Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 326 to 350 of 5000 results

Sermon

Russell F. Anderson

... 2. The problem -- it is often difficult to discern which is which (Give examples of ways of living that are actually ways of death -- individualism, consumerism, etc.) 3. Life (God) has chosen us and so let us choose life The story of Alice In Wonderland illustrates the difficulty of choosing when one doesn't know where she wants to go. Alice was treading the path through the forest in Wonderland when it divided in two different directions. As she stood there wondering what to do, the Cheshire Cat suddenly ...

327. Epiphany 7

Mt 5:38-48 · 1 Cor 3:10-11, 16-23 · Lev 19:1-2, 9-18 · Ps 119:33-40 · Ps 71 · Ps 62

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... going on. Overcome with laughter and tears, they embraced one another. On that spot the Temple was built. This story may be apocryphal. Yet, it is certainly true that God's temple is built in the places where brothers and sisters embrace in laughter and tears. Illustration: On the morning of December 23 my sister called. "Dad is not doing well. You had better get over to the house." My dad, Roy Anderson, was suffering the last stages of a battle with prostate cancer that had gone on for over five years. We ...

328. End times

Mt 24:1-14 · 1 Thess 3:7-13 · Jer 26:1-6 · Ps 105:1-7

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... -yet character of the kingdom of Christ. For believers, Christ is Lord right now and our hope is that in the indeterminate future he will be Lord of all creation, when his kingdom is fully come. Let's not waste our time in splitting eschatological hairs. Illustration: In the old L'il Abner comic strip there was a rather pathetic character by the name of Joe Btsfplk. Wherever Joe went, he was accompanied by a black cloud and a bolt of lightning, leaving chaos and destruction in his pathway. Joe Btsfplk was ...

329. Christmas 1

Galatians 3:26--4:7, Galatians 3:15-25, Colossians 3:1-17, Hebrews 2:5-18, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... was born into the human family sanctifies this basic building block of community. There has never been a better time to highlight this truth than in this day where the family is being constantly bombarded in economic, social, ideological, and even religious forces. To illustrate, a scout troop of 23 boys meets in a church located in a small city in Nebraska. Twenty of the 23 are the products of broken homes. In the same church a support group for such youngsters draws over 60 kids. It's called "Rainbows ...

330. Christmas 2

Mt 2:13-23 · Jn 1:1-18 · Eph 1:3-14 · Jer 31:7-14 · Is 61:10--62:3 · Ps 147

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... 1. Cite examples of pain and suffering 2. Even God's own people suffer 3. We cannot comprehend the reason for suffering 4. We can trust in a God who shares our suffering and transforms it 5. Let us praise our God who transforms sadness into gladness Illustration: The meaning of Christmas can be found in the most unlikely places, such as the comic pages in the newspaper. In the Wizard of Id strip for Christmas day I found this story. Hearing a cutting sound from within the cell, the Spook in the dungeon was ...

331. Any FAX, Or E-Mail From God Today?

1 Samuel 2:12-26

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... priests in the temple in Jerusalem. The stories of the birth, call, and childhood of Samuel could well have been in the mind of Luke as he began compiling his gospel. Obviously this text has been selected for reading in the Season of Epiphany to illustrate the symbolic correspondence between Samuel's call and response and those of Jesus. Both are "called" as prophets to their own people to indicate the wave of God's future. Both Jesus and Samuel have terrible messages in their hands: God will overthrow the ...

332. A Dead Girl and A Sick Woman

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... the boundaries again. He has transgressed the barriers that had labeled Gentiles as outsiders. Tolbert's thesis is that the Gerasene demoniac is the first example Mark gives us of a good soil person. She sees each of the stories in Mark 5 as stories told to illustrate who the "good soil" people are. The demoniac is the first "good soil" person. His malady is described in great detail. And what can he do about it? He can run to Jesus. He ran and fell down before Jesus out of his desperation. Jesus saw his ...

