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Showing 4226 to 4250 of 4681 results

4226. Faces of Failure: Nicodemus

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Don Tuttle

... to be born of God by the Spirit. But, Nicodemus doesn’t get it. He so obtuse that Jesus chides him: “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?” Still, Jesus doesn’t give up. “We speak of what we know,” he says, “and bear witness to what we have seen.” What Jesus knows and what he has seen, he goes on to say, are “heavenly things,” the things of God. He knows them because he is the Son of Man who has “descended from heaven.” And he has done so to be ...

4227. Faces of Failure: Pontius Pilate

Matthew 27:1-2, 11-26

Sermon

Don Tuttle

... over expediency. He chose to save us rather than himself. And because he did, we are empowered to choose him. Because he chose us, we live each day knowing God’s love is greater than whatever social, political, or financial pressure the world might bring to bear upon us. We know that his grace is greater than whatever obedience to him might cost. We know that the relationship we have with him is far, far more important and life giving that what others might think of us. And that knowledge sustains us in ...

4228. Please Pass the Resurrection Biscuits

Luke 24:35-48

Sermon

King Duncan

... deal with the meaning of the cross on which Christ died, the early church came to understand that those nail prints in the hands and feet of the Master should have been in our hands and feet. But God so loved the world that he sent his own Son to bear the burden brought about by the iniquity of us all. Can you deal with that? Can you believe that God really cares about us that much? Bishop William Willimon tells of once visiting a man with only a couple of days left to live. He asked the man whether he ...

4229. United We Stand

John 17:11b-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... crowd was startled. Then they realized that she had picked up exactly where Pierre had left off when he had been interrupted while reading a paper he had been presenting to them before his untimely death. Then Hinson makes this observation, “As Christians, we should bear with pride the fact that we pick up where Jesus left off, because we are His body in the world.” (5) This is the purpose of faith says Dan Walker in his book, Energy in the Pew. “Reviewing the gospels recently,” he said, “I was ...

4230. Such a Little Thing

Mark 4:26-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... . None of the disciples or even Jesus himself held positions of power and significance. The tiny mustard seed called the church that they planted 2,000 years ago showed little promise at the time, but today, of the 7½ billion people on earth, 1 out of 3 bear the name Christian. Don’t ignore the power of little things. Someone has said the sweetest music comes only from the smaller birds. As a matter of fact, the smaller birds are the only ones who really sing. You don’t hear many beautiful notes from ...

4231. When a Storm Is Raging

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

... through a time like that sooner or later. The brilliant Christian author C. S. Lewis had been married only four years when his wife, Joy, died of cancer. The couple was very much in love and Joy’s death was almost too much for C.S. to bear. He plunged into a deep depression and did the only thing he knew to do: he wrote. During that time he filled up several journals, which were later compiled and published under the title, A Grief Observed. With the untimely death of his wife, C. S. Lewis’ unwavering ...

4232. Some Things I've Learned Since I Knew It All

Mark 4:26-34

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... more money by selling us more and more stuff. Sometimes, when it comes to really important things, like coming back to God, it takes parents, Sunday school teachers, and other seemingly unimportant witnesses who plant seeds that may be hidden for years, but eventually bear fruit. The world says that small is of little value. In fact, small beginnings in the kingdom of God can lead to the biggest thing of all -- eternal life. 1. Ron Lavin, Abba (Another Look at The Lord's Prayer) (Lima, Ohio: CSS Publishing ...

4233. Close Calls

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... the alligator. He yelled to the children. Two of them heard the cry and headed for shore. The third child, Mike, was under the water using his diving gear to look beneath the surface. The other two children got near the shore, looked back, and saw the alligator bearing down like a torpedo on their brother. One of them started back to warn Mike, but it was too late. The alligator was upon the boy. He was about to swallow him whole, but when the alligator chomped down on the boy's head, he found the diving ...

4234. When I AM Speaks, You'd Better Listen

John 6:24-35

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... , he tried to stop drinking, but he failed time and time again. One day, the bills from a recent trip arrived. The trouble was that "Hap" didn't remember making that trip. He had invited his drinking buddies to fly to Chicago with him, take in a Chicago Bears football game, and eat at expensive restaurants -- all at his expense. He stared at the bills and said, "I don't remember inviting my friends to go with me. I don't remember the flight to Chicago or the football game. I don't remember any of the meals ...

4235. Free Indeed!

John 8:31-36

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... it was peace. While they were kept subservient, they thought they were free. While they remained ignorant of what was really going on in the world around them, they thought they were strong. Does this sound odd, or perhaps oddly familiar? Today's scripture seems to bear witness to a similar kind of double talk. As Jesus spoke with some of the Jews who had believed in him, they said with confidence, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of anyone." Yet at one point in their history, their ...

4236. Jesus' No-Nonsense Guide to Being Rich

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... interested in eternal life, then you need to start with the commandments. Jesus listed a few of them -- not all of the Ten Commandments, but a good half of them: "You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and mother." To this, the young man immediately responded, "Teacher, I have kept all of these." It might sound arrogant to us, but maybe he was right. Maybe he really had kept all of the commandments ...

4237. No Reason to Worry

Matthew 6:25-33

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... , deforestation, global warming, and other stresses have certainly changed the environment for plant and animal life -- the lilies and birds that Jesus mentioned -- and for human life as well. If nature has failed to provide as God intended, we as human beings certainly bear some of that responsibility. Instead of worrying, we are to set our minds and hearts on God's kingdom. Just before these verses, Jesus told his disciples, "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and wealth" (Matthew 6:24 ...

