Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2776 to 2800 of 4943 results

2776. John the Baptist: Parable and Prophet

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... struggling, the whole matter of success, and what success means. How we keep our ambitions in perspective. Most of us find it difficult to identify with this ancient figure. He cuts directly across the grain of self-interest and the glamour of being Number One that continues to plague us. Think of it. If you were asked to choose the dominant symbol for our generation, what would it be? A flag, a cross, a missile, a television antenna, a dollar sign, a test tube, an oil barrel, a bloated belly, a hand gun ...

2777. The Measure You Give Is the Measure You Get

Mark 4:21-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... lived only six hours, however, that was long enough for them to mature, get married, and raise children before they died. And after each one died, it left a tiny spot of nitrogen on the ashes. Thus the ashes of the volcano became fertile. The winds continued to blow, wafting seeds to the island, the bird’s droppings also brought seeds; and the miracle took place. The miracle of new life coming out of the ashes! (Story told by Mark Trotter, “When the Door is Closed”) That’s a dramatic example of the ...

2778. Miracles in Contrast

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life through His name” (John 20:31) The word life is continually on the lips of Jesus. It is Jesus’ claim that He came that men might have life and that they might have it more abundantly ... life, or in the lives of those we love. A friend’s 16 year old son commits suicide - our beloved Sandra Brady continues a valiant battle with malignancy - the 20 year old son of our dear minister friend, the McRaes California - the son brilliant, ...

2779. A Parable in a Miracle

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . “The Evangelist said that Dr. Hood Wilson... was not a converted man,” he told Dr. White. The great preacher rose from his chair in anger. “The rascal! The rascal! Dr. Wilson not a converted man!” The visitor was amazed at the extent of Dr. White response. He continued, “That wasn’t all he said, Dr. White, he said that you were not a converted man either.” Alexander White stopped and sank into his chair. He put his face in his hands, and for a moment did not say a word. Then he looked up to ...

2780. Peter, Our Folk Hero

Mark 14:27-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... be an answer to the prayer she had prayed for earlier as she looked at that chart of the top 10 gifts necessary for this program to reach the goal. The husband had not even seen where the $50,000 was coming from, much less the $100,000. But they continued to pray. Now please don’t misread me. Don’t misunderstand what you are about to hear — It doesn’t always happen this way, but it happens enough to send chill bumps over my body, enough to show us the joy of it, and point to the possibility of it ...

2781. Praying Our Way Forward

Matthew 7:7-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... finest of swings, monkey bars, and seesaws. However, most engaging to David were the three sliding boards—one small, one medium, one enormous. David shot for the small one first. He climbed right up the steps, slid down the slide, waved on his way around, as he continued to go again and again. You know how it is with small sliding boards; you get bored. So, he moved quickly to the medium sized slide. He hesitated a little at the bottom, looked to the top, and with one more wave to his parents, went right ...

2782. Unexpected Invasions

Isaiah 64:1-9

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... , and then he said, “Do you believe in miracles?" “Indeed I do," I said with all the authority of my office and ordination. “Good," he replied. “I need an especially big one this week." With that he disappeared in the crowd and I never saw him again although I continue to pray for him often when his face comes into my mind's eye. Here we are in December. December is not so much another month as it is another state of mind. In December we bring trees into our houses and light up our yards like living ...

2783. Hearing the Questions of Children

Genesis 22:1-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... , father. Could Father Abraham still be a blessing in our terror- stricken world that we have inherited together? Jesus said in John 8:56 “Your father, Abraham, rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day, he saw it and was glad.” In America’s best-loved hymn we continue to sing, And when I think that God his son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on a cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin. In the obedience of Abraham, we glimpse the faithfulness of ...

2784. The Darkness Before the Dawn

John 13:18-30, John 13:31-38

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... in that direction in the morning. And he slept for the night. But something strange happened in the night, so the old story goes. An angel came, picked up his shoes and turned them around. The next morning the guy awakened and continued his journey. He walked all day long and at night he came upon the magical city. It looked extremely familiar. When he found his way back home, his family and his friends were so glad to see him that he lived the rest of his life happy ever after. O ...

2785. Deciding To Excel In Everything

II Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... to be in worship every week. How are you doing? Over the last year how has it been—ten Sundays, twenty Sundays, forty Sundays, fifty Sundays? Have you been faithful meeting God at the place of worship? I renew with you that covenant today. We will continue to offer multiple times and types of worship. I make that commitment to you. I need another hundred people to make Saturday night really viable. It’s going well, but I need another hundred. Maybe you would be one of those persons. Some of you talk ...

2786. What Would Jesus Say About War?

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... set of criteria established for the purposes of morally restraining any resort to war. Introduced by St. Augustine in the 4th century, after Christians had abandoned their pacifist stance, and revised in the Middle Ages by St. Thomas Aquinas, these principles continue to instruct morally sensitive people concerning war. In essence they are contained in these five principles: 1. Is there a Just Cause? A decision for war must vindicate justice itself in response to serious evil, such as an aggressive attack ...

2787. What Would Jesus Say About Modern Churches?

Mark 1:4-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... puts it bluntly, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?" Peter, at one of his finest moment's, replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Here at the dawn of the 21st century even those of us who call ourselves Christians are continually confronted with the probing question. “What shall we think of Christ?" Shall we make him one of many, in an effort to be tolerant of all? Shall we make him the enemy of everyone who fail upon his name to call? Shall we accept him as Savior, embrace ...

