Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 801 to 825 of 4934 results

801. Hector’s Case Against Christmas

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Erskine White

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee named Nazareth." (v. 26) I am going to begin the Advent season this year by telling you a part of the Christmas story which is unknown to most people because it was left out of the modern Bible. Of course, ministers have known about this for many years, but we have kept it secret because we didn’t want to shake anyone’s faith. But in this age of full and complete disclosure, I have finally decided to break with my fellow clergy’s ...

802. Adopted! (New)

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

Ian Lewis, 43, of Standish, Lancashire, England, was interested in finding out about his family. He spent thirty years tracing his family tree back to the seventeenth century. Thirty years. He traveled all over Britain talking to 2,000 relatives about the family tree. He even planned to write a book about how his great-grandfather left to seek his fortune in Russia and how his grandfather was expelled after the Revolution. Then, after doing all that research, Ian Lewis made a discovery that stopped him in ...

803. Hands On

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Our five-year-old Soren was looking at an over-sized art book. It has lots of glossy full-page reproductions of artwork that made it a fascinating "read" for a five-year old. But on a two-page layout in a series of Renaissance paintings depicting Jesus' life, Soren found a mystifying addition. "Daddy," she asked, "why does Jesus always have a plate on his head?" Her stubby purple-painted fingernail was pointing at the perfectly round golden halo that surrounded Jesus' head in all the paintings. Before I ...

804. Choosing a God

1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39

Sermon

David E. Leininger

For sheer drama, there is little in fact or fiction that can surpass the stories of Elijah in 1 Kings. For interesting characters, unusual twists of plot and action, for excitement and adventure, one would be hard-pressed to find anything more entertaining. Elijah could star in an incredible mini-series. The Bible gives little background on this majestic prophet other than to mention his hometown, Tishbe in Gilead on the eastern side of the Jordan. We are abruptly introduced to him in 1 Kings 17 as he ...

805. Is the Doctor in Today?

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

King Duncan

Our lesson for today is about two people who came to Jesus for help with a medical problem. Nothing surprising about that. Even today, we are dependent on doctors for help with our medical problems. Maybe that’s why it’s so much fun to tell jokes at the expense of the medical profession. Says one comedian: “My doctor told me he’d have me on my feet within two weeks. He was right. I had to sell my car to pay his bill.” “My left arm hurt me,” said a senior citizen, “and so did my right foot, my neck and my ...

806. “I Waited Patiently for the Lord; He Turned to Me and Heard My Cry”

Psalm 40:1-17

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Waiting on the Lord through trouble and opposition opens our hearts to doing God’s will. Understanding the Text Psalm 40 is an individual psalm of thanksgiving, which is typically composed of the report of a crisis (40:12) and the celebration of deliverance (40:1–3), and these elements do not necessarily occur in that order.1Some commentators insist that this psalm is a combination of two independent psalms, an individual psalm of thanksgiving (40:1–10) and an individual lament (40:11–17). In ...

807. Acquittal for the Falsely Accused (Ps. 7)

Psalm 7:1-17

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalm 7 is a prayer psalm of the individual. It uses a variety of images (God as refuge and judge, enemies as lions and hunters; legal, militaristic, and birth imagery), and it is difficult to discern which features might indicate the speaker’s personal circumstances and which might derive from the general symbolism of the temple and its regular liturgies. There is also a combination of individual (“me” in vv. 1–6, 8, 10, 17), corporate (“peoples” and the “righteous” and “wicked” in vv. 7–10), and ...

808. Giving Comfort

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

King Duncan

Once there was a Baptist minister and humorist named Grady Nutt. Grady could tell some of the most hilarious stories. One of Grady’s classic stories was of a seminary student who pastored a rural church on the weekends. Word came to this student preacher that a man in his church had died. Could he come and conduct the funeral? The young preacher had never done a funeral before, but after receiving counsel from one of his seminary professors about how to proceed, he drove out to the home of the man who had ...

