Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4576 to 4600 of 4999 results

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... 'm pretty sure they meant valuables but the sign in a Paris hotel read: "Please leave your values at the front desk." Unfortunately, many people do that without being told. And sometimes we are tempted to leave our values somewhere else, too. Jesus even faced that kind of temptation every day. This morning we begin our Lenten Journey with Jesus, we travel with Him into the wilderness where He was tempted over and over again. Let's look at Luke's account. Luke 4:1-14 (NRSV) [1] Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit ...

4577. Finding ‘Comfort’ Instead of ‘Little Hope’

Romans 12:12-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... over the horizon. It's huge and as it sits there I can't help but think it looks like one of the space craft out of the movie Independence Day. There are all kinds of strange things in this world aren't there. Some of the strangest are the names of towns. You wonder why anyone would saddle their town with a name like that. That's kind of the inspiration for this series Normal Is Just A Small Town In Kentucky. I was reading Romans 12, where Paul says "do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by ...

4578. Superman: More Than A Super Hero

John 1:1-5, 9-14; John 13:31-32; John 20:30-31

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... exempt us from the pain and agony, trials and frustrations of life. Faith helps. Faith empowers us to overcome the trials and troubles. But faith does more than encourage us; it also confronts us and challenges us and calls us to change. And the kind of faith needed for those kind of changes only comes through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. Acts 4:12 (NRSV) "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be ...

4579. Daddy, Tell Me a Story

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... the staff and said, “Why is my mother-in-law crying?” They said, “Oh, Flora does sometimes. She doesn’t know who she is or where she is, but we cheer her up. We tell her dirty jokes and she laughs.” Clive Calver says, “Now that’s not the kind of thing that my mother would normally do,” so Ruth was very concerned. She persuaded her mother-in-law to go to the lovely little private room she had. It took about fifteen minutes to get her the twenty yards to her room, but when Ruth got her there ...

4580. A Word to Prodigals

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

King Duncan

... Sometimes I think it is easier for some of us to identify with the elder brother than it is for us to identify with the prodigal. After all we don’t feel lost. We’re not bad people. In truth, we’re pretty good people. But friends, there are all kinds of ways to be lost. The late Alvin Rogness, a former seminary professor and author of the book When Things Go Wrong, once suggested that he would have told the story of the prodigal son in a slightly different way. He would have had the prodigal go to the ...

4581. Altar Your Presence

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... involved. That involvement part is very important. It denotes action and personal participation. Coming to Worship so you can be refueled in order to live out your faith and be involved in the life of the community of faith is active. If you simply "attend" it's kind of like going to a play or a movie. You might be entertained but you didn't invest anything more than the price of admission. There are a lot of reasons for attending Church and all the various activities that take place here. You can come for ...

4582. LOST? Finding Meaning

Genesis 1:1-5, John 1:1-5

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . The grass was high, the trees were thick, and tempers flared as they looked in vain through all the grass and underbrush. A kind elderly woman observed all this from the front porch of her nearby house. After the search had lasted for nearly half an hour, ... can't keep it to ourselves. You and I don't just have Good News to share with the world, we have Great News, the kind of news people have been searching for. We have Great News that will give meaning and direction in their lives. Remember "It's not about ...

4583. Saturday: The Week Of The Cross: Lazarus, Come Forth

John 11:1-7, 17-44

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... driven a hearse for 25 years and somebody tapped me on the shoulder, you can bet I'd have screamed like a little girl. I'm kind of goosey anyway. Just ask Mary or the staff. If I'm concentrating on something it's not hard to startle me. To say that Mary ... we all discover: Death Stinks. They even told that to Jesus when he told them to roll the stone aside. "Good, Lord, do you know what kind of smell there's gonna be? He's been dead four days. Are you sure you want to do that?" Everybody held or covered their ...

4584. Monday: The Way Of The Cross: Figs & Fig Trees

Matthew 21:18-22

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... and thrown into the sea,' it will be done. [22] Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive." I think this is kind of a bizarre little passage. One of the greatest lessons about prayer is associated with one of the weirdest acts of Jesus' whole ministry. ... he was just looking for something to tide him over. He wasn't wanting a three course meal. Just a little snack. Kind of like going into the kitchen and grabbing a couple cookies. You know, something like Fig Newtons. Those are pretty good; ...

