Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4676 to 4700 of 4946 results

4676. "A" Lamb to "the" Lamb

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s ...

4677. Echoes of Eternity

Matthew 10:24-32

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who ...

4678. Getting Untwisted

Galatians 5:1

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Some string that easily twists and untwists, or a necklace or chain. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you hove ever played with a chain or a necklace like this and watched it get all twisted up, and then untwist itself? Oh, that’s good, a lot of you have done this. That means that you will understand what I am talking about in our little experiment. It is important that you watch the chain when it is unwinding, or otherwise it will wind right back up the other way. Now if you want your ...

4679. Resurrection: From Brokenness to Wholeness

Matthew 15:29-39

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

His name was Jahmai. In the ancient lineage of his people Jahmai was one of the sons of Tola (1 Chronicles 7:2), a worthy man and father of a great tribe by the days of King David. But the Jahmai of our story lived much, much later in the Hebrew lineage and his grand namesake was long forgotten. The Jahmai of our story was a youth, and this day he walked behind the crowds that followed Jesus. His walking was slowed because of his left leg being bent, never going straight. It meant that he would step-slide ...

4680. Martin Luther: the Shape of Grace

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

Martin Luther died in the upstairs bedroom of a little house in the town of Eisleben, Germany. He had been taken there from St. Andrew’s church across the street where he preached his last sermon. On February 18, 1546, he died. From the window of that little East German bedroom you can see St. Anne’s church, where he was baptized at the age of one day, and the house where he was born. Hans and Margaret Luder were on their way to Mansfield to look for work in the copper mines. As they traveled through ...

4681. God’s Dwelling Place

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

The Israelites were nomads. They lived in tents and when the time came to seek new grazing land they moved herds and houses at the same time. What they did for a living and how they lived were beautifully adapted to each other. After receiving the covenant of the Ten Commandments, Moses set aside one tent where the tribes would meet with God and remember and renew the covenant relationship. This was called the "Tent of Meeting," and it contained the Ark of the Covenant. It was "... a tent of meeting before ...

4682. A Streak of Common Sense

Deuteronomy 18:14-22

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

When I was growing up my mother often pleaded with me to use common sense. She was evidently convinced I did not have it or else, for some obstinate reason, refused to use it. Perhaps she was right. I was a wool-gatherer, a day-dreamer, off someplace that she did not know or understand. On the other hand, my older brother was evidently a paragon of common sense. I figured this out because she never urged him to use it. He must have been endowed with a suitable supply, for he was an operator and got things ...

4683. Epiphany 6

2 Kings 5:1-27, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Mark 1:40-45

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: 2 Kings 5:1-14 Theme: The universal scope of God’s concern Exegetical Note This account of Elisha’s healing of a foreigner, Naaman - and an unclean (leprous) and uncooperative one at that - suggests that God’s concern and care extend beyond the confines of Israel and toward the Gentiles. Luke 4:27 records Jesus himself as referring to this incident in order to justify to his fellow Nazarites his own early miracles in Capernaum rather than his home town. Call to Worship Leader: Rejoice in God ...

4684. Reinforced With Joy

John 15:1-17

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

Last fall I was invited to a luncheon to hear an outstanding leader in the business world. I sat next to the president of one of our local industries. While we were visiting, stillness fell about our table as everyone there stopped talking and listened to our conversation. When the industrial leader realized this, he looked at the other men at the table and said, "I want to ask the pastor a question which I think we all want to know." Turning to me, he said, "Dr. Gar, why is it that there is so little joy ...

4685. The Mystery of His Presence

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Richard Patt

"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (v. 52, TEV) In these times of world hunger, when many even within our own prosperous land find it difficult to put food on the table, we ought to be careful when complaining about our daily bread. But some of the "come-ons" that so-called quality restaurants advertise these days can irk any of us. The other evening my wife and I visited a local restaurant that had an attractive advertisement, claiming the "best of everything" in town. The meals were offered for ...

4686. The Word of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

T. A. Kantonen

In the center of Christianity stands the cross of Christ. The Apostle Paul defines the whole gospel as "the word of the cross." Both the Christian message and the Christian life are cruciform, bearing the shape of the cross. Thus we cannot avoid speaking about the cross, directly or indirectly, throughout the year. But during Lent, and especially on Good Friday, we try to keep silent and let the cross speak its word to us. We are not commissioned to trim and hew the cross to suit our desires, much less to ...

4687. Open Up To Life

Mark 7:24-37

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

Call to Worship Leader: Open us to hear, O God. People: Open us to see. Leader: Open us to feel. People: Open us to live. All: Open us to do your work. Collect Even when we are in strange surroundings, among people different from ourselves, or in uncomfortable situations, we are still yours, O God. We still want to do what is fair and what is right. In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen. Prayer of Confession Even when we yearn to go about unrecognized or without social responsibility, you, God, are there ...

4688. Make A Little Noise

Luke 11:1-13

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A school bell. Good morning, boys and girls! Let me ask you a question and see if you can come up with a good answer. If you wanted to get my attention, how would you do it? Let's just pretend that I'm standing here reading this book, and you come in with some special news for me. How are you going to get me to pay attention? Who would like to try? (Have someone do it.) What if I was a little bit deaf and couldn't hear too well or what if I was asleep? Then what would you do? (Have someone try to ...

