Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1001 to 1025 of 2332 results

1001. Death Watch

2 Samuel 12:1-31

Sermon

... was a sinner and his sin with Bathsheba was punished. Most men would have been crushed by the infant’s death. God is not a cruel God who slaughters babies. The baby simply died in an age of high infant mortality, when disease was as common as the steamy desert sirocco of sand stirring in the tents of the shepherds. Yet the consequence of David’s sin was the birth of the babe. David had to live with the death of his child. Nothing would bring his son back. What would David do? He dressed in his purple ...

1002. The Prodigal Prince

2 Samuel 14:1-33

Sermon

... newborn lamb he once pressed to his bosom in a Bethlehem sheepfold. Joab decided to revive the spirits of his commander in chief. He traveled to Tekoa, which would later cradle the head of the prophet Amos. There, on the outskirts of the barren Judean desert, he met a wise woman noted for her storytelling ability. Together Joab and the old crone created a fictitious parable. The woman dressed in black as if she were mourning. Joab saw to it that she was allowed to pass through the checkpoints guarding the ...

1003. Faces of the Nation

2 Samuel 19:9-43

Sermon

... dolls in her arms feels as if she were a mommy. Cabbage Patch dolls sell out quickly and, in some cities, near riots have occurred in stores where they have become available. Cabbage Patch dolls became as popular as an airconditioner salesman in the Mohave desert. Their faces are irresistible. So too are the furry faces of puppies and kittens, as their eyes seem to plead with you to carry them out of the pet store. Faces are essential in life. It would be impossible to imagine a world in which everyone ...

1004. A Senior Servant

2 Samuel 19:9-43

Sermon

... of defeat. Alone, without much food, fuel, or finances, he sat in the wilderness while Absalom ruled his flock Israel. There came to David a few faithful servants. Even in the wilderness of our doubts, and in the nights of our defeat, there are those who will not desert us. Barzillai came with wheat, barley, meal, and honey. Barzillai did not forget who was the true King of Israel. He did not abandon his faith in David or in his God. Barzillai was the rich mogul who had worked his way through the eye of the ...

1005. Love’s Legacy

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sermon

... in the press after leaving their fortunes to dogs, cats, or other pets. David left us nothing that we can touch, taste, or try on. He did, however, leave us a will that reminds each of us that we are living in the will of God. David came from a desert tribe acquainted with the parched feel of dry earth. He knew the suffering of those enduring long summer droughts and famine. He knew, too, the joy of gentle rain upon the fields. He tells us that a good ruler is like the rain which makes grass sprout from the ...

1006. Strong Words

1 Kings 2:1-12

Sermon

... them fight and claw for his tottering throne. His children had disappointed him and exalted him. The psalmist sings his swan song in our passage. He gives to Solomon strong words before the curtain closes on the stage. It is almost night again. The skies of the desert are turning brown. In the pools of lamplight smoldering in the shadows I see an eager bright-eyed youth ... he is holding a lyre with eight strings ... He is ruddy ... His neck is as a tower of ivory ... His locks are bushy, and black as a ...

1007. Easter 6

John 14:15-31

Bulletin Aid

... a relationship between God and believers (and Jesus) so intimate as to threaten the dualistic God-human distinction of Judaeo-Christian theism. Call to Worship Leader: Sisters and brothers, let us worship the ever-present God! People: LET US PRAISE THE GOD WHO NEVER DESERTS US! Leader: Let us bless the God whose Spirit is within us! People: LET US GLORIFY THE GOD WHOSE EVER-LIVING CHRIST IS AMONG US! Collect Most loving God, you have made the Christ ever-present to give us abundant life. Open our eyes ...

1008. Pentecost (Episcopal)

Isaiah 44:1-5, Psalm 104:1-35

Bulletin Aid

... the name of Jesus we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession Compassionate God, we know that our lives are spiritually parched and that our souls thirst for meaning and direction, even while our hearts and minds pull us toward the ever abundant but deceptively and deserts of modern life. Forgive us, we pray, and shower your quenching Spirit upon us on this latter Pentecost Day, making our own spirits fertile seed-beds for life and growth, for both ourselves and others around us. In the precious name of the Christ ...

