Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1901 to 1925 of 1967 results

1901. Getting Off Of The Mountain

Matthew 17:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Liturgical Color: White Theme: Getting off of the mountain into the valley and pits of life. Proclamation Consider this: We need mountaintop experiences; we do not need to spend our life on the mountain. God has broken through our sin (alienation) to redeem us and reconcile us, so that we need not live our lives on the mountain. God brings us into a personal relationship with self, others, world, so that every experience becomes a creative experience. God rolls up his/her sleeves and enters into the daily ...

1902. THE CROSS

Illustration

John H. Krahn

The cross best proclaims the indisputable fact that we worship a caring God. It is the most popular of all Christian symbols. There is no Christianity without the cross. The cross shouts God’s words of love to each of us. It is his proclamation of possibility beyond the present. In it is hope for the hopeless, love for the loveless, encouragement for the depressed, and the pronouncement of life beyond death for those who grieve the loss of a friend or contemplate their own demise. Its importance to our ...

1903. Braggers

John 8:48-59

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A magazine or newspaper advertisement that boldly proclaims the super value of some product. Good morning, boys and girls. How are you today? I brought something that we are getting very used to - something which I am sure that you have seen before. [Hold up the advertisement. Read it with great expression so that the children understand that you are boasting about whatever product you are selling.] Have you ever heard someone on television or radio sell something so that it sounded as if he were ...

1904. MR. CAIN

Drama

Jerome W. Nilssen

CAIN and his wife, JAREL, in their early forties, have just returned from a gala banquet in CAIN’S honor; now they are preparing for bed. CAIN undresses slowly, still savoring his delight in being named "Rotarian of the Year." JAREL wears a sheer and obviously expensive negligee, but she hasn’t yet removed her jewelry. She is doing this now and she has quite a bit to remove, perhaps a bit too much. CAIN (Singing, off-key) "Happy days are here again, No more skies of gray again, Happy days are here again." ...

1905. NURSE

1 Thess. 2:7; 1 Kings 1:4

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

1 Thessalonians 2:7 - "But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children." 1 Kings 1:4 - "The maiden was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and ministered to him; but the king knew her not." The ancient definition of a nurse could be "one who looks after, tutors or guides another, as in a period of inexperience or sickness." In these ancient times, the nurse was an honorable person. It is probable that male tutors (perhaps eunuchs) were sometimes considered nurses. ...

1906. TANNER

Acts 9:43

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

Acts 9:43 - "And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner." Tanning, which is the conversion of the hides of goats, sheep, camels, and calves into leather, is a very ancient art. As far back as the Exodus, we find that "tanned rams’ skins" were used as coverings for the tabernacle. And ancient man also found that leather was valuable as a material for receptacles. Well-preserved leather articles, dating from as early as 2000 B.C., have been found by archealogists, In fact, the mummies of ...

1907. THE GAME OF LIFE (Alternate Version): A drama about resolving conflict or anger

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes: Pastor Ray, my minister, was speaking on resolving conflict and since I hadn't done the 'Game of Life' drama in quite some time, I thought I'd bring it back. I rewrote it to accommodate only 2 actors (instead of 3) and it worked great! This is another drama that people respond well to because they can relate... Cast: Jack: A normal husband and father Sandy: Jack's wife Props: Table/desk The game of Life Bowl of chips, etc. Setting: Jack and Sandy's kitchen (LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE - Jack ...

1908. Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide (Long Version)

John 3:1-36

Illustration

Staff

It is very hard these days to know who to believe. Everyone is trying to lead us to their version of truth. In 1997, Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old student at Eagle Rock Junior High School in Idaho Falls won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair by showing how conditioned we have become to alarmists spreading fear of everything in our environment through junk science. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "Dihydrogen ...

