Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2826 to 2850 of 3099 results

2826. How God Brings Change

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... Colson told the following story in an address at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi: I love the illustration about a man named Jack Eckerd. A few years ago I was on the Bill Buckley television program, talking about restitution (one of my favorite subjects) and criminal justice. Bill Buckley agreed with me. A few days later I got a call from Jack Eckerd, a businessman from Florida, the founder of the Eckerd Drug chain, the second largest drug chain in America. He saw me on television and ...

2827. Easter Affirmation

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

About 1930, the Communist leader Bukharin journeyed from Moscow to Kiev. His mission was to address a huge assembly. His subject, atheism. For a solid hour he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity, hurling argument and ridicule. At last he was finished and viewed what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of men's faith. "Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded. A solitary man arose and asked permission to speak. He ...

2828. An Inside Job

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... valley no longer echoed the glorious fine-tuned music of the pipe organ. Something had gone wrong with the pipe organ. Musicians and experts from around the world had tried to repair it. Every time a new person would try to fix it the villagers were subjected to sounds of disharmony—awful penetrating noises which polluted the air. One day an old man appeared at the church door. He spoke with the sexton and after a time the sexton reluctantly agreed to let the old man try his hand at repairing the organ ...

2829. God in Christ--The King Seeks a Wife

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... of seeing her for a moment in passing. He wondered how he might win her love. He thought, I will draw up a royal decree and require her to be brought before me to become the queen of my land. But, as he considered, he realized that she was a subject and would be forced to obey. He could never be certain that he had won her love. Then, he said to himself, "I shall call on her in person. I will dress in my finest royal garb, wear my diamond rings, my silver sword, my shiny black boots, and my ...

2830. Jesus and Finance

Illustration

Howard Dayton, Jr.

Jesus talked a great deal about money. Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions. In the Gospels, an amazing one out of 10 verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.

2831. The Chance for Evangelism

Illustration

William Barclay

... And he said to them: "You shall go to your high priest and tell him on my behalf to send me a hundred men skilled in your religion and I shall be baptized, and when I am baptized all my barons and great men will be baptized and their subjects will receive baptism, too, and so there will be more Christians here than there are in your parts." Nothing was done. Nothing was done for about thirty years, and then two or three missionaries were sent. Too few and too late. It baffles the imagination to think what a ...

2832. Inspired by the Best

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Leonardo da Vinci had started work on a large canvas in his studio. For awhile he worked at it—choosing the subject, planning the perspective, sketching the outline, applying the colors, with his own inimitable genius. Then suddenly he ceased, the painting still unfinished, and, summoning one of his students, invited him to complete the work. The student protested that he was both unworthy and unable to complete the great painting which ...

2833. Surrender to Christ

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Why do people resist surrendering themselves to Christ? For many, the reason they give is that they don't really trust God to handle their lives to their suiting. A young lady stood talking to an evangelist on the subject of consecration, of giving herself wholly to God. She said, "I dare not give myself wholly to the Lord, for fear He will send me out to China as a missionary." The evangelist said, "If some cold, snowy morning a little bird should come, half-frozen, pecking at your window, ...

2834. Real Consolation

Illustration

Charles Krieg

... and was undergoing painful treatments. Her friends weren't doing well, either. She gave details of their various illnesses and went on to describe the funerals of several of them. After thirty minutes of this, the woman who had lost the dog tried to get the caller back on the subject. She asked, "But what about my dog?" The other woman replied, "Oh, I don't have him, but I thought you might be feeling badly about losing it, so I thought I'd just call to cheer you up!"

2835. Planted for a Purpose

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... , and by reaching out to those who feel unnecessary. Everyone is important, everyone is essential, everyone is beloved of God and therefore an indispensable part of our church family. We need to evangelize our own parish with that message. Now the subject of evangelism can make us a bit uncomfortable because hearing that word can bring to mind pictures of high-powered religious crusades, revivals, and evangelists. We may wonder, "Is that what evangelism is?" We think of television preachers appealing to ...

