Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 526 to 550 of 1185 results

526. Casting Out Demons

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... glancing fearfully over his shoulder. The first time he looked back, the cat was the size of a calf. The next time he looked, it had grown to the dimensions of an elephant. Then the boy fell, and was unable to go farther. Resolutely he got up and faced the pursuing horror. It stopped. So he took a step toward it. It backed away. As he continued to advance toward it, it began to shrink in size as it retreated from him. Finally it changed into a mouse and ran under the door of the witch's cottage to be seen ...

527. I Am Unworthy

Jeremiah 1:1-19, Jeremiah 6:1-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... that, in terms of our potential, most of us are underachievers. Considering how many advantages many of us started with--good parents who valued education, well-equipped schools, healthy bodies, bright minds, and, most of all, a country filled with opportunities and the freedom to pursue those opportunities--a fact we just fell into by an accident of birth--who among us can say that we exhausted all of which we are capable? A few maybe. But most of us have been very, very fortunate. We deserve a luxury car ...

528. Boldly Going . . . Nowhere

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... discover that--at the end of the rainbow--was a pot of baked beans. (1) And that's how it is for many people--they spend their lives chasing that elusive pot of gold, only to discover that it's a pot of beans. In other words, many of us pursue the perks of life instead of the purpose of life. We boldly go somewhere--only to discover it wasn't worth the trip. Robert Oppenheimer knew about life's perks. Born in 1904 in New York City, Oppenheimer was fascinated from a young age with science. He was admitted to ...

529. Drowning In A Sea Of Stuff

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... afford her own bodyguards, personal trainer or Pilates equipment. Melissa Carrey says in the court papers, obtained by The Smoking Gun Web site, that $10,000 a month "is not sufficient" to meet the needs of her 15-year-old daughter Jane, who wants to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. "Jane enjoys Pilates and takes classes at the local Pilates studio but does not have her own personal trainer or her own Pilates equipment," the ex-Mrs. Carrey said in the papers, adding that she would like to ...

530. Hugging The Coastline

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... piano in years, through sheer determination and ingenuity, she had developed excellent skills of sight-reading and fingering. (4) There are many people who contribute mightily to our race simply because they refuse to give up. They feel an inner call and they pursue that call regardless of what life may send them. What is your calling? Everyone has a calling from God. That does not mean that everyone has the same abilities or opportunities. But it does mean that everyone's life does have purpose, dignity ...

531. Marks Of A Champion

1 Timothy 6:3-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... In the preceding verse Paul lists the qualities God is looking for in men and women of faith. They form a kind of snapshot of the Christ-like individual. They are the marks of a Christian champion. St. Paul writes, "As for you, man of God . . . pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness." Six qualities. Six marks. Normally I would not include such a shopping list in a message, but in this instance I believe it's important to see these six qualities as parts of a whole. We begin with ...

532. The Competitor

Genesis 25:19-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... picture of a Rolls Royce above his desk. It was so old, the edges were cracked, taped together and cracked again. Cox asked that man about the picture and the man confirmed that it was his goal to own a Rolls Royce. Cox asked him how long he had been pursuing that goal and the man confirmed that it had been a long time, many years in fact. Cox next asked the man what he was doing over and above his regular daily activities to get his hands on a Rolls Royce. The man was stumped. He went on to tell ...

533. When The Going Gets Tough

Romans 8:18-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... a technical problem, even Limburger cheese. Charles F. Kettering remarked that to develop a new diesel engine he tried one thing after another for about six years until he finally found an answer. Artists and cartoonists usually draw many initial sketches before they pursue a finished product. Van Gogh drew repeatedly until there was one drawing that was different from the rest, one which didn't look like an ordinary drawing. The Pacific Telephone Company once made twenty-five studio takes of a 7-1/2-second ...

534. People of Influence

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... he always wore a tie the same color as his shirt. Do you remember the format of this popular show? The contestant would start with multiple-choice questions that got more difficult as the game went on. When the contestant was stumped on a question, he could pursue one of three solutions. He could ask that two of his four choices be eliminated, giving him a 50% chance of answering correctly. Or he could call a family member or friend that he had designated before the show as an expert. Or he could ask for ...

535. Is Conscience the Best Guide?

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... has something to do with God. "Just follow your conscience, and you will come out all right," they say. Thomas Paine proclaimed that " Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." On the other hand, there is considerable evidence from psychology that our consciences are mainly the result of our early training and environment. Instead of being the voice of God, they are more likely to be the voice of ...

536. The Day Jesus Asked the Question: The Fourth Word

Matthew 27:45-46

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... Holy righteous God and cry out, "My God, my God why have you not forsaken me?" As Charles Wesley put it: "And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Saviour''s blood, Died he for me, who caused his pain? For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, that thou my Lord, shouldst die for me?" III One more thing that we must see is that Christ transforms human suffering into something of value and service to God. Jesus uses suffering as a service to God. In the same way, your suffering ...

537. Where the Bread Loaf Is Not a Stone

Matthew 7:7-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... more than twelve ways. There is a story about a hippopotamus, an owl, and a butterfly. It appears that the hippo had fallen in love with a butterfly--an affair which, I think you will agree, poses certain practical problems. But the hippo, determined to pursue his beloved, sought the advice of a wise old owl. "Well," said the owl, "in order to win your beloved, you must become a butterfly, and you should do so soon." The hippo was delighted with this idea, and happily crashed back into the jungle. . . only ...

538. The Test of a True Testimony

James 1:19-27

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... what had happened to these boys. With the exception of 20 boys who had moved away or died, the students learned that 176 of the remaining 180 had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors and businessmen. "The professor was astounded and decided to pursue the matter further. Fortunately, all the men were in the area and he was able to ask each one, How do you account for your success?'' In each case the reply came with feeling, There was a teacher . . .'' "The teacher was still alive, so he ...

