Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 776 to 800 of 1138 results

Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, Luke 17:1-10, 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... . Leader: There is enough Spirit, enough inspiration, enough goodness, enough bread and wine for everyone who is hungry and thirsty! Prayer Of Thanksgiving Living God — thank you for all Creation — for the circle of the earth and its beauty. We admire the varieties of cultures, languages, and colors of humankind and animal kind. We appreciate the abundance of plants that nourish us. For bread and wine that sustain our souls and our bodies, we are grateful. We join our voices to express our delight in ...

777. Proper 23

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c, Psalm 66:1-20, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, Luke 17:11-19, 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... . We pray for peace in families and between tribes throughout the global village. We pray for peaceful protection of the earth’s productivity. Designer of Hummingbirds and Kangaroos — thank you for the multiplicity of species. Help us to appreciate and protect the variety around us. We are glad you know how we are made for we get hurt and need healing; we experience disappointment and betrayal and need consolation; we lose partners and friends and need comfort. Wherever we are wounded — body and soul ...

778. Proper 28

Psalm 98:1-9, Isaiah 12:1-6; 65:17-25, Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... make music and write poems; we snuggle babies and massage grandparents. Leader: Are you thankful people? People: Yes! We thank God: for the planet and we are respectful of its systems; for the sky, air, land, water, and fire; for the varieties of wholesome foods; for children and their curiosity; for the generations before us; for the freedoms our country promotes; for Jesus whose teachings give eternal life. Leader: Amen! Offertory Statement Thankful people are generous people! Doxology "Now Thank We All ...

779. Thanksgiving Day

Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 100:1-5, John 6:25-35, Philippians 4:4-9

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... whole cosmos! Leader: We are alert for the subtle voice of the Holy One drawing our attention to this planet and its resources. People: We respect the land and the waters and cherish their life-sustaining qualities. Leader: Don’t forget the variety of wholesome foods that please our palates! People: Red and yellow, green and purple, large and small, sweet and sour, seeded and smooth — all the vegetables and fruits that provide for the intricate needs of our physical bodies — we are grateful for them ...

780. Enemies of the Cross

Philippians 3:17 - 4:1

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... and core of the Christian faith. What is that heart and core? It is revealed by a shocking answer to a simple question. It is a question that every human being asks: What do I have to do to be saved? It is a question that gets asked in a variety of ways in a multitude of circumstances: What must I do to have a worthwhile and meaningful life? What do I have to do to have a life that matters? Can I do anything of eternal significance? What must I do to be happy? These questions all seem to be ...

781. Running the Race

Philippians 3:4-11, 2 Timothy 4:7

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

Every week in our country millions of people go to stadiums and arenas to participate in the thrills and chills of athletic competition. Athletic competition attracts people as participants and spectators for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most universal reason for the appeal of sports is the similarity between what goes on in the arena of athletic competition and the arena of life. Athletic competition is a microcosm of life, because we all love to compete and win. In our second lesson for ...

782. A Bloody Cheer!

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... passion" means "suffering," in particular the suffering of Jesus during this most holy of weeks. But "passion" also means "a deep feeling and commitment." We speak of people being passionately committed to something. During the last month, as we have had interviews with a variety of musicians to fill our organist position, it has been amazing to see how so many of them are passionately committed to music. Their lives are all about music, even at the expense of other things. For the sake of their music, they ...

783. Meal of Death

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... , then we would know why it is an altar. As an experiment sometime, when you are at home sitting at the kitchen table with one of your children, ask this question: "Where does that slice of bread in your stomach come from?" You will probably get a variety of answers, none of which really tell the origin of that slice of bread. Your child might say, "From this plastic package." "From the supermarket." "Oh, I know ... the bakery!" Like that slice of bread, there are so many things in life that are just "given ...

784. All Roads Lead To Bethlehem

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... that strange way. The Advent journey down the road to Bethlehem is nothing less than making your home and heart a place for Christ to be born. Will Christ be born in you and yours this season? If you go down the Advent road to Bethlehem, you will find a variety of travelers. Not all of them will be “happy campers.” Not all of them will be ideal companions, or people with whom you would like to share a mile or meal. But they are people who are willing to get on the road and travel the distance from where ...

785. To God Be The Glory!

Isaiah 60:1-6

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... of God must be passed from one generation to another. II. God's Glory Shines Inside The Heart (Isaiah 60:5) Discovering God's glory in and around our earth is great ... the beauty of the earth, the intricacies of our bodies, the sight of a rainbow, the variety of species, the details of a snowflake. It is also discovering God's glory inside our hearts. His glory will bring a distinctiveness or noble character to a life that has been ravaged by sin. Though we were chained like a slave, held by sin's galling ...

786. Strengthening Your Grip On Prayer

1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... , Fully Alive, Jerry and Larry Hull remind us that people are to live a life of "wholeness." This wholeness includes "integration," meaning that life is built around a single purpose or unified focus. At an early age, Solomon's life was influenced by a variety of circumstances and people. The future king was put under the care of Nathan, the prophet of God. It was Nathan who had rebuked David for his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. Influencing and molding Solomon's life would be his mother, Bathsheba, and ...

787. Trumpet Medley

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... to say something when someone's calling, like "Pick up the phone" or "It's for you." And we can even program specific ringtones for specific callers. Likewise, the alarms we set to awaken us in the morning is another area of tremendous variety now. Once upon a time, alarm clocks simply rang. Then some electronic versions offered an alternative: the buzz. Now, however, we can awaken to all sorts of sound effects, voices, messages, programming, and music. Beyond all of that, with small digital devices ...

