Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 251 to 275 of 655 results

Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

‘Twas the day after Christmas When all through the place There were arguments and depression— Even mom had a long face. The stockings hung empty; And the house was a mess. The clothes didn't fit; Dad was under stress. The family was irritable; The children were not pleased. The instructions for the swing set Were written in Chinese. The bells no longer jingled; And no carolers came around. The sink was stacked with dishes; And the tree was turning brown. The stores were full of people Returning things that ...

252. Better Angels of Our Nature

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

It is one of those mixed blessings of parenthood. You wake up on a weekend morning and detect the unmistakable singe of burnt toast in the air. There are clanging and banging sounds from the kitchen. Checking out the noise you discover your child busily preparing a “special breakfast” as a surprise for you. Such a simple, sweet gesture touches your heart. But all too soon the fruits of your young one’s labors will touch your stomach as well. Eggshell-crunchy eggs. Pancakes charred on the outside yet ...

253. Enough Foolishness!

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

King Duncan

Is there anyone in the room who has felt dumb in front of a computer? It’s happened to all of us at one time or another, I suspect. A technical support advisor received a call from a woman who had been told that her computer was infected by a virus! This alarmed her. She wanted to know how she could disinfect it. The tech advisor asked her what software she was using. She sounded a bit confused. What did he mean, software? After a few minutes on the phone, the tech support guy realized that she had ...

254. The Foolishness of God

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever done anything really foolish? Maybe it wasn’t your fault. Maybe you were simply in a situation you didn’t understand. There is a story of a man from a third world country who came to this country. He went with a friend to a restaurant. They ordered tea. The waitress brought them a pot of boiling water and set cups and some tea bags in front of them. The third world man poured a cup of hot water. Then he picked up the tea bags and tore them open and proceeded to dump the tea into the cup of ...

255. The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Most people have some awareness of the Ten Commandments as a set of rules or laws but are less familiar with the significance of their relational context. Interpreters have also frequently examined the commands (law) in isolation from the narrative of Exodus 1–19. In the biblical context the commands are not abstractions of ethical principles. They are woven into a specific account in which the Lord had delivered, forgiven, redeemed, and formed the people. In the preceding chapter, the Lord had invited ...

256. Israel Unrepentant

Hosea 6:1--7:16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

Israel’s Hollow Repentance (6:1-6): Contrary to the LXX, which connects this passage with 5:15 by the addition of the word, “saying” (as in the RSV), this pericope is complete in itself as one more record of Israel’s deceitful ways toward God. Overcome by Assyria’s engulfment of them (see the comment on 5:8–15), the Israelites call a day of repentance in the effort to secure for themselves God’s aid once again. Such fasts of repentance are held in Israel whenever there is a calamity of any sort—defeat by ...

257. The Nations Judged

Joel 3:1-16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

God’s Case against the Foreign Nations (3:1-8): 3:1–3 The NIV has eliminated two important words in the translation of verse 1. In the Hebrew, the verse begins, “For behold,” which not only connects this passage with the preceding poem, but also emphasizes the content of verses 1–4. In 2:28–32, Joel has announced those signs that will precede the coming of the day of the Lord. He now tells what will happen at the time of the day itself. When the day comes, God will save Israel (v. 1) but will gather ...

258. Jesus and Those Who “Believed”

John 8:31-41, John 8:42-47, John 8:48-59

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

The reaction of many of the Jewish authorities with whom Jesus has been speaking is to believe in him (v. 30), and the remainder of the discourse is focused on this group of “believers.” The prediction that they will realize later who Jesus is (v. 28) appears to be coming true even before they lift him up on the cross. It sounds, and it is, too good to be true. Their faith is not genuine (cf. 2:23–25). Jesus has directed their attention toward the future, but they will have none of it. The present is good ...

259. God's Righteous Judgment

Romans 2:1-16

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

The discussion of the guilt of humanity in 1:18ff. presupposes the Gentile world, that is, humanity without special revelation from God. The prominence given to homosexuality in 1:26–27 and the list of vices in 1:29–31 typify Jewish prejudice against “Gentile sinners,” as Paul once referred to them (Gal. 2:15). We noted how clearly 1:18–32 echoes the Jewish indictment of Gentiles from the Wisdom of Solomon (chs. 11–15). Gentiles could have known God from creation. “They live among his works,” says Wisdom ...

260. The Claims of Jesus About Himself

John 8:48-59, John 8:31-41, John 8:42-47

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

261. From Deep Unto Deep

Luke 22:14--23:56

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

On the Christian calendar, today begins the last week of Lent.1 The forty days between Shrove Tuesday, at the end of Mardi Gras, and the Saturday before Easter are intended as a time for prayer, meditation, reflection, and repentance. Generally speaking, the serious nature of Lent makes it emotionally a rather dreary time. During Holy Week, the mood moves from dreary to downright lugubrious. Next Sunday morning, of course, we will awake to the joyous news that “Christ the Lord is risen today. Alleluia! He ...

262. Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-47, 52

Sermon

Will Willimon

I suspect that many of you are anxious for me to get off my chest quickly whatever it is that I want to say, to get out of the pulpit, so you can get on with the beautiful music of Christmas. We have restrained ourselves throughout the Sundays of Advent, confined ourselves to slow-moving, somewhat somber hymns of hope, anticipation, expectancy. "Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel." Anticipation has become fulfillment. Now, we are at last ready to sing of Christmas. There are Sundays when ...

