Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. Am I Eating Manna or Bread from Heaven?

John 6:35, 41-51

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

When I was very young, being reared in another denomination, my mother and I, for reasons I cannot remember, were at church together without the rest of the family. In my memory it was evening; also for reasons I cannot remember. What I do recall is that my mother had a very traumatic experience at that service of Holy Eucharist. We were seated in back instead of in our customary pew halfway up o...

2. And They Lived Happily Ever After... or Did They?

Mark 10:2-16

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

This is a story I tell from time to time at weddings. It's based on a Moroccan folktale.[1] Once upon a time there was a much beloved king who was so rich that he measured his wealth in bushel baskets. Sadly, his wealth did not prevent him from contracting a fatal illness and in time the man lay on his deathbed. He called his only son to his side and said, "Son, you are all I have left. Your moth...

3. Gouge-Your-Eye-Out Sunday

Mark 9:38-50

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

There are a couple of Sundays I'd just as soon not preach. One is Trinity Sunday, the Sunday immediately following Pentecost. I've heard more than one priest say that the reason most of us want an assistant or a deacon is so that we can assign them the task of trying to explain how it is we believe in one God, in three persons, and so on. Clergy dislike of preaching on Trinity Sunday is pretty wid...

4. Just Who Does This Guy Think He Is?

John 6:56-69

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

"I think he's speaking in metaphors," Stephen said. "I don't care if he's speaking in Chicago, he's getting downright spooky," replied Andrew, not one of the twelve. Jesus had been speaking for what seemed to be days to a crowd made up of his disciples, hundreds of them, as well as his twelve nearest and dearest disciples. Bread, bread, and bread... it was all he seemed to be talking about. It w...

5. Six Days to Make a Decision for Christ

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

Whether they knew it or not, the disciples were about to begin an intensive seminar on discipleship. It was time for Boot Camp. As Mark implied in his repetitive use of the word, "immediately," there was an urgency about Jesus and he was running out of time before he handed over the reins to the twelve. He needed to know what they understood and what they didn't; how much remediation was this bunc...

6. Speaking Truth to Power and Hope to the Powerless

Mark 9:30-37

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

Let's get this story straight; Jesus and his disciples were making their way to the town of Capernaum, and as they were walking along three things happened: First, Jesus told his disciples that things were going to go downhill in a big hurry, that he would be betrayed, killed, but three days later, he would rise again. That's the first thing that happened. The second thing that was going on was t...

7. Who Do You Think He Is?

John 6:51-58

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

A number of years ago a priest, who happened to be a woman, moved to a more conservative diocese after her husband, who also was a priest, died. I knew Mary (not her real name). She was a wonderful priest, loved by her congregation. We were all sad to see her leave our area. After she got settled she scheduled an appointment with the local bishop. After a little polite chitchat she began the conv...

8. Who Does Jesus Belong to Anyway?

Mark 7:24-37

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

I don't know why but for the longest time I never thought of Jesus getting tired. Silly of me I suppose, but I kind of thought of him, in the brief time his ministry was going to last, going at it full tilt until the end. Stopping to pray, of course. But not going away, taking a break, not wanting anyone to know he was there. But now I get it. I was at Wendy's the other day. I was tired. I needed...

9. You Are What You Eat

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

The Pharisees were grumbling -- doesn't it seem like they were always grumbling? Of all the things they could be concerned about, they were upset that Jesus' disciples weren't washing their hands before they ate. As I read this passage over earlier in the week I could hear my mom asking me and my brother and sisters before a meal, "Did you wash your hands?" This was an appropriate question for par...

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