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Showing 4001 to 4025 of 4936 results

4001. Lent 3

John 4:1-26

Sermon Aid

COMMENTARY Exodus 3:1-15 (C), Exodus 3:1-8b, 10-15 (L). Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 (RC) Moses is called to deliver God's people from bondage in Egypt. While tending his father-in-law's sheep, Moses is called by Yahweh to return to Egypt to lead out his oppressed people. First Yahweh must get Moses' attention by having a bush burn without burning up. Because God is present, Moses is ordered to remove his sandals, for he is on holy ground. Wherever God exists, the place becomes sacred. Yahweh tells Moses that he is ...

4002. When God Provides, It’s a Manna Miracle James G. Cobb

Exodus 16:1-36

Sermon

It was really an unusual story the one I heard that day. I was used to people occasionally coming in off the street to talk. Every day in parish ministry you never know what that particular day will be like. The woman, mid-thirties, came in and asked if I had just a few minutes to listen to her story. She said she didn’t go to church and was not affiliated with any denomination. She was a school teacher and in her teachers’ lounge at school a number of people mentioned our congregation and now she had to ...

4003. Managing Our Memories

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Leonard W. Mann

[Paul reports, concerning Jesus] When he had given thanks, he broke [the bread] and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." Once again we approach the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Once again we hear Jesus say, "Do this in remembrance of me." Join me now, if you will, for a few moments as we think together about an aspect of ...

4004. Searching for Peace

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

The motto of the Apollo II flight was "We came in peace for all mankind." This phrase was upon the plaque deposited on the surface of the moon. The flight had landed on what is known as the "Sea of Tranquility." Armstrong and Aldrin found a tranquil and peaceful scene on the moon because there had never been any humans there prior to them. No one before them had had a chance to disturb the moon. As I was preparing this message I asked my teenage daughter what the word "peace" meant to her. She replied ...

4005. Security: Deeply Personal

Ezekiel 34:1-31

Sermon

Christian unity proclaims security in a personal King, Jesus the Christ! The whole concept of security has taken on new connotations since the Second World War and especially with the news other nations besides the United States have the atomic bomb. Relatively speaking, it has not been too many years that individuals or even nations could cross mountains and/or oceans to gain security from enemies. Our own nation, for generations, was free from direct interference of the ongoing wars and intrigues of ...

4006. Kingdoms In Conflict

Daniel 2:24-49

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

There are two groups in our culture self confident enough to make jokes about themselves--- lawyers and rednecks. The following story came from a self-identified redneck. He says that a fellow redneck over in the Ozark Mountains died. His redneck widow went to the local newspaper to have an obituary notice printed. The editor explained that it would cost 50 cents per word. She thought a moment and then said, "Print this—‘Billy Bob died.’" "Wait a minute," said the editor. "We have a seven word minimum." " ...

4007. Which Jesus? This Jesus!

Acts 17:1-9

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

"... This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." A conductor said to the Lt. Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, as he was boarding a train, "Go right up the steps, sir, turn left, and take a seat." But the Lt. Governor turned right instead of left and found himself in an empty car. He had just settled himself down when some twenty people, all dressed exactly alike, came in the car. The conductor said, "Sir, I think you’ll want to move into the other car. You see, these people are all from the ...

4008. Claim Your Ministry

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

Robert Bachelder

"but whoever would be great among you must be your servant." - Matthew 20:26b Augustine wrote: "So deep has human pride sunk us that only divine humility can raise us." This point was not lost on St. Martin, the famous soldier-saint of France. The story goes that one day he was praying and there appeared to him a figure robed like a king with a jeweled crown and gold-embroidered shoes. The voice said to him: "Martin, recognize him whom you see. I am Christ. I am about to descend to the earth and I am ...

4009. What Are You Going to Do About Death?

Mt 10:28 · Lk 12:4

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

Emerson once wrote words that sound almost like an invitation to death: And now my chains are to be broken; I shall mount above these clouds and opaque airs in which I live ... Life will no more be a noise; this day shall be better than my birthday; for then I became an animal; now I am invited into the (experience) of the real. - The Poet Recently a college student wrote me, "I think it is probable that the death of the body implies the total cessation of being." This fear is not only a problem for ...

4010. Double Citizenship

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

Jesus had attacked the orthodox Jewish leaders by telling the story of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32). The Jewish leaders are the son who did not do the father’s will. Then he told the story of the wicked husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-46). Again, the religious leaders are the bad guys! In the story of the King’s feast (Matthew 22:1-14), they are the condemned guests who turn down the invitation. In the Scripture for today, we see the Jews launching their counterattack - they go at him by asking him ...

4011. Getting Under Your Neighbor's Skin

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

I have a friend who used to be a city judge. One day he said to me, "I want you to come to my courtroom and watch our next dog case." "What in the world is a dog case?" I asked. He smiled and replied, "Periodically a person is charged with having a dog which because of its incessant barking is a public nuisance." "But what," I asked, "could be interesting about that kind of case?" "It's more than interesting," he said. "It's fascinating. I will have five or six neighbors present sworn testimony that the ...

4012. The Stepfather of God

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

When I meet with a couple in preparation for their baby's baptism, I always ask this question: Have you prepared a will and have you specified in it who would rear your child if you were removed from the picture? Young parents don't like to even think about such a possibility, but life's uncertainties make it necessary. It's a tough question. Whom do you trust enough to rear your precious child? God had to answer that question when he decided to send his son Jesus to planet earth. God had to select a ...

4013. Needed: Fidelity Insurance

Ephesians 5:22-33

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

An office telephone rang one day and a receptionist answered. On the other end of the line a female voice asked, "Is this the Fidelity Insurance company?" "Yes it is," the receptionist replied. "May I help you?" The caller said, "I hope so. I want to talk with someone about having my husband's fidelity insured." The surprised receptionist tried to explain that this was not the kind of insurance that Fidelity handled. Not even Lloyds of London offers that kind of policy. But wouldn't it be wonderful if ...

