Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3276 to 3300 of 4963 results

3276. The Silent Bible

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

Donald M. Tuttle

... fewer and fewer of the faithful attended. Now, decades later, not a lot has changed. Today studies show that biblical illiteracy is high—that many churchgoers reared in the modern Sunday School and youth programs lack even a basic knowledge of the Scriptures. The Bible remains silent—and Jesus with it. If we are to build our lives, our children's lives and our grandchildren's lives on a solid foundation, listening to Jesus is essential. There is no where better to begin than the Sermon on the Mount. As ...

3277. Building According to Code

Matthew 7:24-29

Illustration

Our Daily Bread

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed thousands of homes in South Florida. Yet in an area where the wreckage looked like a war zone, one house remained standing, still firmly anchored to its foundation. When a reporter asked the homeowner why his house had not been blown away, he replied, "I built this house myself. I also built it according to the Florida state building code. When the code called for 2" x 6" roof trusses, I ...

3278. Built Upon Love

Matthew 7:24-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

... When the winter rains come in a rush, a dry creek bed quickly becomes a torrent that sweeps all away. Hard rain and strong winds: it blew and beat on both houses. They look alike, but when the storm passes, and flash floods rage only one remains. Same materials, different foundations. The imagery is not about the troubles of this life, though that might not be a bad secondary application; it is about the final judgment of God pictured as a sudden storm that tests everything all at once. Which foundation are ...

3279. Against All Hope

Romans 4:1-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... one. “There were many reports in the newspaper of cases where untrained hospital coolies were said to have performed operations successfully after mastering Mao’s quotations. During an operation, Revolutionaries, anxious to prove the magic of Mao’s words, remained in the operating room reciting quotations from the Little Red Book (of quotes from Mao) while the untrained ‘doctor’ struggled with the patient . . .” Can you imagine being operated on by a doctor with absolutely no training? I don’t ...

3280. Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26

Matthew 9:9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ,” the “salvation,” the health and wholeness she longs for. It also brings her to Jesus’ attention. Although technically her touch would have brought impurity to Jesus, he answers her that her faith has “made her well.” Jesus’ concern remains “mercy,” not “sacrifice.” Finally, and in Matthew’s text somewhat understatedly, Jesus arrives at the home of the dead girl. The presence of the professional mourners and requisite flute players further testify to the fact that the girl is ...

3281. A Call to Action

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... church is to be the Body of Christ incarnate, we as disciples are called to that same drama energies, that same dramatic engagements and expectancy. The Body of Christ “incarnate” depends upon our drama, our activity, our participation, in order to remain vital and alive. The key plank in any discipleship doctrine is the declaration that Jesus Christ is “the Way, the Truth, and the Light.” Notice how this confession puts participation FIRST. We cannot know Christ as “the Way” without actively ...

3282. Enough for Action?

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

... the World). A young girl is eating dinner at a friend's house. Her friend's mother asks if she likes brussels sprouts. "Yes, of course," the girl replied. "I like brussels sprouts." After the dinner, though, the mother notices that the brussels sprouts remain untouched. "I thought you liked brussesl sprouts," the mother asked. "I do," answered the girl. "But not enough to actually eat them." We Christians like a lot of things - peace, love, harmony. But not enough to actually do something about them.

3283. Renouncing Everything

Illustration

Steven P. Loy

... , in truth, it will be even harder, and so the sooner the better. I no longer have any property whatsoever. For me those I love have died, and for them I have died. From today on, my body is useless and alien to me. Only my spirit and my conscience remain precious and important to me." Confronted by such a prisoner, the interrogator will tremble. Only the man who has renounced everything can win that victory.

3284. Rewards

Matthew 10:40-42

Illustration

Thomas a Kempis

... greater than these. Are not all plentiful labors to be endured for the sake of life eternal? Lift your face therefore to heaven; behold I and all My saints with me--who in this world had great conflicts--are now comforted, now rejoicing, now secure, now at rest, and shall remain with Me everlastingly in the kingdom of My father.

3285. Matthew 10:40-42

Matthew 10:1-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ones” (in Old Testament usage a general term for the “people of God”) in the Matthean community makes them convenient labels for welcoming. The syntactical structure of the third directive differs from the previous two, but the behavior being extolled remains the same. The formulaic “in the name of” causes some translation difficulties in v.42. The NRSV creates confusion by seeming to identify “in the name of a disciple” as a separate directive. But the phrase “in the name of” refers ...

3286. Cook Food. Serve Love.

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... are not called to hospitality because we may “entertain angels, unawares.” We are called to hospitality because, “where two or three are gathered, there am I also.” Opening our doors, opening our hearts, opening our lives is the way God enters into our midst, is the way Christ’s presence remains among us. Cook Food. Serve Love. Cook Food. Serve Love. Meet Jesus.

3287. Liberty and Civility - Sermon Starter

Galatians 5:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

The United States of America is nearly 250 years old today. That's a long time for a nation to remain free. But, when you look at our history in the context of world history America is just a CHILD among the nations. Egypt, China, Japan, Rome, Greece all make America's history seem so short. Consider what a brief time we've really been here as a nation: When Thomas ...

3288. They Lied and They Died

Acts 5:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... to give part of the money, they didn't have to give any of the money. They were free to keep it all, they were free to give it all; no pledges had been signed, no promises had been made. That's why Peter said in v.4, "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." The problem was not what they gave, and the problem was not what they didn ...

