Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 2626 to 2650 of 3314 results

2626. A Way to God

Lk 7:36-50

Illustration

King Duncan

Legend has it that before the Reformation, before he transformed the church, Martin Luther was in his room in the monastery weeping because of his sins. His confessor, a young man, simply didn't know what to do, so he began repeating the Apostles' Creed "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell ...

2627. When You Want to Run Away

Psalm 11:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... in a crowded detention camp with over 100 women political prisoners. A doctor, for some unexplainable reason, brought her a Bible, It was a half of a New Testament in a popular paper-back edition, containing St. John’s Gospel, the Acts of the Apostles, and the letters of St. Paul. It was illustrated with charming line—drawings. Leafing idly through that portion of scripture and looking at the pictures, Sheila came across a drawing to illustrate the famous passage of Paul’s letter to the Romans — you ...

2628. In the House of the Lord

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... believe what they were seeing. The scene is set in a small and simple sanctuary lit Texas. Everyone who figures in the movie drama is seated there in the pews. The camera moves in on the preacher at the pulpit, and he reads the moving cadences of the apostle Paul’s great hymn on love from 1 Corinthians 13.-We hear again how faith, hope and love outlast everything else. Then the ushers begin to pass communion trays. The camera follows the tray down the pew persons take the elements and pass the tray to the ...

2629. Characteristics of the Church

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of all a learning church, and it was a church of fellowship. Today, let’s continue to look at that church that came to birth at Pentecost. I It was a praying church. You can’t miss that even at a casual reading: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” The psalm for my daily devotion during this past week has been Psalm 130. One section of the psalm spoke to me as I thought of the sermon, Verse 5: I wait for the Lord, my soul ...

2630. The Beginning of the Story

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... has called itself a Gospel. That word literally means, “Good News.” It’s the Greek word from which we get evangelism. Interestingly, the word was seldom used by our Lord. Luke did not use it in his Gospel, and used it only twice in his Acts of the Apostles. Mathew used it four times, John never used it, and Mark used it only eight times. Yet, it is a key word and Paul made it a staple expression in his vocabulary. “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark said. And when ...

2631. The Unforgivable Sin

Mark 3:20-30

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... not only to Jesus but His ardent followers will seem “beside themselves” – out of step with reality. The early Christians weren’t much surprised therefore when the worldly-wise despised them as fools and called their preaching foolishness. “We are fools,” writes the apostle Paul (1 Cor. 4:1) - absurd an idiodic embarked on a wrong course, and doing mad things, “we are fools for Christ’s sake.” (Carl F. H. Henry, Ibid., p. 150) Now a clinching question on our side path: Do you reckon anyone ...

2632. Judas, A Person Like Us

Mark 14:43-52

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Would you ever consider naming one of your children Judas? We name our children James and John and Matthew and Peter and Andrew and Thaddeus. You may not have thought of the apostles of Jesus when you gave these names to your sons. You may have been thinking of a father, or grandfather, but the names go beyond that, back to those disciples of Jesus. But Judas! The name is not in our repertoire of treasured names for our sons. Yet, the name ...

2633. Why Do People Suffer?

John 9:1-7

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... caused other people pain, that in the name of Jesus Christ, you and I are forgiven. Let it soak into your soul. Embrace the grace of God. Embrace the grace of God for your sins and find the grace of God to carry on in the midst of life. The apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh, a tormenting problem that would not go away, causing him much pain. You can read about it in II Corinthians 12. Paul shares, how he pleaded with the Lord about it, asking him to remove it. But the Lord said, “My grace is ...

2634. Embracing an Endless Line of Servants

1 Corinthians 3:5-23

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

All the world’s a stage and all men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. And one man in his time plays many parts, said William Shakespeare. The Apostle Paul put it this way: I planted a seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. On this All Saints Sunday, let us consider this stage of life where many have played their parts upon our lives and have made a dramatic difference. What I want to say to ...

2635. Deciding To Excel In Everything

II Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... Lowell wrote: “Life is a leaf of paper white Whereon each of us may write A line or two, and then comes night. Greatly Begin! Though you have time but for a line, be that sublime - Not failure, but low aim is crime.” When the apostle Paul asks the Corinthians to help the mother Church of Jerusalem he makes his appeal on the foundation of excellence. “Just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for one another — see that you also ...

2636. Getting in S.H.A.P.E. for Ministry

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... for you to do. You are something special. You are the only one-of-a-kind. No one else is exactly like you. God has made you unique. You are uniquely shaped for ministry. Discover your spiritual gifts. He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers. That is Paul’s short list. There are about 30, spiritual gifts entrusted to the Church. When walking together these gifted people form the body of Christ on earth and function perfectly together. Brian Bauknight says there are sufficient ...

2637. The Uniting Peace of Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... , all denominations, all associations, ought to spread a table of hope for all humanity. So today, from Russia to Tennessee, from Africa to Mexico, Christians gather in the sure and certain hope that Christ alone can make us one. The peace of Christ be with you. The apostle Paul put it this way: “He is our peace who has made the two one, and destroyed the dividing wall of hostility.” Let’s ponder this for a moment on the way to Communion. I. CHRIST BREAKS DOWN THE WALLS OF HOSTILITY. Walls are real ...