788. RSVP

Isaiah 55:1-9

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... to have with us. It would be overstating the case, to be sure, to suggest that it is a relationship between equals. It is, however, a relationship in which we are elevated beyond our merit; and one in which he voluntarily condescends. The Bible offers us a variety of images to describe our relationship with God. He is shepherd, and we are his sheep. He is a master, and we are his servants. He is the king, and we are subjects in his kingdom. Yet none of those authoritarian images for God quite captures ...

789. That’s Why We Call It Good

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... the darkness. There is order in place of chaos, and the former void is filled with purpose. What had been uninterrupted blackness now brims with color, splendor, and life. Oh, the life! All shapes and sizes: an almost incomprehensible array and variety. Plants and animals, fish and birds — all of them endowed with their own peculiar beauty and wisdom of design, as well as a magnificent capacity for fruitfulness. That fruitfulness, then, makes this beauty more than a mere still-life portrait. For this ...

790. At Points of Dispair

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a

Sermon

Stephen P. McCutchan

... bring her gods with her. You can imagine Ahab at first resisting. "That's just not the way things are done here, Jezebel." Jezebel wasn't to be easily dissuaded, however, and she pleaded, "But Ahab, your God is so stern and demanding. My gods will add a little variety and spice to the people's lives." Jezebel was urging Ahab and Israel to mellow out and not be so exclusive in their practice of faith. The Bible is a great book but there are lots of great books. Worship is a good thing to do on Sunday morning ...

791. Seeing A Chariot Of Fire

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Sermon

Stephen P. McCutchan

... church, and Christ is not going to lose that with which he has been entrusted. As Jesus promised Peter, Christ will build his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). Behind the visible organization that will inevitably change as it has in a variety of ways in the last 2,000 years, there is an invisible presence. For those who see it, they will not be afraid. Amen.

792. In the Service

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... your background whether it is silk sheets or back streets or corporate spreadsheets we are one community in service to each other and to the world. Paul’s lesson on “spiritual gifts” in this week’s epistle reading wasn’t about the variety of spiritual gifts that might be available. Paul loved lists, and his lists of “giftings” were not meant to be exhaustive and definitive, but expressive and suggestive. Paul’s lesson on “spiritual gifts” was to teach the community that whatever their ...

793. Just-Say-The-Word Disciples

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... means engaging a world that no longer has any ultimate faith in anything. Today we are defined by our technologies, our brands and our social network connections. People who have faith in God need to plunder the technologies, the brands, and the variety of social media to help people experience God. If our children cannot imagine a life without an online connection, then Jesus’ disciples need to be online. Plunder the Egyptians. If the most meaningful community people commit to is only visited by hitting ...

794. The Lord’s Prayer and The Stones-Serpents-Scorpions Story

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a reminder to keep the church focused on the true Bread of Life.] COMMENTARY At a recent family reunion every family member received a T-shirt proudly proclaiming, “We are kinfolk!” But while all the shirts declared the same message, they came in a variety of colors. Each “branch” of the family tree was identified by its own distinct shade — making it possible for members to tell at a glance what branch of the family tree was represented. Every individual’s identity in the pack was as clear as ...

795. Unity and Hope

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... church he had not yet visited, made an amazing claim, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” When we discover how others dealt with a variety of problems and setbacks yet held on to their faith, we know that we too will make it through the rough times. By reflecting on biblical characters we are encouraged to continue on our journey of faith filled with hope. We find that those who ...

796. The Light Has Come

Ephesians 3:1-13

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... made known to Paul that included the Gentiles and all people. The mystery is made known so that the church of Jesus Christ will prevail. Groups of believers would gather and form the church, “so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Nothing will or can stop the church. There might be times when the church loses its focus momentarily, but God always sends people to reform the church. The church of Jesus ...

797. The Healing Power of Faith

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... who take their own lives are in pain? Yes they are, but most of them probably are not in physical pain. Emotional pain can be more devastating than physical pain. We can reach the level of desperation that these men with leprosy reached from a variety of causes. I know parents who are desperate over their inability to reach a son or daughter with an alcohol or drug problem. I know couples who are desperate to heal their marriage. When we talk about healing faith, this faith covers a multitude of situations ...

798. Be Patient

James 5:7-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... ?” He said, “I stuffed ’em in the toes of my boots.” According to the story, the teacher’s trial starts next month. (1) It’s hard for any of us at any age to be patient. Whether we are a child or a teacher or a common variety human being, patience is difficult. Particularly when we are in a time of stress. There was a delightful little story in a recent Reader’s Digest from Mrs. Nolen Cash of Lonoke, Arkansas. Mrs. Cash said that with the due date approaching for the birth of their first ...

799. Finding the Perfect Gift

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... was a “Yo-Yo” — high tech for it’s time. In 1943 the must have toy was a strange doo-dad called a “slinky.” Throughout the sixties, seventies, and eighties, at Christmas we were greedy for gifts of the stuffed animal, dolls, action-figures variety: Cabbage Patch dolls and Care Bears, Elmo (“Tickle Me,” “Live,” or “Let’s Rock”). Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles headed the list. But the Barbie (1959) and BMX Bike (1982) eras have long been replaced by a wish list that is ...

800. Fear of Missing Out

Matthew 5:38-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... had seen a bumper sticker with ‘The Fighting Okras’ that she thought was the funniest thing she had ever seen, and she thought it was just absurd enough to set the right tone. Okra was also a family favorite vegetable, and it was served often in a variety of ways. At the gathering of women, Julia handed out T-shirts that she had designed that had three dancing okras on them, and the words ‘I’m Okray. You’re Okray.’ Throughout Julia’s illness, the Okras wore those T-shirts as a sign of support ...

Showing results