Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2726 to 2750 of 4884 results

2726. The Lord's Pryaer: Our Daily Bread

Matthew 6:5-13

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... into that kind of a world there were about a thousand people assembled on the top of a mountain in Italy (I believe) holding hands, singing together, representing people from every part of the divided world, singing "I''d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony." You are saying to yourself as a Christian, "It must be the day of Pentecost." Have you figured it out? The power and symbol to create this new world order is Coca-Cola! Tell me, church! What happens when the Coke runs out and those same ...

2727. The Lord's Prayer: Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Have you ever noticed that the great documents like this perfect pattern prayer, the Apostles'' Creed, the Nicene Creed, doctrinal statements of various church traditions, all affirm our need for forgiveness and God providing the means and methods by which we are forgiven? As we continue in our series on The Lord''s Prayer, I want to share with you why ...

2728. The Lord's Prayer: Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Matthew 6:5-13

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... If you are quiet and get still when you read this account, you can almost hear the hissing. You can almost feel and see the serpent-like creature whispering to you in a seductive voice. Before I go much further in this sermon, I want to make it perfectly clear that God never tempts us. God might allow the condition or environment in which temptation or testings takes place, but God never tempts his people with sin. Sin is totally contrary to the will of God. In the Book of James, chapter one, verses 12 and ...

2729. Two Conversations with Jesus: The Second Word

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , we see that he had discovered a number of insights about life and our relationship to a Holy God that the other thief had not yet grasped. First, he admitted that he needed help--he could not save himself. Second, he could recognize the pure, spotless, perfect character of Jesus while hanging on a cross. He recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Third, he was able to call his savior "Jesus," which, in the Hebrew language, is the word for salvation. Fourth, he had the courage to admit that the Kingdom that ...

2730. I THIRST: The Fifth Word

John 19:28-37

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... Jesus Christ." Yes, Jesus could not have promised us a place in the eternal kingdom of God if he were simply a man. And he could not have bled or have been hungry or thirsty if he was simply a Gnostic Phantom. However, if he was "the perfect God-Man" as Biblical Christians believed, then he could have done all of these things. He can identify with us in every respect, without sinning. It was Dr. Charles Haddon Spurgeon who helped us capture the great paradox found in the words, "I thirst," by sharing: "Who ...

2731. The Greatest Table in the World

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... Supper, come Sinners, there still is room; Every soul may be His guest, Jesus gives the general word; Share the monumental Feast, Eat the Supper of your Lord. How happy are thy servants, Lord, Who thus remember Thee! What tongue can tell our sweet accord, Our perfect harmony? Who Thy mysterious Supper share, Here at Thy Table fed, Many, and yet but one we are, One undivided Bread. One with the Living Bread Divine, Which now by faith we eat; Our hearts, and minds, and spirits join, And all in Jesus meet. So ...

2732. Love: The Greatest Commandment and the Greatest Challenge

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... challenge because to love is very costly. C. S. Lewis wrote, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken." Then he concluded, "The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the danger of love is hell." Lewis is not talking about love as we have reduced it in common language. We love everything from cheesecake to fried zucchini. But love is relational--personal and interpersonal. It involves risk and a willingness to ...

2733. Honestly, Are You Worried about Tomorrow?

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... in my heart: `O Love that wilt not let me go. I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.''" (2) Like George Matheson the blind woman had found the resources and perfect peace that God gives to keep on keeping on the journey of life. They both knew that we were commanded to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all things in life will be shared with us. God didn't remove the woman''s physical blindness, but gave her ...

2734. Christianity and Conflict: Dual Citizenship (Part VII)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... acceptance of what others had decided about the quality of her life. Her name is Carolyn Martin. Carolyn has cerebral palsy. A friend of Carolyn shared that "the tragedy of her condition is that most people think she is retarded. Actually, her mind works perfectly." Nevertheless, she lived for fifteen years in a home for the mentally handicapped because that was the only place she could go. Eventually, she moved out on her on. She went to high school and then to a community college, where it took her seven ...

