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Showing 4126 to 4150 of 5000 results

4126. The Divine Family

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

King Duncan

Our Scripture lesson for the day describes how God first created people-- male and female--and told them to multiply and fill the earth. Someone has said that this was that only commandment that humankind has obeyed. In order to achieve God's goal of a planet populated by people, God gave us the family. As soon as the scripture says, "He created them male and female the entire dynamic of life on earth was changed. The New Testament affirms the worth and dignity of the family. William Barclay voices the ...

4127. Receiving Christ

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

King Duncan

During the War Between the States, a Union soldier from Ohio was shot in the arm during the battle of Shiloh. His captain saw that he was injured and barked an order: “Give me your gun, Private, and get to the rear!” The private handed over his rifle and ran toward the north, seeking safety. But after covering two or three hundred yards, he came upon another skirmish. Then he ran to the east and ran into another part of the battle. Then he ran west, but encountered more fighting there. Finally he ran back ...

4128. Free At Last!

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

King Duncan

The plot of a recent Tom Hanks' movie, The Terminal, sounds so outrageous that it is hard to believe that it is based on a true story. In 1986, an Iranian man named Merhan Karimi Nasseri flew to Paris, France, without his immigration card or other proper paperwork. He never should have been allowed to board the plane without the paperwork, but somehow it was overlooked. Without his papers, the French authorities could not let him into the country, but they could not deport him either. So they forced him to ...

4129. The Three R's Of A Spiritual Life

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

A heart patient visited his cardiologist for his two-week follow-up appointment. He informed the doctor that he was having trouble with one of his medications. "Which one?" asked the doctor? "The patch," the man replied, "the nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours, and I've run out of places to put it!" The doctor was flabbergasted. He had the patient quickly undress. The man had over fifty patches on his body! He didn't understand that each time he put on a new patch, he needed to remove the ...

4130. Why Shepherds?

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome to this celebration of Christmas Day. I want to begin with a story. It’s not a Christmas story. But it involves an incident that occurred on the day after Christmas 2004. One day last December, seventeen-year-old Max Loeb was home from school. He had been suspended that day for some reason, nothing serious. His family, though, is grateful that this one time Max got in trouble. Why? Because that particular day his father also happened to be home, and his father, Hamilton Loeb, suffered a massive ...

4131. People of Influence

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

I want to tell you about two “powerful” men who lived at the turn of the 13th century. The first of these men chose the name Innocent when he was unanimously declared Pope in 1198. He took Jeremiah 1:10 as his ordination verse: “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Pope Innocent lived by this verse. Innocent believed that his position gave him the power to rule over all people; anyone who challenged him was subject to ...

4132. Like Parent, Like Child

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

King Duncan

A little boy was in church one Sunday morning with his grandmother. Everything went well until it was time for the offering. The grandmother began to frantically search through her purse, but she couldn’t find her offering envelope. Apparently she had left it at home. It was a most embarrassing moment for her as she kept looking through her purse for something to put in the collection plate. Her grandson sensed her dilemma. The little boy had a solution to her problem. “Here, Gramma,” he told her, “you ...

4133. A Ministry of Encouragement

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever noticed that men and women differ in their use of humor? Men’s humor is more competitive, and therefore more sarcastic. Women’s humor is more supportive. For example, famed comedian George Burns, remembered especially for the television show he hosted along with his wife, Gracie Allen, was roasted by some of his friends. Here are some of the things they had to say. BOB HOPE: “The first time I saw George Burns on the stage I could see he had what it takes to become a big star . . . Gracie ...

4134. God's Witness Security Program

1 John 3:1-3

Sermon

King Duncan

If you could create a whole new identity for yourself, who would you be? What would be your new name or occupation? Where would you live? Would you change your name to Rosco and run away with the circus? Would you become a dance instructor in Florida or a pastry chef in Seattle? For those people who enter the Federal Witness Security Program, these questions are not just idle musings. The Federal Witness Security Program was set up in 1970 to provide new identities for witnesses who risk their lives to ...

