Sermon and Worship Resources

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Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

One of my favorite plays is “Harvey” by Mary Chase. I’ve seen it stage, on TV and in movie. It is a delight in any medium, more than a delight; it is a challenge, a challenge to our unimaginative, prosaic, living ruts. You may recall that this play is about Elwood P. Dowd, an eccentric, drinking man whose closest ...

2. Mary AND Martha, Heart AND Home

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... find the world is also to say that the world can always find us. The fact is that whether you are a gazelle being chased by a cheetah, or an early human being hunted down by a saber toothed tiger — life is stressful. Living with cancer or heart disease ... between providing yet another home-cooked meal, and receiving the eternal Bread of Life (Sermon 179.5) That night in Martha and Mary’s house, the “good eats” were not going to come out of the kitchen. The real-deal meal was being served up at ...

3. Are You Suffering from FOMO?

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

King Duncan

... tough to be a good host, to take care of others’ needs, especially if no one seems to appreciate your efforts. Martha’s sister, Mary, wants to be a good host too, but she has a different way of approaching it. She sits at Jesus’ feet and listens ... on something, this is the experience we should be afraid of missing. If we're going to spend our lives chasing something, this is what we should be chasing. God is in this moment. It’s God we don’t want to miss. Author Dale Dauten tells a truly memorable ...

4. Christmas: Before And After

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... out. You know, he’s older and he’s got a reputation to think about. But, I think he believes me. Elizabeth: I think you should tell me about this “angel.” (makes quotation mark gestures) Mary: Well, it was the most amazing thing. I was sweeping up the house, when this person, all in white, just sort of appeared. I chased him around with the broom for a while. I thought he was some intruder, sneaking in to steal food. But, he kept talking quietly to me, and I soon realized that he was an angel. Then ...

5. Breaking Loose

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... gave up. Here is what is interesting, however. When the glass was completely removed, the wall-eye pike still did not chase after the minnows. In fact, the minnows could swim around the pike, even bumping him on the mouth, and the pike ... a turning point for Mary. Ultimately, reports Annette Simmons, Mary was reunited with her family, given medication, and now has a full‑time job and a home. (5) Now obviously Mary was delusional. Still Tipper Gore’s compassion made it possible for Mary to regain a sense ...

6. A SERMON-DRAMA FOR EPIPHANY

Drama

Tom Eberle

... : Now that you are one of us, what are you going to do for us? Voice: That sounds like the question of one who is still chasing. I just want you to come inside to be with me. Two: But surely there is more. Voice: Why does there have to be more? Isn’ ... went ahead of them until it stopped above the place where the child lay ... Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and bowed to the ground in homage to him; then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and ...

7. Keep Watching, Keep Warning, Keep Chasing

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of messiness. The Advent presentation of the Christ child disturbed the peace. In Matthew’s gospel Joseph was engaged to Mary, a totally normal, everyday kind of contract. But suddenly something went terribly wrong. She became pregnant. Joseph had a visitation ... than the previous generation of professional “storm chasers” ever could. That is true of spiritual “storm chasing” or what we’re calling “kingdom chasing” in the twenty first century as well. We can see where Jesus is being born and ...

8. A Most Amazing Night

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

... animals into the cave and makes a bed with his blanket in the straw. He builds a small fire to chase off the night chill. He pours some water out of the goatskin and asks his betrothed if there is anything else he can do to make ... see that just by His birth, this tiny baby was a threat to the high and mighty of the earth: Herod wanted to kill Him! Perhaps Mary asked herself: "Why do they persecute the innocents for doing God’s will? Why is the world so hostile to God’s goodness and light?" Does ...

9. Boldly Going . . . Nowhere

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... that--at the end of the rainbow--was a pot of baked beans. (1) And that's how it is for many people--they spend their lives chasing that elusive pot of gold, only to discover that it's a pot of beans. In other words, many of us pursue the perks of life ... left show business to become a nun. She said later that she never regretted giving up the glamorous life. In a visit with writer Mary Ann O'Roark, Mother Dolores said, "I looked in the mirror one day and realized that if my sense of worth and fulfilment was ...