809. The Man From Galilee III: The Touch Of His Hand

Matthew 8:14-17

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

A little girl named Charlotte went with her grandmother on a shopping trip downtown. When she returned home her parents were talking with her about the trip, what she had seen, how she liked it. They asked her if she had been afraid among all those people and cars as she crossed the street. She said, "No. The big policeman held up his strong hands and all the cars stopped and Charlotte crossed over." Jesus the carpenter had hands bronzed by the sun, strong hands. And with those great, strong hands He came ...

810. Is It Better To Catch Or Be Caught?

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

As a boy I was never good at catching things, except a cold now and then. I tried to catch a pony to ride and failed. The butterfly trip was a disaster. I tried catching frogs but didn't try too hard because I didn't know what I would do with them once I caught them. Fish weren't my favorite for eating, so catching them was no treat, because I knew it implied that I would eat them with delight rather than gagging on them, which I always did. I never was good at catching things. A major church denomination ...

811. A Couple Who Do Feet

Sermon

Jim Heinemeier

(Adapted from imagery created by Harry Wendt of Crossways International) This is kind of personal, but ... how are your feet doing? I'll bet they're hot and tired and achy. Wouldn't it feel great if right about now all of us could kick off our shoes and some nice person would be there to rub those hot, tired, achy feet! I'd like to talk to you about your feet. About taking care of your feet. (Yes, I know. This is a wedding!) I'd like to talk about couples who do feet. In the hope the two of you will become ...

812. Uncle Hilbert

1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Psalm 19:1-14

Illustration

John E. Sumwalt

Uncle Hilbert used to stand at the front door of the church every Sunday morning and greet everyone as they came into worship. He always had a big smile on his face as he called all of us by name, and he had a special handshake for us kids. It was a rare day when he wasn't there, and when he was absent church wasn't the same. You had the feeling that something essential was missing. I don't know why we called him uncle. He was nobody's uncle as far as I know. He had a couple of married sisters who lived in ...

813. Proper 22

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13, Amos 5:1-17, Habakkuk 1:12--2:1, Habakkuk 1:1-4, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 37:1-40, Luke 17:1-10

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE In many parts of the Christian church, this Sunday will be remembered and, in some places, celebrated as Reformation Sunday, depending on the lectionary followed and the calendar year. Observation of Reformation Day, October 31, is basically limited to schools and seminaries, mostly Lutheran, at that. But the festival itself is undergoing a kind of transformation, emphasizing what God is doing in the present rather than stressing what God did in the past. The whole church is caught up in ...

814. Epiphany 4

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5, Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Micah 6:1-8 Theme: The righteousness God requires Call to Worship Pastor: As we begin our worship this morning, reflect on the wonderful ways God has proved his love to you. People: God has blessed us with guidance, comfort, strength, love, and forgiveness. God has been very good to us! Pastor: God has saved us to live a new life; a life of righteousness, love, and fellowship with him. People: May the worship we give to God be this kind of life, lived in thanksgiving for our salvation. ...

815. Kingdoms in Conflict

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Brett Blair

Perhaps you have heard this story. It's a great story: Many years ago, when Hitler's forces occupied Denmark, the order came that all Jews in Denmark were to identify themselves by wearing armbands with yellow stars of David. The Danes had seen the extermination of Jews in other countries and guessed that this was the first step in that process in their countries. The King did not defy the orders. He had every Jew wear the star and he himself wore the Star of David. He told his people that he expected ...

816. The Idiot's Guide To Christianity

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

King Duncan

A substitute Sunday School teacher couldn't open the combination lock on the supply cabinet. So she went to the pastor for help. The pastor started turning the dial of the combination lock, stopped after the first two numbers, looked up serenely toward heaven, began moving his lips silently, turned to the final number, and opened the lock. The teacher gasped, "I'm in awe of your faith, pastor." "Really," he said, "it's nothing. The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling." (1) I wish the answers to all ...

