Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1226 to 1250 of 4943 results

1226. Hebrews 1:1-4

Hebrews 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 110 and asserted that the place of the Son of man would be “at the right hand of the power of God” (Luke 22:69). That the Son is “seated” is a significant detail. In Hebrews 10:11-13 the author notes that the Levitical priests continued to stand and serve the Lord with their ineffectual sacrifices, day after day. But since their sacrifices could never “take away sins” they were trapped in a circle of failure, serving without end or results. Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice accomplished the ...

1227. No Time for a Sermon

Hebrews 1:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1228. It’s a New Year: Take 7 Steps Forward

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and who it is that offers the invitation to “follow me.” It is possible to assume that the subject of all this activity is still Andrew (from v.40). If that is the case, Andrew makes the decision to take the jaunt to Galilee where he continues to offer invitations to others to join him in his discovery of the “Messiah” in Jesus (from v.41). Such a translation is less popular, yet it does suggest the reason behind the text’s next assertion, the detail that Philip was from Bethsaida, the same ...

1229. Acts 8:26 40

Acts 8:26-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of Luke’s second volume of work — The Acts of the Apostles — is summed up in Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Embracing and embodying that directive is the continuous theme of Acts. Today’s text is the first of three startling conversion stories that demonstrate just how all encompassing is this directive. The conversions of the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26‑40), Saul of Tarsus (9:1‑19), and Cornelius and his family (10:30 ...

1230. Practicing the Presence

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of Luke’s second volume of work — The Acts of the Apostles — is summed up in Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Embracing and embodying that directive is the continuous theme of Acts. Today’s text is the first of three startling conversion stories that demonstrate just how all encompassing is this directive. The conversions of the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26‑40), Saul of Tarsus (9:1‑19), and Cornelius and his family (10:30 ...

1231. Romans 8:12-17

Romans 8:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... life and death. Choosing between life and death is a daily obligation of those who confess Christ, but that “debt” (“opheiletes”) can only be met because of the presence and actions of the living Spirit. For those who live without the Spirit, who continue to live “according to the flesh,” there is only one certain outcome — death. Faith is the first action that must be taken in this life and death struggle — the faith that accepts Christ and invites the Spirit to become an active presence in ...

1232. Fire! Fire!

John 1:(1-9) 10-18

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... hearts. As Jesus was teaching in the temple one day, he spoke to the crowds saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). We have two choices in this life: to continue to walk in the darkness, stumbling over the obstacles of grace; or to walk in the light, being guided by “the light” of God’s love. In a different translation, John tells us in these words: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God ...

1233. Liberating the Possessed

Luke 8:26-39

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind" (v. 35). This is what happened to Bob. His demon was his addiction to alcohol. Bob was controlled and consumed by the addiction. It colored everything he did, said, or thought. He continued on the spiral down until one day he named his demon. He was able to say in therapy, "My name is Bob. I am an alcoholic." Recovery will take the rest of his lifetime and he knows it. Bob is now an alcoholic counselor at a recovery center ...

1234. Appointed and Sent!

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... scene illustrates the role of a leader to create levels of engagement such that when we, as leaders, stand on an issue, our people will stand with us.3 R stands for Reinvent continuously. Reinvent continuously applies to systems and processes asking how can we do better. Reinvent continuously applies to structures and organization. V represents Value results and relationships. Great leaders appreciate both results and relationships. The two are equal and one must not be raised above the other. John ...

1235. Stuff!

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

... I am single. He has more mouths to feed than I. Ah! I know what I will do." And that evening, under cover of darkness, the younger brother took a sack of grain from his own granary and took it to his brother's granary and left it there. He continued to do this every night thereafter. That same day the older brother thought to himself, "This is not fair ... not fair at all. We must change this arrangement. My brother is single while I have a wife and three children. They will take care of me when I am old ...

1236. Lent 2

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 27:1-14, Luke 13:31-35, Philippians 3:17--4:1

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... step to eternity with you. Give us strength to endure until our human journey is complete. God of All Life — winter will soon be over; we look forward to resurrection day. Amen. Benediction (The candles counting the Sundays in Lent can be extinguished.) May the road continue smooth before you; May there be enough light along the way; May peace greet you at every cross road And joy accompany you to the end. Through whatever pain and suffering is yours to endure Know that God is in it with you. Amid every ...

1237. Lent 5

Psalm 126:1-6, Isaiah 43:16-21, John 12:1-11, Philippians 3:4b-14

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... who sit with us week after week. Thank you for the history and for tomorrow’s dreams. Make joyful noises among us, dance with us, and paint with vibrant colors and illicit rich music as we are filled with your Presence. Amen. Benediction May the road continue smooth before you; May there be enough light along the way; May peace greet you at every crossroad And joy accompany you to the end. Through whatever pain and suffering is yours to endure Know that God is in it with you. Amid every temptation that ...

1238. Proper 17

Psalm 81:1, 10-16, Jeremiah 2:4-13, Luke 14:1-14, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and our attitudes. Thank you for abundant life, for the beauty of the world, and for the friends who sit with us today. Use our talents and our money to make this world more hospitable. Amen. Intercessory Prayers Busy God — we see you continually creating and re-creating. We see evidence of your expansive imagination. We feel you busy among us, making things different from last year, refocusing our thoughts and compelling us to expand our perceptions of divinity and humanity. We want to love you with ...

