Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 526 to 550 of 1044 results

526. "Friend, Why Are You Here?"

Sermon

Alex Gondola

Isaiah 53:1-6; Matthew 26:47-50 In the sixth century A.D., Saint Columba sailed from Ireland to the Isle of Iona on the West Coast of Scotland. Since that day, Iona has been considered a holy place by many in the Christian Church. Perhaps some of you have visited the island. For one thing, Iona is the burial ground for over sixty Norwegian, Irish, and Scottish kings, including Duncan and Macbeth; as well as for many martyrs from the early Celtic Christians. But the focal point of Iona is the magnificent ...

527. Mind Your Manners

Matthew 7:7-12

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you....-- Matthew 7:12 Everybody's got pet peeves -- annoying things that you'd correct or eliminate from the face of the earth if you were Director of the Universe. While I'm particularly peeved by restaurants that charge extra for blue cheese dressing and refills and people who are fortunate enough to have just enough paper in the duplicating machine or staples in the stapler so they didn't even know they were empty when I showed up at 4 a.m. to use ...

528. God Knows!

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

You are the man! -- 2 Samuel 12:7 It has become fashionable to pretend a separation of private from public lives. You know how it goes: "What I do in private is nobody's business ... Keep your nose out of my affairs! ... There's no connection between a person's private life and her or his profession ... What I do on my own time is of no concern of yours ... We're not a reincarnation of the Soviet Union! ... He's doing a good job! So leave him alone! Everybody deserves a private life!" The assumption ...

529. The Half Pencil Doctor

1 John 3:11-24

Sermon

David O. Bales

Since his dying father placed a hand on his and asked that his ashes be taken to Bloomfield, Iowa, and while there an envelope be delivered to a Doctor Francis Casparis, Roger decided that he had better do it. His father had said, "I have metastatic cancer, and I will be dead within a week." And his father insisted that the envelope go to Iowa with his remains. His father said that Doctor Casparis had saved his life and that the doctor would tell Roger about it, and would help him also. Roger Leeth stood ...

530. Advent 1

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

E. Carver McGriff

Psalm Of The Day Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (C); Psalm 80 (E) -- "Lord of hosts, restore us." Psalm 84:8 (RC) -- "Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer." Prayer Of The Day Open our hearts, O God, to the incoming of your Spirit. Sometimes our days are long and we grow tired. Too often, we go for long periods of time with very little attention to your Spirit. Deep within us, though, is a hunger for the richness of that presence. Overcome in us, we ask, our dullness of mind, that we may know your presence and its saving ...

531. The Gift of Lent I: A Widow Gives Her Mites

Luke 21:1-4

Drama

Donald Neidigk

Dramatic Monologue You say you feel sorry for me? Why, what for? Oh, sure, I'm a widow and all I own I could load on one small donkey, but don't feel sorry for me. I'm far richer than you might think. Shall we go sit in the shade of the olive tree there? I'd invite you in, but my house is far too small for all of you to fit inside. Out here perhaps we can catch a cool breeze. The stones, this old log, these will be our chairs. What a wonderful living room our Lord gives us! Yes, I am a widow, and have been ...

532. Gifts of Lent III: A Family Gives Their Home

Luke 22:7-38

Drama

Donald Neidigk

Dramatic Monologue Are you bothering me? No, not at all. I come here often to reflect and pray. It's quiet in here, isn't it? Here the noise and bustle of the old city seem so far away. I was hoping you would come. Mary of Bethany said you might stop by. I see you had no trouble getting through the heavy oaken gate to the courtyard, and then up the staircase to this room. It hasn't always been that easy. There were times when that gate was locked against our enemies. Not that locking it would really have ...

533. Mary Ponders

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

Our most important conversations are often with ourselves. What is it that goes through your mind in the midnight watches, and will not let you go? Some people chew on revenge, rehearse angry conversations, gnaw on old grudges and cannot sleep. I know people who have held onto the same debilitating bitterness for decades. It is the sole topic of their with-themselves conversations night after night. And the more they chew on the leathery sinews, the more preoccupied they are with the chewing. When I first ...

