Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2401 to 2425 of 4957 results

2401. Do They Pass The Test?

1 John 4:1

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... it is safe and will not hurt anyone. That is the real way a scientist works. He must be sure that what he is doing will work, or else he is not a scientist. The Bible teaches us that we should be a lot the same way with people who claim to know God in a special way. There are a lot of people who would like for you to believe that they know the real truth about God and that their ideas are special and should be listened to with special care. The Bible says you want to be careful ...

2402. Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:16-18, Joel 2:12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... to win him over to himself. When we follow his example, these devotional actions are not only expressions of penitence and self-denial, but are also signs of our complete dependence for salvation upon Jesus Christ, who is our treasure. He is the one who claims our hearts for as long as we live, for he alone is our salvation. Our almsgiving, prayers, and fasting are expressions of our gratitude and love, as well as repentance. (Note: One of the puzzles about this traditional gospel is that the Lord's Prayer ...

2403. Lent 1

Romans 9:30--10:21, Deuteronomy 26:1-15, Luke 4:1-13, Psalm 91:1-16

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... saving action in Jesus Christ. The several churches cut up the reading to serve their own purposes, but the exodus remains basic to any and all of the selections. Romans 10:(5-8) 8b-13 (E); 10:8b-13 (L, C); 10:8-13 (RC) It is claimed that this primitive confession of faith, which might have been subscribed to by catechumens at their baptism, contributed to the development of the Apostles' Creed, possibly to all of the creeds: "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that ...

2404. Lent 3

1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Exodus 3:1-22, Psalm 126:1-6, Psalm 103:1-22, Luke 13:1-9

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... 'am, I'll take it ... But now let me tell you about the angel ..." 1. The angel in this "burning bush" story didn't get much more attention from Moses than Lucy and her angel got from the televangelist's secretary. It was the bush, not the angel, that claimed his attention: "I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." Was the angel attempting to speak to him? Were his eyes so wide open that his ears were closed? Who really believes in angels anyway? Aren't they the stuff of which ...

2405. Maundy Thursday

John 13:1-17, Psalm 116:1-19, Exodus 12:1-30, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Mark 14:12-26, Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Hebrews 10:19-39, Luke 22:7-38

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... can get to the Lord and the age to come in this life. They have been washed clean of their sins in baptism, and have been prepared to do the work of the Lord in the world until the final "Day" arrives. But those who go on sinning lose their claim on Christ and the kingdom. Instead of continuing to sin, Christians, in response to God's grace, need to extend to others the compassion and mercy given them by Christ. Luke 22:7-20 (L); 22:14-30 (E), alternate For the second time in five days, a portion of ...

2406. Easter Sunday

John 20:1-9, Acts 10:23b-48, Isaiah 51:1-16, Exodus 15:1-21, Colossians 3:1-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 24:1-12

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... of that resurrection, the one through whom the longed-for hope of overcoming death in the Old Testament has finally become a reality. In time, the "last enemy" - death - will be overcome, and "all things will be put under his feet." It is then that Christ will claim his final victory, already begun by his resurrection. Christians may surely believe that gospel and base their hope in the risen Lord. John 20:1-9 (RC); 15:1-9 (10-20 - alt.) (L); 15:1-18 (C) The Common and Lutheran lectionaries repeat the first ...

2407. Ascension

Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 110:1-7, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53, 2 Kings 2:1-18

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... ago, I saw a little building near the summit of the Mount of Olives, which housed a sacred stone within it. That was supposed to be the spot from which Jesus ascended into heaven; the stone has an indentation in the top of it, which, it is claimed, was made when Jesus "took off" into the heavens. It suggests that Jesus exerted "tremendous thrust" - much like the rockets at Cape Kennedy - and that's what is responsible for the imprint in the rock. It makes Jesus into a kind of Superman, flying through the ...

2408. Advent 3

Zephaniah 3:1-20, Philippians 4:2-9, Luke 3:1-20, Isaiah 12:1-6

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... 3:7-18 (E, L, C); 3:10-18 (RC) - "The Sermon That John Preached." Now the story of John the Baptist's advent is fleshed out as Luke gives a synopsis of John's sermon(s) to the people who went to hear him and be baptized. The evangelist claims that John "with many other exhortations, ... preached good news to the people." Does his message sound like good news? There is no offer of forgiveness in it: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ... Even now the axe is laid to the root ...

