Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3426 to 3450 of 4884 results

John 14:1-4

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... us at our future and we have nothing to fear. As He is with us now, He will be with us in and beyond death. I heard a story about a fella out in Los Angeles who had a strange phobia. He was afraid to cross the street. He felt perfectly at ease when he was in his car riding along the street, but when he was out walking and would come to an intersection, his face would begin to flow with perspiration, his heart would begin to palpitate and his blood pressure would soar up, and his knees would become ...

3427. Beware of Cute

Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is to see how mixed up the message has gotten as it has been passed around the circle. But when an archangel is responsible for passing along this remarkable news, the message stays clear. Elizabeth’s interpretation of her baby’s leap for joy is perfect. First, she praises the event itself: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (v.42.). Next, Elizabeth offers a blessing for all those in the future who will hear this good news and respond appropriately to it: “Blessed ...

3428. On Turning Ten

Luke 2:41-52

Illustration

Billy Collins

... any stomach ache, Or headaches I get from reading in bad light- A kind of measles of the spirit, A mumps of the psyche, A disfiguring chicken pox of the soul. You tell me it is too early to be looking back, But that is because you have forgotten The perfect simplicity of being one And the beautiful complexity introduced by two. But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit. At four I was an Arabian wizard. I could make myself invisible By drinking a glass of milk a certain way. At seven I was a soldier ...

3429. The Martha and Erma Christmas

Luke 2:41-52

Illustration

Brett Blair

... 's Christmas? You know who you are. And you know as hard as you try you're never able to achieve it. It always turns out to be an Erma Bombeck Christmas doesn't it? I have a letter here that Martha Stewart sent to Erma Bombeck. Hi Erma, This perfectly delightful note is being sent on paper I made myself to tell you what I have been up to. Since it snowed last night, I got up early and made a sled with old barn wood and a glue gun. I hand painted it in gold leaf, got out my ...

3430. Fruitcakes, Fruit-Baskets and New Year’s Babies

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . And the fruit, the #1 fruit that needs to fill up this basket, is love . . . Let’s let our fruit basket be a love basket: loving others, and letting others love. Let’s make 2010 a “clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” Year. This is how Paul puts it in Colossians 3:14. Love creates a “harmony” not just a one-note wonder but many different notes that blend and so create a deeper, richer experience of life. Harmony is made up of different notes. In this ...

3431. Leap Of Faith

John 8:12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... world and in the darkness. I remember somebody saying, "If you see devil hitchhiking don't stop to pick him up because pretty soon he'll be driving." I think the Dwayne Williams, Charles Barker T-Mobile ad illustrates that point and the effect of giving into temptation perfectly. (CLIP) In James 1:14-16 we read, "One is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be ...

3432. Living In The Spirit Of Gentleness and Self Control

Galatians 5:22-25, Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... , humility, meekness, and patience. [13] Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and ...

3433. A Cloud Of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1-3

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... (NRSV) [1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so ...

3434. Set An Extra Place

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... commuters hurrying to work, Bell played his heart out on his multi-million dollar 1713 Stradivarius violin. Bell began with "Chaconne," from Bach's Partita No. 2 in D Minor. Bell calls this a "spiritually powerful piece, emotionally powerful, structurally perfect." By the way, "Chaconne" is also considered one of the most difficult violin solos ever written. Can you guess what happened? Did busy commuters suddenly stop in their tracks, mesmerized by this master violinist, and drift towards the magical music ...

3435. Room At The Inn: Is There Room For Christmas?

Luke 2:1-7; John 1:1-5

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... after the harvest. The practice is Biblical and is called gleaning. Gleaning is possible in the farm fields because the harvesters are selective and pick the most uniform sized and looking vegetables to package for you and me. The rest of the vegetables, all still perfectly edible, are discarded onto the ground where they will either rot or be plowed under. Ms. Miller said she and her husband decided to open the farm for public harvest for the first time this year as a thank-you for customers. The Millers ...

3436. No Room At The Inn

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... religious barriers. He came to free us from sin and death. He came to be our Savior. This babe, this child of Mary. I. Nativity A. A Church in a County Seat town put on a live nativity every year about two weeks before Christmas. They had the perfect location downtown on the square across from the clock tower. Everyone who drove into the business district went right by the front lawn of the church. There were slums, and street people who slept in the park a few blocks away, but you couldn't see them from ...

3437. Joshua People Obey and Serve

Joshua 1:6-8, 24:14-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... crew devote two hours a month to practicing safety drills, man overboard rescue drills and the like to prepare for events like this which we all hope will never happen. It would be easy to say, "Oh, you know for the last six months all of our drills were perfect, we don't need the practice anymore." Shortcuts seem easy. We all tend to do it. Driving on the highway for example. When we were younger, the fear of getting a ticket kept us from speeding. But then we started driving to work every day and when we ...

