Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3076 to 3100 of 4508 results

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Growing up, we are taught never to use the “F” word. We all know what that means. It’s simply not “nice” language. Not “relational” language. We’re taught that the way we speak matters, that the words we use can either make or break our most important relationships. These kinds of lessons help us to navigate our emotional and relational world. If we want to build bridges instead of burning them do...

3077. Snake Bitten

Illustration

Angela Akers

Jim Talley and Terry Benner in their book True Colors tell the story of a man named Joe who decided to take an afternoon walk through the foothills just above a lake where he had been fishing. Joe was comfortably dressed in shorts, a T-shirt, and tennis shoes. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his leg as he stepped over a small log. It was then he noticed a large diamondback rattler slithering int...

3078. Forgiveness Is His Business

Illustration

Angela Akers

In 1983 Mehmet Ali Agca was in the midst of the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. He pulled a gun out of his pocket and tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II. He was arrested and imprisoned. In January 1984 the Pope visited the prison, and when he walked through the cell door, he said to the young man, “I forgive you.” The papers in the city of Rome made much of it, but one editorial writer made a si...

3079. Jesus Demonstrates Status Inversion in the Kingdom

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Matthew illustrates the inversion of status in God’s kingdom by narrating Jesus’ protection of women in his teaching on divorce, his valuing of children, and his stringent call to a rich man who would follow him. Understanding the Text Following Jesus’ fourth major teaching block (chap. 18), Matthew provides his usual formula to transition to a narrative section (19:1; also 7:28–29; 11...

3080. Divorce

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Signaling the conclusion of the fourth discourse, Matthew includes the familiar formula, “When Jesus had finished [saying these things]” (19:1; repeated at 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 26:1). The next section takes place to the east of Judea, across the Jordan River (19:1). After summarizing Jesus’s ministry of healing to the crowds (19:2), Matthew narrates a legal debate between the Pharisees and Jesus (19...

3081. Divorce

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

19:1–6 When Jesus finished his discourse (as recorded in chap. 18), he left Galilee for the last time and went to the area of Judea that lay east of the Jordan. Great crowds followed him there and he healed them. Some Pharisees came to him to test him (note the same use of peirazō in Matt. 22:18, 35) by asking him if the law allowed a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason. The Pharisee...

3082. Million Dollar Christmas

Drama

Matthew Powell

Cast Edgar 1 Edgar 2 Bartimaeus Tintoes Helene Essay Reader 1 Essay Reader 2 Essay Reader 3 (Edgar 1 sits facing the audience and addresses the audience only. Edgar 2 stands next to him, but speaks to himself and the other characters in the play. Helene and Essay Readers 1-3 sit at center and stand when they "enter") Edgar 1: I rubbed my eyes and looked at the letter a second time. Yes, I was no...

3083. Can One Become Two?

Sermon

James Merritt

A couple in Sweetwater Texas had a lot of potted plants, and while watching TV the weatherman predicted a cold front coming through. The husband suggests that they bring in the potted plants. The wife goes outside to bring them indoors to protect them from freezing. It turned out that a little garden grass snake was hidden in one of the plants and after it got warm, it crawled out on the floor. T...

3084. Can Two Become One?

Sermon

James Merritt

I recently came across a fascinating article called “The Top 10 Inventions That Changed The World.” Whenever I come across lists like these it is always fun to see how many of these I can guess. I am going to put 10 blanks up on the screen, beginning with number 10. Here are the top inventions in order from 10-to-1: 10. The Plow 9. The Wheel 8. The Printing Press 7. The Refrigerator 6. Communica...

3085. What Would Jesus Say About Marriage?

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Harry and Martha had been married for fifty years when their friends and family threw an anniversary party for them. At the height of their celebration Harry proposed a toast with these words: “Martha and I have been married for fifty years and never had a fight. The secret to our bliss can be attributed to this. On the night of our wedding we agreed that whenever an argument arose between us, I w...

3086. One Plus One Equals One

Sermon

R. E. Lybrand

When Jesus finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the territory of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him by asking, "Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?" Jesus answered, "Haven't you read the scripture that says that in the beginn...

3087. Till Death Do Us Part

Sermon

James Merritt

I am going to deal with one of the most delicate, difficult, and debated topics in all the Bible divorce. There was a time in America when divorce was "safe, legal, and rare." Today, it's anything but rare. The exception has become the rule. It was recently said: "Couples are married today for better or for worse, but not for long." Almost three decades ago in 1970, Alvin Toffler, in his best-se...

