Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 426 to 450 of 975 results

426. Proper 26

Mark 12:28-34, Psalm 146:1-10

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

Call to Worship Praise the LORD as long as you live; sing praises to God all your life long. Prayer of Confession Good and great God, we come to you through Jesus Christ who intercedes for us sinners. We confess our sins seeking forgiveness not only that we may be at peace with you, but also that we may pray for others. We are ashamed that our prayers are often as self-centered as our lives. Excuse our disordered priorities as we seek to change and re-order our lives according to the teaching and spirit of ...

427. Tears And Ointment

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Larry Powell

Senator William Proximire (D-Wisconsin) regularly delights the general public by awarding his now-famous "Golden Fleece Award" to some government committee or agency which, because of some redundant high-dollar project, has achieved recognition for excelling in flagrant, wasteful, unnecessary spending. Senator Proximire gets our attention because he illuminates a subject of interest to us all: how money is spent. We do not like to spend more than we have to and have little tolerance for irresponsible, ...

428. The Wisdom In Waiting

Luke 12:35-48

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

"Fear not!" Jesus says. These are the same words spoken by the angels to the Bethlehem shepherds on the occasion of his first coming. Now they are used to speak of his second coming. The reason why we need not fear is because God's good pleasure is to give us the kingdom. We cannot earn it. We cannot build it. It is a gift of grace. Despite all the evidence to the contrary and all attempts to oppose it, the promise has been made. The kingdom of God is on the way. We are to wait for it and be ready. The ...

429. The S & L That Didn't Fail!

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

A Peanuts cartoon strip shows Charlie Brown and Linus as they summarize their team's baseball season. They report that in 12 games they almost scored a run. In right field Lucy almost caught three balls, and once she almost made the right play. They decided between them that they led the league in "almosts." We Christians do not have an "almost" Savior. We have a Lord who saves to the uttermost. He did not and he cannot fail. At this writing, according to the experts, losses from savings and loans (S & Ls ...

430. What Have You Got To Lose?

John 12:20-36

Sermon

Erskine White

Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25) Years ago, when the Betty Crocker company first began selling their cake mixes, they offered a product which only needed water. All you had to do was add water to the mix which came in the box, and you would get a perfect, delicious cake every time. It bombed. No one bought it and the company couldn’t understand why, so they commissioned a study which brought back a surprising answer. ...

431. Easter 6

John 14:15-31, Psalm 67:1-7, Acts 15:22-35, Joel 2:18-27, Revelation 21:1-27

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE Had the title for this Sunday, Rogate, been continued in the churches, the readings might have been different and the Sunday would have at least two practical and related thrusts. One of these would be to continue the practice of some of the churches in the Northern Hemisphere, of blessing the fields, in the hope of avoiding natural disasters and anticipating a bountiful harvest. The other would extend the concern for farms and crops for this year to a care of the Earth Sunday as long as ...

432. Is It Too Late? ... Continued

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

George Johnson

Today we continue the sermon started last week. Our text is the familiar story of the talents in Matthew 25. We are concentrating on the care of the earth and its environment as an example of a talent - a responsibility - that God has given us. God has entrusted to us this property to care for. We are asking what it means to be a responsible steward of creation? And what are the consequences if we bury this talent? When you listen to the tone of a person's voice you can often catch a feeling of how serious ...

433. That's Our God For You!

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

John M. Braaten

Palm Sunday is an event in Christ's life that many people, particularly young people, enjoy. It is action packed, filled with lots of commotion and noise - especially noise. It centers around a grand parade with all the excitement and frenzied emotion of a political convention. The "Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem," as it is sometimes called, includes people lining the streets craning their necks to see, waving palms, and lots of shouting. For many people who like lots of activity, Palm Sunday is their ...

434. The Recovery Of Reverence

Leviticus 19:1-37

Sermon

Robert Beringer

Once upon a time there was a college professor named A Squared. A Squared lived in Flat Land. Everything in Flat Land had just two dimensions: height and breadth. Nothing in Flat Land had any depth! The people lived in flat houses, ate flat meals, drank flat colas, thought flat thoughts and lived flat lives. Everything was flat. If a person turned sideways, you could not even see that individual! A Squared taught mathematics at the local university. One night he threw a party for some of his colleagues on ...

435. The Glorious Company

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

Harmless fun some call it. Others suggest it is never harmless or funny to joke about evil, even if we know that the witches and gremlins, devils and werewolves who roam our streets are the little children of our neighborhood, and the glaring faces in our windows are no more than hollowed-out pumpkins whose candles will not even last the evening. While there are some October Scrooges who bemoan the knocks at the door, there are many more who pile up the fruits and candies, turn on the lights and wait by ...

436. Deaths, Our Teacher

Psalm 90:1-17

Eulogy

Allen Puffenberger

Part 1. Peaceful Death For an Eighty-four-year-old Woman The outline of this meditation has enabled me to address a number of the vital issues that are raised by death. The message is wide enough that it can be comforting to the bereaved, regardless of the circumstances of their loved one's death. The four points are greatly strengthened by references to the deceased's life - here, that of "Eve, " who was one of my parishioners. Even if the pastor has not known the deceased, an interview with his or her ...

437. Walking On the Knees

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Sermon

Donald Zelle

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in thy eyes, O Lord God; thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast shown me future generations, O Lord God! And what more can David say to thee? For thou knowest thy servant, O Lord God! Because of thy promise, and according to thy own heart, thou hast wrought all this greatness, to make thy servant ...

