Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 651 to 675 of 975 results

651. Proper 26

Mark 12:28-34, Psalm 146:1-10, Ruth 1:1-22, Hebrews 9:11-28

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 146 First Lesson—This is the beginning of the story of a Moabite woman who became an ancestor of King David and Jesus of Nazareth. Ruth 1:1-18 Second Lesson—When Christ came as a high priest he entered the eternal Holy Place and offered himself not any animal sacrifice. Hebrews 9:11-14 Gospel—Jesus reemphasizes the two great commandments. Mark 12:28-34 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Fix your eyes on God’s ...

652. Second Sunday of Advent

Mark 1:1-8, Psalm 85:1-13, Isaiah 40:1-31, 2 Peter 3:1-18

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 First Lesson—The prophet advocates smoothing the way for the coming of God like a just and caring Shepherd. Isaiah 40:1-11 Second Lesson—Peter reaffirms the declaration of Jesus that the time of the second coming is a surprise but that the upheaval will bring justice and peace. 2 Peter 3:8-15a Gospel—The beginning of Mark’s Gospel connects the ministry of Jesus with the prophecy of Isaiah and identifies John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Mark 1:1-8 ...

653. Today's Man

Mark 6:30-34,53-56

Illustration

Richard Exley

Today's man is in constant danger of becoming enslaved by the very things that were suppose to make his life more convenient. Notebook computers, fax machines, pagers, and cellular phones threaten to take him hostage. No matter where he goes, his work goes with him. In truth, his time (his life) is not his own. Even if he could break free of the ever-encroaching demands of his career, his own responsibilities are enough to occupy his every waking moment, things like volunteer work at the church and civic ...

654. Proper 14

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Psalm 106:1-48, Matthew 14:22-36, Romans 10:5-15

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b First Lesson - Joseph's dreams are dangerous to his health. Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Second Lesson - Heartfelt faith in Christ confessed openly is the means of our salvation. Romans 10:5-15 Gospel - Jesus comes to his disciples in an unexpected way. Matthew 14:22-33 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Remember the many acts of God's faithful love. People: We believe the promises of the ...

655. Lent 2

Genesis 12:1-8, Psalm 121:1-8, John 3:1-17, Romans 4:1-25

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 121:1-8 First Lesson - Abraham's response to God's election is readiness to leave the past behind and begin the journey of faith. Genesis 12:1-4a Second Lesson - To be children of Abraham is to know the salvation possible through faith in God's grace, not perfect obedience. Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 Gospel - Rebirth by the Spirit is as mysterious as the source of the winds. John 3:1-17 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you ...

656. You Are What You Eat

John 6:51-58

Illustration

Brian Harner

"You are what you eat." Perhaps we use this popular saying somewhat flippantly to encourage people to eat the right thing. Food gives us the building blocks of our bodies. Meals are assimilated into our bloodstream and even into our bones. Perhaps it is no surprise that man is presented in Genesis 1 and 2 as a hungry person and the whole world is offered as his food. The command to eat of the food of this world in the creation account is second only to God's command to multiply and to have dominion over ...

657. Israel: The World’s Invincible Nation

Jeremiah 23:2, 7-8

Sermon

James Merritt

I recently got E-mail from a young man that I took very seriously. There are several reasons why I immediately responded to this young man's E-mail. First of all he is a very bright student. In fact, he may graduate a year early from his university. Second, he is a very fine Christian young man with extremely high values. Thirdly, he goes to a very wonderful godly Christian university. Fourth, I know his Dad and Mom probably better than I know anybody in the world, and his Mother especially expects me to ...

658. Minority Report

Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23

Sermon

James Merritt

Put on your thinking caps for a moment; become an amateur pastor or theologian, if you will, and see if you can give an answer to the following three questions: 1. If the gospel is the power of God—why doesn't everybody that hears the gospel become a Christian? 2. If the Bible is the Word of God—why doesn't the Bible have the same effect on everyone who reads it? 3. If Jesus is the Son of God—why doesn't everyone believe in Jesus? We can even narrow those questions. Why don't most people who hear the ...

