Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4776 to 4800 of 4977 results

4776. Killing What Is Already Dead

Colossians 3:1-11

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... office wants to live, but old habits die hard. It's hard to change. Even with the best of motivation and the best of intentions, our worst selves clutch onto us, refusing to let go. We can get our heads around the notion of one person trying to quit a bad habit, trying to become a stronger, healthier person. The book of Colossians won't let us stop with just that, however. For the author of Colossians, our attempts to become better people have to fit into the big picture. Colossians is a big picture kind of ...

4777. From Slave to Brother

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... . We aren't exactly like them, but what's the connection? All of that is especially difficult when we read this letter to Philemon. It is difficult for us to identify with Philemon, because his situation is so different from ours. More importantly, we are not quite sure what went on behind the scenes of this letter. This was a personal letter from Paul to one man, about one matter. That makes it different from Paul's other letters. Yet, the ones who compiled the New Testament thought it should be considered ...

4778. The Utmost Patience for the Foremost Sinner

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... the following, "The missing link in my healing process is confronting my anger and getting on with forgiveness."3 This passage calls us to confront our sin. Perhaps we can do that with soul-searching. Perhaps we need the guidance of another person. Perhaps we need to quit hiding from ourselves. As much as this passage pushes us to be honest about our sins, it is even more confident about God's grace and forgiveness. The author of this passage reflected on Paul's guilt, but only to show the depth of God's ...

4779. The Word Alone

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... may be proficient, equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Let's take that apart. The word "inspired" is a unique word. This is the only time it occurs in the New Testament. It refers to wisdom that comes from God, or quite literally, God's Spirit has been infused or breathed upon it. Therefore, more than just the creative thoughts or opinion of some authors writing on papyrus, scripture has a unique divine authority unlike any other writing. That authority, that power, is shown in what God's ...

4780. Sarah

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... after 1 Thessalonians as a way for Paul to clarify the widespread misunderstanding of Paul's teachings concerning the return of Jesus. Many who read the first letter thought that the end time had already begun. Judging from the content of 2 Thessalonians, many had quit work, fallen into despair, and lived with a constant fear. And now, brothers and sisters, let us tell you about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered together to meet him. Please don't be so easily shaken ...

4781. This Is a King?

Matthew 5:40, 43-44, Colossians 1:15, 16-19, Matthew 5:3, 6, 11

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... "Smiles," an organization in Great Britain that works with the poor of Romania and told them of her intentions. The director, Kevin Hoy, said, "That's fine but have you been to Romania before?" "No," she replied. "Do you think you should come once before you quit your job and sell everything?" She did, but only to appease the director. Her mind was made up. If Jesus called us to serve the poor, then Linda needed to roll up her sleeves and begin the work. In Romania, Linda lives alone and raises pigs ...

4782. The Call of God

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... made us. God initiates the call. It is his appointment. His loving approval sends us to the lost world to share the kingdom message through our words, actions, and righteousness. Andrew Blackwood Jr. writes, "God's initiative does not destroy man's responsibility; quite the contrary. God has acted, therefore man is responsible to act."[1] The call of God stresses several areas: a divine compulsion to respond to the call that God lays on the heart, a deep compassion that others are in need of the God ...

4783. The Call of Holiness

Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13)

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... -Pileser, who was moving quickly south into Israel, gobbling up one city after another (2 Kings 15:29). Jerusalem was in disarray. The people were frightened and trembled before the bloodthirsty Assyrians. Who would protect them? Isaiah's own visit to the temple was, quite possibly, associated with a national cry for God to intervene and save the city from destruction. The prayers of the day were for God's sovereignty, justice, and faithfulness.[1] God's call to Israel was not to panic but to become holy ...

4784. Trumpet Medley

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... feeding time. Consequently, Dr. Pavlov discovered that the sound of the bell eventually prompted his dog to salivate. I suppose that if Dr. Pavlov had habitually beaten his dog after ringing the bell, the sound of the bell would have come to mean something quite different for the poor animal. His reaction to the bell would likely have been to recoil rather than to salivate. On this Ash Wednesday — this first day of the season of Lent — we are invited to hear the sound of the trumpet. God spoke through ...

4785. RSVP

Isaiah 55:1-9

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... offers us a variety of images to describe our relationship with God. He is shepherd, and we are his sheep. He is a master, and we are his servants. He is the king, and we are subjects in his kingdom. Yet none of those authoritarian images for God quite captures the whole truth. For his communication with us is not solely orders and instructions: He also invites! This is a testimony to how he created us. Namely, he made us free. If you and I were not free, he would not need to extend invitations to us ...

4786. Prelude To A Sacrament

Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... , the children of Israel labored in cruel bondage. For four centuries their children were born in chains and their old men and women died under the whip. For four centuries they cried out to their God for help, but no help seemed to come. Then one day, quite out-of-range from the Israelites' view or earshot, God encountered a man at a burning bush. And though that man was the patron saint of reluctance, God urged and encouraged him to be God's agent of deliverance for the Israelite slaves. He was to ...

4787. A Tale Of Two Peters

Acts 5:27-32

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... him!" It had been a long and trying night, you recall. It had begun with such festivity and good cheer. Jesus and his disciples were sitting down at table to enjoy and celebrate the Passover meal together. But the atmosphere of that supper became quite unsettling as Jesus spoke. He talked about his broken body and his shed blood. He talked about one of his close associates betraying him. He also spoke very specifically about Peter denying him. What could it all mean? Then they went out of the city and ...

