Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3476 to 3500 of 4943 results

3476. The Natural Look

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... authentically myself — a self created to be unique in the image of God — I cannot serve God or God’s people the way only I am meant to serve them. Today’s story is about intimacy and it is about authenticity. Moses’ face begins to shine and continues to shine when he finally submits to God. When he finally submits to God’s intimate, insistent, gracious, pervasive presence in his life, he shines. And the more he talks to God, the more he interfaces with God, the more he engages God, the more he ...

3477. In the Light of His Glory

Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... good things that have happened in our lives. It is interesting that we are starting the New Year on the Day of Epiphany. The Day of Epiphany is the first day in the season of Epiphany which begins with the wise men following a distant light and continues through the celebration of the Transfiguration--when we see Jesus in all his glory. Epiphany is not only a season of the church year; it has also crept into secular usage. When we say that someone has had an epiphany, we usually mean that that person has ...

3478. In Awe of Christ

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... crescendo with its ‘Hallelujah!’” (3) Such was the power and the majesty that the disciples experienced in the presence of Jesus . . . as they began to see Jesus as he really is. They also began to see themselves as they really were. The disciples were continually responding to evidence of Jesus’ glory with fear. That is because in the light of his holiness they became aware of their own imperfection. You may think the trim on your house is white until a new fallen snow overlays it. Then you notice ...

3479. From Deep Unto Deep

Luke 22:14--23:56

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... and his family. I was a young man at the time. I had almost no training as a theological interpreter of life. For that matter, I didn’t have that much experience in life itself. I wondered how my friend Raymond was going to be able to continue in ministry after his son’s senseless death. Raymond had given his life in service of God and God rewarded him with tragedy. Because I didn’t know how I would react, I worried that Raymond’s faith might be destroyed. A few weeks after Jonathan was killed ...

3480. The Value of Doubt

John 20:19-31

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:1-2). Then a verse later Jesus continues, “And you know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:4). When Thomas heard this, he was not satisfied. He wanted clarification and asked a follow-up question. “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5 ...

3481. What Gets Into Us?

John 18:1--19:42

Sermon

King Duncan

... he was, that would be contrary to what the rest of the Bible says about the nature of man. So, what happened? Why did he go wrong? A few moments thought on the matter will reveal that Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was simply another chapter in the continuing story of humanity’s rebellion against God. Why did Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit? Why did Cain murder Abel? Consider Israel’s great kings. Saul was chosen of God, and yet he spent the last days tortured with jealousy and seeking to murder David ...

3482. Let the Church Crawl

Humor Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... With God's help we can see the day when this church will go from crawling to walking." The people responded, "Let the church walk, Pastor, let the church walk." He continued, "And when the church begins to walk, next the church can begin to run." And the people shouted, "Let the church run, Pastor, let the church run!" The pastor continued, "And finally the church can move from running to flying. Oh, the church can fly! But of course, that's going to take lots of money for that to happen!" The congregation ...

3483. Listen to the Angels

Revelation 5:11-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... , “Worthy is the lamb.” But we know that angels do sing. So why not imagine that they are lifting their voices in song. I would imagine that in the celestial concert hall, Beethoven and Mozart and Bach and all of the great composers are allowed to continue writing great music just as they did on earth, but now they are composing for the greatest choir ever assembled. I want you to get a feel for this scene in Revelation. Heaven’s choir of angels is now assembled--myriads and myriads of angels is the ...

3484. First the Bad News...

Luke 21:5-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... him get home safely. The next week, and the next week, and the next, Sagduna Ral returned to this same village and stood out in the road and preached the message of Jesus Christ. His wounds were still healing. His attackers were still close by. But he continued in his mission of preaching the good news of God’s kingdom. Because of his faithfulness, Sagduna Ral had the joy of seeing one of his attackers give his life to Jesus Christ a few weeks later. (10) Jesus promises in this Bible passage that God has ...

3485. Surprised by Joy

Luke 2:8-14

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... one actually believes that the good news will last, that it will stay up for more than a few days. People no longer celebrate when the price of oil comes down, just that it isn’t going up as fast as it was. Europe’s a mess, the middle east continues to roil, the super powers are, if not exactly at each other’s throats, still picking and scraping at each other like jealous siblings. Here at home, we look in vain for someone we can trust. From the right we hear that we can’t trust the big government ...

3486. You'll Find Jesus There

Illustration

Dr. Barry Scott

... the surgeon said to the 8 year-old-boy. “You’ll find Jesus there,” the boy said. The surgeon continued, “I’ll open your heart and check the damage.” “You’ll find Jesus there,” the boy said. “When ... me there will be no more suffering and pain. He will have comfort and peace. One day his parents as well as you will join him and my flock will continue to grow.” The next day the surgeon went to the boy’s room and sat down with the parents beside the bed. In a moment or two, the boy opened ...

3487. Just a Grab Away

Illustration

Ramualdo Macam

... to help his friend, “Hey, help my friend, he is drowning.” However, the fishermen did not bother to do his call for help because they were busy loading their catch from the net to their boat. Taylor continued to yell, “Stop what you are doing, and help my friend. He is just a grab away.” But the fishermen continued on their work until the last fish was loaded to the boat. Then they jumped and got Peter out of water. They tried to revive him, but to no avail. Peter died of drowning. He could have ...

