Sermon and Worship Resources

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Isaiah 63:7--64:12, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Psalm 80:1-19, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... verses look for an agent of God who will bring them back to obedience to God and save them. Context of Related Scriptures Parallel accounts of Mark 13:24-37 are found in Matthew 24:29-44 and Luke 21:25-31. Isaiah 13:10 -- A somewhat different version of Mark 13:24-25. Isaiah 34:4-5 -- Another description of cosmic disorders followed by judgment. Daniel 7 -- A chapter filled with apocalyptic imagery. Daniel 7:13 -- A reference to the Son of Man (like a human being) coming with the clouds of heaven. Joel 2:30 ...

577. Permission To Daydream

Joel 2:28-32, Joel 2:18-27

Sermon

Robert P. Hines

... is no mountain we cannot climb. There is no problem we cannot solve. There is no injury we cannot cure. When we depend on God's strength, we can do anything. We have a future filled with promise because God is a part of our future. We have our own version of the locust plague. It may be the death of a loved one, the onset of a serious illness, the loss of a job, or the failure to make the cheerleading squad, to get the lead in the school musical, or to get into the college of our choice. Any ...

578. All The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... the cartoon, Dennis the Menace is tugging at his dad's covers, and Mr. Mitchell is trying to lift one eyelid. Dennis wants to know, "Is it tomorrow yet? Or is it still yesterday?" It's a profound question. Something like that -- some 2000-year-old Aramaic version of it anyway -- must have been in the minds of the women on their way to the tomb. In fact, they went to the tomb fully expecting to find yesterday, and instead found tomorrow. They went expecting death and loss, and instead found wonder and hope ...

579. What's The Point?

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Sermon

Richard L. Sheffield

... life as God intends it to be lived. The larger Catechism, found in the Book of Confessions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has as its first question, the first thing to learn about how to live, this question: "What is the chief and highest end of man?" Modern Version: What's the point of my life. Answer: "Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever."1 Before all else in life, what life is all about, now and forever, for you and for me is glorifying and enjoying the God ...

580. Holy Week

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... obedience. Jesus chose to become human so that he could better understand all of us. John's passion narrative describes the ultimate act of faith, of free choice, that Jesus demonstrated for us. Jesus dies for others, for you and me. Unlike the Synoptic versions of the Gospel, St. John sees Jesus' exaltation in his death; the cross becomes his throne. For John, Jesus becomes king on the tree, not in his resurrection. For most all of us this sounds strange -- how can greatness and exaltation be shown in ...

581. God Made My Day

Psalm 118:1-29

Sermon

Carl B. Rife

... says,"Go ahead, make my day," as he holds a gun on a thug and dares him to make a move. The implication is that Harry Callahan's day would be made if he were given the opportunity by a false move by his antagonist to mete out his rough version of justice by wasting the guy, as the language in these movies goes. Over against this cynical view of life is this affirmation on a bumper sticker that some people have placed on their cars, "God Made My Day." And what I would like us to do this morning is ...

582. The Tenth Meal

Sermon

Robert F. Scott

... needed the food. They needed to see him eat. A piece of broiled fish was something solid. They had eaten the other pieces of the same fish. They knew it was real. He ate to convince them that he was just as real. Many of us know the King James version of the Bible with its added phrase, "and a piece of honeycomb." That was not in the best old manuscripts, so it is not found in our newer translations; but Ezra Pound used it to make a true point in his poem, "The Ballad of the Goodly Fere." ("Fere" is ...

583. Good Guys And Bad Guys Alike

Genesis 37:1-11, 12-36

Sermon

Steve Burt

... terms right, wrong, good, bad, just, and unjust are all used by both sides in a conflict or disagreement. Both sides insist they're good, right, justified. If we read about the Revolutionary War, we can find books offering both the British and the American versions, from which we can see both sides were "right," "justified," "good." There were only "good guys" on both sides. The message? God alone is qualified to judge what is good. We've just put our finger on the problem. We cannot love our enemies, sad ...

