Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3576 to 3600 of 5000 results

3576. What Does Faith Mean for You?

Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

Mark Trotter

Arie Brouer was a Reformed pastor, part of the Reformed Church in America. At one time he was the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches. As a Reformed pastor, he was part of the Calvinist tradition, and the tradition that has the strongest emphasis on God's sovereign rule over the whole creation. It was the Calvinists after all who invented predestination to affirm that God is in control of everything. Every single move that we make is controlled by God. Then Arie Brouer got cancer. A ...

3577. Looking for Security

Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

Charles Schultz

I wish it was that easy for some of us to get rid of our worries, don't you? In a Peanuts cartoon, Linus tells Charlie Brown, "When I hear those coyotes howling at night, it totally depresses me. I start to feel lonely. . . Then I get scared." Charlie Brown says, "I thought holding onto that blanket made you secure." Linus replies, "I think the warranty has run out." That's the problem with most security blankets. Their warranty runs out.

3578. The Shifting Sands of Tower of Pisa

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

In the 1990's the "Leaning Tower of Pisa" was finally reopened to the public, after having been closed for several years. During that time, engineers completed a 25 million dollar renovation project designed to stabilize the tower. They removed 110 tons of dirt, and reduced its famous lean by about sixteen inches. Why was this necessary? Because the tower has been tilting further and further away from vertical for hundreds of years, to the point that the top of the 185-foot tower was seventeen feet further ...

3579. Every House Is Tested

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

Every house is tested. The difference is not in the weather; it is in the foundation upon which the house is anchored. Oh how many persons have I seen who are in the midst of crisis run back to the church and attempt to get religion, but my friends it is not that easy. It is a foolish person who thinks they can begin constructing a proper foundation when they are in the midst of the storm and the flood waters. When life is rushing upon us; it is then too late. The time to build is in the time of calm, ...

3580. Tossing Sticks in the Air

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

King Duncan

An elderly Scottish woman was making her way through the countryside. Each time she came to a crossroads she would toss a stick into the air. Whichever way the stick came down was the direction she went. At one intersection, however, an old man saw her toss her stick into the air not once, not twice, but three times before resuming her journey. The old man was curious. "Why are you throwing your stick like that?" he asked. She squinted and replied, "I'm letting God direct my journey by using this stick." " ...

3581. Building According to Code

Matthew 7:24-29

Illustration

Our Daily Bread

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed thousands of homes in South Florida. Yet in an area where the wreckage looked like a war zone, one house remained standing, still firmly anchored to its foundation. When a reporter asked the homeowner why his house had not been blown away, he replied, "I built this house myself. I also built it according to the Florida state building code. When the code called for 2" x 6" roof trusses, I used 2" x 6" roof trusses. I was told that a house built according to code could ...

3582. Struggling with Doubt, Standing on Faith

Matt 7:15-23; 28:16-20

Illustration

Donald M. Tuttle

In his book The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel tells of 30-year-old preacher getting ready for what would be a major crusade. But despite his calling, the preacher was wrestling with doubts. He doubted whether or not he could trust what he read in the Scriptures. He was struggling with the philosophical and psychological questions people were raising about the Bible. For weeks he searched for answers, praying and pondering. Then one evening, in 1949, that preacher was walking in the San Bernardino Mountains. ...

3583. Three Eggs, Not Bad!

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

There is an old joke that circulates frequently in preaching journals and on the Internet. It serves to bring me back to earth when I think about my own preaching. It is one of those stories whose origin is unknown. Just before going into surgery a pastor's wife told him that should she not survive the surgery, he should be sure to check the shoebox under their bed. She went into surgery, he to the waiting room. "Shoebox under the bed?" he thought. Their home was nearby. She would be in surgery for quite a ...

3584. The Healing Power of Touch - Sermon Starter

Mark 5:21-43; Matt 9:1-8

Illustration

Brett Blair

As Matthew's story begins this morning, Jesus, the great physician, is on his way to make an emergency house call. There was a little girl who was in a grave state and her father implored Jesus to come. We are told that a large crowd of the curious followed Jesus. Some were hoping he would succeed, others that he would fail; most probably got caught up in the excitement of the parade. In this throng was one woman who was there for quite a different reason. We are told that for twelve years she had been ...

