Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2301 to 2325 of 4933 results

2301. Monologue: Silent Silas

Acts 15:22-35

Drama

Robert F. Scott

There was a man named Silas. We read of him in Acts and in several of the Epistles. Yet in the whole of the New Testament there is not one word from Silas himself: not a word that he said, not a scrap of a letter in his own name. Was he silent? We know he was not. He was a prophet for Christ; he exhorted, taught, preached, prayed, and sang. Of all that Silas said, what was it and what was it worth? The First Epistle of Peter was written by the hand of Silas. If we were to ask Peter, what might he say? ...

2302. Jail House Joy

Acts 16:16-40

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

You may, or you may not be a fan of Elvis Presley. Fans or not, most people agree that he was the King of Rock and Roll. When Elvis shook his hips, the public was shocked. His gyrations vibrated the public's moral standards and dislodged them from their conservative moorings. He opened a door that cannot be easily closed. Things, once held as strictly private, became openly public. Critics tell us that his most innovative song was entitled "Jail House Rock." Up until this time, "blues" had been associated ...

2303. Humility in Repentance

Luke 18:9-14

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: God calls us to live a life of righteousness; but at the same time, he wants us to be honest in the confession of our sins. People: It is too easy for us to be silent about our sins, and remind God of the good things we have done. Pastor: God is pleased with our righteousness. But he also knows about our sinfulness, and wants us to repent with true humility. People: May God be merciful to us, for we are sinful people. Collect Most merciful Father, who answers the prayers of your ...

2304. Citizens by Faith

Hebrews 11:1-40

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Let all who trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior come now for worship. People: In things large and small we trust Christ in all that we do in life. Leader: Faithful and true are the qualities shared by those in the Kingdom of God. People: We can believe in no other because there is only one true living God. Leader: Let our hearts be glad, for God calls us heirs in Christ our Savior. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Most gracious and loving God, even among the ...

2305. Master of My Fate; Captain of My Soul

Luke 8:26-39

Illustration

Years ago this country witnessed the execution of Timothy McVeigh, the man responsible for the worst act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. A USA Today poll taken in April showed that 81 percent of Americans wanted McVeigh to be executed -- and 28 percent of that support was from people who are normally against the death penalty. No matter where you stand on the issue of capital punishment, this particular execution has forced itself on our consciousness. One thing that particularly caught my attention ...

2306. The Friday We Call Good

John 18:1-11

Sermon

Dean Lueking

A Strange Title for This Day We call this Friday - good. I recall a comment by a person who challenged this tradition of calling the day of Jesus’ crucifixion a good day. She told me that there was enough betrayal, denial, violence, bloodshed and death in the world. The idea of coming together in a church to hear of all this as it was heaped on Jesus was too much for her. She could not hear of it without coming to tears, or feeling a combination of outrage and depression. From Other Traditions But still we ...

2307. The Tradition of Assembly

Illustration

Staff

This is the Lord's Day, and here we are, a group of his people, assembled in worship together. We are doing what others have done for 2,000 years almost - we are meeting in the fellowship of common worship, a thing of vital importance to others before us, to us now, and to our world always. So far as the church is concerned, and the whole institution of Christian Faith in the world today, there would be none had it not been for this Lord's Day practice maintained over the centuries. Imagine for just a ...

2308. Reward!

Matthew 5:12

Children's Sermon

Object: An ad in the daily newspaper that offers a reward for return of a pet. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever received a reward for doing something? (Let them answer.) Was it for something good or was it for doing something bad? (Let them answer.) It was for doing something good. That's interesting. When you do something especially good you receive a reward. You don't get a reward for just doing good, but when it is special, you may get a reward. I have with me this morning a bit ...

2309. Changing Bad to Good

Romans 12:21

Children's Sermon

Object: Some cough syrup. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever had a bad cough? (Let them answer.) Is there anything worse than a bad cough? It makes you hurt everywhere, from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Coughs are awful. I remember one night when I coughed and coughed so badly that I could not sleep. I had to sit up all night in a chair. I not only felt bad that night, but the next day I was so tired that I could not keep my eyes open. My chest hurt so badly that it ...

2310. Hypocrisy

Luke 20:27-38; Romans 7

Illustration

In a speech to the Society of American Authors on November 15, 1900, Mark Twain, with tongue in cheek, spoke of the two-faced life we all live: "I am constructed like everybody else and enjoy a compliment as well as any other fool, but I do like to have the other side presented. And there is another side. I have a wicked side. Estimable friends who know all about it would tell you and take a certain delight in telling you things that I have done and things further that I have not repented. The real life ...

2311. Repent Your Way To A Merry Christmas

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Brett Blair

A number of years ago a couple traveled to the offices of an Adoption Society in England to receive a baby. They had been on the waiting list a long time. They had been interviewed and carefully scrutinized. Now at last their dreams were to be fulfilled. But their day of happiness was another's pain. Arriving at the offices of the Society they were led up a flight of stairs to a waiting room. After a few minutes they heard someone else climbing the stairs. It was the young student mother whose baby was to ...

2312. Humility

Luke 14:1-14

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: An envelope addressed to you with new stamps. Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know what the word humility means? How many of you know what it is to be humble? [Let them answer.] Being humble and having humility are the same thing. It means that we do not think too highly of ourselves. I want to tell you the story about a humble man. There was a man who was a great writer and everybody knew him by name. Newspapers and book publishers would pay almost anything if he would write something for ...

