Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4551 to 4575 of 5000 results

4551. Being Present

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

How many of us have been to a party where our host or hosts are so busy with all of the little details that the guests leave the party thinking, "That was a lovely party, but I wish I had more time to speak with our host!" I imagine this Martha from over 2,000 years ago to have something in common with a certain ‘Martha' from our present. Fussing over the perfect table setting, the most delicious and perhaps elaborate meal, adjusting every little detail until it is just so…and only when everything is ...

4552. The Highest Priority

Luke 10:38-42; Matthew 6:33

Illustration

Arthur E. Dean Windhorn

Have you ever been in a hurry and buttoned up a long overcoat with lots of buttons and when you were done, found out that the coat was uneven? What went wrong? I'll tell you what went wrong. When you don't get the first button in the right hole, all the rest are out of sequence too, right?! That's a parable about life. Jesus said it this way in the Sermon on the Mount: "Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well." (Matthew 6:33) If the Lord is not the high ...

4553. "A" Priorities

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

David E. Leininger

A time management guru, a professor in the business school at Harvard, speaks about A, B, and C priorities, and then he notes that too many people spend too much of their time on the C priorities! And then he asks, "Why do you think that is?" The answer is that the C priorities are, first, much easier to accomplish, and, second, give you the impression that you are actually getting something done. In other words you can keep busy with the C priorities all day and never get to the more important things. The ...

4554. There Is Always a Load Limit

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Arthur E. Dean Windhorn

Dr. John Anderson tells about a cartoon that appeared in the NEW YORKER magazine. Approaching a small bridge plainly marked, "Load Limit " 8 tons" was a truck, also marked on its side, "8 tons." When the 8 ton truck was about in the middle of the bridge with the 8 ton limit, a bluebird lighted on the top girder. At that point the bridge gave way and crashed with the truck into the river below, to the obvious surprise of the bluebird. The bridge was built as indicated for 8 tons; the truck weighed exactly ...

4555. When Anxieties Finally Come True

Luke 10:41

Illustration

William Marshall

For several years a woman had been having trouble getting to sleep at night because she feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate. When he got there, he did find a burglar. "Good evening," said the man of the house. "I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you."

4556. When to Worry

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

I'm your pastor and I am going to give you permission to worry. But, you can only worry if one of these 7 things happens to you: Your birthday cake collapses from the weight of the candles. You turn on the news and they're showing emergency routes out of the city. Your twin sister forgot your birthday. Your car horn goes off accidentally and remains stuck as you follow a group of Hell's Angels on the freeway. The bird singing outside your window is a buzzard. Your income tax check bounces. Your wife says ...

4557. Leave the Trouble in God's Hands

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. George Muller Massena, one of Napoleon's generals, suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met, certain that capitulation was the only answer. The old dean of the church reminded the council that it was Easter, and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. They followed his advice. The dean ...

4558. The Sons of Martha

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling felt that preachers were very hard on Martha, so he wrote a poem in defense of this poor woman. Here is part of the poem entitled The Sons of Martha: The sons of Mary seldom bother for they have inherited that good part; But the sons of Martha favor their mother of the careful soul and the troubled heart. And because she lost her temper once, and because she was rude to the Lord her Guest, Her sons must wait upon Mary's sons world without end, reprieve, or rest. And the sons of Mary smile ...

4559. Looking For Your Ice-cream Cone?

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Brett Blair

Urban legend has it [no this is not a true story but it is a good one] that in 1990 a woman entered a Haagen-Dazs in the Kansas City Plaza for an ice-cream cone. While she was ordering another customer entered the store. She placed her order, turned and found herself staring face to face with Paul Newman. He was in town filming Mr. and Mrs. Bridge. His blue eyes made her knees buckle. She finished paying and quickly walked out of the store with her heart still pounding. Gaining her composure she suddenly ...

4560. Investing Your Time

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Eric Ritz

If you greet each new day as a treasure house to be invested wisely, the journey from Sunday to Saturday turns into an exciting and exhilarating experience. By the same token, if you do not use time, it will end up using you. No matter who you are, where you live or what you do, life is impacted most drastically by what you do with time and what it does with you. Will Rogers was once asked: "If you had only 48 hours to live, how would you spend them?" The Oklahoma cowboy philosopher replied: "One at a time ...

