Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3776 to 3800 of 4999 results

John 2:1-11

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... at the parties you attend? (Let them answer.) You like the games and the fun that you have with your friends, but most of all, you like the special foods there are to eat. What kind of special foods do they have at the parties you go to? (Let them answer.) Ice cream! Cake! And pop! Those are my special kinds of party food also. I especially love ice cream at my parties. Well, now, remember that we are pretending that you are at this very special party and everyone there is having a wonderful time. People ...

3777. Knowing Each Other

Luke 13:31-35

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... who he was. How many of you would welcome him into your homes? (Let them answer.) You know that Jesus never wore a name tag either, but all of us know who he is. Jesus looked very much like all the other people. He wore the same kind of clothes, he ate the same kind of food, and yet many people knew him, and welcomed him into their homes. How many of you would welcome Jesus into your home? (Let them answer.) The people had heard about Jesus, and they wanted to meet and welcome this man who had performed all ...

3778. A Parade for Jesus

Luke 19:28-44

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... of parades do you like? (Let them answer.) Very good. There are parades for holidays, like Thanksgiving and Memorial Day, and there are parades for football games, and parades for famous people -- all kinds of parades. A parade is a time to be excited. Everybody is in a good mood, and they are waving flags and pennants. (Wave your flag. Let some of the children wave it.) On this special day, Palm Sunday, we are celebrating a very special parade. Who can tell me ...

3779. Prove It!

John 10:22-42

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... that I am a pastor? (Let them make suggestions.) Good. I could invite him to our church to see me, or I could show him my robe, or better yet, if he wanted proof, I could show him my ordination certificate. It looks like a diploma. The church gives this kind of a diploma to all of its pastors. This diploma is proof that I went to school to become a pastor. When you graduate from high school and college, you will receive a diploma. That will be proof that you went to school. I think I will show him this ...

3780. Do Not Worry

Luke 10:38-42

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... these two sisters one day and they were really excited to see him. Mary was so happy she just sat at Jesus' feet and listened to him -- kind of like you are doing right now. Martha was so happy to see Jesus that she decided to go and clean things up and get the ... not to worry so much about her work but to come and talk to him because that was the better thing to do. That's kind of like having some of you children cleaning the church while this service is going on. You would be getting the place all nice but ...

3781. What's Not to Love (A Drama about Humility)

Matthew 23:1-39

Drama

Dave Marsh

... in public rather than be rewarded by their Father in heaven in secret. For many Christians it's easy to do something good but hard to not want to be recognized for it. We need to realize that God delights in our faithfulness to Him and our kindness to others. If others notice the work, then praise God. If they don't then praise God for He notices and that's what really matters.... Cast: Brett Thurston: A soap opera actor Jessie Nolan: A soap opera actress Announcer Stagehands (2) Props: A powerpoint show (I ...

3782. G.O.D. (A Drama about Tough Choices)

Drama

Dave Marsh

... pencil is right out. After marking the appropriate circle, proceed to the next question. If you get stuck on one question, simply move on and return to it later. If you do not finish the test, you fail. You have 3 minutes." Dave: (looks up) I fail? 3 minutes? What kind of a test is this anyway? Well, I guess it’s only 5 questions so I should have plenty of time. (pulls out a pencil and starts the test.) Dave: Question #1: A train is leaving Pittsburg at 9:30am and will arrive in Chicago at 3:37pm and it ...

3783. The Diary of Horace Wimp (A Drama about Past Failures)

Drama

Dave Marsh

... McIntire Park. Horace: Yeah, I thought it would be good easier to find each other this way. Wendy: I think your right. (pauses) So, it’s kind of wild isn’t it. I’ve never done anything like this before. I mean, if you asked me a year ago if I’d try ... an internet dating service, I would have told you that you’re crazy. Horace: Yeah, I know what you mean but it’s kind of cool. You know, being the 90’s and all. Wendy: Yeah, it is. You’re right. Well, what do you want to do? Horace: You ...

