What Sermon are You Preaching Today?

Pam Phillips-Burk

Call to Worship

Shout to God for joy, everyone on earth!

We will sing the glory of God’s name and give glorious praise!

What will you say to God this day?

We will proclaim all the wonderful things God does!

God’s power is so great that our enemies bow down in fear.

Come and see what wonderful things God has done. And let us worship God!

—based on Psalm 66:1-12

Prayer for the Day

O God, we have entered into this holy place today to seek you and to offer to you our praise and worship. Even though we do this week after week, we want to keep our worship passionate and sincere. May your Holy Spirit enliven us and our worship today, so that our praise may bring you joy and gladness. Amen.

Call to Confession

We try our best to live up to the high calling of Jesus but we fail time and again. We overlook the hungry and thirsty, we avoid those living on the streets, we hold grudges against family and friends, and we remain silent in the face of injustice. We neglect our spiritual lives. We have much to confess. Let us pray.

Prayer of Confession (responsively)

For the times we have looked away from those who are hungry, thirsty or experiencing homelessness

            Lord, forgive us.

For the times that we’ve kept silent when someone was being bullied or berated or harassed

            Lord, forgive us.

For the times we’ve made excuses about not getting involved in the ministry of the church or outside the church walls

            Lord, forgive us.

For the times we’ve said we would do something later, only later never comes

            Lord, forgive us.

For the times we’ve expressed frustration over the church not growing even though we do little about it

            Lord, forgive us.

For the times we’ve complained about the way something was being done within the church

            Lord, forgive us.

We lay our sins and shortcomings before you, Lord, trusting in your love and mercy. Amen.

 Assurance of Pardon

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” Jesus is more ready to forgive than we are to receive it. Turn from your good-intentions and accept the love and forgiveness that only Jesus can give. Friends, we are forgiven and can start anew. Thanks be to God.

Prayer for Illumination

Reveal yourself to us Holy One, as we open up your word. Speak to us through it and transform our lives so that we may love and serve you more each day. Amen.

Scripture Possibilities for the Sermon

• 2 Timothy 2:8-15—Paul, a seasoned minister of the gospel is mentoring the young probationer Timothy, in the epistle. He is quick to talk about his hardships, maybe even do a bit of complaining. Seasoned ministers are no strangers to complaining as well—church members who shirk duties, poor stewardship, presbytery meetings, denominational activities, even other ministers. Paul, realizes though that the Good News is never chained, never contained, can rise above any negativity or complaining we may do. Notice verse 13—even when we are faithless, God remains faithful.

The bottom line of this passage comes in verses 14-15—don’t wrangle over words, which do not good and only harms the listener. Eugene Peterson in The Message describes it this way “Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul.” In other words, don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk. A minister, an elder/deacon, Sunday school teacher or pew sitter—the best way to preach a sermon is to live it. What sermon are you preaching today?

• Isaiah 52:7—“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation…”
• Esther 4:14—“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
• 2 Timothy 2:15—“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
• 2 Corinthians 9:13-14—“As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.”
• Ruth 1:8—“May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness…”
• Numbers 6:24-26—“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
• 1 Thessalonians 1:2—“We give thanks to God always for you… making mention of you in our prayers;”
• Romans 10:14—“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
• Isaiah 40:31—“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:58—“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Affirmation of Faith

The Apostles’ Creed

Prayer and Blessings for Pastor

Suggestion:  Have the elders (& deacons, if you have them) come forward and lay hands on the pastor (and any other pastoral staff you may have). If you have multiple pastors, then maybe designate a different elder to pray for each pastor. Be sure to include the pastor’s spouse as well.

Consider anointing him/her/them with oil before the prayer. You can pray the pray below, word your own, invite specific elders/deacons to pray, or give all the elders/deacons an opportunity to offer a brief prayer.

If your pastor is able ask them to kneel. Or invite them to sit in a chair before the congregation. You can invite the congregation to participate by raising their hand as if bestowing a blessing upon their pastor/s.

Almighty God, you have called some of your servants to serve your church as pastor using the unique gifts you have given them. We give you thanks for Pastor _______, for the many ways s/he tends to our flock. We have been blessed by their preaching and we pray that you would continue to inspire her/him to preach your word diligently. Thank you that Pastor ________ has lovingly walked with us on some very holy ground—the hospital room and nursing home, at weddings and births, in conversations, Bible study, and over a cup of good coffee. We have been fed the holy word as well as at the holy table by her/his hands. Continue to bless Pastor _________ with wisdom, strength, courage, passion, compassion and humor. May we receive her/his leadership and continue to partner with her/him in our common work together in your kingdom. Amen.

Invitation to the Offering

We have an opportunity this morning to put our words of faith in action. We can live out our sermon by the giving of tithes and offerings. Let us continue our worship of God together.

Offertory Prayer

We give you thanks and praise, O God, for your abundant love and grace shown to us. Take our offerings and gifts, and our very lives, bless them for use in your glorious work in our church, community, and even around the world with people we may not know because that is how miracles unfold. Thank you for using us in this small way in your kingdom-building work.

Benediction

Watch your words this week.

Make sure that you are not just talking about your faith, but walking your faith.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.

 

For more ideas to celebrate your pastor and honor their ministry, visit the webpage – https://cpc.app-staging.com/pdmtappreciation/