Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 401 to 425 of 900 results

401. It's a Big Ocean to be Lost In

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Brett Blair

H.H. Staton in his book, "A Guide To the Parables of Jesus" tells the story of having been on an ocean liner headed to the Middle East. Nine hundred miles out to sea a sail was sighted on the horizon. As the liner drew closer, the passengers saw that the boat - a small sloop flying a Turkish flag - had run up a distress signal and other flags asking for its position at sea. Through a faulty chron...

402. It's Time to Get Up

John 11:1-45

Sermon

Brett Blair

We could all use good news right now and I have Good News for you: God has a resurrection for you! He wants to bring you out into the light again. He wants to bring you out of that tomb of oppression and give you a new start. And listen! He has the power to do it. He can bring you back to life. This powerful story in John 11 speaks to this. Remember it with me. Mary and Martha who live in Bethany...

403. It's What's Inside That Matters

Mark 7:1-23

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: What comes out of our heart makes us clean or unclean. Props: A mason jar covered on the outside with mud. This should be done the night before so that it will be dry and hard in the morning. The dirt should hide the appearance of clean water on the inside. A lid should be screwed on but not tight. Note: If you do not have mud that will stick in your area melting some chocolate chi...

404. Jarius' Daughter

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Brett Blair

Mark makes it clear that Jairus was no ordinary individual. Indeed, he was a very important person. He was one of the rulers of a local synagogue, probably Capernaum. He was charged with correct administration and the due conduct of worship. His decision to go to Jesus could not have been an easy one. This scene was early in Jesus’ ministry, but already the opposition is beginning to crystallize a...

405. Jefferson's Revision

Jn 20:1-18

Illustration

Brett Blair

Thomas Jefferson wrote these glowing words about Jesus: "his system of morality was the most benevolent and sublime probably that has been ever taught, and consequently more perfect than those of any of the ancient philosophers." We have much to be grateful for in Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence is one of the greatest and most consequential documents ever written. But when it came to J...

406. Jesus' Consecration

Matthew 3:13-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

Some years ago, a Scottish minister told his congregation about dreaming he had died. When he came to the pearly gates, to his dismay, he would be denied entrance until he presented his credentials. Proudly the Pastor articulated the number of sermons preached and the prominent pulpits occupied. But Saint Peter said no one had heard them in heaven. The discouraged servant enumerated his community ...

407. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Brett Blair

Lance Armstrong. Going for his eighth Tour de France. His heart is nearly one-third larger than that of the average man. At resting, it beats an average of 32 times per minute, during peak performance, 200. He burns up about 6,500 calories every day for three weeks while in the race. One of the stages of the race is 120 miles long-that day he will burn 10,000 calories. You and I burn 3,500 and tha...

408. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand - Sermon Starter

John 6:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

Philip stood looking out at the masses that were now approaching. I'm not sure what was on his mind, perhaps thrilled by the success they were having. Jesus, watching over Philip's shoulder, asks, "Philip, where shall we find bread for these people to eat?" Philips gives a realistic appraisal of the situation: Eight months wages would not be enough to feed everyone so much as a little nibble. But ...

409. JESUS: Liar, Lunatic, Legend, or Lord

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Brett Blair

Before we read the text for this morning I am going to ask you to do something a little different. I want you to listen to the reading not with a heart of faith but with a skeptical mind. If it helps, imagine that you do not know that Jesus is anything else but a teacher. You are a first century person who has just been introduced to him. [Read John 6:35, 41-51] Pretty incredible isn't it? For s...

410. Jesus: Liar, Lunatic, Legend, or Lord? - Sermon Starter

John 6:25-59

Illustration

Brett Blair

411. Journey To Jerusalem

Luke 9:51-56

Sermon

Brett Blair

In 1536 Reformer William Farel recruited John Calvin to come to Geneva, Switzerland to pastor St. Peter's Church. Calvin, a sickly man all his life, was on his way to Strasbourg to be a quiet scholar, but he relented under this need, this request, to become a pastor. Two years later, the city fathers publicly banished Calvin from Geneva. Actually, Calvin felt relieved. The moral chaos of the city...

412. Journey to Jerusalem - Sermon Starter

Luke 9:51-56

Illustration

Brett Blair

413. Just a Person across the Way

Mt 22:34-46; Mk 12:28-34; Lk 10:25-37; Jn 13:31-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

Edgar Guest, a renowned American poet at the turn of the century, tells of a neighbor by the name of Jim Potter. Mr. Potter ran the drug store in the small town where Edgar Guest lived. Guest recalled that daily he would pass his neighbor and how they would smile and exchange greetings. But it was a mere casual relationship. Then came that tragic night in the life of Edgar Guest when his first bo...

414. Just Drifting

Luke 9:51-62

Illustration

Brett Blair

Back in the 1960's a movie came out called "The Graduate," which became an American classic. It starred a then very young Dustin Hoffman as a college student trying to decide what to do with his life. There is a scene early in the movie where Dustin Hoffman is floating on a rubber raft in a swimming pool. His father comes out and asks: "What are you doing." He replies. "Drifting. Just drifting." I...

415. Keep the Pressure Out

Acts 2:38; Mt 28:19-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

There are two ways of handling pressure. One is illustrated by a bathysphere, the miniature submarine used to explore the ocean in places so deep that the water pressure would crush a conventional submarine like an aluminum can. Bathyspheres compensate with plate steel several inches thick, which keeps the water out but also makes them heavy and hard to maneuver. Inside they're not alone. When the...