1239. Liturgy of the Palms

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Luke 19:28-44

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... me?” Sustain us and let us be content with your love — your intangible love. Blow among us like the wind and let us feel divine refreshment. Amen. Benediction (The candles can be extinguished, except the Christ candle, if one has been used.) May the road continue smooth before you; May there be enough light along the way; May peace greet you at every crossroad And joy accompany you to the end. Through whatever pain and suffering is yours to endure Know that God is in it with you. Amid every temptation ...

1240. Liturgy of the Passion

Luke 22:14-23:56

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

1241. Proper 21

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16, Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and for establishing goodness here. Thank you for skills and money that make our life together good and brighten this corner of the world. Thank you for inspiring us to be kind and generous. Amen. Intercessory Prayers Creating God — we see you continually creating and re-creating. We see evidence of your expansive imagination. We feel you busy among us, making things different from last year, refocusing our thoughts, and compelling us to expand our perceptions of divinity and humanity. We want to love you ...

1242. Proper 23

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c, Psalm 66:1-20, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, Luke 17:11-19, 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... God’s goodness with silence, conversation, and art. Prayer Of Thanksgiving God of Wonder — as we feel the history of this place, we are reminded that we too have been polished with percussive fire. As we look at the ocean, we remember that you continue to create and call your handiwork “good.” We look at the mountains and know that the trees and rocks speak your name. Thank you for making humankind in your mold; we appreciate the opportunities to be cocreators with your Spirit. Refresh us this hour ...

1243. Christ: The Victor over Death

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... is the one who conquers death and brings new life. We can be confident that Jesus will bring new life to us. We, in turn, must do what we can, in our limited and finite ways, to bring new life to others. In today's lesson, Paul continues his basic resurrection theme that he has expressed throughout the whole of 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. We first heard of the resurrection of Christ. We were taught that Jesus' death and resurrection was a supreme sacrifice of love for us. As Christ so sacrificed for us, so ...

1244. Transformed to Christ

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... he got an idea. He gathered some ash and rubbed it over his arms, body, and face. He quickly sat under the nearest tree in a posture of one in meditation. When the servants arrived at the scene and saw the man in meditation they asked for forgiveness and continued their search. Finally, they reported back to the owner telling him that there was only a sanyasin, a holy man, in the garden. The owner's face lit up and asked to be taken to the site of the sanyasin. Upon seeing him, he was overjoyed and demanded ...

1245. Did God Really Say...?

Romans 10:8-13

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... to Jesus, the one who went before us. He is the word of God, the last word of God, to which we cling. He resisted the wiles and temptations of the devil and we don't. We fall for them, hook, line, and sinker. Even on the cross the voice continued to whisper into Jesus' ear, "Did God really say ... that you are the Son of God?" Three times on the cross Jesus again is tempted. This time it is not about turning rocks into bread or jumping off the temple or worshiping the devil, but it is about daring to ...

1246. But…!

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... you in the waters of the font and the bread and wine of the table in people like Reverend Willis and his wife ... and in the people gathered with you this morning. You may have difficulty believing ... not just the resurrection of our Lord but how God can continue to love you in the midst of the mess that is your life. But you came here this morning because you knew that here you would once again hear that unnatural, unexpected but. You came longing to hear that this world and your life are not inexorably ...

1247. God as a Consuming Fire

Hebrews 12:18-29

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... even more clearly and strongly than the messages of God's judgment. God threatens Adam and Eve with death if they eat the fruit, but they don't die. God drove them out of the garden and punished them, but God also made clothes for them. God continued to love and care for them, even after their disobedience. The prophets, for all of their thundering, teach God's love, also. Hosea could be almost as harsh as Amos, but he teaches about God's anguish over our sin. "My heart recoils within me; my compassion ...

1248. A Peaceful Life in an Unpeaceful World

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... our prayers have any influence on their decisions, if it grants them any additional wisdom, if it moves their character up even one notch, then our prayers have done some good. Even if we do not see any immediate benefit from our prayers, let us continue to pray for them. They may continue to make mistakes, even big mistakes, but let us pray for them. Even if they act in despicable ways, let us pray for them. Let us pray for them because we believe in prayer. Let us pray for them because we never know what ...

1249. Guarding the Treasure

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... , and mother, Eunice. Timothy is third generation. The letter of 2 Timothy reflects a situation that confronted the church by the third generation. What happens when all of the disciples who had been with Jesus are gone? What happens when Paul is gone? Who will continue the mission work? Who will make sure the teaching of the church is sound? This passage gives a brief thumbnail sketch of some of the essentials of Christian doctrine. We are saved by grace not works. We are called according to God's purposes ...

1250. Lessons From a Hurricane

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... far away in Iowa, God used a congregation that was yielded to him to carry Herbert, his family, and several others from his little congregation to that state where they assisted them in housing, food, and help.[3] God will fill us with courage and hope as we continue to trust him in our hurricanes of life! II. Exist With God In Life's Hurricanes (Jeremiah 17:7-8) Jeremiah says in verse 6 that they will be like a desert shrub that exists in the desert parched land. Their lives are like the uninhabitable ...

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