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 1201 to 1225 of 4490 results

1201. Disintegration and Reintegration

Mark 14:1-15:47

Sermon

John Smylie

Today's reading is the longest assigned reading that we have the entire year. Many churches break the reading up into several parts, assigning individuals and groups to particular lines and sections. Perhaps we do this so we can keep the interest of the listener. Perhaps we do this so we can engage the drama of the reading. It seems to me the reason we have such a long reading today is because we have come to the heart and center of our faith. We need to hear the whole story. We need to be reminded not in ...

1202. Zombie Zone or Beulah Land?

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

There is nothing like escaping to a cool movie theater on a hot summer night. If you are a high school or college kid on break from school, there is no better stuffy, hot night escape than a scary movie that makes your blood run cold. Ever since the dawn of movies there have been “fright films.” Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman were first on the silver screen. Later on mythical monsters were replaced by urban monsters, and the “teenage slasher” movie was born — where lonely baby-sitters and popular ...

1203. Widows and Their Worries: Back to Bethlehem

Ruth 1:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Setting: Famine and Family Tragedy (1:1–5) · The grim opening of this story grips the reader on three counts. First, it is neither a prosperous nor a fruitful time in the nation’s life (1:1). Second, and not unrelated, the people of Israel face famine (1:1). The fact that a famine prevails in Bethlehem, in Judah’s “house of bread,” together with the religious crisis dominating the landscape indicates an unpleasant visitation by the Lord on the land. The Lord promised famine as one among many of his acts of ...

1204. The Jews and the Law

Romans 2:17-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Beginning in 2:17, Paul takes up the objections of his Jewish dialogue partner, who argues that Israel’s covenant status places Jews in a different position from that of the Gentiles. Paul insists that the Jewish covenant privileges, which he does not deny (3:1–2; 9:4–5), do not exempt them from God’s judgment. In verses 17–24 Paul evaluates the claim that the Mosaic law constitutes a fundamental advantage of Jews over Gentiles. First, he cites the claims of his Jewish dialogue partner (2:17–20). (1) He ...

1205. Life Through the Spirit

Romans 8:1-17

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

In sublime contrast to the questions which have beset the argument since chapter 6 (6:1, 15; 7:1, 7, 13ff.), chapter 8 begins with a thunderous proclamation, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Especially in 7:7–25, Paul’s blow-by-blow account of indwelling sin reminded one of a ringside announcer reporting a losing struggle. But the long and doleful report is now interrupted with ecstatic news. The contest has been decisively reversed. Sin and law may have been the ...

1206. You Feed the Hungry

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Roy Howard

One Friday while Congress was arguing over how to manage the debt crisis, the Washington Post drew our attention to another crisis much more severe than the one we were facing as a result of our leaders’ inability to find a common ground for the common good. That was bad enough. But much worse was the fact that “more than twelve million people were at risk of death and starvation in the Horn of Africa. Even if they did not perish, young children were likely to suffer the lifelong effect of malnutrition, ...

1207. Good Show

Revelation 5:11-14

Sermon

Will Willimon

It was meant to be a put down, a remark aimed to put me in my place. In a way, it did, but not as he intended. Why is Duke Chapel so often full when many university Chapels or local churches are so often empty·? He said, "Well, Duke Chapel puts on such a show on Sunday morning. And there are always those who want church to be nothing but a good show." The buildings, the windows, the great choir, music from two organs, and sermons by two adorable ministers -- Humph! It's all just a show. And I, not one to ...

1208. 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 ...

1209. All Choices Have Consequences

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: Teenage Drinking Teenage drinking often brings with it painful, irreversible consequences. This particular drama not only shows the price of uncontrolled actions, but also incorporates the role every responsible Christian has in the problem. Scene: Living room of a house several days after a fatal car accident Characters:ROB: Nice-looking Christian young man, clean cut, has just killed his mother while driving drunkMARY: Christian young woman, Rob's classmate, sensitive, caring JIM: Christian young ...

1210. In The Beginning

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

June 20, 1982 Comment: "Why don't you do sermons as stories?" mywife suggested. "You tell stories well and people seem tolike them. Besides, you won't end up criticizing us asoften!" My wife has a way about her. That was all I needed to try it out. Who wants to bepreached at? I surely didn't! The first time I tried the following sermon in itscurrent format, I served a church which had a lay person whohad taken university level courses in Old Testament. How doyou preach to someone with that kind of ...

1211. Doing The Right Thing

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

A well-known businessman in this community was recently asked to do something for the United Methodist Church, something inconvenient and expensive. It would require him to make available for a period of several months some facilities which he used in his business. Frankly, when it was decided to ask this man's help no one was very optimistic about a favorable response. For one thing, the man is a leading Catholic layman. He would have nothing at all to gain by agreeing to the request. At the very least, ...

1212. 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 ...

1213. Snow Forts

Ephesians 4:32

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: None. This message employs the children's awareness of a recent snowfall to capture their interest. Lesson: Forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. "Something exciting happened earlier this week. On Monday, it was fairly warm for this time of year. Then Wednesday it got cold, and by Thursday ... What happened with the weather on Thursday?" "It snowed!" come the excited replies. "Yes, it snowed. It was the first snow since last winter, wasn't it?" The children nod their agreement ...

