Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 76 to 100 of 173 results

76. She Could Dance All Night

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

Scott H. Bowerman

Dr. Diane Komp of Harvard Medical School tells the story of one of her Down's Syndrome patients with whom she was eating, at a restaurant. The restaurant had music and a little dance floor. Her friend loved to dance, but Komp had had a hard day and didn't feel up to it. But then the young man found a partner, another Downs person named Grace. And they danced, and danced, and the young man was so p...

77. Lighten Up!

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

M.T. Kutz

Lori Beth Jones wrote a book called "Jesus CEO". In this book she wrote: "Perhaps Jesus loved to dance because he was born at a party. I believe any event that has a heavenly light show, people bearing gifts from distant places and a host of angels singing and giving directions is a dance of major proportion. It must have made an impact on him. One of his favorite miracles was to turn water into ...

78. The Discipline of Simplicity

Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30

Illustration

Richard Foster

In Richard Foster's book Celebration of Discipline he divides discipline into three parts: Inward, Outward, and Corporate discipline. He places simplicity under the category of the Outward Disciplines. Here are his nine ways to order our world so that we can create simplicity in our life. First, buy things for their usefulness rather than their status Second, reject anything that is producing an ...

79. The Fluctuation between Light and Darkness

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

William B. Oglesby

There are times in the lives of all of us when things seem to go exceptionally well. Plans work out, dreams take substance and shape, and projects fall into place. On such occasions, quite naturally, we rejoice, for it is clear to us that life is full and that there are not only satisfactions but also accomplishments which enable us to feel worthwhile. By the same token, there are times in the li...

80. The Most Neglected Beatitudes

Matthew 11:6

Illustration

William B. Oglesby

Jesus speaks here what has been called the most neglected of all the Beatitudes, "And blessed is he who takes no offense at me." John dies in the prison. "Blessed is he that takes no offense." It is a word for that time, and it is a word for our time. For faith is comparatively easy when things go well; faith becomes difficult when things turn against us and there seems to be no release. It is th...

81. No Seagulls Came

Matt 11:1-19; Rom 8:28-39

Illustration

William B. Oglesby

There's a story from World War II that's been told many times which occurred over the Pacific. Eddie Rickenbacker and some colleagues on an aircraft were shot down and managed to inflate a raft. The food and water were soon expended, and all hope for their rescue seemed to fade. As they related the story later, they described how together they had formed a prayer band and had prayed earnestly for ...

82. Jesus Did Some Strange Things

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

Porter Taylor

I heard that a college student came to his religion professor and said, "You know I used to be OK with that 'What Would Jesus Do?' thing until I started reading the Bible. Sometimes Jesus did some strange things." Sometimes he did. And because of that John asks and the disciples ask and we ask: Are you the one to come or are we to wait for another? Each of us has expectations about the kind of Me...

83. Taking the Lead

Matt 11:16-19

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

When I was a single man, my definition of a bad date was someone who would never tell you what they wanted to do—but always tell you what they didn't want to do. The conversation often went like this: "What would you like to do?" "Anything you want to do." "Well, how about let's eat Chinese food tonight." "No, I hate Chinese food, let's do something else." "Okay, how about we eat a Mexican m...

84. Where Is the Fire?

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

John Jamison

We get this comforting idea that if we follow the Messiah life will somehow be smoother, or at least all fit together in some "good" way. Then we run smack into the reality that the only guarantee Jesus made to us had to do with the activities that come after this life. In fact, Jesus very clearly expected that his followers would have a harder time getting through this life than those who walked ...

85. When the Real World Rears Its Head

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

John Jamison

Why in the world did John the Baptist question if Jesus was the one? Maybe he forgot. Maybe he did recognize Jesus at his baptism, and now, a few months later, he just forgot. You have to wonder, however, what could make a man forget that Jesus was the Christ. That seems pretty unforgettable. The best way to answer that may be to look at what makes us forget who he is. Maybe that will help. Shell...

86. When God Doesn’t Fix Us

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

Larry Broding

Christmas is coming soon. The lights, the sounds, the smells of the holidays are in the air. No matter where we go, we are reminded of holiday cheer. In fact, many of us rely on this atmosphere to bring us out of our doldrums. We expect people, places, or events to create the mood that Christmas brings. Human nature tempts us to lean on others to bolster our condition. We expect others to "fix" u...

87. It Takes Time for Truth to be Accepted

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

On December 6, 1865, just months after the Civil War ended, the 13th amendment outlawing slavery was ratified and became of the law of the land. But that didn't mean every state approved the ratification of the amendment. Mississippi's state legislature, for example, was dominated by whites bitter over the defeat of the Confederacy, and they rejected the measure. 130 years passed before Mississipp...

88. John’s Question

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

Brian Stoffregen

Jesus' failure was also personal for John. He's sitting in prison. He will soon be executed by the political powers. Is Jesus really the Coming One the more powerful one? Mary Donovan Turner, in a Christian Century (December 6, 1995, p. 1173) article on this text begins with: John sat in his prison cell staring at the four walls that kept him from freedom. He could no longer look upon the familia...

89. His Unique Contribution

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ's 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men, who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received th...

90. The Burden Bearing Christ - Sermon Starter

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

There is a wonderful legend concerning the quiet years of Jesus, the years prior to his visible ministry. The legend claims that Jesus the carpenter was one of the master yoke-makers in the Nazareth area. People came from miles around for a yoke, hand carved and crafted by Jesus son of Joseph. When customers arrived with their team of oxen Jesus would spend considerable time measuring the team, t...

