Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2676 to 2700 of 4977 results

2676. MINER

Job 28:2

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

... , passed on their knowledge of mining to the Hebrews. The work then, just as today, was arduous, and the miners lived under poor conditions. In fact, the great probability is that miners were slaves, convicts, and prisoners, who were sent to these mines to work out their sentences. Perhaps not quite the same situation exists today, but miners, in most instances, are still slaves of the system, and prisoners of poverty and neglect and indifference. So - we haven’t come too far, have we?

2677. SEER

1 Samuel 9:9

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

... the tenth century B.C. at the earliest, but it is obvious that there were, at all times, men who were tuned in on God’s wave length, if we may say so, and who were commissioned to present God’s messages to the people. It is quite possible that the office of seer was lifted from the Canaanites, and then made into a distinctively Israelite profession through a process of refinement. We do have specific instances of the non-Hebrew seer, who was actually a messenger of Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews. For ...

2678. TEACHER

1 Chron. 25:8; Rom. 2:20

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

... part: "The fellow in charge of Sumerian said: ‘Why didn’t you speak Sumerian?’ He caned me. My teacher said: ‘Your handwriting is unsatisfactory!’ He caned me. I began to hate school!" Perhaps, though, at first at least, schooling wasn’t quite so bad for Hebrew children, since the early Hebrews taught their children at home. This was a strict injunction given to parents. Again, this was a logical development for a nomadic people. Then, as times became more settled, prophets followed the parents ...

2679. WATER CARRIER

Joshua 9:27

Illustration

Stephen Stewart

... the equivalent of the village store in our own earlier history. We know that water was carried from the well to the home at specified times. As I said, this was hard work, that involved pulling up the water, sometimes, when the level was low, from quite a distance, pouring it into goatskins, and then carrying it to the desired place. And there were many accidents that could befall the unwary and make the process a failure! And then the water carrier had to start all over again! Even today, water carriers ...

2680. SANTA CLAUS OR CHRIST?

Drama

G. William Genszler

... are shattered to shreds With shopping and baking - I’ll end sick in bed. I sometimes just wish this Christmas was past And we could return to normal at last. Father: (on ladder with string of lights in hand) And I am the Father, who’s quite had his fill Of Christmas expenses, for I pay the bill For a good many years I trimmed up these trees ‘Till I feel like the man on the flying trapeze. Christmas tree: (addressing audience ... sings or says) "O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum How lovely are thy branches ...

2681. The Kingdom of God Is a Party

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... four cards and put the names on the front. Everybody was excited when the Valentine's Party began. The girl designated as postman began calling the names and handing out the cards. Some very popular children got bunches of cards. Drew heard her name called quite often and was having a wonderful time. But then she became aware that the little girl sitting in front of her had received no cards. Her head was drooping lower and lower. Then suddenly the postman called this little girl's name and delivered to ...

2682. A Terrific Trade

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... John and his father did have to pay a heavy fine. But the following year was an excellent one for the company. John and his father have a new relationship. Not only are they father and son, but also they are brothers in Christ. Their company is doing quite well. Have you made the kind of trade that John experienced? You can today. Here at the table of Holy Communion, you can release to Christ that dirty old coat you have been wearing. In exchange he will clothe you in his perfect righteousness. All that is ...

2683. The Greatest Story Ever Told

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... arose and came to his Father." Hey, that was tough to do, to go back and face the old man. That boy could have stayed in the pigpen for 20 more years, saying to himself, "One of these days I'm going to go back home, but I'm not quite up to it yet." All the good intentions on earth are worth very little until we act on them. Someone told me last week, "Going to that first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous was the hardest thing I have ever tried to do. But it saved my life." The prodigal son ...

2684. Getting on the Active List

John 1:35-42

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... to become a lawyer. On my first day on campus, a student dropped by to visit. He welcomed me and offered to help in any way he could. Then he asked me where I went to church. I told him I was Catholic. He explained that the Catholic church was quite a distance away, but he sat down and drew me a map. I thanked him and he left. "On the following Sunday morning it was raining. I decided to just skip church. But then there was a knock on my door. There stood my new friend and he was holding ...

