Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2201 to 2225 of 4933 results

2201. God's Servants

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Sincerity and truth are what God requires. People: Fill our minds with your wisdom, Lord. Leader: Remove our sin, and we will be clean. People: Wash us, and we will be whiter than snow. Leader: Let us hear the sounds of joy and gladness; People: and, though you have crushed us and broken us, we will be happy once again. Collect Merciful God, our Father, tonight we begin a period of preparation for the celebration of our Lord's resurrection. Help us to feel and to acknowledge our ...

2202. Proper 11

Psalm 52:1-9, Amos 8:1-12, Luke 10:38-42, Colossians 1:15-28

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 52 First Lesson—The prophet promises divine judgement against the injustices of the powerful against the poor. Amos 8:1-12 Second Lesson—Paul declares the centrality of Jesus Christ in the Creator’s plan for the cosmos. Colossians 1:15-28 Gospel—An incident in the life of Jesus emphasizes the need for spiritual priorities. Luke 10:38-42 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Hear the proclamation of Christ, ...

2203. Advent 2

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS First Lesson—The message of this messenger is that the Coming One will purify the temple as a refiner purifies precious metal. Malachi 3:1-4 Second Lesson—The sharing of the gospel is a great joy to both the preacher and the congregation. Philippians 1:3-11 Gospel—John the Baptist preaches a baptism of repentance as a way of preparing the way for the coming of the Christ. Luke 3:1-6 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader:The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People:And also with you. Leader:Get the ...

2204. The Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Sermon

James Merritt

What we are about to do today is observe an event that is 2000 years old, but that event is based upon another event that is 1000 years older than that. I take you back 3000 years to the land of Egypt to an event known to the Jewish nation as "Passover". The God appointed leader of the nation of Israel was a man named, Moses. God had instructed Moses to go to Pharaoh, who was the leader of the Egyptian nation and command him to allow the Hebrews (that is the Jewish people) to leave Egypt so they could ...

2205. How Does Jesus Show He Is the Greatest?

John 2:1-11

Illustration

Sigurd Grindheim

Imagine that the Bible was lost and somebody today was given the task of recording, to the best of their ability, the deeds and words of the Son of God. They were to give an account of the good influence that Jesus had had in people's lives. What do you think would have been recorded as the first instance through which Jesus showed his greatness? Imagine that there would be a poll among the Christians of the 21st century where they were to answer the question: how does Jesus show you that he is the ...

2206. Christ the King

John 18:33-37

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Church junkies know that on the ecclesiastical calendar, this marks the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The liturgical year is, of course, different from the calendar year. The liturgical year begins with Advent, the time we set aside for reflection about the coming of Christ. Advent is followed by Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Some churches intersperse periodically what is designated as "Ordinary Time," those times we remember the work of God and the life and ministry of Jesus ...

2207. Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew 25:14-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The first lesson every politician learns is to address the issue that is most important to the people. Without a doubt — and on a global scale — that issue is easily identifiable. Retreading a slogan popular in the early nineties that James Carville gave to Bill Clinton, “It’s the economy, stupid!” What is everyone’s focus in this dawn of the second decade of the twenty-first century is not new. It was a pivotal concern for Jesus’ first century audience as well. In today’s gospel text Jesus offers his ...

2208. Getting out of the Doldrums

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The classic children’s book, The Phantom Tollbooth (1961), tells the story of a young boy named Milo. One dull, rainy afternoon Milo receives the anonymous gift of a cardboard fold-and-cut tollbooth. Bored Milo builds the tollbooth and “drives through” it with his toy car. Immediately Milo disappears from his room and finds himself traveling along a strange road in a new land. But despite this miraculous relocation, as the road continues on and on, and the countryside rolls by and by, Milo begins to grow ...

2209. Rahab and the Spies

Joshua 2:1-24

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

Spies and Rahab the Prostitute: Military history illustrates the importance of spies for gathering intelligence prior to battles, and army doctrine states that victory requires thorough reconnaissance. In the United States, General George Armstrong Custer shunned reconnaissance and lost his life and the lives of many troops at the battle of Little Big Horn. The Bible gives a mixed picture of the importance of spies for warfare. In the wilderness of Sinai, Moses sent spies to gather intelligence on Canaan, ...

