Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 301 to 325 of 1044 results

301. Why the Church?

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

Our daughter Carole made her decision to become a minister while she was studying in England in the early 1970s. When she told some of her fellow students about her decision to enter the ministry, they were incredulous...not that a woman would decide for the ministry, but that anybody would want to be a minister. That means being part of the Church, doesn’t it? they said. Why the Church? That’s the question with which I begin this morning. Why the Church? George Arthur Buttrick in his book So We Believe, ...

302. Childish or Child-like?

Mark 10:13-16

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

“And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me...’” (Mark 9:36) I feel sorry for the poor kid who happened to be there the day Jesus decided to use him as an “object lesson.” No child likes being used in this way. Some of us can remember being stood up before a group of adults and having our parents ask us to recite something we’d just learned in school. Or being made to sit down at the piano and ...

303. GIVE ME YOUR SINS: The First Word

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Today we gather in this sanctuary to continue on our Lenten journey that we began on Ash Wednesday. I want to share some thoughts and reflections from what historically has been designated as the First Word--from the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ from the cross. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that the first word from the cross deals with the real life issue of forgiveness, and really what is being implied here is forgiveness of our sins. This was the whole reason behind Christ''s coming to ...

304. The Whole Load

Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I'm sure you've heard it. I certainly have. In fact, it's often spoken to me. "Preacher, you gave us the whole load today." That's the way I felt as I began to work with our Scripture lesson today. According to Luke, what I read for our text is only a part of a sermon Jesus preached. If you feel overwhelmed as I do with the text, go home and begin at the 17th verse and read the balance of Chapter Six. Jesus is really giving us "the whole load."As I struggled with the text for a long time, my whole focus ...

305. How to Love God

Matthew 22:34-46

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

In the rock opera Jesus Christ: Superstar, Mary Magdalene sings, "I don't know how to love him." You see, Christ had saved Mary from prostitution and demonic possession, and now she wanted to live to please Jesus, to offer him her lifelong devotion. But how could she express her love? In her earlier years she had easily known how to please men. But Jesus was different. What did he want from her? How could she serve him? Isn't Mary like most of us? Here we are saved and wanting to be devoted to God, but not ...

306. Advent 1

Matthew 24:36-51, Romans 13:8-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122:1-9

Sermon Aid

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

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS The Old Testament lesson and the psalm inaugurate the Advent season with a powerful symbol of salvation: Zion. Isaiah 2:1-5 provides a utopian vision of Zion as an end-time reality, while the pilgrimage hymn in Psalm 122 encourages us to claim this salvation in our present lives through worship. Taken together these Old Testament texts provide a strong commentary on Advent. They underscore how Advent points us to a future reality that reaches backwards and embraces us in worship, even ...

307. Changed Lives: Lazarus

John 11:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

Over the years, Reader’s Digest has printed many quirky items from the daily lives of ordinary people. Many of these items are quite amusing. For example, Jennifer Pace wrote in a few years ago to tell about a billboard she passed while driving through Texas. The billboard read: “Stand Up and Be Counted for the 2000 Census.” The sign was sponsored by the Rosewood Cemetery. (1) Another woman wrote in with a funny excuse she heard from a co-worker. The man explained his absence from work by saying, “I’m ...

308. A Mother's Love

Mark 7:24-30

Sermon

James W. Moore

Dr. Tony Campolo is a well-known and highly-respected, inspirational speaker. Over the last several years, Tony Campolo has spent much of his time traveling around the world on speaking tours. Meanwhile, his wife, Peggy, has chosen to stay home and give herself and all that she has to the "Bringing Up" of their two children, Bart and Lisa. On those rare occasions when Peggy does travel with Tony, she finds herself engaged in conversations with some of the most accomplished, impressive, influential, ...

