Sermon and Worship Resources

This Week
Contact Us

Sermon Prep
Illustrations · Quotes · Humor
Commentary
Dictionary
Lectionary
Bible
Media
Children's Sermons
Children's Bulletins

Sermon Series
Bulletin & Sermon Aids
King Duncan
Authors A-Z
Dramas
Eulogies

Synonyms: replica, copy, representation, mock-up, dummy, imitation, double, duplicate, lookalike, reproduction, prototype, stereotype, archetype, type, version, style, ideal, paragon, perfect example, specimen, perfect specimen, fashion model, supermodel, mannequin, sitter, poser, subject, artist's model, photographic model, design, mark, configuration, variety, kind, sort, original, original design, exclusive, toy, miniature, facsimile, prototypical, prototypal, archetypal, illustrative, perfect, exemplary, classic, flawless, faultless, consummate, impeccable

Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 2976 to 3000 of 4884 results

«
1
2
…
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
…
195
196
»

2976. John 1:43-51

John 1:43-51

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... connection strengthen the messianic implications of Philip's declaration. Little wonder Nathanael is unimpressed, and responds with the dry, snide question, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Although Philip's understanding of Jesus may be less than perfect, he nevertheless confidently offers a disciple's archetypal invitation: "Come and see." Despite his doubts Nathanael accepts his friend's challenge. Jesus' first words about Nathanael reveal that he has some knowledge or insight into this man ...

2977. 2 Peter 3: 8-15a

2 Peter 3:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , it's the responsibility of the faithful to behave as an earnest of that new creation while they wait. The week's 2 Peter text closes by reminding readers that even as the burnt offerings and sacrifices brought before God by Israel were to be perfect and without blemish (see Leviticus 1:3; 3:1), faithful Christians must also remain without spot or blemish. (Second Peter had already described the false teachers as blots and blemishes in 2:13.) The delay of the parousia is a time of God-given grace, enabling ...

2978. Seeking a Shepherd King

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... Mosaic theology of the Hexateuch (cf. Deuteronomy 17:14-20). Nevertheless, here begins in our text for the morning the initiation of that royal theology that leads eventually to the thought of a Messiah, an anointed davidic king, and to the expectation of the coming of a perfectly righteous king who will guarantee the Lord’s favor toward Israel (cf. Isaiah 9:1-7; 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 37:24-25). Despite the fact that Saul is still on the throne, God has rejected him as the king over Israel (1 ...

2979. Want to Be Happy?

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... does not need to seek forgiveness for sins. Jesus does not need to undergo repentance. Jesus does not need to re-establish a right relationship with God. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit are already bound together in a perfect relationship of triune love. But here, at the very opening scene of Jesus’ public ministry, Jesus demonstrates that singleness of purpose between Father and Son by performing a simple act of obedience that would bring pleasure and happiness to both Father and Son ...

Mt 4:1-11, Rom 5:12-21

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... . In Matthew the typology is implicit, Jesus relives the story of Moses and Israel in the wilderness; whereas, in Romans, the typological approach is explicit: Adam is interpreted as an antitype for Jesus; Adam personifies the sin-flawed old creation, and Jesus embodies the perfect new creation. Romans 5:12-19 - "God's Old and New Creation" Setting. Paul's letter to the church at Rome is a rich complex of the apostle's theological reflections on a wide range of crucial topics. The body of the letter is ...

Jn 9:1-41 · Eph 5:8-14 · Ps 23 · 1 Sam 16:1-13

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... shaped us. Perhaps it was pure selfishness, greed, or a desire for power or security. Whatever it was, it was indeed a force larger than we ourselves, and it had control of our lives, so that we were not free. A life in Christ is altered, not perfected, but different from before its rebirth in Christ. As we stand in the Christian present, thinking about our lives before Christ, we can hear the author's admonitions to pursue God's good desires, to abstain from what is not in keeping with God's revealed love ...

2982. Pentecost

John 20:19-23, Acts 2:14-41, Acts 2:1-13, Psalm 104:1-35, Numbers 11:4-35

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... called to name God's presence, to change our lives through the power of the Spirit so that they are given in obedience to God's active will, and to look forward confidently and courageously to God's future even amidst less than perfect circumstances. John 20:19-23 - "Jesus Changes, Empowers, and Redirects Lives" Setting. The author of the Fourth Gospel carefully crafts the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus. After the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene (20:1), she informs the disciples that ...