4585. Followed By Mercy

Psalm 23:6

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Ralphie realizes it's all about to come out. He looks at his mother with a pained expression. Surprisingly, his mother responds, "Nothing much. Ralphie had a fight." Tension rises as Dad puts down the paper and looks at Ralphie with a stern gaze. "A fight? What kind of fight?" Mom replies, "Oh, you know how boys are. I gave him a talking to. Oh, I see the Bears are playing the Packers Sunday." A smile breaks across Ralphie's face, and he beams at his mother. Ralphie says to himself: "I slowly realized that ...

4586. Compliments Of The House

Psalm 23:6

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Christmas?" (1) There may a few people who avoid going home but for most of us, going home is great thing. Going home brings back all kinds of great memories. The Psalmist knew that. That's why he wrote what he did at the end of the 23rd Psalm. Let's look at ... then there was also the big deep dish lasagna, the stuffed cabbage, the German potato salad, sauerkraut and pirogis. There were about ten kinds of pickles. And every condiment you can think of. It was a feast. But that's not the only memory. After lunch ...

4587. A Chance To Sing

Matthew 9:32-34

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... happened but somehow over the years, about forty percent of churchgoers seem to have picked up the idea that "singing in church is just for singers." To put it bluntly, that's wrong. The truth is "singing is for believers." The relevant question isn't, "Do you have the right kind of voice?" God has given you a voice. The question should be "Do you have a song? Do you know The Lord's Song." (8) And if you know the Lord's Song, there's no excuse not to sing. You see, there's no mouth so broken, no monotone ...

4588. A Chance To Dance

Luke 5:17-25

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... home." [25] Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. The Scripture has this kind of bland description that says the man stood up, took his bed and went home glorifying God. I'll bet he leapt for joy. I' ... my favorites: Most of the world's religions have an ethic of retribution or justice. The eye for an eye evening the score kind of ethic. The Christian ethic stands all that on it's head and says "love your enemy, do good to those who despise ...

4589. A Chance To See

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Zinzendorf's writings and the Moravians themsleves that influenced John Wesley the most and contributed to his being the Christian leader he was. All because this Spiritual Insight had been awakened in him. That kind of Spiritual Insight is called, faith. (5) B. I read about a woman who received that same kind of Spiritual Insight. A few years ago, with the help of Presbyterian mission money, she helped to establish a halfway house for women who are recovering drug addicts. She schedules twelve-step groups ...

4590. Celebrating Generosity

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... for ten dollars but Howard hands him 20. Howard's generosity nearly overwhelms Red. And in the next scene you hear the effect that act of kindness had on Red. While riding in a race he's talking to Seabiscuit and says, "That's it Pop, we're OK, now. It's all ... of a deep sense of thankfulness. True giving always responds out of thankfulness. I remember my pastor saying, there are three kinds of giving. There is Grudge Giving, Duty Giving and "Thanks" Giving. Grudge giving gives but doesn't really want to and ...

4591. The Challenge Of Generosity

Malachi 3:10, Luke 6:36-38

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." Last week I told you about Mr. Dick and his generous heart. And I told you how few people knew what kid of giver he was. He showed me three kinds of giving. First there is the Tithe, then there is the Offering. And then there is Second Mile giving. I. The Tithe A. The Biblical witness for giving is the tithe or ten percent. From the very beginning all God has ever asked for is a thank offering. Everything we ...

4592. Overcoming Obstacles - Together

Luke 2:1-7, Psalm 107:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... be easy but they knew who was leading them. C. LOVE: Third, I think Mary and Joseph had a deep love for one another. You see, I kind of believe in soul mates. I'm one of the lucky ones who has been able to find mine. And I think Joseph and Mary found ... father because Doyle had grabbed and threatened a nun who had beaten his daughter. The lawyer says, "Even as a very dubious kind of Catholic, who finds himself throttling a nun, you must know the fundamental building block of our society is the family. Whose ...

