Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3901 to 3925 of 4936 results

3901. Look Ma, No Hands

Mark 6:7-13

Sermon

Mark Trotter

Jesus charged the disciples to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and only one tunic. Not even a change of clothes. When I preached this text before, I ended up preaching a sermon about St. Francis, because this is what Francis used as the first rule for his order, the Franciscans. He just took the words of Jesus' instruction to his disciples on their first missionary journey, and said, we will do this. There would be other rules ...

3902. Plain Talk

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Mark Trotter

Some months ago when Dan Burton and I were planning the order of worship for this Sunday, he suggested that he write an anthem on the Beatitudes for this service, since the gospel lesson for this morning, as you heard, is from the Gospel of Luke, and Luke's version of the Beatitudes. The only problem is that Luke's version of the Beatitudes is not the one that we are familiar with. The much more popular version of the Beatitudes is to be found in the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew, the Beatitudes serve as ...

3903. The Day Life Increased

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Mark Trotter

The Antiques Roadshow has become one of my favorite television shows. If you haven't seen it, you should know that it is simply a group of appraisers who travel around the country, rent out convention centers and civic auditoriums, and people by the thousands bring in some object they have found in their house, or at a swap meet, for appraisal. Someone will bring in an old clock, a watch, a vase, or a painting, almost anything. The conversation between the appraiser and the owner of the object is recorded ...

3904. A Discussion Among Angels

Matthew 24:36-44

Drama

Matthew Powell

Cast Storyteller The Archangel Michael The Archangel Uriel The Archangel Raphael The Archangel Gabriel (The Storyteller stands off to one side. Michael, Uriel, and Raphael are seated in the center and stand when they speak and remain standing. Gabriel sits slightly farther back from the others. He stands and comes forward when he finally speaks) Storyteller: A company of angels, returning from their various labors on earth, was sitting in friendly conversation. There were three of the company who seemed to ...

3905. History: His Story

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

There have been many who have sought to write a history of the world. Cavemen painted the story of their civilization on the walls of their home. Around 70 A.D., a Hebrew soldier named Josephus surrendered to the Roman army rather than die. Dead men tell no tales, and he said he wanted to live to tell the story of the fall of Jerusalem. Today, his history of the Jewish wars is an invaluable tool to historians. Many of you are familiar with Will Durant. For half a century, he and his wife wrote the multi- ...

3906. Christmasize Your Life

Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

(This first section is meant for you to personalize for your own context. Find local parallels to the following images, and provide pictures - if possible - of local landmarks for your people to see in a new way.) Washington State is evergreen country. In some parts of the world like the Pacific Northwest, deciduous trees are but random presences in nature. That's why this stretch of interstate was so striking. Driving along the freeway on a grey November afternoon, we passed an unnaturally large expanse ...

3907. Easter 6

Psalm 66:1-20, Acts 17:16-34, 1 Peter 3:8-22, John 14:15-31

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

TEXTS FROM ACTS AND PSALMS If there is logic to the selection or combination of these texts, it is not readily discernible, even by stretching one's imagination. The sermon-speech by Paul in Acts works out a kind of "crisis-theology," which insists that necessary changes are currently demanded by the work of God in Jesus Christ. The psalm is a profound expression of piety, filled with vivid imagery and recalling the goodness of God both to Israel and to the psalmist. Acts 17:22-31 - "The Changing of the ...

3908. Epiphany 5

Psalm 112:1-10, Isaiah 58:1-14, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 5:17-20

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Both Old Testament texts underscore the importance of integrating faith into all aspects of our lives. Isaiah 58:1-12 explores the inherent interrelationship between worship and ethics, while Psalm 112:1-9 (10) functions in praise of godliness. Isaiah 58:1-9 a (9 b-12) - "Worship and Ethics" Setting. Isaiah 58:1-12 is a critique of worship. The opening line is a question by the worshiper, asking why God is absent from worship or at the very least why God is not responding to acts of ...

