Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 601 to 625 of 832 results

601. Dial-A-Tale

Illustration

... . Because small fingers often make mistakes, Rev. Tom gets frequent calls from children expecting a fairy tale. After several unsuccessful attempts to explain the concept of a wrong number to a small child, Tom felt he had only one alternative. He obtained a copy of "The Three Little Pigs," and set it by the phone. Whenever a child called, he simply read them the tale. He didn't change his telephone number to avoid "invasion of his privacy." Instead, he put his small neighbors before himself, a beautiful ...

602. So Much for So Little

Illustration

Staff

In April 1667, English poet John Milton signed an agreement with Samuel Simmons, a London publisher, by which he sold the copyright of Paradise Lost for five pounds, plus five pounds for the sale of each of three subsequent editions, comprising 1,500 copies. Milton received a second five pounds in April 1669, making a grand total of 10 pounds for the author of England's greatest epic. After his death, Milton's widow Elizabeth sold all remaining rights for eight pounds to Simmons, who became perpetual ...

603. Being Prepared

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

Hurricane Bob was bearing down on the Atlantic coast. Safe in his home on that same coast, a man named J. R. thought he was well prepared. The power failed, but that didn’t faze him. As night fell, he simply fired up some oil lamps and placed his Coleman camping stove on top of the electric range in his kitchen to cook his dinner. So what if he had no electricity? He was able to enjoy a delicious meal thanks to his Coleman stove. He commended himself on his foresight. He went to bed secure in the knowledge ...

604. Twenty Ways to Confuse Santa

Humor Illustration

... in a dirty glass with a note that says, "For Santa." Take everything out of your house as if it's just been robbed. When Santa arrives, show up dressed like a policeman and say, "Well, well. They always return to the scene of the crime." Leave out a copy of your Christmas list with last-minute changes and corrections. While he's in the house, cover the top of the chimney with barbed wire. Leave lots of hunting trophies and guns out where Santa's sure to see them. Go outside, yell, "Ooh! Look! A deer! And he ...

605. Murphy's Church Law

Humor Illustration

... miles away will be 15 minutes early and members living within two blocks away will be 15 minutes late saying "let us pray" causes babies to cry the shorter the agenda, the longer the meeting no matter how many show up for choir rehearsal, you will always need one more copy of the music church furnaces and air conditioners always seem to rest on Sundays. (Long Island East District newsletter, NY Annual Conference, UMC)

606. The Unidentified Bird

Humor Illustration

... on duty one morning when a tourist approached, gave a brief description of an unusual bird he had just seen and asked whether my friend could identify it. "No," my friend replied, "I don't recognize it either, but I can help you. I have here a copy of Roger Tory Peterson's Definitive Field Guide to Western Birds." "That won't help," replied the disappointed tourist. "That bird's not in there." "How do you know," asked the ranger. Came the reply: "I'm Roger Tory Peterson." (as told by Stephen L. Brown, Sr ...

607. The Love of the Shepherd

Ezekiel 34:1-31

Sermon

King Duncan

Sheep sometimes have a reputation for being passive and helpless. “Gentle as a lamb,” we say. Well, maybe . . . maybe not. Reuters News Service told of an Egyptian man who had been pushed to his death from a three‑story building by a sheep that he was preparing for slaughter. The report noted that many Egyptian city dwellers keep livestock on their rooftops. This particular city dweller had been fattening the sheep in question for months getting it ready for a ritual sacrifice. Before that could happen, ...

608. The Four Scents of Adventing

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... space is filled with the scents. For those away on holiday, their take-away kit has in it an incense stick for them to light while they are reading the card, on which is printed what you will be reading below. [If you would like more information, or reproducible copies of the art to use, you can feel free to contact Pierre at pierre@3rdplace.co.za.] 1) The S[c]ent of Hope [Week One] Scentness: The scent of hope: a cool shower, a fresh bar of soap, the cleansing rinse of shampoo running down the drain ...

609. The Messiah Is Back!

Illustration

Thomas Long

According to an account in the New York Times, it was just before Christmas several years ago that David Storch, a music teacher, borrowed a copy of the score of Handel's "Messiah" from the Brooklyn Public Library. Through a clerical error, however, the transaction was not recorded. There were several other requests for the score, and the library staff, unaware that it had been checked out, spent many hours searching in vain for it through ...

610. Mixing Up the Old With the New

John 10:11-18

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... . Artists such as Lukas Cranach and others painted many depictions of biblical scenes but they did so with the curious twist of dressing the biblical characters in the contemporary garb of the Middle Ages. So in one Cranach painting of which I have a copy, you see Mary and Joseph tending to their newborn son in a Bethlehem stable. You also see shepherds and others in the picture but every last one of them looks like a then-contemporary European. The men are wearing tights, silk shirts with puffy sleeves ...

611. My Golf Book

Humor Illustration

... I've been very busy over the past 2 years putting my thoughts and ideas together in a book about Golf. I am very proud of the results and in order to market the publication, I am asking friends and family to be the first to own a copy. Here's the Table of Contents from my new book, "Winning Golf Strategies," which I believe gives the reader valuable playing tips and insider information that I've gained through my own years of experience in the game and observations of golfing partners. The chapters are as ...

612. Why Are You So Afraid?

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

Karen Fair tells about her three-year-old daughter, Abby, who was having trouble sleeping through the night. She kept waking up because she was afraid. Each time Karen tucked her into bed again, she would remind her that Jesus was with her and that He would keep her safe. The sleepless nights continued, with Abby seeking comfort in her parents’ bedroom. Finally, one night Karen asked her daughter if she had prayed for Jesus to take her fear away and help her fall asleep. “Oh yes,” Abby assured her. “He ...

