Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3951 to 3975 of 4943 results

3951. Easter Sunday

John 20:1-9

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... followers of Jesus stopped fleeing and their fear changed into faith. Gracious Lord, enable us to see that the hope of humanity begins with the empty tomb. Transform every part of our being from fear to faith. Mold our lives around the promise of the resurrection so that we will continue to live the truth that death no longer has power over us. Amen.

3952. When God Asks The Unreasonable

Genesis 22:1-19

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... us God ever makes such unreasonable requests. The next big surprise comes when Abraham obeys. He takes his young son to the mountain and, without telling Isaac why, has the boy help gather the firewood with which he will become a burnt offering. The story continues that when the sacrificial altar is completed, Abraham trusses the boy on it and prepares to kill him. Then as the father prepares to drive a knife through his son, God speaks again. (To paraphrase) "Abraham, do not harm your son. I see that you ...

3953. Followership

Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:12-17

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... over such a journey. That power belongs to the one who is our leader and whose followers we are. And when he infuses us with that power, that is when we know the same strange peace of God of which the poet spoke. It is that peace that continually looses our death grip on our lives and frees us to find our lives in giving them up. As followers, we are a pilgrim people -- never quite at our goal but always on the way, sustained by the love of Christ, strengthened by that exceedingly strange peace of ...

3954. How Blest Are Those Who Know Their Need Of God

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... be sufficient to fund the college education of all 61 children. Six years later, the students were in twelfth grade. All 61 of them! Not one had dropped out. Three had moved away, but they remained in touch with their benefactor, and the promise continued to hold for them as well. Their grades were far superior to those of their predecessors. In fact, one of the ironies of the situation was that some of the students qualified for and were awarded academic scholarships! Many of them accepted their benefactor ...

3955. Light From And For The East

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... to your observations and questions about other world religions and the bold, universal claims of the Christian faith. I want to think "out loud" (or should we say on paper?) about some of those issues, thus feeding two birds with one crumb: continuing our delightful conversation, and clarifying my own thinking on the matter, in light -- especially -- of the Epiphany story. You said that Paul's description of the people of ancient Athens, "I see how extremely religious you are in every way," might well ...

3956. Bad Timing

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

Thomas Long

... being executed. At that moment she knew what she must do. Her brother had died a cruel death at the hand of torturers in a run-down Afghan jail, and this injustice must be requited. She must exact revenge ... but Christian revenge. She was not wealthy, the doctor continued, but she marshaled all the money she could and sent it to this mission hospital. Her instructions were that the money was to be used to keep a bed free at all times for a sick or wounded Afghan. This was to be her revenge for her brother ...

3957. The Breath Of God

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Marc Kolden

... faith and sorrow had banished hope. Now Jesus' coming into their midst as Lord, bringing the peace of God, reversed all that. We might think that this was the climax, but actually it was only the beginning. "Peace be with you" is just the first sentence. Then Jesus continues, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." God the Father sent the only Son from heaven to save the world and now that Son says, "That's how I'm now sending you." Can you imagine those disciples? Here they were, huddled in fear ...

3958. Friends In Low Places

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

Marc Kolden

... by saying to the man, "Rise and walk," and the man did. And it says that when the crowds saw this, they glorified God. Now we get to Jesus calling Matthew and we see that the story isn't primarily about Matthew; it's about Jesus. Jesus is continuing on his journey, announcing the kingdom of God and calling people to follow him, when he comes up to Matthew. Probably Matthew had already heard of Jesus, since the crowds had spread the word, but it is clear that the focus of our passage is not on how Matthew ...

3959. The Man From Galilee II: The Transformation Of His Call

Matthew 4:18-22

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... was, or what this might have meant to him. But can you imagine what it might mean to you to hear the words, "From now on you are a disciple"? Those words transformed the fishermen. And those words have transformed us as well. May all of us continue in the transformation as we give our lives to Him who said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 1. William Barclay, The Mind of Jesus (Harper & Row Publishers: New York and Evanston, 1960), p. 65. 2. Walter L. Underwood, The Contemporary Twelve ...

