Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2026 to 2050 of 2962 results

2026. The Uniquely Christian Commandment

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... , Erin (the one to whom this volume is dedicated), was little, my wife was trying to tell her about Maundy Thursday. Erin said, "Monday Thursday." "No," said Christie, "Maundy Thursday." "Right," responded Erin, "Monday Thursday." Christie gave up. The designation "Maundy Thursday" comes from an ancient Latin anthem traditionally sung at the commemoration of the Last Supper, "Mandatum Novum Do Vobis," which means, "I give you a new commandment," from our text. Indeed, another way of identifying this day ...

2027. Is It True?

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... of Arabia, died in the midst of his harem in the arms of his favorite wife. Then we encounter Jesus. Only a bit over thirty years of age, expelled from society, betrayed, mocked and taunted, tortured, and finally killed by the most atrocious method ever designed by humankind's ingenious cruelty. He was buried in a rock-hewn tomb that was sealed by a huge boulder and guarded by Roman legionnaires. But some 36 hours later, people started seeing Jesus alive again. Whoa! Do you see how radically different is ...

2028. Religion and Politics

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... of the more remarkable writings of this passionate, prophetic pastor whose life was dedicated to issues of social justice and national morality. He writes, "The separation of church and state is a sound doctrine, but it points to an organizational separation. It is not designed to separate Christians from their politics. For our faith certainly should inform our common life, as well as our personal, more private lives."[1] One final word. For those who feel fed up with the whole process, here is a tidbit to ...

2029. Repressive Religion

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... even an emergency healing. In fact, the woman had not even asked to be healed. But Jesus did it anyway. It is not much of a stretch to conclude that he did it on purpose. He knew the rules. And it is not that the rules were designed to be repressive. On the contrary, it was this commitment to the Sabbath that reminded the Jewish people who they were and whose they were. Why would Jesus deliberately tweak their ecclesiastical nose? And while he was at it, he called them a nasty name? "You hypocrites! Doesn ...

2030. Dinner Guests

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... to a more contemporary idiom, invite the illegal immigrant, the Middle-Eastern student, the AIDs victim — in other words, the people we good folks would normally shy away from. Actually, this cast of characters that Jesus identified hardly even rates the designation of "humble" people — in many cases, they were actually outcasts and outlaws, and according to the law, such people were not even legally permitted to go into God's holy presence (Leviticus 21:17-23). But Jesus, by this extended invitation ...

2031. Would A Loving God Really Let Anyone Go To Hell?

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... that there will be different degrees of punishment (Matthew 23:14), and of course, simple justice would demand that — the punishment has to fit the crime. Perhaps Dante had the right idea in The Divine Comedy. He portrays sinners living in hell in circumstances designed to show the nature of their sins: Gluttons must lie in the filth of a pig sty; hypocrites go about in heavy cloaks that are gilded over; traitors (who coldly planned their treachery) are more or less encased in ice. They have effectively ...

2032. The Locust Years

Joel 2:23-32

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... of our own intellect and our own freedom. That kind of thinking sounds like it might be reserved to teenagers, but unfortunately, when it comes to some things, too many people never grow up. The years we spend like that are locust years. Humanity was never designed to operate effectively like that. The apostle Paul says, "For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone" (Romans 14:7). When we ignore that thought, we tell the locusts to come in and feast on all this we consider ...

2033. Good Gossip

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ’s intentions for the world. James builds his argument with language that recalls the creation — the original state of the world versus the fallen state that exists post-Eden. In 3:7 James recites a litany of the creatures of this world, as designed by God, and reminds his readers that they were put under human dominion. Yet while this vast cast of creatures were tamed by humankind, the pointed, poisonous tongue of individual men and women has remained untamed. Like the serpent in the garden, the tongue ...

2034. James 3:1-12

James 3:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2035. Big Men in Little Planes

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... , which was considered to be the world’s fastest fighter plane. The British had the Supermarine Spitfire. The Spitfire was slower than the Messerschmitt. Nevertheless, German pilots were envious of their British counterparts. You see, the Messerschmitt had been designed to hold the perfect German. Who was the perfect German? Who else but Der Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. Hitler was little more than five feet tall. However, the German pilots who guided the Messerschmitt were considerably taller than 5 feet ...

2036. The Golf Shot That Destroyed an Airforce

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

King Duncan

... exactly like firewood. The Germans, ever meticulous, had planned out the rows, alternating the heads and the feet, accommodating the different sizes and shapes of bodies. Our job was like moving furniture. We would pick up each body so light and carry it to a designated area. “Some fellows couldn’t do this part. They stood by the barbed wire fences retching. I couldn’t believe it the first time we came across a person in the pile still alive! But it was true. Incredibly, some of the corpses weren’t ...

2037. Pentecost

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, John 14:8-17, (25-27), Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... is time to reflect on the Holy Presence with us, noticing the attitudes and ideas that separate us from our sisters and brothers with different alphabets. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One. Community Confession Designer of Alphabets — there is so much we do not understand. Why do some people spell you “Allah” and “Adonai” and “God”? Why do some say you call for peace and then do violence to their neighbors? Why do some say you call for ...

2038. Proper 4

1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39, Psalm 96:1-13, Luke 7:1-10, Galatians 1:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... in the shadows. When we feel up, let us share our delight with living. When we ache, let us experiment with massage and conversation, with heat and cool until we have relief. In our coming and going, we rejoice that we are held in your energy. Designing Spirit — we think we are created to be in relationship with Divinity and with humanity. Yet we often feel lonely and fearful. Let us learn to trust one another and to value our differences. Let us celebrate our similarities and revel in the good times we ...