2788. When God Speaks

Psalm 29:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... mumble to one another, “Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey His voice?" Many times we, like the disciples, become “functional atheists." We believe in God but keep fighting the storms like we are all alone. Theoretically, we believe that God exists, but functionally we continue in the midst of life with the assumption that it is all up to us. There are many questions about a story like this. I don't know why Jesus waited to be asked before He decided to help, but I do know He was in the boat ...

2789. Diving Deeper

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... .” Do you have a career or a calling? Author and educator Howard Hendricks was on a plane one day that was delayed from takeoff. As passengers became irritated and demanding, Howard noticed how gracious one of the flight attendants continued to be with each passenger. When they were finally in the air he continued to be amazed at her poise and control. When she came by his seat, Howard asked if he could write a letter of commendation to the airline on her behalf. “I don’t work for the airline,” she ...

2790. The Door of Hospitality

John 12:1-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... put out her hand and said, “Good morning, I’m glad to see you.” Both were pleased at having met a friend and they continued to attend. The Bible says, “Do no forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels unaware.” I would like ... the long term effect of living in that kind of anxiety? What will happen to the human community when we continue to isolate ourselves from one another, separate ourselves from community and live out of fear of other human beings? The ...

2791. Come to the Party

Luke 14:15-23

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the friendships I’ve established over the years, in every place I’ve stopped off on this journey in ministry, and the friends that continue to be deep abiding friends to me today and stay in contact with me again and again, there are only four words to ... is to be worshipped and we would be wise to know it down in the depths of our hearts and lives. III. THERE IS A PARTY CONTINUED. When God plans a feast it doesn’t stop. When God plans a festivity it’s going to happen. You may be there or you may ...

2792. Luke 9:51-62

Luke 9:51-56

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 19-21). Jesus’ rebuff brings into sharp focus the differences between the standards of accepted, expected behavior in this world, and the demands of devoted discipleship. The new world, the continued indwelling of the Kingdom of God, is found by moving forward with Jesus on his journey, not by “looking back” or by continuing to owe homage to the old status of relationships. As each would-be disciple encounters Jesus, he consistently points them onward. Jesus defines discipleship and the kingdom of God ...

2793. The Power to Belong

Acts 4:32-35

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... local church is God's best hope for humanity. So on this Sunday that we have set aside for membership and confirmation, I want to talk about the power of belonging. I. BELONGING TO A CHURCH INSPIRES US “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus" (Verse 33). If the resurrection of Christ from the dead was incredible, the power of the resurrection demonstrated in the early Church was unimaginable. Who could have guessed it? That little band of early believers ...

2794. Esther: The Problem of Opportunity

Esther 4:11-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... is not about you, it's not about me. When my poor, lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave, this congregation will continue to be a vibrant, growing, disciple-making community of faith as it has been for the past one hundred and fifty-five ... only the two of us, he spoke up and said, “How are you feeling?" “So, so," I said. “I know, my dad has cancer too," he continued. “I will be praying for you." The door opened and I stepped off and I stopped; I was touched. He didn't have to do that ...

2795. The Road of Joy

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... pastor. The kid replied indignantly, “If he were my brother his name would be Bobby, but that's not my brother, she's my sister, and her name is Susie!" If we keep asking the wrong questions we are likely to keep getting the wrong answers. As long as we continue to know nothing definite about God we are free to be the captains of our fate and the masters of our soul. But we do know something definite about God. God is love; God is just; God is merciful. God is revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ ...

2796. The Power to Look Up

Luke 24:44-53

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... you can do it and will encourage you every step of the way. Keep looking up. II. KEEP LOOKING UP TO THE SCRIPTURES He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Your roadmap of faith is here in this book, the Bible. The word of God continues to suffer in the hands of men. People buy it, but seldom read it. People read it, but misinterpret it. People challenge it to profit from it. People credit it with sayings that are simply not there. This is a test—Which of the following statements can ...

2797. The Flood Story

Luke 10:25-37

Illustration

Carveth Mitchell

... his porch and said, "Hop in, Brother, we'll take you to safety." He replied, "Not me, thanks, the Lord will help me." The water continued to rise to the level of his porch roof, and he was perched up there. Two men came by in a motorboat. They pulled over ... rope ladder. "Climb in, Brother, and we'll take you to safety." He answered, "Not me, thank you. The Lord will help me." The water continued to rise and the man drowned. When he got to heaven, he spoke to the Lord. (How Bishops know what goes on up there I ...

2798. Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... whole village. Thus when the neighbor “friend” complains he cannot get up to serve the needs of the other he already knows, his responsibility as a member of the community requires him to offer all he is able in this circumstance. The continued “persistence” (“anaideia”) only serves to remind the sleepy, snuggled down friend of what his relationship with his neighbor requires — “he will get up and give him whatever he needs” (v.8). Likewise, Jesus encourages his disciples to be as doggedly ...

2799. Hebrews 11:1-2; 8-16

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... only true homeland of the faithful is “a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (v.16). As he continues his sermon the Hebrews’ preacher will describe how this heavenly homeland is the true goal for his audience (see Hebrews 12:22, 28; 13:14 ... ). The faith journey begun by Abraham is now continued by this newest generation of sojourners, whose faith in Christ likewise makes them “heirs of the promise.” The covenant God made with ...

2800. Sabbath Rest

Luke 13:10-17

Illustration

Laurence Veinott

... the wagon train should split into two groups - those who wanted to observe the Sabbath and those who preferred to travel on that day. The proposal was accepted, and both groups set out and traveled together until the next Sabbath day, when one group continued while the other remained at rest. Guess which group got to Oregon first? You're right. The ones who kept the Sabbath reached their destination first. Both the people and the horses were so rested by their Sabbath observance that they could travel much ...

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