Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2501 to 2525 of 4997 results

Mark 1:1-8

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... it. Waiting Man: Please. Passerby: Sorry, sorry, I’m just curious. Naturally curious, I guess. (Waiting Man turns his attention back to the door. Passerby is joined by Spouse who is carrying shopping bags.) Spouse: Hi, honey. Passerby: Hi. (whispers) There seems to be something kind of unusual going on here. This guy is waiting for something, and I think it’s something pretty big. But he won’t tell me what it is. Spouse: Well, why should he tell you? Passerby: That’s what’s so weird. He told me ...

2502. What a Way to Start a Church!

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

... to the depths of poverty. One day the black South African stood beside our table in the dining hall and visibly shook. "It's okay, David, you can join us," I said, to which he replied, "This is first time I sit to eat with whites." The earth kind of moved beneath us. Every day we got into arguments over theology and politics. Magruder got into it with the French Roman Catholic over the common market and the charismatic got into with all of us because we didn't love Jesus enough, but little by little, day ...

2503. Samuel Was the Search Committee

1 Samuel 15:34-35, 16:1-13

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

... of their latest achievements, Samuel is checking them out carefully and looking each one right in the eye since the eyes really are the windows of the soul. Initially Samuel is really impressed with Eliab, the tall, dark handsome one, the one with broad shoulders who has a kind of regal air about him. "But no," says the Lord, "that's not the one." Next comes Abinadab who has all the right stuff, "But no," says the Lord, "that's not the one." Then there's Shammah, but he's not the one, either. All seven sons ...

2504. From Emptiness to Fullness

Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... could be "next-of-kin," as the NRSV translates it, or the "one with the right to redeem," which is the alternative translation given in the margin. This designates the kinsman who was expected to marry the wife of a deceased member of the family, a kind of kinsman/redeemer. In addition, there was a certain lack or emptiness in both their lives — Boaz being a bachelor and Ruth a childless widow. What Naomi was doing was playing the go between, the matchmaker (think of the matchmaker in Fiddler On The Roof ...

2505. What Does It Mean to Be Blessed?

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” So we ask again, “What does it mean to be blessed?” We can barely ...

2506. The Journey Beyond

Illustration

... something beyond? Here, condensed from The Autobiography of John Todd, is the letter he sent in reply: "It is now thirty-five years since I, as a boy of six, was left quite alone in the world. You sent me word you would give me a home and be a kind mother to me. I have never forgotten the day I made the long journey to your house. I can still recall my disappointment when, instead of coming for me yourself, you sent your servant, Caesar, to fetch me. "I remember my tears and anxiety as, perched high on your ...

2507. Doing Your Own Thing

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... spend it as I please. This is my life. If I want to squander it, that is my right.” Have you ever encountered someone with that kind of attitude? Perhaps a few of you did when you got up this morning and looked in the mirror. This is the spirit of our time. We ... I didn’t put the signs up to be mean. I put them there to try to keep things like this from happening. It was kindness which caused me to want to protect little boys just like you.” So it is with God. God’s “No Trespassing” signs are not ...

2508. Looking for Rainbows

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” This is an important story. It tells us that every time we see a rainbow it is more than sunlight refracting through water vapor. It is a reminder of God’s covenant. It is a reminder ...

2509. Better Angels of Our Nature

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... life could be snuffed out by their divine mandate at any moment. The pagan pantheon was encyclopedic, and learning to appease those who made up its table of contents was nothing less than a matter of life and death. Imagine beginning every day with the worry: what kind of mood is Zeus going to be in today? And that’s only one god of many to worry about. This was the world Paul addressed when he corresponded with the Christian community at Corinth. In today’s epistle text it is evident Paul is responding ...

2510. Do You Know Your Place?

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to be “large and in charge.” Who doesn’t want to chart our own destiny? Who doesn’t want to chose our life pathway? Who doesn’t want to decide for oneself? The problem for Christians is that Jesus had a rather startling response to that kind of an attitude: “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus’ harsh “rebuke” of Peter (“rebuke” here is a word used in demonic exorcisms) doesn’t sound so bad when it is directed at a dimwit disciple who had the audacity to try and tell Jesus he was wrong ...

2511. No Cleansing, No Refreshment

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... God and community. The animals displayed in the outer courtyard of the Temple, the Gentiles’ courtyard, made it unnecessary for long-distance travelers to bring creatures for sacrifice along with them. Instead they could be purchased at the Temple site itself - kind of a 7-11 convenience store for sacrifices. Likewise the money-changers took in coins of all sorts, from all regions, and exchanged them for the only accepted currency for the Temple, Tyrian money, so that the pilgrims could pay their annual ...

2512. Practicing the Presence

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... alleviation of global poverty. And if human poverty were eliminated and there was still money left, then the trustees should feel free to invest in other good causes at their discretion. Can you begin to imagine it? Can we even begin to comprehend that kind of naive confidence in our abilities and skills? And yet that is exactly what we practice daily in our trusting in programs, plans, processes, technology, maps. Instead we are being invited in today’s text to live like Philip, not trusting in our own ...

2513. A Change in Control

Mark 3:20-30

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

... . And then things changed; debts still had to be paid, amends still had to be made, mistakes still occurred. But the inner man - the man that God made - was set free to grow and mature. No more booze, a lot more prayer. And the love and kindness of the man that could be glimpsed before - in the moments of sobriety - became apparent to all - for days, weeks, and finally years on end. The children who were still living at home stopped fearing what would happen next - they began to look forward to being with ...

