Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4476 to 4500 of 4943 results

4476. The Secret of Survival

Joshua 5:1-12

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... of victories and defeats, successes, and setbacks - before the Promised Land could be fully occupied by the Israelites. And even when Israel had formed a nation in the Promised Land, it was still no paradise. Sandwiched in between major world powers, Israel continually had to fight to secure her rights to the land. Again and again, the Israelites were captured by their enemies, enslaved, and driven from their land. Again and again, Israel made an exodus from exile and returned to the homeland to rebuild ...

4477. A Holy Hunger

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... with them a new covenant ... I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds." The Father establishes a new covenant with us by the blood of his Son. The Holy Spirit dwells within us, creating a holy hunger in our hearts for a continual communion with our God. Rejoice. A new and living relationship with our God is now possible. It is a new covenant of love. It is not a new "rule" embedded in the law. It is an inner obedience rather than an outward observance. It is an act of forgiveness ...

4478. The Symphony of God

Acts 5:17-42

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... York City. What potential power that we, the people, possess when the Holy Spirit works in us and through us! God knows this. This is why every story of the Bible is without question grounded on the call of God to his people and their response. God continually calls his people to be faithful, not just in great deeds of courage and daring, but in the little day-by-day acts of faithful living that, when added all together, can create a mighty movement of faith. Our text says that the Sanhedrin and the high ...

4479. The Mystery of God's Mercy

Acts 13:13-52

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... Evil One holds us and our world as prisoners. Flip Wilson was right - seriously right - when he comically remarked, "The Devil made me do it." The root source is the Evil One, who sets in motion the events - then and now - that ultimately lead to the continuous denial, the betrayal, and the death of our Lord. Every evil deed we do drives another nail into the flesh of our Lord. If anyone is guilty, all are guilty - because, all are sinners. This was the assumption undergirding all that Paul preached in his ...

4480. Counterfeit Faith

Acts 14:8-20

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... and unearned grace, they accept it only with a conditional "if." Many of us add an "if" to total grace. We think that God is a God of total grace - if we do something to deserve it. We are encouraged in this type of thinking by modern advertisements that continually speak of a "free gift" which will be sent to us "if." In Christian theology, such a phrase as a "free gift" is redundant. The New Testament knows of no gift of grace that is not free. If a gift costs something, then it is not a gift; it ...

4481. Our Roots

Luke 9:28-36

Illustration

John M. Braaten

... naked. Now, you see, the question he had to face was, "Does my life have meaning now?" Family gone; all possessions gone; position in the community, gone; all dignity, gone; possession only what he called, "My ridiculously naked life." Now does my being have roots? Is there any reason to continue living?

4482. God's Salvation is Revealed as a Light

Isaiah 60:1-22

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... and share the light of his salvation with our world. Collect Eternal God, who has given your Son as a light which draws people of all nations from the darkness of sin into your salvation: Enable us to reflect your glory in our lives; that people may continue to find their way out of darkness into your glorious light of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. Prayer of Confession Your light has come, Father, and your glory is upon us. But we need to hear more boldly, your command to arise and shine ...

4483. God's New Covenant

Luke 22:7-38

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... as we commune with our Lord at his table. People: We dedicate this service to the memory and praise of our Lord's sacrificial love for us. Collect Gracious Lord, you have offered yourself to be in covenant with people who need your love, but who continually sin against that love: Receive us as we come in humility to celebrate the new covenant of love with which you have redeemed us through the atoning grace of your Son our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession We are unworthy, Lord ...

4484. The Risen Christ Sustains His Church

Revelation 1:4-8

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: The Christian church continues, sometimes in weakness, sometimes in power, to work at its mission given by our Lord. People: Yes, and as we carry on our work, the risen Lord is in our midst to strengthen us. Pastor: Whatever the trials or difficulties are that Christ's church encounters, we can be sure ...

