Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3751 to 3775 of 5000 results

3751. 100 Points!

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter say's, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in." Okay, " the man says, "I was married to the same women for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart." That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three ...

3752. Rewards

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Brett Blair

After serving as a missionary for forty years in Africa, Henry C. Morrison became sick and had to return to America. As the great ocean liner docked in New York Harbor there was a great crowd gathered to welcome home another passenger on that boat. Morrison watched as President Teddy Roosevelt received a grand welcome home party after his African Safari. Resentment seized Henry Morrsion and he turned to God in anger, "I have come back home after all this time and service to the church and there is no one, ...

3753. Envious Eagles

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Brett Blair

Aesop had a fable about two eagles, one envious of the other because the other could soar higher and more elegantly than he could. So the envious eagle would pluck his strongest feathers from his own body and shoot them as arrows, trying to wound or kill the other eagle. It was his own undoing, however. He could not hit the high flying eagle, and he was eventually grounded by his lack of feathers. Envy destroyed the eagle.

3754. How Many People Work Here?

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

A reporter once asked Pope John XXIII, "How many people work here in the Vatican?" to which the dear, old Pope answered, "Oh, about half, I guess."

3755. Only God Can Judge

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

King Duncan

Ellsworth Kalas tells about a sunswept October afternoon in 1932 when he came bounding home from school, eager to tear off school clothes and put on playground stuff. But to his great surprise, he discovered that his father was home. It was unthinkable that his father would be home at three-thirty in the afternoon. "Why are you home, Dad?" young Ellsworth asked. He remembers his father being generally slow to speak, but especially so at this moment. His mother quickly replied, "Daddy's lost his job." Until ...

3756. Losing Authority

Mt 21:23-32

Illustration

King Duncan

There is a wonderful story about a group of military leaders who succeeded in building a super computer that was able to solve any problem large or small, strategic or tactical. These military leaders assembled in front of the new machine for a demonstration. The engineer conducting the demonstration instructed these officers to feed a difficult tactical problem into it. The military leaders proceeded to describe a hypothetical situation to the computer and then asked the pivotal question: attack or ...

3757. Availability

Matthew 21:28-32

Illustration

King Duncan

A man applied for a job as a handyman. The prospective employer asked, "Can you do carpentry?" The man answered in the negative. "How about brick laying?" Again the man answered, "No." The employer asked, "Well, what about electrical work?" The man said "No, I don't know anything about that either." Finally the employer said, "Well, tell me then what is handy about you." The man replied, "I live just around the corner." Sometimes the greatest ability we can have is availability. To be where God can call us ...

3758. Which Coaching Is Better?

Matthew 21:23-32

Illustration

King Duncan

Bonnie St. John Deane in her book, Succeeding Sane, tells about the movie, Hoop Dreams, a true story. For four years a documentary film team takes cameras and follows the lives of two talented young basketball players from one of the poorest neighborhoods in Chicago. The young man with more natural talent gets a high school scholarship, a posh summer job, and a coach from hell. However, the constant badgering, pressure, and demeaning style of the coach slowly destroys any fun the kid ever felt in the game ...

3759. Keeping Promises

Matthew 21:23-32

Illustration

I read a story some time back, I don't have a clue whether it was fiction, or true, but it really typifies the current American attitude, and even to some degree, the current Christian attitude about promises that we make. There was a fairly rich young man who had been taken to the hospital, critically ill. His condition worsened, and he was confined there for quite a few weeks. His doctor even had told him that he wasn't sure if he'd recover, but that they would continue to do all they could. The man was ...

3760. So Much Comes from Our Choices

Matthew 21:28-32

Illustration

Mike Baker

I want to share with you a very real example of the impact that our daily choices makes on our future. This is a story of two close friends who were teammates on a football team. Friends who shared a view of a promising future in professional sports and also who looked forward to continued success during their collegiate career. These two friends made separate choices last November. One chose to stay at home while the other decided to go hunting with two other friends. The hunting wasn't all that was on ...