4014. Getting on the Active List

John 1:35-42

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

Popular talkshow hostess Oprah Winfrey has lots of influence. She has 15 to 20 million daily viewers. Evidently, she has the power to create a best-seller. Since she has started recommending books on her show, sales of the titles chosen have skyrocketed. For example, the first book she recommended, a novel entitled "The Deep End of the Ocean," had only sold about 100,000 copies. Since being featured on her program, 850,000 copies have been snapped up, propelling it to the top of the New York Times best- ...

4015. The Vicarious Servant

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Donald Macleod

The beloved English cleric, Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, wrote a poem, titled The Unutterable Beauty, which makes appropriate hearing on Good Friday: When Jesus came to Golgotha, they hanged him to a tree; They drove great nails in hands and feet and made a Calvary. They placed on him a crown of thorns; red were his wounds and deep, For those were crude and cruel days, and human flesh was cheap. When Jesus came to Birmingham, they simply passed him by; They never hurt a hair of him; they only let him die. ...

4016. The Right Spirit Within Us ...

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Durwood L. Buchheim

Today, in our Old Testament journey to Easter, we make a significant adjustment both in time, geography, and attitude. We are at that momentous year of 587 B.C. (or slightly beyond) when the country of Judah is no more. The beautiful temple, built in the great days of King Solomon is no more. This holy, awesome temple has been sacked and its priceless art treasures carried off to the wicked country of Babylon. The monarchy, reaching back to the golden days of King David is no more. The holy city of ...

4017. Blessed With Peace

John 14:15-31

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

This week two thoughts were foremost in my mind. One thought was quite normal for a preacher as well as a basic necessity. What shall I emphasize Sunday morning when I am using for my text the words of Jesus which he spoke on his last night upon earth to his disciples? "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you ..." The other thought was quite different. I remembered that 31 years ago last Wednesday I was ordained into the ministry at the fiftieth anniversary of Trinity Church. After my father gave ...

4018. The Final Farewell

Luke 24:50-53, Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

George Bass

The Ascension of our Lord used to be celebrated universally and dramatically. Some churches had special holes in their roofs that were used on Ascension Day; when the words were read - "While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven" - a likeness of the risen Lord would be hauled up from the floor of the nave to and through the roof and out of sight of the people worshiping below. The same hole was used on the Day of Pentecost when, in some of these same churches, roses were ...

4019. Francis of Assisi

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Drama

Michael L. Sherer

"The message of Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense ..." 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Characters: Lector Announcer Antagonist Protagonist (Participants enter and take their places in the chancel. As they come forward, the congregation sings the hymn "Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated." When the hymn is completed, the drama begins.) LECTOR: The message about Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved, it is God’s power. For the scripture says, "I ...

4020. Man, Where Are You?

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Alton F. Wedel

The story of the fall of Adam and Eve disturbs a lot of people, raises many questions, and poses many problems. How can anyone who lives in this advanced society with our advanced technology and our unlimited horizons believe in talking serpents? • Or with our advanced theology how are we to understand a God who hangs our fate in trees? • Or when we have passed the finals and the orals and have gained all wisdom and all knowledge, how can anybody be this stupid? • Or how could God be so harsh as to impose ...

4021. Having to Stay When You Want Out

Titus 2:1-15

Sermon

Harold Warlick

One of the difficult aspects for many people during the Christmas season is travel. Christmas is certainly no longer “over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go.” Over fifty percent of all Americans now live over 500 miles from the place of their childhood roots. Going “home” for Christmas now means arriving at the airport an hour early, lugging presents to the UPS pick-up, renting a car, hoping you can get through the two-and-a-half hour layover in some big city airport, avoiding ...

4022. Blind Man's Bluff

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

Who would believe it? Saul, the primary punk adversary of the followers of the way, blind in Damascus? Saul, the instigator of Stephen’s stoning and death, the one who breathed out murderous threats against the followers of Jesus, now in Damascus in a spiritual safe house? Is this a bluff? Could this be a trick? Could this be a game concocted by the enemies of Jesus to lure us into a trap? How could a man who was feared by so many now be a blind, helpless squatter at a house on a street called Straight? ...

4023. Real Religion

Micah 6:1-8

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Micah 6:8..."He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Familiar words. Perhaps you memorized them in Sunday School in years past, or perhaps you saw them on the wall of the Library of Congress. (They are inscribed there.) They are an ancient answer to the modern acronym that Christian youngsters wear on tee-shirts, bracelets, and necklaces: WWJD - What would Jesus do? These few words spell it ...

4024. The Lord's Prayer: Our Father

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

David E. Leininger

When I was a boy, our church had a summer camp. For one week every summer, we had the opportunity to get out of the heat of Baltimore, to play, to swim, to enjoy good friends, and to learn more about the Lord. After all, it was a church camp. Prior to the experience each year, all those who were registered to participate were given instructions about what to bring, what not to bring, and so on. And one of the items that was listed as absolutely to be included was a blank postcard. You see, the second ...

4025. The Lord's Prayer: "Thy Will Be Done"

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

David E. Leininger

"THY WILL BE DONE." GOD'S will. What is God's will? Do YOU know what God's will is? Lots of folks think they do, but I wonder. I hear that Pat Robertson is about to spend $1.4-million because he is convinced that President Clinton's Health Plan is NOT God's will. Randy Shilts died last week. Randy was a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle who wrote the best-seller, And the Band Played On,(1) the story of the inception of the AIDS epidemic in America. Randy died of AIDS. He was gay. Some folks would ...

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