Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1401 to 1425 of 4681 results

1401. The Compassionate Healings

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... shock, that Jesus would heal this woman. The nameless woman with bad theology would have flunked Religion 101. We would have expected Jesus to correct her. Instead he healed her. When I was in seminary, one of our professors was quite stiff in his bearing and rigid in his theology. One time when the students sang Christmas carols at his home, they discovered that he wore his clergy collar even with his pajamas and robe. I can imagine that seminary professor saying something like this to the nameless woman ...

1402. The Taught Can

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

... I that do them, but sin that dwells in me." Of course, we pass the test of "let them deny themselves." We are not hearers only. As for "taking up your cross," which is the follow-through Jesus expects, you're doing that, too. Sometimes, like Simon of Cyrene, we bear a cross that others force upon us. We may wish we did not have to, but we carry on. We, too, pray, "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." We cross out line items in our budgets so that there will be a share for God at the bottom ...

1403. No Box Seats In The Kingdom

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

William G. Carter

... going up to Jerusalem. And it's uphill all the way. The road is hard and difficult. We face painful twists and turns. There will be suffering, humiliation, and death. There is no easy road to glory. Are you able to drink this cup? Are you able to bear this kind of baptism?" James and John reply, "Sure, no problem." But do they really know? Do we know? Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom, the mysterious reign of God that grows like a secret seed, ever so gently, ever so silently, until it becomes the greatest ...

1404. The Fear Of Taking The Plunge

Luke 12:35-48

Sermon

Richard Patt

... We often bar ourselves from experiencing the exhilaration and challenge of a new kingdom by determining not to budge from the nice little setup we have concocted for ourselves. As a result, we fly low when we could be soaring. We hedge about believing that God "will bear us up on eagle's wings" when we take the plunge. But Jesus adds another dimension to all of this when he introduces the idea about "being ready." He says, "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for ...

1405. A Light In The Darkness

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... unto death, creatures of the night. Flawed and failing, we all fall short of what God intended for us. We fail our families, we betray our friends, we live for ourselves rather than for God and others. We suffer the bitter harvest of our deeds; we bear the yoke of our bondage to sin; we have worn the warrior's tramping boots and bloody garments. We need a Messiah, a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We receive him this night, but in a paradoxical way -- in a darkened cave ...

1406. The Silence Broken, The Bride Restored

Isaiah 62:1-12

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... them they would never meet with greater suffering than this. Nevertheless, "The Lord will not abandon you for ever. He it is who washes our wounds; his is the hand that wipes away our blood. The Lord will not be silent forever." When the priest, who can bear his own torture and the torture of his people no longer, apostatizes, he says, "Lord, I resented your silence." The Lord replies, "I was not silent. I suffered beside you."1 The form of denial demanded by the authorities was a trampling on an image of ...

1407. Advent Of Angels

Malachi 1:6-14

Sermon

Tony Everett

... and leads a regional grief support team that ministers to and with hundreds of troubled persons. Her witness is contagious. God is in the caring word and actions of Karen, whose father died when she was in grade school. For years she carried a small teddy bear, named Marvin, whose soft warmth provided a reminder of her heavenly Father's comfort in the midst of depression and confusion. As she grew in faith and courage Karen placed Marvin on a shelf in her pastor's office, asking the pastor to use Marvin's ...

1408. Unexpected Joy; Undeserved Gift

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Tony Everett

... the past are coming alive in the present. Our hope for the future is assured. Jesus Christ is born today. The light of joy shines brightly in our darkened world. Hallelujah! Becky and Joe were told by doctors that Becky would be unable to bear children. Their sorrow was enormous. Their dreams of family were shattered. Then, after several years -- an unexpected gift. Becky was pregnant. Days, weeks, then months passed ever so slowly, filled with hope, and tinged with fear. Whatever might happen was in God's ...

1409. Gifts: Rejected And Exchanged, Accepted And Shared

1 Samuel 2:12-26

Sermon

Tony Everett

... to God. And the gift was given. A son was born. A relationship was offered, accepted, and shared. Hannah dedicated the young child to the Lord. After Samuel was weaned, Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, presented him to Eli, the priest of the Lord, at Shiloh. Samuel, bearing the "name of God," began his training as a priest of God. A relationship was given by the Lord to Hannah. A relationship was shared by Hannah with the Lord. Here is where our text begins. Each year Hannah used to make a linen robe (ephod ...

