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Showing 4901 to 4925 of 4944 results

4901. Dispelling Ministry Illusions

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Sermon

Ron Lavin

Jeremiah is often regarded as a Christ-figure, a prophet like Jesus, who suffered at the hands of his own people because he loved them enough to tell them the truth. A God-inspired man, fearlessly denouncing the religious laxity and social ills of his day, Jeremiah paid the price for his words. Tradition says that in 587 B.C., when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem as Jeremiah had predicted, his own people murdered him. The text we have before us is the call to ministry of the prophet Jeremiah in about ...

4902. Empty Prisons Without Walls

Acts 5:17-42

Sermon

Carl Jech

Introduction I shouldn't have much trouble keeping you awake today! Since the word prison brings to mind such topics as crime, victims' rights, vigilantee justice, and jailed demonstrators, I have little doubt that most of us have strong feelings and opinions on these and related issues.The most famous line in our text for today brings into particular focus the issue of civil disobedience for the sake of conscience. Having miraculously escaped from prison where they had been placed for disobeying the order ...

4903. No Snap Courses

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Carveth Mitchell

More than a century ago Sydney Smith wrote in his Lady Holland’s Memoir these disturbing words: "Whoever wishes to imply the absence of everything agreeable and inviting, he calls it a sermon." How shall we escape that indictment today? When we read verses seven through ten in today’s Gospel, it is somewhat shocking to read that Jesus said this in describing our relationship with God. We must remember, however, that like most parables, this is only a partial view of God. There is no mention here, for ...

4904. There’s Gotta Be a Day

Malachi 4:1-6

Sermon

We’ve heard that song before, haven’t we? We’ve heard it with some variations, but the theme is the same. Perhaps the same problems create the same theme - with some variations. Even the variations do not nuance the repetitions enough to make us pay attention, finally. If it were not for two things, Malachi’s oracle of God could be passed by as "just the same old thing." The oracle is from God. Secondly, it comes because God insists on keeping his covenant. He simply cares. There it is. Do we wish to ...

4905. Proper 11

Lk 10:38-42 · Col 1:21-29 · Gen 18:1-10 · 2 Ki 4:8-17

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Kings 4:8-17 Elisha's promise of a child to a barren woman is fulfilled. Similar to Abraham and Sarah, and Hannah and Elkanah, a wealthy woman is given a child for no other reason than Elisha's gratitude for her and her husband's kind hospitality. Elisha often stayed in the home of this nameless couple in Shunem as he went on his travels. The lady suggested to her husband that they add a room to their house for the use of Elisha. They built and furnished it. To express his ...

4906. Proper 21

Lk 16:19-31 · 1 Tim 6:6-19 · Joel 2:23-30 · Am 6:1-7

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Joel 2:23-30 After the plague of locusts Yahweh will bless the land with plenty and his spirit. Today's Lesson 1 is taken from the latest of the prophetic hooks written in the post-exilic period around 400-350 B.C. Judah experienced a plague of locusts accompanied by drought and famine. Joel calls upon the people to gather in Jerusalem to repent and pray for relief. Because the people obeyed, Joel assures them that Yahweh will give them plenty to make up for the years of drought. Never again ...

4907. Lent 3

John 4:1-26

Sermon Aid

COMMENTARY Exodus 3:1-15 (C), Exodus 3:1-8b, 10-15 (L). Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 (RC) Moses is called to deliver God's people from bondage in Egypt. While tending his father-in-law's sheep, Moses is called by Yahweh to return to Egypt to lead out his oppressed people. First Yahweh must get Moses' attention by having a bush burn without burning up. Because God is present, Moses is ordered to remove his sandals, for he is on holy ground. Wherever God exists, the place becomes sacred. Yahweh tells Moses that he is ...

4908. Boundaries or Frontiers?

Leviticus 19:1-37

Sermon

In his marvelous account, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, William L. Shirer notes how in 1942 Hitler had stretched his frontiers so wide in Russia that he simply could not defend them anymore. Ignoring Field General Franz Halder’s advice, the Fuhrer dismissed him saying, "We need National Socialist ardor now, not professional ability. I cannot expect this of an officer of the old school such as you." Halder later described the Furhrer as "no longer a responsible warlord, but a political fanatic." The ...

4909. Invincible Harvest

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

A cartoon I remember from years ago pictures a preacher in a pulpit ready to begin his sermon. The entire front wall of the church is made up of giant audio speakers. The preacher has his hand on the volume control of the amplifier. He has a slightly wicked grin on his face. As he swiftly turns the dial from zero to full volume he says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." The audience is not visible, but one imagines them sliding down in their pews, shoulders hunched, hands clasped tightly over their ...

4910. A Glimmer in the Distance

Illustration

Staff

John Henry Jowett, prominent preacher of two or three generations ago, served as pastor of distinguished churches both in England and America. He used to tell of a stormy evening when he was entertained in the home of an English countryman. Sometime after nightfall, the hour came for him to leave, to catch his train back to the city. As he arose to go, his farmer host walked with him to the front gate. There the farmer gave him a lighted lantern, pointed to a light in the distance, and said, "Yonder light ...

4911. The Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Most of us would say that the Beatitudes are well known and greatly loved by Christian people. They are beautiful. They dance and sing on the lips of those who say them. They have an unparalleled syntax that only the Jewish mind can capture and express. They are immortal. Hymns, anthems, songs, prayers, and liturgy have reflected upon their meaning and beauty. Although we read them in our personal devotion because of their beauty, most of us do not get very excited about poverty of spirit, mourning, ...