1214. 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 ...

1215. Hidden Treasure

Matthew 6:19-21; 13:44

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Purpose: True life with God is like a great treasure. Materials: A small chest or fancy box, and a bag of coins or play jewelry. Lesson: Most boys and girls have imaginary adventures. Perhaps you have imagined that you were an explorer hunting for a lost treasure. How exciting it would be to dig up a container like this and open it and find a bag of money or jewels in it. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like a treasure that has been hidden in a field and was found by a man. When he found it, he ...

1216. Advent 1

Mark 13:1-31, Mark 13:32-37

Sermon Aid

Wayne B. Keller

Theme: Signs of the end - The return of Christ symbolized by the fig tree. Liturgical Color: Green THE COMMUNITY GATHERS Consider this: Welcome to the party! How have you prepared for this party today? How we prepare for this weekly party will determine partly, how we prepare for the final one. The Scripture gives us signs; God gives us Spirit; the Church gives us symbols. Continue with this litany between pastor and people: Pastor: Here is God's Word to us. Don't get stuck in the past; Update your faith. ...

1217. Mourning Turned To Joy

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Ron Lavin

The 14th canticle from the Lutheran Book of Worship poetically summarizes Jeremiah 31:6-14: Listen! you nations of the world:listen to the Word of the Lord.Announce it from coast to coast;declare it to distant islands. The Lord who scattered Israel willgather his people again;and he will keep watch over them as ashepherd watches his flock. With shouts of joy they will come,their faces radiantly happy,for the Lord is so gen 'rous to them;He showers his people with gifts. Young women will dance for joy,and ...

1218. The Scariest Sound in the World

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Johnny Dean

There’s been a lot of controversy in the past couple of weeks about the decision made by several local counties to move the celebration of Halloween from the traditional date, October 31, which fell this year on Sunday, to Saturday, October 30. The outrage evident in some of the letters published on the editorial page of the Roanoke Times would lead a person to think that some sort of sacrilege had been committed, some grave violation (pardon the pun) of time-honored tradition. And some have pointed the ...

1219. There's Blindness, and There's Blindness

John 9:13-34, John 9:1-12

Sermon

Johnny Dean

John Killinger tells the story of a man who visited one day in a classroom for visually impaired children. Troubled by what he saw, the man remarked, insensitively, "It must be terrible to go through life without eyes." One little girl quickly responded, "It’s not half as bad as having two good eyes but still not being able to see." Her point was well made. There is physical blindness, and there is another, even more tragic form of blindness that affects the spirit. Both forms of blindness are present in ...

1220. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Bulletin Aid

Robert G. McCreight

The Order Of Worship We approach the worship of God this evening with a hushed awareness of Christ's presence in our midst. God again breaks through the calm and darkness to reveal himself to us in the stillness of our hearts. Let the praises of your heart and the songs of your voice be "joyful yet restrained" that we might be sensitive to the quiet indwelling of his Spirit. Organ And Piano Prelude: "And He Shall Feed His Flock"Handel Introit: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"The Chancel Choir The Call ...

1221. Finding Life!

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

"Whoever loses ... for my sake ... will find ..." - Matthew 16:25 As Jesus was starting his final journey to Jerusalem, there to be crucified, he said this to his disciples: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?" In this monumental statement of our Lord, he gives to us a ...

1222. Life in the Community of Believers

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Peter gives a very dramatic and descriptive look at what it means to be the people of God. "You are a chosen race," he said, "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people, but now you are God’s people. . ." That is a significant and encouraging affirmation not only of who we are but of whose we are. It was a difficult and dangerous time for the early Christians when Peter ...

1223. Proper 18

Lk 14:25-33 · Eze 33:1-11 · Phm 1-20 · Prov 9:8-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Ezekiel 33:1-11 The watchman saves his life by giving God's warning to the wicked in the hope that the wicked will repent and live. The setting for this pericope is the defense alarm system of Ezekiel's day. A watchman was posted on a hill to warn the city by blowing a trumpet when an enemy approached. This gave the people in the fields an opportunity to come into the walled city for protection. If the watchman failed to warn, he was responsible for the death of those killed by the invaders. On ...

1224. And You Thought God Didn't Care!

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Someone asked a man,"Do you think the biggest problem in the church is ignorance or apathy?" The man replied, "I don't know and I don't care!" Lots of folks believe that about God. He is either unaware of all that concerns us or is indifferent to it. For all those who suspect God of this detached inclination, who think God doesn't care, there is marvelous truth in the text to refute that notion forever. Let's lay a bit of groundwork and see how this is so. Moses, the emissary of God, born to deliver his ...

1225. The Master Has Come - To Proclaim God’s Kingdom

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

In the novel Barabbas there is a scene where a woman who lives with the outcasts in the valley of Ge-Hinnom, outside the gates of the city of Jerusalem, waits for sleep at night. She hears the groanings of the sick. She thinks about Jesus and the kingdom he is always talking about. She thinks the next day will bring an end to suffering. Later on in the story, after the death of Jesus, many of his followers are persecuted. This woman is led out to the place where people are put to death. A yelling crowd ...

Showing results