Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 51 to 75 of 769 results

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

MARCUS D. BRYANT is an ordained minister who served in a number of Christian Church congregations and on the faculty of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, before accepting his present position at Texas Christian University. There he is Professor of Pastoral Psychology and Pastoral Care at Brite Divinity School and a supervisor and consultant both at the Pastoral Care Center at Brite and the Azi...

52. In The Beginning God

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

William L. Self

I like the story of the Middle Eastern prince who fell in love with a beautiful peasant girl. Eventually he proposed marriage and she accepted. Such an event should be marked by a gift of rare beauty, so he searched the empire for the most beautiful diamond to give to her. Obviously, the most beautiful diamond demanded a specific box of rare beauty for the presentation of the precious gem. For thi...

53. You Can Depend on It

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

I was standing on a street corner. A man, slightly under the weather, came up and started talking, "Hey, buddy, you know that an alligator lays 10,000 eggs. And, you can depend on it." I didn’t reply, hoping he’d go away. But, "And, out of that, 9,000 float away. The fish eat ‘em." "So ..." I started. "And you can depend on it." He continued, "Out of the 1,000 left, other alligators eat up 900."...

54. Resurrection: From Chaos to Order

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

The fire was beginning to die. With a simple wave of his hand the Ancient One sent the young boy racing back into the scrubby land to fetch sticks for burning. Overhead the moon lit his path as he ran from one thicket to another, pulling together the loose twigs and picking up a stray dry root. Quickly he returned, throwing the meager kindling on the dying fire. In the shore span of minutes since ...

55. Remember Who(se) You Are

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Frederick C. Edwards

Water! Water is the most distinguishing characteristic of our planet from the others in our solar system and, from all we know to date, from any other heavenly body in all creation. Water covers most of the earth, and is the reason that, from a vantage point in space, it has a distinctly blue color. Most school children know that now, thanks to a very popular NASA photograph taken from space of t...

56. Stewards of Creation

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

About the second Sunday in November each year, after mailing out a flood of brochures, putting up posters, twisting arms of the faithful to make visits, and designing a banner, there comes from this pulpit what I like to call, "The Sermon on the Amount." Members sit in the pews and squirm on their billfolds, hang onto their checkbooks and purses, fill out a pledge card reluctantly, and sing the hy...

57. Work (Labor Day)

Genesis 1:1 - 2:25

Sermon

David E. Leininger

A Christian Understanding of Work...an appropriate topic for a Labor Day weekend. If most Christians were asked for their understanding of work, they probably would say WE OUGHTA. Those words we just read from Genesis are clear in saying that, from the very beginning, God planned for us to work: work was a part of God's good creation. Martin Luther said, "God gives every bird its food, but he does...

58. Song of the Sabbath

Genesis 1:1-2:3, Luke 5:33-39, Luke 6:1-11, Luke 7:18-35, Mark 2:18-22, Mark 2:23-3:6, Mark 3:7-12

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Props: Visuals of Hubbel Space Photos and/or eclipse photos [Begin running about 30 or more Hubbel photos as you begin your sermon. If you want to take an especially creative field trip, deliver your sermon inside of a conservatory or planetarium with stars above and the Creation story displayed.] Part of the “human” in human being is to be fascinated with space. We lie back and imagine images i...

59. Follow the Light

Genesis 1:1-2:3, Matthew 2:1-12, Revelation 22:1-6

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning.” --Psalm 30:5 This morning, we are celebrating the birth of the Light that came into the world. Jesus, the Light of God, the Light of Love, the Light of Peace, the Light of Hope. There are high and holy words. But what do they mean for us today? What does it mean for Jesus to be the Light in our world? In your life? In my life? ...

60. Jubilaeum

Genesis 1:1-2:3, Genesis 2:4-25, Leviticus 25:8-55, Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

[If you can, sound a ram’s horn, or you can use a French Horn] [Sounding of the horn!] Hallelujah! The Lord be praised! This is the day of the Lord! And the people proclaimed…..Hallelujah! This is the day of the Lord! This is the day of the Lord! The day of Pentecost. The day we reaffirm our baptism in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit of Christ in our hearts and minds, lives and churc...

61. Worship is Your Rest Stop

Genesis 1:1-2:3, Psalm 92:1-15, Luke 5:33-39, Luke 6:1-11, Galatians 3:1-14

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Today, we’re going to delve a bit into our imaginations. I want you to imagine for a moment that you are in your favorite place –that place where you feel relaxed and calm and refreshed and happy. Can everyone think of a place like that? Is it by the sea? In a garden? In the mountains? Maybe for you it’s a real place, or maybe it’s an imaginary place. But I want you to take time and imagine that ...

62. Elohim

John 1:29-34, Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Then God (Elohim --plural) said (singular verb), 'Let us make (plural verb) man in our image, after our likeness'" (Genesis 1:26) Prop: A large Quilt, hanging backwards on a stand, so that the threadwork is visible I want to show you a picture this morning. Take a look. What do you see? What is it? [Give people time to answer.] Is it the sky? Clouds? The sea? A painting? Now what if I give you...

63. Third Day

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Lori Wagner

[Alternative personalized opening: Mountain culture used to refer to heaven as “the sweet by and by.” Anybody remember that phrase? Or the old gospel song “In The Sweet By and By . . ?“ It was made a signature song by three of the greatest country and western singers of all time --- Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton. Here are the lyrics: [You may have the congregation sing the song as t...

