Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing all results

Genesis 25:19-34

Sermon

Justin Tull

Do you have the “birthright blues?” Jane does. Listen to her story. Jane: I am so plain and dull that I never have any dates. Friend: Why don’t you go to a good beauty salon and get a different hairdo? Jane: Yes, but that costs too much money. Friend: Well, how about buying a magazine with some suggestions for different ways of setting it yourself? Jane: Yes, I tried that -- and my hair is to...

2. Blessed To Be A Blessing

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

Justin Tull

Abram was a remarkable man. Forget the fact that he was still able at age 99 to father children! The first remarkable thing about Abram was that he was willing to believe God and so set out on a journey to an unknown land, without the security of country and kindred but only the promise that God would take care of him. How many of you at age 75 or even 35 would make that kind of journey, that kind...

3. Perfect Strangers

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon

Justin Tull

Today we leave the book of Genesis to begin the saga of Exodus. First we examine two stories: one about the plight of the Hebrew people following the death of Joseph and the other concerning the birth of Moses. Both are about strangers. One story entails slavery and suffering, the other compassion and adoption. One is about “imperfect strangers” who remain such. The other is about complete strange...

4. Spirit Full Or Foul?

Isaiah 44:1-5

Sermon

Justin Tull

Today is Pentecost, the celebration of the gift of God’s Spirit to the church and to us. And the question we must ask ourselves and the church is this: Are we Spirit full or Spirit foul? In other words, is God’s gift to the Hebrews and to the early Christian church a gift we have received or rejected, nurtured or ignored? Is the Spirit of God in us? In many ways the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost...

5. Spirit Full Or Foul?

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Sermon

Justin Tull

The sermon today asks the questions as to whether we are aware of God’s saving acts and if we acknowledge only him as God. In short, we are asking if God truly helps us. Several years ago, at my sister’s wedding, the officiating minister told a story. It was about an Episcopal minister from Africa. The minister’s eight-year-old son did not understand his father’s actions just before his sermons. H...

6. Stairways Of Heaven

Genesis 28:10-22

Sermon

Justin Tull

As I studied in depth this passage of scripture, I learned that I have long carried misconceptions about “Jacob’s ladder.” My first surprising discovery was that all the commentaries I read suggested that Jacob’s vision was not of a ladder as we know it today, but more of a “ramp” or “stair-like pavement.”9 This “ramp” was to handle traffic between heaven and earth.10 Heavenly messengers could app...

7. Stairways Of Heaven

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Justin Tull

Our narrative begins with Jacob’s sending his family across the Jabbok stream while staying behind to spend the night alone. Tomorrow he must face his brother, Esau, whom he has not seen since he escaped after stealing Esau’s blessing and having fleeced him out of his birthright. Jacob does not know how his brother will receive him… but several possibilities have occurred to him -- none of them po...

8. The Burning Bush Within Us

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Justin Tull

The flame is a part of our biblical heritage, from the burning bush, to pillars of fire, to the flaming tongues of the Spirit at Pentecost. The flame is a part of our church tradition and biblical tradition. It symbolizes the Spirit of God that interacts with us in so many different ways. Today we take a look at Moses’ experience at the burning bush. From this account we may learn many things abo...

9. Water Boy

Exodus 2:11-25

Sermon

Justin Tull

Today’s scripture provides for many sermon possibilities. I could have dealt with Moses’ swift departure from Egypt and preached about running from our foes and our fears. I could have taken the second half of our story and played with the notion that here shepherds are not the honored guests of the Christ child but bullies who mistreat all seven of Reuel’s daughters. And a most tempting choice wo...

Showing 1 to 9 of 9all results