Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 126 to 150 of 655 results

1 Chronicles 11:4-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

All-Israel Anoints David at Hebron: Whereas the previous narrative about Saul formed the introduction to the Chronicler’s description of David’s kingship, the next section narrates David’s actual anointing and coronation as king and the consolidation of his military power. It is quite clear that the Chronicler wanted to get to this point in his historical description as swiftly as possible. For that reason he skips over some events that are considered important in the Deuteronomistic History (see 2 Sam. 1– ...

127. David's Mighty Men

1 Chronicles 11:10-47

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

128. Warriors Join David

1 Chronicles 12:1-22

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

129. Others Join David at Hebron

1 Chronicles 12:23-40

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

130. Woes and Judgments

Isaiah 5:8-30

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Judgment Missed and Demonstrated: In length and theme chapter 5 pairs with chapter 1 and closes a bracket around 2:2–4:6. Chapter 5 comprises a mock love song; a series of woes that will be completed in 10:1–4; and a warning about Yahweh’s outstretched hand that will continue in chapter 9. In contrast to 1:1–2:1 and 2:2–4:6, no positive note is struck at the beginning or the end. Chapters 1–5 come to a close as bleak as their opening. Rebellion and darkness ultimately bracket them.In length and theme ...

131. Joey and Nicky at Skull Mountain

Mark 15:42-47

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Prop: Anointing oil (preferably frankincense or myrrh) Joey and Nicky at Skull Mountain -- It sounds like a mystery like Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys, doesn’t it? Or for those with a slightly more sinister flair, a story by E. L. Stine. Intrigue, Mystery, Mayhem, and a good dose of the gruesome. And slightly Spooky. The events surrounding Jesus’ death were certainly strange and unusual. The High Priest and his family of former and future high priests had been pushing to get something done about Jesus ...

132. Get the Picture?

John 18:1; 19:42

Sermon

Timothy W. Ayers

Each one of us is either a mother, a brother, a sister, a father, or a friend to someone. We have all felt the loss when a relationship or a relation passes from this life to the next. We know the pain, the depression and grief of that loss. (You may wish to insert a personal loss here.) I know and you know it. Try to imagine the pain of Mary, Jesus’ mother; Peter, his disciple; John, a faithful follower; or even Mary Magdalene, a wretched soul saved by his loving spirit. Can you feel their horror as the ...

133. The King On A Cross

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

Have you ever looked into the face of a real king? You may have seen phony kings, such as the king of the homecoming parade or the king of the Mardi Gras. Doubtless these make-believe kings were dressed in elaborate, elegant robes and wore gilded crowns on their heads. If we ever think of kings we picture them sitting on golden thrones, dressed in ermine and velvet and jewel-encrusted crowns. They are surrounded by high-ranking courtiers and cheered by an adoring people. Therefore, it can come as something ...

134. Perseverance

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme\n Persecution will come. How will we fare? With faith? \nSummary\n Two Christians, tortured for their faith, are talking about \nhow they are going to withstand further torture and be true to \ntheir God. \nPlaying Time 5 minutes\nSetting A prison cell\nProps A crude stool, a wooden cup\nCostumes Old rags, bloodied rag over Aurant's eyes\nTime The future\nCast ARAUNT -- a man, terribly tortured, blackened holes \n where his eyes once were \n NEBUTH -- a young woman\nNEBUTH: (ENTERS SUPPORTING AURANT ...

135. A Criminal, A Cross, and the Christ

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Thomas C. Short

And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you ...

136. The Crisis of Commitment

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

In a few moments, we will commune with our Lord at the Table that He has prepared for us. His command is simple and direct: "This do." But there is an added admonition. It is repeated four times in the accounts of the institution of this Sacrament, and so, certainly, it must be important: "This do in remembrance of me." To eat this bread and drink this cup without remembering, remembering the terrible price that was paid for it, is to eat and drink it unworthily. But can we remember? In that multitude ...

137. Advent: Lament, Repent

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon

Richard L. Eslinger

Israel had much to lament. It was a season for lamentation. The results of God’s anger were everywhere. The destruction is easy to catalog: Holy cities, become a wasteland. Zion, become a wilderness. Jerusalem, a desolation. That "holy and beautiful house," The Temple, burned by fire. "And all our pleasant places have become ruins." Living in the midst of this wasteland called for an incredible patience before the Lord - waiting for deliverance, waiting for return, waiting for restoration. This patience ...

138. The Adoption

John 1:1-18

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

Theme: Adoption, chosen, God’s child and God’s children Characters: Dylan (about 12) Dorie (a year older or younger than Dylan) Stagehand (nonspeaking) Mom Dad Uncle Gus Geezer Tone: Humorous, surprising Setting/Props: Drinking glass Sign that reads “Last Christmas” The first setting is in the children’s bedroom and the second setting is around a table decorated with Christmas ornaments. The third scene is anywhere in the house. Approximate time: 5-6 minutes [Scene 1] Dylan: Dorie, did you hear what I ...

