Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4826 to 4850 of 4884 results

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... . And remember, the scriptures tell us that John’s birth was announced by the angel Gabriel just like Jesus’ birth. Talk about good breeding! He, too, was a “miracle” baby, born to a woman who was far beyond the normal child-bearing years. John the Baptist was the perfect prophet to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. Most of you are aware that there is a 400-year gap between the Old and New Testaments, a time when God was silent. The final voice at the end of the Old Testament was that of the ...

4827. God's Will for Your Life

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... from believing that God has a plan for our life, and that the path on which He leads us, leads to pleasures forevermore.” New Testament scholar William Barclay in a comment about the wedding at Cana of Galilee wrote these insightful words: “Jesus was perfectly at home at a wedding feast. He was no severe, austere killjoy. He loved to share in the happy rejoicing of a wedding feast. There are certain religious people who shed a gloom wherever they go. There are certain people who are suspicious of all ...

4828. Imperfect Pastors

Exodus 32:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

I don’t mean to shock you with this revelation first thing in the morning, but there is no such thing as the perfect pastor. Much as I hate to admit it, we all have room for improvement. That is why every pastor needs leaders who will hold them accountable. Most pastors are grateful for honest, constructive criticism. But, like any leader, sometimes pastors get less-than-helpful feedback from their people. Thom Rainer ...

4829. Remember...

Deuteronomy 8:7-18

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... begin to flinch from her hugs. Meanwhile her husband is so wrapped up in his medical practice that he, too, adds to the neglect. Her family’s ongoing lack of gratitude finally kills something in Delia. She has tried so hard to be the perfect wife and mother, but they continually fail to appreciate her efforts. Then, the day comes when Delia just walks away. She disappears. Can you blame her? “Once her family realizes she is missing, they have a curiously difficult time describing Delia to the police ...

4830. Burning the Midnight Oil

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Steve Molin

... is the oil of faith. It is the oil of prayer. It is the oil of loving Jesus and serving our neighbor. Our oil is replenished through the study of God’s word, and singing hymns of praise, and recalling the depth of his love. Being ready is not being perfect. Being ready might not even mean being awake. Being ready is trusting that God’s promises are true, and God’s grace is sufficient. Many years ago, I saw a young man at the state fair wearing a T-shirt with the likeness of Jesus on the front, and ...

4831. Obstructions of the Heart

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... much bigger than John could possibly provide. The Messiah, Jesus, Son of God, will “baptize” by the fire of the Holy Spirit, the fire that will animate, infuse, energize, and missionize people into discipleship and a kingdom way of life. Advent is the perfect time to remember your baptism, and also to remind yourself that your story does not end there. Whether you were baptized as a child and then renewed your vows with a confirmation ritual, or whether you were baptized fully as an adult, your ...

4832. Ambassadors For Christ

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Sermon

John B. Jamison

... true sign of a believer, to perform wondrous miracles like Jesus did. Miracles were important in some of the other groups around Corinth, and as some of those people had joined the church they brought that belief with them. Jesus did miracles, so it was perfectly obvious to them that if Jesus was really with them, then his followers would be able to be miracle workers as well. “If you were a true disciple, then show us your miracles.” Another group of church members had been impressed by the style of ...

4833. Knowing, and Known

Romans 4:13-25

Sermon

John B. Jamison

... can understand enough to help us think about it all today. Paul actually makes that kind of easy if we take a quick look at the first few chapters. In the first chapter, after the usual greeting, Paul began by reminding the readers that no one of them is perfect and free from sin. He wrote that even though they know what God does not want them to do, they not only keep on doing those things but approve when those things are done. Romans. In chapter two, he wrote that since they all fall short, none of them ...

