Light on Fear

Quote

Author

Dorothy Thompson

Keywords

Fear grows in darkness; if you think there’s a bogeyman around, turn on the light.

liturgy

Taken from Psalm 27:1

Author

Dustin Ray

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:1

Leader: Through the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ, the plan of the Father, and power of the Holy Spirit, you who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins—your sins are washed away! All: ...

liturgy

Almighty God, we too often live in

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Almighty God, we too often live in fear. Fear drives our self-preservation, our self-centered decisions, and prevents us from comprehending the wonder of your presence among us. Like Peter, we would d...

liturgy

Adapted from Psalm 27:1, 4, 14

Author

Chip Hardwick

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:null

Leader: The Lord is our light and our salvation Whom should we fear? People: The Lord is our strength, What can make us afraid? Leader: We ask one thing of the Lord; to live in his house all the...

liturgy

Leader: We are people of the

Author

Jacob Traeger

Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:20-22, Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 32:5, 1 John 1:8-9, Philippians 4:6-7, Hebrews 13:5-6

Leader: We are people of the resurrection. Witnesses to God’s glorious victory in Jesus Christ, which brings peace and transforms the power structures of this world. But we also know that we live in ...

liturgy

Adapted from Psalm 27 (WEB)

Author

Chip Hardwick

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:null

Leader: The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? People: The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? Leader: One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will se...

liturgy

Adapted from Psalm 27:1-2; 4-5

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:1-2, Psalm 27:4-5

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies an...

illustration

Achulophobia: The Fear of Darkness

Author

James Merritt

Keywords

Scripture

John 8:12

Years ago, my wife and I traveled to Kentucky where I went to seminary and decided to stop and tour Mammoth Cave. The trip marked my first and only time ever to be in a cavern like this, and I’ll neve...

liturgy

God is my light and my salvation

Author

Steve Garnaas Holmes

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:, John 8:12, Philippians 4:6-7 , Matthew 6:25-34 , Isaiah 60:19-20 , Exodus 14:13-14, Psalm 27:1-3

Leader: God is my light and my salvation; of whom should I be afraid? All: Though violence rise all around me I will not be drawn into fear. One thing I asked of God, that will I seek af...

illustration

Children Learning Courage

Author

Barbara Brown Taylor

Keywords

Scripture

Joshua 1:9, Exodus 20:21, Isaiah 42:16, John 12:46, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Psalm 27:1

Every now and then it shows through the clouds that are moving across its face. One moment it looks like the eye of a hawk in profile. The next it looks like the eye at the top of the pyramid on a dol...

Quote

Author

Plato

Keywords

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark: the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

liturgy

O Lord, In the roar of the whirlwind

Author

Calvin Miller

Keywords

Scripture

Nahum 1:3-5, Habakkuk 3:3-4, Exodus 19:16-18, John 12:28-29, Revelation 4:5, 1 Kings 19:11-13

O Lord, In the roar of the whirlwind, I hear attentively the noise of your voice that roars to the end of heaven. I am blinded by your lightning that snips the sky between horizons. Your voice roars i...

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Holy God, You call us to a passionate,

Author

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Keywords

Scripture

Philippians 2:15, Deuteronomy 6:5, 1 John 4:9-10, Psalm 51:10, Romans 12:1-2, Revelation 3:15-16

Holy God, You call us to a passionate, all-consuming faith. Yet, so frequently, we give You half-hearted obedience or distracted, leftover moments of our time. You tell us that we are the salt of the ...

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Lord, your love is remarkable. Despite

Author

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Keywords

Lord, your love is remarkable. Despite our ongoing sin, You have graciously pursued us, forgiven us, and saved us. We confess that sharing Your saving love is sometimes intimidating. Forgive us for be...

liturgy

God of forgiveness and mercy, hear our

Author

James G. Kirk

Keywords

God of forgiveness and mercy, hear our prayer as we confess our sin. With moments so critical we let time go by. With deliverance so near we linger in the darkness. With Christ as our armor, we yet fe...

liturgy

We are a people that prefer the

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-5, Colossians 60:1, Psalm 27:1, 1 John 1:7, Ephesians 5:8