613. Be Healed, Be Held

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... influences the fashion choices of thousands. Designers count on it. In fact they literally “bank” on it. If someone fabulous and famous wears something, it will sell. The “knock ‘em dead” designs on red carpet runways are immediately copied into much cheaper “knock-offs” so that those with a bit of disposable income can outfit themselves like royalty. Even countries without “royal families” have their “royalty.” But while all of us — whether teenager or ladder climbing corporate ...

614. How Do You Know the Good Guys from the Bad Guys?

Luke 16:1-13

Sermon

... flag lapel pin, then he was unpatriotic. In the same way it seems like tacking the word "Christian" onto something makes it better, more reliable, less likely for the consumer to have a bad experience dealing with that business. The other day my wife brought home a copy of the Christian Blue Pages. She said she had never seen them before and asked me what they were. I said it was simple. If you want a Christian plumber or insurance agent or auto mechanic you simply had to look here. She thought I was making ...

615. The Call of God

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... had gone chasing after other gods, but now times had changed with the rule of a godly king. Incredible as it might seem, during those years of ignoring the temple, the nation had lost the scripture, literally. In those days before printing presses and Xerox™ machines, copies of the book of the law were few and far between. There were no beautifully bound editions in Israelite homes to be dusted off when the rabbi came to call. All they had were a few fragile scrolls that were kept in the temple for use ...

616. The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... James Frey concerning his supposed criminal career and bizarre misadventures. With a push from Oprah Winfrey (who has become an incredibly powerful force in American book publishing with her Oprah's Book Club), the book sold more than three and a half million copies, and was second only to the latest "Harry Potter" book among that year's best-sellers. The trouble started when The Smoking Gun, an investigative website, reported about a million little lies in A Million Little Pieces. It turns out that whole ...

617. Easter 5

Psalm 148:1-14, John 13:31-35, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... be peacemakers and how we can welcome strangers. Give us generous clean hearts. Amen. Sermon Idea One purpose in the perpetual reading of scriptures in public was to facilitate the memory of the people seeking God and divine blessing. Translating, printing, and copying for a readership that includes young children and individuals who are blind makes the Bible available every day all year long, at home and in public places. The commandments and guidelines for the common good have become “old hat” and are ...

618. Good Friday

Psalm 22:1-31, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1-11, Hebrews 10:16-25

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... to read one scripture and sing one hymn at the top of each hour. Deacons, Stephen Ministers, Elders, and other leaders may wish to schedule themselves to “cover” a block of time so attendees are not alone with the Good Friday experience. Have available copies of the Celtic knot from the book cover and the hands found on the divider pages. Record instrumental versions of nineteenth-century cross hymns to play during the hours the sanctuary is open. These hours are for persons who wish to “feel” the ...

619. The Blood of The Lamb and The Voice of The Shepherd

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... mail it to anybody but herself ... Then we looked to see what she was so proud of, and it turned out to be this whole army of crayon angels, in this gold sort of football helmet, charging into Bethlehem while in the sky above them huge red and green letters copied from a Christmas carol book Bet couldn't yet read proclaimed: "JOY TO THE WORLD! THE SAVIOR RESIGNS!"1 And elsewhere in the novel one of the children says: Personally I'm not sure just who or what Christ is. I still pray to Him in a pinch, but I ...

620. The Things Close to Your Heart

Mark 13:1-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... top to bottom” [Mark 15:37-38]). This curtain or veil was set up between the inner court and the sanctum sanctorum, the holy of holies, an inner recess which contained the Ark of the Covenant. This was the sacred chest in which it was believed the copy of the Law given directly to Moses by God was stored, so it represented symbolically the very dwelling place of God. The inner sanctuary was curtained off and could only be entered once a year of the Day of Atonement by the high priest. . . By telling us ...

621. The Temple of Doom and the Bridegroom

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

622. The Bride of Jesus

John 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... were evidently fixed on Chris. Chris and Joanna exchanged business cards, ostensibly for insurance reasons, and the next day Chris called and asked Joanna out. At their wedding reception, the couple did not place flowers or chocolates at each place setting. Instead, they posted copies of the accident report. (1) If I were to ask some of you, how did you meet your mate? I would get some interesting stories. I would also get some interesting stories if I asked about your wedding. In his book, Hustling God, Dr ...

623. Are You Part of the Scandal?

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ’s forgiveness. Scandal is nothing new. Scandal is as old as Eve and familiar as the next-door-neighbor’s indiscretions, or the hottest new 2013 show “Scandal” featuring the scandalously beautiful Kerry Washington. Try doing good and ending up on “Hard Copy” or “Entertainment Tonight.” Shame and Scandal rule the airwaves. Well, Salvation and Scandal rule the church. Or should. The message of Lent is that we have a Scandalous God. The scandal of love, the scandal of forgiveness, is beyond our ...

624. A One Sentence Legacy

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... reporting in British newspapers at the time, so he decided to publish his own paper. He called his paper the Commonwealth Sentinel. Burleigh worked diligently for weeks writing articles, promoting the newspaper on billboards, selling advertising space, and printing up 50,000 copies. He was determined to make the first edition a success. On February 6, 1965 after the newspaper had left the printers, an exhausted Lionel Burleigh was resting in his hotel room when he was interrupted by a call from the London ...

625. The Widow and the Unjust Judge

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... be doing his homework, but when he got to a part he didn't understand, he tried the Google short-cut. When he couldn’t google the answer, he closed his books, put them away and waiting until the next day, when he pested and pested a friend to copy his homework. After many pleadings, the other boy conceded, partly just to get his buddy to stop pesting him. It ended up that the friend’s homework was wrong, and so both boys got poor marks. When the first boy got home, his mother asked him, after seeing his ...

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