Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2426 to 2450 of 4943 results

2426. Scroll Bread and Honey

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

How many of you have tried to diet? Come on, I know you all have! Which ones have you tried? Everyone today has a special diet. I know some of you probably have tried the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet. What others? Some of you eat gluten free! Some of you cut out other allergens, like peanuts, or shellfish. A while back the rage was “mono meals.” The mono meal diet meant you ate only one thing, a fruit like bananas or a vegetable like potatoes. (This kind of eating regimen didn’t work so well for ...

2427. Deliverance

Isaiah 49:8-26, Isaiah 44:24--45:25, Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 13:17--14:31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” (Exodus 14:15) One of the unique experiences of our culture today is the innovation of the “escape room!” Has anyone here participated in an “escape room” experience? [You can invite people to share if you wish.] Anyone know what an escape room is? You have these pretty much in every town now. Basically, you pay money to be locked into a room for one hour either with friends or with strangers. You are given clues and puzzles that will help you find a way to ...

2428. To See and Be Seen

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

To be seen, truly seen, is everyone’s greatest wish. This is the basis for all relationships, the desire that we don’t need to put on manners or masks but can be ourselves and accepted for who we are. To be seen is to be known in an intimate, real way. Unfortunately, many people never find that. Instead, they live their lives alone and lonely, never bonding with that special someone. For many, it means, they have been unwilling to be seen. Human nature can often cause us to “hide” ourselves from others. ...

2429. Master Teacher

Matthew 15:10-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

The Christian Testament scriptures are the most fascinating set of inspired and brilliant stories we can possibly read and learn from. The scriptures are amazing. But too often, we miss the best parts. This can happen when we read either from habit and read over clues that we’ve never noticed before or when we don’t see the entire picture and have a hard time imagining what’s happening in real-time. I like to employ two “clues” or “helps” therefore when reading scripture. These can deepen our understanding ...

2430. Hark, The Herald... What?

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

David E. Leininger

This is the third Sunday of Advent on the church calendar. It’s getting closer. For us who are parents and grandparents, we might have felt that way back in January, but for our little ones, they probably feel it will never get here. “Hark, the Herald angels sing...” Let’s get to it! In fact, we do get our first liturgical introduction to an angel today. A surprising one, perhaps, but an angel nonetheless. His name is John. That’s right, the same John that we met in last week’s lesson who gained fame of ...

2431. God Bless Santa!

Luke 2:1-20

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Several years ago, when Donald Trump was running for the US Presidency, he wanted to convince evangelical voters that he was one of them, so he let it be known that he was a Christian, born and raised Presbyterian even. That was a bit of a surprise to us Presbyterians, but no matter. Reporters pressed him on that and asked which he preferred, the Old Testament or the New. He said he liked them both. They asked him what was his favorite Bible verse; he said he didn’t have a favorite, he liked them all. Uh- ...

2432. Heroines of the Faith

Mark 1:29.39

Sermon

David E. Leininger

I am certain that you Bible scholars have experienced the same phenomenon as I have, namely, that you can read the same passage over and over and over again and find something that strikes you anew each time. Scripture does not change, of course, but we change. It is that old saying about not being able to step into the same river twice. That is my experience with this pericope. In years past, I would have noted the Lord’s healing ministry, the way the word spread through the people about this wonder- ...

2433. Marketplace Christianity

John 2:13-22

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Do you employ a “market mentality” or a “relational mentality”? What does this mean? Put simply, a market mentality sees things in terms of transactions and commodities, resources, and dispensability. A relational mentality however sees things in terms of developing partnerships, relationships, long-term collaborations that benefit both parties and share a vision. The former can easily fluctuate. The latter, however, requires time and effort to develop and cultivates trust, loyalty, and commitment over ...

2434. The Propriety of Praise

Psalm 84:1-12

Sermon

Will Willimon

A few months ago, I preached a sermon here. My text was from· the book of Revelation, as I recall. All went well until the end of the sermon when I came to my last sentence. Without warning, someone seated somewhere over there, shouted out “Amen!” Well, he was probably a tourist I thought; first time in Duke Chapel. Probably someone from California. At first, I thought I would ignore his, “Amen!” But upon further reflection I asked the ushers to make a discreet search during the offering, and tell the man ...

2435. Battle With The Law

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon

King Duncan

How's your blood pressure today? I want to read you some very interesting results from some extraordinary legal cases. In 1964 a California woman was driving a Porsche after having had several drinks. While driving 60 in a 25-mph zone, she had an accident in which her passenger was killed. Porsche was ordered to pay $2.5 million for having designed a car that was too high-performance for the average driver. In 1985 an overweight man with a heart condition bought a lawnmower from Sears. Later he had a heart ...

2436. The Three Tenses Of Our Faith

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

A family with young children went on a two-week vacation from Washington, D.C., to Arizona. They were traveling to see parents and grandparents. They faced a long plane ride with three youngsters. Since they had children, they were allowed to pre-board the airplane. As soon as the family had settled into their seats, their three-year-old son asked, "Are we going to take off now, Dad?" His dad said, "No, not yet." About thirty seconds later, the boy asked, "Are we going to take off now, Dad?" "No," his dad ...

2437. The Narrow Door

Luke 13:22-30

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: Without faith it is impossible to please God, and impossible to do what he asks. Summary: It's the day for the 10K race and the announcer from the local radio station is there to interview the runners. She talks to Rahab, who shares a secret: "The Narrow Door" strategy. It's about how to run the race of life. Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: Starting line at the 10K race Props: None Costumes: Rahab -- running shorts, top, and shoes Time: The present Cast: Announcer Priscilla Rahab -- a runner ...

