Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 451 to 475 of 1138 results

451. When the Word Comes to the Wilderness

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

William G. Carter

... . Last year the first catalog came from a company that specializes in Christian home decorations. Like other catalogs, there were smiling snowman doormats and weatherproof gift-wrap for covering the mailbox. On page three, the religious emphasis was revealed in a variety of porcelain créche scenes. Following that, there was an eight-page section of angels, some of which looked a bit pudgy. The catalog showed advent wreathes and hundred-watt stars. And to nobody’s surprise, there was absolutely no John ...

452. Respect

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... it gets diseased. In our ignorance about our body, we are perfectly happy until one of its parts begins to hurt. Then it dawns on us how important that part is, both physically and psychologically, to our well-being. Regardless of the infinite variety of parts that compose our bodies, whatever is hurting at the moment becomes the indispensable center of attention. We will pay any price to strangers who can offer us relief. Paul immediately got the attention of the diverse Corinthians by talking about their ...

453. Changing Seasons, Constant Love

Jeremiah 8:4--9:26

Sermon

John W. Wurster

... I heard recently about a book called A Broken Heart Still Beats. This book is a collection of readings offered to help parents deal with the deaths of their children. The editors, each of whom has tragically lost a child, have pulled together a variety of materials from many authors in an attempt to provide some resources for those struggling with this catastrophe. The death of a child, the editors contend, is not something one “gets over” or “works through.” At best, you can learn to live with the ...

454. The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac

Mark 5:1-20

Sermon

James W. Moore

... different cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds. Greeks, Romans, African-Americans, Hispanics… even some native Texans were here. It was a touching, moving experience and I found myself thinking not about how different we are, but rather how alike we are. God must have loved variety; he made so much of it. And yet deep within us, there is an incredible kindred spirit, an amazing alikeness, that comes from being brothers and sisters in God’s family. There has been a lot of talk about economics in this ...

455. God Works From the Inside Out

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

James W. Moore

... One little boy said, “I think it’s Joe Montana because he led the 49ers to all those Super Bowl wins.” A little girl said, George Bush… and still another named Oprah… and on and on it went with the students mentioning a wide variety or celebrities. But then it was little Donnie’s turn. Without hesitation Donnie said, “I think it’s Jesus Christ because He loves everybody and is always ready to help them.” Mrs. Thompson smiled and said, “Well, I certainly like your answer, Donnie, because ...

456. All I Want for Christmas is Hope

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

James W. Moore

... in the back bedroom of the house and put the baby to bed. All the travel and excitement had tired her out. She fell asleep almost immediately. We had our Christmas dinner and afterwards we exchanged gifts. Then people got involved in a variety of activities. Some were talking and visiting, others were playing electronic games, some were singing carols, and still others were watching a football game on television. There was a lot of noise and happy Christmas confusion. In the midst of all the chaos ...

457. The Apostles' Creed: Maker of Heaven and Earth

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... difficulty for people of faith in recent years. Some folks have interpreted the material as a scientific treatise giving the details of God's process. As we noted a few minutes ago, some want to say that the "days" referred to are the garden-variety 24-hour type with which we are all familiar. Others, influenced by scientific studies that indicate this planet is millions of years old, say the "days" of Genesis One should be understood as simply distinct periods, each of which may have lasted for thousands ...

458. Growing in Faith

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... in helping someone grow in the faith. In other words, if you are serious about Christian discipleship, there is NOTHING that can do the job better than being a part of a class. How about that! We have them here for you. We offer a variety of opportunities - Sunday School kicked off today, Kirk Nite gets underway this Wednesday - and by the grace of God, we will be offering even more. Christian Education is the responsibility of each one of us - both as life-long students and life-long supporters. Emphasize ...

459. Make It Right!

Matthew 5:21-26

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... First, there is the deliberate insult. In the original language and in many translations of scripture it is left in the Aramaic: RACA. In Aramaic, raca is a term of derision roughly comparable to "worthless one" or "empty-head" or "contemptible one" or just plain garden-variety "idiot." The reason we find it so often not translated is that the meaning is expressed by tone of voice as anything.(4) It is the kind of name-calling, the kind of insult, that is designed to cause someone else pain. Why would Jesus ...

460. When Your Church Provokes You

Matthew 13:1-23, Hebrews 10:19-39

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... begins with GIVING -- "For God so loved the world that he GAVE..." -- and we respond by giving of ourselves (including our money) in return. That giving then supports ministries of all sorts - ministries of teaching, preaching, healing, feeding, services of amazing variety - with the result that great work is accomplished in the name of Jesus Christ. And that work happens because we give. OK, enough with the provoking to love and good deeds. What about the second component? What ENCOURAGEMENT is here for us ...

461. "Weird People" Everywhere

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... learn something new. Others are tired of the old hymns; they want to learn something new. For some, singing is the high point of the service; others wouldn't mind if we dispensed with the music altogether. We all have different tastes. We come from a wide variety of backgrounds and that affects our relationship to the church. Did you know that men and women may hear the Gospel through two different sets of ears? Here we can be guilty of over-generalizing, but think with me for a moment. If the experts are ...

462. Hope Wins!

Revelation 21:1-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... become living drug factories. Researchers already have successfully transferred into female pigs a gene that causes them to produce large amounts of protein in their milk. Now scientists plan to insert genes for other economically and medically important compounds into a variety of milk-producing animals. In the future, a single goat may produce enough blood-clotting factors to treat all the world's hemophiliacs. (4) "Over the next 20 to 40 years we will have the potential for eradicating the major diseases ...

