Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4626 to 4650 of 5000 results

4626. Specializing in Misdemeanors

Lk 15:1-32

Illustration

King Duncan

While working as a court-appointed attorney, Emory Potter was assigned a client who had been accused of criminal trespass. Mr. Potter probed his client with some general questions of background. He asked if he had any previous arrests or convictions. The man ashamedly said, "Yes, sir. I've got quite a few." The thorough attorney then asked, "Any felonies?" The man indignantly replied, "No sir! I specialize in misdemeanors!" That sounds like many of us. We know in our minds that we are sinners, but we ...

4627. But I Know Sheep

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

King Duncan

A new school teacher in a farming community in Texas asked her class, "If there were 12 sheep in a field and one jumped over the fence, how many would be left?" One little fellow spoke up and said "None." The teacher said, "Do you know your arithmetic?" "No, ma'am," said the boy, "but I know sheep." Sheep are followers. And sometimes they are not too wise about whom they choose to follow.

4628. Huddled Like Sheep

Luke 15:1-10

Illustration

King Duncan

Pastor Mike Milton of Savannah, GA tells about two photos that appeared together on the front page of a local newspaper, the Camden, Maine Herald. One photo was of the board of aldermen and the town manager huddled together at a meeting. The other photo was a flock of sheep. Unintentionally, the captions were reversed. Under the picture of the sheep, the caption identified them as the aldermen and town manager. Under the photo of the distinguished fathers of the community, the caption read like this: "The ...

4629. Found!

Lk 15:1-32

Illustration

King Duncan

Norman Vincent Peale once told about addressing a Methodist conference in Atlanta, Georgia along with a fine preacher, Bishop Noah Moore, and Pierce Harris, a much-loved local pastor. In his message Peale said that he believed that Jesus Christ could come into a life and change it, no matter how hopeless it seemed. After the service, when he and the other guest preachers were gathered in the minister's office, they were told that a man wanted to see them. A somewhat disreputable-looking man, they were ...

4630. Increasing Our Standard of Giving - Sermon Starter

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

Before John Wesley became the founder of the Methodist Church he was a teacher at Oxford University back in the 1700's. When he began his career he was paid 30 pounds per year - in those days a lot of money. His living expenses were 28 pounds - so he gave 2 pounds away. The next year his income doubled - but he still managed to live on 28 pounds - so he gave away 32 pounds. The third year he earned 90 pounds - lived on 28 - and gave away 62. The fourth year he earned 120 pounds - lived on 28 - and gave ...

4631. Like Running a Business

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

There was an interesting legal question posed in The Saturday Evening Post recently. It seems that one lovely Sunday when the sermon was overlong, the congregation rushed, as usual, from its pews on the first syllable of "Amen!" Faithful Abigail, the only worshiper held entranced by the sermon, moved slowly and was trampled. She sued the church and its officials for damages. "Those in charge of the church knew that most of the congregation stampedes after long sermons," Abigail argued. "They should have ...

4632. Play It Safe or Take a Risk

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Mark Trotter

Rev. Mark Trotter tells of a mission in Mexico, sponsored by Mercy Hospital, in San Diego, and by Rotary International. Thirteen doctors from San Diego, and twice that number of nurses and other support staff, total of about fifty-five persons, paid their own way to go down as a surgical team to minister to poor children in Tehuacan, in the southern part of Mexico. He says, “The call went out through the Rotary Club in that city for all those who do not have the means for medical attention to bring ...

4633. Looking Past Oneself

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Maxie Dunnam

An enormously rich man complained to a psychiatrist that despite his great wealth which enabled him to have whatever he wanted, he still felt miserable. The psychiatrist took the man to the window overlooking the street and asked, "What do you see?" The man replied, "I see men, women, and children." The psychiatrist then took the man to stand in front of mirror and asked, "Now what do you see?" The man said, "I see only myself." The psychiatrist then said, "In the window there is a glass and in the mirror ...

4634. Wine Stewards

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

During World War II there was wine steward who was responsible for caring for the finest collection of wine in all of Europe in the wine cellars at the Chateau of Monaco. At that time in history, the chateau was well known for its vintage, rare wines. But the Nazis had overrun the city and now lived and dined in the chateau, expecting and wanting to drink the world's finest vintage wines. The wine steward resented those "slimy Nazis" and cleverly and carefully hid all the rarest wines deep in the cellar, ...

