Sermon and Worship Resources

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Luke 12:49-56

Sermon

Ron Lavin

If ever we needed to strengthen the institution of family, it's today. Many forces of evil are pulling the family apart. Ethical relativism, which teaches that there are no absolutes, not even God, is increasingly popular. Immorality abounds. Listening and hearing one another seems to be a lost art in many homes. Spouses often seem to be going in opposite directions. Parents and children have a hard time communicating. Many modern homes are little more than large telephone booths where arrangements are ...

2. The Women

John 20:1-9

Drama

William Grimbol

Setting: Five women gathered in a courtyard garden for conversation Time: Christ's ministry Characters: Shirlee Diane Nancy Carol Karen Patti SHIRLEE: Nonsense! DIANE: Quit acting as though you are the only intelligent person present (Pause) ... please. SHIRLEE: Oh, good grief, don't be so offended, but really, miracles? Every year there is some new magician, some new mystic, some awesome miracle worker. (Standing, assuming a mocking tone.) I will make the blind see. I will make the deaf hear. I will ...

3. Christmas: A Family Service

Drama

Ruthanne Cochran

Setting: A large Christmas Lrce is placed in the chancel, or on one side of the front of the sanctuary, with wrapped gifts placed beneath it. A large manger is placed in front of the altar, or communion table, with a large candle placed nearby or on the altar. The portion of the service presented by the family takes place around the tree. Participants: A family, or six selected persons to portray: A mother A father An older son An older daughter A sniall girl (aged 9 or 10) A small boy (aged 8 or 9) Youth ...

4. The Christmas Promise: God With Us

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

James W. Moore

G. K. Chesterton, the noted British poet and theologian, was a brilliant man who could think deep thoughts and express them well. However, he was also extremely absent-minded, and over the years he became rather notorious for getting lost. He would just absolutely forget where he was supposed to be and what he was supposed to be doing. On one such occasion, he sent a telegram to his wife which carried these words: “Honey, seems I’m lost again. Presently, I am at Market Harborough. Where ought I to be?” As ...

5. A Friend In High Places

Hebrews 7:11-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... ever seen. Carol hand-engraved the inside herself "˜With Love.'" (5) No matter how successful you and I may be, we need friends. Someone we can confide in. Someone who sees us as we really are, yet does not walk away. Do you have a friend like that? CHRIST IS A ... (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1996), p. 121. 3. Todd Outcalt, THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE (Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, Inc., 1998), p. 30. 4. From the Internet. Source unknown. 5. (New York: Carol Publishing Group, 1992). 6 ...

6. Is Christ In The Manger?

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: The Christ Of Christmas Changes Lives (Based on Isaiah 61) Scenes I - IV are placed in various areas of the sanctuary. In Act I each of the four scenes portrays a different pitfall of the holiday season: the bitter family feelings, the busyness, the anxiety, the loneliness. In Act II the same scenes are touched by the glory and power of the Christ Child. (The optional use of a spotlight enhances the effectiveness of each scene.) Act I (Actors in Scenes I - IV take their places, then freeze) Scene I ...

7. Christmas Eve

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon Aid

Liturgical Color: White Gospel: Luke 2:1-20 Theme: Birth of the world's savior - Include themes of crucifixion and resurrection. Pastoral Invitation One pastor always does this: Begin with a summary of Advent Light the Advent candles Include the themes of the Advent weeks in the order of worship. Choral Invitation to the Birthday Celebration Consider this: Before the choir sings and after the first pastoral invitation, ask the congregation to slow down, take some deep breaths, and to consider, both what's ...

8. Upside Down Christmas

Luke 1:46-56

Sermon

Will Willimon

We spent much of last summer “Down Under” in Australia and New Zealand. Of course, in New Zealand, “down under” is up, since, when you're in New Zealand, you're up and we, on the wrong side of the world, are down. I said I spent Summer there -- July and August -- but there, July and August are the dead of winter, not summer. There, people in the cold South, speak of the conservatism of their tropical “deep north." It's all very upside down. Down there, in New Zealand, or up there, or wherever, thumbing ...

