Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1776 to 1800 of 4884 results

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... she or he is. Thus, Paul writes to his people that they should “think on these things” whatever is good, true and beautiful. All Your Might Is it not enough to love God with all your heart, soul and mind? According to Moses and Jesus, perfect love includes “might” or “strength.” We are to love God with all our emotional, spiritual, mental and physical strength. This calls for energy spent in the service of God. It means a complete expenditure of effort in God’s behalf. God will have no loafers ...

1777. God As Wisdom

Proverbs 1:20-33

Sermon

Sue Anne Steffey Morrow

... world in which we live. She is out on the streets and calls us to think, think hard about what is happening in Homestead and in Yugoslavia, in Trenton and in Somalia. She is relentless in her expectations, demanding, unwavering in her standards for perfection. Then, she promises that disciplined learning and attention will be rewarded. "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly and she will exalt you. She will honor you if you embrace her. She will place ...

1778. As Mortals See

1 Samuel 15:1-35

Sermon

Charles Curley

... over Saul, and the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel." (1 Samuel 15:35) And that was my mistake, reading Chapter 15, because I got hooked on Saul! Instead of finding Saul a tyrant, blasphemer, apostate, I found Saul to be a perfectly reasonable, understandable, common-sense sort of guy. I found Saul a person who, faced with the situation he faced, made the kind of decisions you might have made or I might have made. The situation was this: God, through Samuel, told Saul to do a certain ...

1779. Investing God's Gift

Luke 19:11-27

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

... would have been richly deserved. And in light of the devastating war that ravaged Judea after Jesus' crucifixion, culminating in the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, along with the slaughter of thousands of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, it would have been perfectly natural to see that devastation as the judgment that fell upon those in Israel who refused to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Yet those events were several decades in the past by the time Luke wrote his gospel, so it seems unlikely that this ...

1780. Shield of Faith

Mark 6:1-6

Children's Sermon

SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT HOME Parents: Today's Gospel-based activity is a variation on an old children's game that you may have played as a child. The dry version is a perfect solution to rainy-day boredom, and the wet version is a summertime hit with children of all ages. You will need either four to ten small sponge balls for indoor play, or as many water balloons as you desire for outdoor fun. (If you use water balloons, make certain that ...

1781. The Unclean Spirit

Mark 1:21-28

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

... person's answer for an epileptic seizure. Now, let us return to where you stopped trying to reason with an unclean spirit. You spoke about telling our dark side to be quiet. Our Creator saw that the world was good, but God did not say it is perfect. Negative elements present themselves in our lives. Disease is not a part of the divine order of things. God does not send sickness. God wishes well for us. God stands with us as inner strength in suffering. "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says ...

1782. Lent 2

Mk 8:31-38 · Rom 4:13-25; 8:31-39 · Gen 17:1-7, 15-16; 22:1-18 · Ps 22

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... no hope. They have no dreams, no goals; they live only for the present moment. Without hope life loses its value and leads to self-destruction and violence. We need to lift up the light of hope, centered not in some concept of human perfectibility but in God's promises. Credited to our account. Paul maintains that Abraham's faith and hope were "credited to him as righteousness" (v. 22). The word translated "credited" has also been translated as "reckoned," "accounted" or "accepted." This is the language of ...

1783. Lessons for Lent 3

John 2:12-25

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... , a holy place of worship. The church is not so much a material structure but a community. As Christ's body, we must die to sin and be raised to eternal life. WORSHIP RESOURCES Psalm Of The Day: Psalm 19; Psalm 19:7-14 "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul" (v. 7); Psalm 18 Prayer Of The Day: Lord Christ, cleanse our hearts and minds of all impurity just as you cleansed the temple of the money changers and merchants. May our worship of You not stem from any base motive but only from a heart of ...

1784. Advent 1

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... things and let our precious clay turn unattended and it becomes distorted by those who would turn the clay to their own selfish purpose. Our God-given task is not to shape this precious genetic clay in our own image but to help uncover the perfect form hidden within. The awesomeness of the parenting task weighs heavier than it ever has because of the mobility of our society and the breakdown of the family, among other factors. Parents no longer have models of child-rearing formerly provided by the extended ...

