Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2476 to 2500 of 3852 results

Romans 8:6-11

Sermon

David O. Bales

... 's constructive. Here he directs us to the realm of God's Spirit. In youth groups, I often call God's Spirit "The Alien Invasion." This benevolent, invisible sphere infiltrates our lives and surrounds us for good. This is the fresh air that's pushing out the original, acidic smoke that Paul calls the "flesh." The Spirit may be invisible but it's as real as love. The Spirit often motivates the good we do even when we don't think about it. God's all-permeating Spirit is responsible for bringing you to worship ...

2477. Life in the Resurrection Zone

Colossians 3:1-4

Sermon

David O. Bales

... and a man's a mixture, Right down from 'is very birth,Right down from 'is very birth, For part ov 'im comes from 'eaven,For part ov 'im comes from 'eaven, And part ov 'im from earth.1 And part ov 'im from earth.1Part of our being originates in heaven and part from earth. But which will dominate? Because we live at the intersection of two worlds, between two zones, Paul the apostle urges us to choose the heavenly world to take our directions from. Paul is like a trainer, a coach, encouraging us as Christians ...

2478. Oddballs for God

1 Peter 1:17-23

Sermon

David O. Bales

... . Because of what Jesus has done for us, we now live as intimately with God as with the family we grew up in — exiles in the world, but family to God. Peter intends we'll have fewer misunderstandings, miscommunications, and spats than we did in our original family. He expects us to "have genuine mutual love," loving one another spontaneously and wholeheartedly, as families were meant to do, but most of us didn't or don't. If we humans could do a super-wonderful job of caring for one another — giving to ...

2479. A Big Enough Reason

1 Peter 2:19-25

Sermon

David O. Bales

... can't control, not quite slavery, but never complete freedom either. Peter's advice centers us on Jesus. Jesus lived as a servant and died a slave's death. Peter writes, "Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example." The word "example" in the original language was either an outline that a student would fill in or a wax tablet a teacher inscribed with letters on which children traced their ABCs. No matter our circumstances of slavery or semi-slavery, Jesus is an example carefully sketched out for us ...

2480. Rock Bottom

1 Peter 3:13-22

Sermon

David O. Bales

... You're not threatened by tomorrow's being different than today. Peter notes that hope is what's most distinctive about our Christian faith. We need to be ready to justify for others the hope we hold. Be ready to give an account. In the original language, the word "account" means "a reasoned account, a summary." Peter instructs us to offer an explanation, a reason that we're Christian. One thing you learn quickly when teaching: Students don't really know something if they've only memorized it. They must put ...

2481. The Heifer that Will Change the World!

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

Sermon

Larry Lange

... offer, the priests stormed off. The father of the jeweler, upon having learned that his son had turned the priests away, rushed after them with just the jewel they needed. Although the priests tried to pay him the 1,000 shekels, he took only the amount his son originally asked for saying, "I am not trying to take advantage of you as you are seeking to turn to God." Even though a red heifer was just the kind of cow they needed, Reverend Lott is an honest man and was not seeking to take advantage of the ...

2482. Reasons for Rejoicing

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... imploring them to reconcile. He comes to them as a colleague in ministry and as a peacemaker between them.2 A crucial area of Pastor Paul's ministry is in mediating congregational bickering and ministering to personality conflicts. He may have been the original congregational therapist. Making peace between Euodia and Syntyche is paramount with Pastor Paul, as here minds them of the good times they have all shared in the past. Paul does not avoid conflict, nor does he take sides. Paul instructs his converts ...

2483. All in the Family

1 John 3:1-3

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

"Surprise! You're adopted!" If you were to hear those words from a trusted relative, surprise would be an understatement, I'm sure. Total shock would probably be more descriptive terminology for your emotional state as you examined the official court record and your original birth certificate. "Adopted" does describe each of us though, because we have been adopted by God into God's family. How do we know? The Bible tells us so. When the Spirit of God dwells within us, we are given new birth as God's ...

