Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3451 to 3475 of 4976 results

3451. Is Anything Unforgivable?

Mark 3:20-30

Sermon

David G. Rogne

... was taking in music appreciation. The instructor was asking the class members to listen for the recurring theme as it was passed from one instrument to another and was modified. I quickly lost it, but others in the class, who had benefited from their training, were able to keep track of the theme and even state which instrument was playing it. It is a law of life that we hear what we have trained ourselves to hear. What we must do is to train ourselves to listen for the voice of God in areas where we have ...

3452. When the Boat Begins to Sink

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

David G. Rogne

... daddy's here. Now shut up and go to sleep." There was a moment of silence and then the little voice spoke up once more, "Mommy, was that God?"1 Surely, sometimes God must feel like responding to us just as that man did in the Pullman car. We keep asking for assurances because, frankly, we're not that convinced that God is there. So Jesus asks the disciples: "Have you no faith?" Faith is not the conviction that everyone is going to have things work out in their favor. We often talk about faith as though that ...

3453. A Landmark Event!

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... the Russian Jew, speaks of the landmarks of tradition in his life: "Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka, we have traditions for everything -- how to eat, how to sleep, how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered and always wear a little prayer shawl. This shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, how did this tradition start? I'll tell you -- I don't know! But it's a tradition! Because of our traditions everyone knows who he ...

3454. Is Your Love Shy?

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... one asks any questions for fear of being the only dummy in the class. It's sort of like Abe Lincoln once said, "It's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt." And people play on our pride, don't they? They profit ... . "Where are you getting all that money, son?" Was he a thief? Was he gambling? Was he selling drugs? And the parents decided to keep quiet. "Don't ask," they concluded for fear of what the answer might be. And do you see the hell of it all? Do you ...

3455. Everybody Loves a Parade!

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Sermon

Fredrick R. Harm

... that really matter! Someone came to Horace Traubel and asked, "What can I do, just me?" Traubel answered, "What can I do? I can talk when others are silent. I can say, 'Persons,' when others say, 'Money.' I can stay up when others are asleep. I can keep working when others have stopped to play. I can give life big meanings when others give life small meanings. I can say, 'Love,' when others say, 'Hate.' I can say, 'Every man,' when others say, 'One man.' I can give myself to the Lord of life when others ...

3456. Too Good to Miss

1 Peter 3:8-22

Sermon

Paul E. Robinson

... up at the sky, and smile. As the next flash lit up the sky the little girl just stopped, looked at the streak of light, and smiled. Finally, the mother called her over to the car and asked, "What are you doing?" The child answered, "God keeps taking pictures of me, so I keep stopping to smile for his camera!" Somewhere that little girl got a different image of God from that of the boy in C. S. Lewis' book. If she was listening, she would have gotten it from Jesus. As we suffer the various pains of being ...

3457. The Amazing Holy Week Equation

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Paul E. Robinson

... and the potential new leader Jesus, who might free them from Roman rule. For Jesus, on the other hand, his entry into Jerusalem was the beginning of a go-for-broke divine plan to break the back of an understanding of God which was keeping people from God and keeping them stuck in their sin. It was the first step in his final course of action to reconcile humanity with their Creator. From the time of his childhood when his relationship with God began to dawn he had been inexorably moving toward this day ...

3458. Training the Heart

1 John 1:1-4

Sermon

Paul E. Robinson

... cared enough, when we have sacrificed enough. Of course, you and I know that we don't sacrifice very well or very much. But I am also convinced that God does not call us to a life of constant guilt, which keeps us from the abundant life to which Jesus specifically calls us (John 10:10) or keeps us from knowing when guilt should be listened to, as a word from God. One can be so caught up in little compulsive guilt trips that, like the boy who hollered, "Wolf!" too often, we are emotionally unable to respond ...

3459. Grace in the Midst of Exasperation

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

... whole picture. Who could possibly feel good about accepting a gold medal under such circumstances? That's why the Holy Spirit instructs us, "Keep the gold medal. It's really yours, and it will never be taken away. But now it's time for your reality to catch up with ... your status. Get in the pool and let's work on treading water." Our call, in other words, is to keep changing. God's grace is an invitation to grow into the likeness of the One whose name we bear. As Paul puts it in verse ...

3460. Grace in the Midst of Judgment

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

... The study concerned twenty pilots, all seasoned veterans in the cockpits of their small planes, but none of whom had ever taken instrument training. One by one they were placed in a flight simulator and told to do whatever they could to keep their planes level and under control. The simulator generated the conditions of a storm, including impenetrable, dark clouds. Even though the pilots had exceptional intuition born of years of actual flying, every one of them "crashed." Their planes went down, on average ...

3461. Grace in the Midst of the Crush of Time

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

... move on to see another highlight, and then another, and then another. First-time visitors to London frequently conclude that they may have only one chance to explore such an historic city. Therefore they sign on for one of those everything-included-hurry-up-and-keep-moving tours. "Now here's The Tower of London, there's Big Ben, and just over your right shoulder is BuckinghamPalace." You know the drill. Hurry. Stand over there and let me get your picture in front of the lions at Trafalgar Square. Wow, there ...

3462. Grace in the Midst of Limited Resources

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

... of the Good Life. Even though he dreaded the thought of facing the public after his British Open meltdown, Azinger had made a promise to speak at a men's prayer breakfast in Louisville, Kentucky. He came humbly. He led from weakness. He revealed the degree to which he keeps learning that his life isn't all about himself. It's all about God -- and it's never too late to go a different way. Several of the 2,000 men in attendance that morning decided to become Christians. No matter how we've lived, it's not ...

