Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 751 to 775 of 4681 results

751. Let God Be God

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... does come to us and will always leave his witness among us. The third chapter of John's Gospel is where we find our textual bearings for the proclamation today: Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by ... you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do no! understand this? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe ...

752. The Two Washings

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... of sinful men, Pilate ordered a basin of water and made a public gesture of his avoidance of responsibility - his responsibility for defending an innocent man. He washed his hands in the view of the whole multitude. And then he told them that they would have to bear the guilt for what was to follow. A Symbol We Can Recognize We look back at this moment from the distance of all the intervening centuries, and yet its meaning is not remote at all. Surely each of us present in this worship service can recognize ...

753. L’Chaim!

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... apply that rhetoric to reality than in prison reform. Shame on us for our misplaced priorities, our self-serving, our ingratitude for the gift of life, our contempt for it, our neglect of it! Witness to the Abundant Life Blessed are those who gently and quietly bear witness to us of the abundant life, who are in their own sincerity of faith and life a living embodiment of the pharse, "L’Chaim!" It isn’t every Sunday that we have two couples who, together are celebrating nearly 120 years of marriage. Art ...

754. The Miracle Of an Opened Mind

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... Scriptures, as witness to the grace of God in Christ Jesus. From Moses onward in the Old Testament, up through the prophets and the Psalms, the whole story of Israel’s destiny under God comes to its fulfillment in Jesus the Christ. The New Testament bears its witness, through Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and the final glimpse of the end of history in the Revelation given to St. John - all these words come to fruition in a person. Not a theory or a doctrine or even a church body. The Scriptures are fulfilled ...

755. Proper 16

Lk 13:22-30 · Heb 12:5-7, 11-13, 18-29 · Jer 28:1-9 · Isa 66:18-23

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . Out text will help us recover that lost sense of reverence, fear, awe, and adoration. Outline: In our text we see A. The glory of the old covenant - vv. 18-21 . God's presence was as fearful as a blazing fire. The voice of God was too loud to bear. Even Moses was terrified in the holy presence of God. To touch the mountain of God was to die. B. The greater glory of the new covenant - vv. 22-24. Christians now come into the direct presence of God and Christ. They associate with angels and saints. How much ...

756. Proper 18

Lk 14:25-33 · Eze 33:1-11 · Phm 1-20 · Prov 9:8-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... disciple." Note the final, definite, categorical "cannot." You cannot be his disciple unless -. It is time the church starts thinking of quality rather than of quantity of members. Outline: You cannot be Jesus' disciple unless A. You love him more than your family - v. 26 B. You bear a cross of adversity - v. 27 C. You make him your chief treasure - v. 33 Lesson 1: Ezekiel 33:1-11 1. Watch Out, Watchman! 33:7-9. Need: God has appointed the prophet to be a watchman for his people to warn them of the danger ...

757. PROPER 17

Matthew 16:21-28

Bulletin Aid

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28 Theme: Discipleship demands self-denial Call to Worship Pastor: To live the Christian life is to put Christ first, even above self. People: Putting the Christian life first often leads to cross-bearing on his behalf. Pastor: We may feel we have sacrificed our life; but in that sacrifice, we find real life. People: We desire to commit ourselves wholly to the Lord; assured that he will bless us with abundant living! Collect Almighty God, whose Son calls disciples who are willing to ...

758. Proper 22

Numbers 27:12-23

Bulletin Aid

... that the service we give will help convince our world of God's love. Collect Almighty God, you have called us to give our best in the ministry of your church. Grant us your Spirit to give us courage, wisdom, and strength; that faith and commitment may bear fruit in the service we give to our Savior, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession We know you need people who will answer your call to be servants, O God. But many times we have excused ourselves for less than acceptable reasons ...

759. A Call for a Change in Lifestyle

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

... our time, if preachers dared to articulate the rest of John’s message? Suppose people were addressed in the same terms that John used in preaching to the Pharisees and Sadducees of his day: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that fits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree ...

760. Walk in Light

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

... the smell of man. Man brings to the forest not the plowshare but the sword, not the pruning hook but the spear. Man, the hunter. Animals, the hunted. Consequently most animals do not walk the trail by day. Anyone who wants to see the raccoon, the deer, or the bear, should come at dusk as the night begins to fall. Night gives the forest animals the cover they need to survive. Not so for the human creatures. Humans do better in the light. We need the light to survive. I once hiked that trail to the top of ...

761. God as Woodcutter

Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon

... there is a purpose to it all. As Isaiah said, "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse, from his roots a branch will bear fruit." That branch we identify as Jesus. When God comes in with the ax of his Word, he cuts so that new life may emerge. ... we know it or not. God cuts down the dead wood so a new shoot will come up from the stump, a new branch which will bear fruit. God then acts in a new, creative way. God’s Spirit, that same Spirit which hovered over the chaos at creation and breathed life into ...

762. The Day of Pentecost

Isaiah 44:1-5, Acts 2:1-13, Acts 2:14-41, John 20:19-23

Bulletin Aid

... of the Lord is upon us; for he has made us his church, and has called us to be his witnesses. People: We are sent to bear witness to the love of God revealed through Jesus his Son, whom he raised from the dead. Pastor: God enables us to be faithful to ... , our heavenly Father, who gives life and power to your church through the gift of your Spirit: Inspire us with your Spirit to bear witness to our living Lord; that those to whom you send us may understand the good news of Christ, and accept their salvation. ...

