Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 451 to 475 of 4939 results

451. First the Bad News...

Luke 21:5-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... can come alive in your heart, you have to die to yourself. Hudson Taylor was a British missionary to China and founder of one of the most effective missionary organizations in the world. On the matter of fear and worry for the future, he once said, “Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into God’s hand; and then, when we have given all over to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about.” (9) We are deceived if we place ...

452. The Lamb

Luke 19:28-44, Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, John 12:12-19

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... most popular. But I’ve heard a couple of really unusual ones too, like not using your curling iron for the duration of Lent. Or declining to watch your favorite tv show. And then there are the really strange ones. In fact, if you google strange things people give up for Lent, you’ll find a whole slew of those…..things like wearing the same outfit all of Lent. Or keeping a popped kernel of corn inside of your shoe. That one sounds a bit masochistic to me. Not washing your hair for 6 weeks is just plain ...

453. God's Ridiculous Commitment

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... and Bible verse Pastor Zehnder mentioned as I read our Bible passage for today. He said that as he tried to preach the totality of God’s word in his record-breaking sermon, the theme that emerged was God’s “ridiculous commitment to his people even though we give up on him that he never gave up on us . . .” And the key verse that emerged was, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Keep those two things in mind as you look at today’s ...

454. Will God Be With Us?

Exodus 33:12-23

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... apostle John would write about Jesus’ coming into the world, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). God never gives up on His people. God never stops trying to restore humanity. That is the greatness and the goodness and the awesome nature of God. That is God’s glory. There is no blessing that compares to knowing God and living in God’s presence. Back in the mid ...

455. Demon-Possessed Child

Matthew 15:1-20, Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... was healed instantly. What is important for you to know about me is the stubborn persistence of my parent. A child did not count for much in my time. My mother believed I counted. She knew that in God's mind I am worthy. She did not give up on me. My mother also did not give up on Jesus. Asker: Sometimes we are totally unaware that someone near to us or who cares for us as deeply as a parent also stands as an advocate. Daughter: I wonder how many other times my mother tried to get help for me when I was ...

456. “Weak and Strong” Should Get Along

Romans 14:1--15:13

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... must be the guide for what is right or wrong. Literature: The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis. In Letter XIII of this famous satiric piece (1941), Screwtape, a senior demon, counsels young Wormwood, a junior tempter, to make the Christian give up all “likings and dislikings” instead, of course, of thinking through what is right or wrong. He is to get the Christian to move away from personal preference, becoming neutral. Screwtape continues, I myself would carry this very far. I would make it ...

457. When We Are Weak

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... you do when God doesn’t fix your most grievous problem? That’s the time when you pray for God to reveal Himself in your troubles. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (vs. 9) When we give up on our own strength and rely totally on God to help us endure our troubles, that’s the point when we discover the true nature of God’s character and the true faithfulness of God’s promises. Have you reached a point in your life where you are ...

458. Take Up Your Cross

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... we be caught up in our own weaknesses. It is a natural trait for us to try to overcome our own weaknesses, justify our own failures, and rationalize our behavior. Jesus calls us from all of that. That is what it means to deny ourselves. It is the call to give up on trying to make something of ourselves on our own. It is not that Jesus does not count us important or disdains us. The point is that Jesus wants to show us not only a better way, but the only way to genuinely affirm ourselves. Take Up Your Cross ...

459. The Face Of God

Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon

Steve Burt

... standing. The older cousin would look down victoriously, but the younger cousin would nevertheless hang on, look up, and demand from his ridiculous position, "Okay. Give up now?" He'd continue to hang on, knowing he had lost, and ask again, "Okay. Give up?" And finally, through gales of laughter, the older and larger cousin, the victor, would say, "Yeah, yeah, I give up." And the younger one would let go his death grip on the ankle. That's like Jacob wrestling with this angel or with God -- Jacob hanging ...

460. What Would Bill Do?

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... all was himself. You’ve heard it said that tough times can make us bitter or they can make us better. You and I have a choice to make. We’re going to hit rough spots in our life. They do not have to defeat us. Don’t give up on God. Don’t give up on serving others. Ask what Paul would do. Even better--WWJD--ask what Jesus would do. And if you can’t bring yourself to that level, at least ask what Bill Porter would do, a man with cerebral palsy who never allowed himself a pity party, never gave ...

461. The Greatest Sin

Luke 13:6-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... the world a better place. I could keep going on with this theme right through lunch and beyond. [I can see that some of you are worried I’m going to do just that.] For example, remember the story of the rich young ruler who turned back rather than giving up his wealth and following Jesus. By his own admission he had kept all the commandments from his youth up. But when the opportunity came for him to make his life count, he turned back. He was a good man, but, pardon the slang, he was good for nothing (Mt ...

462. Keeping the Faith

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Molly F. James

... being steadfast in our faith. In the gospel, “Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray always and to not lose heart.” Jesus went on to tell the parable of the unjust judge and the widow who was faithful and persistent, who did not give up in seeking justice, and finally her faith was rewarded. The letter to Timothy also tells us to be persistent and to keep the faith, to hold fast to its truths through thick and thin. “Keep the faith.” It is a great saying. It looks good on T ...

463. Climbing Rainbows Through The Rain

Genesis 6:1-8:22

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... today as in the days of Noah. This is not what God intended in creation. And just as in the days of Noah, when that happens, we can expect two things: God will bring judgment and moral corrective, and we can expect God to be merciful. Therefore, never give up hope for the betterment of the human community. That is the word of God which comes to us from this account of Noah and the flood. Over 110 years ago a blind Scottish minister named George Matheson published a poem in a church magazine. Later it was ...