3289. Sleep With the Lions Without Being Eaten

Daniel 6:1-28

Sermon

James Merritt

... cause him to lose his next election. When interviewed by the media, and asked why he went ahead and made the decision to vote the way he did, he said, "I would rather lie in the silent grave, remembered by both friends and enemies, as one who remained true to his faith, and who never faltered in what he believed to be his duty, than to continue to live old and aged, lacking the confidence of either friends or enemies."[3] Thank God Daniel was a politician who not only believed that character was important ...

3290. First-Class Christianity

Ephesians 5:18-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... a first-class ticket." The cowboy did. When they reached a muddy hill, the driver called out, "All second-class ticket holders get out and walk." He then said, "All third-class ticket holders get out and push." He then said, "All first- class ticket holders remain seated and enjoy the ride." As I have observed Christians, I find basically there are three classes: Third-class Christians are saved, but they are not sure of it. Second-class Christians are saved and they know it, but that's all they know. But ...

3291. Is Sunday Just a Fun Day?

Exodus 20:7-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... my salvation, then rest after I have earned it. I rest in my salvation and work because I have it. I'm not working toward a Sabbath, I am resting in a Savior. This gives meaning and understanding to two of the greatest verses in all of the Bible. "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." (Heb. 4:9-10) The moment you come to Christ, you quit trying and you start trusting. You understand you are not saved ...

3292. Freedom Faith Brings

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

James Merritt

... spirit. The life of legalism is a matter of the external power of the flesh. If you will look carefully in vv. 5 and 6 you will see the word faith, the word hope, and the word love. That is not coincidental because that's really all that remains of those things that will last forever. That's what the life of liberty is all about; a comforting hope, a confident faith, and a compassionate love. III. The Limit of Liberty "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity ...

3293. The Sword of the Lord

Hebrews 4:12-13

Sermon

James Merritt

... a group of 74 scholars, working over a period of six years, went through the gospels and decided what Jesus said, and what Jesus didn't say. They determined that fully 82% of what Jesus reportedly said in the gospels he didn't say, and much of the remaining 18% is in doubt. To gives specific examples: They said of all of the words in the Lord's Prayer Jesus probably only said, "Father." They determined that Jesus definitely did not predict his death on the cross, nor his return to earth in a second coming ...

3294. With Jesus No Mission Is Impossible

John 6:1-14

Sermon

James Merritt

... one little boy who had never met Jesus in his life; still had peach fuzz on his face, and yet he was the only one that dared to believe Jesus could perform a miracle when nobody else did. There is one area in which every one of us ought to remain just like a little child, and that is the area of faith. You know what is wrong with many of us Christians? When it comes to faith we have gotten too big for our britches. I heard about a little boy who got into a heated argument with his sister ...

3295. God Really Cares

Matthew 27:46

Sermon

James Merritt

... statement we know that we have come to the apex and the zenith of his agony. As Jesus climbed the mountain of sin, sorrow, and death, He has now reached the peak. This is more than even Jesus can take. He withstood the beatings and said not a word; He remained strong at the mock trial; He watched in silence as those he loved ran away; He did not retaliate when the insults were hurled; He did not scream when the nails pierced his wrists. But when God turned his back that was more than He could handle.3 In ...

3296. Out With the Old - In With the New

Philippians 3:12-14

Sermon

James Merritt

... we forget what God wants us to remember. I read a story years ago about General Robert E. Lee, who visited a lady in Virginia after the Civil War. She was extremely bitter toward the North and she took him out to her front yard and showed him the scarred remains of one of her prized trees; a tree that evidently had gone back all the way to the Revolutionary War. During a raid all of the limbs had been shot off by the Union Army. They had carved their initials on it. They had totally defaced the beauty of ...

3297. Have You Heard the News?

Ephesians 2:1-7

Sermon

James Merritt

... . III. The Best News: Jesus Is Lord Now because Jesus was born, we can be born again. Because Jesus died for our sin, we can die to our sin, and because Jesus was physically raised from the dead, we can be spiritually raised from the dead. In the remaining verses of this passage we see what God has done for us because of the risen Lord Jesus. Through Jesus we have spiritual regeneration. "Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (v.5) Notice it ...

3298. Doing Right When You Have Been Done Wrong

Ephesians 4:31-32

Sermon

James Merritt

... enumerated over fifty diseases ranging from ulcers to high blood pressure, that could be caused by an emotion such as bitterness. Now I am not trying to imply that every sick person is bitter, nor that every bitter person is sick. But every bitter person who remains bitter will ultimately have his physical health affected in some way. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was preaching one Sunday up in New Jersey. After the service a young lady, very attractive, came up to him and said, "Dr. Peale, I have a problem I'd ...

3299. When in Joy, Enjoy (Fruit of the Spirit: Joy)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... : "If you have no joy in your religion, there is a leak in your Christianity." Do you know why Jesus said all that he said, and why Jesus taught all that he taught? He said in Jn.15:11, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." You see, when you get Jesus you get joy, joy inexpressible and full of glory. The Apostle Peter speaks of this joy in the first chapter of his first epistle. He tells us that we can find joy in at least ...

3300. What Child Is This?

Isaiah 9:6-7

Sermon

James Merritt

... is the father of all things pertaining to eternity. In Heb. 1:10-12, listen to what God the Father said to God the Son: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail." Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end ...

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