We are a people that prefer the darkness. The darkness hides that which we wish others dare not see and that which we loathe about ourselves, our twisted thoughts, perverted practices, and foolish fol...

illustration

A Light in the Darkness

Author

Caroline Cobb

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-13

“They will look toward the earth and see only distress, darkness, and the gloom of affliction, and they will be driven into thick darkness.” (Isa. 8:22) In The Two Towers , the second novel in Tolki...

illustration

The Effects of Light Deprivation

Author

Joan Chittister

Keywords

Scripture

2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 5:8, Isaiah 9:2, Psalm 27:1, John 1:5

Psychologists tell us that one of the most difficult conditions a person can be forced to bear is light deprivation. Darkness, in fact, is often used in military captivity or penal institutions to bre...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Zephaniah 3:14-20

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Zephaniah 3:14-20, 2 Kings 22:, Isaiah 7:null

Check out our video discussion of the text with the author, Austin D. Hill. Click here to view! Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Zephaniah’s Context The book of Zep...

liturgy

Stand Firm Against Devil's Schemes

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-9, Luke 1:79, Psalm 23:4, 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

Pastor: Satan and the powers of darkness seek to divide and destroy. And all too often God’s people either run from the battle in fear and defeat, or pick up the wrong weapons in the fight, relying ...

Quote

Author

Brennan Manning

Keywords

Scripture

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalm 34:18, Ephesians 5:13, Romans 8:28, Galatians 6:2

In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light fo...

liturgy

In this season of Advent, we celebrate

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 103:17, Zephaniah 3:14-17, 20

Pastor: In this season of Advent, we celebrate that Jesus has come, and that He promises to come again! When He comes, He will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the ...

lectionary

Third Sunday of Advent

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Zephaniah 3:14-20, 2 Kings 22:, Isaiah 7:null

Check out our video discussion of the text with the author, Austin D. Hill. Click here to view! AIM Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Zephaniah’s Context...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Ephesians 5:8-14

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 5:8-14, John 1:12, John 1:45, Hebrews 12:, Colossians 1:13-14

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Reconciled with God for Holiness Paul writes this letter to the Ephesians to exhort them to live lives that are in line with the great...

liturgy

Adapted from Psalm 27:1-5

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:1, 4-5, 6

Leader: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? People: One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after...

scripture guide

Luke 9:28-43 (Guide B)

Author

William Rowley

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 9:28-43, Matthew 17:1-3, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:19, Luke 9:22-27, Exodus 14:19-20, Numbers 9:15-16, Ezekiel 10:, Psalm 18:, Isaiah 4:, Daniel 7:9-14, Exodus 34:29-35, Deuteronomy 18:15-19, 2 Peter 1:16-18, John 1:4-9, John 1:14, Exodus 13:21, Exodus 24:15-18, Exodus 40:34-35, 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, Luke 9:37

The Context Introduction The Transfiguration stands out like, well, a bright light on a dark mountainside in the Gospel of Luke. The customary earthiness of the rest of the gospel falls away as heav...

liturgy

Lord—you not only know all things...

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 28:19-20, Isaiah 41:10, John 11:25-26, James 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Lord—you not only know all things... You notice all things. You notice when we are joyful—and You laugh, too. You notice when we are in grief or despair—and you cry with us. When we are alone or confu...

liturgy

Satan and the powers of darkness

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:23 , 1 John 1:8-9, Hebrews 8:12, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Pastor: Satan and the powers of darkness seek to divide and destroy. And all too often God’s people either run from the battle in fear and defeat, or pick up the wrong weapons in the fight, relying ...

lectionary

Christmas: Nativity of the Lord (Guide A)

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2-7, Genesis 1:3-4, Isaiah 9:2, John 1:9, John 1:5

Preaching Commentary Ancient Lens What’s the historical context? Light in the Darkness Light is good. When God created the heavens and the earth, we are first told that “God said, ‘Let there be l...

lectionary

Christmas: Nativity of the Lord

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-20, Luke 2:23, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Preaching Commentary Rediscovering the Wonder of Jesus’ Birth It is said that familiarity breeds contempt, but sometimes familiarity breeds something far less intense, but equally as destructive—co...

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