Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 676 to 700 of 2157 results

John 6:1-21

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded by all four Gospels. John's version differs in some details, and is more eucharistic in emphasis and eschatological in signification than those of the Synopticists. Perhaps a miracle of sharing by example, the event nevertheless shows that compassion for human needs is central to the Kingdom of God that Jesus in inaugurating and prefiguring. Liturgical Color ...

677. Bearing The Mark Of Christ

Mark 8:31--9:1, Mark 8:27-30

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The famous saying of Jesus about discipleship and "taking up his cross'' allows another interpretation worth exploring. Some exegetes suggest that in the pre-Easter version of the saying, stauros meant not a ''cross'' but a ''cross mark'' (a tau or chi, perhaps), such as was used to mark livestock. If that is the case, Jesus' original reference was to the Christian's taking on a mark of identification rather than martyrdom, which became the post- ...

678. Know What Time It Is!

Luke 16:1-15

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

... on a cross. Religious spokespersons contend that we can only begin living when we get our act together, knock off our naughtiness, and begin to love one another. We are told that to be whole we must be holy. The prophets of Madison Avenue have their own version of a sinless society. We must be people with white, sparkling teeth, who smell nice, drive sleek, shiny automobiles on our way to happy homes and prosperous jobs. But what if in reality our jobs are deadly dull, or we can't get our act together? What ...

679. Let Us Pray!

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

... a family matter. "When you pray say, 'Father!' " Not, "Our Father." And not, "Our Father who art in heaven," which is how Matthew recounts the Lord's Prayer. But Matthew is almost certainly reiterating a liturgical prayer of the early church in his gospel. Luke's version is probably the more accurate. "When you pray, say, 'Father!' " As such, it is an attention getter. "Father, are you listening? I have some things I want to say." One of the amazing things in the model of prayer given to us by Jesus is that ...

680. A Faith That Burns

Luke 12:49-53

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

... of what, from the perspective of Pilate and Pharaoh, champions of the status quo, must have been considered left wing political and economic views. The Exodus was a political revolution, though that reality may have escaped our notice in the Sunday school version of the tale. It involved the tactics of intimidation and force. Its results were violence and bloodshed. What is disturbingly clear in the biblical account is: not only is God praised by the Hebrew slaves for their deliverance from bondage, but the ...

681. Alone

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

George Paul Mocko

... helpmate" suggests The Jerusalem Bible: "a helpmate suitable for him" a little later on. "A companion for him", "a helper suited to his needs," says the popular Living Bible, and later "a proper helper." "Suitable helper" is according to the New International Version. "A partner for him" offers the New English Bible, later, simply "partner." Nothing sexist in that latter one, is there? Is that one group that perhaps acquiesced to feminist pressures? Actually the phrase is something of an awkward one in the ...

682. Proper 23

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

George Paul Mocko

... game. The tree and the fruit are incidental. As we read Genesis, we can't really tell whether there were one or two trees. It is called the "tree of life" at one place, and at another the "tree of knowledge of good and evil." Most scholars would say two versions of the one story were combined and this is one of the rough edges. It doesn't matter - the tree is incidental. The problem is the desire to be like God, to have power. There is our sin. Ugly and frightening word, isn't it? Sin. There is our sin ...

683. Sight And Insight

John 9:1-12, John 9:13-34, John 9:35-41

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... crucifixion. He was rejected. People henceforth would have no relations with him. He was no longer to be a part of God's people. It meant eternal lostness and damnation. Son of Man (v. 35). The title referred to the Messiah or Son of God. The King James Version translates it "Son of God." The term is found in some Latin manuscripts. Giving sight to the blind was a function of the Messiah (Isaiah 42:7). John says he wrote his gospel that readers might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20 ...

684. Ascension

Acts 1:1-11, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:50-53, Luke 24:36-49

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... until the Holy Spirit is received. The risen Lord meets with them in Jerusalem and then leads them to Bethany, a short distance from Jerusalem, where he ascends. Since Matthew does not report the ascension, preachers are free to operate according to Luke's version. 3. The Time of the Ascension. When did Jesus ascend? Luke gives us two answers. In his gospel (24:51) Luke says that the ascension took place on Easter Sunday night. The entire 24th chapter tells of the events of Easter Sunday and concludes ...

