Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 601 to 625 of 1967 results

601. Memento Vivere

John 12:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“An extravagance”! “A wasteful extravagance”! You can almost hear Judas’ voice shouting out these words in Lazarus’ home that day, six days before Jesus would walk to his death. He was angry. He was beyond livid! Posturing as the “ethical disciple,” he verbally pummeled Mary with vitriol, claiming that the alabaster jar of nard (otherwise known as Spikenard) that she had bought could have been sold for somewhere around 300 denarii. Instead, she had broken and dumped the entire jar over Jesus’ feet, so much ...

602. As the Water Falls

Matthew 3:5b

Children's Sermon

Object: a picture of a waterfall Good morning, boys and girls. Today is a special day in the church year called The Baptism of Our Lord. Who is our Lord? (Let them respond.) Our Lord is Jesus. Today is the day we remember when Jesus was baptized. I brought a picture of some water. (Hold up the picture.) Would you like to be baptized in this water? (Let them respond.) What do you think would happen to you? (Let them respond.) I think you would be washed away because this water is too strong! Our story today ...

603. Dirty Hands

Psalm 24:4

Children's Sermon

Object: Bar of soap Suggestion: Consider making use of a "Pastor's Gadget Bag" in delivering the children's message. It is nothing more than an ordinary laundry bag. Whatever object you intend to use is kept in the bag until the children have proceeded to the chancel area, are quiet, and ready to see what may appear. What is this? What do you do with it? Of course! We wash with it. Sometimes Mom needs to remind us to wash before we come to the dinner table. It's not good to eat our food with dirty hands. ...

604. Maundy Thursday

John 13:1-17

Bulletin Aid

Liturgical Color: White/Purple Gospel: John 13:1-17, 34 Theme: Jesus washes the disciples' feet. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration If you haven't done this, try it: With several members of the congregation, simulate the despair of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, as Jesus looked toward the end, and as the disciples stood by helplessly and powerless, in silence. After several moments of silence, invite the people to sing: "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" Follow this with a prayer for Maundy Thursday. ...

605. On Eating Peas With A Knife

Luke 7:36-50

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: a bottle of olive oil, and a basin of water Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever had a friend come over to your house? That was a lot of fun, wasn't it? And wasn't it nice to have that friend over? You were probably very nice to your friend. Maybe you gave them a snack, or let them play with your toys. That's how we treat somebody who is visiting our house, isn't it? Well, in Jesus' day, they had a different way of welcoming people into their homes. Whenever a friend came to visit, they ...

606. How to Bake a Cake

Illustration

Staff

How to bake a cake: Preheat oven; get out utensils and ingredients. Remove blocks and toy autos from table. Grease pan, crack nuts. Measure two cups of flour, remove baby's hands from flour, wash flour off baby, re-measure flour. Put flour, baking powder, and salt in sifter. Get dustpan and brush up pieces of bowl baby knocked on the floor. Get another bowl Answer doorbell Return to kitchen, remove baby's hands from bowl. Wash baby. Answer phone. Return. Remove one-fourth inch salt from greased pan. Look ...

607. When It Is Dark Enough

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

On clear summer nights my wife and I often stretch out on the deck of our Maine cabin scanning the skies for satellites. While it might be dark at ground level, neither satellites nor stars appear until the sky is black. The ancient Persians put it this way: "When it is dark enough you can see the stars." At the graveside of his brother, the agnostic Robert Ingersoll, said, "In the darkest night hope sees a star and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing." Today is the first Sunday in Advent. The ...

608. The Mark Upon Us

Sermon

Lee Griess

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 One of the most striking television movies made in the last few years was one called Helter Skelter. It was the story of the cult worship and murder spree by the Charles Manson family in California nearly three decades ago. In the closing moments of the movie, Charles Manson and the members of his so-called family are shown on the screen with their heads shaved and big "X" marks on their foreheads. The stark appearance of the members of that group which called itself a "family" and the ...