3088. Humor: We're Getting a Divorce

Illustration

An elderly man in Phoenix calls his son in New York and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough." "Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams. "We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the old man says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chica...

3089. The Little Children and Jesus

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In 19:13–15, Matthew highlights status issues by reiterating Jesus’s perspective on children (cf. 18:5). The disciples attempt to keep children from Jesus, showing that they have not assimilated Jesus’s teaching at 18:1–5. Jesus corrects the disciples, inviting children to come to him and indicating the central place that children have in God’s kingdom.

3090. The Little Children and Jesus

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

19:13–15 When little children were brought to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray, the disciples rebuked those who brought them (Phillips says that they “frowned on the parents’ action”). The disciples were annoyed that their journey to Jerusalem was being slowed down. Jesus, however, had different priorities. Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the ki...

3091. For of Such is the Kingdom of Heaven

Sermon

Charles L. Koester

Death on the School Playground __________ was ten years old when his hfe ended tragically through a childish experiment of holding his breath and attempting to render himself unconscious. I recall the trick was not uncommon when I was a child. Expelling all possible breath a fellow classmate was asked to hold you tightly in a bear hug from the back. On the school playground this was done to _____...

3092. Little Ones

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Animations: stuffed lamb or if you dare, a real lamb; Youtube: “Do Sheep Only Obey Their Master’s Voice?”; (optional: book of fairytales) How many children do we have in worship today? Raise your hands! Why don’t you come on up! All of you… I wonder if you’d come on up and help me with someone. [Bring in the lamb….if you can have some of the children help to hold his leash.] Do you know who th...

3093. Straight Talk With A Young Adult

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

One of my favorite stories concerns a young man who was working in a grocery store. A lady came in and asked for half a grapefruit. Thinking that request rather strange, the young man went to the back of the store and said to the manager, “There is some nut out front who wants to buy half a grapefruit.” Just then he glanced over his shoulder and noticed that the lady had followed him to the back ...

3094. The Rich Young Man

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In counterpart, Matthew narrates a story illustrating how persons of great status, the rich, do not have priority in God’s reign or kingdom (19:16–26). In fact, the story of the rich man who comes to Jesus asking the way to eternal life concludes with Jesus teaching his disciples the difficulty the rich will have entering God’s kingdom (19:23–24). Jesus’s initial response to the man’s question is ...

3095. The Rich Young Man

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

19:16–22 The young man who comes to Jesus in this narrative is sometimes called the rich young ruler. That he is rich is clearly seen in all three Gospels. In Mark there is no indication of his age or rank. In Luke he is called a “ruler” (Luke 18:18), but his age is not mentioned. In Matthew he is twice designated young man (vv. 20, 22), but his rank is not indicated. It is instructive to compare...

3096. Hermon: The Camel Who Was Humbled

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: None Do you know what it means to be humble? Most people like to think that they are humble, but many of them are not. How many of you think that it is good to be proud? People are always telling us that we should be proud of doing this or doing that? If you get good grades in school or can play ball very well, people might tell you, that you should be very proud. Maybe there are differen...

3097. Almost Persuaded

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

The word "almost"...It's a sad word in anybody's dictionary. It keeps company with expressions like "if only," and (in the South) "near 'bout.” “Almost” is a word that smacks of missed opportunities and fumbled chances. Tim KcKee was edged out for first place in the Olympic 400 meter race by two/thousandth of a second. He almost won a gold medal. Max Lucado, that inspired writer out in Texas, gi...

3098. Hindering Riches

Sermon

Herchel H. Sheets

Shortly after the opening of the popular off-Broadway show, Godspell, in the summer of 1971, Cheryl A. Forbes made an interesting observation about it. She said that the show was for the young, in conception and spirit. It was written, acted, and sung by young people to give young people an answer to their despair. But she pointed out that not many youth were there to get the message; the audience...

3099. "Almost" Is A Sad Word

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

The word "almost"...It's a sad word in anybody's dictionary. It keeps company with expressions like "nearly," "if only," and (in the south) "near 'bout." It's a word that smacks of missed opportunities and fumbled chances. Tim KcKee was edged out for first place in the 400 meter race in the 1972 Olympic Games by two/thousandth of a second. He almost won a gold medal. Max Lucado, that inspired wr...

3100. Oh That Cookie Jar Goodness!

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) Prop: If you can find one, a “lie detector” device could also serve as an interesting opening (in reference to the movie, “Meet the Parents”) Has anyone had one of those mothers or grandmothers….or maybe a father or grandfather who...

Showing 3076 to 3100 of 4508 results