Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1801 to 1825 of 4914 results

1801. Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

Romans 15:14-22

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

In the present section Paul returns to matters of personal interest which he broached at the beginning of the epistle (1:8–15). Romans 1:8–15 and 15:14–33 are the only two sections of the epistle which might be called autobiographical. Although they fall outside Paul’s main argument, they provide vital information about his reasons for writing. Both sections attest to the apostle’s longstanding desire to visit Rome (1:10, 13; 15:22–24, 28, 32) and to bring his readers a spiritual blessing (1:11–13; 15:29 ...

1802. Do(n't) Rock the Boat

Mt 14:22-36, Mk 4:35-41, Lk 8:22-25, Jn 6:16-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Prop: Model boat or a painting of a boat on stormy seas “Don’t rock the boat!” How many times have you heard that? “Don’t rock the boat!” It means to “keep the peace,” to “not stir things up,” to not push the envelope, to not provoke, to avoid change and stay in the box…and keep things the same. To worship the status quo. If you do “rock the boat,” who knows? Something unexpected might happen! And surely that wouldn’t be good! I imagine that must have been the way Jesus’ disciples felt about their world ...

1803. When Storms Hit Home

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

Good morning, and happy Father’s Day to all our fathers and father figures in the congregation this morning. Thank you for all you do to shape our lives, and for the example you provide us in managing the ups and downs in life. I hope that you feel honored and loved today for all your hard work. Comedian Jim Gaffigan posted on Twitter, “My 4-yr.-old gave me a handmade card for Father’s Day. Maybe for Christmas I’ll draw him a picture of some toys.” A man named Mike Primavera tweeted, “Get your dad what he ...

1804. OK, God You Win!

Job 42:1-6

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

Did you ever pick a fight with God? Did you ever get mad at God or argue with him about the way he was treating you? Did you ever say, “God, why did you forsake me?” or “Why did you allow a hurricane to devastate the earth, like Hugo that caused ten billion dollars damage in South Carolina?” or “Why do some wicked people prosper and some righteous people suffer?” or “Why do bad things happen to good folks?” Maybe you did not, but Job did! He was a good man who loved and feared God. The Bible describes him ...

1805. The Kingdom of God Is At Hand

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Richard A. Jensen

Tears streamed down Elmer Johnson’s cheeks as he watched pickup truck after pickup truck drive out of his farmyard ... filled with things he had treasured dearly. It was the day of his auction. Like many other American farmers, Elmer Johnson just could not make ends meet any longer. The farm had been in the family for three generations. First his grandfather and then his father had made their livings off this land. Elmer was glad they were not around for the auction. He felt ashamed enough the way it was. ...

1806. A Full House

Romans 5:12-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Tonight is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is an important service in the Christian Liturgical calendar because it is a season that reminds us of our MORTALITY. Tonight, when many of you come forward for the imposition of ashes upon your hands or your forehead, one of the pastors will share the words, "From dust thou camest, and to dust thou shall return." These penetrating words help to set the tone for the beginning of the Lenten Season. The calendar of the world and the calendar of the church are often at ...

1807. Ten Days of Prayer

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

King Duncan

In his book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of The Boat, Pastor John Ortberg tells a wonderful true story about the power of prayer. It involves a Christian leader in Washington, D.C. named Doug Coe. Doug became a spiritual mentor to a new Christian whose name was Bob. One day, Bob came in all excited about the verse in the Bible where Jesus says, “Ask whatever you will in my name, and you shall receive it.” “Is that really true?” Bob asked. Doug answered with a qualified yes, it is ...

1808. 2 Kings 5:1-14

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's Hebrew text parades a fascinating cast of characters through a moving and fast-moving tale of miraculous healing and transformation. The story is one of many "Elisha stories" which collectively demonstrate just how different the prophetic ministry of Elisha was from that of his better-known predecessor Elijah. Despite the power this healing story demonstrates, nowhere in this tale does Elisha behave as a traditional Israelite prophet. There is no great prophetic speech, no formulaic discourse; ...

