Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 951 to 975 of 3160 results

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Thomas Peterson

... in as if they have heard nothing. “I’ll tell you how I handled that.” “You are lucky; I had eight days of pain.” “It’s easy for you because you have a nice wife.” Ministers know especially about “listening of this sort.” Perhaps it is because people find it inconceivable that ministers hurt. Preachers are supposed to have endless spiritual resources. Maybe that’s why people make little effort to listen, quickly turning pleas for help aside. The wife of a minister friend was terminally ...

952. Watch Out! He's Coming!

Mark 13:33

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... be keeping watch. How many of you have ever seen a movie or a picture of a person keeping watch on a ship? (Let them answer.) Good, a lot of you have seen that. What does the person do who is keeping watch? (Let them answer.) That's right, he sort of stretches his neck, puts his hand over his eyes so that the sun doesn't affect them and looks in all directions. If he does see something, he lifts his binoculars up to his eyes and takes a closer look. (Pretend you are looking through binoculars, or use them ...

953. A Problem with Angels

Luke 1:26-38

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: An algebra problem or some equation that would not be understood. Lesson: And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. Good morning, boys and girls. I have with me a problem this morning, the day before Christmas, that I would like for you to help me with. I won't be able to enjoy my Christmas presents or dinner if I don't get the ...

954. The Heart Of The Gospel

Eulogy

Joe Barone

... had turned “to God from idols” and so chosen to “serve a living and true God.” What better credentials could Paul have taken with him as he too came to face the living God? That’s the first thing I guess I’d want to say today. In a strange sort of way, we can take hope in our own grief. If **’s ministry had not been so effective, we’d not have so much to grieve about. It’s not that he was the perfect minister, of course. None of us are, and none of us can be. But in ...

955. God Works Through Opposites

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

God simply does not seem to do the sort of things we would expect our God to do. He does not always give us what we want. Most of us do not have everything we had hoped and dreamed for in life. He does not always answer our prayers. After all, we have all lost loved ones. Sometimes God ...

956. What Happens To You When You Die?

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... 24:31b). The events indicate Jesus was different. After his resurrection, nothing could stop him. He was no longer locked in by the boundaries of space and time. I imagine that there was a kind of glow of radiance, a glow of happiness, all around him (sort of like the way he looked when the transfiguration occurred [Luke 9:29; Matthew 17:2]). Perhaps that is why the two men never recognized him until they were eating that meal together. Friends, this morning's gospel lesson truly provides us with some clues ...

957. Led By The Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... you like - even when what you like is not very good for you. Is it not the truth? When you turn loose a herd of sheep, let them run wherever they desire, they are liable to run off a cliff - get themselves in all kinds of trouble. It is sort of like what can happen to us when we are making our decisions only on the basis of what we want to do. Some American social analysts have suggested that this is precisely the dynamic in American society today and helps explain some of the current malfunctionings of our ...

958. Focus Your Faith

John 14:5-14

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... God." Do these two different reflections sound familiar? Have you ever felt like these two friends of ours? I know that I have. In fact, I wager that you have, too. Competent social analysts tell us that this kind of religious individualism has all sorts of adherents in contemporary American society at the close of the century.1 Almost everybody has at least some periods in their life when they think that they can find God best on their own (in nature, through interactions with other people, in the goodness ...

959. The Majesty Of God's Love

John 17:1-11

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... God who is always yearning to bring the many into one wants his people to be that way, too. He wants people who are yearning to help make all human beings one people (John 17:18-21). Don't you yearn for it, too? Believing in the Trinity has all sorts of practical implications about the way you live your life. How dare we say we believe in a God whose love is so great that it makes one out of many, if we also do not, year after year, live as though we and all people were one? It is ...

960. The Meeting Of Marriage Partners At The Well

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... they not? The woman's reaction was a lot like our characteristic reactions when our Lord and his church ask us to undertake a new task. "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" she said to Jesus. Is that not the sort of thing we usually say when Jesus calls us? "Oh God," we say, "I am not worthy to undertake this task. Find someone else more qualified or with more time." Jesus' response to the woman is his Word to us. He shatters all our preconceptions about him; God never does ...

961. The Resurrection Is Freedom

John 11:38-44

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... his representation of Jesus in our gospel story today. When Jesus finally got to Bethany (Lazarus' hometown) and learned from Lazarus' sister Martha that Lazarus was dead, then (according to John) Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again (John 11:23)." Martha responded (sort of like we would), "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day (John 11:24)." Martha sounds like us modern Christians; we believe in the resurrection, in the new life, but we think of it as something far ...

962. The Road To The Cross

Matthew 27:11-26

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... least that is one argument on his behalf.) He was under all kinds of terrible pressures. To be the Roman governor of Israel in the time of Jesus was no easy task. The Jews of the day were nationalistic and many were religious fanatics. It would be sort of like a foreigner trying to govern Iran today. No, Rome and Pilate might have been in charge of Israel in Jesus' day. However, they had a delicate balancing act to do if they were to keep things under control and peaceful. Consequently, if enough Jews were ...

963. From Inferiority To Fulfillment

Isaiah 62:1-12

Sermon

Ron Lavin

A counselor was listening carefully to a teenager. She was speaking about her troubles. She felt out of sorts with everyone and everything. She was depressed. Everything was going wrong. Her recent marriage was on the rocks. There was trouble with the baby who had been born recently. Her job was not working out. After listening to her litany of troubles for a long time, the counselor asked her, " ...

