Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4551 to 4575 of 4946 results

4551. The Big Picture

Romans 11:36, Ephesians 1:5, Colossians 3:18-21

Sermon

James Merritt

I have three different family portraits hanging in my home representing three different stages of my life and the life of my family. Most of us have at least one professional portrait hanging on the wall. They are very expensive and because of the cost in money and time, those portraits represent great expectations. I remember every time we would have a family portrait made, I always went into it wanting everything to be literally picture perfect. You know the routine - matching outfits, hair in place, and ...

4552. The King and His Castle

Matthew 16:13-18

Sermon

James Merritt

There were seven of them, and in their day they were the greatest tourist attractions in the history of the world. What were they? Well, here is the list of them: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon The Stature of Zeus at Olympia The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus The Mausoleum in Egypt The Coliseum of Rhodes The Lighthouse of Alexandria The Great Pyramid of Gaza You may recognize this list as comprising what is now known as the "Seven Ancient Wonders of the World." The reason why they were called wonders is ...

4553. What Outsiders Can Teach Us

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

David R. Cartwright

Those of us ministers actively engaged in congregational worship don't get many opportunities to visit other churches and to worship in different settings. We're pretty much committed to being in our own congregations for the better part of the year. Four or six Sundays at most is about all we have to experience how others go about it. Actually, this pattern begins for most of us even before we're ordained. A colleague related that in divinity school he was a youth minister and only got a couple of Sundays ...

4554. Ready or Not, Here I Come

Luke 12:32-40

Sermon

Ron Lavin

When you were a child, did you play the game, "Hide and Go Seek"? The person who is "It" closes his or her eyes, counts to ten, and then searches for the other children who are hiding. "1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. Ready or not, here I come!" Something like that is going on in our text. The master is off to a wedding banquet. His servants are at the family farm. Some are alert, ready for his return; some are not ready. The countdown has begun. No one knows exactly when the master will return. At the end of our ...

4555. Caring for Others: The Christian Vocation in the World

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

Richard Gribble

When Bobby Smith was a youngster, his family lived near Mrs. Hildebrand, a widow, who at 95 years of age, was in constant pain and crippled by arthritis, which ravaged her body. Living alone, she could only take a few steps at a time with the help of her cane. Every week when Bobby's mom went to the market, she took her son who would always deliver groceries to the old widow. The family car would pull up into Mrs. Hildebrand's driveway and the command would be heard, "Bobby, here are Mrs. Hildebrand's ...

4556. Think on these Things

Philippians 4:4-9

Sermon

Donna Schaper

In the letter to the people at Philippi, Paul wanted us to think on things that are beautiful, pure, and excellent. He wanted to teach us asset-based thinking. He wanted to teach us the art of appreciative inquiry. He wanted to limit criticism and the culture of complaint. Paul wanted us to be thankful. Oddly, being thankful does not come naturally to us. We stayed at our best friend's house while taking our daughter on a college visit. We forgot to send a thank-you note. We had a wonderful time — good ...

4557. “Unto Us A Child Is Born... Next, On Omar”

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

Characters (in order of appearance) Jacob Omar Looseandfree Applause Child (nonspeaking) Shepherd 1 Shepherd 2 Shepherd 3 Lead Angel 2nd Angel Angel Choir Audience Member 1 Wise Man 1 Wise Man 2 Wise Man 3 Servant (nonspeaking) Mary Joseph Audience Member 2 Audience Member 3 Stage Manager Stagehands (nonspeaking) Props Four chairs Handheld microphones (real or fake) Sign with “Applause” written on it Bells Three pillows Baby doll Notes Another one of our “intentional anachronism plays,” “Unto Us A Child Is ...

4558. Better Than a Spanking

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

King Duncan

Bob Beasley belongs to a Baptist Church in Canada, a church that follows the Baptist tradition of baptizing by immersion. Returning home from church one Sunday, his little girl asked, “Daddy, why did the pastor push that guy under the water? Why, daddy?” Bob’s wife tried to answer her question, but the little girl, named Rena, just wouldn’t be satisfied. Later that night Bob and his wife tried to provide an answer from a Baptist perspective that a child’s mind could comprehend. They talked about sin and ...

