Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4851 to 4875 of 4935 results

4851. The Porch Light's On

Isaiah 60:1-6

Sermon

Tony Everett

All of us have heard various short, sarcastic sayings that describe people and groups who seem to lack plain, old common sense. These folks appear to understand what's happening in their lives. However, when it comes to coping with reality, they just don't seem to get it. Here are some examples: "One brick short of a load." "Just one French fry short of a Happy Meal." "His elevator's stuck on the first floor." A good phrase that can describe many Christians celebrating Epiphany might be, "Their porch light ...

4852. Love Walked Across the Field

Luke 4:14-21

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

The ministry of Jesus was on a roll. After his baptism and time in the wilderness, he went forth to proclaim God's gospel of love. Following his preaching in Galilee, he entered his hometown. Although born in Bethlehem, his parents had fled to Egypt to protect their son from the wrath of King Herod. When Joseph heard of Herod's death, he brought his family back to live in Nazareth. As a young boy, Jesus attended the synagogue with his father where he participated in community worship regularly. Attentively ...

4853. Proper 28

Psalm 98:1-9, Isaiah 12:1-6; 65:17-25, Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

Call To Worship Leader: Good morning! I’m glad we’re here together on this November Sunday. There’s excitement in the air as we make family plans for Thursday and continue the countdown to Christmas Day. People: We’re here to enjoy each other and to praise God for life! Leader: Have you brought your guitars? Harps? Trumpets? Flutes? People: No! But we have brought our voices and we can make fascinating harmonies. We can sing new songs to God! Leader: Sing with joy to God! Sing with enthusiasm. Clap your ...

4854. The Waters of Marah and Elim

Exodus 15:22-27

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Journey from the Sea into the Wilderness: The next major section of Exodus is the journey from the sea to Sinai. It begins inauspiciously in verse 22 of Exodus 15 and continues through Exodus 16 and 17. During this journey the people encounter difficulties finding water and food. The Lord uses these opportunities to build new faith and trust. The NIV says God “tested” them, translating a word (nasah, v. 25) that means “trained” or “proved.” The Lord proved that the people could learn to follow God’s ...

4855. Ezra's Prayer about Intermarriage

Ezra 9:1-15

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Ezra’s Challenging Prayer: The mission assigned to Ezra had two parts. While we have seen the first part carried out in chapter 8, the second part remained to be done. In 9:1–10:44, we shall read how the Judean community, complying with Artaxerxes’ decree in 7:14, 25–26, accepted the Torah. Comparison with the latter passage shows that the editor’s presentation of Ezra’s work was highly selective, and that here the issue of intermarriage with the local population was the focus of his concern. To that end ...

4856. Obey the King

Ecclesiastes 8:2-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

Where Is Wisdom?: A complex segment closes the section (8:1–17). Here the value of wisdom is considered in the context of people’s power over one another and the apparent lack of retribution. As usual, Qohelet concludes with a combination of positive and negative refrains. The commendation of pleasure (8:15) is muted by the preceding “this too is meaningless” (8:14) and the following “no one can comprehend” (8:17).The reader’s response to this section is likely to be complex and perhaps even contradictory ...

4857. Time to Walk on the Water

Mark 14:22-33

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: A set of scales Good morning, boys and girls. There are some things that amaze me. For example, I read recently that the moon weighs 8.1 billion tons. Does that amaze you? It does me. For one thing I wondered where they got a set of scales big enough to weigh the moon. I mean that must be a big set of scales--a lot bigger than my bathroom scales. Then I read that 1 million earths would fit inside the sun. Well, that amazed me too. Where did they get one million earths to try that with? Science ...

4858. Jesus Clears the Temple

John 2:12-25

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem, like each of his subsequent visits, takes place in connection with one of the Jewish feasts. He comes as a pilgrim, to keep the Passover Feast. In particular, the wording of verse 13 corresponds closely to that of 11:55, which signals the last Passover and the beginning of Jesus’ Passion. When the notice here in chapter 2 is followed by an account of the temple cleansing, an event associated in the other Gospels with the Passion week, it appears that this first Passover is ...

