Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 26 to 50 of 334 results

26. All In: The Winning Hand

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sermon

James Merritt

Of all the jewelry that people can buy and people can wear the coolest piece of jewelry to me is the ring that professional athletes get to wear when they win their world champion. Yes, they are gaudy, big, showy, bold and audacious, but I have seen them up close and they are just plain cool. After winning the Super Bowl a few years ago, the New York Giants got their rings. It looked like this [Show 1st picture of ring from the top] There are four diamond-studded trophies representing the four ...

27. Laying Hold On God's Willingness

Matthew 7:7-12

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

We who experienced the nearness of a recent tornado can appreciate the experience of a certain Kansas farmer. He heard that a tornado was coming so he went down into his cellar. It was an awful storm. Windows were knocked out of his house and roofing was snatched away. His barn was blown away and his car flipped over. After the terrible storm finally passed, a neighbor came to the cellar and called down to him: "Is anybody down there?" The farmer replied, "Nobody is down here but me and God, and we are ...

28. Walking On Our Hands

John 8:31-41

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

For weeks now the Gospel lectionary readings have come from the Gospel of Luke. But today we encounter an intruder. Our journey through the last chapter of Luke's story is interrupted by another Gospel writer, John, who drops us into the middle of a debate between Jesus and "the Jews." It is well known that the Gospel of John differs in many ways from the other three Gospels. Robert Kysar's book on the Gospel of John is called John: the Maverick Gospel. This is how his introduction begins: There is a ...

29. Food That Is Needful

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Listen to a letter I received from a friend of mine in Laurel, Mississippi, a few months ago. "A few years ago when Lessie and I moved back to Laurel I took on the job of trying to sell a farm that was left to Lessie and her two sisters and one brother. After a period of a year or so of being unsuccessful at the task, I decided to buy the other shares and keep the farm in the family for future years. The farm was overgrown because of many years of neglect. One of the beauty spots of the farm that I always ...

30. Prayers for Family Days

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

Family Issues There comes the moment, Loving Spirit, when we are devastated by the news of a loved one's tragedy. What should our first response be? What can we say or do for our loved one and for the family members who so lovingly surround him? How should we pray? How we wish we could say, "There, there, now, I'm sure everything will be okay." Or if we can't offer words, surely there must be something we can do. Perhaps we can locate a new specialist, a new medicine, a new diet, a new prayer -- something ...

31. The Starting Line

Hebrews 12:1-13

Illustration

Welcome to the starting line! Strange words perhaps with which to welcome you to church this morning. But the words are really quite appropriate for the occasion. You've seen races run: the runners line up, and someone fires a gun or says, "On your mark, get set, go!" In Hebrews 12:1-2, we read: "Let us lay aside all the weights, and the sins which beset us, and run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus..." Here this morning we start out on a new week of living. Here in worship ...

32. Rejoice

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

King Duncan

William Everett, a Congressman from Massachusetts in the late 1800s, told the story of a congregation in England that needed new hymn books but lacked the money to pay for them. The churchgoers learned that a large company, a maker of patent medicines, would furnish hymn books at a penny each if the books could carry some advertising. The congregation saw no harm in making that concession, and so they ordered the books. The new hymnals arrived at the church on the day before Christmas. On Christmas morning ...

33. Christmas 2

Psalm 147:1-20, Jeremiah 31:7-14, John 1:1-18, Ephesians 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 147:12-20 First Lesson—The eternal Shepherd gathers his diverse and hurting flock. Jeremiah 31:7-14 [OR] Wisdom has a place of honor in the divine purpose. Sirach 24:1-12 [OR] Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21 Second Lesson—Paul gives praise to God for the timeless plan that includes the Ephesians and himself. Ephesians 1:3-14 Gospel—The Good News is that God came to us in Christ so that we might come with Christ to God. John 1:(1-9), 10-18 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord ...

