Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1051 to 1075 of 2157 results

1051. Dealing with the "F" Words of Life

John 21:1-14

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... Augustine. Failure can be a doorway to a new spiritual direction. As you can see from your bulletin today and the billboard outside the church, I have titled this sermon, "Dealing with the "F" Words of Life." If you thought I was going to use the secular version of the word today, you will either be disappointed or relieved that your Pastor is not completely nuts. As I studied this passage of scripture from John 21:1-14, a whole host of words beginning with the letter "F" came to the forefront--like failure ...

1052. Living the Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. These, of course, are the three great monotheistic religions of the world. We often talk about our Judeo-Christian ethics. This is the Number One source. The Ten Commandments are found twice in God''s word. The best-known version is found in our reading today from Exodus 20:1-17. The other is in Deuteronomy 5. You might observe some minor word differences, but in essence they are the same. We humans have always been challenged by the Ten Commandments. We like to ...

1053. The Seventh Commandment: Indecent Proposal

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... live with more control and self-discipline than the animals. Finally God said, "If human beings cannot be faithful in their sexual behavior how could they ever learn to be like me in greater things--like faith and trust?" I like the version of the Ten Commandments that we have been using in our congregational reading during the worship services. I especially like the positive rendition of the Seventh Commandment which reads, "Be Loyal To Your Chosen Mate." Regardless of how you interpret this Jewish story ...

1054. Tired of Trying?

James 5:7-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , they say, is the capacity for calm endurance." Now, I know that most of you are smiling and my family is smiling at me. I think Chuck Swindoll was right when he wrote, "If patience is a virtue--it is RARE and REMARKABLE. We Americans have our own version of the Lord''s Prayer that we utter at anxious moments--Lord, give me patience . . . and I want it right now." (1) On Saturday, July 15, 1944, Anne Frank made a remarkable entry in her dairy. Anne was 15 years old then, and with her family and others ...

1055. Feasting and Fasting for Lent (Part I)

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... America is a man by the name of Millard Fuller. As most of you probably know, the 1970s and 1980s have now been labeled as the "Me Generation" and the "Greed Generation". It seemed that Millard Fuller fit right into those categories. He was a modern day version of the rich, young ruler and Zaccheus rolled into one. Millard began making money in great abundance. By the time he was almost 30 years of age, Millard was a self-made millionaire. He had an impressive listing of what he owned--until his wife began ...

1056. Three Modern Meanings of the Ancient Christmas Story

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

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... Freudian thinking, science, Biblical criticism and other academic disciplines. But when he reached the sunset years of his life, he was now not only educated but wise. He realized how much he did not really know. Now like his childhood days, he believes St. Luke''s version just as it is written. (2) I also find the Christmas story rich in meaning and power for the sacred journey. I find great hope for my life. There are three truths that I believe resound from the Christmas story. There are many more, but I ...

1057. Dealing with the Hard Moments of the Journey

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... on the pages of sacred scriptures who knew what it was to face the harshness of life--it was the Apostle Paul. The lines that best describe Paul''s life of adversity came from the 4th Chapter of II Corinthians. The Revised Standard Version reads: "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." But, my favorite translation of that passage is the J. B. Phillips translation. It reads: "We are handicapped ...

1058. A Fantastic Feast

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Once, while in New York City, I had the opportunity to see the movie "Babette''s Feast," which I liked so much that I bought the video version of it. As I viewed the film, I knew someday it would help form the foundation of a Holy Communion Meditation. As I viewed the film, my mind immediately made connections to the well-known passage of scripture written by Dr. Luke that we just read in our worship service ...

1059. Waiting

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Brett Blair

... eat. We stand in crooked lines, then yell out an order, get it down in five minutes and then get back to the rat race. We haven’t got time to sit down and read a book anymore. Perhaps it is a sign of the times that we have condensed versions of the Bible. In kitchens all over America there are gadgets to get the meal prepared quickly. I would guess Mr. Coffee started it all. Simply spoon in the coffee and pour water. The coffee is made before you can even find a cup. When we become sick we want ...

1060. When Nothing Is Everything

Mark 12:35-40

Sermon

Cathy A. Ammlung

... all the rest. Surely we can't give everything to the church! Surely we can't spend all our time as volunteers in a food pantry! We give what we can and we do what we can; what more could God ask of us? Are Jesus' words simply a religious version of "Give 'til it hurts"? When we hear his approval of the widow who "out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (v. 44), we could conclude that this is exactly what his words mean. Give until it hurts; no, give past ...

1061. The Dangerous Truth

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Cathy A. Ammlung

... to his truth, as he testifies to his Father's truth. They live, forever changed, forever alive in the unsparing yet unspeakably gracious light of God. Then it was Pilate's turn. Would he listen and take to heart? Or would he cave in to the tired old versions of kingly power and truth-spinning that he'd always known? We know how Pilate responded when confronted by Jesus' kingly claim. How will we respond to Christ our King? Will we listen? Will we take his voice to heart? Will we testify to the searching ...

1062. With a Bang or a Whimper?

2 Peter 3:1-18

Sermon

Fredrick R. Harm

... his words but to urge upon them a quality of life that ought to characterize sincere Christians whether they look forward to a blessed Advent season or anticipate the end of the world! However, it is rather interesting to note that when we read the Latin version of this Epistle, each time it speaks of the "coming" of the Day of the Lord, it always uses the word "Adventus" to translate our word "come" or "coming." So, you see, Saint Peter is not far removed from the blessed season in which we find ourselves ...

