Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3476 to 3500 of 5000 results

3476. Go With Positive

John 2:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

In his second year at college, Martin Short lived at home, helping to care for his sick father. Listen to what he says about this tragic moment: "When my dad died at the end of my sophomore year, I stopped and took stock of my life. There was this real sense that my childhood was officially over. I decided that I wanted to be an actor. I knew I was loved as a kid. The thing you can always rely on, your core person, comes from your family's attention and love. When my mother got sick, and I'd see her fight ...

3477. The True Story of The Magi

Matthew 2:1-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

There is a beautiful old tradition about the star in the East. The story says that when the star had finished its task of directing the wise men to the baby, it fell from the sky and dropped down into the city well of Bethlehem. According to some legend, that star is there to this day, and can sometimes still be seen by those whose hearts are pure and clean. It's a pretty story. It kind of makes you feel warm inside. There are other legends about this story of the wise men from the east. For instance, how ...

3478. New Priorities of the Kingdom

Luke 6:17-26

Illustration

A holy man was engaged in his morning meditation under a tree whose roots stretched out over the riverbank. During his meditation he noticed that the river was rising, and a scorpion caught in the roots was about to drown. He crawled out on the roots and reached down to free the scorpion, but every time he did so, the scorpion struck back at him. An observer came along and said to the holy man, 'Don't you know that's a scorpion, and it's in the nature of a scorpion to want to sting?' To which the holy man ...

3479. Keeping Our Perspective and Priorities Straight

Luke 6:17-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

Leith Anderson, a pastor, shared an experience: As a boy, he grew up outside of New York City and was an avid fan of the old Brooklyn Dodgers. One day his father took him to a World Series game between the Dodgers and the Yankees. He was so excited, and he just knew the Dodgers would trounce the Yankees. Unfortunately, the Dodgers never got on base, and his excitement was shattered. Years later he was engrossed in a conversation with a man who was a walking sports almanac. Leith told him about the first ...

3480. The Storyteller's Creed

Luke 6:17-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

If you have ever thought about writing a novel or telling a story, Robert Fulghum, who has written many books, suggest that you keep this creed close by as you write: I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death. He calls that the Storyteller's Creed. I think he is right on all counts ...

3481. A Powerful Prayer

Matt 22:15-22; John 17:20-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

Pastor Joe Wright of Kansas was asked to lead the Kansas State Senate in prayer. They were expecting the usual formal prayer to open the session but that is not what happened. The pastor used the moment as a confessional and prophetic opportunity. As he prayed there were some senators who got up and walked out. When Paul Harvey (a national known radio news and editorialist) got a hold of the prayer and read it on his program he got more requests for copies of it than any other thing he had ever done. Here' ...

3482. A Pentecostal Church - Sermon Starter

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Brett Blair

The well known author and preacher Fred Craddock tells a rather funny story about a lecture he was giving: A few years ago, when he was on the west coast speaking at a seminary, just before the first lecture, one of the students stood up and said, "Before you speak, I need to know if you are Pentecostal." The room grew silent. Craddock said he looked around for the Dean of the seminary! He was no where to be found. The student continued with his quiz right in front of everybody. Craddock was taken aback, ...

3483. Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide (Long Version)

John 3:1-36

Illustration

Staff

It is very hard these days to know who to believe. Everyone is trying to lead us to their version of truth. In 1997, Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old student at Eagle Rock Junior High School in Idaho Falls won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair by showing how conditioned we have become to alarmists spreading fear of everything in our environment through junk science. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "Dihydrogen ...

3484. A Higher Value than Freedom

Matthew 3:13-17

Illustration

Johnny Dean

If there’s one thing we Americans value above everything else, it is freedom. We cherish, guard and exercise our freedom, and woe be unto those who threaten it in any way. We’re even willing to go to war to defend freedom, whether it’s ours or someone else’s. We are the world’s self-appointed watchdogs of freedom. But Jesus says there’s a higher value than freedom. The first words the writer of the Gospel of Matthew has Jesus speak are not about freedom, but about obedience to the will of God. That’s what ...

3485. Water That Brings a New Beginning - Sermon Starter

Mt 3:13-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

Water has been in the news a lot recently, at least in the forms of snow and ice. Winter storms and snow literally stopped traffic in many parts of the country. And as much as we try to forge through to get to work or school, sometimes we have to stop and respect what the water around us is doing. Water is part of the drama of our life. It brings life, but not enough or too much can bring destruction. Let us focus on the life giving power of clean, fresh water. There are two very different ways to think ...