4485. The Message of Salvation

Acts 13:13-52

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... out of sin's control, to live in the joy of discipleship with Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession We need to hear over and over, Father, the good news of your love in Jesus our Lord. Forgive us when we let sin continue to have control of our lives, even as we profess belief in a risen Lord. Convince us of the severity of sin, the sincerity of your love, and the surety of salvation, that we may serve with faithfulness, our Lord Jesus Christ. In his name we pray. Amen. Hymns ...

4486. The Spirit Will Lead Us in Truth

John 16:5-16

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... go. Pastor: We feel our Lord leading us, because his Spirit is present even as he promised. People: We are disciples of Christ, willing to follow our Lord's bidding, and assured the Spirit of truth will lead us. Collect Heavenly Father, whose gift of your Son continues to bless us through the Spirit of truth which he promised: Make our spirits and our wills receptive to the Spirit's leading; that we may live in the will of our Lord and Savior, through whom we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession In the silence ...

4487. Faith in God's Covenant

Genesis 15:1-18

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... us celebrate and give praise for God's word forever. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, in Your infinite wisdom You gave us Your New Covenant even when You knew we were yet sinners in need of Your mercy and grace. In every way, Lord, continue to call us ever closer to You. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord, as we have been faced with the storms of life we have often forgotten the New Covenant You gave us, and we have turned instead to our own wisdom for our strength and ...

4488. Passover

Exodus 12:1-30

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... are worthy of Your mercy and forgiveness, and that somehow we deserve to be spared from Your wrath. Forgive us, Lord, for our blindness, for we are each and every one sinners, yet through Christ You have called us Your own. Forgive us, Lord, for our times of rebellion, and continue to shepherd us home. In Christ we pray. Amen. Hymns "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" "O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done" "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"

4489. The First Thing To Do With Your Allowance

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

... thing? (response) How much will that cost? (response) Ok, pretend like you just did that and give me the money you just spent. Gather the money from everyone’s transactions. How much do you have left over? (response) What are you going to do next? (response) Continue this discussion and gather the money until it is gone. If some save their money then let them hold it until the lesson is over. If some tithe at the beginning do not draw attention to it. Application: Now you have spent all your money and ...

4490. Sin, Judgment, and Faith

Habakkuk 2:2-20, Habakkuk 1:1-4

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... and grace You have called us to repentance so that we might not experience the wages of sin. Give us the vision and the wisdom to follow Your leading, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord, we often act as if somehow we can continue to sin and turn away from Your will for our lives and still not experience Your judgment for our actions. We have even allowed ourselves to think that because we are called Christians You would never discipline us for our sins. Forgive us, Lord, and call us ...

4491. Waiting Upon the Lord

Luke 3:1-20

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... merciful Lord, through the prophets of old and through the words of Christ and the Scriptures, You call us to live that love You first extended to us so that all may see it in us. Praise You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord, as we continue our journey toward Christmas, we are so aware, there is much in the world to deafen our ears to the sound of angel anthems or to blind our eyes to the star that would guide us to the manger. Lord, forgive us when we let the world distract us from ...

4492. Compassion for the Suffering

Luke 13:31-35

Illustration

Glenn E. Ludwig

... . It later moved to the Americas and is now used everywhere and in every town. It is called the Hospice Movement, and it draws its inspiration from Jesus' own passion and compassion for his children -- "as a hen gathers her brood under her wings." My prayer is that God will continually come to us in new ways and in fresh images, so that more Cicely Saunderses among us can be moved and inspired to take risks to join in God's compassion for his children. Amen.

4493. After A Lost Election, Field Of Dreams

Jeremiah 8:4--9:26

Sermon

James Angell

... , I knew, though, that it was the most right thing I had ever done. My initial "call" was to the Presbyterian congregation in Indianola, Iowa, where I had gone to Simpson College. In that church I would be nurtured and equipped for a church career that would continue 42 years. The newly-ordained minister asks, "Will I get a chance to do what I have been trained to do?" "Where" is a matter of keen interest - though "where" turns out to be one of the least important questions of all. A wise parishioner once ...

