Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4476 to 4500 of 5000 results

4476. Cosmic Embrace

John 13:31-35

Illustration

John Gibbs

In his nearly incredible report out of South Africa, No Future Without Forgiveness (New York: Image Doubleday, 1999), Archbishop Desmond Tutu's cosmic context of holy love is unmistakable: "There is a movement, not easily discernible, at the heart of things to reverse the awful centrifugal force of alienation, brokenness, division, hostility, and disharmony. God has set in motion a centripetal process, a moving toward the center, toward unity, harmony, goodness, peace and justice, a process that removes ...

4477. Three-in-one Oil

John 17:6-26

Illustration

Jef Olson

A faithful Christian couple had some bad news from their doctor. They couldn't have any children. On the way home from the doctor they went to see their pastor to ask for prayer. Being a small parish, and not well off, the pastor worked part time for the church and ran a car repair shop on the side, so they dropped by the shop. After they explained the situation, the pastor prayed for them on the spot. He looked around, grabbed a can of three-in-one oil and quickly blessed it to anoint them for healing. ...

4478. Transmitting Love

John 13:34-35

Illustration

King Duncan

Even when we are in mission we sometimes convey the wrong message. A teen-aged boy informed his father of a wonderful activity that they were going to do at his church's youth group. They were going to hand out blankets to the homeless. This was in Cleveland, Ohio where warmth is a necessity during the ruthless northeast winter. The young man exclaimed with fervor, "We're passing out blankets so that we can tell them about Jesus!" His father, simply and with certainty, corrected him. He explained, "We don' ...

4479. The Peace of Christ in a World of Chaos - Sermon Starter

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

One of the best newspaper cartoons of all time is Calvin and Hobbes. One day Calvin and Hobbes come marching into the living room early one morning. His mother is seated there in her favorite chair. She is sipping her morning coffee. She looks up at young Calvin. She is amused and amazed at how he is dressed. Calvin's head is encased in a large space helmet. A cape is draped around his neck, across his shoulders, down his back and is dragging on the floor. One hand is holding a flashlight and the other a ...

4480. A Great Power Watching

John 14:21-29

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

There was a nature show on television about a black bear that gave birth to two cubs. One cub died right away. Three weeks later the mother died and the remaining cub was left to fend for itself. An orphaned cub in that condition is like a walking buffet for predators. And of course the camera immediately showed a hungry-looking mountain lion. One day the orphan cub encountered a giant male black bear. The little cub cowered at the bear's sheer mass. The larger bear peered around and seemed to realize that ...

4481. Selfish and Altruistic at the Same Time

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Mary Hinkle Shore

E. M. Forster says, "When human beings love they try to get something. They also try to give something, and this double aim makes love more complicated than food or sleep. It is selfish and altruistic at the same time, and no amount of specialization in one direction quite atrophies the other" (Aspects of the Novel [Orlando: Harcourt, 1927] 50). On the verge of his departure from them, Jesus says to his loved ones, "If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is ...

4482. The Overwhelming Future

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Robert Deffinbaugh

This week someone left a cartoon on the Xerox machine at my office in which a man was lying on the couch of a psychiatrist. When the psychiatrist asked the client what his problem was he confided that he had all kinds of fears about the future. "Doctor," he began, "I'm worried about the energy crisis, inflation, the situation in the Middle East, political and social upheaval in Africa, our diplomatic relations with China …" I wish I could remember all of the concerns of the man in the cartoon; there were ...

4483. The “Christianity and” Syndrome

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Gregory T. Riether

C.S. Lewis once said that it's what you add to Christianity that ruins it. He called it the "'Christianity and' Syndrome;" where we link our faith to some other cause to which we are partial and say "this is the center of our faith." And so we hear from our pulpits that the main focus for us must be Christianity and Marxism, or Christianity and Capitalism, or Christianity and Social Action, or Christianity and Gun Control, or Christianity and the Republican Platform or the Democrat platform, or ...

4484. I Want Peace

John 14:23-29

Illustration

When Dante was exiled from Florence, he knocked at the door of the Franciscan monastery at Lunigiana. He was asked, "What do you want?" He replied, "Peace!"

4485. Not As the World Gives Peace

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

In the early 80's while the threat of nuclear war still hung over most the world there was a couple who, so fearful of that threat, sought to find a place somewhere on this planet where they would be free from the danger. After much time and attention to geography, trying to find the securest place possible, they settled on a group of islands, seemingly isolated from the world, called the Falklands. You will recall in 1982, not long after they had settled there, a brief, undeclared war was fought between ...