4593. Never Too Old For God: Abraham And Sarah

Genesis 18:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... family is a place of nurture, love and understanding. Does that mean there won't be conflict? No. Does it mean that every day will be sunshine and roses? I highly doubt it. Even though the Bible primarily illustrates the multi-generational family, it also lifts up other kinds of families as well. Look at Ruth and Naomi. All these shows and the Bible have one thing in common, They remind us that family is where we learn to make it. One of the really good TV shows was the Andy Griffith Show. In the very first ...

4594. Cross Eyed: Rebuke

Mark 8:31-38

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... , while the organ plays silently...." The organist sat there with her fingers frozen in midair over the keyboard and a puzzled look on her face which clearly said, "How do I play silently." I personally think it's encouraging to know that other people make the same kinds of mistakes. It makes me feel more normal instead of feeling like a goober, which is probably how Peter was feeling after his encounter with Jesus in this morning's passage from Mark 8:31-38. [31] Then he began to teach them that the Son of ...

4595. God's 'Yes!' To Every Promise

2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

It's kind of silly now, nothing more than a fond memory that has been replaced by the deep love I have for my wife, Mary. But as a boy ... are. Yes! I'm proud to be your Father or Yes! I'm proud to be your Mother, simply because you're my child. I thank God for you every day." Sometimes our kids need to hear a different kind of Yes!. "Yes! You heard me right, I said, "No!" Because sometimes when we say "Yes! I love you," we have to say "No!" To some things we know have the potential to harm our kids. We all ...

4596. Put It In A Sack, Swing it Over Your Head and Scream Like A Chicken

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... on your head and juggle swords while riding a horse you would have done it wouldn't you? Then why don't you do the simple thing and see what happens." He did and he was healed. I don't know about you, but this year's Super Bowl was kind of a dud. So were the commercials. There were only about three or four really good ones. This passage, as well as some of those Super Bowl Commercials, has some very positive things to teach us. This passage teaches us about self-esteem, helping others, and judgment. I. Self ...

4597. Motivated for Life

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... laid on Jeremiah’s heart. Jeremiah was true to his mission. Today he is recognized as one of Israel’s great prophets, one of the most authentic messengers of God who has ever lived. What kept him going when his work was not rewarded with the kind of acclaim he expected? This is important because some of us go about our daily responsibilities raising our families, working at our jobs, serving in the community and we aren’t rewarded either. Life is difficult and the very people we look to for support ...

4598. It'll Come Back to You

Luke 9:28-36, (37-43)

Illustration

... ?" The young man said, "Sure." It turned out that he was mowing yards and trying to earn enough money to buy a bicycle. This preacher was kind of young and didn't mind mowing the yard so he told the young man, "Look, I've got a 10 speed bicycle that I never ... dozen times and this lawn mower just won't start." The young man said, "Preacher, I hate to tell you this but it's a special kind of lawnmower. You have to cuss it to get it to start." The preacher looked at him and said, "Well, I've been in the ministry ...

4599. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... have success and security in life. When, after decades of jumping through all those hoops and following a particular pathway, someone suddenly changes their mind about who they are and what they want, we call it a “mid-life crisis.” When that kind of change happened to Saul of Tarsus, we call it “a Damascus Road experience.” When Paul was young he had his life planned out, determined, perfectly outlined. He was circumcised on ”the eighth day,” in accordance with the observance of Torah mandates ...

4600. It’s Ok to Be Extravagant – Sermon Opener

John 12:1-11

Illustration

James W. Moore

... was anointing His body for the death which was to come in Jerusalem a few days later. All say it was an act of love and kindness. But Judas said it was a waste. If you lived strictly by the Judas mind-set, you would have no Spire on the church, no ... elope? It's much cheaper. It would be wasteful to have a wedding." But the Mary mind-set says, "Sometimes in the name of love and kindness and gratefulness; it's O.K. Indeed, it's beautiful to be extravagant." Let me show you what I mean. 1. First Of All, It' ...

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