Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3151 to 3175 of 4490 results

3151. When Darkness Covered the Land

Matthew 27:11-54

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

Do you know what was the darkest moment of the year all over the earth for 2022? An organization called EarthSky.org does. Their computers determined that on the night of December 6, 2022 maximum darkness, they called it “global darkness,” cast almost 9 out of 10 people in the world in darkness. At some point during that night Africa, Asia and most of Europe were dark. In fact, there was a precise point on that night in which 85.92% of the people in the world were in total darkness. (1) That’s fascinating ...

3152. How Does Prayer Work?

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)

Sermon

Charley Reeb

If you grew up in the church, I am sure you were taught that prayer is important. Even if you don’t have much of a religious background, there is a good chance you have heard about the benefits of prayer. If you need something, ask God for it. If you need guidance, ask God for it. If you are worried, pray about it. If you need strength, pray for it. But maybe you struggle with prayer because you never seem to get the results you are looking for. You pray and never seem to get an answer. You are frustrated ...

3153. The Well

John 4:5-42

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Have you ever seen a well? A real well? On my grandmother’s farm stood a real well. When I was young, we loved to go to the “old house” (as they had since built a new one down the road but kept the other one to rent out) for fall apple picking. While the adults stood on ladders gathering apples from the trees, I ran for the well with its black iron pump firmly planted into a covered base. In order to draw water from the well, you had to pump the handle. After a few pumps, the water would start to flow. Now ...

3154. What Heaven Will Be Like

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

We all like to believe that we are moral people, don’t we? We’re good people. Or good enough compared to our neighbors. And if we ever act in ways that violate some moral code, we must have a good excuse for doing it, right? In 1995, a man named Robert Lee Brock was serving time in a Virginia prison for breaking and entering and grand larceny. While serving his time, Brock sued the Virginia prison system for various alleged offenses, but every lawsuit was rejected. So Brock tried a new approach: he sued ...

3155. Wrestling with God

Genesis 32:22-31

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

How many of you are into the sport of wrestling? I guess I should clarify which kind of wrestling I’m talking about, because there are a surprising number of competitions with the word “wrestling” in them that aren’t exactly sports. I’m sure all of us have tried arm wrestling or thumb wrestling at one time or another. But have you tried toe wrestling? Two barefoot opponents lock their big toes together and try to pin each other’s foot down. Ouch. Some folks in Staffordshire, England, created the World Toe ...

3156. I Have Been Gifted!

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Sermon

Ronald Love

In December 2019, Grace Fellowship United Methodist Church voted to leave its affiliation with the United Methodist Church and partner with the Free Methodist Church. For several years the controversy surrounding the religious issues dealing with the status of homosexuals in the congregation has severely damaged the denomination. A number of individuals have become outspoken activists, promoting varying positions on this dispute. This has consumed a considerable amount of time, energy, and money of the UMC ...

3157. Speaking of Us

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

Steve Molin

He was, by all accounts, a successful man. This builder of fine homes in an upscale American suburb was known to all as a creative craftsman, a shrewd businessman, a fair-minded employer, and a generous benefactor. But he was aging now, and before he set out for Florida for the winter, he approached his top superintendent and told him that he was retiring. “I want you to build me a home, the finest home this company has ever built. Spare no expense, use the finest materials, employ the most gifted ...

3158. Ready for Change

Mark 13:24-37

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Renewal, change, the dream of a fresh start. Perhaps the dream of a more stress-free, burden-free life. A happier life. A healthier life. A less lonely or less impediment-filled life? How many out there wish for that in the coming year? [You can ask for a show of hands.] December tends to be the most stressful, difficult, financially burdensome, grief-ridden month of the entire year. Never mind that Advent is supposed to be a time of peace, of prayer, of patient waiting. Ever try to shop on Black Friday? ...