2438. Breaking The Tabboo

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

"Taboo." It's a strange, mysterious, ancient-sounding word that we don't use much any more in our modern, scientifically enlightened world. A taboo is something that is forbidden. A taboo is a prohibition. It is usually associated with something sacred and mysterious. Something that is taboo is set aside, never to be touched and desecrated by human hands. We are usually afraid of the taboo. We are in awe of its power. Taboos control us. In the ancient world certain places or things may have been considered ...

2439. Letting God

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20, Matthew 2:1-12

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: Mary, Joseph, three Shepherds and three Kings. The shepherds may be of either gender. Length: 15 minutes MARY and JOSEPH are seated together on stage. There are three other stools near them, two on MARY's right and one on JOSEPH's left. There is a cradle on the floor next to them. MARY: Joseph, I want to tell you how grateful I am that you were with me during the birth of the child. I really don't know what I would have done without you. JOSEPH: I was glad to do what I could, but I'm afraid it was ...

2440. Let Our Kids Pray

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

Carl B. Rife

Quite a few years ago I saw a bumper sticker on a car that said, "Let Our Kids Pray." I had an immediate reaction and I acted immediately on the reaction. I went to my car and got a pen and paper and wrote on the paper "Who's stopping them?" and put it under the windshield wiper. Now that bumper sticker and my response get us into the whole area of prayer in the public schools. I would like to preface everything I have to say this morning with the understanding that committed Christians can differ on this ...

2441. Sometimes, You Gotta Get Your Feet Wet First

Joshua 3:1-4:24

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

It doesn't happen often (although I'm always delighted when it does), but every once in a while, as I attempt to wrestle a sermon from the weekly text, a single phrase will seem almost to leap off the page, claim my attention, and demand to be preached. And so it was with this tiny phrase nestled in verse 15 of the third chapter of Joshua: "... and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water ..." (Joshua 3:15b). Now, I'll admit, this might initially appear a rather mundane ...

2442. More Than Sex

Sermon

John N. Brittain

Song of Solomon 2:8-16a, 8:6-7; 1 John 3:11-23; John 15:12-17 My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. ... Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely." My beloved is mine and I am his -- Song of Solomon 2:10-16a Every summer, like many university chaplains ...

2443. Where Can I Go From Your Spirit?

Psalm 139:1-24

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

Music: Come, Gracious Spirit When Jesus preached his famous Sermon on the Mount, one of the things he said was, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Today, as we gather together to pray, we know firsthand the promise of Christ's words. For it is natural, at such a time as this, to turn to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Comforter, as Jesus called the Spirit. We pray that the Spirit at this time of Pentecost may fall fresh on us again, to surround and protect and comfort us in our time of ...

2444. Advent 1

Luke 21:5-38, Psalm 25:1-22

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

Call to Worship Be vigilant, praying at all times for strength to pass safely through all imminent troubles and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man. Prayer of Confession God of all history, the passing of time sometimes escapes us. We live from payday to payday, from party to party, from crisis to crisis. We lose sight of our spiritual state of health until illness or tragedy brings us up short to take stock of ourselves again. We escape as we can from the social ills of our time, without seeing ...

2445. I Am The Door

Sermon

Ronald Lavin

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." -- John 10:7-11 (NRSV) ____________ Doors are interesting ...

2446. You Can Never Go Home Again

Mark 6:1-6

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

Thomas Wolfe penned the immortal words, “You can never go home again.” Our Gospel documents that truth in a unique way. Early in his ministry, Jesus and his disciples made a tour through his hometown. The people in Nazareth were unable to accept him as the inspired Teacher. Their judgment was limited to how they had always known him: a child, a young man, a carpenter, a local boy. They were unable to see him as Jesus the Rabbi and the Christ to be. And so they rejected him. It was on that occasion that ...

2447. Even God Called Time Out

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon

James Weekley

One sabbath he was going through the grain-fields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it ...

2448. God's Gift Of Life

Psalm 139:1-24

Sermon

Erskine White

For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13) Fathers in earlier generations usually weren't allowed to do this, but I have had the splendid privilege of watching and helping as two of my children were born. The first time, the experience was new and overwhelming. I felt I had witnessed God's hands at work in the world and when our baby was safely delivered, I was left groping for inadequate words to describe what I had seen. The word "awesome" came to ...

2449. When Christians Disappoint

Acts 5:1-11

Sermon

Erskine White

How is it you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to us but to God. (Acts 1:4) We would like to think that we Christians are always theChristians we are supposed to be, but of course, it isn't true.We would like to think that the church is always the faithfulChristian community it is meant to be, but of course, that isn'ttrue either. Sometimes it's awfully easy to be disappointed inChristians and in the church as well. It's awfully easy to findChristians and churches which give ...

2450. Let the Light In

1 John 1:7

Children's Sermon

Object: a blindfold. (As soon as all the children have gathered, put on the blindfold.) Boys and girls, it's good to have you here this morning. I'm wearing a blindfold because I want to count my blessings. I figure if I wear this blindfold for a while it will remind me how lucky I am to have my eyesight. Then when I take it off, I will appreciate my eyes even more than ever. I'd like to say hello to some of you by name, but since I have my blindfold on I really can't tell who is here. And I'd like to tell ...

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