Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1501 to 1525 of 4963 results

1501. They Call It Grace

2 Peter 3:8-15

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... place at the table. It was written for the person who feels like a thief on the cross — out of time, out of luck, out of hope. And yet there is a place at the table. It was written for the person who feels like Judas — my life is a lie; this smile ... again. Lost but now found. Bring on the fatted calf. Come and eat." He knew that the delay of Jesus' return meant that there was hope and grace for his daughter. Make no mistake. Grace doesn't condone sin and sweep it under the rug with inane excuses such as, " ...

1502. Eyes on the Prize

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Sermon

Gibson “Nibs” Stroupe

... seen in his own experience on the road to Damascus and in his missionary journeys. He emphasizes here that the power of the resurrection is available for him and for the Corinthians: "the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus." Based on this hope, Paul tells the Corinthians that "everything is for your sake," a phrase that he uses frequently in this letter (2 Corinthians 1:26-2:10; 5:13; 8:23). All that Paul does in relation to Corinth is so that they will know the grace, the new life ...

1503. Praying in Boldness and Faith

Hebrews 4:12-16

Sermon

Patrick J. Rooney

... requests known to him. This does not mean that we should pray as if we were ordering clothes from a catalog, asking for one of those and one of those, confident that God, like some clerk in a warehouse, will fill our order. Rather, trusting in faith and believing in hope, we pray as those who come to stand in awe before God. For he is God, the almighty, the creator. We are not worthy of ourselves to stand before him. In the mystery and majesty of God, we, like Moses of old, should be taking our shoes off as ...

1504. Two Futures

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... life. I earned everything I got and I’m proud of it. I did it the old American way. By the sweat of my brow and that’s the only way. Person 2: Life is like getting an undeserved inheritance — of time and opportunity — I hope Bobby discovers that. Person 1: Wife’s parents are a pain. They interfere, give unsolicited advice, and seem pretty controlling. Person 2: Grandparents are wonderful. Person 1: Grandma came for a visit last week, spoiled the kid rotten. Person 2: I’m so glad Grandma visits ...

1505. When Israel Sang the Blues

Mark 13:1-31

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... has deserted us? Eshmore: Feels like it. Jarah: We need a leader to get us out of here — you think there’s any hope? Eshmore: Dunno. I suppose God could do something —maybe will. What are you doing, Jarah? Jarah: (sits down and plays a stringed ... are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” Scene 2: Defeated And In Exile —Longing For Hope (Stagehand carries sign, “Approximately 714 years later — 586 BCE in Babylon.”) Geezer: Here we are in Babylon, Abab, like prisoners with ...

1506. A Christmas Program

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... me to look after her. So we set out on foot for the “house of bread”; that’s what Bethlehem means. I looked forward to getting back to my hometown, but when we got there, we had no place to stay. The town was full. Every inn was occupied. I hoped someone would take pity on Mary and me, since she was really pregnant. We ended up here in this stable — no heat —no light —no running water. And right here Mary gave birth do Jesus. We wrapped him up tightly to keep him warm and laid him in the manger ...

1507. Christmas Puppet Play

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... and gals, do you just looove presents, too? Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and yell out, “Merry Christmas,” if you like presents. (Odie and Carl wait for audience response.) Carl: Yep. They are nuts over presents, too. Hey, Odie, what do you hope you get for Christmas? Odie: Well, Carl, that’s easy. I have my list right here. Let’s see ... five dozen dog biscuits ... 46 chewy bones ... a plastic fire hydrant ... Carl: (interrupts) Okay, okay. Your list is extremely long. Here’s what I want ...

1508. Reconciliation: The Heart of Love

Hosea 2:14-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... wife in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord" (Hosea 2:19-20). In a very real way, God is holding out hope that Israel will once again return and be the nation that it was intended to be. Reconciliation is always possible. God has ... waiting for us to return. God is like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, who patiently waits for his son, never giving up hope that he will one day return. There is nothing that cannot be forgiven, nothing that cannot be overcome by God's love. A dramatic example ...

1509. Who Am I?

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

Ken Lentz

... , in union with Christ, and ready to start a new life. The existence of the Ethiopian Orthodox church today might be a witness to the eunuch's powerful witness. Who knows? The point is this: The Ethiopian eunuch found identity in Christ and probably shared the hope of a meaningful new identity with others. Back to Bonhoeffer's question. "Who am I?" "Who are we?" Maybe we don't care. But some of us do. Hans Kueng, the German theologian, points out that there are those, however, "who are not content to spend ...

1510. Help from Above

Illustration

... water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope! Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If ...

1511. The Four Scents of Adventing

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... placed in our world? Response: Join the world in a chorus that Charles Wesley first penned in 1745: Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our ...

1512. Don’t Burn The Cookies!

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... 's second coming when he will establish a reign of justice and peace. * Anticipation — seeing a heavy snow fall and hoping school is closed tomorrow. * Anticipation — seeing beautifully wrapped gifts under a tree and hoping they are for you. * Anticipation — hoping that Tom will bring his tasty cheese and mushroom bread to the office party. * Anticipation — smelling Christmas goodies and hoping to get the first cookie out of the batch. In the weeks ahead we will be treated to goodies we wouldn ...

1513. The Coat Off Your Back

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... people so distracted "by the world" that we fail to see the needs of those around us. We are called to be people willing to give in love and give whatever it takes to fill a need — people, who seeing that need (a person with no socks, no coat, no hope) won't turn the other way simply because it doesn't fit into their plans. As Christians we are called to look beyond our own needs to the needs of others. The young accountant, so richly blessed, did not know at that time his "source of blessing." His life ...

