Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4276 to 4300 of 4963 results

4276. When the Wine Fails

John 2:1-11

Illustration

John K. Bergland

... . You have heard a graduating senior say it: This is the happiest day of my life. Some days are like that; they're special. There are great days in all of our lives. I wonder what was your most wondrous moment? For me such days are filled with extraordinary hope and joy. For me it was the birth of my daughter because it was shared with my wife and family. [state yours]. Life involves many happy affairs the birth of a child, the gatherings of Christmas, a summer vacation. It is often said that to love and be ...

4277. Digging Deeper

Philippians 3:12-16

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... like Morons. A Christian who lives like the normal people and tries to tell others about this abnormal Savior who offers life and hope, and a changed life, look like fools. That's why it matters where we go, who we spend time with, what sites we ... know that salt enhances the flavor of food. And that brings me to why we handed out Pretzels. You'll notice they're Salted Pretzels. I hope a simple Salty Pretzel will help you remember that Jesus said: You are the salt of the earth. You can eat it now, but you ...

4278. Cross Eyed: Glory

John 12:20-33

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the grain of wheat, Jesus brought forth new life and Glorified God in the most fabulous way, through the Resurrection. God was glorified, not so much in the cross of Christ, though we certainly see the Glory of God in the forgiveness and salvation and mercy and hope which the Cross brings. We certainly see the Glory of God as we look back with Cross Eyed Faith at the events of that day. And God was glorified, not so much in the death of Jesus, though we honor and remember that, too. Because without that ...

4279. Each Day is a Little Life

Luke 4:14-21; 11:1-13

Illustration

St. Francis of Assisi

Our Father, each day is a little life, each night a tiny death; help us to live with faith and hope and love. Lift our duty above drudgery; let not our strength fail, or the vision fade, in the heat and burden of the day. ... sweeter charity of words, and a more healing touch. Sustain us, O God, when we must face sorrow; give us courage for the day and hope for the morrow. Day unto day may we lay hold of thy hand and look up into thy face, whatever befall, until our work is finished and the day is done. Amen.

4280. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... “knowledge” that emboldens Paul to count “sharing in his suffering” as a positive, even to the point of “becoming like him in death” (v.10). Paul once was a zealous Pharisee who put his faith into action by persecuting the church. Paul now hopes to put his new faith in Christ into action by suffering even as Christ suffered, even to the terrible end of crucifixion and death. Paul desires to be “conformed” (“symmorphizomenos”), to be joined to Christ’s own form, in death, even as he ...

4281. Resurrected Obedience (Series: Living on the Resurrection Side of Life)

John 14:15-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... us to prepare the way. There’s never a burden that He will not carry, never a sorrow that He will not share. Our bright hope for tomorrow is built on nothing less than the love of Jesus which surrounds us day by day. Only trust Him. Only trust Him now ... productivity of my efforts and the content of my character, and my willingness to apply myself for the common good. I want freedom to pursue my hopes and dreams with the grace of God to try again. I want to be judged not by the number of times I fail, but by ...

4282. Discover The Joy Of Christmas

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... none of it seemed to work. We kept getting it wrong or simply forgetting it, so God had to come up with another way. God had come to clean up the spiritual clutter in our lives. It started in the manger but the first group to hear this message of Hope and Joy was one of the least likely group of people ever chosen, the Shepherds, who were only slightly higher than the Lepers in the social pecking order of the day. Listen to what the Gospel says: Luke 2:8-20 (NRSV) [8] In that region there were shepherds ...

4283. Radical Love is Truthful (Series: Radical Love in a Risky World)

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... As I read through the Bible again with many of you, I have come to this conclusion about all of that stuff that goes on in the Old Testament. If God can have mercy on the warring, killing, conniving people of the Old Testament there is surely some hope for me. Lately, I've been reading through II Samuel. It’s got the famous plots in there, like David and Bathsheba. Everybody knows that story. But I had almost forgotten the story of Tamar and Amnon, children of King David. They were half brother and sister ...

