Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 1026 to 1050 of 1679 results

1026. Judas, The Obscure

Drama

Peter C. Garrison

Judas' problem is that he doesn't have any excuse for the thing he does; he has reasons, but no excuses. Have you ever acted in a way you yourself couldn't understand? Dostoyevski noted: "All self-examination ends up as self-justification." But does it? Concerning Judas' problem: Is he deceiving himself or is he deceiving God? (Please read Matthew 26:14-25;Luke 22:3-6; John 6:57-71 and 10:14-18) Judas (Judas sits alone in a dark corner.) This is a confession and I tell you that from the first Judas was an ...

1027. Call Home

Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

The book of Isaiah is a perfect foundation upon which the themes for Lent can spring forth. Repent, return, renew and rejoice appear to reflect the New Testament themes of the Lenten season, but wait: this is an Old Testament prophet calling the nation of Judah to return to God. As God's special messenger to Judah, Isaiah's words brought both scathing warnings, and comforting assurances. This prophet's message appears to bring judgment and joy, confrontation and comfort. While the first 39 chapters of ...

1028. Facing Up To Temptation

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Thomas Long

Searching the aisles of the hardware store the other day for a tube of "Super Glue," I couldn't find it, so I went up to the customer service desk to ask for help from the young man standing at the cash register. He was on the telephone and, when he saw me coming his direction, he turned his back toward me. I could tell he was making a personal call, but I just waited. The call went on and on ... "So did you like the movie ... really? ... Oh you're kidding! ... What did Susan say? ..." Finally I cleared my ...

1029. Lent 1

Mt 4:1-11 · Rom 5:12-21 · Gen 2:7 - 3:7 · Ps 32

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 · Romans 5:12-19 · Matthew 4:1-11 Roman Catholic: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 · Romans 5:12-19 · Matthew 4:1-11 Episcopal: Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17, 25 -- 3:1-7 · Romans 5:12-19 (20-21) · Matthew 4:1-11 Lutheran: Genesis 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:1-7 · Romans 5:12 (13-16) 17-19 · Matthew 4:1-11 Theme: Christ Confronts Satan. Suggested Text For Preaching: Matthew 4:1-11 COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:1-7 This text derives from the second Genesis creation ...

1030. Proper 16 & Pentecost 14

Matthew 16:13-20, Exodus 1:1-22, Exodus 2:1-10, Isaiah 22:1-25, Isaiah 51:1-16, Romans 11:33-36

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Deliverance from bondage. The Old Testament readings, with the exception of the Roman Catholic, focus on God's great acts of deliverance. God sends prophets to announce their approaching freedom. We see the completion of God's intent in the gospel, where he gives to the church the power to deliver people from the bondage of sin. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 1:8 2:10 Generations after Joseph, the Israelites have multiplied and are regarded as a security risk. The period referred to here is from ...

1031. Proper 21

Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32, Exodus 17:1-7, Ezekiel 18:1-32, Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: God judges us not based on what we were but what we are. If a sinner turns away from his sin to the Lord, he is accounted as righteous. This is the point of Ezekiel 18. The Gospel makes a similar point, if the rebel turns to obedience, he is accounted as righteous. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Exodus 17:1-7 (C) The Israelites complain loudly to Moses that they had no water. They question whether the Lord was really with them. In desperation, Moses cries out to the Lord, fearing that they might stone him. ...

1032. Proper 28

Judges 4:1-24, Proverbs 31:10-31, Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, Malachi 2:1-9, Matthew 25:14-30, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Being ready for Christ's kingdom. To be prepared, a person need only walk in the light of God's love and invest her/his talents. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Judges 4:1-7 The Israelites were oppressed by the Canaanites. The Hebrews cried out to God, who sent Deborah as prophetess and judge. Deborah sent Barak and a horde of Hebrews against the Canaanite king, Jabin, and his general, Siera. The Hebrews triumphed over the technologically superior enemy army. Old Testament: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 ...