584. Sowers Of The Seed

Psalm 119:1-176, Romans 8:1-17, Genesis 25:19-34, Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... the multitudes rather than to the arguments with his opponents. 2. "The sea." (v. 1) The ministry is relocated from his hometown of Nazareth to the area around the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, now called Lake Tiberias. 3. "Listen!" (v. 3) Other versions translate the term as "Behold." It is an attention-getting device. Jesus, in a boat with a multitude of people scattered along the shore, needed some way to bring the crowd to focus. Experts on communications talk about the need to provide a "hook" at ...

585. Getting Down To The Local Issues

Sermon

Thomas Long

... would have been amazed to see glimmers of their Sunday worship woven into the narrative: the creed (Luke 24:19-24), the sermon (Luke 24:27), and the Eucharist (Luke 24:30) are all there. When one knows how to look, one can see the Emmaus story as a narrative version of Luke's Sunday bulletin! In sum, Easter becomes a local issue in worship. A woman spoke quietly of the death of her father. He had been a proud man, she said, a man who spent all his work days tilling the soil of a Carolina farm and all his ...

586. The Way, The Truth, And The Life Style

John 14:5-14

Sermon

Thomas Long

... of improved water quality and the like. What was so amusing, however, was not the article itself but the accompanying color box, a small town imitation of a USA Today feature, showcasing selected tidbits from this fellow's private life. It was a local version of the "Dewar's Scotch Profile," and it treated this water department bureaucrat as if he were a rock star or a matinee idol. It supplied such fascinating facts as this man's "role model" (Abraham Lincoln), his "latest book read" (something by Robert ...

587. Words, Words, Words

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Thomas Long

... , "Sermons We See" as cited in John Bartlett, Familiar Quotations, fourteenth edition, edited by Emily Morison Beck (Boston and Toronto: Little, Brown and Co., 1968), p. 963. 2. Taylor Branch, Parting The Waters: America In The King Years 1954-63 (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988), p. 129. 3. Several versions of this story have appeared in sermons. The current one is adapted from William H. Willimon, What's Right With The Church (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1985), pp. 112-113.

588. A New Command

Sermon

Lee Griess

... Pan first premiered on the London stage in 1904, author Sir James Barrie began to hear complaints from parents who were upset with his play. They even got together and petitioned him to make a change in the script. It seems that in the original version, Peter Pan told the Darling children that if they simply believed strongly enough, they could fly. And apparently there were children who had seen that play who tried to do just that, who took Peter Pan literally at his word, and hurt themselves attempting to ...

589. Words, Words, Word

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... they do" (Luke 23:34, RSV). Word, person, and practice were perfectly united in Christ. We live in a world where talk is cheap. Some politicians carefully craft their speeches for maximum squirm-out-ability. Advertisers try to sell us "new and improved" versions of the same old thing. Contracts are tossed aside, promises not kept, marriage vows broken, laws ignored or avoided. Even "I love you," that precious, cherished statement, has become as common and as cheap as a bumper sticker reading "I Love New ...

590. Take Dead Aim

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... God as expressed in Jesus. He's divine enough to deal with our humanity. He is the friend on whom we can rely in all things. Ralph Earle, the great biblical scholar who taught at Kansas City's Nazarene Theological Seminary and helped edit The New International Version of the Bible, often told the story of John G. Paton who was a pioneer missionary to the New Hebrides. Dr. Paton soon discovered that while the natives had words for house, tree, stone, and the like, they had no words for love, joy, and peace ...

591. Following God's Lead

Joshua 5:1-12

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... the urge to live in a state of self-reliance, and teach me to trust you as my comforter and guide. Gently remind me that living in your will brings fulfillment and peace; teach me to follow your leading in my life. Amen." 1. From the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.

592. The Season Of The Resurrection

Luke 24:44-53

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... of Ascension hymns. List the page number of the hymns and ask the people to read the words. Most have little understanding of this day in the church's life. Hymn of Praise "O God, Whose Glory Shines Afar" Response to the Confession Contemporary version of "You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy." Response to the Message with Children "We Are Jesus' People" Hymn of Commitment "The Friends of Christ Together" Response to the Benediction "Go Into All the World" Music for Dismissal Medley of Ascension hymns. Again ...

593. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 11:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... whatever form it chooses. Paternalism always stifles freedom; therefore, it always stifles truth" (Author unknown, slightly revised). MUSIC POSSIBILITIES Music for Preparation "Vision" Hymn of Praise "Of the Father's Love Begotten" Response to the Pardon "The "West Indies Version" of the Lord's Prayer Response to the Proclamation "At the Name of Jesus" Response to the Stewardship Challenge "Quiet Prelude" Hymn of Commitment "Lead On, O King Eternal" Music for Dismissal Medley of Christ the King hymns. (Ask ...

594. Getting Ready for The Coming Messiah

Mark 1:1-8

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... means a search, but a surrender to God who is always and everywhere present. So, I invite us to pray that prayer which is most appropriately the prayer of the community of faith: The Contemporary Lord's Prayer. (As another alternative, sing Malotte's version of the Lord's Prayer.) Response (Use the following chorus if you speak the prayer. Never put two pieces of music together.) "For Your Loving Kindness": "For your gracious blessing, for your wondrous Word, For your loving kindness, we give thanks, O Lord ...

595. Easter Day

John 20:10-18, John 20:1-9

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... Ask the children what Easter means to them; for many, it is the Easter bunny. You know what to do about that without giving a "little liquor lecture on morality." Reading of the Scripture Consider reading it from The Cotton Patch Version by Clarence Jordan. Have the organist or pianist play resurrection background music during the reading. Proclamation of the Gospel Consider the topics, "Is Religion a Simple Matter of Sincerity" or "How to be a Christian Without Being Religious!" Point out that religion ...

596. Jesus Prays for His Disciples

John 17:6-19

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... seeks to learn and to love. Motivated by your prayer and love, create in us the desire to know your perspective in our lives. Forgive us, Lord, for our reluctance to think. (Ask the people to reread the prayer in silence.) Response A contemporary version of "Lord, Have Mercy." Introduction to the Act of Confession (Pastor and People) E. Stanley Jones once said, "Be careful how you pray; you may be the answer." Someone else reminds us, "Pray as if everything depended on God; work as if everything depended ...

597. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

John 6:25-59

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... example, we hope that someone will try to soothe us, rescue us, comfort us. Instead, I invite us to hear the words of Jesus the next time we begin to grumble. Read verses 35-40 from a modern translation (suggested translation: The Cotton Patch Version by Clarence Jordan). Response "Lord, Have Mercy" PROCLAMATION Message with the Children of All Ages Continue the theme of grumbling. Ask the children if they ever complain about anything. What's your favorite way to complain? What do you hope will happen when ...

598. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... and do not care for our neighbor. We pray, Lord, deliver us from this estrangement; deliver us from our sin which divides us. Join us closely in true love. Have mercy upon all of your people. Lord, we believe; help us in our unbelief. Response Musical version of "Hear Our Prayer, O Lord." Introduction to the Act of Pardon Well in advance of today's worship, ask several people to prepare to offer prayers of pardon and forgiveness. Let them know of the theme for today, and where they will offer their prayers ...

599. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 10:17-31

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... be a part of God's kingdom?" Focus on God's grace to enter the kingdom, and not our actions. Make sure that they understand that new actions follow when we know that God receives us, unconditionally. Reading of the Gospel Read from The Cotton Patch Version by Clarence Jordan. If possible, get his cassette tapes, in which he translates many of the parables, and stories of Jesus. Proclamation of the Good News You may want to develop the message about these ideas: (1) our willingness to face reality; (2) the ...

600. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 12:35-40

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... head during the drama. At the end of the drama, have her go forward to place her pennies in the offering plate. Point out to the children what Jesus said about both kinds of people. Reading the Scripture For added emphasis, read from The Cotton Patch Version by Clarence Jordan. Proclamation of the Good News Somewhere in the message, ask the congregation to write down the five things that mean the most to them, and then, to list their priorities. After they do this, ask how many put God first? Would you have ...

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