3761. Rebellion in the Vineyard - Sermon Starter

Mt 21:33-46

Illustration

King Duncan

A friend of journalist David Halberstam was planning a visit to Japan. It would be his first visit, and he was a little anxious because he couldn't speak Japanese. How would he communicate with the people he came in contact with? Since most taxi drivers do not speak English, someone suggested that it might be a good idea to carry with him something bearing the name of the hotel at which he would be staying written in Japanese. That was exactly what he did. As soon as he arrived in Japan he picked up a box ...

3762. Giving It All

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

Brett Blair

Once upon a time at a church meeting a wealthy member of the church rose to tell the rest of those present about his Christian faith. "I'm a millionaire," he said, "and I attribute my wealth to the blessings of God in my life." He went on to recall the turning point in his relationship with God. As a young man, he had just earned his first dollar and he went to a church meeting that night. The speaker at that meeting was a missionary who told about his work in the mission field. Before the offering plate ...

3763. The Rejected Stone

Mt 21:33-46; Acts 4:11; Ps. 118:22; I Pet. 2:7

Illustration

King Duncan

Jesus quoted the words of the Psalmist: "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner..." (Ps. 118:22) Later Simon Peter would quote these words to the rulers and the elders in testimony concerning the good news of Christ. (Acts 4:11) Later he would cite those words again in his epistles. (I Pet. 2:7) There was a legend that was well known in New Testament times that in the building of the temple of Solomon most of the stones were of the same size and shape. One stone ...

3764. The Pain of Rejection

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

King Duncan

There is no pain more familiar to many of us than the pain of rejection. We remember those terrible younger years when we were searching for our identity, and acceptance by our peers was so important. Whether it was being the last one chosen for the ball team or standing on the sideline watching another being crowned homecoming queen, most of us know how it feels to be on the outside looking in. There were those terrible dating years and those tangled feelings of hope and hurt. A lady wrote to Reader's ...

3765. The Right Excuse

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

Finding the right excuse is not always an easy thing to do. Trying to explain why we are not able to attend a certain party or a way to absent ourselves from an obligation takes forethought and clear thinking. Clear thinking is something that a number of parents in Albuquerque, New Mexico lacked when they wrote excuse notes for their kids. "Dear School: Please excuse John from being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33." "Please excuse Brian for being. It was his father's fault." "Please excuse ...

3766. Hand Me My Green Dress

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

Television journalist Hugh Downs and his wife once attended a function in Washington. When the time came to return to New York, they discovered that their flight had been cancelled due to bad weather. Downs immediately called the front desk and was informed that they could catch a five o'clock train, which was leaving in 45 minutes. Mrs. Downs was showering, and to save time, Hugh hurriedly packed all their belongings, called the bell captain and asked that the bags be rushed right over to the station and ...

3767. We Didn't Even Have a Horse

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

Huey Long was a very colorful Louisiana politician who had hopes of running for the presidency in 1936. He began as an unschooled farm boy and ended up in the governor's mansion, one of the most popular politicians in the history of the state. Long was born in the central part of Louisiana, and when he first campaigned for governor, he was given some advice about the voters in the New Orleans area. "South Louisiana is different from the northern part of the state," he was told. "We have a lot of Catholic ...

3768. The Deadline Will Not Be Extended

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

King Duncan

It's like a tough, old cowhand who sauntered into a saloon and began drinking whiskey by the bottle. The more he drank, the more unruly he became, shooting holes in the ceiling and floor. Everybody was afraid to take on the old cowhand. Finally, the town's little, mild-mannered storekeeper walked up to the unruly cowhand and said, "I'll give you five minutes to get out of town." The old cowhand holstered his gun, pushed the whiskey bottle away, briskly walked out, got on his horse, and rode out of town. ...

3769. Clothed with Jesus

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

An amusing story appeared in the magazine, Today's Christian Woman. A woman took her four-year-old granddaughter, Amanda, to the doctor's office with a fever. The doctor looked in her ears and said, "Who's in there? Donald Duck?" She said, "No." He looked in her nose and said, "Who's in there? Mickey Mouse?" Again she said, "No." He put his stethoscope on her heart and said, "Who's in there? Barney?" Amanda replied, "No, Jesus is in my heart. Barney is on my underwear." I don't guess it matters who's on ...

