Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2351 to 2375 of 4977 results

2351. Why We Worship Together

Romans 15:6

Children's Sermon

... . O.K., why don’t you just begin to talk, maybe you can say a poem that you know or sing a song, or laugh or talk to your friend sitting next to you, and I’ll turn on the microphone and see what we get. (When you are getting quite a bit of talk and confusion you can turn it off.) Well, now, that was great because I can take this home and listen to it and I will know just who it was that spoke and I will always ... Oh, you want to hear it now? Right now? O ...

2352. Fasting: Foolish or Fruitful?

Matthew 6:16-18

Sermon

... your prejudice and gossiping? One way we can be sure that we fast for Jesus' sake is what we do with the money we save by fasting. If one gives up smoking and it costs him the price of a pack or two of cigarettes a day, it would be quite a saving. If he gives up liquor for Lent, he may save as much as fifty dollars. What shall he do with the savings? If he keeps it, he fasted for his own benefit. The true Christian gives his fasting money to church or charity. This is dramatically done on ...

2353. The Empty Pillow Case

Romans 13:8-14

Children's Sermon

... good morning to one another? Why don't you just say, "Good morning, my friend" right now to one another? That was fine. Sometimes we forget to say nice things to each other, don't we? This morning I have brought with me a wonderful friend called Patty. Patty is quite a girl. As a matter of fact, Patty has a middle and last name that are kind of funny. Her name is Patty Pillow Case. Patty is a nice friend, but there is something wrong with her. I don't know what it is, but it seems that Patty is ...

2354. If Only We Would Confess ...

Ezekiel 18:1-32

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... . The preacher talked about the forgiveness of God, quoting the Isaiah text, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." (1:18) Dr. Temple writes: Though I went to that meeting in a serious, inquiring spirit, I found myself quite unmoved, for alas, my sins were not scarlet, they were gray, all gray. They were not dramatic acts of rebellion, but the colorless, tired sins of omission, inertia, and timidity. Twenty years ago I took a course in pastoral care at a state institution ...

2355. Dandelions and Roses

1 Peter 5:5-7

Children's Sermon

... with. She was always reminding everyone of her unbelievable beauty and the special kind of care that she needed. Ruby needed her branches trimmed regularly, some spray to keep away the bugs, and special kinds of food put into the flower bed in which she lived. Ruby was quite a flower and, on occasions when she thought that no one like you and me were listening, she would tell all of the flowers how wonderful it was to be a rose. Most of the flowers in the same yard with Ruby could not stand her, but Doria ...

2356. God Answers the Tough Questions

Ephesians 3:1-13

Children's Sermon

... there are no answers in books or people, we have to turn to God to get the answer. When you know how much God loves you, then you can forgive anybody for anything that they might have done. When you know how much God loves you through Jesus, then you quit worrying about dying because you know that Jesus can give life forever, even after you die. And when you are sick or you feel all alone at night, you are never afraid because Jesus promises you that he will come and be with you and share every moment with ...

2357. Prayer

Matthew 17:1-13

Bulletin Aid

... Waiting for a package Waiting for service Waiting in line Waiting to see a doctor Waiting for Spring Waiting to be old enough Free enough Rich enough To do what I want to do. Waiting is a pain! And I don't do it well! I fidget. I complain. - I quit! But Jesus says, "Wait"! Wait for the Kingdom of Heaven Wait for his return. Easy for him to say! But what do I do in the meantime? Lord, forgive my impatience My insistance that things happen On my schedule At my convenience, And teach me to wait for what is ...

2358. The Day of Pentecost

Isaiah 44:1-5

Sermon

... word. The name Jeshurun may be built linguistically like the tribal name Zebulan. If that is the case here, Deutero-Isaiah is using an endearing title, which may be what the Septuagint had in mind when it translated "Jeshurun" by the Greek word for "beloved." It is quite clear God is not willing to give up on his people. He wants to resuscitate them, to raise them from a corpse-like state into a new life of vitality and responsibility. The symbolism of the desert can be found in other places in the Bible ...

