Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 451 to 475 of 1249 results

451. Christmas 1

Psalm 111:1-10, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Galatians 3:26--4:7, Matthew 2:13-18, Matthew 2:19-23

Sermon Aid

... from Isaiah, bringing the Old Testament perspective into the sharp focus of the gospel of Jesus Christ: When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Paul reminds us that the birth of Christ assures us that we have been freed from the bondage we have been in and are empowered through the Holy Spirit to join Jesus in addressing God as he did, "Abba! Father!" Because he has set us free ...

452. Epiphany 2

Psalm 40:1-17, John 1:29-34, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-7

Sermon Aid

CSS

... these same gifts." The climax of the prayer asks for another gift - "and lead us also to perfect faith in him." The Psalm of the Day (LBW) - Psalm 40:1-12 If nothing else, this psalm offers the people of God a pattern for prayer that is worth adopting. The faithful begin their prayers with praise to God for all he has done, then offer thanksgiving for his goodness and grace, and only then do they offer their petitions to God for the needs of all people and themselves. At the time the Bible was written, the ...

453. Epiphany 4

Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 1:1-6

Sermon Aid

... to seek for others what they alone might have - security, freedom from fear, hunger, and poverty, equal rights in matters of race, economics, religion, and political significance. Justice for all is the active concern of God's people. 2. Priority number two: adopting a Christian life-style whose foundation is love for all people, as well as for God. The Jerusalem Bible translation of verse 8 is "to love tenderly." This is echoed in Jesus' command, "Love one another as I have loved you." Jesus expects ...

454. Transfiguration of Our Lord

Matthew 17:1-13, 2 Peter 1:12-21, Exodus 24:1-18, Psalm 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

... beyond the turmoil of our world and to behold the king in all his glory." The second prayer is related to the confirmation of the faith "by the witness of Moses and Elijah," and that "in the voice from the bright cloud you foreshadowed our adoption as your children." The petition sentence asks God to "make us with the king heirs of your glory, and bring us to enjoy its fullness." Both bring Epiphany to a fitting conclusion and, rather subtly, point the church toward Calvary. The collect for the last Sunday ...

455. The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Zechariah 9:9-13, Exodus 1:1-22, Exodus 2:1-10, Romans 7:7-25, Romans 8:1-17, Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon Aid

... divine destinies might be fulfilled - it is odd that the reading is not included in all of the lectionaries. Those congregations who follow the Common Lectionary will profit by hearing again the story of Moses' birth, his rescue from the river and his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter. Zechariah 9:9-12 In its customary identification with Palm Sunday, this reading stirs up memories of the victorious and triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The note of joy obviously sounds on this and every Sunday of the ...

456. Proper 10 & Pentecost 8

Isaiah 55:1-13, Psalm 65:1-13, Romans 8:1-17, Romans 8:18-27, Exodus 2:11-25, Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon Aid

... need of redemption; and when people are reconciled to God, they need also be reconciled to the world. Paul not only knows that people live in hope, waiting for the redemption of their bodies at the last day, but he is also aware that they have already been "adopted" as the children of God in Christ, and are to live in harmony with the creator and his creation, in the meantime. Romans 8:9-1 7 (E, C) Roman and Lutheran pastors would do well to read this again; it provides the background and context for their ...

457. Proper 11 & Pentecost 11

Isaiah 44:6-23, Psalm 103:1-22, Psalm 86:1-17, Exodus 3:1-22, Romans 8:18-27, Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43

Sermon Aid

... verse 23, the liturgical specialists simply omitted the two verses in between verse 23 and verse 26. The pastor/preacher might want to consider this passage in that context. Paul assures his readers that, as they "groan inwardly as [they] wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of [their] bodies," the "Spirit helps us in our weakness ... [and] the Spirit himself intercedes for us [the saints] with sighs too deep for words...." This suggests that there are occasions on which the first or second readings ...

