Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 576 to 600 of 900 results

576. Shaping People’s Lives through Forgiveness - Sermon Starter

Luke 7:36-50

Illustration

Brett Blair

At the University of Notre Dame in 1981 a rather prophetic lecture was given that predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union. The lecturer called Communism "a sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written." A year later the same speaker told the British House of Commons that the march of freedom and democracy "will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of histo...

577. Sickness Rearranges Priorities

Luke 13:10-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

In 1971, in Plano Texas, a woman by the name of Linda gave birth to a boy she named Lance. She did what many mother's do with boys. She molded his temperament by involving him in a variety of sports. He soon showed an aptitude as an athlete and by the age of 13 his skills were confirmed when he won the Iron Kids Triathlon—a combination of swimming, biking and running. Three years later at the tend...

578. Sight to the Blind

Luke 4:14-30

Illustration

Brett Blair

A young boy of 9 was sitting in his father's workshop watching his dad work on a harness. "Someday Father," said Louis, "I want to be a harness-maker, just like you." "Why not start now?" said the father. He took a piece of leather and drew a design on it. "Now" he said, "take the hole-punch and hammer out this design, but be careful that you don't hit your hand." Excited, the boy began to work, b...

579. Sign of the Times

Luke 12:54-59

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Winter and cold as symbols and signs of the world's darkness and the need for God's intervention. (This Children's Sermon is a bit more symbolic than usual, but so is the scriptural text.) Props: A branch with enough green leaves for each child to tear one off. Lesson: As you were coming to church this morning perhaps you noticed the weather. What was the weather like? (response)...

580. Sin is an Ugly Matter

Matthew 18:15-20

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Sin marks us. Props-Suggested: Water soluble black felt pen and a damp rag. Lesson: Using the felt pen make a big mark on your forehead before the children come forward. Good morning. I have a question for you this morning. How many of you know what sin is? (response) Sin is when we do things that are wrong -things that hurt God and other people. Can anyone give me an example of a ...

581. Some People Are Never Satisfied

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Brett Blair

It is like the beggar in the movie “Monty Python’s Life of Brian.” Brian and his mother are walking through town and get hit up by a beggar. “Alms for an ex-leper. Alms for an ex-leper, please.” And Brian says: “What do you mean an ex-leper?” And the leper says: “Well I was cured” “Who cured you?” Brian says. And the leper says: “That Jesus fellow.” He says: “Now I have a hard time making a living...

582. Something Good Can Come From Nazareth

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Brett Blair

I like the story of the young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this...

583. Something Good Can Come from Nazareth - Sermon Starter

John 1:43-51

Illustration

Brett Blair

584. Something Which Time Cannot Efface

Lk 7:36-8:3; Mt 6:19-24

Illustration

Brett Blair

Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something: a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship to God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties. What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, "If we work on marble it will perish. If we wor...

585. Sometimes You Gotta Bend the Rules!

Luke 13:10-17

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Rules and laws are good. They tell us how we should live our lives, but sometimes there is a greater good to be served by breaking the rules. Props: Some signs with rules on them. Get some commercially-made signs or just draw them yourself. The contents of the signs are explained below. Lesson: Good morning! (response) I have some signs with me this morning and I want you to read t...

586. Sometimes You Have To Stay Under the Fig Tree

John 1:43-51

Illustration

Brett Blair

There are all kinds of Nathaniels in this world sitting under fig trees waiting to be called. Martin Luther King had been called and was prepared to lead but it was not he who began the civil rights movement. It was a woman. Like Nathaniel she was found sitting when she heard the call not under a fig tree but on a city bus. Rosa Parks, a seamstress by trade. She heard the call when she was told," ...

587. Source of Our Power

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

There's an old story told of a native from a remote mountain village who had the opportunity to visit a large modern city for the first time. He could not bring much home with him, and he had little money. But he was amazed at the electric lights which he saw everywhere. So he bought a sack full of electric lights bulbs and sockets with switches so he could turn them off and on. Arriving home he...

588. Stick-to-it-tiveness

Luke 18:1-8

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Practice won't make you perfect, but persistence will surely get you closer to your goal. Props: A musical instrument you do not know how to play. A guitar is used here. Lesson: Good morning! (response) What is this I have in my hand? (a guitar) That's right. Does anyone know how to play the guitar? (response) Point to one of the strings: Do you know what string this is? (response)...

589. Storms of Life

Mark 5:21-43

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Having faith involves taking risk. Props: Four envelopes labeled 1 through 4. In the respective envelopes place the following: two quarters, two dollars, five dollars, and a band-aid. Prop the envelopes up at the top of the stairs or railing in sequence. As the children arrive sit with them facing the envelopes. Hold in your hand the envelope with the two quarters. Lesson: Good mor...

590. Suffering for Independence

Illustration

Brett Blair

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardship...

