Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: punish, blame, condemn, hold to

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Bulletin Aid

Robert L. Linder and Rabbi Sol Ester

... quoting the verse: 'That you may remember the day you went forth from Egypt all the days of your life' (Deuteronomy 16:3). The days of your life would imply the daytime only. All the days of your life includes the nights also." There is, however, another explanation given by the sages: "The days of your life refers to this world. All the days of your life includes also the messianic era." Praised be God: Praised be He: Praised be He who gave the Torah to his people Israel: Praised be He. THE FOUR SONS The ...

2. Proper 24

Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, Mark 10:35-45

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

... curse, we may learn to accept and to use it to the glory of your Kingdom. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of truth, we confess that we have done enormous emotional damage to ourselves and others because of our easy explanations of human suffering as your judgment or curse. Forgive us, we pray. Teach us to regard suffering as a part of life, and to seek to benefit from it rather than to blame. In the name of the suffering but triumphant Christ we pray. Amen Second Lesson: Hebrews ...

3. Prayers for the Sundays After Easter

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... O Lord, to give you our undivided attention. As best we can we let the business of our lives slide off our shoulders. We coax our bodies to relax. We allow silence to have its healing way with our bruised and battered spirits. Deliberately we set aside all the explanations and defenses we use to put ourselves in a better light. Here we are, our King, humbled and penitent. We have eyes and ears only for you. No doubt, God, you saw us this past week chastising the man at the parking lot for placing our car so ...

4. Prayers for Epiphany

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... and then present ourselves to you and you would say, "How good that you turned yourself around." It isn't working out that way. We now know that we are powerless to overcome our brokenness and evil. So here we are. We present ourselves to you, no explanations, no excuses, no double-talk, no lies. We confess our false pride and our misleading and error-ridden knowledge. Secretly, we have always wanted to be you and now we own up to it and seek your pardon. How grateful we are, how ecstatic, that you received ...

5. Lent 2

Luke 13:31-35

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The words of Jesus here provide a rather "low" Christology, but a historically credible explanation of both his role and his death: he is a prophet, and the inevitable fate of a prophet is to perish at the hands of a closed-hearted, God-forsaken people. The gathering-hen imagery is a charming bonus in this passage, and may be based on the feminine personification ...

6. Lent 2

Luke 13:31-35

Bulletin Aid

Jack Brownlee

... of the accident. Jacob and two others killed and many injured when the tower they were working on in Caesarea collapsed. Now young Jacob was working in Caesarea, and Levi was not back. How her life had changed in just a few short years. She would listen to an explanation. No, she would just let him know of her displeasure and fear at his delay. No. If she made up her mind now she knew that she would do the opposite when he arrived. Levi sat enraptured by this teacher. Never, never ever had he heard the will ...

7. Proper 8

Mark 5:21-43

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... and receive the cure of our spiritual and physical maladies so that we may live at peace and in freedom from what troubles us, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING God of mystery, many of the things that you do are quite beyond any explanation. Other events move us to joy and dancing with music and many instruments. Let our music also express our questions as well as our affirmations that we may rejoice in all things whether in a minor or a major key. Give us joy also in our work ...

8. Proper 18 & Pentecost 16

Ezekiel 33:1-20, Psalm 119:1-176, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 115:1-18, Exodus 19:1-25, Romans 13:1-7, Romans 13:8-14, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 18:15-20

Bulletin Aid

... commandments of God - against adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting - are summed up in a single commandment: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18) He says, "Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbor; that is why it is the explanation of every one of the commandments." Romans 12:9-21 (E) In this pericope, Paul continues to outline the ethical behavior of believers as they respond to the grace of God that they have received in Christ Jesus. Now he is talking about genuine ...

9. Proper 12

Romans 8:1-17

Bulletin Aid

... the demands of your Law, your gracious advocacy will acquit us in the high court of your holy justice. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession Most gracious God, we confess that we consistently try to justify ourselves with explanations, excuses, rationalizations, and other empty words of self-justification, when in fact we know that we are guilty of sin and deserving of your divine retribution. Forgive us, we pray, and teach us to rely upon the advocacy of your own Holy Spirit, whose ...

10. Proper 17

Romans 12:1-8

Bulletin Aid

Theme: The selves of the saved as sacrifices Exegetical note The first verse of this selection is a "hinge" or "pivot" between the soteriological explanations of chapters 1-11 arid the ethical ones of 12-15. The connective word is "therefore," but the idea that really ties salvation to action is that the "bodies" (i.e., selves) of the saved are living sacrifices, which in turn are the proper worship of God (probably, for Paul, ...

