Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 501 to 525 of 4937 results

501. The Way Things Are

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Sermon

John N. Brittain

The other day I stumbled onto a Discovery Channel show about underwater archaeology (not basket weaving). The archaeologist described the process of identifying the probable location of an underwater wreck site, the grueling work involved in beginning the process, and the same kind of methodical work that characterizes all scientific archaeology. But then her eyes twinkled as she described the joy of uncovering the first artifact, or recognizing a significant discovery. And that of course is what it is all ...

502. The Grip

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Readiness. This is a word that our culture often has lost sight of. We tend to be a rather impulsive people today. When we want something, we want it now, …or better yet, yesterday. We leap into new ventures without checking them out fully. We rush headlong into situations that may or may not do us harm. We rack up credit by the thousands without a plan to pay it back. We have children without thinking through what those responsibilities will mean for us. We lash out at our friends, partners, and spouses ...

503. God's Holy Ways

Leviticus 19:1-37

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Come, let us all celebrate the Holiness of the Lord. People: For the ways of the Lord are not the ways of the world. Leader: Instead, we are called to walk in God's ways, with love and mercy. People: Vengeance belongs to the Lord, and righteous are the ways of God. Leader: Let the ways of God's people be just, with mercy in their hearts. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, in Your wonder You have taught and shown us the glory of Your Holiness. Give us the strength ...

504. 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 ...

505. Oh, By the Way…

Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

The book of Daniel presents us with the words and visions of the prophet Daniel, who lived and worked in the Babylonian empire during the exile of the Jewish people there in the sixth and fifth centuries BC. Obviously, that was a difficult time for God's people, but, oh, by the way, the book of Daniel itself was probably put in its final form perhaps 300 years later during the persecution of the Jewish people under Antiochus IV Epiphanes circa 165 BC. So the book is probably best understood to be ...

506. Proof of Deceitful Ways

Hosea 11:12--12:14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

God’s Lawsuit because Israel Is Deceitful (11:12–14:9): In the final section of this long covenant lawsuit against Israel, the nation is accused of deceitfully lying about her love for God. The people claim to be committed to God, but in reality there is no truthfulness in these words. They do not do what they say they will do (11:12–12:2). This is not just a minor issue of a few people who on rare occasions become unfaithful to their commitments to live as the holy people of God. Instead, many people in ...

507. John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Luke 3:1-20

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

3:1–6 Luke relates the appearance of John the Baptist to the political and religious authorities of the time, just as he did in the infancy narratives of John (1:5) and Jesus (2:1–2). (For details regarding these authorities see notes below.) The second half of v. 2 brings John back into the story: The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert (see 1:80). The expression is reminiscent of the calls that God extended to the OT prophets (Isa. 38:4; Jer. 13:3) and is actually borrowed from the ...

508. Self-serving Versus Self-giving

Mark 12:35-40, Mark 12:41-44

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Mark's juxtaposing of what were, no doubt, two independent bits of tradition itself makes an important point in the contrast it presents: On the one hand, there is a saying about the scribes that underscores their pretentious and self-serving religiosity; on the other hand, there is the widow who without ostentation selflessly gives all the money she has. Liturgical Color Green Suggested Hymns As Saints Of Old I Know That My Redeemer Lives! Forth In Thy Name, O Lord I Go Lord, Our God, With ...

509. Wedding: Marriage as Gift-giving

Sermon Aid

John M. Braaten

(Name) and (name), as you stand here in the front of the church, it may feel like you're onstage, and indeed you are. All eyes are upon you, and all hearts are beating with yours in the excitement of this much-anticipated event. But in truth. we are all on stage. We are participants in the Service of Worship you have created to honor our Lord, as he comes to bless your new life together. You designed this worship experience to praise God for all he has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is your ...

510. Never Ever Give Up!

Mark 5: 21-43

Illustration

James W. Moore

One of the most beloved and colorful sports personalities of our time was a man named Jim Valvano-"Jimmy V," as sports fans around the country affectionately knew him. Valvano died on April 16, 1993, after a year-long battle with cancer. He was forty-seven years old. He will he remembered as a great basketball coach. His North Carolina State team won the national championship in 1983, upsetting that great Houston Cougar team that featured Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Valvano also will he remembered ...

511. Giving Our Best

Mark 7:24-37

Sermon

King Duncan

A few years ago when corporate America was emphasizing excellence in the workplace a story was circulating about a widower who had for years been eating at the same restaurant. On this particular night, he sat down at his usual table and his waiter, as usual, put before him, as usual, a bowl of chicken soup. As he started leaving, Mr. Smith called out, “Waiter!” “What?” said the waiter. “Please taste this soup,” said Mr. Smith. The waiter frowned. “It’s the chicken soup you always have,” said the waiter. “ ...

512. Prepare The Way Of The Lord

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

James Garrett

Jeannette Clift George, director of the Houston-based A. D. Players, sent me a copy of her book titled Travel Tips from a Reluctant Traveler. It’s a delightful book with many helpful tips for the journey of life. In the opening chapter she writes: “My cousins live in Asheville, North Carolina, where Jesse is a prominent surgeon. He is a fine man, a very gracious man, a very loving man, but a man who doesn’t like cats. His wife, Frances, is a delightful person who loves cats. “One day, a little neighbor ...

513. Right Way, Wrong Way

Mark 2:27

Children's Sermon

Object: Some makeup (if you would like, you may have two girls made up ahead of time. One of them would have on the right amount of makeup and the other would abuse herself with overuse of it.) Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to do something that I know all the girls know something about and may have even tried once or twice. How many of you know what I mean when I talk about makeup? (Let them answer.) Almost all of you know what it is. What are some of the things girls use when they put ...

