Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 3901 to 3925 of 5000 results

3901. Humor: A Shopper's Psalm

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

Greg Asimakoupoulous

I'm weary, Lord. Bone tired. In spite of the fact that my shopping's half done I need to crash. The crush of the crowd has gotten to me. So, too, the deafening sounds of a pre-Christmas city throbbing with incarnate greed. I need to be reminded that this season's more than plastic Santas, perpetual sales, and Muzak. I need back on the track of reflection. I've derailed, Lord. My emotional fuel is leaking. I'm about to explode. And then I see it. A miniature creche in a gift shop window. A guardian father; ...

3902. Hand Me the Broom

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

There was a little boy who was afraid of the dark and afraid of storms. One night during a thunderstorm his mother asked him to go out on the back porch and get the broom. The boy started to go but when he tried to turn on the light, it was burnt out. Between the dark and the storm outside, he wasn't about to go out there. So he ran back and told his Mom. Well, Mom said, "You don't have to be afraid, God's right there with you and God's not gonna let anything happen to you. God's everywhere." The little ...

3903. A Busy Man

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

There was once a busy man, who one day hurriedly headed out the door for work. In his path was his three-year-old son playing with blocks. The man patted the boy on the head, stepped over him, opened the door, and went outside. Halfway down the walk a guilt bomb exploded inside him. "What am I doing?" he thought to himself. "I am ignoring my son. I never play with him. He'll be old before I know him. And in the background of his mind was playing, "Cat's in the Cradle" – Harry Chapin's ballad to lost ...

3904. Taking Risks

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

Here are types of risks we take annually and their respective odds. Your Odds are: one in 12 that you will have an accident one in 2,900 that you will die in a auto accident one in 80,000 that you will die from complications in surgery one in 250,000 that you will die in a plane crash one in 1,000,000 that you will die in your bath tub There was also an article in the newspaper, which spoke to the things that people fear, in light of their probability of occurring. According to this article, one of the ...

3905. An Extraordinary Gift

Lk 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

Wade Burton tells about a man who was riding a bus from Chicago to Miami. He had a stop-over in Atlanta. While he was sitting at a lunch counter, a woman came out of the ladies' rest room carrying a tiny baby. She asked the man, "Will you hold my baby for me, I left my purse in the rest room." He did. But as the woman neared the front door of the bus station, she darted out into the crowded street and was immediately lost in the crowd. The man couldn't believe his eyes. He rushed to the door to call the ...

3906. Christmas Surprises

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

Under a cultural-exchange program, Alan Abramsky and his family in Roanoke, Texas, were hosts to a rabbi from Russia at Christmas time. They decided to introduce him to a culinary treat that was probably not available in his country: They took him to their favorite Chinese restaurant. Throughout the meal, the rabbi spoke excitedly about the wonders of North America in comparison to the bleak conditions in his homeland. When they had finished eating, the waiter brought the check and presented each of them ...

3907. The Answer is Yes

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

Many years ago there was a serious coal mining accident in the Allegheny mountains. Many miners escaped, but three men were trapped somewhere deep in the earth. No one knew if they were alive or dead. As the hours passed, intense heat and noxious gases built up within the mine itself. Two days passed before a search expedition was allowed to enter the mine. The camera teams from the local news station interviewed the three-man rescue team as they prepared to enter what could be their grave. A reporter ...

3908. One Side Light, One Side Dark

Lk 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

One of the most important symbolic events of the 20th century was the dismantling of the wall that separated East and West Berlin. The division of post-war Germany and the erection of the Berlin Wall was a constant reminder of the division between East and West. It also had been a symbol of repression and brutality. Visitors to the Berlin Wall over its last two decades noted that one of the most striking features of this division was the dim lighting on the East side. Whether this was due to a lack of ...

3909. Why He Was Born in a Manger

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

A Jewish comedian tells about a Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg many years ago who was stranded late one night at a fashionable resort on Cape Cod - one that did not admit Jews. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have vacancies." The desk clerk stammered and then said curtly, "You know that we do not admit Jews. Now if you will try the other side of town . . . " Mrs. Rosenberg stiffened noticeably and ...

