Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: punish, blame, condemn, hold to

Showing 1 to 25 of 27 results

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, 2 Timothy 3:10--4:8, Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 119:1-176

Bulletin Aid

William E. Keeney

A Widow And A Bad Judge Recent news articles have reported accounts of judges who have misbehaved. One told of a judge who showed erratic actions on the bench. He scolded persons before him with abusive language and handed down peculiar sentences for those whom he found guilty. Another is suspended from his office and people have called for his impeachment. People charge that he engaged in sexual harassment of a court employee. A third changed the sentence, making it harsher, after he conferred with the ...

2. First Sunday In Christmastide

John 15:1-17

Bulletin Aid

David M. Oliver

Introduction to this Service Everyone is to bring an evergreen branch to worship. Extra boughs may be brought by church members and handed out to those who do not have any. The evergreen is a useful symbol for the Christian life. The focus of the message is to consider how we can remain "ever-green" and fruitful as people of faith. During enjoyable holiday periods, most of us are like the fresh-cut evergreen. The sweet aroma of our lives is readily lavished on everyone. After these periods of celebration, ...

3. Proper 6

Genesis 18:1-15, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35 – 10:8 (9-23), Matthew 9:35-38, 10:1-42, Romans 5:1-11

Bulletin Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Genesis 18:1-15 In their old age Abraham and Sarah are promised a son. Abraham and Sarah were childless. Yet Yahweh promised Abraham he would have progeny as numerous as the stars. Unexpectedly three men (angels?) came to Abraham's tent and were fed and refreshed generously. Before they went on their way, Sarah was promised a child by the next year. Old Testament: Exodus 19:2-8a On Sinai God tells Moses that if the people will keep the covenant, they shall be his people. Epistle: ...

4. 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

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The eschatological framework of the church year remains in place, but it does little or nothing to reveal any theological clue for worship and preaching or any specific theme for this Sunday. The church year does exert biblical and homiletical influence, however, in continuing to set aside September 21 as St. Matthew's Day. Those who have been preaching on the Gospel of St. Matthew may wish to take advantage of the opportunity to connect the man and his message in a sermon. It might be ...

5. Easter 7

Psalm 97:1-12, John 17:20-26, Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

Call To Worship Leader: Be glad! Today has come. God is here! The whole planet is alive with the elements that sustain our lives. People: We breathe air; we are kept warm with fire; we are cooled with cloudy skies; we drink spring waters. All creatures need these elements of nature to continue living. Leader: The universe has many systems created by God and called “good.” God calls us to care for nature and to resist evil and injustice. People: Our relationships and our care for the earth, too, must show ...

6. Proper 6

2 Samuel 1:1-16, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Mark 4:26-29, Mark 4:30-34

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Theme: The fragility of human life, the durability of human love Exegetical Note This lamentation of David over the dead Saul and Jonathan resembles much Wisdom literature in (1) its expression of the finiteness and fragility of human life, (2) its underlying sense of the inevitability of death, even for the highly placed and mighty, and (3) its lack of any explicit religious or theological language. In this poem, however, the passion is especially deep and personal as ...

7. Made Right With God

Luke 7:1-10, Psalm 5:1-12

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP Enter God's house through the abundance of God's steadfast love. Pray humbly in reverence of God's holiness. When you leave make your way straight before the eyes of God. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Supreme Monarch, we acknowledge that we are frequently unthinking in our behavior, needing to be checked in our courses by your word in Christ, in writing, and in the witness of your church. Too often we stonewall, unwilling to confess that we could be mistaken in what we do and say. We forget the ...

8. Preserving vs. Promoting the Gospel

Matthew 25:14-30

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes Exactly what Jesus' original intent was for this parable is uncertain, but the fearful, "protectionist" mentality of the third servant is universal and timeless: he timidly decides to protect what he has rather than to develop it, and because of his subsequent actions he is pronounced "wicked and lazy." This story could be applied to a myriad of cases, but its mostly likely referent here is to those who would be preservers of the gospel rather than promoters of it. Liturgical Color Green ...

