Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2151 to 2175 of 4933 results

2151. The Devil Takes Visa

Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Our five-year-old, Soren, attends the local Montessori preschool for kindergarten. Her classroom is a delightful mix of about 20 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. At home, with just three kids, pandemonium seems to be a normative state. Despite closets, toy boxes, and floor sprawl that says the opposite, there are never enough toys to go around, never enough things for everyone to be satisfied. Yet every time we arrive to collect Soren from school the children in the classroom are going about their business ...

2152. The Lord's Song in a Foreign Land

Psalm 137:1-9

Sermon

John E. Harnish

The year was 587 B.C. The nation of Israel was overthrown, the city of Jerusalem was leveled, and the people of Israel were taken into bondage in Babylonia. The survivors of the brutality and the death march found themselves in captivity in a foreign land, cut off from the holy city and their heritage, their hope and roots, and, most important of all, from the temple, the center of their faith. No longer able to offer their worship around the Ark of the Covenant, unable to offer sacrifices on the altar, ...

2153. Proper 11

2 Samuel 7:1-17, Psalm 89:1-52, Mark 6:30-34, Ephesians 2:11-22

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 89:20-37 First Lesson—King David and the prophet Nathan discuss the building of a temple to replace the tabernacle. 2 Samuel 7:1-14a Second Lesson—Paul describes the new covenant that includes the Gentiles in the people of God. Ephesians 2:11-22 Gospel—Jesus and the disciples needed respite from the heavy demands of the people who looked to them for help. Mark 6:30-34 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Relax ...

2154. Proper 7

Matthew 10:1-42, Psalm 86:1-17, Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 86:1-10, 16-17 First Lesson - That human rejection does not mean divine rejection is illustrated by the story of Hagar and her son. Genesis 21:8-21 Second Lesson - Paul writes of our baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Romans 6:1-11 Gospel - Jesus instructs the disciples of their place in the scheme of things, the limits of their dignity but also its promise. Matthew 10:24-39 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: ...

2155. The Guest List

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I remember an old Family Circus cartoon, Dolly was sitting with her baby brother on her lap and was telling him the story of Christmas. It was something like this: "Jesus was born just in time for Christmas up at the North Pole surrounded by 8 tiny reindeer and the Virgin Mary. Then Santa Claus showed up with lots of toys and stuff and some swaddling clothes. The 3 wise men and elves all sang carols while the Little Drummer Boy and Scrooge helped Joseph trim the tree. In the meantime, Frosty the Snowman ...

2156. A Spiritual “Re-formation”

Romans 3:19-28

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

Elizabeth Strout's novel, Abide with Me, is set in a small town in Maine in the 1950s, where the Reverend Tyler Caskey is on top of the world. He feels overwhelmed by the love of God, his socialite wife, Lauren, and two young daughters. Tyler appears oblivious to Lauren's unhappiness over his low salary, the absence of like-minded friends, and their dilapidated parsonage situated out in the middle of nowhere.1 As is typical of the 1950s, the church serves as a significant gathering place in the life of ...

2157. John 1:6-8, 19-28

John 1:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

“Moderation should never be excessive.” That is my motto for holiday eating. Or in an alternative version, “Everything in moderation . . . including moderation.” As we continue to munch and graze our way through holiday goodies and seasonal specialties, we worry about those extra layers of padding we are putting on. But there is one kind of extra puffery, extra padding most of us have willingly participated in at some time or another — “padding” our resume. Though a few folks tread perilously close to out- ...

2158. Serving the King of Kings

John 18:28-40

Sermon

King Duncan

In 1957, Ben Michtom, president of the Ideal Toy Company, had a brainstorm: why not sell a Jesus doll? The majority of kids in America were Christian, so he figured parents would jump at the opportunity to make playtime a religious experience. Other Ideal executives were horrified, but Michtom consulted with some religious leaders, including most notably the Pope, and the Jesus doll was born. It had beautiful brown glass eyes and was wrapped in molded swaddling cloth. It came in a 12” x 16” package, brown ...

