Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 476 to 500 of 4999 results

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... man that made this disturbing noise in the synagogue where Jesus was teaching was one of these disturbed people who needs outside intervention. It took a command from the Master to set this man free from his demons. You and I don’t have that kind of authority, that kind of power. But we can help people who are deeply troubled. Not by ourselves, perhaps, but we can help. Let me make three suggestions. First of all, we need to make sure we are not contributing to the problem. Enablers. It’s a word that ...

477. Thin Spaces

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... loving and liberating God but by terror of a God whom I did not trust or love (Sermons on U..M. Beliefs, pp. 32-33). Sometimes, instead of “Thin Spaces” being for us an experience of heaven on earth, they can be an experience of hell. Because this was the kind of fear I too experienced early in my life, I concluded all fear is bad. I threw the baby out with the bath water. We’ve tended to want to call it awe or reverence. I wonder if we these words have much meaning for us today. How many of ...

478. Honor Graduate

Exodus 20:12

Sermon

James Merritt

... land which the LORD your God gives you." (Exodus 20:12, NASB) First of all, this was a national promise. This promise was given to the Nation of Israel, but it really applies to any nation. God knows that the right kind of children will become the right kind of citizens. The right kind of citizens will bring the blessing of God upon a nation. Remember this - the security of a nation does not depend upon its military might, but upon the character of its people. The character of the people depends upon the ...

479. Workaholics Anonymous

Genesis 2:1-3

Sermon

James Merritt

... . I think she also knew from the beginning I was a lost cause. I remember in particular one lesson she taught me very early on as I was trying to learn to read music. There were some little marks on the music page that I always overlooked. One was kind of squiggly and another looked like a hat. I just never paid any attention to them. Quite frankly, knowing my personality I can see why. I would be doing pretty well until I came to those marks and then I would get into trouble because those marks were called ...

480. The Kingdom Is Not K-Mart

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

James Merritt

... the king was stunning. From spell bound silence they moved to absolute terror. They realized they had no walls thick enough and no defense strong enough to protect themselves against that kind of commitment and that kind of devotion. Spontaneously they rushed through the gates to surrender themselves to Alexander the great. That is the kind of surrender and sacrifice that Jesus is asking for. One thing you have to say about these terrorists, they are willing to die for what they believe. The tragedy is that ...

481. Think on these Things

Philippians 4:4-9

Sermon

Donna Schaper

... him spiritually well. His capacity to think on the fine things is the source of his healing. What I covet for us today is that we find out how to become the one who turns back to how we can remember our thank-you notes — how we can have the kind of faith that makes us well. Gratitude is not a should. It is not a will. It is not a willpower. Gratitude is a grace. When we become the one who turned back, we experience the gratitude we are always trying to experience. I know what it’s like. "I ...

482. The Wonder of It All

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... second-class citizens; old men and old women near the grave, lonely and without anyone to care intimately for them. When you think about the gift that you would give to the world, you’d need to bear in mind all these multiple needs. So, in that kind of world, what would you offer to humankind this morning? A relief program to feed the hungry; clothe the naked; visit those in prison; a formula for enduring peace? These are desperately needed. Would you offer a book to illumine the ages? A great anthem to ...

483. What the Lord Does Best

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the Lord does is certainly best, probably. That’s a good affirmation of faith if our faith leads us to move beyond probably to a certainty of heart that doesn’t need to wait until the facts of the world are in for us to make a decision. The kind of faith that acts knowing that the God whom we serve will deliver us, but if not, we will still serve him. I close with this. John Ruskin, the noted 19th century authority on art and architecture, was also a social reformer and a philanthropist. He and a friend ...

484. Every Day God Enables

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... opinion of the world. We have to call on the one who overcame the world. We have to listen to the guiding of the Holy Spirit. And when we do, our Every Day God Enables Us to Persevere and walk with the One who has overcome every kind of adversity, Jesus III. Enables Us to Praise A. Third, Every Day God Enables Us To Praise. When we are strengthened and enabled to Practice our Faith, when we're strengthened and enabled to Persevere and overcome adversity our hearts want to sing, they want to give thanks ...

485. Cross Eyed: Focus

Mark 1:9-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... there are a couple of other ways to stay focused as well. Mainly, Self Denial or Giving Something Up or Acts of Kindness or Taking Something On. I. Giving Something Up A. Self Denial is an important Christian concept, it allows to walk the same path ... our sake. Over the ages people have given up all sorts of things like meat, to sweets, chocolate, cokes, going to the movies and those kinds of things. I know one guy who gave up giving things up for Lent. Not really the right spirit but you get the idea. The ...

486. No Instant Maturity

Matthew 7:15-23

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... will never grow. Paul said, “I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise” (Romans 1:14 KJV). When we never allow ourselves to be open we shut ourselves up in the security of relating only to our “own kind” we become provincial and growth is stymied. It even happens to the church. Some churches are as open to new ideas as a tomb in a pyramid is open to fresh air. Someone has said that the seven dying words of any church are: We never did it that way ...

487. Magnificent Fools

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... The cartoonist would have you believe that the young man was a fool for risking his life in such a fashion, but a special kind of fool…a magnificent fool. I’ve had that picture in my mind for some weeks now as I have experienced the church in ... common, timid commitment!” Yet, in my best moments, I want to cry, “Lord, move in my life that I might make something akin to that kind of commitment.” So the image is a clear one, isn’t it - an image of discipleship that is radical in its demand, and on the ...

