Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1676 to 1700 of 4963 results

1676. Wedding: Beginning A New Climb (for a marriage after divorce)

Ephesians 3:14-21

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

... broken hearts, and teaches them how to love again. So here you are, ready to begin a whole new challenge together as partners in a journey. What will you need for this climb to be successful? Paul provides some clues in Ephesians. First, you each need to remain strong in your inner selves. Through all the ups and downs of your individual lives, each of you has learned to be resourceful, competent, and able to handle life fairly well. God's Spirit has been at work in you, helping you not only to survive but ...

1677. Wedding: Gift Of God (for a couple with a baby)

1 John 4:7-21

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

... God. Our love is renewed when we turn to God, the Source and Power behind all love. Your love is a gift from God, (Bride) and (Groom). Rejoice in it, nurture it, share it with your little one, and remember always to thank the Giver. May the love of God remain with you always. Amen.

1678. Wedding: Faith, Hope, And Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

... with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal... What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete -- as complete as God's knowledge of me. Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love. Sometimes when I read this passage, I think, "Nothing like stating the obvious, Paul. Of course, love is the most important thing." Love is what brings you here today, (Bride) and (Groom). We all ...

1679. Wedding: On The Right Track (for a long-time relationship)

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

... I have no more use for childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete -- as complete as God's knowledge of me. Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love. It is love, then, that you should strive for. Can you believe it, (Bride) and (Groom)? After all those years, the moment has finally come to pledge your love to one another before God and everybody. I don't ...

1680. Take Some Lessons

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... didn't stop her. And I thought to myself, "Everybody in here is messed up." Then it hit me! "If everybody in here is messed up," I reasoned, "then I must be messed up too." It was an apocalyptic moment. Everybody -- including me -- was messed up. Everybody -- including me -- remains messed up. It's that original sin thing. We don't need any help to do things badly. It comes to us naturally. But we need help to do things the right way. We need instructions. While none of us is as bad as some suggest, none of ...

1681. The Upside Of The Practice - Performance Equation

Galatians 6:1-10

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... family, friends, and I would wish. Certainly, we will see grieving tears as testimony to God's goodness expressed through her. Undoubtedly, we will witness to her resurrection and the promise of eternal reunion. And we'll beg our Lord's comforting consolations for those remaining. We'll also ask why God took Nancy from us instead of recalling a few cranks, kooks, and cruel characters. God knows the passing of some would evoke the refrain, "Ding! Dong! The witch is dead!" So we'll complain more than a little ...

1682. Take Dead Aim

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

... to an inappropriate -- s-e-x-u-a-l -- relationship with an intern just a little bit older than his daughter. My wife said she thought she knew who I was talking about but my description fits a large percentage of America's male population. Maybe that's why he remains so popular. He's just like us. When America looks in the mirror, it sees him. My wife also said it's hard to throw stones when you live in a glass house. I think she was saying that if we went after him, it wouldn't be long before ...

1683. The Half Pencil Doctor

1 John 3:11-24

Sermon

David O. Bales

... there an envelope be delivered to a Doctor Francis Casparis, Roger decided that he had better do it. His father had said, "I have metastatic cancer, and I will be dead within a week." And his father insisted that the envelope go to Iowa with his remains. His father said that Doctor Casparis had saved his life and that the doctor would tell Roger about it, and would help him also. Roger Leeth stood helplessly by his father's hospital bed. "All I need right now," he thought, "with the divorce and custody ...

1684. A Cultural Breakthrough

Acts 16:6-10

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... of salvation. Belief in Jesus Christ and grace through his love for us became sufficient evidence for conversion. Why Paul insisted on maintaining this ritual for Timothy is not made clear in this text. Yet at the heart of Paul's actions there remained this lingering question regarding Paul's mission to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to new Jewish believers. While clearly rooted in his own Jewish tradition, Paul is clear that salvation is freely available to the Gentiles as well, without the requirements ...

1685. Membership Has Its Privileges

Acts 16:16-40

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... doors of our lives to fly open. This text teaches us that iron bars do not a prison make. Nor is freedom related so much to location as to one's outlook and perspective. Once Paul and Silas were freed from their physical bondage they chose to remain in the prison, because they knew that they could not depart until they brought freedom to those who thought they were already free. When we examine the cast of characters in our text today we discover that the tables have turned. All those who appeared at first ...

1686. The Promise Of Belief

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... . The promise of belief does not come only with words: it comes with action. After God took Abram outside and assured him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, our text says, "And Abram believed" (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) "the Lord; and he counted it to him as righteousness" (right standing with God, 15:6). Promise, belief, covenant, while used interchangeably, have slightly different meanings. Promise means to make a declaration or assurance with regard to an upcoming ...

1687. What Does God Require?

Drama

Karren Boehr

... nations. (Hands raised. Joy is written over his face) I revere you, Lion of Judah. I acknowledge that you are my Lord and Savior. I come to you with nothing except my praise for your goodness to me. You are my life, my joy, my very all. (Remains with hands raised) (COUPLE very serious and obviously shaken) JOHN: (Softly) To think, all this time, the cross has been free ... and we've worked so hard. JANICE: (Quietly) All this time it's been free ... God's salvation has been free. (COUPLE embrace, take each ...

1688. The God Of Naomi

Drama

Karren Boehr

... her grief, Naomi had a faith in a God that could not be shaken. I could feel it in her words, I could see it in her face. Even in the deepest valleys, in the tragedies that would bring most people to their knees, Naomi's trust in her God remained steadfast and sure. She was going back to Jehovah's people. I followed Naomi back to Israel not because of who I was, but because of who Naomi's God was. Jehovah within Naomi drew me like a magnet until I could not get enough. No, there was no way ...