4834. 2 Boys at Doc's

Luke 15:25-32

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... professional setting. Let’s get to the point Doctor Bone Brake. What are you finding out about my condition? DOC: (sits down and looks seriously at Brother One) Well my diagnosis is that you do have some problems. BROTHER ONE: You must be kidding Doctor. I’m in perfect shape. I don’t believe you. DOC: No, just wait. I’ll share my findings. First, we must wait for the cranial scan, the heart check, and the blood tests to return. BROTHER ONE: Well okay. I’ll wait. But I know it’ll be negative. You ...

4835. We Need Another Miracle

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... are trapping heat on the planet, downpours are getting more intense, and rising temperatures are driving increasingly extreme Western wildfires.[9] But she adds, “I am a scientist, which means I believe in miracles. I live on one. We are improbable life on a perfect planet. A flower in a garden is an exquisite thing, rooted in soil formed from old rocks broken by weather. It breathes in sunlight and carbon dioxide and conjures its food as if by magic. For the flower to exist, a confluence of extraordinary ...

4836. Making Friends with Failure

Illustration

Maxie Dunnam

... Failure doesn't mean you've been disgraced; it does mean you were willing to try... Failure doesn't mean you don't have it; it does mean you have to do something in a different way... Failure doesn't mean you're inferior; it does mean you're not perfect... Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life; it does mean you have a reason to start afresh... Failure doesn't mean you should give up; it does mean you should try harder... Failure doesn't mean god has abandoned you; it does mean god has a better idea ...

4837. Heroines of the Faith

Mark 1:29.39

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” (Mark 1:30-31) Years ago, I thought nothing of it, but now... She was sick in bed, Jesus healed her, she got up, and went about playing the perfect hostess. Huh? It reminds me of the story of the fifteen-year-old boy who came bounding into the house and found his mom in bed. He asked if she were sick or something. He was truly concerned. Mom replied that, as a matter of fact, she didn’t feel ...

4838. Praying the Lectionary: Lent 1

Mark 1:9-15 · 1 Peter 3:18-22 · Genesis 9:8-17 · Psalm 25:1-10

Bulletin Aid

Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

... through baptism we are united with your death and resurrection and we are able to worship and serve you as the Holy One at God’s right hand with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to you. God of mercy: C: Hear our prayer. P: Christ our perfect example: As you were thrown out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted and tested by the powers of evil for forty days, you succeeded in resisting all temptations. So may we, during these forty days of Lent, resist the temptations facing us ...

4839. The Kind Neighbor

Illustration

Maxie Dunnam

... with a neighbor. She was exasperated when I passed by. Everything had gone wrong during the day, and now her car wouldn't start. "You're so kind," she said, after we had gotten the car started. "It's good to know there are Christians still around." The perfect opening for me to respond and share. I was a bit amazed that she put being kind and being Christian together. Words often die or at least lose their power. They need people to keep them alive. The word kindness is a good illustration of this. It doesn ...

4840. The Serpent's Tongue

John 3:14-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... through the shedding of Jesus blood. In a sense, Jesus provides us, through his sacrificial gift a “blood transfusion” –a purifying of our blood, a relieving of our sin, a saving of our lives. Wounded by sin, when we look upon Jesus, he restores us to perfect health. When Jesus is lifted up upon the cross, he signifies both the sins of the world and the healing power of God, just as the bronze serpent signified the venom of the desert serpents, as well as the healing power of God. Sometimes we forget ...

4841. The Feast of Leviathan

Luke 24:36b-48

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... , to embrace, and to save. For we are “witnesses to Jesus’ commission!” Who we are matters. What we do matters. As we “remember” him, Jesus reminds us to “keep it real.” [1] The Hebrew word for fish (dag) represents the number 7, the number of perfection. The fish are also blessed in Genesis and told to be “fruitful and multiply and fill the seas.” The feast of the righteous in the end times will include the meat of Leviathan, slain by God to nourish believers on the advent of the Messiah ...

4842.

Psalm 142:1-7

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... :31; 110:5; 121:5), where the place of the helper was at the right side. 142:5–7 Similar to verses 1–2, verse 5 is also a description of the act of praying but this time it is a report of past confessions. The verbs (Hb. perfect) should be rendered, “I have cried to you, O LORD, I have said . . .” (cf. 140:6). In other words, the speaker claims that the confessions reported here are not insincere and manipulative, as though he had suddenly become religious in the face of an emergency. “You are my ...