4135. More Than "Turkey Day" (New) Thanksgiving

2 Chronicles 9:1-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Although many countries and cultures have some type of ceremony for celebrating their blessings, no one celebrates Thanksgiving quite the way we do in the U.S. And for good reason. Few people on earth have as much for which to be thankful. Nightline host Ted Koppel emigrated to the U.S. from England in his early teen years. The Koppels were originally from Germany, but moved to England at the start of World War II. They had lived through food rationing, and had known the scarcity and desperation that ...

4136. On Living Before You Die

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

The NEWPORT NEWS DAILY PRESS published recently several pages listing accounts with unclaimed money in them. As impossible as it seems, hundreds of people or their families forget the bank is holding money for them in their name. When men and women give their lives to God, many then lose faith in the Creator. They don''t use the treasure He has for them. Our orientation gets mixed up. We aim our lives in the wrong direction. Charlie Brown in the PEANUTS cartoon comes to the kitchen one morning in his PJ''s ...

4137. The Death of a Child

2 Samuel 12:1-31

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

The death of a child. Nothing can prepare us for such a task. We can imagine in our minds what it must be like, but we cannot know until we have been there the emptiness and the pain. Joe Bayly wrote about the death of the young from firsthand experience. He and his wife lost three children: one at eighteen days, after surgery; another at five years, with leukemia; the third at eighteen years, after a sledding accident complicated by mild hemophilia. Joe said, "Of all deaths, that of a child is most ...

4138. Joy In the Midst of Sorrow?

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

The word Gospel means "Good News." Christian faith is good news. The theme of Christmas is joy; the theme of the resurrection is also joy. Had there been no Christmas, no birth of Christ, there would have been no resurrection, and with no resurrection there would be little joy in life and certainly none in death. But Jesus changed all that. We have suffered a great loss at the death of our friend and loved one, _____________, but for Christians there is joy even in the midst of sorrow. Just before his ...

4139. Things That Cannot be Taken Away

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

Most days give us a measure of security. And then suddenly tragedy shatters the familiar. Sorrow comes with its almost unbearable pain. Most people in their anguish almost instinctively turn their thoughts to God for help. If we are Christians, we do so with the assurance that He who has been faithful in the past will now be faithful in our great need. We believe He can be trusted who said, "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." So let us turn to Him and His Word for strength and help. ...

4140. A Way Made Ready

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Darrick Acre

Have you been out to see the Christmas lights yet? It is time for the annual excursion, when you pack the car with people on a chilly December evening, and drive around to all the neighborhoods and parks made beautiful by cities or neighborhood associations with lights, lights, and more lights, in a variety of colors and hues. There are bright reds, blues, and greens; beautiful, pastel pinks and yellows; and of course the brilliant elegance of white. As you drive along, there are elves and carolers, Santa ...

4141. Where Meek Souls Will Recieve Him Still

John 3:22-36

Sermon

Darrick Acre

Nicodemus silently creeps through the dark streets of Jerusalem, keeping to the shadows, vigilant, lest anyone sees him. He is on a mission. The teacher, Jesus, is in Jerusalem. Wonderful things are said of Him. He has amazed the people with miraculous signs; astounded them with the authority of His teaching. He has stirred Nicodemus’ curiosity, pricked his interest, and even enlivened his hope. “Surely,” he thinks to himself, “this man is from God. I’ve got to meet him.” But how? Official opposition to ...

4142. CLUELESS FOR CHRISTMAS

Drama

Angela Akers

SUBJECT: Homeless, True meaning of Christmas CHARACTERS: Detective, Clyde, his partner, Homeless people carrying plates of food (optional) PROPS: Trenchcoat and hat for Detective, Magnifying glass for Clyde (optional), Plates and food for homeless people (optional) SETTING: Detective''s office Detective: "We were hired to do a job, see, but my partner and me weren''t having much luck. In all my years in this stinkin'' racket, this was the toughest cookie we ever had to crack. See, a dame walks in, ...

