Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4126 to 4150 of 4942 results

4126. The Rain Of Bread

Exodus 16:1-36

Sermon

There is nothing like heading out into the back country, carrying on your back everything you need to survive. Enjoying nature, listening only to the sounds of wildlife, having a bit of creation all to yourself. Of course, there is one downside to it all -- the food. Cans are out of the question, they're too heavy to carry. That leaves only the packaged, freezed-dried variety of food. The pictures on the outside of these packages look inviting, but the actual stuff is all texture and no taste. If there's ...

4127. Corpus Christi

Jn 6:51-58 · 1 Cor 10:16-17 · Deut 8:1-20 · Ps 116

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16 Deuteronomy came to light in the seventh century, during the reign of King Josiah, who instituted a religious revival. It comes in the form of discourses from the mouth of Moses, which bring to mind the goodness of the Lord in leading them through the wilderness and into the promised land. The people are called to respond to God's goodness by ratifying the covenant and serving the Lord. In this text, Moses exhorts his people as they are about to embark ...

4128. The Easter Season

Mt 28:1-8 · Mk 16:1-8 · Lk 24:1-10 · Jn 20:1-9

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

The Development Of The Season The resurrection of Jesus Christ is, of course, the focal point of the Christian faith. In the primitive church there was no special day singled out to celebrate the Lord's resurrection. Every Sunday was a mini-celebration of the Lord's victory. Since the resurrection occurred around the same time as the Jewish Passover, early Christians referred to the church's chief festival as the Pasca, the Greek word for the Passover. Jesus became the Passover Lamb who frees us from the ...

4129. Epiphany 7

Mt 5:38-48 · 1 Cor 3:10-11, 16-23 · Lev 19:1-2, 9-18 · Ps 119:33-40 · Ps 71 · Ps 62

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 A preeminent characteristic of God, according to the Pentateuch, is holiness. The Lord is in a class by himself; God is righteous, just, loving, and forgiving. God's people are likewise holy the Lord's. Their behavior must reflect this reality. They must love their neighbor as themselves because all belong to the Lord. Unfortunately, this love was constricted by a narrow definition of the neighbor a fellow Hebrew. Epistle: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 Paul ...

4130. Lent 3

John 4:1-26, Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:27-38, John 4:39-42, Isaiah 42:18-25

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7 (C, E); Exodus 17:3-7 (RC) The people of Israel cry out against Moses and God for bringing them out into the wilderness, where there is no water. Moses, fearing for his life, takes the problem to the Lord. God commands Moses to take the staff with which he struck the Nile, when the sea parted before them, and strike a rock. Water would flow forth. This place is called both Massah and Meribah. Massah means "test" and Meribah renders "to find fault." The disobedient ...

4131. Lent 5

John 11:1-16, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:1-17, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:12-14 God instructs Ezekiel to preach to the dry bones scattered over the valley floor and as he preaches to them they come together, as flesh and sinew cover them. The dry bones represent the people of Israel, who have been taken captive and live hopeless lives in a strange land. The message is that God will carry his people home and fill their lifeless carcasses with his Spirit. This word of hope helps lift the people from their depressed state. Epistle: Romans 8:8-11 ...

4132. Passion Sunday

Mt 26:14–27:66 · Phil 2:5-11 · Is 45:21-25; 50:4-9 · Ps 31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Isaiah 50:4-9a · Philippians 2:5-11 · Matthew 26:14--27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54 Roman Catholic: Isaiah 50:4-7 · Philippians 2:6-11 · Matthew 26:14--27:66 Episcopal: Isaiah 45:21-25 or Philippians 2:5-11 · Matthew (26:36-75) 27:1-54 (55-66) · Isaiah 52:13--53:12 Lutheran: Isaiah 50:4-9a · Philippians 2:5-11 · Matthew 26:1--27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54 Theme For Lenten Series: Christ Confronts His Enemies. On one level, his enemies are the priests, scribes and Pharisees. On a ...