817. Things That Make Jesus Angry

John 2:12-25

Sermon

King Duncan

Jesus was a very gentle man. Right? We sing “Fairest Lord Jesus . . .” Or “Gentle Savior Meek and Mild . . .” Jesus was Mr. Nice Guy, the prototype sensitive male. Respectful of women. Loved little children. Kind to his mother. What is he doing, then, in the temple courts during the holiest season of the Jewish year, overturning tables and scattering coins and using a whip, of all things, to drive both people and cattle out of the courtyard? Imagine if someone came into our church and disturbed our service ...

818. In the Mood for Murder

Matthew 5:21-26

Sermon

King Duncan

Some of you can remember back in the 1970s when mood rings were a big fad (sort of like the pet rock). They were especially popular with young girls. The theory behind the mood ring was that body heat fluctuates with the emotional state of the wearer . . . and the ring was attuned to the body’s temperature. None of this was ever established scientifically, of course, but, like most fads, it provided some fun for people especially for comedians and cartoonists. For example, in a 1976 Peanuts comic strip, ...

819. David Brings a Plague upon Israel

2 Samuel 24:1-25

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: When angered by sin, God may severely punish the sinners, but he is willing to relent from his judgment when sinners repent. Understanding the Text As noted above, this final episode in the book corresponds to 2 Samuel 21:1–14 in the concentric structure of the epilogue. In both episodes David successfully appeases God’s anger. In the first instance Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites prompts God’s judgment; in the second instance God’s anger at Israel, presumably due to some unidentified sin, is ...

820. Radical Love is Godly (Series: Radical Love in a Risky World)

Luke 3:21-23 · 1 John 4:7-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Sooner or later it is bound to happen. A child will pop the question, a friend will want to know, some life circumstance will demand an answer to this existential question: WHAT IS GOD LIKE? Inquiring minds want to know. Our Muslim friends would likely answer GOD IS ONE—with that we can agree. God is one. Our Jewish friends might reply GOD IS HOLY—and with that we can, likewise, agree for God is holy. Centuries ago the Apostle John answered the question this way “God is love!” That’s what I want us to ...

821. Repairing our Lives

Mark 1:1-8

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: How God repairs our lives when we repent. Props: 8"x11" paper and tape. You will need one of each for every two or three children. If you want to make it interesting use several different kinds of tape. Optional: On each piece of paper draw the letters A, B, C, D, etc. You will be able to name the teams when they are done. Lesson: Good morning! (response) Does anyone know what Christmas is about? (response) What are we suppose to do to get ready for Christmas? (response) Assuming all the ...

822. Jesus Christ, Superstar

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

David E. Leininger

"Jesus Christ, Superstar" is about as good a description as we can come up with as we read the text. He tried to sit down with his disciples for a little rest and relaxation, but the people would not let him alone. No matter where he went, people clamored for his attention, and in particular, his healing touch. He was a superstar. These days, calling Jesus Christ a "Superstar" is not particularly startling, but in 1970, when the rock opera of that name came out, it was a jarring choice of words and caused ...

823. Orders Are Orders

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: It doesn't seem to be the practical thing to do -- to leave heaven and come to earth to be the Savior of a rebellious people -- but that's exactly what the Son of God did. It is something to celebrate. Summary: Two angels are preparing to announce the birth of baby Jesus but one of them is not happy about the Son of God leaving heaven. When it is explained to the angel that the Son of God left for Love, he understands. Playing Time: 4 minutes Place: The angel dressing room Props: A scroll Costumes: ...

824. What Did You Say?

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words Of Preparation from Psalm 15 O Lord, who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right, and speaks truth from his heart; who does not slander with his tongue, and does no evil to his friend, nor takes up reproach against his neighbor. Hymn: "Wonderful Words Of Life" A Brief Prayer: Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Grant that we shall remember that a ...

825. Jesus in the News

Luke 4:23

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A newspaper. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have read the newspaper that was delivered to your house yesterday? (Let them answer.) Tell me what you have read. (Let them answer.) You read the funnies and what else? (Let them answer.) Most of you do not read the rest of the paper yet, but before long you will. When you do you will read about some very interesting people and the things that they have done. You also will read some interesting things about people who live in other towns ...

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