Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 751 to 775 of 2962 results

John 1:1-18, John 1:19-28, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 65:17-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Sermon Aid

E. Carver McGriff

... were more impressed with John's teaching than that of Jesus. Bible scholar Raymond E. Brown makes this point, explaining that the several statements in John's Gospel of a negative sort (1:9, 1:15, 30, 1:19-24, 3:28, 29, etc.) are designed to deal with this problem. Writing in The Community Of The Beloved Disciple, he says, "We are led to suspect that Johannine Christians had to deal with such disciples and that the negations are meant as an apologetic against them" (p. 69). Nonetheless, the Gospel writer ...

752. Making A Difference

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

There is a movement under way today -- almost underground -- that is designed to help young people. It's a movement championed by mothers concerned about the challenges facing children and youth these days. Moms In Touch International began almost fifteen years ago when two Canadian mothers decided to get together with some friends to pray for their children entering junior high school. ...

753. Easter 6

Jn 14:15-31; Acts 15:22-29, 16:6-15; Rev 21:22--22:5

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 1. "Before the Spirit can come." Need: Pentecost is only two Sundays distant. Unlike Christmas and Easter, there is no period of preparation for Pentecost. This may explain why Pentecost is often an empty and unfulfilling occasion in the life of the church. This sermon is designed to help people get ready for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit. Sermon: Before the Spirit can come to you this Pentecost a. Christ must be loved v. 24. b. Christ must be obeyed v. 23. c. Christ must ascend v. 28. Epistle: Acts 16:9 ...

754. The Lenten Season

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... was observed in the West, they substituted the stations of the cross for actual places in Jerusalem. Rome placed special emphasis upon the triduum: Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter. In the fourth century, the days of Holy Week were designated: Palm Sunday -- entry into Jerusalem Monday -- the cleansing of the temple Tuesday -- the Discourse on the Mount of Olives Wednesday -- Judas' agreement Maundy Thursday -- Upper Room meeting Friday -- Calvary Saturday -- the rest in the tomb The six days grew into ...

755. Proper 11

Amos 8:1-14, Luke 10:38-42, Colossians 1:21-28

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... needs -- food, clothing, shelter, medical care? Can we neglect physical bread for spiritual bread? Must it be either-or? Could it be that both are needed? If so, which is more important? In the text Jesus answers this: Mary chose "the good portion." This sermon is designed to fill the need of encouraging church members to give top priority to the spiritual needs of life. Outline: What is your top need? a. Are Martha's concerns not needful? b. Why is Mary's need more important? c. Should not both Martha's ...

756. Proper 14

Luke 12:35-48, Isaiah 1:1-31, Hebrews 11:1-40

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... , in others, in a machine. Is this the same as religious faith? Most probably think of faith in terms of blind faith accepting something beyond reason. To others faith is believing something or someone exists. The author of Hebrews defines faith in our text. This sermon is designed to answer the need people have of a full understanding of the meaning of faith. Outline: Now faith is a. Assurance v. 1a. b. Conviction v. 1b. c. Trust in God's promises v. 11. d. Obedience v. 8. 2. What faith can do for you (11 ...

757. Proper 9

Galatians 6:1-10, 2 Kings 5:1-27, Luke 10:1-24

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 1-9). Need: Church visitors (the 70) are ambassadors of Christ. They are "little Christs" who speak and act in the place of Jesus Christ's surrogates! Every pastor knows how difficult it is to get church members to make calls on prospective members. This sermon is designed to motivate members to visit the unchurched by showing them that they as visitors have the high privilege of speaking for and representing Jesus. Look who's at the door not Mr. and Mrs. John Doe but Jesus Christ in the persons of the Does ...

758. Changed From Glory Into Glory

Romans 8:1-17

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

... All Loves Excelling There is an old story about a fellow who was not very handsome at all. He fell in love with a young woman, but he was sure that she would not be interested in him. So with the help of a surgeon he had a special mask designed, a handsome mask that was then placed over his face. With this handsome new look, he easily won over the woman he loved and they were married. But many years later, she discovered the trick and asked him to remove it. When he peeled off the mask, what was underneath ...