4635. Finding Financial Freedom

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

Some of you may have read a remarkable short story sometime during your school years by D. H. Lawrence titled, “The Rocking‑Horse Winner." I wonder if you remember how the story begins? It is a haunting tale about a family living above its means. The mother is considered by friends and neighbors to be the perfect mother, in spite of the fact that deep down she knows she has difficulty loving her three children. It's important to the husband to keep up the pretense of success the large house, staffed with ...

4636. Growing through the Challenge of the Gospel

Illustration

Shelley Cunningham

Have you ever seen the "Jefferson Bible?" Thomas Jefferson excised those parts of scripture that he felt were superfluous, ambiguous or flew in the face of reason. It was his goal to create a seamless, solid narrative about Jesus, without including supernatural or questionable content that could get in the way or raise doubts. It sounds silly, but don't most of us approach scripture a little like this? We often stick with safe, familiar passages that build us up or reassure us. And when faced with hard ...

4637. How’s Your Spiritual Bank?

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

A church member came to his pastor's study one day. The pastor could see that the man looked deeply troubled. The man said, “Pastor, I need to talk. I feel so empty, so dried up inside, I'm scared." His voice began to quiver just a bit. He said “Pastor, I have just come from the doctor's office, and he told me that I have only six months at best to live. After I left the office, I realized that I have no spiritual resources, no inner strength to cope with this. There is nothing to fall back on, to lean ...

4638. Earn, Save, and Give

Lk 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

Eighteenth century evangelist John Wesley understood the spiritual struggle many people have with the place of money in their lives. Here was the irony of his ministry. The Wesleyan revivals were turning people, many of whom had serious drinking problems, into sober-minded, hardworking, responsible individuals. In fact, some of Wesley's converts became so successful that they began letting their commitment to Christ slide. They had allowed their success, their affluence, to become their god, and in reality ...

4639. Beyond Skin Deep

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

Twentieth century novelist James Joyce declared "modern man has an epidermis rather than a soul." Post-modern culture goes Joyce even one step further. The skin we long for isn't even our own; it's cut and stitched, sculpted, tightened, tanned, lightened, suctioned, all according to whatever celebrity trademark, whatever perfect look we hope to emulate of our cultural gods and goddesses. Jesus' parables challenge us to get beyond our skin deep preoccupation. The gospel is more concerned with our souls than ...

4640. What Did You Do With What I Gave You?

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

There is a minister who has a friend who works downtown. His friend is something of an enigma, because he grows hot and cold about the Church and religion. But they are good friends. They have a good relationship. They get together often, have lunch together. On one occasion he went to his office to meet him for lunch. He sat down to talk before they went out. The friend looked out his office window, and said, "Pastor, I think I've got it figured out now. The big guy is going to ask two questions when we ...

4641. Rooting for the Bad Guys?

Lk 16:1-13

Illustration

King Duncan

Movie producer William Castle was known in the 1950s for his low-quality horror films. In 1961, Castle did something totally unique in movie history: he let the audience choose the ending to his movie. Castle's movie, Mr. Sardonicus, was about a crazed, reclusive killer. Near the end of the film, ushers stopped the film and allowed audiences to vote on whether the killer should live or die. Then, the ushers ran the ending that the audience chose. The audience always chose death for the bad guy. It's a good ...

4642. I Have Never Told the Half of It!

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

James W. Moore

Sometimes people tease me about speaking about God's love and grace so much and when they do, I think of Marco Polo. In the 14th century, when he came back to Venice from his travels in Cathay, Marco Polo described the incredible wonders he had seen there. People didn't believe him and for the rest of his life (and even on his death bed) they tried to get him to confess that he had lied and exaggerated about the wonders he had described. His last answer was: “I never told the half of it!" That's the way I ...

4643. The Art of the Con Man

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

There's an old story that many of you may know about a young man in Montana who bought a horse from a farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the horse the next day. However when the next day arrived, the farmer reneged on his promise. “I'm afraid the horse has died,"he explained. The young man said, “Well, then give me my money back." The farmer said, “Can't do that. I spent it already." The young man thought for a moment and said, “Ok, then, just bring me the dead horse." The farmer asked, “What ...