1033. Invitation To Community

Mark 10:1-12

Sermon

William G. Carter

We have a problem today. Here we are, gathered at worship as the household of God. Through baptism we belong to a worldwide community of faith. Each time we gather, we have an opportunity to pray together and recommit ourselves to peace. Now that we are here, we have to deal with a troublesome and potentially divisive text from the Gospel of Mark. Some Pharisees put Jesus to the test by asking him what he thought about divorce. His response, in turn, has always put a peace-loving church to the test. Jesus ...

1034. Swansong as Themesong

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sermon

Robert Noblett

Have you ever fantasized about what you might say, if given the opportunity, on the last day of your working career to your friends and colleagues who had gathered to hear you? The room is full, a hush has fallen over the group, and your moment has come. What might you say to your fellow teachers, or factory workers, or business associates? I”m not thinking so much of the retirement party, because they tend to be lighter affairs. Rather, I am thinking about your last full and authentic day on the job. In ...

1035. The Fruitful Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

What is a preacher to make of a parable or extended allegory about a vine in an urban and industrial culture? If you are living in a small town or a rural area, people might know something about growing grapes. They might know about the need to prune back old growth since the grapes only form on the new growth. But how many in a large city would know about cultivating a grape vine so that it produces a good crop? For them grapes are something you buy in the produce section of the supermarket. Perhaps a ...

1036. Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday

John 13:1-17, Exodus 12:1-30, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, John 13:31-38

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The institution of the covenant meal for both Jews and Christians. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 12:1-14a This contains the priestly tradition concerning the institution of the Passover, the covenant feast of the Hebrew people. The Passover took over a more ancient springtime agricultural festival, infusing it with fresh content. The month of Nisan (March-April) in which the feast took place marked the beginning of the year for the post-exilic Jews. Formerly, the year commenced in the autumn. The ...

1037. Advent 4

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Both Old Testament and Gospel portray the theme of God building a house, a kingdom or a people. In the Old Testament text, King David desires to build a temple for God but finds out that God is going to be the One building a house (dynasty) of David's descendents. In the Gospel, Angel Gabriel informs the Virgin Mary that God is going to build up his Kingdom through the son she was to conceive through the Holy Spirit. COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 David wants to build in Jerusalem a ...

1038. Have You Accepted Jesus' Invitation?

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

George Johnson

This morning I want to talk to you about becoming a Christian - the invitation of Jesus to come and follow him. It is not my intention to judge who is or is not a Christian, or criticize anyone's experience of salvation, or to suggest that you are not already a member of God's family. My intention is rather to allow this text to speak clearly to us about Jesus' invitation. My purpose is to give voice to Jesus' call to discipleship. I approach this text from Matthew with a few assumptions, a few underlying ...

1039. The Churches and Higher Education

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

Christian College Sunday • Christian College What do the churches have to do with higher education? For this sermon “churches” shall mean organized groups of worshipers claiming faith in Jesus Christ. “Higher education” shall mean “the practice of teaching and learning above the high school level.” Traces of institutions which can be called “schools of higher education” can be found in history as far back as the Sixth Century before the Christ was born. During the “Dark Ages” the schools which became the ...

1040. Two R-Rated Stories

John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

John M. Braaten

We are going to look at two R-rated stories from the life of Christ this morning. I use the term "R-rated" in the sense that when some people observed the behavior of Jesus in these events, they were so morally incensed that in each case they felt he should be censured. The opening scene of the first story begins with a woman who had been dragged out of her house by a couple of her pastors; they had not even given her time to comb her hair or properly dress. She had been caught red-handed, found committing ...

1041. Nothing Is Impossible

Exodus 13:17--14:31

Sermon

Walter Kimbrough

A marvelous story is told by the synoptic gospel writers about a boy who was possessed by an evil spirit. His father was concerned sufficiently enough to seek help for the boy in a time when all help had failed. The boy was brought to the disciples of Jesus with the request for healing, but they were powerless and confused. The father did not give up hope in the quest of healing for his son. So, with an insistent spirit he saw Jesus and reported on the condition of his son with the declaration of the ...

