Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. A Fig Tree Retreat

John 1:43-51

Illustration

Paul E. Flesner

A fig tree is about fifteen feet tall and its branches spread out about 25 feet in width like an umbrella, creating a space that is almost like a private room. If someone wanted to get away from the chaos of a one-room house, he or she would sit under the fig tree. They would sit there to read scripture or to reflect or to pray. Sitting under a fig tree was a sign of seeking and praying for God's ...

2. A Vision and a Voice

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

Today we remember the baptism of Jesus. Whether you are a long-time church member or you are seeking to discover more about Christianity, most folks have heard the word "baptism." Some people refer to the event as "christening." Regardless of the word used, it is associated with a special church ritual for babies soon after they are born. There is much about baptism that is worth thinking about. ...

3. An Advance Man

John 1:1-18

Illustration

Paul E. Flesner

Many people don't realize the extent of the preparations involved when the President of the United States makes a visit to a local community. A raft of Secret Service personnel check out every building along the route he will travel and near the place he will be appearing. They go over each building with a fine tooth comb from roof to basement in their efforts to prepare for his safety. They are c...

4. At the Beginning of Time

John 1:1-18

Illustration

Paul E. Flesner

The New Testament uses two different words for time. God operates in kairos, a Greek word which means the "fullness of time." We operate in chronos, the Greek word which means the passage of minutes, days, years, centuries, and even millenniums. For example: Mary did not give birth to Jesus on December 25 at 12:06 a.m. as we are prone to say in our society when a baby is born. Rather, the Bible s...

5. God Is Now Here

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr once observed that the Christmas event can only be spoken about in poetry. He went on to comment that over the centuries preachers have analyzed it in their sermons and have turned Christmas into dogma. "Dogma," he said, "is rationally petrified poetry." I think I understand what he means. He means that Christmas speaks to the heart. As I reread the Christmas story, im...

6. How Clearly Can You See?

Illustration

Paul E. Flesner

This is a story about a small seacoast village in England that routinely would become covered by dense fog. The pride of that village was a lighthouse that had been built on the north end of town where the harbor was navigable and free from the huge rocks that dotted the rest of the coast. One night the villagers had gathered on the south end of town to celebrate a local holiday. Part of that cele...

7. Making a Difference

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

How many of you know someone who is partially or completely color blind? Seeing colors is something we frequently take for granted until we try to imagine what the world looks like to someone who cannot. One such person described the task of getting dressed in the morning as one of the more difficult decisions that he faces during the day. He admitted that there have been many times when he went t...

8. Missing the Point

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

Have you ever been in a group of people where someone told a joke and everyone else laughed except you? "I don't get it. I missed the point." Or have you ever been in the middle of a discussion where another person makes a persuasive point and everyone else nods their head in agreement -- except you? "I don't get it. I missed the point." That's sometimes how it is with life -- sometimes we miss t...

9. New Wine in New Wineskins

Mark 2:18-22

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

We humans are often schizophrenic when it comes to the old and the new. On one hand, we are creatures of tradition. We follow the same daily routine. We sit in the same pew at worship. We find comfort in things which are familiar. Change is something we'd rather avoid. On the other hand, we often seek those activities and items which have the potential to rescue us from the abyss of boredom -- big...

10. Our Hope for Years to Come

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

On January 1, 2001, our world marked the beginning of a new millennium in human history. In a way, it was no different than the beginning of any day. The universe continued to exist in the same way it was the day before. The sun still rose at its appointed time as night turned into day. The weather still reflected the conditions in the atmosphere above where we live. What was different about that...

11. Preparing for Something Big

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

How are you getting ready for Christmas? Have you gotten out your Christmas tapes or CDs yet? Have you started your gift shopping? Have you decided what Christmas cookies you are going to bake this year? Have you written your Christmas cards yet? Have you put up your Christmas tree? Over the years it seems like Christmas preparations are starting earlier and earlier. Now some stores are starting t...

12. Promises, Promises, Promises

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

This morning's Gospel from Luke recounts God's announcement to Mary that she was to become the Mother of the Savior. It describes Mary's initial reaction of fear and confusion, and Joseph's reaction to the fact that his fiancée was about to have a child that wasn't his. Then Luke records Mary's song of praise (called the "Magnificat") which she sang in response to this announcement. You see, God's...

13. Reverse Direction

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

It's human nature to be excited about meeting a celebrity in person. Whether it's a rock star or a sports legend or an actor or actress or a politician, it is not an everyday occurrence for most of us to come face-to-face with a well-known public figure. This may sound like a confusing introduction to a sermon that is supposed to be about preparing to celebrate Christmas, but it will make sense to...

14. Seeing Jesus Clearly

Mark 1:29-34

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

I'd like to begin with what might seem a rather strange question. "Do you really believe in Jesus?" Before you answer that with an indignant, "Of course I do," I want you to think for a moment about what your own mental image of Jesus is like. Try to picture his face. Do you see it as hard, coarse, and set with wrinkles? Or do you see it as smooth, fine-featured, and more on the soft side? Try to...

15. The Adventure of Discipleship

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

Today's Gospel is about Jesus' calling of his first four disciples. It is about the first people who were called to hold the job which we hold today. Mark's story is not very elaborate. It is short and to the point. There is a certain note of adventure as the four men leave their fishing business to go with Jesus, but there is not much in the story that seems terribly upsetting. What the story do...

16. The Wideness in God's Mercy

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

Many fundamentalist Christian groups would have us believe that the Bible has all the answers to the questions of life. For them, difficult situations are black and white when one consults scripture for the right choice to make or the wrong decision to avoid. In struggling with how to respond to a particular dilemma, the Bible tells us precisely what to do. What's more, such an approach to daily l...

17. The Word Became Flesh

John 1:1-18

Illustration

Paul E. Flesner

If John's Gospel were the only one we had, there would be no little town of Bethlehem. There'd be no shepherds out in their fields. There would be no manger and no virgin birth. No north star and no creche. If John is all we had here is all that we would know about Jesus' birth: before his name was Jesus, his name was the Word, and he was with God from the very beginning of creation, bringing thin...

18. Turn on the Lights

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

19. Waiting and Witnessing

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

My message this morning is about two biblical senior citizens and what we can learn from them about the nature of faith. The setting for today's Gospel jumps from the stable in Bethlehem to the temple in Jerusalem where Mary and Joseph had brought Jesus to be "presented to the Lord." It was there that they met Simeon and Anna. Their reactions to Jesus suggest a question that I have for you this m...

20. We Are Christ's - That Is Enough

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

In today's Gospel, Mark tells us more about Jesus by showing his power over unclean spirits. The ironic twist is that it was the demons who recognized Jesus as the Son of God, while the people who were "in the crowd" had no idea who he was. This reversal raises an interesting question: If we met Jesus "on the street" today, would we recognize him as the Holy One of God? Being able to "recognize" ...

21. Your Sins Are Forgiven

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

This morning Mark tells us about the healing of a paralyzed man. This episode goes to the heart of Jesus' approach to the needs of people. Throughout the Gospels we see his concern for the physical dimensions of life and for human suffering. "He had compassion on them" is a common phrase describing his response to the people with whom he came in contact. However, this morning's event leaves no qu...

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