4133. Proper 23

Exodus 32:1-33:6, Isaiah 25:1-12, Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The importance of accepting God's gracious invitation to the feast of life. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 32:1-14 Moses is meeting with the Lord on Mount Horeb and is away from the people for a long time. The people suspect that something perverse has happened to their leader and so they petition Aaron to make gods for them. Taking their jewelry, he fashions a gold calf and proclaims it the object of their worship. Seeing this unfaithfulness, God wants to destroy the people and make a nation from ...

4134. Proper 6

Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 10:1-42, Genesis 18:1-15, Exodus 19:1-25, Romans 5:1-11

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: God's people are commissioned for mission. God told Moses, as recorded in Exodus 19, that the Jews were to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. In the Gospel, the Lord empowers the apostles to go out and proclaim the gospel and minister in his name. That is our calling too. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 18:1-15 (C) Three men appear to Abraham as he sits by the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham extends gracious hospitality to them and one of the men reveals himself to be the ...

4135. The Great I AM

Sermon

Ronald Lavin

But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." He said further, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you': This is my name forever,and ...

4136. I Am The Teacher

Sermon

Ronald Lavin

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. ...

4137. I Am The Light Of The World

Sermon

Ronald Lavin

"I am the light of the world." -- John 8:12 (NRSV) "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." -- John 9:5 (NRSV) "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven." -- Matthew 5:14-16 (NRSV) ____________ Imagine that ...

4138. I Am The Door

Sermon

Ronald Lavin

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." -- John 10:7-11 (NRSV) ____________ Doors are interesting ...

4139. The Poor In Spirit

Sermon

John A. Terry

Matthew 5:1-12 When Jesus spoke these words, he had sat down with his disciples. These are not generic "words to live by" that get published in the Sunday magazine section. These are words Jesus spoke particularly to the disciples. That is why they went up the mountain to be alone. The word translated as "blessed" is commonly translated today as "happy." Robert Schuller wrote a book titled The Be Happy Attitudes. There is a joy the word implies. The problem with the word "happy" is that it is rooted in the ...

4140. The Righteous

Sermon

John A. Terry

I have never been to the Holy Land, but I have heard the land described. The "desert" in Palestine is not made up of sand dunes, but of parched, rock-filled crusty soil. It quickly turns to dust in the long dry seasons. This is an arid land where water was used only for the most essential needs. When the rain falls, the thirsty land is satisfied and in a few days the land rejoices with blossoms shooting up everywhere in beautiful array. Soon again the dry season returns, the harvest ends, and the problems ...

4141. When Imagination Replaces Memory

Isaiah 42:18-25

Sermon

Harold Warlick

One of the fascinating aspects of being human is our ability to create time. We have memories and can literally sit in the present but remember and live in the past. On the other hand, we also have imaginations and can literally live in the future. We can sit here and imagine what we're going to do as soon as worship is over. Most of our problems in life don't come from our imaginations. They come from our memories. The past presents us with a paradox. On the one hand, a lot of good things have happened to ...

4142. Invitation To Community

Mark 10:1-12

Sermon

William G. Carter

We have a problem today. Here we are, gathered at worship as the household of God. Through baptism we belong to a worldwide community of faith. Each time we gather, we have an opportunity to pray together and recommit ourselves to peace. Now that we are here, we have to deal with a troublesome and potentially divisive text from the Gospel of Mark. Some Pharisees put Jesus to the test by asking him what he thought about divorce. His response, in turn, has always put a peace-loving church to the test. Jesus ...

4143. Flesh For Our Life

John 6:25-59

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

Once again our Lord tells us, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven." "Bread of life" -- that metaphor sums up all that Jesus said and did. "Whoever eats of this bread will live forever," Jesus says. That "eating" metaphor about the "bread" metaphor describes our grasp of faith by which we appropriate for ourselves all that God-in-Christ has said and done for us. Now Jesus tells us more: "The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." That is what he said. And all that he ...

