Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3501 to 3525 of 4943 results

3501. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Disaster: Why do the Innocent Suffer?

Psalm 69:1-36

Sermon

James W. Moore

On a Christmas card we received this year, we discovered these powerful words: When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the Kings and Princes are back home, When the Shepherds have returned to new flocks, The work of Christmas begins: - To find the lost, - To heal the broken - To feed the hungry, - To release the prisoners, - To rebuild the nations, - To bring peace among people, - To make music in the heart. Or, in other words, to do the work of Christ. These words ...

3502. Going For the Gold

Joshua 1:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

We have just finished two weeks here in Atlanta watching over 10,000 athletes from 197 countries "Go for the Gold." There were plenty of heroes to go around. Who will ever forget Kerri Strug, a little pixie, who courageously vaulted on a severely sprained ankle, to secure the first team gymnastics gold medal in U.S. history. Then there is Carl Lewis who, at 35, won the long jump for the fourth consecutive Olympics, and secured a record time ninth gold medal. Then, of course, the person that Sports ...

3503. No Excuses

Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

James Merritt

If there is anything that is true about our society it is this: We have become an excuse-filled society. It used to be that to say, "Excuse me," was a gesture of courtesy. It is now a method of getting around personal responsibility. One of the most respected authors in America made this observation: Our culture has declared war on guilt…Perhaps the most prevalent means of escaping blame is by classifying every human failing as some kind of disease. Drunkards and drug addicts can check into clinics for ...

3504. America: You Are Too Young to Die

Psalm 80:1-19

Sermon

James Merritt

Webster defines a patriot as "one who loves and loyally or zealously supports one's own country."1 According to that definition, one thing I can say about the man who wrote this Psalm, Asaph, is he was a true patriot. He would never have burned his flag, and would not have put up with anyone who did. Though he was a patriot and loved his country, he was also a man of God, and therefore burdened for his country. He was in a situation then much as we are in today. Among all the nations of the world, Israel ...

3505. You Had Better Get It Right

Matthew 5:17-20

Sermon

James Merritt

Even little children understand that there are some things you had better get right and understand to be true, or you can get yourself into big trouble. For example: I came across a little document entitled "Great truths about life that little children have learned." Here are some of them: No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats. When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair. If your sister hits you don't hit her back; they always catch the second person. Never ask your three- ...

3506. The Tincture of Time

Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

An old saw promises, "Time heals all wounds." But what most of us are hoping is that, Time wounds all heels! Surely the guy who cut you off at the freeway exit will eventually get his well-deserved fender bashing. Surely that back-stabbing co-worker who continually takes credit for your ideas will be exposed and be called on the carpet. And surely someday all the liars, cheaters, thieves, and murderers will be brought to justice and property punished for all their wrong doings. Surely time wounds all heals ...

3507. Weakness into Strength

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

James McCormick

Occasionally I stumble across wisdom in an unlikely place. Some time ago, when we were living in Arizona, I was driving from one appointment to another. My mind was wandering in a dozen different directions, as usual. The radio was playing, but I was not paying much attention to it – that is, until the commercial came on. It was a catchy little advertisement for a Savings and Loan Association. A man, obviously unschooled in the complexities of finance, was being interviewed. He was asked a lot of questions ...

3508. “Bad Form” and Bad Jesus

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Jesus is ALWAYS Third Class . . . The rankings of first, second and third class date from the days of the stage coach. You couldn’t tell the difference between the three inside the stage coach. Every person was seated without distinction. But when the stage came to the hill, the distinctions emerged. The second-class passengers had to get out and walk. The first class passengers remained in the coach. The third-class passengers had to get out and push. Jesus is ALWAYS third class . . . and when people who ...

3509. Bad Form and Bad Jesus

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

3510. Total Recall

Deuteronomy 6:20-25

Sermon

James Merritt

On June 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson sent a letter to Roger C. Weightman, declining an invitation to come to Washington, D.C., to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was the last letter that Jefferson, who was gravely ill, ever wrote. In it, Jefferson says of this date celebrating America's independence: "May it be to the world, what I believe it will be...the signal of arousing men to burst the chains...and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That ...

3511. One Year to Live

Jeremiah 28:10-17

Sermon

James Merritt

Years ago on the front page of the human interest section of a Los Angeles newspaper was the picture of a lady named Mrs. Agnes Human. The picture was framed with a heavy black border and over her picture in large black ominous letters were the words, "One Year To Live." Underneath was the explanation: "Mrs. Agnes Human, 30, of Chicago, has only one year to live. Doomed as a result of atomic poisoning contracted in work at the Oakridge, Tennessee Nuclear Plant, she is pondering the fate of her four ...

3512. The Power of Purpose

Proverbs 16:4

Sermon

James Merritt

I spent four years of my life in Deland, Florida about twenty miles west of Daytona Beach at StetsonUniversity. Not long after my freshman year started, I began attending StetsonBaptistChurch and attended there all four years. One of the reasons why I was attracted to the church was because of a pharmacist that worked with college students there named Dean West. Mr. West was (to say the least) a unique individual. He was very unconventional in his thinking on a lot of things, but he had a gift to really ...

3513. Cured Cripples and Crabby Critics

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

Ron Lavin

Have you ever been crippled by something that happened to you? At age seventeen, Joni Eareckson, dove into the Chesapeake Bay, hit the rocks, and was paralyzed for life. She lives in a wheelchair today. Physically, she is still crippled by the accident, but she has overcome the excruciating mental and spiritual pain of her situation. Faith in Jesus Christ made a major difference in her life. Ron Heagy, a football player from Oregon, broke his neck in the Pacific Ocean in California when he dove into a ...