4561. My Back Yard

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Arthur E. Dean Windhorn

True happiness is not achieved it is received as in the case of two brothers Rich and Mike, who are complete opposites. Mike is a successful businessman. Rich, on the other hand, takes seasonal jobs at dude ranches, parks and resorts. Mike is always concerned for Rich's welfare and tries to entice him with the "good life." He sends Rich photos labeled with messages like "My new sound system" or "My new car." But one day the campaign ended when Mike received a poster from his brother showing a breathtaking ...

4562. You Do Have a Prayer - Sermon Opener

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

James W. Moore

Some years ago, when Leonard Griffith was pastor of the famous City Temple in London, he wrote a fascinating book entitled Barriers to Christian Belief. In that book he dealt with some problems that have over the years been real obstacles and stumbling blocks for people in their faith pilgrimage… specific problems that hinder people, that burden people, that disturb people… and keep them away from the Christian faith. One of the barriers he listed was…"unanswered prayer." It does seem to be a fact of our ...

4563. Prayer to the Outside Observer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

King Duncan

Father Barry Foster, a priest in Dublin, Ireland, parked his car on a rather steep slope close to his church. His little cairn terrier was lying on the rear seat and could not be seen by anyone outside the vehicle. Father Foster got out of the car and turned to lock the door with his usual parting command to the dog. "Stay!" he ordered loudly, to an apparently empty car. "Stay!" An elderly man was watching the performance with amused interest. Grinning, he suggested, "Why don't you just try putting on the ...

4564. Always Say a Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

Ever wonder about the acronym ASAP? Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives: "As soon as possible." Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we'll begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way. There's work to do, deadlines to meet, you've got no time to spare, But as you hurry and scurry, ASAP: Always Say a Prayer. In the midst of family chaos, quality time is rare. Do your best; let God do the rest, ASAP: Always Say a Prayer ...

4565. Prayer and Forgiveness

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

We cannot come to God in honest prayer when we have not forgiven one another transgressions: A young boy saw a pack of cigarettes on the ground and decided to try them. He went to a field near his home and, after several fumbling attempts, got one to light up. It didn't taste good; indeed, it burned his throat and made him cough. But it made him feel very grown up. Then he saw his father coming. Quickly he put the cigarette behind his back and tried to be casual. Desperate to divert his father's attention ...

4566. Persistence in Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

Paul Harvey told about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered she had certain instructions for the little tike: "Now you're not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don't even ask." She put him in the child's seat and off they went up and down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. Seeing the chocolate chip cookies he said, "Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you not even to ask. You're not ...

4567. We Are Not Tenacious

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

Around 1870 New York City had one of the most hotly contested mayor's races in its history. The incumbent was Mayor John Tweed, Boss Tweed he was called. He was running for reelection. The Boss Tweed machine represented politics at its very worst. The entire administration was corrupt to the core. A number of dedicated people decided that they were fed up with this kind of politics and the good people of the city took on the Boss Tweed element. At first they seemed to make headway. But as the campaign drug ...

4568. First Lesson in Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

A little boy was sitting next to a grizzled holy man seated beside the Ganghes River. "Will you teach me to pray?" the boy asked. "Are you sure that you want to learn?" the holy man asked? "Yes, of course." With that the holy man grabbed the boy's neck and plunged his head into the water. He held them there while the boy kicked and screamed and tried to get away. Finally, after an interminable period the holy man let the boy out of the water. "What was that?" the boy asked. "That was your first lesson in ...

4569. Oh, No You Do Not

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

One evening a record-breaking crowd in Atlanta, Georgia attended a special session of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The audience was literally captivated with the piano playing of one gentleman. It was later written that after the performance a lady went up to him and greeted him with the words: “Oh, how I wish that I could play the piano like you.” She was rather taken back with his response. He said in a firm but gentle voice: “Oh no you don’t.” Of course, he was right. What we desire is the finished ...

