Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4301 to 4325 of 4936 results

4301. Culture Shock

1 Kings 18:21-40

Sermon

James Merritt

The term "culture shock" was introduced for the first time in 1958 to describe the anxiety produced when a person moves to a completely new environment. The feeling of culture shock generally sets in after the first few weeks of coming to a new place. Even though I have never moved away from this country and lived in a different place altogether, I do have to tell you that over the last twenty years, I have experienced various degrees of culture shock right here in my own country. Let me tell you what I ...

4302. Mourning Our Fallen Tormentors

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Sermon

Stan Purdum

Michael Dirda is the senior editor of The Washington Post Book World, as well as a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for literary criticism. In 2003, he published an autobiographical account of his early years, telling about growing up in Lorain, Ohio. While there is much that he appreciated about his home, he also tells that his years there were colored somewhat darkly by his father, who was a cranky, difficult man. Apparently the man was not physically abusive, but neither was he easy to be around. Unhappy ...

4303. Jumping through Hoops

Acts 11:1-18

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a place where the old ways matter. The Amish still ride their buggies up and down the green hills. Most churches have spires, and they frame the landscape with the proclaimed piety of their people. Change comes slowly. Sometimes that's good, especially when we're talking about the basics of the faith. Sometimes that's bad. Like when people refuse to change the little things. A lot of the churches, especially the Plain People like the Amish, Brethren, and Mennonite, ...

4304. New Covenant, New Testament

Jeremiah 31:27-34

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

Our reading today from the prophet Jeremiah is one in which the Hebrew people, not knowing what else to do in terms of addressing their predicament, decide to blame it all on God. They believed their problems to be the result of their sins and the sins of their fathers. Of course, one person's sin does indeed affect other people, but all people are still held personally accountable for the sin in their own lives (Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:2). This theme would later be taken up in the New Testament as ...

4305. “Unto Us A Child Is Born... Next, On Omar”

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

Characters (in order of appearance) Jacob Omar Looseandfree Applause Child (nonspeaking) Shepherd 1 Shepherd 2 Shepherd 3 Lead Angel 2nd Angel Angel Choir Audience Member 1 Wise Man 1 Wise Man 2 Wise Man 3 Servant (nonspeaking) Mary Joseph Audience Member 2 Audience Member 3 Stage Manager Stagehands (nonspeaking) Props Four chairs Handheld microphones (real or fake) Sign with “Applause” written on it Bells Three pillows Baby doll Notes Another one of our “intentional anachronism plays,” “Unto Us A Child Is ...

4306. They Devoted Themselves

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV) [42] They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. [44] All who believed were together and had all things in common; [45] they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with ...

4307. Jochebed: Save The Baby, Save The World

Exodus 2:1-10, Numbers 26:59

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

A very dirty little boy came in from playing in the yard and asked his mother, "Who am I?" Ready to play the game she said, "I don't know! Who are you?" "WOW!" the boy cried. "Mrs. Johnson was right! She said I was so dirty, my own mother wouldn't recognize me!" (1) Just like our physical parents, God doesn't forget God's children. Sometimes, most of the time, God makes God's presence known through our physical parents. At least that's what happens in the passage for today. Today we look at one of the ...

4308. The Character of Christmas; Wise Men: Seeking

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

One of the venerable old saints of the church jumped up and stomped out of the annual Christmas play being held at the church. The pastor couldn't figure out what was wrong so he hurried after him. When he caught up with the old man in the parking lot and asked what was wrong he was told, "Preacher, I've gone along with a lot of changes through the years, but this thing tonight just went too much, I mean who ever heard of the Three Wise Men walking up to the baby Jesus in the manger and presenting him with ...

4309. Shaped By The Fire

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Did you hear about the woman who called the fire department one day. She was very agitated, "Come as quick as you can," she cried, "my house is on fire." Then she hung up. A few minutes later she called back, and "Hurry, hurry as fast as you can, it's spread from the kitchen to the dining room." And then she hung up, again. A few minutes later, she called one more time, this time, with the volunteer fire crew all ready to roll the dispatcher said, "OK, lady, just calm down and tell us how to get there." It ...

4310. Love and Obey (Mother's Day)

John 14:15-31

Sermon

King Duncan

Greetings on this Mother’s Day. Someone has made a list of nine things a Mother would never say. See if your Mom would ever say these things: 1. “How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?” Anybody? 2. “Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too.” 3. “Just leave all the lights on . . . it makes the house look more cheery.” 4. “Let me smell that shirt Yeah, it’s good for another week.” 5. “Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I’ll be glad to feed and walk him every day.” 6. “Well, if Timmy’s mom ...

4311. Take Off Your Shoes...You Are Standing on Holy Ground

Acts 7:1-53

Sermon

James W. Moore

Bishop Janice Riggle Huie tells about an experience she had a few years ago that touched her heart… She was interviewing a group of ministerial students about their call to the ministry and she said to each of them in turn: “Tell me about your calling. What do you think God is calling you to do?” Most of the students gave very practical answers like: “God is calling me to be a hospital chaplain.” Or, “God is calling me to be a teacher on the college level.” Or, “God is calling me to be a counselor.” Or, “ ...

4312. The Gospel Through the Person

Galatians 4:8-20

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Here is one of Paul’s most tender passages. Yet, there is in it a harshness to it. Paul is firm in his confrontation, and calls a spade a spade. Listen to him again in verse 16: “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” But despite that tough confrontation, Paul pulls back the curtain of his own inner soul, revealing his anguish and pain, his personal limitations, his feelings of failure, his overwhelming sense of appreciation. Can’t you just feel the deep emotion and tenderness in ...

