Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1076 to 1100 of 2561 results

1076. Haunted

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Ok…How many of you have had the experience of looking back at your life and lamenting (perhaps over and over) a mistake you wish you wouldn’t have made? I think we’ve all done that at one time or another. How many of you have had it keep you up at night? That nagging, awful feeling of blame and guilt that just won’t let you go. The nightmares, the sleepless nights! We can be awfully hard on ourselves sometimes. Wrestling in itself is not bad. It helps us discern right from wrong. It helps us learn and grow ...

1077. Good News

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Lori Wagner

When you and I think of “fruit” we probably think about apples, oranges, mangoes –and even tomatoes! But we seldom think of wheat. When we read about “fruit” in the scripture, however, the most common definition of fruit is wheat! Either wheat of the field or grapes of the vine! In today’s scripture, when John issues a warning to the crowds coming to repent and be baptized, he tells them, they must produce “fruit.” In this metaphor, John is talking about wheat! How do we know? Because the second part of ...

1078. Do You Think That I Have Come To Bring Peace?

Luke 12:49-56

Sermon

Will Willimon

What did you do this summer? We did nothing special. Made a number of trips to the lake in a new family boat. Went here and there. But isn't that the way summers are supposed to be? Peaceful. So for us it was a restful summer, peaceful. On Sunday, May 7, the day of Panama's presidential elections, Nicholas Van Kleef, a priest working in the David Diocese of Panama, was shot. Van Kleef was stopped by a soldier as he was driving through his parish inviting people to mass. The soldier got into the back of Van ...

1079. The Future and What to Do About It

Luke 16:1-13

Sermon

Will Willimon

Today we inaugurate the Joseph Harrison Jackson Preacher Fund, established by Professor Kenny Williams in memory of her distinguished father. Dr. Jackson led one of this country's great churches. He preached for a lifetime. I expect he preached on today's gospel. I wonder what he said about it. For my money, this has to be the toughest of tough biblical texts. An employee goes to the boss and snitches. “Boss, your manager has been cheating you.” The boss calls the dishonest manager on the carpet, tells him ...

1080. Lent 4

Psalm 32:1-11, Joshua 5:1-12, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Luke 15:1-7

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

A Father And Two Sons Jesus never discussed abstract and systematic theology as far as we have reported. He did communicate profound insights about the nature of God, human nature, and the relationship between God and people. The parable in today's passage is one of those instances where he did so very graphically. The parable is frequently called "The Prodigal Son." It is sometimes referred to as "The Lost Son" or "The Two Lost Sons." The parable does focus on the attitudes and behavior of the two sons. ...

1081. Come To The Light

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

Have you ever had the experience of losing all the electric power in your home? A friend of mine, who has a cabin on a woodland lake, told me that the worst part of the experience was that he kept flipping on switches as he went from room to room. He was so used to being able to summon up illumination this way, his subconscious kept insisting that it ought to work. The result was that he became increasingly frustrated with fumbling in the dark. He finally gave up and went to bed, only to be awakened when ...

1082. Holy Week

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Monday Holy WeekIsaiah 42:1-7John 12:1-11 Following The Road All people have a vocation in life. Many times the word vocation is applied to priesthood and religious life alone, but this is far too limiting. All people have a vocation, a road that they will follow in life. Some people will follow the vocation to the single life; most will follow the call to married life and family. Some will follow the invitation to become religious and/or priests. Many people will be wives or husbands who work daily to ...

1083. When The Saints Come Marching In

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

Most readers of the Bible seem to have a love-hate relationship with its concluding book. In fact, the Revelation to John almost appears to possess the uncanny ability of being frustrating and fascinating at the same time -- much like a toddler playing with a piece of Scotch tape! They are, no doubt, the most famous last words ever written. However, "well-known" does not always imply "well-thought-of" or even "well-understood." Granted, few portions of Scripture have aroused the curiosity of as many -- I ...