333. Trinity Sunday

John 3:1-21

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... This person can do this with a shadowy (spiritual) hand reaching down from the top of the banner. The hand cradles an adult figure drawn into the fetal position. Does the congregation have someone who can do cartoons? If so, ask this person to draw a cartoon that illustrates the irony of Nicodemus saying, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God..." while at the same time, he is afraid to let anyone see him talking to Jesus. If he truly knows that Jesus is from God, then why is Nicodemus ...

334. Would That God. . .

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Thomas Peterson

... God had, indeed, given him his sight and with it the chance to see himself as others saw him, especially Jesus. The best way for us to see ourselves is as Jesus sees us, for then we see ourselves in the best possible light! Two stories come to mind which illustrate our text. The first is a play The Male Animal by James Thurber. A fortyish-year-old man managed to make a spectacle of himself at every party he and his wife attended. With the help of his buddies he re-enacted a famous touchdown he had made as a ...

335. Stooping Is a Divine Posture

Isaiah 23:1-18

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... his new order, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus illustrated this tellingly in his own life. He left his throne as Lord in heaven to come down to earth and live the role of a servant to others. He even took the place of a slave and washed his disciples’ dusty feet before that last supper in the upper room ...

336. A Secret Hard To Keep

Mark 5:42-43

Children's Sermon

Object: photo illustration picturing trumpets and banners Boys and girls, has anybody ever told you a secret and warned you not to tell anybody else? (Let ... have felt if you had been there the day Jesus did that? Would you want to keep the secret? (Talk about it.) I'll tell you how I would have felt. (Show them the photo illustration.) I'd want to blow one of these. I'd want to announce it to everybody! That's what the people in the story in the Bible did. They told everybody they could find the Good News ...

337. Christmas Eve

Lk 2:1-20 · Isa 9:2-7 · Tit 2:11-14 · Ps 96

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... for joy? Don't focus on what you have to do but what God has already done for us. We must be sensitive to the needs of the sad and sorrowing. Hold high God's promise that his good news will bring joy to all the world. Illustration: The angels informed the shepherds of a sign: a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Believers have long looked for signs or omens to substantiate their faith, and the Bible provides several examples where God provides a sign. One native American legend tells ...

338. The Day Of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21 · Jn 15:26-27; 16:4-15; 20:19-23 · Eze 37:1-14 · 1 Cor 12:4-13 · Ps 104

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... guidance since we lack clarity of vision. 2. The Bible is a guide but the Spirit helps us interpret. 3. How can we know if a certain course is the truth? It witnesses to Christ (15:26). 4. Let the Spirit guide you into the fullness of truth (v. 13). Illustration: On our last vacation, Fran and I traveled to Sedona, Arizona, with our son-in-law's parents. Some of you have been to this town in the beautiful red rock country and may or may not be aware that this is a center of the new age religious movement ...

339. All Saints' Sunday

Jn 11:32-44 · Mt 5:1-12 · Isa 25:6-9 · Rev 7:9-17; 21:1-6 · Ps 24

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... death (v. 40). Jesus confronts death with faith and prayer (vv. 40-44). Lazarus still had to die one day but the stench of death had been replaced with the sweet scent of eternal life and love. Faith in Jesus transforms the stench of death. Illustration: The Hapsburgs ruled in Europe for centuries, but the funeral of Emperor Franz-Josef I of Austria, who died in 1916, marked the last of the lavish imperial funerals. A processional of the rulers of this world and other dignitaries escorted the coffin, draped ...

340. The Baptism Of Our Lord

Mk 1:4-11 · Act 19:1-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Isa 42:1-9 · Gen 1:1-5 · Ps 29

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... was personal and corporate. (Explain.) Our baptism is personal (God personally forgives, accepts and empowers us). Our baptism is communal (the Christ-life can only be realized in community). Our baptism commissions us for life-long mission in the kingdom. Illustration: This little story illustrates the second point above. A little boy was dying of cancer. His parents hadn't had time to become part of a faith community. Yet as the life-force began to ebb in their precious little one, they realized that ...

341. Corpus Christi

Mk 4:12-16, 22-26 · Heb 9:11-15 · Ex 24:3-8 · Ps 126

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... New Testament witnesses declare that Jesus really died (and rose) and that he left his last will and testament. Christ wills to be our high priest and free us from our sins (v. 15). Strive for Christ's eternal inheritance, not to amass an earthly estate. Illustration: In the movie Rain Man Charlie receives word that his father has died. He has been estranged from his father for years and only goes back to hear the reading of the will. Charlie discovers that his wealthy father has left him only a 1949 Buick ...