464. Wanting To Be Seen

Matthew 6:5-6

Sermon

David Belgum

... us on our journey through life. Jesus teaches us again and again the things that can enrich our lives. When he points out pitfalls and temptations, it is done lovingly because he desires our welfare. Some consider Lent a time to give up something they like. It would be no great sacrifice to give up hypocrisy. It doesn't really do us much good anyway. And showing off and bragging about our virtues and good deeds doesn't really win friends and influence people. Lent can also be a time to thank God for golden ...

465. Epiphany 8

Mark 2:18-22, Mark 2:13-17

Sermon Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... If every American would eat one less hamburger a week, enough grain could be saved to make up the current world shortage." Charge to the Congregation How will you make a difference in your world, which is God's world, this coming week: Would you be willing to give up one meal, or one day's worth of meals, and give that money to feed the hungry? Response to the Benediction Ask the people to turn toward the exits. Then say, "The Lord bless you and keep you -- out there! The Lord cause his face to shine upon ...

466. When Will The Pain Go Away?

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon

George Johnson

... increase. There will be times when you will be hated, let down, betrayed. Things will appear hopeless. Then comes this verse. "But the one who endures to the end will be saved." To endure means to stand one's ground in the midst of difficult times. It means not giving up hope even though the outward signs seem hopeless and the pain doesn't let up. All of us can remember times when we wondered if the pain would ever go away. We were tempted to quit, go back. Some of us may be in the middle of a difficult ...

467. Competition In The Kingdom?

Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:27-28)." If you want to be great in the kingdom, Jesus says, you are someone who is always giving up your life for someone else. That is what the cross is all about: Giving up your life for someone else (cf. Galatians 6:14; Matthew 16:24). Bearing the cross, however, is not a task laid on us; it is not something we have to do. It is part of our baptismal inheritance. In baptism we took on ...

468. The Victory Of The Cross

Sermon

Erskine White

... It is, first of all, a victory over sin. Without the cross, Christianity would be just a set of demands no one could fulfill, since no one is free from the sin which put Jesus Christ to death. "love your neighbor as yourself. Seek first the Kingdom of god. Give up all you have and follow Me. Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." Who among us can do this? These are impossible commandments! But now our sin is on longer a barrier. Now we no longer need rely upon our own devices to bring ourselves to ...

469. Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Daniel 2:24-49, Daniel 2:1-23

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... the best way to answer your prayer. Over time God will fulfill your request or reshape it, revealing his wisdom and superior timing. In Luke 18:1 we read, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Here is the third life-lesson: With God All Things Are Possible Almost any realist would have advised Daniel, "There is no way you can both discern and interpret the King's dream. Write your farewell letters, Daniel, because you are a goner. You don't ...

470. Wade In The Water

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

Frederick C. Edwards

... to take a deep breath again." I’ve heard others wish they could give anything to be free of pain, or to be able to walk again. And they probably would give anything they had for that. The problem is that when our health fails we often do give up everything we have in terms of monetary and property resources and still lose the battle. If you have not been in that position you certainly know or have heard of someone who has. That’s exactly where Naaman was, in a state of desperation where he was ready ...

471. Everybody a Cinderella

Hosea 2:2-23

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

... confronts us in our whimperings with, "If you can’t believe in yourself just know that I believe in you and live off that for a while." In spite of justified doubts the person moves ahead. A major reason why people not only do but perhaps should give up is the wicked web of self-deceit they weave around themselves. Love looks straight into the eyes of deceit and peels away the scales of self-interest. It tells us to brush aside our defenses and keep faith with a few simple responsibilities. Once we get ...

472. Why Fear Growing Old?

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

... . I have knowledge; I have wisdom; I have vision; I have talents; these are stimulated by faith and compassion. I intend still to be contributing to life and enjoying it. I am sustained and challenged by my new interests. A man of seventy was sick and about to give up. His doctors put him in a nursing home where they put him in charge of drama and staging. He had knowledge, and he discovered that he had gifts. He was happy. He got well and lived ten more years - a happy, creative, joyous life. If I "retire ...

473. True or False?

Isaiah 1:1-31

Sermon

John W. Wurster

... , they shall be like snow ... If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” (1:16, 18). Do you know a God who would make such an offer, a God who would do such an extraordinary thing? Do you know a God unwilling to give up, a God who offers another chance? It’s a God with high standards, to be sure. A God who is affronted by evil, who abhors unrighteousness and injustice, who stands on the side of the oppressed, the orphan, the widow (1:17). A God who cannot think of worship ...

474. Christ The King

Colossians 1:15-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... wired back that he and his party were prepared to abandon their expedition. Shackleton received a one-word reply from his government: "Proceed." The cable was signed by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill. There are times when you and I are tempted to give up the fight against the forces of evil and injustice in this world, but word comes from our Commander-in-Chief: "Proceed." Christ is the head of the church. (6) But there is one thing more that St. Paul says about Christ the King: HE IS ...

475. Fans or Followers

Matthew 4:18-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... to people who are in need. I like Jesus, but don’t ask me to forgive the person who hurt me. I like Jesus, but don’t talk to me about money or sex--that’s off limits. “Fans like Jesus just fine, but they don’t want to give up the bacon . . .” (1) Today’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel is about four men who were called by Jesus to be his disciples. They were not called to be fans of Jesus, but followers. Their names were Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John, four fishermen. But this reading is ...

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