309. Like a Rose - Holy Communion

Luke 22:7-38

Sermon

James McCormick

For over 2,000 years, Holy Communion has been at the heart of Christian worship. We have called it by many names – the Lord’s Supper, the Mass, the Eucharist – but from the very beginning, followers of Jesus have been brought closer to God and to one another as we have shared in this sacred meal. As we eat the bread and drink the wine, we are doing as Jesus asked us to do. He said, “Do this, as often as you will, in remembrance of me.” As we do this, and as we remember Jesus’ life, his death, his ...

310. High and Lifted Up

Isaiah 6:1-8

Sermon

James Merritt

Several years ago Life Magazine devoted an issue to God. On the front cover was one big question: "When You Think of God What Do You See?" I began to imagine if that magazine came out today, how we, here in America, might answer that question. I believe there are some people who see a God who looks like Santa Claus, and really doesn't care whether we are naughty or nice; a God who winks at sin and giggles at iniquity; a God who is "too loving to let anyone go to hell;" a God who accepts everyone just the ...

311. Put Your Best Foot Forward

Isaiah 52:7

Sermon

James Merritt

As you now know I am willing to study any subject if will help me communicate the Word of God. This week I did a study of all things, feet, and I was amazed to discover how very important feet are to the human body. Our feet will carry us the equivalent of five times around the earth in an average life span. Yet, we barely pay attention to them. But did you know that if you were to lose just a little toe on one foot, you would have to learn to walk all over again? Doctors know that feet are mirrors of our ...

312. Gospel Partners

Philippians 1:3-5

Sermon

James Merritt

There was a church secretary who took a most unusual phone call. The caller asked if he could speak to "the Head Hog." Well, she quickly defended the dignity of her pastor, and with an irate tone said, "I want you to know that our pastor is held in the very highest esteem around here, and we address him as Rev. H. C. Herald. Currently Rev. Herald is not available to speak with you." The man then responded, "Well, I am sorry. I just learned about your new building program and my CPA recommended that I ...

313. A Strong-willed Woman

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever noticed that some women are equal to any occasion? And they can be as tough as NFL linebackers. I heard about one woman in a farming community years ago who went to a meeting usually dominated by men. They were discussing some important issues critical to farmers. About midway through the meeting this woman stood up and spoke her piece. One of the old farmers didn’t like her intrusion. He jumped to his feet and said, “What does she know about anything. I would like to ask her if she knows how ...

314. Overcoming Fear

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

Many years ago when I was a young preacher, I noticed one day that a new family had moved into a neighborhood not far from my church. So I dropped by late one afternoon. I noticed that one car was parked in the carport. I went to the side door, the one opening onto the carport. I had rung the door bell only once when I heard a deep, bass growl that sounded like the rolling of thunder. It was coming from the back of the carport and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. I glanced to my ...

315. The Love Triangle: Man-Woman-God

Psalm 127:1-5

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

Many years ago, my wife Gloria and I decided to take dancing lessons at the local Arthur Murray studio. We knew a few dances already but we wanted to add to our repertoire. So, we took lessons one night per week for about six weeks. Quickly we discovered that we needed some place to practice our lessons, especially the foxtrot and the waltz. Our home did not have a room large enough for that purpose. Then we thought about a large classroom at our church. It had plenty of space. So, following our lessons, ...

316. On Trusting the Work of God

Mark 4:1-20

Sermon

George Reed

Jesus spoke to the people in parables about the reign of God. He compared it to the plant life that was all around them, to wheat fields and mustard plants. The growth of the reign of God in the world is like a plant that may start out small but can grow and become a magnificent place for shelter. It happens like the farmer who plants the seed but the growth comes when he is not looking. He participates in it but he doesn't know how it actually happens. The growth comes and he participates in and enjoys ...

317. Ten Commandments of Trust

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Although our coins read "In God we trust," trust is a scarce commodity these days. Perhaps we have forgotten the Ten Commandments of Trust. The issue of trust is one of the most crucial question facing postmoderns today. - The catch phrase of the wildly popular "X Files" TV show declares, "Trust no one; fear everything." - The mistrust between Republicans and Democrats has led to multiple forced government shutdowns as the battle over who can be trusted to balance the federal budget rages. - Social " ...

