Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1201 to 1225 of 4936 results

1201. Proper 23

Psalm 106:1-48, Philippians 4:2-9, Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Exodus 32:1-14 is the story of the golden calf. Psalm 106:6-8, 19-23 is a historical summary that recounts this event in poetic terms. Exodus 32:1-14 - "The Power of Petition: Part 1" Setting. Last week we noted how the account of Israel at Mount Sinai actually lasted for 72 chapters in the Pentateuch (Exodus 19; Numbers 10) . Exodus 19-34 is frequently separated out as a distinct unit within the account of revelation at Mount Sinai, because it presents a self-contained story in three ...

1202. Should America Repent?

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Responding to a sermon I preached two weeks ago about religious signs on rural roads, someone said to me on the way out of church, “The sign I remember seeing was, GET READY TO MEET GOD." We had those signs in Kentucky, too. As we think about building a highway from Chaos to Christ this Advent, we would do well to hear again the words of the prophet John, who encouraged us and warned us to GET READY TO MEET GOD. In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for ...

1203. Rolling Thunder or Voice of God?

John 12:20-33

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

John 12:20-33 [20] Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. [21] They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." [22] Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. [23] Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [24] Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit ...

1204. Keys That Unlock Miracles

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

H. L. Mencken was for a long time the editor of the American Mercury magazine. One day he startled his employees by suddenly shouting, “It’s coming in the doors!” Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at their boss. “It’s up to the bottom of the desk!” Mencken continued, “It’s up to the seats of our chairs.” “What are you talking about?” asked one of his confused colleagues. “It’s all around us. Now, it’s to the top of our desks,” shouted Mencken as he jumped to the top of his desk. “What do you ...

1205. Isaiah’s Commission

Isaiah 6:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Isaiah’s Commission--To Stop People Hearing: The fact that this testimony comes here rather than as chapter 1 further reflects the fact that the book called Isaiah is arranged logically rather than chronologically. Chapter 6 takes up many of the motifs in chapters 1–5. It also opens a section of the book in which narrative is more dominant (6:1–9:7) and that stands at the center of chapters 1–12 as a whole. Yahweh’s holiness and the implications of that holiness are of key importance to the chapter. 6:1–4 ...

1206. The Advocate and the Street Where You Live

John 15:26-27, 16:4-15

Sermon

Ron Lavin

According to the dictionary, an advocate is "a powerful and influential person who defends or maintains a cause or proposal on our behalf." Someone working for us and on our behalf can be very beneficial when we are in some kind of difficulty or trouble. Someone working for us and on our behalf in life with integrity has value beyond description. In other words, a strong human advocate can save us from dire situations in which we might find ourselves. Let's take the case of a man, let's call him John, who ...

1207. Victorious, Victims

Luke 6:20-36

Sermon

Will Willimon

"Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh." Imagine a sermon which begins, "Blessed are you poor. Blessed are you that hunger. Oh how lucky are you who weep. How fortunate are those of you whom people hate, exclude, revile. Leap for joy those of you who have cancer. How lucky are you unemployed. How blessed are those going through marital crises." The congregation does a double-take. What? Blessed? Lucky? Those who are hungry? Unemployed? Sick? What is this? Thus begins Jesus' Sermon on the Mount ...

1208. Advent 1

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The return of the Lord. In Isaiah 64:1 the writer earnestly hopes that God will rend or tear the heavens and come down to restore his people and subdue their foes. In Paul's introduction to 1 Corinthians he prays that the Lord would sustain them until the revealing of the Lord Jesus. The Gospel has Jesus warning his disciples to watch closely for his return. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Isaiah 64:1-9 (C, E); Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1, 3b-8 (RC) As the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon, they had high ...

1209. The Resurrection

John 20:10-18, John 20:1-9

Drama

Jerry Eckert

This was the first Easter I served as pastor at Emmaus Church in Milwaukee. There were no signs that my dramatized story sermons would work. While there were many wonderful people, there seemed little interest in doing creative things on Sunday mornings. My preaching routine was mostly thematic, occasionally going to the lectionary. My style is conversational but the pulpit was high and to one side in the front. It looked like a battlement hanging out over the slanting floor. There were seldom enough to ...