539. When "Well Done" Is Rare

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... ''s known as the "I DON''T CARE" syndrome or the "I CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT" syndrome. It seems that "well done" is rare these days, what with a poor quality of workmanship, a lack of pride, a general disregard for doing things right. Who pursues excellence anymore? Whatever became of quality control? How many hear the boss say, "Good job!" or go to sleep at night knowing they''ve done their best? (1) Yes, the question before us tonight is, "Why did the one talent servant fail?" "Why did he not receive ...

540. A Memorial Forever - Memorial Day

Proverbs 1:1-7

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... inside a cabin door in 1863, "Mr. Lincoln said we are free."(1) Our past is vital. It provides identity and the dreams that have guided us individually as a nation, and as a faith community. There was a story about a wealthy gentleman who was being pursued by an impoverished widow of thirty-two. The fairly spry old man had not taken leave of all his senses, for he cautiously resisted her advances one day by announcing to her, "I would marry you, my dear, but Mother and Father are against it." The surprised ...

541. Just Speak the Name

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , sacrificial, substitutionary death for the sins of the world. Charles Wesley wrote so beautifully about this in a hymn: And can it be - that I should gain an interest in the Savior''s blood! Died he for me? Who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?" That is love! That is the real thing! That is what is found and kept alive in the Lord''s Supper we observe today. That is why the cross is the foundation of the Christian ...

542. When Life Seems to Be Going in the Wrong Direction

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... and motivate.us. Dreams can be the most powerful and pervasive force at work in our world. Dreams of freedom and religious liberties propel countless persons to move across oceans and unknown lands. As long as the dream is alive, so are the people who pursue them. Never underestimate the power of an idea. I can''t believe you can explain the recent changes in our world without the power of dreams and the people who were claimed and shaped by them. How else can you explain how an unknown shipyard electrician ...

543. A Tireless and Timeless Image

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... . That's security -- and it's a wonderful feeling. The shepherd/sheep relationship was also marked by affection, sometimes playful affection. Here's one recorded observation: "I once watched a shepherd playing with his flock. He pretended to run away; the sheep pursued and surrounded him. Then he pretended to climb the rocks; the goats ran after him; and finally all the flock formed a circle, gamboling round him." Writes William Barclay: "The shepherd literally talks to his herd in a voice and a language ...

544. He Came by Night

John 3:1-21

Sermon

David G. Rogne

... to be considering the purchase of some item from a merchant. That way I wouldn't appear to be one of his followers or appear to be lending my endorsement to what he was saying. But there were some ideas that Jesus had which I wanted to pursue more in depth. I could have asked questions in the marketplace, but that would have been unseemly. After all, I was the professor of religion; I was the one who answered other people's questions. What would people think if I should be asking Jesus questions about ...

545. The Dark Didn't Catch Me!

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... promises become. When I was younger, God's Word seemed to me like water. A few years ago the scriptures were like milk. But now the Word is like fine wine! Life in Christ with its joys and disappointments is like a beautiful love story in which God pursues me with his affections and gifts, and I learn to respond emotionally, willfully, and intellectually. To so love God and my neighbor as myself is the meaning of my life now. Life in Christ is also an adventure story. It's like a good book. Page after page ...

546. The World's Still Point

1 John 5:1-12

Sermon

Paul E. Robinson

... . When she asked for questions, one person from a religious order asked, "How is it that your religious order is gaining members by the thousands and most of our orders are losing members?" Without hesitating, Mother Teresa answered, "I give them Jesus." "Yes, I know," pursued the woman. "But take habits, for example. Do your women object to wearing habits? And how do you set up the rules of your order?" "I give them Jesus," Mother Teresa replied. "Yes, I know, Mother, but can you be more specific?" "I give ...

547. Grace in the Midst of Exasperation

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

... I hope to prolong my time on the couch." Investments in exercise equipment, workout plans, personal trainers, and specialized clothing have skyrocketed within the last quarter century. A majority of those polled on January 1 annually indicate their resolve to pursue a more vigorous regimen of exercise. However -- take a snapshot of your neighborhood. More than fifty percent of America is overweight, and 25 percent is technically obese. What has happened to the expressed and even fervent desire for physical ...

548. Resting at the Mediocre Inn

John 12:20-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... and then he gives us our purpose. It might be a lofty purpose such as solving an injustice in society or it may be the more modest but still challenging goal of being a good parent to our children, but it makes a difference in choosing our goals and pursuing our goals when we know Christ is living his life through us. This is the key to real success in life. It is the key not only to accomplishing our dreams; it is also assurance that when we have accomplished those dreams we will find fulfillment and peace ...

549. Breaking The Negative Cycle

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , our looks, even our false smiles. We could break this negative cycle by staying sensitive to what we all know - that each child is an individual who needs to satisfy his or her curiosity, develop his or her abilities, cultivate his or her talents, pursue his or her interests. Staying aware of this, we can have the kind of homes that will build a smorgasbord of relationships. All of these flavored with positive appreciation and respect for personhood. All of them rooted in the preciousness of each unique ...

550. A Star, A Stable, and A Song

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... always he made men and women know that what really mattered, what really mattered was not what they possessed, but what in the their inmost being they tried to be. And the pity is, the pity that so often we’re forgetful of that truth. We go on pursuing our false and shallow satisfaction, when the message of the stable finally breaks through, we’re driven to pray, oh God, oh God deliver me from these artificial things which stifle me in their net. Give me the courage to let go the efforts of keeping up ...

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