Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: punish, blame, condemn, hold to

Showing 1 to 25 of 31 results

Exodus 12:1-30

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... us from Your wrath. Lord, help us to reach out and save others. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord, so often we would think we are worthy of Your mercy and forgiveness, and that somehow we deserve to be spared from Your wrath. Forgive us, Lord, for our blindness, for we are each and every one sinners, yet through Christ You have called us Your own. Forgive us, Lord, for our times of rebellion, and continue to shepherd us home. In Christ we pray. Amen. Hymns "Guide Me, O Thou ...

2. Proper 14

2 Samuel 18:1-18, John 6:25-59, Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

... , if not in this life then in the next. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of mercy, we confess that we ourselves are often rebellious children like Absalom; and we know that, even if you, like David, would be moved to spare us, our own actions might eventually destroy us. Forgive us, we pray. Turn our rebelliousness against you, our Parent, into loyalty; that we may be better children of yours. In your Son’s name we pray. Amen Second Lesson: Ephesians 4:25--5:2 Theme: Christian ...

3. Proper 21

Esther 7:1-10, Esther 9:20-22, Psalm 124:1-8, Mark 9:38-50, James 5:13-20

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... wounded, the sick, and the sorrowful. May we be at peace with one another and provide a community of serenity for those seeking tranquility and joy. Save our society from sexual predators that the innocent may not be ruined by their overtures and exploitation. Spare our aged from the scams of greedy and dishonest business operators. Bless all who seek to be good neighbors in helpfulness. Bless all leaders in the world of sports, that genuine skill may be honestly rewarded and good examples be set for the ...

4. Proper 6

Genesis 18:1-15, Psalm 116:1-19, Matthew 9:25-10:23, Romans 5:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... --Psalms 116:1-2, 12-19 First Lesson--Abraham and Sarah are hosts to God's messengers who renew the promise of a son who will be the beginning of a great nation. Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) Second Lesson--Paul does not promise that salvation spares us from suffering but that God can use that experience to enhance our character as Christians. Romans 5:1-8 Gospel--Jesus outlines a rigorous discipline for his disciples. Matthew 9:35-10:23 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ...

5. Prayers for the Sundays After Easter

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... in our confusion. Enable us to stay by our plan of reaching out to you -- even when we are not certain of the direction. Remind us that you are forever, while our darkness and confusion are limited in time. Help us to see life open-mindedly, that we may be spared the imprisonment of habits that imprison us to one point of view. As the sun breaks across the landscape at dawn, so does your spirit light up our minds to a new day in which we find truth once more. We pledge to be at your side in a hope ...

6. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 10:17-31

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... my obvious duties lie; that, by concealing my real motives, I pretend and fake my way through life; that my honesty, sometimes, is only a matter of policy; that my affection for my friends, sometimes, is only a refined form of self-interest; that often my sparing of my enemy, sometimes, is due to nothing more than cowardice; that, sometimes, I do good deeds only to be seen of others, and shun evil deeds only because I fear that someone may find me out; that I, sometimes, refer to myself as your disciple ...

7. Proper 12

Luke 11:1-13, Colossians 2:6-23, Psalm 85:1-13, Hosea 1:1-2:1

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)Human as we are, let us intercede with Godfor ourselves and for our sinful world, that God will spare us from destruction and grant us time for repentance. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Listening God, Prayer-teacher, Prayer-prompter, we are often perfunctory in our prayers, casual, without expectation of response. We separate our petitions for forgiveness from the need to forgive others. We block the work of your Spirit within ...

8. Proper 5

Luke 7:11-17, 1 Kings 17:7-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Galatians 1:11-24

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... faith forever. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of the living, we are more apt to chide you in the untimely death of a member of our families or one of our friends than to mourn what people have done to your incarnate Son Jesus of Nazareth. When you have spared our lives in serious illness, or accident, we have vowed in our thanksgiving to serve you without stint, but soon take life for granted again and forget our vows. Forgive us for the sake of him, who, for our sins, was crucified and raised from the dead, even ...

9. Proper 8

Luke 9:51-56, Psalm 77:1-20

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... we use to put off positive action when you call us to follow you in service to the high purposes of God's kingdom and the completion of our Father's business. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving Our hearts are glad, living God, we pray with joy, for you spare our lives despite disease and accident. You are our refuge in fearful times and bring us out of shadows into the place of pleasantness and peace. We are grateful for a goodly heritage and the noble example of the saints who have gone before us. We delight in ...

10. Seder Service: The Passover Haggadah

Bulletin Aid

Robert L. Linder and Rabbi Sol Ester

... passed over the houses of our forefathers in Egypt, as it is written in the Bible: "You shall say that it is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for He passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our houses. The people bowed their heads and worshiped" (Exodus 12:27). One of the participants asks:2nd Male Adult What is the meaning of the Matzah that we eat? The Leader raises the Matzah and answers: The Matzah is to remind us that before the dough which ...

11. MAY 29-JUNE 4

Mark 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... and be glad in it! Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon God who wants the best for your children, why do we pervert your caring and love into an uncaring and loveless list of rules?Too often we blind ourselves to human need. We spout rules to spare us from caring, or to use like clubs to accuse and entrap.You gave us the law because you loved us. You meant your sabbath law to provide one day in seven for refreshing and renewing our minds, bodies and souls.When we use your good gift to prevent ...

12. David Honors Saul And Jonathan

2 Samuel 1:1-16

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... leads our way. Leader: Let us celebrate the wonderful mercy and grace of God who loves us all. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Almighty and merciful God, it is You Who truly controls the course of history and it is Your mercy that has spared us all. We each seek Your guidance for our leaders that our nation be Yours. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, we have complained so often about the leaders of our nation, and yet we have seldom lifted those leaders to You in our prayers ...

