Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1226 to 1250 of 4914 results

1226. The Way Things Are

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Sermon

John N. Brittain

The other day I stumbled onto a Discovery Channel show about underwater archaeology (not basket weaving). The archaeologist described the process of identifying the probable location of an underwater wreck site, the grueling work involved in beginning the process, and the same kind of methodical work that characterizes all scientific archaeology. But then her eyes twinkled as she described the joy of uncovering the first artifact, or recognizing a significant discovery. And that of course is what it is all ...

1227. Envision: The Great Commission

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

James Merritt

I am absolutely convinced after having lived my life to this point, that there is nothing more powerful than a vision. Every great institution, every great invention, every great innovation known to the human race has been the result of somebody’s vision. This past month we have asked you to envision a church filled with followers of Christ, who give everything they have and everything they are to doing three things 24/7: Love God, Serve Others, sharing Jesus. It all begins with loving God. We have learned ...

1228. Melchizedek the Priest

Hebrews 7:1-10, Hebrews 7:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

The Enigma of Melchizedek and His Priestly Order In order to make the argument about Christ’s high priesthood as convincing as it can be, the author begins by establishing the great importance of Melchizedek, who resembles the Son of God in many respects and hence serves as a type of Christ. His superiority to Abraham and Levi is then made plain. This in turn leads to a discussion of the significance of his priestly order, which in recent history had found a new and definitive representative in fulfillment ...

1229. The Legitimacy and Superiority of Christ’s Priesthood

Hebrews 7:11-28, Hebrews 7:1-10

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

1230. The Song of Moses and Miriam

Exodus 15:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Singing at the Sea: Worshiping the Lord was Israel’s transition to a new existence. Exodus 15 links the experience of Egypt (chs. 1–14) and the trust-building journey of the first year in the wilderness (chs. 15–18). It ends the traumas of Egypt with a song to, and about, the Lord’s victory over the chaos. Verses 22–27 describe the challenge of trusting Yahweh for basic provision and protection during their journey to the mountain of God (Horeb/Sinai). This “Song at the Sea” has three stanzas (vv. 2–6; 7– ...

1231. The Fall of Jericho

Joshua 5:13--6:27

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

The Fall of Jericho: 5:13–15 Once the people are prepared to do battle in the name of the Lord, Joshua meets a mysterious visitor near Jericho (lit. in Jericho). The stranger is a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand (5:13). Joshua reacts like an alert sentry. He calls the man to identify himself: Are you for us or for our enemies? That request is especially relevant for a warrior standing with a drawn sword. The reply of the stranger puzzles interpreters. The NIV translates it, ...

1232. Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

Isaiah 44:24--45:25

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Cyrus, Yahweh’s Anointed Shepherd: We have noted that the two sections on the restoration of a blind and deaf servant (43:22–44:23 and 42:18–43:21) paralleled one another, but that the former lacked an equivalent to the last paragraph (43:14–21). This parallel ending now follows, in 44:24–45:8, with its lyrical postscript (45:8) marking it as an ending. Yet 43:22–44:23 did have a different sort of lyrical postscript (44:23). For 44:24–45:8 also marks a beginning. It makes an announcement whose significance ...

1233. More Parables of the Kingdom

Mark 4:30-34, Mark 4:26-29, Mark 4:21-25

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: The kingdom is guaranteed by God to grow exponentially, and its concealed realities are soon to be brought to light; so now is the time to open our hearts and minds to its truths. Understanding the Text The basic theme for the parables in this chapter has already been established in 4:1–20: hearing and obeying the word of God by making certain that we are receptive to the kingdom truths. In the four parables that follow in 4:21–34 this is explored further in two ways. First, the lamp and the ...

1234. Possessions and Choice in the New Kingdom Community

Mark 10:17-31

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: This section is about choices and the effects emanating from them. The wealthy man chooses his possessions and therefore will be “last” in God’s kingdom. Those disciples who choose to “leave everything” will be made first, blessed now and vindicated for all eternity. Understanding the Text Wives and children (10:1–16) had very little social status, and Jesus elevated their place in God’s new community. Now he turns to rich and poor. The rich man, though with high moral standards, chooses the ...