534. You Can Be Eternal

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

There are lots of things I don't know. I am quick to admit I have a lot more questions than answers. For example: I do not comprehend the difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol nor why nature has decreed that good cholesterol is never found in things like coconut cream pie. I do not understand why every moveable part on an automobile automatically malfunctions two months after the warranty runs out. I do not know why Robert Redford and Candace Bergen age glamorously while I simply age. ...

535. Been There, Done That

Matthew 2:13-23

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

"Been there, done that" is a popular, and often overused, phrase that excuses us from having to endure anything a second time. It doesn't matter if we have skateboarded up Mt. Everest, or walked from New York to London, or stood on our heads and gargled peanut butter, we are entirely too cool to do any of that stuff again. "Been there, done that" asks other people not to bore us by requesting that we repeat past experiences. We are too hip for that. Those experiences generated excitement that pumped ...

536. The Rain Of Bread

Exodus 16:1-36

Sermon

There is nothing like heading out into the back country, carrying on your back everything you need to survive. Enjoying nature, listening only to the sounds of wildlife, having a bit of creation all to yourself. Of course, there is one downside to it all -- the food. Cans are out of the question, they're too heavy to carry. That leaves only the packaged, freezed-dried variety of food. The pictures on the outside of these packages look inviting, but the actual stuff is all texture and no taste. If there's ...

537. Transfiguration

2 Peter 1:12-21, Daniel 7:1-14, Exodus 24:1-18, Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The transfiguration of Christ was an experience of divine transcendence. The Spirit gifts his children with glimpses of the transcendent Christ and the life to come. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 24:12-18 God instructs Moses to ascend Mount Sinai to receive the law of the Lord. The glory of God appeared to the people on top of the mountain as a consuming fire. Moses enters the mysterious cloud and approaches the fire to receive the divine revelation. Old Testament: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 In the ...

538. The Wisemen

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

January 8, 1984 Comment: This was the first story sermon for adultsthat I wrote and dramatized during worship. I had written anumber of story sermons for children, but the breakthoughcame because an old sermon I had been revising every half-dozen years was not taking shape. I started to write.Usually, I have just outlined sermons and "talked" them tothe congregation. When I got started on this one, I found atext forming with which I decided to stay. There were two major problems that I had with this one. ...

539. The Babel Disaster -- You Are There

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

July 25, 1982 Comment: Up to this time, I had tried to handle thestory sermons myself. With the encouragement shown for mydramatic efforts of the earlier weeks that summer, I decidedto try to involve the congregation in a more direct way. That year, a large hotel in a major U. S. city hadcollapsed, killing scores and injuring hundreds. I saw thestory in a periodical which, unfortunately, I did not keep.The first interview in the script, the woman's experience,comes from that. With a few bits remembered ...

540. The Babel Disaster - You Are There

Genesis 11:1-9

Drama

Jerry Eckert

Comment: Up to this time, I had tried to handle the story sermons myself. With the encouragement shown for my dramatic efforts of the earlier weeks that summer, I decided to try to involve the congregation in a more direct way. That year, a large hotel in a major U. S. city had collapsed, killing scores and injuring hundreds. I saw the story in a periodical which, unfortunately, I did not keep. The first interview in the script, the woman's experience, comes from that. With a few bits remembered from that ...

541. Evergreen Wreath And Faded Leaf

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon

Harold Warlick

The occasion was a joyous one as the young bride and groom settled into their seats at the head table at the Country Club. Like most wedding rehearsal dinners, the environment was heightened by candles, flowers, special music, expensive clothes, and family and friends who had not seen each other in years. Most likely many would not embrace one another again until the next family wedding or a funeral shivered its way to the forefront. All the proper symbols of hope were present in the room: the greenery, ...

