Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1826 to 1850 of 4972 results

1826. The Great Divide

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

... to his brothers and warn them to change their ways — to not treat their fellow human beings the way he did; to stop putting distance between themselves and those in need. But Abraham refuses. They had their chance (just like the rich man) since they ... distance between us that we might not be able to lessen, there is not going to be emotional distance — not on our watch. We will not stop caring even if we feel that the help we are able to give seems like too little, too late. While none of us can help each ...

1827. Be a Night Light

James 1:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a thought was almost beyond his comprehension. "Close your eyes for a moment," said the senior angel, "and we will go back in what they call Time." While the little angel’s eyes were closed and the two of them moved nearer to the spinning ball, it stopped its spinning, spun backwards quite fast for a while, and then slowly resumed its usual rotation. "Now look!" And as the little angel did as he was told, there appeared here and there on the dull surface of the globe little flashes of light, some merely ...

1828. Our Family Inheritance

Galatians 3:15-25

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... does. Perhaps, one day, we will grow up as God's children in the same way we grow as children of our earthly parents. As little ones, we fight and quarrel with our brothers and sisters, we throw mud at one another, we scratch and claw, but eventually, we stop all that nonsense. As Paul says, "we put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11 NLT). And for most of us, those sisters and brothers with whom we fought tooth and nail as children are now some of the dearest people in the world to us. Perhaps the ...

1829. Epiphany 5

Psalm 138:1-8, Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... you, Creating God, for the multiple nations and religions throughout the global village. May our words and our actions be consistent with your love. Thank you, Eternal God, for creating us in your image. Stop the terror that ravishes our bodies and souls. Halt the wars that maim our children and devastate the land. Stop the injustice that breeds poverty, disease, and discontent. Thank you, Healing God, for sufficient strength to endure each day, to learn new things, to hold on to goodness, and to let go of ...

1830. Lent 1

Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16, Luke 4:1-13, Romans 10:8b-13

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... lives. Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Unison) Living God — for every goodness of every season of life, we are grateful. Thank you for being with us in times of disaster and violence, in times of upheaval and stillness. During these winter days leading to resurrection celebration, we stop our scurrying so we can be attentive to our mortality. Create in us a tip-toe breathlessness so we can take in your work. Our attention turns to you and we listen for your voice. Amen. Call To Confession There are times in our ...

1831. A Rock Thrown, A Lesson Learned

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?” The young boy was apologetic. “Please mister . . . please, I’m sorry, but I didn’t know what else to do,” he pleaded. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop . . .” With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. “It’s my brother,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.” Now sobbing, the ...

1832. Serving the King of Kings

John 18:28-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... by where you place you ultimate allegiance. It is determined by your ultimate role model, by the One you worship. I love the way the late African-American preacher S. M. Lockridge once put it: “The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him. But they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him. Yea! That’s my King.” Is he your King? If not, will you make him your King today? 1. Uncle John’s ...

1833. Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45

Sermon

King Duncan

... : “Read my letter to the old folks, and give my love to them, and tell my brothers to be always watching unto prayer, and when the good old ship of Zion comes along, to be ready to step on board.” One of Harriet’s Underground Railroad stops was at her parents’ cabin. She and her fellow travelers would hide out in the barn. Because Harriet’s mother was given to outbursts of screaming and crying whenever she was happy, it was impossible for them to let her mother know they were there. Instead, they ...

1834. A New Resolve

Philippians 4:1, 4-9

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... will be different elsewhere. When we download iTunes, we check out the lyrics. This has always been an issue. Nothing has changed. Polluting the mind must have been an issue in Philippi. It certainly was for Luther. He said, "You can't stop a bird from flying overhead but you can stop it from nesting in your hair." The mind and heart will be filled with images and thoughts. Paul is saying if you want to stand firm and live with resolve before the crisis hits, then guard your thoughts. Ask yourself, "Is it ...

1835. A Stupid Question

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... of the prophet. The prophet had authority to correct, not just the people, but the priests, the king, and entire foreign cities and nations, as well. The prophet's authority came from the simple recognition that he carried God's word, and that made his words most important. Stop the average Israelite on the street in Jesus' day and ask him to list the names of rabbis. He will forget more than he will remember, and there will be a still larger list that he had never heard of at all. But then ask him to list ...

1836. A Marriage Made In Heaven

Hosea 1:2-10

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... God that his descendents will be as numerous as the stars in the night sky (Genesis 15:6), but he is nearly 100 years old before he sees this promise guaranteed by the birth of a son Isaac to him and Sarah. However, God's difficult demands don't stop there. In Genesis 22:1-10 we read the troubling story of God's command that Abraham offer his son as a burnt offering: After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac ...

1837. The ABC's of Grief

Lamentations 1:1-6

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... all the children the attention, let alone the love, they needed. Within a few weeks, the caregivers began to realize that some of the babies were crying less and some had stopped crying all together. Because their cries had gone unheeded for so long, the infants ceased to trust that their cries would bring someone to them, and so they stopped. We cry because we believe someone will hear us. We reach out in our grief because we want someone to join us. Our lament may be an expectation that someone can or ...