4559. Batman: Driven By Guilt or Grace?

Romans 5:1-11; 8:1-2

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Sometimes on our journey of faith, we let other things get between us and God. Sometimes it's not things so much as it is ideas and attitudes. Sometimes its just our emotions. The point is, we let other stuff get between us and God. Usually it's just our own selfish pride. But whatever it is, it blocks us from receiving the full extent of God's Grace. It's like going to a banquet in our honor, being told that all our favorite dishes have been prepared just the way we like them and then choosing to eat ...

4560. Radical Love is Truthful (Series: Radical Love in a Risky World)

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Every time I preach a sermon on “Loving Your Enemies” it seems to conjure up more questions than answers. Such was the case with the sermon last week. I was hardly out of the pulpit when people wanted to know: What about truth and justice? How could Jesus teach non-violence and then announce that he came not to bring peace but a sword? Did not the same Jesus who said turn the other cheek also turn the tables in the temple and drive out the moneychangers in a moment of, at best, righteous anger if not ...

4561. Follow Me (Series: An Invitation to Christian Discipleship)

Luke 24:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

“Sing with all the saints in Glory. Sing the resurrection song.” It is Easter. It is the day “yes” got up before the sun. It is the day we know our victory over death was won. Over eighty percent of Americans call themselves Christians. And over 100 million of us will gather in tiny churches or elaborate cathedrals throughout the land to proclaim the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will announce that life is stronger than death. “Christ is risen; He is risen indeed!” Countless others around the world will ...

4562. Radical Love is Reconciling (Series: Radical Love in a Risky World)

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

To live above with those we love, well, that will be glory. To live below with those we know, well, that’s another story. That’s what this sermon is about today. Wherever two or more people come together in relationships deeper than a casual “hello,” conflict is bound to follow. In Matthew 18, Jesus gives a teaching about conflict resolution. While it is spoken to the Church, it has applications for all situations. So if another person sins against you, if there is conflict, if you can’t work it out, ...

4563. Catch of the Day

Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

The year I turned sixteen, we loaded up in family station wagon and drove to Florida to see my Dad's brother Bob. Uncle Bob and Aunt Betsy lived in Miami. One of the cool things about living in Miami was the fresh seafood. You see, I love seafood. If it swims in the water, I'll eat it. I'd rather eat seafood than almost anything else. It doesn't have to be fried, either. It can be baked, broiled, pan fried, steamed or even poached, if done just right. I even like sushi and sashimi (you know the Japanese ...

4564. Dealing with Stress Creatively

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

James W. Moore

One Sunday morning, a mother said to her ten-year-old son: “Billy, I’m not feeling well enough to go to church today, but I do want you to go on as usual… and then you can tell me all about it.” Obediently, Billy carried out his mom’s wish. When he returned home, his mother asked: “Well, Billy, how was church?” “Fine,” Billy responded. “Where did you sit?” Mom asked. “O, I think I sat in about the same place we always sit.” Billy’s answer was just vague enough to make mothers suspicious. “What was the ...

4565. Characteristics of the Church

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

In one of his novels, William Faulkner wrote, “That which is destroying the church is not the outward groping of those with in it, or the inward groping of those without, but the professionals who control it and have removed the bells from its steeples.” (quoted by Dr. Lovitt H. Weems, Jr., at his Inaugural Address as President of St. Paul’s School of Theology, December 11, 1985.) I don’t know everything that Faulkner meant by that. He may have been talking about the fact that the professionals within the ...

4566. How Can Jesus Save Me?

John 3:14-21

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

On my way to an early morning hospital visit this week, today's sermon flashed before my eyes. On the bumper of an old pick up truck there was this sticker which said, “Jesus Saves." Perhaps only in Nashville, the buckle of the Bible belt, can we find such statements on bumper stickers. The words immediately brought responses in my mind. On the one hand I found myself singing. We have heard the joyful sound Jesus saves. Jesus saves. Spread the tidings all around. Jesus saves. Jesus saves. The song was ...