13. Lent 4

Luke 15:11-32

Bulletin Aid

Craig M. Sweet

... him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, People: 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' Reader ...

14. Proper 12

John 6:1-21

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... us the difference between want and need. It only takes a missed meal or two to become acquainted with hunger. The threat of an unexpected lay off brings a new appreciation for our jobs. Five loaves, two fish. Small resources ... Large crowd ...And their hunger was satisfied with food to spare. Lord, teach us what it means to trust you. Give us the faith to trust you and the desire to serve you. Multiply our resources and bless our efforts, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

15. God Would Rather Save than Punish

Genesis 18:16-33

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... We pray through Christ our Redeemer, whose righteousness atones for the sins of many. Amen. Prayer of Confession The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah are the sins of our day, Father, for which we deserve the same punishment. But by your grace, we have been spared. Forgive us when we have identified ourselves with the sinful majority instead of the righteous few whose intercessory faith shares your grace with society as a whole. Guide us in a commitment that will not let us be controlled by the acceptable sins of ...

16. Accountable to God

Jeremiah 4:5-31

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... our lives. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord, in our pride we have often turned away from You into sin until You finally allowed us to face the consequences of our choices. Even when You have sent us word, calling us to repent so that You might spare us from judgment, we would not listen. Forgive us, Lord, and give us the ears to hear Your word and the faith to repent of our sins. In Christ we pray. Amen. Hymns "Only Trust Him" "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus" "Fill My Cup, Lord"

17. Christian Values Judgment

Romans 2:1-16

Bulletin Aid

... love those we meet. Leader: Do not judge, or you also will be judged. In the same way you judge others, will you be judged. How can you look critically at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye when there is a plank in your own? All: Lord, spare us from the judgment we bring upon ourselves. Keep us from tearing down those who bear our faults. Teach us to accept them as graciously as Christ has accepted us. Amen.

18. 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

... exercise its responsibility for the Office of the Keys. God is surely with his church when the people worship, but he is also present when they gather for any reason in his holy name. Individual members of the church and countless congregations might have been spared much pain and anguish, if they had taken this Gospel more seriously than they did. This Gospel shows the love of God in operation. SERMON SUGGESTIONS Matthew 18:15-20 - "The Right Way." As I write this, three prominent citizens - a judge, a car ...

19. Many Hands, One Great Labor

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... in our own labor as in that of others. Thank you for your bountiful blessings, the gift of your Son and our Savior given cheerfully that we might enter into the new life now and forever. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord of the Harvest, have we sown sparingly? Lord of the poor and rich, you have bountifully sown so that we might share in this harvest for Christ. You have been so generous with your grace. Our thanks to you for this indescribable gift! Amen. Hymns "We Gather Together" "We Plow The Fields And ...

20. A Deserted Place

Mark 1:29-39

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship Slow down. Slow ... down. Hear ... the ... Lord. Collect Deserted. Desert. Arrested. Arid. Spare. Bare. Stranger. Danger. Strife. Life Life? Life in deserted places and spaces. Retreat! And stay. Pray. In the midst of God's mission and the cares of the world we carve out a niche, kneel with our Lord, and pray. Amen. Prayer Of Confession We gather together as sisters and ...

21. Proper 13

2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a, Psalm 51:1-19, John 6:24-35, Ephesians 4:1-16

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... what solicitude you care for your people. Continue to show your provision for the whole human family by inspiring generosity in those of us who have to share with those who do not. Save us from selfishness that insists in holding on to what we could really spare for the benefit of the truly impoverished. Give us courage to be advocates for those who cannot speak for themselves, those who have no power to strike for higher wages because they do not have work, those who live far from the centers of wealth and ...

22. Proper 16

1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43, Psalm 84:1-12, John 6:56-69, Ephesians 6:10-20

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... are beyond our reach and control and that we cannot contain your presence in the most magnificent temples, cathedrals, or mosques. Yet these places are hallowed by our prayers. May our reverence for the house of prayer be an example to our neighbors. Spare us the desecration of those who proclaim their narrow politics with graffiti and hateful signs and symbols. Help all people of prayer to carry their faith with them into the political scene, frankly sharing their beliefs without seeking to impose them on ...

23. Proper 17

Psalm 45:1-17, Song of Songs 2:1-17, Mark 7:1-23, James 1:17-27

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... can express true love songs, and stories and movies that appreciate constancy and caring, mutuality and sharing. Grant to the church loving openness to the single and to lesbian and gay people that they may find friendship among us and not be lonely. Spare all minorities the ostracism that has been all too common in society and the workplace. Grant your blessing to all who practice the arts of reconciliation: the domestic and social and racial and economic and political peacemakers. Increase the numbers of ...

24. Pentecost

John 14:8-17 (25-27), Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:1-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... and mischief, and let godliness more and more hallow our common life. Give health and grace to all who make and administer our laws. Bless our industries and teach both labor and management to work honestly and heartily that there may be enough and to spare for everyone. Deliver the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. Teach the rich not to be proud, covetous, and luxurious, but rather to be humble, temperate, and gracious, not trusting in uncertain riches, but so using their earthly ...

25. Proper 5

Galatians 1:11-24, 1 Kings 17:7-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Luke 7:11-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... Christ. Amen. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of the living, we are more apt to chide you in the untimely death of a member of our families or one of our friends than to mourn what humankind has done to your incarnate Son, Jesus of Nazareth. When you have spared our lives in serious illness or accident, we have vowed in our thanksgiving to serve you without stint, but soon take life for granted again and forget our vows. Forgive us for the sake of him, who, for our sins, was crucified and raised from the dead ...

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