Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4476 to 4500 of 4937 results

4476. God's Most Unmistakable Message

John 20:1-9

Sermon

Don M. Aycock

Easter Sunday is a string tied around the finger of the world, reminding us that God loves us absolutely. It reminds us that Jesus' cross is not the last word. A cross is cruel enough, but a worse cruelty would be to forget the one whose crucifixion benefited us. How do you feel when no one remembers your birthday or anniversary, or when someone forgets your name? You see, three men died on crosses that gruesome spring day so long ago. Three died, but only one is truly remembered. Why? It is because he ...

4477. To All Those Who Have, More Will Be Given

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Phyllis Faaborg Wolk

The parable told in our gospel lesson this morning is one that Jesus uses to illustrate the kingdom of heaven. It is a story about a shrewd businessman who rewards the slaves that double his money and punishes the worker who faithfully returns what the master had entrusted to him. This image of the kingdom of God may be quite different from what we would expect to read in the scriptures. When Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God we don't expect him to talk about a crafty investor. We don't think of God ...

4478. Not Yet Quitting Time

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

You may remember reading or hearing of the Korean Christian group who predicted that Christ was going to return on October 28, 1992, all Christians would be taken to heaven, and the rest of the world would enter the terrible catastrophes of the end times. Well, we're still here, and unless you count the presidential election which was held a month later as a terrible apocalyptic catastrophe, I don't see that the ordinary catastrophes were much worse than usual. There's nothing new in this miscalculation of ...

4479. Proper 26

Joshua 3:7-17, Amos 5:18-27, Micah 3:1-12, Malachi 2:1-9, Matthew 23:1-39, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Warning against religious hypocrisy. The conflict continues between Jesus and the religious leaders (Matthew 23:1-12). The Lutheran lections are tied together by an eschatological theme. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Joshua 3:7-17 The Hebrews are ready to cross the Jordan to take possession of the new land, under the leadership of Joshua. God commands the priests to take the Ark of the Covenant and walk into the river. When they do so, the waters heap up so that the people can cross over on dry land. ...

4480. When Trouble Comes!

Job 1:1-5

Sermon

Zan W. Holmes

One of the most realistic stories in the Bible is the story of Job and his troubles. Job was a good and righteous man whom God blessed abundantly. God blessed him with seven sons and three daughters, a total of ten children, the number which signaled completeness. Likewise, God blessed Job with seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels, again seven plus three, giving us the number of perfection. Furthermore, God blessed Job with five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys which also adds up to ...

4481. Swansong as Themesong

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sermon

Robert Noblett

Have you ever fantasized about what you might say, if given the opportunity, on the last day of your working career to your friends and colleagues who had gathered to hear you? The room is full, a hush has fallen over the group, and your moment has come. What might you say to your fellow teachers, or factory workers, or business associates? I”m not thinking so much of the retirement party, because they tend to be lighter affairs. Rather, I am thinking about your last full and authentic day on the job. In ...

4482. Gunda

John 6:60-71

Sermon

Robert Salzgeber

In the movie, Days of Thunder, Cole Thunder (Tom Cruise) when asked by his girlfriend why he races 200 miles per hour NASCAR stock cars, haughtily answers, "I want to be able to control that which is out of control." Our text for today raises the question: Are we unable to control anything? "What gives life is God's Spirit; man's power is of no use at all." A little while later in the film, while in the middle of a heated argument because Cole has just previously chased a taxi cab, recklessly and violently ...

4483. Easter 4

Psalm 23:1-6, Acts 4:1-22, 1 John 3:11-24, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

The One Shepherd The Good Shepherd parable comes on the fourth Sunday of Easter. While it is located in the Gospel before the crucifixion, it interprets the meaning of the events. The message enables the church to see them not as unrelenting tragedy and failure but as signs of victory and hope. The key interpretation is not that the enemies of Jesus were in control by their ability to take his life. Rather it is that Jesus by an act of the will of God could lay down his life for his followers and take it ...

4484. Proper 12

John 6:16-24, John 6:1-15, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: God fills us with the Bread of Life for our bodies and our spirits. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 11:1-15 (C) King David has consolidated his power and no longer personally engages in the risky task of doing battle with his enemies. Getting up from his afternoon nap, he surveys his capital from his balcony, when he spies a beautiful woman taking her bath; it is Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of David's valiant fighters. He has her brought to his palace and has sex with her. When she sends word ...

4485. Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:16-18, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Bulletin Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: A call to repentance and renewal. The people are called to return to the Lord with acts of worship, giving and devotion that spring from the heart. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 We know little about the writer of this book and there are no historical markers by which to judge the period in which it was composed. Many scholars believe that Joel lived in the Persian period (559-331 B.C.). We do know that he had a keen interest in the temple and can surmise that he hails from priestly ...

4486. Love One Another (or Strike Up The Band)

John 13:31-38

Sermon

Lee Griess

A junior high music teacher had just organized a band in her school. The principal was so proud of the music teacher's efforts that without consulting her he decided that the band should give a concert for the entire school. The music teacher wasn't so sure her young musicians were ready to give a concert, so she tried to talk the principal out of holding the concert, to no avail. Just before the concert was ready to begin, as the music teacher stood on the podium, she leaned forward and whispered to her ...

