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Showing 376 to 400 of 1409 results

376. Proper 9

Galatians 6:1-10, 2 Kings 5:1-27, Luke 10:1-24

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Kings 5:1-14 General Naaman of Syria is healed of leprosy by obeying Elisha's order to bathe in the Jordan. The confession of faith by an unknown Jewish slave girl in the home of Syria's chief of staff results in the cure of leprosy for her master, Naaman. On the basis of the confession Naaman goes to Israel. When Elisha the prophet orders him to wash in the Jordan seven times, he goes off in a rage feeling insulted. But his aides convince him to stay. Naaman then dips himself ...

377. As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Steve Burt

A man got out of the Navy and planned to attend college. Before departing for the college town, though, he and his wife stopped by his parents' house in their old hometown so they could pick up a few items he'd left there in the attic -- pictures from school days, bowling trophies, a high school letter sweater, and a coin collection. The trouble came when the man couldn't find the coin collection that had been his joy growing up. He had collected nearly every Lincoln Head penny from 1909 on, including a ...

378. Advent 3

James 5:7-12, Isaiah 35:1-10, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10 A message of promise and hope comes to the captive children of Israel. Yahweh is going to free them from their oppression and open a road through the parched desert to the holy city of Jerusalem. The writer (not Isaiah) poetically pictures the entire creation participating in the redemption of God's people as the desert springs to luxuriant life, free of ravenous beasts. In this second exodus from the land of captivity to the promised land, the redeemed leave their ...

379. Baptism of The Lord

Mt 3:13-17 ·Acts 10:34-48 · Is 42:1-9

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Is 42:1-9 · Acts 10:34-43 · Mt 3:13-17 Roman Catholic: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17 Episcopal: Is 42:1-9 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17 Lutheran: Is 42:1-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17 Seasonal Theme: The Holy Spirit is prominently featured in the Epiphany Season pericopes. The Spirit does not act in isolation but works to create and sustain the spiritual community. Each week we will examine a different aspect of the Spirit's presence in Christian community. ...

380. 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

Theme: Christ our king. In the Ezekiel lesson, God is the loving Shepherd-King of Israel, gathering the lost, comforting the injured. In the 1 Corinthians text, Christ triumphs over his enemies, especially the power of death. In the Gospel, Christ judges and separates those who are his sheep from those who are not. The key determinant consists of attitudes and actions toward the weak and needy ones. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 The people of Israel were destroyed. The nation was no ...

381. The Waste In Comparison

Genesis 37:1-11, 12-36

Sermon

Grandparents are some of the most well-balanced people on the face of the earth. They have to be. After all, they have to spend the same amount of time with each grandchild. They have to get something for every grandchild on every trip. And, of course, Christmas gifts must at least look like they cost exactly the same. Jacob has a long way to go in mastering that finesse. He picked a favorite wife and he chose a favorite son. Joseph was the special son who got extravagant gifts and extra attention. He got ...

382. God Sends Us Ahead

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

This is it. The moment we've all been waiting for. The moment when all the people who thought you'd never amount to anything watch you come out on the stage. The spotlight hits you. The audience stands and the entire hall reverberates with their applause. This is that moment when a man dressed in the finery of the Egyptian court makes himself known to his impoverished brothers. "It's me, Joseph! It's me! Remember me? The brother you threw into a pit? Don't you remember me, Judah? You suggested that you ...

383. Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

Exodus 1:1-22, 2:1-10

Sermon

Moses was a master of masquerade! He lived a good portion of his life in disguise. From the time he was three months old he went into hiding. At three months he was placed in a basket among the Nile reeds. The infant princess Elora Danan, in the movie Willow, was placed in a basket made of river sticks which quickly became a boat. The little boat was pushed off from the shore seconds before the Queen's death dogs converged on the child's caretaker. Her basket was an escape to a safe land. Moses' basket, ...

384. Going Through The Waters

Exodus 13:17--14:31

Sermon

I suppose when we hear this passage about the parting of the Reed Sea, many of us cannot help but recall that scene in the movie The Ten Commandments. There is Moses, played by Charlton Heston, in a flowing black robe, long hair blowing in the wind, and his arms lifted up with one hand holding the staff that God had given him. The sea suddenly heaves and parts, creating a path with rolling walls of water on either side. Then, Israel marches through on dry land, barely ahead of the pursuing Egyptian army. I ...

385. Epiphany 4

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, Micah 6:1-8, Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Micah 6:1-8 God brings his chosen people to a cosmic court where even the mountains and hills bear witness. The charge: the people had forgotten the Lord's mighty works of redemption and the wealth of past blessings. In verse three he puts them on the witness stand to make their case but they apparently have nothing to say. Therefore, God presents his case, detailing his acts of mercy and deliverance as he brought them out of Egypt and into the promised land. Though guilt is ...

386. Christmas 2

Mt 2:13-23 · Jn 1:1-18 · Eph 1:3-14 · Jer 31:7-14 · Is 61:10--62:3 · Ps 147

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14 God proclaims through his prophet a message of hope, comfort, and national revival. The time of the Babylonian captivity would come to an end and the people would come back to Zion rejoicing. God lavishes comfort on this people, whom he allowed to be punished. Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3 The prophet exalts in the restoration of the nation and the cult, which becomes also his personal salvation. The joy he feels is like that of the bride and the groom, as ...

387. The Babel Disaster -- You Are There

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

July 25, 1982 Comment: Up to this time, I had tried to handle thestory sermons myself. With the encouragement shown for mydramatic efforts of the earlier weeks that summer, I decidedto try to involve the congregation in a more direct way. That year, a large hotel in a major U. S. city hadcollapsed, killing scores and injuring hundreds. I saw thestory in a periodical which, unfortunately, I did not keep.The first interview in the script, the woman's experience,comes from that. With a few bits remembered ...

