Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 4901 to 4925 of 5000 results

4901. The Wild Goose

Acts 2:1-13; 2 Tim. 1:6-7; Gal. 3:28; Luke 4:18

Illustration

Mickey Anders

Celtic Christians chose, not the dove, but the wild goose as a symbol representing the Holy Spirit. It sounds strange to us, but it has a long tradition in Ireland. While the Roman Church imagined the Holy Spirit in the form of a peaceful, graceful dove, the Ancient Celts understood the Holy Spirit to be like a wild goose. When you hear of the Spirit descending like a heavenly dove on you, you hear harps and strings softly playing and get a peaceful feeling. The image of the Holy Spirit as dove has become ...

4902. All Together

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

Keith Wagner

A while ago, there was a special on the PBS channel about three families who lived on the prairie. It was an experiment to see whether or not 21st century families could live the way people lived in the 19th century. Their mission was to plant crops, raise animals and prepare themselves for the upcoming winter. At that point they were evaluated and then returned to their normal lives. Following the experiment they were interviewed and everyone commented on how much time they spent together. Since there was ...

4903. How Were You Attired?

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

A judge was presiding over a case in a small, rural county. The defendant was charged with drunk driving and trying to assault the police officer who arrested him. To convict the defendant on the assault on an officer charge, the District Attorney had to prove that the defendant knew the person he was assaulting was a police officer. And the easiest way to do that is to show that the officer was wearing a police uniform. So the District Attorney asked the officer on the witness stand "And how were you ...

4904. Lost and Found

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

Picture a little girl lost in a big city. There she sits, crying on the curb. A policeman finds her, puts her in his cruiser and drives her up and down the streets, hoping she'll recognize something familiar. Which, at last, she does. She sees a steeple with a cross on it. Tears vanish. Speech returns. "That's my church," she says. "I can find my way from here." You're not the only one, little girl.

4905. They All Come Together

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

John E. Harnish

John Ortberg tells the story of a friend who made his first trip south of the Mason-Dixon Line from Chicago to Georgia. On his first morning in the South he went into a restaurant to order breakfast, and it seemed that every dish included something called grits...which, as my Tennessee friends tell me, is exactly the way God intended it. Not being familiar with this southern delicacy, he asked the waitress, "Could you tell me, exactly what is a grit?" Looking down on him with a mixture of compassion and ...

4906. Following Orders

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

David E. Leininger

Have you ever been given orders for which you could get no reason? I suspect so. Everyone of us, at some time were told by Mom or Dad to DO something; we asked "Why?" and got the response, "Because I SAID so, that's why." We followed those orders because we had no choice in the matter - the one who gave them had the power to back them up. But we probably did not carry them out with as complete conviction as we might have had we understood why they were being given. As we grew older, others gave us orders ...

4907. The Trinity: Who’s on First?

Matthew 28:16-20

Drama

Mickey Anders

The Trinity is a mystery that is impossible to solve like a puzzle. When we examine it like a puzzle, we cannot help but be confused. It is a confusion that is not unlike that of the famous Abbot and Costello skit "Who's on First?" Someone wrote a similar skit on the subject of the Trinity that begins this way: When you come to church you need to know the key players . . . you know, the ones who are worthy of honor and praise. Honor and praise huh? Well who are they? O.K., now listen closely. There is one ...

4908. Safely through the Storm

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

Keith Wagner

Max Lucado tells the story about the time he was sailing with his son and a church friend of the coast of Miami. They were having a leisurely cruise and the weather was perfect. But out of nowhere a storm appeared. The sky darkened, the rained started and the ocean became violent. Max was terrified and looked at his friend Milt for help. Milt was deliberate and decisive. He told the men exactly where to sit and gave them specific instructions. Last he said, "just hang on." They did what he said. Why? ...

4909. Working Together in Unheavenly Places

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

James McCormick

Harry Emerson Fosdick was pastor of Riverside Church in New York when their magnificent new building was built. But the last Sunday in their old building, before moving into the new one, he said: "My friends, it is not settled yet whether or not the new church will be wonderful. That depends upon what we do with it. If in that new temple we simply sit together in heavenly places that will not be wonderful. But if we also work together in unheavenly places, that will be." He was right on target. The ...

4910. We Replace the Lamb

Mt 10:40-42; Is 11:6, 65:25

Illustration

In that marvelous vision known as the "Peaceable Kingdom" (which we find in Isaiah 65), there is the image of the wolf and the lamb feeding together. Well, let me tell you a story about that. Back in the days of pre-perestroika Russia ... when hers was a name that made all of us tremble: the Russians brought an exhibit to the World's Fair that was entitled "World Peace." In it was a large cage. And in the cage were a little lamb and a Russian wolf ... feeding peaceably together. As an exhibit, it was most ...