4487. Lent 5

Luke 21:1-4 · Psalm 36:5-9

Bulletin Aid

Jack Brownlee

ORDER OF SERVICE Opening Words L: Let us worship our Creator, the God of Love. P: God continually preserves and sustains us. L: We have been forgiven with an all embracing acceptance. P: Through Jesus Christ we have received the full love of God. Hymn "Jesus, The Very Thought Of Thee" Prayer Of Confession (Unison) O God of all people and places, you are present within this room, within our lives, within our hearts. But we are self-centered, seeking our own way, claiming and clinging to things as if they ...

4488. A Fireside Chat

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

In the middle of the 20th century the fireside chat became a popular event: dignitaries who sit down before a fireplace, and there, in a more or less person-to-person manner, address the listeners. The intention, of course, is that each hearer will feel it is a personal message on an important mater. By radio Roosevelt had his fireside chats. Jimmy Carter did the same thing, only by television. Billy Graham used ot do them during his Christmas specials. But the fireside chat of our text is not an easy, ...

4489. Proper 12

Luke 11:1-13, Psalm 138:1-8, Genesis 18:16-33, 2 Kings 5:1-27, Colossians 2:6-23

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE At one time, the Pentecost season of the church year was divided into four parts, which were marked by saints' days. The first section ran from Trinity Sunday to June 29th, the day of Sts. Peter and Paul, and Sundays were numbered consecutively; the second went from the end of June to August 10th, St. Lawrence Day, and were numbered "after the Aposties;" the third extended from August 10th to September 29th, the feast of St. Michael and All Angels, and were called Sundays "after St. ...

4490. First Things First

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Thomas Peterson

In our text Jesus makes a comparison between two different things: buildings and a person. The buildings he spoke of were of great importance, representing many resources. No doubt the excess wealth of the city or nation was required to build them. Many workers were conscripted to work on them. And, no matter big or small, they were always much larger, more solid, and of greater economic value than any of the persons who helped in their construction. In fact, they gave a feeling of permanence which those ...

4491. God’s Ultimate Concern

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Walter Kimbrough

The Bible records one of the most moving stories ever told. It is the account of God’s giving the ten commandments to Moses. This mountaintop experience was a most excellent setting for the revealing of such a historic document. “The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain… (Exodus 19:20 NIV).” In other words, God and man had a summit meeting -- God came down and man had to go up. We must note that God had a very special relationship with Israel. They were no ...

4492. Wedding: 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Sermon Aid

Mark Pepoon

Familiar words! Seems as if St. Paul knows what he is talking about! Humanity is best served by individuals who know themselves; that is, their talents, skills, abilities (gifts which they possess and for which they seek to find some function), and service to humankind which is in keeping with their dispositions, temperaments, and strengths. People sometimes find themselves miscast for their jobs or positions; their qualifications are too high or, sometimes, too low. What qualifies one for marriage? If you ...

4493. Whether We Live Or Die

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sermon

Sims Robert

“So Moses, a servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab (Deuteronomy 34:5).” In life and in death, Moses was a servant of God. The issue for Moses was not to live or to die but in all things to belong to God. The apostle Paul reflects the same spirit, “None of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself. If we live we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s (Romans 14:7-8).” All who trust and believe in God belong to God. ...

4494. Water Without Price

Revelation 20:1-7

Eulogy

Richard F. Bansemer

Death of a non-church goer The meditation text is Revelation 21:6: "To the thirsty I will give water without price from the fountain of the water of life." The good news of God's gospel seems too good to be true, doesn't it? God says, "To the thirsty I will give water without price." By contrast, the world says, "everything has a price tag."You know how true this is. Order a cup of water in some fast-food restaurants, and they will charge you for it. They say that it's for the container. Everything in life ...

4495. A Special Gift

Titus 3:7

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A piece of fine china, a beautiful book, and a piece of fine jewelry. Good morning, boys and girls. How are you on such a lovely day as this first Sunday of the new year? Just think, the world is another year older by our count. There are different ideas about getting old, depending upon whom you talk to. How many of the boys and girls here this morning would like to be 16 years old? A lot of you? How many wish you were only two years old? Not very many want to be two years old. You want to grow up ...

4496. Arise, O Church of God, Arise!

Sermon

"The eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him they worshiped him, even though some of them doubted. Jesus draw near and said to them: "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, to the end of the age." ( ...

4497. New Help on an Old Question

Luke 20:27-40

Sermon

There came to him some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children, and the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, ...

4498. Advent 4

Isaiah 7:1-25, Romans 1:1-17, Matthew 1:18-25, Psalm 24:1-10

Sermon Aid

CSS

THEOLOGICAL CLUE A quarter of a century ago, there was a movement in Great Britain by the Joint Liturgical Group to move Christmas (and other festivals, too) to a Sunday to encourage greater attendance and participation in the festive worship. This did not happen formally (in fact, the anticipated 1980 merger of the Anglican Church with several Protestant communions did not occur, either), but the Fourth Sunday in Advent, through liturgy and lections and popular piety, has clearly taken the shape of " ...

4499. The Lacking Christian?

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away, you give them something to eat." They ...

4500. Who's The Boss?

Psalm 50:1-23

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Money. Money. Money. Since today is Pledge Sunday, I am going to preach about money. No surprise. But what MAY surprise you is that I am not going to BASH money. No railing about money being the root of all evil (which is an incorrect quote, by the way); not even "the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (which is the correct one - I Tim. 6:10). No. I think money is wonderful. I think everyone ought to have as much of it as they can make good use of. Money is a marvelous tool. Money allows us to ...

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