3910. Greed at Christmas

Lk 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

In the cartoon, Sally Forth, Sally says to her mother after she has just viewed the large family Christmas tree with all the packages lying under it: "Have you ever noticed how one particular emotion gets real strong at Christmas?" Her mother answers: "I sure have, honey. I get very nostalgic at this time of the year. I especially like to think back to Christmas times when I was your age. My mind fills with memories of decorating the tree . . . singing carols . . . baking cookies . . . It's a big part of ...

3911. Invitations from the Christ Child

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

A woman visited a tourist town and stopped to see a cathedral. As she stared at the beautiful stained-glass windows, a feeling of peace washed over her. She hadn't felt that way since childhood, and she had a deep yearning to attend church again. Kneeling before the Christmas scene, she studied the figure of the Christ child whose arms were outstretched. She wished with all her heart that those arms were reaching out to her. She remembered Christmases of long ago when her family attended church together. ...

3912. Missing the Christ Child

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

Frank S. Mead once wrote a story titled, "The V.I.P." In his story the small town of Mayfair is excited over the anticipated arrival of a rich and important stranger, Henry Bascom, who is coming to spend Christmas in their town. The whole town turns out to meet him at the airport, but he's nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, a quiet man slips by the people at the airport and heads into town. This quiet man does not appear to be a man of means. He is ignored and mistreated by the insensitive people of Mayfair. ...

3913. Making Christmas Last - Sermon Starter

Luke 2:21-40

Illustration

Brett Blair

A cartoon in the New Yorker magazine says it all. In the middle of the floor is a dried up, withered, Christmas tree. The calendar on the wall reads December 26. Dad is sitting in his chair with an ice pack on his head. Mom is in a bathrobe and her hair in rollers. The floor is a virtual mountain of torn wrappings, boxes, and bows. Junior is reaching in his stocking to be sure that there is no more candy. In the background we see a table with a thoroughly picked turkey still sitting there. The caption on ...

3914. The Light That Brings Discomfort

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

In 1992 a lighthouse was built in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. This is one of the poorest areas in the world. The lighthouse was constructed to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus. 150,000 people were evicted from their homes in a shantytown to make room for it. The intensity of its light means that electricity is rationed throughout much of the city. The light that brings security for some brings discomfort for others. Jesus is the light that ...

3915. Digging Mankind Out of his Snug Burrows

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

Staff

H.G. Wells, in "The Outline of History" wrote this about Jesus, "He was like some terrible moral huntsman digging mankind out of the snug burrows in which they had lived hitherto. In the white blaze of this kingdom of his there was to be no property, no privilege, no pride, no precedence; no motive indeed and no reward except love. Is it any wonder that men were dazzled and blinded and cried out against him? Even his disciples cried out when he would not spare them the light. For to take him seriously was ...

3916. An Old Tradition

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

An old tradition was that Christmas decorations were taken down by Candlemas. Though it is still kept in some places, but for the most part it has been set forward to January 6, the day of Epiphany. The 17th Century English poet Robert Herrick wrote concerning this removal: Down with the Rosemary, and so Down with the Baies, and mistletoe; Down with the Holly, Ivie, all Wherewith ye drest the Christmas Hall. To leave them up longer was to invite bad luck. The plants were burned and their ashes along with ...

3917. Tuned In and Pulled Off the Knobs

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

The story is told of a man who once bought a new radio, brought it home, and placed it on the refrigerator. He then plugged it in, turned it to WSM in Nashville (home of the Grand Ole Opry), and proceeded to do the most unusual thing. He pulled all the knobs off! He had already tuned in all he ever wanted or expected to hear, and so he chose to limit his radio reception to one station.

3918. The Real Meaning of Christmas

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

The late columnist, Sydney Harris, put his finger on the real meaning of Christmas when he wrote that the real meaning can be summed up in two sentences from Jesus' lips: "If anyone says 'I love God' and hates his neighbor, he is a liar." John 4:20 and "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40. He went on to say, "You cannot love God without loving every fellow creature He made; and an act of contempt or rejection or injustice or neglect towards the least, the ...

3919. On The Sidelines of Life

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

Ever feel as though you are left-over or on the sidelines of life? A quarterback was realistic about his status on the team. The coach was drilling all the quarterbacks: He said to them, "The ball is on your OWN four yard line. Time is running out. It's third down." Then, the coach looked straight at this boy and said, "Quick now! What would you do?" To which this young man responded without hesitation, "I'd slide down the bench to get a better view of the next play!"