4284. Am I In Shape Spiritually? (Series: Real Faith for Real People)

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... of Christ’s presence be acted out in a more concrete way than Holy Communion? It is bread making its way through your digestive system and wine finding its way through your blood stream, giving us help for today and a brighter hope for tomorrow. Holy Communion conveys God’s great hope for tomorrow. “By your Spirit make us one with Christ, and one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.” Take their threats of ...

4285. Stewardship of the Church (Series: Stewardship: Discover This Word and Love It!)

Acts 20:13-38

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the Church of God which Christ bought with his own blood.” That’s where I want to land today. We are stewards of Creation. We are stewards of the Gospel. We are stewards of the Church. I. The Church Is of God. It’s God’s Best Hope for Humanity. Some might question that. The Church has been torn apart by splits and schisms for centuries. Paul warned of wolves without and worry warts within. The Church has its problems and it always will, because the Church is composed of people like you and like me ...

4286. Follow Your Mentors (Series: An Invitation to Christian Discipleship)

John 14:15-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... needs somebody to lean on. Our parents were most likely our first mentors. Abraham Lincoln once said, “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother.” One thing we all have in common is a mother. Mothers come in all shapes ... lot of help.” Lord, help me know the truth about myself and others, help show me guidance for the way, help me have strength for today and hope for tomorrow. C. When the Holy Spirit is our Mentor, we have God’s PEACE. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I ...

4287. Radical Love is Forgiving (Series: Radical Love in a Risky World)

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... , that’s how you receive it. Verse 50: “And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you, go in peace.’” Faith is the rare courage to act on that which you cannot yet prove to be true. Faith is leaving a fresh grave with enough hope to carry on. Faith is writing a song of thanksgiving when the rent is due. Faith is accepting forgiveness when it seems nothing more than a distant dream. Faith is proclaiming peace while you still feel the turmoil inside. Faith is letting your hair down enough to ...

4288. Cast All Your Anxiety on Him

1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... a piece of cake for you? (1) Today is Mother's Day. A day we celebrate the Christian ideal of Mothers and the ChristianHome. I gave up doing long flowery sermons about the virtues of motherhood a long time ago. When I was young and naive, I hoped all other families were like Ozzie and Harriet, Father Knows Best and Leave It To Beaver. But in reality, they're more like the Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond and The Osbornes than the 1950's idyllic family portrayals. Do you know what the prefect family and the ...

4289. Future Perfect

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . The cross was totally foreign to their understanding of the role of the Messiah. So, when Jesus died on the cross, their hopes and dreams died with Him. And when Jesus was sealed in the Tomb, they thought their fate was sealed as well. Their ... gifts and talents God gives each person to fulfill a unique purpose in life. Ashley looked into Nichols' face and told him the he needed hope for his life. Nichols responded, "Look at me, look at my eyes. I am already dead." She countered, "You're not dead. You're ...

4290. Come and See

John 1:29-42

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... of character, has freed Neo from the Matrix. He's convinced that Neo is the One. The one who will save them and set them free. He tells another character, Trinity: "We've done it Trinity. We've found him." Trinity says, "I hope you're right." And Morpheus responds, "You don't have to hope. I know it." That's basically the Message Andrew had for his brother. Andrew Pointed out Jesus to his brother Simon in a very simple way. He said: "We've found the Messiah." That's all. He could have quoted Morpheus and ...

4291. If, Because, Regardless

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... we do or how we respond. "If, Because, Regardless" it doesn't make any difference to God. God is God. And I hope you noticed, too, that all of these types of Christians are still Christians. As our spiritual life and relationship with God grows, usually ... as you are. God may not leave you there, but God meets you there and loves you as your are. No strings attached. And hopefully, the church lives and models that, too. Because, you see, it takes all of us. Individually, we are weak. But together, we can be ...