3960. Anger - Eleven Ways To Blow Up, Seven Ways To Cool Off

Matthew 5:21-26

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

... is going bankrupt, he owes $75,000, and some of his property has been confiscated. In a fit of anger he walks out into the desert and starts kicking dirt and rocks and swearing vehemently at his predicament. Then calmly he gets back into the car and continues heading west. If you find yourself getting really angry, maybe you should follow Charlie's example: kick some dirt, kick a rock or a tree; only please don't kick the nearest person to you, or even the one who made you angry. Here a rule of thumb ...

3961. Gluttony - Living By Bread And The Word Of God

Mark 6:30-44, 1 Timothy 4:1-16

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

... another but don't follow his example of fasting for one another? We gather together on Wednesday evening for Soup and Sandwiches and then have a prayer meeting conducted with full stomachs. Maybe we ought to skip the food, gather for prayer, and then go home and continue our fasting. Such a suggestion may not be well received. I was once a member of a men's civic club that met on Monday evenings, beginning with a pot luck meal provided by the women of the local churches. As it happened, one November I was ...

3962. Pride: The Deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

... defending myself. I want to learn one thing more now. Please teach me about the ways of God." The master took the teakettle and starting pouring the student's cup full of tea. Soon the cup was full and began to spill over onto the saucer. But the master continued to pour the tea until it spilled over the saucer and then onto the floor. The student finally said, "Stop, stop, the tea is spilling over. The cup can't take any more." The master then looked at the student and said, "You are so full of yourself ...

3963. And Then Came The Angel

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... to be, but that is the way it often is. Parents say to their children, "Don't date that girl," or "Don't run around with that boy." That was the pressure Joseph felt. What would the people say if this good man with a fine reputation continued to be seen with this young woman who was inexplicably pregnant and not yet married? Matthew also says Joseph was unwilling to expose Mary to public shame. It was not Joseph's desire to disgrace and humiliate Mary. Joseph was sensitive to the horrible ways a divorced ...

3964. How Much Sin Is Too Much?

Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 5:17-20

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... do for the other things we love in our lives? Is it not enough that we pray occasionally, or must we love God with the kind of depth that would require our whole souls? Is it not enough that we know a few favorite verses of scripture, or must we continue to open our minds to the things we either have not heard or are not interested in hearing? The temptation is to call sin something else, to rationalize that whatever we said did not hurt anybody. It is true that many times what we say and do doesn't hurt ...

3965. Been There, Done That

Matthew 2:13-23

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... on the move. We are called to re-engage life in its most abundant form. And we are called to make a credible and exciting witness to those still stuck in Egypt. For while we may have been set free from the pain that was gripping us, others continue to suffer. They are overwhelmed by life's disappointments, drained by life's losses, and crushed by life's blows. Lest we forget and become arrogant and insensitive and apathetic, our call for this and every season is to be with the hurting among us, even as God ...

3966. In The Flesh

John 1:1-18

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... hello. Two church members drove grandchildren back and forth to school, ball games, and dances. Another church member mowed Jerry's yard and watered his flowers. Another person from the church transferred sick days from her account to Jerry's account so that Jerry would continue to receive a salary. During that time the people from the church got to know Jerry and came to appreciate him very much. On the day when Jerry's wife died, people from church were there. And the Word became flesh. 1. William Barclay ...

3967. Understanding The Holy Trinity

John 16:5-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... the king could not understand the Trinity. Patrick tried various explanations, but the king was not persuaded to accept the Trinity. In desperation Patrick plucked a shamrock and asked, "How many plants do I have here?" The king answered, "One." "Yes," continued Patrick , "but it has three leaves -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." This convinced the king. Shortly thereafter he was baptized. Personal relationships can also be an analogy. A person can be one person but at the same time three different persons ...

