Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 4876 to 4900 of 4935 results

4876. He's Back

John 20:19-23

Sermon

David O. Bales

Most Christians know about the Holy Spirit’s power granted one morning in Jerusalem seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection. It occurred on the Jewish Festival of Passover recorded in Acts 2. Many Christians don’t know what John 20 reports. This text is about Jesus’ giving the Holy Spirit before the exciting spiritual event at the Passover Festival. Seven weeks before Pentecost we’re with Jesus late on the day of his resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection has announced that he’s back for good. His students ...

4877. A Talk With the Butcher

Humor Illustration

Michael P. Green

For many days an old farmer had been plowing with an ox and a mule together and working them pretty hard. The ox said to the mule, “Let’s play sick today and rest a little while.” But the old mule said, “No, we need to get the work done, for the season is short.” But the ox played sick, and the farmer brought him fresh hay and corn and made him comfortable. When the mule came in from plowing, the ox asked how he made out. “We didn’t get as much done, but we made it all right,” answered the mule. Then the ...

4878. The King Rewards Mordecai

Esther 6:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Afflicted by insomnia, King Ahasuerus requests that the royal records be read to him. Providentially, the report of Mordecai’s heroism regarding his disclosure of the assassination plot is read by the attendant. Rather than falling asleep, the king becomes intrigued by the details of the account and asks if the hero has been honored for his bravery (6:3). The king’s attendant replies that nothing has been done to honor him. Eager to recompense the one who saved his life, the king asks who is in the court ...

4879. Cook

1 Samuel 9:23

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

1 Samuel 9:23 - "And Samuel said to the cook, ‘Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, "Put it aside." ’ " Cooking for the family was done by the woman, just as today, although, also as today, men occasionally did it. The only professional cooks were in the homes of the very wealthy, and the royalty, and these were probably female slaves. They were probably trained by a type of apprenticeship, and were usually very well treated. The Jews liked eating in the open air, and would often take ...

4880. Pleasures Are Meaningless

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

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 ...

4881. Gospel Grandmothers

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Illustration

Richard A. Jensen

United Church has a tradition. They were known for supporting their pastors very well. Any pastor who has ever served at United will verify the truth of this tradition. Pastors, for example, consider it a privilege to serve in this congregation deep in the heart of Texas. Pastor Mike Snyder surely did. Pastor Mike, as everyone called him, had had a kind of love affair with this congregation throughout his nine years of service at United. The feeling was mutual. The people of United felt uniquely blessed by ...

4882.

Drama

Betty Lynn Schwab

Exodus 12:3-13Matthew 16:24-27 Minister: When the hour had come, Jesus sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you." Mother: (Lights candle) With every holy light we kindle, the world is brightened to a higher harmony! Child: Why is this Sunday different from all other Sundays? Reader 1: This is the Third Sunday of Lent, the Sunday in which we reflect on the third Passover symbol, remembering Jesus during his final Passover meal, his ...

4883. Creation

Psalm 148:1-14

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: The majesty of God's creation. Summary: The creation story. Reader's theatre. Playing Time: 5 minutes Place: A neutral reading area Props: Black folders with scripts Costumes: Black Time: The time before time Cast: FIRST READER and SECOND READER FIRST: (ENTERS ALONG WITH SECOND READER) In the beginning God ... (READ SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH SECOND READER) SECOND: ... God created the heavens and the earth. BOTH: Now the earth was a formless void. SECOND: And God's Spirit moved upon the face of the waters ...

4884. My Brother's Keeper

Matthew 18:15-20

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: We are not only responsible for ourselves in the Kingdom of God, but for others as well. Summary: Thomas and Matthew are trying to decide who will confront Judas about his sinful ways. Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: The Holy Land Props: None Costumes: Disciples of Jesus Time: The time of Jesus Cast: Matthew Thomas MATTHEW: (ENTERS WITH THOMAS) Jesus told us to do it. THOMAS: I know, but I just can't do it, Matthew. MATTHEW: It has to be done. Look, Thomas, I've been to see him once. THOMAS: You've ...

4885. Be Prepared

Mark 4:35-41

Children's Sermon

Parents: Most areas of the United States are threatened with the danger of tornadoes. Earthquakes, floods, and fires are other natural dangers which most of us face, either directly or indirectly, at one time or another, and if is important that your children know what to do in the event of these potential dangers. This is especially important if your children must often be left alone without adult supervision. If you have not done so already, you should compile a set of clear, simple instructions, ...

4886. Thanksgiving Day

Psalm 126:1-6, Joel 2:21-27, Matthew 6:25-34, 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

Call to Worship You have eaten in plenty and been satisfied. Praise the name of God our creator and provider, who has dealt wondrously with us. Prayer of Confession Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all life, we often complain about the weather wishing we were somewhere else where the weather was more to our liking. We fuss about food not entirely to our taste however nutritious. We are annoyed if we need medicine even if it improves our health and well being. Forgive our thanklessness and our anxieties ...

4887. Greater Than Everybody

John 1:26-27

Children's Sermon

Object: a canvas shoe. Boys and girls, I brought a shoe to church today. The shoestring is not tied, because nobody is wearing the shoe right now. How many of you already know how to tie your own shoes? (Let them answer.) I need to have a volunteer show us how it's done, using this canvas shoe. (Let a volunteer do it for you.) Thank you. That was very well done! Once you know how to tie shoes it's really easy to do, and very handy too. But now let me ask you a question about tying shoes. Suppose I said to ...