609. The Mark Upon Us

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

Lee Griess

One of the most striking television movies made in the last few years was one called Helter Skelter. It was the story of the cult worship and murder spree by the Charles Manson family in California nearly three decades ago. In the closing moments of the movie, Charles Manson and the members of his so-called family are shown on the screen with their heads shaved and big "X" marks on their foreheads. The stark appearance of the members of that group which called itself a "family" and the "X" marks on their ...

610. Lent 5

John 12:20-36, Psalm 51:1-19, Psalm 119:1-176

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

Call to Worship Come to see Jesus, even though his glory is a cross and to follow him may mean a cross of your own. Prayer of Confession Renewer of covenants, divine-human Pledge of the new covenant, Spirit of the covenant, forgive our wrongdoing and remember our sins against us no more. Though you are known by the high and the lowly, yet we have not reached the time when it will not be necessary to teach one another to know you. Or is it that knowing you we decline to obey you? As you were patient with ...

611. On The Night He Was Betrayed

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

Erskine White

And when it was evening, He came with the twelve. (Mark 14:12-16) We are gathered here in the evening, after the sun is down, so perhaps we can use the darkness around us to better imagine the events which took place on this sacred night so long ago. The story actually begins earlier in the day, when Jesus sends two disciples into Jerusalem to make preparations for the Passover meal. You may remember a sermon from a few weeks ago ("The Boy Who Ran Away") in which I mentioned that Jesus has to use an " ...

612. Candle Lighting · all five services

Matthew 3:1-12, Psalm 119:1-176, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20, 1 Peter 1:1-12

Bulletin Aid

J. B. Quisenberry

Litany Of Repentance Leader: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light;'' People: "They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." Leader: We are that people. People: The light shines upon us. Leader: It shines into the darkness of our souls. People: It exposes our sins. Leader: When we admit our wrongdoing; People: When we repent; Leader: The light of Christ will burn our sins away and make us clean. People: Thanks be to God! Scripture Reading: ...

613. Monologue: Mary Magdalene - Liberated Woman

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

Drama

Robert F. Scott

John 20:1-2, 10-18 Medieval legends confused three women: the sinful "woman of the city" in Luke 7, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene. In time, "Magdalene" became a synonym for a prostitute. The plain text of the Bible treats each of these three women separately. Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name 12 times in the Gospels, but not once is there a whisper to connect her with the harlot of Luke 7. In recent decades there has been fanciful speculation that Mary was Jesus' wife or mistress. Again, there is ...

614. A Queen Bee’s Sting

2 Samuel 6:1-23

Sermon

The bee hive was abuzz. A human had stuck his hand into the hive and escaped with honey. Angry bees swarmed to God’s court. They demanded that God grant them the power of stinging to death anyone who approached their honeycombs. God was angry with the greedy bees who would not even share a Bit-o-Honey candy bar with their neighbors. Aesop, in his fable, tells us that God condemned the bees to instant death whenever they stung someone. The bees would be a chorus, adept at humming Paul’s song about the sting ...

615. Night Fighters

Sermon

James Bjorge

Night can be beautiful when dreams of sugar plums dance through your head. When worries have wandered away and left you relaxed, the descending darkness comes like a billowy blanket of down. God has washed behind your years and you feel clean and content as you slip into the freshly washed sheets for a long winter’s nap. No doubt about it, night can be nice. But it is not always that cozy and comfortable. Night can be blacker than a hundred midnights in a southern swamp. Anxiety, fear and pain become like ...

616. Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Although the book of Revelation is filled with mysterious messages, magnificent visions and astounding, even inexplicable portents, it remains at its heart a letter. In its most basic form, Revelation is simply a letter sent out by a prisoner-preacher, intended to be read aloud to the small and struggling churches scattered throughout the Asian region. Like Paul's letters, John's Revelation begins with a standard formula of greeting and introduction. After all the fireworks and surprises, John's work ...

617. Issues that Divide Us

John 9:1-41; Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Dale Cockrum

How denominations came into being: The story concerns two blind men who had been healed by Jesus, who happened to meet one day, and they were so excited to meet someone else who had been healed. They talked about the wonder of sight, the color of flowers, the beauty of butterflies, the glory of sunrises, the faces of children and grandchildren. They talked about the wonder of having seen the face of Jesus. They were laughing and having a great time together, when one of them said, "And do you remember how ...

