Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2301 to 2325 of 4962 results

2301. Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that described John's tirade against the "brood of vipers" in Mark's hands, John the Baptist's work is only to offer "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (v.4) not to threaten judgment or punishment. The wilderness message remains one of hope and new beginnings, untainted by negatives. What Mark's gospel does stress is John the Baptist's proclamation and confession that "one who is more powerful than I is coming" (v.7), one who will baptize with "the Holy Spirit" (v.8). Mark emphasizes John ...

2302. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... superior model to those who proclaim their faith. "Sharing of his sufferings" may also be translated as "the fellowship of his sufferings." "Fellowship" in Christ's sufferings is a communal, not simply a personal, event. Even as Paul emphasized the individual gift of rebirth hoped for by all who share faith in Christ, he could emphasize the spirit of a koinonia community that would and could suffer together for Christ's sake and in Christ's name. Paul offered far more than the popular "bad things happen to ...

2303. Isaiah 50:4-9a

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... above all else, however, the theme of righteousness extends throughout Isaiah's words the righteousness of divine judgment, of the Servant's witness, and of the final events yet to come. Today's text comes from the middle of Isaiah's astonishing words of comfort and hope to an exiled and mournful Israel. Within chapters 38-55, there are four so-called "Servant Songs" poetic utterances that focus on the mission and witness of a "Servant" of God. The first two of these "songs" (42:1-4 and 49:1-6) focus on ...

2304. Revelation 21:1-6

Revelation 21:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of salvation is no longer limited to obedient Jews and a few "righteous Gentiles." It now is dependent upon one's name being found in "The Book of Life" (20:15). For those whose names are found inscribed, the promise is a familiar one: the Jewish hope of "a new heaven and a new earth." John's first-century readers would know this description from its earlier picture in Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22 (although Isaiah focuses more directly on the "new Jerusalem" a new creation will contain). Typically there were two ...

2305. Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... leader, the head of the church. He is forever the same. What remains unchanged amid changing times is Jesus Christ God's final word of redemption to creation. The unchanging nature of God's love and grace makes Christ the proper focus of all Christian hope and faith. The lectionary reading skips down to verses 15-16 for today's reading, but these final verses offer a fitting conclusion to the author's revelation that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (v.8). What possible sacrifice ...

2306. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... awaiting steadfast believers (justification, sanctification, glorification), versus "rebellious" and "lawless" ones ("destruction" or "perdition"), Paul now takes a moment to remind his listeners to "stand firm" (v.15) in the teaching that Paul himself has taught them. "Standing firm," however, is something disciples cannot hope to do on their own, especially in light of the daily challenges, the large and small antichrists, that threaten believers. That's why Paul closes his words here with the solemn ...

2307. Isaiah 9:2-7

Isaiah 9:2-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... fruits from this victory (v.5). But the ultimate reason for this joy and light is found in verse 6, Isaiah's prediction of the birth of a child. While some prophetic poems focus on the movements of whole nations or cosmic events, Isaiah begins his hope-filled oration by focusing specifically on the people. It is the "people" who have been "walking" in this darkness a gloom so deep that a more telling translation might call it "the shadow of death" or even "death-darkness." It is on these survivors that a ...

2308. Etched in Stone

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... world. His name is Jesus. Someone once said, “Nobody is perfect until you fall in love with them.” I want to tell you that God is in love with you. No, you’re not perfect, but God sees you through the eyes of love, the same eyes through which God hopes you look at others. And even though you are not perfect, God has prepared a place for you among His saints. It’s like a story about the Chinese saint Watchman Nee. A new convert to the faith came to see Nee in deep distress. “No matter how much I ...

2309. Death Clouds Our Hearts

Luke 24:36b-48

Illustration

Lori A. Cornell

... a distance as his limp frame had been pulled down off the cross. Jesus had been pierced and life had oozed from his side; and along with his life their hopes poured out too. Jesus' death (and, likely, the disciples' own shame at having abandoned him) had sealed their faith and hope in the tomb. So when they saw Jesus again, they didn't have any hope with which to greet him only terror and superstition; they thought he was a ghost (v. 37). Fear and disbelief had seized their minds so that they forgot what ...

