. It is the Son of Man they say who has made the ...

3859. Don't Go Near The Water

Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

... child I loved the water. I did not, however, often get a chance to play in it. "Come home straight from school," my mother said every morning. This was because my route took me right past the beach. "If you go to the beach today," she would say on Saturdays, "leave your swimming suit at home." Even when she was with me at the ocean she would allow only my feet to get wet. "Be careful of the undertow," she would warn. "if you fall down, you won't be able to get up again." My mother probably overreacted out ...

3860. No Telltale Clues

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

... and says, "Follow me." Matthew accepts the invitation without question or hesitation. All that the evangelist offers us is the fact that "he rose and followed him." You and I would like to know why. What in the world happened that would cause this man to leave his lucrative administrative post? Why would Matthew throw away the security that he had finally achieved? What would cause this collector of taxes to shut the door on a sure thing in order to follow the man called Jesus into who knows where, for how ...

3861. Ready or Not

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

... When God rules in the hearts and social relationships of his people, some unsettling always occurs. At times it happens within families. I have known seminarians, for example, who bore all kinds of emotional and financial family pressure, because they chose to leave the family farm or household and study for the ministry. I have known women who received abusive treatment from their husbands, because they felt the need to give themselves to the program of a congregation. I have known parents and grandparents ...

3862. God Is Into Birds!

Exodus 19:1-25

Sermon

... 's knowing concern. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the vultures, and the wise man of the Song of Solomon, in his poem of love, spoke of the voice of the turtledove. Noah used the raven and the dove as instruments to measure the water level before leaving the ark. Elijah, the prophet, was fed by ravens. Peter was brought to repentance by hearing the cock crow. Job reminds us the hawk does not fly by its own wisdom. The book of Lamentations speaks of the ostrich in the wilderness. Solomon had peacocks brought ...

3863. Trouble on the Mountain

Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon

... my ministry, I've heard all of the following excuses given, and far more. "I can't do it. God asks too much." "After all, I'm only human. What else can you expect?" "Everybody else does it. Why can't I?" "I'm not a very religious person. I leave all of that for the preachers to do." "God is a loving God and he understands why I sin." "I don't go to church because I was made to go when I was a kid." "Sunday is the only day I have to sleep late and relax." "I knew ...

3864. Communion Is Real Presence

John 1:1-18

Sermon

... no matter what has happened or will happen, we will be all right because he is always with us. Several years ago a beautiful story appeared in the "Bible Expositor and Illuminator." It was about a Christian man whose wife was killed in a tragic automobile accident leaving him to care for their three-year-old daughter. All the joy he had known seemed to vanish in his grief. The night after the funeral, he was preparing his daughter for bed when the lights went out all over the house. His little girl became ...

3865. Communion Is Reunion

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Sermon

... before. She had sacrificed many long hours planning and preparing the meal in the hope that the family could enjoy their time together. But her hopes were smashed and her hard work was made futile as family tensions, petty jealousies and ridiculous bickering caused everyone to leave early. The young lady was in tears as she told her pastor, "It seems that the more we are together, the further we drift apart. Why can't we just enjoy the fact that we are a family and overlook our differences?" I suspect we ...

3866. Communion Is Reformed

Luke 22:7-38

Sermon

... did, that Christ is really present in our celebration of his Holy Supper. Confess your sins to our Lord and hear him say that you are forgiven. Place all your cares, fears, worries and burdens into Christ's loving hands and know that he will strengthen and sustain you. Then leave the Altar refreshed, renewed and rejoicing.

3867. Communion Is Rejoicing In Christ's Return

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

... him face to face. He gives us a nibble of his graciousness as he forgives our sins and strengthens us to go on and face tomorrow with him. God gives us a sampling of his love as he invites us to lay all of our burdens into his hands and leave them there as we anticipate the day when he will make sure we have no burdens at all to bear. But in Holy Communion, we must remember, we receive only a morsel, only a sampling, only a foretaste of what Christ has in store for us around his heavenly banquet ...

3868. Communion Is Repentance

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

... we dishonor our parents. He knows how we treat our children. He knows how we act on the job and at school. He even knows the secret thoughts and desires of our hearts. Realizing that God caught us in our sins should strip away our pretentious attitudes and leave us with penitent hearts. We go to the altar as sinners in need of forgiveness. We go to the Lord's Table as beggars who have nothing to offer but contrite, repentant, humble hearts ... and indeed, that's all he wants from us. It is most appropriate ...

3869. Redemptive Joy! - Sermon Starter

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Brett Blair

... after that. During the funeral for William Brown one of the speakers said that in the eyes of God "the homeless and the most important are one in the same" I agree. And I would add that when any one of us are homeless and have lost our way, God leaves the most important of us behind and goes in search of the one. It is the way any parent would act. It is the way God acts. There is not one among us, down to the very least, who is not valued in the eyes of God. It is what ...

3870. Talents and Trust

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

... the talents and gifts he has entrusted to us. Sure it’s scary. Few things worthwhile are not. That’s life, and God called it good. But what about the persistent old problem of sin and human cussedness - the propensity to screw things up? God does not leave us alone. As Sustainer and Sanctifier of life, God continues to meddle in our affairs. As counselor, God’s Spirit gently and persistently guides us - and guides us always back to the God who says, "Go on. Live the life I give you. Enjoy it. Savor it ...

3871. If the Son Makes You Free

John 8:31-41

Sermon

... hasn’t changed since we’ve become butterflies. We’ve changed. Or, more precisely, we’ve been changed." "Been changed, yes," said the second. "I didn’t choose this silly looking angel outfit. I was quite content to live out my days as a caterpillar, feeding on cabbage leaves, staying out of trouble and out of the way, taking care of myself. I don’t know why I ever let you talk me into going into that cocoon in the first place. It was dark as death in there. Felt like a tomb." "I think it was ...

3872. The Things That Are God’s

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

... everyone of you Stamped with the image of the King. (Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 7, Abingdon Press, 1951, p. 520). So we are. Stamped with the image of God. The Pharisees and Herodians may have left Jesus, but I doubt that his words ever left them. And neither will they leave us. "Render to God the things that are God’s."

3873. Life in The Meantime

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

D. Wayne Burkette

... meantime, temptations which rob the present of the meaning and joy God wants us to have. Whether that for which we hope is the second coming of Christ or fulfillment of some vision of personal happiness, think of the forces that use up our strength and leave us ill-prepared for real living. Weariness is a problem, especially when the thing for which we hope is so long coming (remember that all ten maidens, wise and foolish, fell asleep). What about frustration and anger when life doesn’t take the turns we ...

3874. The Sounds at the Summit

Exodus 19:1-25

Sermon

... he also knew and for whom he had lectured, visited him one day. He knew all about the case, might have even talked to the physician in charge, and he spoke words of comfort and assurance to my friend. Before he left, he said, "Do you mind if I leave you some literature?" My colleague did not mind, but he was surprised - and a bit shocked, I believe, from the way he told me the story, to learn that the material was all about the Hemlock Society, its approach to relief from pain by taking one’s own life ...

3875. The Keeper of the Covenant

Exodus 31:1-11

Sermon

... and it was 6:30 a.m. before I left the hospital, certain that mother and son were doing well, for home forty miles west of that city. There was barely enough time to bathe, breakfast, and look over my sermon manuscript one more time, before I had to leave for the first service. Just before the sermon, I announced the birth to the congregation and then had to preach on the title/theme that my wife had typed before she went into labor, "Our Cause for Rejoicing," in the context of the Gospel of Lent and Easter ...

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