Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 1276 to 1300 of 3314 results

1276. Love One Another

Romans 9:3

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... Joe get better. And the happiest person around, when Joe finally came home from the hospital, was his brother Paul. That is a good example of brotherly love, isn't it, boys and girls? (Let them answer.) Today in one of our readings from scripture, the Apostle Paul offers to give up his own life for the sake of those who are separated from Jesus. Paul wanted everyone to become a Christian, especially those people who were Jews -- like he was. They were like his family, so he wanted them to believe in Jesus ...

1277. The Potter Almighty

Jeremiah 18:1--19:15

Sermon

Richard L. Sheffield

"I believe in God the potter almighty, maker of heaven and earth." That's the beginning of The Apostles' Creed, as Jeremiah might have written it: I believe in God who has created heaven and earth, and you, and me, like a potter at work at a potter's wheel. That's a biblical image that still makes sense for you and me. At craft shows, in art classes, ...

1278. Discern How Things Grow

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... more mature understanding of the Christian faith. But the central point of Paul's argument is not just that a variety of leadership functions exist, but that each of the functions is essential. One should not be considered superior to the others. In the apostle's own words, "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each." Former pastor and church executive Edward White relates an observation from his childhood growing up in Boston. As might be ...

1279. Be Charitable In Your Judgment

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... us to make in the crises we face. At the close of the Epiphany season, our last lectionary text from Paul's letter to the church at Corinth compels us to wrestle with the whole matter of judgment. Once again, the apostle's main concentration centers upon church leadership. Paul argues that pastors, missionaries, evangelists and other Christian leaders should not be put on a pedestal. Unhappily, the Corinthian Christians did just that with divisive consequences within the congregation. Paul sees all church ...

1280. The Witness Of Caiaphas The High Priest

Drama

Dann J. Ettner

... the sins of the worldfor all time. Again, I ask you, who could blame me for the stand I took?This is my testimony. You can either believe me when I tell youthis Jesus was a good-for-nothing troublemaker, or you canbelieve the word of those apostles of His who teach that thisJesus is the Savior of the world, dying on the cross with apurpose. That purpose was that He might be the ultimatesacrifice, offered on your behalf to save you from your sins. Thechoice is yours. I made my choice, right or wrong, and ...

1281. Week Three Of Lent

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... their children. In the Gospel we hear more about the spirit of the law. We remember from our reading of the Scripture that Jesus was criticized on several occasions for his failure to obey the letter of the law. When he cured on the sabbath or his apostles did not properly purify themselves before eating, they were in violation of the law. The Lord always discounted these incidents. Yet today he says that not one part of the law will be done away with until it all comes true. What does Jesus mean? I think ...

1282. The Eighth Meal

Sermon

Robert F. Scott

... with my disciples?" ' He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there." So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said ...

1283. Pentecost -- A Wild, Weird, Wonderful Day

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... 's Edict of Toleration in 311 A.D. that brought about the demise of the church resulting from the church's union with the Roman state and culture. The Holy Spirit And Change What a dramatic change came about at Pentecost, especially to the apostle Peter. We all remember what a vacillating person he was, so impetuous, outspoken and at times cowardly. Now he delivers one of the most magnificent sermons in the New Testament with unbelievable results. The remarkable change in Peter is evident the next day when ...

1284. Jesus Christ, Our Passover Lamb

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

Steve Burt

... , who have taken refuge in the sacrificed lamb. We are the ones who have placed our confidence in a God who never forgets nor forsakes us. The last part is this. Yes, life is difficult. But we who have placed our faith in God will not be disappointed! As the Apostle Paul said so powerfully: If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship ...

1285. The King Of Hearts

Ezekiel 34:1-31

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... sacred journey all over again. But inasmuch as this is the final Sunday of the Christian calendar, perhaps, like Ezekiel, we should lift our eyes -- even if only for a moment -- in order to behold the vision of Christ's future reign of glory, when, as the Apostle Paul so eloquently expresses it, "every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). And on that day of judgment, in which ...

1286. Be Ready!

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Phyllis Faaborg Wolk

... studies with her youth group, praying and exploring her faith with friends. Now, many years have passed, and although my friend still believes that Jesus could come at any time, she no longer has that same feeling of urgency about his return. The apostles and the whole early church also expected Christ to return soon. They anticipated the appearance of Jesus, like we anticipate the appearance of the bridegroom whenever we gather for a wedding. Christ's return was not perceived as something that might happen ...

1287. The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... a moment. But to retain it, it must result in continuing growth. While Paul had a momentous experience on the Damascus Road, he had to spend a lengthy period in Arabia to work out the full meaning of the encounter with Christ. He also consulted with the Apostles in Jerusalem before he was ready to perform his great missionary works. People have to invest their talents in working out their salvation once it has been given to them. Those who are born again in Christ need to grow up to the fullness of maturity ...

1288. Yes, But How?

Sermon

Lee Griess

... stupid!" How ironic it is then, that Jesus would tell us to repent. Instead of offering a word of support and understanding for our all-too-human tendency to cover up our wrongdoings, Jesus tells us to disclose the evil within us, to admit that we have failed. The apostle John tells us the same thing very clearly when he writes, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Whoever we are, whatever we do, we all share one thing in common and that is that we are sinful. Saint ...