2210. Clean and Unclean

Matthew 15:1-20

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

15:1–2 Knowledge of Jesus and his ministry had by this time spread throughout Palestine. Scribes and Pharisees came all the way from Jerusalem to question him about his activities. The scribes were Jewish scholars who copied the sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament and consequently became the professional interpreters of Scripture. The Pharisees were a religious order, primarily laymen, who devoted themselves to strict adherence to the law. Most scribes were Pharisees, but not all Pharisees were scribes ...

2211. Enduring the Trials of Faith

Romans 4:13-25

Sermon

Richard Gribble

“In the seventh year of his reign, two days before his 65th birthday, in the presence of a full consistory of cardinals, Jean Marie Barette, Pope Gregory XVII signed an instrument of abdication, took off the fisherman’s ring, handed his seal to the Cardinal Camerlengo and made a curt speech of farewell.” So begins the power novel The Clowns of God, the second volume of a trilogy of tales about popes and faith written by Morris West, the Australian-born author. In the story the pope has seen a vision of the ...

2212. When the Small is Great, and the Great is Small

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Will Willimon

I am at that age when it's tough to see. A decade ago, I was forced to obtain reading glasses. Then, a few years later, came bifocals. Next trifocals. Now, it's contacts. For someone whose vision for more than thirty years was 20/20, it's tough to be reduced to stumbling about in the early morning until my eyes are in. (You parents will know of what I speak.) I have this fear of being caught out on the road, alone in a Days Inn, abandoned, with no contact lenses, no glasses. I'd be lost forever! It's tough ...

2213. From Haunted to Healed

Luke 8:26-39

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Wild or domesticated? Barbaric or civilized? Let’s face it, in the face of extreme trauma, stress, or mental illness, even the most civilized person may appear utterly disheveled –physically, mentally, and spiritually. I’ve seen people suffering from a deep sense of grief avoid washing their hair, avoid their friends, or even lash out in anger at those who try to comfort them. I’ve seen people suffering from illnesses of the brain act in strange and unusual ways. During my time as a hospice chaplain, I ...

2214. A Lesson From A Shell

Proverbs 10:7

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Purpose: To remind the children of the importance of each day and to make the most of each day. Material: Seashells or pictures of seashells. (If you have a large quantity of seashells, you may want to share one with each child.) Lesson: Have any of you ever been to Florida? One of the things people like to do in Florida is to walk the beach and look for shells. There are all kinds of shells to be found every day on the beaches, and shells come in all kinds of shapes. (Show actual shells or pictures of ...

2215. Don't Worry

Philippians 2:12-13

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Purpose: To help children exert some personal effort when faced with a problem. Material: An egg. If available, a toy or live chick. Lesson: Today I want you to look at something that I am sure you have seen before. (Show them an egg.) What comes out of this egg? ... If it is allowed to hatch, in a normal way, a chick will come out of it. And the way it comes out is to break through the shell from the inside, when the time is right. Now, if you were to see the chick trying to break out of the shell and you ...

2216. The Fifth Meal

Sermon

Robert F. Scott

Supper EtiquetteLuke 11:37-42 Worship Focus A pitcher and a wash basin. A matched set, so common in nineteenth century bedrooms, would be ideal. If that is unavailable, use any large ceramic pitcher and wide flat bowl. A Litany For The Fifth Meal Leader: Glorious are you, O God, in your holiness. People: Holy, holy, holy is our Almighty God. Leader: Spotless and without blemish, O Christ, are you in your purity. People: Holy, holy, holy is the Christ, our Redeemer. Leader: Blameless and without flaw are ...

2217. A Widow's Plight

Luke 18:1-8

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: Persistent Prayer Availeth Much Note: This play is written in three parts. For maximum effect, it is meant to be sprinkled about the worship service at three different times and in three different locations. Setting: A busy Judean street Characters: 1st Judge: A distinguished man who carries himself with authority 2nd Judge: Companion to the 1st Judge Woman: A poor widow, persistent, desperate Costuming: Traditional Judean dress Props: Scrolls for judges (optional) Scene I (TWO JUDGES enter from ...