4567. Dreaming Impossible Dreams

Genesis 37:2-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear the unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go To right the unrightable wrong To love pure and chaste from afar To try when your arms are too heavy To reach the unreachable star. Those lyrics sung by Don Quixote in Man From LaMancha clearly characterize the life of Joseph, our Old Testament hero, whose story comprises the last third of the book of Genesis. I. TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM Catch this picture with me for a moment. It ...

4568. Is There More Than One Way to Heaven?

John 4:19-26

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Around the world of religion today, there are about 2 billion Christians, 1 billion Muslims, 750 million Hindus, 334 million Buddhists, 18 million Jews, and a growing number of people who declare no religious allegiance at all. Once upon a time, religious tolerance consisted of Baptists having a worship service with Methodists or a Protestant marrying a Roman Catholic. Now a Hindu may be your next door neighbor or a Baha'i may be dating your daughter. All of us down in our hearts are trying to decide ...

4569. Are You Able?

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Are you able? We've been asking that question this Holy Week. Are you able to drink the cup I am going to drink? asked Jesus as the disciples shuffled for position. Can we walk the road Jesus walked, the Via Delarosa, the way of sorrows? Can we eat the bread of brokenness? Can we take up the cross and follow Jesus? Sobering questions, serious questions, the kind of questions that crack open a hardened heart and lay bare the tendons of the spiritual life. The kind of questions to be asked on Maundy Thursday ...

4570. Checking Out the Scene

John 1:35-42

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

It is the mission of the Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus said it plainly: “Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” By the waters of baptism we are claimed and cleansed. Along the river of discipleship we are shaped and formed into Christ-likeness. Salvation is God’s free gift to us. The best we can do is to receive it with grateful hearts. Discipleship is a life long ...

4571. Does Christmas Make Any Difference?

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

In John Grisham’s novel Skipping Christmas, which is now a hit movie, Luther and Lora Krank decide to take a year off from all the clutter of Christmas. They spent $6,000 last year on Christmas with very little to show for it. Their daughter is now serving in the Peace Corp so maybe it is time for something different! For one year there would be no rooftop Frosty, no company party, not even a tree—just the two of them setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. Does such a scenario sound enticing to you? Does ...

4572. Lost and Found

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

A group of boys and girls were trying to find a game to play. “Why don’t we play Hide and Seek?” asked Billy. “No way,” said Sally. “I’m afraid I’ll get hid and nobody will be able to find me. Then everybody will go home and I will be lost.” “Lost and Found.” It’s such a common predicament that the classifieds run a special section for it each day. In Nashville this weekend somebody lost a small, black, fluffy, female cat near Thompson Lane. Somebody else found a silver-grey Schnauzer Terrier dog around ...

4573. The Holy Spirit and You

John 14:15-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

A new seminary graduate on her way to her first appointment approached her professor and asked what she should preach about in her new church. Without hesitation the professor replied. “About God and about twenty minutes." Today I would like to preach about God and I will try to do it in about twenty minutes. We believe in God the Father Almighty creator of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord and Savior. We believe in the Holy Spirit as the Divine presence in our lives ...

4574. Valuing Life Without Playing God

John 10:10-15

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

God likes life, He invented it. It is to the full-flowing, free life that He invites us. I have lived my life by that simple motto. Jesus put it even better in John 10:10 which is the text I want to linger on today. “I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly," or to the full, to the maximum. In our quest for Christian values, we must do some serious thinking about this thing called life. Who gives it? What's it worth? Who has the right to end it? Those are some of the questions I would ...

4575. Loosening Up for Better Production

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Some unknown lover of nature wrote this little poem: The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, I'm closer to God in a garden, Than anywhere else on earth. For all of you nature lovers and garden growers, Jesus told a story just for you. In it He drove home a truth essential for the rest of us, too. We call it the Parable of the Sower, though Jesus interpreted it as an allegory of the soils, which poses no problem for ordinary readers, only for Biblical critics of the 20th Century. ...

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