Sermon and Worship Resources

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Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

Words Of Preparation from 1 Peter 2:4-5: Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house. Hymn: "Higher Ground" Scripture: Matthew 7:24-29 (NRSV) Jesus said, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain ...

2. And Now, We Thank You, Our God

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Meditation Music: "For All The Blessings Of The Year" (May be effectively used as a vocal solo) Words Of Preparation: Psalm 100:4-5 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good: his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Hymn: "Come, Ye Thankful People Come" A Prayer Of Thanksgiving O ou...

3. Do All the Good

Mark 10:17-31

Illustration

Clement E. Lewis

Henry Thoreau said, "Be not merely good; be good for something." That was Jesus' challenge to the man who wanted to know what he could do to inherit eternal life. He had been good at making money, in being morally upright and keeping the commandments; but that is not the ultimate good: he must also give of himself and what he has in behalf of others. He needed to also realize that, "The gift witho...

4. Do You Want To Be More Spiritual?

Romans 8:1-17

Illustration

Clement E. Lewis

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul advised, "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." To the Romans he wrote, "To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." In order to be more spiritual, the mind needs to be fixed on abiding by the rules of spirituality. Our attitude toward God and Jesus Christ in spiritual matters, and in secular conduct has much to do with how we qualify s...

5. Elements Of Devotion

Acts 17:16-34

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words Of Preparation: from The English Bishop, Jeremy Taylor) "The private devotions and secret offices of religion are like the refreshing of a garden with the distilling and petty drops of a water-pot; but addressed from the temple, they are like rain from heaven." Hymn: "Sweet Hour Of Prayer" A Prayer: O hearts, minds, and souls, be still, that we may hear the soft wh...

6. Everyone Is Searching

Mark 1:35-39

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words Of Preparation: from Deuteronomy 4:29; James 4:8, 10. "If with all your hearts ye truly seek me, ye shall surely find me;" thus saith our God. "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (KJV) The Prayer Of Invocation: Almighty God, author of eternal light: Illumine our hearts by the light of your grac...

7. Expect Great Things To Happen!

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

Who of us has not, at some time, had the experience of feeling, that in spite of all that we have done, nothing of great importance is going to come of it. When that is the case, we often blame others, God, or ourselves as failures, and become apathetic, disgusted, or depressed. Some even have tantrums because they feel so frustrated. It is no small wonder that Abram was disquieted. Often when a m...

8. For Goodness Sake

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Something Worth Thinking About: There is so much good in the worst of us, And so much bad in the best of us, That it ill behooves any of us To find fault with the rest of us. -- Anonymous Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good .... Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. -- Romans 12:9, 21 The heart of a good man is the sanctuary of God. -- ...

9. He Came Seeking Fruit

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words To Start Our Meditation: Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." He also said, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits." Moments Of Quiet Meditation: (Accompanied by soft music) Scripture...

10. He Has Come Back To Life!

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words Of Preparation: (By the Worship Leader) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ev...

11. If We Are Dreamers

Joel 2:18-27, Joel 2:28-32

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

There are many kinds of dreams, among them normal sleep dreams, daydreams, and insightful visions. Sometimes we have nightmares, fantasies, re-living of moments in life, happy dreams, reunions with loved ones, even problem-solving or inspirational dreams. It is helpful for us to be aware of what dreams are: the subconscious feelings or imaginations occurring just below the threshold of consciousne...

12. Like A New Batch Of Dough

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Meditation Music Appropriate To Observance Of The Eucharist Words Of Preparation Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) The cup which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10...

13. Managing Disappointment

Romans 5:1-11

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

Paul wrote to the Romans, "Endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:4-5) Of this we can be sure, even though we feel that God has also forgotten us, he hasn't. Some things are not fully understood until we have felt entirely bereft of a...

14. Managing Disappointment

Romans 5:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words Of Preparation Using words which Jesus quoted while on the cross, from Psalm 22:1-5 (NRSV) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you they trusted, and you delive...

15. Strong Faith For Weak People

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Some Thoughts To Meditate Upon: Robert Browning wrote: "I count life just a stuff to try the soul's strength on." Calvin Coolidge said: "The strength of a country is the strength of its religious convictions." St. Frances de Sales held that: "Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing so gentle as real strength." Psalm 46 begins: "God is our strength, a very present help i...

16. Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Meditation Hymn: "Above The Hills Of Time"(May be sung as a solo in preparation for worship) Prayer Of Invocation: We come to worship you, our Lord, knowing that you overcame both the cross and the grave. We realize that except for your endurance of the cross and its cruel death, we would not have known the full magnitude of your love for us. Your having made atonement for our sins, makes us awar...

17. The Beauty Of Holiness

Psalm 96:1-13, Psalm 29:1-11

Illustration

Clement E. Lewis

The 96th Psalm is closely comparable with 1 Chronicles 16:23-26. Psalm 29:2 also contains the words, "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." The New Revised Standard Version translated Psalm 96:9 to read, "Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him all the earth." Older people have long been accustomed to using the words from the King James Version. Worship ought to be made beaut...

18. The Best Surprises

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation A Hymn: "Sometimes A Little Surprises" (Let the hymn be played through as meditation music, after which the lyrics may be either sung or read.) Scripture: Matthew 2:9-12 and 4:9-11 (NRSV) When they had heard the king, they set out; and there ahead of them went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw tha...

19. The Full Measure Of Life

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation: "Wonderful Words Of Life" A Brief Prayer: Psalm 39:4-5 Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in thy sight. Surely everyone stands as a mere breath. Hymn: "I'll Live For Him" Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-15 (NRSV) The gifts that he gave were t...

20. The Miracle Of Life

Psalm 139:1-24

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Hymn: "Take My Life And Let It Be" Prayer Of Invocation Our Father, we come into your holy presence, with thanksgiving that you have given us life, and the capacity to enjoy it and to live it meaningfully. Continue to nurture our souls, we pray, that we may grow in grace and knowledge, and do your will more perfectly. Grant that we may ever remember that we were made in your image, and should do ...

21. The Virtue Of Self-Management

Proverbs 3:1-35

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Words Of Preparation from Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while he may be found,call upon him while he is near,let the wicked forsake his way,and the unrighteous their thoughts;let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. A Prayer Of Preparation (May be offered in unison) Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and ...

22. The Wonderful Mystery Of The Christian Religion

1 Timothy 3:1-16

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation The Call To Worship: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Come, walk in the way of the Lord with songs of gladness and joy. Amen. Hymn: "My Savior's Love" Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16 (NRSV) I ho...

23. Vitality For Today

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Meditation Music: "God Of Grace And God Of Glory"(May be sung as a solo to emphasize its message) Words Of Encouragement from Philippians 3:13-15 Paul wrote: "This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if...

24. What Are You Doing With The Rest Of Your Life?

1 Peter 4:1-11

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words Of Preparation: from Psalm 90:1-2, 10, 12 (NRSV) Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong. So teach us to count our days that we may gain a w...

25. What Can I Do With Who I Am?

John 1:19-28

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words Of Preparation Matthew 16:13-17 (TEV) Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" "Some say, John the Baptist," they answered. "Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet." "What about you?" he asked them. "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, ...

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