Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 276 to 300 of 2157 results

Luke 12:13-21, Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." In the version of the Ten Commandments that appears in Deuteronomy, chapter 5, the prohibition against coveting the neighbor's wife is listed ahead of his house, but in the Exodus version, the order is reversed. One would think that the spouse would be valued above the house. However, if you have never asked your wife whether she loves you or her house ...

277. A Terrific Trade

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... heartbeat of the Hallelujah Chorus. St. Paul talked about this terrific trade in his second letter to the Corinthians, the fifth chapter" the, 21st verse. Listen to it in the old King James version: "For God hath made Jesus to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Now for a more modern version: "For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us." Here is how J.B. Phillips renders it: "For God ...

278. All You Need To Know About Heaven

John 14:5-14, John 14:1-4

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... it is escapist or hopelessly sentimental. Hollywood and the media generally teach that this world is all there is. According to their version, you better get all you can now, because your death is just like that of dogs and cats. I heard about a ... BE ACCOMMODATIONS IN HEAVEN FOR EVERY BELIEVER. “In my Father's house are many abiding places" Jesus said. The old King James Version refers to "many mansions" in heaven. But the word "mansion" conveys opulence and wealth to the modern mind. Jesus was simply ...

279. Legends Of Christmas

Drama

Georgianna Summers

... my gifts secretly. [They exit together to remove their costumes.] Danny: [Continuing] But the nobleman was so grateful that he could not keep the secret, and so stories of the bishop’s generosity spread, and whenever unexpected gifts arrived he was given the credit. One version of this story was that one of the bags of gold fell into a stocking that was hung up to dry by the fireplace; so that’s where the custom of hanging up stockings at Christmas comes from. Hardgrader: That was excellent, Danny. [As ...

280. Not of the World

John 17:6-19

Sermon

Richard A. Jensen

... is the problem. When these things happen to us, it is a sign that the world has won the battle for our soul. The world and the Evil One has hated us, and out of that hatred they have managed to conform us to the world’s agenda. Any version of the Christian faith that equates the blessings of our culture with the blessing of God is doomed to walk the path of the rich fool and the rich young ruler. The so-called "prosperity Gospel" is simply bankrupt from a biblical point of view. None of us intentionally ...

281. Lent 1

Genesis 9:1-17, 1 Peter 3:8-22, Mark 1:9-13, Mark 1:14-20

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

... your desire and power to rescue us by your grace. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen Gospel: Mark 1:9-15 Theme: Desert and devils, diversions and dangers in the Christian calling Exegetical note: Of particular interest in Mark’s very succinct version of Jesus’ desert temptation is the literary "hinge" between it and the divine pronouncement of Sonship at Jesus’ baptism that precedes it; for the idea that one blessed with heavenly approval might be "driven" at once by God’s Spirit into a wilderness ...

282. Academics, Fanatics, and Other Disciples

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... are considered. For the fanatic, his way is the one, right way. And when joined to the word "religious," the notion of religious fanatic breeds a negative reaction in most of us. However, when we use the shortened version of fanatic, the word is softer and more acceptable. And what is the shortened version? The word "fan," as in sports fan or race fan or fan club. A fan club is literally a club of fanatics, which seems to be entirely acceptable when attached to sports heroes, celebrities, or rock music ...

283. The Final Farewell

Luke 24:50-53, Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

George Bass

... . See the man of sorrows now; From the fight returned victorious, Ev’ry knee to him shall bow. Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crowns become the victor’s brow. Crowns become the victor’s brow. For one thing, Luke’s version of the Ascension of our Lord contains Jesus’ last farewell speech to the disciples and to the world. Christ himself tells all of us that God has turned the tragedy of the tree into a triumph over the tomb. Usually, someone has to speak for us ...

284. Come Celebrate! Send in the Light!

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Richard L. Eslinger

... from the Halloween display. For months now, it seems that our culture has been pouring sentimental Christmas syrup over us. Now we know [tonight, today] that all that stuff wasn’t really Christmas - some ad agency’s version, maybe; but it wasn’t Christmas - because there was no waiting. In the K-Mart version there’s no expectation, no Advent waiting. But for those of us who have lived in darkness, who have waited, expecting the light, this is a joyful time. And it’s a joyful time for all God ...

285. Christ and Time

Galatians 3:26--4:7

Sermon

T. A. Kantonen

... is the acceptable time ... now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). Thus Paul speaks of "redeeming the time" (Ephesians 5:16). Exagorazo, the Greek verb which he uses and which the King James Version translates "redeem," means "to make the most of, to save from being wasted." In the Revised Standard Version the passage is translated "making the most of the time" and in the New English Bible "use the present opportunity to the full." As the context points out, do not waste the God-given kairos in ...

286. Truth - How Do You Know It When You Hear It?

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Brett Blair

... of the truth. And we have to try and find the truth among all the truths that present themselves to us. It is very hard these days to know who to believe. Everyone is trying to lead us to their version of truth. In 1997, Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old student at Eagle Rock Junior High School in Idaho Falls won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair by showing how conditioned we have become to alarmists spreading fear of everything in our environment through junk science. In ...

287. A New Look at an Old Treasure

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... clear. Those translations offer different English renderings from those with which we were nurtured in the well-known King James Version (differences which have prompted some folks to ask me, when it comes time to do their funerals, please read the old FAMILIAR ... words - I hear the concerns). If you have read this psalm in other versions, you may have noticed, for instance, that we do not find, "He leadeth me in paths of righteousness," but instead, "He leads ...

