Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2801 to 2825 of 3099 results

1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28, Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death . . . When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” Christ not only revealed to us the nature of God, but in his death on the cross Christ made it possible for us to have new life in him. When we stand at the foot ...

2802. Noah and the Robots

Genesis 9:8-17

Sermon

King Duncan

It sounds like a rock group, doesn’t it--“Noah and the Robots?” Some of you probably think the title of my message is a bit frivolous. It may be, but the subject matter we are going to discuss today is not frivolous at all. I read something interesting about the famous novelist Charles Dickens. It seems that Dickens wrote all his great stories in installments. Week after week, Dickens would spin out his tales and the English public would breathlessly wait to ...

2803. A Time to Get Angry

John 2:13-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... power. They are near the bottom of the social scale, and for the most part have accepted their situation. But finally there came the straw that broke the metaphorical camel’s back. The lands belonging to these peasant farmers have been subject to illegal seizure by national and international corporations acting with the connivance of the military and local politicians. But some of the farmers did the unthinkable. They got angry and stood up to the political and corporate powers. Subsequently, they were ...

2804. Extreme Humility

John 13:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... this has happened,” he demanded. Eventually, the Prince died with the arrow still in his body. (3) The Prince thought he was in control of his universe. His ego was so strong he thought there was no way he could die, and he was offended that any of his subjects would even try to take his life. But he was wrong--as anyone is wrong who thinks he or she is invincible. He was as wrong as anyone is wrong who believes that the universe was constructed simply or solely for his or her benefit. And that brings us ...

2805. What a Friend

John 15:9-17

Sermon

John Jamison

... watching children who have no food, no bed — nothing. Based on what John said, if our prayers haven’t been answered, some would argue that it means we’ve not lived up to our part of the deal: to go out and bear fruit. But isn’t that pretty subjective? What kind of fruit? And how much fruit? Some of us have spent a lifetime doing everything we can to bear fruit and love those around us; yet when we ask in Jesus’ name, nothing happens. Some find an answer to this by creating a bunch of rules that ...

2806. Everything You Need to Know about Love

John 15:9-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... day of his visit he went to tell her good-bye. Her face seemed to beam with beauty, but when he entered, she cast her eyes to the floor. Mendelssohn’s heart ached in love for her. After some small talk, he slowly drew to the subject that filled his mind. “Do you believe that marriages are made in Heaven?” he asked. “Yes,” replied the young woman. “And do you?” “Of course,” Mendelssohn answered. “I believe that at the birth of each child, the Lord says, ‘That boy shall marry that girl ...

2807. A Time of Transition

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... ?” And as for the timeline for when this would occur, he had already stressed to them that neither he nor the angels in heaven knew when that date would be (Mark 13:32). “Quit setting dates,” he was saying to them. As explicit as Jesus was on this subject, doesn’t it amaze you that people are still trying to set dates, even today? When will we realize that most of these people setting dates are spiritual con men who are making a bundle of money off of people’s fears. Jesus would not be thrown off ...

2808. When a Storm Is Raging

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

... feet below sea level. It is a relatively small body of water, ten miles long and four miles wide. However, it is about 150 feet deep. Because the sea is so far below sea level and is surrounded by mountains, students of the subject say it is particularly susceptible to sudden storms. Winds sweeping across the land come up and over the mountains, creating downdrafts over the water. Combined with thunderstorms that appear suddenly over the surrounding mountains, the water can stir into violent twenty-foot ...

2809. What Does the Kingdom of God Have to Do With Anything Today?

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... , but how much more are you?" Nicodemus asked the question of the ages: "Just who do you claim to be?" Notice two reversals in our story. First, Jesus neither comments on Nicodemus' statement nor does he answer the implied question. Instead, he completely changes the subject. Based on his knowledge of what Nicodemus really needs to know, Jesus tells him: "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again" (John 3:3). This first reversal must have shocked the learned judge ...

2810. Without Conflict There Is No Story

Mark 6:1-13

Sermon

Ron Lavin

George Anderson wanted to write a book. He had the subject of his book in mind. The title would be Handling Troubles. He knew that if he could get a publisher, the book would help other people. He knew he could do it, but he didn't know how, so he joined a writers' group. A famous and successful author was ...

2811. Hope for People Who Are Angry

Ephesians 4:30-5:2

Sermon

King Duncan

... them under the pseudonym of an African-American story-teller named Uncle Remus. These folktales were entertaining and often filled with great wisdom. Many regard them as racially insensitive. They are chiefly criticized for being too passive when it comes to the subject of slavery in the old South. This is a valid criticism since slavery was a vile sin that should never be excused under any circumstances. Still, it would be sad if these wonderful African-American folktales disappeared from our culture. One ...

2812. Characteristics of Christ That You and I Need

Mark 8:27-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... he lives the life of a prince, raised in the palace, wrapped in fine silks and protected from the horrible conditions that exist beyond the palace gates. To this point in life he is oblivious to the misery and injustice experienced by his father’s subjects. One day Tom Canty, the pauper, sneaks his way into the royal court, hoping to see how royalty live. He is caught and beaten by the Royal Guards. Seeing Tom’s predicament, Prince Edward steps in and takes Tom into his private chamber where he will ...

2813. Things a Child Can Teach Us

Mark 9:30-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... happiness of childhood. If it gets to you that your children are too exuberant at times, remind yourself to thank God for that exuberance. It is a sign that they are happy and healthy. Rodger Nishioka, a professor at Columbia Seminary, had something to say on this subject when he returned from a trip to Africa one year. He was speaking to his students who would one day be pastors. He said that he never wanted to hear of any pastor complaining about a crying baby in worship. One Sunday on his trip, he had ...