3968. The Fundamentals

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

When Vince Lombardi came to take over as coach of the Green Bay Packers, he held his first meeting with the players. He opened the training session by saying, "We will begin with the fundamentals of football." Holding up a football, he continued, "Now this is what you call a football." One of the veteran players responded, "Coach, will you please run through that again? I didn't get it!"

3969. Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12, Isaiah 11:1-16, Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... is the interpretive key. However, this is not a theoretical discussion of hermeneutical principles. Paul's purpose is to provide hope and encouragement for present and future challenges. The story of God's salvation in former times provides the needed sense of continuity, hope, and endurance which the church sorely needs. In keeping with this communal image, Paul appeals for unity in witness and worship. Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 In the wilderness John the Baptist heralds the approach of the kingdom of heaven ...

3970. Advent 4

Mt 1:18-25 · Rom 1:1-7 · Isa 7:10-17 · Ps 80

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... must extract from this passage is the obedience of Joseph to the voice of God in the face of rather questionable outward circumstances. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10-17 Sign language. Human beings are very insecure creatures who continually need reassurance. Many wives complain that their husbands seldom, if ever, say the reassuring words: "I love you." Words help but they must be reinforced by actions. The biblical narrative reveals numerous instances where anxious people sought a reassuring ...

3971. Ascension

Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53, Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... should wait until they have received the promised Spirit from on high. Christ led his disciples to Bethany and while he lifted his hands in blessing, he ascended to the Father. The disciples responded to these events with unsurpassed joy and praise, as they worshipped continually in the temple. Gospel: Matthew 28:19-20 Christ claims that all authority has been given to him by the Father. He commands his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the ...

3972. Ash Wednesday

Mt 6:1-6, 16-21 · 2 Cor 5:20 - 6:10 · Joel 2:1-2, 12-19 · Ps 51 · Ps 103

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... Sermon Title: Lent, A Time of Tears. Sermon Angle: Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Lent is not a happy season; it is a time to weep and mourn for our sins; it is a time to shed tears as we confess how we continue to crucify Christ. To be able to weep and mourn is a blessing because it shows our sorrow for our sins and indicates an openness to change. This is Ash Wednesday; ashes were considered a sign of repentance, grief and mourning. This is the time of tears but it ...

3973. Christ The King

Ephesians 1:15-23, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, Ezekiel 34:1-31, Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... to counter this notion with the assertion that the kingdom is come with the resurrection of Christ and the advent of the church. When Christ returns (the Parousia) the kingdom will be fully come. The battle of Christ and the forces of the Adversary will continue until the second coming. Are we fighting on the Lord's side so as to hasten the fulfillment of the kingdom? Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 1. Sermon Title: Estate Planning. Sermon Angle: To leave a legacy to those people and causes we cherish requires ...

3974. The Rain Of Bread

Exodus 16:1-36

Sermon

... and I drove to the jail to pick her up. She was so thin, she didn't even look like my daughter." At the end of telling this story, the man spoke of how God had sustained him through this entire ordeal, and still was sustaining him as the ordeal continued. He said, "Before, I believed in God. But now I have faith. I could not have gotten through without God."4 When God sent the manna it was meant to satisfy the physical hunger of the people, but above all it was meant to satisfy their spiritual hunger, that ...

3975. Easter 6

Acts 8:9-25, 1 Peter 3:8-22, Acts 17:16-34, John 14:15-31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... spirit of Christ going to Hades or Sheol, witnessing to the spirits of those who were disobedient during the time of Noah and the flood. He correlates this to Christian baptism which saves us by washing our consciences clean. Gospel: John 14:15-21 Jesus continues his farewell discourse, urging them to keep his commandments out of love. He will pray to the Father to send them another Counselor (to take the place of Jesus), referred to as the Spirit of Truth. Those who do not believe cannot receive the Spirit ...

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