Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2676 to 2700 of 4963 results

2676. His Death

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Brett Blair

... . The corpse might also be buried if the sentence permitted (Valer. Max., vi, 2; Senec., "Controv.", VIII, iv; Cic., "Tusc.", I, 43; Catull., cvi, 1; Horace, "Epod.", I, 16-48; Prudent., "Peristephanon", I, 65; Petron., lxi sqq.). The punishment of the cross remained in force throughout the Roman Empire until the first half of the fourth century. In the early part of his reign Constantine continued to inflict the penalty of the cross (affigere patibulo) on slaves guilty of delatio domini, i.e. of denouncing ...

2677. Hypocrites

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

Brett Blair

... politicians are defeated at the polls, hypocritical friends get dropped and hypocritical preachers lose the trusting ears of their congregations. It may well be that our age is particularly tough on hypocrisy. In some ways, it is our one remaining public sin. We can tolerate embezzlement, infidelity, brawling and addiction in our public figures, but not pretense and hypocrisy. Presidential press conferences are scrutinized not only for major policy shifts but also for flickers of insincerity passing across ...

2678. Good Friday: The Three Crosses

John 18:1-11

Sermon

Brett Blair

2679. Liberty And Civility

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Brett Blair

The United States of America will be 247 years old on July 4. That's a long time for a nation to remain free. But, when you look at our history in the context of world history America is just a CHILD among the nations. Egypt, China, Japan, Rome, Greece all make America's history seem so short. Consider what a brief time we've really been here as a nation: When Thomas ...

2680. Diabolical Political Skills

John 17:20-26

Illustration

Glenn E. Ludwig

... us. In a mail advertisement their was a book titled "The Black Book of Executive Politics" and was written anonymous author. This is actually what the advertisement said about this book. Written by a world-class corporate infighter who prefers to remain anonymous, this priceless volume contains 87 street-smart hints, tips, short-cuts, ploys, strategies and approaches for surviving -- and making it big in the company political arena ... People call company politics a "game." But it's a game you have to ...

2681. A Pentecostal Church - Sermon Starter

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Brett Blair

... Is the church supposed to use the word Pentecost only as a noun or can it be used as an adjective? And so I ask you: Are you Pentecostal? In spite of the fact that the church doesn't know what the adjective means, the church insist that the word remain in our vocabulary as an adjective. The church is unwilling for the word simply to be a noun, to represent a date, a place, an event in the history of the church, refuses for it to be simply a memory, an item, something back there somewhere. The church insists ...

2682. The Irresistible Influence Of The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

James W. Moore

... broken. Then in despair, the saw quit trying and fell to the side. “Ah!” said the hammer, “I knew you two wouldn’t succeed. I’ll show you how to do this!” But at the first fierce blow, off flew its head and the piece of iron remained just as before, proud and hard and unchanged. “Shall I try?” asked the small soft flame. “Forget it,” everyone else said. “What can you do? You’re too small and you have no strength.” But the small soft flame curled around the piece of iron, embraced ...

2683. Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide (Long Version)

John 3:1-36

Illustration

Staff

... the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used: as an industrial solvent and coolant. in nuclear power plants. in the production of styrofoam. as a fire retardant. in many forms of cruel animal research. in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical. as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products. Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is still legal. The impact on ...

2684. The Political Controversies Of Jesus

Luke 20:27-47

Sermon

Brett Blair

... laws and your religious lawyers will be out of a job, too. IV Having routed the opposition, Jesus now, in essence, says, “It is my turn! Now I want to ask you a question. What do you think of the Christ?” That question that Jesus posed remains to this day the most relevant, the most urgent, and most theological, the most important issue confronting us. Wherever we turn in life we are faced with he implications of this question. What do you think of the Christ? You see, all of their questions dealt with ...

2685. A Famous Atheist Believes In God - Sermon Starter

Matthew 1:18-25

Illustration

Brett Blair

... not convinced. "But there is a gardener, invisible, intangible, insensible, to electric shocks, a gardener who has no scent and makes no sound, a gardener who comes secretly to look after the garden which he loves." At last the Skeptic despairs, "But what remains of your original assertion? Just how does what you call an invisible, intangible, eternally elusive gardener differ from an imaginary gardener or even from no gardener at all?" That’s the opening and it’s a powerful parable. Dr. Flew became as ...

2686. Family Feud

Genesis 29:15-30

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... out, neighbors invited, food and drink prepared, all made ready for a week-long feast. Now the big day. The bride and groom are both bathed, anointed with oil and perfume, and dressed in special clothes (just like today). Throughout the ceremony the bride remains veiled. The bride is accompanied by bridesmaids and the groom by his attendants as well, the chief of whom, called the friend of the bridegroom, acts as Best Man. The public ceremonies begin with Jacob and his companions processing to Rachel's home ...

2687. The Ten Commandments #6: No Murder

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... six "cities of refuge" that were strategically located throughout the nation. Upon presentation of his case, if the determination was made that the killing was indeed an accident and not premeditated, he would not be handed over to the victim's family for retribution. He could remain in the city in safety until the High Priest currently ruling should die. After that, he would be free to go anywhere. He would have suffered a loss of liberty for a time, perhaps even a long time, but he was at least allowed to ...

2688. The Ten Commandments #9: No False Witness

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... the Ten Commandments, but of the entire corpus of scripture. God's aim is a society where there is fairness and equity for all, where judicial decisions are based on truth, where gossip has no place, where the sentence fits the crime, and where voices do not remain silent while injustice is done. To help us along that road, God gave us these good words, words to live and live well by: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Let us pray. O God, we know that your aim for society is justice ...

