Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3851 to 3875 of 4508 results

Sermon

Mark Radecke

The same thing has, I'm sure, happened to you: you live your whole life without seeing or hearing a certain word or phrase or expression, and then you see or hear it two or three times within a relatively short period. The first time I saw this particular phrase was a few years back at a synod assembly. I attended a small group session led by a pastor who had just returned from Nicaragua and El S...

3852. The Attitude of Readiness

Sermon

Russell F. Anderson

At the time of this writing, the tornado season has commenced. Several communities have been devastated by the devil twisters. Nothing can stop them, but if you know they are heading your way you can, at least, save your life, together with those you love. Several people have lost their lives because they weren't prepared. Tornados can be tracked on Doppler radar. If warning is issued, heard and h...

3853. The Art of Living Until

Sermon

Leonard Mann

There are many things about your life which I do not know. But one thing I do know: you are living in an interim. And so am I. We are in time-in-between; we are between what has happened and what will happen. We know a great deal about the former and very little about the latter. What has been is past, and we are moving away from it, going on to what is to be. How we make this journey is very impo...

3854. Eschatological Discourse: Being Prepared for Jesus’ Return

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Jesus predicts his return (parousia), which will usher in the end of the age and the final judgment, and warns that, because the time of his return is unexpected, his followers should be always ready for his return. Understanding the Text In the latter part of chapter 24 and the first parable in chapter 25, Jesus’ teachings turn from the signs portending the temple’s imminent destructi...

3855. Beyond Judgment

Sermon

James L. Killen

One day in 1957 Dr. Albert C. Outler, a prominent theologian who was not at all prone to sensationalism, returned from a White House-sponsored conference of theologians and scientists and announced to an assembly of students at his seminary that the industrial civilization as they knew it had only a few more years to live. The subject of the conference had been the nuclear arms race. The participa...

3856. The Day and Hour Unknown

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

24:36–44 The discourse began with two questions: the first asked when the temple would be destroyed, and the second, what would be the sign of Jesus’ coming (24:3). The answer to the first is that it will take place in the lifetime of the present generation. The answer to the second is that the events connected with Jesus’ return (vv. 5–29) are like the budding of a fig tree that indicates the arr...

3857. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

“Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” Many of us can still remember television’s Jim Nabors as Private Gomer Pyle, USMC, his eyes closed, a broad smile creasing his face, weaving his head and shoulders back and forth as he said that phrase. Surprises always pleased Gomer. He accepted them as gifts. Maybe that’s because Gomer was easy to surprise. He was naïve and rather simple. His heart was pure and ...

3858. O Holy Nightmare

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

How have we managed to transform the Christmas season from an awe-filled consideration of "O Holy Night" into an awful "O holy nightmare"? Isn''t it time we rediscovered the real Christ of Christmas, the Christ who came (as that old revival saying put it) not to "see through you," but to "see you through"? "Be prepared." Jesus said it, Paul emphasized it, Matthew reiterated it, and eventually eve...

3859. On Time

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Advent challenges us to develop and deepen our sense of timing. Timing is everything. Well, if not everything, then at least almost everything. An Italian priest, Giovanni Caselli, developed the first commercial fax system between Paris and Lyons in 1865. He called his mysterious invention the pantelegraph. But nobody got it. Nobody used it. Caselli was simply too far ahead of his time. So the p...

3860. Watch!

Sermon

King Duncan

"Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (vs. 42). That is what is wrong with many of us today ”we have quit watching. Rather than living on tip-toe in an atmosphere of expectancy we are drowning in pessimism and despair. Even many devout Christians are prone to operate from fear rather than faith. That is why churches are faltering today. We are afraid. We have no f...

3861. Our Dependence upon God

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Props: Wear shoes that can be tied. Lesson: Good morning. (response) I've got a problem this morning. Look down at your shoes. (response) My shoes are not tied. What am I going to do? (response) But I don't know how to tie my shoes. What am I going to do? (response) You know how to tie shoes? (response) Who has shoes on that you had to tie this morning? (response) Did you tie your own shoes? (res...

3862. Advent 1

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

Litany Of Confession Leader: The shadows lengthen; the world hides in a winter’s sleep. All: Interrupt our lives. Leader: We plan our days; we move from event to event. All: Interrupt our lives. Leader: The poor cry for bread; we pretend not to hear. All: Interrupt our lives. Leader: We protect ourselves from those we fear. All: Interrupt our lives. A time for silent reflection Leader: May God’s...

3863. Prayer

Bulletin Aid

Stephen Brown

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. We do not know when you are coming. We gaze into our sky with anticipation with fear...with trepidation. We do not know when you are coming. We wonder if you will. The skies appear clear, but our vision is blurred. The air is choked with smoke and flame a poison in the air. Would we see you coming, Lord? Could we se...