2409. Proper 7

1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 63:1-11, Zechariah 12:1-9, Luke 8:26-39, Galatians 3:23-29

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... those whose souls are tortured by their longing to know God. The psalmist knows that God can be found, and one's spiritual thirst can be assuaged, by those who throw themselves upon the mercy of God, because God is constantly seeking out his own people to claim them and bless them. The cries of the faithful are heard by God; they can say, in true faith: "My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast." Psalm Prayer "Heavenly Father, creator of unfailing light, enlighten those who call to you. May our ...

2410. Proper 11

Colossians 1:15-23, Luke 10:38-42, Genesis 18:16-33, Colossians 1:24--2:5, Psalm 15:1-5

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... was a kindly, but necessary one for her. Mary's priority was to listen to Jesus and learn what he had to say; Martha wanted to serve him and have things the best as they could possibly be. It is necessary to hear the Word, Jesus Christ, before he can claim our devotion and direct our service in the world. Mary had chosen to listen and to hear the Word of the Lord; she had chosen what Jesus called "the good portion, which shall not be taken from her." Of course, there is another side to this story; there are ...

2411. Advent 4

Psalm 80:1-19, Micah 5:1-4, Hebrews 10:1-18, Luke 1:39-45

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... - except for this prophecy: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephratah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days." Bethlehem has one claim to fame: It is the town where Christ, as Micah prophesied, really was born! The city of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is many times larger than the town which gave it its name; it is one of the tri-cities located between Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. But ...

2412. Proper 16

Luke 13:22-30, Isaiah 28:1-29, Isaiah 66:1-24, Jeremiah 28:1-17, Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... our Lord." THE READINGS Isaiah 28:14-22 (E) The prophet is speaking of a glorious day of the Lord, which is sure to come and will reverse the sentence of death that fell upon human beings through their alliance with sin and Satan. Historically, it is claimed that, during the threatened invasions by the Assyrians during King Hezekiah's reign, some of the rulers of Israel wanted to make an alliance with Egypt and, in that way, fend off the Assyrians. Isaiah tells them to put their trust in God, not in human ...

2413. Proper 21

Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 146:1-10, Amos 6:1-7, Joel 2:18-27, 1 Timothy 6:11-21

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... , who be-came Paul's companion and "beloved physician." The Gospel of Luke and the sequel, the Book of Acts, are attributed to him. Tradition remembers him as a missionary who preached into old age; a witness to Christ, but not a literal martyr. Tradition also claims him to be an artist (at least one painting in a Roman church is attributed to him), as well as an author/historian/theologian. He tells the same story as Mark and Matthew, but relates it more as Jesus' "journey to Jerusalem," showing how the ...

2414. Proper 26

Psalm 65:1-13, Psalm 145:1-21, Psalm 32:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, Haggai 2:1-9, Exodus 34:1-28, Isaiah 1:1-31, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... see him just as Jesus was able to see Zaccheus. When Jesus saw Zaccheus, he did a surprising thing; he stopped, called to him to come down, and told him that he would spend the day with him. That wasn't only surprising; it was also preposterous - anyone who claimed to be the promised Messiah should have known who he was and passed him by. But Jesus knew who Zaccheus was, how he had achieved his wealth, and that he wasn't fit company for a righteous person. That's what the gospel is all about. Jesus came to ...

2415. The Season Of The Evangel

Matthew 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Wayne B. Keller

... the Word Consider this: Focus upon the gospel as gift, rather than as something we attain or achieve. As gift, God offers the gospel to the whole world, not simply and only our world. And God offers that gift to the world and through those of us who claim to have received it. Stewarship Consider this: Center on the stewardship of God's grace. Most have heard that term dozens of times. Ask the congregation what it means. Or, ahead of time, ask two or three members to express what it means to them. Charge to ...

2416. The Season of the Nativity

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20

Sermon Aid

Wayne B. Keller

... greatest teacher who ever lived 2. miracle worker 3. best man in the world Critique, briefly, the a-la-carte view of Jesus: Then, offer a wholistic view of him, beginning with C. S. Lewis' argument that either Jesus was what he claimed, or else he was a lunatic. Be certain to hit the themes of crucifixion, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Service of Candlelighting Suggestion: Caution: Check with state and local authorities about lighting individual candles. 1. Pastor - describe the mechanics ...