3438. Joshua People: Turning Worlds Upside Down

Joshua 10:12-15, Acts 17:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the successful man who lacked of confidence when buying a car offered a particularly good commentary on self reliance and independence. Worldly confidence is one thing but Spiritual confidence is something else. This commercial reminds us we are all weak in certain areas, that nobody is perfect except the Son of God. It also reminds us that we are not alone. And that is so true. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NRSV) [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who ...

3439. First Class Freedom

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... ; and even our memories and past. All of these are things and attitudes which we have allowed to ensnare, fetter, and enslave our spirits. Spirits which were meant to be free; spirits and lives which were bought with a price on the cross. I think there's a perfect example of this in the Disney/Pixar movie "Up." In my opinion, this is Disney's best movie ever. Here's a clip that is not actually in the movie but gives both a flavor of the movie and illustrates the whole idea of Becoming Ensnared. (Watch: Up ...

3440. Living In ‘Oddville’ With ‘Peculiar’ People

Romans 12:1-2, 19-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. [19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." [20] No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by ...

3441. Like a Venomous Snake

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... as warnings for us . . . .” Strong stuff just like Swindoll’s story about the snake. Still, many of us need to heed the warning. To be human is to be tempted to sin. Even Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, though without sinning. If the only perfect man who ever lived could be tempted, none of us is exempt. At the zoo in Forth Worth, Texas is a building where tropical birds are kept. The hallway where the people walk is dark; the birds are in lighted cases of glass. All along each side of ...

3442. A Word to Prodigals

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

King Duncan

... about a son or a daughter who has wandered into the far country. Many years ago, comedian Chonda Pierce met a young woman named December. December’s father was a pastor. December got the message early on that pastor’s children are supposed to be perfect. December knew she would never be good enough for the people at church. So December began rebelling against her family’s and her church’s expectations. By her late teens, she was living on the streets. She spent her nights partying, sleeping with any ...

3443. Spiderman: Saved To Serve

Colossians 3:1-4, 12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

3444. Altar Your Presence

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... worked hard on a devotion or Sunday School lesson or some presentation and only two people showed up? We have been "commended in love and care to each other. We are called to do all in our power to increase each other's faith, confirm each other's hope, and perfect each other in love." We do that in part by being present for each other. I know a lot of people who say to themselves, "Oh, I won't be missed." Wrong! You ARE missed. Very much. We may not always get around to telling you so, but when you ...

3445. Discover the Promise of Christmas

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... we've tried to do avoid it over the years. There is an innate part of us which realizes we can't don it on our own. B. I love that last line, "And perhaps, even in our best moments what the camera captures isn't the image of a perfect family as we are, but the possibility of what we can be through the hope that Christ brings." That's why it's so important for us to Prepare, so we can once again hear and assimilate the Promise and the Hope which goes with the Promise. On Christmas Day ...

3446. LOST? Looking For Peace

Matthew 18:21-22, Colossians 3:8-15, Hebrews 11:1

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... , kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. [13] Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. And now, I'm going to pour out the hurts and pain and all the Baloney of life that has ...

3447. By Right Paths

Psalm 23:3

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... overworked mother of three active young boys who was playing in the yard with her boys one afternoon when her neighbor came by to borrow a cup of sugar. One of her boys aimed his play pistol at his mother and yelled, "Bang! You're dead!" Mom acted the part perfectly. She took the shot, groaned, "You got me." Then she spun and fell to the ground. When she fell to the ground, she didn't get up. Her neighbor waited for her to get up. But Mom didn't get up, so the concerned neighbor rushed over to see if ...

3448. Compliments Of The House

Psalm 23:6

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... we always made sure to raid the freezer. We thought we were getting away with something. We'd open Aunt Viola's freezer and sure enough, there was always a new half gallon of Neapolitan ice cream. Danny loved strawberry, Bruce loved vanilla and I loved chocolate. It was perfect. We'd grab spoons and snarf that down and then hide the empty container. I don't know when it started probably when we were about 10. And we'd all feel guilty about it but excited that we'd gotten away with it for another year. It ...

3449. Unstoppable Determination

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on ...

3450. Jochebed: Save The Baby, Save The World

Exodus 2:1-10, Numbers 26:59

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Nile the minute it was born. But save all the girls. So, what Jochebed did was rescue her son. She built a little ark of papyrus reeds and covered it with tar so it wouldn't sink and then she and her sister-in-law waited for the perfect opportunity. This baby's aunt apparently knew how lonely Pharaoh's daughter must be. Maybe the aunt worked in the palace. Whatever the case, she knew Pharaoh's daughter's schedule. Just before the daughter came to the Nile, the baby was pushed safely into some reeds where ...

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