2159. Reformation Day

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

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

Call To Worship Leader: It’s Sunday again! As before, we gather here because we believe that truth sets us free. We are followers of Jesus and children of God. People: In Christ, we are set free from the power of sin. Leader: The Holy One promises to write divine law in our hearts and to be our God. People: We will be forgiven and freed from guilt. Leader: This is cause for rejoicing! Let us sing beautiful words, praising God! Thanksgiving Prayer Living God — what a day! Autumn is everywhere! And we are ...

2160. Help From Habakkuk?

Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

It can be really depressing to listen to the news anymore. It doesn't matter which network you watch, everywhere you turn it's the same old bad news: natural and manmade disasters, the continuing conflicts in the Middle East and in Iraq and Afghanistan, medical miscues, entertainers gone wild and self-destructive, sports heroes disappointing us. Then there's a federal government that often seems to be, at best, incompetent or, at worst, corrupt. What makes it even more depressing is that at least 51% of ...

2161. Get Out the Ticker Tape - Palm Sunday

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a time-honored story about a little boy who was sick. It was Palm Sunday and the children waved palm branches to open the service. But this young man stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do we wave palm branches on Palm Sunday, Dad, and why do we call it Palm Sunday?” “You see,” his Dad explained, “when Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor him, so we got palm branches in the ...

2162. Jesus Announces His Impending Suffering and Death

Matthew 16:21-28

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Though they have just confessed Jesus as the Messiah, the disciples struggle to understand his revelation that he will suffer, die, and be raised, and that they are to follow in his cruciform footsteps. Understanding the Text This passage begins a new section, signaled by the formula “From that time on Jesus began to [explain]” (16:21 [as in 4:17]), narrating Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (16:21–20:28). Jesus and his disciples travel from Galilee to Jerusalem, with Jesus teaching the Twelve along ...

2163. Living by God’s Sexual Standards

Leviticus 18:1-30

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God’s moral and sexual standards bring life. Understanding the Text Leviticus 18 within the laws of holiness (Lev. 17–27) teaches holiness to laypersons in the areas of incest and sexuality. It exhorts the Israelites to live differently than do the Egyptians or the Canaanites (vv. 1–5) in those areas (vv. 6–23) or else be expelled from the land (vv. 24–30). The present chapter overlaps in content with Leviticus 20. In terms of sacred space, Leviticus 18–20 arguably describes things that ...

2164. Abimelek

Judges 9:1-57

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The narrative begins with an account of Abimelek’s rise to power (9:1–6). As indicated in 8:31, Abimelek is a son of Gideon by his Shechemite concubine. Going to his relatives in Shechem, Abimelek asks the city’s leaders to support him over Gideon’s seventy sons as sole ruler. Seeing that Abimelek has both legitimacy as Gideon’s son and blood relationship with them that Gideon’s other sons lack, the Shechemites throw their support behind Abimelek by providing him with the necessary funds to stage a coup. ...

2165. Opposition from Within: The Crisis of Intermarriage

Ezra 9:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In this second movement of the book (Ezra 7–10), the crisis or conflict is the problem of mixed marriages with pagan neighbors. It is an outright disobedience of God’s commands and threatens the future of the covenant community. This episode takes place four months after the events of chapter 8 (see Ezra 10:9). Ezra has been teaching God’s written word. He does not try to do everything himself; his policy is to prepare leaders through teaching the law of God. Throughout this chapter there are many ...

2166. Suffering Leads to Victory

1 Peter 3:18-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

The Comanche people moaned aloud to the Great Spirit: “O Great Spirit, our land is dying and we are dying too. Tell us what we have done wrong to make you so angry. End this terrible drought and save your people before we perish altogether. Tell us what we must do so that once more you will send rain and restore our land to life.” For three days the people prayed and danced, they prayed and danced, but no rain came. When the rain did not come, the elders of the tribe went to the hills to listen to the wind ...

