Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: punish, blame, condemn, hold to

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Mark 10:17-31

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... fit a camel through the eye of a needle. Set up a dialogue sermon. Let several people offer excuses and rationalizations for not complying with Jesus' words to "...go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor...." The pastor can provide the ... gospel lesson's response to these excuses and rationalizations. For example, one person could argue that wealthy people can use their money to make more money for helping the poor. The pastor ...

2. Prayers for Epiphany

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... if by nothing else than the ever decreasing amount of time still available to us. So it is -- as we experience time passing -- we find ourselves becoming more interested in eternal life. Life with no end. What we know now is that life must be carefully rationed for each purpose, for we have only three score years and ten. But life everlasting will go on and on and on. Time, which has a beginning and an ending, will no longer contain us. How exhilarating! What a promise! Life everlasting is a dominating and ...

3. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 11:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... not? What would need to change? (Two minutes of silence.) Response "Have Mercy on Us, Living Lord" Call to Pardon (Pastor and Ministers) God changes us, that is, gives us a new outlook, a new obedience, only when we allow the Holy Spirit into our lives. We can rationalize all we want about our inability to change; we can find all kinds of excuses not to change. We change when we acknowledge Christ as King, as Sovereign over us. That is Good News, though in the beginning, it may sound to us as bad news. P ...

4. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 8:27-30

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... . Hall sings about." "It's not our fault, God. You created us." From that story, sin is defined as the "attempt to justify our thoughts, words, feelings, and behaviors." (silence.) Now, I invite us to think about and write down our justifications, rationalizations, excuses we gave for ourselves this past week. And in all of that, who became our scapegoats? (silence.) Pray for the forgiveness of our justifications. Response Any of the "Lord, Have Mercy" responses. Sing it four or five times, until the people ...

5. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... on Sunday. Encourage them to write down their awareness. (Wait the full time; never rush through this act of worship.) Now ask them to check out how much of their Sunday revolves around serving themselves, and serving others. Be aware of how we rationalize and justify using it for ourselves. No, we have no zeal to return to the Old Testament version of Sabbath observance. Consider ways that we will allow Christ to be the Lord of our Sunday. (One minute of silence.) Response "Seek Ye First" Introduction ...

6. Proper 4

Luke 7:1-10 · Galatians 1:1-12 · 1 Ki 18:20-39 · Ps 96

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Constant God, we confess our inconsistency. We are too often prone to seek favor with people than to risk disapproval of Christian convictions. We are prepared to rationalize or reinterpret difficult demands of Jesus and compromise our relation to him rather than put ourselves at odds with common practice. Forgive our waffling that gives an uncertain impression as to our real commitment, whether it is to the good news or ...

7. Coming Clean

Mark 7:1-23

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... before coming to the table. When Junior skulks out to wash his hands, big Sis accuses Mom of being a hypocrite. She points out the filth that her mother is watching on television is worse than Junior's dirty hands. Mom makes the typical excuses and rationalizations for the program being on while she was fixing supper. Dad arrives just in time to hear big Sis remind Mom of the string of perversions that have been on the television talk show the last five nights while the family ate supper. Dad quiets big ...

8. Bearing The Mark Of Christ

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

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... . Suffering is definitely to be avoided. Pain is particularly offensive. We would prefer an easier route for our salvation, a route which is less demanding, less emotionally taxing. Our preferences are based upon self-interest. If it were up to us, we would rationalize the problem of sin down to a minor inconvenience. But sin has affected our whole existence. Only by your gracious intervention can the damage be repaired. When we give our lives to you, we are restored to wholeness. This is the best choice ...

9. Trinity Sunday

John 3:1-21, Matthew 28:16-20

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... we so uncomfortable with silence?We want to fill it up with something. Anything!Calm us. Quiet us.Speak to us, Lord, from the midst of silence.Free us to ponder the mystery of yourself-revelation as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Release us from the burden to prove everything rationally.Simply be present in our lives, and continue the miracle of our growth in faith.Amen.

10. Prayer

Matthew 2:13-18

Bulletin Aid

... often remember, But I don't act on them, Even when I can remember them! That would be too weird! Why should God speak to me? Why would God choose that way? (But then, Why would God speak to a simple carpenter, In an obscure, occupied country?) Lord, forgive my rationalism My conviction that my way is best, And teach me to watch for your signs To listen for your words, Even from such weird sources as dreams, And help me to live by your direction, As Joseph did, For Jesus' sake. Amen

11. Prayer

John 17:1-11

Bulletin Aid

... to find To keep The unity that Christ commands. I'm willing to cooperate with others - Most of the time. I'm willing to compromise - On some things, But I still want to do things my way Not your way Maybe not even his way! I can rationalize some of the differences between Christians My history My tradition My culture is different - My approach to faith is - At least in part - Legitimate diversity! Yet I can't help feeling that just as there is One Lord One faith One baptism - One God - There should also ...

12. Prayer

Matthew 18:15-20

Bulletin Aid

... to them!" "Whatever you ask in My name will be given to you!" I'm sorry, But I don't believe that! (I don't care if it is in the Bible It hasn't worked that way for me!) Oh, I could play with it - Make it come out - Rationalize - "It takes really singleminded agreement - And that's hard to achieve!" "You have to really understand what you're asking for And I don't understand that well!" "If I'm praying properly I won't ask for anything God doesn't already want to give me!" - But I still ...

13. Epiphany 2

Psalm 40:1-17, Isaiah 49:1-7

Bulletin Aid

... of Confession All-merciful God, we confess with shame the many excuses we use to ignore your frequent and persistent callings for us to serve you, your Christ, and your coming Reign. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to put aside our alibis, our rationalizations, and our hardness of hearing and heart. Take us and make us effective despite our faults and fears, our liabilities and limitations, and our misgivings and mistakes. In the name of the One whose ministry and mission was heaven on earth we pray. Amen

14. Proper 12

Romans 8:1-17

Bulletin Aid

... 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 gracious ...

15. All Saints' Day

Revelation 7:9-17

Bulletin Aid

... name we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of all mercy, we confess that it takes very few and very small trials or temptations to distract us from our calling to ministry on your behalf and in the name of Jesus. In fact, we use every possible excuse and rationalization to avoid doing your work and being the disciples that we ought to be. Forgive us, we pray, and fortify our faith by the power of your Holy Spirit. Make us at last the servants of your coming Reign and the living Christ that we can and shall ...

16. Proper 4

1 Kings 18:16-46, Psalm 96:1-13, Luke 7:1-10, Galatians 1:1-12

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... accordance with your holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Constant God, we confess our inconsistency. We are too often prone to seek favor with people than to risk disapproval of Christian convictions. We are prepared to rationalize or reinterpret difficult demands of Jesus and compromise our relation to him rather than put ourselves at odds with common practice. Forgive our waffling that gives an uncertain impression as to our real commitment, whether it is to the Good News ...

17. Proper 14

Psalm 33:12-22, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Luke 12:32-40, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... your leading. Amen. Sermon Idea The Hebrews text could lead to an exploration of the relationship of science and religion — creationism and evolution, the cosmos as a finished entity and as an ever-expanding one. Without going over the ancient rationalizations, the text asks us to consider what our understanding of God compels us to think, believe, do, and become. Since the word “faith” along with “love” and “trust” is over used by various religious groups in our culture, other verbal ...

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