Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4576 to 4600 of 4943 results

4576. The Second Sunday of Easter

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Kendall K. McCabe

... good news of Easter; it is the good news into which some of us were baptized last week, into which still others will be confirmed on Pentecost, and into which still others of us have been both baptized and confirmed in years past and which we continue to remember and make present each time we confess our sins and hear the words of absolution and assurance. Somebody needs to be telling good news. Somebody needs to be talking forgiveness. That somebody must, at least, be those who have experienced it in the ...

4577. The Third Sunday of Easter

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

... the church's story, and, in remembering, that past becomes a present reality for us. In preaching we translate the past into the present, and in prayer we hold past and present up before God, asking that as we have been led thus far, so God will continue to go before us into the future. Preaching involves words, words involve speech, speech involves breath, breath involves air, and preaching can run the risk of becoming hot air. We not only remember and tell the story; we act out the story. Let us play. We ...

4578. A Wandering Aramean

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

... ? Strong and brave, to be sure, but also a bit crude. The Bible says one day some city boys followed along behind the aging Prophet, calling him "Baldy." Elijah promptly summoned two she-bears who tore forty-two of the city boys limb from limb. He then continued on his way to keep an appointment at Mount Carmel. Our great-grandfather in faith, Elijah - are you sure you want to boast about him? Then there's Jacob. With Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph, he is a Patriarch and at the very base of our family roots ...

4579. When God Says "Go"

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

... , not because of what we can do for him, but because of what he can do with us. Our availability interests God more than our ability. Look at the disciples. The New Testament suggests they were neither brighter nor nicer than other people. They continually missed the point, always jockeyed for position and, when the chips were down, were interested only in saving their own skins. Their sole qualification seems to have been their initial willingness to rise to their feet when Jesus said "Follow me." But God ...

4580. God's Passion

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

... seen before or since. Listen to Luke describe, in the book of Acts, Christianity's first spring: They spent their time learning; sharing in fellowship meals and prayers. Many miracles were done. . . everyone filled with awe. All believers continued in close fellowship. . . shared their belongings. . . sold their property and possessions and distributed the money among all. . . Had their meals together. . . glad and humble hearts. . . praised God. . . enjoyed the good will of all the people. And everyday the ...

4581. Why Look To Heaven?

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

... in the world. Then, as they stood huddled together, came the great shock. Christ disappeared into a cloud. As the disciples, like lost children, stood gawking into the air, an angel appeared and said: "Why look to heaven?" At the Ascension, the disciples sought to continue their lives in Christ's presence. And why not? They had known a good life - Christ had done the healing, the teaching, the confronting of enemies. The disciples had only to live meekly in a corner of that dynamic man's life. But no longer ...

4582. I Kid You Not

2 Kings 4:8-37

Sermon

... when her chute was safely open, he opened his own and both landed. The woman was hospitalized with injuries, but Robertson went back up to do some more skydiving. Life inevitably presents us with surprises - opportunities - and blessings. Through it all, God’s will continues good and trustworthy. It is the Lord God who promises the Unexpected ... who proclaims the Unlikely ... who programs the Unfeasible. It is the Lord who says to you and me, "I kid you not." You can believe him because he gives you his ...

4583. The Preposterous Prescription

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

... asked her, "Have you been using the prescription I gave you?" The woman answered, "I’m sorry, doctor, I didn’t have time to get it filled." The doctor then said, "Then I don’t have the time to treat you. I have other patients to see. Goodbye." Earl continued by saying, "The doctor actually walked out on her, and she had no choice but to leave. What do you think of that? It taught me a lesson, I know. If you ask for advice from someone who knows what they’re talking about, you ought to be willing ...

4584. The Focus of Fitness

Jeremiah 18:1--19:15

Sermon

... , Is it going to work? Is it going to be worthwhile? That is also the question God asks about us. Are these people going to shape up? Are they going to heed my word? Are they going to repent and turn from their evil ways? Or are they going to continue on their merry way, on the road that leads to destruction? Let me pose a couple of questions, in regard to Jeremiah’s observation of the potter. 1. Does it really make any difference what we do? Doesn’t God know the end of the story? There’s not much ...

4585. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Jeremiah 20:7-18

Sermon

... to keep standing after we have been counted. "I beg your pardon; I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there’s got to be a little rain, sometime." This is the refrain of a song that was popular in the 70s. The lyrics continue with the singer telling his sweetheart that he could promise her things like big diamond rings, the moon, or the world on a silver platter; but the only thing he can give is himself. He cannot promise "a rose garden," because life is unpredictable and there are ...

4586. ... and Justice for All

Ezekiel 18:1-32

Sermon

... . The leader, a man named Bartlett says he’s had enough rustling. He replies: Do we have rights as men and cattle or don't we? If we wait for Judge Tyler, there won’t be any cattle left in the meadows by the time we get justice.7 Bartlett continues, asking "What is justice?" raising his voice higher: Is it justice that we sweat ourselves sick and old every damned day of the year to make a handful of honest dollars and then lose it all in one night because Judge Tyler says we have to fold our hands and ...

4587. Why I Can’t Sleep in Church

Ezekiel 33:1-20

Sermon

... saying it directly, we knew that he loved and respected the forest far more than the casual admirer. That lesson about watching for fires stayed with us during our stay at Holden. We were more aware of the dry forest and the dangers it could present. Watching continues to be one of the responsibilities of God’s people. It may not hold the excitement of being in the thick of the battle, but it serves a vital purpose. We may not need to watch for the Philistines or the Amalekites, but new threats have taken ...

