Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3801 to 3825 of 4963 results

3801. The Triumph of the Cross

Galatians 6:11-18, Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... you recognize any of them. Piccadilly Circus?" "No." "Westminster?" "No." "Charing Cross?" "Ah," said the little girl in her tears, "Yes, yes. Take me down to the cross and I can find my way home from there!" (3) How true for all humanity, for all mankind, for our hopes and our hearts, and our lives! Take me to the cross and I can find my way home from there. In Stroudsburg, PA, there is a tomb to an unknown Union soldier who died fighting in the Civil War. When President Abraham Lincoln heard of it, he had ...

3802. An Eye-Opening Experience

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... not looking for God; far from it, we are in high rebellion against him. And God knows that and has taken that into account. He has followed us into our own darkness; there where we thought finally to escape him, we ran straight into his arms." (2) Our hope in the Christian faith is not in our determination to find God but in God’s determination to find us. There is a story about a young boy who had to travel cross country by train from Los Angeles to Philadelphia to see his grandparents once a year. He ...

3803. Looks Like We're in for Stormy Weather

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... a listener?" Or, does the whole thing explode into a fury of wind? How do you react to the dark side of life? Is hoping, trusting, crying, moaning, praying your reaction? It is hard, isn't it, in the midst of a high pressure world, to be calm, always ... I just can''t go on like this." And the boat is swamped with indignation. It seems like everything you worked for is destroyed. We give up hope at that point and take our eyes off Jesus! If we are honest, we've all been in storms like that. They come at us from ...

3804. Joy: The Echo of God's Presence In Us! (Part I - Introduction)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... going to tell us again about the girl in the movie and play, SOUTH PACIFIC, who sang `I''m stuck like a dope with a thing called hope and I cannot get it out of my heart''?" Is Paul going to tell us that the Christian life is an escape from suffering, sickness, and ... to surrender to despair, and that is what I want to examine as we study our way through this splendid book of Joy. I hope by now you can see why the Apostle Paul has something to say to your life. Paul''s message is credible. It is authentic. ...

3805. The Power of Remembrance (Part III)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... it is Christ, not Caesar, who is our God and King. On October 26, 1992, I went with two dear friends to hear the distinguished Jewish writer Elie Wiesel speak at Lafayette College. So much of his life''s work has been poured out in the hopes that modern civilization must never forget the painful lessons that the Holocaust has taught us. His lecture was entitled, "What the Ancient Masters Can Teach Us." He started in the Book of Genesis and went all the way to the biblical character Job. He was outstanding ...

3806. Christianity and Conflict: Dual Citizenship (Part VII)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... shares in this portion of the Philippian letter, from making her life a worthy witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anne was not only willing to believe in Christ, but also willing to suffer for Him. This was positive proof that her "salvation" was from God. I hope you can see and feel from all the illustrative materials I have shared with you today that being a Christian is not easy. It will bring conflict into your life. However, the Good News is that in doing so, you so transfer your citizenship from this ...

3807. Emptying and Exalting (Part XI)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... God, was fully God and fully man. It is easy to get so caught up in crude dogma that we fail to see the great hope for our Christian lives and sacred journey that is found in knowing we love and serve a God who entered into time and space and ... the story of a certain father who was riding in the country on a Sunday afternoon with his wife and children. The father saw a cat. He hoped the children wouldn't see it. As he drove by, he speeded up and the children said, "Daddy, a cat!" It really wasn't a cat. It ...

3808. A New You in a New Year (Part X)

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... being. So much has happened to me during the year now so rapidly slipping away, So much of hurt and happiness, of loss and gain, of hope and fear. I did not expect the sorrow that was thrust upon me. I was surprised by the turn of events that changed my life. ... my failure behind me. If I have done well, help me to be glad but not complacent. There are other hills to climb and new hopes to be realized. I know, O God, you understand my need to look back for a while, wistfully peering at the past. But start me ...

