Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4926 to 4950 of 4972 results

4926. Unexpected Invasions

Isaiah 64:1-9

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . WOULD YOU MOLD ME INTO ONE OF YOUR OWN? A tea cup freshly purchased from a pottery store began to converse with its new owner. There was a time when I was just clay and the master came and pounded me, squeezed me, kneaded me, so much that I screamed “Stop that!" but he just smiled and said, “Not yet, not yet." Then he put me on a wheel. Started spinning me and he spun me so fast that I became so dizzy that I thought I'd never see my way again. “Please let me off this thing," I said ...

4927. The Miracle of Peace

Psalm 85:1-13

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... of my father's belongings this week in moving him to a nursing home, I thought about a story Bishop Arthur Moore used to tell about his own father and in so doing learned the pardoning love of God. Bishop Moore said, “When I was a boy, I used to stop at the neighborhood store every afternoon after school and get a snack. I was told by the proprietor that I could have anything I wanted. I soon learned that anything I ordered was absolutely free. It was such a good deal that I began to invite my friends to ...

4928. The Time Is Right

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... I am a child, then I must be an heir, an heir of God. You are not a slave. You are a child. Claim your identity. A letter from the Health and Human Services of Greenville, South Carolina to a resident went something like this: Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1, because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. P.S. You may reapply should your circumstances change. When we who were once dead in trespasses and sin find new life in Christ we can do more than re-apply for food ...

4929. When It’s Time to Seek Direction

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... try almost anything from astrology to Zen, from sex to steroids, to find meaning in their lives. If you have come here today searching for something, welcome. You are at the right place. Seekers are welcome here. Bring your questions, express your doubts, but don’t stop there. Accept God’s grace. Embrace the life style of Christ. Join the company of people committed to transforming the world. Maybe some of us are more like Herod than we are the Magi. It’s all happened right before our eyes in our very ...

4930. Wrestling Alone at Night

Genesis 32:22-30

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... I’d let the air out of the tires, that would free the trailer. You could drive out, refill your tires, and be on your way.” That is just what the driver did. When life has you stuck under some overpass of your own making, it might be time to stop, let the air out of your ego, give yourself some extra room, so you can refill your life with the grace of God’s love. People all wrapped up in themselves make very small packages. That night on the Jabbok River, Jacob was all wrapped up in himself. A careful ...

4931. Dreaming Impossible Dreams

Genesis 37:2-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... well. Remember the movie Jerry McGuire? McGuire is an agent for professional athletes. One day Jerry comes to a kind of epiphany about the corruption and the practices of his firm. He issues a memo urging a more humane approach to their work. “Let’s stop treating people like cattle and worrying about the bottom line and really serve our clients.” All of his buddies cheer him on, saying, “You’re right, Jerry, of course, you’re right.” When the company fires him, as they are sure to do, his so ...

4932. Finding Our Place in All Creation

Genesis 1:1, 26-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... humans appearing on the planet the following Friday at about 9:00 a.m.? Is that the problem? Or is it the plot of atheistic materialists who want to purge God from all of life leaving our very existence to the impersonal, unpredictable random chance? If we could ever stop shouting at one another long enough, we might find common ground along the paths of universal order which points to a prime mover whom we know to be in Hebrew as Elohim, the Creator of all, with whom a thousand years is but a day or as a ...

4933. Building Boats That Float

Genesis 6:1

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... thing lasted for a year and several days, but Noah stayed there for the whole time. Noah walked with God. Noah knew how to follow directions. Noah was willing to endure the floods. Now, one more lesson from this old story. Noah celebrated the rainbow. The rains stop, the skies clear, the floods rescind and after a year and 10 days and 4 doves, Noah flings open the door of the ark and steps back on earth. In our imagination we would have Noah stepping from his extended cruise onto a velvet carpet of lush ...