34. Never Say What You Won't Do!

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

The well-known pastor, teacher, and writer, Chuck Swindoll, has observed that dating couples are often less than honest with each other. This is even true when they are engaged. For example, a man may tell his wife-to-be how much he loves the symphony. He eagerly escorts her to these performances, grinning like a mule eating briars, trying to impress his fiancée with how much he loves the arts. She is thinking, oh boy, I finally found a really cultured man! However, when they return from the honeymoon, he ...

35. No Forks Or Napkins

John 13:1-17 · Philippians 2:5-11 · 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

A Sermon On Feetwashing Recently I had two messy experiences that were nevertheless great fun. I attended the Feast of Will at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. A meal was prepared based on foods which would have been eaten in Shakespeare's England. There was rabbit and bread and vegetables and candies that were half soap called comfits and soup served in cups. And there was no silverware. You got greasy fingers while you ate. And there were no napkins, so you licked them to get them clean. The same thing ...

36. The Most Important Thing

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

King Duncan

If you’ve ever hosted an event at your house—a Super Bowl party, a holiday meal, a book club meeting—you know that there are a hundred little details that need to be taken care of before the guests arrive. And one or two details could make the difference between a great event and a hosting nightmare. So it takes a certain spiritual gift and an inner fortitude to be a good host. Not everyone is cut out for this job. A woman wrote to a humor website to share the story of visiting her son at his first-ever ...

37. Proper 26

Joshua 3:1-4:24, Matthew 23:1-39, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Psalm 107:1-43

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Joshua 3:7-17 is the story of how Israel entered the promised land of Canaan by crossing the Jordan River on dry ground. Psalm 107:33-43 is both praise and reflection on the salvific power of God. Joshua 3:7-17 - "Crossing Over the Jordan" Setting. The primary story of the salvation history of Israel separates into three parts. It begins with the liberating experience of escape from Egypt, then it moves to the wilderness stories where Israel is presented as following God on a journey, ...

38. Lent 2

Psalm 121:1-8, Genesis 12:1-8, Romans 4:1-25, John 3:1-21

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS The themes of sin and death, which have been central to the Lenten Old Testament lessons up to this point, give way to divine promise of life and blessing in Genesis 12:1-4a . Psalm 122 takes the divine promise of life and blessing into the setting of worship, where it functions both as a song of praise to God for the gift of peace and salvation, and as encouragement to the worshiper to seek the security of God's grace. Genesis 12:1-4a - "The Working Out of God's Blessing" Setting. ...

39. When Your Life Is Put On Hold

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

King Duncan

An intriguing story appeared sometime back in USA Today. It seems that a Miss Candy Postlethwaite received a sizeable check from the Veteran’s Administration. That’s not the strange part. The strange part is that the check was not made out to her, nor did she know the person to whom the check was made out, nor had she ever been in the military. She put an envelope containing the check back outside for the postman to pick up on his next round. Five days later she got it back in a different envelope. She ...

40. We Are Blessed, Adopted and Sealed

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

One of the classic American fairy tales and one of the most watched movies ever is The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland. I remember when Mary and I were first married, we bought our first color TV so we could watch the Wizard of Oz in color. Do you remember the end of the movie. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion have returned from their seemingly impossible task of capturing the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. They've completed the task and now they want to redeem the promise ...

41. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Bulletin Aid

Robert G. McCreight

The Order Of Worship We approach the worship of God this evening with a hushed awareness of Christ's presence in our midst. God again breaks through the calm and darkness to reveal himself to us in the stillness of our hearts. Let the praises of your heart and the songs of your voice be "joyful yet restrained" that we might be sensitive to the quiet indwelling of his Spirit. Organ And Piano Prelude: "And He Shall Feed His Flock"Handel Introit: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"The Chancel Choir The Call ...

42. Perfection or Grace?

Luke 10:38-42

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: We come together to worship, laying aside the burdens of this world. People: And we set aside the pressures of daily life so that we may worship God. Leader: We let go of our personal goals to be perfect and accept God's love. People: We give up all that we are so that we might truly know life in Christ. Leader: Let us celebrate and give praise for the true life God has given us. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Most wonderful and loving God, through the life of Christ ...

