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Showing 401 to 425 of 975 results

401. Epiphany

Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-13, Psalm 72:1-20, Isaiah 60:1-22

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

Call to Worship Give homage to the Christ. Bring him your treasures and offer him your gifts. Prayer of Confession God of justice and peace, for some of us it is difficult to determine whether we are among the oppressors or the oppressed. We declare our belief in justice, but are concerned mostly for our own rights and not always for the rights of others. Your anointed One comes to help those who are needy and to give judgment for the suffering. Though we are loyal to him in principle we are not always ...

402. Epiphany 6

Luke 6:17-26, Psalm 1:1-6

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP Come, put your confidence in God and you will not be disappointed. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Despite your warnings through prophets and psalmists, God of truth, we are frequently deceived by the silks and satins of palaces and cathedrals. We misplace our trust when we put our trust in such persons and not in you. You frequently speak through rough and ready persons like John the Baptist, heal the sick through poor people like Jesus of Nazareth, comfort the dying through servants like Mother ...

403. Proper 12

Luke 11:1-13, Colossians 2:6-23, Psalm 85:1-13, Hosea 1:1-2:1

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)Human as we are, let us intercede with Godfor ourselves and for our sinful world, that God will spare us from destruction and grant us time for repentance. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Listening God, Prayer-teacher, Prayer-prompter, we are often perfunctory in our prayers, casual, without expectation of response. We separate our petitions for forgiveness from the need to forgive others. We block the work of your Spirit within us, preventing the discipline that would change us and turn ...

404. Proper 25

Luke 18:9-14

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The parable of the pridefully pious Pharisee and the sinful but suppliant tax collector is an object-lesson in God's grace. Apparently, trying to achieve divine acceptance with one's own righteousness is a fruitless exercise in self-confidence and pride, while acknowledging one's own unworthiness in humility and relying on God's mercy yields justification and even exaltation. Liturgical Color Green Suggested Hymns Lord, Teach Us How To Pray Aright Oh, That The Lord Would Guide My Ways Oh, ...

405. All Saints' Sunday

Mt 5:1-12 · 1 Jn 3:1-3 · Isa 26:1-21 · Rev 7:9-17; 21:9-11, 22-27; 22:1-5 · Ps 24 · Ps 34 · Ps 149

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Epistle: Revelation 7:9-17 This is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seals. The saints are marked with the seal of God which affords protection from the plagues and coming judgment. During this period of great persecution under the Roman Emperor, Domitian, about 96 A.D., John encourages the struggling church with a heavenly vision of light and glory. A great throng of believers are gathered around the throne of God for worship and praise. They are clothed in white and are waving palm ...

406. 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. ...

407. Easter 7

Jn 17:1-11 · Acts 1:1-14 · 1 Pet 4:12-19, 5:6-11 · Ps 68 · Ps 27 · Ps 47

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Acts 1:6-14 · 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 · John 17:1-11 Roman Catholic: Acts 1:12-14 · 1 Peter 4:13-16 · John 17:1-11 Episcopal: Acts 1:(1-7) 8-14 or 1 Peter 4:12-19 or John 17:1-11 · Ezekiel 39:21-29 · Acts 1:(1-7) 8-14 Lutheran: Acts 1:(1-7) 8-14 · 1 Peter 4:12-17; 5:6-11 · John 17:1-11 Theme For The Day: Prayer is the golden thread that ties together the three lections. Acts 1:12-14 states that after the Ascension the disciples went back to the place where they were staying ...

408. Lent 4

Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 20:17-19, John 9:35-41, John 9:13-34, Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 4:17--5:21, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, John 9:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Christ confronts a blind man and heals him. By so doing Christ also confronts the skepticism of the Jewish authorities and each person is confronted with the question: Who is this Jesus? COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 (RC) This text presents us with an interesting theological concept that challenges our notions of God's unchangeableness. Here God changes his mind about a choice he had previously made. Saul was no longer worthy to be king and Samuel was to appoint another to take ...

409. 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 ...

410. 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 ...

411. Something To Do While The World Falls Apart

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

William G. Carter

A number of years ago, leaders in a church decided to track down the congregation's drop-outs. They combed through the membership list, put together a list of names, and sent out volunteers two-by-two to knock on doors and invite the absent members back to church. As is often the case, the volunteer visitors discovered that most of the people visited had found other things to do on Sunday morning. One person said, "I would come back to church if it didn't conflict with my tennis time." Another said, "We ...

412. He Abides In Us

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

John Updike once more revealed his remarkably brilliant powers of description in the novel Brazil. Updike shares his uncanny ability to portray the setting and landscape that surround his characters in order to highlight their nature and their roles. However, Updike's greatest gift is the manner in which he is able to crawl inside the characters to reveal their restless and frantic struggles to discover themselves. The principal characters in Brazil are Tristao and Isabel. Their love for each other ...

413. Facing Failures With the Gospel Proclamation

Matthew 13:1-23

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes The main point of the original parable (vv. 1-9), rather than the almost certainly later allegorical interpretation of the Church (vv. 18ff), seems to be that, despite the fact that eventually it will find a fertile audience and yield extraordinary fruit, the gospel will initially and repeatedly fail to take root. In this regard, the injunction in verse 9 is telling the hearers of the parable either to heed its lesson, or simply to let the gospel itself "fall on deaf ears," if need be. ...