2313. Your Roots

Colossians 2:7a

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Several plants at various stages of growth with their roots exposed. Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to make a little discovery which will help us learn something about the way we can grow with God. How many of you have ever raised a plant like a tomato plant or a flower? Almost all of you have done this, haven’t you? Can you tell me what you do when you try to grow something like a flower or tomato? [Let them answer.] That’s very good. What are some of the important parts of a ...

2314. Bursting the Bubbles

John 8:54

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A bubble pipe or bubble blower and some bubble soap I can tell by looking at you that you know a day is coming soon that will be wonderful. What day - a special day - will soon be here? Easter, that’s right. Did you know that every Sunday is a little Easter? We worship on Sunday because that’s the day that Jesus came back to life after dying on Good Friday. This morning, our childrens’ sermon is going to be a fun one. Do you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to blow bubbles. Have any of you ever ...

2315. SURVEYOR

Zechariah 2:1

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

Zechariah 2:1 - "And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand!" Have you ever looked out of your window and seen a man with a funny-looking spy-glass affair perched on top of a tripod, who seems to be earnestly gazing at nothing in particular? Or seen the same type of individual in an open field? Now, I’m not making fun of you. I know that you know that this man is a surveyor, marking out land boundaries. But you have to admit, it’s a very weird looking instrument that ...

2316. Boldly Proclaiming Christ

Matthew 10:1-42

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Let us come together and proclaim God's love to the world! People: Wherever we go let us boldly share the Gospel of Christ with others. Leader: We proclaim for all to hear that our stand is with the Lord. People: Neither the rages of battle nor the lure of peace will sway our hearts. Leader: Then let our voices ring out in praise to our Almighty God! All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, there are powers in this world using fear and intimidation to silence our witness ...

2317. THE RECONCILED LIFE

Hebrews 9:11-28

Sermon Aid

John W. Rilling

When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come ... he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Twice a year when the Church, like Mary, ponders the mysteries of the Christian faith in her heart, she turns to the same scripture for texts on which to meditate - the Epistle to the Hebrews. The first occasion is on Christmas Day at the Later Service. At the midnight service we are "surprised by ...

2318. The Next Step

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

Harold Warlick

Paul’s letter to the Colossians has a rhythm to it, “put out ... put on.” It’s a rhythm with which we contemporary Christians can resonate. There is a certain throwing away of past practices that eventuates in every productive life. One year I decided to use the time after Christmas to rid myself of my old clothes. With great zeal I threw the old, out-of-style ties, shirts, sweaters, and pants into the trash. Right there, amid the mangled and torn Christmas wrappings, the faded, dry greenery, and the ...

2319. The Armor of What?!

Ephesians 6:10-20

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes: Well, this drama could be called "The Dilemma 3." I enjoy writing monologues where we get inside someone's head as he/she is sitting in church. Pre-recorded voice over works well here (again) until the Pastor comes in and starts talking with him. I've always loved the verses from Ephesians 6 that talk about the armor of God. Pastor Ray did a great job of explaining to us what each piece means to the believer. Of course, the guy in this drama is hilariously clueless... Cast: Dave--A guy in ...

2320. Going Down to Look Up

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

Curtis Lewis

Our story opens with Naaman, the military Chief of Staff of the Aramean army. Naaman is a very great man who has received the favor of the King of Aram, Syria, because of his victory over Israel. Anytime Israel lost a battle or a war, the disaster was felt to be the hand of God at work. In the theology of ancient Israel, no foreign army could be victorious over Israel unless it was God's will. As we read this story in 2 Kings 5, we come to the conclusion that Israel's defeat is in accordance with the will ...

2321. The Lamb Of God

Revelation 5:1-14

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. People: Blessed is the Lamb of God. To him be all praise and honor, glory and might forever and ever. Amen. Collect O Lord, we your faithful people sing praises to you. We remember what you have done and we give you thanks. We are not worthy to stand before the Lamb who was slain for our sins, but in the power of the Risen Christ we pray that we may become new creatures living lives worthy of the Lamb's glory. Amen. Prayer ...

2322. I Will Not Leave You

2 Kings 2:1-18

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: I cry aloud to God, and he hears me. People: In times of trouble, I pray to the Lord. Leader: I will remember your great deeds, Lord. People: I will recall the wonders you did in the past. All: Praise be to God! Collect Everlasting God, as we gather to worship you, help us to reflect on all that you have done for us. We have been truly blessed in good times and bad, and we have you to thank for your abiding presence that has led us through the wilderness of life to this very day. We ...

2323. Called to Be Saints

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship All: Lord, we gather today, in the words of the apostle Paul, as your saints. Left Side: Sometimes it is hard for us to see ourselves as saints. (Note: NIV uses the word holy) Right Side: Other times we know that with your help we have done a good job. All: It is our hope and desire that you be glorified in our actions. Left Side: We mean to glorify you in our worship. Right Side: We strive to glorify you through our prayers. All: Descend and live among us, God of power and might. Collect ...

2324. It All Depends On Faith

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship (Unison) You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7) Collect Lord, it is your will to save all the world. Your love is for all people and your ministry is for all people. Challenge us so we might widen the circle, so that we might learn to live and care for others more than ourselves. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, in this season of Lent we confess our sins, with the bright hope of forgiveness before us. Hear ...

2325. Do You Have a GPS - A God Positioning System?

Galatians 3:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

It's impossible to travel "chic-ly" [stylishly] when you travel with children. I don't care how beautifully matched your luggage; I don't care how organized you pack. Even if you get your kids those cute little rolling suitcases, you will still arrive at your destination with a messy entourage of unpackables. Depending on the children's ages and infatuations, these may be stuffed animals (think Beanie Babies), cars and trucks (think Matchbox), or beeping, blinking boxes (think GameBoy). The one constant in ...

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