Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 326 to 350 of 4489 results

326. Eyes To See, Ears To Hear

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

James McCormick

Years ago, when I first began the Christian journey, like most people, I understood faith as “belief”. I believe that there is a God, therefore I have faith. Very soon I came to understand that that is not enough. In fact, belief alone can be irrelevant. For example, I may believe that there is intelligent life somewhere out there in space. But, so what? That has nothing to do with how I live my life every day. It’s irrelevant. Just so, many people believe that there is a God, but that belief does not ...

327. Jonah Flees from the Lord

Jonah 1:1-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

The Command and the Flight (1:1-3): 1:1–3 The NIV has omitted several rhetorical devices in these first three verses that are significant for an understanding of Jonah. Verse 1:1 begins with way e hî, which may be translated, “Now it came to pass,” or simply “Now.” The word is a sure indication that what follows is a story or narrative (cf. MT of Josh. 1:1; Judg. 1:1). Verse 2 begins with “arise” (RSV; NIV: go; qûm), and this verb is repeated at the beginning of verse 3: “But Jonah rose (qûm) to flee to ...

328. How Well Do You Listen?

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon

King Duncan

Bob Woolf in his book Friendly Persuasion tells a hilarious story that former talk show host Larry King once told him. It seems that Larry was a guest on a morning show in Dallas, TX. The woman who interviewed him was the classic host who asks you a question and then looks off in another direction, not paying any attention to what you say in reply. This host had five questions written out by someone else and she checked off each question as she asked it. Larry noticed she wasn’t listening at all. She was ...

329. Big Bubba Has Your Back

Revelation 21:1-6a

Sermon

King Duncan

In one of his sermons pastor John Ortberg tells the story of an evening many years ago when he and two friends were walking along a street in Newport Beach, California. They walked past a bar where a fight had been going on inside. The fight spilled out into the street, just like in an old western. Several guys were beating up on another guy, and he was bleeding from the forehead. Ortberg and his friends knew they had to do something, so they went over to break up the fight. I don’t know why, but the guys ...

330. Starting Over

John 21:1-19

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

Sometimes the healing of our hurts starts only when we find another song to sing. Take the story of Helen, for instance. She had her sights set on a law degree from Ohio Wesleyan College. But then the flu epidemic of 1918 hit, taking her father as a victim. Suddenly everything had changed. Helen could not go to college; she had to get a job to support her mother. For the next ten years, Helen worked at an electrical utility; a simple, repetitive cog in the company machine. Just when she thought she was ...

331. Glowing Network

John 14:23-29

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler seduced them into ways of living that kept them from practicing their faith. But there was one man whom Hitler could not compromise. His name was Martin Niemöller. During World War I, Niemöller had been a great hero in the German military but when the Second World War came, he refused to bow to the authorities. He was marching to a different drumbeat. And march he did. When Hitler could not make him change ...

332. Wrap It Up

Titus 3:4-5

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: several rolls of Christmas wrapping paper Good morning (or evening), boys and girls. Look at all this wrapping paper! Have any of you helped wrap any Christmas presents this year? (Wait for show of hands.) What do we wrap presents for? (Let them respond.) We wrap presents to hide what is in them, don't we? We want whoever opens the present to be surprised when they see what is in it. If we bought some special jewelry or a tie for mom or dad for Christmas we wouldn't just put it out for them to see ...

333. True Freedom

John 8:31-41

Sermon

T. A. Kantonen

"Freedom" is a precious word for Americans. We pride ourselves in being "the land of the free" and we have made great sacrifices to preserve it as such. And we try to remember the saying of Abraham Lincoln: he who is not concerned with freedom for others will not long enjoy it himself. The foundations of our country were laid by men and women who fled oppression in other countries and sought to establish here a community of free men. As symbol of the American dream the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor ...

334. Break Free From the Scrooge Syndrome

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

Gregory Knox Jones

Each year, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, a great number of people find delight in the marvelous story written by Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol. There is something in the story that lures us back to it year after year; we never seem to grow tired of hearing its message. The main character in the story is a surly old man named Scrooge, who lives a miserly existence. He sees no benefit in being generous with the poor, or even providing a living wage to dedicated workers. He clutches onto his ...

335. Breaking the Rules

Mark 1:40-45

Illustration

Charles Swindoll

Charles Swindoll, in his book "The Grace Awakening," tells about one of his youth workers many years ago who was a member of an ethnic church. It was Scandinavian. Being a rather forward-looking and creative young man, he decided he would show the youth group a missionary film. We're talking about a simple, safe, black-and-white religious-oriented movie documentary. That film projector hadn't been off an hour before a group of the leaders in the church called him in and asked him about what he had done. ...

336. Breaking Satan's Claim over Humanity

Mark 1:9-15

Illustration

Ben Sharpe

At the temptation Jesus begins the process of breaking Satan's claim over humanity. This process culminates at the Cross. C.S. Lewis beautifully illustrates this truth in his book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Witch, who represents the devil in this book, claims Edmund's life as hers to take because he has betrayed Aslan and his siblings: "You at least know the Magic which the Emperor put into Narnia at the very beginning. You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that ...

337. SHARPENING UP

Mark 6:30-34,45-56

Illustration

L. S. Chafer

One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had. "I don't get it," he said. "Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did." "But you didn't notice," said the winning ...

338. Winning the War Over Worry (Series: Winning The War Over Daily Life)

Luke 12:22-34

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Several years ago, Bobby McFerrin recorded a little song entitled, “Don’t Worry –Be Happy.” Here is what it said: Ain’t got no place to lay your head Somebody came and took your bed Don’t worry, be happy The landlord say your rent is late He may have to litigate Don’t worry, Be happy Now, who in this room buys that? Everybody worries, sometimes. To be concerned is to be human, yet, worry can be a problem. For nineteen million people in this country worry is a chronic mental illness. The fact that we humans ...

