Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4526 to 4550 of 4937 results

4526. Fred and Barney

John 10:11-18

Sermon

John Smylie

I grew up in the suburbs, in a community outside of lower Manhattan. There were no sheep in our neighborhood. In fact, there were no farms. In southern New Jersey, there were farms that grew wonderful corn and tomatoes. In fact some might be amused to know that the slogan on New Jersey's license plate has been, "The Garden State." It is amusing, because so many of us who live in this fine country have only had the experience of New Jersey that can be found along the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State ...

4527. The Coat Off Your Back

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

Thanksgiving — cornucopias, fall harvests, turkey and pumpkin pie, corn stalks, and scarecrows — outward signs associated with the holiday we celebrated only seventeen days ago. Even before Halloween and Thanksgiving ended, holiday colors had changed. Orange pumpkin lights were replaced by white or multicolored twinkling lights. A small town policeman looks forward every year to hanging his outside Christmas lights. His goal is to measure up to Chevy Chase's outlandish display in the movie, Christmas ...

4528. Getting Directions

Acts 16:9-15

Sermon

David E. Leininger

We have been living on borrowed time. In the over 3,100 years of recorded world history, the world has only been at peace 8% of the time or a total of 286 years, and 8,000 treaties have been made and broken. On any given day, soldiers are firing in thirty to forty nations. Wars of liberation. Territorial disputes. Religious principles. "One man's freedom fighter is another's terrorist," the saying goes, but the common denominator is death. Day in and day out. I wonder if the apostle Paul ever felt that way ...

4529. Breaking News: God and Government

Romans 13:1-7

Sermon

James Merritt

No matter what your politics might be, whether you are Democrat, Republican or Independent, by common consensus one of the wittiest and funniest presidents in human history was Ronald Reagan. I came across some of his famous one-liners the other day and I thought you would get a kick out of them. It is true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure why take the chance? I’m not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself. I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of a ...

4530. Ruth Meets Boaz

Ruth 2:1-23

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

Naomi’s Reality: 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz. Jewish tradition is full of fables about Boaz. The Talmud identifies him as the minor judge Ibzan (Judg. 12:8) and reveres him as a patriarchal figure on the level of a Kirta or a Danil in Canaanite myth (b. B. Bat. 91a). According to the Talmud, he becomes a widower on the very day Ruth arrives in Israel and is rich enough to throw lavish wedding parties for every one of ...

4531. The Year of Canceling Debts

Deuteronomy 15:1-11

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Release of Debts and Slaves: Those who see the order of the Decalogue reflected in the structure of the laws in Deuteronomy 12–26 relate the whole section from 14:28 to 16:17 to the fourth (sabbath) commandment. The sabbath commandment focused on the needs especially of the dependent sections of the population (5:14) and was motivated by God’s redemptive action on behalf of Israel when they were oppressed slaves (5:15). Chapter 15 is saturated with the same social concern and the same motivation. It is the ...

4532. The Priestly Portions of Sacrifices

Lev 6:8–7:38

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God’s ministers help people to worship, and they deserve to be paid. Understanding the Text Leviticus 1:1–6:7 discusses the five basic sacrifices from the layperson’s point of view. Leviticus 6:8–7:38 changes the audience to priests: “Aaron and his sons” (Lev. 6:9, 25). This unit emphasizes portions of the sacrifices to be given to the priests. It anticipates Leviticus 8–10, on the ordination and duties of priests. Historical and Cultural Background A relief from Karnak in Egypt showing a man ...

4533. In the Event of Power Failure

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Charley Reeb

A friend of mine once shared a story about his first visit to Niagara Falls. He said it was magnificent — the rush and roar of the water — the display of raw power. But as he looked upon the water gushing forth, he remembered a picture in a textbook. It showed Niagara Falls in the middle of winter, and much of the water was frozen. Big lightning-shaped forms of water were at a standstill. There was no movement, no action, no power. As my friend reflected on the picture, he thought how disappointing it ...