2836. On Taking Candy from a Stranger

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... him that. So no matter the circumstance that he finds himself in, he keeps the rules. As a consequence, at least on this occasion, he missed out on some free chocolate. I don’t think I could be that obedient, do you? It’s not a popular subject in our world today, but let’s talk for a few moments about obedience. Obedience, especially when it requires sacrifice, is an admirable quality. You have to believe in a cause greater than yourself to obey a rule or a principle that causes you to sacrifice your ...

2837. Average Is Okay

Illustration

Dr. Anthony T. Evans

... card does it tell me what a C means? Oh, here it is. C means “average.” To me, average means “just fine.” Average means “okay.” I don’t see anything wrong with having an average, okay son.’ “Dad would also say, ‘Did you try your best on this subject?’ Because I knew how he felt toward me, I always answered him honestly. If I said yes, he would say, ‘If you did your best, you can be proud of yourself.’ “It’s funny--when he told me that being an average ten-year-old was okay with ...

2838. Chasing Childhood Dreams

Illustration

Denis Waitley

... continues to be our latent or real talent as adults. The lives of fifty individuals were tracked; evaluations began at age seven, and reevaluations took place every seven years until each reached the age of thirty-five. Incredibly, nearly all of the subjects eventually ended up engaged in a professional pursuit related to their interests during the age span of seven through fourteen. Although most of them had discarded or strayed from those interests from ages fifteen to twenty-one and beyond, virtually all ...

2839. Most Honored Guest

Revelation 3:14-22

Illustration

A. Philip Parham

The great Queen Victoria would occasionally visit some of her most humble subjects. Once she visited the cottage of an elderly Christian widow. Later, her widowed neighbors decided to tease her a little, “Who is the most honored guest you’ve ever entertained, Granny?” She answered, “Her Majesty the Queen, of course!” The neighbors said, “Did you say the Queen? Surely, you are ...

2840. La Clairvoyance

John 3:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

One of my favorite paintings is a self-portrait by the surrealist artist, Rene Magritte. It’s called “La Clairvoyance.” It's a painting of a painter looking at his subject, an egg, and on his canvas he is painting a picture of a bird in flight. I believe that's the way the painter understood his craft. It's the we saw himself as an artist. I believe this is how Jesus saw people. He didn’t see them in ...

2841. Listening LADDER

Illustration

Staff

The six steps to becoming a better listener form a LADDER: L: Look at the person speaking to you. A: Ask questions. D: Don’t interrupt. D: Don’t change the subject E: Empathize R: Respond verbally and nonverbally.

2842. Déjà Vu or Divine Revelation?

Luke 23:35-43

Sermon

King Duncan

... people.” (4) Read about the last days of Jesus’ life and you’ll see that he knowingly, willingly sacrificed himself to save others. He absorbed the penalty of death in his own body so that we could live. What kind of king would give up his own life for his subjects? A King who was sent by God for a special mission. A King who was to lay down his life for the world. In other words, the second thief saw a King whose agenda was motivated by mercy and love. That is not the way the rulers of this world ...

2843. The New Moses

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... is old enough to eat solid food the country with whom Ahaz wants to enter an alliance will be gone. So even though Isaiah was not talking about Jesus, Jesus is still the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy given at another time in another place about another subject. No, it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but that is how prophecy works — strings connected to strings connected to strings. Anyway, Joseph acted by faith and obeyed the message even though it made no sense at all. He took Mary for his wife and ...

2844. Surprised by Joy

Luke 2:8-14

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... a disagreement. It’s not an argument or a debate. It’s a “war.” That pretty much crushes any hope of a civil discussion, a free, open and respectful exchange of ideas and perspectives. No, once you call it a war you’ve determined how the subject will be broached. There will be fighting and wounding and even killing, all, one would hope, of the metaphorical type. Those on either side of the debate will be identified not as good people trying to do the right thing, but as “enemy.” Just in case ...