1809. WaterFire Faith

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

If you ever doubt the power of art to capture the imagination and revive a dead city, take a trip to Providence, Rhode Island. Some years ago the “town fathers” of Providence, Rhode Island were desperate to find a way to revitalize the city’s downtown, and especially its dangerous waterfront. So what did they do? They hired an artist. The artist they chose was a multi-media public artist named Barnaby Evans, who is known for combining science and art, nature and the senses, especially soundcapes, to ...

1810. Mark 6:1-13

Mark 6:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

After a series of increasingly dramatic miracles that demonstrate Jesus’ power and authority over the forces of evil, the forces of nature, and even the forces of death itself, Mark’s text now abruptly changes pace and perspective. Having traveled back and forth across the Sea of Galilee a couple of times, Jesus and his disciples leave the shoreline scene and undertake a significant side trip to Nazareth, some twenty-five miles to the south. The journey might have been quite a jaunt, but the destination ...

1811. Voice in a Vacuum

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

Tony Everett

At first reading it seems as if today’s text is all about Abram’s journey from relative obscurity to universal fame; from being a childless husband in a tiny and insignificant family to becoming the founding father of a great multitude of nations. Now what would it look like if we read this story with God as the main character? What would it look like if we examined the text from the perspective of God’s initiating action instead of Abram’s immediate faithful response? After all, it’s pretty intimidating ...

1812. Balak to Hire Balaam

Numbers 22:1-20

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God protects his people from those determined to harm them. Understanding the Text In Numbers 21 the Israelites move out of the desert to the western edge of Canaan. They have passed around Edom and gone through Moab into territory north of Moab claimed by Amorites Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, whom they defeat. Though Israel has passed by Moab without attacking, Balak king of Moab feels vulnerable. Moreover, Sihon’s territory now occupied by Israel has previously been occupied by ...

1813. Dabar Adonai

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Sermon

Tony Everett

Twenty-five young teenagers are sitting at their desks in the classroom, minds focused on anything and everything except the complex algebra problem that their teacher is writing on the board. Suddenly, their reverie is broken by the word of the teacher: "I need a volunteer to come to the board and solve this simple binomial equation." Immediately, students become deeply involved with books under their desks. Pencils suddenly drop to the floor. Eyes become engrossed on a page, any page, in textbooks. No ...

1814. Investing God's Gift

Luke 19:11-27

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

One of the things that frequently happens when we dream during sleep is that in our dreams we find ourselves in a familiar place or situation. We know where we are, yet for some really frustrating and unknown reason, things are just different enough that we're not really sure. In our dream we're about to open a door only to discover that the door isn't where we know it ought to be. Or perhaps we're about to perform a familiar act, and somehow, we just can't do it, and we can't understand why. We keep ...

1815. Faith To The Finish

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8, Isaiah 14:24-27

Sermon

Erskine White

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7) In our first text for this morning, Jesus asks, "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether [you] have enough to complete it?" Incredibly enough, we saw this parable being acted out not too long ago right before our eyes in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by none other than Oral Roberts! You see, Oral announced one day that Jesus came to him as a vision 600 feet tall and ...

1816. The King Who Came To Die

Sermon

John M. Braaten

"The King of the Jews." That was the title which Pilate nailed above the cross where Jesus hung. You would have thought the Jewish priests would have been glad to see this so-called king humiliated so. But no, it must be changed, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' " they said, "but, write, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.' " Without hesitating Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." Perhaps Pilate's mind still burned with the memory of his encounter with the strange man whom he ...

1817. God Forsaken

Mark 15:21-32

Sermon

Erskine White

And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" which means, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Mark 15:34) Many churches today read from the Revised Standard Version or the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, but it wasn't always that way. In fact, the first RSV translation was printed in 1952. There were great arguments within many congregations between those who wanted to accept the new Bible and those who wanted to keep the old King James ...