763. God Is Into Birds!

Exodus 19:1-25

Sermon

... the air, plummeting to earth and certain death. But then, just in time, the parent-eagle swoops under its young, catches the bird on its own strong, spreading wings, and bears it aloft again on sturdy pinions to try once more to fly. God, who is majestic in power and might, teaches us that he accommodates himself to our weakness and frailty, bearing us up on his own sturdy strength. Someone has beautifully stated, "God never puts a burden on you without first putting his own arm underneath you." That's why ...

764. One Commandment is Enough!

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

... false witness against thy neighbor." The Bible has a lot to say for truth, a lot to say against lying, but this Word is primarily against slander. The neighbor's reputation must not be violated. To bear false witness is to give false testimony in court. The Bible abhors character assassination, whether in or out of court. Christians who would never think of committing murder, or adultery, or stealing, will engage in breaking this commandment by indulging in the common curse of our time, gossip! Someone said ...

765. Communion Is Real Presence

John 1:1-18

Sermon

... . In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and ...

766. Keeping on Course

Illustration

... on shipboard with his father. About once a day the boy saw the captain stand on deck with sextant in hand, and, as they used to say, "shoot the stars." The boy said to his father, "Daddy, what is the captain doing?" His father replied, "The captain is taking our bearings, seeing where we are, finding out if we are going in the right direction." As a matter of fact, my dear friends, it is something of this kind that each of us is doing as we are in worship on Sunday morning. We are checking in with God; we ...

767. Christ's Life The Vine and the Branches

John 15:1-17

Bulletin Aid

... and my Father is the gardener. He cuts back every branch that’s fruitful so that it will be more fruitful. Congregation: May we produce much fruit, Lord. Leader: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Congregation: May we never dwell apart from you, Lord. Leader: If anyone doesn’t abide in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are cast into the fire and burned. Congregation: May ...

768. The Church

Galatians 6:1-10

Bulletin Aid

... also be tempted. Women: Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Men: We do not press towards the mark alone. We must help one another along, one brother’s weakness being offset by another’s strength. Youth: One day we bear others in prayer and deeds, tomorrow we may be borne by others. Leader: If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. He is not wise if he compares himself with others. All: Father, keep us from being too good to ...

769. At Table With The Lord

Drama

... new creature through Christ Jesus. Oh, what power; oh, what love! Martha: But if Jesus has power over death, how can he die? Mary: I cannot bear to think of his death. He is all the world to me - my life, my joy, my all. I know no greater happiness than to ... have him do, and though I have never understood what it all means, I have been obedient since the angels told me I was going to bear the Son of God. I have been submissive to God's will since those first blessed kicks within my womb. Oh, how I love him! ...

770. The Life We Prize

Luke 9:18-27

Sermon

Various Authors

... . As self-denial is to die to sin, turning from my rebellious ways, so self-surrender is to live to Christ, obeying his will. Taking up my cross does not primarily refer to bearing problems and difficulties. It means identifying with Christ’s way of sacrificial love for God and his people. In that commitment Christ gives me the strength to bear my burdens. Jesus said, "For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it." (Mark 8:35) In such ...

771. The Sermon in the Supper

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Edward Chinn

... , his heart would break.’ The Church," replied Temple, "points to the cross and says: ‘His heart does break.’ Men say, ‘It is God who has made the world. It is He who is responsible, and it is He who should bear the load.’ The church points to the cross, and says, ‘He does bear it.’ " In one of his books, Dr. Leslie Weatherhead recalled a night when his ship sailed past the island of Stromboli, off the coast of Sicily. He saw the bright fires of the Strombolian volcano light up the black sky ...

772. Love Transcending Law and Custom

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

... shame. While Joseph was trying to decide what to do, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: "Joseph, Son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." According to the customs and standards of his day, Joseph had every right to divorce Mary quietly. Law and tradition were his allies. All of Joseph's customers would have understood ...

773. Responding to Christ's Birth

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

... in a vacuum, nor do they respond with an overdose of ceremony, with empty words, or with false deeds. Most Christians react to Christ's birth by displaying a life full of good deeds. "By this my Father is glorified," said Jesus, "that you bear much fruit." (John 15:8) Not to bear good fruit is to be distant from the spirit of the living Christ. Good deeds are indeed the gold of Christian life. Nor can Christians be fed for their journey without prayer. Prayer is that resource which helps us to practice the ...

774. Sticks and Stones

1 Samuel 17:1-58

Sermon

... and despair and grief are about to overwhelm us, there comes to us one like David. The Son of David who defeated the Goliath of grief on an old rugged cross. His name is Jesus. Like David, he is a good shepherd. He defends his people against the bears and the lions who prowl around his flocks scattered throughout earthly meadows. As the Israel guerilla warriors trusted in a young shepherd named David in the valley of the shadow of death, we too trust in him who walks with us and talks with us along life’s ...

775. The Annunciation

Drama

... the brightness. He spoke again, "Do not be afraid." My heart was pounding ... my breathing was rapid ... and I was very much afraid! "Mary, you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus." He went on to describe how the Promised Child would be great, and establish a kingdom on earth. I was stunned. I protested, reminding the angel that I was not married, and did not yet live with Joseph. Then the Light Being ...

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