Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 601 to 625 of 900 results

Luke 17:11-19

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Appreciation for the little things. Props: A medium to oversized box, a tooth brush, a pair of tennis shoes, a book, and a regular kitchen plate. If these items can be placed in the box and gift wrapped, it will create greater anticipation, but it is not necessary. Lesson: Good morning! (response) I have some gifts for you this morning and I am so excited about giving them to you. ...

602. Thanking Heaven

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Illustration

Brett Blair

I like the story told about Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) in his later years. On a special evening at the Vienna Music Hall his oratorio "The Creation" was being performed. As the majestic work moved along, the audience was caught up with tremendous emotion. When the passage "And there was light!" was reached, the chorus and orchestra burst forth in such power that the crowd could no longer restrain it...

603. Thanksgiving

Ephesians 1:1

Sermon

Brett Blair

This morning I would like to hold up for you three different scenes. The strange thing about these scenarios is that when you first hear them you will be hard pressed to understand why I selected these stories to exemplify Thanksgiving. On the surface they will seem to be the antithesis of Thanksgiving. Yet, I am convinced that at the heart of these stories is the real Biblical understanding of wh...

604. The Authority of a Servant

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

Robert Fulghum, who wrote "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," says that he placed alongside the mirror in his bathroom a picture of a woman who is not his wife. That's risky business! Every morning as he stood there shaving, he looked at the picture of that woman. The picture? The picture is of a small humped-over woman wearing sandals and a blue eastern robe and head dress (sa...

605. The Authority of the Church

Matthew 16:13-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

Dr. W. A Criswell, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas Texas, said on one occasion on an airplane flight he found himself seated beside a well known theologian. He desperately wanted to start a conversation and they got to talking. The man told Dr. Criswell about how he had recently lost a little boy through death. Dr. Criswell listened as he told his story: He said he had come home from ...

606. The Bedrock of Faith

Mark 13:1-8 · Luke 21:5-19

Sermon

Brett Blair

Have you ever tried to make a prediction? Here are some predictions from the past. All from people who were trusted individuals: Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, in 1943 said, "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." Popular Mechanics magazine in 1949 made this prediction: "Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the...

607. The Bedrock of Faith - Sermon Starter

Mk 13:1-8; Lk 21:5-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

Have you ever tried to make a prediction? Here are some predictions from the past. All from people who were trusted individuals: "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962. Popular Mechanics magazine in 1949 made this prediction: "Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computer...

608. The Betts' Violin

Mt 13:44-46

Illustration

Brett Blair

The Betts' Violin was bought by Mr. Betts' in his violin store for one Guinea. There is a legend around the purchase which paints a dramatic story line. THE LEGEND One foggy night in London, many years ago, a ragged unkempt man shuffled into a little music shop, owned by a Mr. Arthur Betts. Clutched under the man's arm was a violin. "Will you buy this old violin from me?" the man muttered. I'm s...

609. The Big Influence of Small Things

Matthew 13:31-35

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To teach that even though the Kingdom seems inconsequential it has ultimate influence. Props: Glass of water colored by dark grape food coloring. Another glass the same size with a small amount of liquid bleach. You may want to do this over a tray so that any accidents don’t bleach the carpet. Please practice this before performing it. Good morning. There is a story that Jesus to...

610. The Big Influence of Small Things

Matthew 13:31-35

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim:To teach that even though the Kingdom seems inconsequential it has ultimate influence. Props: Glass of water colored by dark food coloring. Another glass the same size with a small amount of liquid bleach. You may want to do this over a tray to avoid damaging the carpet. Please practice this before performing it. You want to use as little bleach as possible to achieve the desired r...

611. The Big Meaning of a Small Gift

Mark 12:41-44

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: The most expensive gift given is not a determinant of the one who has made the greatest sacrifice. Prop: 35 one-dollar bills, two pennies, and an offering plate. Keep the offering plate behind you. You might ask one of the ushers to participate by bringing out the offering plate and taking up the offering. Be prepared yourself to give this thirty five dollars to the church because...

612. The Blind Leading the Blind

Mark 10:46-52

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Awareness of those who are not only physically blind but spiritually blind as well. Prop: None. You will begin the this lesson on the other side of the sanctuary from the normal place that the children’s sermon is given or start it in a pace that presents several obstacles between you and the normal place. You might begin the middle of a pew in the back. Lesson: As you walk to the ...

613. The Boy Jesus

Luke 2:33-35

Illustration

Brett Blair

You will recall when the old man Simeon held the Christ child in his arms he said, "This child is destined to cause the rising and the falling of many in Israel, and he will be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the hearts of many will be revealed." There are two well-known pictures, each with the same title, "The Shadow of the Cross." One by Holeman Hunt depicts the interior of a carpen...

614. The Burden Bearing Christ

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Brett Blair

There is a wonderful legend concerning the quiet years of Jesus, the years prior to his visible ministry. The legend claims that Jesus the carpenter was one of the master yoke-makers in the Nazareth area. People came from miles around for a yoke, hand carved and crafted by Jesus son of Joseph. When customers arrived with their team of oxen Jesus would spend considerable time measuring the team, t...

615. The Burden Bearing Christ - Sermon Starter

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

616. The Candy Cane

Luke 19:28-44

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To show how God can be within our midst and we can fail to recognize him (this appears to be Luke's Triumphal Entry theme, key verse: 42b). Props: A traditional candy cane or any candy cane with red stripes. If you cannot find one, draw it. Lesson: Good morning! Open the candy cane and start eating it or just hold it before them. Mmmm! This is a really good candy. Eat some more. No...