2814. What Really Counts

Mark 9:38-43

Sermon

King Duncan

... R.A.K.E. (an acronym for Random Acts of Kindness, Etc.). As Houston described what his organization did, Helga got very serious and told him that she thought “there was nothing more important in the world than kindness.” Houston was curious why she was so passionate about this subject and, as the plane took off, she dove into a story about the last time she had flown; it was 3 years past and she was en route to Arizona because she had gotten sudden news her Dad’s health was on the decline. Just as the ...

2815. I Am the True Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Brett Blair

... her. Indeed, everywhere she would go all over town she took her Bible with her. At the evening worship we would frequently call upon lay people to pray, she would always be the first to stand, and her prayers were nothing short of exquisite. It seemed like the subject of religion was always on her mind, in fact, almost to a fault. She almost didn't know how to carry on a simple conversation without bringing that up. I didn't have any problem with any of these things. The problem that I had was that when ...

2816. Four Magic Words

Psalm 126:1-6, Psalm 145:2-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... and give thanks for them. A 2005 study led by the well-known psychologist Martin Seligman confirms this approach. Seligman found that completing this exercise of counting three blessings every day for one week led to increases in happiness in test subjects that persisted for as long as six months. Another helpful exercise Dr. Breines suggests is what psychologists call “Mental subtraction.” In the words of songwriter Joni Mitchell, “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” But sometimes ...

2817. At the Intersection of Heaven and Earth

Luke 3:1-6

Sermon

King Duncan

... servants of God seek to live like royalty. Press reports sometime back told about a famed radio preacher who lives in an 8,000 square feet $2,000,000 house. It would be interesting to see what kind of sermon he is be able to deliver on the subject of missions. “The boys say they know I love them,” says John Croyle, “because I live in a smaller house than they do.” By the way, today Croyle is assisted by his son, John Brodie Croyle, also a former quarterback at Alabama as well as with the Kansas ...

2818. God with Skin On

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... the National Gallery of Art — the most complete showing of the artist’s work ever to be assembled. A deeply religious man, Vermeer expressed his faith through his work. But there is nothing “religious” about this art. His portraits are small and limited in subject matter — common people in common places doing common things. And yet to see these paintings and to be embraced by them is a holy experience. It is the light and the skin that does it — soft, moist, luminous skin that begs to be touched ...

2819. Light Living

John 1:(1-9) 10-18

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... suggest that the modern era is a time to celebrate, Mandela quietly reminded us with the dignity and integrity that marked his entire life that: “We live in a time where most people are still languishing in poverty, most people are still subjected to hunger, preventable disease, illiteracy, and insufficient shelter.” Much has been made about the stellar number of millionaires who now live in this country — over 3.5 million. But we need to acknowledge that despite all this newfound wealth, 16% of our ...

2820. The Three Bs

Luke 3:1-22, Psalm 29

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... it were twigs in a tinder box. But much to John’s surprise — and perhaps disappointment — the God he expected was not the God who arrived. The mighty Messiah turned out to be the gentle Jesus. Rather than a military man lording it over his subjects, we meet instead, a modest man, who waded into muddy water, choosing to be a companion with those he had come to serve. The two conflicting images of the Holy Spirit included in Luke’s passage underline the difference between John’s expectation and the ...

2821. When God's Dream Captures Your Heart

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... in Nehemiah. They knew that Nehemiah was a man of character. They knew that he was making even greater sacrifices than he was asking them to make. It was customary in those times for governors to live well off of the labors of their subjects. But not Nehemiah. He ate the same bread that they ate. And he worked alongside them until the dream was realized. However, there was a controversy among the people. These were difficult times. Some of the poorer residents of Jerusalem were having to sell themselves ...

2822. Three Men Changed by God

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-13, Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... took place in his life. Suddenly he was aware of just how misguided, how cruel, how vindictive his previous life had been. It’s hard to believe that Saul the persecutor could become Paul, the author of I Corinthians 13‑‑the greatest living document on the subject of love ever penned. Only Christ could make that change in a person. How did Paul describe his experience? “I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle,” he later wrote, “for I persecuted the church of ...

2823. What to Do With Human Failing

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... try to look interested and say, “I don’t think I have ever heard it said quite that way before.” I mention this simply as background for today’s gospel lesson. Jesus was embroiled in a difficult conversation on a very complex issue. The subject was causality. Why do certain things happen? It can and often is argued that there is a reason for everything. If that is true, how does one discern the reason? What is the cause/effect relationship? Was that just an accident, a serendipitous confluence of ...

2824. Overcoming and Achieving

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... them. Cripple him, and you have a Sir Walter Scott. Lock him in a prison cell, and you have a John Bunyan. Bury him in the snows of Valley Forge, and you have a George Washington. Raise him in abject poverty, and you have an Abraham Lincoln. Subject him to bitter religious prejudice, and you have a Benjamin Disraeli. Strike him down with infantile paralysis, and he becomes a Franklin D. Roosevelt. Burn him so severely in a schoolhouse fire that the doctors say he will never walk again, and you have a Glenn ...

2825. Rule for Prudent Religion

Illustration

John Calvin

On the whole subject of religion, one rule of modesty and soberness is to be observed, and it is this: In obscure matters not to speak or think, or even long to know, more than the Word of God has delivered. A second rule is that in reading the Scriptures we should constantly direct our inquiries and meditations to those things which tend to edification, not indulge in curiosity, or in studying things of no use.

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