3864. Advent 1

Bulletin Aid

Ready for Christmas? You've got to be kidding! Of course, I'm not ready! (We've only just passed Thanksgiving!) There's so much left to do ... Deciding Shopping Wrapping Mailing Decorating Baking And so little time in which to do it! Ready for Christ? Oh, that's different! Of course I am (I think). I'm living a good life. I'm honest Loving Charitable Religious (?) Humble (??) But am I what I sho...

3865. The Coming of the Lord is Near

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Show us Your mercy, O Lord; send us a sign of Your presence and love. People: Grant us Your salvation, Lord, for we are weary and worn. Leader: The Lord's Truth shall indeed be among us. People: God's Righteousness shall come from heaven to be in our midst. Leader: And there shall be peace to all who turn to God in their hearts. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collec...

3866. Advent 1

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Purple/Blue Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44 Theme: Readiness - "Ready or not, here I come." (Warning we give before the game of hide-and-seek; and at the beginning of Advent.) Words to Remember Beginning: "The early Christians did not say in dismay, 'Look at what the world has come to,' but in delight, 'Look who has come to the world.' " (author unknown) End: "It is of the essence o...

3867. Advent 1

Bulletin Aid

Theme: God's reliable unpredictability Exegetical note This passage comes toward the end of Matthew's version of the "Little Apocalypse" in Mark 13 and, like its source, emphasizes the unpredictability of the expected and desired parousia, and the consequent need for watchfulness and readiness. For Advent, the passage provides an excellent reminder that, despite the reliability of God's promises,...

3868. God's Reliable Unpredictability

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes This passage comes toward the end of Matthew's version of the "Little Apocalypse" in Mark 13 and, like its source, emphasizes the unpredictability of the expected and desired parousia, and the consequent need for watchfulness and readiness. For Advent, the passage provides an excellent reminder that, despite the reliability of God's promises, God acts in God's own good time, and there...

3869. Advent 1

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5 Though this passage may have been written by Isaiah, it appears to be out of context. It seems to better reflect the theology and mood of second or third Isaiah. Isaiah 1 is an indictment concerning the sinfulness of the people. The verses following our pericope pick up the theme of judgment. However, our text is a triumphant vision of the distant future whe...

3870. Advent 1

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The risen, ascended Lord, Jesus Christ, whose reign has begun, will return at the end of this age, to bring in the fullness of God's Kingdom and reign over all of the affairs of the earth. Be prepared! Wait! Watch! Wonder! Work! Walk! The First Sunday in Advent is the theological/thematic key to the entire year's preaching from the lectionary; it sets the stage, as it were, by d...

3871. Prepare: An Advent Play

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

Theme: Prepare for Christmas in the proper way. Advent is for repentance and change. Characters: Santa Claus (dressed in traditional Santa suit with beard and hat) John The Baptist (dressed in rough burlap material and sandals) Tone: Humorous, serious, provoking Setting/Props: Large Santa bag Wrapped presents Toys for Santa’s bag List The setting can be anywhere Approximate time: 7-8 minutes ...

3872. Philippe

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

Theme: Better to be awake and alert than apathetic and asleep Characters: Philippe (lazy) Mother (concerned) Father (disciplinarian) Wolf White Cross rescue workers Tone: Cynical, instructive Setting/Props: “Philippe” may be read with or without actors. The congregation may be invited to be a part of a children’s time as this play sets up the context for effective preaching in the sermon on the...

3873. Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

Theme: An alternative way to celebrate Christmas Characters: Narrator Jason Children (nonspeaking) Father Son Daughter Mother Player 1 Player 2 Mr. Brown Grandmother Mrs. Brown Letter Carrier Props: Basket Ball Table and chairs Eating utensils A-1 Sauce bottle Door Cake Packages Mail bag Cards Unicycle or bicycle Megaphone (Music plays in the background.) Narrator: This is a story about Jason,...

3874. The Greatest Show on Earth

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes: Why is it that the idea of meeting or knowing a celebrity (actor, musician, writer, etc.) something that we as people find so compelling? While they may have talents or money that we may not possess, they are still just like us, human beings. If I were to tell you that Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts were going to come visit you for a month, declare their undying friendship to you, s...

3875. Like A Thief

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: We can be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. Summary: Minny, a Christian woman, is preparing for bed as a thief enters. She mistakes the thief for Jesus coming back to take her to heaven. Dan, the thief, takes the opportunity to rob her of everything of value in the house. Playing Time: 4-5 minutes Setting: A neutral playing area that represents Minny's home, with a screen f...

Showing 3851 to 3875 of 4508 results