1063. Ah, the Sweet Mystery of Life

Romans 16:1-27

Sermon

Fredrick R. Harm

An early movie version of Victor Herbert's romantic operetta Naughty Marietta has the young and dashing Nelson Eddy sing to an enraptured Jeanette MacDonald: Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life, at last I've found you. Ah, at last I've found the secret of it all ... Yes, 'tis love and love alone The ...

1064. Don't Fence Me In!

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Sermon

Fredrick R. Harm

... about problems, let's search out some inspired solutions. I believe we find them in our text for this morning. Listen as Saint Paul speaks: "I may do anything I please, but not everything I do is good for me." The New Revised Standard Version has this last clause read: "But not all things are beneficial." This puts us on the track of thought that I want to suggest. The Greek word translated "beneficial" means "fitting, profitable, appropriate, helpful." This points us to the first solution to the problem ...

1065. Congratulations, You've Made the Team

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sermon

Fredrick R. Harm

... be true to. That is the pace that sustains us. Such is the life that wins. The third training rule advises us to keep our eyes on the goal: "Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom faith depends from start to finish" (v. 2). The King James version reads: "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith." Have you ever heard the word "archegos"? Does it sound like a foreign word for someone, or perhaps something, in the same family of words in which archangel or archbishop is found? Actually it is the ...

1066. Grace in the Midst of Exasperation

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

... a gathered group of Christians. It is also inherently risky. The risk is that the story will sound wonderful. Whenever the overwhelming number of details of someone's garden-variety life are squeezed down to a significant few, it can seem that that four-minute abridged version of existence is fabulously more exciting or meaningful than anything the rest of us have experienced in the previous forty years. We may say to each other, "How awesome it is that God is at work in your life," when in fact what we're ...

1067. Grace in the Midst of Unanswered Prayer

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

... as disciples comes about only through what pushes us, pinches us, even crushes us. But isn't Paul taking things a bit too far in verse 10? "Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities." The New International Version renders this statement, "Therefore I delight in weaknesses...." Has Paul crossed the line into spiritual masochism and joined the No-Pain-No-Gain school of sanctification? In fact Paul takes no delight in the reality of his suffering, in the mere ...

1068. Grace in the Midst of Guilt and Shame

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

... for people with broken hearts. I'm here for people who have smeared ashes on their faces, because their lives hurt so badly. I'm here to give out new clothes -- a garment of praise to replace a spirit of despair." The King James Version memorably translates the last phrase, "a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Those pursuing certification in Lifesaving are required to demonstrate a technique that may one day save their own lives. Fully clothed, they must jump into deep water. While staying ...

1069. The Highest Bidder

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... in a pseudo community called Yugoslavia for most of a century. When the veneer is removed, dividing walls that are older than anyone's great-grandparents are suddenly in plain sight, while peace-keeping troops struggle to enforce the next new version of pseudo community. But the best-intentioned, most aggressively enforced peacekeeping efforts are doomed to fail. We cannot keep a peace that does not exist, and there can be no peace -- not between races, or national governments, or theological sparring ...

1070. Lethal Weapon

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... by ripping to shreds someone else we can make ourselves secure. This happens frequently in the world of politics. The past decade has spawned a new term, "disinformation." What it means is that lacking security a person leaks out to the media the version of truth he or she wants known, and suddenly that other person, that idea, and that institution are utterly destroyed. The gossip defeats them at a distance. We've elevated gossip to politically acceptable behavior. Disinformation? So what do we do? There ...

1071. A Guiding Presence

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Our scripture lesson this morning, the second scripture lesson which the sermon is based, comes from Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, the 8th chapter. I’m beginning with the first verse and reading through the 11th verses, and I’m reading from the Revised Standard Version. This is the word of the Lord, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the ...

1072. Servants Without Portfolio

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Our second scripture lesson and the text for our message this morning is from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. I’m going to be reading from the Revised Standard Version. I’m reading the 5th-11th verses of the 2nd chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. This is the word of the Lord. Hear it. “How this mind among yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God did not ...

1073. Playing A Role Or Being A Truth

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... and resulted in his call to ultimate devotion and commitment, to deny self, take up the cross and follow him. His clenching word was the most powerful; for what will it profit a man if gained the whole world and lose his own soul. That’s the Authorized Version, but the new English Bible provides a more meaningful translation. What will a man gain by winning the whole world at the cost of his true self. There is within each one of us a self to be known and an integrity to be cherished to fulfillment. This ...

1074. Living With The Nitty Gritty

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . We don’t have time for a full exposition, but I want to sound some signaled truths from the first verse that I read that will provide self help and more for living with the nitty gritty. Listen to verse 13 as I read it from the Revised Standard version. Therefore, gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Now hear it as Moffitt translates it, brace up your minds then, keep cool. You young people ought to like that. Brace up ...

1075. Living Lightly

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... packed verse is found. ‘Do this,’ said Pharaoh, ‘take some wagons to Canaan and use them to bring back your wives and your children and your father. Give no thought to your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.’ Now the King James version has that 20th verse, regard not your stuff, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours. I like that. Regard not your stuff. There’s all sorts of meaning there. By the time you and I become adults, we have a lot of stuff. We’ve ...

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