Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 876 to 900 of 4943 results

876. The Great Divide

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

... birthday girl, some of which have yet to be played with because the little girl has many things. She needs no sheets for her bed. She has plenty. Her home is safe and spacious. She doesn’t share a bedroom. Her toys, and those of her siblings, take up space in virtually every room in the house. There have been times when her mother has gathered up numerous large bags of toys and taken them to Goodwill and these children have not even known they were gone. I know because I am that mother and the birthday ...

877. Getting Ready for the Passover

Luke 22:7-38, Luke 22:1-6

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... of the exodus (see m. Pesah. 10).1Four cups of wine were prescribed to be shared among the diners before, during, and after the meal, each also with its appropriate form of words. Jesus’s words over the bread and wine at the Last Supper take up this pattern to speak symbolically not of the past but rather of what is about to happen. The two cups mentioned by Luke probably correspond to the second and third Passover cups, the latter (“the cup of blessing”) being drunk after the meal. Interpretive ...

878. Rise Above It

John 21:15-19

Sermon

James W. Moore

... the sermon… he dramatically released the first balloon and gracefully, it rose up, floating to the ceiling. His second point was that we now as the present-day disciples of Jesus Christ empowered by His power and grace… can rise up and take up His ministry of love. Then the minister dramatically released the second balloon and gracefully, it rose up… floating to the ceiling. His third point was that just as after His death and resurrection, Christ ascended into heaven… even so when we die (because ...

879. The Crucifixion

Isaiah 50:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... obedience of Jesus we have seen the wonderful blessings You can bring through one perfect life. Lord, take our lives and use us in Your holy way to bless others. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, through the Cross You would call us to be ready to take up our crosses for You. But so often, Lord, we have too many other matters on our minds to even recognize our crosses before us. Forgive us, O God, and give us wisdom to recognize and courage to be Your servants, and to ...

880. What Did You Say?

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

... 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 word fitly spoken ...

881. Chosen By God

Ruth 4:1-12

Sermon

Sims Robert

... more, nothing less, strangers traveling through a strange land in search of our home with God. To be chosen by God is an intensely personal thing. To be chosen by God can also be an extremely painful thing. Jesus said, “If anyone would believe in me, let him take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24).” The cross is a symbol of suffering and an instrument of pain. If you love others, you share their hurts, their sorrows and their pain. To be chosen by God can be a painful thing. Know that it can. Be ...

882. No Tears for Me, Please

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... tears, what does he want? He wants our discipleship. He wants us to follow him in cross-bearing. He had a cross, and to follow him means to bear one also. Do you remember Jesus said, "If any one would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me"? Bonhoeffer claimed that when Jesus calls us to follow him, he bids us come and die with him. Discipleship means the voluntary assumption of a cross. And the world is full of crosses. Each Christian has a cross to bear. Because the world ...

883. Humble Servants of the Lord

Luke 14:1-14

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... our hearts be focused this day on the glory of the Lord. Leader: Let us sing with joy that we are all made welcome in God's house. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Almighty Creator God, in Christ You called us to be humble and to take up our crosses and follow You. Give us the wisdom and strength to hear Your call and be Your faithful followers. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord, You taught us not to be puffed up or full of pride, yet so often we seek our own glory. You ...

884. Communion Is Remedial

Matthew 9:1-8

Sermon

... , said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he then said to the paralytic - "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he ...

885. Born to Play Second Fiddle

Luke 1:57-66

Sermon

George Bass

... God, to serve him - not himself - through the works of art he produced. His whole life, it seems, was dedicated to the glory of God. Michelangelo played a strong second fiddle. Contemporary Christians need to remember that they are called to serve Christ - "to take up their cross daily" and "to deny themselves" - while rejecting the temptation to gain personal glory by the works they do in the name of Jesus. All deeds of mercy and loving kindness come through the inspiration of the love of God; they are not ...

886. At The Manger By Invitation

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... I'll make it beautiful." Little Jeannine was reflecting the attitude of God. I'm so glad that God does not cater to the beautiful people, the wealthy or educated, the morally superior. God takes us as we are, with our ugliness and selfishness, then takes up residence within our hearts and minds. Gradually he makes us beautiful, from the inside out. The shepherds of Bethlehem remind me that God does not favor the beautiful people. The shepherds were as common as the sheep they cared for, and no cleaner. They ...

887. Discipleship - Path to Fulfillment

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

James W. Robinson

... other celebrants for the procession to the stage of the new edifice’s auditorium. The bishop and members of his cabinet, an array of clergypersons from several denominations, and my peers from missions and education were assembled in vested splendor. Dutifully taking up the rear were prominent representatives of the laity. As the "new kid on the block," I greeted one and all with a fixed smile and deferential bearing. Some of the luminaries condescended to welcome me stiffly. Others simply stared blankly ...

