Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 726 to 750 of 990 results

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Although when one thinks of Paul's teachings on "spiritual gifts," one usually turns to his writings in 1 Corinthians 12, this topic is also discussed and developed in Paul's letter to the Romans. In some ways, the apostle's unique use of "body of Christ" imagery for the church community is even more important and poignant for the Roman Christian communities than for those obstreperous believers i...

727. Witnesses of the New Covenant

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: Paul challenges believers to be witnesses of the new covenant by distancing themselves from this age and by being transformed in their minds so that they can fulfill the will of God. Understanding the Text Romans 12:1–2 is, in genre, parenetic (exhortational) material. The basis of Paul’s challenge to the Roman Christians (and us as well) is the mercy of God—that is, the blessings of t...

728. Living Sacrifices

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

12:1–15:13 Review · The reality of justification in the Christian community: In the fourth main section of his letter, Paul returns to the reality of the life of the followers of Jesus. He expounds further on the believers’ obedience, based on the power of love, in various areas of everyday life. The life of the believer is a life of self-sacrifice for God (12:1–2), made possible as a result of th...

729. Living Sacrifices

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

The person who is justified by faith shall live (1:17). That is the theme of the epistle. In chapters 5–8 Paul began to discuss the characteristics of the “new life” (6:4), but not until chapter 12 does he devote himself to the ethical and ecclesiastical shape of it. Justification by faith produces neither moral passivity nor permissiveness. Rather, the indicative of chapters 1–11 leads to the imp...

730. Discipline and Means of Grace

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

We move now to talk about discipline and means of grace. In my definition of Spiritual Form I chose words very carefully – Listen again: “and appropriating by commitment, discipline and action.” Our discipline is armed at cultivating an awareness of the indwelling Christ. Paul’s words to the Romans make it clear. Listen to Paul in Rom. 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by ...

731. Doing Our Best

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Once to every man and nation Comes a moment to decide In the strife of truth with falsehood For the good or evil side. In the wake of worldwide terror, I have wondered aloud and pondered deeply what the leadership role of the church should be in a time such as this. Should we push forward or pull back? Should we unveil a new vision for this congregation or wait for a better day? I have asked many...

732. Get Off Your

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Sin is less something we succumb to or fall into than it is something we are seduced by. And the greatest seduction is pride. Pride is holy halitosis. Like all bad breath, you’re the last person to know you have it. Last week in Zurich, the pride of a gold medal champion, a 3000 meter steeplechase runner, managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. French runner Mahidine Mekhissi, already ...

733. We Are the Champions

Sermon

Larry Lange

The year I knew Jack, one of the cattle he had raised was awarded the title "State Champion Steer." The big brown-eyed animal, nonchalantly chewing straw, unaware of his celebrity status, was adorned with a blue ribbon, purchased by the highest bidder, slaughtered, sliced up into steaks and roasts, and ground up into burgers. The year I knew Jack, he was a champion among farmers, but he was also ...

734. The Power of a Personal Commitment

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

While my farmer father only had a fourth grade education, he was a wonderful story teller. One of his favorite yarns was about a chicken and a pig who encountered a hungry man beside the road. Moved with compassion, the chicken said to the pig, “Why don’t you and I go together and give this man a great ham and eggs breakfast?” The pig pondered the proposition for a moment and then replied, “For yo...

735. What Form of Church Does God Want for the Furture?

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

A farmer who had never been to the city was chosen by his grange to represent them at a national convention, and thus he found himself in New York. After checking in at the hotel, he approached an elevator, something he had never seen. He watched as a very large woman walked into the elevator. The door closed, what appeared to be a single hand on a large clock made a revolution, and the door opene...

736. The Church: An Enclave of Resistance v1

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Last September, there was a groundbreaking service for a Catholic cathedral that is going to be constructed in Los Angeles. The Diocese of Los Angeles commissioned the famous Spanish architect Jose Rafael Moneo to design the building. Their hope is that the cathedral will be completed by the beginning of the millennium. It’s to be a pectacular witness to the glory of God. There were models of the...

737. You Can Dress Them Up...

Sermon

King Duncan

Several years ago, a barbers' supply company held a large convention in a metropolitan city. To show the world how good their products were they organized a publicity stunt. They went to the worst section of town and brought back the dirtiest and most helpless drunk they could find. They presented him on the stage. Everyone saw how dirty and unkempt his hair and beard were. Then they took him out ...

