category
Search by topic, scripture, category etc..
70 Results in 104ms
Display
Sorted By
-
illustration
How God Enters the World Matters
When we turn toward Advent, the name on our lips is Emmanuel, God with us . So much in Christian faith relies on what the faithful actually mean when we say that name. Western Christianity has fo... -
illustration
The Greatest Promise in History
When someone promises us something wonderful, we can hardly wait for that promise to be fulfilled. If the promise is something good, we want it now! We really don’t like to wait. And yet the very best... -
illustration
Theories about Jesus
We hear of wild new theories about Jesus. Every month or two some publisher comes up with a blockbuster saying that he was a New Age guru, an Egyptian freemason or a hippie revolutionary. Every year o... -
liturgy
Nunc Dimittis
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, To be a light to lig... -
liturgy
O King of all people
O King of all people, Master of our lives, entering into your glory by your cross, to whom all authority is given, both in heaven and on earth: We acknowledge your sovereignty over every realm of life... -
illustration
Into the Darkest Hour
It was a time like this, war and tumult of war, a horror in the air. Hungry yawned the abyss— and yet there came the star and the child most wonderfully there. It was a time like this ... -
Quote
Christ has dominion over all creatures, a dominion not seized by violence nor usurped, but his by essence and by nature. -
illustration
The Rarity of Light
In the great scheme of things, light is actually quite rare. Geo-physicists tell us that 71 percent of the earth’s surface lies under the ocean, which means that most of our planet abides in eternal d... -
illustration
Hanging Out in the Dark
A few years ago, a journalist named Joseph Blackman wrote an Op Ed on an interesting subject, “Why Clubs are Dark.” That is, why is it when you walk into a nightclub or a bar, the lights are off, or a... -
liturgy
All: Gracious God, you promise that
All: Gracious God, you promise that your light drowns out darkness, yet the darkness is so persistent. We cannot see in front of us, so we look to our own knowledge and ways. Forgive us for turning to... -
liturgy
Hark the glad sound! The Savior
Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes, The Savior promised long; Let every heart prepare a throne And every voice a song. Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, Your welcome shall proclaim, And heaven’s ... -
liturgy
Lord Jesus Christ, at your birth the
Lord Jesus Christ, at your birth the angels gave glory to God in the highest heaven, and offered peace on earth to all humankind. We struggle to follow the heavenly host. All too often we focus on giv... -
liturgy
As those three magi brought you gifts,
As those three magi brought you gifts, we are reminded of your majesty, oh Christ. You are the savior of the world who embraced human frailty that we might receive salvation. We ask your forgiveness f... -
liturgy
O Come, O Come Emmanuel, a call to worship for Advent
O Come, O Come Emmanuel You who are flesh Vulnerable and Lowly and Small Come, O Come Emmanuel You who are Great Holy and Powerful and Forever Come, O Come Emmanuel The Fullness of God with us Make ... -
liturgy
Jesus–our Lord, Savior and Friend: Come
Jesus–our Lord, Savior and Friend: Come into our hearts to save us and to rule. Come into your Church to direct and empower us with Your Gospel and Your Spirit. Come into your World to redeem the Lost... -
liturgy
Jesus, you are our peace You proclaim
Jesus, you are our peace You proclaim it You create it You bring us near Without you there is No safety No belonging No nurturing No identity rooted beyond this dust Without you we are Anchorless St... -
liturgy
Father-God, our burden bearer; Jesus,
Father-God, our burden bearer; Jesus, God the Son and lover of our souls; Spirit of God–giver of life and power: Thank You! Thank You for those we love and those who love us. Thank You for mothers and... -
liturgy
Leader: Tonight old dreams die and new
Leader: Tonight old dreams die and new dreams come to life. The Promise is fulfilled! People: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace. Leader: Hope gives way to joy and prayer to proclamati... -