1210. Why I Can’t Sleep in Church

Ezekiel 33:1-20

Sermon

"If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life." (v. 5) Prayer: You are here with us, O Lord, and we sense your presence. Speak a helpful word to us today, and give us something to take home, to think about, and to put into action. Amen There are many reasons why people sleep in church. Some are better reasons than others, but here are some. You be the judge. People sleep in church because: a. They are tired after working all week. b. They stayed up too late the night before. c. They know more than ...

1211. An Unhappy Homecoming

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

It is customary for politicians to launch political campaigns in their hometowns. Hometown is supposedly where your most fervent supporters are. Jesus launched his public ministry in his hometown of Nazareth, a town of about 20,000. It was there he had grown up, played with friends, worshipped in the synagogue, and assisted his father around the carpenter shop. We think that father Joseph died when Jesus was perhaps in his late teens. Thereafter, Jesus as eldest son took over the carpenter shop and earned ...

1212. WE ARE THE BELIEVERS: TESTIMONIES

Drama

Marcia Miller

As the lights come up, the characters who participate are seen with their backs to the audience. The first speaker turns to the audience and begins to speak. The next speaker turns toward the first speaker, begins, and then directs his speech to the audience. This same technique should be followed throughout the remaining testimonies. If possible, the speakers should be standing on different levels. If this isn’t feasible, the characters should be in a staggered line with, perhaps, one sitting on the floor ...

1213. Who Do You Say I Am?

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

Brett Blair

Jesus and his disciples ventured into the District of Caesarea Philippi, an area about 25 miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee. The region had tremendous religious implications. The place was littered with the temples of the Syrian gods. Here also was the elaborate marble temple that had been erected by Herod the Great, father of the then ruling Herod Antipas. Here also was the influence of the Greek gods. Here also the worship of Caesar as a God himself. You might say that the world religions were on ...

1214. Justified By What?

Romans 3:19-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Florence Littauer was speaking at a Church Growth Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Florence was winning the crowd with her great sense of humor and anecdotes of everyday life. She told one delightful story about a speaking engagement during which she was focusing on the sinfulness of humankind and the need for God's grace. Spontaneously, Florence asked, "Does anyone here know what grace means?" A 7yearold girl on the front row, all decked out in a white dress, stood up and raised her hand. "I know, Miss ...

1215. Where Can I Be Safe?

Psalm 46:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Where can I be safe? That is a question many people are asking. All of us want to know that our home is safe, our family is safe, that those we love are protected. Some unknown wit has suggested some signs that you can put around your home to keep it safe from burglars. Perhaps you will find these signs helpful: Sign #1. Dear Mr. Butcher, starting tomorrow, please leave eight pounds of meat for Brutus. Six pounds only makes him angry and vicious! Sign #2. Dear Mr. Mailman, Please be sure to keep all parts ...

1216. A Platform For Life

Romans 8:28-39

Sermon

King Duncan

Mark Albion, in his book MAKING A LIFE, MAKING A LIVING tells a fascinating story about a practice on the South Pacific island of Pentecost that is very similar to our sport of bungee jumping--except with religious significance. On this island men practice land diving, an ancient ritual designed to please the gods and ensure a good yam harvest. Each man builds his own diving platform. The diver chooses the site carefully. He and he alone is responsible for the construction. The diver also selects his own ...

1217. Oh Taste and See

Psalm 30:1-12

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Do you have a favorite psalm – other than Psalm 23? Is there a psalm that has spoken to you in a special way? Jerry and I had a wonderful experience about three weeks ago. There is a group of students on our campus who meet together each Sunday evening – they cook a common meal – eat together – then have a time of worship, praise, and prayer. It all began because we don’t serve a meal in the Commons on Sunday night and so three or four of them decided to get together and share food and pray. They rotate, ...