4238. When Your Life Is Put On Hold

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

King Duncan

... the lyrics as if he were hearing them for the first time. In a world that’s wracked by sin and sorrow, There is peace. When you find no hope for your tomorrow, There is peace. When it seems your heavy burden is much too much to bear, In Jesus, there is perfect peace. (5) Jesus made his way to Jairus’ house accompanied by his three closest disciples--Peter, James, and John. When he came into the house he saw family and friends weeping loudly. “Why all this crying and commotion?” Jesus asked. “The ...

4239. Filling the Emptiness Within

John 6:24-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... attempt to eat thirty pounds. I wonder how much food the average offensive lineman in the National Football League eats? The heaviest player in NFL history was a giant named Aaron Gibson who weighed in at 410 lbs while playing offensive lineman for the Lions, Cowboys, Bears and Bills over his five season career. I doubt that he reached that size by eating three normal meals a day, do you? Remember, some of these behemoths you see on TV on Sunday afternoons are not only big, but they are also quite athletic ...

4240. At the Intersection of Heaven and Earth

Luke 3:1-6

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’s memory. Croyle once said he has seen hundreds of miracles among those boys and girls. At the ranch the children are exposed to faith, love, and hard work. Over the years Croyle has received much help from football friends like the late great coach Bear Bryant and many NFL luminaries, John Croyle married his childhood sweetheart. At the time of the magazine article, they lived in a small farmhouse at the Big Oak Ranch. “The boys say they know I love them,” said Croyle, “because I live in a smaller ...

4241. Holy Happiness

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... shrivel up and die. But rooted in the moist promises of God, we — in the words of the prophet — “shall not fear when the heat comes,” and “in the year of the drought, we will not be anxious” and “our leaves will stay green and our branches will bear fruit.” I think Jesus is saying two things to us today. First of all, he is saying that when we live out of vulnerability and need — out of our emptiness and not out of our fullness — it is then that we can connect with God and that God can ...

4242. In the Light of His Glory

Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... like a cascade of fireworks.” To ride the waves they went out some distance from the shore. Then turning toward land DeWolf was gripped by a strange fear. The lights from the shore no longer shone. So he looked up to the sky to get his bearings. But the sky was like the water--full of the spectacular confusion of the northern lights. “No star was visible. Then panic overtook him, for in all that glittering display there was no fixed reality. He could not tell the way to shore. He started back with ...

4243. Eyes Set on Jerusalem

Luke 13:31-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... there? Thirty-three years old . . . still a young man with amazing promise . . . a possible world of adventure lay before him . . . he could have literally had it all . . . with no pain . . . but he turned his back on pleasures that could have been his in order to bear witness in Jerusalem to his Father’s love. Weak people offer up bluster, threats and words of intimidation. The truly strong man looks death in the face and gives his or her life for a cause bigger than himself. The lyrics of some of our ...

4244. What to Do With Human Failing

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... ! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9) Notice what is happening in this story. A backyard fig tree has yet to produce figs. The owner suggests giving up and cutting the tree down. The gardener suggests another way. Give ...

4245. Be Ready for the Possibility of the Resurrection

John 20:1-18

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... and not for harm; a God who promotes life rather than settling for death. Deep within her heart, Mary never gave up believing that God had not abandoned her and sooner or later, she would see the evidence of God’s presence. Frankly, her faith did not bear fruit easily or quickly. It did not happen when the stone was rolled away or when she realized the grave was empty. She was not impressed by the conversation with angels or by the sight of Jesus standing in the garden. For whatever reason, only when she ...

4246. On Welcoming the Imperfect

John 10:22-30

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... , that is exactly what happened. The oil for a single day burned for eight days. Exactly how and why a one day supply of oil lasted for eight days, I do not know. It is a mystery. The lessons of Hanukah are many. Beware of Greeks bearing the gift of their ways of thinking and doing. Remember that impure pagans can lead you astray. Outsiders can take over your country, undermine your culture, and destroy your religion. Stay pure. Hang tight to your way of life. These are all incredibly important lessons. It ...

4247. Known By Our Love

John 13:31-35

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... specifics: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Philippians 2:3 points to overall attitude and motivation. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.” Romans 12:9-10: “Let love be ...

4248. The Christ of Bethlehem

Illustration

Mack Stokes

... ruled no nation. And yet . . . He who never wrote a line has been made the hero of unnumbered volumes. He who never wrote a song has put music into the hearts of nameless multitudes. He who never established an institution is the foundation of the Church that bears his name. He who refused the kingdoms of this world has become the Lord of millions. Yes, He whose shameful death scarcely produced a ripple on the pool of history in his day has become a mighty current in the vast ocean of the centuries since He ...

4249. Three Ways of Viewing Christmas

Illustration

Harry Reasoner

... reverently. If this is the anniversary of the appearance of the Lord of the universe in the form of a helpless babe, it is a very important day. It's a startling idea, of course. My guess is that the whole story that a virgin was selected by God to bear His Son as a way of showing His love and concern for man is not an idea that has been popular with theologians. It's a somewhat illogical idea, and theologians like logic almost as much as they like God. It's so revolutionary a thought that it probably could ...

4250. Four Speeches in All

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

William Lyon Phelps, the late Yale professor and lecturer, once said that he got credit for only one-fourth of his after-dinner speeches. "Every time I accept an invitation to speak, I really make four addresses. First is the speech I prepare in advance. That is pretty good. Second is the speech I really make. Third is the speech I make on my way home, which is the best of all; and the fourth is the speech the newspapers the next morning say I made, which bears no relation to any of the others."

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