4859. Punishments for Sin

Leviticus 20:1-27

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God holds people accountable for their sins. Understanding the Text Leviticus 20 is another chapter in the laws of holiness (Lev. 17–27), making its own explicit call to holiness (vv. 7–8) and, near the end of the chapter, issuing a concluding call to holiness (v. 26). Holiness in this chapter revolves around idolatry and sexuality. The chapter overlaps considerably in content with Leviticus 18 (sexual offenses, Molek worship) and to some degree with Leviticus 19 between the two. Leviticus 20 ...

4860. Israel Celebrates the Passover

Numbers 9:1-14

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: We need to recall how God saved us. Understanding the Text The book of Numbers begins with the census initiated twelve and a half months after the exodus (Num. 1:1, 18). But in Numbers 9 (and probably Num. 7–8 as well; see comments as Num. 7:1), the book flashes back to the previous month (Num. 9:1)—that is, to the very month when the tabernacle had been completed (Exod. 40:17). Precisely one year after the initial Passover, the Israelites begin the first annual Passover commemoration around ...

4861. David’s Mighty Men

2 Samuel 21:15-22

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord enables his chosen servants to accomplish their God-given tasks by providing them with the support they need. Understanding the Text As noted above, in the concentric structure of the epilogue are two matching units (21:15–22 and 23:8–39) that focus on David’s mighty men. The epilogue reflects and summarizes David’s career as outlined in 1–2 Samuel. These units correspond to 2 Samuel 5–10, which describes David’s military victories. They also form a ring around the epilogue’s central ...

4862. David Flees to Gath—Again

1 Samuel 27:1-12

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: When faith wavers, the Lord’s chosen servants sometimes compromise their identity and resort to desperate measures that place them in a precarious position. Understanding the Text Convinced that Saul will never really abandon his quest to kill him, David, for the second time in the story, seeks asylum with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath (cf. 1 Sam. 21:9–15). On the first occasion David was alone, got cold feet, and left in fear. But on this second occasion, he has his own private army with ...

4863. The Dangers of Wealth

James 5:1-6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The “rich people” whom James addresses in this paragraph are clearly the wicked rich. The Old Testament often uses “poor” and “rich” almost as synonyms for the righteous and the wicked, respectively (see Prov. 10:15–16; 14:20; Ps. 37:1–40; and also the intertestamental book 1 Enoch 94–105). Jesus reflected this usage when he blessed the poor and condemned the rich (Luke 6:20, 24). Thus, while the people addressed in this passage are clearly materially wealthy, they are not condemned for their wealth per se ...

4864. Living Sacrifices

Romans 12:1-8

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

The person who is justified by faith shall live (1:17). That is the theme of the epistle. In chapters 5–8 Paul began to discuss the characteristics of the “new life” (6:4), but not until chapter 12 does he devote himself to the ethical and ecclesiastical shape of it. Justification by faith produces neither moral passivity nor permissiveness. Rather, the indicative of chapters 1–11 leads to the imperative of chapters 12–16. The faith which saves is a faith which can and must be lived, and only the faith ...

4865. A History Lesson: From Ephraim to Judah, from the Exodus to Zion

Psalm 78:1-72

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

A History Lesson: From Ephraim to Judah, from the Exodus to Zion Like most psalms, Psalm 78 is explicitly meant for public performance (“O my people, hear,” and “things we have heard . . . we will tell,” vv. 1–4), but unlike most, which are either prayers (Hb. tepillâ) or praises (Hb. tehillâ), this one is explicitly teaching (Hb. tôrâ; only here in the Pss. does this term not denote God’s “teaching/law”). Like Psalm 49 (v. 4, cf. Prov. 1:6), it designates itself as a parable (or “comparison,” Hb. māšāl) ...

4866. Opening the Dawn

Illustration

Victor Hugo

I feel within me that future life. I am like a forest that has been razed; the new shoots are stronger and brighter. I shall most certainly rise toward the heavens... the nearer my approach to the end, the plainer is the sound of immortal symphonies of worlds which invite me. For half a century I have been translating my thoughts into prose and verse: history, philosophy, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode, and song; all of these I have tried. But I feel I haven't given utterance to the thousandth part ...