3809. A Faith that Works with a Victorious Attitude

Philippians 2:12-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... we fear Him because the Bible tells us that `perfect love casts out fear.''" Dr. Boyd is absolutely right, because what joy can we have if we fear the very one who gives us our foundation for joy? Remember, the joy of the Lord is our strength. I hope these insights will help you to understand the thrust of what Paul is sharing in our text today. Let us continue. FIRST, LET OUR GROWTH BE A DESIRE TO REFLECT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND NOT A LEGALISTIC REQUIREMENT TO MEASURE UP TO OR COMPETE WITH SOMEONE ELSE ...

3810. Titles, Credentials, or Resurrection Power

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ which is to be reflected in our religious celebration of life. When Paul shares that he counts everything as garbage or rubbish in life except for Jesus Christ, it is because he has come to realize that our ultimate hope for life, love and liberty must rest solely in God''s power revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and not in our man-made credentials, despite how good they look on paper--because paper is still paper. The act of circumcision which Paul refers ...

3811. Saintly Citizenship - Earthly Responsibilities

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... labor for Him. The really Good News I want to share in closing today is not to be found in the fact we can''t stand firm in the Lord. The real miracle is that our Father in Heaven, despite our foolishness, stands firmly with us. I hope most of you have not already forgotten a powerful scene and witness that was observed by millions on television during the Olympic Games. Derrick Redman was competing for his country, Great Britain, in the 400 meter sprint, which is a demanding race. Derrick was in the race ...

3812. Secrets Shared for the Journey of Life

Philippians 4:10-20

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... that way. We can be confident! The attitude of confidence is a by-product of Christian faith. Someone once asked the great Christian, Phillips Brooks, why he was so confident and optimistic about life? He replied, "Because I am a Christian." As Christians, we can be confident, hopeful, and joyful, because God is with us and nothing can separate us from Him. You and I can be confident if we choose to be, and if Christ is really in us, we will be! Yes, faith gives us stability to stand firm regardless of the ...

3813. Goodness and Mercy

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... of another generation paraphrased this verse of the 23rd Psalm: "The Lord is my shepherd, and in addition, He has two very fine collie sheepdogs named Goodness and Mercy. With the shepherd before, and Goodness and Mercy behind, even sinners like you and me can hope to win home at last." It is not altogether unbelievable, because goodness and mercy are the two primary attributes of God which, the Psalmist says, follow us in every experience of life until the end of our days. How great it is that the collie ...

3814. Depression: When the Spirit Is Faint

Psalm 142:1-7

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... my persecutors; for they are too strong for me!" The Psalmist takes his problem to the only One who can really be of help and comfort to him. The Psalmist further declares in verse 7, that he knew "God would deal bountifully with me." That is our hope and that is God''s promise to His people. I conclude with the words of the first stanza of our closing hymn: Come, ye disconsolate, what-e''er ye languish, Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel. Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth ...

3815. Feasting and Fasting for Lent (Part V)

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , you will understand the high quality and high grade of this putty. I have also attached a series of studies on the art of putting glass into windows, and the kind of training it takes to be a window-installer...." And the story goes on and on. (2) I hope you can see that Dr. Barnhouse is highlighting the fact that the man never said a word about the wonder and beauty of the ocean. So often in our approach to the Bible we get so hung up on details that we never allow ourselves to experience the love and ...

3816. Maundy Thursday: Two Memorials

Luke 22:7-38

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... meaning of life passed over him and never found a home in his heart and mind. On this Maundy Thursday evening, I share this story in hopes that it might provide a window for all of us to look into our hearts to see what kind of memorial or legacy will we leave ... we honor tonight is continuing on with great power and purpose. Just ask Bishop Story, Pastor Ike, and the prison guard. There is hope for our world--as long as we can share together in this meal. In Edwin O''Connor''s novel, THE EDGE OF SUCCESS, ...

3817. What a Difference a Day Makes

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... hymn writer, expressed this truth when he wrote: He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free, His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me." The famous preacher, Charles H. Spurgeon, once shared these marvelous words which provide great hope for us today: "There may be some sins of which a man cannot speak, but there is no sin which the blood of Christ cannot wash away." Easter declares to us that forgiveness is not an idea but a reality that can be shared with those ...

