Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4876 to 4900 of 4915 results

4876. The Shepherd And His Flock

John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

Not many people today are very familiar with shepherding as it was done in the first century. They are familiar with the frequent use of the image of sheep and the shepherd if they have a background in the scriptures. Many pictures portray Jesus as a shepherd. It is embodied often in stain glass windows or in children's Sunday school materials. Still, it is difficult to conceive of any other image today which would as satisfactorily communicate the caring and sacrificial nature of Jesus' ministry. What ...

4877. Membership Has Its Privileges

Acts 16:16-40

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

Our text today is one of those passages in the New Testament that is well known in the Christian community. The story of Paul and Silas and their dynamic escape from prison has for many years been a favorite among preachers. Many talented and gifted sermon crafters have taken the images of midnight, earthquake, and open doors and painted a picture in the hearts and minds of the faithful. The images of ridicule, imprisonment and deliverance become images of witness, prayer, and the power of God's ...

4878. Why Do We Ignore Warning Signs?

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

Recently the New York Times Magazine showed a series of photographs of a rock formation in Yosemite National Park near Bridal Veil Falls. A prominent sign in yellow plastic was attached to the rocks which clearly said: "Danger. Climbing or scrambling on rocks and cliffs is extremely dangerous. They are slippery when dry or wet. Many injuries and even fatalities have occurred." One picture showed a woman walking on the rocks in a tight dress and high heels. Another showed a couple walking on the rocks. The ...

4879. Looking A Little Bit Crazy

Mark 3:20-30

Sermon

William G. Carter

A photocopied sign was posted inside a church office. It was one of those humorous full-page slogans that people in different offices duplicate and pass among themselves. Most of us have seen this particular message, I suppose, but posted in a church office, the words took on a new meaning. There it was, taped to the cinder blocks behind a secretary's desk. The sign read, "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps." At one level, why not put a sign like that in a church? Many churches are busy ...

4880. Reach Out And Touch Someone

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Brett Blair

As Mark's story begins this morning, Jesus, the great physician, is on his way to make an emergency house call. There was a little girl who was in a grave state and her father implored Jesus to come. We are told that a large crowd of the curious followed Jesus. Some were hoping he would succeed, others that he would fail; most probably got caught up in the excitement of the parade. In this throng was one woman who was there for quite a different reason. We are told that for twelve years she had been ...

4881. Music as Prescription

Sermon

Robert Noblett

Let’s suppose you have been feeling distressed and fatigued of late and this has manifested itself in some physical symptoms. You’ve been having headaches; your lower back has been aching; and there has been a great deal of tightness around your neck and shoulders. Off to your family physician you trek, and after she has examined you, this is what she says: ÔÔYou are suffering from unmitigated stress and I prescribe the following. Each morning when you arise and each evening before bedtime, listen for one ...

4882. A Monolgue from Peter

Mark 8:27-30

Drama

Dr. Raymond Bailey

Theme: Peter is like many of us who preach. He thinks he must talk, even when he has little to say. Setting: The lectionary reading was Mark 8. It was the Lenten season. What does it mean for Messiah to die? Peter wrestles with that eventuality in a manner that we Monday morning quarterbacks sometimes can't quite comprehend. Dramatic Monologue In the year 1988, the Democratic Convention opened with a bleached blonde, whose time on terra firma was enough to designate her "numerically challenged," speaking ...

4883. Where Have All the Shepherds Gone?

Mark 6:30-44

Sermon

James Weekley

Have you ever seen a shepherd in living color? Near our home in Southern California several years ago, we would occasionally observe this rare phenomenon on grassy hillslopes of the San Gabriel Mountains. The sheep looked the part, except their wool coat didn't have that washed-in-Tide appearance. The shepherd wore boots, blue jeans, and a Texas straw hat. With a two-way transistor radio strapped to his belt, he could communicate to his wife that he'd be home by six. Such a description is a far cry from ...