4934. Soaring with Christ

Matthew 28:1-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... old grandson fishing. We were out on a two-person fishing boat with an electric motor. With two buttons you could push with your foot, my grandson was the captain of the ship. In spite of our erratic course on the lake, we caught a bass or two. Then we stopped and sat in the sunshine and the beauty of nature. As the two of us fished Josh turned to me and said, “Poppa, THIS IS LIFE!" Jimmy Carter says, “I don't remember many of the acts of state but I'll never forget what my grandson said to me ...

4935. The Darkness Before the Dawn

John 13:18-30, John 13:31-38

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the heat, get out of the kitchen." Maundy Thursday, the kitchen got hot. What could they do, what could anybody do except run, run for your life? I have often wondered: Where did they go? What did they do? Did they walk the streets? Did they go home? Did they stop at the bar and drink their blues away? Did they take cover in small groups or did they hide in alleys all alone? I don't know what happened to them that night, but it was a dark and scary night for the disciples. The nights are full of fear ...

4936. The Holy Spirit and You

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... truth. Sometimes we translate the word paraclete as comforter. The Comforter has come. David Seamonds tells the story about having open heart surgery. Just before surgery, the nurse enters, takes my hand and says to me, “Will you squeeze it?" In the next few hours we are going to stop your heart and repair it. After surgery you're going to be immobile for about six hours and you won't be able to move, to speak or open your eyes even though you'll be able to hear what is going on. During that time I want ...

4937. A Very Present Help

Psalm 46:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... are like jewelry stores where some trickster has mixed up the price tags. Diamonds are priced next to nothing while worthless pins are priced in the millions. As long as the store is crowded with people there is no chance of putting things right. So, we must stop business as usual, close the doors, step back, take time alone, and restore our true values.” Whenever I am troubled and lost in deep despair, I bundle all my troubles up, and go to God in prayer. I tell him I am heartsick, and lost and lonely ...

4938. How To Triumph Over Terrorism

Ephesians 6:10-18

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... spiritual enlightenment, enrichment, and guidance and the Church was not ready to respond to their needs. I don’t know if the sociologist is right or wrong, but I do know this: I don’t want to ever be caught slacking on my prayers again. It is time to stop making prayer a political game and start making it a daily practice. Let’s get over this political nonsense and start making prayer a deep, vital part of our daily lives. There is no law against that. So how do we go on in the years to come? Maybe ...

4939. How to Make Heaven Our Home

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... Willimon illustrates it this way: At confirmation one year, Joe, a young adult, became a mentor for Max, a 14-year-old kid. Joe took his responsibility seriously, saying to Max, “Drop by my apartment anytime. Let’s be friends.” About three weeks later, Max did stop by Joe’s apartment. At the time, Joe happened to be in bed with his girlfriend. He was embarrassed. A week or so later Max asked Joe, “When did you decide to live by this set of standards?” Joe, embarrassed, said, “That’s none of ...

4940. Why Am I A United Methodist?

I Timothy 1:12-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the front row and the congregation is standing and singing, as we did, America’s favorite hymn, “Amazing Grace”. Dolly looks up to her mother and asks, “Exactly what did Grace do that made her so amazing?” Every once in a while we ought to stop and remember what this unmerited, unearned, unconditional love of God has done for the likes of you and me. Grace hears our cry. Grace forgives our sins. Grace relieves our fears. Grace sets us free. Grace leads us home. Paul says to Timothy in the lesson ...

4941. Whose Child Is This?

Matthew 1:1-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . C. Jesus Christ, the Son of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba We slide over these names like water over a rock on a cold winter day. But we are not Jews. The gospel of Matthew was written for the Jews. Any Jew reading this genealogy would stop dead in his tracks right here. Women didn't make genealogies in the Old Testament. Remember when Jesus fed the multitude, there were 5,000 men not counting women and children. Women and children didn't count. Matthew did not name matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachael ...