1838. When We're Estranged from God

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... was so late. John said he got up that morning and his car would not start. He tried to fix it but he couldn’t. So John got out his 10-speed bike, bundled up his kid, and peddled 5 miles in freezing Wisconsin temperatures because nothing was going to stop him from being in worship. (5) I’ve seen that happen in people’s lives. John had something missing in his life. He could not put himself back together again. But God did. John is not perfect, but he is growing. He is growing in the same way that you ...

1839. The Healing Fountain of Tears

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... next to godliness?” If that’s true, if cleanliness is next to godliness, then how many of us live in evil houses, drive ungodly cars, and shake unholy hands? The gift of cleanliness. We don’t think about cleanliness until it is gone. Your sink stops up and the dirty dishes start to accumulate until they take over the kitchen. Your washing machine dies and suddenly you have no clean underwear and the laundry room turns into a Fort Knox for funky smells. Or, worst of all, something in your life breaks ...

1840. Coincidence or Providence?

Acts 16:11-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... , “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul believed this was a call from God. He and three of his friends embarked at once for Macedonia. However, the trip to Macedonia wasn’t easy. They traveled by boat and were forced to make stops along the way. One of those stops was at Philippi, the leading city of the district of Macedonia. Paul and his friends stayed there several days. Evidently there was no synagogue in Philippi. So when the Sabbath came, they went down to the river to find a place to pray ...

1841. Just Checking

Revelation 22:1-6

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... here.” “Just checking.” Sometimes that’s all prayer is . . . . just checking. This Sunday is Mother’ Day. Mother’s Day is when we stop and engage in some “just checking” about the cost of life, the gift of life, that has been bestowed upon us by our ... of a mother’s love, and the sacrificial nature of a divine love that will go to every length and stop at nothing to break the circle of life to bring us home. Just checking. . . ______________________________ COMMENTARY Lots of people lament ...

1842. What the Trinity Does

Romans 5:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... of a medical clinic told of a terminally ill young man who came in for his usual treatment. A new doctor who was on duty said to him casually and cruelly, “You know, don’t you, that you won’t live out the year?” As the young man left, he stopped by the director’s desk and wept. “That man took away my hope,” he blurted out. “I guess he did,” replied the director. “Maybe it’s time to find a new one.” (9) The new hope he was talking about is the only hope worth having hope in God. All ...

1843. Two Sinners

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

King Duncan

... you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn’t give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven as her great love has shown.” Then Jesus came to the punch line: “Whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Think ...

1844. Anything to Declare?

Luke 10:1-24

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... where Moses picks seventy elders to work among the people, and to Exodus 24:1, 9-14, where these elders accompany Moses onto the holy mountain. Also in Numbers 11:26-30 Moses admonishes those who would stop others from prophesying, just as Jesus had so recently in Luke’s gospel chastised John for trying to stop others who were using Jesus’ name to cast out demons (9:49). Jesus explains the reason for this new wave of messengers as part of a greater outreach. The potential harvest of those who will hear ...

1845. Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Luke 10:1-24

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

1846. The Keys to Effective Praying

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... a man named Edouardo Sierra, a citizen of Spain, was on a business trip to Sweden. He was driving through the Swedish countryside when he came upon a Catholic church. He decided to stop in for a few moments to say a prayer. The church was empty except for a coffin with a body lying at rest inside it. Edouardo decided to take a few moments to stop and pray for the man who lay in the coffin. Then he signed a book of remembrance left by the coffin. Apart from his signature, the book was empty. Some weeks later ...

1847. Lean on the Cloud

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... age of the monarchy and the days of the prophets. Although after Samuel no names are named, the examples given would call to mind specific moments and individuals. David’s reign was a time of kingdom conquering, justice vetting, and promise fulfilling. The stopped-up mouths of lions refers to Daniel’s faithfulness in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:22), while the quenched fire image recalls Shadrach, Meshack, and Abendago’s willingness to be barbecued rather than bow to false gods (Daniel 3:18). The women ...

1848. The Narrow Door

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... that he gained! To get back into an exercise regimen, he started with the basics running every day. He was so out of shape that he couldn’t go far. At first, he couldn’t even make it around the block, which was about a mile. He had to stop a few times to catch his breath, huffing and puffing. “Just imagine a big, fat guy,” he writes, “gasping for air, barely able to jog around the block, who claims that he will be the heavyweight champion of the world again! I looked ridiculous to everyone who saw ...

1849. Unity and Hope

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... , there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). These were radical words in a time when people were defined by their heritage, gender, and social class. When you stop to think about it, those words continue to be revolutionary today. We are to love and accept people who have different life experiences than we do; we can make them feel welcome at our church. Paul always was the pragmatist and quoted scripture to drive home ...

1850. A One Sentence Legacy

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... Less filling!” And when it came time to renew his contract, he refused to sign because he said that he didn’t want his life to count for something like that. He said that there was a still, small voice in his mind that kept saying, “Stop, Bubba. Stop.” Bubba Smith didn’t want the sentence he would leave as his legacy to be “Tastes great! Less filling!” So he walked away. (6) What sentence will one day summarize your life? “He was a great father.” “She kept a spotless home.” “He had a ...

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