542. Doing The Right Thing

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

A well-known businessman in this community was recently asked to do something for the United Methodist Church, something inconvenient and expensive. It would require him to make available for a period of several months some facilities which he used in his business. Frankly, when it was decided to ask this man's help no one was very optimistic about a favorable response. For one thing, the man is a leading Catholic layman. He would have nothing at all to gain by agreeing to the request. At the very least, ...

543. Times Of Refreshing

Acts 3:11-26

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

Our text is part of a sermon preached by Peter following the healing of a crippled man. The witnesses assumed Peter himself had accomplished the healing. Peter, though, was quick to attribute it to Jesus whom God had raised from death. There are a number of ways to explain the ill man's recovery but what's important here is Peter's commentary to the gathered crowd. He first reprimanded them for taking part in the death of Jesus, but hurriedly, he acknowledged that they probably didn't realize the gravity ...

544. Leaving A Legacy

1 Kings 2:1-12

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for 18-year-old David Neuer when he met Pope Pius XII in the summer of 1949. David was serving in the navy and was away from home for the first time. David could see the Pope sitting on a chair carried by Swiss guards. It was one of those times when you could feel the excitement surge from the crowd. David had the opportunity to personally greet the Pope. The Pope held out his hand. "I did not know what to do," David remembers of that special day. As David shook his ...

545. Clear Channel Voice

Proverbs 1:20-33

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

One rather frustrating Sunday morning the teacher of the junior high class decided to try a little experiment with her students. What made the morning difficult was that some of the students were having a hard time concentrating on the lesson while other students were struggling to keep quiet. The teacher asked for three volunteers, explaining that all they had to do was talk, which certainly would not seem to be a difficult task for thirteen and fourteen year olds. Of the three students who volunteered, ...

546. The Healing Power Of Faith

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

The woman with the issue of blood had faith that by contact with Christ she could be cured. All around us in daily life are examples of people who, by faith, are overcoming life's difficulties. A telephone linesman was up a pole when the pole, which was held in place only by cables, fell over him and he was dashed to the ground. His insides were badly crushed and as he was rushed to the hospital; there was little hope that he could survive. A pastor learned of the accident when the man's wife called from ...

547. The Wisemen

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

I hate it when Christmas is over. There's so much good music, such tasty foods, so much color and warmth. And presents! I love presents! I wish we celebrated all twelve days of Christmas. I could be dissuaded from that last enthusiasm if it meant that I would be given all the presents from that funny Christmas carol: 22 turtle doves 30 French hens 36 calling birds 40 gold rings 42 geese a'laying 42 swans a'swimming 40 maids a'milking 36 ladies dancing 30 lords a'leaping 22 pipers piping 12 drummers ...

548. The Adventure Of The Empty Tomb

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

Comment: I am a Sherlock Holmes* fan. In early 1983, I got to wondering what would happen if Sherlock Holmes investigated the Resurrection. On Good Friday evening, I decided to go to work on a short, short story to be used the Sunday after Easter during a congregational hymn sing. I already had a sermon started for Easter Sunday. As I began to write, I heard the voices and literally let the story flow from what I was hearing. After working two hours I had two problems. One, the story was already a page ...

549. Bread of Another Kind (Bread of Life II)

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

“I am the Bread of Life,” says Jesus. “Do not work for food that spoils ... work for food that lasts for eternal life.” I invite you to consider three questions: To whom were these words spoken? Who spoke them? What do they mean? First, to whom were these words spoken? They were spoken to the people whom Jesus fed the day before, the 5,000 who ate so generously from the little boy’s lunch bag. A quick mental walk through some of the events just prior to this will get us in perspective: One, it was the ...

550. The Banquet Bowl

Mark 9:38-41

Sermon

Robert Salzgeber

Jesus is suggesting the utter disproportionate nature of God's grace in the Mark text when he says, "I assure you that anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to me will certainly receive his reward." In other words, Jesus is saying that we do not even have to be conscious of our discipleship in order to receive his redemptive blessing. Simply giving a disciple a drink is just cause for God to reward/bless that one with his redemptive net. Hence, Jesus says, "For whoever is not against us ...

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