3486. Where the Scary Things Live

Matthew 4:12-23

Illustration

Johnny Dean

For most of us, becoming adults hasn't necessarily cured us of our fear of the dark. Oh, we may have switched to waterbeds that nothing could possibly get underneath. And our closets may be a little bigger (although still not big enough) and they're filled with business suits or work clothes instead of building blocks and athletic gear. But at night, when the lights are out and the children are safely tucked into bed to wrestle with THEIR fears, our own monsters come to life and torment us yet again. Am I ...

3487. A Mountain of Meaning - Sermon Starter

Matthew 17:1-13

Illustration

Brett Blair

A brilliant magician was performing on an ocean liner. But every time he did a trick, the Captain's parrot would yell, "It's a trick. He's a phony. That's not magic." Then one evening during a storm, the ship sank while the magician was performing. The parrot and the magician ended up in the same lifeboat. For several days they just glared at each other, neither saying a word to the other. Finally the parrot said, "OK, I give up. What did you do with the ship?" The parrot couldn't explain that last trick! ...

3488. Listen Slowly

Illustration

Brett Blair

I would hate to have a hard count of how many times I have interrupt people in conversation and how many times I jumped ahead with my thoughts expressing the wrong conclusion to someone else's words. We miss so much in life because we will not listen. Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got nervous and tense about it. "I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at meal times, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions ...

3489. An Hour of Glory on a Windswept Hill

Matthew 17:1-9

Illustration

King Duncan

Dr. William Stidger once told of a lovely little 90-year-old lady named Mrs. Sampson. Mrs. Sampson was frail, feeble, even sickly. But Dr. Stidger said that when he was discouraged he always went to visit Mrs. Sampson. She had a radiant spirit that was contagious. One day he asked this 90-year-young woman, "What is the secret of your power? What keeps you happy, contented and cheerful through your sickness?" She answered with a line from a poem, "I had an hour of glory on a windswept hill." Bill Stidger ...

3490. Heck of a Place to Lose a Cow

Matthew 17:1-9

Illustration

Southern Utah folklore still enshrines stories about Ebenezer Bryce, a cattleman who used to run his herds early in this century on land that is now Bryce Canyon National Park. The canyon he used is actually the face of a high plateau, carved by wind and water into fantastic, colorful sandstone castles and cathedrals. Few people can stand on the canyon's rim, look down at the majestic scene below and fail to sense awe and inspiration. Once, Bryce was asked what it was like to have spent his working life in ...

3491. The Battle Hymn

Matthew 17:1-9

Illustration

In 1861, a prominent Bostonian woman and her husband were visiting Washington, D.C. shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War. They witnessed an impressive military review one day and were on their way back to their hotel with some friends in a carriage when their way was blocked by several columns of soldiers. To pass the time, Julia Ward Howe and her friends began to sing popular army songs, including "John Brown's Body." The soldiers cheered the singing, but one of her friends suggested to Mrs. Howe ...

3492. Leading by Example

John 4:1-42

Illustration

King Duncan

Bruce Larsen, in his book Ask Me to Dance, includes the story of a member of his congregation who had come from another country. Pastor Larsen said of this person, "Her faith sparkled and the living water of the spirit flowed out of her soul to all around her." He invited her to go with him to a seminar on the topic of evangelism. The leaders had prepared tables filled with all sorts of pamphlets and strategies and demographic studies, all aimed at reaching the un‑churched in their area. At some point ...

3493. Noticed That You Passed Away

John 11:1-45

Illustration

A few years ago, a letter appeared in the national news that was sent to a deceased person by the Indiana Department of Social Services. It read as follows: "Your food stamps will be stopped in March because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." Unless your name is Lazarus, there haven't been too many who have seen a change in those circumstances!

3494. Great Men Are Often Broken by Their High Ideals

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

Some years ago a book was written by a noted American historian entitled "When The Cheering Stopped." It was the story of President Woodrow Wilson and the events leading up to and following WWI. When that war was over Wilson was an international hero, There was a great spirit of optimism abroad, and people actually believed that the last war had been fought and the world had been made safe for democracy. On his first visit to Paris after the war Wilson was greeted by cheering mobs. He was actually more ...