1084. Let It Go!

Mark 8:31-38

Sermon

Elaine M. Ward

Long ago there was an ancient bell that was famous for its beautiful tone. It had been commissioned by the king. The king's advisors had told him that making a huge temple bell would secure the nation from foreign invasion. The specialist who cast the bell had produced several failures until he concluded that the only way to produce a great bell was to sacrifice a young maiden. Soldiers were sent to find and fetch such a young girl. Coming upon a poor mother in a farm village with her small daughter, they ...

1085. Shared Bread

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Sermon

Alex Gondola

There is an ancient legend that comes to us from Persia. It seems a wealthy nobleman once was sitting alone in his garden. Suddenly, unexpectedly, the sounds of a crowd were heard, and the nobleman was surprised to see a ragged man climbing over his garden wall. Panting and out of breath, the man threw himself at the nobleman's feet and begged for his protection. He said he was just steps ahead of an angry mob. The nobleman nodded and casually handed the man the remainder of the peach he had been eating. ...

1086. Ananias And Sapphira, Liars

Drama

Peter C. Garrison

Ananias and Sapphira's problem isn't so much that they had money and didn't give it to the church, but that they lied to God. Remember, money is not the root of all evil; the love of money is ... (Note: Verse 11 contains the first reference to the followers of Christ being called a "church' or ekklesia: the called out/chosen ones.) (Please read Acts 4:32--5:11) Ananias And Sapphira Ananias has just been carried out dead. Joseph of Cyprus (the Levite who sold his field and gave the proceeds to the church) ...

1087. Hard Questions!

1 Kings 17:7-24

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

Children sometimes ask cute questions, but often they are also incisive. In Children's Letters to God, a child inquires, "Dear God, Where does everybody come from? I hope you explain it better than my father. Ward." Another child queries, "Dear God, Did you mean for a giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? Norma." Then, there are those persons who, in the presence of larger questions, can think only of the obvious and mundane. Yellowstone Park Rangers report that, at the place where Old Faithful ...

1088. The Face Of God

Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon

Steve Burt

Here we're dealing with the story of Jacob at the Jabbok River Crossing, an incident in which he wrestles all night and secures a blessing. It's a strange incident, isn't it? We've got something which occurred a thousand or more years before Jesus' time, something reminiscent of superstitions and primitive religions: a man wrestling for a blessing with a creature that must escape before the light of day, like a vampire or a werewolf. This is a strange portion of the Bible to have to deal with. Maybe it ...

1089. Loving Jesus, Hating The Church

John 9:35-41

Sermon

Thomas Long

Those who analyze cultural trends have known for a long time that Americans seem to like religion a lot more than they like church. Whenever pollsters, pencils sharpened and questionnaires ready, knock on the doors of private citizens to inquire about their religious attitudes, it is difficult to find anybody out there who does not claim to be a fervent believer. If people are to be taken at their word, virtually everyone in the general population has a passionate and abiding faith in God. Ironically, ...

1090. Proper 25

Exodus 22:16-31, Leviticus 19:1-37, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Matthew 22:34-46, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; 2:1-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Loving God and the neighbor. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Moses goes to the top of Mount Nebo in the land of Moab, where God shows him the promised land. Then he dies and God himself buries him. Joshua inherits the spirit of Moses and the mantel of leadership. He will bring the people into the fulfillment of God's promise. The Deuteronomist summarizes the life of Moses by commenting that there has never since been such a prophet who knew God face to face. Old Testament: Exodus 22:21 ...

1091. Trinity Sunday

Mt 28:16-20 · Jn 3:16-18 · Gen 1:1--2:4a · Ex 34:4-9 · 2 Cor 13:11-13 · Ps 8

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Genesis 1:1--2:4a · 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 · Matthew 28:16-20 Roman Catholic: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 · 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 · John 3:16-18 Episcopal: Genesis 1:1--2:3 · 2 Corinthians 13:(5-10) · Matthew 28:16-20 Lutheran: Genesis 1:1--2:3 or 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 · Matthew 28:16-20 · Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 1:1--2:4a This is the first of two creation accounts found in Genesis. God creates through the power of his word. This account suggests ...