617. The Categories of Salvation

Romans 3:23-24

Illustration

Brett Blair

Often you see bits of logic like the one below in christian literature. Take a look: There are four basic categories of salvation: Those who think they are saved, but aren't. Matthew 7:21-3 Those we think are saved, but aren't. 1 John 2:18-19 Those who are saved, but don't act like it: Corinthians. Those who are saved, and they act like it. I would agree with the basic tenets here but of course...

618. The Christian Symbol

John 3:1-21

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To convey how the cross has become the rallying point for Christians and a symbol for those in need of forgiveness. Props: Your country's flag (the example here is the United States flag--if you are not able to get a flag, a picture or accurate drawing would be fine), a symbol for the boy scouts or girl scouts, a symbol of a sports team or the Nike swoosh, and a cross. Lesson: Good...

619. The Coffee Break

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Brett Blair

The coffee break, where did that come from? It was a necktie manufacturer out of Denver called Wigwam Weavers. Wigwam Weavers made these very intricate silk neckties and during World War II they lost all their best loom operators to the war effort, all men of course. Then they hired women to do it and they could do it beautifully, and these were very intricate patterns, very complicated looms. The...

620. The Collateral Damage of Our Attitudes

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Brett Blair

We continue to gauge how our lives are effected by all this. It has been difficult taking in all the things happening over these past three weeks, much less make sense of it all. Occasionally you read something in the paper or you see something on TV which helps you put things in perspective. I remember Thursday September 13th all of the sporting events that weekend had been cancelled. One of the ...

621. The Collateral Damage of Our Attitudes

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Brett Blair

In those first few weeks after 9/11, it was difficult to take in all the things happening, much less make some kind of sense of it all. Occasionally you read something in the paper or you heard something on TV which helped you put things in perspective. I remember by Thursday September 13th all of the sporting events that weekend had been cancelled. One of the NFL athletes was asked about playing ...

622. The Color Purple

Illustration

Brett Blair

For those using the liturgical colors of the season of advent: Whenever I reflect upon the fact that purple is the color of Advent, I am reminded of an historical story. When Louis the IV was a young boy growing up in France the Royal family employed one of the best teachers in the land to instruct him on the ways of royalty. When he arrived the first thing that he did was to give the young prince...

623. The Cookie Thief

Luke 7:36-50

Illustration

Brett Blair

Today's gospel reminds me of the story of the cookie thief. A woman at the airport waiting to catch her flight bought herself a bag of cookies, settled in a chair in the airport lounge and began to read her book. Suddenly she noticed the man beside her helping himself to her cookies. Not wanting to make a scene, she read on, ate cookies, and watched the clock. As the daring "cookie thief" kept on ...

624. The Cost of Discipleship

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Brett Blair

The mark of a great leader is the demands he makes upon his followers. The Italian freedom fighter Garibaldi offered his men only hunger and death to free Italy. Winston Churchill told the British people that he had nothing to offer them but "blood, sweat, toil, and tears" in their fight against their enemies. Jesus spoke of the necessity of total commitment -even to the point of death. He conveye...

625. The Cost of Discipleship - Sermon Starter

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Brett Blair

The mark of a great leader is the demands he makes upon his followers. The Italian freedom fighter Garibaldi offered his men only hunger and death to free Italy. Winston Churchill told the English people that he had nothing to offer them but "blood, sweat, toil, and tears" in their fight against the enemies of England. Jesus demanded that his followers carry a cross. A sign of death. Andrew died ...

Showing results

Showing 601 to 625 of 900 results

601. Thankful for the Little Things

Luke 17:11-19

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

602. Thanking Heaven

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Illustration

Brett Blair

603. Thanksgiving

Ephesians 1:1

Sermon

Brett Blair

604. The Authority of a Servant

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

605. The Authority of the Church

Matthew 16:13-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

606. The Bedrock of Faith

Mark 13:1-8 · Luke 21:5-19

Sermon

Brett Blair

607. The Bedrock of Faith - Sermon Starter

Mk 13:1-8; Lk 21:5-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

608. The Betts' Violin

Mt 13:44-46

Illustration

Brett Blair

609. The Big Influence of Small Things

Matthew 13:31-35

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

610. The Big Influence of Small Things

Matthew 13:31-35

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

611. The Big Meaning of a Small Gift

Mark 12:41-44

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

612. The Blind Leading the Blind

Mark 10:46-52

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

613. The Boy Jesus

Luke 2:33-35

Illustration

Brett Blair

614. The Burden Bearing Christ

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Brett Blair

615. The Burden Bearing Christ - Sermon Starter

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

616. The Candy Cane

Luke 19:28-44

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

617. The Categories of Salvation

Romans 3:23-24

Illustration

Brett Blair

618. The Christian Symbol

John 3:1-21

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

619. The Coffee Break

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Brett Blair

620. The Collateral Damage of Our Attitudes

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Brett Blair

621. The Collateral Damage of Our Attitudes

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Brett Blair

622. The Color Purple

Illustration

Brett Blair

623. The Cookie Thief

Luke 7:36-50

Illustration

Brett Blair

624. The Cost of Discipleship

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Brett Blair

625. The Cost of Discipleship - Sermon Starter

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Brett Blair

The mark of a great leader is the demands he makes upon his followers. The Italian freedom fighter Garibaldi offered his men only hunger and death to free Italy. Winston Churchill told the English people that he had nothing to offer them but "blood, sweat, toil, and tears" in their fight against the enemies of England. Jesus demanded that his followers carry a cross. A sign of death. Andrew died ...

Showing results