2310. The Rush and the Hush of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is the story of stunned, bewildered disciples who re-grouped and waited in Jerusalem for the “whatever” that Jesus had promised would come their way. Who knows what the disciples envisioned the promised Spirit would bring to them? Perhaps they hoped for super-hero powers. Perhaps they dreamed of the perpetual presence of cherubim and seraphim or some other daunting heavenly creatures. Perhaps they prayed for some sort of spiritual military mobilization. If you were one of the disciples, what do ...

2311. A Shepherd's Love

John 10:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... ran to her bedroom. Her mother stood outside her bedroom door screaming, “Shannon, I hate you! I wish you were dead! I hate you!” Then she heard a thud and the knife came through the door. Shannon looked at the tip of that knife, and felt all her hope shatter. She fell into a clump on the floor and cried. She was angry with God. “Why would you let this happen?” she screamed at God. “I’ve prayed. I’ve had faith.” And she listened for an answer. And then God spoke to her. God said, “Shannon ...

2312. A Life of Trust

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... for breathing and took forty‑two pills per day for heart and liver ailments. But then a city councilman took up his cause. Neighbors began to rally around him. Incredibly, Lawrence Hanratty summed up his life this way: “There’s always hope.” (2) Well, yes, there’s always hope. But we must admit that life can sometimes be cruel. Cruel and yet funny at the same time. Humorist and author Liz Curtis Higgs tells about a woman named Karla who had been taking ski lessons. She was still on the beginner ...

2313. Proper 22

Job 2:1-10, Psalm 26:1-12, Mark 10:2-16, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... together in your love. Hear our prayers today for those awaiting diagnosis of their illness, those who watch by the beds of the dying, those who are recovering from surgery, and all others. May the gospel of Christ bring hope to all who seek pardon for their sins and hope of everlasting life. O God, our hope is in Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, but now is crowned with glory and honor because of his suffering and death, so that by your grace he might taste death for everyone ...

2314. First Sunday in Lent

Genesis 9:1-17, Psalm 25:1-22, Mark 1:9-15, 1 Peter 3:8-22

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... the wilderness. Mark 1:9-15 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Look for signs of the covenant that God makes with us and our children to endless generations. People: No one who hopes in God will be put to shame. INVOCATION Creator of sunshine and rain, Christ of pleasure and pain, Spirit of virtuous gain, we worship you as those who look for rainbows as evidence of your covenant of mercy not to destroy but to renew and reform us and ...

2315. Thorns of Grace

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... Tyler Moore was saying was true: “none of us gets out of here without pain.” Paul knew better than most of us that life does not always go the way we plan. But he also knew that pain is not God’s last word on the human condition. There is hope for the sufferer. There is victory for the anguished of heart. We are God’s people. We are followers of Jesus Christ. With God’s help we can deal with any thorn, any obstacle, any heartache. Indeed, pain and suffering and loss can even bring us closer to God ...

2316. Advent 1

Psalm 25:1-22, Jeremiah 33:1-26, Luke 21:25-36, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... come that will bring salvation and safety to God’s people. Jeremiah 33:14-16 Second Lesson—The apostle Paul hopes specifically for the return of Christ with his saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Gospel—Jesus is not only a teacher ... by every victory of truth over falsehood, every triumph of compassion over indifference, every return of those who have gone astray. We live in hope of the final perfection of your world in your time. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION God our Savior, we stand before you as those who ...

2317. Easter 4

Psalm 23:1-6, John 10:22-30, Acts 9:32-43, Revelation 7:9-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... , God eternal and universal, blessing and glory and power and might be given to you through timeless ages. We rejoice in the hope of peace beyond times of trouble, of plenty beyond hunger and thirst, of the end of sin and grief through your cleansing ... and generation and have now entered into rest. We bless you for our own beloved dead who have gone before us in patient hope and persevered in the way of Christ. Grant us grace like them to be faithful unto death so that at the last we too may enter into unutterable ...