685. Proper 13

Mt 14:13-21 · Rom 8:31-39 · Ex 12:1-14 · Ps 143

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... or a miracle. However, the miracle of multiplying is also a favorite of the gospel writers. This miracle of Jesus is the only one recorded by the four evangelists. In addition, there are two accounts of feeding the 4,000 which New Testament scholars consider to be different versions of the same event. In the three-year Common Lectionary cycle, the miracle occurs twice: Cycle A - Matthew 14:13-2 1 and Cycle B - John 6:1-15. When it comes to food, the world is in a dilemma. We have either too little or too ...

686. Fish Miracle

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-13, Luke 5:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... a disciple. In this account, there is no special call to Peter and there is no miracle. C. John 21:1-14 - This is another account of a miracle involving a great catch of fish. Is it the same miracle of Luke 5:1-11 with two different versions? In the above passage, the miracle is a post-resurrection appearance. There are similarities in the two accounts: (1) Peter and several disciples go fishing in the Sea of Galilee. (2) They fish all night and catch nothing. (3) Jesus directs them to let down their nets ...

687. Breakfast Miracle

John 21:1-14

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... of the disciples, and the group as a whole was re-committed to Christ. Related Passages Luke 5:1-11 - Peter's call to discipleship. Because of the similarities in the two accounts, Luke 5:1-11 and John 21:1-14, some scholars believe they are two versions of the same experience. Some of the similarities are: (1) same location - the Sea of Galilee, (2) fished all night and caught nothing, (3) Jesus tells them to put out their nets for a catch, (4) a large catch results, (5) Jesus is called Lord and (6) the ...

688. Wedding: The Goal of Marriage

Sermon Aid

John M. Braaten

... the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female? [His design was that] the two will become one. So they are no longer two, but one. Man must not separate, then, what God has joined together." Matthew 19:4-6 (Good News Version) When God instituted marriage he intended male and female to be one. So they are no longer to be regarded as two, but one. Therefore let no one separate what God has united. Jesus reminded the people that God designed marriage to be a union of body ...

689. A Family Crest

Mark 3:31-35

Children's Sermon

... 's family. In that case each family member could help each other choose what each does best to draw. Display your family crest in your "family room." Teachers: The same activity with a few variations would work in your classroom or worship time. Students could each make their own smaller version of a "class crest" using either idea above. Talk about our "church family."

690. High and Mighty

Mark 9:2-13

Children's Sermon

... with plastic to prevent moisture from soaking through. When you get to class, read today's Gospel aloud. Ask your students to imagine what the experience must have been like. What do they think the mountain looked like? Now let them construct their own version of the mountain by spreading the Plaster of Paris or play dough over the frame which you have already prepared. Encourage them to shape and mold the mountain as they imagine it, and to cooperate in their efforts. When the mountain is completed, it ...

691. The Faith of the Cannanite Woman

Mark 7:24-30

Sermon

Brett Blair

... was his opinion. But if one of the world's great musicians wrote, “He was a genius,” then you are apt to take the remark more seriously. There was a character in the Gospel who Jesus once described with four immortal words: Great is your faith (Matthew's version 15:21-28). She was a Canaanite woman who came from the country to the north of Palestine, a country hostile to the Jews. She was presumably married, she had at least one child; but that’s all we know about her. We don't know whether she was ...

692. Baptism of the Lord

Acts 10:23b-48, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 45:1-17, Psalm 89:1-52, Luke 3:1-20, Luke 3:21-38

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... it as the Baptism of our Lord. The Baptism of our Lord is the theme, the only theme and story, for the First Sunday after the Epiphany. It should also be noted that the churches want the full story of Jesus' baptism to be told, hence the three versions of it in the synoptic gospels are read in their respective cycles; the first and second readings remain the same from year/cycle to year/cycle. Why have the churches given such prominence to Jesus' baptism, especially if he were sinless and not at all in need ...

