Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 926 to 950 of 3099 results

James 1:19-27, Song of Songs 2:1-17, Mark 7:1-23

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... is obsessive-compulsive? 5. Turn to the living Lord and worship God from the heart. Several years ago the Parish Coordinator of the church where I served had attended a convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Women. Upon returning she reported that a speaker on the subject of worship renewal made a statement that stuck in her head. He stated: "The trouble with Lutherans is that they are afraid of the big C word. No, the big C word is not Christ or commitment, but CHANGE." This is not only true of ...

927. Proper 18

Mark 7:24-30, Mark 7:31-37, Proverbs 22:1-16, James 2:1-13

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... as the royal law. In effect, he is saying much the same thing that Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:13, when he concludes "Faith, hope, love abide, but the greatest of these is love." But how can love be a law? Like John, James considers love to be subject to the will. Thus, it can be commanded, like a law. Love is not a matter of feeling but of obedience. Mercy triumphs over judgment (v. 13). Often times we become indignant when some law-breaker seems to get away with his crime. However, we are all dependent ...

928. Proper 20

Proverbs 31:10-31, Mark 9:30-37, James 3:13-18; 4:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... Denial. Sermon Angle: When Jesus was explaining his upcoming sufferings and death, Mark says that the disciples didn't understand him and were afraid to ask (v. 32). It seems likely that the disciples did not understand because they did not want to deal with the subject matter. They didn't want to deal with death. Instead they chose to deny this ultimate reality in hope that it would go away. Their denial isolated them from Jesus. Jesus was not able to share the burden of the cross with them in a satisfying ...

929. Proper 22

Hebrews 1:1-14, Hebrews 2:5-18, Job 2:1-10, Mark 10:13-16, Mark 10:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... husbands. Many interpretations of the grounds for divorce were very liberal. Our Lord's teaching on divorce remains unpopular and largely ignored. Of course, it doesn't really matter if he passes our test, only that we pass his. Outline: 1. The Pharisees tested Jesus on the subject of divorce (v. 2). 2. He found that many people were failing to live up to God's standards. 3. Divorce is not God's will, but his concession to the reality of sin (v. 5). 4. In marriage, two people become one. 5. Divorce murders ...

930. Proper 24

Job 38:1–41:34, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Mark 10:35-45, Hebrews 5:1-10

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... John that it wasn't proper to ask God for ego-enhancing favors. Servant leadership (vv. 42-45). Jesus laid out for his disciples a new paradigm for leadership. They were not to follow the model imposed by the world, where leaders delighted to subject others to their authority in order to inflate their own ego. Jesus laid out a prototype of leadership in the kingdom that emphasized service rather than position and power. "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (v. 43). SERMON POSSIBILITIES ...

931. Proper 25

Hebrews 7:11-28, Job 42:7-17, Job 42:1-6, Mark 10:46-52

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... philosophical discourse over his misfortunes put him in very deep water, far from shore. He was in over his head. "Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand." Too many people permit their mouths to get ahead of their minds as they speak on subjects which they know little about. The wise person knows the limits of his knowledge. Firsthand experience (v. 5). Like most people, Job's experience of God was secondhand, but then Job encountered the Lord personally. "I had heard of you by the hearing of ...

932. Proper 28

Mk 13:1-32 · Heb 10:11-25 · 1 Sam 1:4-20 · Ps 16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... one another (v. 24). The awareness of the nearness of Christ's return serves as our source of motivation. Gospel: Mark 13:1-8; 14-23; 24-32 The chapter is called the "Little Apocalypse" and deals with the signs of the end time. The teaching on the subject results from an observation by the disciples about the beauty and grandeur of the temple. Jesus replies that it will become a pile of rubble, even though it was not yet completed at that time. The disciples then ask what the signs of the end will be. The ...

933. The Day Of Thanksgiving

Mt 6:25-33 · 1 Tim 2:1-7 · Joel 2:21-27 · Ps 126

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... hour to your span of life?" (v. 27b). Worry not only does not expand the length of our lives, it can actually decrease the breadth of our existence. Worry and anxiety block all creative and life-enhancing responses. Worry makes us brittle, subject to breaking. On the other hand, the faith in God which Jesus commends expands both the breadth and depth of our existence. Faith is like the fabric spandex, so popular in sporting circles because it clothes while offering flexibility for movement and expansion ...

