Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 951 to 975 of 990 results

Bulletin Aid

Staff

Theme: The Messiah is endowed with God's Spirit Call to Worship Pastor: Of all the descendants of King David, only Jesus fulfills Israel's messianic hope. People: Jesus is God's Son, endowed with God's Spirit to be our Savior. Pastor: Our Lord judges with righteousness; that we may acknowledge God's sovereignty in our lives. People: We accept with gladness the righteous judgment of Christ our Lor...

952. Stone Soup

Children's Sermon

Objects: A medium-sized cooking pot, a carrot, a potato, an onion, and three smooth stones. There was once a village where the people were selfish. Most were farmers but they never worked together. They didn't even like each other. There was a drought in the land and things were really dry. Each of the farmers grew a different crop, but because of their fear of the famine, they would not share th...

953. Advent 2

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS The future looms large during Advent. We are, after all, entering into a sacred time of hope when we look with expectation toward the consummation of our salvation. If, however, we become too preoccupied with our future, we may miss the salvific work of God in our present lives, which actually grounds our Advent faith. Our Old Testament texts for this Second Sunday of Advent c...

954. Proper 19

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

Unlimited Forgiveness The parable uses the analogy of a reverse comparison. On the one hand a huge, almost inconceivable debt is forgiven. The amount of the debt of the first character in the parable is staggering. To the person hearing the parable it would be scarcely possible to imagine a debt so monumental, perhaps as hard as to try to imagine today the size of the national debt in the United ...

955. Proper 19

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Exodus 14:19-31 is the account of how God rescued Israel from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 is a hymn that celebrates this event, and it is sometimes said to be the oldest text in the Bible. Exodus 14:19-31 - "Rescue at the Sea" Setting. Few would disagree with the statement that the Exodus event is the central story of salvation in the Old Testament....

956. Find Joy Again!

Sermon

Charley Reeb

There are many hysterical stories associated with my parents and family. There is one that has been the source of great laughter over the years. The event occurred one weekend when my parents drove me to a tennis tournament in another city. After my match, I was hungry, so my dad drove us to Shoney’s. I don’t know if they are still around, but they used to have a big breakfast buffet. My dad ...

957. Jews and Christians: All in the Family

Sermon

Will Willimon

“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another...as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Any law enforcement officer will tell you that a policeman would rather try to stop a bank robbery than to i...

958. For Someone Who Spread Good Cheer

Eulogy

Richard E. Zajac

Saints [Tell of the many ways they brightened someone’s day, tell of how they were the ‘sunshine’ of many a life.] There was a little boy who came to church with his mom. While she was lighting candles and attempting to pray the stations of the cross, he was doing what little kids do in church, he was running around examining just about everything. After a while, she called for him and he didn’t a...

959. Will You Sing With Me?

Sermon

Heather Sugden

My congregation has a wonderful institutional history of Christmas caroling. As the story has been passed on down to me, there was a time when every Christmas Eve worship service was packed with families, and every moment in between Christmas Eve worship services was an opportunity for community caroling. We might not be certain when exactly this time was in our history, but we know it happened, w...

960. Paul the Apostle of the New Covenant to the Gentiles

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: Here Paul presents himself as the apostle of the new covenant to the Gentiles. Two ideas therefore inform this text. First, Romans 15:14–16:27 corresponds to the document clause of the covenant format. Second, Paul is the eschatological apostle to the Gentiles who offers them membership in the new covenant through faith in Christ. Understanding the Text Many commentators rightly argue ...

961. Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Conclusion: Paul concludes his letter with information about his travel plans (15:14–33), recommendations of Phoebe (16:1–2), greetings to co-workers in the Roman churches (16:3–16), and an admonition with regard to dangers facing the churches in Rome (16:17–20). Paul describes his missionary work as focused on outreach to pagans. This is the reason why he wants to visit the churches in Rome, whom...

962. Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

In the present section Paul returns to matters of personal interest which he broached at the beginning of the epistle (1:8–15). Romans 1:8–15 and 15:14–33 are the only two sections of the epistle which might be called autobiographical. Although they fall outside Paul’s main argument, they provide vital information about his reasons for writing. Both sections attest to the apostle’s longstanding de...

963. The Glory of God and Our Neighbor’s Good

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7) Collect One: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. All: Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen. One: May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. All: Lord, def...