4689. The Healing Power of the Resurrection

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

James W. Moore

IMPORTANT NOTE: The illustration that opens this sermon about Mel Gibson is not true. It is an urban legend. It has no bases in fact. Some years ago, a hard-working man took his family from New York State to Australia so he could take advantage of a job opportunity there. One member of this man’s family was a handsome young son who dreamed of joining the circus. He wanted to become a trapeze artist or actor in the circus. This young man, biding his time until a circus job or even one as a stagehand came ...

4690. The Apostles' Creed: "God...Almighty"

Mark 15:33-41, Mark 15:21-32

Sermon

David E. Leininger

"I believe in God the Father, Almighty..." Do you now? Is this the same God that the folks down in Colombia believe in, the folks who have just lost homes, health, and loved ones in that devastating earthquake Monday? The same God to whom prayers are directed from those trying to survive the ethnic slaughter in Kosovo? The same God to whom the family of Tiffany Long [a local 10-year-old found raped and murdered] prayed for her safe return from school? "God, the Father, ALMIGHTY...?" Right! In Russell Baker ...

4691. Connections In High Place

John 15:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a story about professional golfer Gary Player that sounds like it could have happened to you or to me. Once in a major tournament Player tried to ricochet a ball off a stone wall. "I tried to be fancy," admitted Player. The ball hit the wall where it was intended, but instead of finishing on the green, it ricocheted back and hit Player on the cheek. The force of the blow actually knocked him out cold. "Finally, I regained my senses," says Player, "at least a portion of them. Still groggy, I ...

4692. Who Is God Anyway?

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Sermon

King Duncan

Charles Schultz, the PEANUTS cartoonist, contributed a cartoon to a church magazine years ago. The scene is a church youth meeting. Standing in front of the group is a teenage character wearing a primitive, multicolored, witch doctor's ritual mask. The caption beneath the cartoon read: "My program tonight is entitled, It matters not what you believe, only whether you are sincere or not.' " (1) Most of us believe that it really does matter what a person believes. At the same time, few of us would consider ...

4693. Help For Hurting Dads

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: a toy, stuffed penguin, or a picture of a penguin Lesson: Father's Day Good morning, boys and girls. Today we're celebrating Father's Day, the day that we thank our fathers for all the wonderful things they do for us. Our fathers love us, and they protect us. They come to our school plays and our games. They teach us how to tie our shoes, and they read to us. What are some things your father does to show you he loves you? (Wait for 2 or 3 answers). I read something interesting this week about daddy ...

4694. How Many Times?

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

King Duncan

A woman with fourteen children, ages one through fourteen, sued her husband for divorce on the grounds of desertion. "When did he desert you?" the judge asked. "Thirteen years ago," she replied. "If he left thirteen years ago, where did all these children come from?" asked the judge. "Oh," said the woman, "he kept coming back to say he was sorry." Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not ...

4695. Redefining Life

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

If I were to say, "He-e-e-e-e-ere's Johnny!" what image would come to your mind? If you're old enough, you will probably think of "The Tonight Show," with Johnny Carson. What if I came out here and said, "Let's get ready to rummmmmble!" What comes to mind? Some of our younger people might recognize this as the opening of a professional wrestling show. I don't know if you have ever thought about the importance of a good introduction. It is very important to an entertainer or a speaker or a performer of any ...

4696. Living with the Aches and Alleluias

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Eric Ritz

She had every reason to be bitter. The circumstances of life had dealt a ton of harshness for her to handle. "Though talented, she went unrecognized for years. Prestigious opera circles closed their ranks when she tried to enter. American critics ignored her compelling voice. She was repeatedly rejected for parts for which she easily qualified. It was only after she went to Europe and won the hearts of tough-to-please European audiences that stateside opinion leaders acknowledged her talent. "Not only has ...

4697. What Gets Into People?

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

A man in Maryville, TN, called 911 sometime back to report someone was chasing him down the highway. As it turned out, it was the sheriff that was chasing him. It all started when a deputy noticed the man driving erratically and signaled for him to stop. The man pulled over at first, then spun his pickup truck around and fled down the highway. Soon three patrol cars were in pursuit. At that point the man dialed 911 and reported he was being chased. The dispatcher advised him to stop, but the man would not ...

4698. Anxious Thanks

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

Cathy A. Ammlung & staff

On Thanksgiving, isn't it odd to hear a Gospel that talks about anxiety and worry and not about, well, thanks? At this time of year, we offer thanks for food, shelter, health, favorable weather, peace, and a whole raft of other blessings. Isn't it a bit jarring to hear Jesus tell us, "Do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things"? Why is this text rubbing worry into our faces? Worry -- and trouble. "Today's ...

4699. How Is It With Your Soul?

Luke 6:37-42

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Somewhere along the way I read a piece entitled "What is a Person" written by a little boy in West Virginia who was asked to write an essay on that subject. This is what he wrote. "When you are a person...your head is kind of round and hard and your brains are in it and your hair is on it. Your face is in the front of your head where you eat and make faces. Your neck is what keeps your head out of your collar, and it's hard to keep clean. Your shoulders are sort of shelves where you hook on your suspenders ...

4700. Don't Fade Out On the Amen and the Hallelujah

Revelation 19:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I begin with a story. Bishop James Baker died in 1969, having lived to be ninety. In all of his years – and even in his last years – he had a zest for life. Even though he was too blind to read during those last years, volunteer readers kept him up on current events. His mind was agile and alert. He had a keen perception and a way of getting at the heart of things – probing their meaning with clear insight. He was the bishop of the Methodist Church who was responsible for founding the Wesley Foundation ...

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