Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4051 to 4075 of 5000 results

4051. For Whose Benefit?

Luke 24:36-49

Illustration

King Duncan

John Gardner, Former Secretary Health, Education & Welfare, once said something very wise. He said, "In the absence of criticism every organization ends up being managed for the benefit of the people who run it: most schools tend to be run in such a way as to serve the purposes of the teachers; the Navy tends to be run for the benefit of naval officers; the vested interests of postal employees are the predominant factor in controlling and directing the future of the post office; the policies and practices ...

4052. What Have You Heard?

John 10:11-18

Illustration

Staff

A rabbi and his pupil were discussing God's Word: Rabbi: Herschel, do you know the sacred scriptures? Pupil: Yes, teacher, I have been studying them. Rabbi: And, do you know the phrase, 'Thus have I heard?' Pupil: Oh, yes, that is throughout the scriptures. Rabbi: Herschel, what have you heard?

4053. The Doorkeeper

John 10:11-18

Illustration

Staff

A sheepfold was a walled enclosure made of stones. Several flocks of sheep were kept in the sheepfold, and when a legitimate shepherd came to get his flock, the doorkeeper or watchman of the fold would let the shepherd pass into the fold. The shepherd would call the sheep, and the sheep, who knew his voice, would come to him, and he would lead his flock out to pasture. When they were away from the sheepfold, the shepherd would stay out all night with his flock, finding some kind of shelter in the pasture ...

4054. When We Fail to Listen

John 10:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

A certain public school superintendent passed down a verbal set of instructions to his assistant concerning the appearance of Halley's Comet a few years back. The superintendent said: Next Thursday at 10:30 a.m., Halley's Comet will appear over this area. This is an event that occurs only once every 75 years. Call the school principals and have them assemble their teachers and classes on their athletic fields, and explain the phenomena to them. If it rains, then cancel the day's observation and have the ...

4055. Only Obedience

John 10:11-18

Illustration

J. Scott Miller

High in the mountains of North Wales in a place called Llanymawddwy, lives a shepherd named John Jones with his wife Mari and his black and white dog Mack. I stood one misty summer morning in the window of their farmhouse watching John on horseback herding the sheep with Mack. A few cows were quietly chewing their cud in a nearby corner while perhaps a hundred sheep moved across the dewy meadow toward the pens where they were to be dipped. Mack, a champion Scottish collie, was in his glory. He came from a ...

4056. At the Crossroads, There is a Cross.

John 10:11-18

Illustration

Oliver North was one of the embedded journalists in the Iraqi war. He told the following story: This is the eighth war I've been to, the best part of it was the morning after the palace battle and leaving the capital with the 5th Marines, we're driving north toward Tikrit, [Hussein's] home town, and it's not even dawn. There are tens of thousands of people on the street cheering the United States, President Bush, and the U.S. Marines. And a vehicle stops I'm with the battalion commander, the sergeant major ...

4057. A Thankless Job

John 10:11-18

Illustration

King Duncan

Any job where there is not much recognition or you are taken for granted can seem like a thankless job. Author Ruth Harms Calkin stated it well: You know, Lord, how I serve You With great emotional fervor In the limelight. You know how eagerly I speak for You At a women's club; You know how I effervesce when I promote A fellowship group. You know my genuine enthusiasm At a Bible study. But how would I react, I wonder If You pointed to a basin of water And asked me to wash the callused feet Of a bent and ...

4058. I Am the True Vine - Sermon Starter

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

It is fascinating to me that in our Protestant religious culture, such a strong emphases is placed upon literal interpretation. Interestingly, Jesus so often did not speak literally, but figuratively. He spoke in allegories and images. He painted word pictures. Instead of literally coming out and saying what he meant, he so often would tell a story and let people draw their own conclusion. Indeed, these hidden messages of Jesus frequently frustrated his disciples. They wished that he would speak literally ...

4059. In Communion with Christ

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James Merritt

I heard about a little five-year-old boy who fell out of bed. His cry awakened the entire household. After his mother had safely tucked him back under the covers, she said, "Why did you fall out of bed?" Between tears and sobs, he said, "Well, I guess I went to sleep too close to where I got in." Far too many Christians make the same mistake. They fall out of the bed of life and go to heaven; yet they slept too close to where they got in. They never learned the difference between union and communion. Jesus ...