2685. God Makes The First Move

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... a big bass on the other end. There is resistance. While God is drawing us to himself through prevenient grace, the enemy- the Evil One- creates all kinds of resistance. The Evil One whispers to you: "If you get mixed up with Jesus, you'll have to quit everything that's fun. You will lose some of your best buddies. He might interfere with your hunting and fishing. He might turn you into some kind of hypocrite. He might get into your bank account. You might become a wimp." The resistance will be there. Just ...

2686. Stand Up Straight

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... has a child who has suffered recurring seizures throughout his young life. Both of these mothers offered legitimate praise to God. But somehow I feel the second mother had seen a greater work of God. It's one thing to be thankful for health; it is quite another to discover God's wonderful provision even in the face of illness. An anonymous woman discovered God's healing grace long ago. NOTICE IN VERSE 11 THAT JESUS INTERRUPTED HIS TEACHING TO DEAL WITH A WOMAN WHO HAD HAD A BAD BACK FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS ...

2687. God of Wrath and Grace

Genesis 6:1-8:22

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... is a love word. Because God cannot overlook our sin, there is always agony in the heart of God. Calvary is a finished sacrifice, but as long as any of us sins, there will be agony in the heart of God. Note throughout the patience of God. It took quite a while for Noah to build that ark; all during the process we assume that he was preaching and warning the people to repent. The unwillingness of people to heed Noah’s warning and turn from sin must have distressed God. Speaking of patience, waiting for the ...

2688. We Are More Than Laborers - Labor Day

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, Ecclesiastes 5:8--6:12

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... for society? Or, do you have a basic incompatibility with the job itself? God may be urging you to look around and find another opportunity more in keeping with his gifts to you. The average American worker changes jobs seven times during his or her career. Don’t quit you present job before you find a new job, but by all means search. You Lord wants you to look forward to going to work most mornings and to feel fulfilled at the end of most work days. NOW FOR A SECOND BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE REGARDING WORK: OUR ...

2689. 'Nevertheless': A Word of Faith

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... is the time to catch fish. Goodness knows, we tried hard all last night without luck. But here in the morning with the sun dazzling across the water, you can't catch fish. The net will spook them. Besides that, we are dog-tired. I caught myself nodding quite a bit while you were teaching this morning. I need a nap something awful. Master, with all due respect, you know a lot about God and scripture and sin and salvation, but you don't know dip about fishing. I am a professional fisherman. Who are you to ...

2690. Mary's Revolutionary Song

Luke 1:46-56

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... need it, while people in Memphis are homeless, hungry, and in despair, God will surely call us to account. Let's suppose that you have three grown children. One son is a company vice president in Atlanta, earning $200,000 per year. Your daughter is doing quite well as a surgeon in Miami. Your other son is an alcoholic in Richmond, living hand to mouth, unable to hold a steady job. As a parent, where would your focus be this Christmas? On Richmond, of course. And I'm certain you would call those prosperous ...

2691. Running a Marathon

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... that remarkable? Because Bob ran with his arms. Seventeen years earlier while serving in Vietnam, Bob's legs were blown off in battle. So, when Bob competes, he sits on a 15 pound saddle, covers his fists with pads, and runs with his arms. But he does not quit. He is the very symbol of perseverance. Living a Christian life can be compared to running a long-distance race like a marathon. You get the idea that the author of Hebrews was, like St. Paul, a former athlete. He used the language of track and field ...

2692. God's Design for Marriage

Ephesians 5:22-33

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... arranged like a fortress. He was peering through a crack in what looked like a machine gun nest. The preacher says to the congregation, "Today my text is Ephesians 5:22, 'wives, submit to your husbands." Yes, here is another one of those texts I have run from for quite a while; it is not on the top ten list of the feminist movement of America. I heard about a missionary in the depths of the Amazon who was talking to a native who had five wives. The missionary said, "You are breaking God's law. You must tell ...