388. On Sacrificing Others

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

August 15, 1982 Comment: To get an unusual angle on their story,storytellers sometimes take on the persona of someone in orclose to the event they are describing. The following look at the story of Abraham's sacrificeof his son Isaac comes from a neighbor who lived in thatregion, a practitioner of religion and life as it wasunderstood by the indigenous inhabitants. Dramatically, the pastor can read it out loud as if hewere writing it, as I did. Or he can introduce it and letsomeone from the congregation ...

389. The Babel Disaster - You Are There

Genesis 11:1-9

Drama

Jerry Eckert

Comment: Up to this time, I had tried to handle the story sermons myself. With the encouragement shown for my dramatic efforts of the earlier weeks that summer, I decided to try to involve the congregation in a more direct way. That year, a large hotel in a major U. S. city had collapsed, killing scores and injuring hundreds. I saw the story in a periodical which, unfortunately, I did not keep. The first interview in the script, the woman's experience, comes from that. With a few bits remembered from that ...

390. Can Christians Dance?

Sermon

William G. Carter

Mark 2:23--3:6 (C, RC) Mark 2:23-28 (L) A few years ago, I was asked to serve as the worship leader at a regional church conference for teenagers. The enthusiastic recruiter told me about the wonderful experience I could expect from the gathering. "Every summer," she said, "the conference brings together about a hundred or so young people at a camp that has no swimming pool. We gather during the dog days of August. The conference is so much fun, nobody misses the pool!" My assignment was to preach sermons ...

391. With Our Heads In The Clouds

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

John A. Stroman

Then a cloud overshadowed them... -- Mark 9:7 The crowds were gone. Jesus was alone with his disciples. They sat around the campfire enjoying its warmth as the evening lengthened. They were gazing at the fire in silence, occasionally poking a stick at the logs in order to turn them over, causing the flames to shoot up. Jesus broke the silence: "What are people saying about me?" The disciples looked at one another, waiting for someone to answer. Peter spoke up, "What do you mean?" "Who do the people say ...

392. On Sacrificing Others - Dramatic Monologue

Genesis 22:1-19

Drama

Jerry Eckert

Comment: To get an unusual angle on their story, storytellers sometimes take on the persona of someone in or close to the event they are describing. The following look at the story of Abraham's sacrifice of his son Isaac comes from a neighbor who lived in that region, a practitioner of religion and life as it was understood by the indigenous inhabitants. Dramatically, the pastor can read it out loud as if he were writing it, as I did. Or he can introduce it and let someone from the congregation read it. ...

393. The Wisemen

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

I hate it when Christmas is over. There's so much good music, such tasty foods, so much color and warmth. And presents! I love presents! I wish we celebrated all twelve days of Christmas. I could be dissuaded from that last enthusiasm if it meant that I would be given all the presents from that funny Christmas carol: 22 turtle doves 30 French hens 36 calling birds 40 gold rings 42 geese a'laying 42 swans a'swimming 40 maids a'milking 36 ladies dancing 30 lords a'leaping 22 pipers piping 12 drummers ...

394. Amazing Grace

1 Peter 3:15

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Theme: Grace. Visual Aid: A blank piece of paper and a box of crayons. As the children note the blank sheet of white paper I have placed on the floor in front of them I ask, "Does anyone here like to draw?" Grins break out on their faces, heads nod affirmatively, and some hands go up. "I see some of you raising your hands. What about the rest of you? If you like to draw, raise your hand." Immediately every child on the chancel steps has a hand raised, some of them flailing rather wildly to indicate the ...

395. Help Wanted

Exodus 4:1-17

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: The "want ad" section of the newspaper. Lesson: Discipleship; trust; courage. Text: "Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak." But he said, "O, my Lord, please send someone else." "Have any of you ever gone to look for a job?" I ask the assembled children. My question brings looks of surprise to their faces, along with soft chuckles from the congregation. "Probably ...

396. Second Sunday after the Epiphany

John 1:43-51

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting Leader: We have found the Savior! The one expected and foretold by the Old Testament is Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth. Come and see. Congregation: Lord, people have wondered whether anything good can come out of such a place. Leader: Jesus knows your hearts. Come and see. Congregation: I need for someone to know me, from my outward behavior to the depths of my soul. Leader: Jesus knows every moment of your life, and can lead you into an amazing future. Come and see. Congregation: Almighty God ...

397. Holy Arithmetic

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Donald Macleod

First Series Up-Dating Out-Dated "Holy" After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" ...

398. How Do You Remain Religious?

Mark 7:1-23

Sermon

Donald Macleod

Second Series Questions Jesus Provokes Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and ...

399. Mission Ready!

Mark 6:7-13

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

Picture yourself starting a brand new project. You might want to call it mission. In a parish where most of the communicants were government workers, civilian and military, I was always hearing the word, mission. I had understood mission in a religious context. I learned that mission could have a broader meaning. Life is mission. Business is mission. Career is mission. Mission is a good word. It suggests vision that is supported by good planning. Define your mission clearly. State its purpose briefly. ...

400. What’s a Sunday For?

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

The text is one you memorized in kindergarten. It’s one of the Ten Commandments. However, what we just heard from the lips of Jesus is his own unique interpretation: “Keep holy the Sabbath day ... The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” That text refers to the day you and I observe as Sunday. And so, I am asking, “What’s A Sunday For?” It is of great interest to me how many Christians think the Sabbath Commandment is about work, while others think it is about rest. What is of even greater ...

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