2167. Wisdom to the World, but Foolishness to God

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Students of American history have always been fascinated by the life and career of the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Honest Abe, as he was known by his Kentucky and Illinois peers, is the subject of history lessons from primary through graduate school education. Lincoln was the stereotypical backwoodsman who felt the call to public service of the state, on local and national levels. He became well known for his anti-slavery political and moral stance and saw his goal as ...

2168. How to Beat a Stress Test

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

King Duncan

If you have ever spent any time in an airport then you know how busy, crazy and complicated they can be. And think about all the things you don’t see—for example, the inner details of doing intensive security checks . . . or matching up thousands of pieces of baggage with the right traveler and the right airplane . . . or monitoring weather conditions all over the world. It’s pretty incredible that millions of people fly all over the world every year with few disruptions. How do airports do it? Well, did ...

2169. Uncommonly Good

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Sermon

Lori Wagner

What makes you special? What makes you unique? What makes you different and sets you apart from others? While obviously we all look different –we have different features, different noses, eyes, hands, body shapes, coloring, or hair texture –we also have a unique personality, a character all our own, our own motives, dreams, and aspirations, our own fears, inclinations, likes, and preferences. In scripture, the word meaning different or “set apart” from others is “holy.” To be holy for Jews and later for ...

2170. Getting the Job Done

Illustration

Forming a committee is one way of getting a job done in six weeks that a capable person could have finished in a couple of days.

2171. As Far as the Lord Can Go

Illustration

Clovis G. Chappell

Again and again our Lord awakens us, whether we will it or not. Again and again his voice breaks in upon our indifference and complacency, even though we may be unwilling. But while it is not ours to decide whether we shall be disturbed or not, it is ours to decide what we should do, once we are disturbed. If an alarm clock rings in your room it is likely to wake you whether you wish it to or not. But when it has gotten you awake, that is as far as it can go. It cannot drag you out of bed. Whether you go ...

2172. Glued to Our Faults

Illustration

King Duncan

James S. Hewett once gave an apt example of people not getting the respect they deserve. Especially young people. He tells about his son, who was using one of those super-adhesive glues on a model airplane he was building. "In less than three minutes," says James Hewett, "his right index finger was bonded to a shiny blue wing of his DC-10. He tried to free it. He tugged it, pulled it, waved it frantically, but he couldn't budge his finger free." Soon, they located a solvent that did the job and ended their ...

2173. What Have You Done?

Illustration

Visiting a village school one day, King Oscar II of Sweden asked the pupils to name the greatest kings of Sweden. The answers were unanimous: Gustavus Vasa, Gustavus Adolphus, Charles X. Then the teacher leaned over to one little boy and whispered something in his ear. "And King Oscar," volunteered the child. "Really? And what has King Oscar done that's so remarkable?" asked the king. "I, I, I don't know," stammered the unhappy child. "That's all right," said the king. "Neither do I."

2174. Standing Ovation

Illustration

Robert P. Dugan, Jr.

We Americans do not adequately appreciate the political process in our nation. During the campaign, I often recounted a nightmarish 1938 incident from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago, by way of contrast: A district party conference was under way in Moscow Province. It was presided over by a new secretary of the District Party Committee, replacing one recently arrested. At the conclusion of the conference, a tribute to Comrade Stalin was called for. Of course, everyone stood up (just as ...

2175. Candid Prayer

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

There was a farmer who had three sons: Jim, John, and Sam. No one in the family ever attended church or had time for God. The pastor and the others in the church tried for years to interest the family in the things of God to no avail. Then one day Sam was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and he did all he could to help Sam, but the outlook for Sam's recovery was very dim indeed. So the pastor was called and appraised of the situation. The pastor arrived, and began to pray as follows: "O wise ...

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