1092. 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 ...

1093. Liberating Truth

John 8:31-41

Sermon

William G. Carter

During the 1960s, Sherwood Schwartz wrote and produced a number of hit television shows. One of the most popular shows was Gilligan's Island, a comedy about a handful of pleasure cruise passengers who found themselves shipwrecked on a desert island. Every episode featured the castaways of the S.S. Minnow facing a wacky new adventure. The show was an immediate hit of the 1964 season. Each week, a lot of otherwise thoughtful, intelligent television viewers tuned in to hear the Skipper say, "Gilligan, drop ...

1094. Spirit and Life

John 6:25-59, John 6:60-71

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Note: "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life," Jesus says. How can we do anything but give our absolute total attention to every word from our Savior? GREETING Leader 1: Jesus said, "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them." Leader 2: Because he said this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. Leader 1: "Do you wish to go away also?" Jesus asks. Congregation: Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. Leader 2 ...

1095. The Temple Of Wisdom

1 Kings 8:22-61

Sermon

Sue Anne Steffey Morrow

The text appointed for today describes the dedication of the Temple, the magnificent house that Solomon built for the name of the Lord. The Temple itself is something to behold, built of cedar and cypress overlaid with pure gold. It takes seven years altogether to complete the Temple, to finish all of the details; doors of olivewood with carved palms, open flowers, cherubim, an inner core of hewn stone and cedar beams. In the inner sanctum, the holy of holies where the ark would be placed, Solomon builds ...

1096. Tough Faith In Tough Times

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

Two qualities which we Americans value highly and in which we take pride are speed and efficiency. Think of how many products or services which all of us use that are built principally around one or both of these qualities. Hundreds of thousands of microwave ovens have been sold, not because they make food taste better, but because it's possible to cook much faster in them. Since so many people lead such busy lives, anything that shortens time in the kitchen has an instant appeal. A colleague told of ...

1097. Tying Up A Strong Man

Mark 3:20-30, 1 Samuel 8:1-22, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, Mark 3:31-35, Psalm 138:1-8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

Mark's gospel account very quickly gets into the conflict that will eventually culminate in the death of Jesus. Despite, or because of, Jesus' works which aroused wonder and amazement in the multitudes, opposition also arose. Any activity so extraordinary upset the status quo. His popularity threatened the authority and leadership of the official religion. They had to try to put it down before it got out of hand. Even the friends and family of Jesus were concerned about him. How often do people try to ...

1098. As Is

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

Mark J. Molldrem

Once upon a long time ago, a friend of mine owned a yellow Datsun. It was a neat little car that took him over the hills and through the valleys of southern Wisconsin. With "five on the floor," it was fun to drive, shifting up and down, turning left and right, accelerating and stepping on the breaks. The yellow Datsun kept him happy for a couple years, until one day it died. The head cracked and the engine decided not to turn over any longer. It was a sad day for my friend, his only consolation coming from ...

1099. Palm Sunday

Bulletin Aid

Jack Brownlee

ORDER OF SERVICE Opening Words L: Let us worship God, our creator and redeemer, the God of Love. P: God continually preserves and sustains us. L: We have been forgiven with a powerful and engaging love. P: Christ has entered into our hearts and lives, waiting for us to recognize his Lordship over us. Hymn "All Glory Laud And Honor" Prayer Of Confession (Unison) Our hearts break, O Lord, as we watch the poverty and loneliness that confront us on the street and in the news: we feel powerless to respond. We ...

1100. Delivery

Sermon

Michael Rogness

I once visited a church in which the minister delivered what seemed at the time to be an interesting sermon, but I couldn't quite grasp the real thrust of the message, because it was delivered in a monotone, most of it read with little warmth or enthusiasm. [The church secretary] agreed to mail me a copy of the sermon I'd just heard. When the sermon arrived in the mail and I read it, I realized that the structure of the message was coherent and sound and the points well made. I could hardly believe I was ...

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