liturgy
Most Holy and Most Gracious God, who
Most Holy and Most Gracious God, who turns the shadow of night into morning, satisfy us early with your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad throughout the entire day. Lift the light of your faith o... -
liturgy
O Merciful God, who came in Jesus
O Merciful God, who came in Jesus Christ with saving power to a world that walked in darkness and in the shadow of death, we praise and bless you for all those your servants who helped prepare the way... -
liturgy
Opening Prayer based on Isaiah 9:6
Wonderful Counselor, open our ears So we may hear your song God is with us, God is near Mighty God, open our eyes So we may see you at work For goodness, truth, and justice Everlasting Father, open ... -
liturgy
Adapted from Isaiah 9:2-4
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. All: The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death. Leader: You have multiplied the nation. You have... -
liturgy
Adapted from Isaiah 9:2; 6-7a
Leader: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light: upon those who live in the land of the shadow of death, a light has shined." People: "For to us a child is born, to us... -
liturgy
The Song of Simeon
Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nat... -
Quote
Just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil an... -
illustration
Not the King they Expected
He [Jesus] was not the king they expected. He wasn’t like the monarchs of old who sat on their jeweled and ivory thrones, dispensing their justice and wisdom. Nor was he the great warrior-king some ha... -
illustration
Standing for a King
Cody is a member of our church who moved to Thailand to share the gospel with college students. One night, a student named Annan invited Cody to go to a movie. The two of them arrived and sat down in ... -
illustration
The Glory Being Revealed To Us
In Romans 8:18, Paul describes the future of those who persevere in the faith: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.... -
Quote
In shalom, each person enjoys justice, enjoys his or her rights. There is no shalom without justice. But shalom goes beyond justice. Shalom is the human being dwelling at peace in all his or her relat... -
illustration
The Return of the King
Lord John Culpepper was witness to a dramatic turn of events in English history. He was a member of the privy council of King Charles I, who was executed in 1649, apparently contrary to the law and th...
Page 1 of 3
Top_level_categories by Topic
A
B
C
- Challenges (1)
- Children (1)
- Choices (1)
- Christ the King (8)
- Christ The King Sunday (2)
- Christ's Death (1)
- Christ's Resurrection (1)
- Christian Love (1)
- Christmas (26)
- Christmas Eve (3)
- Christmas Gift-Giving (3)
- Christmas Joy (3)
- Christmas Love (3)
- Christmas Materialism (1)
- Church (1)
- Cleansing (1)
- Comfort (1)
- Coming of the Kingdom (3)
- Community (1)
- Competition (1)
- Competitiveness (1)
- Counselor (2)
- Covenant (1)
- Covenant Community (1)
- Creation (1)
- Cross-Cultural Experience (1)
- The Cross (1)
D
E
F
G
- Genesis (1)
- Gentleness (1)
- Gifts (1)
- Glory (3)
- God (1)
- God with Us (3)
- God's Goodness (1)
- God's Judgment (1)
- God's Nearness (2)
- God's Power (Omnipotence) (1)
- God's Promises (1)
- God's Protection (2)
- God's Sovereignty (1)
- God's Throne (1)
- God's Word (2)
- Good News (1)
- Goodness (1)
- Gossip (1)
- Grace (1)
- Grandparents (1)
- Gratitude (1)
- Greatness of God (1)
- Greed (1)
- Grief (1)
- Guidance (1)
- The Glory of God (2)
H
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
- Sacrifice (1)
- Sacrificial Love (1)
- Safety (1)
- Salt and Light (1)
- Salvation (2)
- Salvation History (1)
- Savior (5)
- Scripture (2)
- Security (1)
- Seeking the Kingdom (1)
- Self-Glory (1)
- Self-Reliance (1)
- Selfishness (1)
- Servanthood (2)
- Service (1)
- Set Free (2)
- Sex (1)
- Shadow (1)
- Shalom (2)
- Shame (1)
- Sin (1)
- Singing (1)
- Son of God (1)
- Songs (1)
- Sports (1)
- Stable (2)
- Stranger (1)
- Strength (2)
- Sweetness (1)
- The Sacraments (1)
- The Saints (1)
Top_level_categories by Reference