9. Monday in Holy Week

Hebrews 9:11-28

Bulletin Aid

Theme: The ultimate atonement Exegetical note This passage amounts to a radicalization of the images of priest and sacrifice that dominate the Christology of the entire epistle. In this case, the Christ makes the ultimate atonement by entering the Holy of Holies (i.e., God's presence) and sacrificing himself (an unblemished offering), thereby effecting "an eternal redemption" and everlasting purification that negates even death itself. Call to Worship Leader: In the name of Jesus, the Christ, let us lift ...

10. Lent 5

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, John 12:20-36

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Theme: The new covenant of the heart, the new law within Exegetical Note In a manner uncharacteristic of the Old Testament, Jeremiah here depicts God, not as calling Israel or Judah back to the Mosaic covenant, but as giving up on the law as hopelessly broken, and announcing a future new covenant, not of external knowledge of and obedience to tablets and codes, but of internal responsiveness to the will of God instilled in human hearts. Call to Worship Leader: Let us worship ...

11. Proper 4

1 Samuel 16:1-13, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, Mark 2:23-3:6

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Theme: Human perspective versus God’s perspective Exegetical Note This account of Samuel’s choosing and anointing of David as Saul’s successor is very rich, but a key element is the distinction it makes between Samuel’s human perspective, which focuses on outward appearance and to which several of the candidates looked promising, versus God’s perspective, which looks upon the heart and thus finds regal potential in the least likely and last considered of all, a very young ...

12. Proper 25

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, Mark 10:46-52

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: Jeremiah 31:7-9 Theme: God’s liberation of the oppressed Exegetical Note These verses are part of a poem that celebrates the return of the Babylonian captives. Jahweh here declares the salvation and restoration of the "remnant," and especially emphasizes the inclusion of the most needy among the needy: the blind, the lame, the nursing, the pregnant, and the disconsolate. Compared to the oppression that they have suffered, the promised "brooks of water" and "straight paths" sound paradisic. ...

13. Piety as Private, Not Public

Matthew 6:19-24, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:1-4

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The emphasis on the inward dimensions of the three types of piety commended here -- almsgiving, prayer, and fasting -- is also common in Jewish wisdom and rabbinic teachings, and may reflect a particular concern of the church in Matthew's day more than a burning issue for Jesus. In any case, this part of the Sermon on the Mount is an important reminder that acts of repentance are between the individual and God, and not exhibits for public consumption. Liturgical Color Black or purple Suggested ...

14. Proper 21

Luke 16:19-31

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The story about a rich man and a poor man and the reversal of their fortunes after death is an ancient Jewish morality tale. But the dialogue between Abraham and the rich man that follows is a novelty; it may represent Jesus' own distinctive "twist" on a familiar theme (though the allusion to resurrection in v. 31 is probably a still later embellishment). In any case, that addition changes the point of the story from the dangers of wealth to the futility of miracles for those who have avoided ...

15. Taking Christ's Side

Mark 9:38-41

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting Leader: Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth." Congregation: Lord, put the taste of Christ's love in our mouths and in our deeds. Leader: Jesus said, "For everyone will be salted with fire." Congregtion: Lord, as our love is tested, preserve us with your strength. Leader: Jesus said, "If salt has lost it saltiness, how can you season it?" Congregation: Lord, if love does not flavor our actions; then what value are we to anyone? Leader: Jesus said, "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace ...

16. Bearing The Mark Of Christ

Mark 8:31--9:1, Mark 8:27-30

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note The famous saying of Jesus about discipleship and "taking up his cross'' allows another interpretation worth exploring. Some exegetes suggest that in the pre-Easter version of the saying, stauros meant not a ''cross'' but a ''cross mark'' (a tau or chi, perhaps), such as was used to mark livestock. If that is the case, Jesus' original reference was to the Christian's taking on a mark of identification rather than martyrdom, which became the post-Easter meaning. Liturgical Color Green Suggested ...