4486. God and Creation Are Always One

John 17:20-26

Illustration

Anthony Jewiss

There's a story told of respected astronomers at the Vatican Observatory who presented the church with evidence of another planet having the characteristics of our own, possibly to the extent of supporting sentient life. Two schools of thought emerged: the first advised the immediate dispatch of missionaries to bring the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ to those aliens, presumed to be very much like us. The second school advised against an expedition. Jesus came to us at the right time and place, they argued ...

4487. The Ever Peering Eye

John 17:20-26

Illustration

Greg Rickel

There was a story I once heard of a small New England town which had a tall steeple in the middle of it. The stranger to town noticed that the steeple was boarded up with plywood. He finally had to ask why. A local told him that the steeple had a stained glass window which depicted the eye of God. You know, like the one on the dollar bill, one eye, signifying the all knowing, always watching God. It turned out the village folk did not like that eye. It made them nervous, it watching them everyday, all day ...

4488. We Meet in Committees

John 17:20-26

Illustration

William Temple

We meet in committees and construct our schemes of union; in face of the hideous fact of Christian divisions we are driven to this; but how paltry are our efforts compared with the call of God! The way to the union of Christendom does not lie through committee rooms, although there are tasks to be done there, it lies through personal union with the Lord so deep and real as to be comparable with His union with the Father.

4489. Through You He Will Live Again

John 17:20-26

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

Ben Kingsley starred as the main character in the motion picture, Gandhi. He spent months preparing for the role, visiting the various Indian locales Gandhi had frequented. He even learned to spin cotton thread on a wooden wheel while holding conversations as Gandhi did. The physical resemblance between Gandhi and Kingsley was almost startling. After filming a scene in a village south of Delhi, Kingsley stepped out of a car, and an elderly peasant knelt to touch his feet. Embarrassed, Kingsley explained ...

4490. What Jesus Called Glory

John 17:20-26

Illustration

King Duncan

Most of us are like Tony Campolo. Some years ago when his children were in their preteen years, he took them with him on a speaking engagement. When they drove into the parking lot adjoining the auditorium where, in just a few minutes, Tony was to speak, there were only three cars parked there. "Dad!" exclaimed his son Bart, who at that point of his life was somewhat impressed with Tony's role as a public speaker, "Nobody's come to hear you! And you're so famous!" "Come on, Bart," responded his sister Lisa ...

4491. Drawn to God

Jn 17:20-26

Illustration

King Duncan

Theodore H. White, Pulitzer Prizewinning expert on American politics, coined a new word recently. Someone asked him about the effect of television on politicians. White answered, "Politicians remind me of a certain variety of plant - the kind that grow under porches and other places where the sun doesn't penetrate. Botanists call these plants heliotropes, meaning that as they grow, they bend in the direction of the sun. Well, politicians today are what I call ‘Videotropic.' As they grow, they follow the ...

4492. Hunting for Peace

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

The peace Jesus gives to us through the Holy Spirit is more than we can ever imagine: Peace means the cessation of all warfare, but it also means much more. Peace means a feeling of inner well-being, but it also means much more. Peace means an end to psychological tensions, but it also means much more. Peace means halting interpersonal conflicts, but it also means much more. Peace means the settling of silence on the soul, but it also means much more. In Valyermo, California , the Benedictines converted a ...

4493. No Fire

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

King Duncan

Over 100 years ago one of the most famous disasters in human history occurred. On April 14, 1912, signals of distress pierced the dark night of the North Atlantic in all directions from the magnificent but ill-fated ship, the Titanic. The S.S. Californian was the nearest ship to the scene of the accident. It would have required only about one and a half hours for the Californian to have reached the Titanic as it sank. This was later acknowledged by the commanding officer of the Californian. Still the ...

4494. Our Harbor Master

John 16:12-15

Illustration

James Merritt

When a large ship enters a harbor, it takes on board what is called a harbor master. This is a man who knows that harbor; he knows the length of it, he knows the depth of it. He knows where the hazards are. He knows where the tides and currents are; what direction they flow in and how strong they are. When that harbor master comes on board, he takes control of that ship, and he gives order to the captain who steers the ship. He is an outside expert who is brought in to make sure that ship docks safely. As ...

4495. Oh, Now I Understand

Jn 16:12-15; 2 Tim 1:12

Illustration

King Duncan

C. S. Lewis once said that the most frequently spoken word in heaven would be, "OH." As in, "Oh, now I understand." Or, "Oh, now I see what God's plan was." Or, "Oh, now I see the reason for the trial I went through." We do not have that luxury in this world. We walk by faith, not by knowledge. But one day it will be revealed to us. We will be in the presence of the Father and the Son and the Spirit. How can we be in the presence of all three at the same time? It beats me, but as St. Paul says in another ...