2359. Proper 4

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

... over the precipice, but Abraham drifted to the ground and landed on his feet. According to the legend, where his feet struck, two springs of fresh water sprang up. The folk tale about the incident and the springs of water aside, one must recognize it is quite a tribute to Abraham that his footprints are still so visible in the life of humanity after nearly 4,000 years. Of course, that didn't come about because he took an easy way. Abraham risked everything to follow the call of God, to accept the struggle ...

2360. Proper 7

Genesis 28:10-22

Sermon

... the clock measures, or at a time that is no time at all because it's without beginning and without end." (Telling the Truth, Fredrick Buechner, page 73) "Once upon a time," of course, is the beginning of a story and the Bible uses stories quite often. They don't always - or even often - begin with, "Once upon a time," but they are stories nevertheless. The power of stories is legendary, but their value, their use, their vitality is often overlooked by modern people. Primitive people, however, know the value ...

2361. Proper 10

Exodus 2:11-25

Sermon

... , and ended up a nomad in the desert. Yet, the years have proved it was only by losing his life, that he was able to find it. He had to make a choice, however, if he was to truly live. Centuries later, a crusty old prophet would state the issue quite clearly: "How long will you go limping between two opinions? If the Lord be God, then follow Him; if Baal, then follow him." Still later, the greatest spiritual leader of them all would say: "No man can serve two masters."

2362. Nervous Hands

Psalm 139:1-24

Sermon

... incident in particular in my own life. It was the first time I ever assisted with Communion. I was a Lay Minister. It was my installation, and I was to assist in distributing Communion. My hands shook so badly in trying to pass out the bread that I'm quite certain that everyone who received a wafer had to shake his head to catch my hand. I was trembling because I was afraid. That's what nervousness really is. Nervousness is not something that exists in itself; it is a symptom of being afraid. You and I have ...

2363. Angry Hands

Psalm 26:1-12

Sermon

... we deal with one another and in the manner in which we deal with God. I Anger can be misdirected, and therefore an important and negative force Some years ago I was playing golf with a man who I knew had a pretty strong temper, but I didn't realize quite how bad it was. We were on one of the final greens. He missed a putt. All of a sudden he tried to wrap his putter around a tree. What misdirected anger! It was so poorly directed, it did not make sense. It was not the inanimate piece of metal ...

2364. Parable of a Prayer and a Bank Account

John 15:16-17

Illustration

... Heavenly Father. They are offended by their own narrowness, stubbornness, and ignorance. These are reasons why people fail to accept their religious heritage; short-changing themselves in the joys of living. They miss out on friendships and thrilling experiences. They are never quite ready to admit that they don't know how to pray and don't know how to communicate with God. So they tell their friends they are offended with the Church, the preacher, the religion or with God and continue in their unfulfilled ...

2365. Parable of the Elevator and the Stairway

Psalm 95:1-11

Illustration

... an elevator in our building," said Marie, "but I suppose I am just as aggravated when I have to wait or when it gets stuck between floors." "Well, at least when I want to go home the stairway is always there," said Jane. "Our trouble is everybody quits at five and they all want the elevator at once," said Marie. "Everybody has their problems, I guess." Some laws of God are always at work for everybody at the same time. Some apply under certain conditions. Prayer, like the stairway, is available at all times ...

2366. The Disposition and the Dinner Table

Proverbs 10:1-32

Illustration

"I like to eat at your table," said the young lad. "Somehow the food always tastes better." "We are always glad to have you with us," said the neighbor lady. Even the same foods at home don't taste quite as good," effervesced Jerry. "The things you say with what you eat at your table make everything taste better." Many lessons of life are learned at the dinner table. Not only the food we eat physically but the spiritual food we eat adds beauty to life or may give indigestion. ...