591. Surprise, It's Christmas!

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Brett Blair

The greatest thing about Christmas morning is the surprises. When else in life do you get to pile 10, 20, 30, 40 sometimes 50 surprises all together and sit for an hour enjoying each of them? One after another, surprise after surprise. Christmas Morning is wonderful in that way. I can remember still today the way I felt as a child, the amazement, the astonishment of Christmas morning. Chuck Swind...

592. Surprise, It's Christmas! - Sermon Starter

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

593. Take a Risk

John 3:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

Nicodemus took a huge risk in his secret night time visit to see the Teacher Jesus, but risks are sometimes necessary for growth and change. Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," said this about taking risks, "Nothing is more important. Too often we are taught how not to take risks. And when we are children in school we are told to respect our heroes. What we are not told is that these leaders were i...

594. Take Care Of Your Wagon

Luke 16:1-15

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: If you take care of your toys today you will be entrusted with greater things tomorrow. Stewardship is a sign of character. Key verses: 10-11. Props: A child's red wagon or a tricycle or a small bike. Lesson: [The children should gather around the wagon.] Good morning! (response) How many of you would like to drive your mom's or dad's car? (response) Where would you go if you co...

595. Take the Garbage Out

Matthew 3:1-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

The poet Shel Silverstein wrote a rather humorous poem called: Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out! Let me share it with you. Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out! She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans, Candy the yams and spice the hams, And though her Daddy would scream and shout She simply would not take the garbage out. And so it piled up to the c...

596. Taste and See

Luke 24:36-49

Illustration

Brett Blair

An elderly woman made her living selling artificial fruit. One day a customer complained the fruit she sold was not realistic enough. She pointed to an apple, saying it was too red, too round and too big to be a real apple. At that point the artificial fruit lady picked up the apple and proceeded to eat it. The resurrection of Jesus, throughout the years has been critically examined, judged by au...

597. Tax Collectors of the Roman World

Matthew 9:9-13

Illustration

Brett Blair

In the days of Jesus tax collectors deserved the scorn of the people because often they abused their position. Here is how William Barclay describes the business of the tax collector in the Roman world: 'The problem of the Roman government was to devise a system whereby the taxes could be collected as efficiently and as cheaply as possible. They had done so by auctioning the right to collect taxe...

598. Teacher

John 1:35-42

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To talk about Jesus as a Teacher. Props: Simple signs: On each sign write one number starting with number 1 and go up. Make as many signs with numbers as there are children. Make one secret surprise sign with a huge number on it: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. The children should face the congregation. Lesson: Can anyone tell me what a teacher does? (response) How many of you...

599. Temptation

Mark 1:9-13

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Help Children understand the meaning of temptation and its nature. Props: A plate of 20 M&M's. Find a place where a child can be seated alone in front of the M&M's. If you are sitting in front of the children you might seat the child behind you or off to the side behind some object around the altar. Lesson: Good morning! (response) This morning I am going to tell you what happene...

600. Tertullian on the Trinity

Matt 28:16-20; John 16:12-25

Illustration

Brett Blair

Tertullian, one of the theologians of the early church, explained the Trinity in a metaphor. God the Father he described as "a deep root, the Son as the shoot that breaks forth into the world, and the Spirit as that which spreads beauty and fragrance."

Showing results

Showing 576 to 600 of 900 results

576. Shaping People’s Lives through Forgiveness - Sermon Starter

Luke 7:36-50

Illustration

Brett Blair

577. Sickness Rearranges Priorities

Luke 13:10-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

578. Sight to the Blind

Luke 4:14-30

Illustration

Brett Blair

579. Sign of the Times

Luke 12:54-59

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

580. Sin is an Ugly Matter

Matthew 18:15-20

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

581. Some People Are Never Satisfied

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Brett Blair

582. Something Good Can Come From Nazareth

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Brett Blair

583. Something Good Can Come from Nazareth - Sermon Starter

John 1:43-51

Illustration

Brett Blair

584. Something Which Time Cannot Efface

Lk 7:36-8:3; Mt 6:19-24

Illustration

Brett Blair

585. Sometimes You Gotta Bend the Rules!

Luke 13:10-17

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

586. Sometimes You Have To Stay Under the Fig Tree

John 1:43-51

Illustration

Brett Blair

587. Source of Our Power

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

588. Stick-to-it-tiveness

Luke 18:1-8

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

589. Storms of Life

Mark 5:21-43

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

590. Suffering for Independence

Illustration

Brett Blair

591. Surprise, It's Christmas!

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Brett Blair

592. Surprise, It's Christmas! - Sermon Starter

Luke 1:26-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

593. Take a Risk

John 3:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

594. Take Care Of Your Wagon

Luke 16:1-15

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

595. Take the Garbage Out

Matthew 3:1-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

596. Taste and See

Luke 24:36-49

Illustration

Brett Blair

597. Tax Collectors of the Roman World

Matthew 9:9-13

Illustration

Brett Blair

598. Teacher

John 1:35-42

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

599. Temptation

Mark 1:9-13

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

600. Tertullian on the Trinity

Matt 28:16-20; John 16:12-25

Illustration

Brett Blair

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