Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4676 to 4700 of 4937 results

4676. Acts 9:1-20

Acts 9:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Acts 9:1-20 recounts one of the church's all-time favorite stories: how Saul of Tarsus, perhaps the most vehement persecutor of Jesus' followers, was transformed into Paul the apostle, the Lord's own voice to the Gentiles. The famous Damascus Road theophany has been held up to all generations of the church as one of the most stirring and miraculous transformations ever recorded. Luke's sense of drama and gift for storytelling skillfully places this first of three accounts of Saul's conversion as a ...

4677. Rainbows and Roses

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

One of the best known stories in all literature is the story of Noah and the Ark. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the more modern version of that story. Let me give you an abbreviated version as posted by somebody on the Internet: The Lord spoke to Noah and said, “Noah, in six months I’m going to make it rain until the whole world is covered with water. But I want to save a few good people and two of every living thing on the planet. So I am ordering you to build an Ark.” “OK,” Noah said, trembling ...

4678. The Heart of the Matter

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon

King Duncan

“Let’s say it’s 4:17 p.m. and you’re driving home alone after an unusually hard day on the job. Not only was the workload extraordinarily heavy, you also had a disagreement with your boss, and no matter how hard you tried he just wouldn’t see your side of the situation. You’re really upset and the more you think about it the more uptight you become. All of a sudden you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles ...

4679. The Father’s Blessing

Genesis 27:1-40

Sermon

Mike Ripski

The salvation God offers us in Jesus Christ entails being saved from our sense of worthlessness, of not being good enough, of being good for nothing, of not deserving to be loved for who we are. On Mother’s Day I observed that each of us has been created with a God-hole. In that God-hole lies all our self-doubt and shame. It remains there until God fills that hole. We try to fill the hole with God-substitutes. We try to overcome the self-doubt by proving ourselves. The world gives us a cafeteria line to ...

4680. Lent 5

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, John 12:20-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Jeremiah addresses these words to the Jews in Babylon. Through him God promises to make a new covenant with them. Out of their suffering, sorrow and isolation in exile as slaves, a new covenant will be made. No time was given when the new covenant would be made; Christians see the new covenant made through the blood of Christ. The differences between the old and new covenants are in the facts that the law would be in the hearts and God would be known in an ...

4681. Easter 4

1 John 3:11-24, Acts 4:1-22, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 4:5-12 Peter and John are standing before the Sanhedrin to give an explanation of the healing of the crippled man at the beautiful gate of the temple. Peter and John do not speak in their own defense, but witness to God's deed of healing. The healing focuses on Jesus' name. The miracle done in Jesus' name implied that Jesus was alive and at work. Epistle: 1 John 3:16-24 If we love in deed, we know we have the truth. Even if our consciences condemn us, God is greater than our ...

4682. Epiphany

Ephesians 3:1-13, Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-22

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

THEMES Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6: The light of God's glory has appeared. Epistle: Ephesians 3:1-12: The gospel is for all, including Gentiles. Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12: The visit of the wise men. PREACHING POSSIBILITIES Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 1. The sermon might focus on the wise men. Why are they called "wise?" As in the Gospel lesson for the day, the wise men were more than men who studied the stars. History has called them wise men because they made a quest for God. Today, men are wise if they seek God ...

4683. Lent 1

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, John 12:20-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

4684. Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8, Matthew 5:21-37, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter--Psalms 119:1-8 First Lesson--The choice to obey or not to obey is the choice ultimately to live or to die. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 [OR] The wise man seeks to define the line of responsibility between the human will and the will of God. Sirach 15:15-20 Second Lesson--Cooperation, not divisiveness, is a sign of maturity. 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Gospel--Jesus, the law, and the prophets expect respect not only in outward conformance to the tradition but in reconciliation of differences with others. ...

4685. Trinity Sunday

Matthew 28:16-20, Psalm 8:1-9, Genesis 1:1-2:3, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 8:1-9 First Lesson - This is the beginning of the book of beginnings. Genesis 1:1-2:4 Second Lesson - Paul sends closing greetings to the church at Corinth. 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Gospel - Jesus gives his great commission to the eleven remaining disciples to insure continuity of the faith. Matthew 28:16-20 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name. People: We bow down ...

4686. Anxiety Alert – The Fear of the Future

Matthew 6:34

Sermon

James Merritt

Ever since 9/11 we have instituted in this country the Homeland Security Advisory System. Though you haven't memorized it, I am sure you are familiar with it. It looks like this. [Put on Screen]. These levels are assigned based on information gathered by our intelligence agencies to help us be prepared for potential terror attacks in the future. Whether you know it or not, you use this same system every day of your life to chart your level of anxiety. Follow this scenario and chart your "anxiety alert ...

4687. Here Comes the Bridegroom

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

James Merritt

As you well know you certainly cannot always believe everything you read in the papers. Some of the headlines in papers are absolutely astounding. These are actual headlines that actually ran in American newspapers. Experts say jet crashed because something went wrong. Police begin campaign to run down jay walkers. Crash probe decides plane was too close to ground Minors refuse to work after death Cold wave linked to temperatures Couple slain: police suspect homicide New study of obesity looks for larger ...

4688. The Wonder of It All

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Many of you know the name Henry Drummond, the great Scotsman of another century. Henry Drummond was probably best known for the great books that he wrote and the many tracks that were circulated throughout Scotland and throughout the world really. He was also in his time a distinguished scientist. Above all, Henry Drummond was a noble and winsome Christian. When he died, a man named George Adam Smith wrote his biography, and he said writing that biography was like trying to write the history of a fragrance ...