3920. Known as the Sacrifice from the Beginning

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

The great renaissance artist Giotto captures the essence of this scene in his "Presentation at the Temple." Simeon holds the baby Jesus, his lips moving beneath his hoary beard, carefully reciting the lines of his nunc dimittis: "now may your servant depart in peace." Giotto knows his Simeon, and he knows his babies too. The infant Jesus, far from resting contentedly in his arms through this holy aria, is responding as all babies do when held by weird strangers. His eyes are narrowed and fixed in frozen ...

3921. Behold I Come Quickly

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

A brand new pastor, fresh out of seminary, was preaching his first sermon in his first church. In seminary he had been taught to repeat his text numerous times for emphasis, and to pound on the pulpit occasionally. His text happened to be that promise of our Lord: "Behold I come quickly." At the beginning of the sermon he slammed the pulpit rather smartly and declared, "Behold I come quickly." Then about five minutes into the sermon he did the same thing. About ten minutes into the sermon he did it again. ...

3922. Faith in God to Deliver

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

One day a letter written in a childish scrawl came to the post office addressed to "God." A postal employee, not knowing exactly what to do with the letter, opened it. This is what it said: "Dear God, my name is Jimmy. I am six years old. My father is dead and my mother is having a hard time raising me and my sister. Would you please send us $500? Love, Jimmy." The postal employee was touched. He showed the letter to his fellow workers. All decided to kick in a few dollars each. They were able to raise $ ...

3923. A Great and Wonderful New Year - Sermon Starter

Illustration

King Duncan

At the beginning of a New Year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers' New Year's resolutions on the bulletin board. As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. "Why weren't my resolutions posted?" She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk. As he read her resolutions he was astounded. This ...

3924. Stay Focused!

Illustration

Eric Ritz

We sometimes miss the great opportunities of life because we get sidetracked. I once heard the tale of a talented and gifted bloodhound in England that started a hunt by chasing a full-grown male deer. During the chase a fox crossed his path, so he began now to chase the fox. A rabbit crossed his hunting path, so he began to chase the rabbit. After chasing the rabbit for a while, a tiny field mouse crossed his path, and he chased the mouse to the corner of a farmer's barn. The bloodhound had begun the hunt ...

3925. We Need a Revolution!

Illustration

King Duncan

Welcome on this first Sunday of a New Year. I trust that one of your resolutions for this year is to be in worship every week. Good for you. That's one resolution you've kept for at least one week. I heard about one poor fellow who decided to make only resolutions this year he could keep. He resolved to gain weight, to stop exercising, to read less and watch more TV, to procrastinate more, to quit giving money and time to charity, to not date any member of the cast of Baywatch, and to never make New Year's ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 3901 to 3925 of 5000 results

3901. Humor: A Shopper's Psalm

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

Greg Asimakoupoulous

3902. Hand Me the Broom

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

3903. A Busy Man

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

3904. Taking Risks

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

3905. An Extraordinary Gift

Lk 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

3906. Christmas Surprises

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

3907. The Answer is Yes

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

3908. One Side Light, One Side Dark

Lk 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

3909. Why He Was Born in a Manger

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

3910. Greed at Christmas

Lk 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

3911. Invitations from the Christ Child

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

3912. Missing the Christ Child

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

King Duncan

3913. Making Christmas Last - Sermon Starter

Luke 2:21-40

Illustration

Brett Blair

3914. The Light That Brings Discomfort

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

3915. Digging Mankind Out of his Snug Burrows

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

Staff

3916. An Old Tradition

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

3917. Tuned In and Pulled Off the Knobs

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

3918. The Real Meaning of Christmas

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

3919. On The Sidelines of Life

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

3920. Known as the Sacrifice from the Beginning

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

3921. Behold I Come Quickly

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

3922. Faith in God to Deliver

Luke 2:22-40

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

3923. A Great and Wonderful New Year - Sermon Starter

Illustration

King Duncan

3924. Stay Focused!

Illustration

Eric Ritz

3925. We Need a Revolution!

Illustration

King Duncan

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