964. Infilling

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

The Scriptures often exhort us to be filled with various godly virtues—which means what? How do we know if we are "full of goodness" (Rom. 15:14), for example? Think a moment about a water-saturated sponge. If we push down with our finger even slightly, water runs out onto the table. We immediately know what fills the interior pockets of the sponge. The same is true of ourselves. We can tell what ...

965. Personal Greetings

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

16:1–24 · Greetings:Paul’s greetings relate to Phoebe, co-workers who are presently in Rome, dangers facing the church, and further co-workers and friends. 16:1–2 · Recommendation of Phoebe: Phoebe is a Christian sister who serves as a worker in the church in Cenchreae, one of the two ports of Corinth. The use of the Greek word diakonos does not suggest menial service only. Paul often uses it for ...

966. Personal Greetings

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

At first glance the final chapter of Romans offers little more than a list of names, of interest to Paul and his readers perhaps, but of doubtful consequence for modern readers. Of what significance after all, is a list of unidentified names? Is not a name about which we know nothing really no name at all? Is not our commentary reduced to an exercise in historical trivia at this point? Does not th...

967. But Is It True?

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

Authors such as Lee Strobel, Nicky Gumbel, and Josh McDowell have spoken around the world about these 300 prophecies of the Old Testament and how they all point to Jesus. This cannot be mere coincidence. It cannot be like playing the lottery. The evidence is so overwhelming and the prophecies so compelling that one would think that the only logical conclusion would be to say that it is true. Unle...

968. Secret Revealed

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

At last it happens! Jesus the Christ is born of a woman and is here for all to see in flesh and blood. Paul, as is often the case, is in a celebrative mood. It is as though all of creation is pulsating with his entrance into history. Human nature has a way of enjoying secrets and naturally wants exposures to occur. We are fascinated by the possibility of something or someone being revealed. In th...

969. To An Able God

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

Call to Worship Leader: Glory be to God who is able People: To strengthen us with the good news of Jesus' birth. Leader: Glory be to God who is able People: To bring about allegiance to our faith. All: All glory be to you, all wise and able God. Collect Gracious God, your coming makes the whole world a holy place. Your coming puts the muscle of faith into our daily lives. Your coming adds might t...

970. In Christ the Gospel Is Made Known

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: The Lord has been merciful and has granted us redeeming grace! People: Even while we were yet living in darkness, God sent us the Light. Leader: Only through God's redeeming love do we receive the Good News. People: In the gift of Christ we have been shown the fullness of God's love. Leader: Then let us share God's gift with all the world in word and song! All: Blessed be t...

971. Advent 4

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 David tells his prophet, Nathan, that he wants to build a temple for Yahweh. But this idea is rejected. Yahweh declares instead that he will make a house out of David. He promises David that he will make his name great, give him rest from his enemies and will establish him in an everlasting kingdom. David was promised that his descendants would rule G...

972. Advent 4

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 7:8-16 Theme: Human dynasties, divine destinies Exegetical Note In this passage, God’s promise, extended to David through Nathan, that the great king’s dynasty would be divinely established in perpetuity underscores the recurring biblical notion that God does choose certain human agents - individuals, bloodlines, and even nations - for special relationships and responsibil...

973. God's Mystery Story

Children's Sermon

Object: a book with a juvenile mystery tale inside. Boys and girls, do you like mystery stories? (Let them answer.) I like them a lot. It's fun to listen to the story, or read it in a book, and wonder how it will come out. If the story-teller does a good job, we will get a surprise at the end. I have a story like that in my hand right now. How many of you have ever read or heard this story? (Talk...

974. All Over the World

Children's Sermon

Object: a book of Christmas carols from many lands (or you could use your own hymnal) Good morning, boys and girls. This morning, since it's so close to Christmas, I'd like to talk about some special music. We have a verse today that talks about truth in many lands. The truth is that Jesus came to us and was born as a baby and lived on the earth just like we do. Every Sunday we sing lots of songs...

975. The Greatest Secret Ever Told

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A famous secret recipe (such as Kentucky Fried Chicken) Good morning, boys and girls. The time has almost come and we are only a few hours away from the day that you have been waiting for. Just think, it is almost Christmas and you have made it. Is there any other day in the whole year that you wait for so much as for Christmas day? I don't think so. Waiting for Christmas is something tha...

Showing 951 to 975 of 990 results