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Showing 1501 to 1525 of 5000 results

1501. Proper 18

Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Luke 14:25-35

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 18:1-11 Jeremiah's parable of the potter. In a potter's house, Yahweh speaks to Jeremiah non-verbally. Upon Yahweh's direction, Jeremiah goes to a potter's house and watches him make and re-make vessels. When the potter makes a mistake and the vessel turns out badly, he reworks the clay into another vessel that pleases him. Yahweh is saying: "That is what I can do with Judah. I can destroy Judah and re-make it into a people pleasing to me." Judah has a chance of a ...

1502. Proper 22

Luke 17:1-10, Lamentations 1:1-22, 2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Lamentations 1:1-6 Lament for Jerusalem that lies in ruins. The series of seven lections is interrupted by a passage from Lamentations. In 586 B.C. Jerusalem was conquered and burned to the ground. The people were carried away to Babylon. Jerusalem now lies in ruins and is deserted. Along with the city, the holy temple is now a heap of ashes. The book of Lamentations is a collection of five poems moaning Jerusalem's end. It is appropriate that Lamentations is in this series from ...

1503. Would We Rather Be Comfortable Or Comforted?

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

Mark Radecke

"What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?" Jesus asks the crowd. "Someone dressed in soft robes? Those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet." The crowds went out to see one arrayed not in comfortable soft raiment but in the rugged prophet's garb of camel hair and leather. The old saw has it that the preacher's task is to comfort the afflicted... and afflict the comfortable. As we approach our Advent ...

1504. Why Do We Ignore Warning Signs?

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

Recently the New York Times Magazine showed a series of photographs of a rock formation in Yosemite National Park near Bridal Veil Falls. A prominent sign in yellow plastic was attached to the rocks which clearly said: "Danger. Climbing or scrambling on rocks and cliffs is extremely dangerous. They are slippery when dry or wet. Many injuries and even fatalities have occurred." One picture showed a woman walking on the rocks in a tight dress and high heels. Another showed a couple walking on the rocks. The ...

1505. Baptism of The Lord

Mt 3:13-17 ·Acts 10:34-48 · Is 42:1-9

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Is 42:1-9 · Acts 10:34-43 · Mt 3:13-17 Roman Catholic: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17 Episcopal: Is 42:1-9 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17 Lutheran: Is 42:1-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17 Seasonal Theme: The Holy Spirit is prominently featured in the Epiphany Season pericopes. The Spirit does not act in isolation but works to create and sustain the spiritual community. Each week we will examine a different aspect of the Spirit's presence in Christian community. ...

1506. Salvaging Our Lives

Genesis 29:15-30

Sermon

If you have ever made an in-depth investigation of your family history, a genealogy, then you probably came across some ancestors who would qualify as so-called "black sheep of the family." Among my own ancestors my father came across a family will dating back to shortly before the Civil War. In that will it speaks of my great-great-great-grandmother selling off slaves. In fact, the will indicates that the slave family she owned was to be divided up at her death. When I first heard about this I was shocked ...

1507. Easter 4

1 Peter 2:13-25, Acts 7:54--8:1a, Acts 6:1-7, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: God is our Shepherd and guide. In the First Lesson, the church appointed deacons to look after the needs of the church members. They were undershepherds, under the leadership of the apostles. In the Second Lesson, Peter states: "For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls" (v. 25). In the Gospel, Jesus describes himself as the Shepherd and door to the sheepfold. COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 2:14, 36-41 (Look at Lesson 1 for Easter 3) Epistle ...

1508. Trinity Sunday

Mt 28:16-20 · Jn 3:16-18 · Gen 1:1--2:4a · Ex 34:4-9 · 2 Cor 13:11-13 · Ps 8

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Genesis 1:1--2:4a · 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 · Matthew 28:16-20 Roman Catholic: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 · 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 · John 3:16-18 Episcopal: Genesis 1:1--2:3 · 2 Corinthians 13:(5-10) · Matthew 28:16-20 Lutheran: Genesis 1:1--2:3 or 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 · Matthew 28:16-20 · Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 1:1--2:4a This is the first of two creation accounts found in Genesis. God creates through the power of his word. This account suggests ...

1509. I Am The Alpha And The Omega

Sermon

Ronald Lavin

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. --Revelation 1:8 (NRSV) It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Then Jesus came and stood among them. "Peace be with you," he said. After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the ...

1510. Seder Service: The Passover Haggadah

Bulletin Aid

Robert L. Linder and Rabbi Sol Ester

The Passover "A program of fellowship for adults and/or youth in Christian congregations desiring a better understanding of the heritage and the meaning of the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion." This work was inspired and initially written by Rev. Robert L. Linder while pastor of First English Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio. He was assisted by Jewish leaders of the community. It has since been revised by others, including Rabbi Sol Oster of Lima, Ohio. BLESSING OF THE FESTIVAL CANDLES Before ...

1511. Children

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

Comment: A month before, I had told this story at the church I was serving. A colleague at the Hispanic church in town invited me over to preach. I had embarrassed myself the year before by reading both the English and the Spanish versions of a sermon for them, so I decided to go with a translator this time. I sent her a triple-spaced copy of the text so she could get ready for the task. She came prepared. While I read the story, she translated spontaneously. Even I was more captivated with her rendition, ...

1512. The Merciful

Sermon

John A. Terry

Matthew 5:1-12Matthew 18:23-35 The quality of mercy is not strain'd,It droppeth as a gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath: it is twice blest;It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomesThe throned monarch better than his crown.(The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, scene 1) In our practice of "mercy" there is a kind of "I'll scratch your back -- you scratch my back" philosophy. Be decent to others and they will be decent to you. It is like the story on which ...