1009. Proper 15

Exodus 16:1-36

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Murmuring against God Exegetical Note The reaction of the wandering Israelites to their new-found freedom from captivity was almost predictably human: the grass, it seems, had been greener in Egypt than it was now in the desert. Specifically, they were hungry, and "murmured" against God, who responded, not vindictively, but graciously by providing food morning and evening. Call to Worship Leader: May the God of Moses be with us this hour! People: MAY THE GOD WHO DELIVERED ISRAEL FROM BONDAGE BE WITH ...

1010. Proper 21

Mt 21:23-32 · Php 1:1-3 · Ex 17:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

... thanksgiving! People: LET US RAISE TO GOD SONGS OF PRAISE! Collect Eternal God, you were with the Israelites in the wilderness, even when they could not feel your presence. Be with us as well: that, knowing that you are near. we may endure every crisis and desert place that we experience in our own life-journeys. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession Ever-present God, we confess how similar we are to the wandering Israelites of old in our tendency to conclude and complain, in the face of ...

1011. A Glory Revealed to Faith Alone

Numbers 21:4-9

Sermon

... and free from Pharaoh’s power. Then the trouble really started. The people became impatient on the way and rebelled against God and Moses. They even despised God’s gracious and miraculous provision for them in the manna from heaven. In the middle of a burnedout desert, God gave them the food they needed morning and evening without fail. Yet they were somehow blind to it all, and said, "There’s no food and no water, and we’ve had it with this stupid manna!" They wanted to be free, not only from ...

1012. A Glory Revealed in Grace and Love

John 13:1-17

Sermon

... of years before, "Behold my Child will be lifted up and glorified exceedingly." Then Isaiah goes on to describe how the glorification will occur. The suffering Child shall be despised and rejected, stricken apparently by God and afflicted, wounded and crushed, deserted by his disciples, the religious establishment, and the legal system of his day. Then we read that by making himself the willing, sacrificial Lamb of God, he would accomplish and fulfill God’s will. The question that kept coming to my ...

1013. "On The Way To The Cross"

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

... many times before but ... what the heck, what do we have to lose?" So grab a branch, wave it around and shout: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" That was the crowd. And the disciples? Disciples who in five short days would desert him, run away and hide? The disciples also had an agenda: "We’re number 1, we’re number 1! Disciples of Jesus, we’re number 1! After all that walking, after all those dusty Galilean roads, finally we’ve hit the big time! We’re playing Jerusalem, and ...

1014. The Passover Meal Of The Last Supper

Mark 14:12-26

Bulletin Aid

... . R: The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever. L: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom God has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. R: Some wandered in desert wastes, hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. L: Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, R: And God delivered them from their distress; L: The Lord led them by a straight way, till they reached a city to dwell in. R: Let them give thanks ...

1015. Bloody Hands, Troubled Soul

Mark 14:12-26

Drama

... This cup is the New Covenant in my blood. I tell you I will not drink wine again until I drink it new with you in the kingdom." Here he was, within a few hours of betrayal, arrest, torture, trial; knowing that his useless disciples would desert and scatter, still speaking about God’s rule, God’s new promise, still teaching about God’s forgiveness and new life. Breaking bread with his so-called apostles, giving us himself really, putting his life into our hands: "Here, this is my body and blood." We ...

1016. True And False Prophecy

Mark 14:27-31

Drama

... come to be served but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many." PETER: (Solo - after a pause) He reminded us how the prophet Zechariah had said, "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered." But when Jesus predicted that we would all desert him, I protested. Not me! Even if I’m the only one left, even if I have to die, I said, I will never deny you. And Jesus said, "This very night, before the cock crows thrice, you will deny you know me three times." No way, I told him ...

1017. THE FINAL TRIUMPH

Drama

... followers of that carpenter’s son are everywhere! ANNAS: Calm yourself son-in-law. (Annas stands and puts his hand on Caiaphas’ shoulder.) Just last night you were laughing at what cowards these people are. You couldn’t get over the way that they all deserted their leader when he was tried and crucified. You said that they were comical. CAIAPHAS: (Turning away from Annas and crossing down right) Yes! I know what I said! But that was last night. This morning is a different thing all together! (He turns ...

