Sermon and Worship Resources

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Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

We cannot go back to Calvary. The cross was an event in history. It happened, never to be repeated. It was a deed of God determined, dared, and done. Our emotions may run high when we hear the words of the familiar spiritual, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" But, there is only one honest answer. No! We were not there. We are here, with two thousand years separating us from the cross o...

2. A Covenant Sealed By a Sacrifice

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

Our First Lesson today contains a bizarre and even a weird story. It sounds like an eerie tale of the occult rather than an account from Holy Scripture. God asked Abraham to bring him a cow, a goat, a ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. Abraham obeyed. He brought the animals before the Lord and slaughtered them. He cut each animal in half and laid the pieces in two neat rows. Vultures hovered a...

3. A Holy Hunger

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

Tonight we come to the altar-table to celebrate Holy Communion. Why do we say, "Holy Communion"? Is there such a thing as "unholy communion"? Yes, there is. When one comes to the Lord's table with a hardened heart and with a life that is turned in upon itself; when one comes with a proud and an arrogant attitude; and when one comes thinking that he or she is worthy of what is about to be received;...

4. A Sword and a Sacrament

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

It is Passion Sunday. It is Palm Sunday. Which is it? According to our church calendar, it is both. At first, it may sound that these two Sundays just do not belong together. Passion Sunday has to do with the cries of the crucified one hanging on a rough and splintery cross. Palm Sunday has to do with joyous "Alleluias" and palm branches raised in a salute to a king and to his victory. Suffering a...

5. Aaron and Hur Hold Up the Hands of Moses

Exodus 17:8-16

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: God is a powerful God, but much of his power is released only when his people work together. People: When we work alone, it seems there is not nearly as much accomplished as when we help each other in our 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 ...

6. Abraham believed God, and Was Counted Righteous

Genesis 15:1-18

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Abraham was counted righteous because he believed in God's promise, even though he had no visible evidence. People: He took God at his word and believed that what God promised would come to pass. That is faith! Pastor: We can all take God at his word and enjoy that same kind of faith. People: We worship the same God as Abraham, confident that God will keep his promises he h...

7. An Easter-Life

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

What does Easter mean to you? In the secular world, it means fluffy bunnies, brightly colored eggs, hidden baskets, and lots of lush chocolate candy. If you are a child, there is nothing wrong with this. Easter is a happy day, and God loves to hear the laughter of little children; but, if you are an adult and this is all that Easter means to you, then there is something tragically missing in your ...

8. Be Alert Against Sin

Colossians 2:6-23

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Christians can never relax against the threat of temptation and sin. People: Our love for Christ grows day by day, but sin never surrenders its attempt to win us back. Pastor: We must always be alert, and be firm in our faith. And Christ himself will make us strong. People: We pray for Christ to be our strength against the power of sin. Collect O God our Father, who warns ...

9. Be Faithful to the Christian Hope

Colossians 1:15-23

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Before we accepted God's forgiveness in Christ, we were separated from God's love. People: We know Christ has reconciled us to God, but we tend to lose sight of that hope as time goes on. Pastor: The hope of the gospel, which we believed when we first became Christians, requires our commitment if we are to remain reconciled to God. People: We desire to stand firm in the Chr...

10. Be Reconciled to God through Christ

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Hear God's message of reconciliation: You are urged to become new persons in Christ, thereby brought back into friendship with God. People: We know our sins have made us enemies with God. Thanks be to God for inviting us back as his friends! Pastor: That is because Christ, who was sinless, was made to share our sin, that we might share his righteousness. People: We long to ...

11. Believers Know Who Jesus Is

John 10:22-42

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Those who believe in Jesus know he is the Son of God, our Lord and Savior. People: Would that our whole world knew Jesus as Lord and Savior! Pastor: He is like a shepherd who faithfully cares for his flock, protecting them with his life. People: We come eager to know his voice, willing to follow wherever he leads, for we know he is the source of eternal life. Collect Everl...

12. Brotherly Love

Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Man's social structures hinder our fellowship by making some people inferior to others. People: We do not believe in a caste system, but we know our social attitudes deny the equality of which we boast. Pastor: The Christian faith redesigns society to be a brotherhood of people who love one another as God loves each of us. People: May our faith transform our relationships i...

13. Celebrate God's Presence and the Salvation He Brings

Zephaniah 3:1-20

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: God is constantly coming in our midst to renew us in his love. People: As we prepare for Christmas, we become more sensitive to the fact that we need his love to be renewed in us. Pastor: Then let us rejoice in the salvation to new life that God gives as he comes in our midst. People: We come with gladness in our hearts to worship our God who comes with salvation! Collect ...