3159. Come and See

John 1:43-51

Sermon

David E. Leininger

I have always liked this story — and not for the WHOLE story, just that one memorable line: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? (John 1:46)” That is just the kind of snide comment that makes me smirk. And, to be quite honest, it is one of the things that I like about our scripture — it is honest. Over and over and over again, the pages of our holy writ are littered with snide comments, unfaithful friends, ugly confrontations and some of the most unsavory “saints” that anyone could ever imagine. But ...

3160. “Lord, Our Lord, How Majestic Is Your Name in All the Earth!”

Psalm 8:1-9

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: God wrote his character into the world of nature, but as awesome as that is, it is no match for the mindful care of his human creation. Understanding the Text Psalm 8 immediately follows the pledge of Psalm 7:17 to sing praise to “the name of the Lord Most High” (7:17). Now the psalmist does that in majestic words that honor the majesty of the Name. As in the creation narrative of Genesis 1, the psalmist employs an economy of words that stylistically reveals the Creator’s orderly manner and ...

3161. Haunted

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Ok…How many of you have had the experience of looking back at your life and lamenting (perhaps over and over) a mistake you wish you wouldn’t have made? I think we’ve all done that at one time or another. How many of you have had it keep you up at night? That nagging, awful feeling of blame and guilt that just won’t let you go. The nightmares, the sleepless nights! We can be awfully hard on ourselves sometimes. Wrestling in itself is not bad. It helps us discern right from wrong. It helps us learn and grow ...

3162. Doing What Matters?

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

John B. Jamison

Let’s begin with a question. If you met someone who was hurting, who had lost their job, or were maybe afraid of losing their home, or were worried about their children, if you truly wanted to show God’s care for that person, what could you do? While you think about your answer, let’s remember the story Luke tells us today. A lot has happened in a very short time. Jesus was baptized, he began gathering disciples, he performed a miracle at a wedding in Cana, he went to Jerusalem and caused a major ...

3163. You Can Talk the Game, but Can You Play the Game?

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Sermon

Will Willimon

That's the rather impudent query that sprouted on tee-shirts after Duke's back-to back basketball national championships. Talk is cheap, but can you do what it takes to get in the game? Richard Hays, in his commentary on Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, says that sums up today's epistle, First Corinthians 9:24-27. One of you once congratulated me, during one of Duke's winning seasons for “never once mentioning basketball in a sermon. “I can see your point. At this time of year, around here, the ...

3164. God Is Like...Fire

Malachi 3:1-4 · Luke 3:1-6, 9,16-17

Sermon

Kenneth L. Gibble

What is God like? We’ve been exploring that question, each time with a different image for an answer. So far, we’ve thought about how God is like the words “I Am,” how God is like a potter and how God is like bread. Today we turn to an image that is probably more familiar than any other for most Christians ― God as parent. The religion of the Hebrews was not the first to regard God as father. Do you remember your Greek mythology, where Zeus was the father of the gods? And though we have no written records ...

3165. Give Me Your Word

Luke 16:1-13

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

I am telling the truth. I am not lying. Believe me. It seems every newscast contains a story about truth telling these days. We are in the throes of the election season and talk of “fact checking” abounds. Politifact has the “Truth-O-Meter” (a term that they have trademarked, by the way) that ranks candidates’ statements anywhere from true to half-truth to pants on fire. There is talk of “transparency” ad nauseam, not only in the government but in the church. The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board just ...

3166. Super Christian III

Luke 13:22-30

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: We can miss the most important aspect of the kingdom of God if we get too proud of our Christian service. We can miss fellowship with God and our family. Summary: Clark Brent has that all-important talk with his son -- he tells him of his secret identity, Super Christian! His son is not impressed and asks him some important questions. Playing Time: 4 minutes Setting: A garbage dump (a garbage bag and loose papers scattered around) Props: None Costumes: Super Christian (cape and pajamas with "SC" on ...

3167. It Is Blessed To Receive

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

William G. Carter

In the small town of Mapleville, the ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve service was poorly attended. Once it was a popular event for the whole town, gathering people from a variety of denominations and faiths. In recent years, attendance had faded to a faithful few. Most of those who came in any given year were members of the host congregation. What began as a spirited occasion that brought together a variety of clergy, choirs, and congregations had shrunk in numbers and dwindled in enthusiasm. One minister was ...