4494. Preaching Because We Have Something To Say

Sermon

James Angell

... that must be heard, something that is longing to be heard, something that transcends yesterday's ten o'clock news, something that feeds the soul and comes out of the overflow of our own struggle with God - preaching as programmed obligation dies and the continuing incarnation is confirmed. I still see, standing up within the congregation, that young man who had told me about his car lurching through the door of a bank building saying, "I am the man!" Like Pilate saying, "Ecce Homo" (behold the man) as he ...

4495. The Aim Of Preaching: To Bestow The Kiss Of Life

John 20:19-23

Sermon

James Angell

... divine within the ordinary - the kinds of awareness that prompted Edna St. Vincent Millay to write:"God, I can push the grass apart, and lay my finger on Thy heart." The church, too, is on its own quest for renewal. Statistics about growth, if Presbyterians are normative, continue to be dismal. But if I had my life to live over, I would want to repeat the course in much the same way, and keep the church as the compass of my existence - a place not where answers are kept in a vault, but where people practice ...

4496. ASAPH: The Fish Who Taught Courage

Jonah 1:1-17

Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... could do was to go to the wicked people and deliver the message from God. There just is no hiding from God, even under the sea in the belly of a great fish. Asaph agreed to take Jonah to some dry land and spit him out so that he could continue with his journey. It sure was a funny feeling riding inside of a great fish but Jonah had a lot of time to think and one of the best thoughts that lie had was that if he couldn't run away from God then maybe God wouldn't leave him ...

4497. The Box

Drama

Cynthia Mercati Prigge

... area. A sign reading MAIN STREET may be hung for effect. Neither costumes nor props are required. [The FIRST PERSON, alone and forlorn, stands inside the box. The SECOND PERSON enters L, and starts briskly across the stage.] FIRST PERSON: Ma'am! [The SECOND PERSON continues on her way.] Excuse me - ma'am! SECOND PERSON: [Stopping] Yes? FIRST PERSON: Could you help me for a minute? SECOND PERSON: Could I - what? FIRST PERSON: Could you help me for a minute? I'm sorry to bother you, but I really do need ...

4498. The Bridge

John 1:1-18, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:8-20, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 1:26-38, Genesis 3:1-24

Drama

H. J. Hizer

... to produce. Five: No -- no, you're confused -- a land of milk and honey means -- well it means -- well, never mind -- I've already kept that promise anyway. Two: You mean there's more? Five: Well, yes. Four: Great Galaxies! I hope you didn't promise them continual prosperity -- I mean beef prices are sure to go up and unemployment is always a problem -- not to mention taxes. Five: I guess I did tell Abraham that I'd make him a great nation. One: Great! -- How great? Five: Well, I told him his children would ...

4499. The Stewardship of Money in the Modern Church

2 Corinthians 9:11, 12

Sermon

Dr. John Thompson Peters

... so successful that it is probably the most universally popular idea started by the Kennedy administration. It was clearly inspired by such church movements as "Cross Roads Africa" led by the Reverend James Robinson and others. But the Peace Corps is continually seeking more personnel and additional funds to carry on its program. Its opportunities to do good soon outmatch its ability to meet them. A similar situation has long faced the church, and long after the Peace Corps has been forgotten will still ...

4500. Don't Just Stand There! - Get Involved!

Luke 3:1-20, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Dr. John Thompson Peters

... come men and nations must either give themselves to Him, their true Saviour, or else follow those who offer salvation on other terms. The pressing of this choice of ultimate issue is precisely the work of Christ - in the days of this flesh, and in the continuing mission of His church. All history converges upon that choice - the history of every man and the history of the world." Let no man deceive himself the call of Christ is total. This is likely to overwhelm any man and it should. But Christianity never ...

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