Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3301 to 3325 of 4508 results

3301. Life Is Difficult

Illustration

Mark Trotter

I remind you of the famous first words in Scott Peck's book, The Road Less Traveled. His first words are, "Life is difficult." Then he goes on to say, "This is a great truth, but most of us can't see it. Instead we moan more or less incessantly, noisily, or subtly, about the enormity of our problem. As if life is supposed to be easy for us, and therefore what has happened to us has never happened ...

3302. Palm Sunday – Who Is That?

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

Picture Fifth Avenue in Manhattan the stretch of road where the Macy's parade is held each Thanksgiving Day. Imagine that one spring day a kind of makeshift parade is being staged along upper Fifth Avenue near Central Park. But this is not the Macy's parade, not by a long shot. This is a relatively small affair: no floats, no ticker tape, no giant balloon figures floating down the street. It's jus...

3303. Passion Sunday: Surprising and Inevitable

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

At a pre-concert lecture, the conductor of a symphony orchestra was telling the audience about the major work that the orchestra would be performing at that evening's concert. The conductor told the people that if they listened carefully to the music, they would discover that it was both surprising and inevitable. On the one hand, the musical score would take a fair number of rather jarring and un...

3304. About the Donkey

Illustration

Staff

People often speak of donkeys in belittling terms. You may have heard the expression, "I'm just someone who has to do all the donkey work." Or "So-and-so is as stubborn as a mule" (a mule is part donkey). These sayings overlook the contributions of a truly valuable animal. Donkeys have served the human race for thousands of years. They were once prized as symbols of humility, gentleness, and peace...

3305. No Formal Greeting

Illustration

Alan Jackson

When you think about the way a formal state visit is conducted at the White House, it probably conjures up images of a military band and an honor guard flanking the driveway. As the row of black limousines arrive, trumpets blare and flags flutter and everything is formally festive. The President greets his distinguished guests and grandly escorts them down the plush red carpet into the executive m...

3306. If I Can Be the Donkey…

Illustration

Mike Hamby

Corrie Ten Boom is famous for helping many Jews escape the Nazis from the Holocaust during World War II by hiding them in her home. Her life through God's grace has touched millions of lives. Years ago, in a press conference following a ceremony in which Corrie Ten Boom was given an honorary degree, one of the reporters asked her if it was difficult remaining humble while hearing so much acclaim. ...

3307. Expressions of True Gratitude

Illustration

Herchel H. Sheets

Bishop Hanns Lilje writes with compassion of the men who were his guards while he was a prisoner of the Nazis during World War II. He tells of one pitiable old man whose job it was, among other things, to fasten his fetters before he went to sleep at night. One evening after he finished this task, the prisoner found himself unable to resist saying to him in a very polite and courteous voice, "Than...

3308. The Donkey's Owner

Illustration

Bruce Prewer

Many poets have tried to capture the profound tension. One attempt which speaks to me is in Clive Sansom’s poem, “The Donkey’s Owner,” in which he compares the pompous entry of Pilate to Jerusalem one day followed by the arrival of Jesus the next morning. (It is best read it with a working man’s accent like you might hear in the pub at outback Menindee or at ‘Young and Jackson’s’ in Melbourne): T...

Even if they try to kill you, you develop the inner conviction that there are some things so precious, some things so eternally true that they are worth dying for. And if a person has not found something to die for, that person isn't fit to live!

Dr. Martin Luther King

3310. The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Hosanna!

Illustration

David A. Shirey

Some stories leave us spellbound. There is something about some stories that no matter how many times we hear them, they manage to catch us up in their wonderful spell. For instance, I'm 40 years old and still get a kick out of that scene in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and Toto and the Tin Man and the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion emerge from the forest and catch sight of the Emerald City. The...

3311. A Shoe Clerk Named Moody

Illustration

Brett Blair

How did Billy Graham become a Christian? Well, let me lay it out for you. A 19th century Sunday School teacher named Kimball led a shoe clerk named Moody to Jesus Christ. Dwight L. Moody became a famous evangelist who influenced Frederick B. Meyer to preach on college campuses. Meyer led J. Wilbur Chapman to the Lord on those campuses. Chapman while working with the YMCA arranged for Billy Sunday...

3312. Why Did The Cheering Stop? - Sermon Starter

Illustration

Brett Blair

Some years ago a book was written by a noted American historian entitled “When The Cheering Stopped.” It was the story of President Woodrow Wilson and the events leading up to and following WWI. When that war was over Wilson was an international hero, There was a great spirit of optimism abroad, and people actually believed that the last war had been fought and the world had been made safe for dem...

3313. A Turning Point for Nixon

Illustration

Brett Blair

A number of years ago, Newsweek magazine carried the story of the memorial service held for Hubert Humphrey, former vice-president of the United States. Hundreds of people came from all over the world to say good-bye to their old friend and colleague. But one person who came was shunned and ignored by virtually everyone there. Nobody would look at him much less speak to him. That person was former...

3314. Only a Compromising Man Can Be King

Illustration

Brett Blair

Perhaps some of you saw Mel Gibson's movie that came out a couple of years ago called Braveheart. In the movie William Wallace (a Scottish commoner) attempts to unite the feuding clans of Scotland in their fight against England in the 13th century. He attempts to elicit the help of Robert the Bruce, the leader of the most powerful clan. Bruce refuses to help and in soliloquy he says: "Wallace is a...

3315. Our Actions Reveal Who We Are

Illustration

Brett Blair

A little boy by the name Billy visited his grandmother in California one summer and almost wore her out with his vigorous activity. She was accustomed to living a peaceful, orderly life. He was perpetual motion, into everything, and nearly turned the house upside down everyday. One night when they were both sound asleep, there was an earthquake. The grandmother was awakened by the house shaking an...