339. Jesus’ Trail of Tears (Series: Questioning Our Values)

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

If you happen to love basketball as much as I do, March Madness is a strange mixture of cheers and tears. Wins and loses are determined in split seconds leaving fans in the arena shouting for joy or crying in pain. Such is life. Palm Sunday is a little bit like that. Children are singing. Hosannas are ringing; even the rocks begin to roll a little bit for joy. But not everyone this Palm Sunday is happy. Hear this scripture that has been shared from the Gospel of Luke from the Palm Sunday narrative, “As ...

340. The World Is Our Parish

John 3:16-21

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

It has been said that life is a little bit like buttoning up a coat. It is hard to come out right if you start wrong. The buttonhole principle can be applied to our religion too. The first basic buttonhole principle of Christian faith is this: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but should have everlasting life. Martin Luther said John 3:16 is the gospel in miniature. Evangelical fans at professional football games put it on banners for all the ...

341. The Christ Connection

Colossians 1:9-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

It has been there for my entire lifetime—a neon sign on a narrow country road piercing the darkness with these simple words—CHRIST IS THE ANSWER. As a child, I used to wonder what kind of magic pen God used to write it on the side of the barn. As a teenager, I drove so fast I did not have time to see it at all. But, as an adult, sometimes I take the long way home so I can make sure it is still there, shining on the foggiest of nights. So out of place in one way and yet, such a revelation in another. CHRIST ...

342. When It's Time For Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

A Gallup Poll asked Americans what they try to do when they are wronged? Forty-eight percent said they try to forgive; eight percent said they try to get even. In our minds at least, forgiveness outdoes revenge six to one. Forgiveness—what a wonderful idea! Forgiveness is the oil that lubricates the human machine. Without it, all of life becomes hot and squeaky. Or as my favorite author on the subject Lewis Smedes says, “God has invented forgiveness as a remedy to the past that even He could not change.” ...

343. The Constant God in a Changing World

Psalm 48:1, 9-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

In Berlin, Germany, after World War II, there stood a church in the center of the city with nothing left but the Gothic arch which framed the main door. Over the arch were these words from Luke 21: “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words remain forever true." I would like to talk about that today. The author of Psalm 48 was enthralled with the strength and beauty of Jerusalem. Her towers seemed immovable; her citadels appeared immutable; her temple looked like nothing less than something immortal. ...

344. Using the Best Materials

Galatians 5:16-26

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Within my earthly temple there’s a crowd, There’s one who’s humble and one who’s proud. There’s one that’s broken-hearted for his sins, And one who unrepentant, sits and grins. From much corroding care I would be free, If I could just determine which is really me. Life is a choice. Day by day we make decisions which shape the character of our lives. The habit of good conduct is an indispensable element in the construction of a good life. So what does it mean to be a good person? What do good people have ...

345. Let the Living Begin

John 10:1-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Once upon a time a man fell in love with his sports car. He drove it everywhere he went. He paid more attention to the car than he did to his family. When time came to make funeral arrangements he asked to be buried in it. Since money was not an issue, the man’s unusual request was granted. On a bright sunshiny day a crane lowered the sports car with the deceased man at the wheel into a gigantic grave. A crowd gathered to witness the strange event. As the car and corpse slipped out of sight, one bystander ...

346. The Compassionate Christ

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

My mother and father-in-law were country music singers before there was country music. With guitar in hand and harmony in their heart, they traveled the hills of Owen County singing at revivals and Sunday dinners on the grounds. One of my favorites was a little ditty that went like this: Your roses may have thorns, but don't forget, Your thorns may have some roses too. The Lord of great compassion loves you yet, And He will never fail to see you through. It is the Lord of great compassion that I would like ...

347. Coffee Break Is Over

Humor Illustration

A mean, good-for-nothing old man died and wound up in the Palace of Darkness. There, the devil told him that he had his choice of three rooms in which he could live. The first room was rather plain, with a brick floor. All the inhabitants of this room had to stand on their heads on this hard floor. It looked quite painful, so the man asked to see the next room. The second room was filled with dozens of people standing on their heads on a wood floor. This looked less painful than the first room, but the man ...

348. God Breaks into Our Lives

Mark 9:2-9

Illustration

King Duncan

William Boggs' grandfather played a very important role in his life. Grandpa Boggs had been blind for nearly twenty years. Grandpa would tell you quickly that the way the world was going he didn't much care to see it anyway. He did have one regret however. He had never seen his grandson. Sensing death closing in on him, William's grandfather began praying more intensely for the Lord to give him sight, just long enough to see his grandson before he died. The doctors had told him that it was an impossibility ...

349. Breaking News: God and Government

Romans 13:1-7

Sermon

James Merritt

No matter what your politics might be, whether you are Democrat, Republican or Independent, by common consensus one of the wittiest and funniest presidents in human history was Ronald Reagan. I came across some of his famous one-liners the other day and I thought you would get a kick out of them. It is true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure why take the chance? I’m not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself. I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of a ...

350. Break A Leg

Illustration

Michael P. Green

Please see the note below this illustration. A woman visiting in Switzerland came to a sheepfold on one of her daily walks. Venturing in, she saw the shepherd seated on the ground with his flock around him. Nearby, on a pile of straw lay a single sheep, which seemed to be suffering. Looking closely, the woman saw that its leg was broken. Her sympathy went out to the suffering sheep, and she looked up inquiringly to the shepherd as she asked how it happened. “I broke it myself,” said the shepherd sadly and ...

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