888. Divine Alka-Seltzer

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

... to suffer by giving sacrificially of our own money to the World Hunger Appeal, the Love Compels Action Appeal in order to relieve physical suffering, and by giving our gifts to Strength for Mission to further the proclamation of the gospel; to suffer by ourselves taking up our crosses and trudging with Jesus to Calvary, where we see no magician who eliminates pain, but the suffering Son of Man who calls us to suffer for others, to be open to their pain, and to be healers in reconciling people to each other ...

889. At The Root

Joel 2:18-27

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

Call to Worship Take up the song of thanksgiving to God that the world has sung since the beginning of time. Carry the song of thanksgiving forward into the new century and new millennium. Sing your thanksgiving song until all people everywhere tap their feet ... on this day of thanksgiving to voice our gratitude. Be a constant reminder, O God, of the ways a thankful heart can influence the entire realm of human relationship. Amen. Hymns "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" "How Great Thou Art" "Take Up The Song"

890. Wrinkled Wrappings

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... to do anything about it? Aren't you going to do anything about it?" To see God in the baby Jesus is an earth-shattering event, a once- in-a-lifetime vision. You just have to do something about it. The vision will not let you go home and take up religion-as-usual. Simeon and Anna in our text show us what we can do about this Messiah-Christ born not many days ago. The couple in wrinkled wrappings responded to the Christ-child with worship. This is the spirit of Christmas: "Come and worship, come and worship ...

891. Who Is He?

Mark 8:27-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... WILL WE LIVE FOR HIM? Shortly after this exchange with his disciples, Jesus spoke to the crowd that was following them on the same subject. He spoke about what it means to be a follower. "If any want to become my followers, they must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Now this is a very difficult thing for us to do. It is difficult because it goes against everything that our culture tells us is important. From the time we were toddlers we have heard, "be your own person," "strive to be ...

892. Sharing the Pain of Others

Matthew 26:14-27:66

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... what we can do willingly, as did Jesus, to share the burdens of others. We begin today on Palm Sunday and we will continue throughout the week. Our journey may take us to the streets or to the interior of the heart, but let us take up the challenge. This journey, if traversed well will bring us suffering, pain, and death, but in the end we will find with Jesus, resurrection and eternal life. ____________ 1.Walter Wangerin, Jr., Ragman And Other Cries Of Faith (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1984), pp ...

893. 2 Corinthians 1: 11-13

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... struggles to live in peace and harmony with each other. Those who are genuinely “in Christ” participate in divine love and peace, and so must extend those gifts to others. As Paul moves on to his final benediction he urges the Corinthian Christians to take up one final action: “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” This greeting is referred to in other Pauline letters (1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 16:20; Romans 16:16) and appears to be a custom unique to the new Christian churches, not part ...

894. 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

895. Matthew 10:40-42

Matthew 10:1-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... should expect: their message will cause both communal and familial discord and dissent. Nevertheless it is now a positive “reward” that is promised to those who receive or welcome the ones sent out by Jesus. In v.38 the “reward” of those who willingly take up the cross and follow, is finding their life—that is, the eternal life promised to those who trust and obey. This same reward, eternal life, participation in the kingdom of God, is now offered to all engaged in welcoming those who come in ...

896. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Both Peter's confession and his scolding have made it obvious that the disciples are still woefully confused about what their relationship to Christ has in store for them. Jesus introduces a triune directive for his disciples - to deny themselves, to take up the cross, to follow him. The first requirement is to deny the grasping, inward-facing self, the "me-first" syndrome. Getting straight with ourselves, reigning in our ego and our urge for self-preservation, are the necessary first steps before ...

897. Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... mite" as a kind of ecclesiastical fund-raising text, it actually remains within the context of Jesus' teachings against the religious establishment. That Jesus is still teaching is indicated by his physical location - "he sat down opposite the treasury" taking up the traditional position used by rabbis when conducting their classes. Having placed himself directly across from the financial collection center for the Temple, Jesus engages his disciples in one final lesson. Singling out the widow's gift should ...

898. Galatians 6:7-18

Galatians 6:7-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... his day, apparently used a scribe or amanuensis to write out the body of his letters. He then would write a personal postscript, usually to add specific greetings or messages to distinct individuals. But here Paul's add-ons serve a different purpose. As he takes up the pen, the letters grow larger, probably an indication both of Paul's less practiced handwriting skills and as a means of highlighting - as though writing in all capitals - the content of these final lines. Yet what Paul adds in his own hand is ...

899. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

900. Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

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