Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2076 to 2100 of 4884 results

2076. One Commandment is Enough!

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

... important announcement to make! God is going to give this obscure tribe of Egyptian slaves, whom he has rescued from bondage, a code, a set of rules, a simple system so complete and so sharply honed it still retains a freshness and perfection that brooks no competition or amending. The Ten Commandments would not win a popularity contest today, but their intermingling of morality and religion is still the authoritative requirement of God. We have tried to discard them and ignore them, but they keep coming ...

2077. Communion Is Rejoicing In Christ's Return

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

... . The menu of bread and wine is not the important thing for those are only the earthly channels through which we receive heavenly blessings. No, we get something better than food. In Holy Communion, God gives us a foretaste of the fellowship with him which will be made perfect on that day of redemption when we will see him face to face. He gives us a nibble of his graciousness as he forgives our sins and strengthens us to go on and face tomorrow with him. God gives us a sampling of his love as he invites ...

2078. "He Who Commands Is He Who Fulfills"

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

... for all ... By one man’s obedience many will be made righteous" (5:18). The greatest commands, those articulated by Jesus as love of God and love of neighbor, have at last been fulfilled - by Jesus himself, by his self-giving love and that love’s perfect deed: his innocent suffering and death. How is this good news for us? By our baptism into Christ, we are joined to that death and raised up new beings. By the grace of God and in spite of our faithlessness, disobedience and lovelessness, we share in ...

2079. The Servant’s Credentials

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

... "the son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" (20:28). His credentials are a scarred brow, nailprints in feet and hands and a non-surgical wound in the side. Because he was the perfectly obedient servant, he is the greatest among us. Because he "humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed upon him that name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:8f). He, the humble servant ...

2080. The Divine-Human Nexus

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

... merit before the bar of God’s judgment are precisely those on whom the surprising grace of God is lost. For that is what we learn from the whole counsel of God: the degree to which we are preoccupied with and anxious about our own performance and perfection is the degree to which the grace of God is an impossibility for us to comprehend and apprehend. By the same token, the freedom that is ours in Christ Jesus is not the freedom to show either callous disregard or even benign neglect toward the needs of ...

2081. The Freedom of Necessity

John 8:31-41

Sermon

... giving without counting the cost. But of equal inspiration to me are the lives of less famous, more common folk I meet everyday.These are the men and women who, indifferent to the social pressures to be seen among the "right" people in the "right" places, are perfectly free to go where the need is greatest and embody the love of Christ. These are the everyday saints and reformers who are free to love and serve people regardless of which side of the tracks they are from or how much money they make or what ...

2082. The Surprising Twist to the Story

Ruth 4:1-12

Sermon

... a devotion which cannot be spoken about save to say it exists having come unbidden into an unexpected world to a quite uncommon man. All Boaz would have had to change in that statement was the word "appreciation" to "anticipation" and it might have suited his situation perfectly. There is no reason to suspect that Ruth was not as faithful to Boaz as she was to Naomi, and that they must have had a good marriage, but the Bible, unfortunately, ends the story with the birth of their son, Obed. That is where the ...

2083. Reaching Hands

Illustration

... are almost touching. In worship we are reaching for the reaching hand of God. This is what worship is - our reach for the reaching hand. In Christ the heavenly Father is reaching to us; by our faith in Christ, we are reaching to him. And worship is the most perfect expression of this reach. Here in worship we look up to God. May we see him not as a potentate who sits on a distant throne, his hands folded in his lap. A better picture would be that of a loving Father leaning hard over the parapet of heaven ...

2084. What To Do When Everyone's Doing It

Judges 6:1-40

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... the most poignant passages of Scripture is the 12th chapter of Paul's letter to the church in Rome. J. B. Phillips translates it in these words: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mold." Renew your own mind and do that which is good and perfect. In other words, you may have to live in a crowd, but you do not have to live like it. That is hard to do in an age of conformity, isn't it? It is difficult to stand as a minority with different values, different use of money, and a ...

2085. Power

2 Corinthians 6:7

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... the room where they slept and ate. The mother held two jobs - by day she was a teacher's aide; at night she worked in a laundry, folding clothes. With every dollar not needed for the bare necessities, she purchased books for her son. This kid made a perfect score on the SAT - 1600. He went to the University of Texas and made all A's, a 4.0 GPA. Every major graduate school offered him a full scholarship. Yale wanted him. Harvard wanted him. Stanford wanted him. Finally my university sent me and our director ...

2086. The Housing Problem

Luke 11:14-28

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... things you didn't want people to see. It was a happy day for both of us when we could change. House-hunting is important. Come spring you'll witness students camping out at the AC's office to sign up for a place to live. And no housing is perfect. Those who want to live with their sisters in Millis have to have a community bath. But they'll tell you it's worth the sacrifice. Those who want a frat house have no washers and dryers nor air-conditioning, but they'll tell you it's worth it. If ...

2087. Christian Values

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

... act proudly. It is not rude, self-seeking or easily angered. It holds no grudges and doesn’t rejoice at misfortune. Men: "Love never fails, but prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled and knowledge will pass away. We know in part, prophecy in part, but when perfection comes the imperfect disappears. Youth: "When I was a child, I talked, thought and reasoned like a child. As I grow up, I will put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. All: "Now we ...

2088. The Christian Life Consider Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-13

Bulletin Aid

... perseverance the course marked out for us. Congregation: May we run straight for you, Lord. Let us drop the petty jealousies, unfounded prejudices and sin, which so easily discourages, as we behold your majesty. Leader: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. Congregation: May we behold you steadfastly. Let us drop our fears as we consider the heavenly joys you have set ...