3784. The Healing Power of the Cross

Luke 23:26-43, Mark 15:33-41, Luke 23:44-49

Sermon

James W. Moore

... Things will get worse!” Then another person came along. He saw the man’s dilemma… and his heart went out to him. He reached down with both hands and with strength and grace, pulled the man up and out of the pit. The rescued man thanked the kind stranger and then ran into town to tell everyone what had happened, how he had been saved. “How did you get out?” they asked. “A man reached down and pulled me out,” he said. “Who was the man?” they asked. “It was Jesus,” he replied. “How do ...

3785. The True Story of The Magi

Matthew 2:1-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

... 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 many wise men were there? In the old days in the east, they believed that there were 12 men who made the journey, but now most everyone ...

3786. Experience the Mountaintop But Don't Forget the Valley Below

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

Brett Blair

... ?" The young man said, "Sure." It turned out that he was mowing yards and trying to earn enough money to buy a bicycle. This preacher was kind of young and didn't mind mowing the yard so he told the young man, "Look, I've got a 10 speed bicycle that I never ... dozen times and this lawn mower just won't start." The young man said, "Preacher, I hate to tell you this but it's a special kind of lawnmower. You have to cuss it to get it to start." The preacher looked at him and said, "Well, I've been in the ministry ...

3787. Hypocrites

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

Brett Blair

... , tear-stained appeals for understanding and forgiveness, did not ring true in our ears. In short, he committed the unpardonable sin, the sin against the human spirit, the sin of trying to pull an emotional fast one -- the sin of hypocrisy. When we see this kind of hypocrisy we say, "Father, do not forgive him, for he knows full well what he's doing." The specific problem with religious hypocrites is that they are not only "holier-than-thou"; they are also "holier-than-themselves." They are really just as ...

3788. A Happy Ending

Luke 24:50-53

Sermon

Brett Blair

... smile. There is security in that but not growth. What was needed to launch them out into the world was not a kind of unhealthy dependence upon him, but a deep abiding faith. As our Lord told Thomas “You have believed because you have seen. Blessed ... man would be lowered from a box—that’s the machine part of it. After saying his lines he would be pulled back up by the machine. Kind of a God in a Box idea. Unfortunately we too often see God in that role. When we want help we want him very quickly. Lower ...

3789. It Doesn't Have To Be This Way

Luke 8:26-39

Sermon

James W. Moore

... As Pogo put it: “We have met the enemy and he is us!!” One day a young father was shopping in a crowded super-market. His three-year old son was with him. The little boy was riding in the grocery cart... and he was misbehaving terribly and causing all kinds of problems. Every time the father would put something into the cart, the little boy would grab it and throw it back out. If the cart went close to the shelves, the three-year old boy would just rake stuff off onto the floor. At one point, the little ...

3790. What Can We Count On From God?

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

James W. Moore

... help you if you ask, then how much more can God who loves you intensely help you when you ask. I use this kind of “how much more analogy” all the time. For example, imagine that a woman comes to me and tells me of something bad ... with your life. And if I feel that way with all of my sins and frailties, weakness, and foibles and inadequacies… if I’m capable of that kind of love, how much more is God who is the Lord of Life, the Lord of Love forgiving?” That’s what we have here… a “How Much ...

3791. Who You Gonna' Vote For?

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Brett Blair

... a situation. So Zacchaeus comes to Jesus because he had heard the stories of how the Master had received adulterers, publicans, the crippled and the blind the outcast of society people just like him. He came because of the drawing power of grace. Its the same kind of grace that caused John Newton, a converted ex-slave trader, to write those immortal words: Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! Zacchaeus, being of short stature, could not see for the press of the crowd. So he climbed ...

3792. All I Want for Christmas is a Savior

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

James W. Moore

... still sing Joy to the World and be thrilled by the Hallelujah Chorus.” He concluded his devotional by saying “The nights are still lonely and some days are longer than others, but God is with me and I have been able to find joy!” Do you know that kind of joy? Do you? It’s the joy that comes from knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior... and knowing that come what may, Christ will be with us and He will deliver us because He has the power to save us from disillusionment, from defeat, and even from ...

