Sermon and Worship Resources

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Luke 12:49-56

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... I made. And usually, I’m glad I made it ― usually. But, you know, it’s not always easy being a Christian. Jesus understood that his way was not always the easiest way to follow. Later, when the writers and editors of the gospels wrote down their versions of Jesus’ life, the list of Christian martyrs was already a long one. Peter and Paul had died with some 2,000 other Christians in Nero’s purges. Stephen had been stoned to death and James had been thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and then ...

2152. An Up-Close Nativity

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

Heather Sugden

... artist who created the scene in their own eyes. The scenes tell the story of what my family looked like at different stages, too. More elaborate and intricate figurines indicate fewer young children were around to grab and break the pieces; more artistic versions show an emphasis trying to be taught, or a particular mission sweeping through the church at the time. When I remember my mother’s collection, the nativity scene most clearly detailed in my mind was made of glass — tiny etched figurines of Mary ...

2153. God Is Like...a Comforter

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Sermon

Kenneth L. Gibble

... to” the psalmist. We realize that when the early church is described in Acts as living in “the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it is a reference, not to the Holy Spirit’s sympathy, but to the Spirit’s empowerment. In the King James Version of John’s gospel, when Jesus announced he would be leaving the disciples, he said, “If I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you” (John 16:7). More recent translations substitute “counselor” or “helper” for “comforter.” But if we remember ...

2154. God Is Like...a Friend

2 Corinthians 5:16-20

Sermon

Kenneth L. Gibble

... are not Moses, nor Abraham. Neither am I. What chance is there for God to be your friend, my friend? To get help on this question, we turn to our scripture readings for the morning. The Good News translation, sometimes called Today’s English Version, offers a helpful rendering of an often-quoted passage, often-quoted because it summarizes so well one of the central beliefs of Christianity ― the idea that God has acted to remove whatever keeps people separated from God. Here again are a few verses from ...

2155. God Is Like...

Isaiah 40:18-31 · John 1:1-14

Sermon

Kenneth L. Gibble

... then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?” This question is addressed to people who have been guilty of breaking the second commandment. That commandment says: “You shall not make for yourself an idol,” or “graven image,” as the King James Version puts it. Have you ever wondered why that is one of the commandments? It doesn’t seem especially relevant to us, because we are not tempted to construct images of wood or stone and bow down to them. But for people in ancient Israel ...

2156. A Place at the Table

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

... at the front of the line, hovering with plates in hand as I prayed over the meal. The children ate first, returned to the dessert table often and wandered freely. And I imagine these feasts mirrored the heavenly banquet. I like to think our gatherings are earthly versions of the promised heavenly ones, at least in part, anyway. They are, after all, a household of God family meals where all manner of people come to the table and the little children are at the front of the line. They are places where no one ...

2157. Where's the One?

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard some variation of the following over and over again: “I’m craving some good news.” “I am longing for beauty.” “I’m tired of feeling beaten up and not good enough.” Maybe you’ve heard versions of these sentiments, too. Or maybe you have expressed them. I’m not sure why I’m hearing this from so many sources now, but I can guess it is because there is so much bad news, so much ugliness, so many people willing to be critical, pointing out flaws ...

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