2367. Parable of Strange Words

1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Illustration

... do. I love my church. Don't you?" "I like the singing and I like the friendly people and I do like the minister, but I don't know what he says." "Do you mean that you don't understand the sermon?" asked the surprised mother. "I think he talks quite plainly." "Oh, I know the children's story all right, but many of the words I don't know and I start thinking about other things." "Tell you what," said the mother. "Next Sunday you write down each word that you don't understand, as best you can write it ...

2368. Hunger, Health, and Happiness

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

... last there was hope. Joy returned to this young man’s life as he watched his parents strengthened and nurtured once again. He offered up his prayers of thanksgiving. Vijah Vijah could not believe his ears. It had all happened so quickly. The day had been quite normal, but now tragedy had struck. While he was away with his girlfriend for the afternoon his mother and father had been accidently killed. It was a boating accident and Vijah did not understand any of the details. He was not able to hear any of ...

2369. Dear Mrs. Day

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Thomas C. Short

... astray did not know that it was lost. At least that’s how I read the parable. There is no indication that the sheep is panicky because it is lost. There is no indication that this sheep is frantically trying to get back into the fold. In fact it is quite possible that this "stray" sheep has found some good, untouched grass on which to graze and does not even know it is lost. Gee, there I go again. I’m a little off the subject (me), but all of this does shed some light on me. I was lost and ...

2370. A Criminal, A Cross, and the Christ

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Thomas C. Short

... in Paradise." His name was Etaus, and God gave him life to enjoy and to have fellowship with God, the Creator. Like his older brother, Adam, and his older sister, Eve, Etaus was born because God wanted to share love, joy and life with him. His beginning was not quite a garden of Eden, but he enjoyed peace and harmony. He was blessed with food to eat, people to love, God to worship and the strength of mind and body. His father was a trader of skins, and his mother worked to keep the home organized. Life was ...

2371. Parable of the Brain and Your Religion

John 14:1-4

Illustration

... a nice fellow. I see him in church every Sunday," said Jim. "If seeing him in church makes him a nice fellow," said George, "there must be damage to another part of my brain." "What I meant," answered Jim, "is that's how I got to know him quite well, and thus he explained to me about his handicap. When you understand him, then you see past the physical difficulty. And frankly, George, since you brought the subject up, going to church would do a lot for your brain and your attitude toward others." It is true ...

2372. Whoever Would Be King

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Sermon

... coronation did not run as smoothly as this passage may indicate. His succession was nothing like the transition from King George VI to the present Queen Elizabeth. Despite the fact that God had anointed David king, that anointing preceded this one of the text by quite some time. Blood was shed, more than we like to remember - some by David, though he was careful never to lay his hand on God’s anointed, his predecessor Saul, but much of the slaughter was by David’s lieutenants. Despite the fact that King ...

2373. The Time Is Coming

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

... that of Jeremiah. God acquits the guilty! But aren’t the innocent acquitted, and not the guilty? Not so in this covenant. Did sin abound? Then did grace much more abound. No one else deals that way, only this God. From the Second Lesson for this day: "Quite independently of the law, God’s justice has been brought to light. The law and the prophets both bear witness to it; it is God’s way of righting wrong. It is effective through faith in Christ for all who have such faith - all, without distinction ...

2374. To Thank Is To ...

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

... boredom. Grade school children are bored. High school children are bored. College students are bored. My own children never bring up the subject of the wonder of traveling across the skies at speeds upwards of four hundred miles an hour. They have all traveled much. They are all quite unimpressed. Boredom is a far cry from the attitude of the text. Boredom is a far cry from Martin Luther’s "for all of which I am in God’s debt to thank and to praise, to serve and obey Him." In his debt just by being born ...

2375. The Sunday of the Passion

Matthew 26:14--27:66

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

... many of us expect to find in church. I suppose because it represents a linguistic version of Gresham's law: bad definitions drive out good. In our culture, passion brings to mind the afternoon soap operas and the lead stories in the National Enquirer. We have quite totally forgotten its root meaning is from a Latin word which means "to suffer." Passion, then, is a love, so strong and so intense, the lover is willing to suffer and even die for the beloved. Therefore, the Sunday of the Passion. The Passion of ...

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