2218. The Spirit Of The Lord Is Upon Us

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: God's Spirit Through The Ages (Based on Ezekiel 37 and Joel 2:23-29) This intense drama takes the dry bones vision of the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 37 and ties it with the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Scripturally based, this drama is meant to add depth and meaning to the church's celebration of Pentecost and/or Baptism. Setting: The graveyard of bones which the prophet Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 37. It is now centuries later Characters: THE PROPHET EZEKIEL: A man who speaks with conviction and ...

2219. Showdown

Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 13:24-30

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: The Kingdom of God is under constant attack from the forces of the world, the flesh, and the devil but is precious enough to fight for. It may look small but it is mighty with the power of the Lord God. Summary: The Badlanders are coming to town! That means trouble. Chris, the deputy, is responsible for protecting the town while the Sheriff is away. A Parable in the guise of an old fashioned "Meller." Playing Time: 4 minutes Setting: An old western town Props: Assorted guns Bull whip Costumes: Old ...

2220. You Can Be Forever Young

Genesis 25:1-11

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

About age 41, I noticed that the quality of print in newspapers and phone books had diminished significantly. The ink they were using seemed of a poorer quality, because the print had begun to blur. The type was much smaller than it previously had been. Prior to complaining to our local publisher, my wife prevailed upon me to consult a nearby ophthalmologist. Following my exam, the man gave me a prescription for bifocals. I asked, "Why do I need bifocals?" and he simply replied with a smile, "It's time." " ...

2221. Advent 2

Luke 3:1-20, Luke 1:67-80

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

Call to Worship Get the road ready for the royal visit: make a straight path for Christ to travel! The winding roads must be made straight and the rough places smooth. All humanity shall see God's salvation. Prayer of Confession Holy God, Messenger of the new covenant, flaming Spirit, we confess that we are sinners and cannot worship you worthily except as we are purified and cleansed of our sins. Let your Holy Fire refine our characters not merely our appearance, so that our very natures can become true ...

2222. Lent 4

Luke 15:1-7, Psalm 32:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Generous and forgiving Parent, we are not sinless like your Son, Jesus of Nazareth. We confess our misdeeds knowing that you have reconciled us to yourself through the identification of the sinless one with us in our sinfulness. Though we are not worthy to be called your children and deserve to be treated only as servants of earlier times, we come with confidence in your ...

2223. Followership

Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:12-17

Sermon

Mark Radecke

In today's Gospel text, Jesus calls for repentance, expects Peter and Andrew to drop their nets and follow him, and calls James and John to leave their Father Zebedee in the boat without so much as a "So long, see you later." My task today is to issue that same call to repentance, that same call to radical obedience and decisive discipleship. For that call is urgent and cries out to be issued in all of its majesty and might. But as preacher of the gospel -- the good news of God in Jesus Christ -- I cannot ...

2224. Lent 2

John 3:1-21, Genesis 12:1-8, Romans 4:1-25

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-4a (C, RC); Genesis 12:1-8 (E, L) God appears to a man by the name of Abram in what today would be Iraq, about 1800 B.C., and orders him to leave his homeland and travel to a land that God would show him. God promises to bless Abram and make of him a great nation. In fact, God's promises make Abraham a means of blessing or curse for others. The amazing aspect of this is that Abram was already 75 years of age. Humanly speaking, it didn't seem likely he would see the ...

2225. Thanksgiving For The Lord Our Great Provider

Joel 2:18-27

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Come, let us give thanks for the wonderful blessings of God! People: For the Lord provided for our food, the sunshine, and the air. Leader: The Lord has provided for our families and for our children. People: The Lord our God is great and wonderful and worthy of our praise. Leader: Then let our hearts be joined in praise and thanksgiving to God! All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, You have provided for us in ways far beyond what we deserve and we are so very ...

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