4884. The Lion, The Lamb And Herod’s Rage

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Erskine White

A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children.(Matthew 2:18) The text I read to you from Matthew’s gospel is surely the least known part of the Christmas story. It’s the part most people forget about or would rather overlook. In fact, in all my years of growing up in the church, I never heard anyone preach an Advent sermon on this "Slaughter of the Innocents" in Bethlehem, even though it is as much a part of the Christmas story as shepherds and wise men and stars ...

4885. Physical Fitness For The Soul

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Erskine White

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. (James 3:10) Americans of all ages are on a physical fitness craze and many people are paying a great deal of attention to their waistlines. They worry endlessly about their weight and want their bodies to be just the right size. If your name is not Michael Jackson, it seems the fastest way to earn a fortune in this country is to write a new diet book. The next-fastest way is to open an aerobic dancing studio or an exercise club. Today I speak about another ...

4886. Everybody Plugs Into Something

Drama

Timothy W. Ayers

Topic: Salvation Characters: Narrator, Harry, personal trainer, businessperson, God (God should he dressed in all white). Trainer, businessperson, and God are holding electrical receptacles from a hardware store (Put the plug covers on them) Scene: Twilight Zone-ish Narrator: Harry is a nice guy. He's always done everything the way one is supposed to. Harry never hurt anyone - intentionally. He tried to never lie or cheat. I guess you would say that Harry is an all-around nice guy. But, like it is for ...

4887. God’s Ultimate Concern

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Walter Kimbrough

The Bible records one of the most moving stories ever told. It is the account of God’s giving the ten commandments to Moses. This mountaintop experience was a most excellent setting for the revealing of such a historic document. “The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain… (Exodus 19:20 NIV).” In other words, God and man had a summit meeting -- God came down and man had to go up. We must note that God had a very special relationship with Israel. They were no ...

4888. Palms By Day And Plots By Night

Sermon

Erskine White

Old Testament Text: Isaiah 50:4-9aNew Testament Text: John 12:9-19 Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me." (Isaiah 50:8) I am so glad Jesus lived long enough in the flesh to see Palm Sunday. He deserved it; you might even say He needed it. Everyone needs a day like the day Jesus had in Jerusalem.After spending our lives in thankless toil and turmoil, we all need at least one day of recognition and praise. It might come to you as a mother or father ...

4889. It Just Doesn't Work That Way

Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43

Sermon

Johnny Dean

I have to admit that I didn’t exactly look forward with eager anticipation to the prospect of planting a garden this year. It’s the first garden we’ve planted in several years, and my track record with gardens is not what anyone would rate as successful. Oh, I can usually manage to grow tomatoes and okra, the low maintenance vegetables. You just dig some holes, plant the seed or set out the young plants, pour a little Miracle Grow around them, and wait for them to grow. It you didn’t have the foresight to ...

4890. The Secret of Survival

Joshua 5:1-12

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

Most of us will agree with the familiar adage, "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." We all need a place where we can go to be secure, wanted, and loved. When God promised to deliver the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt, he also promised them a new homeland - a plot of ground that they could call their own - a land - a good fair land flowing with milk and honey. After the miracle of their deliverance from Egypt, God's chosen people wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Finally, ...

4891. The Ascension of Jesus - Gospel

Luke 24:44-53

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Jesus' post-resurrection appearances with his disciples concluded with the crowning experience of his ascension into heaven. People: That departing must have blessed their hearts to overflowing. Pastor: They were filled with joy, expectant of the Holy Spirit that would come upon them to give them power to do their Lord's work. People: That same Spirit gives us joy and power to minister in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of God the Father! Collect ...

4892. Is Christianity Practical?

Jeremiah 17:19-27

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

Text: Jeremiah 17:5 - Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord." Let's face it, we are paradoxical, a people who, while expressing our trust in Almighty God, are motivated by the apparent conviction that humanity is more to be trusted. That which is real is that which is pragmatically, empirically proved to be of value to humanity, and it is almost without exception something that humanity has produced. We have closed our ears to ...