4843. “The Words of the Lord Are Flawless, Like Silver Purified in a Crucible”

Psalm 12:1-8

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... of the silver combined with the lead, resulting in a purer metal.3 Repeating this process “seven times”4 would greatly purify the silver, a most appropriate metaphor for the “flawless” word of God, and the number seven itself being a symbol of perfection. The metaphor, however, should not be taken to imply that the Lord’s words were impure and had to be refined; it is the product, not the process, that constitutes the analogy. Interpretive Insights Title sheminith. See the comments on the title ...

4844. Epistolary Conclusion

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , including some biting and pointed sarcasm, he nonetheless continues to regard his audience at Corinth with a genuine love as fellow members of the family of faith. Accordingly, as the father of their faith, he continues to urge them to “aim for perfection,” to “listen to [his] appeal,” to “be of one mind,” and to “live in peace” (13:11). He also encourages the Corinthians to imitate his love for them by openly manifesting a familial affection for one another. Paul conveys the “greetings ...

4845. The Dream is Fulfilled

Daniel 4:28-37

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... and restoration. It begins when, at the end of that time, he raises his eyes toward heaven (4:34). The decree indicates that his punishment will be for a limited period: “seven times” or “years” (4:16, 23, 25, 32), seven being the number of perfection or completion. However, the decree also says that he will remain in his beastly state until he acknowledges “that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes” (4:25, 32). Does his restoration occur because ...

4846. The Seventy “Sevens”

Daniel 9:20-27

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... period, it would not fit the pattern. In short, even if the numbers do not work out exactly, overall there are enough other clues in the book to point us to the second century B.C. Some readers of Daniel might argue that since the numbers do not work out perfectly in any scheme, we might just as well espouse the messianic interpretation. However, if God in the sixth century B.C. wanted to predict the death of Jesus in the first century A.D., one would expect him to be more accurate. On the other hand, if an ...

4847. Schadenfreude

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... penchant for feeling satisfaction at the misfortune of others. They call it “Schadenfreude.” Let’s say that together, “Schadenfreude.” The German language has a unique gift for creating words, sometimes very long ones, with meanings that make perfect, if sometimes surprising, sense, as Mark Twain himself noted humorously.[1] The word “Schadenfreude” is no exception. The word “Schaden” means damage or harm, and “Freude” means joy. Put together, the word means taking joy in the damage ...

4848. The Lord's Answer

Habakkuk 1:5-11

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... sim (put) or of shamam (desolate, devastate), but no particular proposal has carried conviction. The NRSV takes the verb ʿabar (NIV “go on”) to mean “transgress” and then takes weʾashem as a verb, “and become guilty.” This is less jerky in train of thought but the vav-consecutive plus perfect verb following on the vav-consecutive plus imperfect verb is difficult.

4849. Maybe Today....

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

John B. Jamison

... whatever we might do, we do not become a partner with the evil. The danger of waiting for God to send some heavenly armies is that we buy into the idea of seeking vengeance. The great “so there!” It would be natural for us to feel that… perfectly justifiable to feel that… if we were not God’s children. Vengeance is not ours to take, no matter how loudly it screams for us to claim it. The greatest threat of evil, the greatest threat of the darkness we sometimes live in, is not that something might ...

4850. AAA=A

John 6:35, 41-51

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... out of alignment with what God intends for us. It’s so easy to be led in other directions, even the opposite of the ways we want to go. Even Paul said, “I mean to do one thing, but I end up doing another!” Ever try to walk in a perfectly straight line. How long can you keep that up! Yet, when we intentionally keep aligning our hearts with God, we take yet another step in the right direction. Love God, love each other. So easy, and yet so hard, right! Not one of these three steps is a piece of ...

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