2845. The Wounds of God

Illustration

John Dickson

... campus. After his speech, the chairperson asked the audience for questions. Without delay a man in his mid-30s, a Muslim leader at the university, stood up and proceeded to tell the audience how preposterous was the claim that the Creator of the universe would be subjected to the forces of his own creation—that he would have to eat, sleep, and go to the toilet, let alone die on a cross. Dickson and the man went back and forth for about ten minutes during which the man insisted that the notion of ...

2846. Know Jesus--No Peace

Luke 12:49-56

Sermon

George Reed

... effects of hours of daily violence on young people over ten year’s time, it will be too late. You couldn’t find a more effective way to brainwash someone than to get them to play games constantly that reward them for a certain behavior. That is what we are subjecting our children to in the most graphic, realistic forms. At the very least, we need to insert some balance into the lives of the young people who have been entrusted to our care by God. We need to let them hear us state our belief in a God of ...

2847. Keeping the Faith

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Molly F. James

... persona of faith, who gives her life in service to God and the church has trouble keeping the faith, how is she going to preach about it? Well, you are right to be concerned, but I actually think the key to my ability to offer some wisdom on this subject is exactly in the fact that I struggle with it. First and foremost, the church is in a whole lot of trouble if there is great chasm between the standards we have for our leaders and the standards we have for Christians in general. We are all called to ...

2848. An Invitation That Went Astray

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... , concerts, public events, schools and churches in an effort to raise money and awareness to fight human slavery. He donates the money he raises to the International Justice Mission to use in their fight against the slave trade. He’s also written a book on this subject that has been published by Zondervan. He’s even appeared on Good Morning, America and was interviewed recently by Newsweek. As Zach says, “I wanted kids my age to get on board to help. I want us to make history—and I don't mean to ...

2849. Reading the Last Chapter First

Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... the last chapter first. How many of you read a book from beginning to end? How many of you peek at the ending first to see if you’ll like the story? Would you believe a couple of psychologists from UC San Diego did a study on this subject, and they found that those who read the end of a story first actually enjoyed the story more than those who read the story from beginning to end? One of the psychologists who led the study, Jonathan Leavitt, said once people know the ending to the story, it becomes ...

2850. Blessed

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... (future tense verb: “shall”). Each beatitude marks that which already is and that which is presently unfolding or about to be. When Jewish and gentile Christians were arguing about who were the most authentic Christians, the beatitudes did not describe subjective feelings but objective realities that are being made possible by the living God. They do not make ethical demands upon the reader or listener so much as they describe the “true Christian.” The reader/listener is left to make an appropriate ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 2826 to 2850 of 3099 results

2826. How God Brings Change

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

2827. Easter Affirmation

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

2828. An Inside Job

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

2829. God in Christ--The King Seeks a Wife

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

2830. Jesus and Finance

Illustration

Howard Dayton, Jr.

2831. The Chance for Evangelism

Illustration

William Barclay

2832. Inspired by the Best

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

2833. Surrender to Christ

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

2834. Real Consolation

Illustration

Charles Krieg

2835. Planted for a Purpose

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

John M. Braaten

2836. On Taking Candy from a Stranger

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

King Duncan

2837. Average Is Okay

Illustration

Dr. Anthony T. Evans

2838. Chasing Childhood Dreams

Illustration

Denis Waitley

2839. Most Honored Guest

Revelation 3:14-22

Illustration

A. Philip Parham

2840. La Clairvoyance

John 3:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

2841. Listening LADDER

Illustration

Staff

2842. Déjà Vu or Divine Revelation?

Luke 23:35-43

Sermon

King Duncan

2843. The New Moses

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

2844. Surprised by Joy

Luke 2:8-14

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

2845. The Wounds of God

Illustration

John Dickson

2846. Know Jesus--No Peace

Luke 12:49-56

Sermon

George Reed

2847. Keeping the Faith

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Molly F. James

2848. An Invitation That Went Astray

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

King Duncan

2849. Reading the Last Chapter First

Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan

2850. Blessed

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

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