4144. Learning to Live Without Jesus

John 16:5-16, John 15:18--16:4

Sermon

William G. Carter

Everywhere you looked, you saw people in tie-dyed t-shirts. Mothers gave drinks of apple juice to their children, while men in gray pigtails sipped Budweiser and tossed the empties beneath somebody's car. Teenagers spread blankets on the asphalt and took naps in the summer sunshine. Middle-aged hippies danced freely throughout the Philadelphia parking lot. Hundreds of mourners spontaneously gathered outside the Spectrum to bid goodbye to rock guitarist Jerry Garcia. Whenever Jerry Garcia and the Grateful ...

4145. When We Feel God Has Moved And Left No Forwarding Address

Job 23:1--24:25

Sermon

Zan W. Holmes

There are times in our lives when we have a greater awareness of God's absence than we do of God's presence. Indeed, this is the experience which confronts Job in our text. In the midst of his suffering he has tried to lay his case before God. He goes forward and backward, to the left and to the right, seeking in every place to find God. To be sure, Job wants to find God because Job knows that he is an innocent sufferer, that he is an upright person. And since God is just, Job is confident that he would ...

4146. From Rejection To Redemption

Ruth 3:1-18

Sermon

Zan W. Holmes

Gloria Steinem has written a book titled Marilyn. It is based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, the Hollywood movie queen of the 1950s who lived an up and down life and eventually ended her life by committing suicide. In the book Gloria Steinem tells of a brief conversation that Marilyn Monroe had with her maid toward the end of her life. Marilyn said, "Nobody's ever gonna love me now, Lena. What good am I? I can't have kids. I can't cook. I've been divorced three times. Who would want me?" Her maid Lena said ...

4147. Epiphany 5

Isaiah 59:1-21, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 5:17-20

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

First Lesson: Isaiah 59:1-9a (9b-20) Theme: The Lord is Faithful Call To Worship Leader: Come, let us repent and lift our prayers before the Lord! People: But the Lord has not heard us and our pleas have not been answered. Leader: For we have all sinned and strayed away from God's paths. People: Then let us repent that once again we might know God's love and grace. Leader: For God has always heard; it was we who had gone our own ways. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, we thank You for ...

4148. A Reign Worth Any Sacrifice

Matthew 13:44-46

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes The first two parables in this selection form a pair and say essentially the same thing from two perspectives: God's coming Reign is like a treasure or rare jewel that is so invaluable that it is worth total sacrifice. Matthew's message in recording these two parables was probably an indirect exhortation to his contemporary Church to accept self-sacrifice willingly. Liturgical Color Green Suggested Hymns From God Can Nothing Move Me Jesus, Priceless Treasure Lord, Teach Us How To Pray Aright ...

4149. Proper 14

Matthew 14:22-36

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes Matthew's reworking of Mark's earlier story shows embellishment of detail and a special "spin" that makes it an allegory of the Church (i.e., boat) in his day, which was being "beaten" by the "stormy seas" of persecution. The story is both a testimony to the power of faith to permit believers to "tread upon the waters" of threatening, fearsome circumstances, and (if faith falters) a reassuring promise of Jesus' "rescuing" hand. Liturgical Color Green Suggested Hymns If God Himself Be For Me ...

4150. Grounds for Christian Courage

Matthew 10:1-42

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes As a part of his parting commission to his disciples, Jesus urges them not to fear on three (rather loosely related) grounds: (1) that what has been hidden (probably the Reign of God proclaimed, often obliquely, by Jesus) will be revealed; (2) that, compared with God's power and providence, nothing is fearsome; and (3) that the faithful will have an advocate in heaven before this God in the person of the Christ. Liturgical Color Green Suggested Hymns Lord Of Our Life Who Trusts In God, A ...

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