2693. Never Underestimate The Power of a Cup of Cold Water

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Brett Blair

... and hunger, and persecution, and defeat town after town after town? I’ll tell you why, because, in the words of Apostle Paul, they were held captive by the words and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is Paul’s way of saying they were slaves to Christ. It is quite likely we shall never be tested to the extent that the disciples were but there are some ways to gauge our commitment. Let’s look at a couple this morning: I. Sacrifice is a Sign of Mature Faith. If you have been a Christian for some long time, I ...

2694. Making a Name for Ourselves

Genesis 11:1-9

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... cause wars. The obvious question we must ask is this: Are you building towers of Babel or spires pointing in a Godly direction? I recall a man who was married twice, first to Mary and then to Tilly. He outlived both of them. Finally, when he was getting quite up in age, he left these directions for his own burial. He said, “I want to be buried between Mary and Tilly, but tilt me towards Tilly.” Our lives are going to tilt towards self or God. Is the primary emphasis of your life self-promotion or God ...

2695. Our Lord's Abundant Table

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Brett Blair

... for hours. As many as 20,000 people, 5000 men and their families, a stadium full, sitting within a valley, were listening, trying to answer the question. It was now time for dinner and the disciples, perhaps out of care for their Master or feeling quite hungry themselves, wanted to send the people away. Then Jesus surprised his disciples, asking them to feed the crowd. There were many occasions when the disciples respond as any of us would. We have here only five loaves of Bread and two fish. But Jesus ...

2696. Fear

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

Brett Blair

... they are there and putting in their place the Spirit of God who replaces them with a sound mind of love and power. We are not powerless in the midst of the storm. We have the Spirit at our side. I can hear God whispering in the Peter’s ear: Quit letting your imagination magnify your fears. The storm is furious but I am greater still. And I would remind you that of the 500,000 bomb shelters built in the US not one of them was ever used. Harness your imagination don’t let it harness you. II. So first ...

2697. Using our Special Talents

Romans 12:6-8

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... a friend.] Good old Charley lets me drink my milk out of him every morning and once in a while, if I ask politely, he even lets me dunk a donut or a roll in him. Good old Charley. Have you ever met Sally Scissors? [Hold up scissors.] Sally is quite anxious to please me, and she helps me cut up paper and string. I never have to worry about the neatness of a project when Sally is on the job. I want you to meet one other friend. His name is Pat Picture, and what a quiet friend he is ...

2698. Surrender

Luke 23:44-49

Sermon

Burton F. Blair

... the life he lived. He had lived a life of faith in the will of God for his life. These last words were not a cry of desperation, as if everything ahead was but empty darkness. His words were not the wretched wailings of one afraid, not quite sure what was to come. Instead, these words are spoken by one who was calmly and peacefully surrendering himself into the arms of God. "Father," said Jesus, "into your hands I commend my spirit." At this, the Bible adds, "Having said this, he breathed his last." Then ...

2699. Advent I - Children’s Sermon

John 3:16

Children's Sermon

Susan Hedahl

... whispers something in the ear of the person next to them and they pass it on, right around the circle of people. The last person says out loud what they thought was said. Usually everyone laughs because the news that started with the first person can become quite mixed up by the time it reaches the last person. God once had some good news to tell the world. And God did all sorts of wonderful things to make sure that everyone heard the special message without any confusion. Do you know what God’s good ...

2700. Forgive Us Our Debts

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Brett Blair

... the wall of Jericho. II The second thing Jesus would have Peter know is forgiveness carries a heavy price. The King was owed 10,000 talents we are told, which, in today’s currency, is well over $10 million. The point is that it was a huge amount of money, quite beyond the reach of the servant to pay. The story is saying to us that forgiveness carry’s a large price tag. Have you ever thought that Jesus did not have to end the parable of the prodigal son the way that he did. We know that as the prodigal ...

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