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 4451 to 4475 of 4943 results

4451. Proper 18 & Pentecost 16

Ezekiel 33:1-20, Psalm 119:1-176, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 115:1-18, Exodus 19:1-25, Romans 13:1-7, Romans 13:8-14, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 18:15-20

Bulletin Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The eschatological framework of the church year remains in place, but it does little or nothing to reveal any theological clue for worship and preaching or any specific theme for this Sunday. The church year does exert biblical and homiletical influence, however, in continuing to set aside September 21 as St. Matthew's Day. Those who have been preaching on the Gospel of St. Matthew may wish to take advantage of the opportunity to connect the man and his message in a sermon. It might be ...

4452. Gold, The Color of Wealth and Riches

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

As we face a new year, it is customary in America to greet one another with the phrase, "Happy New Year!" But, New Year’s Day may not be that happy for some. On New Year’s morning, many, many people across our land are not happy with their headaches and hangovers because of the previous evening’s excessive dining, drinking, and dancing. And how can we be happy if the new year is just more of the same old things ... the same poverty, unemployment, inflation, nuclear arms race, sickness, war, and failure? ...

4453. Caring for Our World

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

Someone noted that fifty people showed up at a meeting to protest air pollution. After the meeting they got into forty-seven cars and went home. With the passing of each month, another species of life becomes extinct because of the abuse of this world by human beings. Our world is wonderful but very fragile. One expert noted that humanity owes its existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains. We are custodians of this wondrous world. When we dispose of our trash properly and use the ...

4454. Your Family Tree

Isaiah 11:1

Children's Sermon

Object: For this lesson, you may want to cut a piece of construction paper into the shape of a tree, and give each child a "branch" to take home. If your church has a Christmas tree in the sanctuary during Advent, you might distribute small pieces from the branches of the tree. Text: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse ..." (Isaiah 11:1) I’m giving you these branches because I want you to remember to do something this Christmas season. If you will be seeing your grandparents or older ...

4455. A Most Amazing Night

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

"But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) The shadows are getting long in late afternoon as Joseph comes running into the house bursting with news: Caesar Augustus has ordered a census for the whole Roman Empire. Everyone will have to go to their family’s hometown to be counted and to pay a tax. For Joseph and Mary, this means travelling to Bethlehem. Mary wants to know more, but Joseph can’t answer her questions. The Romans are not in the habit of explaining themselves to ...

4456. January 1

Lk 2:15-21 · Php 2:5-11 · Num 6:22-27 · Ps 67

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: Numbers 6:22-27 Theme: The power of God's name Exegetical Note The famous tripartite blessing in this passage is presented as a liturgical way to put God's name on Israel, which to the ancient mind meant to bestow upon them the full force of God's very being, saving presence, and sustaining providence. Call to Worship (based on Psalm 67) Leader: May God's grace and blessing be upon us! People: MAY GOD'S FACE SHINE UPON US! Leader: May God's ways be known upon the earth! People: MAY GOD'S ...

4457. Christmas 2

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Bulletin Aid

Theme: God's nurturing salvation Exegetical Note This portion of a homecoming hymn, part of the so-called "Book of Consolation," looks to the return of Israel from Babylonian Exile ("the north country"). The line in verse 12 - "their life shall be like a watered garden" - provides a wonderful image for the salutary, nurturing effects of God's salvation upon the downtrodden and outcasts of every age. Call to Worship Leader: Let us give thanks to God, who covers the heavens with clouds! People: LET US GIVE ...

4458. Easter 7

Acts 1:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Theme: The inclusiveness of discipleship Exegetical note This passage depicts the ascension of Jesus and the time immediately afterward, before the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), which would signal the real birth of the Church. Noteworthy here, on the basis of vv. 12-14, is the fact that they are already a community, staying together and praying together; and that community, moreover, is inclusive. Not only are the male disciples named, but the women are specifically mentioned, which, for an age that ...

4459. Proper 12

Psalm 105:1-45, Exodus 3:1-22

Bulletin Aid

Theme: The God of action Exegetical Note God's revelation of the divine name, YHWH (or JHWH or JeHoWaH) to Moses is almost a tease. The basis of the name is "to be," but is so ambiguous in form that it may mean "I am who I am," "I wili be what I will be," or "He causes to be." The first two of these suggest a more Greek, philosophical, abstract "Being," an appropriate object of speculation. The third seems more Hebraic, for it bespeaks activity and action, which is exactly what God promises (and delivers ...

4460. Proper 12

Romans 8:1-17

Bulletin Aid

Theme: A sighing Spirit for dumbfounded saints Exegetical note The picture of the Spirit presented in the first two verses here is a powerful one, best illustrated by the defense-advocate in the courtroom, who speaks on behalf of a helpless client. The latter here are saints who are dumbfounded by their weakness (i.e., sin), and who therefore require the kind of profound intercession before God that only God's Spirit itself can provide, and that in unspeakable sighs! Call to Worship (based on Psalm 105) ...

4461. Proper 12

Matthew 13:44-46

Bulletin Aid

Theme: A Reign worth any sacrifice Exegetical note 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. Call to Worship Leader: Let us worship the God of hidden treasures! People: LET US PRAISE ...

4462. Proper 17

Romans 12:1-8

Bulletin Aid

Theme: The selves of the saved as sacrifices Exegetical note The first verse of this selection is a "hinge" or "pivot" between the soteriological explanations of chapters 1-11 arid the ethical ones of 12-15. The connective word is "therefore," but the idea that really ties salvation to action is that the "bodies" (i.e., selves) of the saved are living sacrifices, which in turn are the proper worship of God (probably, for Paul, in addition to rather than as opposed to the cultic activity). Call to Worship ( ...