3770. Excuses, Excuses

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

The Toronto Star invited teachers to submit excuses they had received from their students. They received these examples: A student explaining why he was late: "I was kidnapped by aliens and interrogated for three hours." Another student, telling why he had failed to turn in his essay: "The bus driver read it and liked it so much he kept it to show to his passengers." Another: "I got mugged on the way to school. I offered him my money, my watch, and my pen knife, but all he wanted was my essay." Mike, a 14- ...

3771. Too Busy To Build Fires

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

There is a good story from years ago about a top executive with a telegraph company who went on a trip. It was extremely cold outside when he arrived at the bus station, so he went into a local telegraph station hoping to get warmed up. When he got inside, however, it was cold. He noticed there was no fire in the fireplace. He said to the young telegraph operator, "Why don't you build a fire in this place and warm it up?" The young man said, "Listen mister, I'm too busy sending telegrams to build fires." ...

3772. Dressed in our Sunday Best

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Brett Blair

Perhaps you have heard of the family that moved into the neighborhood and the little country church decided to reach out to the family. When they arrived at the doorstep the members of the church were surprised to find that the family had 12 kids and were for the most part poor. They invited the family to services and said goodbye. Later that week the church responded to their need. They delivered a package to the family and said, "We want you to know that you and your entire family are welcome at our ...

3773. A Costly Gift

Illustration

King Duncan

A small boy was consistently late coming home from school. His parents warned him one day that he must be home on time that afternoon, but nevertheless, he arrived later than ever. His mother met him at the door and said nothing. His father met him in the living room and said nothing. At dinner that night, the boy looked at his plate. There was a slice of bread and a glass of water. He looked at his father's full plate and then at his father, but his father remained silent. The boy was crushed. The father ...

3774. Throwing away Treasure

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

A legend tells the story of a fisherman called Aaron. Aaron lived on the banks of a river. Walking home with his eyes half-closed one evening after a hard day's work, he was dreaming of what he could do if he were rich. As he walked his foot struck against a leather pouch filled with what seemed to him to be small stones. Absent mindedly he picked up the pouch and began throwing the pebbles into the water. "When I am a rich man," he said to himself, "I'll have a large house". And he threw another pebble ...

3775. Don’t Turn Down a Sure Chance

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

One of the most popular places in Memphis is Tom Lee Park, a beautiful open space alongside the mighty Mississippi. If you have lingered there long enough to read the plaque, you know that the park was named for an African-American man named Tom Lee. One day in 1925, a steamer with lots of passengers aboard sank in the river, just below Memphis. Tom Lee saw the tragedy. He jumped into his small boat and with great courage and determination headed toward those drowning people. He rescued 32 people of them. ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 3751 to 3775 of 5000 results

3751. 100 Points!

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

3752. Rewards

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Brett Blair

3753. Envious Eagles

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Brett Blair

3754. How Many People Work Here?

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

A reporter once asked Pope John XXIII, "How many people work here in the Vatican?" to which the dear, old Pope answered, "Oh, about half, I guess."

3755. Only God Can Judge

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

King Duncan

3756. Losing Authority

Mt 21:23-32

Illustration

King Duncan

3757. Availability

Matthew 21:28-32

Illustration

King Duncan

3758. Which Coaching Is Better?

Matthew 21:23-32

Illustration

King Duncan

3759. Keeping Promises

Matthew 21:23-32

Illustration

3760. So Much Comes from Our Choices

Matthew 21:28-32

Illustration

Mike Baker

3761. Rebellion in the Vineyard - Sermon Starter

Mt 21:33-46

Illustration

King Duncan

3762. Giving It All

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

Brett Blair

3763. The Rejected Stone

Mt 21:33-46; Acts 4:11; Ps. 118:22; I Pet. 2:7

Illustration

King Duncan

3764. The Pain of Rejection

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

King Duncan

3765. The Right Excuse

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

3766. Hand Me My Green Dress

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

3767. We Didn't Even Have a Horse

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

3768. The Deadline Will Not Be Extended

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

King Duncan

3769. Clothed with Jesus

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

3770. Excuses, Excuses

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

3771. Too Busy To Build Fires

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

King Duncan

3772. Dressed in our Sunday Best

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Brett Blair

3773. A Costly Gift

Illustration

King Duncan

3774. Throwing away Treasure

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

3775. Don’t Turn Down a Sure Chance

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

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