Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1151 to 1175 of 4943 results

1151. The Cost Of Following Jesus

Luke 9:57-62

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

... alone. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Offertory Prayer Almighty God, it is with great joy that we bring these gifts to you. We are honored to be serving you, and where we cannot go in person we pray that your ministry may reach out through these offerings. Amen. Hymns "Take Up Thy Cross" "Where He Leads Me" "Are Ye Able?"

1152. Rejoice and Be Glad

Matthew 5:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... To Worship (Unison) O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do ...

1153. What God Requires of Us

Micah 6:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to be mesmerized by materialism as the rest of our culture. The bigger the building, the grander the programming, the greater the exposure, the larger the numbers attending: are all just materialistic expressions of the covenant community, not the spiritual heart of the community. To take up the cross daily is to see everyone as Jesus sees them: from the cross. Can we look out on the world from the cross? And we look on others as Jesus looks on us . . . from the cross? What God wants from us, and what God ...

1154. A Personal Experience (Good Friday drama)

John 19:28-37

Drama

Russell N. Gallimore

... Thanks, friend, for helping me in my moment of need.” We were now outside the city limits. We were nearing the crest of a hill. Again, the struggling victim spoke to me: “If any man wants to fellowship with me, he’ll have to take-up his neighbor’s burdens and follow me.” I remember thinking, “What kind of nonsense is that?” Now we were halted atop the hill. The timber was removed from my borrowed shoulder. The supervising authorities placed it across another available timber and commanded the ...

1155. Acts 8:26-40

Acts 8:26-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Christ. The balance between the established Scripture and tradition of Judaism and the new message of the gospel is delicately maintained in today's lesson from Acts. In response to the eunuch's expressed desire to understand what he is reading, Philip takes up the tradition begun by Jesus himself, proclaiming the fulfillment of Hebrew Scripture in the life and person of Jesus Christ. According to Philip's witness, the continuity between the two is unbroken Jesus is the "sheep" or the "lamb" described in ...

1156. Doing the Lord's Work a Dollar at a Time

Mark 8:31-38

Illustration

Paul Larsen

What does it mean for me, a happy person with a good life, to deny myself and take up a cross? I have no final answer, but I did gain some insight from Fred Craddock, a well-known preacher. In a sermon on this text he spoke about commitment and sacrifice and grand gestures. He told this story: "A wealthy man went to his priest with a check for ...

1157. Proper 7

1 Kings 19:1-8, Psalm 42:1-11; 43:1-5, Luke 8:26-39, Galatians 3:23-29

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... you are all children of God in union with Christ Jesus. People: Baptized into union with him, we have all put on Christ as a garment. Pastor: Friends, believe the Good News! People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Exhortation Leave self behind. Day after day, take up your cross and follow Christ. Only in that risk are you ultimately safe. PRAYER OF THE DAY Strong Savior, give such trust in your mission that we may be less anxious for our safety and security and willing to risk more in the living out of ...

1158. Who Do You Say He Is?

Mark 8:27-38

Illustration

Herb Miller

... didn't' fit into what a Messiah was expected to be. Messiahs were supposed to have power, were supposed to take charge, were supposed to set things right and free the Jews from political expression. But Jesus refused to stiff arm anybody. He refused to dominate or to take up arms. Is he Savior? OK. But what is he saving us from and what is he saving us to? Some people clearly had no interest in being saved. When Jesus said the poor are precious and the rich are in big trouble, only those on one side of ...

1159. What Would Jesus Say About Me?

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... children standing at a refrigerator when coming home from school, we want something, but we are not sure what we want. So we find ourselves trying to satisfy this inner hunger. We try things and go places, earn advancements, move to new houses, divorce and remarry, take up a hobby, try to do good deeds, all the while thirsty for God to fill our cup and make us whole. Ex-Beatle, George Harrison, in an interview shortly before his death said, “Everything else in life can wait, but the search for God cannot ...

1160. We Are God’s Answer to Injustice

Luke 9:18-27

Illustration

King Duncan

... Africa, became the answer to his own question. That's a good lesson for you and me. While we are waiting for God to bring in a perfect and just society, you and I are God's answer to the injustice in our world. That's what it means to take up a cross and follow Jesus. It's not a comfortable position to be in. It's not popular. But it is Christ's way.

1161. The Messianic Age

Matthew 3:13-17

Illustration

Adrian Dieleman

... days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. (Isa 2:4) They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isa 35:5-7) Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. (6) Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will ...

1162. Matthew 14:13-21

Matthew 14:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... few loaves and fish. Yet while these actions speak across the centuries to the Christian community as precursors to the Eucharist, they also reflect the traditional actions taken before any meal by an observant Jew. The male head of the household would take up the bread, offer the traditional blessing to God “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth” break the bread, and distribute the pieces to the gathered family members. This familiar act reveals ...

1163. No Litmus Test for Jesus

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... , but rather break through the barriers that institutions, governments, and even churches place before others. Let us be like Elisha who sent his messenger to Naaman and through his action brought not only healing, but additionally, the power of God. Let us as well take up Christ's work to be a physician to those who need us most. Let us do as the author of the letter to the Hebrews suggests: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing ...

1164. Robbing God

Malachi 3:6-18

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... will to do them good; it is specifically a test of God’s faithfulness to the covenant with Israel. For this reason, individuals who desire to demonstrate their own faith in God’s power and goodness by asking for some personal benefit cannot simply take up the invitation to “test me.” Israel’s tithes fed people who had no land on which to raise their own food and God’s covenant blessings were for the whole nation. Furthermore, it is dangerous to test God (Ps. 95:9). God invites this examination ...

