Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 13 of 13 results

1. The Holy Spirit Brings Everyone To The Party

Acts 8:14-17

Sermon

Mary Austin

On this Sunday after Epiphany, we celebrate Jesus’ baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit that comes to him that day. The reading for today looks at the same gift — the coming of the Holy Spirit — to a community of believers. Listen for God speaking: Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and praye...

2. The Limping Body Of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

Mary Austin

We continue, this week, and for the next few weeks in the season of Epiphany. This is the season of light. In these dark winter days, the Christian calendar gives us a whole season of light. The theme of this season is the way God is made known to humanity. You’ll see those themes of light and revelation all through the readings in this Epiphany season. Today’s reading comes from Paul’s letter to...

3. Nose Hairs And Disney

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Sermon

Mary Austin

We continue listening to Paul’s letter to the early Christians in the city of Corinth. In this reading, he continues with his vision of the church as a body with many, equally important members. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks,...

4. Hold the Candy

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

Mary Austin

As we continue in the season of Epiphany, we hear more of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. This reading is often read at weddings, and it’s fun to consider it as a letter to a whole community, rather than to an individual, or two people. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and unde...

5. Treasures from the Past

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Sermon

Mary Austin

We continue in the season of Epiphany, listening to the words Paul writes to the church in Corinth. Listen for God speaking. Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe...

6. Get Out of the Seed Box

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

Sermon

Mary Austin

Years ago, when my daughter was a tiny baby, just a couple weeks old, I could already feel the time zipping by. The five-pound newborn had turned into an eight-pound baby, and she already felt different when I held her. I looked into the future and could see the time zipping by. I lamented the speed of life to my dad, and he said, “Well, time only goes one way, honey.” It does only go one way. An...

7. Get Out of the Seed Box

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

Sermon

Mary Austin

8. Without the Mask

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

Sermon

Mary Austin

This Sunday, Transfiguration Sunday, comes to us as the end of the Epiphany season, and as the doorway to the season of Lent. We have another piece of Paul’s writing to the people of Corinth. Listen for God speaking. Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was ...

9. God’s Evite: Wait!

Philippians 1:3-11

Sermon

Mary Austin

On this second Sunday of Advent, we hear Paul's words to the church at Philippi, a church he knew well. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jes...

10. Joy on an Elephant

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

Mary Austin

On this third Sunday of Advent, we hear again from Paul’s letter to the believers at Philippi. Many scholars believe that he wrote this letter from prison, perhaps even during his last prison term in Rome, before his death, but we don’t know for sure. It’s clear that he wrote from a prison cell somewhere, and that he wrote about his deeply held idea of cultivating joy in all things. Rejoice in th...

11. Ordering Up A Set Of False Gods On Amazon

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sermon

Mary Austin

As this Advent season begins, what have you promised yourself about the holidays this year? Are you vowing to have a simpler Christmas? Planning to make time for some activity you love, or time with beloved people? What promises are ahead for your family? Do you know some kids who are waiting eagerly to see what Santa will bring? Adults who are waiting eagerly to collapse, and finally get some re...

12. The Best Gifts

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

Mary Austin

Our Christmas Eve reading takes a different turn this year, as we read from the letter to Titus. This is one of the shortest books in the Bible, and is almost never read in worship. But the writer has an unusual take on the gifts of Christmas. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives th...

13. 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...

Showing 1 to 13 of 13 results