4867. The Chance for Evangelism

Illustration

William Barclay

One of the great disasters of history took place in 1271. In 1271 Niccolo and Matteo Polo (the father and uncle of Marco) were visiting the Kubla Khan. Kubla Khan at that time was a world ruler, for he ruled all China, all India, and all of the East. He was attracted to the story of Christianity as Niccolo and Matteo told it to him. And he said to them: "You shall go to your high priest and tell him on my behalf to send me a hundred men skilled in your religion and I shall be baptized, and when I am ...

4868. Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-47, 52

Sermon

Will Willimon

I suspect that many of you are anxious for me to get off my chest quickly whatever it is that I want to say, to get out of the pulpit, so you can get on with the beautiful music of Christmas. We have restrained ourselves throughout the Sundays of Advent, confined ourselves to slow-moving, somewhat somber hymns of hope, anticipation, expectancy. "Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel." Anticipation has become fulfillment. Now, we are at last ready to sing of Christmas. There are Sundays when ...

4869. The Easy Peasy Guide to Success by S. De Vil

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“The dog ate my homework.” Isn’t that the standard for shifting blame for an undone assignment? We adults have a similar mantra: “The devil made me do it.” This simple phrase suffices for almost anything that we don’t want to take responsibility for, or that we want to avoid owning up to. Except that this phrase at least attests to the fact that “something” was done. The “homework” excuse means that nothing was done at all. This is a case of “avoidance” to the “nth” degree. Sadly, discipleship today leans ...

4870. Toil is Meaningless

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

Qohelet’s Experiment: Qohelet, using the implied persona of Solomon, undertakes to explore “all that is done” (1:13). “All” includes gaining wisdom, amassing possessions, building monuments, and engaging in celebrations. Solomon is an effective choice as speaker: he is the one character in Israelite tradition who can take wisdom, wealth, and extravagance to their extremes. This section records an experiment: a project that involves engaging in particular behaviors, recording the results, and analyzing them ...

4871. Maybe Today....

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

John B. Jamison

“Maybe today.” He stood at the window and watched the morning sun climb over the mountain. He lowered his eyes to shield them from the glare of the sunlight shining against the streets and buildings. It was a bright and beautiful morning, but all he felt was darkness. It was the same darkness he had felt last night as he tried to sleep. It was the same darkness he felt every day now, the same one that they all felt every day now. He raised his eyes to the window again. “Maybe today,” he said. He stepped ...

4872. The Unknowing Evangelist

Luke 16:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

When I was young, I often tried to get out of practicing the piano. I had been taking lessons for a while and was slipping by each week with minimal practice time. My mother, trying to somehow nudge me into a better daily commitment, said more than once, “If this is what you can do without practicing, imagine what you could do if you did!” Unfortunately, her valiant entreaty did not work at the time. A few years later, however, I grew to love playing so much that the constant noise in the house drove her ...

4873. The Sign For Home

John 6:1-15

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

The crowd gathered because they saw the signs Jesus was doing for the sick. Another sign was the meal for the thousands. But among the thousands there were different interpretations of that sign. Some said it showed that Jesus was the long-awaited prophet God had promised Israel. Others said it showed that in any election Jesus would be a shoe-in for king. Outdated political bumper stickers are, of all signs, surely the most irrelevant. "Thomas E. Dewey for President" is as meaningful as "Tippecanoe and ...

4874. Advent 3

John 1:19-28, John 1:1-18, Psalm 126:1-6, Luke 1:46-56

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

Call to Worship Tell out the greatness of the Lord. Rejoice in God your Savior. Prayer of Confession Infinite Parent, Incarnate Offspring, Inclusive Spirit, in Jesus Christ you have experienced our humanity. We admit that we are not yet holy in spirit, soul and body. Our worship is not always wholehearted. Our hearts and minds are often arrogant, prejudiced, unchangeable. Our bodies are too prone to rule us, and bad habits jeopardize our health. Forgive our faults and fulfill your promise through the ...

4875. Two Gifts From God

1 Corinthians 14:15

Children's Sermon

Object: A needle and some thread. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you think that you can do two things at the same time? (Let them answer.) It isn't easy to do two things at the same time, but a lot of times you must use two things to get one thing done. Let me show you what I mean. You want to sew up a hole in a pair of pajamas. I think that is a good idea and I will give you a needle to do the job. Can you sew up a hole with a needle or do you need something else? (Let them answer.) That's ...

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