3909. Proper 21

Exodus 17:1-7, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32, Philippians 2:1-11, Psalm 78:1-72

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Exodus 17:1-7 is the first account of God providing Israel with water from a rock. Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 is a historical psalm that recounts God's merciful guidance during Israel's wilderness wandering. Exodus 17:1-7 - "Is the Lord in Our Midst or Not?" Setting. Exodus 17:1-7 is one of the early wilderness stories. The Lord has delivered Israel from Egypt in Exodus 15 and the once enslaved people now have the responsibility of political freedom without the benefit of a country, because ...

3910. Don't Worry! Be Happy!

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a familiar story of a man who was a worrier. It showed in his face and his posture. He seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. However, one day this man changed. He had a bounce to his step. It was as if he had not a care in the world. A friend asked what had happened. “Well,” he confided, “as you know I have always been one to worry. I have decided that this is both unwise and unhealthy, so I have hired someone to do my worrying for me.” “But how much does this cost you?” the ...

3911. FEAR NOT! You've Got To Be Kidding!

Luke 1:26-37

Sermon

John E. Harnish

It's an obvious understatement to say we live in a day of great fear. The language of "terror" has become the motivating mantra of our day. I did a Google search for the word "fear," and I came up with a fascinating site called "The Phobia List"—pages of phobias, A to Z. Everything from Alliumphobia—the fear of garlic and Lachanophobia—the fear of vegetables to Zemmiphobia—the fear of the great mole rat. It even lists Ecclesiophobia—the fear of church and, get this, Homilophobia—the fear of sermons! You ...

3912. Gift of Positive Thinking

2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

For generations the "power of positive thinking" has been touted throughout our land. It is among the most popular and utilized thoughts and themes we have ever known. Cutting across all strata of social and economic patterns it is generally a principle espoused. While the influence generated is obvious, secular and less than desirable ways of life have utilized it. It is frequently taken from a Christian basis and becomes a means to achieve ends that at a minimum are questionable. Of course, there are ...

3913. Rags and Robes

Micah 1:1-7; 2:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Disciples of Jesus Christ are in the business of making rags into robes. We need to clothe people with integrity (a robe) even when they are dressed in rags. In the "affluent '80s" the rich got richer at a rapacious rate, while our increasingly stratified society saw the poor get much poorer at an equally alarming speed. Slowly, we became aware that our economic system was producing a growing underclass that had nowhere to go, nowhere to live except the streets. Even the most career-obsessed, social- ...

3914. It’s Time to Grow Up

Ephesians 4:14-15

Sermon

James Merritt

I want you to listen again to two lines in this song. Between who you are and who you could be Between how it is and how it should be If that tension is in your life, I am going to dare you to move. I am going to dare you to move to the next level of spiritual growth in your life – to move from where you are now to where you could be on the road to both spiritual life and spiritual maturity. What I want to say to many of you today is something that we all tell our kids (or one day you will tell your kids) ...

3915. American Idol

Exodus 20:4-6

Sermon

James Merritt

With 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq, suicide bombers, Osama Ben Laden, need I say more? Homeland Security is maybe the number one concern facing this nation right now. We have already established that the Ten Commandments are all about Homeland Security, because the greatest way to secure the homeland is to secure the homes in that land. That is exactly what the Ten Commandments were given for. Remember these are not arbitrary rules; these were family laws. They were laws given by God to His family (the Nation of ...

3916. Hotline to Heaven

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

James Merritt

There was a minister in a certain church who would call the children down to the front of the church every Sunday and tell them a story. One time he brought a telephone to illustrate the idea of prayer. He said, "Now kids, you know how you talk to people on the telephone and you don't see them on the end of the other line, but you know they are there?" The children nodded their head yes. He said, "Well talking to God is like talking on the telephone. He's on the other end of the line even though you can't ...

3917. Unlocking the Power of God

Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2

Sermon

Clayton A. Lord

What can faith do? It can part a raging sea and allow a nation to walk through. What can faith do? It can knock down the walls of a fortified city so that God can prove a point. What can faith do? It can single out a woman who follows God's lead and protect her from certain death. Today many people are into "reality" television shows where individuals are put to extreme tests. We watch them because we like to see others battle against great odds and come out victorious. When an underdog comes out on top, ...