3168. Kneeling And Redirection

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

Three wise men come from the east bringing gifts to the infant Jesus, and in the process receive a gift worth the distance and effort they spent. After depositing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they in turn receive a gift: They are redirected. That is what we all get after kneeling before Jesus: we are redirected. That different direction after kneeling before Jesus means that your joy in life will not be in seeking happiness and fulfillment directly, but in intentionally walking the way of ...

3169. Named And Claimed

Isaiah 43:1-13

Sermon

Tony Everett

Have you ever watched children choosing up sides for a game? It seems as if certain children always get chosen first: the taller, stronger, more athletic, more intelligent, more popular. As more names are called and teams are formed, inevitably there is a small huddle of children standing off to the side trying to pretend that it doesn't matter. But it does. It matters and it hurts. These children can't help but overhear the scornful laughter and humiliating names aimed in their direction. Remember that ...

3170. Lent 3

Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Psalm 63:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

The Barren Fruit Tree At first reading it may not be apparent as to why the two parts of the passage from Luke are considered together. A question about the wickedness of persons who suffer from accidents leads into a parable about a barren fig tree. A closer examination will show why the two parts belong together and the important distinction Jesus makes in terms of ethical behavior and its outcome. Jesus is faced with a question about the link between the results of disasters and wickedness. He does not ...

3171. Hold Your Peace

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

John G. Lynn

Taylor Caldwell, in her book about Luke, Dear and Glorious Physician, tells how the gospel writer as a young boy sat near the window of his girlfriend, the daughter of a Roman tribune. Luke, in the story, a freed slave's son, really had no business in the courtyard of the tribune, no matter how he felt about his daughter. As he stood there, leaning on a fountain in the courtyard, gazing toward the window of her room, he held in his hand a small, smooth stone. When the tribune noticed the boy he blurted out ...

3172. Godly Sexual Passion For An X-Rated World

Song of Songs 2:1-17

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

The Hebrew word for love, awhab or awrag, means "to pant, to long for, to breathe heavily after." Psalm 41:1 says, "As a deer pants for the waters so my soul longs after you." In John 3:16, the idea is that God so loved the world, so breathed heavily after you and me, that he gave his only Son.... God is passionate for you. His breathing is labored. He loves you. There is a book in the Old Testament that is full of heavy breathing. It is titled, "Song of Solomon," or "The Song of Songs." And it deals ...

3173. Having The Last Word

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

Some have called it "The Worship Wars," In the past the church has always been involved in its share of conflicts. Some might even call them wars. There have been battles over slavery, over the role of women, and even over the Bible. Today many congregations and even denominations find themselves caught up in a war over styles of worship. Many criticize the church for being out of touch with modern society. Its strange language, customs, and traditions make it seem foreign and alien. In order to relate to ...

3174. Enlarge Your Horizons

Ephesians 3:1-13

Sermon

Richard Hasler

Theodore Hesburgh who served for 35 years as President of the University of Notre Dame has always lived in a big world. In his fascinating autobiography titled God, Country, Notre Dame he tells of his desire to enlarge his horizons. In all that he does he reflects a broad vision and a compassionate heart that continually reaches out beyond academic considerations and even beyond his own church loyalties to fight for human rights and justice throughout the world. One story about how the University came to ...

3175. Follow The Man With The Plan

Sermon

Richard Hasler

In the July 25, 1993, issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer a fascinating article appeared about secret agent Varian Fry. He was an eccentric, bookish and shy man, one who hardly fits the picture of a secret agent. Nonetheless, this Harvard-educated writer left New York City in 1940 to begin a life of intrigue in France worthy of a Le Carre novel. His mission was to rescue artists, writers and musicians whose lives were in jeopardy because of Hitler's hatred of the Jews. Fry was successful in liberating 2, ...

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