43. Maundy Thursday

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

A popular form of education in the lower grades, for many years, has been the procedure called "Show and Tell." It has invaded some pulpits as well and preachers will do object-centered sermons; they hold or employ some particular item easily seen and understood by the congregation in order to gain attention and, hopefully, make a point that will be remembered. It was something of that nature Jesus was doing on the night of the Last Supper, as it is recorded for us by the evangelist John. In some ways, it ...

44. HERE O MY LORD, I SEE THEE FACE TO FACE

John 6:1-15

Sermon Aid

John W. Rilling

Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. There is a story that comes from Scotland out of the old, sad days when men killed one another because their faith was divided by bitter loyalties which seemed irreconcilable. On pain of death persecuted sects were forbidden to gather on the Lord’s Day to worship except in places that were authorized. But there were resolute souls who said to unjust laws and ...

45. Proper 15

Luke 12:54-59, Hebrews 12:1-13, Luke 12:49-53, Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:1-40

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Isaiah 5:1-7 God's vineyard yields wild grapes. Chapter 5 closes a series of oracles beginning with chapter 1. Today's lesson is a parable of a vineyard. Yahweh planted it and did everything to make it grow and be fruitful. But, the grapes turned out to be wild, that is, sour and bitter. What more could he have done for his vineyard? Nothing. Therefore, the vineyard will be destroyed. Lesson 2: Hebrews 11:29--12:2 Surrounded by past faithful ones, we are to run the race of faith with ...

46. Proper 15

Lk 12:49-56 · Jer 20:7-13; 23:23-29; 38:4-10

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

THE LESSONS Jeremiah 20:7-13 For preaching Yahweh's message of doom, Jeremiah is persecuted but is confident of victory. Jeremiah expresses his inner turmoil as a prophet. True to God's Word, he preaches doom and destruction for the nation at the hands of the Babylonians as God's judgment upon their sins of idolatry and wickedness. For telling the truth of what is coming, he is ridiculed and thrown into stocks; friends wait to catch him in a word of treason. Because he loves his people, he is hurt by their ...

47. Changing the "Too Much Syndrome"

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

David M. Oliver

Everyone I know has something to say about the time leading up to Christmas. I have heard people say that this season involves too much busyness, too much fatigue, too much pressure, too much eating, drinking, baking, and buying. With all the hopes, expectations, traditions, obligations, dreams and fantasies that surround Christmas, it is easy to see why this time seems to be reduced to too much of almost everything. I invite you to lay down and lay aside these experiences for the moment. This worship is ...

48. Only Heroes Need Apply

Mark 8:34-38

Sermon

King Duncan

Go with me back to last summer's Olympics ” to one of its most memorable moments. "Before the bomb, before the bowed heads and the silent moments, before the Olympic flag billowing at half-mast, there was the heroic story of Kerri Strug. "Many of you watched the Olympics and were stunned when a 4-foot-8-inch, 18-year-old woman charged down a runway, vaulted through the air and landed on a leg so badly sprained that it could hold her upright for only a second. Just long enough to ensure the first gold medal ...

49. When Death Is Gain

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

(For a very faithful choir member who had given most of her life to singing in the church choir.) The Apostle Paul declared, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul loved life and loved his friends, but he knew it was better to die and be with the Lord. ________________ too felt it was time to lay aside the burden of illness and disease and to find that sorely needed rest and refreshment that only Heaven can give. While her death brings sorrow to us, it has brought victory to her. To live in ...

50. How Much of an Honor?

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

Whether you are in school, hanging around the water cooler at work, or just talking around the table at home or at the local restaurant, sooner or later certain questions get asked. They're theoretical in nature, nothing gets settled, but it's all for fun. Questions like: If there was a fire in your home and you are able to assume everyone is safe, what is the one thing you would grab before you left? It's a dumb question really, because if there's a fire you shouldn't grab anything. Go, go, go! Once ...

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