3918. No Room for Jesus

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

After some last-minute Christmas shopping, Clara Null was rushing her grandkids into the car. As she was closing the door, four-year-old Jason said, “Grandma, Susie has something in her pocket.” He reached into Susie’s pocket and pulled out a new red barrette. Though she was tired, Clara knew it was important for Susie to take the barrette back to the store, apologize to the manager, and put the item back where she had found it. So, they did just that. Later, they stopped for a few quick groceries. At the ...

3919. No Small Parts

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

Characters (in order of appearance) First Child (Lead Angel) Second Child (Lead Shepherd) Third Child (Mary) Fourth Child (Second Angel) Fifth Child (Third Angel) Joseph Director (Mrs. Cassidy) “Real” Joseph (RJ) Mother (offstage voice) Costumer Stage Manager Narrator Second Shepherd Third Shepherd Angel Choir Props Scripts Robe Angel costume parts Sewing accessories Notes This is another play that would work well with multigenerational casting. The Director, the “Real” Joseph, the Stage Manager, and the ...

3920. Every Day God Encourages

Acts 4:36-37; 11:22-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

There was a young musician whose first major concert was poorly received by the critics. The famous Finish composer Jean Sibelius, happened to be a friend of this young man and consoled him by patting him on the shoulder and saying, "Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have erected a statue to a critic." (1) We've talked about how Every Day God Empowers Us, Equips Us and Enables Us. Today we're going to talk about how Every Day God Encourages us. Like that young musician who Sibelius ...

3921. For Comfort, Guidance and Strength

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Tommy Lasorda, long time manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was one of those colorful figures in baseball. He was also one of the few who believed in the inspirational value of the pep talk. Sometimes it worked. And then, sometimes it didn't. In 1985 Lasorda welcomed his Dodgers to Florida for spring training and immediately launched into a pep talk with a "patriotic" theme. Tommy said to his troops, "If the president of the United States informed me I had to take twenty-five guys to Nicaragua to fight ...

3922. Motivated for Life

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Sermon

King Duncan

Sometimes I think we make it too easy to join the church. We’ve set the bar too low. Anybody can get in. Even sinners like you . . . and me. Suppose we required people to walk on hot coals as an initiation into the church? Maybe people would take church membership more seriously. I thought about fire-walking when I read an item from Adam Horowitz’s book, Dumbest Moments in Business History. Horowitz tells about a group of Burger King employees who went on a corporate retreat to Key Largo, Florida back in ...

3923. Eye Opening Faith

John 9:1-41

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Years ago, I remember hearing a speaker or reading an article about the Wycliff Bible translators in Africa. They always used the local people to help them translate the Scripture. In one particular area, the people were helping but without a whole lot of enthusiasm. No one even seemed to even be the least bit interested in the story of Jesus. Until they came to this passage and then the whole village began to buzz with excitement. The translators couldn't understand why, so they asked and were admonished ...

3924. Being the Lord's Instrument

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

It’s a terrible thing to believe that nobody needs you. Have you ever had that feeling? That you’ve been put on the shelf and all that is left now is for you to just sit there - to be present, but not to mean anything? It’s also a terrible thing to believe that you’ve lost your influence; nobody pays any attention to you anymore. Unlike E. F. Hutton - when you speak, nobody seems to listen, Moses must have been plagued with that thought throughout the Exodus journey. Over and over again, the Israelites ...

3925. God’s Providence: The Long and Short of It

Genesis 45:1-15

Sermon

David J. Kalas

We human beings are naturally fond of happy endings. We have an innate sense of the way things ought to be, and that part of us is profoundly satisfied when things turn out that way. The episode that we read today from the story of Joseph is a classic happy ending. It's a beautiful scene. The nearly blameless hero of the story, Joseph, has been finally rewarded for his wisdom and faithfulness, exalted to a high position of authority and prestige. After years of unjust suffering, he is comfortably situated ...

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