Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 601 to 625 of 1795 results

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... array of activity, scenes of graphic violence and glorious victory are splashed across the screen in kaleidoscopic technicolor and quadraphonic sound -- making even the most lavish of Cecil B. deMille's productions puny by comparison. And as if the literary style alone weren't treacherous enough to negotiate, frankly the book's message at times seems almost pathetically unrealistic. I mean, here Christians are being condemned and executed with startling regularity, and old John leans out over the pulpit of ...

602. A Law We Can Live With

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... Or as Patrick Miller so insightfully expresses it: "Neutrality, indifference, or objectivity are difficult responses to the Commandments. Because they have been addressed to 'you,' 'you' must do something about them, that is, obey them."2 Moreover, the concise style, number, and rhythmic feel of the Commandments seem to indicate that they were meant for memorization and congregational recital whenever the people gathered to worship. Augustine, for instance, saw these decrees almost in terms of being a creed ...

603. A Misguided Game of Hide-and-Seek

Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... people slowly start to lose theirs. Up on Sinai, there is calm; down in the valley, there is chaos. Aaron appears too weak to restrain the people; Moses strong enough even to restrain God. Moved with pity, Yahweh finally relents. With an almost understated style, the text simply reports that "the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people" (Exodus 32:14). And in what can only be understood as profound grace, the Israelites are actually pardoned before they even realize ...

604. A Long Obedience In The Same Direction

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... and risen Lord, Jesus Christ? There are, as you might well imagine, a number of answers to that question. One group of Christians answers the question by withdrawing from what they view as the evils of modernity. They cling to an older and simpler style of life and shun the way of the world. While we may admire their discipline and their commitment, most of us do not embrace this vision as the only one for Twentieth century Christians. Other Christians take the exact opposite approach. They uncritically ...

605. Two Sons: A Parable

Matthew 21:28-32, Matthew 21:23-27

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... change in practice accompanies the apology. 3. Life Witness. A strong Christian witness depends on integrity between the profession of faith and the life of the believer. The hypocrisy of those who claim to be followers of Christ and the denial of it in their life styles is one of the main obstacles to persons coming to a church or for young people to leave the church. A life lived as a serious attempt to accord with the example and teachings of Christ is one of the strongest invitations to others to become ...

606. The Holy Spirit As The Dove Of Peace

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... on the possibilities of nonviolence, or on the potential power in Christ-like living, when we have given it such little chance. The sayings of Jesus are parabolic, situational, metaphorical, and dramatic. They should disturb us, awaken us to new styles of human awareness, shatter rigid preconceptions, and lure us with unrealized possibilities for peace and justice. This morning the words of that outstanding hymn by Harry Emerson Fosdick came to mind: Cure thy children's warring madness, Bend our pride ...

607. Brainstorms

Sermon

John R. Bodo

... the kingdom (Matthew 10:35-45). He did not register any jealousy when he was not permitted to witness Jesus' transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). He was satisfied to be a non-com in Jesus' army, in the shadow of General Peter. Has humility gone out of style? Called To Follow. According to Matthew's account (4:18-19), Jesus called Andrew and Simon, fishermen by trade, while they were "casting a net into the sea." "Follow me," he said to them, "and I will make you fishers of men." At other times, he was calling ...

608. Affirming The Ash Heap

Job 2:1-10, Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... of Job and Jesus into our world. There are many of us who have sat on an ash heap and cried out in agony about what was happening in our lives. We may have lost a child, not necessarily by death, but by the child's choosing a life style that we knew would lead to disaster. We never stopped loving that child and never stopped affirming our love, even though it might be ridiculed or rejected. We may have buried a mate, and the bleakness of a potential loneliness made the ash heap seem unbearable. But we have ...

609. "Is It Community Today?"

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... or car, without having to encounter anyone! Here we have the ultimate in individualized religion; Communion without communion! "This is my Body, pre-packaged for you alone!" (Sunday Dinner, The Upper Room, p. 104). Now, in contrast with an individualized "Just me and my Jesus" style of religion, let me tell you a story. It's a story about one of the little girls in my previous church. But it could just as easily have happened here. Little Sandra was five years old at the time; an intelligent little girl who ...

610. Leave It On The Course

1 Timothy 3:1-16

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious. So one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Jerry, you ...

611. Tell Them

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... feelings. Today we are still struggling with our social and cultural barriers that prevent us from freely sharing the good news with others. Barriers of language, culture, prejudice, economic class, education, denominational affiliation, worn-out traditions and worship styles still prevent us from freely sharing the good news. One formidable challenge that still awaits the Christian community is our lack of zeal to break down the barriers that prevent us from becoming one in Christ. Though individual ...

612. Holy Hype

Matthew 11:1-19

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... melt even the hardest heart and get those people to part with some of that green stuff. After all that's what it's all about, isn't it? We have to keep the money pouring in so the ministry will continue. Huh? Well, of course it's not your style, but that's what we're changing. We're working on your image, here. No more backwoods preacher. No sir. You're going to be a snappy dressing Madison Avenue type. Hold on, now, let me finish. As I said you come out and make your speech, promise a few ...

613. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

John 6:16-24, John 6:1-15

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... asks, "How have you come today?" (Give several time to respond. If no one responds, tell the congregation how you came to worship today.) Then, conclude with a statement by Bernice Johnson Reagon, in the Other Side (July-August 1997), who identifies the black church style this way: "You pass the audition when you walk in the door." Our being here has little to do with how we feel and everything to do with our obedience. Hymn of Adoration "O God of Vision" Prayer of Adoration Incorporate how the people came ...

