Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 4351 to 4375 of 4943 results

4351. "Crown Him Lord of all!"

Sermon

William Luoma

According to the three-year ecumenical lectionary, developed in recent years, the Sunday before Easter is primarily known as the Sunday of the Passion, instead of Palm Sunday. The procession with palm branches is still recommended, but the emphasis of the day has shifted to the Passion of Christ, as seen in the suggested lengthy Gospel readings appointed. In this worship service, however, we have chosen to lift up the Palm Sunday theme, and to focus on the kingship of Christ and his triumphal entry into ...

4352. Easter Sunrise

Sermon

William Luoma

There is one morning in the year when churches can get away with scheduling worship at a very early hour. That is Easter morning, of course! Some people will be there because they want to make the resurrection of Christ a reality in their lives. Others will come because their teenagers are in the youth group that is serving breakfast after the service. But whatever the motivation, it is a unique opportunity for a meaningful worship experience. A sunrise service can be scheduled at one of the usual times, 6 ...

4353. Cards From the Same Deck

Romans 10:12

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

Exegetical aim: To demonstrate that in God’s eyes we are all within His saving power through Jesus Christ, no matter what we look like or who we are. Key verse: 12 Props: A deck of cards, setting up the bottom of the deck with four black cards and then a red card. Lesson: Today I want to show you a funny game. I call it “Fire and Water.” When I hold up the deck and you see a card that is black, you say “Water”, and when you see a card that is red, you say “Fire!” real loudly. Okay? Here goes. (The children ...

4354. Encounters With Christ IV: Jesus and the Woman at the Well

Sermon

James W. Moore

James W. Moore of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston tells a story about one of his minister friends. His name is Tom and he does a fascinating thing each month. Even though he has an extremely busy schedule (because he serves as pastor of one of the finest churches in our nation)… still he makes the time each month to go down to the homeless shelter in his city to work in their soup kitchen. After the homeless people have been fed, he then invites them to join him in a service of Holy Communion ...

4355. Temptation

Mark 1:9-13

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Help Children understand the meaning of temptation and its nature. Props: A plate of 20 M&M's. Find a place where a child can be seated alone in front of the M&M's. If you are sitting in front of the children you might seat the child behind you or off to the side behind some object around the altar. Lesson: Good morning! (response) This morning I am going to tell you what happened to Jesus when he started his work but before I do I need a volunteer. Choose one child. I need you to come with ...

4356. Holy Mathematics

John 3:1-21

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: The meaning of the church’s doctrine of the Trinity. Props: Flip cards with math problems and a marker to mark the answers. Two of the flip cards should have the following: 1+1+1= and Father+Son+HolySpirit= Lesson: Good Morning! (response) We are going to do a little math this morning. I am going to show you a math problem and you tell me the answer. Are you ready? Here is the first problem. Show them the first flip card. What is 2+2? (response) Ok, now let’s look at another problem. What ...

4357. A New Teacher

Mark 1:21-28

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To Teach that Jesus is a new and Different kind of Teacher Props: A kid's blackboard with chalk (or dry erase board and marker) and a students desk that you yourself will sit in. The best setting would be for you to have your back to the congregation and the blackboard facing the congregation. Lesson: Good morning Teachers! (they may not know what to say) Your suppose to say "Good morning student!" Good morning Teachers! (good morning student). This morning you are going to be the teacher ...

4358. A Pilgrim Recounts

Psalm 107:1-43

Drama

Edward G. Hunter

A Dramatic Monologue My name is Silas. I am one of the original 103 pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower from England to America, in the year of our Lord, 1620. I have now been in the new world for ten years, and each year since we first arrived we have celebrated three days of Thanksgiving in November. It is on that first day of thanksgiving, November 29, 1630, that I wish to recount some of the trials and tribulations we underwent in our journey to this new land. I need to tell you why we made the 10- ...

4359. The Darkest Hour

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: NARRATOR (the only speaking part), JESUS, two SOLDIERS, PILATE, a PRIEST, three WOMEN, and a MAN Length: 8 minutes NOTE: Due to the scope of the Passion Readings and the fact that the readings are the same for all cycles, the Good Friday skits have been arranged as a series. Cycle "A" covers John 18:1-12, Cycle "B" covers John 18:13-40, and Cycle "C" covers John 19:1-30. Each skit is complete in itself, but the three may be strung together to cover the entire Passion in one presentation. Or they may ...

4360. Monologue: Mary Magdalene - Liberated Woman

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

Drama

Robert F. Scott

John 20:1-2, 10-18 Medieval legends confused three women: the sinful "woman of the city" in Luke 7, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene. In time, "Magdalene" became a synonym for a prostitute. The plain text of the Bible treats each of these three women separately. Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name 12 times in the Gospels, but not once is there a whisper to connect her with the harlot of Luke 7. In recent decades there has been fanciful speculation that Mary was Jesus' wife or mistress. Again, there is ...

4361. Six Nails of the Cross II: The Nail of Infidelity

Matthew 26:47-56

Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Friendship is an ancient virtue, highly valued among believers. The writer of Proverbs said, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born of adversity." The desire of everyone is to make each friend a brother or sister, and, while there is little hope of attaining this ideal, the failure to make an attempt is wastefulness and shame. To call someone our brother or sister is to put into words what our Lord desires in action. There is a story about the conversation held one day between the body and the ...

4362. As We Take Our Rest

Matthew 26:17-30

Drama

Joe Barone

[Note: This week we walk with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane, and as we do, we look through the point of view of James, one of the sons of Zebedee.] Dramatic Monologue: James I don't suppose you can ever understand what it is that really touches me when I think about the Garden of Gethsemane. When you think about it, you might think I would feel a sense of my own sinfulness. That's what so many people seem to feel when they hear the story. After all, we fell asleep. Not just once, but three times, we ...

