Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4276 to 4300 of 5000 results

4276. God Works from the Inside

Mk 12:28-34

Illustration

King Duncan

A six year old boy was assisting his mother with some spring gardening. The mother was absorbed in her work while the little boy explored the miracle of growing things exploding everywhere. All at once the boy picked up a daffodil bud, and sat down on the ground, and studied it. Then with his two little hands, he tried to force it open into a full blossom. The result, of course, was disappointment and a mess: limp petals and a dead flower. Frustrated, he cried out, "Mommy, why is it that when I try to open ...

4277. Facing Doubts

Mark 11:1-11; 12:41-44

Illustration

Donald B. Strobe

One day a student came to see the great Episcopal bishop/preacher Phillips Brooks, and said to him, "Dr. Brooks I would like to share my doubts with you, but I am afraid it might destroy your faith." Brooks could only lean back in his chair and roar with laughter. Any minister who has done any thinking at all, has faced doubts. Just the calling into ministry is a huge crossroads for any human being. You have to overcome a sea of uncertainties to say "Yes" to such a foolish endeavor as ministry. Crushing ...

4278. Giving - Sermon Starter

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

There was a man who called at the church and asked if he could speak to the Head Hog at the trough. The secretary said, "Who?" Then she gathered herself and said "Sir, if you mean our pastor you will have to treat him with a little more respect than that and ask for the ‘Reverend' or ‘The Pastor.' But certainly you cannot refer to him as the Head Hog at the Trough." The man said, "I understand. I was calling because I have $10,000 I was thinking about donating to the building fund." She said, "Hold on for ...

4279. The Authority of a Servant

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

Robert Fulghum, who wrote "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," says that he placed alongside the mirror in his bathroom a picture of a woman who is not his wife. That's risky business! Every morning as he stood there shaving, he looked at the picture of that woman. The picture? The picture is of a small humped-over woman wearing sandals and a blue eastern robe and head dress (sari). She is surrounded by important-looking people in tuxedos, evening gowns, and the regalia of royalty. It is ...

4280. Giving Till It Helps

Mark 12:38-44

Illustration

Don't give till it hurts. Give till it helps. The story is told of a very wealthy man who had never been known for his generosity to the church. The church was involved in a big financial program and they resolved to pay him a visit. When the committee met with the man one afternoon, they said that in view of his considerable resources they were sure that he would like to make a substantial contribution to this program. "I see," he said, "so you have it all figured out have you? In the course of your ...

4281. Now That I Have Your Undivided Attention

Mark 12:38-44

Illustration

A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to the temple to pray for the money. By chance he sat next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt. The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man's hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the temple. The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed: "And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention . . ."

4282. The Widow’s Mite for $39.95

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

An advertisement I ran across read: "Now you too can own a Genuine Coin From The Time of Jesus: The Widow's Mite. It's a minor miracle that this coin has survived and now people of faith can study, cherish, and protect it for future generations. It's yet another miracle that they're so affordable." Then, the ad goes on to quote the Scripture we just heard, "While our limited supplies last, you may order the 2,000 year old Widow's Mite for only $39.95 plus shipping and handling. Remember this is the genuine ...

4283. It’s How You Give

Illustration

Keith Wagner

Abraham Lincoln, was once hired by a man to sue someone else because they owed him $2.50. Not a large amount, but in the 1860's it was. Lincoln didn't want to take the case but his client insisted. So Abe asked for a $10.00 retainer fee up front. His client handed him the $10. Lincoln then gave the man who owed $2.50 half of the ten. The man promptly paid his debt and everyone went home happy. It's not what you give, its HOW you give. God wants us to give of ourselves joyfully without expecting anything in ...

4284. I Have a Dollar

Mark 12:38-44

Illustration

The Junior Sunday School Teacher asked her eight eager children if they would give $1,000,000 to the missionaries. "YES!" they all screamed!! "Would you give $1,000?" Again they shouted, "YES!" "How about $100?" "Oh, YES we would!" they all agreed!! "Would you give just a dollar to the missionaries?" she asked. The boys exclaimed "YES!" just as before except for Johnny. "Johnny," the teacher said as she noticed the boy clutching his pocket, "why didn't you say 'YES' this time?" "Well," he stammered, "I ...