4292. Guard the Good Treasure

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Do you like Optical Illusions? I do. I think we're probably all familiar with the work of M.C. Escher and his pencil drawings like "Relativity" and "Waterfall." There are any number of famous optical illusions. So, I've picked a few to show you this morning. I hope they don't make your head hurt or your eyes go bonkers on you. These are some of the more interesting ones I've found. So, what's with the optical illusions? Well, there are a lot of people who live their faith like optical illusions. They aren't ...

4293. Let's Make A Deal

Luke 16:1-13

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... we had enough fun yet? Do you remember that show? It was a staple of American Television for years. People would dress up in outlandish costumes in hopes of being one of the 36 people chosen to be a Trader on Let's Make A Deal. I almost dressed up today. You see this ... manager in today's parable and cooked the books by squandering the precious property God has put in your care, there's hope. God wants to give you another chance through His Son Jesus. Man what a deal. 1. From sermon notes by Deacon Sil Galvan ...

4294. John 5:1-9

John 5:1-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... pools, all populated by those who were “blind, lame, and paralyzed,” the scene would have been impressively large and heart-wrenching. Among all those helpless yet hopeful people, first John’s text, and then Jesus himself, focuses on one particularly tragic case — a man who had been waiting at the waters for thirty-eight years hoping to be healed. While John’s text articulates this background for his readers, Jesus’ discernment is immediate and intuitive: “Jesus saw him lying there and knew ...

4295. To Live Is to Choose

Matthew 7:13-14

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... are a lot of men in this congregation who play golf. In fact, I’m wondering when some of these men work. I hope you won’t hold it against me that I don’t play golf. I do like golf stories. There is one out of ... poisonous to the person. Two, decision making is perilous but Three, life is life by the choices we make and to choose Jesus is to choose life. I hope you get it. The chaplain got it. That taxi driver got it. Life is life by the choices we make. And to choose Christ is to choose life. Hosanna! ...

4296. More Than We Are - Graduation

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . It adds so much spice to life. That person who is dead to desire, dull in perception, insensitive to mystery, that person is not very much alive. No vision and you perish; No ideal, and you’re lost; Your heart must ever cherish Some faith at any cost. Some hope, some dream to cling to, Some rainbow in the sky, Some melody to sing to, Some service that is high. .Harriet due Autermont, Masterpieces p.306 God has set eternity in our hearts. We want to be more than we are! The human being is the only animal ...

4297. The Broken English of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... using language every broken heart can hear and understand. Because we know what it is like to be broken by hatred, we can speak of the healing love of Christ’s sacrifice. Because we know what it is like to be broken by despair, we can speak of the healing hope of Christ’s forgiveness. Because we know what it is like to be broken by doubt, we can speak of the healing faith in Christ’s promises. Because we know what it is like to be broken by illness, we can speak of the healing wholeness of Christ’s ...

4298. Where Do We Grow from Here?

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... have not surrendered to Christ. Hear it, you who have spent your energy trying to prove to others that you are of worth. Hear it, all of you, to each of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gifts.” If there is any issue – and I hope there are many – I can address out of deep personal experience and conviction, certainly this is one of them. One of our lay people sent me a little clipping a few days ago which told this story. A new preacher had come to town. His car broke down just ...

4299. East of Eden or Home

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of identification on her, and in her unconscious state she could not reveal in any way who she was. An alert was sent out, and the missing person’s bureau notified in hopes of finding her family. In the meantime, the hospital staff gave her a name, Jane Doe. Days went by and hundreds of parents came to the room, hopeful that she might be their missing daughter, only to discover that she was not. In the meantime, the entire hospital staff became interested and involved in her life, creating a new family ...

4300. Take Off Your Shoes...You Are Standing on Holy Ground

Acts 7:1-53

Sermon

James W. Moore

... Moses standing before that Burning Bush years ago, I also realized how overwhelming that call is, how important it is, how crucial it is… how awesome it is. And as I thought of that, I understood what Moses understood that day long ago… - That our only hope…, our only hope in performing our sacred responsibility is that God is with us. - Wherever we go, whatever we do, God will be with us, we can count on that. - That is God’s great promise on page after page of the Bible… - That God is with us ...

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