1909. Clean Hands and Dirty Hearts

Matthew 15:1-20

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: Bring some kind of "junk food" for the children such as small packages of donuts or candy. Show the children the "junk food" that you have with you. Say: I have some food here that we could call "junk food" because you don't get much nourishment when you eat it, although you do get full. Do you like "junk food?" . . . Does your mother ever tell you to not eat so much "junk food" but more fruit and vegetables? . . . Why, do you think she thinks that fruit and vegetables are better for you? . . . ...

1910. Above All--god

Revelation 21:1-27

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: None or bring a small pocket size package of tissues for each child. What special day is today? Yes, it is Mother's Day. What special things does your mother do for you? [Let children respond but guide them to answers like: feeds us, washes our clothes, takes care of us when we are sick, etc.] It sounds to me like mothers make your lives much better. Mothers are a lot like God. Let me read a verse from Revelation to you. " . . . and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes . . . there shall no ...

1911. HOW DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

Drama

Angela Akers

SUBJECT: Woman at the well, child of God CHARACTERS: Jean, a homeless woman, possibly a prostitute, Pastor SETTING: City street PROPS: A backpack, a five-dollar bill Jean: "Hey, lady, can you spare a five? Just a five, just for some dinner." Pastor: "Hi there. What''s your name?" Jean: "Huh? What does it matter? Do you have a five? I could really use something in my stomach." Pastor: "Here." (Hands her a five) "I''m LouAnne Akers. I''m pastor of Whitley United Methodist up the street ...

1912. Living by a Promise

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Elizabeth Achtemeier

The preacher who confronts the three stated texts for this Sunday once again faces the confusing situation of wondering how on earth the three lessons are related. Perhaps several answers are possible, but to my mind, all three of them have to do with living by a promise. In the context of our Genesis text, Abraham and Sarah and their households have obeyed the command of God and left Ur of the Chaldees (v. 7; cf. 11:31), settled temporarily at Haran in Mesopotamia, and then journeyed on to Canaan, the ...

1913. Passing From Old to New

Joshua 5:13--6:27

Sermon

Elizabeth Achtemeier

Christians live under new conditions. Paul tell us in the Epistle lesson for this Sunday that the old life has been done away and that the new life has begun. We are new creations of God. There are all sorts of metaphors that the Bible uses to describe that Christian passage from old to new. It says that we have been born anew, or that we have passed from slavery into freedom. It proclaims that we have emerged from darkness into light, or from despair into meaning, from mourning into joy, or from death ...

1914. A Call To Repentance

Joel 2:12-17

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Be merciful to us, O God, because of your constant love. People: Because of your great mercy, wipe away our sins! Leader: Wash away all our evil and cleanse us from our sins! People: We recognize our faults; we are always conscious of our sins. Collect Eternal God, who has created us and who and hates nothing that He has made, and forgives the sins of those who are penitent: create in us new and contrite hearts that acknowledging our sins we may receive your forgiveness; through ...

1915. The Longest Distance in the Universe

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Kids in 4-H are usually involved in some kind of rural, agricultural activities. They raise sheep and goats, chickens, rabbits, and llamas. The 4-H fair has horse shows and dog shows and judging contests all designed to measure the abilities of the kids and their critters. Just as the Boy Scouts have their well-known pledge, the 4-H-ers have their own pledge and commitment. In fact the 4-H motto is the reason for the designation "4-H." The four h's are head, heart, hand, and health and a 4-H-er promises to ...

1916. Dry Bones And Live Hope

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Bulletin Aid

Charles Curley

Call To Worship L: Then he said to me, "Son of Man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, R: ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost, we are clean cut off ...’ L: Thus says the Lord God: Behold I will open your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home ... R: And I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken. L: And I have done it, says the Lord." (Based on Ezekiel 37:11-14) Prayer Of Confession Lord, we confess that ...

1917. A Flock of Sheep or a Pack of Wolves?

Matthew 7:15-23

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

Pierre von Paassen in his book Days of Our Years, tells of a hunchback, Ugolin, who lived in a small French village. He had a hard time because he was a monstrous looking creature. Children would not play with him. One night some drinking men starting making fun of him. They kicked him, spit on him, tore off his clothes, and finally left him in a pool of blood. Later that night the local priest found him, took him home, washed him, and put him to bed. The next day while the priest was conducting mass, ...