1235. We've Got a Friend in High Places

1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28, Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

King Duncan

It was one of those events that you can never forget witnessing. A skyscraper was going up. Hundreds of people paused daily to glance up at it. One day they watched as a giant metal beam was raised to be placed high on the enormous steel skeleton of the skyscraper. And then something terrifying occurred. As the girder came near, a workman leaned out from the sixteenth floor to seize it. The spectators gasped as he lost his balance and fell. Fortunately, he was able to clutch the end of the giant beam that ...

1236. Parabola

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Lori Wagner

[This is an interactive sermon. In order to preach this well, you need to allow your congregants to take part, answer questions, imagine themselves as part of the story.] Prop: ostrich egg I have here an egg. [You can pass around the egg.] This egg belongs to an ostrich. Let me tell you a story about the ostrich, who one day took her eyes off of the place in the sand where she buried her eggs. Lo and behold, when she finally remembered where she had hid them, a predator had come in the night and stolen her ...

1237. The Wedding Planner's Worst Nightmare

John 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

If you were to make a list of jobs that require the ability to think on your feet and handle extreme levels of stress, which jobs would make your list? Fighter pilots, police officers, kindergarten teachers, perhaps? They’d belong on that list, right? What about wedding planners? Surely not, you say, but think about it. Wedding planners juggle hundreds of tiny details while also managing the emotions of the wedding party. Their job is to create the perfect day for the bride and groom. That’s a huge ...

1238. The Nuclear Truth Of Christianity

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Amos Alonzo Stagg was one of the great football coaches of all time in sports history. As a coach he constantly tried to keep his substitutes prepared and ready on the bench. He had the habit of prompting alertness by suddenly popping questions at them while the game was underway. One afternoon he turned to a fourth-string player who hadn't seen a single minute of the game during all the season. Stagg barked, "You, Cartmell! What would you do if we had possession of the ball with one minute to play, the ...

1239. Deliverance

Isaiah 49:8-26, Isaiah 44:24--45:25, Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 13:17--14:31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” (Exodus 14:15) One of the unique experiences of our culture today is the innovation of the “escape room!” Has anyone here participated in an “escape room” experience? [You can invite people to share if you wish.] Anyone know what an escape room is? You have these pretty much in every town now. Basically, you pay money to be locked into a room for one hour either with friends or with strangers. You are given clues and puzzles that will help you find a way to ...

1240. Easter 7

Jn 17:1-11 · Acts 1:1-14 · 1 Pet 4:12-19, 5:6-11 · Ps 68 · Ps 27 · Ps 47

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Acts 1:6-14 · 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 · John 17:1-11 Roman Catholic: Acts 1:12-14 · 1 Peter 4:13-16 · John 17:1-11 Episcopal: Acts 1:(1-7) 8-14 or 1 Peter 4:12-19 or John 17:1-11 · Ezekiel 39:21-29 · Acts 1:(1-7) 8-14 Lutheran: Acts 1:(1-7) 8-14 · 1 Peter 4:12-17; 5:6-11 · John 17:1-11 Theme For The Day: Prayer is the golden thread that ties together the three lections. Acts 1:12-14 states that after the Ascension the disciples went back to the place where they were staying ...

1241. Lent 2

John 3:1-21, Genesis 12:1-8, Romans 4:1-25

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-4a (C, RC); Genesis 12:1-8 (E, L) God appears to a man by the name of Abram in what today would be Iraq, about 1800 B.C., and orders him to leave his homeland and travel to a land that God would show him. God promises to bless Abram and make of him a great nation. In fact, God's promises make Abraham a means of blessing or curse for others. The amazing aspect of this is that Abram was already 75 years of age. Humanly speaking, it didn't seem likely he would see the ...

