Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3851 to 3875 of 5000 results

3851. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Mt 25:31-46; Lk 23:26-43

Illustration

Brett Blair

A great Christian writer that most of you know wrote a brilliant children's fantasy called "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." C.S. Lewis tells the story of a great Lion whose roar shakes the very foundations of the forest. At the beginning of the book four children are playing in their uncle's wardrobe when they discover it's a doorway to Narnia. As they enter Narnia they learn it is under the spell of a wicked witch. It is a depressing land. Lucy, the youngest of the four, says that in Narnia under ...

3852. Tomorrow Will Be Anxious for Itself

Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

Eric Ritz

An ancient Chinese parable tells of Old Tan Chang who had a small farm overshadowed by a towering mountain. One day he got the notion to get rid of the mountain. With the help of his wife and sons, he began to hack at the rock around its base. A neighbor walked by and scoffed, "You will never finish the job, old man! There are not enough days in the year for you to do this." But Tan replied confidently, "I am not as foolish as you think, my friend. I may be old and feeble, but after I am gone, my sons will ...

3853. Better Not Bitter

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration

If we are not thankful then we can become bitter. If we are not thankful, then it becomes too easy to sit around and ponder the question: why me? Dr. Jim Moore, pastor of St. Luke's UMC in Houston wrote a book entitled "You Can Grow Bitter or You Can Grow Better". He writes that he got the idea for the title from a young woman who once came to him in a most tragic moment in her life. She had tears in her eyes and her knuckles were white as she twisted a handkerchief. She had just received word that her ...

3854. The Source of Thanksgiving

Lk 17:11-19; Mt 6:25-33

Illustration

Brett Blair

Remember that wonderful Children's holiday classic "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas." You'll recall in the story how the Grinch enters all the homes by way of their chimneys disguised as Santa Clause. He takes all the presents and ornaments, the trees and stockings, and even their food down to the last morsel. He drags his loot up to his mountain and then looks down upon Whoville with a sinister grin. He is listening for the cries and wailings of the people to start as they wake up on Christmas morning to ...

3855. The Real Meaning of Life

Luke 17:11-19; John 6:25-35; Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

Perhaps in the end it is the poet who comes closer to the real meaning of life than any of us could. Wrote poet Courtland Sayers: 5,000 breathless dawns all new; 5,000 flowers fresh in dew. 5,000 sunsets wrapped in gold; 1 million snowflakes served ice cold. 5 quiet friends, 1 baby's love; 1 white sea with clouds above. 1 June night in a fragrant wood, 1 heart that loved and understood. I wondered when I waked that day in God's name how could I ever pay.

3856. Humor: We're Getting a Divorce

Matthew 19:1-12

Illustration

An elderly man in Phoenix calls his son in New York and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough." "Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams. "We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the old man says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her." Then he hangs up. Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they ...

3857. Watchfulness

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Tim Carpenter

In Frankfort, Kentucky (United States) it is said that the city was enthralled in a big debate many years ago about placing a water fountain in a public square. The argument became heated in the legislature and at the governor's mansion. Finally, a decision was made to ask three contractors to bid on the project. The first contractor was from Western Kentucky. When asked what his bid was he replied, "$3,000." Then he was asked to break it down, to which he replied, "$1,000 for labor, $1,000 for materials, ...

3858. Where Are You Going?

Mark 13:32-37

Illustration

King Duncan

There is an amusing Hasidic story about a rabbi who crossed a village square every morning on his way to the temple to pray. One morning, a large Russian Cossack soldier, who happened to be in a vile mood, accosted him, saying, "Hey, rabbi, where are you going?" The rabbi simply said, "I don't know." This infuriated the soldier. "What do you mean, you don't know? Every morning for twenty-five years you have crossed the village square and gone to the temple to pray. Don't fool with me. Why are you telling ...

3859. Preparation for Christmas

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

Advent is a time of personal preparation for Christmas. And we have to be prepared if we want to see God's work. We have to stay awake and be alert so that Christmas can be meaningful. We have to prepare our hearts as well as our homes. A woman and her daughter were out Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Just as everyone had predicted, the crowds were awful. They had to skip lunch because they were on a tight schedule. Toward the end of the day, Mom was hungry, tired and her feet were ...