10. Finding The Real Thing

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... manger made of finished hardwoods, and a stable of solid polished mahogany. As the girl stood and stared at the display, a security guard chased her away. The little girl began to cry. Old Amos came over to her. "I just wanted to see the baby," the girl kept ... months pregnant. This was God's doing, the angel told her, for nothing is impossible with God. That was all it took for Mary to be convinced. She believed the angel's message. The rest, as they say, is history. An angel spoke, a young woman believed. ...

11. A Lady With A Listening Ear · Mary Of Bethany

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Gordon Pratt Baker

... Peter, whose eloquence brought thousands to Jesus. (Acts 2:14-42) But one thing is sure. Each of us has a witness to bear. I For Mary of Bethany the witness took the form of the hours she spent at Jesus' feet. It was an act of devotion the very sight of which ... him and buzzing with lively fellowship, interrupted at times by bursts of boisterous laughter, was only an interlude in the chase as when a winded stag, momentarily eluding its pursuers, pauses to refresh itself at a mountain stream, all the while ...

12. Journey To The Heart Of Christmas

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... , this time, he said he really didn’t know our destination. We were going to follow this STAR he had been watching. Now chasing after a star doesn’t seem very wise to me, but he said this particular star had been foretold centuries ago, and that ... family. I don’t think we need another one. Ruth: Special purpose? How can he have a purpose when he can’t even talk yet? Mary: Not all purposes require talking. I don’t know exactly how, but God told me his life is going to change the world. Miriam: But, ...

13. I Need

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Dave Zuchelli

... I should think it would take a little pluck and audacity to give Jesus that directive. She was really angry with her sister. But Mary was not the only one with whom she was furious. She prefaces her instruction to Jesus with, “Lord, don’t you care that my ... seek the satisfaction of our real need — the need for Christ. It’s a theme we play and replay daily in our world. We chase after that which we want, escalating it into a need in our own minds. By doing so, we placate our consciences with the thought ...

14. A Christmas Program

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... it? Emperor Augustus sent out a decree that all the world should be taxed. That meant we must make the trip to Bethlehem. I could not leave Mary behind, since there was no one but me to look after her. So we set out on foot for the “house of bread”; that’s what ... keeps in the stable near his inn. Ah yes, I love the life of a shepherd. Gets crazy once in a while when I’ve got to chase away a wolf or a lion or a rustler. No wild beasts or thief is going to get away with any of my flock as long as ...

15. Easter Day

John 20:10-18, John 20:1-9, Colossians 3:1-17, Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... is noble and true. Gospel: John 20:1-18 Resurrected Run. What was it that made Peter and John race to the tomb? Of course, Mary Magdalene reported that the tomb was open and empty, but why the rush? Had they remembered that the Lord said he would rise from the ... for dear life; should he lose his grip, he would be cut to ribbons by the blades of the disc that were doggedly chasing him. The scene would be comic were it not so potentially tragic. Picture this poor soul being dragged through the dirt and manure ...

16. Good Morning, Jerusalem!

Drama

... him away, sir, tell me where you have put him ... and I will go and get him." Ezra: What did this stranger say then? Mary: He called me by my name. "Mary!" he said ... When I heard him call my name, and I looked into his face, I recognized him! ... It was our teacher, the rabbi ... . The Jews in Palestine have been trying to get rid of Caesar for a long time. They still think that, because they chased the Greeks out some 190 years ago, they can somehow do the same to the Romans. But, of course, it’s all a ...

17. Special Delivery

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... angels. They talked about angels who stood guard at heaven's gates. And when demons or evil spirits got too close, the angels chased them away. That's why there were falling stars. And talk about looks! Muslims tell an ancient story about the time the ... , and turned the Angles into Angels! And that's the Message for us this morning, isn't it? The Angel came to Joseph and to Mary. He had a Message to bring, SPECIAL DELIVERY. It was the Message of Jesus, the Message of God's Kingdom, the Message of the Father's ...