4463. Proper 22

Mt 21:33-46 · Php 3:4b-14 · Ex 20:1-20

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Theme: Other gods Exegetical Note The commandments of the so-called "First Table," i.e., those dealing directly with God (vv. 2-4) actually reflect, not monotheism, but henotheism, i.e., the allegiance to one god without denying the existence of others, in this case the nature gods of the agricultural peoples with whom the Israelites came into contact. Far from reflecting a dated problem, however, the injunctions remind modern people of the many god-like concerns ...

4464. Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 Theme: Promise - Someone has said that "Christian hope is not a trembling, hesitant wish, or desire that perhaps God's promises may be true, but the confident expectation that they can't be anything else but true." (Perhaps you will want to print this at the beginning of the order of worship in the bulletin.) Hymns of Advent Caution: Because of the familiarity of many of the Advent hymns, which are often confused with Christmas carols, ask the people to read the words silently before ...

4465. Epiphany 2

John 1:29-34

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Gospel: John 1:29-41 Theme: Following Jesus' baptism, he calls Peter and Andrew; the significance of the call. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One pastor did this: He began worship by saying, "We have come today, not to escape the world and our responsibility to the world, but, rather, we have come to find out what in the world God has in mind for us in the world." We wait, both fearfully and expectantly, for God's leading, as we celebrate the Presence and Power of the one ...

4466. Epiphany 7

Matthew 5:27-30, Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 5:33-37, Matthew 5:38-42

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Gospel: Matthew 5:27-43 Theme: The dimensions of love. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration "Welcome! Worship is a drama-celebration, no matter what form it takes - Sunday mornings, weddings, funerals and memorials. Therefore, it is not something which is basically heard and seen, but something done. Worship as drama is something we do, not something we watch somebody else do. Thus, the worshiper celebrates the presence of God, not by absorbing what's going on as a sponge, but by ...

4467. Lent 2

John 3:1-21

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Purple Gospel: John 3:1-17, John 4:5-42, Matthew 17:1-9 Theme: The essence of the new life in Christ - repentance. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One pastor began this way: "Listen! Do you hear God? in the word of Scripture? in the silent meditation and spoken message? in the breathing of your fellow worshipers? in the pulse of your heart beat? in the morning headlines? in the most recent athletic event? in the playfulness of your children, whatever age? in the confrontation of an ...

4468. Easter 3

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: White Gospel: Luke 24:13-35 Theme: Recognizing the risen Christ on the Emmaus Road. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration If you haven't done this, try it: Ask three people to simulate the Emmaus Road experience as worship begins. Give them ample notice, but to put the experience in their own words. Perhaps they will want to use one of their contemporary situations in which they recognize Christ in their daily walk. Following the drama, ask for response from the congregation. Act of ...

4469. Easter 7

John 17:1-5

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: White Gospel: John 17:1-11 Theme: Jesus' prayer of unity for the church - his body. Pastoral Invitation One pastor did this: Select prayers and litanies from the worship books of different denominations, including Roman Catholic, Greek and Russian Orthodox. Select parts of worship from different areas of the world. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration Suggestion: Jesus, in his prayer, calls us to oneness in his Spirit. He calls us to oneness amidst our diversity. We have allowed our ...

4470. Trinity Sunday

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: White Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 Theme: Trinity Sunday, emphasizes both our receiving and sharing the Good News. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One pastor began this way: "How did we come to worship today? Did we come feeling sad because we lost a relationship recently, feeling angry because someone dragged us here, feeling frightened because of what's happening around us and to us, feeling joy and wanting to share it with our friends? Did we come out of habit, to learn something, ...

4471. Proper 15

John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Gospel: John 6:51-58 Theme: Bread and Wine - the Body and Blood of Christ. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration Suggestion: Sensitize the congregation, at this point in worship, to the world's hungry and thirsty, both in a physical way and a spiritual way. We need reminders, as the body of Christ, that God calls us to minister on behalf of all persons in need. Maybe the only thing we can do is to become sensitive. Maybe our sensitivity will direct our actions. Act of Recognizing ...

4472. Proper 13 - The Feeding of 5,000

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Theme: The feeding of the 5,000 men, plus women and children. Pastoral Invitation to the Congregation Suggestion: "When we worship, we celebrate our personal relationship with God - Creator, Liberator, Sustainer - with God who is both loving and holy, and our world-wide relationship with each other, God's people and with God's world, even that part of the world opposed to God and Christ's church." You may want to follow with this litany between pastor and ministers: Pastor: Good ...

4473. Proper 14

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33 Theme: Peter walks on water. Worship Headings You may want to change the bulletin worship heading for several weeks. Here is a suggestion: THE GATHERING TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OURSELVES TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT WE HEAR The Ancient Word The Traditional Word The Contemporary Word TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORD THE SCATTERING Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One congregation did this (and followed this format for several weeks): Acknowledging ...

4474. It's Not All That Bad

Luke 18:9-14, Mark 4:1-20

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

Most nice respectable American churches don't talk about sin, judgment, or hell. Why? Because they are post-modern. Most Americans read the Bible selectively, omitting those parts they don't like. The first thing many American churchgoers throw out is the concept of hell, because (in their view) a nice, well-behaved God wouldn't let anybody go to hell. After you lose hell, you lose a sense of sin. Nobody is guilty of anything. Everybody is just a victim. The call to repent has no meaning. Dr. Calvin Miller ...

4475. Proper 17

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon Aid

Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration Try this: "Some of you who came today may wish that you hadn't; Some who didn't come today may be glad they didn't. Today, we deal with one of Jesus' difficult sayings. We can know that God promises Holy Spirit, no matter what's happening in our lives." You may want to include this litany: Pastor: From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised and praised. Ministers: Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and ...

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