2983. Proper 17

Exodus 3:1-22, Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21, Psalm 105:1-45

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... noticed how Paul's directive in 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world [literally "this age" in Greek], but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect," is partially put on hold for more elaborate reflection in vv. 9-21. Structure. Translations often divide these verses into two paragraphs, vv. 9-13 and vv. 15-21. But in fact the passage is one grand elliptical thought. A reader can take this passage and begin ...

2984. Proper 18

Psalm 149:1-9, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... from the dead; He rose, the Prince of life and peace, And stamped the day for ever his. This is the day the Lord has made, That all may see his love displayed, May feel his resurrection's power, And rise again, to fall no more, In perfect righteousness renewed, And filled with all the life of God. Then let us render him his own, With solemn prayer approach his throne, With meekness hear the gospel word, With thanks his dying love record, Our joyful hearts and voices raise, And fill his courts with songs ...

2985. Proper 22

Exodus 20:1-21, Matthew 21:33-46, Philippians 3:1-11, Psalm 19:1-14

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... or the praise of God's power over the physical creation, law is understood to be revelation that can actually transform a person. Note how the law is contrasted with different parts of the psalmist's physical body in vv. 7-8. The law that is perfect, sure, right, and pure can transform the psalmist by giving back life, bestowing wisdom, rejuvenating the heart, and enlightening the eyes. The result of the transforming power of the law on the psalmist is stated in v. 9a. It results in an enduring fear of God ...

2986. God's Dirty Job

Romans 5:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , but so that we can get down and dirty like he did. In fact, Jesus teaches us how to get dirty. What kind of life do your hands reflect? Are you holding the world at arm’s length, reaching for a spiritual “wet wipe” after every less-than-perfect encounter? Or are you willing to let the needs of others stain your hands, break your nails, scar your palms? Are you reaching out to the untouched? Jesus was more than just a “friend of sinners.” He was a “hands on” friend of sinners. He took water ...

2987. That First Longing

John 4:5-42

Illustration

Robert Bachelder

Carl Jung, the great psychoanalyst, tried to explain why so many people were fascinated by UFO phenomena. He wrote: "We are all born to believe. The eyes may be wrong, but the psyche is right. We are all looking for a perfect model of ourselves." C. S. Lewis made the same point when he observed: "Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in ...

2988. Do You Have It?

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and Lucy and singing for joy, "Ain't nothing like a hound dog." When asked what made this fifteen inch, three-year-old beagle so special, the response was the same: "He just has it." The judge, Dr. Donald J. Jones, said of Uno, "He's the most perfect beagle I've ever seen... Look at his face, you melt right down." Hollywood crowns a new "It" actor every year--the "It" girl or the "It" guy--someone who projects that mysterious "star" quality on-screen and off. Why do the words and actions of one candidate ...

2989. Benjamin Franklin's Epitaph

John 20:1-18

Illustration

C. Eric Funston

... : "The body of B. Franklin, printer, Like the cover of an old book Its contents torn out, And stripped of its lettering and gilding, Lies here, food for worms, But the work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believed, Appear once more In a new & more perfect edition, Corrected and amended by the author."

2990. What Does It Really Mean to Be a Christian?

Mark 10:17-22

Sermon

James W. Moore

... for?” Jesus shows us how to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength… and to do it joyfully saying “What else is life for?” II. SECOND, HE IS THE ONE WHO SHOWS US THE WAY TO LOVE OTHER PEOPLE. There’s an old hymn that says it perfectly… “Lord, help me live from day to day In such a self-forgetful way, That even when I kneel to pray, My prayer shall be for others. Others, Lord, yes others Let this my motto be Help me to live for others (Listen now closely, to the last line) That ...

2991. Can You Tell Time?

Philippians 3:7-11

Sermon

James W. Moore

... of… where we’ve been and where we’re going, how we can do better and how we can be better people. Attitude adjustment. This is precisely what the Apostle Paul was talking about in Philippians 3. In effect, he said, “I know that I’m not perfect, but I’m trying my best to be better because I have committed my life to Christ and He deserves my best. So, forgetting what lies behind, forgetting my failures, forgetting my shortcomings… I strain forward to what lies ahead, and I press on toward the ...