659. I’m Movin’ On

Philippians 3:12-14

Sermon

James Merritt

Believe it or not, in the last several years I have become somewhat of a country music fan, and one of the groups I like is a group called Rascal Flatts. They came out with a song that both haunts me every time I hear it, and yet also brings me a sense of comfort. I want you to listen to just the first verse: Listen to the words one more time: I've dealt with my ghost, and faced all my demons; Finally content with a past I regret; I found you find strength in your moments of weakness; For once I'm at peace ...

660. Call to Oneness

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

When, dear God, shall Christians all be one? It is a first-century inquiry. It is a here-and-now recurring question. Countless programs have been launched. Numerous proposals have been given. Only God knows how many problems have risen in our quest for Christian unity. We live and minister in the twenty-first century in ways not that different from what our spiritual ancestors experienced. Have some things and relationships improved, especially since Vatican II? The answer without doubt is a resounding, " ...

661. Jesus Brings Hope

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

The International Government of the World, or IGW, made its announcement with joy: the last Christian in the world was dead. This last Christian was found hiding in an abandoned mine in South Africa. He was ferreted out, brought to trial, convicted, and then executed, all the while professing Christ. The world state ordered a half-day international holiday to celebrate; the rejoicing grew to a fever pitch. Images of Christ on the cross were burned in sub-capitals throughout the world and singing, which had ...

662. Itchy Ears

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sermon

Donna Schaper

As usual, the epistle is a little more graphic than we can quite grasp. Itchy ears: what a concept just in physical terms. Experience it for a minute. You itch, you scratch, you sort of know you shouldn't scratch because it will only make the itch worse. But still you scratch, while wondering how the itch ever got started in the first place. What a concept: itchy ears as a vehicle for spiritual truth. When we itch, we scratch. We awaken. We know we are not comfortable. We want to be comfortable. This ...

663. Do Not Be Quickly Shaken

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Sermon

Donna Schaper

Several years ago, Lyle Schaller made the observation that ministry, once a "high status, low stress" vocation was now just the opposite: "high stress and low status." Why? Clergy have a double calling, both to secure and to shake people up. They need to be prophetic and pastoral at the same time. Most people want ministers to stabilize their lives, to keep them from being shaken. The goal many parishioners come to church to achieve is stability. They don't want to be shaken. They want to be secured. ...

664. Weary in Well Doing

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Donna Schaper

What makes people weary is conflict. We are torn apart, split in two, we are challenged at our core in large and small ways all day long. We say wryly, "No good deed goes unpunished," running right into the conflict of getting weary in well doing. Biologists tell us we have two choices in most situations: We can fight or take flight or tend and befriend. The fight and flight response is most often articulated in funny hand motions — where we both beckon the person close and push them away at the same time ...

665. Like a Tree Planted

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

You have probably never thought seriously about tiptoeing through the treetops, but there is a place where you can do that very thing. A lush Brazilian rainforest is home to a spectacular "canopy walk." Tiptoeing through the tops of several hundred different kinds of trees, you will observe creation from an entirely different perspective. You can look a golden-headed lion tamarin in the eye as it jumps from tree to tree. You will see termite nests the size of pumpkins, hanging from rubber trees that are ...

666. Good News for Widows

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

King Duncan

I have some good news today for widows. [How many of you fall into that category?] Some of you have been widowed and remarried. Some of you still grieve the loss of your life’s partner. If you are a widow, you can probably use some good news. It’s not easy losing a spouse. Some of you have a void in life that nothing will ever fill. But here’s the good news. Jesus is aware of your situation, and Jesus is aware of your faithfulness to the church. Pastor James Love tells about a friend of his, a young ...

667. Deliverance through Thanksgiving

Psalm 50:1-23

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

One our big failures as Christian is our continual refusal to discipline ourselves in living with the word of God. We need to study the Bible. It is the source of our life, it is the food for our souls. But not only do we need to study the Bible, we need to read the Bible devotionally, and there is a difference between studying the Bible and reading the Bible devotionally. The sermon today comes out of my devotional reading of the Bible a few weeks ago. But before I get into the sermon, let me share with ...