2484. Tomb It May Concern

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... This was the mindset of all the faithful in Paul's day. Now they are growing more troubled with each new day because the first generation of believers is beginning to die. A quarter century has passed since Jesus ascended to be with God and the original heirs to the promise are beginning to die before the promise has been fulfilled. This was a pastoral issue of tremendous importance inspiring Paul to write. He reminds the Thessalonians and us that Christian hope is rooted in the God who raised Jesus. "We do ...

2485. True Blood

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... (who can’t help himself, after all) is worth the sacrifice. But wait a minute: It is not just Vampirism that is alive and well. The ancient religion of Mithraism that competed with Christianity in the first four centuries is also alive and well. The original “blood bath” was a sacred ritual in the Mithras cult, whose elevated god was symbolized by the bull. New initiates into the Mithras cult would stand under the neck of the bull as it was sacrificed. When the animal’s neck was cut, the “new ...

2486. 1 Timothy 2:1-7

1 Timothy 2:1-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is a missional message is further affirmed by the concluding Pauline statement in today’s text. The first identity claimed for Paul is as “herald,” a messenger. The second self-identification, as “apostle,” affirms the divine origin of Paul’s mission and message. Finally he is a “teacher,” specifically charged with communicating this “glorious gospel” to “the Gentiles.” The inclusiveness that has run throughout this section is the inclusiveness that specifically characterizes Paul ...

2487. Silly Putty, Play-Doh and Potter's Clay

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... from the fertile soil and the lower class was made from ordinary clay. But even I know, if you are going to create pottery, you want ordinary clay, not rich fertile soil for farming. Scripture tells us, that, unlike the legends of India, you and I have the same humble origin, clay. (2) At the same time, the Bible also tells us that we've all been created in the very image of God. We may only be made of clay, but we were each, individually crafted by God's own hand. And, it was God who breathed life into us ...

2488. Swept Clean

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... one Priority. And that if we Savor the Best First, our relationship with Him through simple things life worship, study, prayer and service, then life and faith will both be much more meaningful. Cleanse the clutter of your soul, Set the priorities for life Set the priorities for life. 1. Original source unknown. 2. Interview with Diane Sawyer of PrimeTime Live, "The Story I Can't Forget," Lynn Harris. Ladies' Home Journal (November 1997), p. 156.

2489. Living The Faith For Dummies

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... , Give the time as a gift of yourself to them and to God. Let that be Your Sign. The sign of being a Good Neighbor. 1. News of the Weird 7/9/2004 2. www.dumbcrooks.com January 19, 2004 3. Based on Bill Engvall's comedy routine 4. An original story 5. Dave Stone, "The Good Samaritan" 1/1/2001 6. I couldn't find the source for this one 7. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), August 1982 8. Dave Stone, "The Good Samaritan" 1/1/2001

2490. LENT: The Passion of Christ: "Denied!"

John 13:36-38; 18:12-27

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Jerusalem. And you know how People love stories about other peoples' failure. The legend says that people started imitating the rooster crow whenever Peter walked by. My guess is that the rooster crow devolved into the cackle of a chicken and that's the origin of the whole idea of a coward being called a chicken. Whatever, Peter had the courage and determination to redeem himself and while his faith may have been tested he didn't lose it completely. And as a result he experienced FEAR, FAILURE AND ...

2491. Come On In The Water's Fine

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... in the world. We are God's walking signboards, carrying the message of God for all to see and hear. The Font of Baptism is used to write who we are on our hearts. It's God's autograph and it says we are a child of God, a designer original. Baptism Names Us, and tells us who we are. But it also tells the world who we are and who they can be. III. Baptism Aims Us A. Baptism Claims Us, Baptism Names Us, and Baptism Aims us. Baptism tells us what we are called to do. And we are ...

2492. Unlocking the Access

Ephesians 3:1-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Did any of you hear or see this story back in November. It originally appeared in the Columbus, Ohio paper and was reported in both the newspaper and on ABC 13 News. Here's the headline: Teen locked out of house ends up stuck in chimney An Ohio teenager who locked himself out of the house tried to make like Santa Claus and shimmy ...

