Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 51 to 75 of 4508 results

Bulletin Aid

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25 Theme: Fulfillment - Too Good Not to Be True. Declaration of our Joyful Expectation One congregation began this way: Pastor: Good morning! Shalom! Peace! and God be with you. Ministers: And good morning to you too. We're glad we're here! But what does it mean? Who knows that we're here? Pastor: Someone knows all about you. Ministers: Yes, we know that we're counted among ...

52. God's Disruptive Agenda

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes Matthew's purpose in this well-known passage is theological rather than genealogical, not to prove Jesus' divinity, however, but only his fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14. To what extent the tradition about this miraculous conception was influenced, or even generated, by the Greek Septuagint's rendering of the Hebrew almah as parthenos is unclear. But the real focus of this account is Josep...

53. What's In A Name?

Illustration

Merle G. Franke

"Hey, Tony!" one of the boys called out to the new kid whose family had recently moved into the neighborhood. But the new kid didn't respond immediately; in fact, he just stared at the caller as though he hadn't heard. "Hey, Tony, what's the matter? Are you deaf?" the first boy called, walking closer to the new kid on the block. He wasn't trying to be a smart aleck, but was hoping to be casual in ...

54. Advent 4

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10-16 (C); Isaiah 7:10-14 (RC); Isaiah 7:10-17 (E) Yahweh gave King Ahaz the sign of a child as deliverance. The historical situation behind this Lesson needs to be known for an understanding of the passage. It was the time of the Syro-Ephramite war (736-734 B.C.). Israel and Syria joined in an attack on Judah and King Ahaz. He planned to get help from Assyria, but Y...

55. Center Stage

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

Now that Matthew has finished his genealogy, he starts his narrative. We would not have much of a Bible without the narratives, but sometimes the biblical authors frustrate us. We always want more details. We want to know where the characters come from, what happens to them as they walk off stage. Just as we are starting to identify with a character, she will disappear, never to return. Matthew is...

56. Advent 4

Sermon Aid

CSS

THEOLOGICAL CLUE A quarter of a century ago, there was a movement in Great Britain by the Joint Liturgical Group to move Christmas (and other festivals, too) to a Sunday to encourage greater attendance and participation in the festive worship. This did not happen formally (in fact, the anticipated 1980 merger of the Anglican Church with several Protestant communions did not occur, either), but th...

57. No Clues?

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

Theme: See the signs — they’re very clear Characters: Detective Joe Clue Damis (Joe’s pregnant wife) Tone: Humorous Setting/Props: Kitchen table Flowers in a vase Two or three chairs Coffee pot Radio Knitting needles Yarn Couch Baby clothes Approximate time: 5 minutes Damis: (talking to herself) Ooooh. Morning comes too soon. I’ll fix myself some coffee. Maybe some java will wake me up and ge...

58. Mr. Roberts And The Christmas Tree

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus. And what better way than to decorate a Christmas tree with decorations that are a witness to Jesus and our relationship with Him. Summary: Mr. Roberts orders a Christmas tree and some decorations but he isn't prepared for a talking Christmas tree. The tree explains to Mr. Roberts the importance of Jesus and our relationship to God. Playing Time: 4 m...

59. Joseph Ponders

Drama

Edward G. Hunter

A Dramatic Monologue It is in the early hours of that first Christmas morn. In a natural cave just outside the city of Bethlehem is a young man, his even younger wife, and a newly-born child. The babe is nestled snugly in an animal-feeding trough deep inside the cave. Darkness still prevails, though the night has a thousand eyes with a myriad of stars. It will be several hours before dawn. The yo...

60. That Heavenly Call

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: Mary and Joseph -- Accepting God's Call This four-part drama may be presented as a unit or as individual scenes. Written to portray Mary and Joseph's calling as very personal and self-sacrificing, this wonderful story is placed in a setting to which a modern congregation can relate. This series may be utilized as a preparation for Christmas: one segment per Sunday during Advent, or sprinkl...

61. Immanuel

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: A Nativity Scene Does anyone know what a "prophecy" is? It means telling about something before it happens. Is a prophet like a fortune teller then? Should I have a glass ball up here or a deck of cards? Not at all. For one thing, fortune tellers can't really see the future. Only God knows the future. A prophet is one who speaks for God. And a prophet always tells people to live like God ...

62. The Most Beautiful Story Ever Told

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: a book of baby names, a piece of posterboard with the words EMMANUEL=GOD WITH US on it. Good morning, boys and girls. What is your name? I know most of your names, but there is a good reason why I'm asking. This morning, I brought a book of names for babies. People buy books like this before they have children, because they want to find a good name for the baby. These books have lists of ...