14. Celebration of a New Beginning with God

Joshua 5:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites celebrated the Passover before entering the Promised land. People: It must have been like celebrating a new beginning with God! Pastor: Our promised salvation is also like a new beginning with God that calls for celebration. People: We celebrate with praise, the new life into which Christ brings us. Collect O...

15. Christ Can Rule Over the Power of Sin

Luke 23:26-43

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Sin rules with such power, that our end is destruction, unless we submit to Christ as our King. People: The thief on the cross was in that situation, but when he acknowledged Christ as King, Jesus promised him a place in paradise. Pastor: Jesus has power to rule over the effect of sin for all who will accept his kingship. People: We know the grip of sin. We want to be relea...

16. Christ Gives Us Victory Over Sin and Death

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: The resurrection hope offers a new quality of living even in this life. People: Both sin and death would try to defeat us; but Christ gives us victory over both! Pastor: Such victory challenges us to be firm in our faith, and in our service to Christ. People: We commit ourselves to Christ, assured that life lived in his service has its greatest value. Collect O God our Fat...

17. Christ is Sovereign Ruler of All

Ephesians 1:15-23

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Christ has been honored with a name above all names, and authority above all authority! People: God has placed all things under his feet and has made him head over the Church. Pastor: The Church is the fullness of Christ, a visible expression of his redemptive sovereignty. People: All honor and praise be to Christ our King who rules in our hearts, building us into his livin...

18. Christ Reverses Life's Priorities

Luke 6:17-26

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: What many of us value so highly in life, Jesus says will not bring true happiness. People: We strive for success, wealth, power ... Pastor: But Jesus says, happy are the poor, the hungry, those in sorrow, and the despised. People: Our priorities seem to be turned all around. May our worship today help us learn more of what Jesus means. Collect Almighty God, who knows bette...

19. Christ, the Perfect Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:11-28

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: In early Hebrew worship, animal sacrifices were offered to obtain forgiveness from sin. People: That redemptive sacrifice has been offered on our behalf once and for all by Christ Jesus, our Lord. Pastor: As our High Priest, he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice, that all, believing in him, may be forgiven. People: We are unclean because of our sins; but we worship Ch...

20. Christ Wants Us to Know Him and Follow in Self-denial

Luke 9:18-27

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: We are invited to join Peter in confessing that Jesus is the Christ, God's anointed Messiah. People: That is our confession, and that is why we have come to worship him. Pastor: Jesus teaches us that such a confession requires a life of discipleship expressed in self-denial. People: May the confession of our lips be supported by the commitment of our lives. Collect Almight...

21. Christian Hearts Produce Christian Lives

Luke 6:43-45

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: The kind of people we are, will become known by the kind of life we live. People: It is God's law of creation, that we cannot produce a godly life if we have not given him our heart. Pastor: But it is God's love for mankind, that what we are can be changed, and that change will also be known by the kind of life we live. People: We trust in our Lord to cleanse us from within...

22. Christ's Call to Repentance - For Sinners Only

Luke 5:27-32

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. But the Pharisees rejected his call because they felt too righteous. People: Even though many of us are church members, we are not without sin. We need the healing forgiveness Jesus offers. Pastor: That forgiveness is offered now as Jesus calls us to repentance. People: In humility, and in penitence, we acknowledge our sinfulness to...

23. Christ's Compassion for the Sorrowful

Luke 7:11-17

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Our Lord knows we are people who experience sorrow and grief, and offers himself in compassion. People: Sometimes our sorrow is obvious, and others share our pain. But other times it seems we must bear it alone, and need our Lord's support. Pastor: Christ hurts with us when we hurt. But his compassion also helps to heal the suffering we sometimes must endure. People: May we...

24. Christ's New Commandment of Love

John 13:31-38

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: The church of our risen Lord is called to be a fellowship of people who love one another as Christ loves us. People: His love is so perfect, it is difficult for us to be that loving. Pastor: But it is that kind of love that proves to others we are Christ's disciples. People: It is our desire to follow our Lord's commandment to give ourselves to each other in love. Collect ...

25. Christ's Resurrection is the Basis of Faith

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Christ has been raised from the dead! That fact is the foundation of the Christian faith. People: Our faith is firmly rooted in the reality that life is not limited by the boundaries of this world. Pastor: The strength of our faith lies in God's power demonstrated in Christ's Resurrection, which is a preview of our own resurrection. People: Praise God for the resurrection f...

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