3793. All I Want for Christmas is Peace

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

James W. Moore

... of it. As he ran down the hall, he tripped and fell. The tray crashed to the floor and broke into several pieces. The little boy was devastated. He began to cry loudly and uncontrollably. He was absolutely heartbroken. People tried to comfort him with all kinds of counsel: It was just a tray. Not worth much. No big loss. Besides, you can make another one. It’s nothing, forget it. You can give your mother something else. Don’t worry about it.” But nothing helped. The child was inconsolable. Finally his ...

3794. Jesus and Andrew

John 1:35-42

Sermon

James W. Moore

... trickery and plotting. The boys thought it was great fun to take away the man’s dog. Some years later, the minister realized that in that one deceitful act, he had taught his sons how to steal and turned them away from the Christ-like spirit of love and kindness and goodness and respect for others. And he said, regretfully: “it was a terrible mistake on my part. I was able to keep the dog, but I lost my sons.” Oh, by the way, the names of those two little boys were Frank and Jesse James! They grew up ...

3795. Sometimes You've Got to Shout!

John 12:12-19

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... about fifteen seconds." By this time, I was really awake. I was hoping that she was right...that today WOULD be the day. This child was already five days overdue and both of us were getting anxious about it. Three-and-a-half years before, our David had been kind enough to make his appearance six days early, so we had hoped that this one would be equally prompt. HA! We were not particularly concerned about it; we just wanted to have done with it! If today WERE the day, both of us would be relieved. "Are you ...

3796. When The Risen Christ Comes Looking For Us

John 21:15-25

Sermon

James W. Moore

... though she doesn’t know who you are?” The man smiled, patted the nurse’s hand and said, “She doesn’t know who I am, but I know who she is.” There’s a word for that. It’s called love… unwavering, unshakeable, unconditional love. And that’s the kind of love Jesus Christ had for Simon Peter. He knew who Simon was… and He knew how Simon must be feeling. He knew that Peter the Rock had crumbled and now He felt like dirt! So here came the Risen Lord to give Simon Peter the encouragement, the ...

3797. Under the Rainbow

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... and hatred - "nigger" this and "nigger" that. But they had something we need to recover right now. I can't turn loose this story of Noah and the Flood because after all of the devastation...there's a rainbow...I'm not going to live without that kind of hope..." The Peanuts characters Linus and Lucy are standing at the window watching the rain. Lucy says, "If it doesn't stop raining everything will be washed away." "Oh no!" says Linus. "Genesis chapter 9 says that never again will God wash everything away ...

3798. Struggling with God

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... out first, but his brother is holding on to his heel, and, as the legend has it, that is why he was given the name Jacob - it meant "heel" or "trickster" or "supplanter." And since names then and now carry baggage, we have a huge clue as to the kind of person this baby is going to become. Yes, the lad grew up to be a "heel." You remember those stories from your Sunday School lessons. He cheated his brother out of his inheritance. He duped his father Isaac on his deathbed. Esau was ready to kill him, but ...

3799. Pay Back Time

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... be free to take his revenge. So they tell Joseph, "Oh, by the way, before Dad died he told us to tell you to treat us kindly." Uh huh. Listen to Joseph's gracious response: "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but ... done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.(2) The world could use a few more Josephs, couldn't it? It is pretty mean out there, and people can be incredible. ...

3800. God Cares About Justice!

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... listened to. This God is on their side and is helping them find the good life.(3) These are not LAWS - they have no penalties attached for breaking them. In the Hebrew Bible, they are known simply as the TEN WORDS - God's words for the establishment of the kind of society in which we would all like to live. That misunderstanding continues when folks try to divide the ten into two tables: the first group (1-4) for dealing with God; the second (5-10) for dealing with one another. The truth is that ALL of them ...

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