3860. Stay and Shine

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

Sue Monk Kidd, best known for her book The Secret Life of Bees, tells about when her daughter was small and got the dubious part of the Bethlehem star in a Christmas play. After her first rehearsal, she burst through the door with her costume, a five-pointed star lined in shiny gold tinsel designed to drape over her like a sandwich board. "What exactly will you be doing in the play?" her mother asked her. "I just stand there and shine," her daughter answered. Sue Monk Kidd says she has never forgotten that ...

3861. The Return of the King

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

John Phillips, in his book Exploring Revelation, tells about the return of Richard I, the Lionhearted, to England. It was during the time of the crusades. While Richard was away doing battle in the Mideast, his kingdom fell on bad times. His brother, Prince John, justly vilified in the tales of Robin Hood, usurped the kingdom and misruled the realm. The people of England suffered under John's rule and longed for the return of their rightful king. They prayed that it might be soon. Then one day Richard ...

3862. Ever Watchful

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

If you were to travel with me to the southwest coast of Italy you would find that ancient city called Pompeii. It lies a short distance from Mt.Vesuvius. This volcano has produced almost a dozen destructive eruptions. In 1631 an eruption killed 18,000 people. However, the most famous eruption of Mt.Vesuvius was in 79 A.D. Not only was Pompeii destroyed but there were other cities nearby destroyed as well. We understand through geological evidence that the City of Pompeii was covered with ash and pumice at ...

3863. As Soon As Jesus Comes

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

One clergy family decided to let their three-year-old son record the message for their home answering machine. The rehearsals went smoothly: "Mommy and Daddy can't come to the phone right now. If you'll leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, they'll get back to you as soon as possible." Then came the test. The father pressed the record button and their son said sweetly, "Mommy and Daddy can't come to the phone right now. If you'll leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, they'll get ...

3864. Take Heed and Watch

Mark 13:33

Illustration

Eric Ritz

I've none some stubborn men in my life but here's two guys who take it to new heights. The the London Times ran a front-page story about an Englishman named Arthur Arch. He had just celebrated his 95th birthday, which was an accomplishment in and of itself. But the truly newsworthy thing about Mr. Arch was that for 42 years he had been precisely and consistently 20 minutes late for every meeting and appointment he had. According to his own time, he was always prompt. But according to everyone else's time, ...

3865. Waiting

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

I read recently of a survey taken by a doctor who polled 3,000 people and asked them this simple question: "What are you living for?" The survey revealed that over 90 percent of the people were WAITING for something significant to change or happen in their lives and in the lives of those with whom they were involved. Let me share a few examples: A. A middle-aged couple was waiting for their parents to die before they went on to the next stage of their lives. B. Another couple was waiting for their children ...

3866. Put Your Hands on the Plow

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

While we wait and trust, we are also to put our hands to the plow. We are prepared simply by doing the work God has called us to do and doing it faithfully and with vigilance, regardless of the world's clock and the climate that it has surrounded us with. During the Second World War there was a young boy in a small town who had to go to the drugstore for his mother. As he arrived at the drugstore, he saw a poster on the front window that made a great impression upon him. It was the picture of an American ...

3867. Natural Disasters and The Second Coming

Mark 13:1-31

Illustration

Brett Blair

Some folk in Seattle were sure the end of the earth would come in the year 2000. Earthquakes. Floods, wars, and tornadoes will devastate the earth, they said, by the year 2001. They had planed to build an airship so they could escape. I wish I knew what these people are doing right now. Whatever good or ill lies ahead in life we need not worry about some human device to reassure us. In His own good time "the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout" and "we which are alive shall he caught up to meet him ...

3868. Give Us a Little Longer

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

Prudence Phillipson of England uses this analogy. When her children were young the floor of their playroom often became messy with games and toys strewn everywhere. Prudence got her children to clean up their toys and games by telling them she was going round the corner to the shop. "When I come back," she warned, "everything should be in its place." She would then give each child a task before she left. The oldest child would be given more complicated tasks while the simpler ones would go to the younger ...

3869. The Joy and Hope of Advent

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

A retired United Methodist bishop once said: "If you are at the stage of life or age of life when your back goes out more than you do, do not let your aches get in the way of your alleluias." That's a good message for us. Dr. M. Scott Peck, in his best-selling book The Road Less Traveled, begins with the statement, "Life is difficult." In a sequel to that book, he begins by saying: "Life is complex." Both statements are of course true. Life is both difficult and complex, but Advent is a season of hope. The ...