1513. When Imagination Replaces Memory

Isaiah 42:18-25

Sermon

Harold Warlick

One of the fascinating aspects of being human is our ability to create time. We have memories and can literally sit in the present but remember and live in the past. On the other hand, we also have imaginations and can literally live in the future. We can sit here and imagine what we're going to do as soon as worship is over. Most of our problems in life don't come from our imaginations. They come from our memories. The past presents us with a paradox. On the one hand, a lot of good things have happened to ...

1514. No Particular Place To Go

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

It was the last week of summer when some boys who had spent the summer playing together became restless and bored. School would start the next week and they found themselves not knowing what to do, wearied from all the other summer activities that they had enjoyed. On a hot August afternoon the boys decided to play a round of pitch and putt at a local golf course. At least this would give them something different to do and keep them from complaining to their parents about how bored they were -- which was ...

1515. Stand Tall

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

Several years ago a police officer received a call to respond to a drowning in a small lake. Eugene was surprised since the lake at the deepest point was only about five feet deep. He assumed that the victim was a child or maybe a teenager. When he arrived he was shocked to find that a person over six feet tall had fallen out of a boat and drowned in five feet of water. He imagined him thrashing and fighting the water until he was completely exhausted and "all hope of being saved was at last abandoned." ...

1516. How To Plant An English Garden

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

Sermon

William G. Carter

A service club gathers for lunch each week in a nearby hotel. After lunch and a little business, someone from the group usually introduces a speaker. Club members rarely know in advance what the program will be. They may hear from a Mexican exchange student, a tax attorney, or a team of skydivers. They discover the topic when they arrive. Anticipation was high when one speaker arrived with a carousel of slides. Much to the chagrin of many, he was introduced as a landscaper with an interest in English ...

1517. A Tale Of Two Trees

1 Corinthians 13:13

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A small cedar tree and some red dogwood leaves. Lesson: Jealousy; friendship; love; trust; faith; hope; renewal; self-esteem. As the children gather, I bring over a flowerpot in which I have placed a small cedar tree that "volunteered" in my yard during the summer. I also have red dogwood leaves, hidden in a plastic bag. After greeting the assembled youngsters, I ask if anyone went outside on Saturday. Most heads nod affirmatively. "Did anyone notice the trees?" I ask. Several children indicate ...

1518. Turned On

1 Corinthians 1:17

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: An extension cord and a small lamp. Lesson: Grace, love, friendship, Divine power, light. As the children gather I set a lamp on the floor and begin untangling an extension cord which I have previously determined is long enough to reach from the chancel steps to the outlet in the front of the sanctuary. Then I welcome the children and ask, "What do I need to do to get this lamp to work?" "Plug it in," several children assert as one voice. "Okay, then ... Let's see, we need a power source ..." I ...

1519. The Merciful

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

John A. Terry

The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as a gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown. (The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, scene 1) In our practice of "mercy" there is a kind of "I'll scratch your back -- you scratch my back" philosophy. Be decent to others and they will be decent to you. It is like the story on which George Bernard Shaw based ...

1520. Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-10

Drama

Jerry Eckert

[Comment: A month before, I had told this story at the church I was serving. A colleague at the Hispanic church in town invited me over to preach. I had embarrassed myself the year before by reading both the English and the Spanish versions of a sermon for them, so I decided to go with a translator this time. I sent her a triple-spaced copy of the text so she could get ready for the task. She came prepared. While I read the story, she translated spontaneously. Even I was more captivated with her rendition ...

1521. Third Sunday of Easter

Luke 24:36b-48

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting Leader: "Peace be with you." Congregation: And also with you. Leader: After the resurrection, some of Jesus' first words to his friends were, "Peace be with you." Congregation: We come seeking your peace, blessed Jesus. Your peace is not like the world's, the peace you offer, Lord, cannot be shaken by this world's terrors. Fill us with this peace that defeats even death. Prayer for Illumination God of the Holy Scriptures, we see Jesus' example.When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus resisted by ...

1522. Second Sunday after the Epiphany

John 1:43-51

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting Leader: We have found the Savior! The one expected and foretold by the Old Testament is Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth. Come and see. Congregation: Lord, people have wondered whether anything good can come out of such a place. Leader: Jesus knows your hearts. Come and see. Congregation: I need for someone to know me, from my outward behavior to the depths of my soul. Leader: Jesus knows every moment of your life, and can lead you into an amazing future. Come and see. Congregation: Almighty God ...

1523. Coming Clean

Mark 7:1-23

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting Use the hymn "O For a Heart to Praise My God" for the worshipers' response below. Leader: Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah saying, "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me." Congregation: God, save us from giving mere lip-service! Leader: Children of God, Jesus said, "It is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come." Congregation: Sing "O For a Heart to Praise My God." Prayer God of truth, cut through the camouflage of ...

1524. Who Do You Say I Am?

Mark 8:27-30

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

The Community Gathers to Celebrate (Leader 1 and Leader 5 should be at microphones in the front of the sanctuary. Leader 2, Leader 3 and Leader 4 should be sitting in the pews, and just shout out their response from there.) Leader 1: Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" Leader 2: John the Baptist! Leader 3: Elijah! Leader 4: One of the prophets! Leader 1: Then Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?" Leader 5: "You are the Messiah." Leader 1: Then Jesus began to teach them about the ...

1525. How Do You Remain Religious?

Mark 7:1-23

Sermon

Donald Macleod

Second Series Questions Jesus Provokes Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and ...

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