4588. Honest to Goodness Religion

Hosea 4:1-19

Sermon

... want to come and seek him. When they wake up and come to their senses, they will start to look for a solution. It is said that the Lord and the Archangel Michael were conversing in the Communications Room of heaven. In a loud continuous torrent, all prayers of humankind were ascending from the earth. It was a babel of sound. Some prayers were passionate, others were registering complaints, some were urgent requests and others were questions. Somewhat overwhelmed, Michael said to the Lord, "I beg your pardon ...

4589. Let God Be God

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... who is teaching these truths. He then goes on to speak of himself as the Son of man, descended from Heaven, and lifted up that all who believe in him might be saved. In testifying thus to himself, Jesus puts his own life and being into the continuity of the action of God in revealing himself. The sovereign God has come to the world supremely in his messianic Son, who willingly suffered death on an uplifted Cross for the redemption of the world. Through the mystery of the Spirit, this truth comes alive in ...

4590. Authority Through Servanthood

Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... for honesty about sin, sincere confession of it, and a firm grasp of the Gospel in making new beginnings day by day. In these times of pain for the whole church, let me tell you of a minister whose authority remains rock-solid because of her continuing servanthood. A Radiant Servant, with Authority I think of a woman whose ministry is concentrated on the people dying of AIDS in our city. She is quiet in her manner, but fearless in her daily rounds of prayer, counsel, medical help, and spiritual support for ...

4591. Parable of the Flame and the Spirit

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Illustration

... changing from one form to another. We know it serves mankind, but wrongly used can be of great destruction." Perhaps the action of fire, which worshipers of ancient times used to worship as God itself, does reveal something of what God in His marvelous power continues to do in so many ways. The refiner's fire or the purger's fire, which Jesus mentioned, was to cleanse the soul and remove the dross. While the fire burns, the original fuel disintegrates and the material takes on new form, though perhaps ...

4592. Parable of the Road Map

1 Samuel 15:1-35

Illustration

... others. We are so dependent on one another and the history of what has gone on before our time. The Bible and Christian teaching provides road maps for man's experiences and human relations. The church, the school and service organizations are continually establishing the road markers and the route numbers for making life worthwhile. You cannot travel far without using charted routes, following road numbers and obeying road signs. Too many disasters occur as a result of ignoring the charted courses for life ...

4593. That They May Be One

John 17:6-19

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... himself. That intimate, dynamic spiritual union with the risen Savior never leaves us disembodied. We are drawn to each other because he has first drawn us to himself and has given us his redeeming love. Think of the prayer of Christ being answered now and continually, until the end of time. Think of it being answered on four levels. Level One: Time Joined with Eternity The first is the unity of Christians now alive in earth with the faithful of God who are secure in his heavenly presence. This facet of ...

4594. The Miracle Of an Opened Mind

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high." Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:44-53) Ascension on Our Minds The miracle of Christ’s Ascension keeps on unfolding. Not only is our Lord risen. Not only in his risen form did he appear in the presence of the disciples and eat some broiled fish ...

4595. The Promise and the Task

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... will do it. We did not know each other beforehand. But with the arrangements in place that enabled us to know each other, it was remarkable how quickly the boundaries of language, class, etc. were crossed. In the years following, these beginnings have been continued through the visits of overseas Christians to us and through correspondence and sharing of our blessings. With Hope for the Completion This is the most direct way I know of for Christians to bring the ascension power to bear in such a way as ...

4596. Your Calling from God

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

... if it is costly, the God who calls also promises to be with us. Listen again to what God said to Abram: "I will make of you a great nation." As a nation, dare we believe in God’s possibility with us? What if, instead of continuing to build up our great military strength, we were to make commitments of some of those same resources for making our enemies friends through goodwill? What if, some of the money, which is being spent in presidential campaigns to hurl criticisms and accusations against another ...

4597. Is the Lord Among Us or Not?

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

... able to help. "Behold I will stand before you," God said to Moses. "Water will come ..." Moses believed that, went where the Lord told him to go, and did what the Lord told him to do; and the water was there. The people were refreshed, and they continued their journey toward the promised land. They found their answer. Jesus gave a new expression to this idea when he encountered the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. He explained to her that there are two kinds of water. There is the water that quenches our ...

4598. He Who Vindicates is Near

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

... is so easy to write off this man Jesus, who comes humbly, lowly, riding on an ass, and in peace. It is easy to write him off when what we think we need is power, money, a miracle drug, the right person or friend, or the exact event. So, Jesus continues to be denied and rejected. People still ask, "What can he do?" Others, however, join in that ancient procession begun so long ago in which we shout, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Save us Lord." What we are ...

4599. Chosen as Witnesses

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

... empty tomb, however, is not the essential evidence of the resurrection. Any number of persons, in any number of ways, could have rolled away the stone from the tomb and emptied its contents. That only verifies that the tomb was empty. Mary Magdalene continued to stand beside the tomb, weeping. When she was asked why she was weeping, she replied, "Because someone has taken away my Lord." With the tears in her eyes partially blinding her and in her distress and agony she heard someone approaching. Assuming ...

4600. The Cost of Being Christian

Acts 7:54--8:1a

Sermon

... Christ. It makes a considerable difference what you are looking for in Jesus as to how you see him and to how you respond and react to his coming. Stephen was one who had taken the words of Jesus seriously. He counted the cost and decided to continue to follow. Stephen was the first Christian martyr because he determined that he would rather die for his faith than deny it. They stoned Stephen primarily because he was attacking the root causes of evil and oppression in his day as his master had done. He was ...

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