934. Trinity Sunday

Jn 3:1-17 · Mt 28:16-21 · Rom 8:12-17 · Isa 6:1-8 · Ps 29

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... and purify his lips. His sin is taken away. Then the Lord asks for a messenger. Isaiah volunteers, "Here am I, send me." Lesson 2: Romans 8:12-17 Paul contrasts the concepts of flesh and spirit. The flesh refers to the dominion of sin to which all humans are subject apart from the Spirit of God. Paul states that if we live according to the flesh we will die (spiritually), but if we permit the Spirit to put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh we will live. The children of God have been adopted into God's ...

935. Out On A Limb

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

... guerilla warfare, tax collectors were the pariahs of society. Zacchaeus may have seen himself as a practitioner of "real-politik," but his countrymen saw him as a thief and a traitor. I say thief, because though Rome required a certain amount in taxes from its colonial subjects, it also turned a blind eye to how much the tax collector was able to gouge for his own pockets above and beyond the required sum. So long as he was not so greedy that he incited actual revolt, he was free to fleece his fellow ...

936. The Word Of The Cross Is The Power of God

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Mark J. Molldrem

... that keeps reverberating through time? Cross-bearers like us, when we hear this word of the cross, our ears perk up and we are attentive. Why is that? Think of the oyster. It is a clammy, cold, ugly mollusk. Lying on the ocean floor, it is subject to the intrusion of a grain of sand -- an irritation in the seemingly complacent life of the oyster. By not ignoring the painful intrusion or waiting for it to go away, but by paying special attention to it and surrounding it with its own secretions, the oyster ...

937. The Pageant

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

Drama

Jerry Eckert

... arms. He will gently lead those that are with young." (The prophet moves to the side, next to the lectern on the other side of the altar area. He faces the reader and relaxes.) Now you know why the prophet had to be very brave. A people in subjection would be punished by their oppressors for saying such things. But the prophets also said some other things, things that even the people of Israel and Judea did not like. "My servant will succeed in his task and will become highly honored. Even so, he will have ...

938. Josiah Speaks: An Ancient King Brings Greetings

2 Chronicles 34:14-33, 2 Chronicles 34:1-13

Drama

Dr. Raymond Bailey

... the reign of King Solomon's son, Rehoboam. My great-grandfather, Hezekiah, was on the throne at the time the Assyrians defeated the northern Jewish kingdom. He prevented an outright war between our southern kingdom and Assyria by paying them off. We became their subjects. You think you have taxes! My great-grandfather, Hezekiah, was a good and godly king, but he felt he had no choice but to strip the gold and silver from both his palace and the Temple. Even that did not fully satisfy Sennacharib, King ...

939. Remembering The Saints

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

... sure he was able to hold the empire together, large and unwieldy as it was, he instituted a kind of pledge of allegiance, similar in intent to our own pledge of allegiance to the flag, but with more serious repercussions. In Domitian's version, however, subject people as well as Roman citizens were required to offer, once a year in one of the temples of the state religion, a sacrifice to the divine genius of the emperor. Failure to do so constituted treason, and was punishable by imprisonment, exile, or ...

940. A Scholar · Nicodemus

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Gordon Pratt Baker

... to see him enter the house for his rendezvous with Jesus. Accordingly, until he knew more about the Master's situation he would proceed cautiously. In addition he probably feared that a daylight call might unwittingly play into the hands of Caiaphas' secret police by subjecting Jesus to arrest where there would be no one to defend him. Inasmuch as Jesus had no place of his own the house where Nicodemus met with him was very likely John's. Scripture tells us the beloved disciple owned a home in Jerusalem ...

941. Life As An Investment

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

... in ways that lead to future productivity and growth that nations, churches, and individual lives are improved and made more meaningful and enjoyable. It is quite natural then that Jesus would give a lesson on what a businessman might call investment principles. This is the subject of Jesus' well-known teaching called the Parable of the Talents. This is the story. Jesus tells of a man who goes away on a long trip. While he is away, the man entrusts to his three servants different amounts of money. The word ...