3463. A Song, A Dance, A Savior

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Curtis Lewis

... the story ended in death and destruction. It looked as if God had gone on leave and left no one in his place. That was not the last word, for Jeremiah believing in God's goodness wrote: He who scattered Israel will gather him and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow (Jeremiah 31:10b, 13b). Jeremiah invites us to join him in a song, a dance, and celebrating a Savior who cares about his people. The song is ...

3464. Sometimes It Is Okay to Be Absentminded

Isaiah 43:14-28

Sermon

Curtis Lewis

... well as the memory of all the people he had contacted, being restored. The story simply ends with the man praying this prayer, "Oh, God, keep my memory green!" God wants the memory of his people to be kept green. God asks the people to remember God's mighty acts in ... for his "new thing"! Forget about past praises and be reminded of what God is doing now, right at this moment. Praise God anew and keep on praising him as he extends his forgiving grace to all of us. In order for us to see God's "new thing," we ...

3465. Follow the Signs to God and Eternal Life

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... the sailor, in the signal it provides. Lights of different durations, types, and colors tell the experienced sailor direction. Buoys are of various types. Some clang or produce fog signals, others possess a light, and others still mark the channel. "Red, right, returning" -- keep the red buoys on the right as you return from sea. "Even red nuns have odd black cans" -- even-numbered red nun-type buoys are matched with odd-numbered black can-type buoys. If travelers heed the signs provided, they will have a ...

3466. A Passion for Christ (New)

Acts 3:11-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... a vice can grip us with its teeth, and struggle as we may, we cannot extricate ourselves. More and more people in our society are found in 12-step programs trying to free themselves from what they once regarded as petty vices. What is it that is keeping you from experiencing Christ’s power in your life? This is an important question. We will never experience Christ’s power in our lives until Christ is the priority in our lives. Dr. J. Vernon McGee once used this analogy. Suppose a woman’s husband died ...

3467. When the Storms Come

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

... undergoing surgery or chemotherapy or radiation will generally do better if his or her overall health is good. Being in good physical condition is also a good way to deal with the depression that inevitably comes with a terrible loss. Prepare for life's storms by keeping yourself fit. Don't wait until the storm comes. Mentally and spiritually we prepare ourselves by building our lives on the Rock. There comes a time in our lives when we decide what we believe and how we will live. "I will live according to ...

3468. The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Brett Blair

... I was amazed. My ring sparkled. The counterfeit was dull and had no luster. Jesus said: now here are two shepherds. Outwardly there seems to be no difference. The skin of both has been bronzed by the sun and weathered by the wind. They both carry a fleece to keep them warm at night. Both carry a shepherd's crook. But one is a genuine shepherd and the other is a counterfeit. One is a shepherd in his heart; the other is a shepherd for hire. On an ordinary day you could never tell them apart. But let trouble ...

3469. Waiting for God

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... than many Christians have acted through the generations by their constant setting of dates for Christ’s return. The scriptures are very explicit. No one knows when that day will be. “Even the angels in heaven” do not know, according to Matthew 24:36. But people keep setting dates. But our time is not God’s time. Reason it out with me. According to scientists it was more than 4½ billion years ago when God said, “Let there be light,” and set our sun a-glowing. Four and one half billion years ...

3470. And God Breathed Into Man

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... out of the solidarity of the sixth day and behave idealistically and spiritually as if we were only spiritual beings. The utopians who dreamed of advancing into the super human and making the earth a heaven have always ended up by making a hell on earth. Jesus Christ keeps us close to the earth; otherwise he would never have come to this earth, but would have developed a method to lift us to super humanity. But, no, He appeared in a stable and He was not estranged even by the beasts within us. He saves man ...

3471. An Affirming Presence

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... some of us who have reached a particular age, and it is difficult for me to admit that I’ve reached that age, but Jeri keeps reminding me. The other day a young Episcopal minister from Birmingham, Alabama, called me. I didn’t know him, but I had heard of ... . Our Christian journey continues as forgiven and affirmed people, we allow our lives to be shaped by the indwelling Christ. He keeps affirming us in our worth and impelling us to fullness of being, the fullness of God himself. What good news. Glory, ...

3472. A Converting Presence

1 John 2:28--3:10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... long time to become young. To be alive in Christ is constant and continuous. We’re not finished, but are always under construction. Maturing into the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ. Conversion is an ongoing process which you and I must keep alive in our own life. What E.E. Cummings said was true for everyone has particular meaning for Christians. Cummings said we can never be born enough. We’re human beings for whom birth is a supremely welcomed mystery. The mystery of becoming. This is ...

3473. Adoration And Confession

Psalm 103:1-22

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... and enables us to see and receive the limitless resources of the power of the Holy Spirit. Now we could preach an entire sermon on this, perhaps I will someday, not now. Prayer begins with God. Prayer ends with God. And adoration is the act of prayer that keeps us centered in that fact. Look at the pinnacle of models. What we call the Lord’s Prayer, in which our heavenly teacher has given us the very words we’re to take with us as we come to the Father. Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed ...

3474. Confession And Supplication

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the piece of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Let us pray. Come Holy Spirit, heavenly dove, with all your quickening powers. ... by us, in order that he might act redemptively in our personal lives and in the life of the world. And if we keep vigilant in searching the scripture, stay sensitive to the presence of God through our praise and adoration in worship, then we can be ...

3475. Curiosity Or Consecration

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... is stretched the sky, no higher than the soul is high. The heart can push the sea and land farther back on either hand. The soul can split the sky in two, and let the face of God shine through. But east and west will pinch their heart that cannot keep them pushed apart, and he whose soul is flat, the sky will cave in on him by and by. This is one thing that determines the degree of our commitment. And this kind of communion does not come from moments of hurried devotion most of practice. It doesn’t come ...

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