1785. Advent 2

2 Peter 3:1-18, Isaiah 40:1-31, Mark 1:1-8

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... wait so long. Sermon Title: The Late Great Planet Earth. Sermon Angle: I do not identify with the apocalyptic prognosticating of the like of Hal Lindsay. Nevertheless, the end of the world and the birth of a new cosmos is not only biblical but seems perfectly logical. If God's judgment doesn't put an end to earthly existence, entropy will certainly overcome us. The intimations of mortality, which grow in intensity as the years pile on, make us aware of the fleeting nature of all creation. Peter reveals that ...

1786. All Saints' Sunday

Jn 11:32-44 · Mt 5:1-12 · Isa 25:6-9 · Rev 7:9-17; 21:1-6 · Ps 24

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... Beatitude the others had received. Without exception, they were able to discern which Beatitude the others had taken by the manner of their lives. It goes to show that Jesus' standards of saintliness are within the realm of possibility. None of us will ever perfectly embody these characteristics completely but if we are obedient to God's Spirit, we can be transformed not only in thought but in character. WORSHIP RESOURCES Psalm Of The Day: Psalm 24 -- "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?...Those who have ...

1787. Corpus Christi

Mk 4:12-16, 22-26 · Heb 9:11-15 · Ex 24:3-8 · Ps 126

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... once a year to atone for his sins and those of his people but Christ entered the holy place of the cross once and for all. Christ's body is itself the tent or tabernacle through which he entered the holy of holies (the cross); there he offered a perfect and eternal sacrifice. The blood of sheep and goats could atone for sins for a time, but the blood of Christ brings us eternal redemption. Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 This is the story of the institution of the Eucharist, during our Lord's last Passover ...

1788. Easter 6

John 15:18--16:4, Acts 10:23b-48, 1 John 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... love (fruits of the Spirit). 4. Let the Spirit lift your burdens and make you a blessing. Gospel: John 15:9-17 Sermon Title: The Gift Goes On. Sermon Angle: Jesus says: "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you." The Father gifted the Son with his perfect love and the Son has gifted the world with his self-giving love. Those who are born of the Spirit pass this gift along to others and the gift goes on and on and on. Outline: 1. Christ gifted us with the love he received from his Father (v. 9 ...

1789. Epiphany 4

1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:14-22, Mark 1:21-28

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... educated fool." Knowledge and education can puff one up with pride. Paul states that the person who thinks he really knows something does not know as he ought (v. 2). Rather than seek knowledge for its own sake, the child of God should seek to know God as perfectly as he knows us. We come to know God, the fount of all knowledge and wisdom, not through our mind but through the power of love. Outline: 1. The biggest fool is a knowledgeable fool. 2. Superior knowledge may make him feel superior in every way. 3 ...

1790. Epiphany 6

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Leviticus 13:1-46, 2 Kings 5:1-27, Mark 1:40-45

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... to go wash in the Jordan River in order to get cleansed of his leprosy, something which he at first refused to do. Bathing in water is the usual way to get clean. Since water is such a great cleansing agent, it became also a perfect sign of spiritual cleansing through Holy Baptism. In the Gospel, Jesus effects a dry cleansing of the leper through word and touch. Words have the capacity to make us feel dirty or clean. Words of acceptance and forgiveness are especially powerful cleansing agents. Christ also ...

1791. The Epiphany Season

Mt 2:1-12 · Jn 1:43-51 · Mk 1:9-28; 35-45 · Mk 2:1-12; 18-22 · Mk 9:2-13

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... duration. In the Gospel, Jesus metaphorically refers to himself as the bridegroom. How can his disciples be expected to fast when the bridegroom is at hand? The relationship of the believer and the Lord is like a marriage that moves toward the goal of perfect union. Our mission compels us to make known the Lord's invitation to the marriage feast which has no end. The Transfiguration Of Our Lord Sermon Title: Mission Mandate: Become Transformed By His Glory! Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Mark 9:2 ...