4534. Everyone Is Looking for You

Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome to this special liturgical holy day known as Super Bowl Sunday. No use fighting it. I know that some of you are focused almost completely on football today. I heard about one young guy who is really in a difficult situation. He bought two tickets for today’s Super Bowl far in advance. He forgot that he and his fiancé had scheduled their wedding for this same day and time. Now he realizes he can’t go. It’s out of the question. So, if you’re interested and want to go instead of him, here’s the ...

4535. Uncertain Certainties

John 20:19-31

Sermon

John Jamison

It was Sunday evening. Easter morning had come and gone, and the disciples had spent the entire day talking about the fact that Jesus had actually been raised from the dead. They were all fired up and making plans for how they were going to go out and spread the word of God and continue the ministry that Jesus had taught them to perform. Right? Not quite. As the sun went down Sunday evening, some of the disciples had gathered together. They were still hiding in a small room somewhere with the doors and ...

4536. Homecoming

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

Will Willimon

I want to speak to those of you who are grieving the death of someone whom you love, which, by my reckoning, includes about everyone here. For some of you, your pain is still acute. Others, like me, found that the ache of the loss gradually receded. You got up, you went on, but still, at moments when you least expect, grief grips you again and you realize there are not many days in this life without loss. Those whom we love keep leaving, keep journeying to "that land from which no traveler has ever ...

4537. Rejecting The Message — Rejecting The Person

Luke 4:21-30

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

Jesus wanted people to know and experience his loving Father — the true God. Anything else was false love….false gods. Christ’s message came directly from the heart of God. He and the Father were so intimately connected in heart, soul, and spirit. His whirlwind preaching and teaching tour in the synagogues in the communities of the region of Galilee landed him in his own hometown of Nazareth. His celebrity status brought in the crowds on that powerful Saturday. The liberal minded people of Galilee were ...

4538. The Gift

Luke 2:1-20

Sermon

Will Willimon

“A few years ago, someone near and dear gave me a Polo shirt for Christmas, and I said thank you, of course, and put it on, and tried to look pleased, but what I was thinking was, 'Burgundy?' In my experience, burgundy shirts are worn by guys who smoke cigarillos, drive Buick LeSabres, sit in the dark corners of cocktail lounges and place large wages on basketball games. I'm more of a wheat type of person. Wheat or antique blue. But did I turn to the giver and say, 'Sorry, I'm an English major and we don't ...

4539. Bigger, Better, Basta!

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Have you ever seen a hoarder? A true hoarder? I don’t mean someone who collects teacups, baseball cards, or precious stones. A collector displays selected objects for all to see. A real hoarder stuffs things away for fear of not having enough. In fact, a hoarder never has enough! Hoarding is a very private disorder, one that usually accompanies isolation, fear, and phobia. A psychological disorder, hoarding is not only isolating, but it can be dangerous, causing problems in living conditions, cleanliness, ...

4540. "Head" Lines

Ephesians 1:11-23

Sermon

King Duncan

How many of us pick up the newspaper or our digital devices each morning and scan the headlines before we start reading the morning news? Not every story is of equal interest to everyone. For example, a headline about a tax hike or a bomb scare is more likely to catch my attention than is a headline about school marching bands or knitting clubs. You have your own criteria for judging which stories merit your time. But occasionally a headline will catch our attention because it seems to have more than one ...

4541. Go Down To The Potter's House

Jeremiah 18:1--19:15

Sermon

James McLemore

What is meant when we say, "Go down to the potter's house"? Let me explain through these illustrations. A young mechanic was doing his studies about engine repair. He was in the final stages and was discussing with his instructor what he felt was the most important thing he needed to learn to master the engine. He told his instructor that he had read all of the relevant material on the internal combustion engine, the rotary engine, and turbochargers. He stated that he knew that the engine has nine systems ...

4542. Rich Toward God

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

John G. Lynn

The southern California cities of San Diego and Los Angeles are well known for their misty mornings. Each day in Los Angeles, in the Beverly Hills section, the sky is thick with fog. "Don't worry," the natives will tell you, "it will burn off by noon." And sure enough it does. Every morning it is the same thing ... thick, cold fog until 11 or 12:00. Then sunshine for the rest of the day. In Annapolis, Maryland, on the east coast, it is exhilarating to walk to the end of the Naval Academy campus and there ...