1165. John the Baptist's Testimony about Jesus

John 3:22-36

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

Jesus’ interest in “water and the Spirit” (3:5) as the way of initiation into his new community is now explained. As soon as he leaves Jerusalem, Jesus himself takes up a baptizing ministry in Judea. Verse 22, along with 4:1–3, has the appearance of a transitional passage summarizing a stay in Judea of indefinite length (cf. the brief stay at Capernaum in 2:12). But certain details in the summary require further explanation. For example, did Jesus actually ...

1166. Comfort for God's People

Isaiah 40:1-31

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... follow the Isaiah manuscript from Cave 1 at Qumran and the LXX, which both have “and I said.” 40:9 The translation in NIV mg. appears in NRSV, but the idea of Zion/Jerusalem climbing a mountain is an odd one. Further, in 52:7–10, which in several respects takes up the themes of 40:1–11 near the end of chs. 40–55, Zion/Jerusalem is again the recipient of good news, not the proclaimer of it.

1167. Job's Second Reply to Bildad

Job 19:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ,” this “righter of wrongs,” is what Job has in mind. The identity of this goel is not clear, but a more important aspect is the goel ’s function. In Job 19:25–26a, Job states his confidence that his goel is alive and ready to take up Job’s cause in the (likely) event of Job’s death. Job’s preference, though, is expressed in 19:26b–27. Job, while still alive (NIV’s “in my flesh”), would rather stand before God to defend himself. The NJPS captures these lines well: But I ...

1168. Wisdom is Supreme

Proverbs 4:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... –27 begins and ends with the same command, “turn” [literally “turn aside from”].) Wisdom and folly engage the entire person: ear (4:20), eyes and eyelids (4:21, 25), body/flesh (4:22), heart (4:21, 23), mouth and lips (4:24), and feet (4:26–27). The concluding verses take up the path metaphor, warning the youth, as in chapter 2, to get on the right track and then to avoid getting sidetracked (cf. Deut. 17:20; 28:14; Josh. 1:7; 23:6; 2 Kings 22:2; 2 Chron. 34:2).

1169. Lady Wisdom Exemplified

Proverbs 31:10-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the next Hebrew letter, a woman is presented who embodies all of wisdom’s skills and virtues, from a to z. In context this section serves to counterbalance the initial admonition against sexual promiscuity in verse 3. At the same time, it takes up the sustained contrast within Proverbs 1–9 between Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly, presenting a woman who is both capable and virtuous, one who consistently practices what the book preaches in both the domestic and public spheres. By implication, Lemuel (or any ...

1170. Warnings against Wrong Attitudes Toward God and Government

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... cf. Lev. 19:5–8). Ecclesiastes 5:8–9 is probably the most difficult passage in the book to interpret. It is loosely linked with verses 1–7 by the reference to a “higher” authority and by the negative admonition in verse 8. Verse 8 takes up the theme of injustice and oppression again (cf. Eccles. 3:16; 4:1). Upon observing the blatant deprivation of human rights, one should not be stunned or appalled by this “activity” (NIV “such things”; Hebrew hepets, as in Eccles. 3:1). The NIV’s “be ...

1171. God’s Righteous Judgment

Romans 2:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... know about the importance of repentance. But they make the mistake of having little regard for the scope of God’s kindness in view of the hopeless condition of humankind, unaware that they need as much repentance as the Gentiles do. In verse 5 Paul takes up verse 1 and explains why pious Jews are not exempt from judgment, despite the warning of Deuteronomy 10:16. They have failed to recognize that they have a hard and impenitent heart, a condition that will result in God’s condemnation. In verse 6 Paul ...

1172. Struggling With Sin

Romans 7:7-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... fact resulted in death of the “I.” Paul explains that the cause of the death of the “I” was not the commandment but Sin, which used the commandment for its own purposes (7:11). Sin’s mode of operation is described with the word “deceive,” which takes up Genesis 3:13, where Eve laments that the serpent has tricked her. When we interpret Genesis 3 not only as the story of the fall of Adam and Eve but also as the fundamental narrative of human existence, we see that sin deceives in three ways. (1 ...

1173. Prayer and Worship

1 Timothy 2:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ]—see also Matt. 20:28; Gal. 2:20). Paul closes this section by noting that Jesus is God’s own witness to his love for humanity, a witness that has come at the fulfillment of God’s timetable. Thus, Paul calls the church at Ephesus to take up its part in his ministry to the Gentiles through prayer and proclamation, aligning themselves with God’s purposes to save people of every race. 2:8–15 · Men and women at worship: Having issued his appeal for prayer, Paul turns to specific behaviors in worship ...

1174. The Power of Belief

1 John 5:9-13

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... should by the words they hear from our lips and the actions of our lives, be able to know with certainty that we are contemporary disciples of Jesus. Yes, we will fail; we are certainly imperfect. But therein lies the great challenge. Are we ready to take up the mantle, be counter cultural despite the possible costs and provide clear evidence of our belief in the mission and message of Jesus? The message of Saint John in today’s second lesson is one of comfort and challenge, but we can always recall Jesus ...

1175. A Spear, A Nail, A Cross

Psalm 22:1-31

Sermon

Don M. Aycock

... he hung on the cross. Or they can be placed together to form a cross, symbolizing your acceptance of your part of the sin which put Jesus there. The toothpicks can also symbolize your acceptance of the forgiveness which came because of that cross, and your intention to take up your own cross and carry it. You must decide what this day will be for you and what the symbols in your hands are. Between today and Easter Sunday we may remove any smug comfort we might have. We can be thrust back into the pain and ...

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