Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 651 to 675 of 3314 results

651. Focus On The Son

Romans 1:1-17

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... we explored how to wait both patiently and actively. Now on the fourth Sunday of Advent, as we come to the climax of our preparation to receive the Christ child, our theme is "Focus On The Son." The Apostle Paul was a focused man. In the opening words of his Letter to the Romans he affirms his call by God to be an apostle. He has a sense of vocation to preach the gospel. And what was at the core of such good news? He declared it was "... the gospel concerning his Son." Paul was a focused man, and his focus ...

652. Enlarge Your Horizons

Ephesians 3:1-13

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... rights at home or risking abuse by seeking ways to bring peace among Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Mid-east.1 How big is your world today? Are you ready to enlarge your horizons? Does Christ's coming have implications for your own world view? The apostle Paul lived in a big world and was always ready to enlarge his horizons because Christ's coming had changed the way he looked at life. In our lectionary text today from Paul's third chapter in his Letter to the Ephesians he writes of his commission ...

653. Signed, Sealed And Delivered

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... . God knows how much we want to be part of the heavenly hosts. God knows how and why we fail in our good intentions. God knows. And God calls us, as God called Paul. Like Paul, we were not there that first communion night. Like Paul, we have been apostles born too late for that knowledge of Jesus. Like Paul, we walk by faith, rather than sight. And like Paul, we celebrate what has been passed on to us from those who have gone before. In this feast, we are made partakers of the new covenant. We, like those ...

654. Make Scriptural Hope Your Own

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... ones is usually felt most keenly in the holiday season. If we are struggling with loneliness, a lack of direction, a feeling we are cast adrift without much hope, where can we turn to find the way through our own dark and stormy night? The Apostle Paul provides us with a clue when he states: "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." According to Paul the expressed purpose of the scriptures is ...

655. Week Of Ash Wednesday

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... All of these acts as well describe the ministry of welcome to those whom society has forgotten. Jesus also speaks of welcome in today's Gospel. The disciples of John the Baptist want to know why Jesus' apostles do not fast. Jesus, simply put, says that as long as he, the groom, is with them the apostles cannot fast. No, they have a more active apostolate to engage -- that of welcoming the Jews and those on the outside into the life and ministry of Jesus. It requires energy -- thus, the disciples cannot fast ...

656. Follow The Directions

1 Thessalonians 1:6

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... being a Christian is a little bit like learning how to be a good baker or cook. We have to watch the people who are good Christians and try to live like they do. In the days when the Apostles were alive, everyone tried to live like they did. They showed the people how to live as Jesus wanted them to. Since the Apostles aren't around anymore, we have to find other people who will show us how Jesus wants us to live. Can you tell me which people are around today who can help us? (Let them answer.) Those are ...

657. Look, The Morning Star

2 Peter 1:12-21

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... despair and hopelessness in his own day. He knew that at one time the Christian community had been alert, looking for the imminent return of Christ, but at the close of the first century there was not much enthusiasm for the future. Perhaps the first apostles had been mistaken about the hope of a glorious future, or worse yet, perhaps God's promises were not really true. Everything seems pretty much the same as it has always been. Most biblical scholars hold the position that the Second Letter of Peter was ...

658. Toward A More Sensuous Christianity

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... In using the word "sensuous," I am not using the word in a carnal or bestial sense, but rather in a sensory sense. The experience of the Holy Spirit is sensuous in the sense that it is stimulating, inspiring, exciting and at times emotional. The apostle reminds us, "For the kingdom of God is ... joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). When electricity was first introduced some Frenchmen wanted to know how fast electricity moves, so the abbot of a large monastery volunteered his monks for an experiment. They ...

659. The Promise Of The Spirit

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... ...' " The disciples had preached before, but never with such force, power or persuasion. Never had they experienced such results. So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. -- Acts 2:41-42 This sense of power that came to the disciples was the ability to do and to accomplish. This was surely the way the church was meant to be. Vigorous ...

660. The Scope Of The Spirit

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... that we are the children of God." If we are the children of God, led by the Spirit, would it not be a logical conclusion that all things are then controlled, directed, interpreted, and integrated by the Spirit within our lives? The Comfort Of The Spirit The apostle went on to declare, "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). I must admit that I do not always see this happening. I see things transpiring in human life that ...

661. The Holy Spirit As The Dove Of Peace

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... divisions in the world are the divisions within our hearts. We will not be at peace with the world until we are at peace with ourselves. The Holy Spirit brings to us what Paul describes as the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22). The apostle goes on to declare, "If we live by the Spirit, let us walk also by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). In God's peace is our peace. It begins with us. The work for peace begins with the first person we meet. Regardless whether that person is black or ...

662. Brainstorms

Sermon

John R. Bodo

... the small group of Greeks, i.e., Gentiles studying Judaism with a view to conversion, who will find in Jesus the universal Messiah. Andrew's evangelistic method is simply exposing people to Jesus. Is there a better one? One Of The Twelve. The disciples/apostles are often identified, individually, as "one of the Twelve." We know little about most of them except for their belonging to Jesus' inner circle. But you can tell a great deal about a man by the company he keeps, the organizations to which he belongs ...

663. The Assumption Of Discipline

Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... 's doing. But, as in the case of almsgiving, the abuses do not negate the practice. "In the morning, while it was still very dark," we read in Mark 1, "(Jesus) got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed." When the apostles were tempted to invest their time and energies in other very necessary and important tasks in the exciting days of rapid expansion in the Jerusalem Christian community, they determined to give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). And ...

