Sermon and Worship Resources

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Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... have us on His side. We refuse to see that even the best of us is a mixture of dust and divinity. Former Beatle Paul McCartney once coined a word to describe the letdown fans experience “when a new song by an old group fails to make them feel ... had the firefighter, in scooping up a random cup of ashes, managed to pick the exact spot where this tiny cross lay hidden? Major Sherer writes, “The message to me is clear: God walks with us through the terrible firestorms of our lives, and we are lifted unharmed ...

2. The Gathering, The Scattering

Hebrews 10:19-39

Sermon

Various Authors

... near to each other. What better way to prepare for this meal than to exchange a word of peace, and shake a hand - or even to embrace - as some of our church liturgies prescribe these days? In Paul’s day there was something called a "holy kiss." You will not kiss someone you cannot stand. We do not know entirely what this special meal is all about. We do know that it is a time ... us and refresh us. Then, Lord, scatter us, to share with all whom we know and meet the wonders of your grace. - Michael L. Sherer

3. Ten Friends Drive Us to the Promise

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... their helpers, others in authority, are the only ones God commands us to honor. Honoring is a two-way street as we see Paul describing it: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right ... fathers, mothers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ... law shows us our sin and our need for a Savior and the gospel provides the amazing rescue. 1. Michael L. Sherer editorial, "Here's a Gift Worth Giving," Metro Lutheran, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2002. 2. Arley K. Fadness, Holy Moses (Custer, South ...

4. Paul of Tarsus

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Drama

Michael L. Sherer

"I am content with persecutions for Christ’s sake ..." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Characters: Lector Announcer Antagonist Protagonist Participants enter and take their places in the chancel. As they come forward, the congregation sings the hymn "In the Cross of Christ I Glory." When the hymn is completed, the drama begins. LECTOR: I am most happy ... to be proud of any weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and ...

5. Childs of Center Point

Drama

Michael L. Sherer

"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me ..." Philippians 4:11-13 Participants enter and take their places in the chancel. As they come forward, the congregation sings the hymn "O God of Mercy." When the hymn is completed, the drama begins. LECTOR: "... I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is to be in need, and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have ...

6. Francis of Assisi

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Drama

Michael L. Sherer

"The message of Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense ..." 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Characters: Lector Announcer Antagonist Protagonist (Participants enter and take their places in the chancel. As they come forward, the congregation sings the hymn "Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated." When the hymn is completed, the drama begins.) LECTOR: The message about Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved, it is God’s power. For the scripture says, "I ...

7. For Christ’s Sake, What’s Going On?

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Michael L. Sherer

"There’s no fight like a church fight," someone once told me. Unhappily, that’s proven true time and again. Of all communities, you would think (or hope, at least) that congregations organized around the cross of Christ would be exemplars to the world. We have the promises, the hope, and the forgiveness God gives to his own select community. For heaven’s sake, it ought to make a difference in the way we live, at least within our own redeemed community. But someone else once pointed out to me that Satan isn ...

8. Let’s Face It

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Michael L. Sherer

With the familiar parable which forms the text for this day, we draw very near to the close of the church year. Since the Middle Ages, Christians have used the closing days of the old church year to focus on "last things": the end of the world, the end of life, the promise of things to come, the thought of the return of Christ (one of the themes celebrated during Advent, the next season on the church’s calendar). The parable of the wise and foolish virgins fits well into the pattern. The bridegroom is ...

9. The Second Sunday in Lent

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

There are moments magnified in memory and they give meaning to all that comes after them. They didn't seem too important at the time, or else they were important in a way we never understood until later. It must have been like that for Peter and James and John as they thought back on their experience on the Mount of Transfiguration. It was a significant moment, all right, no doubt about that. Jesus, radiating with that pulsating glow like something from a Spielberg movie. Moses and Elijah, back from the ...

10. The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

Power. We hear a lot about that today. We are concerned about the proliferation of nuclear power. Social activists are concerned about empowering the disadvantaged in our communities. We want to limit the power of the government in the management of our private lives. And, of course, we want to protect whatever power we already have. Power. The ability to get things done, to make things happen. We know it is important and we want our piece of the action. It isn't that we want to do anybody any harm by some ...

11. The Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

"Sometimes I feel like a motherless chile," the weary black slave would sing to the hot southern night, giving expression to the condition of having been taken from home and family and subjected to the power of death. Although none of us has known the bitterness of that dehumanizing experience, the sung lament has surely expressed our own agony of soul from time to time, as we confront isolation and alienation and the world becomes too much with us. "The dark night of the soul" is a fact of the religious ...

12. King of Atlanta

Romans 8:28-39

Drama

Michael L. Sherer

"We are more than conquerors through Christ ..." Romans 8:35-39 Characters: Lector Announcer Antagonist Protagonist (Participants enter and take their places in the chancel. As they come forward, the congregation sings the hymn "Beneath the Cross of Jesus." When the hymn is completed, the drama begins.) LECTOR: Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it? Or hardship? Or persecution? Or hunger? Or poverty? Or danger? Or death? As the Scripture says, "For your sake we are in danger of ...

13. Don't Get Stuck!

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Michael L. Sherer

We begin with a modern parable, “a story that never actually happened” but that’s still true in some profound way. Here’s the story. A businessman from a metropolitan area received a registered letter informing him that an entrepreneurial group in another city had decided to honor him with their prestigious “Innovator of the Year” award. He was delighted. On the day of the presentation he allowed himself plenty of time to drive the Interstate, from one community to the other. But at the last minute, his ...

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