4285. A Symbol of Hope

Mk 12:38-44

Illustration

King Duncan

Author Ruele Howe tells about growing up with his parents in the country. When he was 15 years old, the house caught on fire. They escaped with only the clothes on their backs. There were no close neighbors to help so he and his father walked to a distant village to get supplies. As they returned they saw something that stayed with Ruele Howe all those years after. Beside the charred remains of what had been their house, his mother had laid out lunch on a log. She had placed a tin can filled with ...

4286. Cordially Yours

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

King Duncan

I'm reminded of the story of the young soldier who was overseas. He was writing his girlfriend. He wanted to send her a telegram because he thought that would make more of an impression. So he gave the telegraph operator a message to send. The message was this: "I love you. I love you. I love you. John." The telegraph operator said, "Son, for the same amount of money you can send one more word." So he amended his message and it read like this: "I love you. I love you. I love you. Cordially, John." Many of ...

4287. Practicing What You Preach

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Edgar A. Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one, any day; I'd rather one would walk with me than merely tell me the way; The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear. Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear, And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds, For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

4288. Trusting in the Father’s Storehouse

Mk 12:38-44

Illustration

King Duncan

In George S. Clason's, The Richest Man in Babylon, he teaches an important principle. It's a principle you're familiar with: the person wanting to be rich should give away ten percent of everything he earns. Why? According to Clason there are some deep subconscious, psychological principles. The first is that you should put back what you take out. The second is that the act of giving ten percent creates value for yourself and others. But I was drawn to his third reason for giving ten percent away. When we ...

4289. Clergy Playing It Safe

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

In a book entitled Plain Talk about Churches and Money, one of the authors states: "Clergy often come to their calling with a distinct aversion to conflict and to having to deal with money issues. Our culture seems to reinforce them in that behavior. So long as clergy are cowed and anxious in the face of money and wealth, they will remain silent about the spiritual issue that touches our culture more deeply than any other. The more I steeped myself in this book and looked at churches around me, the more I ...

4290. What Would You Do with a Million Dollars?

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

David Chadwell

How often have you imagined using the one million, five million, or ten million dollar grand prize of some well-known sweepstakes? How many times have you 'daydreamed' about how you would use a large, unexpected sum of money? How many times have you listed [in your mind] all the good things you would do if you suddenly received a large, unexpected inheritance? Have you ever made this statement: "If I had the money, I would take care of 'X' need in the congregation." It is amazing to consider what we would ...

4291. The Pig and the Chicken

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

A discussion was taking place in Farmer John's barnyard between a pig and a chicken. The pig said, "I've noticed that Farmer John is walking around very depressed these days. The farm isn't doing so well, and he seems very upset. Let's think of some way we could cheer him up." "I know," said the chicken. "He loves to eat, so let's fix him a great big breakfast! How does ham and eggs sound?" The pig pondered a moment and then said, "Well, the breakfast idea sounds good but the menu bothers me a bit." "Why ...

4292. Give, Give, Give

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

James I. McCord, then president emeritus of Princeton University Theological School, told the story of a man who commented that he was never coming back to a particular church because all they ever talked about in that church was give, give, give. Concluded Dr. McCord: I cannot think of a better definition of Christianity than that: give, give, give. I am convinced that unless you learn to give you can never learn to be fully human. Let me ask you this. If there was a dog walking down the street, healthy ...

4293. Muggeridge Encounters Mother Teresa

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

In 1970, a man by the name of Malcolm Muggeridge went to Calcutta to do a special documentary on Mother Teresa for BBC-TV. Muggeridge then was Europe's Tom Brokaw. Well, on that fated morning of their meeting (a morning that would change him the him for the rest of his life) he met her as she was working out in the streets with sick and poor people in a ghetto like he had never seen before, amid stench, filth, garbage, disease, and poverty that was just unbelievable. But what struck Muggeridge more than ...

4294. The Bedrock of Faith - Sermon Starter

Mk 13:1-8; Lk 21:5-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

Have you ever tried to make a prediction? Here are some predictions from the past. All from people who were trusted individuals: "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962. Popular Mechanics magazine in 1949 made this prediction: "Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and weigh only 1.5 tons." There was an inventor by the name of ...

4295. Enough

Mark 13:1-31

Illustration

King Duncan

Gregory L. Fisher in Leadership magazine tells of teaching a class at the West African Bible College. One day the class was discussing the Second Coming of Christ. A student asked Fisher a question that took him by surprise. The question was this: "What will he say when he shouts?" The student said, "Reverend, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says that Christ will descend from heaven with a loud command. I would like to know what that command will be." Fisher wanted to leave the question unanswered, to tell the ...