759. Epiphany 3

Lk 4:14-21 · 1 Cor 12:12-31 · Nehemiah 8 · Ps 19

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP You are the body of Christ, member for member. Strive after the better gifts...I will show you a still more excellent way. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Living Designer, you have created the church to be one body with many members working together under the control of the head, Jesus Christ. Forgive us if we have acted toward anyone as if they did not matter, or as if the church could get along without them. Excuse discrimination that gives ...

760. Proper 16

Jeremiah 1:1-19, Psalm 71:1-24, Hebrews 12:14-29, Luke 13:10-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... . Praise to your Son, older and wiser. Praise to your Spirit, who makes us brothers and sisters. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION As you, Holy One, received the offerings of Israel and chose some of them as priests to serve in your temple, accept our offerings as well and designate some of us to serve you in the ordained ministry so that more people and nations shall worship you. Amen. PSALM 71:1-6 In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline ...

761. Father's Day

Psalm 78:1-72

Sermon

Brett Blair

... , honey, I'm busy, go watch television." The most often spoken words in the American household today are the words: go watch television. If not now, when? Later. But later never comes for many and the parent fails to communicate at the very earliest of ages. We give her designer clothes and computer toys, but we do not give her what she wants the most, which is our time. Now, she is fifteen and has a glassy look in her eyes. Honey, do we need to sit down and talk? Too late. Love has passed by.” The person ...

762. As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Steve Burt

... truck crossed the road and hit the bus, causing the bus to burst into flames. The parents of one of the children were willing to forego a cash settlement from the pickup's driver if the bus company would recall all the buses with similar gas tank designs so they could be fixed and made safer, so the same thing wouldn't happen to other children and chaperones. And they and another couple were willing to forgive the truck driver, even going so far as to ask the judge for a lenient penalty. That's costly ...

763. Main Features And Coming Attractions

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... God's new thing. It is a perpetual temptation for the church to become a religious museum, for its leaders to become curators and caretakers, with energies diverted and devoted to the institutionalization of the past, especially moments of glory past. But God has so designed the universe that time marches on. Moments of glory fade. Exciting previews of coming attractions end and the real story we came to see unfolds. God has done this, I think, not only out of divine necessity, but out of divine mercy and ...

764. How Unexpected Can Christmas Be?

Matthew 24:36-51

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... Those who were different were being left out. People of all kinds were yearning for a center to their lives that would bring more hope and meaning than they had been able to find elsewhere. Today, hungry people are equated with being lazy. City highways are designed to take traffic over and around the out-of-sight, out-of-mind poor. Neighborhoods are closing their hearts and doors to centers where AIDS patients can spend their final days in dignity. And people of all kinds are still yearning for a center to ...

765. Baptism In Three Movements

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... . We are included alongside others. The waters of baptism are not only symbolic of being cleansed from sin, but also of the power baptism has to break down barriers between people. We share a common relationship with Jesus Christ in which the old divisions and designations no longer apply. While this part of baptism can be called incorporation, it is easy to see how transformation is necessary in order for us to live with all who have been included by God's love. Baptism is not about being incorporated into ...

766. Advent 1

Romans 13:8-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-51

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... was embraced with wakefulness. It was time to wake up, cast off the works of darkness (some of which Paul names in verse 12) and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44 As children we would engage in a game of hide and seek. The person designated as "it" would close his eyes, turn his face, and after counting to ten would cry out: "Ready or not, here I come." That is the message of the gospel lesson and of Advent. Christ is "it" but there is no place we can hide from him; ready or not ...

767. Advent 3

James 5:7-12, Isaiah 35:1-10, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... it to life, and the prophets who uttered the word of the Lord and patiently anticipated its coming to pass. Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 Troubling reports concerning the activities of Jesus cause the imprisoned John the Baptist to have second thoughts about his designation of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Apparently, Jesus is not fulfilling the messianic role in the manner that John expected. John believed in fearlessly facing the truth and so he sent some disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come ...