1689. When God Has Other Plans

Drama

Karren Boehr

... see light! I'm out of my dark cocoon. I'm on my way to becoming what God wants me to be. Oh, this is more wonderful than I ever imagined. (Flaps wings) I'm so free. You'll get your wings soon, I know you will. 1ST CATERPILLAR: (Stubbornly, remains on stool) Even if I did, I wouldn't use them. No, I'm going to be a fish. You'll see, it won't be long and I'll grow a tail and get fins. No, even if I grew wings I would never use them. 2ND CATERPILLAR: (Gives ...

1690. All Choices Have Consequences

Drama

Karren Boehr

... like a goodie two-shoes. I thought praying would be enough. JIM: (Rises and puts a hand on Rob's shoulder) Forgive me, buddy. I figured it was your choice to make. I never realized you would hit someone else. (Emotion overcomes him) Sorry, buddy, I'm really sorry. (ROB remains with head in hands, motionless) (MARY and JIM look at each other) JIM: (Weakly) We'll stop by tomorrow, Rob. (ROB does not respond) (MARY and JIM walk sadly off stage)

1691. A Blind Man Sees

John 9:35-41, John 9:13-34, John 9:1-12

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... believe. (PHARISEE ENTERS) JESUS: I came into the world to judge so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind. PHARISEE: What, are we blind too? JESUS: If you were blind you would not be guilty of sin, but since you say you see, your guilt remains. DOG: Woof! And you call me a dog.

1692. The Lord's Guidance

Judges 4:1-24

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, so often, once we have become comfortable with spiritual truths, we begin to take them for granted and we may eventually find ourselves even violating them to suit our own desires. Forgive us, Lord, and help us always remain alert to Your presence and to Your guidance lest we should do great harm to others and to our witness for You. In Christ we pray. Amen. Hymns "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" "Savior, Like A Shepherd" "Where He Leads Me I Will Follow"

1693. The Season Of Renewal

Mark 1:1-8

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... Christ. In baptism, this truth is proclaimed and the child (and adult) is put into relation with it" See Epiphany Stars information on page 34. Charge to the Congregation We receive the Kingdom as if it all depends on God, as if it costs us nothing; we remain in the Kingdom as if it all depends on us, as if it cost us everything. (Ask people to write their response to, or their questions about, that statement.) Meditation "People are very open-minded about new things -- so long as they're exactly like the ...

1694. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 11:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... " Response to the Pardon "The "West Indies Version" of the Lord's Prayer Response to the Proclamation "At the Name of Jesus" Response to the Stewardship Challenge "Quiet Prelude" Hymn of Commitment "Lead On, O King Eternal" Music for Dismissal Medley of Christ the King hymns. (Ask the people to remain and sing them.)

1695. Advent 3

John 1:19-28, John 1:1-18

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... Acts of Confession (Before beginning, have someone turn off all of the sanctuary lights.) Think of the things we do in the dark that we never would consider doing in the light. (One minute of silence.) Does our reflecting remind us of any sin which to this day remains hidden, and therefore, unconfessed? I invite us to bring that sin into the light of Christ's power to forgive. There is no darkness, and no need for us to hide in the dark if we believe in God's forgiveness. In silence, offer your prayer of ...

1696. The Season Of The Resurrection

John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... this week, read the book by Vincent Barry, The Dog Ate My Homework: Personal Responsibility -- How We Avoid It and What to Do About It (Andrews and McMeel, 1997). We can spend a whole lifetime blaming God, others, circumstances; and if we do, that is our hell. We need not remain as we are. Prayer of Confession We know that we are to love as we are loved. You have granted us your own Spirit of love to dwell in us. But, Lord, you know how blocked we become. We are hampered in our loving by our judgments, our ...

1697. No Longer Servants, but Friends

John 15:18--16:4

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... is free." Proclamation of the Good News Jurgen Moltmann offers some helpful insight into lordship and friendship. He suggests that the friendship model is so powerful that the average Christian will fail to consider its implications. Most of us prefer to remain in a lordship relationship with Christ where we can live out our dependency in relative security with minimum risk. In this model, obedience is no longer an act of the will, but a requirement, which leads to legalism and intolerance, if anywhere ...

1698. The Calling of the First Disciples

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... causes, even when, especially when, we want to set aside his agenda to make it easy for us. God's Christ disturbs me, pushes me to change, to get out of my Egyptian slavery into the Exodus wilderness; to set priorities, God's priorities; to remain dissatisfied with the status quo. "Those who lose their lives for Christ and the Gospels will discover their true identity" (WHK). Response to the Benediction "Ready, Lord!" Meditation Are you ready for the future, which begins now? If you are not ready, how will ...

1699. The Season Of Renewal

John 13:1-17

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... to receive dark bread (symbolizing Jesus' dark body), and to receive a large glass of wine/grape juice (preferably laced with vinegar, symbolizing the bitterness of his death). When the people have received the sacrament, invite them to return to their pew, and to remain as long as they choose. 7. When all have received the elements, have the organist, pianist, or guitarist play quietly "There Is a Balm in Gilead." 8. Print these words in the bulletin, or on a large piece of paper: "We are here to discover ...

1700. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 10:46-52

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... respond to the truth. What choice will you make? Because the only way to stop playing a game is to stop it. P: Jesus the Christ makes it possible for us to see. M: Thank you, Lord. Give us the courage to want to see when we are tempted to remain blind. P: Jesus the Christ promises to give us the courage to rise up as new people. M: We receive his gift of sight, and rejoice! COMMUNITY RESPONSE Message with the Children of All Ages As you come forward today, I invite you to keep your eyes closed; perhaps you ...

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