318. 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul's words in 3:14-17 erect a strong, protective fence around the first tender shoots of the Christian faith communities. Planting his faith firmly in the rich soil of Scripture and tradition, Paul offers Timothy sure guidelines and positive perimeters as protection against wrong ideas and dangerous theologies. Focusing on the strength and faithfulness that come from tradition and Scripture, Paul urges Timothy to remember the sound teaching he has received from his devoted teachers and family members. ...

319. How Does Your Garden Grow?

Matthew 13:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

This morning I want to start with a short quiz. 1. True or False? Grass seeds can't be planted in hot weather? False. It just takes more work to keep the ground damp. 2. True or False? Newly planted seeds should be kept in soggy soil? False. Damp soil is best. 3. True or False? Fruits can be grown indoors. True. Mary's grandpa grew strawberries in a wash tub. 4. True or False? Plants need dark as well as light? True. They are just like us in that respect. Look at the Poinsettia. 5. True or False? Berry ...

320. The Rest of The Message

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Lee Griess

On June 18, 1815, the combined forces of Austria, Russia, Great Britain, and Prussia under the leadership of the British General Arthur Wellesly Wellington, engaged the army of the French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte in a climatic battle to decide the outcome of the war for the European continent. There, near the Belgium town of Waterloo, those two armies collided in fierce combat. By prearranged agreement, the British army at the end of the day was to signal back to the coast the outcome of that battle ...

321. The World According to Paul

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

Book clubs have become quite popular in recent years, largely due to Oprah Winfrey and her outstanding selections of quality books. The Book of the Month Club has been around for generations, but did you know that book clubs originated in the seventeenth century?1 I certainly didn't. Some readers feel that novels are a waste of time when compared with nonfiction. However, our finest novelists have a keen insight into human nature and deal with theological topics and "Christ events" regularly in their ...

322. The Ministry Of Do WOP

James 1:17-27

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

A radio announcer on KLOS in Los Angeles, about thirty minutes after a major earthquake, made these two statements: "The telephone company is urging people to please not use the telephone unless it is absolutely necessary in order to keep the lines open for emergency personnel. We'll be right back after this break to give away a pair of Phil Collins concert tickets to caller number 95." (1) A Major was assigned to a new office on a military base. While working to set up his office a Private knocked on his ...

323. Forgive Us

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

I'm ashamed to say that too often I behave like the guy laying in bed with his family refusing to get up to give loaves of bread to his friend. I wish it were otherwise, but the truth is the truth. And where better to tell the truth but in church? My life, much of the time, is all tucked in nice and warm. My doors are bolted shut. My children are sound asleep. The worries and cares of the day are well behind me. Each of my children has already been up for the obligatory glass of water and trip to the ...

324. Learning to Live Like Jesus

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever wanted to smell like Jesus? I doubt that any of us have ever given that question much thought, but there is a perfume maker in California where else? that promises exactly that. The makers of a perfume called “Virtue” claim if you wear their perfume, you will smell exactly like Jesus. I’m not making this up. Using the Bible as a guide to what kind of plants were used as perfumes in the Holy Land when Jesus walked the Earth, scientists at a perfume company called IBI claim that Virtue is a ...

325. Spiritual Marines

Luke 9:18-27

Sermon

James Merritt

A few years ago there was an eye-catching commercial on television sponsored by the United States Marine Corps. They had one that shows a young man fighting, and then slaying a fire-breathing dragon with an Excalibur-like sword. At the end of that commercial, with that sword gleaming in the light, decked out in that resplendent dress blue uniform, the commercial ends with these words: “The Few-the Proud-the Marines.” Do you know what the Mission Statement of the Marine Corps is? On their Website that I ...

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