4496. A Dependable Guide

John 16:5-16

Illustration

King Duncan

Pastor Michael Walther tells of listening to a radio program (Focus on the Family) about a famous test pilot. This pilot was flying a fighter jet in bad weather and about to make his instrument approach to an airport. The air traffic controller called and asked how much fuel he had. "Plenty," he said. "Well," the controller said, "we've got a little problem. There's a young pilot who is not instrument rated. He's lost in the clouds, and we were wondering if you could intercept him and lead him back to the ...

4497. We Must Speak the Truth

John 16:5-16

Illustration

Brett Blair

Henry Augustus Rowland, professor of physics at Johns Hopkins University, was once called as an expert witness at a trial. During cross-examination a lawyer demanded, "What are your qualifications as an expert witness in this case?" The normally modest and retiring professor replied quietly, "I am the greatest living expert on the subject under discussion." Later a friend well acquainted with Rowland expressed surprise at the professor's uncharacteristic answer. Rowland answered, "Well, what did you expect ...

4498. Our Spiritual Fuel

John 16:12-15

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

A few years ago in the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, a float stalled. Frustrations increased quickly because other floats could not move, and this event was televised around the world. Mechanics quickly descended upon the stalled float, searching all over for the problem. Finally, someone had the presence of mind to check on the fuel level of the vehicle. It was empty, out of gas. This became even more embarrassing when the crowd realized that the float's sponsor was one of the major oil companies. Did you ...

4499. What Do You Know about God?

John 16:5-16

Illustration

King Duncan

Kay Strom was teaching third grade in a large elementary school. One morning all of the teachers were called to the teachers' room for an emergency meeting, and they hurried over, leaving their classes unsupervised. Everyone was worried, but none as much as Mrs. Whiting, because her class of first graders was especially mischievous and unruly. When they got to the teachers' room, Mrs. Whiting said, "I think I had better listen in and find out what's going on in my classroom." She turned on the intercom, ...

4500. The Price of Mourning

Luke 7:11-17

Illustration

Henry Simon

The home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, noted poet, is open to the public in Dayton, Ohio. When Dunbar died, his mother left his room exactly as it was on the day of his death. At the desk of this brilliant man was his final poem, handwritten on a pad. After his mother died, her friends discovered that Paul Laurence Dunbar's last poem had been lost forever. Because his mother had made his room into a shrine and not moved anything, the sun had bleached the ink in which the poem was written until it was invisible ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 4476 to 4500 of 5000 results

4476. Cosmic Embrace

John 13:31-35

Illustration

John Gibbs

4477. Three-in-one Oil

John 17:6-26

Illustration

Jef Olson

4478. Transmitting Love

John 13:34-35

Illustration

King Duncan

4479. The Peace of Christ in a World of Chaos - Sermon Starter

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

4480. A Great Power Watching

John 14:21-29

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

4481. Selfish and Altruistic at the Same Time

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Mary Hinkle Shore

4482. The Overwhelming Future

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Robert Deffinbaugh

4483. The “Christianity and” Syndrome

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Gregory T. Riether

4484. I Want Peace

John 14:23-29

Illustration

When Dante was exiled from Florence, he knocked at the door of the Franciscan monastery at Lunigiana. He was asked, "What do you want?" He replied, "Peace!"

4485. Not As the World Gives Peace

John 14:23-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

4486. God and Creation Are Always One

John 17:20-26

Illustration

Anthony Jewiss

4487. The Ever Peering Eye

John 17:20-26

Illustration

Greg Rickel

4488. We Meet in Committees

John 17:20-26

Illustration

William Temple

4489. Through You He Will Live Again

John 17:20-26

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

4490. What Jesus Called Glory

John 17:20-26

Illustration

King Duncan

4491. Drawn to God

Jn 17:20-26

Illustration

King Duncan

4492. Hunting for Peace

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

4493. No Fire

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

King Duncan

4494. Our Harbor Master

John 16:12-15

Illustration

James Merritt

4495. Oh, Now I Understand

Jn 16:12-15; 2 Tim 1:12

Illustration

King Duncan

4496. A Dependable Guide

John 16:5-16

Illustration

King Duncan

4497. We Must Speak the Truth

John 16:5-16

Illustration

Brett Blair

4498. Our Spiritual Fuel

John 16:12-15

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

4499. What Do You Know about God?

John 16:5-16

Illustration

King Duncan

4500. The Price of Mourning

Luke 7:11-17

Illustration

Henry Simon

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