2735. Emptying and Exalting (Part XI)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... "T". Rodney Dangerfield, the well-known comedian, tells of going to his psychiatrist and saying, "Doc, there is something wrong with me. Every time I look in the mirror, I vomit". His doctor replies, "Look at it this way. At least your eyesight is perfect." Well, the Apostle Paul''s eyesight is absolutely on target with the problem the Christian believers are facing at Philippi, and therefore, the number-one problem facing the human family today. Two truths emerge that I want to share with you today. There ...

2736. A Faith that Works with a Victorious Attitude

Philippians 2:12-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... God is the beginning of wisdom he means that to revere, to respect, to give our adoration to Him, is to be wise enough to put first the things that need to be first. Indeed, if we love God, how can we fear Him because the Bible tells us that `perfect love casts out fear.''" Dr. Boyd is absolutely right, because what joy can we have if we fear the very one who gives us our foundation for joy? Remember, the joy of the Lord is our strength. I hope these insights will help you to understand the thrust of what ...

2737. The Destructive Power of Dis-Unity

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... have wondered why Canadian geese always fly in a "V" formation, so their engineers did a study on the subject. They discovered that the flapping of each goose''s wings provided an upward lift for the goose that followed. When all the geese were flying in perfect formation, the whole flock had a 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Each was dependent on the others to reach its destination. Likewise, the church needs to learn that it''s at least 71 percent easier to live the Christian ...

2738. Peace or Pieces

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... really get excited in a worship service. She would say, "Brother Nichols, it is not how high you jump for Jesus, it is what you do when you get your feet back down on the ground that matters." Only Jesus Christ, not mere words, can give you perfect peace. A few years ago jazz/blues singer Bobby McFerrin hit the pop charts with a great little song which told us, "DON''T WORRY, BE HAPPY." It addresses one of the major problems affecting the American people. One of the principles taught by Dr. Norman Vincent ...

2739. The Power of a God-Shaped Attitude

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... to have the last word--Christ does. This is why I don''t believe in a rigid doctrine of predestination, astrology, reincarnation, or lotteries, but in the resurrection as the basis for human life in the presence of God. I also want to make it perfectly clear that I am not encouraging anyone to enroll in a secular self-improvement course, because the Bible contains the best self-improvement course known in the annals of human history. The first rule is to deny one''s self and begin to follow the direction ...

2740. Trusting the Truth

James 1:1-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... his guidebook--the Bible? We must be willing to submit and surrender all to the superior wisdom of God. As Duffy Robbins has said: God has a plan, Man has a problem. The choice is up to you! The choice is whether or not to surrender all to God''s perfect plan. When we do surrender, we have the mind of God and not a double-mind fighting and quarreling with itself. The Bible--God''s guidebook--helps us to make the right choice, to encounter the truth of God. We also are given a great teacher to help us in ...

2741. The Taming of the Tongue

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... ? Do our words reflect the Spirit''s leading or our own desires? Once upon a time, a preacher visited a rural church as the guest speaker. This man had a reputation as a great orator, and he lived up to his reputation. His voice was powerful, his gestures were perfect and his logic was persuasive. His sermon had little to do with the Bible, but as a speech, it was a masterpiece. When the sermon was finished, an old man in the audience was asked by a friend what he thought of it. The old man had been a ...

2742. The Telling Trademarks of Truth

James 3:13-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... so many others do. I don''t overeat like so many others do. I don''t . . . " The doctor interrupted at this point. "Tell me," he said, "this pain in the head you complain of, is it a sharp, shooting kind of pain?" "Yes," the patient replied, "that describes it perfectly. A sharp, shooting kind of pain!" The doctor then made his diagnosis: "Simple," he said, "your problem is that you have your halo on too tight. All you need to do is loosen it a bit." God''s Wisdom helps to provide a sense of balance to life ...