2417. The Faith Of Outsiders

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

William J. Carl

... woman know what Jesus would do? She knew because she saw in him the power of God that could overcome her racism and his and a power that could do that could surely heal her daughter. And sure enough, it did. The persistent faith of outsiders. If only we who claim to be on the inside had that kind of faith, imagine what God could do with us! Just imagine.

2418. When Will The Pain Go Away?

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon

George Johnson

... pain is not the answer. Healing and wholeness happens when we are willing to take a long hard look at the reality instead of running. Walter Brueggemann, an Old Testament scholar, talks about the capacity to grieve as part of embracing the darkness. He claims that our society has lost the capacity to grieve and, therefore, has failed to energize people with hope. Weeping, he says, comes before newness. Hope is discovered when there is a willingness to embrace the darkness. Jesus said to his disciples as he ...

2419. Is It Too Late?

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

George Johnson

... ears of the congregation perked up. "The problem," the pastor said, "is that someone acted irresponsibly. The wrong figures were given to the lending agency. On the application for the loan, the figure of 2,000 members was used instead of 1,000. They claim we willfully deceived them and acted under false pretenses. The loan for the building has been withdrawn and the building will go up for sale next month. Perhaps it was wrong for us to trust our building committee to present the facts accurately. Maybe ...

2420. Let Freedom Ring!

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

... female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) Jesus’ teaching on love for one’s neighbors would logically mean that those who want freedom for themselves should be willing to work for freedom for others. Yet Christians have made a rather strange claim about freedom: that it is not in doing as one pleases that true freedom is found but in doing the will of God. The author of first Peter understood the meaning of this when he wrote, “Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as ...

2421. The Churches and Higher Education

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

Christian College Sunday • Christian College What do the churches have to do with higher education? For this sermon “churches” shall mean organized groups of worshipers claiming faith in Jesus Christ. “Higher education” shall mean “the practice of teaching and learning above the high school level.” Traces of institutions which can be called “schools of higher education” can be found in history as far back as the Sixth Century before the Christ was born. During the “Dark ...

2422. He Preached Good News

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

James Garrett

... the multitudes to prepare the way for Christ’s coming with severe earnestness. His message is a call to repentance with actions that demonstrate an altered life. “Bear fruits that benefit repentance,” he says. “We have Abraham as our father,” is not a valid claim or an excuse. A life of faith and deeds of love are what counts before God. A religion void of moral and ethical implication is exactly that, void. The idea that love is something we do is somewhat foreign to the modern Western mind. We ...

2423. Home And Temple

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

James Garrett

... because of it -- steeled and tempered by hardship, determined to prove him or herself. Jesus’ lingering behind in the temple is a testimony to the deep faith of the family. It is the fulfillment of the act of giving the child Jesus to the Lord. Jesus now claims for himself that special relation to God which was symbolized in his dedication as an infant. In the sacrament of infant baptism we ask: Will you endeavor to keep this child under the ministry and guidance of the Church until he/she by the power of ...

2424. Jesus’ First Sign

John 2:1-11

Sermon

James Garrett

... asked him the secret of his success at the plate. He replied, “I just keep goin’ up there and keep swingin’ at ’em.” In Numbers there is an incredible story. Israel is at the border of the Promised Land. The land was in sight to be claimed by an obedient faithful people. God directed that spies be sent into Canaan so the people might taste and see God’s goodness and fully understand his work. Israel’s spies found the land richer than they had dreamed it would be. They chopped down a branch ...

2425. A Word For All Reasons

John 20:19-23

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... his words for all reasons, "Peace be with you." Those potent, piercing words slice through all our pretenses, surmount all our weaknesses, forgive all our sinfulness, abolish all our guilt, and overcome all our fears and our faithlessness. Not even our worst doubts can keep him from claiming our hearts. And he will not stop speaking his word until it can be said of us, as it was said of the disciples, "They were glad when they saw the Lord." "Peace be with you." That is God's word, that is our Lord's gift ...

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