2039. Proper 6

2 Samuel 11:26--12:10, 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a, Psalm 5:1-8; 32:1-11, Luke 7:36--8:3, Galatians 2:15-21

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and to love even our enemies. These teachings are difficult to carry out. We each have our own prejudices, our own disappointments, and our own guilt. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One. Community Confession Designer of Humankind — as we look into our own motives, we see attitudes that are not consistent with the teachings of Jesus. Some of us pray for peace but are resentful of our neighbors. Some of us are tangled by attitudes, which deny others ...

2040. Proper 8

1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21, 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Psalm 16:1-11; 77:1-2, 11-20, Luke 9:51-62, Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... Holding Onto The Past Is Not Helpful might be a sermon title that could encompass Christian history as well as national history in relation to contemporary issues like language, gender inclusion, age inclusion, race inclusion, expansive images for religious expression, intelligent design, animal slaughter for human pleasure, immigration, profit and meaningful work, USA’s place in the world market, and so on. Luke’s text might be shaped to ask what our nation does and what we as individuals do when we ...

2041. What Does the Bible Really Say about Divorce?

Mark 10:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... divorce. A man tells about browsing in a Christian bookstore one day. He discovered a shelf of reduced‑price items. Among these items was a little figurine of a man and woman, their heads lovingly tilted toward one another. The figurine was obviously designed to be a gift. “HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY” read the inscription. It appeared to be in perfect condition, yet there was a tag on it which said, “DAMAGED.” Examining it more closely, he found another tag underneath this tag that explained what was ...

2042. Proper 16

Psalm 71:1-6, Isaiah 58:9b-14, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 12:18-29

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... asking questions about the meaning of their lives. Now there is time to reflect on Holy Presence and to ask God our questions and to listen for a response. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One. Community Confession Designer of the Human Psyche — there is so much we do not understand. Why do we want to do what is right ethically and morally and then don’t do it? Why do we find a way around the commandments and ignore our responsibility? Why do we seek ...

2043. Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... in the man’s demeanor. He addresses Jesus as “Good Teacher” and asks him how he may “inherit eternal life.” Despite the man’s inquiry and respectful tone, Jesus’ initial response to him is surprisingly rather sharp. Jesus begins by rejecting the man’s designation of him as “good” and reminds him that “No one is good but God alone.” In Judaism the emphasis on the one God and thus the unique divine goodness of God was central. While God and God’s creation could be called “good ...

2044. Serving the King of Kings

John 18:28-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... H. Pavelko tells about a man named Tom. Tom was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. As a high school student in the mid-sixties he opposed the desegregation of the public schools and eventually joined the Ku Klux Klan. By the age of 21, he was a designated terrorist in the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, once described by the FBI as the most right-wing terrorist organization in America. After a bloody shoot-out with the police and FBI, in which his partner was killed and he nearly died, Tom was arrested ...

2045. Reformation Day

Psalm 46:1-11, Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 8:31-41, Romans 3:19-28

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and hope overwhelm political ineptitude so goodness has a chance. God of Wholeness — all your people seek a sense of being close to you. We all want to be pain and disease free. We all want to enter eternity easily. But that is not the way the world is designed. So we pray for strength and courage to live the life that comes to us. We pray for minds that are open to your healing grace. We pray for souls that grow gentle and full as the calendar counts our years. And we pray for the next generation ...

2046. Holy Trinity

Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, John 16:12-15, Romans 5:1-5

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and for the talents gathered here. Amen. Intercessory Prayers God of Words and Numbers — we venture into mathematics and physics to get of glimpse of what you might be like. We wonder with rhyme and paragraphs, with decibels and colors, and with dramatic architectural designs how you answer prayers. We can only imagine how you heal us and how you protect us. With gratitude we acknowledge that you work in us until we are whole. Comfort us who grieve; soothe our distressed psyches; mend our bodies. God of ...

2047. Chauvinism In Action

Humor Illustration

... , I'll send Air Force One. And a limousine will pick you up at your door." "I don't know everybody will be so fancy. What would your mother wear?" "Oh Dad," replies Debra, 'I'll make sure she has a wonderful gown custom-made by the best designer in Washington." "Honey," Dad complains, "you know I can't eat those rich foods you eat." The President-to-be responds, “Don’t worry Dad. The entire affair will be handled by the best caterer in Washington ; I'll ensure your meals are salt free. You and mom just ...

2048. From Self-Help to God-Trust

Hebrews 7:11-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of the time everyone hates everyone else, and isn’t too shy to say so. Thank goodness for the emergence of Christianity, with its radically different ideology of charity, forgiveness and care for the less fortunate. Is there any more oxymoronic designation than that of a “self help group.” It’s like “jumbo shrimp,” or “non-partisan politics,” or “church planning.” Think about it. If you are helping yourself, by definition you don’t need a “group.” The problem with the whole “self ...

2049. The Blood of The Lamb and The Voice of The Shepherd

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... the good shepherd reigning victoriously from his throne in heaven. That victory will soon be theirs. With the way today's lessons are filled with images of sheep and shepherds, we should not be surprised that this fourth Sunday of Easter has historically been designated by the church as "Good Shepherd Sunday." I once knew someone who actually grew up on a sheep farm. He said that, contrary to popular opinion, sheep are not that dumb. He said that cattle ranchers are the ones responsible for spreading that ...

2050. All Roads Lead To Bethlehem

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... .” Those who don’t understand the divine purpose behind these events will “faint” or even die (“popsycho”) from terror. The very heavens themselves will appear to be “shaken.” But Jesus connects these global and cosmic “signs” to a long-foretold divine design, the arrival of the “Son of Man,” coming in a cloud with power and great glory (vs. 27). Such an arrival of the “Son of Man” was described in Daniel 7:13 as a judgment upon Israel. Jesus’ description expands the role of ...

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