1042. Led By The Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Decisions, decisions. Life is full of decisions. In fact, a number of philosophers and psychologists tell us that the decisions we make (or our behavior) largely make us who we are. Life is nothing but decisions. How do we make them in a Christian manner? We Christians believe that by his resurrection on Easter, Christ has given us new life (1 Peter 1:3). You have been given a new life! Now that we have that new life, how does it affect the way in which we make decisions? At least two of our Bible lessons ...

1043. Where You Go — I Will Go.

Ruth 1:1-22

Sermon

Robert A. Kramer

The ingredients of a lasting relationship include this commitment of similar values: living/lodge, people/friends — family, God/ultimate reality, death/death. The relationship is entered into with the quality of permanence. This implies the need to create a meaningful marriage, to promise to work at growing in love. These two have accepted the gift of a love that makes two come together as one. The love poem from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians emphasizes patience, kindness, non-irritability, control of ...

1044. Monday Morning Faith

Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

Johnny Dean

If we’re honest about it, we have to admit that just about the only place where we feel comfortable making bold statements about our religion and our allegiance to God is in church on Sunday mornings. In our hymns we sing, "All to Jesus I surrender All to Him I freely give." In our confession of faith, we say, "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and I accept him as Lord of my life." And when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it ...

1045. Divorce-Proofing Your Marriage

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

R. E. Lybrand

Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him." So he took some soil from the ground and formed all the animals and all the birds. Then he brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and that is how they all got their names. So the man named all the birds and all the animals; but not one of them was a suitable companion to help him. Then the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one ...

1046. The Cross And Our Shadows

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

Carl Jech

Many of us grew up singing the hymn "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" with it's memorable line: "I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place ..." This image of "the shadow of the cross" has been used in many different ways by poets and writers. In the hymn, it refers to a place of refuge and rest "from the burning of the noon-tide heat and the burdens of the day." The hymn also refers to the strength-giving character of the cross by comparing it to "the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land." Surely ...

1047. Laughing in Church

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Carl Jech

Introduction Long before the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts came on the scene, I had been seeing preachers "roasted" at church banquets. The idea of honoring someone by kidding or insulting the person is nothing new. At a recent convention a United Methodist bishop (I'll call him Bishop Anderson) was roasted with this story: A recent Methodist arrival in heaven was being shown around by St. Peter. A couple minutes into the tour he saw an old friend of his. But it was a disturbing sight. Attached to his ...

1048. Heaven Can’t Wait

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

As we struggle with the burdens of the day, we sometimes wonder, but let the word go forth this morning that we have a future, that however threatening the skies appear, there is no cause for faith to fail. We have the promise of our Lord for that, and he is just as active in our world as he has ever been in anybody’s world. He is at work, in a series of unfolding promises, to bring his ultimate promise to fulfillment. The promise of our Lord is urgent on my heart whenever as a pastor I have opportunity to ...

1049. Epiphany 7

Matthew 5:27-30, Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 5:33-37, Matthew 5:38-42

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: Green Gospel: Matthew 5:27-43 Theme: The dimensions of love. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration "Welcome! Worship is a drama-celebration, no matter what form it takes - Sunday mornings, weddings, funerals and memorials. Therefore, it is not something which is basically heard and seen, but something done. Worship as drama is something we do, not something we watch somebody else do. Thus, the worshiper celebrates the presence of God, not by absorbing what's going on as a sponge, but by ...

1050. A Fool’s Tools

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

It was a ghastly scene. All the faces looked the same, all the bodies had the same blob-like shapelessness, there was no color (only a kind of gray), and whenever there was movement it was uniform ... very uniform ... reminiscent of what we know today as the prisoner’s shuffle. There was no variation ... no difference ... no anything. Just a huge, uniform nothingness. The air was hot, stale, and motionless. And as you watched this display of almost-life, you had the impression that somewhere in the past it ...

Showing results