4570. Lack of Persistence in Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

A fisherman who was out of fellowship with the Lord was at sea with his godless companions when a storm came up and threatened to sink their ship. His friends begged him to pray; but he demurred, saying, "It's been a long time since I've done that or even entered a church." At their insistence, however, he finally cried out, "O Lord, I haven't asked anything of You in 15 years, and if You help us now and bring us safely to land, I promise I won't bother You again for another 15!" Prayer is often an escape ...

4571. Forfeiting Freedom

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

David E. Leininger

A family was putting up a hummingbird feeder with four feeding stations (similar to one that hangs outside our kitchen window). Almost immediately it became popular with the hummingbirds that lived in the area. Two, three, or even four birds would feed at one time. The feeder would be refilled at least once a day. Suddenly the usage decreased to almost nothing. The feeder needed filling only about once a week. The reason for the decreased usage soon became apparent. A male bird had taken over the feeder as ...

4572. The Dollars Are in the Way

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

King Duncan

Henry Ford once asked an associate about his life goals. The man replied that his goal was to make a million dollars. A few days later Ford gave the man a pair of glasses made out of two silver dollars. He told the man to put them on and asked what he could see. "Nothing," the man said. "The dollars are in the way." Ford told him that he wanted to teach him a lesson: If his only goal was dollars, he would miss a host of greater opportunities. He should invest himself in serving others, not simply in making ...

4573. I Planted the Seeds

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

In the movie Shenandoah, James Stewart plays a Virginia farmer during the Civil War years. He begins every meal with the same prayer: "Lord, I planted the seeds, I plowed the ground, I gathered in the harvest. If I hadn't of put the food on the table it wouldn't be here. But we thank you anyway." We had all better understand the role of grace and mystery in life or we too might fall pray to the sin of thinking too highly of ourselves.

4574. Your Life Is on Loan

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

Mark Trotter

The man was just twenty-nine years old. It was in the newspaper some time ago. He was married, and had three kids. All three kids were under five years of age. He is an attorney in Illinois. One day he woke up with a headache. As the day went on, it got more painful. Then he had difficulty seeing. Then he had difficulty walking. He went to the doctor. The doctor said, "You have a brain tumor that will require special surgery right away. If you survive the surgery, then there could be a critical time of ...

4575. Pigs Get Slaughtered

Lk 12:13-21

Illustration

King Duncan

Stock market guru Jim Cramer, host of television's Mad Money, says, "Bulls make money." Then he adds, "Bears make money." Then the punch line, "Pigs get slaughtered." "Bulls make money. Bears make money. Pigs get slaughtered." He is saying, "Beware of being greedy when you are investing in the stock market. You may overreach and lose everything." Jesus said somewhat the same thing. He told a parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no ...

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 4551 to 4575 of 5000 results

4551. Being Present

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

4552. The Highest Priority

Luke 10:38-42; Matthew 6:33

Illustration

Arthur E. Dean Windhorn

4553. "A" Priorities

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

David E. Leininger

4554. There Is Always a Load Limit

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Arthur E. Dean Windhorn

4555. When Anxieties Finally Come True

Luke 10:41

Illustration

William Marshall

4556. When to Worry

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

4557. Leave the Trouble in God's Hands

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

4558. The Sons of Martha

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Rudyard Kipling

4559. Looking For Your Ice-cream Cone?

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Brett Blair

4560. Investing Your Time

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Eric Ritz

4561. My Back Yard

Luke 10:38-42

Illustration

Arthur E. Dean Windhorn

4562. You Do Have a Prayer - Sermon Opener

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

James W. Moore

4563. Prayer to the Outside Observer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

King Duncan

4564. Always Say a Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

4565. Prayer and Forgiveness

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

4566. Persistence in Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

4567. We Are Not Tenacious

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

4568. First Lesson in Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

4569. Oh, No You Do Not

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

4570. Lack of Persistence in Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

4571. Forfeiting Freedom

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

David E. Leininger

4572. The Dollars Are in the Way

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

King Duncan

4573. I Planted the Seeds

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

4574. Your Life Is on Loan

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

Mark Trotter

4575. Pigs Get Slaughtered

Lk 12:13-21

Illustration

King Duncan

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