263. When God Is The Problem

Psalm 13:1-6

Sermon

Robert G. McCreight

Introduction During Lent we are focusing our biblical attention almost exclusively on the passages from the psalms, allowing their themes and their spirit to rise up and identify themselves to us. Today we are continuing to gain a greater familiarity with these conversations from the heart. Through song and reading and spoken word the religiosity of the psalmists of old is speaking to us today. A For the first two Sundays in Lent our attention was on what Old Testament professor Walter Brueggeman called ...

264. Take Dead Aim

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

My wife and I were discussing the state of affairs in America. I said every child of the 1960s knew there was a credibility gap when he said he didn't inhale. I said every golfer knew character would be a continuing issue after correspondents for several golf magazines caught him cheating during a round with two of his predecessors. I said everybody knows he cheated on his wife for years and lied to family, friends, colleagues, and employees. I said he admitted to an inappropriate -- s-e-x-u-a-l -- ...

265. The Merciful

Sermon

John A. Terry

Matthew 5:1-12Matthew 18:23-35 The quality of mercy is not strain'd,It droppeth as a gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath: it is twice blest;It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomesThe throned monarch better than his crown.(The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, scene 1) In our practice of "mercy" there is a kind of "I'll scratch your back -- you scratch my back" philosophy. Be decent to others and they will be decent to you. It is like the story on which ...

266. The Merciful

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

John A. Terry

The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as a gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown. (The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, scene 1) In our practice of "mercy" there is a kind of "I'll scratch your back -- you scratch my back" philosophy. Be decent to others and they will be decent to you. It is like the story on which George Bernard Shaw based ...

267. Are You Convinced?

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Larry Powell

Someone has astutely observed that our culture does not handle "endings" very well. "Beginnings," on the other hand, seem to come off quite nicely. Weddings, beautiful and memorable in themselves, are also occasions for parties, bridal showers, gift bearing, and other happy kinds of experiences which we usually associate with the celebration of two persons in love beginning a new home. When a home is blessed with a newborn, balloons, flowers, photographs, gifts, a host of well-wishes, and perhaps even a ...

268. And Who is my Neighbor?

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Johnny Dean

The final Episode of the Seinfeld show which aired at the end of the 1998 TV season received a lot of flack for being disappointing. Perhaps the reason so many were disappointed in the show is because it moralized. It wasn’t very funny; in fact, it was self deprecating. All of the characters receive a one year sentence for failing to help someone who was robbed. What happens is this: Jerry plays a comedian on the show and he has just received a contract from NBC to do a sitcom and the network is flying ...

269. Monologues: Disciples Redeemed

John 20:10-18, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Drama

Raymond I. Keffer

Saul Of Tarsus "I am Saul of Tarsus. Like my fellow Jews, I am a true believer in the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. I have a commission from the leaders of the one true church to eliminate a troublesome group known as Christians, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth; the same Jesus who was crucified for His false teachings. I intend to give these Christians the same punishment for blasphemy Stephen got: death by stoning. This threat to the one true religion and to the one true God, Jehovah, cannot be ...

270. Turn Out the Lights! The Party's Over!

Daniel 5:1-31

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

Many of you sports fans will remember Dandy Don Meredith, former great quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, and later an announcer for Monday Night football. At that moment in a game when Don felt that one team was too far ahead for the other teach to catch, he would sing a little ditty with these words, "Turn out the Lights! The party’s over." Never was that song more appropriate than in the scene depicted in the fifth chapter of Daniel. Let me give you the historical setting. Old King Nebuchadnezzar, whom ...

271. Drooping Arms And Crooked Feet

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever felt so tired that you couldn't put one foot in front of the other? Have you ever felt what an anonymous poet felt when he wrote, I wish I was a little rock. . .A sittin' on the hill A doin' nothin' all day long. . .`Cept just a sittin' still I wouldn't eat, I wouldn't sleep. . . I wouldn't even wash I'd sit and sit a thousand years. . . And rest myself, by gosh! Some people are very tired. In fact, one of the great dividing lines in this world seems to be between those who are high energy ...

272. A Firm Grip On Your Balloon

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

Bruce Larson tells about leading a renewal conference in a great Gothic cathedral-like Presbyterian church in Omaha, Nebraska years ago. As people came in they were given a balloon filled with helium. They were told to release it at some point in the service where they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts ” during the anthem, the hymns, the prayers or the sermon. Since they were Presbyterians, says Larson, they were not free to say "Hallelujah" or "Praise the Lord." Letting go of the balloon would ...

273. Do Not Lose Heart

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

A psychology professor was giving his students a test. He asked one question concerning manic depression. "What would you call someone," the question read, "who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute and then sits in a chair and weeps uncontrollably the next?" One of the students answered, "A basketball coach." Coaching basketball must take a terrible toll emotionally. That's why Indiana's Bobby Knight is famous for his tantrums, and Las Vegas Nevada's Jerry Tarkanian chews on a ...

274. The Cry Of Freedom

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Eric Ritz

This past week we celebrated Independence Day. This day is a special time, set aside to celebrate many gifts and opportunities that "Freedom" brings to the American citizen. It celebrates our independence from England and our dependence on God. I remember watching President Carter receive the distinguished Medal of Freedom in Philadelphia. It was an inspiring moment for me to see Jimmy Carter get the respect he deserves since his defeat in 1980. The Fourth of July always sets me to thinking about the ...

275. Too Good to Miss

1 Peter 3:8-22

Sermon

Paul E. Robinson

C. S. Lewis, in his famous book Mere Christianity, tells the story of a school boy who was asked what he thought God was like. He replied that, as far as he could make out, God was "the sort of person who is always snooping round to see if anyone is enjoying himself and then trying to stop it!" Those who see God as that kind of a deity would then most likely see Lent as one long God-filled forty days, when we are to make room in our hearts and our homes for this fun-bashing divine guest, who checks out ...

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