2638. The Fellowship of Kindred Minds

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... while reaching out to others. Let us take a look today at the fellowship of Christians at Philippi, Paul’s first established church on European soil. I. IN THE FELLOWSHIP, WE FEEL BLESSED. Verse 3 “I thank my God every time I remember you.” When the Apostle Paul counted his blessings, he did not name the degrees he had earned, assets he had accumulated, the places he had traveled, churches he had built nor the people he knew. He had it. He just didn’t need to flaunt it. This soldier of the cross ...

2639. We Are Made of Heavenly Stuff

Gal 3:26-29; 1 Cor 15:47?48

Illustration

Brett Blair

... Corinthians: "The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven." Those words were written by the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth 2,000 years ago. We've heard that we were created from the dust of the earth, but have you ever thought of us being star-dust? It is both literally and figuratively true. We are, according to God, somebody. Made from earth's ...

2640. Engaging the Master Designer

Psalm 139: 1-18

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

In the academic mecca of Athens, the Apostle Paul sat down one day to discuss with pagan philosophers the nature of the Unknown God to whom the town had built a monument. This is what he said: “The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom- ...

2641. How Can We Stand on Holy Ground?

Psalm 24:1

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... follow the rules, participate to the fullest, but you've been ignored, looked over, maybe even ridiculed, bullied and abused—until now you wonder—who have I on earth that loves me, why have I a reason to be? If God is, why is He so silent? The Apostle Paul strolled through the university town of Athens one day observing town monuments to many gods. When asked to speak with the philosophers this is what he said. “I see that you are a very religious people. As I looked at your objects of worship I even ...

2642. Come, Holy Spirit, Come

Psalm 104:24-34

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only nine in the morning!" I've always wondered what he might have said had it been six in the afternoon. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit transformed - Doubters into believers - The apprehensive into apostles - The scared into the sincere - Doors once locked now burst open with new opportunities. Language and cultures became blessings instead of barriers. This little band of believers, under the power of the Holy Spirit, found no limits to their vision, no pause ...

2643. Singing With the Saints of Glory

Revelation 5:11-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... clouds are breaking, Soon the storms of time shall cease. In God’s likeness we awaking, Know the everlasting peace. Easter people have a song in their hearts that the world never gave. They have a peace it cannot take away. At least that’s the way the Apostle John perceived it as he unveils a glimpse of heaven for all to see. Come, let us take a closer look. I. WE HAVE A SONG TO SING Verse 11—Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ...

2644. Welcoming God Into Our Homes

Revelation 21:1-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... for school and exclaims, ‘My God, are you still in there?’ God lives in the bathroom at our house.” Where does God live at your house? Is He on the front porch looking in or locked in the bathroom trying to get out? As the Apostle John surveyed the glory of heaven and the conflicts of earth in the Book of Revelation, he makes this astounding discovery. “The dwelling of God is with people!” Eugene Peterson puts it this way: “Look, look, God has moved into the neighborhood, making His home with ...

2645. The Power of a Single Life

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... thousands of AIDS victims in New York City—the power of one single life. “This is not social service,” says Ganga to an interviewer one day. “This is Divine service.” It’s All Saints Sunday. I suppose all Christendom can agree that Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ and author of most of the New Testament, was a saint. Suppose Paul applied for a staff position at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Would we have second thoughts about hiring him? He was well educated, but he was also overly zealous ...

2646. The Power to Make a Difference

Acts 16:1-5

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. . . but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." — That's what I want us to think about today. Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, sailed the seas of the Western Mediterranean preaching the gospel and establishing churches. He debated the finest philosophers in Athens and wrote a good portion of the New Testament. But one of Paul's finest contributions to Christendom was a young boy he met ...

2647. What Can Christians Learn from Hindus?

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... when institutional religion is being criticized, the Hinduism broad confluence of ideas and attitudes gathered together under one tent of faith is appealing. As I reverently walked through the Hindu Temple, the images of God were so different. I was reminded of what the Apostle Paul said when he arrived in Athens. He was stunned by the multiple idols he discovered on Mars Hill. These ancient intellectuals embraced all gods, and even erected an idol to an unknown God. So when Paul got a chance to speak, this ...

2648. The Power to Begin Again

Acts 3:12-19

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... nation comes a moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side." Billy Graham once said, “The wars among the nations of the earth are mere popgun affairs compared to the fierceness of battle in the spiritual world." The Apostle Paul said that he had fought a good fight. You get a sense that it was a battle all the way. He said his battle was against, “The powers of darkness and the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places." And the choice goes on forever, ‘twixt ...

2649. The Lord of All

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... ? He is Lord! He is Lord! He is risen from the dead and He is Lord! Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, That Jesus Christ is Lord. It's Christ the King Sunday, a day to celebrate Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. As John the Apostle says: I. CHRIST IS LORD OF THE EARTH. The Bible opens with these words, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The Bible ends by saying, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the dwelling place of God is with people." In spite of ...

2650. By Enduring

1 Peter 2:19-25

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... lost his job. He was also barred from teaching a class at Carson Newman College here in Tennessee. Glenn says, “The precariousness of my situation forced me to search for insight greater than I possessed. My near daily meditations on the matter led me to the Apostle Paul and his responses to attacks on him. In particular, I was drawn to his words, “for the sake of the gospel." In short, he restrained his freedom and his feelings in order that Christ could be glorified. And I started trying to pray that ...

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