4911. You Can’t Will Them All

Matthew 10:14

Illustration

Mark Trotter

The 1962 New York Mets baseball team managed to lose 120 games that season. The last game of the season, a player named Joe Pignatano hit into a triple play to end the game. It was a fitting ending for an infamous season for the Mets. Casey Stengel was the manager of the Mets that year. After that last game, he called the team together in the locker room, and said, "Fellers, don't feel bad about this. It's been a team effort all the way." "You Can't Win Them All" sounds like baseball wisdom. But I would ...

4912. Cross Purposes

Matthew 10:38-39

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

All around the upper ledges of the curved glass windows in our living room perches a collection of dappled and dimpled art glass tumblers. These brightly colored tumblers come from an old family collection. They were put together long ago by grandparents long gone. They bring hundreds of different shades and hues of color into the room on a sunny day. Of course, our house is also located in an earthquake zone. In fact, every year at least a couple low-number, rocking-n-rattling sessions roll through the ...

4913. The Titanium Rule

John 13:34-35

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

A few years ago American Express quietly introduced its most exclusive new card. The Centurion Card is absolutely black, and is actually made out of titanium — the hardest known naturally occurring metal. In fact, when one of these titanium Centurion Card expires, the member has to send it back to American Express for recycling. The titanium can't be cut up or shredded. Besides, titanium is too valuable to be thrown away. Jesus introduces and invokes a whole new mindset, heartset, soulset into the universe ...

4914. Fear Can Make Us Miserable

Mt 6:25-34

Illustration

King Duncan

I remember a story about two little boys whose mother asked them to chase a chicken snake out of the henhouse. They looked everywhere for that snake, but couldn't find it. And the more they looked, the more afraid they got. Until finally, they did find it. When that happened, they fell all over themselves running out of the chicken house. "Don't you know a chicken snake won't hurt you?" their mother asked. "Yes, ma'am," one of the boys answered, "but there are some things that will scare you so bad you'll ...

4915. Criticism and the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26-27

Illustration

Oswald Chambers

Oswald Chambers, the great Christian writer, noted, "Someone who is constantly criticized becomes good for nothing; the effect of criticism knocks all the gumption and power out of the person. Criticism is deadly in its effect because it divides one's powers and prevents one from being a force for anything. That is never the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit alone is in the true position of a critic: He is able to show what is wrong, without wounding or hurting. "The counsel of Jesus is to abstain ...

4916. The Stranger at the Door

Matthew 10:40-42

Illustration

Randy Hyde

Jim Somerville is pastor of the First Baptist Church in Washington, D. C. Once one of the most prominent churches in our nation's capital, it is still housed in a wonderful, ornate facility. However, there are few people who come to worship there anymore. Washington has one of the highest populations of homeless people in America, if not the highest. They're everywhere, and sometimes they take refuge near churches. Jim couldn't help but notice that a group of homeless people were spending their nights on ...

4917. Throw Caution to the Wind and Open the Door

Matthew 10:40-42

Illustration

Randy Hyde

One night, Mark Ralls, a minister in North Carolina, was leaving his church at the same time a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous was adjourning. He found himself in conversation with a man standing next to his rusty, worn-out Ford, and introduced himself as one of the pastors of the church that had hosted his group. The man sighed and told Mark how long he had intended to "get back to church." So Mark invited him to worship. Immediately, the man launched into a story of his life. It was, as Mark puts it, " ...

4918. Living for Christ in Daily Life

Matthew 10:1-42

Illustration

James Kegel

It is not easy following Christ in our daily life. To be a Christian Monday through Saturday is, in fact, pretty hard. I would like to share with you the story of a man from my first parish, Chan. Chan was the superintendent of the Sunday school at Edison Park Lutheran Church in Chicago, well-educated and multi-talented. He served as president of the congregation was a gifted public speaker and able leader. He was also an executive on the move with a large retail chain. Chan had managed stores around the ...

4919. Times Were Hard

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

Trace Haythorn

The times were hard. The government, a huge bureaucracy that provided so many important things like roads and military support and the justice system, was hopelessly out of touch with the people. And the religious establishment wasn't much better. It seemed so focused on preserving the status quo that it had little or no vision for what might yet come to pass. When a prophet spoke out, they were vilified, punished, especially if they called into question the decisions of the government. Voices of hope ...

