Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1626 to 1650 of 4935 results

1626. Time to Listen

Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

Have you ever had someone tell you the ending to a story or movie when you really wanted to experience it for yourself? How did that make you feel? It’s frustrating, isn’t it, when someone ruins the end of the story for you. And there’s nothing you can do about it. No wonder it’s called a “spoiler alert.” Then again, I read a story about a funny way to take revenge on a friend who ruins the ending to a movie. This person, who posted their story under the screen name Runawaybucket in an online forum, said ...

1627. Flatliners

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

What would happen if on this Sunday we were to come to Jesus and ask, "Tell us flat-out what you're about?" Jesus might, on this particular day, say, "I have come to give comfort to the uncomfortable and to make uncomfortable those who have comfort." He has a way of flattening things out. Jesus is a flatliner. What if we were to ask that question of the entire Bible? "Don't give me the six-week course. Just give me a compendium of that battered and complex book. What does it look like?" He would have to ...

1628. Transfiguration

2 Corinthians 3:7-18, Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 34:29-35 After 40 days on the mountain with Yahweh, Moses' face shone. In this passage Moses makes his final descent from Mount Sinai where in communing with God he receives the Decalogue on two tablets of stone. When Moses came back to his people, his face was still reflecting the glory of Yahweh to such an extent that Aaron and others were afraid of him. Moses had to urge the people to come near him. To reduce the brilliance, he put on a veil which he removed when he went ...

1629. God's Christmas Greeting

Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon

Robert Beringer

Christmas is the time of year for sending messages. That's why the postal service estimates some five billion Christmas cards and letters will be mailed in the next few weeks. By anyone's standard, that's a lot of money, time and trouble invested in sending a message of good news to friends and family. But messages are important, and for many of us, Christmas is the only time in the year when we hear from old and distant friends. Christmas is a time when God sends a message to the world as well, and these ...

1630. The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Brett Blair

The parable of the Good Samaritan arises out of a discussion between Jesus and a Pharisee. Here is a religious lawyer and he is asking a question on the nature of the law. The stage is set by Luke with these words: “Behold a lawyer stood up to put him to the test.” Well, it's not the first time and probably won’t be the last time that a lawyer phrased a trick question. It was the kind of question in which any kind of an answer would pose still further problems. It was a test question: “Teacher, what must I ...

1631. Christ's Passion Portraits

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Paul Hegele

The task before us that afternoon was simple enough. The newly remodeled church lounge had a wall which needed a picture; everyone agreed it should be a portrait of Christ. The question was - what should Jesus look like? Five hundred years before Christ's birth, Isaiah had predicted he would have "no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." Except for the unnerving remark, the Bible never mentions Jesus' appearance. So, which of the scores of paintings ...

1632. Repent!

Acts 2:14-41

Sermon

I didn't want to be in prison that day, even if I was only a visitor. Angry scowls or dull eyes followed my march down the hollow corridors and, at the end of each hall, I silently counted the number of locked doors behind me to the sunlight. Still, the phone call had said a friend of a friend was here and wanted to talk to a minister. And after all, visiting the prisoners was one of the commands St. Paul had given us. So, armed with caution, I had come. The prisoner and I were left alone in a small room. ...

1633. The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Lk 9:28-36 · 2 Cor 3:12--4:6 · Ex 34:29-35 · Deut 34:1-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Exodus 34:29-35 After forty days on the mountain with Yahweh, Moses' face shone. In this passage Moses makes his final descent from Mount Sinai where in communing with God he receives the Decalogue on two tables of stone. When Moses came back to his people, his face was still reflecting the glory of Yahweh to such an extent that Aaron and others were afraid of him. Moses had to urge the people to come near him. To reduce the brilliance, he put on a veil which he removed when he went to his tent ...

1634. The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 25:1-12, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 135:1-21, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Philippians 4:2-9, Philippians 4:10-20

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE If there are any chips out of, or cracks in, the eschatological framework of the church year - which admittedly becomes quite brittle by itself at this time of the year - they are restored by the readings of this Sunday. These lections point to the last things and, specifically in the first reading and the Gospel for the Day, to the incredible feast over which our Lord will preside in the new heaven and the new earth. "This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain ...

1635. Children of the Eighth Day

Romans 6:1-14

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

It’s a long way from the bottom to the top. But that is the call of the Christian life. "That like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4b). The title of this chapter belongs to Thornton Wilder. In his book, the scene opens on New Year’s Eve, 1899, just before the new century is born. A group of men are sitting around the stove in a country store. Dr. Gillis, the community seer, is facing the question, "What will the new ...

1636. Why Should I Go On Living?

Matthew 12:38-45

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

The question came to me again this past week, as it does again and again with almost monotonous regularity: "Pastor, this friend of mine has decided to commit suicide. I think he’s really serious about it. What can I do about him?" The story, too, was typical. Here was a young man twenty-two years of age. He had been married and divorced while he was still in high school. He joined the Marines and was married the second time. He was sent to Vietnam where he became somewhat of a hero. He was credited as ...

1637. Thy Kingdom Come

Luke 17:20-37

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

I usually read that section of the newspaper called "Letters to the Editor." It is always interesting though not always noble or edifying. For example, someone from another section of the country will suggest some way to improve Memphis. Then for the next two weeks, local folks will write in, declaring that if that foreigner doesn't like the way we do things, he can go back where he came from. Some time ago a letter appeared which sparked my interest. At that time a local Christian named Carolyn McKenzie ...