3495. A Turning Point for Nixon

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

A number of years ago, Newsweek magazine carried the story of the memorial service held for Hubert Humphrey, former vice-president of the United States. Hundreds of people came from all over the world to say good-bye to their old friend and colleague. But one person who came was shunned and ignored by virtually everyone there. Nobody would look at him much less speak to him. That person was former president Richard Nixon. Not long before, he had gone through the shame and infamy of Watergate. He was back ...

3496. Only a Compromising Man Can Be King

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

Perhaps some of you saw Mel Gibson's movie that came out a couple of years ago called Braveheart. In the movie William Wallace (a Scottish commoner) attempts to unite the feuding clans of Scotland in their fight against England in the 13th century. He attempts to elicit the help of Robert the Bruce, the leader of the most powerful clan. Bruce refuses to help and in soliloquy he says: "Wallace is an uncompromising man. Uncompromising men are admirable. But only a compromising man can be king." We can affirm ...

3497. Did You See, I Waved?

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Johnny Dean

Whenever I read the account of Palm Sunday, I remember how the event is depicted in one of my favorite movies, "Jesus Christ, Superstar." Have you seen it? In the movie, the Palm Sunday crowd sings, "Christ, you know I love you. Did you see, I waved?" But, you see, as your pastor, I take my responsibility to nurture your spiritual growth seriously. And you cannot grow being fed a steady diet of baby food. So I cannot and will not skip from Palm Sunday to Easter morning and avoid talking about what happened ...

3498. The Road from Palm Sunday to Easter

Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-44

Illustration

Johnny Dean

It's not Easter yet, but it won't be long now, just seven short days. And what joy we will feel when we get there! But we have a big problem. To get from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday we have to walk through a graveyard in the dark. The only road from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday runs right through the middle of Good Friday. That road is not an easy road to walk. Those who don't have the stomach for the journey, those who seek that ouch-less faith we talked about, will stay home from today until next Sunday ...

3499. Aw Shucks!

Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40

Illustration

A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, "Why do you have that palm branch, dad?" "You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved Palm Branches to honor him, so we got Palm Branches today." The little boy replied, "Aw Shucks! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus shows up!"

3500. The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Hosanna!

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

David A. Shirey

Some stories leave us spellbound. There is something about some stories that no matter how many times we hear them, they manage to catch us up in their wonderful spell. For instance, I'm 40 years old and still get a kick out of that scene in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and Toto and the Tin Man and the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion emerge from the forest and catch sight of the Emerald City. Then they join arms and begin to skip across the meadow. Or, the beginning of The Sound of Music with Julie ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 3476 to 3500 of 5000 results

3476. Go With Positive

John 2:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

3477. The True Story of The Magi

Matthew 2:1-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

3478. New Priorities of the Kingdom

Luke 6:17-26

Illustration

3479. Keeping Our Perspective and Priorities Straight

Luke 6:17-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

3480. The Storyteller's Creed

Luke 6:17-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

3481. A Powerful Prayer

Matt 22:15-22; John 17:20-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

3482. A Pentecostal Church - Sermon Starter

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Brett Blair

3483. Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide (Long Version)

John 3:1-36

Illustration

Staff

3484. A Higher Value than Freedom

Matthew 3:13-17

Illustration

Johnny Dean

3485. Water That Brings a New Beginning - Sermon Starter

Mt 3:13-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

3486. Where the Scary Things Live

Matthew 4:12-23

Illustration

Johnny Dean

3487. A Mountain of Meaning - Sermon Starter

Matthew 17:1-13

Illustration

Brett Blair

3488. Listen Slowly

Illustration

Brett Blair

3489. An Hour of Glory on a Windswept Hill

Matthew 17:1-9

Illustration

King Duncan

3490. Heck of a Place to Lose a Cow

Matthew 17:1-9

Illustration

3491. The Battle Hymn

Matthew 17:1-9

Illustration

3492. Leading by Example

John 4:1-42

Illustration

King Duncan

3493. Noticed That You Passed Away

John 11:1-45

Illustration

3494. Great Men Are Often Broken by Their High Ideals

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

3495. A Turning Point for Nixon

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

3496. Only a Compromising Man Can Be King

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

3497. Did You See, I Waved?

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Johnny Dean

3498. The Road from Palm Sunday to Easter

Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-44

Illustration

Johnny Dean

3499. Aw Shucks!

Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40

Illustration

3500. The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Hosanna!

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

David A. Shirey

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