3316. You Brought Pavement?

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

I love the story about a rich man who wanted to take his money with him beyond the grave. When he was nearing death, he prayed fervently about this matter. An angel appeared to him and said, "Sorry, you can't take all your wealth with you after death, but the Lord will allow you to take one suitcase. Fill it with whatever you wish." Overjoyed the man got the largest suitcase he could find and fill...

3317. River of Disappointment

Illustration

King Duncan

Can you imagine the disappointment Jesus felt as he looked into the faces of people around him that first holy week? Can you imagine his disappointment with the crowds who would shout hosanna one moment and crucify him the next? Disappointment with his disciples--one of whom would betray him, his most trusted who would deny him, and the three closest to him who could not even stay awake on the job...

3318. A Unifying Force

Illustration

King Duncan

It is sad when religion becomes a divisive influence rather than a unifying one. I read recently about the funeral procession of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Journalist Arthur Godfrey told of a man who took a taxi from a hotel, bound for Union Station, and was delayed by the funeral procession. He instructed his driver to pull over while he got out to watch the solemn procession go by. His driver got ou...

3319. The Triumph and the Tragedy

Illustration

King Duncan

Go with me now to the year 1942. The first American troops are marching into London.We are entering the conflict known as World War II. The people of London are cheering the American soldiers. The friendly reception exhilarates the young soldiers. They sing as they march. Suddenly the troops turn into a main street and a strange hush falls over the scene. The happy songs die on their lips. They ar...

3320. How a King Enters a City

Illustration

King Duncan

The Greek author Plutarch describes how kings are supposed to enter a city. He tells about one Roman general, Aemilius Paulus, who won a decisive victory over the Macedonians. When Aemilius returned to Rome, his triumphant procession lasted three days. The first day was dedicated to displaying all the artwork that Aemilius and his army had plundered. The second day was devoted to all the weapons o...

3321. Acceptance and Awareness on Palm Sunday

Illustration

King Duncan

Father Henri Nouwen found a sculpture of Jesus on a donkey in the Augustiner Museum in Frieburg. He calls it one of the most moving Christ figures he knows. The fourteenth-century sculpture originally came from a small town close to Breisach on the Rhine. The sculpture was made to be pulled on a cart for the Palm Sunday procession. Nouwen found himself drawn to this sculpture. He sent postcards o...

3322. Palm Sunday

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Isaiah 50:4-9a Theme: The suffering Savior Call to Worship Pastor: Lift up your hearts in praise to Jesus, King of our lives! People: We praise Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the world, King of our lives! Pastor: Jesus ascended his throne by way of the cross. And now he has authority over sin itself. People: Jesus is King because he has conquered sin, and rules in our hearts. Praise ...

3323. Palm Sunday

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: Isaiah 50:4-9a Theme: From palms to Passion Exegetical Note The unpopularity of the prophet in this Third Servant Song of Second Isaiah, not to mention the anger and abuse that he has experienced, appears to differ markedly from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. If the palm-wavers were sincere (rather than sarcastic, as some suggest), their adoration was short-lived: their cri...

3324. Triumphal Entry

Children's Sermon

Robert B. Lantz

Object: Palm frond or leaf Good morning, boys and girls. I love a parade! Don't you? How many of you have ever been in a parade? (Response -- Let a few share.) At parades there is always such a joyful spirit. People are usually happy and there is lots of cheering and festivity. Have you ever heard of a ticker-tape parade? Well, in New York City and in some other big cities in the world, when ver...

3325. Troubled By A Talking Whirlwind

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

I will never forget that Saturday morning. I can still see, in my mind's eye, the spring sunshine rushing through all the windows on the east side of the house. And I can hear, in my mind's ear, the enthusiastic jabbering of that college freshman who had come by the house to get me to listen to a new record album. That was over 35 years ago, but I can still remember it as if it were yesterday morn...

Showing 3301 to 3325 of 4508 results

3301. Life Is Difficult

Illustration

Mark Trotter

3302. Palm Sunday – Who Is That?

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

3303. Passion Sunday: Surprising and Inevitable

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

3304. About the Donkey

Illustration

Staff

3305. No Formal Greeting

Illustration

Alan Jackson

3306. If I Can Be the Donkey…

Illustration

Mike Hamby

3307. Expressions of True Gratitude

Illustration

Herchel H. Sheets

3308. The Donkey's Owner

Illustration

Bruce Prewer

Dr. Martin Luther King

3310. The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Hosanna!

Illustration

David A. Shirey

3311. A Shoe Clerk Named Moody

Illustration

Brett Blair

3312. Why Did The Cheering Stop? - Sermon Starter

Illustration

Brett Blair

3313. A Turning Point for Nixon

Illustration

Brett Blair

3314. Only a Compromising Man Can Be King

Illustration

Brett Blair

3315. Our Actions Reveal Who We Are

Illustration

Brett Blair

3316. You Brought Pavement?

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

3317. River of Disappointment

Illustration

King Duncan

3318. A Unifying Force

Illustration

King Duncan

3319. The Triumph and the Tragedy

Illustration

King Duncan

3320. How a King Enters a City

Illustration

King Duncan

3321. Acceptance and Awareness on Palm Sunday

Illustration

King Duncan

3322. Palm Sunday

Bulletin Aid

3323. Palm Sunday

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

3324. Triumphal Entry

Children's Sermon

Robert B. Lantz

3325. Troubled By A Talking Whirlwind

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Showing 3301 to 3325 of 4508 results