458. Proper 14 & Pentecost 12

1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 29:1-11, Psalm 106:1-48, Romans 9:1-29, Matthew 14:22-36, Exodus 13:17--14:31, Jonah 2:1-10, Psalm 85:1-13

Sermon Aid

... : my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood." He goes on to tell why they are so important: God adopted them as sons, gave them the covenants, the Law, and the religious rituals; he made promises to them. Not only are they descended from the patriarchs, but Jesus also comes from their lineage. Those who love Christ should appreciate the uniqueness of the relationship between ...

459. Some Assembly Required

Malachi 2:17--3:5

Sermon

... have a disturbing encounter with a stranger named Simeon, who makes them look into the future. The little we know about Simeon comes from this story. He is a very old man by the time we meet him. He is "righteous and devout." Most significantly, Simeon has adopted a singularly important goal in life: he is "looking for the consolation of Israel." He’s been told by the Holy Spirit that he won’t die before he sees the Messiah, the Lord’s Christ. That’s what Simeon is living for. While most people are ...

460. Pinch Hitters or Designated Hitters

John 19:26-27

Children's Sermon

... have been designated by your parent or parents to supervise you. Some of you may have a foster mother or stepmother, who is more like a designated hitter, who has care and custody of you for a longer time by the decision of your father or by a court. An adoptive mother, a foster mother, a stepmother, as well as a natural mother all deserve your respect and love for the care they take of us when we are young children.

461. Advent 3

James 5:7-12

Bulletin Aid

... Merciful God, we confess that we continually lose sight of your bias toward the poor, the oppressed, the needy, the hungry, and the dispossessed, and try our best to make your gospel a comfort even to those upon whom Jesus pronounced "woes." Forgive us, we pray, and help us to adopt your attitude of concern and compassion for those who, according to Jesus, will inherit an earth renewed by your holy Reign. In his name we pray. Amen

462. Christmas, Second Proper

Titus 3:1-11

Bulletin Aid

... , namely, that salvation comes by God's grace and mercy rather than by human goodness and merit. What is added here is the notion that, as a result of God's initiative in outpouring the Holy Spirit in the Christ, the recipients are, in effect, adopted as children who are destined to inherit eternal life. Call to Worship (based on Psalm 97) Leader: Let the heavens declare God's righteousness! People: LET ALL PEOPLE BEHOLD GOD'S GLORY! Leader: All gods bow before our God! People: AND ALL IDOLS SHATTER IN ...

463. Proper 10

Exodus 2:11-25

Bulletin Aid

... incident, as well as of his assistance of and sojourn with the Midianites, seems to be his rootlessness and lack of identity before his call: he is born Hebrew, but reared Egyptian; exiled from Egypt because of his passionate defense of his true people, but then adopted a second time by the Midianites, though regarded by them as an Egyptian. The picture is of a man with a very unstable background, an unlikely candidate for God's call. Call to Worship Leader: Let us worship the God of Israel! People: LET US ...

464. Proper 26

Psalm 127:1-5, Ruth 4:1-12

Bulletin Aid

... in God's great plan Exegetical Note The key idea in this selection is that people behaving righteously in small events of everyday human concerns can become unwitting but crucial agents in God's unfolding salvation history. Ruth's earlier faithfulness to Naomi in adopting God and Israel as her own, and Boaz' graciousness toward Naomi in providing her a next of kin, work together to establish the line of none other than Israel's greatest king, David. Call to Worship Leader: Unless God builds the house, the ...

465. All Saints' Day

1 John 2:28--3:10

Bulletin Aid

... to Worship (based on Psalm 34) Leader: Let us bless God at all times! People: LET GOD'S PRAISE BE CONTINUALLY ON OUR LIPS! Leader: Let our souls boast in God! People: LET THE AFFLICTED HEAR AND BE GLAD! Collect Almighty God, you have graciously adopted us into your family despite our many faults. Make us to see ourselves as "unfinished" children of yours: that, convinced of our imperfections, we may grow in your grace into the likeness of the perfect Christ. In his name we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession ...

466. Thanksgiving Day

Matthew 6:25-34

Bulletin Aid

... realigned to your will, we may live lives that are holy in your sight and worthy of thanksgiving in ours. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of bounty and blessing, it grieves us to confess that we have not always adopted your priority of things spiritual over things material, and that we have thus not treasured your greatest provisions to us, or given thanks for the most important of our blessings. Forgive us, we pray; help us to reorder our lives around the righteousness that you ...