1410. Dabar Adonai

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Sermon

Tony Everett

... , intimate relationship with God, from birth (Psalm 139:13-16). We also have been set apart at baptism; launched by the word of the Lord on a holy mission. Jesus told his disciples, and he tells us, "You did not choose me, I chose you, that you should go and bear fruit" (John 15:16). The word of the Lord takes initiative in our lives, too. Fear and excuses don't work very well when the word of the Lord has come upon us. They surely didn't work with Jeremiah. You see, Jeremiah was not to be alone in his ...

1411. Seeing With New Eyes

Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon

Tony Everett

... weakness. Here is where we gather to hear the saving words, "This is my body, given for you. This is my blood, shed for you." Here is where we hear the good news: Christ has died on the cross for you. Your sins are forgiven. Go and bear fruit. Go forth in mission. Have you ever seen those three-dimensional pictures that appear to be a random pattern of colorful geometric designs? Within this pattern is a clear, computer-generated image. In order to see it, you must relax your eyes and cease your effort ...

1412. Roots Near The River

Jeremiah 16:1--17:18

Sermon

Tony Everett

... the river (v. 8a). These are not overcome by the scorching heat of life's pressures. They are not overwhelmed by an apparent absence of quick and easy self-help solutions in times of great stress. They remain nourished and well watered. Their lives continue to bear fruit in faithful service (v. 8b). Left to our own plans and perceptions we are unable to see lasting meaning and hope in life. Too easily we grasp at any straw for life support. Inevitably, we are disappointed. By our own reason and strength we ...

1413. Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide

1 Kings 9:1-9

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... even death itself. The realization can bring despondency and depression. We feel like hiding out in a cave from the rest of the world, never to be seen or heard again. This is the comforting way out of such dilemmas, but a time comes when we must face the music, bear our cross, and carry the crucible of responsibility for our actions. Third, we can run for our lives, but we can't hide from God who gives us that life. We can run into the darkness of a cave, but we can't hide from the searchlights of God that ...

1414. God Needs To Save This Family

Hosea 1:1-2:1

Sermon

James McLemore

... are not model children. God tells Hosea to choose a woman of questionable lifestyle and corrupt morals. God tells Hosea to find a woman who sleeps around with other men and prostitutes her body. God tells Hosea to let this woman become his wife, and let this woman bear his children. When the children from this woman are born, they will be strange children. In fact, God tells Hosea, "You won't know who they are, and you won't be sure where they are coming from. "You will have a son, and you will call him ...

1415. Advent 1

Luke 21:5-38, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Jeremiah 33:1-26, Psalm 25:1-22

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... the coming of "that day" of judgment are found in the Old Testament in the following passages: Isaiah 13:9-16 and Joel 2:10, 30-31. Fig Tree Allusions: Genesis 3:7 - Adam and Eve sew fig leaves together for covering. Song of Solomon - The fig tree bears fruit and gives a fragrance. Isaiah 28:4 - A warning to Ephraim that the people will be like the first ripe figs of summer which are quickly consumed. John 1:48 - Nathaniel is observed sitting under a fig tree. James 3:12 - A warning against saying one thing ...

1416. Proper 13

Luke 11:1-13, Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-17, Psalm 107:1-43

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... face bankruptcy? Should we invest in companies that turn high profits but do not serve a socially useful purpose, such as tobacco, alcohol, military, and similar companies? If we are selling goods and services, should the price be set as high as the market can bear? Should we produce luxury items that only the wealthy can afford and take away resources from the poorer parts of the population? How many of the assumptions and values that are promoted by society are worldly wise but foolish in terms of God's ...

1417. Weather Signs

Luke 12:49-53

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... how to deal with a conflict. Matthew 10:34-36 -- Jesus refers to the difficult baptism he must undergo and asks if his followers are willing to endure it also. Matthew 16:2-4 -- A parallel passage about reading weather signs. Luke 3:9 -- Fire used to purge trees not bearing fruit. Luke 3:16-17 -- A baptism with fire and fire as judgment. Acts 2:3 -- The Holy Spirit appearing as fire at Pentecost. 1 Peter 4:12 -- A fiery ordeal as a test for Christians. References to Peace: Luke 1:79; 2:14; 19:38; John 14:27 ...