2743. The Tenacity of Trouble

James 4:1-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... and God''s wisdom. God''s perspective allowed James and Scott O''Grady to use any training they had in the greatest possible way. This is what prayer allows us to do. It immerses everything in the powers and purposes of God. It moves us from pride to perfect dependence on God. We then, with confidence in God, gently rest in his promises to supply our deepest needs and longings. Our life is in the hands of God and we cannot imagine a better place in which to be. This is why we submit to God and flee ...

2744. God's Timing or Our Timing -The Tension of Time

James 4:13-17

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... s timing and the importance of waiting on Him. (2) That is exactly what James is communicating to us in verses 13 & 14. James knew and this Christian couple discovered that even careful planning can be turned into a substitute for God''s perfect will. Even something so insightful as management by goals and objectives can become destructive and counterproductive if not blessed by God. This is why James was so upset with the businessman with whom he was associated. Christians begin each day acknowledging God ...

2745. The Tender Touch (Part 2)

James 5:13-20

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , I have not made the wrong move. I am getting close to a decision. I can feel it. Recently, someone in our church family shared with me that they received an answer to prayer concerning one of their children. There is power in our prayers because there is perfect power in our God. Max Lucado is right on when he states, "The power of prayer is not in the one who prays--but in the One who hears it." Finally, we are to pray and share the tender touch with the saints who have strayed from the sheepfold ...

2746. The Lamb Wins

Revelation 5:1-14

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... can you do when God shares such a miracle? We do what we were supposed to be doing all the time! Praising and worshipping our God for His goodness and loving kindness. In the Book of Revelation, chapters 4 and 5 Jesus, reveals to the disciple John, the continuous, perfect worship that has and is taking place in Heaven. This majestic picture of God''s throne and God''s rule above the chaos of this world is shared by John to give the "saints" here on earth yet alive a sense of the eternal security we have in ...

2747. The Measure of Love

1 John 4:7-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , it is truly amazing that God loves us, considering who we are and what we do. As St. Frances de Sales would say, what is so surprising is not solely the fact that God loves, but the full measure of God''s love. As the writer in I John makes perfectly clear, God took the initiative in declaring His love for us. It is not that we first loved God but that God first loved us--that God sought us, not that we sought him. I shall never forget an incident that happened in Chester, Pa., about nine years ago. Our ...

2748. Handling the Harshness of Life

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , one of whom is severely retarded. Years ago, in order to escape the pace of New York City, she purchased a home on Martha''s Vineyard. It burned to the ground two days before she was to move in. Professional rejection. Personal setbacks. Perfect soil for the seeds of bitterness. A receptive field for the roots of resentment. But in this case, anger found no home. Her friends don''t call her bitter; they call her Bubbles. Beverly Sills. Internationally acclaimed opera singer. Retired director of the ...

2749. Thanksgiving - The Biblical Version

1 Chronicles 16:7-43

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... eating a sandwich and threw the crust onto the ground where the prisoners were. Pastor Read shares, "I pounced on it quick as lightning. We crouched beside a stone, and measured that crust into three exactly equal parts, which we consumed like gourmets attacking a perfect filet mignon. "It wasn't the last time that I was to reflect how casually we accept the meals that come our way three times a day during peacetime, and how unreal are our occasional prayers of thanks." (3) Once Benjamin Franklin recalled a ...

2750. Living with the Aches and Alleluias

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... one of whom is severely retarded. Years ago, in order to escape the pace of New York City, she purchased a home on Martha''s Vineyard. It burned to the ground two days before she was to move in. "Professional rejection. Personal setbacks. Perfect soil for the seeds of bitterness. A receptive field for the roots of resentment. But in this case, anger found no home. "Beverly Sills. Internationally acclaimed opera singer. Retired director of the New York Opera. "Her phrases are sugared with laughter. Her face ...

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