4942. Come to Bethlehem and See

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... clothes. They came as they were and had always been. Yet kneeling down next to the manger, they felt closer to God than they had ever felt before. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing. Come and see. Now that you are here, stop, look and listen. Let not the thoughts of other things dull your vision to this thing of which Christmas is all about. Open your spiritual eyes and see Jesus. Experience his love, know his forgiveness and accept his grace, honor his glory. He is here in plain ...

4943. About Whose Business Was He?

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... place during the meeting. The Rabbis could have said the Passover is over, I have been here seven days, and I am going home. Instead they stayed to listen to a young boy and his questions of faith. One thing you can do is stop and acknowledge the children among us. Say hello. Learn their names. Ask about school, sports and special interests. It could make all the difference. A new pastor visited an elementary Sunday school class and the teacher announced, “This morning we are studying Joshua." “That ...

4944. What Would Jesus Say About Medical Care?

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... had tried their best? “We picked him up, we took him to the healer, but the place was full and we couldn’t get in so we went home. We did all we could do?” What if they had failed to have faith in Jesus Christ? By their faith Jesus stopped to speak to the paralytic. There is a profound truth here for us to understand in the midst of our lives. You see, illness does funny things to us. Those of you who join me as a survivor know what I am saying. Illness does a weird thing to you ...

4945. When God Speaks

Psalm 29:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... about the weather?" Normally I reply, “I am in sales not management." That day my explanation gave no satisfaction. So in an act of desperation I stepped up on a picnic table, stretched my hands to the heavens, and cried out in a loud voice “LET THE RAIN STOP." Well the words were hardly out of my mouth when lightning struck a transformer about two hundred yards away and the heavens roared in thunder. As I tried to calm my fears under that picnic table I vowed to God that I would never again give orders ...

4946. The Constant God in a Changing World

Psalm 48:1, 9-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... perseveres. Love never fails." I shall never forget one day when the wedding party was gathered at the altar and I was about half way through that reading when the groom fainted— he hit the floor and went out cold as a cucumber. Of course, the whole ceremony stopped while we got a wet cloth, fanned him back to consciousness and with the help of his groomsmen got him back on his feet. As I returned to the service and the scripture reading, the only thing I could think to say was, “And sometimes love is ...

4947. Are You Able?

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... news ought to teach us that— Suffering happens. Never morning wore to evening but some hearts break, a heart just as sensitive as yours or mine. A child is neglected, some teenager is raped, some car wrecks, some disease strikes, some family fights, some friends stop speaking to each other, or some country goes to war. A. Why Are We Surprised When It Happens To Us? There is another Ziggy cartoon that says, “Whenever I ask, ‘Why me?' There's always another voice that says, ‘Exactly who else did you ...

4948. Finding the Courage to Believe

John 20:24-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said “Peace be with you." And then he said to Thomas. “Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out you hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him “My Lord and My God." An affirmation of faith. Standing somewhere in the shadows, you'll find Jesus He's the one who always cares and understands Standing somewhere in the shadows, you'll find Jesus And you'll know ...

4949. Singing With the Saints of Glory

Revelation 5:11-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... they are there too, searching for the latch that unlocks the door that leads to God. I stand by the door. We have a song to sing, we have a savior to proclaim, we have a church to serve. I believe that with all my heart. So let me stop preaching and start meddling. Here are some facts you need to know: - You are doing a fabulous job supporting your church. The general fund is in the black and the 9.2 million pledged in this capital campaign is coming in on schedule. You are being faithful. Please remember ...

4950. Can the Rich Be Saved?

Mark 10:17-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... word of hope. The very last verse of the story, “With God nothing is impossible. With God all things are possible.” God can bring us out of denial. That is the best thing that He can do for us is to get us out of lying about what we have. Stop pretending you are poor. Quit denying your wealth. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the sun, the moon, the stars are His. Whatever portion of creation He has entrusted to you, get down on your knees and thank God for it and ask Him to help you be ...

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