416. Keeping Our Perspective and Priorities Straight

Luke 6:17-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

Leith Anderson, a pastor, shared an experience: As a boy, he grew up outside of New York City and was an avid fan of the old Brooklyn Dodgers. One day his father took him to a World Series game between the Dodgers and the Yankees. He was so excited, and he just knew the Dodgers would trounce the Yankees. Unfortunately, the Dodgers never got on base, and his excitement was shattered. Years later he...

417. Kierkegaard’s Story of the Prince

John 3:16, 16:5-33; Mt 28:16-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

We affirm a belief in the Son, Jesus Christ. We say that God took on human form, came and lived among us, suffered the same trials that we suffered, experienced the same feelings that we experienced. Jesus was purely human and purely divine. Jesus was not God. Jesus was God incarnate. There is a difference. Jesus never drew attention to himself but always pointed to God. Soren Kierkegaard, the gr...

418. Kingdom Order

Luke 14:1-14

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To teach that in God's Kingdom victory does not fall on the strongest and fastest, but on the humble. Props: First, second, and third place ribbons or trophies. Draw some ribbons if you have nothing commercial. Lesson: Good morning, children. I have a question for you. Who among you is the fastest? (response) And why are you the fastest? (response) Who among you is the strongest? (...

419. Kingdoms in Conflict

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Brett Blair

Perhaps you have heard this story. It's a great story: Many years ago, when Hitler's forces occupied Denmark, the order came that all Jews in Denmark were to identify themselves by wearing armbands with yellow stars of David. The Danes had seen the extermination of Jews in other countries and guessed that this was the first step in that process in their countries. The King did not defy the orders...

420. Kingdoms in Conflict - Sermon Starter

John 18:33-37

Illustration

Brett Blair

421. La Clairvoyance

John 3:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

One of my favorite paintings is a self-portrait by the surrealist artist, Rene Magritte. It’s called “La Clairvoyance.” It's a painting of a painter looking at his subject, an egg, and on his canvas he is painting a picture of a bird in flight. I believe that's the way the painter understood his craft. It's the we saw himself as an artist. I believe this is how Jesus saw people. He didn’t see them...

422. Landed on Top of a Lamb

John 1:29-34

Illustration

Brett Blair

A tourist visited a church in Germany and was surprised to see the carved figure of a lamb near the top of the church's tower. He asked why it was there and was told that when the church was being built, a workman fell from a high scaffold. His co-workers rushed down, expecting to find him dead. But to their surprise and joy, he was alive and only slightly injured. How did he survive? A flock of ...

423. Lazarus In The Box

John 11:38-44

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Teach the power of God to raise the dead. Props: A Jack in the Box. Lesson: As the children come down hide the Jack in the Box behind you. I found something bring it out behind the pulpit this morning turn it over in your hands and I am not sure what it is? (response) A Jack in the what? (response) Turn the box so that it will open toward the children and begin turning the handle...

424. Let Us Show Thanks in Our Example

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

An international gathering of youth met for a full week to discuss how better to promulgate Christ's message to the world. Those assembled for the conference read many informative essays, heard many fine speakers, watched a few videos, and had ample time to discuss with each other. At the end and probably because of a little frustration with the proceedings a young woman from East Africa arose and...

425. Liberty And Civility

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Brett Blair

The United States of America will be 247 years old on July 4. That's a long time for a nation to remain free. But, when you look at our history in the context of world history America is just a CHILD among the nations. Egypt, China, Japan, Rome, Greece all make America's history seem so short. Consider what a brief time we've really been here as a nation: When Thomas Jefferson died, Abraham Lincol...

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Showing 401 to 425 of 900 results

401. It's a Big Ocean to be Lost In

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Brett Blair

402. It's Time to Get Up

John 11:1-45

Sermon

Brett Blair

403. It's What's Inside That Matters

Mark 7:1-23

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

404. Jarius' Daughter

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Brett Blair

405. Jefferson's Revision

Jn 20:1-18

Illustration

Brett Blair

406. Jesus' Consecration

Matthew 3:13-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

407. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Brett Blair

408. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand - Sermon Starter

John 6:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

409. JESUS: Liar, Lunatic, Legend, or Lord

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Brett Blair

410. Jesus: Liar, Lunatic, Legend, or Lord? - Sermon Starter

John 6:25-59

Illustration

Brett Blair

411. Journey To Jerusalem

Luke 9:51-56

Sermon

Brett Blair

412. Journey to Jerusalem - Sermon Starter

Luke 9:51-56

Illustration

Brett Blair

413. Just a Person across the Way

Mt 22:34-46; Mk 12:28-34; Lk 10:25-37; Jn 13:31-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

414. Just Drifting

Luke 9:51-62

Illustration

Brett Blair

415. Keep the Pressure Out

Acts 2:38; Mt 28:19-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

416. Keeping Our Perspective and Priorities Straight

Luke 6:17-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

417. Kierkegaard’s Story of the Prince

John 3:16, 16:5-33; Mt 28:16-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

418. Kingdom Order

Luke 14:1-14

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

419. Kingdoms in Conflict

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Brett Blair

420. Kingdoms in Conflict - Sermon Starter

John 18:33-37

Illustration

Brett Blair

421. La Clairvoyance

John 3:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

422. Landed on Top of a Lamb

John 1:29-34

Illustration

Brett Blair

423. Lazarus In The Box

John 11:38-44

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

424. Let Us Show Thanks in Our Example

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

425. Liberty And Civility

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Brett Blair

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