2689. A Theology of Work - Labor Day

Deuteronomy 5:1-33

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... successfully for more than a decade. But in 1893, the Pullman company was caught in the economic depression that gripped the entire nation. Orders for railroad sleeping cars declined, and George Pullman was forced to lay off hundreds of employees. Those who remained had to take pay cuts, even while their rents in Pullman-owned homes stayed at previous rates. So the employees walked out, demanding lower rents and higher wages. The American Railway Union, led by a fiery young socialist named Eugene V. Debs ...

2690. Remember!

Deuteronomy 31:30--32:47

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... Roman Church of their day because they said the church had FORGOTTEN her roots. They went back to the teachings of scripture and pointed out how far the church had strayed from historic Christian practice. Needless to say, they encountered violent opposition, but they remained firm in their convictions and the result is the protestant tradition in which most of us have grown up. We ARE what we ARE because of our memories of the past. Sometimes, our memories force us to make changes in the ways we do things ...

2691. The God of the Unlikely

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... in his basket-boat, took pity on him and decided to adopt. Courtesy of Moses' big sister Miriam, the princess arranged for Jochobed to be the wet-nurse...and for MONEY! What a quirky, unlikely turn of events!(2) Scripture does not tell us how long Moses remained with his natural parents before moving to the palace. Long enough, obviously, for him to learn his true heritage and be shaped and formed by it. Jewish legend has it that he grew to be so handsome that people turned in the street, and even ceased ...

2692. A Mother's Gift

1 Samuel 1:1-20

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... fact, now had a rival in her own house. Elkanah had taken himself another wife - all perfectly legal - a man had a right to have children to work with him in the family enterprises, to provide security for his old age, to insure that his name would remain alive even after his death. Elkanah had married Peninnah who had proved as fertile as the richest valley. For a devout women like Hannah, this had been an especially difficult trial. To have no child was not only a disappointment, but seemed to mark one as ...

2693. Civil War Isn't!

2 Samuel 18:1-18, 19--19:8

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... his troops tried to comfort him with the reminder that he had won the victory, that the rebellion had failed, and even when his friend and confidant Joab got downright testy with him for appearing to be totally ungrateful to the very men who had remained faithful to him, all David could really say was, "But he was my son!" That was all that mattered. So sad. Fascinating story, no question. For sheer drama, we would be hard-pressed to find better. But remember this is more than literature; this is scripture ...

2694. When God Is Gone

Job 23:1--24:25

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... we recall that, in the midst of ultimate pain, God was right there...hanging on that tree. For you. For me. When God is gone. Yes, there are indeed times when that seems to be the case. For Job. For you and me as well. All the "Why?" questions remain. But the good news I bring to you this morning is more than, because of the cross, God knows and understands pain and suffering. The good news is that the cross is not the last word. Remember, after the cross, there is resurrection, new life. And where is God ...

2695. The Apostles' Creed: "God...Almighty"

Mark 15:33-41, Mark 15:21-32

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... kind of a God," the little boy said. In our own way and for our own reasons, we understand. "I believe in God, the Father, Almighty..." God is sovereign. God is in control. We continue to preach it, teach it, and confess it. But the question remains: Are we just whistling through the graveyard? Are we like little children, trying to affirm what we are afraid is not true by tightly closing our eyes and trying to make our dream real by endlessly repeating our hope? Is this a great collective self-deception ...

2696. Angels

Psalm 91:1-16

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... the people around you every day. Over and over you have heard the story of Christie's challenge to me about my intention to go that church in Kansas instead of coming to St. Paul - that was an angelic message as sure as any I ever heard. Finally, remain open to the idea of a visit from some celestial being. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in your philosophy" (I, v, 166). Angels. No, we do not begin to have all the details available to ...

2697. Giving Dangerously

Malachi 3:6-18

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... do it. The numbers bear it out. According to a study released last month by an organization that tracks congregational giving, in the year 2000 (the most recent for which statistics were available), giving to benevolences as a portion of income in mainline denominations remains at an historic low - 0.4%.(1) That would amount to $40 per year for each $10,000 in income. Pretty puny. Meanwhile, total church giving averaged out to 2.64% of income. According to Sylvia Ronsvalle who, together with her husband Dr ...

2698. Make It Right!

Matthew 5:21-26

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... ten years old or so, somebody told her that she had a terrible singing voice. Now, most of us, I guess, would not let that remark bother us particularly, but it did bother grandmother. Ten years old is a tender age. It bothered her so much that, for the remaining 90 years of her life, she never sang another note. I have no idea whether Grandmother had a good voice or a bad voice; she would never take the chance of letting us find out, and all because of one person's careless and unfeeling insult. I give ...

2699. The Lord's Prayer: Our Father

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... children are always asking me for things to which my answer is no. I know that some of their requests will do them more harm than good, even though at that moment there is no way they would understand that. My love for them is no less in refusing. It remains as strong as ever. It is the same with our Heavenly Father. One more thought should be added. Our divine postcard which we call the Lord's Prayer is not addressed simply, "Our Father;" it is sent to "Our Father, who art in heaven." This Father is in a ...

2700. The Lord's Prayer: "Our Daily Bread"

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... it sound as though our prayer for daily bread is irrelevant. Consider it. First of all, this petition is NOT irrelevant. Our need for God's provision in this matter might not be so painfully obvious as it is in many parts of the world, but the need remains nonetheless. Perhaps we will understand that more fully when we think of the words we use. We begin with GIVE. "GIVE us this day..." What do we mean? Are we asking that God drop our food magically from heaven like he did with the children of Israel in ...

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