4060. Our Fuel

John 15:1-8

Illustration

C. S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis wrote, "God has designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy without bothering about religion. God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

4061. The Best Connection

John 15:1-8; Col 2:10

Illustration

Eric Ritz

You and I live in the period of history where we have access to more information than ever before. We have so much information that it produces what has been called the "Paralysis of Analysis." It was the poet T. S. Eliot who wrote: Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge. Where is the knowledge we have lost in information. The beauty of our faith is that God gave us more than information; he gave us Himself. He gave us more than rules and outward appearances. He gave us a relationship with him. ...

4062. What You See Is God’s Love

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Mark Trotter

Carlyle Marney told about an old man who was asked once, "Have you ever seen God?" He said, "No, but I have known a couple of Jesuses in my lifetime." That is what John is talking about. No one has ever seen God, but what you can see is God's love.

4063. The Right Parts and the Right Instructions

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James W. Moore

Have you heard the story about the man who ordered a tree house over the internet? When the box arrived, it had printed on the top the words that have become every parent's nightmare: "Some assembly required." The man began to assemble the tree house (but would you believe it?) as he laid out all the parts on the floor and began reading the instructions, he realized (to his dismay) that the instructions were indeed for a tree house? but the parts were for a sail boat!! The next day, he sent an angry e-mail ...

4064. I Am Sayings

John 6:35 - - 15:1,5

Illustration

Brett Blair

There are seven "I Am" sayings in the gospel of John. I Am the true vine is the last of these sayings. I am the bread of life - 6:35 I am the light of the world - 8:12 & 9:5 I am the gate for the sheep - 10:7,9 I am the good shepherd - 10:11,14 I am the resurrection and the life - 11:25 I am the way and the truth and the life - 14:6 I am the true vine - 15:1,5

John 15:1-8

Knowing the entire Bible by heart, and understanding it so well that you can explain every single verse, is of little use to you, unless the biblical Word penetrates your inmost being, as the rain penetrates the tiniest roots of a tree in order in order to rise and to fill the whole tree and to bring forth leaves and fruit.

Emil Brunner

4066. Source of Our Power

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

There's an old story told of a native from a remote mountain village who had the opportunity to visit a large modern city for the first time. He could not bring much home with him, and he had little money. But he was amazed at the electric lights which he saw everywhere. So he bought a sack full of electric lights bulbs and sockets with switches so he could turn them off and on. Arriving home he hung the light bulbs in front of his home and on his and his neighbor's trees. Everyone watched him with ...

4067. Living with the One

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James W. Moore

Max Lucado in his book, When God Whispers Your Name, puts it dramatically and graphically like this. He says: "Take a fish and place him on a beach. Watch his gills gasp and scales dry. Is he happy? No! How do you make him happy? Do you cover him with a mountain of cash? Do you get him a beach chair and sunglasses? Do you bring him a Playfish magazine and a martini? Do you wardrobe him in double-breasted fins and people-skinned shoes? Of course not! So, how do you make him happy? You put him back in his ...

4068. Neglecting the Source of Our Strength

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

Many years ago at the Tournament of Roses parade the Standard Oil Company, now known as Chevron, had a beautiful float. In the middle of the parade the oil company's float came to a grinding halt and the rest of the parade with it. What had happened? It had run out of gas. The directors of the Chevron float had done everything well but they neglected to avail themselves of their companies vast resources of oil. The parade waited while someone ran to get a gallon of gas. Too often, I see this happen among ...

4069. The Hidden Message of Jesus

John 15:1-8

Illustration

It is fascinating to me that in our Southern Protestant religious culture, such a strong emphases is place upon literal interpretation. Interestingly, Jesus so often did not speak literally, but figuratively. He spoke in allegories and images. He painted word pictures. Instead of literally coming out and saying what he meant, he so often would tell a story and let people draw their own conclusion. Indeed, these hidden messages of Jesus frequently frustrated his disciples. They wished that he would speak ...