11. Epiphany 3

1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Isaiah 9:1-7, Psalm 27:1-14, Matthew 4:12-17

Bulletin Aid

... 4:12-23 Theme: The essence of Jesus' message - "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2; 4:17, R.S.V) Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One pastor began this way: He welcomed them to the season of Epiphany, with a brief explanation. He followed with this "declaration of joy" between pastor and ministers: Pastor: Come, let's celebrate life with our whole selves. Ministers: Praise be to God for our minds that we may know the mind of Christ, for our emotions that we may love in his ...

12. Passion Sunday

Matthew 26:14–27:66

Bulletin Aid

... Invitation to the Celebration One pastor did this: After welcoming the people to worship, she described the meaning of the passion as the last earthly events in the life of Jesus. Perhaps you will want to give a brief summary of those events without additional explanation. Follow with this printed call to worship with pastor/ministers: Pastor: Come, let us worship with our whole being. Ministers: Praise be to God for our minds that we may know the mind of Christ, for our emotions that we may love in God's ...

13. What Is It?

Exodus 16:2-15

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... . Let us collect the manna which God has scattered about, both here in our community and around the world. Let us redeem the moment and worship together this day. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Gracious God, in the face of your mysteries we sometimes demand explanations. We resolve to receive what you offer freely and without question, thankful that you have called us to mind as we wander toward your promised land. Amen. Hymns "I Hunger And I Thirst" "Let Us Break Bread Together" "Blessed Be The Tie That Binds ...

14. Proper 8

Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 130:1-8, 2 Samuel 1:17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... and receive the cure of our spiritual and physical maladies so that we may live at peace and in freedom from what troubles us, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING God of mystery, many of the things that you do are quite beyond any explanation. Other events move us to joy and dancing with music and many instruments. Let our music also express our questions, as well as our affirmations, that we may rejoice in all things, whether in a minor or a major key. Give us joy also in our work ...

15. Lent 5

Psalm 51:1-19, Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 12:20-33, Hebrews 5:5-10

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... heart to replace the broken one. Jeremiah 31:31-34 Second Lesson—Jesus is praised as a sincere and suffering high priest appointed by God to serve all who obey him. Hebrews 5:5-10 Gospel—John reports the interest of some Greeks as the occasion for the explanation by Jesus of what suffering love will accomplish in the divine purpose. John 12:20-33 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Come to see Jesus, even though his glory is a ...

16. Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Isaiah 6:1-13, Psalm 138:1-8, Luke 5:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 138 First Lesson—For the prophet the exalted vision leads to penitence and purging in preparation for preaching. Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) Second Lesson—Paul gives detailed explanation of the witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Gospel—Simon Peter like Isaiah is humbled by the awareness of a holy presence. Luke 5:1-11 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also ...

17. Epiphany 7

Genesis 45:1-28, Psalm 37:1-40, Luke 6:27-38, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... :1-11, 39-40 First Lesson—Rather than blame his brothers for their ill treatment of him, Joseph shows how it is providential that he has come to a position of power that can save them from famine. Genesis 45:3-11, 15 Second Lesson—Paul’s explanations of resurrection are taken from nature and Scripture. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 Gospel—Jesus describes the magnanimity of spirit that he expects in his disciples. Luke 6:27-38 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all ...

18. Proper 12

Genesis 28:10-22, Psalm 139:1-24, Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43, Romans 8:12-25

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... Lesson - Paul defines our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit as that of adopted children. Romans 8:12-25 Gospel - Matthew continues his reporting of the parables Jesus told in preaching to and teaching the multitudes and also gives the follow-up explanation to the disciples. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 CALL TO WORSHIP Let us bless God from our innermost hearts, forgetting none of the benefits of God's compassion: pardon for our guilt, healing for our suffering, constant love, and renewal of our ...

19. Epiphany 7

Genesis 45:3-11, 15, Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40, Luke 6:27-36, 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-50

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and Paul suggest, then people who are righteous will experience an easier life — Job’s quandary. Joseph understands God to have been in charge of his being sold and his being the “savior” of his relatives — a cause and effect explanation. However, psychologically, Jesus’ message suggests passivity and repression of physical pain and loss. For the contemporary reader, cause and effect are not so simple; giving your shirt upon demand may impoverish one beyond sustainability. If we are living the ...

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