467. "The Return"

Drama

... gave her more respect than I should have. But you can’t fault a man for that, now can you? Over the years she has been quite an insufferable busybody. Always sticking her nose in my affairs, giving me her unasked-for advice, trying to get me to adopt these totally unrealistic measures - a good-for-nothing, meddling busybody, that’s all she ever was. Woman I tried to understand; I wanted to help. Liberal Lady If you ever did have an association with her, which I still can’t believe, it is about time it ...

468. Success: Ultimate and Unlimited

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

... saints are found "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues." In a union of two of the most divergent denominations among Protestants, Congregational/Christian and Evangelical/Reformed, giving us the United Church of Christ, a statement of Faith was adopted by the General Synod at Oberlin in 1959. In part, it proclaims: "He promises to all who trust Him: forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, His presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal ...

469. Grace That Cost

Luke 19:1-10

Illustration

Robert Beringer

... . "What's this Paul Pio........ whatever his name is, doing here after what he did to your family?" Mr. Adams looked at the doctor and then said quietly, "Dr. Cronin, you won't have any more trouble with Paul's name. You see, he's Paul Adams now. We've adopted him." That is a wonderful story of costly grace, and that is exactly the wonderful gift that Jesus once gave to a heart-hungry tax collector named Zacchaeus.

470. Advance into Europe

Acts 15:36-41

Sermon Aid

CSS

... any achievement or making any converts. From Mysia, in the extreme northwestern part of the Turkish peninsula, they tried to turn back eastward to Bithynia. In that region were important cities like Nicaea, famed in later years for the council which adopted the Nicene Creed; and Heraclea, the modern Constantinople or Istanbul. But the "spirit of Jesus" did not allow them to take this route. The reason soon becomes clear, but the missionaries were frustrated, confused, and discouraged by the turn of events ...

471. Paul in Chains

Acts 21:27-36

Sermon Aid

CSS

... say about church-state relationships? Questions 1. Who was the leader of the church at Jerusalem? 2. If the elders at Jerusalem were pleased by the growth of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, why did they ask him to keep it secret? 3. What disguise was Paul required to adopt while he was in Jerusalem? 4. What started the riot in the inner court of the temple? 5. In Paul’s sermon, what did he reveal about his call from God to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles?

472. Oh, Now I Understand

Illustration

Staff

A company was adopting a new pension plan. Everybody but Sam signed up for the plan which called for a small employee contribution. The company was paying nearly the full amount. The problem was that one hundred percent participation was needed, and unless Sam signed up, the deal was off. His fellow workers cajoled, ...

473. Welcome to the Training Table!

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

... by folks who once were on the outside looking in. Come to think of it, in important ways we all were "scrubs" once. Until God grasped us and said "Yes!" to us, we were on the outside looking in. Until we were baptized, we were yet-to-be-adopted candidates for God’s embrace. Even though we may have come from old-line Christian families (and, increasingly, a lot of us have not), our roots most likely go back to the paganism of the European forests. In those days, the "old-line" Christian families lived in ...

474. God Is Not Yet Finished With You

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... God. Our Continuing Creation Even though God the Father has created me and God the Son has re-created me as a new person in Christ, God is still not finished with you and me. You see, by my second creation, I have been cleansed of my evil and been adopted by the Father for Jesus’ sake as a child of God. I have been re-born, made new as a priest and king unto God. That is all well and good, but God is not finished with me yet, because now I must be made to be in reality what ...

475. Who Has Everything?

Matthew 5:5

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... Moses, who liberated his people from the Pharaoh’s tyranny, meek? When we examine his character, we see that he was not always ready to assert himself, but rather was willing to humble and abase himself. He looked at all the possibilities ahead of him as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, evaluated them, and seeing them for what they were, humbled himself to God and his will. Look at the prophet JEREMIAH. He was called by God to speak the truth to his people. He didn’t want to because it made him ...

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