139. Who Am I?

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

Ken Lentz

Back in the '60s, a real "hip" kid attended the morning service of worship at an upper-class church. The pastor greeted him at the door. The groovy kid grabbed the minister's hand and said, "Dad, I really dug that sermon!" The staid pastor was taken by surprise and said, "Young man, I don't understand." The beatnik answered, "Dad, I really ‘went' for that sermon; it really came down the middle, man, loud and cool; it was like, gone, man." The minister's dignity was rattled and he decided to confront the ...

140. Pilate's Dilemma

John 18:28-40

Sermon

King Duncan

Pilate was a politician. That says it all, doesn’t it? I read recently that 53 percent of Americans can’t name their representative in Congress. That doesn’t keep Congress from being highly unpopular. As someone once asked, “If pro is the opposite of con, is progress the opposite of Congress?” Someone else has said that the reason a person in Congress try so hard to get re-elected is that they would hate to have to make a living under the laws they’ve passed. I heard about one southern Congressman who had ...

141. Jeremiah’s Complaint

Jeremiah 20:7-18

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

Jeremiah’s Lament: As we have just heard (20:1–6), Jeremiah’s message was not met with repentance but resistance. He is not proclaimed as a messenger of God come to save the nation from destruction, but he is met with violence because the religious and political authorities believed he was seditious and a false prophet. This complaint records the prophet’s reaction to his circumstances. Using the lament form familiar at least in general structure and tone to what we find often in the psalms of ...

142. Balak to Hire Balaam

Numbers 22:1-20

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God protects his people from those determined to harm them. Understanding the Text In Numbers 21 the Israelites move out of the desert to the western edge of Canaan. They have passed around Edom and gone through Moab into territory north of Moab claimed by Amorites Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, whom they defeat. Though Israel has passed by Moab without attacking, Balak king of Moab feels vulnerable. Moreover, Sihon’s territory now occupied by Israel has previously been occupied by ...

143. Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold

2 Kings 19:1-37

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

To this point in the confrontation Hezekiah has been represented by proxy, through leading representatives within his circle of advisors. Now his personal response is detailed (19:1–4), and his impulse is to send a message to the prophet Isaiah—who makes his first appearance in the text at this point. Earlier we are told that Hezekiah “trusted” the Lord (18:5); the practical ramification is that he is willing to call on the prophet here rather than make an arrest (cf. 6:30–31). Dressed for a funeral and ...

144. Deliverance through adversity

Sermon

Willie Soler

INTRODUCTION Throughout biblical history, both Old and New Testament times, adversity has been prevalent in many of the stories that we have come to recognize. Stories that depict the trials and tribulations that God’s chosen people, the Israelites, and the adopted Gentiles, have had to endure. However, since the beginning of time, God’s plan and purposes have always been to provide deliverance in some form or fashion. God’s unconditional love desires that we live free. Today, we can see adversity taking ...

145. Finish the Drill

Nehemiah 4:1-23

Sermon

James Merritt

I want you to complete this sentence: ". It's not how you start, it's how you finish that counts." I am convinced that is true because of an article someone sent to me that said the best way to achieve inner peace is to always finish things that you start.ed. This person that sent me the article said "it is definitely working for me. I now make a point of always finishing what I start and I am well on my way toward finding inner peace. Here are the things I have finished today:" Two bags of potato chips A ...

146. Elihu

Job 32:1--37:24

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

The Friends Conclude and Elihu Begins Excurses: Had the third cycle of dialogue between Job and his three friends been complete, we would expect to find Zophar’s concluding speech in response to Job at this point. However, at least in the canonical form of the book, Bildad’s truncated final speech (25:1–6), Job’s expanded concluding speech (chs. 26–31), the complete absence of any final speech by Zophar, and the opening comments in the following Elihu section, press the reader to understand this collapse ...

147. Prayers for the Sundays After Easter

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

Our Creator, how we enjoy the arrival of spring. Lush green grass rises in our lawns decorating our streets with home to home carpeting. Bird songs, silent in winter, now fill the air with enchanting melodies. The brown loam of our gardens and fields warms in preparation for the coming seeds and plants. The brilliant colors of jonquils, tulips, and hyacinths edge our flower beds and ring our trees. Who are we that you lavish upon us such splendor? The air warms as the sun dispatches the winds of winter. ...

148. Do you need a Pharisectomy?

Matthew 9:27-34, Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 12:15-21, Matthew 12:22-37, Matthew 12:38-45, Matthew 12:46-50

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed, and they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the Lord has become a reproach to them they have no delight in it.” (Jeremiah 6:10) Props: Coffee and rolls Every home gets to set their own rules. Some are strange. Some are stringent. Some are strident. Some are just plain goofy. Ever been in a home with a white carpet? I bet you were required to take off your shoes before entering. Ever been in a home with all the ...

149. 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 ...

150. On Being in the Wrong Place

Mark 15:21-32

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

In one of his books, A Scent of Love, Keith Miller tells the true story of a mother who took her children to the Animal Farm - a place where they could pet the animals that roamed free and even ride an elephant. Not finding a conventional parking space, the mother parked their little red Volkswagen “beetle” on a little paved apron on the path that led to the ranger station. Then they went out and had a great time. Realizing later, however, that the day had gotten away from them and they were supposed to ...

Showing results