4296. Just Stay in the Race

Mark 13:1-8

Illustration

King Duncan

Mary Hollingsworth tells a story about the noted director of biblical epics, Cecil B. DeMille. When they began working on the movie Ben Hur, DeMille talked to Charlton Heston the star of the movie about the all-important chariot race at the end. He decided Heston should actually learn to drive the chariot himself, rather than just using a stunt double. Heston agreed to take chariot-driving lessons to make the movie as authentic as possible. Learning to drive a chariot with horses four abreast, however, was ...

4297. False Prophets and Messiahs

Mark 13:1-8; Luke 21:5-38

Illustration

Tim Carpenter

Several years ago, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks did a comedy skit called the "2000 Year Old Man". In the skit, Reiner interviews Brooks, who is the old gentleman. At one point, Reiner asks the old man, "Did you always believe in the Lord?" Brooks replied: "No. We had a guy in our village named Phil, and for a time we worshiped him." Reiner: You worshiped a guy named Phil? Why? Brooks: Because he was big, and mean, and he could break you in two with his bare hands! Reiner: Did you have prayers? Brooks: Yes, ...

4298. Gollum's Riddle

Mk 13:1-8; Lk 21:5-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

In the Hobbit by JRR Tolkein Bilbo Baggins has met Gollum for the first time. Bilbo is lost and needs to find his way out of Gollum's cave. Gollum will show him the way out if he can answer a riddle. This thing all things devours, Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stone to meal;| Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down. Bilbo is stumped. He doesn't know the answer to the riddle and after being pressured by Gollum says, "Give me time." Gollum hears the word " ...

4299. Predictions of the Future

Mark 13:1-8; Luke 21:5-38

Illustration

Here are some predictions of the future. All from people who could be trusted: "Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and weigh only 1.5 tons." Popular Mechanics, 1949 "While theoretically and technically television may be feasible, commercially and financially it is an impossibility." Lee DeForest, inventor. "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." Decca Recording Co. ...

4300. On the Preparation Committee

Mark 13:1-8

Illustration

Donald B. Strobe

It is understandable that some Christians have grown impatient over the centuries, and have tried to speed things up a bit. I love what someone once said about the return of the Lord. "God did not put me on the Time & Place Committee; He put me on the Preparation Committee." Our job is not to speculate about times and seasons, but to make sure that we are living as God wants us to live - sisters and brothers to one another - here and now. Some folks are "so heavenly minded they are no earthly good."

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 4276 to 4300 of 5000 results

4276. God Works from the Inside

Mk 12:28-34

Illustration

King Duncan

4277. Facing Doubts

Mark 11:1-11; 12:41-44

Illustration

Donald B. Strobe

4278. Giving - Sermon Starter

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

4279. The Authority of a Servant

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

4280. Giving Till It Helps

Mark 12:38-44

Illustration

4281. Now That I Have Your Undivided Attention

Mark 12:38-44

Illustration

4282. The Widow’s Mite for $39.95

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

4283. It’s How You Give

Illustration

Keith Wagner

4284. I Have a Dollar

Mark 12:38-44

Illustration

4285. A Symbol of Hope

Mk 12:38-44

Illustration

King Duncan

4286. Cordially Yours

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

King Duncan

4287. Practicing What You Preach

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Edgar A. Guest

4288. Trusting in the Father’s Storehouse

Mk 12:38-44

Illustration

King Duncan

4289. Clergy Playing It Safe

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

4290. What Would You Do with a Million Dollars?

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

David Chadwell

4291. The Pig and the Chicken

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

4292. Give, Give, Give

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

4293. Muggeridge Encounters Mother Teresa

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

4294. The Bedrock of Faith - Sermon Starter

Mk 13:1-8; Lk 21:5-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

4295. Enough

Mark 13:1-31

Illustration

King Duncan

4296. Just Stay in the Race

Mark 13:1-8

Illustration

King Duncan

4297. False Prophets and Messiahs

Mark 13:1-8; Luke 21:5-38

Illustration

Tim Carpenter

4298. Gollum's Riddle

Mk 13:1-8; Lk 21:5-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

4299. Predictions of the Future

Mark 13:1-8; Luke 21:5-38

Illustration

4300. On the Preparation Committee

Mark 13:1-8

Illustration

Donald B. Strobe

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