964. The Man In The River

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

John Jamison

... were from all over Judea, and from the villages up and down the river valley. I did recognize several from Jerusalem. That's when I saw you. Remember, we kind of waved a little wave and nodded. Then I saw him. My first thought was that he was a mousy sort of guy. I mean he looked mousy, or really, I guess it was ratty. He looked like a wet rat, standing out in the middle of the creek with his clothes and his hair just hanging off him soaking wet. This is what we have come so far to see ...

965. At The Name Of Jesus

John 12:12-19

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... world has gone after him." They were honestly concerned, but they were not listening for the voice of truth. Given the signs, one might suppose that they would have done some careful investigation. He had calmed the sea, fed thousands, healed every sort of disease, opened the eyes of the blind, and raised the dead. At his word the dead heard, the dumb spoke, and the lame walked. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, were witnesses. Frequently they had initiated confrontation with Jesus. Never had they been open ...

966. Crown Him Lord!

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... anxiety as our seminary classmates gathered that day. To a person they had been surprised when the professor announced that there would be a final exam. Everyone was asking, "How can you have a final exam in preaching?" How could one prepare? What sort of questions might be asked? Throughout the year there had been lectures on sermon preparation and style, but mostly it had been a course of practice and critique. Finally, the professor, who was himself a splendid and engaging preacher, strode into the room ...

967. The Victory Of The Cross

Sermon

Erskine White

... 't like being assigned duty in the hot, unfriendly climate of Israel. The chance to mock a prisoner, to humiliate him and play with his mind before killing him, this was good for the soldiers' morale. It began with something called the "King's Game" - a sort of "board game" carved into the pavement (John 19:13) of the Judgment Hall. You can still see that hall in Jerusalem, and the exact spot on the pavement where soldiers played this game to mock their prisoner, as our Lord stood by in suffering silence ...

968. The Vine And The Branches

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... and the more demonic ones who cause division and disruption in our ranks. Jesus advised us to remain in him, not in a preacher, a choir director, a building, a denomination, but rather, in him. We can easily get all confused and direct our loyalty to all sorts of people and causes and emotions rather than the one true vine. One of the vital signs of the Easter Christ risen and alive is that his saved people remain faithful in him and he remains faithful to them. In life, there are treacherous currents which ...

969. For a Mother Who Died in Traffic

John 14:1-4

Eulogy

William Luoma

... destination - heaven. Every mother can identify with Jesus' reference to getting a place ready. When a baby is on the way, you spend a lot of time getting things ready. You begin to gather those baby things - a crib, a bassinet, baby clothing, diapers; and you start to sort out the shower gifts. You get it all ready so it's there when it's needed. Sometimes you have to "take the place with you." Those of you with small children know what it's like when you go somewhere with the baby. You load up the ...

970. Three Days To See

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Helen Keller

... time of imaginary sight, I should choose the place where the key unlocks the greatest treasures in the shortest time. The evening of my second day of sight I should spend at a theatre or at the movies. Even now I often attend theatrical performances of all sorts, but the action of the play must be spelled into my hand by a companion. But how I should like to see with my own eyes the fascinating figure of Hamlet, or the gusty Falstaff amid colorful Elizabethan trappings! How I should like to follow each ...

971. Peacemaker -- A Liturgy

Drama

Thomas A. Renquist

... his death. Scattered throughout our worship this morning various selections from his diary will be read. He himself called this diary “roadmarkers” or “sign-posts.” The published version is titled Markings. In his own words: Reader 2: “It’s a diary… a sort of ‘white book’ concerning my negotiations with myself -- and with God.” Reader 3: “These notes? They were signposts you began to set up after you had reached a point where you had needed them, a fixed point that was on no account ...

972. Ludwig Nommensen Missionary To The Bataks

Drama

Thomas A. Renquist

... No! I am not dreaming. My faith visions all this; it shall come to pass for all kingdoms shall be his and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, I am encouraged, though the people may oppose me and make all sorts of plans to resist God’s word, they can just as easily keep the ocean back from its shores as to keep God’s word from their hearts. A stream of blessing shall certainly flow over them. Already the day begins to appear. Soon the clear light will break ...

973. Life Always Springs New!

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Sermon

Donald Zelle

... city of Jerusalem a cross was placed, years later, to bear the weight of the Son of God. Within that city, even later, Christians gathered on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost and the Spirit of God blew to bring hope again. He blew to give the ability to sort out the many voices and ideas and philosophies, to put to an end the voices of confusion and doom. Life sprang new for God's people, because God was present and active in his world. We would not understand this lesson if we did not realize it is ...

974. The Benefits of Christianity for Nonbelievers

2 Samuel 6:1-23

Sermon

Donald Zelle

... to bring up from the small town, Kiriath-jearim. It had been there ever since the Philistines returned it, after having stolen it in a raid. The move of the Ark from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem was accompanied with both celebration and tragedy. All sorts of musical instruments were played loudly and exuberantly. That's when the tragedy came. In an incident which neither our text nor the account in 1 Chronicles 13 adequately explains, Uzzah dies. This is understood by the people, including King David, as a ...

975. A House! a House! and a House!

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Donald Zelle

... the story of a Midwestern grandmother. Her appearance already told that it was her children who saved up money to send her on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe. She is in a London tour group, being guided through the famous Westminster Abbey. In a memorized sort of way, the guide explains some of the parts of the building and the art pieces. The woman interrupts, "That's all very well, young man, but tell me, has anyone been saved here lately?" The woman raises the same issue as the writer of our text. Of ...

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