4893. Watching Jesus

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Sometimes the background comments, the words used to provide the setting for the words and actions of Jesus are worth pondering. This may be the case in this passage where Luke notes, "They were watching him." (14:1b) Jesus was under surveillance. Is it any wonder? After all, he was a disturbing presence. He upset the tidiness of legalistic religion, declaring that all are bankrupt before God and that the main concern is God’s mercy, not our dubious schemes to make ourselves acceptable to God. To those who ...

4894. For Those On The Outside

Luke 8:40-56

Sermon

Let us pray: O Lord, as I seek to preach the word, and as your people struggle to know who you are, let our minds in these moments be illuminated with understanding from your Holy Spirit. Now may my words be thy words, as I seek to preach the gospel. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. The New Testament lesson this morning is about a woman on the periphery; it is the story of one who stood on the outside of the life and ministry of Jesus. She plays only a minor role in the New Testament and preachers do not ...

4895. Minute Accounting

Matthew 12:22-37

Sermon

Herchel H. Sheets

"I tell you, on the day of the judgment, men will render account for every careless word they utter." Really? A number of questions arise immediately when one hears that statement. One has to do with the logistics of accounting. A lot of careless words are spoken. Are we to believe that God (or some of his assistants!) keeps a verbatim record of all of these words and then confronts each person with the ones he or she has spoken at the final reckoning? Another question involves the justice of such a policy ...

4896. Toward Health With Confidence

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

Our town is midway between nowhere and nothing. It is set on the side of a hill that is not steep enough to be called a hill. The sun bakes it during the day, and the evening wind brings dust and chill to our doors. Our town has existed as long as anyone can remember - rooted here in the same way and size, and with the same bleakness. Our life was stirred only when an occasional camel caravan passed by, or when the Roman legions moved through on some unknown mission. Birth and death settled in our town and ...

4897. When Life Gets Hard, Christian, Rebel!

Lamentations 1:1-22

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Jerusalem, the great capital, was in ruins. The Babylonians were in control. It was the beginning of the famed Babylonian Captivity. All the symbols of power, wealth, prestige, and influence were gone. No wonder so many Hebrews were in despair and that songs of lamentation like the one we just read as today’s First Lesson were composed and long remembered. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt that life’s moorings had been cut loose? Maybe it was the loss of a dear loved one, a child gone bad, a ...

4898. Are You the One?

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

David E. Leininger

A few years ago in Reader's Digest a lady reported searching for the perfect birthday card for her husband. She came across a promising one. On the outside it read: "Sweetheart, you're the answer to my prayers." Then she turned to the inside, which was inscribed like this: "You're not what I prayed for exactly, but apparently you are the answer."(1) OK. In a strange way, I will bet that something like that was running through John's mind as he sat there in that prison. He and his people had hoped and ...

4899. Who Says A Good Man Is Hard To Find?

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

It's not easy being a parent. Someone has said, "You don't really know a person until you have observed his behavior with a child, a flat tire, when the boss is away, and when he thinks no one will ever know." A home without problems of one kind or another is a fantasy. Someone has said that undoubtedly, the first man who ever tore a telephone book in two had a teenage daughter. (1) It's not easy. That's why we set aside one day a year to honor those men who live out in their families the love which they ...

4900. I, Caiaphas

John 18:12-14

Sermon

King Duncan

Good evening! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Caiaphas. I was the high priest in the land of Palestine when the man you call Jesus was arrested an put on trial. But I'm getting ahead of myself; how about if I go back to the beginning of my story? My beloved Palestine was living through times which were filled with turmoil. Rome had been ruling over us as a captive people for over 50 years, and opinions were varied as to what should be done to resolve this impossible situation. One group believed ...

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