9. Why Matter Matters

2 Peter 3:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The 1935 comedy “A Night at the Opera,” starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, and Harpo Marx, has been given the honor of being selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. A smash hit at the box office, “A Night at the Opera” was the first film the Marx Brothers made after Zeppo left the act, and the first film they made for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer after leaving Paramount Pictures. There is a moment in the film when Groucho Marx, in the character Driftwood, says, “It’s all ...

10. The Gift Of — Darn It! — Waiting

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sermon

Mary Austin

On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, our season of waiting is almost over. Ready or not, Christmas is almost here. If that thought just made your heart beat faster with a feeling of stress, let’s take a deep breath together and listen for God speaking. Today’s reading comes from the letters to the Hebrews, written to connect this new, early faith in Jesus back to the traditions of Judaism. The author of this book isn’t known to us, but it seems to have been written to encourage believers who were facing ...

11. The Tinsel Time Machine

Drama

Edward Long

Production Notes A minimum of characters are needed. No elaborate costuming, make-up, or stage setting are involved. The play can be performed in chancel or on stage. "Extras" may be readily incorporated at the last minute (wearing winter coats) into the "carolers" in the England segment. It can be performed books in hand, or some or all of the cast may wish to memorize their lines. Only three rehearsals are needed for an effective presentation. The action is simple. The actors and actresses are urged to ...

12. Good Christian Men Rejoice

2 Corinthians 8:9

Sermon

James Merritt

Seven centuries ago a Christmas carol, often sung today, was written in Latin, with a Latin title that meant "With Sweet Shouting." The great composer, Johann Sabastian Bach, liked it so much he arranged it for the organ, and John Mason Neale later standardized the hymn in English. In English the title was changed to "Good Christian Men Rejoice." The first stanza tells us what every Christian understands about the season called Christmas. Good Christian men, rejoice, With heart and soul and voice; Give ye ...

13. The Season Of The Nativity

Luke 2:21-40

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... remembered than long ones.) Celebrating The Act Of Forgiveness Sing several of the Christmas carols. Conclude with "We Three Kings of Orient Are." Ask three men to sing solos ... the going gets tough. He needs obedient, committed servants. Stewardship Challenge Take Christ out of Christmas, and put him in the rest of the year. Our ... Boat" Glory be to God on High! Alleluia! (repeat) Glory be to God on Earth! Alleluia! (repeat) P: Go with God; Glow with God! Meditation "It's easy to gush over the baby Jesus; what ...

14. Unity and Hope

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

As we make our way through Advent inching closer to Christmas, our days are consumed with many tasks. Our “to do” list grows each day. At times we are often out of breath and wondering if we will complete everything on our list before Christmas Day. We gather on this Second Sunday in Advent to spiritually prepare for what God has done and continues to do in our lives and in our world. We have been too busy with all our activities and tasks so that we are in danger of missing out on the miracle of Christmas ...

15. When Jacob Got a Vision

Genesis 29:15-28

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... and helps us teach our child the values we want her to learn," says Carol. A sample congregational vision and mission statement reads: "As the Body of Christ, St. Mary's Community Church invites all people into a transforming relationship with the ... Company, Inc., 1997). 3. J. Wallace Hamilton, Where Now Is Thy God? (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1969), p. 33. 4. Laurie Beth Jones, The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and for Life (New York: Hyperion Press, 1997). ...

16. The Crucified Ruler

John 19:17-27

Sermon

Richard A. Jensen

I must confess that my knees trembled just a bit. I had never met a king before. I would probably never meet another monarch as long as I lived. It took place many years ago when I was a missionary in Ethiopia. The King of Ethiopia at that time, Haile Selassie, invited the YMCA chorus to sing Christmas carols for him and his family at his palace. We were all excited about the opportunity. As we entered the palace, we were awestruck. It was a fabulous place. High ceilings. Marvelous light fixtures. Plush ...