414. A Dead Girl and A Sick Woman

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

The revised lectionary cycle serves us well by putting the intercalated stories of the healing of the unclean woman with the flow of blood and the raising of the twelve-year-old girl together again. We still have the problem, however, that vv. 1-20 are omitted totally from the lectionary readings. It can be argued on a number of premises that these three stories belong together. They belong together, for example, as a threefold response to the question of the disciples: "Who then is this, that even the ...

415. What Does Jesus Expect of Us?

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Donald Macleod

And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." And he charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the ...

416. Leading as Loving

Sermon

Robert Noblett

Leadership is constantly being sought. The issue is neither academic nor boring because leadership is almost always pivotal. For this reason, schools, families, corporations, service clubs, governmental bodies are all perpetually in a search for capable leadership. So is the church. Every year nominating committees in churches sit down and attempt to identify and enlist potential leaders. And that is a crucial task. The decisions they make can mean dynamic movement or inertia. I have been in churches where ...

417. Can We Love Too Much?

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

Can we love each other too much? How much is too much? In a southern city newspaper there was an ad inviting people to a seminar entitled, “Women who love too much.” Some time ago a young widow told her pastor how deeply she had loved her husband and that she sometimes felt guilty because maybe she loved him too much. She added, “Sometimes I wonder if I loved my husband too much. Could that be the reason God took him away from me?” Can we love God too much? In a recent church magazine a retired pastor ...

418. Send Me

Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon

Charles Curley

It was the year of the dying of the king, when Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up in the incense-shrouded heights of the sanctuary. When he heard God say, "Whom shall I send?" he replied simply, "Here am I, send me!" It was the year when the priests robbed the people in the name of God, when Samuel heard the Lord, as he was waking from sleep by the ark in the temple at Shiloh. When he heard God say, "Samuel," he replied simply, "Here I am ... speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." It was the ...

419. Proper 20

Proverbs 31:10-31, Mark 9:30-37, James 3:13-18; 4:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: A warning against selfish ambition, which fractures community. Rather, Jesus teaches us to receive the kingdom like a child and find our joy in Christ-like service. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Proverbs 31:10-31 (C) This description of a more than capable wife contrasts with the position of women in most of the societies of the Middle East. In many cultures women were almost considered property. In this description, she is able to purchase property on her own and she has her own business. Four traits seem ...

420. Proper 22

Hebrews 1:1-14, Hebrews 2:5-18, Job 2:1-10, Mark 10:13-16, Mark 10:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Remaining true to our covenants of faith. In the First Lesson, Job remained true to God in his trials. In the Second Lesson, the writer of Hebrews calls the Jewish Christians to keep from falling away from Christ. In the Gospel, Christ calls us to keep our marriage covenant. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Job 1:1; 2:1-10 (C) This lection comprises the first of four readings from the book of Job, one of the books of biblical wisdom literature. This reading is part of the introduction (1:1--2:13), which sets ...

421. The Day Of Thanksgiving

Mt 6:25-33 · 1 Tim 2:1-7 · Joel 2:21-27 · Ps 126

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Joel 2:21-27 The first part of this chapter (vv. 1-17) is the traditional text for Ash Wednesday. These verses call the people to a solemn assembly so that they might repent of their sins and plead for Yahweh's mercy. This action is ordered because of a devastating invasion of locusts. Our lection for Thanksgiving follows the call to repentance with a message of hope and restoration. God will restore the land to fertility; the earth will yield its increase and the people of God will ...

422. The Resurrection of Our Lord

John 20:10-18, John 20:1-9

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note A comparison of these narratives yields many discrepancies of detail, but both attest the unexpectedness of the event and the astonishment of the witnesses; indeed, the "short ending" of Mark's Gospel leaves them utterly speechless and shaken. Though Mary is not left at a complete loss for words in John's longer and more moving account, her utterances bespeak amazement. Liturgical Color White or gold Suggested Hymns Christians, To The Paschal Victim Good Christian Friends, Rejoice And Sing ...

423. Easter 7

Acts 1:12-26, Psalm 1:1-6

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)How awesome is God most high, great sovereign over all the earth! Christ has gone up with shouts of acclamation to the right hand of the throne of the eternal. Let us acclaim our God with shouts of joy, praising Monarch and Prince with psalms and fanfares. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God invisible in majesty, God incognito in the world, namesharing God, how could we know you more fully than as you have revealed yourself in the One who came into the world but has ascended again into ...

424. Epiphany 4

Mark 1:21-28, Psalm 111:1-10, Deuteronomy 18:14-22

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP Happy is the person who takes delight in the word of the Lord and meditates upon it yielding the fruits of the Spirit in season. PRAYER OF CONFESSION One God, undivided in being, undiverted in purpose, we confess that we are often distracted from waiting on you. Whether married or single, we are easily attracted and engrossed by worldly things. When married or responsible for a family we may have additional cares that divide our minds, giving undue weight to the provision of daily bread and ...

425. Proper 20

Mark 9:30-37

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

Call to Worship Turn your thoughts to God who is your helper and who will be the mainstay of your life. Prayer of Confession God of the gospel, the One who sends, The One who is sent and returns, the One who is sent and remains with the church, we declare our need of the wisdom that is from above, pure, peace-loving, considerate, open to reason. We can be devious rather than straightforward, hypocritical rather than sincere, unforgiving rather than merciful, cruel rather than kind. Forgive the bitter ...

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