1418. Proper 19

Psalm 14:1-7, 1 Timothy 1:12-20, Jeremiah 4:5-31, Luke 15:8-10, Luke 15:1-7

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... one hundred others. Though only a tiny speck in comparison to the vastness of the universe, each human has immeasurable worth. 3. On His Shoulders. (v. 5) Share Christ's burden in carrying the lost. A. Christ Died for Sins. B. Christ Calls Us to Cross-Bearing. C. Reconciling Sinners. Christians need to share in carrying sinners of the world on their shoulders as Christ works in them. 4. The Lost and Found Department. (vv. 9, 10) A. The Church as a Lost & Found Department B. The Church as a Community of the ...

1419. When Your Nets Are Empty

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... fish. As a courtesy he landed, taxied up to them and told them what he knew. Afterwards, from a hospital bed, he reported, "I was prepared for their disappointment, but not for their anger." We don't like to be told bad news, and messengers who bear it have historically been roughed up. Nor do we want to hear, when things aren't going well, we should try harder. These four fishermen Jesus encountered were not stupid. They knew the lake, the ledges where the fish congregated, the kind of weather you had ...

1420. On The Road To The Cross

Luke 20:9-19

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

... his son in love -- for you and me. What a perfectly illogical, irrational, profound thing to do! So, what is our response? Take that parable apart any way you want to, and we are the tenants in the vineyard. And what are we to do? -- to tend the place, to bear fruit, to care for each other, and to thank the owner with the fruits of our labor. Even though we aren't as faithful as we should be; even though we, too, kill God's messengers with our lack of love and respect for one another; even though we often ...

1421. The Peace That Invades

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

... what those words mean. And yet, there isn't one among us who doesn't need what Jesus offered his first disciples. When life is in a state of confusion: personal relationships are at the straining point, job pressures seem more than we can bear, family and friends offer little support to the lonely, hurting person inside. And "peace" is what we need ƒ some respite from the frustrations, some solace from the pressures, some relief from the inner turmoils. But where does peace come from? Certainly not from ...

1422. Persisting In Integrity

Job 1:1-5

Illustration

... my office journal." She opened the journal confidently and made a brief entry. "Paul will appreciate this journal - it was his idea when I last talked with him about Ray. Ray and I need to talk and reach an understanding or I move on. I'll no longer grin and bear. I'm worth it! Paul knows it. So does Ray." Notation finished, Susan closed her journal and the report file and went determinedly and cheerfully to meet her team for the sail. "

1423. The Sponge And Wine

Mark 15:33-41

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... struggled with the full weight of knowing that all such scenes were necessary. An Inadequate Drug Jesus was more than an innocent victim of injustice. Jesus was contending with the false judgment of the world, its unbelief, and its lack of love. What Jesus had to bear as he suffered at the miserable hands of religious and civil courts would not have to take place for anyone if only humanity had not succumbed to its own self. What Jesus had proved, when he stood trial before the judges of religious and civil ...

1424. Taking The Good With The Bad

Job 1:1-5

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... of his life he made his greatest discovery. Job sat on the ash pile contemplating everything that had happened to him. All hell had broken out against him. Even his wife had let him down. Because of her unutterable loss she believed that she could no longer bear life where all visible tokens of God's presence and favor were gone. She cried out to her husband in this impossible horror: "Curse God and die!" In the darkest moment of his life he made a great discovery -- life is a combination of good and evil ...

1425. Out Of The Whirlwind

Job 38:1--41:34

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... as painful as his suffering. Yet, it sounds so familiar. Our answers are just as poor and painful when we say to a friend in pain, "It is just God's will. You will have to accept it." "God never puts on anyone more than he or she can bear." "If you had enough faith you could get out of this mess." "I know how you feel." "AIDS, after all, is their own fault." These statements are cruel and harsh. William Willimon has suggested that "most of us, realizing the inadequacy of our theology of chaos have learned ...

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