3488. Be Humble or Stumble

Illustration

King Duncan

... the hard way. As Fay Vincent writes in The Last Commissioner, one time Ted registered in a Florida hotel under the name of Al Forrester. The clerk recognized him and asked, “Are you really Al Forrester? You look just like Ted Williams.” Ted responded, “Who is Ted Williams?” The clerk continued, “He was one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. Are you sure you are not Ted?” Ted responded again, “I don’t follow baseball. The game is too slow. I really don’t know who he is.” They ...

3489. How Would You Introduce Jesus?

John 1:(1-9), 10-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... this Jesus he read about might be the revelation of God. One night, he knelt down in his prison cell and he prayed to Jesus: “You know I am not sure that you exist, but I want eternal life and I want to be born again.” After that prayer, Viktor continued reading the book of John. One night, another inmate smuggled some drugs into prison and offered them to Viktor. And at that moment, Viktor knew he had to make a choice. He said he looked at those drugs, and he knew that they were the path to death. And ...

3490. Saved By the Light

Isaiah 60:1-6

Sermon

King Duncan

... darkness. Travel writer Hugh Morris has an interesting online story about the Luxor Sky Beam. This beam of light—the strongest in the world—shines straight up from 39 xenon lamps on top of the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Sky Beam has shone continuously into the Nevada sky since 1993. On a clear night, it is visible to aircraft 275 miles away. But what is fascinating to me is that the Luxor Sky Beam, this brilliant light in the evening sky, which shines straight up into the sky from a Las ...

3491. Trusting in the Goodness of God

Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... What does ‘we can’t afford it’ mean?” Parents in this study admit that if they can’t come up with the answer, they will refer to Google, send the child to the other parent to get an answer, or make up an answer. because little children will continue to ask “Why?” until they get all their questions answered. You can’t just say, “Because I said so” and think that will be the end of the story. (3) Adults aren’t satisfied with “because I said so” either. We don’t like the tension of ...

3492. First Sunday of Advent

John 1:29-34, John 1:35-42, Isaiah 11:1-16

Bulletin Aid

Heth H. Corl

... most wonderful time of the year has come again. I know Christmas is wonderful because it celebrates the gift of your Son. But I confess I have put myself in a time block. Christmas is so full of things happening now. I haven't considered it as a continuation of your love begun long ago. I really haven't looked too far beyond Christmas to see its effect in my life. Forgive me for my selfish concentration on a busy holiday instead of seeing it as a fulfillment of your promise to mankind. Help me this Advent ...

3493. Godstruck

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... Tuning Fork to the Eternal, we all sing the same master melody--the majestic coronation Song of God’s Victory over sin and death. All disciples of Jesus sing the same Music of the Spheres, the Spirit Symphony, and when we tune our voices to Christ, we continue the Creator’s Song. Jesus even tells us, “the lambs know my voice, and I know theirs.” God’s voice calls us to come into relationship with Jesus and his presence in all creation. The whole universe is pregnant with the presence and power and ...

3494. Jacob's Well

John 4:1-26, John 4:27-38, John 4:39-42

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... a green slime forms on the top of it. Fish cannot last too long in that environment. Now picture that pond or fish tank as your soul. We start out clean and fresh, poured out with the Holy Spirit. But something happens to us when we are not continually flushed and filled with the living waters of God. We can suck on our own juice only so long, but without prayer, without scripture, without worship, we can stray away from the fresh waters of the Spirit that cleanse us, remove the impurities that surround us ...

3495. Moving On

Luke 6:12-16, Luke 9:1-9, Luke 10:1-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... where it’s going, but knowing it is safe in Jesus’ arms. Jesus at this point in his ministry takes more and more time letting his disciples know that they must continue his ministry, that one day, he will no longer be with them. He knows what the Pharisees are thinking. He knows his life will soon be in danger. But yet he continues pushing the envelope. He doesn’t soften the blows to those who won’t commit. He doesn’t stop healing or “breaking the Sabbath” or citing the authority of God to ...

3496. Grounds for Blessing

Matthew 13:1-23, Luke 8:1-15, Mark 4:1-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters ...

3497. Precocious

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... around the entire region, taught in the Temple in Jerusalem, and was respected by many other rabbis, Pharisees, and scribes. What did he do from 12 until 30? We believe, most likely, he studied. Although he may have learned a trade from his father, he didn’t continue to do it. He had the means to move to Capernaum, leaving his family, even though he was the first-born son and responsible for his widowed mother and family. And we know, he took his mission very seriously. Did his parents raise him to be the ...

3498. What If It's True?

John 20:1-18 · Matthew 28:10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... that love walked among us in the person of Jesus? What if that love embraced the ultimate sacrifice of death for our sake? What if that love was able to transcend the finality and power of death and live again to live forever? What if that love continues to live and walk among us today, two thousand years after that death-melting resurrection? What if it is ALL TRUE? But you say “Prove It!” Show me the “proof” that it’s true! How do you “prove” if it’s true? In April 2002, 100 philosophers ...

3499. Higher Ground

Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... on high.” When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Image Exegesis: Higher Ground “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” (Micah 4:2) Figs, olives, and ...

3500. Redemption

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Image ...

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