1918. Matthew 15:21-28

Matthew 15:21-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Once again, Jesus has been accosted by Pharisees for failing to strictly follow the traditional rituals for washing and eating. Once again, Jesus patiently explained the larger concept of “defilement” to a clueless crowd and even denser disciples. Little wonder an exhausted Jesus decides to “get out of Dodge.” Leaving Galilee and heading northwest, Jesus’ departure took him to the Mediterranean coast, the pagan territory of Tyre and Sidon. Both these cities have to their scriptural record several ...

1919. The Unshakable Foundation

Hebrews 7:23-28

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

On Top Sail Island, North Carolina, stands the ruins of a dream in a shell of a house. Before the hurricane, both the house and owner had proudly stood on the oceanfront daring the challenges of wind and wave. Six years before, John (not his real name) had left his wife of eleven years in search of something he could not define — something that would make his life complete and happy. He wanted adventure and fun; he wanted big-boy-toys. He wanted a beautiful home and a beautiful wife, and he was willing to ...

1920. Standing Stones

Exodus 24:1-18, Psalm 116:1-19

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? All: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. (Based on Psalm 116:12-13) Collect Lord, we long to be washed clean, standing beneath your cross, and by this commemoration of your sacrifice. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, we raise these stones, our hardened hearts, so that by your sacrifice of blood and pain we may be sanctified and sent into the world in your name. Amen. Hymns Come Thou Fount Of ...

1921. If Only

Psalm 30:1-12, 2 Kings 5:1-27

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship The servant girl spoke and the great commander listened. The prophet spoke and the commander was enraged. In the end his obedience brought healing. We listen, we argue, we bargain, we obey. Let us come obediently and go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Collect You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. Amen. (Psalm 30:11-12) Prayer ...

1922. Thunder in the Mountains, Silence in the Soul

1 Kings 19:9-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

God is both inside and outside - in the mountains and their thunder and in the quiet caves of our souls. To Moses God spoke through the mountains with a roar. To Elijah God spoke through the cave in a still small voice. God still speaks in various ways today. The multifaceted nature of God's presence before human beings is demonstrated dramatically in this week's text from 1 Kings. While the redactors have taken tremendous pains to set up a correlation between Moses and Elijah, the experience of God is ...

1923. Acts 9:36-43

Acts 9:36-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Although Peter is the central character in the first 12 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, there is scant mention of him in the immediate chapters which precede today' s reading. The apostles' encounter with Simon in Samaria who wanted to pay money for the power of the Holy Spirit is recorded in 8:14-25. Prior to this account, Peter is last seen in Jerusalem pushing through crowds of the sick and demon-possessed who wished to experience Peter' s healing touch, or failing that at least have his shadow ...

1924. The Servant Was the Leader

Mark 1:21-28

Illustration

G. Curtis Jones

In "Journey to the East," Hermann Hesse described the activities and relationship of explorers who were sent on a difficult mission by a certain order. A servant, Leo, cared for their every need: prepared the food, washed their clothes, and was at their beck and call. In terms of protocol, he was the lowest of the least. As the mission progressed, Leo's adaptability and spirit proved invaluable. The servant's worth became more evident when their ship was wrecked and Leo was missing. Trying to proceed ...

1925. Faith that Goes from Head to Heart

Numbers 11:4-35

Illustration

David Gallimore

When the people of Israel were on their journey out of Egyptian slavery into the Promised Land, it was a long and difficult journey. The people were grumbling and complaining the whole time. Moses was the leader and he’d just about had it. No matter how God helped them and what God provided for them these ungrateful people were always craving more. In Numbers 11, God provided manna for them to eat in the desert. But they didn’t want manna; they wanted meat. So God said, “Okay, meat it is. In fact I’m going ...

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