3818. Thanks for the Memories

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... for the memories." How many times did we hear during the Persian Gulf Crisis and Operation Desert Storm that "our resounding victory helped to erase the painful memories of the Vietnam War and era." Isaac Watts, in his hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past, Our Hope for Years to Come", expresses this dynamic reaching back to the past to celebrate God''s activity so as to enable us to claim God''s presence now and for the future. I would like to share three perspectives on the importance of memory as we claim ...

3819. Dealing with the Hard Moments of the Journey

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , "Carry On!" A part of it goes like this: It's easy to fight when everything''s right, And you''re mad with the thrill and the glory . . . It's a different song when everything''s wrong, When you''re feeling infernally mortal; when it''s ten against one, and hope there is none, Buck up, little soldier, and chortle: CARRY ON! CARRY ON! And so in the strife of the battle of life, It's easy to fight when you''re winning; It's easy to slave, and starve, and be brave, When the dawn of success is beginning. But ...

3820. Mother's Day

Proverbs 1:1-7

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... loved and valued. She was trying to live out her life and dream through the child --rather than the plan and dream that God had for her. Yes, home is where the heart is--but the home can also be a place of bondage--rather than a place of hope and joy. Emily Dickinson once wrote that, "the home at its best--is a definition of God." That is why the goal for motherhood--whether they are home-makers or businesswomen-- is that of godliness. God wants to mold and shape women in his image--releasing his fragrance ...

3821. The Noteworthy Witness of a Widow

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... all loved the chicken leg and to prevent fights about who got the legs each time they ate chicken, he was forced to do this. He then asked the farmer, "How good do they taste?" The farmer replied, "I don't know. I haven't caught one yet." Well, I hope you know a church budget is much like a three-legged chicken. They look great on the drawing board, but oh, they are so hard to catch. So I need all your help to catch that chicken. Our church is not located on [insert your church street name here] and ...

3822. What Do You Do When the Lights Go Out?

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Mike Jackson

... for darkness – and that is light. Light always drives away the darkness. Light always overcomes. It was light that broke the darkness of creation, when the voice of God uttered the words, “Let there be light,” and there was light. It is the promise of light that gives hope to Isaiah’s message of gloom and doom. We may be facing the darkest hour now, but daybreak is coming. Hear the good news of Isaiah 9:2 and 6 - The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of ...

3823. Promises, Promises, Promises

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

... children (and that means we were taught that way, too) that Santa Claus will bring them the presents that they want ... perhaps not all, but at least one or two of the big ones. I am sure that we have all had the experience of what happens when some really "hoped for" present didn't appear under the Christmas tree -- even when the other presents were nice ones. Let me bring this all back to the story of God's promise to Mary that she was to be the mother of the savior. Folks, there was no "halo" on this ...

3824. Your Sins Are Forgiven

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

... unimportant. It was a matter of which came first. What good was it to heal this man's legs if he did not know where he should walk or why he should walk there? Imagine that you were one of those who brought that man to Jesus. Picture the hope that you came with for the healing you wanted for your friend. Then imagine your reaction when the first words Jesus spoke were, "Your sins are forgiven." What would you have felt? I am intrigued by Jesus' comment to the scribes who objected to his actions. Which is ...

3825. Cross Connections

John 18:1-11

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... need." Amazingly, the throne of grace is the cross. Charles Allen Dinsmore had it right: "There was a cross in the heart of God before there was one planted on the green hill outside Jerusalem."7 Cruciform disciples, likewise, continue to be the best hope for the world God continues to love. 1. P. T. Forsyth, The Person and Place of Jesus Christ (London: Independent Press, LTD, 1951), p. 74. 2. Leslie D. Weatherhead, The Christian Agnostic (New York: Abingdon Press, 1965), p. 113. 3. John Macquarrie, Jesus ...

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