664. Guilt And Grace

Romans 8:28-39

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... be able to spray our guilt away. Or ignore it. Or work it off. Or psychologize it away, either. Freedom from guilt comes only through faith. From faith that, while our sins and shortcomings are great, the grace of God is even greater. Listen again to the words of the Apostle Paul: If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or ...

665. Wedding: On The Right Track (for a long-time relationship)

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

The Apostle Paul writes about how real love can be recognized and nurtured. Hear these words from 1 Corinthians 13 and 14:1 (TEV): Love is patient ... feel in competition with one another. (No, I'm more tired than you are!) It is then that you will need to take a fresh look at what it is you really want to strive for. The Apostle Paul says the most important thing to strive for is love. Not just any kind of love, but a love that is defined as self-giving rather than self-serving. I don't believe any of us ...

666. The First Hole

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... carelessness in the early stages. That's why the early church outlined a very simple strategy for a slow, steady, and solid start (Acts 2:42-47): They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day ...

667.

Drama

Betty Lynn Schwab

... with a Christ-like self-denying love. In Jesus' name we pray. Child: Amen! Our shankbone! (Raises bone and places it on plate) All: Amen. Lent 3 Lent 3Exodus 12:3-13Matthew 16:24-27 Minister: When the hour had come, Jesus sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you." Mother: (Lights candle) With every holy light we kindle, the world is brightened to a higher harmony! Child: Why is this Sunday different from all other Sundays? Reader 1 ...

668. This House In Its Former Glory

Haggai 2:1-9

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... men of renown" (Genesis 6:4, KJV). Yet the ones who built the Temple were people. Humans. It's dangerous to assume otherwise. I'm sure this is one of the reasons Jesus picked such ordinary people for apostles. He didn't want us to have an excuse when it came to following in his footsteps. The apostles and disciples achieved great things, stared into the face of death, and accepted martyrdom. But the stories in the Gospels make it clear they were just regular folks. It is God who is revealed in our weakness ...

669. Moving At The Speed Of Light

Ephesians 3:1-13

Sermon

Frank Luchsinger

... of the Church depends on the transmission of Light through scratched and scarred lenses. Even so the Light is on the move; sometimes shining forth from cells or from behind iron curtains, being carried by those who limp or stumble or by those of halting speech. The apostle Paul writes of having prayed to God about his thorn of the flesh: Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will ...

670. The Three Kings--And The King Of Kings

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... hope for all Catholics in England. And they sang it to bolster their faith and commitment in a difficult time. Here is the real meaning of that song: "Twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve beliefs outlined in the Apostles' Creed. "Eleven pipers piping" were the eleven apostles, minus Judas. "Ten lords a-leaping" were the Ten Commandments. "Nine ladies dancing" were the nine choirs of angels. "Eight maids a-milking" were the Beatitudes. "Seven swans a-swimming" were the seven sacraments of the Catholic ...

671. Pentecost

John 20:19-23, Acts 2:1-13, Acts 2:14-41, Genesis 11:1-9, John 14:5-14, Romans 8:1-17

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... can forgive? Christ gives his followers the authority to forgive by virtue of being instruments of the Spirit who through Word and Sacraments forgives the penitent. Epistle: Acts 2:1-21 1. Together (v. 1). The Holy Spirit comes as a communal experience. The Apostles were assembled in Jerusalem. They were together in their desire for the Spirit. They were together in prayer and in faith in Christ as Lord. Together they were hoping for the Spirit. The Spirit is a gathering force, and he comes when believers ...

672. Proper 22

Luke 17:1-10, Lamentations 1:1-22, 2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... witness to the Gospel in their world. An appeal is made for "sound words" to counteract the heresies of the day. Persecution is beginning and leaders are challenged to suffer and not be ashamed to stand firm for the Gospel. Gospel: Luke 17:5-10 The Apostles request more faith and Jesus teaches that duty does not call for gratitude. The gospel lesson consists of apparently two unrelated parts: vv. 5-6 and vv. 7-10. The first part concerns the request of the Disciples for more faith. Jesus does not tell them ...

673. Proper 5

Lk 7:11-17 · Gal 1:11-24 · 1 Ki 17:17-24

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... of the gospel was not human but divine. He received the truth directly from the risen Christ at the time of his experience on the Damascus road. To confirm his claim, he explains that after his conversion, he did not go to Jerusalem to confer with the Apostles but went to Arabia to preach. Three years later he went to Jerusalem, but visited with only Peter and James. Then he continued preaching in Syria and Cilicia. All of this explanation was to prove his point: the gospel he preached is from God, not man ...

674. Come, O Blessed Of My Father

John 5:16-30

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

... . I want to speak to some of these things today. First, as we say in the church's statement of faith known as the Apostles' Creed, we believe that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. Christ is King by virtue of his resurrection from the ... to execute judgment." Scripture is clear that one day each of us will stand before Christ the King. We believe, as we say in the Apostles' Creed, that "he will come again to judge the living and the dead." What words will we hear from the King? Will we be ...

675. Greed - Putting Things In Their Proper Perspective

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

... the offer, but we want to go after some really big money."2 In the face of that goal of going after "some really big money," the apostle Paul says, the love of money is the root of much evil. Now Paul didn't say money is the root of much evil, he said ... our use. We possess it; don't let it possess us. Finally, it helps to remember that you can't take it with you. As the apostle Paul says, we are born into the world with nothing, and when we die, we take nothing with us. Paul however does say that there is ...

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