288. When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough

Ecc 2:1-26

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... take responsibility for what goes on here. For all its flaws, for all its foibles, for all its failures, the church is God's divinely instituted way of offering people who need people the chance to find them. It even challenges those modern versions of the ancient Teacher who need people (whether they know it or not) the chance to give life meaning through involvement with others. Vaclav Havel, the first President of Czechoslovakia upon its freedom from Communism (and himself a poet and playwrite) has said ...

289. Make It Right!

Matthew 5:21-26

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... liable to the hell of fire. Why would Jesus come down so hard with a blanket condemnation of anger, especially considering that it seems to be a natural human emotion? Actually, the compilers of the King James Version of the Bible in which many of us were nurtured could not believe Jesus really said it - that version's condemnation is for the man who is angry with his brother "without a cause." But the words "without a cause" are not found in the Greek. Hmm. A total prohibition? Anyway, are there not times ...

290. Regis and Jesus

Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... , in its effort to make a passage more understandable, tends to lead us astray. But in defense of the translators, the Greek words behind this English can be very confusing without a bit of background. We who grew up hearing this passage from the old King James version remember it differently: "The light of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye be SINGLE, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be EVIL, thy whole body shall be full of darkness." The "single" eye as compared to an "evil ...

291. Following Orders

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... therefore..." Anytime you see the word "therefore" in scripture, ask yourself what it is "THERE FOR." In this case, "therefore" gives the rationale for doing what Jesus is about to say to do. BECAUSE I have all authority (or all POWER, as the old King James Version has it), BECAUSE I have overcome your most powerful enemies...sin and death..., BECAUSE I am in TOTAL COMMAND, and BECAUSE that news needs to get out, "THEREFORE..." here is the plan. There is good reason for the orders he is about to give. Have ...

292. "A Friend Indeed"

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... - it is not the clearest. I wondered why in the world someone who is in need should be considered a genuine friend. Instead I rather agreed with whichever wag adjusted the saying to "A friend in need is a PEST!" Finally I realized that the original version meant that a friend to YOU when YOU are in need is a friend indeed. AHA! THAT I believe. Of course, the gospel expects Christians to befriend those who need help. The Good Samaritan story pops to mind. Juxtapose that with our ongoing FRIENDSHIP MONTH at ...

293. Preparing For A Royal Visit

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... our town ready? WE ALSO NEED TO GET OUR FAMILIES READY. After all, our first responsibility is to those closest to us. In a Family Circus cartoon, the little girl sits her baby brother on her lap and tells him the story of Christmas. According to her version: Jesus was born just in time for Christmas up at the North Pole surrounded by eight tiny reindeer and the Virgin Mary. Then Santa Claus showed up with lots of toys and stuff and some swaddling clothes. The three Wise men and elves all sang carols while ...

294. What In The World Are We Doing Here?

Micah 6:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... religion business? How much does God really demand out of me?” Well, of course, there is an answer to that question in Scripture. I suppose that few verses in the Old Testament or the New are better known than Micah 6:8, particularly in the Revised Standard Version translation: “He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” I suspect this text is well known for two reasons. One, it has three ...

295. What On Earth Is The Trinity?

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... also was the Greek word for one who runs alongside a fainting soldier and cheers him on. We could all use a bit of cheering on, from time to time! That's what the Holy Spirit is supposed to do. The Holy Spirit is the "Cheerleader!" The King James Version calls the Holy Spirit the "comforter." There is an old story of a seminary student in Edinburgh who had a typographical error on a term paper. He was trying to say that "The Lord has taken away our guilt." The sentence came out: "the Lord has taken away our ...

296. What Is True And Who Can You Trust?

John 18:28-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... boy's hands, the boy cried out instantly, "That's not jade!" The boy now knew the feel of jade. He would not be fooled by something artificial. There are so many ideas in the religious marketplace today. Even within the Christian community there are so many versions of the truth. When all is said and done, though, there is only one truth by which all spiritual practice should be judged, and that truth is this: What would Jesus do? What would Jesus say? Is this in keeping with the spirit of Christ? I know ...

297. Focusing On The Possibilities

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... positively, and I told him my story about the homework problems and my thesis. A few months later I received a letter from him asking permission to include my story in a book he was writing on the power of positive thinking. Schuler's published version was a bit garbled and exaggerated but essentially correct. The moral of his sermon was this: If I had known that the problem were not homework but were in fact two famous unsolved problems in statistics, I probably would not have thought positively, would ...

298. The Gates of Hell

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... northern Palestine and the state god of Rome there lived one who was Lord over all and his name was Jesus. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded with high praise for Simon Peter. Let me read it as it appears in the King James version of the Bible: "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall ...

299. To Hell and Back

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... as long as Jesus Christ is abroad and at work in the universe. But I am getting ahead of myself. It used to be that when Methodists heard the Apostles’ Creed recited in other churches, they got an inferiority complex. They became aware that our version had something missing. Other churches had something in their creed that we did not have. Most other Christians insert the words, “He descended into hell,” in the Apostles’ Creed. Try as I might, I cannot seem to discover just when and where Methodists ...

300. What on Earth Is the Trinity?

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... word for one who runs alongside a fainting soldier and cheers him on. We could all use a bit of cheering on, from time to time! Thats what the Holy Spirit is supposed to do. The Holy Spirit is the Cheerleader! Many will recall that the old King James Version called the Holy Spirit the Comforter.There is an old story of a seminary student in Edinburgh who had a typographical error on a term paper. He was trying to say that The Lord has taken away our guilt. The sentence came out: The Lord has taken away our ...

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