618. The Temple’s Furnishings

1 Kings 7:13-51

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Temple’s Furnishings: After the important digression of 7:1–12 we return now to the temple, to hear how that project was completed and the “house of the LORD” made ready for his occupation in chapter 8. The narrative introduces a new character, whom the NIV calls Huram (vv. 13, 40, 45), but whom the MT calls by the same name as the king of chapter 5 (“Hiram”). He is brought from Tyre by Solomon to make the temple furnishings that are to be fashioned from bronze (vv. 15–47). Solomon himself, however, is ...

619. Jesus Before Pilate

Matthew 27:11-26

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

27:11–14 Standing before the governor (in the New Testament hēgemōn is used of Roman legates, procurators, and proconsuls) Jesus is asked if he is the king of the Jews. The title reflects a gentile perspective: Jews would refer to themselves as Israel. As in 26:25 and 64, Jesus answers sy legeis (lit., “You said [it]”). The ambiguity of the answer has been interpreted to mean that Jesus is in fact the king but not in any sense that Pilate would understand (Beare, p. 527). Jesus does not, however, answer ...

620. The Glory of the Lord

Exodus 40:1-33

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

The Presence of the Lord in the Midst of the Camp: In Exodus 40 (v. 34), “the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” for the first time. As Moses set up the tabernacle, in accordance with the Lord’ instructions, God fulfilled the original intention to deliver and dwell with this chosen people. The outline of the chapter follows a chiastic structure: A vv. 1–8: the Lord said to set up the tabernacle, in sevenfold detail B vv. 9–16: the Lord said to anoint; Moses did everything A′ vv. 17–33: Moses set up ...

621. The Meaning Of Stewardship

Galatians 6:10

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Object: A section of paper towel for each child. Lesson: To think about the meaning of stewardship. Today I want to use a paper towel to remind you of something very important. I want each one of you to have one of these. (Give each child a section of paper towel.) Now, what could you do with this piece of paper towel? (Wash windows, clean up a mess, help to keep your lap clean when you eat, shine your shoes, dry your hands after they have been washed, and so forth.) There are a lot of uses for a paper ...

622. Stain Remover

1 John 2:2

Children's Sermon

Teresa L. Major

Object: A bottle or stick of laundry stain remover. Lesson: We put stain remover on clothes to get rid of the dirt and grime, but the only stain remover that will get rid of our sin is Jesus Christ. Do you know what this is? (Children respond. Offer help if needed.) It's stain remover. What does Mom or Dad do with this? (Children respond.) They rub it on the stains we get on our clothes. Have you ever gotten a stain on your shirt or your pants? What makes the worst stain? (Children respond.) How about ...

623. Everyman And Woman

John 17:6-19, John 17:1-5

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: The church as the body of Christ is "in the world" and needs to relate to spiritual things but keep its feet firmly planted on solid ground. How does it do that? Confession leads to forgiveness. Summary: A rehearsal for the medieval play Everyman erupts into an argument when the actor playing Everyman cannot confess. Playing Time: 7 minutes Place: Your church Props: None Costumes: Mideval Time: The present Cast: Everyman Conscience -- a woman Confession -- a woman (A REHEARSAL FOR EVERYMAN) EVERYMAN ...

624. Adoption Into God's Family

1 Peter 3:8-22

Sermon

Mark J. Molldrem

Any parent who has adopted a child knows the joy of bringing a new member into the family. There is joy in the heart of our Heavenly Father when someone is baptized into his family. Baptism is like adoption. There are many children orphaned from the love of a family. Teenage pregnancies, unwanted children, unfit parents who abuse or desert their children, even unexpected death: These tragedies leave many children orphaned from the love of a family. Thank God there are people who want to be parents and for ...

625. Share Your Life

James 4:10

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Two buckets of water and some Spic and Span and some dirty boards. Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to meet a friend of your mother's, and see why she likes it so much. How many of you ever help your mother clean house? (Let them answer.) That is a hard job and one that has to be done over and over. I think mothers are really great the way that they keep our houses clean. Suppose that your mother did not clean your house for a month or maybe a year. What do you think your house ...

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