4543. Shameless Passion

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Paul W. Kummer

Today is Palm Sunday. Some of you wonder why our text is not highlighting the trek into Jerusalem on a donkey, but rather this coming Friday's story of Jesus' suffering as found prophesied in the Old Testament. Why is this the chosen lesson? Too many people move from Palm Sunday's jubilation to Easter's victory and never take the excruciating walk through the Upper Room, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Trials, and Mount Calvary. But you must go through it all really to know the joy of the Open Tomb! I like ...

4544. The Seventh Meal

Sermon

Robert F. Scott

Thanksgiving In JerichoLuke 19:1-10 Worship Focus A large bowl or basket of fruit; a pedestal bowl would be festive. Jericho was known as the City of Palms, so an arrangement of dates would also be in order. A Litany For The Seventh Meal Leader: God of all power, we praise you, for you tower above all other loyalties. People: Now is the acceptable time. Leader: God of all grace, we thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. People: Now is the day of salvation! Leader: God of all majesty, we ...

4545. The Risky Business of Faith

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

Sometime between 1900 and 1500 years before the birth of Christ, a nomadic family, living on the socio-economic fringe of Mesopotamia and headed by a fellow named Abraham migrated from the fertile crescent of the Tigris-Euphrates River valley south through Palestine, eventually settling in the region of the Negeb desert. From one perspective, it was rather unspectacular. As Christians, however, we consider this one of history's most pivotal events. We believe that through a call issued to Abraham and his ...

4546. Jesus, the Bread of Life

John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

Theme: Jesus, the Bread of Life and the Disciples Expectations and Demands. Liturgical Color: Green. ADORATION Pastoral Invitation (Pastor and People) In the name of the risen, active Christ, welcome to the eleventh Sunday of Pentecost. As we begin worship, consider, silently, your expectations of yourself, others, God. Write them down. Do they focus on physical or spiritual bread? Pastor: Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." People: We receive your gift. Pastor: I offer my bread to the world. You are to ...

4547. Easter 3

Revelation 5:1-14, Acts 9:1-19a, John 21:1-14

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) The conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. This is the first of three Lukan accounts of Paul's conversion from hostility to support of Christ and the church. It is a key incident in the life of the early church. The risen Christ stops Paul in his tracks and enlists him as an apostle. It was a dramatic and radical change in Paul's life, from a persecutor to a propagator of the church. Christ comes to him as light which blinds him. He does not see that opposition to ...

4548. Proper 23

Luke 17:11-19, Jeremiah 29:1-23, 2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 Jeremiah writes a letter to the exiles in Babylon. The first wave of deportees have arrived in Babylon. They are now held as hostages so that the remaining Jews in Jerusalem would obey and pay their taxes to Babylon. False prophets were among the exiles who were admonished to rebel. They predicted a downfall of Babylonia and a return to Jerusalem in the near future. In opposition to this Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles urging them to settle down for a stay ...

4549. Transfiguration

2 Corinthians 3:7-18, Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 34:29-35 After 40 days on the mountain with Yahweh, Moses' face shone. In this passage Moses makes his final descent from Mount Sinai where in communing with God he receives the Decalogue on two tablets of stone. When Moses came back to his people, his face was still reflecting the glory of Yahweh to such an extent that Aaron and others were afraid of him. Moses had to urge the people to come near him. To reduce the brilliance, he put on a veil which he removed when he went ...

4550. Epiphany 5

Isaiah 59:1-21, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 5:17-20

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

First Lesson: Isaiah 59:1-9a (9b-20) Theme: The Lord is Faithful Call To Worship Leader: Come, let us repent and lift our prayers before the Lord! People: But the Lord has not heard us and our pleas have not been answered. Leader: For we have all sinned and strayed away from God's paths. People: Then let us repent that once again we might know God's love and grace. Leader: For God has always heard; it was we who had gone our own ways. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, we thank You for ...

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