2318. Proper 9

2 Kings 5:1-27, Psalm 30:1-12, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, Galatians 6:1-16

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... be considered accursed. We may grasp after the satisfaction of a long life, but even more for the promise that you will show usyour salvation. Our chief hope is in Jesus Christ, crucified in young adulthood, but raised from the dead to give us hope of like resurrection and eternal life. We believe that you have already fulfilled your promised salvation to all who have hoped in you and claim that destiny for ourselves in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives at your right hand and with you and the ...

2319. Proper 22

Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, Luke 17:5-10, 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... and needy, and a terror to evil-doers, however great and mighty. Let virtue and truth be the pillars of the state. We pray for the sick and suffering in our homes and hospitals and all known and dear to us. Save them from dejection and despair. Give them hope in your healing and patience to wait for your help. Into your gentle hands we commend the spirits of the dying. We will live again through the same Spirit who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead, giving him glory at your right hand, O God. We bless you ...

2320. Trinity Sunday

Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 8:1-36, John 16:12-15, Romans 5:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... and church counselors who seek to help the doubting and the lost to find the truth. Bless nursing mothers and their babies, young children and those who will, in mind, always be children. Grant to those who are of advanced years a happy and thankful old age and hope of the better life that awaitsbeyond death. We bless you for all faithful souls who now live in everlasting peace with you. Direct our life in faith and good works so that our passage through the world may bring us to the place of rest you have ...

2321. Lent 5

Psalm 130:1-8, Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 11:1-45, Romans 8:1-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... Jesus Christ. John 11:1-45 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Open your heart to the Spirit of hope. People: Like someone in the darkness we will look for the first light of dawn. INVOCATION God in whom we rely, Christ in whom we have faith, Spirit of all our hopes, we come to worship you and to affirm our confidence in your love. We love you because you first loved us. Hear our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen PRAYER OF ...

2322. Getting Rid of Anger

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

King Duncan

... whose son had been killed by a man named Patrick Sonnier. Sonnier was executed for his crime. Afterwards LeBlanc told Sister Prejean that he would have been content with imprisonment for Sonnier. He attended Sonnier’s execution, he said, not for revenge, but hoping for an apology. Sonnier didn’t disappoint him. Before sitting in the electric chair, Sonnier said, “Mr. LeBlanc, I want to ask your forgiveness for what me and Eddie done,” and Lloyd LeBlanc nodded his head to signal a forgiveness he had ...

2323. Did You Know You Can Know You Have Eternal Life?

1 John 5:11-13

Sermon

James Merritt

... heaven and yet if you ask them if they are going to heaven, they said, "I think so", "I feel like I am", or "I certainly hope so." I want to share with you today that not only is it possible for you to know that you have eternal life, it is ... t know and you can't know either. To much of the world, timely is everything. The world thinks salvation is performance driven and they just hope that when they die, they are living just right so they will go to heaven. Going to heaven is not a matter of timing, it is ...

2324. Explore the Evidence

Acts 1:1-3

Sermon

James Merritt

... Mr. Edington was dead at the time. Is that correct? A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy! I hope I can do somewhat better than some of these lawyers, because today I do want to fulfill a fantasy. I want to present to you ... be saved. (Romans 10:9, NASB) We have explored the evidence. Now, you have to make a decision. Who are you going to invest your hope in for eternal life? The evidence screams out at us that Jesus Christ told the truth when He said in John 11:25, "I am ...

2325. Live and Let Die

Galatians 2:20

Sermon

James Merritt

... Christian is both dead and alive at the same time! Every Christian has a poster on the door of heaven that says, "Wanted: Dead and Alive." You cannot live until you die, but when you die you live. You may be sitting there saying, "I don't get it." Well, hopefully you are about to because there are four words in this text that really tell us what the Christian life is, and how to live it. I want you to underscore them: Christ lives in me. You see the first discovery a Christian needs to make as soon as he ...

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