2493. Sitting at the Big People Table

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... on what Christ has done for us. An unthankful heart is just as distasteful to God as that Turkey my Aunt cooked. But with A GRATITUDE ATTITUDE we can GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS and GIVE THANKS TODAY or any day. 1. An original Thanksgiving tale to be read aloud to kids from www.dads.com, © 1992 Howard D. Fencl 2. Parson Bible Illustrator For Windows 3. The AutoIllustrator: Preaching Magazine, Vol. 2, #3. (Preaching Resources, Jackson, TN) 4. The AutoIllustrator: Preaching Magazine, Vol. 1, #3. (Preaching ...

2494. Historical Background

Luke 17:11

Illustration

Theodore F. Schneider

... was open hostility among Jews and Samaritans in Jesus' day. Enmity had been brewing for centuries, and especially since the return of the exiles from Babylon in the sixth century B.C.E. Though it may be that by Jesus' day few remembered the stories of its origin, but the hostility was still there and mutually shared. Believed by tradition to be the remnant of the lost tribes of Israel which disappeared after the fall of Samaria to Sargon II of Assyria in 722 B.C.E., the Samaritans had retained many of the ...

2495. A Long Flight

Luke 18:1-8

Illustration

Staff

... days later. Rodgers actual time in the air was 3 days, 10 hours and 14 minutes. The airplane was forced down by weather and mechanical failure more than 30 times resulting in "light crashes" and some real crashes that required major repairs. When Rodgers landed in Long Beach the only original parts on the airplane were the rear rudder and the oil pan on the engine. I would have given up the first time I lost my wings.

2496. Can You Be Popular and Serve Jesus?

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... 3 wins. “What happened?” his friend later asks. “I thought you liked number 3?” “I met this fellow . . .” the first guy explains. In the next race he likes number 5, but meets a bettor who likes number 6. He changes his mind. Sure enough, his original horse, number 5, wins. After losing six races because somebody keeps changing his mind, he tells his friend, “I’ve had enough. I’m going to get a hot dog.” When he returns with a hamburger, his friend asks, “What are you doing with a ...

2497. Whose Wife Will She Be?

Luke 20:27-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... . Fred B. Craddock, Craddock Stories (St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2001). 2. Michelle Cromer, Exit Strategy: Thinking Outside the Box (New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2006). 3. Josephine Young Case’s At Midnight on the 31st of March, an out-of-print title published in 1990 by Syracuse University Press (originally published by Houghton Mifflin, 1938). Cited at http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/easter_incredible.htm. 4. Dynamic Preaching, Oct/Nov/Dec 2010.

2498. Fighting Back Against Falling Back

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... against fall back is to exercise some initiative to move something from 0 to 1. Second, industry: the battle of good vs. evil is partly the battle of industry over inertia. One of the greatest intellectual achievements of the Christian tradition is the notion of original sin. People will make a mess of anything, of everything, and it takes major industry, ladled and laddered with showers of God’s grace, for us to climb out of old pits and to keep us from falling into new pits. Third, integrity: A certain ...

2499. Historical Data about Christmas

Matthew 1:18-25

Illustration

Adrian Dieleman

What did December 25 originally celebrate? For some time before the coming of Christianity, December 25 was a time of pagan celebration. The pagans knew that at this point in their calendar the shortest day and longest night had passed, that little by little the sun would rise higher and remain longer in the sky, ...

2500. The Hope of the World

Matthew 2:13-18

Illustration

King Duncan

... Christ." She then gave a brief explanation. Grandpa looked in disbelief at his daughter. "A note of astonishment, of genuine, of radiant humility, something so unexpected that it even caught Rita off guard. Indeed she spoke almost as though she had just discovered the origins of Christmas herself, as if that very moment such knowledge had been revealed to her." Laughter broke out again, Charlotte's face glowed like a little angel's. There was no more talk of Jesus that evening. "And yet " it was as if the ...

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