668. Living In The Spirit Of Peace

Galatians 5:22-25, Colossians 3:14-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

At a church dinner, a mother took her three young children through the food line. As she juggled everyone's plates and drinks, she told the kids to be on their best behavior. When they were finally seated, she let out a sigh of relief and told the kids they were doing great. She was proud of them because that hadn't had any catastrophes yet. When her 3-year-old daughter heard that, she popped up, looked around and said, "Where are they, Mommy? I'll go get some." (1) We all know what catastrophes are don't ...

669. Like a Venomous Snake

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

Radio preacher and best-selling author Chuck Swindoll once spoke to a group of pastors. He told about a man who was mountain climbing in the Sierra Mountains of California. In one particularly difficult section of his climb, he pulled himself on to a ledge only to find a six‑foot timber rattlesnake looking at him with his mouth open and tail rattling. The man froze. The rattler struck. The man moved so that the snake’s fangs barely missed grazing his neck. Still, the snake’s fangs got caught in the man’s ...

670. Shadrach, Meschach, Abeddnego: Unexpected

Daniel 3:1-30

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I've got a question for you this morning. Does anybody know how old the lowly marshmallow is? 50 years? 100 years? Maybe 200 years? Would you believe the marshmallow was around before Columbus discovered America? There's a very real possibility that Jesus, Mary and Joseph might have actually eaten marshmallows while in exile in Egypt. You see, historians estimate that the marshmallow came into being over 4000 years ago. Marshmallows date back to ancient Egypt. Some historians claim marshmallows got their ...

671. Getting It Right

Romans 5:1-8

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Have you ever noticed that, no matter what, that some people just always get it wrong? Paul Harvey, in his book FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, tells about a county jail in south Florida where jail officials found a plastic trash bag hanging to the bars of a cell. Inside was Jimmy Jones, a prisoner who hoped he'd get taken out with the trash. And he might have, except for one thing, during roll call his reflexes took over. When the name Jimmy Jones was called... From inside the bag came a muffled response: "Here." It ...

672. Hope In The Midst of Uncertainty

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I just read about two Senior Citizens who were out for their usual morning walk. They both had been complaining about the aches and pains of getting older. As they passed the local funeral home one of them turned to the other and said, "Look there's no hope of recovery, we're just getting older. Let's just go in and give ourselves up." (1) I also read about a For Sale ad in the Roanoke, Illinois, Review which read: "Hope chest: Brand new, half price, long story." (2) I'd like to know the story behind that ...

673. Living While You Wait

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

There were two fellows who lived and breathed baseball. They were professional players with the Atlanta Braves and you would think that playing for a living would be enough. But not so – these guys breathed, ate, and slept baseball. More than teammates, they were very close friends. So, they talked with each other about that mattered most in their lives. One of their big concerns was whether there would be baseball in heaven. They loved baseball so much that they were not sure at all they wanted to spend ...

674. Being and Doing as the People of God

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

One of the most single television presentations during this decade, I believe, was the television series based on Alex Haley’s best-selling book, Roots. Millions of people read the book, and millions more saw the television drama. It was a moving presentation of a two-century epic of Kunta Kinte and the six generations who came after him. You will recall that Kunta Kinte was the great-great-great-great-great grandfather of Alex Haley, the author. If you did not read the book, you may have missed one of the ...

675. Dying to Live

John 12:20-36

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Two men went up in a hot-air balloon one May morning. Suddenly they were enveloped by clouds and lost track of where they were. They drifted for what seemed like hours. Finally the cloud parted, and they spotted a man below them on the ground. “Where are we?” one of the passengers hollered down. The man on the ground looked around, looked up at the balloon, looked around some more and then yelled back, “You’re in a balloon.” The two balloonists looked at one another and then one of them yelled down again ...

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