514. All The More Reason To Give Thanks

Psalm 100:1-5

Sermon

Brett Blair

It is interesting to note that it wasn’t until we were at war, the Civil War to be exact, that our Thanksgiving holiday was officially recognized by Congress. It had started in the small Plymouth Colony in 1621 when the English Pilgrims feasted with members of the Wampanoag (Wam·pa·no·ag) Indians who brought gifts of food as a gesture of goodwill. The custom grew in various colonies as a means of celebrating the harvest. In 1777, over 100 years later, the continental congress proclaimed a national day of ...

515. Four Ways To Defeat Stress

Matthew 14:13-21

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: a bag of dog food and a bag of cat food Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have a dog at home? How many of you have a cat? Dogs and cats are great pets, aren't they? Do you help feed your pets? Suppose I had a dog at home. Which kind of food would I feed my dog? (Get them to indicate the bag of food with the dog on the front) Okay, but if I had a cat, which kind of food would I feed to my cat? That's right. Each type of pet has its own special food. Did you know that if you feed your cat ...

516. The Way, The Truth, And The Life Style

John 14:5-14

Sermon

Thomas Long

I was amused the other day to pick up a newspaper in a faraway town and to read a feature article about a minor official in the local county government. A reporter had interviewed the deputy assistant director of the water authority or some similar civil servant, and the resulting article included a number of fairly predictable and humdrum quotes about some recent changes in the water system, the official's selfless commitment to public service, his goal of improved water quality and the like. What was so ...

517. On Getting Out Of The Way

Luke 3:1-20, Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

Americans are fascinated with being the best. Young people in warpaint and costume are regularly seen running up and down the sidelines at sporting events, index fingers thrust in the air, shouting, "We're number one! We're number one!" Who, after all, wants to be less than the best? But wait a minute! I know people who love to sing, but won't utter a note because they don't sound like Pavoratti. I admire the chap who said, "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly." There is a place in this world for ...

518. Easter Consecration

John 17:6-19

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

A. E. Hotchner has written an autobiographical account of his experience of the Great Depression. He titled this touching account of his boyhood experience in St. Louis King of the Hill: A Memoir. Anyone who lived through that dreadful economic period can readily recognize the painful burdens young and old had to suffer which the author describes. Anyone who did not live through that period would benefit from reading how deeply affected people were by the economic distress that appeared so relentless. ...

519. Song Of Loss Song Of Hope

2 Samuel 1:1-16

Sermon

Charles Curley

David loved Jonathan and, from the day they met, David was loved in return, with a love which has virtually defined the meaning of friendship down through the generations. "The soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." - 1 Samuel 18:1 The difficulty was that Jonathan was Saul's son and heir. Jonathan was to be the next king of Israel, following his father, King Saul. God had disinherited Jonathan, dethroned Saul, and sent Samuel to anoint David King of Israel ...

520. We Do Not Have To Stay The Way We Are!

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

Durwood L. Buchheim

"Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip?" (John 14:9). So Jesus responded to Philip’s question about wanting to know and sense the presence of God. It is a good question for all of us as we once again make our Lenten journey to Easter. How would you answer if asked to share your thoughts about God? What thoughts come to mind when we think about God? Do we take the time to think about God? Do we believe there is a God? Are we more confident this year than last, that there is a God ...

521. A Thimble Full Of Ocean

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Larry Powell

A prominent magazine recently featured a story about a Russian family whose dramatic escape from the Soviet Union attracted world-wide attention. It was not a pretty story. The family’s pentecostal beliefs first brought down hatefully-pronounced warnings from Communist party officials. Soon following, however, the family’s persistent prayer and Bible readings angered the authorities to the point that threats gave way to incidents of violence and persecution. Harassment, repeated interrogations, public ...

522. Love Finds a Way

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

Characters (in order of appearance) Singer 1 Singer 2: Franz Gruber/Guitar Player Singer 3: Austrian Choir Member 1 Singer 4: Austrian Choir Member 2 Singer 5: Austrian Choir Member 3 Assistant Choir Director Choir Director Joseph Mohr Franz Gruber / Guitar Player Austrian Choir Member 1 Austrian Choir Member 2 Austrian Choir Member 3 Austrian Choir Member 4 Props Choir robes Wool scarves Sheet music — English and German versions of “Silent Night” Guitar Notes “Love Finds A Way,” which tells the story ...

523. It Doesn't Have to Be That Way - Sermon Opener

Luke 8:26-39

Illustration

James W. Moore

The noted author, John Killinger, tells a powerful story about a man who is all-alone in a hotel room in Canada. The man is in a state of deep depression. He is so depressed that he can't even bring himself to go downstairs to the restaurant to eat. He is a powerful man usually the chairman of a large shipping company but at this moment, he is absolutely overwhelmed by the pressures and demands of life… and he lies there on a lonely hotel bed far from home wallowing in self-pity. All of his life, he has ...

524. The Full Advent: Whoa! No Way? Wow!

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

This Sunday marks a new “season” in the church calendar. After a series of twenty-four Sundays defined simply as “After Pentecost,” the church community around the world is now called to focus on a new turn in our journey. Advent is a season of anticipation and preparation for the “coming” (adventus) of Jesus. But mostly during Advent we do strange and ridiculous things. We put up a tree in our living room. Not too long ago our ancestors even used to light the tree with burning candles, which burned many ...

525. John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Mark 1:1-8

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

1:1–8 In this brief but fully packed introductory section, Mark first describes Jesus by titles that summarize for the author the proper significance of Jesus and then links him with Old Testament prophetic themes and with the historical figure John the Baptist. It is interesting that, although Mark presents the human characters in his story, even the disciples, as largely unable to perceive properly who Jesus really is until his resurrection, the reader is given in the opening line the titles that prove ...

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