3585. Leave It All Behind

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

When John D. Rockefeller died, one man was curious about how much he left behind. Determined to find out, he set up an appointment with one of Rockefeller's highest aides and asked, "How much did Rockefeller leave behind?" The aide answered, "All of it." Jesus is reaching out to you just as sure as he was reaching out to all three of these people. What is it that you need to leave behind? What burden do you need to lay down? What is it that's breaking your heart? What area of your life is filled with pain ...

3586. Matthew’s Loss and Gain

Matthew 9:9-13

Illustration

Brett Blair

When Matthew made the decision to follow Christ he lost a great deal but William Barclay recognizes what he gained. He says: He lost a comfortable job, but he found a destiny. He lost a good income, but he found honor. He lost a comfortable security, but he found an adventure the like of which he had never dreamed. It may be that if we accept the challenge of Christ, we shall find ourselves poorer in material things. It may be that the worldly ambitions will have to go. But beyond doubt we will find a ...

3587. Paying Taxes

Matthew 9:9-13

Illustration

King Duncan

SEE, this man eats with sinners and tax collectors." Tax collectors are never popular. Many want to adopt a flat tax and dismantle the Internal Revenue Service. "I'm proud to be paying taxes in the United States," said Arthur Godfrey. "The only thing is I could be just as proud for half the money." "President Clinton said he looks forward to the day a citizen can call the IRS and get the right answer to a question," said Jay Leno. "I look forward to the day I can call the IRS and get a voice that says, ...

3588. Tax Collectors of the Roman World

Matthew 9:9-13

Illustration

Brett Blair

In the days of Jesus tax collectors deserved the scorn of the people because often they abused their position. Here is how William Barclay describes the business of the tax collector in the Roman world: 'The problem of the Roman government was to devise a system whereby the taxes could be collected as efficiently and as cheaply as possible. They had done so by auctioning the right to collect taxes in a certain area. A man bought the right to collect the taxes within a certain district; he was responsible ...

3589. Our Deepest Fear

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God.

3590. The Special Olympic Race

Matt 9:18-34

Illustration

Brett Blair

John Beck used to be a football star for the University of Kentucky. Later on he became a preacher and was named as Chaplain of the U.S. Olympic Teams. For a number of years he traveled with our Olympic Teams all over the world, leading in their devotions, counseling & praying with many of the athletes. As he watched these young men and women train for the events in which they competed, he decided that this was a picture of what Christianity really ought to be. Here were people who were sincere and fervent ...

3591. Not Even a Hot Bath

Illustration

King Duncan

Feeling edgy, a man took a hot bath. Just as he'd become comfortable, the doorbell rang. The man got out of the tub, put on his slippers and a large towel, wrapped his head in a smaller towel, and went to the door. A salesman wanted to know if he needed any brushes. Slamming the door, the man returned to the bath. The doorbell rang again. On went the slippers and towels, and the man started for the door again. This time, however, he took one step, slipped on a wet spot, fell, and hit his back against the ...

3592. Enough for Action?

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

The United State's most read columnist, Thomas Friedman, likes to tell a story he got from Johns Hopkins University's foreign policy professor Michael Mandelbaum (in his book The Ideas That Conquered the World). A young girl is eating dinner at a friend's house. Her friend's mother asks if she likes brussels sprouts. "Yes, of course," the girl replied. "I like brussels sprouts." After the dinner, though, the mother notices that the brussels sprouts remain untouched. "I thought you liked brussesl sprouts," ...

3593. A Call to Action

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

A few years ago Congress passed a law which entitles any deceased U.S.veteran to have two uniformed military personal present to fold and present a flag, and to have "Taps" played on the bugle at the end of the service. Who could argue with such a simple honor? There is one little problem. There are very few bugle players around these days. This dearth of brass musicians has caused the Congressional mandate to be mitigated: veterans still have the right to "Taps," but "Taps" can be played on a CD player ...

3594. The Love of a Father - Sermon Starter

Mt10:29-31

Illustration

King Duncan

It is not easy being a father. One cynic, speaking from his own experience, noted that children go through four fascinating stages. First they call you DaDa. Then they call you Daddy. As they mature they call you Dad. Finally they call you collect. Today we salute fathers. Dads, we love you. The role of a Christian father is more important in today's world than ever before. It is a different roll than in earlier generations. In most households today Dad is called upon to play more of a nurturing role in ...