2514. Why Are You So Afraid?

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

... not he could handle the situation did not matter. It was completely Dad’s responsibility.” (3) Maybe that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “Unless you change and become like a little child you shall never enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 18:3) To have that kind of trust, to turn it all over to Daddy, Abba if we could live like that most of the things that keep us awake at night would simply disappear. Fear is the biggest problem in our lives. The best way to conquer fear is with faith. But not ...

2515. Enough Foolishness!

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

King Duncan

... Lord Jesus Christ.” We’ve talked before about the gratitude attitude. It is a wonderful thing when a person has a thankful spirit. It is so much better than grumbling all the time that life has been unfair to you. Let me give you an example of someone with that kind of attitude. Dr. Tim Hansel tells about a friend of his who has no hands. How’s that for being dealt a bad hand in life? no pun intended. His friend has no hands. Instead, he uses hooks. He uses them so well that he is able to play tennis ...

2516. Joy in Giving

Illustration

Rick Dietrich

... me from the Congo that he has "never seen so much unmitigated joy during worship." Gerald goes on: "I've been in evangelical churches where folks were well-trained to 'act' joyous...But here, it's no act. It's not Pentecostal ecstasy either, but a kind of reasoned joy. And, probably the most joyous times are the offering times the singing reaches its loudest, the dancing and clapping is at its most unbridled. Usually, there are at least two offerings per worship service one for the parish, the other for the ...

2517. Forgive as You Have Been Forgiven

Luke 6:27-38

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... loudly. "That does it!" he yells. "I'm never going to talk to Marc again." "What on earth did he do to make you feel this way?" his mother inquired. "He says he's my best friend, and then he doesn't pick me for his side in baseball. What kind of friend is that?" More than not being selected for his friend's team is the attitude the child now has toward his friend. Their relationship has been broken and only forgiveness can mend it. We must choose to forgive even if we feel wronged. We all fall short ...

2518. Silly Goose

Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. Another good lesson. Stay in formation or pay the price. Have you ever dropped out of church for a time? Perhaps someone said an unkind word or failed to say a kind word. Maybe work or travel schedules prevented regular attendance. It could be that something or someone made you angry ... perhaps even God. Did dropping out make you a better person? Of course not. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in ...

2519. Love Your Enemy? Are You Kidding, Lord?

Luke 6:27-38

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... established. In terms of our enemies or potential enemies they, too, will end up in a better relationship with us once they understand just what the limits are. Love, even for enemies, will define the limits. All right, we are to love our enemies. Our love is not the kind that will just allow anything to go on, but will seek the highest and best for them. You must admit, that is a tall order. How are we to go about it? Jesus gives a hint: pray for them. To be sure, that is not our natural inclination. If ...

2520. The Jump To Judgment

Luke 6:39-49

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... . Melanie Wilkes would never judge another person, even when it appeared she had every right and opportunity, even when her whole town would have cheered her if she had. When she died at the end of the movie, Rhett said simply, "She was the only truly kind person I have ever known." What a wonderful epitaph! The jump to judgment. Jesus says be careful. Lord, let me be a Melanie Wilkes. 1. Edward W. Hoch (1849-1925) as it appeared in the Marion, Kansas, Record, a newspaper owned by him. 2. Margaret Mitchell ...

2521. The Business Of The Church

Galatians 1:1-12

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... code, or for the arresting of the progress of intemperance, gambling, or lust."[1] Ironically, a South Carolina orphanage (that is still in operation today) was established in Thornwell's honor not many years after his death in 1862. It is hard to imagine that kind of thinking in our own day, but in Thornwell's it was widely held. Google™ responded with a number of other quotes • "The business of the church is ministry; the church is in the business of saving souls, helping people move from a life of ...

2522. A Fool and His Money

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... of it. As is so often the case when families gather for the reading of the will, the issue is not justice, it is greed, pure and simple. The shame is that families are often permanently torn apart by it. Jesus says, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed" (Luke 12:15). Now, in good rabbinic fashion Jesus says, "Let me tell you a story." He begins to talk about this rich guy, a farmer who has done very well for himself.[1] He was doing nothing illegal. This was no slumlord or drug dealer, he ...

2523. Would A Loving God Really Let Anyone Go To Hell?

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... more I become convinced that the God of love whom we have come to know in Jesus would not condemn someone to the kind of hell our tradition has always described. Does that mean there is a possibility that everyone will eventually be saved? Scripture seems to ... that some will continue to reject God and hang on to their sins, no matter what. As C. S. Lewis wrote, "There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will ...

2524. The Locust Years

Joel 2:23-32

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... children a one-hour, once-a-week meal to sustain them physically, the courts would step in and charge us with child abuse. It is stark testimony to the power of God's word that so many have seemed to survive so long in spite of providing only that kind of diet for their souls. Certainly, they are spiritually immature, and because of that, are in no position to serve the Lord in as meaningful a way as they might. If they have been persisting like that for years, then those are locust years, years that may as ...

2525. Did You Come Here to Die?

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... . After staring into the face of Christ he got a second wind of strength to endure! (6) Have you ever stared into the face of Jesus? It will change your life if you have. We need to stare into the face of Jesus so that we might see the kind of person we can yet become. Most of you probably remember Tom Landry, the longtime head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Landry spent three decades in professional football. Before that he flew 30 combat missions for the U.S. Air Force in World War II and starred for the ...

Showing results