3870. Introducing Jesus

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was one of the most sought after speakers of the 20th century. Shortly before his death, he spoke for his good friend Robert Schuler in the Crystal Cathedral. Dr. Schuler began his introduction by saying: "I want to introduce you to the most dynamic person you will ever meet in your life. He is exciting, positive and winsome. He can reach down inside of you more deeply than anyone else you have ever known before. He will give you self-confidence and courage, and a whole lot of ...

3871. Dear God…

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

Little Benjamin sat down to write a letter to God asking for a little baby sister. He started the letter out: Dear God, I've been a very good boy.... He stopped, thinking, "No, God won't believe that." He wadded up the paper, threw it away, and started again: Dear God, Most of the time I've been a good boy...He stopped in the middle of the line, again thinking, "God won't be moved by this," so into the trash can went the wad of paper. Benjamin went into the bathroom, grabbed a big terrycloth towel off the ...

3872. Working and Waiting

Mk 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

When we wait, we admit there are some things that are not under our control. Most of us like to believe that we are in control. We imagine that we are masters of our destinies. If we work hard enough, if we are sufficiently prepared, if we just concentrate, we can make life work. And we can. To a point. There are some things, however, that can't be hurried. Recuperation from surgery, the grief process, a young person learning responsibility. Shakespeare put it like this, "How poor are they that have no ...

3873. Something Big

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

An old pioneer traveled westward across the Great Plains until he came to an abrupt halt at the edge of the Grand Canyon. He gawked in amazement. The chasm was a mile down, eighteen miles across and more than a hundred miles long. He gasped, "Wow, something big musta happened here!" A visitor to our world at Christmas, seeing all the lights, the trees, the decorations, the parades, the festivities, the charitable actions and gifts, and all the religious services, probably would say the same thing: "Wow, ...

3874. Twas the Beginning of Advent

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Today I want to read to you a poem that is based on a rather famous poem about Christmas called ‘Twas the Beginning of Advent'. It is by a friend of mine - Todd Jenkins. It will tell you a little bit about this season we celebrate. 'Twas the beginning of Advent and all through the Church Our hope was all dying we'd given up on the search. It wasn't so much that Christ wasn't invited, But after 2,000 plus years we were no longer excited. Oh, we knew what was coming no doubt about that. And that was the ...

3875. Prepare the Way - Sermon Starter

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

Brett Blair

His name was John. People knew him locally as the Baptist. Some would say of him that he was a religious eccentric. Others less kind would dismiss him as being simply a flake. He definitely did not seem to be the kind of "How to win friends and influence people" type of personality to usher in the news of the Messiah's coming. He just somehow doesn't seem to fit in with shepherds and wise men and the other characters that we traditionally associate with the Christmas story. Yet, this was God's unlikely ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 3851 to 3875 of 5000 results

3851. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Mt 25:31-46; Lk 23:26-43

Illustration

Brett Blair

3852. Tomorrow Will Be Anxious for Itself

Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

Eric Ritz

3853. Better Not Bitter

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration

3854. The Source of Thanksgiving

Lk 17:11-19; Mt 6:25-33

Illustration

Brett Blair

3855. The Real Meaning of Life

Luke 17:11-19; John 6:25-35; Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

3856. Humor: We're Getting a Divorce

Matthew 19:1-12

Illustration

3857. Watchfulness

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Tim Carpenter

3858. Where Are You Going?

Mark 13:32-37

Illustration

King Duncan

3859. Preparation for Christmas

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

3860. Stay and Shine

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

3861. The Return of the King

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

3862. Ever Watchful

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

3863. As Soon As Jesus Comes

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

3864. Take Heed and Watch

Mark 13:33

Illustration

Eric Ritz

3865. Waiting

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

3866. Put Your Hands on the Plow

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

3867. Natural Disasters and The Second Coming

Mark 13:1-31

Illustration

Brett Blair

3868. Give Us a Little Longer

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

3869. The Joy and Hope of Advent

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

3870. Introducing Jesus

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

3871. Dear God…

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

3872. Working and Waiting

Mk 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

3873. Something Big

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

King Duncan

3874. Twas the Beginning of Advent

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

3875. Prepare the Way - Sermon Starter

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

Brett Blair

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