4920. There Are No Magic Capes

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

David E. Leininger

There is an old Peanuts cartoon - Snoopy sitting on top of his dog house when Charlie Brown comes with a note. Charlie says, "It's a letter from your brother Spike." He begins to read, " Dear Snoopy, something wonderful happened...a man came by here and offered to sell me a magic cape. He told me that if I wore this magic cape I would be transported to a land of paradise. He said the cape was on sale...not wanting to miss such a bargain I gave him my only dollar. The next panel shows Spike in a desert ...

4921. One Beggar Telling Another Where to Find Food

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

Steven Molin

Paul Tillich was one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century, the "father of existential theology" was he. And yet, when he was asked to define what a Christian is, he said "Oh, that's easy; a Christian is simply one beggar telling another beggar where to find food." The Christian Church in the 21st century does not see itself as beggars telling other beggars where to find food. Rather, I fear that we see ourselves as being right. We have the right theology, so that makes the others wrong. We have ...

4922. At Least They Are Talking

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

Former Georgia Tech football coach, Pepper Rodgers, recalls an incident from his days as a high school baseball player. In a particular game he stepped up to the plate and the catcher said, "Well, look who we have here, the great Pepper Rodgers. Know what they're saying about you?" Pepper asked, "What?" "They're saying that you think you're about the best thing in this league, that you're a real hot dog. "Pepper replied, "Is that so? Know what they're saying about you?" The catcher asked, "What?" Pepper ...

4923. If God Knows I’m Worth It

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

There was a nurse who served faithfully in an isolated clinic in West Virginia's mountains. A physician from the nearest city would come out one day per week. He noticed how the nurse gave far more of herself than anyone could expect. He knew how substandard her salary was. One day he said to her, "Nurse, why don't you get out of this backward, isolated community and go where you can earn a good salary? God knows you are worth it." With a smile, she answered kindly, "If God knows I'm worth it, that's what ...

4924. I Have More Remedies

Matthew 11:25-30

Illustration

James W. Moore

Have you heard about the farmer who went to a government bureaucrat specializing in animal health? The farmer sought help from the "expert" because ten of his chickens had suddenly died. The government expert instructed the farmer to give aspirin to all the surviving chickens. Two days later, however, the farmer returned. Twenty more chickens had died. What should he do now? The expert said quickly: Give all the rest castor oil. Two days later, the farmer returned a third time and reported 30 more dead ...

4925. Be Careful Which Ruts You Get Into

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

James W. Moore

Recently, I was driving on an old dirt road way out in the country when I came to a sign which said: "Be real careful which ruts you get into. You'll be in them for the next 20 miles!" Some people get in the rut of seeing life as nothing more than just coping, just enduring, just surviving, just sticking it out. In a recent Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown expressed it like this: "I have a new philosophy of life, Linus. From this moment on, I'm going to only dread one day at a time!"

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Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing 4901 to 4925 of 5000 results

4901. The Wild Goose

Acts 2:1-13; 2 Tim. 1:6-7; Gal. 3:28; Luke 4:18

Illustration

Mickey Anders

4902. All Together

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

Keith Wagner

4903. How Were You Attired?

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

4904. Lost and Found

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

4905. They All Come Together

Acts 2:1-13

Illustration

John E. Harnish

4906. Following Orders

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

David E. Leininger

4907. The Trinity: Who’s on First?

Matthew 28:16-20

Drama

Mickey Anders

4908. Safely through the Storm

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

Keith Wagner

4909. Working Together in Unheavenly Places

Matthew 28:16-20

Illustration

James McCormick

4910. We Replace the Lamb

Mt 10:40-42; Is 11:6, 65:25

Illustration

4911. You Can’t Will Them All

Matthew 10:14

Illustration

Mark Trotter

4912. Cross Purposes

Matthew 10:38-39

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

4913. The Titanium Rule

John 13:34-35

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

4914. Fear Can Make Us Miserable

Mt 6:25-34

Illustration

King Duncan

4915. Criticism and the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26-27

Illustration

Oswald Chambers

4916. The Stranger at the Door

Matthew 10:40-42

Illustration

Randy Hyde

4917. Throw Caution to the Wind and Open the Door

Matthew 10:40-42

Illustration

Randy Hyde

4918. Living for Christ in Daily Life

Matthew 10:1-42

Illustration

James Kegel

4919. Times Were Hard

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

Trace Haythorn

4920. There Are No Magic Capes

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

David E. Leininger

4921. One Beggar Telling Another Where to Find Food

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

Steven Molin

4922. At Least They Are Talking

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

4923. If God Knows I’m Worth It

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

4924. I Have More Remedies

Matthew 11:25-30

Illustration

James W. Moore

4925. Be Careful Which Ruts You Get Into

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Illustration

James W. Moore

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