942. Counting The Cost - Sacrifice

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

... Roman schoolboy would be to write an essay. In that essay he would be asked to think of himself as an historical person at a time of economic and political crisis. Marius among the ruins of the ancient city-state of Carthage in North Africa was a favorite subject. This would be like asking one of our youth here at the church to write an essay on the German bombing of England during World War II. This exercise was not only a good way to teach history, but it forced the schoolboy to place himself both outside ...

943. The Condition Of Mercy

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

... the name of David Myers has written a book titled The Pursuit of Happiness. The book has 59 pages of references and a 43-page bibliography. This large number of citations clearly demonstrates that many people have had much to say on that elusive subject called "happiness." The central question that Dr. Myers poses is this one: Who is happy, and why are they happy? He then frames the question in a more detailed way: "What traits of personality, what circumstances of life, what states of mind correlate with ...

944. Wedding Sermon - The Solid Rock On Which We Stand!

Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... there will also be lonely times when the very place you call home seems suddenly empty and strangely unfamiliar. Inevitably, there will be such times for you both. The storms will roll in eventually, because the weather -- just like every other aspect of life -- is always subject to change. As did the wise man in this parable, I want to encourage the two of you to build your marriage upon a foundation that will not change and cannot cease -- the love of God. And toward that goal, I want to share with you ...

945. Wedding Sermon - You Are What You Wear

SOS 8:6-7; Col 3:12-17

Sermon

Erskine White

... difficult topics to the list of things they won't talk about until one day, they wake up and discover they cannot talk about anything! Their marriage has died. It is far better to learn right from the beginning how to talk about uncomfortable subjects. Maybe some of your advice-giving friends have talked to you about various other hazards of married life, like the dangers of self-centeredness, the threat of complacency, or any of a hundred other problems to be avoided at all costs in your life together ...

946. "The Rejection Of Royalty"

Psalm 22:1-31

Sermon

R. Sheldon MacKenzie

... People who were crucified were put to death in a location at eye-level with the traffic that passed by.The body of the victim was bent in an "S" shape to keep its feet from touching the ground. As he hung dying, the criminal was frequently subjected to the taunts and tortures of heartless folk who saw him there completely helpless.In his dying, Jesus was despised and rejected by passers-by,by religious leaders and authorities,and by those who were put to death with him.The reactions of those who watched him ...

947. Jerry's Faith

Luke 7:1-10

Illustration

John E. Sumwalt

... guess it was a simple faith in God. It seemed like a good way to live, but I still wondered if it was real. If there was no God, I think we would have to invent one to keep our sanity. I tried to keep an open mind on the subject. I found myself reading the Bible because I was hungry for truth. One Saturday night my mother called to tell me that my grandmother was gravely ill. I needed strength to face this so I went to church the next morning before going to the hospital to see her. That ...

948. Keep Spinning

1 John 4:7-21

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... keep your Christian life moving, as with the spinning disk. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: On that day when your child doesn't know what to do. Let him or her make this toy and while it is being used in play, you might raise the subject of how we receive from others and then we must give of ourselves to others. This give and take is part of the rhythm of true life. When a child thinks only in terms of receiving things and needs to think about giving also.

949. A Bucket Of Water

Matthew 7:7

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... force goes against the force of gravity when the bucket is over my head. Since the centrifugal force is greater than the pull of gravity, the water stays in the bucket and does not come down upon me. There is a lesson here for us all. Life is continually subject to change. If we do not continue to grow, if we do not keep on moving forward; then we can easily lose what we have. During the summer vacation time, many children forget some of what they have learned simply because they do not use it. In time of ...

950. Epiphany 8

Mark 2:18-22, Mark 2:13-17

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The issue in this pericope is clearly fasting, but the real subject is novelty, as seen in the two attitudes reflected here: (1) that of Jesus himself, that his presence and ministry have created a new relationship that abrogates the need for Jewish ritual fasting; and (2) that of the early church, that Christ's absence necessitates fasting again, but for a ...

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