2992. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Disaster: Why do the Innocent Suffer?

Psalm 69:1-36

Sermon

James W. Moore

... gifts to us, but it does carry with it the element of risk and peril and danger... and awesome responsibility. II. SECOND, WE ALSO SOMETIMES SUFFER BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DO NOT YET KNOW. Someone once said, “Ignorance is bliss” but it is not bliss; it is the perfect set-up for disaster. You see, we live in a world racked with growing pains. We don’t know everything yet and what we don’t know hurts us. The truth is that we are doing things right now in our world to ourselves and to our earth that ...

2993. When Tragedy Strikes

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

James W. Moore

... had been married for more than forty years. Two days later he stood at her grave site and stared at her coffin. Blinking back the tears, he said: "She was the light of my life. She brought such joy to our home. She did everything for me. She was the perfect wife and companion. I loved her so much… and once I almost told her!" Isn't that sad? Isn't that pitiful? Once I almost told her… The point is clear: Life can be so fragile… and we need to keep up to date on our relationships. Jerry Eckles did ...

2994. When Losing Your Baggage Is a Good Thing

Hebrews 12:1-2

Sermon

James W. Moore

... again to these words: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” He is our Hope. He is our Redeemer. He is our Saviour. He is the One who can deliver us from the dangerous and destructive baggage that burdens and encumbers us. Now, let me ask you something. How much troublesome baggage are you ...

2995. The Lost and Found Sheep

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

James W. Moore

... from God… which no other living person in the world possessed. With TV and radio spots, with Billboards and newspaper ads, he proclaimed boldly that all who followed him and put their faith in him and joined this church would be blessed with great wealth and perfect health. The great wealth, he said, would come quickly to all those who joined his Father Gabriel Prosperity Plan. To assure your place in the Prosperity Plan, all you had to do was pay 100 dollars down and then send in 20 dollars per week to ...

2996. Prison Break

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... was something comical, yet touching in her bedraggled appearance on this awesome occasion. The small, hunched-over figure: her studied absorption in the implausible notion that there would be another spring: oblivious to the ending of her own days, which she knew perfectly well was near at hand: sitting there with her chart under those dark skies in the dying October calmly plotting the resurrection.” --E. B. White: A Biography (W.W. Norton, 1984), 353, as related by Steve Hancock via John M. Buchanan ...

2997. The Lost and Found Elder Brother

Luke 15:25-32

Sermon

James W. Moore

... ’m admitting that I’ve failed and cannot ever pay the debt. When I say, ‘I am a Christian,’ I don’t think I know it all. I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught. When I say ‘I am a Christian,’ I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I’m worth it. When I say, ‘I am a Christian,’ I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name. When I say, ‘I am a Christian,’ I do not ...

2998. The Lost and Found Celebration

Luke 15:15-24

Sermon

James W. Moore

... spirit. It’s a spiritual poison that will destroy your soul. Jesus taught that emphatically: “Don’t give in to vengeance,” he said and yet we justify it and excuse it so neatly. Remember how Archie Bunker put it: “What’s wrong with revenge? It’s the perfect way to get even.” Or, remember the two little boys who got into a fight at recess. The teacher broke it up and one little boy said: “He started it when he hit me back!” That’s the first thing we do, we excuse ourselves with words ...

2999. What in the World Are We Doing?

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

James W. Moore

... life that you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?” Again, the tough lawyer smiled smugly because he felt he had trapped the young policemen… but the young officer rose to the occasion… and gave the perfect answer. He said: “You see, sir, we share this building with the court complex and sometimes lawyers walk through that room!” The court-room erupted in laughter and a prompt recess was called. And it is said that the young police officer has been ...

3000. When Extravagance Is Beautiful, and When It Is Not

John 12:1-8

Sermon

James W. Moore

... .? You look troubled and sad. May I help you?” “I am so said,” said the 94-year-old man. “A month ago, I married a beautiful and loving younger woman. She’s a wonderful cook. She’s a wonderful care-giver. She keeps the house in perfect order. She is wonderful, affectionate. She loves me so much and I love her so much.” The police officer said: “Well, sir that sounds wonderful! She sounds wonderful! Why are you so despondent?” “Because,” said the older man, “I’m 94 years old and can ...

Showing results

«
1
2
…
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
…
195
196
»