4143. THE HOPE HE LEFT BEHIND

Drama

Angela Akers

SUBJECT: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day CHARACTERS: Martin Luther King, Jr., Angel SETTING: On their way to Heaven PROPS: None (Martin walks into the area where the angel is. He is disoriented by the sight of the angel). Martin: "Wha....Where am I? Am I dead?" Angel: "Yes, Martin, you''re dead. It''s my job to take you to Heaven." Martin: "Wait a minute! There''s a problem here. I need to go back. I can''t go now. My work is not done." Angel: "I''m sorry, Martin, but you have to." Martin ...

4144. ENRAPTURED OR INSANE?

Drama

Angela Akers

SUBJECT: Pentecost CHARACTERS: Judge (may be male or female), Lawyer (may be male or female), Leader (male, participant in the Pentecost), Man 1 (participant in the Pentecost), Man 2 (participant in the Pentecost) SETTING: In a courtroom, in Jesus'' time PROPS: None (might want to carry individual props that show which characters you are) Judge: "Gentlemen, you have been accused of public drunkenness, rowdy behavior, and disturbing the peace. How do you plead?" Lawyer: "Your Honor, my clients plead ...

4145. In the Meantime: Between the First and Second Comings

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

David Busic

How he knew every day that it was time, still baffles me. Can a two year old have an internal clock? Certainly he knew instinctively when it is time to eat, and I think his body told him that it was time to nap, but how did he know it was time for Sesame Street? But every single day, he knew. “Sessy Steet; Sessy Steet.” And he was right. The songs were what got me. Here, years later, I know every word to “Elmo’s Song.” I suspect that they write these children’s songs intentionally so that they sound like ...

4146. To Hell and Back

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

Visitors to Michigan never fail to be amused when they discover that our state contains both a Hell and a Paradise, Michigan. Paradise is in the Upper Peninsula, and Hell is not too far from Ann Arbor. I have no idea what that means. The first week I arrived in Ann Arbor, I recall reading a startling headline in the Ann Arbor News. I kid you not, this is what it said: “Dam water recedes; Hell out of danger.” In this sermon I would suggest that, Biblically speaking, Hell is never out of danger as long as ...

4147. What Happens When I Die?

John 14:1-4

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

My children and grandchildren introduced me to that delightful little comic strip Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. In one strip, Calvin is lying on a hillside, next to his stuffed tiger Hobbes, pondering the meaning of life. He asks: I wonder where we go when we die. They lie there for a few moments, and then Hobbes replies, Pittsburgh? In the last panel, Calvin asks, You mean if were good or if were bad? A day or two before he died, William Saroyan said to his friends, “Everybody has got to die; but I ...

4148. Christmas and the Condensed Bible

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

I must confess that I am not a great fan of Reader’s Digest, but in a strange way, the magazine is partly responsible for my being in the United Methodist ministry. You see, during the late 1940’s and 1950’s, the “red-baiting” era of the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy, Reader’s Digest published an article titled “Methodism’s Pink Fringe.” The article purported to show that Methodists were, in reality, Communists, because they believed in such radical things as civil rights and world peace. Having recently ...

4149. Jesus and the Divorced Evangelist

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

As I read the Gospels, I often find the disciples moving along briskly, going from this place to that place, when suddenly, one of them looks around and says, “Where is Jesus?” Then they must backtrack and they usually find Him off on a side street talking to an old woman, or stopping by the wayside to talk to a beggar, or to heal a man born blind, or to speak to an outcast woman at a well. Thus Jesus was constantly surprising His disciples, and nowhere more so than in the event recorded in our Scripture ...

4150. Let the Son Shine In

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

I make no apology for the pun in the title of this sermon, for the author of the Fourth gospel delights in just such puns. Many of the words which he uses have double meanings, meanings which can only be understood fully against the background in which the words were originally spoken. That is what makes this Gospel so exciting. There are hidden depths of meaning which can be found beneath the surface John says specifically that Jesus spoke the words during the Jewish “Feast of Tabernacles” (7:2) in ...

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