Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1951 to 1975 of 2962 results

1951. Sermons In Stones

Psalm 19:1-14

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... often feels like barren, cold winter, so unaware of the miracles that are being created in our spirits. It takes the sudden daylight, some unexpected surprise of life, to cause our gaze to look upon a simple, stunning growth that has happened quietly inside us. Like frost designs on a winter window, they bring us beyond life's fragmentation and remind us that we are not nearly as lost as we thought we were, that all the time we thought we were dead inside, beautiful things were being born in us.[1] As a ...

1952. Winning Over Worry

Matthew 6:25-33

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... about those clothes, so much so that they spend inordinate amounts of time and money making sure that they have nothing but the best - they worry about them ... but Jesus says, "Don't." To be sure, he is not saying that everyone will be provided with the latest designer fashions; what he is saying is that they do not make any difference. As far as God is concerned, clothes do not make the man (or the woman), because if they did, the flowers and the grass would be higher up on the scale of things than we ...

1953. Transitions

2 Kings 2:1-12

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... gets its name, and this is where we find the origin of the expression, "passing on the mantle of leadership." The story also gives us one of the earliest uses of the term "Father" as a title for a religious leader (if you have ever wondered where that designation in some churches came from). The story is one of transition. Elijah, who has been the key prophetic voice for Israel and, even today, is thought of as the prophet par excellence and of a stature similar to Moses, is going. Elisha is coming, and the ...

1954. Merry Xmas

John 1:1-9, 10-18

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... . As a lover of architecture, he envisioned the beautiful cathedrals of Rome, Paris, and Milan; he saw what was once Westminster Abbey. In each case, the only thing remaining was a huge, gaping crater of a cellar. After all, they had been constructed in the design of a cross, and without the one who had been sacrificed on the cross, there would have been no call for constructing a building in the shape of one. He considered the greatest poems of Dante and Milton, of Wordsworth and Tennyson, and again found ...

1955. The Miegakure Messiah

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the sick and feeding the hungry and calming the seas. They now needed to see how Jesus’ divinity was revealed in suffering and sacrifice, not just for Israel but for all people. It was a new and shocking “reveal” Jesus offered. Much of God’s design to bring us back into the garden would still remain hidden from the hearts and minds of the disciples. Until Easter morning. Until the risen Christ’s visits with his followers. Until the Ascension. Until the gift of the Holy Spirit. Are you one of ...

1956. Grand Opening

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Robert J. Elder

... people in poverty stricken and roadless areas, serving as a rather ungainly combination tractor and pickup truck. Earl became convinced that people in third-world countries leave rural areas because of a lack of affordable transportation. He gave up his job as a product design manager to work full-time on what he called his "peace machine" which since the mid-'60s has been in service in about 22 third-world countries. For people who still carry their households on their backs and heads, it is a quantum leap ...

1957. Disintegration and Reintegration

Mark 14:1-15:47

Sermon

John Smylie

... the heart. These are the moments not unlike those moments when a family comes together with one who is dying, and the one who is dying has a last opportunity to share his or her wisdom with those gathered. The wisdom that our Lord shares is a gift that is designed to sustain the disciples, he seeks to give them a way to come into his continuing presence. It is a gift that the church has steadfastly held on to and received ever since the gift was given in the upper room. The gift is his body and blood. The ...

1958. Silence and Darkness

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

John Smylie

... ten candles representing the ten disciples. More silence is kept as we move into deeper darkness, perhaps another hymn is sung and then a third reading. This time we read of Peter's denial of his Lord. The acolyte returns, extinguishes the candle designated for Peter and now only one candle remains lit. The Christ candle, the light of the world, stands alone upon the altar having been abandoned by his closest friends and companions. The fourth reading is of Jesus' death and after the reading; the ...

1959. The Logical Conclusion

Luke 24:44-53

Sermon

John Smylie

... on the wall corresponded with a plot in the ground. The columbarium was very lovely but difficult to use in the midst of the western New York winters. There were a few apple trees back behind the wall near where the plots in the ground were designated for people's ashes to be placed. The columbarium attracted much wildlife that was always lovely to look upon. There was one particular autumn burial service when I found myself quite annoyed at the messiness of the apples scattered on the ground. Some of them ...

1960. The Inconcealable Christ!

Mark 7:31-37, Mark 7:24-30

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... as we also see from the beginning to the end of his ministry. Jesus Christ refuses to be hidden. Consider these examples: Who Jesus Is, Is Not Concealed About his conception, the Old Testament prophets said that the Messiah would come in circumstances that only God could design. There are many references that could be cited. Here are just two: "The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Micah even revealed the ...

1961. Epiphany: All about You!

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... gasped. The implications were enormous. Suddenly, we were not the center of the universe. Suddenly, the sun and moon didn't rise and fall on me. Suddenly I was so very insignificant. The church fought him on theological reasons. "We are the pinnacle of creation, designed in the image of God. How dare you," the priests said. Science fought him on empirical reasons. "We are the top of the food chain and called to have dominion." But Copernicus held his ground and literally put us in our place, causing not ...

1962. Dividing Walls

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Gibson “Nibs” Stroupe

... an automobile, though, as I drove David to play a high school tennis match with a team on the north side of Atlanta. Suddenly, as we were driving along, I was back in medieval Europe — it was astounding! There were all these castles and walls and gates, designed to keep the peasants out. As I looked closer, I saw something more like huge houses and housing developments, surrounded by walls and gates. And, I realized that I hadn't gone time traveling after all. I was still in the present time, but rather I ...