63. Jesus’ Birthday

Children's Sermon

Shirley Jennings

Object: An Advent wreath. Lesson: An Advent wreath reminds us that Jesus’ birthday is coming. That big green circle with the four candles on it is called an Advent wreath. When we light one of the candles on that big Advent wreath, we’re remembering that Jesus’ birthday is coming. We’re remembering that once upon a time many years ago Jesus was a baby, just as you and I once were babies. What d...

64. The Name Jesus

Children's Sermon

Robert B. Lantz

Object: Small Cards of Sallman's portrait of Christ. Lesson: Jesus' name which is above every name. Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know how you got your name? (Responses -- Picked by relative; named after someone; somebody liked it; and so forth.) How many of you picked your own names? Nobody? How many of you like your names? (Don't press it!) Names say a lot about people. Often names are ...

65. The Best Presents

Children's Sermon

Teresa L. Major

Object: A Christmas ornament or figurine of the baby Jesus (from a nativity scene) and of Santa Claus. Lesson: Santa Claus is no match for Jesus! The gifts Jesus brings are eternal. Look what I've got here. Who is this? (Display figurines. Children respond.) Of course, this is the baby Jesus. How about this one? Everyone knows who Santa is. Now, let me ask you a question. I want you to think abo...

66. Your Name Is Important

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A name chart with a list of names. Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about something that is very important to you. We are going to talk about your name and the names of others. All of you have names, don't you? (Let them answer.) Let's tell everyone your name. (Encourage each of them to stand and speak his or her name.) Names are very important. We not only call ea...

67. The Christmas Wreath

Children's Sermon

Edward G. Hunter

Object: A Christmas wreath (If there is one in the sanctuary, point to it. If not, bring a small one or a picture of one.) You have all seen a Christmas wreath, I'm sure. See the one in the sanctuary (point if there is one) or (the one I hold in my hand). Tell me something about this wreath: What shape is it? Is it square? Is it round? Of course, it is round! Do you known why a Christmas wreath i...

68. In Life Nothing Works but the Impossible

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

EXEGESIS of Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew begins his gospel by taking special care to establish Jesus’ historical and theological identity. The first seventeen verses enumerate the genealogy of Jesus “the Messiah” and establishes Joseph’s lineage as a descendant of the royal house of David. Yet this information also problematizes the narrative, for Matthew also reveals that Jesus’ conception was a mira...

69. Bad or Good?

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

In a syndicated newspaper cartoon, Santa Claus is pictured at his work bench putting a new toy together. From his nearby TV set, he hears a reporter saying, "We continue our look at the real meaning of Christmas – sales indicators. Consumers have dramatically cut back their borrowing which could slow the economy, but which might be a healthy development after their earlier borrowing which boosted ...

70. Joseph – The Promise Believed

Sermon

James Merritt

Today we are going to begin a three week series of messages built around The Promise. What is The Promise? Before I tell you what it is, let me just say that you cannot understand the Old Testament apart from The Promise. You cannot understand the New Testament apart from The Promise. You cannot understand Christmas apart from The Promise. You can't understand your purpose in life apart from The P...

71. You Shall Name Him Jesus

Sermon

King Duncan

Author Calvin Miller tells a wonderful story about a boy named “Fruit Stand.” The story takes place in Santa Cruz, California. As the hippie era of the 1960s began to wind down, many of the refugees of San Francisco’s Haight‑Ashbury district moved down the coast to Santa Cruz. As they had children these hippie parents never gave them simple names like Tiffany or Michael. Instead, they gave them pr...

72. His Name Shall Be Called Emmanuel

Sermon

James W. Moore

G. K. Chesterton, the noted British poet and theologian was a brilliant man who could think deep thoughts and express them well. However, he was also extremely absent-minded… and over the years he became rather notorious for getting lost. He would just absolutely forget… where he was supposed to be… and what he was supposed to be doing. On one such occasion, he sent a telegram to his wife which c...

73. Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise

Sermon

John E. Harnish

It seems my little jaunt into English grammar, and especially the proper placement of prepositions, produced more response than almost anything I have written in Steeple Notes. I suppose that, in itself, is amazing. Several of you sent me Winston Churchill's famous quotation: "This is a situation with which I will not put up." But the best one came from a couple of my Wednesday morning Arbon Denn...

74. Jesus: What's in a Name?

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

The late Erma Bombeck, one of America’s best-loved columnists, wrote a funny but penetrating piece. And I quote her as clearly as I can. “Most of us have never seen anyone smile in the Post Office. The Post Office instead is like a clinic for lower back pain. Well, I was in line yesterday, when the door opened and in walked a lady with a big smile on her face weighted down with boxes for mailing....

75. It Was the Birthday of a King

Sermon

James Merritt

Ironically, the time of year called Christmas is a time of both celebration and separation. Because at no other time of the year is the Christian more separated from the world than at Christmastime. The world celebrates a season, but the Christian celebrates a Savior. Whether this world likes it or not, and increasingly the world doesn't like it, Christmas is the celebration of the birthday of th...

Showing 51 to 75 of 4508 results