17. If Christ Had Not Come

John 15:18--16:4

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... Sadly, I turn to go home. Even though it is Advent, the period just prior to Christmas, there is no sound of Christmas carols in the air, no gaiety, no giving and receiving of gifts, no visiting of family and friends, no church services and no pageants ... New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995: p.385) A lot of statements made on social issues by professing Christians these days seem to this preacher to be “a very long way from Jesus of Nazareth.” Most of us live as though Christ had not come. There are millions ...

18. Training for a Purpose

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

Some years ago, many of us, like others before and after, went through basic training or boot camp. It was a time to get thoroughly acquainted, usually with either the army or navy. It was also a time of endurance. The hardened and veteran men of years' experience sought to teach us the elementary principles of living in the military. The "old salts" in the navy used to delight in bringing us down several notches. This was their method of clearing away obstructions to the teaching they were providing. Was ...

19. Christmas 1

Isaiah 61:10–62:3, Luke 2:21-40, Galatians 3:23–4:7, Colossians 3:12-21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Hope for the future. Simeon and Anna viewed Jesus as the fulfillment of their people's hopes and dreams. In a similar manner we see our hopes being fulfilled in our children and youth. We can be advanced in years and still live in hope. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10--62:3 The prophet of the third portion of Isaiah (circa 530 B.C.) holds up a brilliant hope for the discouraged Israelites returning from exile to their own land. He thanks God for clothing him in the Lord's robe of ...

20. Christ and Time

Galatians 3:26--4:7

Sermon

T. A. Kantonen

... is 1:51 p.m. If you are 40 years of age, the time is 4:08 p.m. If you are 50 years of age, the time is 6:25 p.m. If you are 60 years of age, the time is 8:42 p.m. If you are 70 years of age, the time is 11 p.m. And if ... to treat with sympathy those who are unfortunate and need help. It is Christ who stirs the world’s conscience to sorrow over wrong and to struggle for the right. Not in vain do we sing in one of our loveliest Christmas carols: "Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till he appeared and ...

21. What the Trinity Does

Romans 5:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... of you got what you wanted for Trinity Sunday. This is the last day we will sing all the Trinity carols that we have been enjoying for the past month. Some of you are already saying, “Why we can’t ... t explain it as well as C. S. Lewis did, but I can tell you what it means in our life. Christ provides us with peace through his sacrifice on the cross; God gives us hope even in the darkest hour; and the ... Revised & Expanded, 1997), p. 283. 8. Kaku. 9. Our Daily Bread, December ...

22. The Wisemen

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

January 8, 1984 Comment: This was the first story sermon for adultsthat I wrote and dramatized during worship. I had written anumber of story sermons for children, but the breakthoughcame because an old sermon I had been revising every half-dozen years was not taking shape. I started to write.Usually, I have just outlined sermons and "talked" them tothe congregation. When I got started on this one, I found atext forming with which I decided to stay. There were two major problems that I had with this one. ...

23. Have I Got News For You!

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

William L. Self

My favorite Christmas story is about the young boy who was given a very important role in the church Christmas play. He was to be the angel and announce the birth of Jesus. For weeks he rehearsed the line that had been given to him, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." The grandparents got in on it and any time the family was together and the boy was there, they would dress him up in his costume and he would rehearse his part for them, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." They were ...

24. Such A Babe In Such A Place

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Have you ever noticed, have you ever really contemplated our infinite capacity to complicate things? It’s like we have a built-in aversion to the simple. We take the simplest situation and we make it a complicated affair. We build molehills into mountains. Before we examine a question, we wrap it in confusion. Really though, when you get the heart of it, the great experiences of life, even the great insights, have a way of turning out to be very simple. At the heart of it, Christmas is a very simple thing ...

25. He Came, He Is Coming

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... going? Christmas is the celebration that Christ has come; Advent is the celebration that Christ is coming. Advent is preparation for Christmas. Occasionally people want to know why we don’t sing the Christmas carols sooner in our church. We ... saying, “Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Don Shelby, The Presents of His Presence: Vision and Hope, p. 6) We can wait for the Second Coming and the Mighty Victory and the Kingdom Banquet because we trust His promise. It’s ...

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