3595. Priceless Scribbles

Eph 6:1-4

Illustration

King Duncan

A story appeared in the Christian Reader called "Priceless Scribbles." It's about a father who touched his child's life in an unexpected way. A young boy watched as his father walked into the living room. The boy noticed that his younger brother, John, began to cower slightly as his father entered. The older boy sensed that John had done something wrong. Then he saw from a distance what his brother had done. The younger boy had opened his father's brand new hymnal and scribbled all over the first page with ...

3596. This Is Not a Race

Prov. 4:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:7

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

Clovis Chappell, a great preacher of a previous generation, used to tell the story of two paddleboat steamers. They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, crew members made disparaging remarks about the slowness of the other boat. Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. The competition was keen as the boats roared down the Mississippi. One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for ...

3597. Someone Who Loves You

Eph 6:1-4

Illustration

King Duncan

In his book, Disappointment with God, writer Philip Yancey relates a touching story from his own life. One time on a visit to his mother--who had been widowed years earlier, in the month of Philip's first birthday--they spent the afternoon together looking through a box of old photos. A certain picture of him as an eight-month-old baby caught his eye. Tattered and bent, it looked too banged up to be worth keeping, so he asked her why, with so many other better pictures of him at the same age, she had kept ...

3598. Not Now, Honey

Ephesians 6:1-4

Illustration

I am going to read a quote to you first and then tell you who said it. Here's the quote: A small child waits with impatience the arrival home of a parent. She wishes to relate some sandbox experience. She is excited to share the thrill that she has known that day. The time comes; the parent arrives. Beaten down by the stresses of the workplace the parent often replies: .Not know, honey, I'm busy, go watch television.. The most often spoken words in the American household today are the words: go watch ...

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.

Mark Twain

3600. Don't Eat the Forbidden Fruit

Genesis 3:1-24

Illustration

Morgan Murray

Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence didn't extend to God's kids. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was: "Don't." "Don't what?" Adam replied "Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said. "Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey Eve! We got forbidden fruit!" "No way!" "Yes way!" "DON'T EAT THAT FRUIT!" Said God. "Why?" "Because I am your Father and I said so!" said God, wondering why he ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 3576 to 3600 of 5000 results

3576. What Does Faith Mean for You?

Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

Mark Trotter

3577. Looking for Security

Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

Charles Schultz

3578. The Shifting Sands of Tower of Pisa

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

3579. Every House Is Tested

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

3580. Tossing Sticks in the Air

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

King Duncan

3581. Building According to Code

Matthew 7:24-29

Illustration

Our Daily Bread

3582. Struggling with Doubt, Standing on Faith

Matt 7:15-23; 28:16-20

Illustration

Donald M. Tuttle

3583. Three Eggs, Not Bad!

Matthew 7:21-29

Illustration

3584. The Healing Power of Touch - Sermon Starter

Mark 5:21-43; Matt 9:1-8

Illustration

Brett Blair

3585. Leave It All Behind

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

3586. Matthew’s Loss and Gain

Matthew 9:9-13

Illustration

Brett Blair

3587. Paying Taxes

Matthew 9:9-13

Illustration

King Duncan

3588. Tax Collectors of the Roman World

Matthew 9:9-13

Illustration

Brett Blair

3589. Our Deepest Fear

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Marianne Williamson

3590. The Special Olympic Race

Matt 9:18-34

Illustration

Brett Blair

3591. Not Even a Hot Bath

Illustration

King Duncan

3592. Enough for Action?

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

3593. A Call to Action

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

3594. The Love of a Father - Sermon Starter

Mt10:29-31

Illustration

King Duncan

3595. Priceless Scribbles

Eph 6:1-4

Illustration

King Duncan

3596. This Is Not a Race

Prov. 4:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:7

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

3597. Someone Who Loves You

Eph 6:1-4

Illustration

King Duncan

3598. Not Now, Honey

Ephesians 6:1-4

Illustration

Mark Twain

3600. Don't Eat the Forbidden Fruit

Genesis 3:1-24

Illustration

Morgan Murray

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