1963. Wiping Away the Tears

Revelation 21:1-6

Sermon

Patrick J. Rooney

... and earth, we therefore place our hope on this day of promise, the promise that in time, our God will come to us and wipe away every tear from our eyes. All Saints is a day of promise because it is a part of the great pattern of God's design for his creation. From the beginning, God has always come to his people in the time of their distress, reaching out his hand to wipe away their tears. Isaiah proclaimed it to the people of old. John proclaimed it from his exile on Patmos to the early church. And we ...

1964. Can You Carry Your Weight?

Romans 13:8-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... us God is something other than a God of Love. When we think God is Power, or God is Judgment, or God is Wrath, we make the evil forces of this world very happy. Depending on our mood we like to give God an “ultimate” designation. When we feel overwhelmed and weak, “God is Power.” When we feel abused and attacked, “God is Wrath.” When we feel comfortable and cosseted, “God is Good.” But God is Love. And love is always subjective as well as objective. Love is always subjectively encountering ...

1965. For What Do We Wait?

Luke 1:26-38

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... I can just pass biology, everything’ll be all right. Suzie: You might be waiting for your grades but I’m waiting for something really important. Bart: What’s that? Suzie: My allowance. Bart: Your allowance? Suzie: Yeah, then I can go to the mall. I need a pair of designer jeans. Bart: Why? Suzie: You know as well as I that if you don’t have the right clothes, you just don’t fit in. I’m not gonna let that happen! When you look good, life is cool. Mr. Schwartz: I couldn’t help but overhear your ...

1966. God Makes All Things New

Isaiah 61:10—62:3

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... thing holding them together. This presented a sharp contrast to Kevin's team in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and spanking new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see the other team was wrestling without headgear, those white helmets designed to protect wrestlers' ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. At the end of the match, Kevin's team had won an overwhelming victory, taking every weight class. The boys on the defeated team still possessed a certain ...

1967. Baptism: The Light Shatters the Darkness

Genesis 1:1-5

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... recognize both the privilege and the responsibilities we have as baptized Christians. The privileges of baptism, and thereby being a child of God, are numerous, but unfortunately often not recognized or acknowledged. We have the privilege of the name Christian, which designates us as official followers of Jesus Christ. We have the privilege of the Christian community that surrounds us. It seems we rarely consider our Christian name or our membership in a community of faith to be great privileges, but living ...

1968. Be An Apostle! Proclaim Life!

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Sermon

Ken Lentz

... I heard their Macedonian call for help." He gathered up his family and moved on into the wilderness of Ohio and organized the Ohio Synod in 1818 at Somerset, Ohio. After many requests on his part to the Pennsylvania Ministerium, Stauch was finally designated a "lay catechist," and then eventually was ordained as a pastor. Stauch was, first of all, a product of a firm witness to him by his parents, family, and friends. He received the apostolic authority, not by virtue of a documented "apostolic succession ...

1969. Getting Through the Grief

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

... , assisted by their second son, Walter, determined they would build a memorial to all servicemen who were dying or being maimed in body or spirit in Vietnam. Using Lt. Westphall's SGLI payment as seed money, they engaged a young Santa Fe architect, Ted Luna, to design the Memorial Chapel. When we went into the little theater to watch a documentary film in the museum, I noticed boxes of tissues placed on chairs around the darkened room and wondered what they were for. By the end of the film, I knew and was ...

1970. Being Two People at Once

2 Samuel 11:1-15

Sermon

Donna Schaper

... Butterflies: Our Long Love Affair With A Singular Insect, Sharman Apt Russell, says this about butterflies: "A bag of goo crawls on a leaf, obsessed with eating. It hangs upside down. It becomes something else. A butterfly is born, a bit of blue heaven, a jazzy design. It is a gesture of beauty almost too casual." Becoming new is a gesture of beauty almost too casual. It is a set of incremental steps in learning to want what we have rather than becoming the prisoner of our own desires. Do we really need ...

1971. From Emptiness to Fullness

Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... seductive! But we need to remember that Naomi knew there was a certain family obligation here — Boaz could be "next-of-kin," as the NRSV translates it, or the "one with the right to redeem," which is the alternative translation given in the margin. This designates the kinsman who was expected to marry the wife of a deceased member of the family, a kind of kinsman/redeemer. In addition, there was a certain lack or emptiness in both their lives — Boaz being a bachelor and Ruth a childless widow. What ...

1972. Value of the Bible

Illustration

Staff

... comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you ...

1973. The Qualities for a Growing Church

Illustration

C. Peter Wagner

... to make changes in sociopolitical structures that will contribute to a more moral and just society. 11. Social service. Members are serving others outside the congregation. This includes direct personal involvement with the poor and needy, or in programs designed to help the needy. 10. Attitude toward religion. Church members regard their involvement in the church primarily as a service to God rather than a means to fulfill personal needs. 9. Distinctive life-style. Members generally manifest their faith ...

1974. A Firm Foundation

Illustration

Frank Lloyd Wright is among the most innovative architects this county ever produced. But his fame wasn't limited to the United States. About 70 years ago, Japan asked Wright to design a hotel for Tokyo that would be capable of surviving an earthquake. When the architect visited Japan to see where the Imperial Hotel was to be built, he was appalled to find only about eight feet of earth on the site. Beneath that was 60 feet of soft mud that ...

1975. Don't Be Too Sure

Illustration

Source Unknown

... sad consequences. This is the case when a person is so sure of himself that he becomes careless about little things that may pose a threat. For example, a stuntman named Bobby Leach. In July, 1911, he went over Niagara Falls in a specially designed steel drum and lived to tell about it. Although he suffered minor injuries, he survived because he recognized the tremendous dangers involved in the feat, and because he had done everything he could to protect himself from harm. Several years after that incident ...

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