342. Proper 6

Mk 4:26-34 · 2 Cor 5:6-17 · 1 Sam 15:34 - 16:13 · Ps 20

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... are, if you are here the seed of the kingdom has been planted in your hearts. Others have received the joy of watching us grow. We are called to scatter the kingdom seeds of faith, hope and love. We have the joy of watching God grant them growth. Illustration: Oh, God! is one of my favorite movies. God decides to communicate his love to the world through a grocery store manager. He appears to the manager while he is taking a shower. At first the manager tries to avoid being God's spokesman. Finally he holds ...

343. Second Sunday In Advent

Sermon

David M. Oliver

... to resolve today to be Christ's light in the world. You can make a difference! Take a moment now to write in your bulletin what you can do to light a candle to be a light to someone. (You can end the message here or close by using an illustration of someone who has been a light for you and made a difference in your life. An alternative would be to obtain the story titled "A Candle in the Darkness."1) This story is about a nineteen-year-old boy by the name of Daniel Gavra whose Christian faith led ...

344. Living In The Resurrection Age

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

... invalid, but was completely blind as well. The man, you see, was whistling, not for his benefit, but rather for the benefit of his wife. He wanted his blind wife to know that he was nearby, and that she was not alone. That story is a wonderful illustration of the significance of Easter Day. The affirmation that "Christ is risen" suggests that God is near to us. It reminds us that there is something stable, something permanent in creation that will not be defeated by human sin and evil. The empty tomb is our ...

345. The Cover

John 1:5

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... the pages appear to be very white, in contrast to the black cover. As we read God's Word in the scriptures, his light shines forth from the pages into our lives. A closed Bible is darkness; an open Bible means light for life. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When a child becomes indifferent to family devotions. When looking at the family Bible. To illustrate the importance of any kind of reading. The thoughts (light) from its pages cannot enter into our thinking until we open the book.

346. How God Is Heard Today

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... through the whole glass making the tone you hear. (Make the glass sing again.) As you respond to your good inner stirrings, it may be that God will be using you to present his word or his will to someone else. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: At the dinner table. Another illustration can be presented by varying the level of water in the glass. This will change the sound and can be used to symbolize that the message of our life varies with the amount of faith and knowledge that we have.

347. A Bucket Of Water

Matthew 7:7

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... the activity of seeking, doing so in relation to God who is the center of life, that which we need is forced into our life and becomes a real part of us. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When working in the garden and water is needed for the plants. Carry the water in a bucket and illustrate centrifugal force. During summer vacation, to encourage continuation of study and worship. To help a child understand the importance of actively seeking faith and knowledge with God at the center.

348. The Jumping Flame

James 4:8a

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... activity that once had meaning for you and you will find that the flame of motivation will return. The Bible speaks of this in regard to God by telling us to "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." (James 4:8a) Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When a child does not feel like doing something and needs to be encouraged to try it. At the dinner table, when candles are part of the setting. This ...

349. The Pretzel

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... little loops of baked dough to good use, he began to give them to children as a reward for learning their prayers. In fact, the lowly pretzel came to be a symbol for excellence in many activities. (Note the symbol for the Olympic games.) This is just one illustration of the way that our Christian faith has influenced all of life. But more than that, it reminds us of the place of prayer in the ordinary affairs of every day. You see, you can give thought to prayer anywhere, in the heat of a kitchen as well ...

350. Lent 5

John 11:1-16, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44, John 11:45-57

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... terminally ill body alive by artificial means. For Christians death is not so bad because - A. Death can be to the glory of God - v. 4 B. Death is overcome by the Resurrection - v. 25 C. Death is the entrance into heaven - Philippians 1:21 Illustration Jesus wept. Every year the graduating class at a southern theological seminary poses for a class picture and a class motto is attached to the photo. One year the students could not agree on a scripture verse that properly described the class. In desperation ...

Showing results