1242. The Peacemakers

Sermon

John A. Terry

Ephesians 2:14-17Matthew 5:1-12 "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." These are words from President Lincoln's second inaugural address, seeking to make peace after our nation's ...

1243. Time Taken, Life Restored

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

William G. Carter

The woman had been sick for a very long time. So long, in fact, she didn't know what to do. She didn't know where to turn. Everybody suggested a different remedy, but none of them would work. She visited many physicians, but none of them could help. She stayed sick. As time passed, she grew worse. All those medical bills were bleeding her dry. So when she heard Jesus was coming to town, she pushed her way through the crowd. She'd heard about him, of course. The last time he worked on this side of the sea ...

1244. The Peacemakers

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

John A. Terry

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." These are words from President Lincoln's second inaugural address, seeking to make peace after our nation's Civil War. Being the bringer and ...

1245. Christmas 2

Jn 1:1-18 · Lk 2:41-51 · Eph 1:3-18 · Jer 31:7-14 · Ps 147

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14 This passage derives from the "book of consolation" portion of Jeremiah, compiled by Baruch, and covers the 622 B.C. to 609 B.C. period. God promises to redeem the remnant from captivity. They will return with tears of joy welling in their eyes. The earth will participate in the restoration by bountifully yielding her produce; it will be a well-watered garden (v. 12). All inhabitants will rejoice. Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14, 15-18 A hymn of praise to God for ...

1246. Do You Believe In Peace? - Memorial Day

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Erskine White

For He is our peace, who has made us both one. (Ephesians 2:14) If I asked the question, "Do you believe in peace?" everyone of us would say, "yes." Everyone wants peace and everyone believes that real peace would be a blessing to the earth. But if I asked, "Do you believe that peace is possible and that war can be abolished?" many of us would be inclined to say "no," and we could certainly be excused for having our doubts. Someone has calculated that between 1500 B.C. and 1860 A.D., a period of roughly 3, ...

1247. Proper 21

Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 146:1-10, Amos 6:1-7, Joel 2:18-27, 1 Timothy 6:11-21

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE Depending on the lectionary followed and the calendar year, the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost occurs near St. Luke's Day (October 18th). St. Luke's Day is a celebration of the gospel, as well as a day of remembrance for the evangelist. As such, it reinforces the theology of the church year which has been shaped by the gospel of the Lord. It is the second half of the church year, in particular, which needs reinforcement by the gospel of the risen Lord, inasmuch as there are fewer ...

1248. Good News!

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

Sermon

Ron Lavin

From your childhood, think of some good news which came to you suddenly. Maybe it was the announcement of a new baby in the family, or a new puppy. Maybe it was the announcement of a vacation or your first trip to Disneyland. Get in touch with the feeling of good news. That's especially helpful when there is so much bad news around. We certainly hear enough bad news these days. Newspapers, television, and radio bombard us daily with news like: "Pam Am Jet Down;" "258 People Killed;" "Bomb Suspected;" "1 , ...

1249. Monologues: Disciples Redeemed

John 20:10-18, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Drama

Raymond I. Keffer

Saul Of Tarsus "I am Saul of Tarsus. Like my fellow Jews, I am a true believer in the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. I have a commission from the leaders of the one true church to eliminate a troublesome group known as Christians, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth; the same Jesus who was crucified for His false teachings. I intend to give these Christians the same punishment for blasphemy Stephen got: death by stoning. This threat to the one true religion and to the one true God, Jehovah, cannot be ...

1250. Some Crossroads of Family Life W. Dexter Moser

Genesis 25:19-34

Sermon

And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife ... and the Lord granted his prayer. Genesis 25:2 The horn of the diesel train sounded in the distance, awakening me in the dawn of the morning. A horn blast sounded at every crossroad, louder and louder as the engine came near. Then it faded as it passed into the hills on the other side of the city. I then considered the many crossroads that I have had in my life and meditated on the meaning for that very day. Today across this great land of ours, and other lands ...

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