488. Three Great Resolutions for the New Year

Psalm 118:1-29

Sermon

James W. Moore

... to live by! The three great resolutions are very personal. They are my own three resolutions for 2006. Let me share them with you. Are you ready? Here’s Number One. I. FIRST OF ALL IN THE NEW YEAR I RESOLVE TO BE MORE COMMITTED TO KINDNESS Not too long ago, Barbara Edwards graduated from Perkins School of Theology at SMU. She received her call to the ministry a little late, but made the “leap of faith,” went back to school and got her theological education. Because of her personal circumstances, it ...

489. Characteristics of the Church, Part 2

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . He had seen a vision of selfless love which challenged him. That was the magnetisism of the Church of Pentecost: a people saw themselves and their church, not as possessions to defend, but as gifts to be shared; and I’ll tell you, when our church becomes that kind of church when that sort of Spirit permeates everything that we are - people will be drawn to us. We’ll keep praising God and having favor with the people who need us, who are looking for a fellowship in which they can find their life. III A ...

490. The Beginning of the Story

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... He believes in you.” (The Keys of the Kingdom, p. 159, Bantam Book, 1941) And so he does. And that’s the gospel. God believes in you. You may give up on God, but God is not going to give up on you. “Do you not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, meaning a radical turn to God. That’s what Isaiah had in mind when he said, “Return to the Lord,” (55:7) and what Hosea was pleading for, “Come, let us return to the Lord” (6 ...

491. The Power of a Helping Hand

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... child labor to produce products at reduced cost that we rush to purchase in America. Here’s the point. Even if you win in the rat race, you are still a rat. Who is my neighbor? There are those who respond to that, nobody is my neighbor. It’s that kind of world. You’ve got to take care of yourself and if you don’t take care of yourself nobody is going to watch after you. So you better look out for number one. II. WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? THE RELIGIOUS REPLY, SELECTIVE ONES, or certain ones, or it all ...

492. Testing, Testing

Matthew 22:34-46

Sermon

Chris Ewing

... it to see if it makes a noise; and then we lean in close and we say, "Test ... test...." We're trying to find out if it works, what kind of sound quality and range we get with it, how wide a field of pickup it has — in other words, how is it going to serve us in the ... never grow bigger, better or more useful."2 Just as testing allows us to perfect the setup of the sound system, so these kinds of probing test questions allow our faith to become stronger and more useful. So what did Jesus have to say to that ...

493. Unwanted Freedom

John 8:31-36

Sermon

Chris Ewing

... economic and social security in the household of a good master, he was never fully a part of that household, but a kind of onlooker to the lives of those who had choices. So when Jesus spoke of freedom as opposed to slavery, his audience ... tell us what to think and what to do, so that we don't have to figure it out for ourselves. Knowing Jesus, in the kind of depth that gives us a foundation for genuine freedom, is as demanding as knowing — and continuing to know, continuing to break new ground with ...

494. What Were You Thinking?

Micah 6:1-8

Sermon

Tony Everett

... I'll show you mine! There's nothing good here anymore!' " And C. J., our modern day Micah, limped away. And God said to Israel: He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly.— Micah 6:8 The prosecution rests. The case is airtight. Israel was guilty as charged. So was Pastor Bill. So were C. J.'s well-intentioned church friends — and so are we. For the Lord, justice is daily living according to God's will and ...

495. No Partiality

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says, "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things ... t want to try and get things back together. Somehow, though, it seems people get that way anyway, and perhaps the act of extending kindness might change things, in them and us. I've been wondering what it would be like if it was just a cultural norm for ...

496. In Spite of Evidence to the Contrary

Romans 4:13-25

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... are tempted to focus only on what we can see, measure, and calculate with our eyes instead of believing the promise we hear with our ears and trust with our heart. When we do that, we will be tempted like them to either despair or engage in all kinds of faithless and destructive behavior. Abraham, fearful for his future, ended up lying several times about his wife, Sarah, passing her off to others as his sister. He became so impatient with God that he could no longer wait for the birth of a son. So he took ...

497. A Winning Life

Hebrews 13:1-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... It’s not easy to love people who do not love us. It’s not easy to always try to do the right thing. There are all kinds of influences that will try to take us off course. But as long as we know deep in our hearts that God is with us, we can ... other state in the world; and with this thought I was going to give thanks to God for bringing me to this place.” This is the kind of peace of mind that the writer of Hebrews is writing about. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what ...

498. Red, White and Pink

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the most daring. I remember as a teenager thinking I might not be doing what I’d really like to do, but at least I’m not doing what is expected of me either. I remember the day when I realized I was conforming, but to a kind of “conformity” that was driving my parents crazy. And this is not something that just goes on when we are kids. Moms and Dads “martyr” themselves to their children’s lives and needs. Too many career professionals martyr free time and family time to rungs on a corporate ...

499. Big Men in Little Planes

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... missionary to Africa ends up dying there. But Barb had settled in her own mind that, if this was required of her, she was willing to pay the price. Barb wasn’t a wimp by any stretch of the imagination. She was a woman of courage, the kind of woman, the kind of person that God is looking for. Jesus didn’t scold his disciples for having great dreams, for wanting to be the best, the greatest. Ambition can be a very useful tool for motivating us to be all we can be. Christ wanted his disciples to understand ...

500. Friendship

Proverbs 31:1-9

Drama

Julia Ross Strope

... personal? Reader 2: Yes. When I look for a friend there are some qualities I am quite sure about. Reader 1: For example? Reader 2: I want friends who are loyal and self-reliant. Reader 3: Oh, so you make a list of “friendship traits”? Reader 2: There are all kinds of lists.... Reader 1: I like to be with people who are aware of what they think and feel. Reader 3: Well, my mother always told me to avoid crowds, that boredom is a frame of mind, and that idle hands would get me into trouble. Reader 2: The ...

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