463. I, Caiaphas

John 18:12-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... . I had high hopes of bringing some sanity to our desperate plight as a nation for two reasons. First of all you should know that the Saducees were in control over all activities at the temple. As part of our Sabbath worship services the sacrifice of a variety of animals was very important. Well, every animal could be had for a price, and all such funds went into our coffers. This was one of the way we Saducees hoped that we might make some headway with Rome. True, they might laugh at our religion with ...

464. Getting Ready

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

... things they do to get ready for Christmas. Some have worked out a systematic way of doing their Christmas shopping so that they are completely finished well before Christmas Day. Others prepare for Christmas by baking delicious Christmas cookies of all varieties or cakes and pies. Baking is a way many people spread Christmas cheer to their family and friends. Others get ready for that great day with decorations. It seems as though everyone enjoys putting up decorations and decorating the Christmas tree ...

465. The Explosive Power Of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... burial service: "In the name of the Father and of the Son and in the hole you goes!" We read about these events in the second chapter of Acts when tongues of fire appeared over the disciples' heads and uneducated Galileans began speaking in a variety of languages. We read that people outside thought that they were intoxicated and we are uncomfortable. We may feel like Dr. Youggi Chou, pastor of the largest church in the world, in Seoul Korea, telling about a conference where he was speaking in Australia. He ...

466. Choose Life!

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... want to hurt their spouses for anything in the world, yet they are playing with fire--choosing, perhaps, the death of a very precious marriage relationship because of a moral weakness. Many more examples could be used. Some of us face a choice every day with a variety of unhealthy habits. Who in the world would choose death over life? Millions of people do it every day. That was as true three thousand years ago as it is today. So it was with great urgency that Moses called the people of Israel together and ...

467. Belonging To The Right Family

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... PARTICULARLY IS IT DIFFICULT TO BE A PARENT. Parenthood is life's most challenging and complicated task. In his book called AMERICA ON SIX RUBLES A DAY, the comedian Yakov Smirnoff writes: "Coming from the Soviet Union, I was not prepared for the incredible variety of products available in American grocery stores. While on my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milkyou just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juiceyou just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powderI ...

468. Freedom!

Romans 6:3-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... to do to be a free man was to go on a diet. His brother even offered to restore his title and wealth as soon as he was able to leave the room. His brother knew Raynald's weakness, though. Each day he had sent to Raynald's room a variety of delicious foods. Instead of growing thinner, Raynald grew fatter. He was a prisoner not of locks or bars or iron gates. He was a prisoner of his own appetite. (1) What a parable of the dilemma faced by many people every day. There are forces within the human personality ...

469. Narrow Doors-limitless Horizons

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... world grows ever more narrow. We get winded when we climb one flight of stairs. We become spectators rather than participants. Physical fitness is a narrow door with an almost limitless horizon. THERE ARE MANY NARROW DOORS. Marriage is one of those doors. We start off thinking variety is the spice of life. And when we are young and courting that is the way it ought to be. But there comes a time in our life when we narrow our choices to one special person, because we know that in a good marriage, there is ...

470. A Shocking Revelation

Revelation 1:9-20

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... and turned on his bed. His nights were spent in restless agitation. Do you want anything? she asked him quietly one morning. And this is what he said. In a very weak voice, he said, I want God, I want God! We say that too, don’t we? In a variety of ways we say it: I want God! I want to see God and make some sense out of this crazy world, this world of madmen playing unholy games in the Arabian deserts; this world of murder and hostility and broken homes. I want to feel God and lose this ...

471. What Do We Need For Christmas?

Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... 90 and 91 intersected. The town had unfortunately developed a reputation of being split and unable to find a common unity. However, because of the great transportation infrastructure and booming commerce and skiing resort, the town continued to attract a wide variety of people. The town was divided between liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, hawks and doves, those who lived in the community all of their lives, and Johnnys and Marys who had come lately, having moved from larger cities in ...

472. Transforming Moment

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... will come for them to tell all the world the identity of Jesus. That time is at Pentecost, and Peter will take the lead. He will tell the world about Jesus. That’s what happens when you meet God, whether your experience is of the mountaintop variety or whether you meet him in the valley. What matters is the change that takes place in your life. What matters is not a feeling, but a faith. 1. Peter and Barbara Jenkins, The Road Unseen (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985), pp. 32-33. 2. David Douglas ...

473. Finding The Real Thing

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... the community's livestock. Wendy noticed how dark it was far from the nighttime glow of the city. Once inside it was as if they were in another world. There was one bare light bulb hanging from the rafters, sending uneven rays of illumination over a variety of small farm animals. The warmth of the makeshift barn came from the bodies and breaths of the animals themselves. A strange feeling came over Wendy. Over in the corner was the newborn lamb and its mother. As she stood there she imagined what it must ...

474. You Can Be Happy

Mark 1:29-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... for Christmas?" The weary Jews, fearful for their very lives, replied, "We would like some German pastries." At that point Gorman Williams sold his ticket to the United States and purchased more German pastries than anyone had ever seen. He bought a huge variety and carried them in large baskets. Later he told this story to a group of students. One brash, judgmental young man reprimanded him. "You shouldn't have done that," he said, "they were not even Christians." "No they weren't," the wise missionary ...

475. Watchers, Walkers And Worshipers

Acts 3:11-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... the Temple that day, "You rejected the Holy and Righteous One." It's easy for us to look back and wonder how the people failed to see Jesus when he was right in front of them. But many people even today continue to not see Jesus for a variety of reasons. Some are indifferent; others are preoccupied with activities, while others are just plain lazy. So there is a positive side to watching, because we need to be on the lookout for God's activity in our world. Take the case of a gentleman named Michael Thomas ...

Showing results