1018. The Yestermorrow Eclipse

John 10:1-21

Sermon

... forth on a darksome track?" And man could well have cried out to the gods, "I’m having enough trouble finding my way. I need all the light you can grant." The word itself in Greek means abandonment, and it was as though the gods had gone away and deserted man, leaving him alone. To coin the song phrase, man felt "lost out here in the stars," with no one to light his way or give him warmth. But that’s all past now. Science has introduced us to saros, corona, chromosphere, and a host of other terms; and ...

1019. Striking Silversmiths Start Riot

Acts 19:23-41

Sermon Aid

CSS

... throughout all Asia," Demetrius said. "He is telling them that our silver statues do not have divine powers. We are all threatened by his attacks and if they continue, our business will go down the drain and the beautiful temple of Diana will be deserted. Grass will grow in the streets of Ephesus, because pilgrims and visitors will no longer come here. We all know that our high standard of living depends on the prosperity of the temple. We’ll lose it all unless this radical Paul is silenced." Thousands ...

1020. Shipwrecked on Malta

Acts 27:1-12, Acts 27:13-26, Acts 27:27-44

Sermon Aid

CSS

... see where they were going. Paul had traveled enough to understand this maneuver, but when the sailors then scrambled into a small boat on the pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, he became mightily suspicious. It was evident to him that the sailors planned to desert the ship and save themselves by making a dash for the shore, since they had no assurance that the big vessel could make it. As canny and experienced seamen, they knew the ship could hit a reef or rock where it would be dashed to pieces ...

1021. Rome at Last

Acts 28:11-16

Sermon Aid

CSS

... be good reason for this. The Jews had enough trouble with the Romans without being accused of fostering a new religion. The Christians, although looked upon by officials as a Jewish sect, included Gentiles in their fellowship. The Jews among them were despised as deserters and apostates by the orthodox Jews and any contact with them could lead to open quarrels. Yet we have a nagging question: why did not Paul send for those "saints at Rome" to whom he had written? Where were they? Paul’s overtures to ...

1022. Which Way?

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

... money or our birth? We’ll see results each time we crack the whip or lay the law down or get tough. But what will be the harvest of it? Who is helped? What trust is built? What mutuality is fostered? Why are teenagers deserting "Christian homes" for prostitution, juvenile delinquency, strange cults, or suicide? What strongarm yield-no-quarter tactics on the homefront drove them out? What could have been accomplished had the parents with the power over them decided not to use it but, instead, had swallowed ...

1023. Changing the "Too Much Syndrome"

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

David M. Oliver

... Jesus. They saw a star in the East. This sign was used by God to create the opportunity for another "thin" place. The phenomenon gave birth to an excited openness. They acted on their openness and planned a costly and dangerous journey across the desert in search of the newborn king of the Jews. This attitude of willing obedience to search out the meaning and significance of God's surprising activity led, at last, to Bethlehem. The Gospel of Matthew says, "When they saw that the star had stopped, they ...

1024. Repent Your Way To A Merry Christmas

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Brett Blair

... . I would not be concerned about economics, politics, the weather, the size of house or the type of car. At such a time I would want to dwell on the profundities, on what life was all about and what things were absolutely essential. John in the desert was in the great tradition of the Hebrew prophets. He was aware that time was running out. In his burning message he had no time for peripheral matters. He was not playing Trivial Pursuit nor was he prepared to splash about in the shallows. Soon the sword ...

1025. God Can’t Keep a Good Secret!

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... stopped one time at a place on their journey, asking for food, they were told they could have it if Mary would help prepare it. In that place, according to the story, Joseph leaned on his staff and a tree started growing from the staff out of the desert sand. As evidence, the believers now point to a great, green tree which still stands there, growing and alive. Myth or not, it is true that wherever and whenever Jesus has been permitted to take "rest," to become "rooted" in the heart of a person, he has ...

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