4644. Neighbors Who Never Met - Sermon Starter

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Brett Blair

What parable would make a man with three doctoral degrees (one in medicine, one in theology, one in philosophy) leave civilization with all of its culture and amenities and depart for the jungles of darkest Africa? What parable could induce a man, who was recognized as one of the best concert organists in all of Europe, go to a place where there were no organs to play. What parable would so intensely motivate a man that he would give up a teaching position in Vienna, Austria to go and deal with people who ...

4645. More vs. Love

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

The world's philosophy is a four-letter word: More. The church's theology is also a four-letter word, but it often means the opposite of more: Love. Will the church be a force and a forum for love? The problem with our world, our nation and our church can be summed up in one word: More. "More" has become, as Laurence Shames has put it, America's "unofficial national motto." We want more of everything: more fun, more money, more excitement, more love, more programs, more church members, more, more, more. " ...

4646. Who Have We Been Trampling?

Lk 16:19-31

Illustration

King Duncan

There is an ancient story about a botanist who was studying the Bell Heather found in the highlands of Scotland. While looking through his microscope at this beautiful flower, he was approached by a shepherd who asked what he was doing. Rather than trying to explain, the botanist invited the shepherd to peer through his microscope and observe for himself. When the shepherd saw the wonder of the flower, he exclaimed, "My God, and I have been tramping on them all my life!" Is that the word of warning we need ...

4647. The Man Who Dies Rich

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Andrew Carnegie, who amassed a fortune of over 400 million dollars ended up giving 99.5% of it away. He said this about it - "the man who dies rich, dies disgraced."

4648. Monuments To Self

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Brett Blair

There is a strange group of tombstones in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha, Kansas. A man named John Davis, a farmer and self-made man, had them erected. Davis began as a lowly hired hand and by sheer determination and frugality he managed to amass a considerable fortune. In the process, however, Davis didn't make many friends. When his wife died, Davis erected an elaborate statue in her memory. He hired a sculptor to design a monument which showed both her and him at opposite ends of a love seat. He ...

4649. Prayed Correctly

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

King Duncan

Lloyd Ogilvie tells of a father who knelt down to tuck his little boy into bed. It was time for prayers and hugs. The little boy began his childhood prayer which he had repeated so many times before: "Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." On this night, however, the words got mixed up and the child inadvertently spoke words of the greatest wisdom he would ever know. He prayed: "If I should wake before I die. . . ." Then ...

4650. Habituation

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

King Duncan

A noisy elevated train used to run along Third Avenue in New York City. After it was torn down, "many people in the neighborhood began to call the police quite late to report something strange occurring "unusual noises, suspected thieves or burglars. . . . The police determined that these calls took place at about the time the former late-night train would have passed these people's houses. What they were hearing' was the absence of the familiar noise of the train." They had grown habituated to this ...

Showing results

Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 4626 to 4650 of 5000 results

4626. Specializing in Misdemeanors

Lk 15:1-32

Illustration

King Duncan

4627. But I Know Sheep

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

King Duncan

4628. Huddled Like Sheep

Luke 15:1-10

Illustration

King Duncan

4629. Found!

Lk 15:1-32

Illustration

King Duncan

4630. Increasing Our Standard of Giving - Sermon Starter

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

4631. Like Running a Business

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

4632. Play It Safe or Take a Risk

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Mark Trotter

4633. Looking Past Oneself

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Maxie Dunnam

4634. Wine Stewards

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

4635. Finding Financial Freedom

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

4636. Growing through the Challenge of the Gospel

Illustration

Shelley Cunningham

4637. How’s Your Spiritual Bank?

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

4638. Earn, Save, and Give

Lk 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

4639. Beyond Skin Deep

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

4640. What Did You Do With What I Gave You?

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Brett Blair

4641. Rooting for the Bad Guys?

Lk 16:1-13

Illustration

King Duncan

4642. I Have Never Told the Half of It!

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

James W. Moore

4643. The Art of the Con Man

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

4644. Neighbors Who Never Met - Sermon Starter

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Brett Blair

4645. More vs. Love

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

4646. Who Have We Been Trampling?

Lk 16:19-31

Illustration

King Duncan

4647. The Man Who Dies Rich

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Andrew Carnegie, who amassed a fortune of over 400 million dollars ended up giving 99.5% of it away. He said this about it - "the man who dies rich, dies disgraced."

4648. Monuments To Self

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Brett Blair

4649. Prayed Correctly

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

King Duncan

4650. Habituation

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

King Duncan

Showing results