Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: punish, blame, condemn, hold to

Showing 1 to 25 of 61 results

Romans 8:1-17

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Let us come together all who would hear the Lord's call in our time! People: But our lives are so flawed and we are so weak before the Lord. Leader: Let our hearts be witnesses to God's loving power and not our own, People: For God is with us and loves us even though we have all sinned. Leader: Then let our voices shout out our grateful praise for God's love! All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, in the Holy Spirit You have empowered us to be free from the bonds of ...

2. Releasing Joy

Isaiah 9:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

Call to Worship Leader: Let us rejoice in this day that God has made. People: God brings joy into the world. Leader: Let us be glad and give thanks. People: Jesus is born. Collect On this day, O God, we recognize an energy that can surmount the world's problems. Let our troubles take second place to the joy that wells up within us. Let us acknowledge with lightened hearts this hope that the newborn savior brings. Amen. Prayer of Confession Sometimes, O God, joy bounces and leaps. It reawakens our childlike ...

3. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 7:24-30

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... ask the people to respond, repeating after you, line by line, these words from Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, (name), because he has anointed me, (name) to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me, (name) to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Repeat, for emphasis.) Response "O Christ, the Healer" COMMUNITY RESPONSE Message with the Children of All Ages Dramatize ...

4. Christ’s Life Jesus Before Pilate

Matthew 27:11-26

Bulletin Aid

... a Jewish prisoner under the death sentence at the time of the Jewish Holy Days. Knowing that Jesus was innocent, Pilate tried to release him to the crowd. Congregation: But the crowd cried, "Crucify him! Crucify him! Release Barrabas instead!" Leader: Pilate was shocked because Jesus had been so popular. Where were all his followers now? Shocked at the crowd’s blood-thirstiness, he declared, "I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility." Men: The people answered, "Let his blood be ...

5. Proper 24

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

Bulletin Aid

William E. Keeney

... . The Nazis finally were scared by the size of the demonstration, even though the Gestapo headquarters was nearby and a machine gun could easily have killed the women. Instead the government agreed to negotiate. As a consequence the men were released. 5. Faithful Wives. Not far from Heilbronn, Germany, at the town of Weinsberg, is a place known as Weibertreu. It can be translated as "faithful wives." The story is told that the castle at the top of the hill was under siege. At one point the besiegers agreed ...

6. Aaron and Hur Hold Up the Hands of Moses

Exodus 17:8-16

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... Lord's work. Pastor: Moses was a mighty man, but he still needed the help of Aaron and Hur to make God's power available to the Israelites. People: We commit ourselves to work cooperatively as our Lord's church, that his redemptive power may be released to our world. Collect Almighty God, whose power is sufficient to restore peace and harmony to society, but who depends on the cooperative labors of your people to let that power be effective: Increase our desire to support one another in the work you have ...

7. Prayers for the Sundays After Easter

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... be ourselves in your presence. Please listen to our hearts. Enable us to pray appropriately for those in need. Sometimes we don't know what to pray for loved ones and friends, who are troubled and ill. As a consequence we pray for healing when being released from life would better serve the person. Or we pray for someone's peace, when waging a personal battle would bring them to yet a greater, fuller life. Always we will best serve others by placing their lives completely within your care. Lift up our words ...

8. Prayers for Epiphany

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... grateful that we can continue to pray individually for those requests throughout the week. You have given us such a significant opportunity for service. How relieved we are when we learn that someone has come triumphantly through a life-threatening experience; or has been released from a body of agony, to come peacefully into your presence. Most of the time, O God, we feel confident in our prayers, but there are those needs that confuse us. As a result we are not sure how to pray. On those occasions grant ...

9. Prayers for Family Days

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... because of the need of those who brought him to death. We extend our forgiveness for the sake of the guilty and for ourselves. We cannot carry the burning acid in our stomach endlessly; we have need of neutralizing it. So let our words of forgiveness release the criminal and ourselves. May that experience of freedom be the harbinger of our citizenship in your kingdom. We pray in the name of him who forgave us. Amen. We thank you, Our Creator, for the Josephs and Marys of our world. They are the mothers ...

10. Baptism of our Lord

Acts 8:9-25, Psalm 29:1-11, Luke 3:21-38, Luke 3:1-20, Isaiah 43:1-13

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... into your heavenly granary, and not chaff to be destroyed as worthless; through the grace of your worthy Son, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Gracious God, you send your Anointed to bring good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to announce release to the captives and freedom to those in prison. Such salvation turns sadness into joy and mourning into gladness. So we sing your praise and give thanks to you from sincere hearts, for even in the midst of earth's ruins you help us to ...

11. Proper 17

Luke 14:1-14, Psalm 81:1-16

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... honoring the achievements of others in the Spirit of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving God of strength and compassion: we rejoice in the downfall of the wicked and the humiliation of the haughty. We exult in the raising up of the fallen and the release of the prisoner. We are thankful for the Spirit of love that inspires your people to make a home for the friendless and provision for the poor. We are filled with gratitude as we remember the many good things you have given us to enjoy in a ...

12. Christmas 3

Jn 1:1-14 · Heb 1:1-12 · Is 52:7-10 · Ps 98

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... who hate evil and resist it. Forgive our misplaced confidence, our faith in the wrong powers. Restore our joy in the gentle qualities of truth and grace made personal in Jesus Christ. Amen. DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS Hear the Good News! In Christ our release is secured and our sins are forgiven through the shedding of his blood. In receiving God's only Son, you have been received as a child of God. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. EXHORTATION Bear witness to the light ...