693. Epiphany 4

Psalm 71:1-24, 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Jeremiah 1:1-19, Luke 4:14-30

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... age, but help us to follow your will in both good and bad times, so that forever we may praise your faithfulness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." THE READINGS Jeremiah 1:4-10 (E, L, C); 1:4-5, 17-19 (RC) This is Jeremiah's version of how God called him to be a prophet; before he was born, he was destined to be a spokesperson for the Lord God. God had called and consecrated him to speak to the children of Israel and, beyond them, to "all nations. " Nevertheless, Jeremiah was hesitant to prophesy ...

694. Advent 1

Luke 21:5-38, Jeremiah 33:1-26, Zechariah 14:1-21, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... repentance and a fresh start every day. Ours is not to ponder the parousia, but to get busy with the continuing work of living out our lives under the rule of the living Lord here on planet earth. The Prayer Of The Day The church prays one or another version of the classic collects for this First Sunday in Advent: "Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now ...

695. Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:16-18, Joel 2:12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... a new day and new life for repentant sinners. The Prayer Of The Day The liturgical churches have simply rewritten the traditional collect for Ash Wednesday, much as they have prescribed the traditional readings for the day. The Book Of Common Prayer version, however is almost an exact copy of the classic collect, varying primarily in the use of contemporary language in place of the King James English (mostly in the pronouns) in which the original prayer is cast: "Almighty and everlasting God, you hate ...

696. Lent 1

Romans 9:30--10:21, Deuteronomy 26:1-15, Luke 4:1-13, Psalm 91:1-16

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... of the "new exodus" in Jesus: "For, 'every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.' " Luke 4:1-13 (RC, E, L, C) It is not Luke's turn to tell the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness (Matthew's version supplied the traditional Gospel for the Day). His story is similar to Matthew's - almost identical - and goes into much more detail than the single paragraph that Mark devotes to the temptation of the Lord. Luke agrees with Matthew about the content of the three temptations Jesus ...

697. Lent 5

John 7:45--8:11, Psalm 126:1-6, Isaiah 43:14-28, Philippians 3:1-11, Luke 20:9-19, John 12:1-11

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... and in combination, at least, they do. Clearly, this is not the Sunday of the Passion of our Lord, but it points to it. The Prayer Of The Day A revision of the classic collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent (Passion Sunday, in the former version of the church year), speaks better to the predicament of sinful people than the contemporary prayers for this day. A revision of it might read this way: "We pray you, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon your people, that by your grace and goodness, they may ...

698. Easter Sunday

John 20:1-9, Acts 10:23b-48, Isaiah 51:1-16, Exodus 15:1-21, Colossians 3:1-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 24:1-12

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen." Most of the books of worship have contemporary versions of classic Easter prayers, few, if any, of which mention the relationship of Easter, baptism, and "total renewal." The Psalm Of The Day Psalm 118, which has different versification in the several churches that appoint it for Easter Sunday, is used on this Sunday ...

699. Advent 2

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-20, Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... came preaching, and he baptized the people who responded to his proclamation of the good news. The law and the gospel both find places in the preaching/baptizing ministry of John. But that's not the whole story of John the Baptist. 1. Luke begins his version of the gospel with the story of John the Baptist, a story of mystery and miracle. He tells how Zechariah, a priest who ministered in his turn in the temple, received a visit from God through the angel Gabriel. Zechariah was told that God had answered ...

700. Easter 3

John 21:1-14, Acts 5:17-42, Acts 9:1-19a, Jeremiah 32:1-44, Revelation 5:1-14, Psalm 33:1-22, Psalm 30:1-12

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... of Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish, of their recognition of the Lord, and the "shore breakfast" they participated in at his command and invitation. John says, "They knew it was the Lord" and he ate bread and fish with them, then commanded Peter, in the longer version, "Follow me." Peter was to be the leader of the "flock" and at the end of the reading there is a prediction of his death. This, then, is the third and last apparition of the risen Lord that was seen by Peter and the other disciples. It ...

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