17. The Messiah from Bethlehem

Micah 5:1-4, Luke 2:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: God is not dependent on what man glories in to make his own work glorious. People: Anything that God does is glorious, and marvelous in our eyes. Pastor: Such was the case when God chose Bethlehem, smallest of the Judah clans, for Jesus' birth place. People: From that insignificant village came our Messiah who feeds his flock like a shepherd! Collect Eternal God, who chose the lowly village of Bethlehem to be the birth place for your Messiah: Come to our community and let your Son ...

18. Follow Me

John 21:1-19

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: There is now light where once there was darkness and despair. People: There is hope and joy where once there was only sadness and shame. Leader: We have life because Christ lives and the bonds of death are broken. People: Even as the days grow long and we are weary, the Lord sustains us. Leader: For Christ alone pleads our case before God so that we may know mercy. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Almighty and merciful God, in Your loving way, You ask only for us to ...

19. Joy Comes With The Morning

Psalm 30:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Robert G. McCreight

Call to Worship Leader: Praise the Lord! People: Sing a new song to the Lord, praise him in the assembly of his faithful people! Leader: Be glad, Israel, because of your Creator; rejoice, people of Zion, because of your king! People: Praise his name with dancing; play drums and harps in praise of him. Leader: Let God's people rejoice in their triumph and sing joyfully all night long. People: Let them shout aloud as they praise God. This is the victory of God's people. Praise the Lord!(Psalm 149:1-3, 5-6, 9 ...

20. Good Friday

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Bulletin Aid

Theme: The suffering substitute Exegetical Note This Fourth Servant Song is not without its difficulties, not the least of which is the identity of the servant (the prophet? the Messiah? Israel?). In any case, the Servant is innocent, and yet bears all these afflictions and those of all others as well, to their redemption. Whether or not this passage predicted Jesus' Passion, or shaped his attitude toward it, since the early Church, Christians have seen in it the 9ssence of that event. Call to Worship ...

21. Easter 2

1 Peter 1:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Theme: New life, unfinished faith Exegetical note This passage was probably drawn from a baptismal setting in which the symbolization of death and resurrection was central. In any case, the focus here is on the new birth made possible by Jesus' having been raised, but the main point is that in this new life the faith is unfinished, being tempered while awaiting eschatological completion in salvation at "the last time," i.e., the parousia. Meanwhile, the reborn may have some suffering to endure. Call to ...

22. Proper 22

Mt 21:33-46 · Php 3:4b-14 · Ex 20:1-20

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Theme: Other gods Exegetical Note The commandments of the so-called "First Table," i.e., those dealing directly with God (vv. 2-4) actually reflect, not monotheism, but henotheism, i.e., the allegiance to one god without denying the existence of others, in this case the nature gods of the agricultural peoples with whom the Israelites came into contact. Far from reflecting a dated problem, however, the injunctions remind modern people of the many god-like concerns ...

23. Proper 25

Psalm 128:1-6, Ruth 2:1-23

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Grace begets grace Exegetical Note It is not entirely clear whether Ruth set out for or happened onto Boaz' field, since the wording of the first three verses suggests both. In any case, it is certain that Boaz' motive for being especially gracious to Ruth is that she had been likewise gracious to her mother in-law (and his kinswoman), Naomi. The moral of this story would seem to be that, at least in some situations, grace begets grace. Call to Worship Leader: Blessed are those who fear God! People ...

24. Proper 28

Matthew 25:14-30

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Preserving vs. promoting the gospel Exegetical note Exactly what Jesus' original intent was for this parable is uncertain, but the fearful, "protectionist" mentality of the third servant is universal and timeless: he timidly decides to protect what he has rather than to develop it, and because of his subsequent actions he is pronounced "wicked and lazy." This story could be applied to a myriad of cases, but its most likely referrent here is to those who would be preservers of the Gospel rather than ...

25. Maundy Thursday

John 13:1-17

Bulletin Aid

Liturgical Color: White/Purple Gospel: John 13:1-17, 34 Theme: Jesus washes the disciples' feet. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration If you haven't done this, try it: With several members of the congregation, simulate the despair of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, as Jesus looked toward the end, and as the disciples stood by helplessly and powerless, in silence. After several moments of silence, invite the people to sing: "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" Follow this with a prayer for Maundy Thursday. ...

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