4313. Wrestling Alone at Night

Genesis 32:22-30

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

The poet, James Thurber, once said, “All men must learn before they die, what they are running from and to and why.” We catch up with our hero, Jacob, today on the muddy banks of the Jabbok River. Twenty years have passed since he left Bethel where God promised to go with him and guide him through all his days. In this productive period of Jacob’s life, he accumulates a couple of wives, eleven children, a host of servants, and a wealth of cattle, sheep, and camels. He has left his father-in-law, Laban. He ...

4314. Finding Answers to Family Feuds

Genesis 25: 21-34

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

To live above with those we love, Well, that will be glory. To live below with those we know, Well, that’s another story. Family feuds. I would like to chat with you a few moments about that today. According to a survey done by Randy Carlson about eight years ago, 91% of American adults long to improve their relationships with their adult siblings. The pains of family life continue to haunt us, often for an entire lifetime. One of the most compelling stories of the Bible is the struggle between two ...

4315. What Would Jesus Say About War?

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Once more we Americans gather for worship amidst the imminent danger of war. This week our government officials told us to gather supplies of food and water, make emergency communication plans with our families, and buy duct tape. Many of our sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters have been deployed to military alert positions. Today we wait for yet another United Nations resolution. In one sense, there is nothing new about wars and rumors of wars. In my lifetime alone, there have been over a ...

4316. We Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins

1 John 1:5-2:2

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Ernest Hemingway wrote a story about a father and son who had a serious misunderstanding. In the story, the boy finally runs away from home. The father, however, is not content to let his son go. In an effort to find the boy, the father puts an ad in the Madrid, Spain newspaper. It contained these words: Dear Paco, Meet me at the town square at noon on Sunday. All is forgiven. Your father. That Sunday 800 males by the name of Paco showed up at the town square. They all came seeking forgiveness from their ...

4317. The Exalted Christ

Mark 9: 2-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Robert Louis Stevenson tells the story about a ship that was in serious trouble in a storm. A passenger on that ship, defying orders, made his way to the pilot, who seeing the fear on the passenger's face gave him a smile of assurance. Relieved, the traveler returned to his cabin and said, “I have seen the face of the pilot. He smiled and all is well." There are times in life when we need to see our pilot face-to-face. That's what happened in this mystical story that the Church calls the Transfiguration of ...

4318. Living on the Edge

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

The long journey was finally nearing its conclusion. Forty years wandering around the hot desert must have been physically as well as emotionally exhausting. It had not always been pleasant living like nomads for so long. As Moses climbed the mountain for what would be the last time, he must have felt a clear sense that his life was not lived in vain. All of his struggles had been worth it as he sought to communicate once again with God on the mountain. He could look back over his long life and realize ...

4319. A Little Theology at Christmas

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

John N. Brittain

Scholars who study such things are quick to tell anyone who will listen that Christmas is much overrated as a church festival. If you ask the average person (even the average churchgoer) what the most important Christian festivals are, they will probably answer "Christmas and Easter," and most likely in that order. But, the scholars will point out, they are not even close in theological significance, Easter, with its empty tomb, being the primary reason there is Christianity. There are a number of ...

4320. Life in the Resurrection Zone

Colossians 3:1-4

Sermon

David O. Bales

Sermon Note: Before this sermon something like the following needs to be included the worship: Leader: Since the earliest days of the Christian faith, Christians have greeted one another on Easter morning: The Lord has risen! People: He has risen indeed! Leader: Our Lord Jesus has risen, breaking the power of sin and death, People: and setting us free to live for him. Leader: The Lord has risen. People: He has risen indeed! In the movie, Shawshank Redemption, the character, Red, is being released from ...

4321. All in the Family

1 John 3:1-3

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

"Surprise! You're adopted!" If you were to hear those words from a trusted relative, surprise would be an understatement, I'm sure. Total shock would probably be more descriptive terminology for your emotional state as you examined the official court record and your original birth certificate. "Adopted" does describe each of us though, because we have been adopted by God into God's family. How do we know? The Bible tells us so. When the Spirit of God dwells within us, we are given new birth as God's ...

4322. LENT: The Passion of Christ: "Raised"

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

A little girl came to her mother complaining that her stomach hurt. Mom said: "Oh, honey, your stomach is empty, you just need to get something in it and you'll be fine." About a week later, the pastor came by to visit. While conversing with the mother and her child, he happened to mention that he had a headache. The little girl piped up and said: "Oh pastor, my mommy says that your head is empty, you just need to get something in it and you'll be fine." (1) One of the reasons we laugh is because our ...

4323. A Child Will Be Born

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

It was a cold December afternoon. Rain mixed with snow splashed against the windshield. Overhead dark clouds hovered seemingly just above the treetops. All day long two men, a pastor named Jerry and a layman named Jim, had been delivering Christmas boxes. Many of the families who would receive these boxes would get nothing else for Christmas that year. The pickup truck had been loaded when the two men started out on their journey but now, only one box remained. It was covered with an old piece of tarp to ...

4324. Tough Talk for Tentative Disciples

John 6:56-69

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

Many years ago, a missionary society wrote to David Livingstone, a Scottish Presbyterian pioneer medical missionary in Central Africa, and asked, "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you." Livingstone wrote back, "If you have men who will come only because there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." Every ministry and every ministry leader in the history of the Christian faith has faced tough times. Usually ...

4325. Words That Wound, Words That Heal

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sermon

Thomas Lentz

Often we fail to recognize the power of our speech, our language, the words we use. A public speaker once began his address by commanding his audience to "stand up." Then he said, "Turn and face the back of the church ... now turn and face me." Finally he commanded them to "sit down." "The point I am making," he explained, "is that words have power. They can make things happen. They can be bullets which penetrate the heart, wounding the one for whom they are intended. Or they can bring joy, celebration, ...

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