4363. Love Is Down to Earth

John 12:1-11

Sermon

Carl Jech

The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me. (John 12:8) Like me, I suppose, you have probably wondered about the popularity of such TV shows as "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," "Dallas," and "Dynasty." It would seem that our value systems have become much too materialistic. One wonders if any really serious attempts are being made to close the gap between the rich and the poor. It has been observed that even "socialists" who seem to be interested in the welfare of poor people do ...

4364. Giving Away the Store

Luke 22:7-38, John 13:1-17

Sermon

Carl Jech

He will show you a large upper room furnished. (Luke 22:12) If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (John 13:14) A friend of mine once had a job briefly at a car rental agency. The job didn't last for long because the owner of the agency complained that my friend was too nice, too diplomatic with the customers. He felt that if my friend were left alone he would probably end up giving the cars away - "giving away the store!" The idea behind this ...

4365. Throw Your Heart at the Sky

John 21:1-14

Sermon

Carl Jech

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus ... Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.(John 21:4, 12b) Now wait a minute! Either they knew it was Jesus or they didn't. Why would it even occur to them to ask who he was if they already knew who it was? The answer is that the editors of the gospel of John (and many scholars think that John went through at least three major revisions) are using this story to ...

4366. Becoming What You Are

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Carl Jech

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26) If you have visited the Kremlin in Moscow, one of the things that probably sticks in your memory is the tomb of Lenin. I have heard visitors comment that the emphasis on tombs and monuments in the Soviet Union almost makes it seem as if the Soviet people worship cemeteries. In contrast to being entombed and put on display like a ...

4367. After A Lost Election, Field Of Dreams

Jeremiah 8:4--9:26

Sermon

James Angell

Iowa is an Indian word meaning "beautiful land." And that's where it all began for me. I started out on a legal career and passed the Iowa bar. Long before, though, I had harbored thoughts of one day becoming a preacher. Sunday school had not been a bore as it often is for many kids. Attending summer youth conferences, then Bible classes in college - taught by Dr. Howard Legg, who looked like he belonged in the Senate rather than in a college classroom - set the stage for an invitation one August to give ...

4368. Make Way For Poets Of The Heart

Sermon

James Angell

One of the dividends of the ministry is coming to know and enjoy different people - all ages and all human conditions. Often there are surprises. One came for me on a fall afternoon in the 1960s when some members of my Lexington congregation and I visited a Trappist monastery to see what life is like as a monk. Coming out of the Reformed tradition which has no such orders, I never thought of life behind the walls as anything involving me personally. The silences. Rising at 2 a.m. to pray (after having gone ...

4369. Is It Well With Your Family? (Mother's Day)

2 Kings 4:8-26

Sermon

Brett Blair

[Read up to verse 26b and end with "Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your child?"] I am going to read a quote to you first and then tell you who said it: A small child waits, with impatience, the arrival home of a parent. She wishes to relate some sandbox experience. She is excited to share the thrill that she has known that day. The time comes; the parent arrives. Beaten down by the stresses of the workplace the parent often replies: “Not now, honey, I’m busy, go watch ...

4370. Service for Death through Miscarriage

Psalm 23:1-6

Eulogy

Stan Richards

Service for a miscarried child. May the grace and peace of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, be with us all. We gather here, in face of the preciousness of life and of the mystery of death. _________ and ________ with the death of _________, something has changed irrevocably: anticipation has been thwarted, hope has been dashed, and possibility has been ended. ________ and ________, for you too, anticipation ofhaving a baby brother has ended. In all of this we are reminded of the frailty of life, and ...

4371. Seeking What Matters

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

"... in his joy ... he sells all ..." - Matthew 13:44 Have you ever thought of it? The process of our living involves a lot of trade-off and barter. We are forever giving up some things in order that we might have others; we are perpetually sacrificing this so we may have that. We do this in our marriages; we do this in our occupational choices; we do this in the matter of having children; we do it at almost every juncture of the journey we make. In most of our choices we are actually giving up certain ...

4372. The Lord's People Together

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

"... if two of you agree ... about anything ..." - Matthew 18:19 The inimitable Will Rogers was once asked, "What's wrong with the world?" And he replied, "People!" Of course, the famous humorist was being humorous. Others have been seriously cynical concerning the human race. One said, "The world would be a pretty good place to live if it weren't for the people in it." But when all the cynics have had their say, I will still believe, that in general, we human creatures really have some pretty good things ...

4373. Life's Third Dimension

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

"... Whatever is right I will give ..." - Matthew 20:4 Sometimes some of the parables of Jesus appear, at first glance, to make no sense. Such a parable may be read in Matthew 20:1-16. This is the story of a "householder," a land-owner, a farmer, who needed harvesters to work in his vineyard. Early one morning this man went out and hired some laborers to work for him that day, promising to pay each man one denarius for his day's work. Later, about nine o'clock, he went out and hired others, saying, " ...

4374. Christ the King A King Worth Having

John 12:12-19

Sermon

Henry VIII was on the throne of England when Luther was reforming the church in Germany. Henry had six wives. His first one was Catherine, who gave him four children in a row who were either born dead or died shortly after birth. Her fifth child did survive but it was frail - and it was a girl. Her sixth was stillborn. Henry wanted a son to succeed him on the throne. It was obvious to him he needed a new wife, but the Pope wouldn’t grant him a divorce, so King Henry VIII simply said, "From now on I’m the ...

4375. Real Security

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down ...

Showing results