1514. Getting Back into Shape

John 8:31-36

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... treasure on earth, a greedy age, that doesn't know to look for greater treasure in the world to come. We are an age without hope. We are an age that is afraid. We are an age that desperately needs to hear the good news. Ours is a world that needs ... the present; that God is calling us forward into the future. God is reforming us now, beckoning us back to the truth, back to hope and life and forgiveness we can never earn. God is sending us out to live and speak life. Through Jesus Christ, God forgives and ...

1515. Saint Who?

Luke 6:27-36, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... apparently not counted on; a grown man in a tree — a disreputable businessman at that — is rather hard to miss.Jesus didn't miss him. We talk often about our need to invite Jesus into our hearts and into our lives. Jesus knocks on the door politely and somewhat timidly, hoping we'll open up and let him in. But it doesn't always work that way. Jesus doesn't always wait for an invitation. Sometimes Jesus just barges on in. That's what he did with Zacchaeus. Jesus didn't stand at the foot of the tree and ...

1516. Advent 3

Isaiah 12:2-6, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Luke 3:1-20, Philippians 4:4-7

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... expecting God to come among us in new ways; we are expecting to birth holiness right here! People: Ring the bells! Clap your hands! Our hearts rejoice. Leader: Make a circle. Light a fire. Sing a song of love. People: We dream the future and we hope for joy — joy that makes our lives full and satisfying. Leader: Now for us these candles illuminate the possibility of joy ... People: that God will move among us with strength and peace. (Two purple candles on the Advent Wreath are lit and then the pink one ...

1517. Epiphany 9

1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43, Psalm 96:1-9, Luke 7:1-10, Galatians 1:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... , Serve you all my days. You the spring wind, I the grass; On me blow! Prayer Of Thanksgiving We do sing — new songs and old songs, songs of joy and songs of sadness. We sing of abundance and need. We are grateful we come together to collaborate with your hopes for a new world. We are grateful for all the resources we need to make something of heaven here on earth. Amen. Intercessory Prayer God of Music — there are so many songs we can sing, so many words we can speak, so many tears we shed. We are made ...

1518. Proper 10

Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Psalm 25:1-10; 82:1-8, Amos 7:7-17, Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... measuring what is important to us. We take a few moments to look within ourselves and notice what is not measuring up to our hopes for our lives. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One. Community Confession (Unison) Ceaseless ... . Create in us minds that are eager to live into mystery and to be bear-ers not of plumb lines but of hope and nurturing actions. Let our living reflect the teachings of Jesus and the light of your love. Amen. Sermon Idea The story ...

1519. Proper 13

Psalm 107:1-9, 43, Hosea 11:1-11, Luke 12:13-21, Colossians 3:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... with some subtle humor. She/he could “rant” and reflect in the center aisle of the sanctuary. Hosea 11, preceded by reference to 11:12—12:1, could be a poignant reflection on the political situation of Israel and Palestine rooted in the spiritual hopes of the ages. A red flag for both texts: The writers present what today appear as cynical and masculine/patriarchal views; the preacher will have to be skillful in not violating the sensitivities of younger women and men in the congregation. As in the ...

1520. Christmas Eve

Psalm 96:1-13, Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-7, Titus 2:11-14

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... “joy-songs” to God. I wonder if anyone else heard their “joyful noise”? Narrator 1: Luke, the story writer, says Mother Mary remembered all these unusual things; Luke doesn’t tell us whether Joseph remembered them, too. Narrator 2: It’s a wonderful story. We hope you “ponder” it as Christmas Eve turns into Christmas Day — the birth day of Jesus of Nazareth, Mary’s and God’s son! (Everyone freezes in place until the congregation begins singing the next carol.) Carol C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S ...

1521. Raised to New Life Today

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... so too the faith of those who believe. Moreover, he says that if Christ is not raised, then Paul is guilty of misrepresenting God, testifying to something that is not true. The apostle also speaks of the essential need of Christ's resurrection for our future hope. Without Jesus' resurrection there is no reason to have hope in him for the resurrection was the event that secured our release from bondage. It was the action that released us from our sins. If Christ is not raised, one remains in sin; we have no ...

1522. Passing the Test

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... just telling us to "grin and bear it." No, these are words to comfort. God is coming to the rescue. "With the testing he will also provide you with the way out, so that you may be able to endure it." What is the "way out"? How can we possibly hope to "endure it"? Christ is the "way out." Christ is the one who enables us to "endure it." It must be because Paul was under the influence of the Holy Spirit that he is able to see in these ancient stories of Israel's wandering in the wilderness something Israel ...

1523. Heaven on Earth

Revelation 21:1-6

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... world but the Jesus whose coming brings about something wonderfully new. With his coming there is a new Jerusalem, a new universe, a new heaven, and a new earth. In these words John is assuring suffering and persecuted Christians at the end of the first century that their hope is not just up in the clouds or when they die and go to heaven ... but already now, here, in this world, in this time and place as Jesus Christ "pitches his tent" among them. In today's gospel, Jesus is with his disciples in the upper ...

1524. Sing Praise

Colossians 1:15-23

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... do them completely, yet once we receive God's grace and peace, we are called to live them out in our real lives in the real world. That's God's reconciliation! For this ministry of reconciliation that we have been given (2 Corinthians 5:18), we can find hope in the vision of Christ Jesus presented in our scripture text for today. The one who is before all things, the head of the church, who holds all things together, is the one who holds us. In the face of the overwhelming challenges in our world and in our ...

1525. Living in Chains

2 Timothy 2:8-13

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... who have conquered each of those summits come up with the same cry, "I can't get no satisfaction." Can you? Contentment is a rare gift that comes through a deep, personal relationship with Jesus that transcends circumstances. It flows from a sure and certain hope that because Jesus lives, I will, too. Neither death nor life nor things present nor things to come will separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. In that promise, we find that rare gift of contentment, peace, and patience. Whenever I read ...

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