4070. Christ-like Servants

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James W. Moore

Some years ago, I was walking up to the building where our Texas Annual Conference was being held. A young woman was just behind me. I held the door open for her. She was offended by that and she said: "You didn't have to hold the door open for me because I'm a woman." And I said: "I didn't hold the door open for you because you are a woman. I held the door open for you because you are a person. I learned in Sunday School long ago to be a courteous and polite servant to everybody. If you had been a man, I ...

4071. Relationship with Christ

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Staff

Marion Anderson, perhaps the greatest contralto who ever lived had such a wonderful relationship with her mother. It was said of Mrs. Anderson's life: her music could bring one to tears; her life could bring one to their knees. She was once being interviewed and she was asked the most wonderful moment in her most impressive career. She could have mentioned that time when the great Arturo Toscanini told her that hers was the greatest voice of the century. She could have mentioned that time when she sang ...

4072. Being Connected

John 15:1-8

Illustration

King Duncan

A newspaper reporter went to interview a successful entrepreneur. "How did you do it?" he asked. "How did you make all this money?" "I'm glad you asked," the entrepreneur replied. "Actually, it's a rather wonderful story. You see, when my wife and I married, we started out with a roof over our heads, some food in our pantry, and five cents between us. I took that nickel, went down to the grocery store, bought an apple, and shined it up. Then I sold it for ten cents." "What did you do then?" the reporter ...

4073. We Are Never Alone

John 15:1-8

Illustration

King Duncan

Columnist Sheila Graham had a compelling interview with Ruby Bridges Hall sometime back. Maybe that name doesn't strike a bell. It will for some of you if I describe what Ruby went through as a child. Ruby looked like a typical first-grader. With a big bow in her hair and lunch box in hand, she climbed the steps of William Frantz Elementary School for the first day of school. But little else was typical about that day in November 1960. Though she wasn't aware of it, Ruby had been chosen to be the first ...

4074. The Meaning of Life - Sermon Starter

John 17:6-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

In Act 5 scene 5 of Shakespeare's Macbeth, the character Macbeth has heard that the queen is dead and he knows his own death is imminent. At this time he delivers his famous soliloquy: Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, Out, brief candle Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It ...

4075. All Shall Be Well

Luke 24:44-53

Illustration

Matthew Peat

It was Julian of Norwich who wrote those inspired words that 'all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.' They are words that are particularly poignant because they sum up the transformation in the followers of Jesus that we celebrate on Ascension Day, for on this day, strange as it may seem, we celebrate Christ's leaving his disciples. But his leaving them is not a somber occasion. It is full of joy and hope and reminds us how their lives had changed, of how they had ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 4051 to 4075 of 5000 results

4051. For Whose Benefit?

Luke 24:36-49

Illustration

King Duncan

4052. What Have You Heard?

John 10:11-18

Illustration

Staff

4053. The Doorkeeper

John 10:11-18

Illustration

Staff

4054. When We Fail to Listen

John 10:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

4055. Only Obedience

John 10:11-18

Illustration

J. Scott Miller

4056. At the Crossroads, There is a Cross.

John 10:11-18

Illustration

4057. A Thankless Job

John 10:11-18

Illustration

King Duncan

4058. I Am the True Vine - Sermon Starter

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

4059. In Communion with Christ

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James Merritt

4060. Our Fuel

John 15:1-8

Illustration

C. S. Lewis

4061. The Best Connection

John 15:1-8; Col 2:10

Illustration

Eric Ritz

4062. What You See Is God’s Love

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Mark Trotter

4063. The Right Parts and the Right Instructions

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James W. Moore

4064. I Am Sayings

John 6:35 - - 15:1,5

Illustration

Brett Blair

John 15:1-8

Emil Brunner

4066. Source of Our Power

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

4067. Living with the One

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James W. Moore

4068. Neglecting the Source of Our Strength

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

4069. The Hidden Message of Jesus

John 15:1-8

Illustration

4070. Christ-like Servants

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James W. Moore

4071. Relationship with Christ

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Staff

4072. Being Connected

John 15:1-8

Illustration

King Duncan

4073. We Are Never Alone

John 15:1-8

Illustration

King Duncan

4074. The Meaning of Life - Sermon Starter

John 17:6-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

4075. All Shall Be Well

Luke 24:44-53

Illustration

Matthew Peat

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