18. Having the Right Connection

John 15:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... to God in prayer. Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!” Mary says that as she listened to the song, in her own words, “. . . I realized that I had made a tragic mistake. I had tried to fight ... spirit of Jesus? Don’t settle for a mediocre life. Don’t spend your time and energy on this earth chasing after a meaningless lifestyle. Cultivate a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you will find the ...

19. When You Are Anxious About Many Things

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

King Duncan

... young researcher named Hans Selye for introducing us to stress. Selye had a bad habit of dropping his lab rats, chasing them around the room, and trapping them beneath a sink. When they developed ulcers and shrunken immune tissues, Selye did ... he came here to place his hand over the face of Jesus." (6) These soldiers knew where to turn to make their lives bearable. So did Mary. She positioned herself so that she could look into the face of Jesus. Wise people of every age have learned that same lesson. You and ...

20. A Star And A Dream

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... her gratitude to them for teaching her how to love the land and for helping her experience the God of the wilderness. (4) Mary Lou belonged there. That's what she needed to know. That's what moved her to tears. I am convinced that many people ... on our own merit ” but because of God's great love for us. Each of us belongs. This brings us to the last thing to be said. CHASING A STAR WILL OFTEN BRING A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. In the wise men's case, it was necessary to go back home by a different route in ...

21. The Coat Off Your Back

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... the day the greatest gift arrived — God in human form. Jesus, the reason for the season. We give our thanks, along with Mary, his mother, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the ... for me. I'm sure it's that black leather coat I've been hinting about." "But that red coat looked so good on you. I could chase the woman down and tell her we made a mistake," her friend said. "Don't get upset, Barb. You see, one of my Advent devotions asked how ...

22. When Extravagance Is Beautiful, and When It Is Not

John 12:1-8

Sermon

James W. Moore

... some want to totally reject and repudiate anybody who differs with them. Remember the Peanuts cartoon where Lucy is chasing Charlie Brown. She is shaking her fist at him and screaming: “I’ll get you, Charlie Brown. I’ll ... sounded good and he expected Jesus to praise him for his wisdom and prudence. But, to his surprise, Jesus was not impressed with his harshness toward Mary who was, after all, one of their hosts and one of Jesus’ closest friends and who in his opinion had just done a gracious, kind, ...

23. Easter Sunday

Luke 24:33-41 · Psalm 23 · Acts 4:33-36

Bulletin Aid

Jack Brownlee

... fitful sleep crying, "Wait, let me ashore, I cannot leave!" Several hours of retrieving his belongings from the sea where the captain had thrown them overboard were followed by several days of chasing down the real story behind the events he had missed during the last week. In Bethany he found Lazarus alive and well. Mary and Martha had gone to Galilee with the followers of Jesus. As Joseph followed them to Galilee, they returned to Jerusalem. He finally caught up with the party outside Jerusalem, where he ...

24. Proper 12

Mt 13:31-33, 44-52 · Rom 8:26-39 · Gen 29:15-28 · Ps 105:1-11, 45b

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... participated in the joys of life. He attended weddings. He enjoyed banquets. He found stimulating conversation in the home of Mary and Martha. He attended a wedding. These activities were quite a contrast to John the Baptist who lived a very ... housing as his particular calling in the kingdom. 4. Unexpected Treasure. In October of 1984 a previously unknown painting by William Merritt Chase called A View of Prospect Park was bought at a Denver auction for $500. It was dated about 1885-1886. On December ...

25. What Gets Into People?

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... down the highway. Soon three patrol cars were in pursuit. At that point the man dialed 911 and reported he was being chased. The dispatcher advised him to stop, but the man would not listen to reason. He ultimately struck a mailbox and rammed ... scientific day, anytime anyone behaved in a manner that was bizarre or destructive, they gave this explanation, “He has a demon.” Mary Magdalene, who tradition has characterized as a prostitute before Jesus delivered her, was said to have seven demons. (Luke 8:2) ...

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