91. Planting the Seeds

Jn 1:1-18; Mt 11:1-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

There was a woman once who wanted peace in the world and peace in her heart, but she was very frustrated. The world seemed to be falling apart and her personal life wasn't that great either. One day she decided to go shopping, and she went to the mall and walked in to one of the stores. She was surprised to see Jesus behind the counter. She knew it was Jesus because he looked just like the paintin...

92. Broken Dreams

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

King Duncan

In his book Horns and Halos, Dr. J. Wallace Hamilton tells about one of the weirdest auction sales in history; and it was held in Washington, D.C., in 1926, where 150,000 patented models of old inventions were declared obsolete and placed on the auction block for public auction. Prospective buyers and on-lookers chuckled as item after item was put up for bid; such as a "bed-bug buster" or an "illu...

93. We All Need Help

Matthew 11:15

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Purpose: To encourage children to seek help when they need it. Material: A hearing aid. A pair of glasses. (Borrow them, if you do not have either of these.) Special Procedure: If possible, be seated when you are talking to the children. Lesson: This morning I have something I want to show you that you may not have seen before. Does anyone know what this is? ... (A hearing aid.) And what is it ...

94. That Is SO God!

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Every great comedian strives to create their own personal brand. Every world-class comedian has a distinctive stamp within their act. A really successful comic knows he or she has made it when the public begins to automatically equate their name with a particular comic shtick. Let's see how well you do. Jack Benny was always what? The cheapskate. Larry, Moe, and Curly mean an eye poke, a nose h...

95. Patience

Matthew 11:2-11 · James 5:7-10

Sermon

Will Willimon

"Be patient, therefore,...until the coming of the Lord." I begin this Third Sunday in Advent here in the Chapel preaching on the necessity for Christian patience. Advent is the Christian season of waiting and expectancy. Therefore it is also a season of patience, because what we really need in life can't be ours merely by wanting it. It must come as a gift from God, in God's own good time. Patien...

96. Advent 3

Psalm 146:1-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-12, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Our Old Testament lessons for the third week of Advent explore hope. Isaiah 35 proclaims the inevitability of God's salvation, even when we find ourselves at a great distance from Zion in situations that appear to be hopeless. Psalm 146:5-10 is a hymn of praise that calls us to trust in God because of God's enduring reliability. Isaiah 35:1-10 - "Hope for the Hopeless" Setti...

97. Proper 9

Psalm 45:1-17, Romans 7:7-25, Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 11:1-19, Genesis 24:1-67

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Genesis 24 is the story of how the servant of Abraham searches for a wife for Isaac in Mesopotamia and finds Rebekah. Psalm 45:10-17 is the second half of a Marriage Song that focuses on the bride. Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 - "A Story with Many Heroes" Setting. In many ways the testing of Abraham in Genesis 22 (the lectionary lesson for last week) concludes the Abrah...

98. Breaking Through in Little Ways

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

When Jesus tells John's people what to look for, it's not big, grandiose stuff. As concerns signs of the kingdom, Jesus points to people who couldn't see much, seeing more...people who couldn't climb out of bed in the morning, playing Ring Around the Rosie in the townsquare...Previously untouchable lepers kissing their wives and hugging their children....and the poor, hearing a good sermon for a c...

99. Pay Better Attention

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

Annie Dillard tells of the pastor whose pulpit prayer included some wonderful petitions for the betterment of life in this world. Then, before signing off, he included these words: "But thou knowest, O God, that we ask for these same things Sunday after Sunday. So we confess to you our discouragement that so little progress is made." Said Annie: "His prayer was so painfully honest that I knew I ha...

100. Have Your ID Ready

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Think of the last time you had to show some proof of your identity. Maybe you used your library card to check out books, or you used your student ID to get discounted tickets, or you showed your driver’s license to gain admission to a concert. Most adults have some form of proof that we are who we say we are. But if you don’t have any physical proof, how can you convince people of your identity? ...

Showing 76 to 100 of 173 results

76. She Could Dance All Night

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

Scott H. Bowerman

77. Lighten Up!

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

M.T. Kutz

78. The Discipline of Simplicity

Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30

Illustration

Richard Foster

79. The Fluctuation between Light and Darkness

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

William B. Oglesby

80. The Most Neglected Beatitudes

Matthew 11:6

Illustration

William B. Oglesby

81. No Seagulls Came

Matt 11:1-19; Rom 8:28-39

Illustration

William B. Oglesby

82. Jesus Did Some Strange Things

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

Porter Taylor

83. Taking the Lead

Matt 11:16-19

Illustration

Jerry Goebel

84. Where Is the Fire?

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

John Jamison

85. When the Real World Rears Its Head

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

John Jamison

86. When God Doesn’t Fix Us

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

Larry Broding

87. It Takes Time for Truth to be Accepted

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

88. John’s Question

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

Brian Stoffregen

89. His Unique Contribution

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

90. The Burden Bearing Christ - Sermon Starter

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

91. Planting the Seeds

Jn 1:1-18; Mt 11:1-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

92. Broken Dreams

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

King Duncan

93. We All Need Help

Matthew 11:15

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

94. That Is SO God!

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

95. Patience

Matthew 11:2-11 · James 5:7-10

Sermon

Will Willimon

96. Advent 3

Psalm 146:1-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-12, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

97. Proper 9

Psalm 45:1-17, Romans 7:7-25, Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 11:1-19, Genesis 24:1-67

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

98. Breaking Through in Little Ways

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

99. Pay Better Attention

Matthew 11:2-12

Illustration

100. Have Your ID Ready

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Showing 76 to 100 of 173 results