1289. Forgiven!

Sermon

Lee Griess

... little, loves little." Forgiven -- that's the theme of today's Gospel reading -- good news for broken hearts -- God's forgiveness can cover us all. Theologian Karl Barth knew this. He once declared, "We live solely by forgiveness." He was but echoing the message of the apostle Paul. Paul knew what it was to struggle with forgiveness. He once wrote that he knew the law better than any and that he had struggled mightily to obey it, for he believed it to be the way of salvation. But instead of saving him ...

1290. The Breath Of God

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Marc Kolden

... There may still be reason to fear; there may still be confusion. After all, if disciples are sent in the same way that Jesus was sent, that could be very frightening. But to be a follower of Jesus after his resurrection is to be sent. In fact, our word "apostle" means "one who is sent." Like "peace" and "Lord," "send" is also a huge biblical word. In Saint John's gospel it is used over and over about Jesus, the one whom God sent to save the world. When Jesus tells his followers that they are now being sent ...

1291. The Sure Foundation

Matthew 7:15-23, Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Marc Kolden

... the Mount, when he says that it is not sufficient simply to say, "Lord, Lord," because faith involves doing the will of God. When Jesus speaks of those who hear his words and act on them, we get a much better picture of faith. Faith comes by hearing, the apostle Paul wrote (Romans 10:17), but it is not the same as hearing. It has to do with hearing and doing, as Jesus said. Faith is what happens with us when we hear. In the Bible the word "obedience" is closely related to faith. "Obedience" is not a popular ...

1292. The Backside Of God

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... gracious to us. For Moses, it is a matter of recalling how God, in God's grace, reached out to the Hebrew people when they did not know God and how God called Moses when Moses did not know God. For us as Christians it is a matter, as the Apostle Paul put it, that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sins." God has acted on our behalf even before we were born, by providing the model of faithfulness and obedience that enables us to live in right relationship with God. The second part is that once ...

1293. Something New, Something Old

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... was that persons with old expectations and old mindsets would fail to see what was happening. They would still be thinking of the tiny mustard seed or the little lump of dough instead of the firm branches of the tree and the raised loaf. This is what the Apostle Paul was getting at when he warned that "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." We must always live by the Holy Spirit in the now, guided by the past but never held back by it. James Conrad, a Kansas attorney, tells how he once felt anxiety ...

1294. The Christian Journey I: The Path

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... one speaks your language and you don't speak theirs. And you can be just as lost with a group of people who just don't understand what you are trying to say. And, of course, we can be lost within ourselves. It is this sense of lostness that the Apostle Paul recorded so eloquently in the letter to the Romans: I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate ... For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is ...

1295. The Christian Journey II: The Mountain

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... mountain climber; and second, that we should never be content to stay where we are in our relationship with God, but should constantly be striving for a higher level, what John Wesley referred to as "going on to perfection." This is the same point that the apostle Paul made by using one of his favorite metaphors, that of the athlete in training, certainly a common sight in the Greek cities in which he ministered. He spoke of the runner: Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal ...

1296. The Christian Journey IV: The Pool

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... climber; and second that we should never be content to stay where we are in our relationship with God, but should constantly be striving for a higher level, what John Wesley referred to as "going on to perfection." This is a point that the apostle Paul frequently made by using athletic metaphors: ... forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.-- Philippians 3:14 Athletes exercise self-control in ...

1297. Table Manners

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... for his servant, apologized, and restored the man's job. Only then could Communion proceed. Part of good table manners is extending graciousness to the other guests. As we have been forgiven and welcomed by God, let us forgive and welcome each other. The Apostle Paul advises us to "examine ourselves" before we receive Communion (1 Corinthians 11:28). Have we received God's invitation with joy? Do we recognize ourselves in our neediness? Are we open to the other guests? These are good "Table Manners."

1298. Prayers for Epiphany

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... anger or revulsion will only bring further damage. We need to pray wisely, but above all we need to pray compassionately. May our love link with your love in reaching out to all manner of persons with all manner of needs. Our faith rests in the Apostle Paul's words, "Pray constantly."* We bring these words to you through the life of our Master, Jesus Christ. Amen. (* 1 Thessalonians 5:17) When we were children, God, time passed so slowly. Especially when we were waiting for a birthday, Christmas, or summer ...

1299. Wedding: Unity Candle

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

Paul, the Apostle, once wrote a letter to his Christian friends in Corinth about the nature of true love. Hear his words as they are found in 1 Corinthians 13 (TEV): Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; ...

1300. Wedding: Garments Of Marriage (for a formal wedding)

Colossians 3:1-17

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

... wedding day. What are the actions and attitudes that will wear well for the two of you when you have to get back to the hard work of daily living? After the wedding clothes are put away, with what garments will you clothe your heart? The Apostle Paul seemed to have a good handle on human nature. Though he wrote his letter to a church family, his words are worth holding onto for the new relationship you two are creating through your marriage. First Paul says to bring these attitudes to your relationship ...

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