1792. Good Friday

John 19:28-37, Hebrews 10:1-18, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1-11, John 19:38-42, John 19:17-27

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... the Servant as one who suffers innocently, unjustly and vicariously. All the other prophets regard the destruction of Israel, Judah and Jerusalem as God's judgment on his sinful people. The sacrificial lamb for the Passover and other sacrifices was required to be perfect, unblemished. How could a sinful and rebellious nation be the sin bearer for the world (v. 6)? Fourthly, the author states that the Servant was stricken for the transgressions of God's people (v. 8). If the Servant is to be identified with ...

1793. Proper 21

Mark 9:38-41, Esther 7:1-10, Esther 9:18-32, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:42-50

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... Sermon Angle: In the field of medications, there may be one brand name for a particular medicine, but after the patent has run out one may get the same medicine with a generic label at a fraction of the cost. What I am about to say is not a perfect analogy but might prove to be a helpful construct. The Church of Christ is filled with brand name Christians, with the name of Christ affixed upon their forehead in baptism. Some of them live out their faith well, others do not. At the same time, there are people ...

1794. David Sins Before The Lord

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Come, let all of God's people give praise and worship the Lord! People: But so often we have failed and fallen short of God's perfection. Leader: Yet God has chosen the plan of our salvation through the cross. People: And are we washed clean of our sins and made acceptable in God's sight? Leader: We are indeed, for God loves us beyond anything we could imagine. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! ...

1795. The Lord's Ways Are Greater Than Our Ways

Job 42:7-17, Job 42:1-6

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... is worthy to be greatly praised. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Almighty God, in You alone do we place our faith. There is no other god but You, and we will not turn away from Your call. Use us, O Lord, according to Your perfect plan for our lives. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, sometimes when life has presented us with difficult circumstances we have been quick to blame You and to complain about Your plan for our lives. And often when we have not gotten things exactly as ...

1796. Praise The Lord!

Psalm 148:13

Illustration

John E. Sumwalt

... ignored that first, indelicate outburst. But the Grant family returned to worship. During each service she attended, Mae Ella managed to lose control of at least one "Amen!" or "Halleluia!" or "Praise the Lord!" The difficulty was that she was a perfectly charming person in every other way. When her family joined the church, she took an immediate role in Sunday School, the Social Concerns Committee and the Women's Service Society. She volunteered tirelessly to serve at dinners, help put out mailings ...

1797. New Life From Old

1 John 2:28--3:10

Sermon

Mark J. Molldrem

... new life beyond the cocoon. This danger acknowledged, let us dare to ask the question about the appearance of the new life. One of the Christian classics in literature is the book by Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, considered by some "the most perfect flower of medieval Christianity." The essential message of this work is that the Christian life is to be like Christ, following in his footsteps. Martin Luther was fond of saying that we are to be "little Christs" to our neighbors. What would such a ...

1798. Deep Joy For A Shallow World

Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

... I needed. I needed release from my fear. I needed release from the worry that my husband would not find me attractive and that my children would be doomed to show me through the dark. After that moment, I could see no better with my eyes, but now can see perfectly with my soul. I wanted sight. In relief from my fear, I got that." What we ask for in life is not always what we get, but it is what we would have asked for in the first place had we known. Joy comes on the other side of surrender ...

1799. A New Command

John 13:31-38

Sermon

Lee Griess

... the lives of countless generations of people to come. How strange it is that some 1800 years later, Karl Marx would proclaim that strife among people, rigid control of possessions, strict limitation of personal freedom and a move toward a godless society would bring about the perfect world that humanity was seeking. For the key to the kind of life that you and I desire had already been given us. It was there in the words of Jesus in that upper room. Hear the words that Jesus spoke to his disciples that ...

1800. Sermon In A Word

John 20:10-18, John 20:1-9

Drama

Jerry Eckert

Comment: "The Disciples' Tenebrae" was a perfect set-up for the sunrise service. As people entered the church Easter Sunday, the worship room was bare of decorations. The rough cross made of old Christmas tree trunks still stood at the front of the church, draped with the black cloth from the Maundy Thursday service three nights before. ...

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