438. The Lord's Return

Mark 13:1-31

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Let us meet together in the house of the Lord until Christ returns! People: How must we get ready for that day when the Lord will come again? Leader: The Lord is with us always, in every part and facet of our lives. People: But will the Day of the Lord be soon or will the Lord tarry? Leader: This is the Day of the Lord! Let us sing praise and be glad in it. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O merciful and loving God, we await that day when Christ will return to call the ...

439. The God Of The Past, The Present, And The Future

Psalm 23:1-6

Eulogy

Joe Barone

Psalm 23, Genesis 15:12-15John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:1-5 I had an old friend once who told me, "When I go to a funeral I go to hear about a loving God." And then she added, "When it comes time to preach my funeral, don't talk about me. Just preach my funeral, don't talk about me. Just preach the Scripture and the comfort that it brings." What comfort does the Scripture have to bring us here today? First, it tells us that God, and God alone, is in charge of both life and death. When it came time for ...

440. The Men

Drama

William Grimbol

SETTING: Four men gathered in a courtyard garden for conversation TIME: Christ's ministry ARNOLD: The man is a lunatic. JOHN: He is beyond that. Claiming to be God. How absurd. ARNOLD: The man is crazy to be preaching and teaching what he does. I mean, really, I am all for helping the poor, or assisting those who are widowed or alone. But ... the idea that the first shall be last? Did you hear that quote? The first will be last one? JOHN: Exactly. He is crazy. Completely. BILL: This helping the poor can be ...

441. Monologue: Sarah

Genesis 20:1-18

Drama

Lynda Pujad

I am a beautiful woman, don't you think so? (Bows) I always have been. My name is Sarah. I have always been a woman of society and I have been pampered throughout my life. My husband is a wealthy man. He is Abraham. As his wife, I was devoted to him and our life together and I followed him from our home in Haran hundreds of miles to the land of Canaan. We left everything we had ever known to follow the instructions of the God who spoke to him. God did not speak to me and I did not understand why my husband ...

442. The Passion Narrative

Luke 22:14-23:56

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: At the beginning of Jesus' last week, he entered Jerusalem as King of Jews. But within a few days, he was betrayed, denied, and crucified. People: We praise God for Jesus, the King of our lives! But we confess that we too, reject our King, abandoning him to suffer because of our sins. Pastor: We worship today to stir ourselves to a new commitment to Christ as Ruler of our lives. People: We ask for God's help to change our direction in life, that we may become committed followers of ...

443. Repent and Turn to the Lord

Joel 2:12-17

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Let all who have received God's mercy come in repentance this day. People: For even as we have been forgiven we have sinned before the Lord. Leader: God calls to the faithful to repent and come before the Cross. People: For at the Cross we are again washed clean. Leader: And at the Cross we were called into the family of Almighty God! All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, even though we are sinners, in Your mercy You have called us to repent and become members in ...

444. Clay in the Potter's Hands

Jeremiah 18:1--19:15

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Let all who seek to grow in their faith enter this place for worship! People: We would have the Lord mold us and shape us into God's people today. Leader: God is the Potter and we are the clay in the Great Creator's hands. People: We yield our lives unto the Lord to mold us as is pleasing before God. Leader: Praise be to the Lord, for God is faithful to prepare us for eternity. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Most loving and merciful God, in Your wisdom You take even ...

445. Service Yields Eternal Rewards

Luke 16:19-31

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Let all who would follow Christ gather in worship and praise. People: Let our hearts sing praises to God for all of the ways we are blessed. Leader: Yet let us also see and hear those in need around us, and let us help. People: For we are not called just to seek and receive blessings from God, Leader: But to be God's blessings to all in need of a healing word today. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O righteous and merciful God, You have called us to service and warned ...

446. Standing Firm in Our Faith

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Come, let all who love Christ gather this day for worship and praise! People: In Christ is our redemption, and we can worship no other god or power. Leader: Let our very lives proclaim the glory of the Lord for all to see. People: We must remain true to our faith in the midst of good times or bad. Leader: The world will know we serve Christ by the joy and love in our souls. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O Lord, You have promised always to be with us if we will only ...

447. The Sower

Matthew 13:1-23

Drama

Robert A. Lehmann

Theme: A parable of unfruitfulness. Characters: Narrator Five solo voices (Solo 3 doubles as Isaiah and Solo 5 doubles as Jesus). Narrator: Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside. Solo 1: To enjoy the peace of the waves, Solo 2: Away from the city, Solo 3: Away from the crowds, Solo 4: Peace, by the waters. Narrator: But such crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables. Solo 4: They found him, Solo 2: ...

448. Christian Unity

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Praise be to the Lord, who has made us into the Family of God! People: For we were in sin, and knew not the way to righteousness. Leader: And God, seeing we were lost, sent the Christ to lead us home. People: Our beloved Christ died on the Cross that we should have life. Leader: And God sent us the Holy Spirit that we should never again be lost. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, In Your loving mercy You sent us Christ when we were yet lost and filled with sin. ...

449. 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 ...

450. Lord, I Believe - Or Do I?

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

In his ministry of teaching, Jesus was a master at the art of storytelling. Many of his stories, known as parables, have been our favorites through the years since first we heard them. They can be repeated many times, and we will never tire of them - the story of the Good Samaritan, the prodigal, the two men praying in the temple, the sower in the field. And the lessons that the Master taught in parables are pointed, holding up for our inspection virtues to be practiced, vices to avoid, relationships to be ...

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