1638. Anguish

Matthew 27:45-56

Sermon

Burton F. Blair

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" That is, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." Matthew 27:45-47 A strange uneasiness settled over those who were lingering around the cross. Around the noon hour on that Friday, the blackest of all darkness had engulfed the land. It was dark as night. An ...

1639. Easter: The Festival Of Joy

Isaiah 25:1-12

Sermon

Durwood L. Buchheim

In the book of Proverbs we read: "A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." A better translation says it more plainly: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones." The issue is also clearly stated by the preacher in Ecclesiastes: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ... A time to weep and a time to laugh." In the Gospel of Matthew this very clear reminder by our Lord: "Do not look ...

1640. When God Was Nothing

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Brett Blair

When I was a teenager and fell in love with a girl, which occurred often, I never knew how to tell the girl how I felt about her. Being 17 and "in love" was terrifying. Often I was simply speechless. I never had the right words to describe the way I felt. But like every boy with a bad case of infatuation, I found a way. I guess you could call it my secret weapon. I found someone who could speak for me. He always had the right words, knew exactly how to say it, and never failed me. His name was Barry ...

1641. The Home Under God

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

T. A. Kantonen

In the present century the churches in America have developed the practice of observing Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Children’s Day. The most recent trend is to combine all three into a Festival of the Christian Home. Without indulging in the kind of shallow sentimentality which has too often been associated with these celebrations, especially Mother’s Day, it is certainly appropriate for the church to call attention at least once a year to the importance of the Christian home. It is in keeping both ...

1642. The Temptation To Pass By On The Other Side

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Brett Blair

1643. Who You Gonna' Vote For?

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Brett Blair

They say “politics and religion don't mix.” I say this campaign can't shut up talking about religion. They say “separation of church and state.” I say politicians sure been preaching a lot of sermons lately. Some of them preachin’ political sermons in the churches, right up there where the preacher ought to be. You might be able to separate the state from the church but you sure can’t separate the politician from the pulpit. They say, “I’m not going to force my values on others.” I say, what is faith ...

1644. Drooping Arms And Crooked Feet

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever felt so tired that you couldn't put one foot in front of the other? Have you ever felt what an anonymous poet felt when he wrote, I wish I was a little rock. . .A sittin' on the hill A doin' nothin' all day long. . .`Cept just a sittin' still I wouldn't eat, I wouldn't sleep. . . I wouldn't even wash I'd sit and sit a thousand years. . . And rest myself, by gosh! Some people are very tired. In fact, one of the great dividing lines in this world seems to be between those who are high energy ...

1645. When The Waters Begin To Rise

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

We are all familiar with MURPHY'S LAW, "If anything can go wrong it will." Murphy's Law is the inspiration for a new book by Paul Dickson, titled THE OFFICIAL RULES AT HOME. Here is a sample of laws, rules, and observations collected by Dickson: Rabbe's Rule of the Bedroom: The spouse who snores louder always falls asleep first. Dickson's Gardening Discovery: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it ...

1646. Rushing And Realizing

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

Advent was one week away, so Michelle Hardie and her husband thought they'd see what their children remembered from their family devotions the year before. "Who can tell me what the four candles in the Advent wreath represent?" Michelle asked. Luke jumped in with seven-year-old wisdom and exuberance. "There's love, joy, peace, and . . . and . . ." "I know!" six-year-old Elise interrupted to finish her brother's sentence: "Peace and quiet!" (1) I don't know about you, but peace and quiet would get my vote. ...

1647. The Cry Of Freedom

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Eric Ritz

This past week we celebrated Independence Day. This day is a special time, set aside to celebrate many gifts and opportunities that "Freedom" brings to the American citizen. It celebrates our independence from England and our dependence on God. I remember watching President Carter receive the distinguished Medal of Freedom in Philadelphia. It was an inspiring moment for me to see Jimmy Carter get the respect he deserves since his defeat in 1980. The Fourth of July always sets me to thinking about the ...

1648. Receiving Christ

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

King Duncan

During the War Between the States, a Union soldier from Ohio was shot in the arm during the battle of Shiloh. His captain saw that he was injured and barked an order: “Give me your gun, Private, and get to the rear!” The private handed over his rifle and ran toward the north, seeking safety. But after covering two or three hundred yards, he came upon another skirmish. Then he ran to the east and ran into another part of the battle. Then he ran west, but encountered more fighting there. Finally he ran back ...

1649. When Life Seems to Be Going in the Wrong Direction

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

When he was 88 years old, the late Supreme Court Justice Oliver Holmes once found himself on a train. When the conductor came by, Justice Homes couldn't find his ticket; he seemed terribly upset. He searched all of his pockets and fumbled through his wallet but to no avail. The conductor tried to ease his anxiety. He said, "Don''t worry, Mr. Holmes, the Pennsylvania Railroad will be happy to trust the Supreme Court Justice. After you reach your destination, you''ll find your ticket and you can mail it to ...

1650. Up and Running

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Robert Noblett

We all have a stake in making sure that our young people get up and running. This is a given for families, but it is also true for congregational families too, for the simple and obvious reason that today's young people represent tomorrow's church leaders. Our text is about the process whereby we get up and running. It begins with a curious picture of Jesus being baptized. On a wall somewhere in a church building you have seen an artist's depiction of this. Jesus' experience is such that he sees the ...

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