738. Vive La Difference

Sermon

King Duncan

Yankee magazine ran a fascinating article recently entitled "Sensitive Specialists." It described men who make their living making extraordinary use of their natural senses. They cited the practiced eye of a diamond inspector, the sense of feel of a wool inspector, the developed ear of a cymbal tester, the sense of smell of a fresh fish inspector, and the sense of taste of a milktaster. All the me...

739. Many Parts, One Rose

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate the necessity of all our gifts in the body of Christ. Props: A long stem rose, and another rose that has been pulled apart; petals, leaves, stem, and thorns. Place both the rose and the pulled apart rose in a box so that they cannot be seen. Lesson: Good morning friends. How many of you like flowers? (response) O good, I like flowers, too. Well guess what I brought...

740. A Living Sacrifice

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side All: let all God's people now say - Women: if it had not been the Lord who was on our side Men: then the flood would have swept us away. All: Blessed be the Lord. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (based on Psalm 124) Collect Lord who made the platypus and the aardvark, you seem to delight in variet...

741. Proper 17

Bulletin Aid

Second Lesson: Romans 12:1-13 Theme: Be a living sacrifice to God Call to Worship Pastor: God has made salvation possible through his Son, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. People: Because of God's love in Christ, we owe God the best lives that we can live. Pastor: We should live as persons transformed by God's love, instead of being conformed to the ways of the world. People: May our true worship of ...

742. Servants of the Lord

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Let us celebrate with joyful song Christ our redeemer and Lord! People: For we have each been redeemed to serve in the Kingdom of God. Leader: Some to teach, some to preach, some to give, and some to prophesy. People: And all are charged with using their gifts freely and with joy. Leader: For each, as members of the body of Christ, are servants of the Lord. All: Blessed be ...

743. Proper 17

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 3:1-15 Moses is called to deliver God's people from bondage in Egypt. While tending his father-in-law's sheep Moses is called by Yahweh to return to Egypt to lead out his oppressed people. First Yahweh must get Moses' attention by having a bush burn without burning up. Because God is present, Moses is ordered to remove his sandals, for he is on holy ground. Wherev...

744. Proper 17 & Pentecost 15

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE Had the plan of the Joint Liturgical Group in Great Britain, which set an agenda for reforming the church year, been followed in the American churches, the Advent prayers might have come at a very propitious time in the life of the churches, the beginning of September. The Joint Liturgical Group had suggested extending the Sundays before Christmas back far enough that the holy hi...

745. Proper 17

Bulletin Aid

Theme: The selves of the saved as sacrifices Exegetical note The first verse of this selection is a "hinge" or "pivot" between the soteriological explanations of chapters 1-11 arid the ethical ones of 12-15. The connective word is "therefore," but the idea that really ties salvation to action is that the "bodies" (i.e., selves) of the saved are living sacrifices, which in turn are the proper wors...

746. Today's Talent Show

Children's Sermon

Object: a drawing pad and pencil, a song, a poem, or anything else that you would like to have a child perform. This morning I am looking for all of the talented people in our congregation, but I am especially looking for talented young people. Just to show you that I am not kidding, I have lined up some of the things that young people can do very well. For instance, I have a poem that I would li...

747. Using our Special Talents

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Cup, scissors, picture. Good morning, boys and girls. How are you on this beautiful winter morning? Winter must be a very special season for God, because He decorates His earth with snow and beautiful cloud formations in the heavens. It is wonderful how the various seasons do different things and make us feel differently. It makes me think of some good friends around my house that have sp...

748. Changing Styles

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Different styles representing different periods such as ties, shoes and hats. The aim is to show how the ways of the world change but not God's expression of love. Good morning to you, models. This morning we have a brand new experience for you in worship. How many of you have ever been clothes models before? None of you!! Well, today some of you are going to be models. I need some very s...

749. Viva La Difference

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: A stuffed dog Good morning, boys and girls. A little puppy took a walk around his master's farm. At the stable a horse spoke to him, "You must be new here," the horse cried. "You will soon find out that the master loves me more than all other animals because I carry large loads for him. I suspect that an animal of your size is of no value to him at all." The little dog hung his head. He ...

750. Every Letter Is Important

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A typewriter. Good morning, boys and girls. I brought along a very important part of my office to show you this morning and to help teach you an important lesson. Sometimes we belong to something that seems very large because there are so many people who are a part of it. Our church is a good example. There are a lot of members in our church. People were asking Paul that question all of t...

Showing 726 to 750 of 990 results