13. Christ the King

Luke 12:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... development. We grow, we learn, we increase our understanding, but we will never have all of the answers. We want to know how, when, and where your kingdom will be revealed in all its fullness! Is it really important for us to know the details, Lord? No, of course not! Release us from the desire to be in control. Fill us with the power of your presence. Grant us the peace that passes understanding. Remember us when you come into your kingdom. Amen.

14. Seeing and Believing

John 20:19-23

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... behind locked doors when Jesus appeared in the room. Thomas missed out and he was not happy about it! He probably had good reason for being out. He may have been out shopping for the group, or taking samples of public sentiment, or simply strolling to release tension. He missed out and he was upset. When he heard the report of the others he did not believe them. Eight long days passed. Eight lost days. I wonder, how many days have we lost because o four doubts and questions, Lord? It would be embarrassing ...

15. Proper 12

Luke 11:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... radio or television or noise of some type, because noise helps us to avoid confronting silence. We are afraid of silence. Your Spirit continually prompts us, seeking to bring our thoughts and actions into focus, and we repeatedly hold back. Perhaps we are afraid of what we will see. Lord, release us from our fears of silence and walk with us there. Open our eyes and bring our thoughts and actions into focus. Lord, teach us to pray and prepare us to receive your answers. Amen.

16. Proper 23

Luke 17:11-19

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... that our sins are forgiven! Jesus Christ has offered us the opportunity to be truly alive! Jesus Christ has brought us to this moment. We are ready to grow in our faith. We are ready to learn more. We are ready to serve. Enable us to open our hearts, Lord. Release us from our fears. Set us free from our sin so that we may serve you. Teach us to give you thanks and praise. Amen.

17. God's providence and priorities

Matthew 6:19-24

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... spiritual progress. A decision must be made. On our own, we cannot break our dependency upon the trinkets and accessories of this life. Our willpower is impotent. Only when your will is active in our lives are we able to break free from our dependencies. Lord, we ask you to release us today from our self-imposed bondage to possessions. Lord, we ask you to redirect us today toward the path of life. Lord, we ask you today to make us effective stewards of all you have placed in our care. Amen.

18. Pentecost Sunday

John 20:19-23

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... . We are quick to assert our own sense of self-importance and are easily drawn into petty confrontations. So breathe your life-giving Spirit into us, O Lord, and help us to welcome your forgiving love. Before we experience your joy andpeace, we need to be released from our sense of failure and guilt. So breathe your life-giving Spirit into us, O Lord, and enable us to serve you with all ourheart, soul, mind and strength. Loving and serving you is truly living, and living without you is meaningless. Amen.

19. Proper 21

Matthew 21:28-32

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... out of step with your plan for our lives. We lose our way. Your thoughts are not our thoughts. Your ways are not our ways. Teach us to recognize when we are lost, Lord. Bring us into the clearings where your light penetrates the pride-filled forest of our hearts. Release us from the bondage of self-deception and energize us to serve you faithfully as we journey through life. Amen.

20. Christ the King

John 18:28-40

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... this explosive drama. The scenes are as follows: vv. 29-32 Pilate inquires about the Jewish leaders' accusations against Jesus. vv. 33-38a Pilate questions Jesus about his kingship. vv. 38b-40 Finding no case against Jesus, Pilate asks the Jewish leaders if they want Jesus released. They ask for Barabbas. vv. 1-3 Pilate has Jesus tortured and mocked. vv. 4-7 Pilate repeats that he has no case against Jesus, and shows them that he has tortured Jesus. They cry out for death. vv. 8-11 Pilate takes Jesus back ...

21. Proclaiming The Incredible

Mark 7:31-37, Mark 7:24-30

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... love. We trust your Holy Spirit to keep us focused upon things which truly matter. We seek help to let go of those things which shift our attention away from you. Help us to make your will for our lives our highest priority. Open our ears to hear your word. Release our tongues to share your word of hope with others. Guide our speech and our deeds so that they plainly reveal your power at work in us. Amen.

22. Trinity Sunday

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

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... good talkers and such poor listeners?Why are 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.

23. Advent 3

John 1:19-28, John 1:1-18, Psalm 126:1-6, Luke 1:46-56

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... whatever happens; for this is what God in Christ wills for you. Prayer of the Day Outgoing God, gift us again with the Holy Spirit that we may make way for you to the humble with good news, to the captives with promises of release, to the bereaved with the comfort of beauty and new gladness, to the brokenhearted with tender, loving care, and to the oppressed with the promise of eventual justice. Lord God, make righteousness and praise blossom before all nations. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving Hallowed be ...

24. Proper 10

Ephesians 1:1-14, Psalm 24:1-10

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... your saving acts? Forgive the haughtiness that accompanies our pride of race, or place, or person. Only by your grace are we received into the heavenly realms, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS Hear the Good News! In Christ our release is secured and our sins are forgiven through the shedding of his blood. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. EXHORTATION Live for the praise of God's glory. PRAYER OF THE DAY Lord of all being, we would offer ...

25. Prayers for Mark 8: 27-38

Mark 8:31--9:1, Mark 8:27-30, Psalm 19:1-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... the Spirit to be faithful by the confession of your name, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving God of life and health, we would thank you for health by caring for the sick. We should show our gratitude for freedom by working for the release of prisoners. We double our enjoyment of what we have by sharing with those who don't have. We echo the good news we have heard for those who live in the sadness of bad times. Receive the worship we present in word and deed in the Spirit of ...

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