1218. It Was for Us

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

James McCormick

There is a Lenten hymn whose words have special meaning for me: “There is a green hill far away, beyond the city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all. We may not know, we cannot tell what pains he had to bear, But we believe it was for us he hung and suffered there That has been the affirmation of the Christian faith for 2,000 years now, that although the crucifixion of Jesus took place a long time ago, at a location far removed from where we are, somehow in a profound way it ...

1219. Ashes for Remembering

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Sermon

Ron Lavin

In our Judeo-Christian heritage, ashes are for mourning — a symbol of loss, weeping — a signal of deep emotion, repentance — a sign of needed change and sincerity — a desire to be conformed to the image of God. But mostly, ashes are for remembering. Henri Nouwen, the Roman Catholic writer, tells us that from a biblical point of view remembering means more than recalling an event or person. Remembering means participation and actualizing former events and people.1 By remembering, we enter into the past. ...

1220. Eating in the Echoing Hall

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

Sermon

Stan Purdum

Here's a question for you: In considering your life to this point, what things, if anything, do you regret? Regret, of course, is a feeling of disappointment or distress about something you wish could be different, and in reality, not many of us get through life without a few regrets. As Frank Sinatra crooned in his song "My Way": "Regrets? I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention." And that's likely how it is with many of our regrets — we might wish that a certain thing had turned out ...

1221. The Power to Begin Again

Acts 3:12-19

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Being married to a public school teacher, I have always been fond of this old poem: He came to my desk with quivering lips, The lesson was done. Dear Teacher, “I want a new sheet," he said, “I spoiled this one." I took the old sheet, stained and blotted and gave him a new one, all unspotted, And into his sad eyes smiled, “Do better now my child." I came to God with a quivering soul The old life was done. Dear Father, “Have you a new life for me? I spoiled this one." He took the old life, stained and ...

1222. There’s Still Time

Mt 6:1-2, 5-6

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

Nowadays the cost of a dinner and a movie keeps going up, and a vacation can be especially expensive, but if I really want to go somewhere I just take the change out of my pocket and lay it on the desk. It's like a time machine. Each coin has a year stamped on it, and just thinking about the year helps me travel back in my memory. 1979 is the year my first son was born and the year I started in ministry. 1981 and 1983 are the years my daughter and second son were born. 1990 was when I moved to Indiana from ...

1223. Asa King of Judah

2 Chronicles 14:2-15

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Asa: The Chronicler dedicates the next narrative episode to the reign of King Asa of Judah (ca. 911/910–900 B.C.). As in the Abijah narrative, the Chronicler introduces a significant portion of his own material, creatively restructuring the Asa narrative in the source text (1 Kgs. 15:9–24) within a coherent theological framework. The Deuteronomistic version communicates a positive image of Asa as a king who ensured religious-cultic purity (1 Kgs. 15:11–15), and it narrates an unrelated episode of ...

1224. Opposition to the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 4:1-23

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Hurdles to Get Over: This section deals with a cluster of obstacles that had to be overcome. It is closely tied into the pattern of opposition we have already observed. Strictly speaking, verses 1–5 round off chapter 3: progress in wall building was countered by enemy opposition triggered by news of it (heard), which in turn was checked by a response from Nehemiah. Verses 6–9 reproduce this pattern of chess-like moves on a smaller scale. Verses 10–23 loosely continue the theme of overcoming obstacles. The ...

1225. Ashes at Starbucks

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

Mary Austin

This passage from Matthew is an odd choice from the lectionary, for the day we have the most public display of our Christian faith. “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them,” Jesus says. Good advice. Then we go ahead and mark our foreheads with ashes for everyone to see. If we stop for bread and milk on the way home or go to an early service and wear our ashes to work, if we stop by for some drive-thru ashes, we can’t help but advertise our faith. Most days of the year, no ...

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