768. Ash Wednesday

Mt 6:1-6, 16-21 · 2 Cor 5:20 - 6:10 · Joel 2:1-2, 12-19 · Ps 51 · Ps 103

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... consists in externalizing piety into ritual actions, which do not flow from the heart. The action, not the intention behind the action, become paramount. Related to this is the peril that these acts of devotion are played to the wrong audience, designed to glorify self rather than the Almighty. A further hazard can be described with the words hypocrisy, self-deception and dishonesty. Nothing is more contemptuous than a religion which is a charade. Outline: 1. Peril #1 ritual is paramount, not relationship ...

769. Salvaging Our Lives

Genesis 29:15-30

Sermon

... night walked down to the shore of Lake Michigan with the intention of throwing himself in to drown. But as the chilly wind sharpened his senses and he watched the waves crashing on the shore, he began to think about his situation more closely. The exquisite design and order of the beach reminded him of God. His next insight was that God had given him some unique experiences that could, if shared with others, be of benefit to them. He resolved at that moment to share his experiences with others and not worry ...

770. The Cross Destroys Worry and Anxiety

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

There were six cities in ancient Israel which were designated as cities of refuge. When someone took a human life without premeditation or malice he could flee to one of these cities and there be safe from retribution. Tradition tells that once each year the roads leading to such a city were cleared of rocks and debris to make it easier for a man who was fleeing for his life to reach the haven of safety. Christ is God's great haven of safety, a refuge from life's turmoils, sin, and death.

771. Easter 2

Jn 20:19-31 · 1 Pet 1:3-9 · Acts 2:14a, 22-32 · Ps 16 · Ps 111

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... other apostles and evangelists: (1) the signs and wonders performed by Jesus during his earthly ministry; (2) Jesus was handed over to be crucified by sinful people; (3) nevertheless, the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are a result of God's design; (4) these events are a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. (Psalm 16 is quoted as a proof that David had foretold the resurrection); (5) the first Christians were witnesses to these events; (6) finally, though it is not contained in this passage ...

772. Easter 5

John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14, Acts 7:54--8:1a, Acts 17:1-9, 1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... . It is a natural thing to cry for the blood of our foes. It is a supernatural event when we cry out for God's mercy for our foes. With this sermon title, you can play on a slogan of a nationally advertised cleaning product. The product is designed to unlock stains from clothing. Would-be consumers are invited to Shout It Out! When the world is affronted, it cries out for blood, for revenge. It is a loud, discordant shout, that can boil the blood of those who hear it. Christians need to follow the example ...

773. Epiphany 7

Mt 5:38-48 · 1 Cor 3:10-11, 16-23 · Lev 19:1-2, 9-18 · Ps 119:33-40 · Ps 71 · Ps 62

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... it isn't enough to do what is required but that one should go beyond those boundaries. If someone takes your cloak, give him your coat as well. If a Roman soldier orders you to carry his pack one mile, go for two instead (vv. 40-41). Such actions are designed to break down the wall of hostility and stem evil's fury. To love those who love us is well within the bounds of what is normal and expected, but to love the enemy obliterates all boundaries. Such love is only possible through the power of the One who ...

774. Lent 4

Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 20:17-19, John 9:35-41, John 9:13-34, Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 4:17--5:21, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, John 9:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... blind man received his sight, he did not immediately see Jesus. In the account, we see a growth in his perception of the Lord. When the Pharisees asked who healed him, he responded, "The man they call Jesus ..." (v. 10). Note the impersonality of his designation. As they continue to interrogate him concerning the identity of the man who had healed him, he responded: "He is a prophet" (v. 17). Finally, he encountered Jesus himself. "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" "Who is he, sir?" Jesus replied that he ...

775. End times

Mt 24:1-14 · 1 Thess 3:7-13 · Jer 26:1-6 · Ps 105:1-7

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... - love which gives and forgives - love which grows Gospel: Matthew 24:1-14 Sermon Title: Toppling Temples. Sermon Angle: While the disciples admired the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus informed them that this lovely edifice would be thrown to the ground. The temple was designed as a place where the Lord would be worshipped. Instead, it became an object of human pride. Jesus was trying to teach his disciples that God is not dependent on our human structures. He dwells in the lives of the faithful. Outline: The ...

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