2089. The Church Body Building

Ephesians 4:1-16

Bulletin Aid

... in love, as each part does its work. Men: We grow in Christ together. A body can manage without an eye, a foot or even a kidney, but can the individual organ manage alone? Women: We grow in Christ together. Each part is meant to function perfectly. in the body of Christ there need be no scar tissue or paralyzed limbs. All: Lord, mobilize your limbs, soften the scar tissue and remove the cancer of sin. Grant us patience where healing is needed, patience without the loss of the persistence necessary to attain ...

2090. Gratitude and Praise God’s Character

Isaiah 59:1-21

Bulletin Aid

... lies and treachery, we fail to realize your justice and mercy. Women: Because our arms are slow to help and our ears deaf to cries for help, we judge you as slow to help. All: We are altogether unrighteous, Lord. Without your help, we cannot even begin to understand your perfect righteousness. By your grace, make us like you in character that we may see your everlasting love and unfailing compassion.

2091. Gratitude and Praise Give Thanks

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Bulletin Aid

... us music brightened by the presence of the Holy Spirit. As we sing our hymns, may our hearts rejoice that we sing them to an all-powerful God that cares deeply about each of us. Men: As we pray and listen to the sermon, may we learn more about your perfect character and rejoice that we have the privilege of knowing you and telling others about you. Youth: As we leave this holy place, may we take away more knowledge of you than we had brought. May we take the time as we walk out the door to express our ...

2092. Growing in God's Freedom

John 8:31-41

Sermon

... major principles: justification by grace through faith, the authority of the Scriptures, and the universal priesthood of the baptized. This morning we are overwhelmed by the truth of the first -- that by God's grace in Jesus Christ we are forgiven, cleansed, healed, made perfect and sinless. We are justified -- made right with God -- through the cross of Christ and him crucified. God's Son has made me free. There is that story told about Abraham Lincoln. "Lincoln went down to the slave block. He saw a young ...

2093. The Rite of Remembrance

Luke 22:7-38

Sermon

Edward Chinn

... a clear statement of what this Rite of Remembrance means: "And now, O Father, mindful of the love That bought us once for all, on Calvary's tree, And having with us him that pleads above, We here present, we here spread forth to thee, That only off'ring perfect in thine eyes, The one true, pure, immortal sacrifice. "Look, Father, look on his anointed face, And only look on us as found in him; Look not on our misusings of thy grace, Our prayers so languid, and our faith so dim; For lo! between our sins and ...

2094. What kind of Cup Do You Bring?

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Sermon

Various Authors

... . It talks about persons losing their life to find it. "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25b) It talks about persons finding strength through acknowledging their weaknesses. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) It talks about persons finding their freedom through bondage. "Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free." Today, as we come to the Lord’s table, I would like to employ similar paradoxical imagery to ...

2095. The Primacy of Human Relationships

Matthew 5:33-37

Sermon

Joe Pennel

... because speaking the truth will, in some situations, bring opposition and rejection. It is not easy because truth is often slippery, error is subtle, and there is a human appetite for illusion. It is not easy because we have to decide with less than perfect knowledge. But, nothing should be of higher value to the Christian than to see the triumph of truth. We should pray passionately that it will prevail. And, we are called by Jesus to love it more than our own prestige or sense of security. Christianity ...

2096. Beyond the Ordinary

Matthew 5:38-42

Sermon

Joe Pennel

... of kindness and affection found among publicans and Gentiles, to say nothing of that found among Scribes and Pharisees. This conventional kindness is no longer sufficient for disciples of Jesus. Thirdly, the higher standard that followers of Jesus strive for is the perfection that can be found in God. Since God's love is displayed for all persons, disciples should embody that same love. Perhaps, the lady at Bible study is correct. Maybe this teaching of Jesus does not work out in real life. Perhaps, the ...

2097. Come and Find Rest

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

... hold your hand and sing you to sleep; but - I will get you out of bed, out of the languor and exhaustion, out of the state of being half dead while you are alive; I will imbue you with the spirit of life, and you will be stayed by the perfection of vital activity. We get pathetic and talk about "suffering the will of the Lord!" Where is the majestic vitality and might of the Son of God about that? The fact remains that many of us fail to obtain necessary rest from daily tasks. I believe that a major problem ...

2098. Advent 2

Isaiah 11:1-16, Psalm 72:1-20, Romans 14:1--15:13, Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon Aid

... our hearts" for his incarnation, as he comes to us through Word and Spirit at Christmas and every day of our lives. This much ought to be evident to us; that if our hearts are prepared for his eschatological coming, they will certainly be perfectly attuned to his incarnational advent right now. The expectation of the eschaton is, from one perspective, realized eschatology; from a second point of view it is future eschatology, while from a third position it is an exercise in what might be called immediate ...

2099. Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1-22, Psalm 72:1-20, Ephesians 3:1-13, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

... the star might also shine upon them and light up the darkness of their lives. Isaiah 60 - "The Son and God's Morning." 1. In Jesus Christ, the light of the Lord has surely come upon the earth; a new day is dawning. 2. Sin has been defeated by Jesus' perfect obedience, but its darkness has yet to be eradicated from the world. 3. As the Good News is told to all people, more and more will turn and "come to Christ," their Lord and God. 4. That great day is coming when everyone who exists will bring gifts to ...

2100. Baptism of Our Lord

Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 10:23b-48, Psalm 45:1-17, Isaiah 42:1-9

Sermon Aid

... incarnation, as a reaffirmation by God that this man was the Holy Child born in Bethlehem three decades or so in the past; second, Jesus has come to bring in the Kingdom of God and save all people through the forgiveness of their sins by his perfect obedience to the Father; and, third, the church intends the faithful to gain better comprehension of the meaning and importance of baptism in their lives. God claims us, as he did Jesus Christ, by assuring those who have been baptized "in the name of the Father ...

Showing results