4912. All Saints' Day

Revelation 7:1-8, Isaiah 26:1-21, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Revelation 21:1-27, Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 24:1-10, Psalm 149:1-9, Psalm 34:1-22

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE All Saints' Day is one of those days in the church year calendar that many congregations ignore, simply because they don't know what to do with it. It began and developed naturally out of the annual commemoration of the deaths of individual martyrs, beginning with the apostles. Saints' days found their way into the worship of the church before the church year took much shape; many saints' days were in place by A.D. 200, preceding most elements of the church year, except Easter and the ...

4913. Pentecost 27

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Gospel: Matthew 24:1-14 Theme: Signs of the End. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One pastor began this way: "We are here to celebrate the presence and power of God; we prefer to celebrate God's comforting; we also, however, celebrate God's confronting. We can't have one without the other. We can't have the crown without the cross." You may want to continue with this litany between pastor and ministers: Pastor: You have heard it said that God is dead, or at least, absent. I ...

4914. 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 ...

4915. God Made Me Do It!

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

"God sent me," "God made me" - strange words for most people to say! We say instead, "The devil made me do it!" It is almost remarkable then, that in a few short verses in the text, Joseph says four times: "God sent me," "God made me." Joseph feels that all of his life is under the guiding hand of God. Since God is his master, Joseph feels that no matter what happens - of good or bad - sadness or joy - God is in it and nothing can touch him but that God will ultimately work it out for the best. Things did ...

4916. Cheering Stones

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

Herchel H. Sheets

It was an excited crowd that lined the road and followed Jesus into Jerusalem on his "triumphal entry." The cheers were loud and enthusiastic. Generally Jesus had sought to discourage such acclaim, but this time he voiced no opposition to it. There were others who did, however. The Pharisees in the crowd considered the conduct of his disciples to be totally inappropriate, and they called upon him to rebuke them. But he replied, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." There is no ...

4917. When God Was Nothing

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Brett Blair

When I was a teenager and fell in love with a girl, which occurred often, I never knew how to tell the girl how I felt about her. Being 17 and "in love" was terrifying. Often I was simply speechless. I never had the right words to describe the way I felt. But like every boy with a bad case of infatuation, I found a way. I guess you could call it my secret weapon. I found someone who could speak for me. He always had the right words, knew exactly how to say it, and never failed me. His name was Barry ...

4918. The Path of Dignity

Drama

William Grimbol

READER 1 Dignity ... a word not often used these days. Dignity ... a connotation we cannot affix to very many lives. Dignity ... a concept that is eroding, due both to a lack of usage, and a lack of people worthy of that spiritually significant brand. Dignity ... what does the word really mean? I believe that the term is best explained by the lesson we heard read from Hebrews, Chapter 12 ... "run with determination the race that lies before us" ... "eyes fixed on Jesus" ... "your struggle against sin" ... ...

4919. 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 ...

4920. The Discipline of Witnessing

Isaiah 43:1-13

Sermon

Today we talk about witnessing, or "TELLING OTHERS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST." This is even more difficult for most of us. For, quite frankly, we Presbyterians don’t like to think about witnessing. We leave it to the Mormons, or the Jehovah Witnesses, or some of the fringe groups; we much prefer to do things "decently and in order." Somehow witnessing sounds too fanatic! Someone has characterized us as being parallel to those men who belong to the military reserve. We go to drills once a week but we are not on ...

4921. The Ten Commandments #10: No Covetousness

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Will Rogers once told of being approached by someone in a great state of excitement claiming that an enemy submarine had invaded one of our harbors; the man was wanting to know how the country could get rid of it. Will thought for a minute and said, "That's easy...boil the water in the harbor." But the questioner persisted. "That's a great idea, but how do we do that?" Rogers responded, "Hey, I am a concept man. You will have to work out the details for yourself." I confess to feeling a bit like Will ...

4922. The Lord's Prayer: "Our Daily Bread"

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

David E. Leininger

"Give us this day our daily bread." Is that really a concern of yours? Are you truly worried about whether or not there will be food for you to eat today...or tomorrow or the next day? Probably not. We who live in America know very well that there is MORE than sufficient food for all OUR citizens - TOO much for many of us. Granted, we have a problem in getting the food properly distributed (as in Bosnia), but the food IS there. That would make it sound as though our prayer for daily bread is irrelevant. ...

4923. Gambling On God

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a ridiculous story about a hunter named Ned who bet another hunter named Fred that he could leave the cabin, go out into the woods and come back within the hour with a bearskin. They bet $10, and Ned went off into the forest. The hour passed quickly. No Ned. Two hours went by ” nothing. Three hours later, a loud pounding on the door of the cabin was heard. Fred opened the door, and there was an enormous brown bear standing there. "Your name Fred?" asked the bear. "Why . . . yes," stammered the ...

4924. 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 ...

4925. Light For A New Year

Isaiah 60:1-22

Sermon

King Duncan

To help us get this New Year off to a good start, I thought you might like to hear one person's resolutions--not for this year but for New Year's past. Resolution #1 1994: I will try to be a better husband to Marge. 1995: I will not leave Marge. 1996: I will try for a reconciliation with Marge. 1997: I will try to be a better husband to Wanda. Resolution #2 1994: I will read at least 20 good books a year. 1995: I will read at least 10 books a year. 1996: I will read 5 books a year. 1997: I will finish [ ...

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