1818. At Table With The Lord

Drama

Production Notes The drama may be presented either as a reader's theater presentation, with all parts read, or as a dramatic presentation with parts memorized. If produced as reader's theater, be certain that all parts are read with animation, in a mood appropriate in each case to capture the character of the person and the part. If offered as a dramatic presentation, characters may want to consider costumes and some simple props and staging. At those places where action is suggested (such as Jesus washing ...

1819. Proper 10 & Pentecost 8

Isaiah 55:1-13, Psalm 65:1-13, Romans 8:1-17, Romans 8:18-27, Exodus 2:11-25, Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE As the first third of the Pentecost cycle/season approaches its conclusion, the preacher must keep in mind that the theological framework of the season continues to be eschatological; the church continues to wait and work in anticipation of the Parousia. The Gospel for the Day, supported by the first reading, continues to provide the primary theme for worship and preaching, depending on whether or not one reads the shorter or longer lection, while the second reading continues to go its own ...

1820. For He Shall Save His People

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Staff

I have a Christmas dilemma. When I was a kid there was no Christmas dilemma. You filled out your wish list and you waited for Santa to fulfill it on the 25th. That was pretty awesome. The rest of the year didn’t work like that so it made Christmas a strange and wonderful time. But you know what happens… Slowly the tables get turned on you until one day you’re being handed the wish list. Such is life! This is when the dilemma enters in too. Not for everyone. There are still some sad sacks out there who are ...

1821. The Church’s Fear and Comfort

Acts 9:19b-31

Sermon

Richard F. Bansemer

The sermon today is based upon the 31st verse of the ninth chapter of Acts: "So the church throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied." Imagine yourself, for a moment, as the employee of a large corporation. Let’s take the company out of the United States, for what we are about to demonstrate is harder to believe in one’s home country. Pretend, if you will, that you are located deep ...

1822. "I Don’t Want to Be Perfect - Or Do I?"

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

"I don’t want to be perfect" - but I do want to be better than am. I do want to be as good as I can be. I will never be mathematically perfect, everything just right, fixed. But as long as I live, I am going to be yearning after something that I have not yet achieved, and I am going to be responding to a pull that ever tugs me to a higher level of life. I don’t want to be a semi-Christian. I don’t want to be a "born again" Christian whose "conversion turns him around ninety degrees instead of one hundred ...

1823. A Liturgical Drama For Advent

Drama

Tom Eberle

Advent The seasons of the church calendar are like the headings for each act of a theater production. They provide the particular setting in which one element of the divine drama of God’s revelation in Christ is presented to us. The liturgical seasons are sometimes thought of as optional observances, like a fancily-iced cake. They make worship more attractive, but are not part of the basic recipe. This collection of liturgical dramas for worship is written, not as frosting, but with the intention that the ...

1824. What On Earth Is God Doing? - 1940

Psalm 76:1-12

Sermon

Kent Moorehead

Confronted with such a catastrophe as the contemporary world situation presents, with evil so wildly rampant, destruction and death so widespread and violent, and the threat of the triumph of ruthlessness so imminent, one question keeps coming up to pester and plague religious faith with an incorrigible persistency: With everything seeming to go to pieces, what on earth is God doing? Where is he? Doesn’t he care? Is he unaware, or unseeing, or impotent to do anything about such a ghastly calamity? Of ...

1825. Coming Down The Mountain

2 Kings 2:1-18

Sermon

Frederick C. Edwards

There is a story that a university in Scotland once wished to honor a scholar who had done some significant inquiry into the life and work of one of its own most illustrious former scholars, the 16th century Scottish reformer, John Knox. The tradition in that and several other universities was that, if possible, a cap belonging to the subject of the study - in this case John Knox - would be given to the person being honored, if such a cap could be found. In that way the honoree would have something ...

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