64. God Spoke

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

King Duncan

It was the week of Christmas, 1968. Three men—Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders—left earth for a breathtaking voyage around the moon and back. Remember, this was 51 years ago. Within months other U.S astronauts would actually set foot on the moon, but this was the pioneering effort. The take-off was flawless. That is remarkable in itself considering the problems in our space program o...

65. God’s HS Smart App is Always Watching

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Lori Wagner

In the 1991 movie, “Defending Your Life,” lives of the deceased are examined in a court-like setting to see how they have successfully overcome their difficulties in life, especially their fears. The movie suggests that life on earth is a kind of practice ground that teaches us how to successfully navigate ourselves, our responsibilities, and our relationships. While the movie is fictional, it doe...

66. Sound of the Creator's Praise

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Illustration

Staff

An ancient legend tells us that when the Great Lord of All Being created all things - animals, birds, mountains, seas, and human persons - when he finished his work, there was only silence. No sound was anywhere. The angels, having examined the creation, reported to the Great Creator that, to be complete, it needed the sound of the Creator's praise. So then the Lord God put a song in the throats o...

67. Creatures of Worth

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Illustration

Larry Powell

God not only created persons, but persons of "worth." Regrettably, the Genesis account of humanity’s beginning has frequently been sensationalized, either by recurring debates as to the nature of the literature or gnat-straining arguments over sequences, that the matter of "worth" has escaped the hearing of a people who desperately need to hear it. Whatever else the high occurence of suicide in th...

68. Truth: The Most Powerful Idea

Gen 1:1; Luke 10:27

Illustration

Max Anders

Marilyn vos Savant, the brilliant woman who reportedly has the highest I.Q. ever recorded, writes a syndicated column in which she answers tricky questions from people who want the benefit of her intelligence. Someone wrote to ask what she thought is the most powerful idea. Marilyn vos Savant replied that "truth" was the most powerful idea she knew of, because it is not affected by how we relate t...

69. Thanking Heaven

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Illustration

Brett Blair

I like the story told about Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) in his later years. On a special evening at the Vienna Music Hall his oratorio "The Creation" was being performed. As the majestic work moved along, the audience was caught up with tremendous emotion. When the passage "And there was light!" was reached, the chorus and orchestra burst forth in such power that the crowd could no longer restrain it...

70. Our Everyday Life Isn’t Everyday

Mt 17:1-9; Gen 1

Illustration

Brett Younger & Brett Blair

When middle C is struck on the piano the piston of bones in your inner ear vibrates exactly 264 times a second. Each day you think about 50,000 different thoughts. When you flex your hand you are using seventy different muscles. There are 6000 biological differences between men and women. On the surface of your body there are as many bacteria as there are people on the surface of the earth. (I sho...

71. Trinity Sunday

Mt 28:16-20 · Jn 3:16-18 · Gen 1:1--2:4a · Ex 34:4-9 · 2 Cor 13:11-13 · Ps 8

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Genesis 1:1--2:4a · 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 · Matthew 28:16-20 Roman Catholic: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 · 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 · John 3:16-18 Episcopal: Genesis 1:1--2:3 · 2 Corinthians 13:(5-10) · Matthew 28:16-20 Lutheran: Genesis 1:1--2:3 or 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 · Matthew 28:16-20 · Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 1:1--2:4a This is the fi...

72. The Baptism Of Our Lord

Mk 1:4-11 · Act 19:1-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Isa 42:1-9 · Gen 1:1-5 · Ps 29

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

THIS WEEK'S TEXT Revised Common: Genesis 1:1-5 · Acts 19:1-7 · Mark 1:4-11 Roman Catholic: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mark 1:7-11 Episcopal: Isaiah 42:1-9 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mark 1:7-11 COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 1:1-5 The text describes creation in its earliest stages; the earth was a formless, watery void. The Spirit of God acted on the waters and created life. This text was select...

73. Death of a Blacksnake

Luke 17:11-19, Genesis 1:1-2:3

Illustration

Staff

I was driving along a rural road recently when the car in front of me swerved off the shoulder and came to a sudden stop. The driver jumped out of the car and ran up a small bank, grabbing a large stick with which he immediately began to flail wildly at the ground. I stopped and rushed up to the man, certain that he had encountered some vicious threat to human life. But I was wrong. "Why did you...

74. O Christmas Tree

Gn 1:1-5 · Jn 1:1-5

Children's Sermon

Dale Bringman

Object: A small pine tree Lesson: Here it comes again: Christmas! No other time is quite like it. So much fun! So much to do! So much to look forward to! There are cards to be sent, gifts to be bought and wrapped, decorations to be put up. Many of us have favorite decorations - a wooden choir boy Daddy painted or a cloth hanging that Mother made. This morning I've brought a decoration all of us e...

75. Charity and the Great Adventure

Gen 1 & 2:4-25

Children's Sermon

Louise Ulmer

A parable - suitable for a more curriculum based setting with smaller children and not the children's sermon. Long ago when the earth and stars were new, a great king ruled all the worlds of all the world. He lived in a magnificent city beyond the clouds. One day as the king stood looking out his palace window, he watched his many children playing in the Celestial Gardens. "What wonderful childr...

Showing 51 to 75 of 769 results