3514. Family Matters

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

King Duncan

Pastor Tom Rietveld tells about a wedding he performed several years ago. There was a very precocious little seven-year-old boy who was the ring bearer. At the wedding rehearsal, the soloist asked Pastor Tom when she should begin singing. He told her, “After the vows.” She wanted a more specific answer, so she asked: “What are the vows? I’ll need a cue.” And at that point, the little boy turned to the soloist with an exasperated look, and said: “The vowels are A-E-I-O-U. There is no Q!” (1) We never know ...

3515. On the Road with the Hemorrhaging Woman

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

James W. Moore

Some years ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote these powerful words. Listen… “How do you measure success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a redeemed social condition, or a job well done; To know that even one life has breathed because you lived… that is to ...

3516. The Family As Church

2 Timothy 1:3-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

In the big game of life, what really matters? I find myself asking that question more and more these days. The blessing and curse of surviving a life-threatening disease is that it causes you to lift up the floorboards of your soul and examine the priorities of your life. What really matters in the light of eternity? Lost golf balls don’t matter to me any more — Lost people do. Church conferences don’t matter much to me anymore. Local churches where God and people make a connection do matter. Family status ...

3517. Family Matters

Romans 8:12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

As the lights in the movie theater dimmed, a young man loaded down with popcorn, cokes and candy paced up and down the aisle, scanning the darkened rows. It was obvious he was looking for the person or persons with whom he had come. After three or four unsuccessful trips he finally stopped and asked loudly, "Does anybody here recognize me?" (1) It's horrible not to be recognized isn't it? It's horrible to feel alone and cut off. Being recognized means you're connected, part of the family and that someone ...

3518. Eyewitness News

John 20:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan

Country music star Kenny Chesney sings a song that contains this refrain, Everybody wanna go to heaven; Hallelujah, let me hear you shout; Everybody wanna go to heaven; But nobody wanna go now. (1) Deep in our hearts we know it’s true. We talk about heaven, but regardless of how wonderful we have heard it described, most of us are not eager to make the journey. We’re like the man who was sentenced to death. He was asked if he had any last requests. He said that he loved to sing and wanted to sing his ...

3519. I’ve Got a Home in that Kingdom

2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17

Sermon

Gibson “Nibs” Stroupe

I've got a home in that kingdom — ain't that good news. I've got a home in that kingdom — ain't that good news. I'm gonna lay down this world, I'm gonna shoulder up my cross, I'm gonna take it home to my Jesus, ain't that good news.1 These words from an African-American spiritual remind us that there is something about us that longs for home, a longing to feel that we belong. Saint Augustine located this longing in our restless hearts: "Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are ...

3520. A Christmas Program

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

Narration: We begin our Christmas worship and pageant tonight with the wondrous images of Luke, chapter 2, dancing in our eyes and warming our hearts. We gather to worship. We gather to honor. We gather to celebrate the birthday of Jesus at Bethlehem, the Messiah, our Christ. Christmas Puppet Play (skit provided below) Narration: Jesus Christ is the gift of gifts. How amazing when the prophets Isaiah, Micah, and others foretold of the coming of the one who would bring deliverance to the people of Israel. ...

3521. Three O’Clock at the Temple

Acts 3:12-19

Sermon

Ken Lentz

A church caught on fire. An elderly man came running to join the others who had come to throw water. After the fire was under control, the minister said to the old gent, "Why, John, this is the first time I've ever seen you at church!" John replied, "This is the first time I've ever seen this church on fire." Many have reduced the number of visits to the neighborhood church. They are, perhaps, tired of unpolished, irrelevant sermons. Perhaps the worship is done by rote and boring, not inspirational, but ...

3522. The Sun Will Rise

Lk 2:21-40

Illustration

King Duncan

Bruce and Darlene Marie Wilkinson in their book The Dream Giver for Parents tell about a teenager who noticed that his father worried himself nearly to death, trying unsuccessfully to be everywhere and do everything to protect his child from life's difficulties. This young man wrote his father the following note: "I am sure you remember, Dad, how you used to tell me stories when I was young and was afraid or insecure. Well, I have noticed that you are often worried about what might become of me when you're ...

3523. Responsible Living

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

Jeanie Duck is a single mother with a three-year-old daughter. One day a friend gave Jeanie a two-pound box of See’s dark chocolate nuts and chews. Being a chocolate lover, Jeanie was in heaven! As she was oohing and aahing over the box her daughter, Jennifer, joined in the excitement. This was a bad sign. If Jennifer was excited, it was because she expected to share in Jeanie’s newly acquired bounty. Clearly the only way Jeanie could get rid of her was to share some of her precious chocolate, so she gave ...

3524. Candidates for God’s Candid Camera

1 John 3:11-24

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Everyone hates to be surprised. And loves it. It didn’t take long for something called “television” to find that out. Filming people when they didn’t know they were on camera brought extremely entertaining and unexpected results. Anyone remember “Candid Camera?” Can you remember the name of the host? . . . . [Allen Funt]. Can you remember the catchphrase of the show? . . . [“Smile, You’re on Candid Camera”]. In the early 60’s, “Candid Camera” secretly recorded the reactions of people when they were ...

3525. When Others Serve Your Head on a Platter

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

This summer saw the “resurrection” of an old tale of family rivalry and betrayal. The show that started an industry of prime time “soap operas” is back on the air. Do you know show I’m talking about? . . . . Dallas. The ever-evil “J.R.” Ewing and all his battling, back-biting, embittered family have returned, with new generations, all of whom are admirably carrying on the family tradition of unabated greed and hatred. Added to yet another season of “Kardashians” and the History channel’s presentation of “ ...

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