4788. God All Along

Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... letters that will permit him to scour the synagogues of Damascus for any of these enemies of God. Make no mistake: that was Paul's estimate of the Christians. We mustn't misunderstand Paul as a wicked and violent man, bent on opposing the things of God. Quite the contrary: Saul of Tarsus is an earnest and godly man. He is sincere in his devotion to God and zealous in his service. His opposition to the Christian movement, therefore, is born entirely out of the seriousness of his piety. Let the half-baked ...

4789. A Stupid Question

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

David J. Kalas

Generous teachers sometimes assure their students that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Personally, I'm not so sure. It seems to me that I have heard some pretty stupid questions over the years. I'm quite sure that I have asked some very stupid questions along the way, as well. In this episode from the first days of the early church, the disciples asked a stupid question. Or, at least, they asked the wrong question. They asked Jesus, "Lord, is this the time when ...

4790. Seeing A Chariot Of Fire

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Sermon

Stephen P. McCutchan

... of great change. Elijah prepares the way for us when things have grown chaotic. In our scripture lesson, Elijah and Elisha, his presumed successor, knows that things are about to change. What will happen is unclear but that something significant will happen is quite plain. In preparation for whatever is going to happen, the two prophets go on a journey. Like the church, when we experience great changes taking place, Elijah and Elisha tried to revisit the great touchstones of their faith. They wanted to get ...

4791. Garden Gone Bad

Isaiah 5:1-7

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... , instead God found bloodshed. When God came looking for righteousness, instead God heard cries of distress. In the Hebrew this phrase is an excellent pun: God came looking for mishpat, and instead found mispach; for tsedaqah, but instead heard tse'aqah. It isn't quite as "punny" when rendered into English, but you might get the gist of it if I were to say that God looked for justice, but it was all a joke; God looked for righteousness, and found a load of rubbish. As Isaiah sang in mournful tones ...

4792. In the Potter's Hands

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... measurements of all kinds of items, and for washing clothing. Oil lamps of various sizes were also crafted from clay and fired in ovens. Every community would likely have had at least one potter who could supply the various needs of its residents. Because pottery was quite easily broken, there would always be a strong demand for his or her wares. It was a common fact of life that some of a household's water jars would be dropped or otherwise broken in transit, in much the same way that drinking glasses ...

4793. When There’s Nothing Left To Do But Mourn

Jeremiah 8:18—9:1

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... specialists with whom to consult. Sometimes there are changes in lifestyle and in priorities to be considered, as Tim McGraw sang in his 2004 hit, "Live Like You Were Dying." I have watched this process in many parishioners over the years. Quite often everyone, including the person with the terminal diagnosis, is amazed when they outlive their prognosis by months and sometimes even years. Medical science and mental attitude can do amazing things to sustain and extend the quality of life and the number ...

4794. Sold!

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... remained on her bouquet for nearly the whole reception. She and her mother saw in that butterfly the presence of the bride's father who had died in an accident years before. In Jeremiah's case, the symbol of life comes in the unusual yet quite demonstrative command — "buy your cousin's field." Isn't it ironic that today, most recently widowed women and men are counseled against selling or buying property for at least a year after their spouse's death? As we accompany others through times of loss and ...

4795. Making Something Out Of Nothing

Haggai 1:15b—2:9

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

... shouldn't have been surprising to God's people then, and it shouldn't be surprising to us now. Making something out of nothing seems to be God's preferred modus operandi — God's normal method of operation. "In the beginning" scripture informs us, God quite literally made all matter out of nothing other than God's own thought and plan and spoke it all into existence. Later, God started a nation out of two senior citizens, Abraham and Sarah, whom, we are told by the apostle Paul, were so advanced ...

4796. Thanksgiving Is Nine-Tenths Of Possession

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

... gift might have to be taken away for a while, until the child has calmed down enough to be verbally appreciative. The level of appreciation for a gift is often revealed in the tone of the thanks spoken by the recipient. That tone can be quite instructive of how much the person likes and will - or will not - use and, therefore, "have" or possess the gift. There's no question about it: Some of the most basic human interactions show how thanksgiving for, and possession of, a gift are very closely intertwined ...

4797. Put on Some Clothes

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, harmony and above all love are the stylemarks of those who live “in Christ,” who have been welcomed as “God’s chosen ones.” Every December 31 people like to make “New Year’s Resolutions.” We “resolve” to quit smoking to cut out the carbs, to spend an hour a day praying and reading spiritual guides, to take the stairs instead of the elevator, to spend more quality time together. We genuinely want to make good changes in our lives, to ...

4798. A Baby Changes Everything

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... be amended. You know, they might even have to be abandoned. When you embrace a completely new work of God in the world, life has a way of bringing you to an altogether new place. It is one thing to build your house on the sand. It is quite another to stick your head in the same sand. And yet . . . it is easy for us to lecture and lambast against the entrenched, oblivious “authorities” in Jerusalem in the first century, or in Washington, D.C. in the twenty-first century, or at any of our local government ...

4799. The Baptism of Jesus

Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... for those who were baptized into the early church. It meant that, at the risk of their lives, they were becoming part of this group of people who were despised by the greater culture. When you say, “I have been baptized,” that ought to mean something quite significant. I like the simple way that Pastor Tony Evans explains the meaning of baptism. He says, “When a lady gets married, she puts on a ring. That ring does not make her married. She could be married without a ring, just like you could be saved ...

4800. The Bride of Jesus

John 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... earthquake hit. They then flew to Tokyo where they survived the horrific earthquake that hit that nation a couple of years back. Somehow they returned to Stockholm with their lives and their marriage still intact. Most of us will never have a run of bad luck quite that long. Or maybe we will. Life can be cruel. Pastor Ed Markquart tells a heartbreaking story about a woman in her mid forties visiting an elderly woman at a nursing home. The younger woman asks the older one, “How are you?” There is a long ...

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