4888. Help!

John 7:39a, John 15:26a, Acts 2:1-13

Children's Sermon

Object: a dish towel Lesson: The Helper will come. Good morning, boys and girls. I brought a special towel this morning because I want to talk about a special word. What kind of a towel is this? (Let them respond.) No, it's not a towel for drying your hands. It's a dish towel for drying dishes. How many of you dry dishes? (Wait for show of hands.) Some of you do and some of you don't. Drying dishes is one of those things around the house that we all do sometimes to be a good helper. That's our special word ...

4889. Sympathetic Scars

Hebrews 4:15

Children's Sermon

Object: a scar or callous on your body. Boys and girls, I want to show you my . I got this when I was (tell them the circumstances). Have any of you a scar or a callous? How did you get yours? (Let them tell you. You may want to put a time limit on this.) Now that we've looked at our callouses and our scars, we're ready for a story. Once upon a time there was a young man whose father gave him a hard job to do. The young man knew the job would be hard and he didn't want to do it because he wasn't sure he ...

4890. Pass The Buck

Drama

Timothy W. Ayers

Topic: Responsibility of knowing Christ, salvation, temptation, evangelism Characters: One male or female, a devil, and an angel, the same sex as the lead character Scene: Moody, dark lighting Devil: Confused again? Let me help you. Angel: Stop it, you're the one who confuses him all the time. He needs to make a decision about this thing and he needs to do it soon. Devil: I don't know if he needs to do it or not. I mean, there's plenty of time and no decision is OK. Angel: Wrong, no decision is the same as ...

4891. The Bottom Line

Micah 6:1-8

Sermon

Robert Beringer

One of the most common phrases heard in the marketplace today is "the bottom line." It makes no difference if you are buying a car, or a new house, a new wardrobe or planning a vacation. Whatever it is, we want to know how much will it cost. What's the bottom line? There is a story going the rounds about a self-employed painter who had come on hard times. There was very little work in his area, so when he was asked to bid on the painting of a local church, he figured a little too closely to the bottom line ...

4892. Monologue: Rahab

Joshua 2:1-24

Drama

Lynda Pujad

I am Rahab, a woman from Jericho. (Bows) Perhaps you had visited our town previously, before the terrible battle occurred? Perhaps you were aware of or remember our high, towering, thick walls which surrounded our city? We thought we were invincible in Jericho because of our strong walls. We love them. They were the pride of everyone in our town. If you had visited Jericho, you probably didn't see me or my home because I lived obscurely in the very last house inside the western wall itself. For some time, ...

4893. You Can't Hold it Back

Mark 7:36

Children's Sermon

Object: A bottle of Coke or some carbonated soft drink. Good morning, boys and girls. Today I want to tell you about a story of Jesus and how people felt about him. I don't know if you remember reading any stories about Jesus, and how excited the people were when they saw him, but I want to tell you a story about that today. One day, Jesus healed a man who had never been able to hear or speak before. The people had known this man for a long time, and they were used to him, but they felt kind of sorry for ...

4894. David

Drama

Sarah Walton Miller

This dramatization may be done simply as choral speaking. Or add actors for their own tableaux or pantomime [choreography]. Choral speaking must be rehearsed and rehearsed to make many voices sound as one. Listen to the voices. Use at least four low voices and four high [more, if you like]. Remember this is DRAMATIC reading. It must be done with much expression or it will sound about as exciting as the average congregation’s responsive reading! Watch the punctuation. It will help with the expression. ...

4895. BRICKMAKER

Exodus 5:7, 16

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

Exodus 5:7 - "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves." Exodus 5:16 - "No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us; ‘Make bricks!’ " We take bricks so much for granted in our modern world - we live in brick houses, we have brick patios and barbecue pits - that we seldom stop to think about them. In fact, I would seriously wonder if many of you would be really aware of the impact that is implicit in our text. The Pharaoh ...

4896. Forgive Us Our Debts - Sermon Starter

Matthew 18:21-35

Illustration

Brett Blair

As with so many of the stories of Jesus, the parable of the debtors arose out of a question that was posed to Jesus. Simon Peter said to him: "Master, if my brother sins against me, how many times should I forgive him? Seven times? Even as he asks that question my mind cannot help but think about children and how they will sometimes confess something they do wrong expecting to get praise from a teacher or a parent because they were so honest. In the same sense, Simon Peter by asking this question is not ...

4897. Mary, the Mother of Jesus

John 19:17-27

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: a mask I have a very important person to introduce to you today. She is very important for a lot of reasons but she is most special for one reason. Her name is Mary, and she is the mother of Jesus. That is what makes her so important to all of us but she was also special because of all the good things that she did for many people. I want to ask you to pretend with me today that she is here behind the mask and that she is telling you a story that is sad but beautiful. [Raise the mask.] My name is ...

4898. Something To Brag About

Galatians 6:13

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: Bring a rubber band for your demonstration purposes as well as a rubber band to give each child. Ask: Do you ever brag? What do you brag about? Do you hear other people brag? What do they brag about? Do you like to hear other people brag? There is a Bible verse in Galatians about bragging. It seems there is one thing that we should brag about. Paul is saying that we should brag about what Jesus has done for us. Because he loved us enough to go to the cross and die for us, we can brag about what he ...

4899. The New Creation

Isaiah 65:17-25

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Give thanks to the Lord! Tell all the nations what he has done! People: Tell them how great he is! Leader: Sing to the Lord because of the great things he has done. People: Let the whole world hear the news. Leader: Let everyone shout and sing! People: God is great, and he lives among his people. Collect Creator God, we thank you for the vision and hope of a new world in which there will be no weeping, and everyone will live at peace together -- even the wolf and the lamb. We thank ...

4900. Sounds Great, But We’re Busy

Psalm 126:1-6, Isaiah 40:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. All: Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. All: Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. One: May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. All: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall ...

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