4689. Every Day God Enables

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I remember reading a book of letters from children to their pastor. One of them read: "Dear Preacher, I'd like to bring my dog to church on Sunday. She is only a mutt, but she is a good Christian. Love, Sissy. PS I'm sorry I can't leave more money in the offering plate on Sunday, but my Daddy won't give me a raise in my allowance. Maybe you could give a sermon about a raise in my allowance. It would help the church get more money." I like that little girl. I'll bet she's going someplace in her life. Not ...

4690. Count the Stars

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

Sermon

King Duncan

Three-year-old Ian Hough of Auburn, Washington, loves the story in the Bible of the time God spoke to the boy Samuel. One night after his mother read Ian this story she asked him if God had ever spoken to him. To her surprise, he answered, “Yes.” “What did God say to you?” his mother asked. Ian thought and then said in his deepest voice, “Ian! Go to bed!” (1) Does God speak to people? What do you think? David Holwick tells a story that appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was about a man named Bob Haifley ...

4691. One Lord, One Table

Exodus 20:1-4

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Growing up, there was a family who lived across the street from us by the name of Wallace. There were six kids, one girl and five boys. Their yard was the cut through yard to get to the rest of our friends houses. Mr. Wallace loved to grow things. He always had a garden and grew tomatoes, lettuce and carrots. But his favorite was peaches. The Wallaces had a double lot and he must have had three dozen peach trees. He sold many of the peaches to a local grocery store. But Mr. Wallace also had red and purple ...

4692. This Is the Day!

Psalm 118:1-29

Sermon

King Duncan

I want to begin with a suggestion. Tomorrow morning when you wake up, I want you to stand up tall in front of your bathroom mirror, give yourself a big smile and declare with great gusto that wonderful verse from Psalms, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!” Bio-feedback experts suggest that this single act can do wonders for our mental state. The relation between our body and our mind is an interesting one. We don’t smile because we feel great, these experts tell us; ...

4693. Pursue the Life That Really Is Life

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Somebody once said that people will accept what you have to say much more readily if you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it first. (1) With that in mind Benjamin Franklin was famous for his wit and he thoroughly enjoyed trimming hecklers down to size. During the early days of the American Republic, he spoke many times on that great document, the Constitution of the United States. After one such stirring speech, one of those hecklers stood up and boldly walked a few paces toward the platform. "Aw, them ...

4694. On the Road with the Little Children

Luke 18:15-17

Sermon

James W. Moore

Let me begin this morning with three quick stories. Story #1: We took our two youngest grandsons to lunch in a local Italian Restaurant. As the waiters brought the food to the table I asked Dawson (age 6) and Daniel (age 4) if either one of them would like to offer our prayer of thanks for the meal… or if they would like for me to do it. They both pointed to me, so I prayed a brief prayer of gratitude for our meal and for our family. When I finished the prayer and said “Amen,” four-year-old Daniel opened ...

4695. Being the Lord's Instrument

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

It’s a terrible thing to believe that nobody needs you. Have you ever had that feeling? That you’ve been put on the shelf and all that is left now is for you to just sit there - to be present, but not to mean anything? It’s also a terrible thing to believe that you’ve lost your influence; nobody pays any attention to you anymore. Unlike E. F. Hutton - when you speak, nobody seems to listen, Moses must have been plagued with that thought throughout the Exodus journey. Over and over again, the Israelites ...

4696. Liberated Women

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

King Duncan

Barbara Walters, of Television’s 20/20, did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan, several years before the current Afghan war. She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands. She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands. From Ms. Walters’ vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to walk even farther back behind their husbands, and are happy to maintain the old custom. Ms. Walters ...

4697. Fish or Cut Bait

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

You may have heard the story about the fisherman who had a fantastic reputation for his ability to catch fish. Everyday he would go out in his boat and bring back an incredibly large number of fish, and his reputation spread far and wide. One day a stranger came to the camp and wanted to go fishing with him. The fisherman said, “Come back to tomorrow morning at 4:30, and we’ll go. The stranger was back the next morning, and two men got into the boat. The stranger was puzzled at what he saw. All the ...

4698. The Loving Friend

John 4:1-15

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

With apologies to Carole King, I'd like to describe my friendship with Jesus Christ in a paraphrase of a popular song: When you're down and troubled And you need someone to care And nothing, no nothing, is going right, Close your eyes and think of him And soon he will be there To brighten up even your darkest night. You just call out his name And you know wherever he is He'll come running, to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall All you've got to do is call And he'll be there, yes he will. You've ...

4699. Marketing or Disciplemaking?

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

I don't remember my first experience at worship. I was carried there as an infant in my mother's arms. I can almost count on one hand the number of weeks in my 59 years of life that I have not been somewhere in a worship service to praise and thank God. Worship is a part of my DNA. It's just deep within my soul. It was the Westminster Catechism that stated years ago, the chief purpose of humanity is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We were not created to please ourselves. We were made to please God. I ...

4700. One in Faith and One in Service

John 17:1-11

Sermon

Lee Griess

A few choice words — that's what Jesus gives us this morning — a few choice words about our lives and faith. Just hours before being arrested, just hours before being tried and condemned, Jesus gathered his disciples around him and in all sincerity bowed his head and prayed for them and for us. These words from John 17 are part of a great discourse recorded by the gospel writer John, part of a great priestly prayer that Jesus offered up to his heavenly Father. These are words that unite us to God. And in ...

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