614. Advent 2

Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon Aid

E. Carver McGriff

... them up as a shepherd cares for lambs. They need not fear, for they will henceforth be in the care of a loving God. So we see the redeeming nature of God as understood by the writer of this powerful work. Epistle: 2 Peter 3:8-18 Peter uses apocalyptic style imagery to make his point that the earth will, in due time, be destroyed in its present form. With any luck I won't be here to find out if Peter meant this literally or not, but even if Peter believed that, not many theologians do today. More likely this ...

615. Five Thousand For Lunch In Galilee

Luke 9:10-17

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... ready for what we want to share. Newscaster Walter Cronkite and his wife, Betsy, were going to entertain a popular artist who was also a well-known gourmet. The Cronkites worried about what to serve such an educated palate. "Let's serve him family style," said Cronkite. So Mrs. Cronkite, a good Southern cook, decided to serve her favorite fried chicken, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. The night came and the artist-gourmet arrived at the Cronkites' New York apartment. The artist laid his sable across a chair ...

616. Making A Difference

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... ideals of wisdom combined with the fear of the Lord. Proverbs gives us words to live by. "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Jane Fagan lives with her husband and four children in a simple ranch style house not far from where she works. While Jane is well known among her circle of friends, she is barely known by others. Jane lives a simple, unassuming life. Still, the way she has lived her life has touched others. "When our two-year-old daughter died ...

617. You Can Be Happy

1 Chronicles 13:1-14

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

... ). Some "understand mysteries and have all knowledge" (wisdom and intellect). Some "have all faith, even to move mountains" (religious commitment). Paul says that all are different, and that is acceptable. It is as it ought to be. None is expected to conform to another's style or be absorbed into another's being. One of the most frustrating things in life is to try to recreate the world in my image because the world inevitably resists that. And how boring and bland a world it would be if I could accomplish ...

618. Corpus Christi

Lk 9:11-17 · 1 Cor 11:23-26 · Gen 14:18-20

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... didn't bring a lunch. b. Our hunger, physical and spiritual, often comes from carelessness on our part, not lack of generosity on God's part. 3. The banquet always waits. (Lesson 2) a. Abraham ate "on the run" (Melchizedek brought food "out" to him). b. The crowds ate picnic-style. c. By contrast the Eucharist draws us inside, to God's own banquet hall. As often as we come, we share the King's own life and love.

619. Baptism of Our Lord

Luke 3:21-38, Luke 3:1-20, Isaiah 43:1-13, Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 8:9-25, Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... in the case of the rich young ruler, we may have one thing lacking. The Samaritan Christians had everything but one thing. The Spirit is lacking in many church members. Evidence for this is the apathy, indifference, and inactivity of church members. In an inductive style, the sermons will come to the missing link in Christian experience. Outline: Do you as a Christian have this? a. Knowledge of the Gospel? Yes -- v. 14. b. Baptism in Christ? Yes -- v. 16. c. Prayed for? Yes. -- v. 15. d. Holy Spirit? v. 17 ...

620. Proper 24

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8, Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Luke 18:1-8

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... big question that divides churches is the manner of inspiration. Did God dictate the Bible word for word? Then it must be errorless. Did God inspire men with the truth and allow them to express the revelation to the best of their ability and according to their style? If so, then the Bible is infallible in the truth conveyed through frail and faulty people. 3. Ministry (4:5). Paul was writing to a young minister who was ordained to the ministry by the laying on of hands. It was a ministry primarily of Word ...

621. Easter 3

John 21:1-14

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Chapter 21 stands in such discontinuity with the rest of John's Gospel, in content if not in style, that it is generally regarded as an anticlimactic appendix. The miracle related in verses 4-8 is reminiscent (at least) of the one in Luke 5:1-11 as part of Jesus' earthly ministry. Aside from solidifying the status of Peter and John (the "beloved disciple"), the story placed here ...

622. Easter 4

John 10:22-42

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... the central point of the discourse, namely, the identity of Jesus. The famous "punch-line" about the unity of Jesus and the Father should be read, not through the Greek philosophical categories of the later creeds, which suggest ontological identity, but in a rabbinic-style assertion of God's redemptive activity in history in general and in Jesus' ministry in particular. Liturgical Color White Suggested Hymns O God Of Jacob The King Of Love My Shepherd Is The Lord's My Shepherd I Know That My Redeemer Lives ...

623. Loving Jesus, Hating The Church

John 9:35-41

Sermon

Thomas Long

... living experience with Christ versus dead creeds, not loving Jesus and hating the church. What this story calls us to do is to think about the kind of church we ought to be, the sort of institution and organization the Christian community should seek, the style of leadership and theology we ought to nurture. When we think about it this way, the key to the story jumps out in the form of a curious statement of Jesus. The religious leaders, haughty and defensive, challenge Jesus, "Surely we are not blind, are ...

624. Bloody Doorposts

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

... bread is unleavened because there is not enough time to allow it to rise. The lamb is not to be dressed, rather the whole carcass is to be cooked intact. Even the cooking is done in the most speedy manner. They are not, of course, to eat it raw, sushi style, but neither can they take the time to heat water and boil the meat. So the people are told to roast the meat over a fire. All these actions are to be performed in an atmosphere of readiness and urgency. The time is at hand! It's a rush. They ...

625. Epiphany 4

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, Micah 6:1-8, Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... in the scandal of the gospel; it was utter foolishness to the Gentiles and a stumbling block to the Jews. He realized the crucified Christ was both the wisdom of God and the power of God. In our society we try to package the gospel Madison Avenue style or reduce the truth of the gospel to the lowest common denominator. The way of God is strength in weakness, glory in shame, wisdom in foolishness. Outline: 1. Understand the scandal of the gospel the cross shows the weakness of God the cross shows the power ...

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