Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 626 to 650 of 1232 results

626. Which Parade Are You In?

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

A pastor was asked to speak for a certain charitable organization. After the meeting the program chairman handed the pastor a check. “Oh, I couldn’t take this,” the pastor said with some embarrassment. “I appreciate the honor of being asked to speak. You have better uses for this money. You apply it to one of those uses.” The program chairman asked, “Well, do you mind if we put it into our special fund?” The pastor replied, “Of course not. What is the special fund for?” The chairman answered, “It’s so we ...

627. United We Stand

John 17:11b-19

Sermon

King Duncan

Today is Mother’s Day, a day when we honor our Moms. We learn many things from our Moms. My mother taught me religion. She used to say things like, “You better pray that comes out of the carpet.” My mother taught me medicine: “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they’re going to freeze that way.” My mother taught me how to be a contortionist: “Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!” My mother taught me to appreciate a job well done: “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just ...

628. Jesus: The Original Superhero?

John 18:33-37

Sermon

April Yamasaki

When Warner Brothers released the latest Superman movie, part of its promotion included a special online Pastor Resource Site on the Man of Steel. Critics complained it was one more blatant Hollywood attempt to use pastors and churches to market a movie, complete with free screenings for pastors, sermon notes, and movie clips. Promotion aside, is it even appropriate to compare Jesus to Superman? Even if we think of him as "the original superhero," doesn't the term itself reduce Jesus from Christ the King ...

629. Elvis and the King

John 18:33-37

Sermon

King Duncan

The Rev. Susan Sparks, senior pastor of Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City has published a wonderful sermon online contrasting two kings, Elvis Presley, the king of Rock ’n Roll and Jesus, the King of all creation. You may remember comedian Adam Sadler’s comparison of the two men: Jesus said: “Love thy neighbor.” . . . Elvis said: “Don’t be cruel.” Jesus is part of the Trinity; Elvis’ first band was a trio. Jesus is the Lord’s shepherd; Elvis dated Cybil Sheppard, etc . . . You will find many ...

630. Jesus Destroys the Power of Sin

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon

Richard Gribble

There is a story of a Vermont farmer who was sitting with his wife one evening on the porch, looking at the beautiful valley laid out before them. Everything about the moment was filled with peace. At last the farmer spoke quietly, as if reluctant to break the spell. “Sarah,” he said, “we’ve had a lot of ups and downs together during these forty years, and when I’ve thought of all you’ve meant to me, sometimes it’s been almost more than I could do to keep from telling you.” Sometimes things just “leak” out ...

631. The Three Poison Pills of Position, Prestige, and Power

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Brett Blair

During the American Revolution a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them. Asked why by the rider, he retorted with great dignity, "Sir, I am a corporal!" The stranger apologized, dismounted, and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers. The job done, he turned to the corporal and said, "Corporal, next time you have a job like this and not enough men to do it, go to your commander-in ...

632. From Mountain to Mission

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

David E. Leininger

A "mountaintop experience" if there ever was one. In fact, I suspect that stories like this one helped coin the phrase, "mountaintop experience." In the news last week was word of what will soon become another "mountaintop experience." An announcement from Kathmandu, Nepal says that the grandson of one of the men in the first successful expedition to scale Mount Everest 50 years ago plans to set up the world's highest Internet cafe at the mountain's base camp - 17,400 feet.(1) He hopes to open the cafe ...

633. The Explosive Power Of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

You remember the Smothers Brothers? Several years ago, they did a routine on TV that went something like this. Dick asked, "What's wrong Tommy? You seem despondent." Tom replied, "I am! I'm worried about the state of American society!" Dick said, "Well what bothers you about it? Are you worried about poverty and hunger?" "Oh, no, that doesn't really bother me." "I see. Well are you concerned about the possibility of war?" "No, that's not a worry of mine." "Are you upset about the use of illegal drugs by ...

634. Christ Has Gone Up

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Some people look with bewilderment at some of the racial strife in our society today--particularly the tension between the “Black lives matter” movement and police departments across our land. However, some of you are old enough to know that we have been here before. In his fine book, On a Wild and Windy Mountain, William H. Willimon tells of being in New Haven, Connecticut as a student at Yale in l970 during the famous Black Panther Trial. Those of you who remember that turbulent era recall the strife, ...

635. Face To Face With God

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

H.G. Wells once told a fascinating story. It is about an Episcopalian bishop, though he could have been a cleric in any denomination. He was the kind of man who could always be counted on to provide a pious platitude. He had a favorite answer that always served him in good stead. When troubled folks came to him, he would assume his best stainedglass voice and ask, "Have you prayed about it?" If said in just the right way, no more needed to be said. The bishop himself didn't pray much. After all, his life ...

636. Connections In High Place

John 15:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a story about professional golfer Gary Player that sounds like it could have happened to you or to me. Once in a major tournament Player tried to ricochet a ball off a stone wall. "I tried to be fancy," admitted Player. The ball hit the wall where it was intended, but instead of finishing on the green, it ricocheted back and hit Player on the cheek. The force of the blow actually knocked him out cold. "Finally, I regained my senses," says Player, "at least a portion of them. Still groggy, I ...

637. Idle Tale Or Eternal Truth?

Luke 24:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

Over a thousand years ago, a Spanish kingdom was under attack by foreign invaders. For many years, one small fort withstood all assaults, thanks to a remarkable leader called El Cid. When their great leader died, his followers had an idea. They dressed his body in his armor, tied a sword in his hand, and placed his corpse on his horse. With El Cid's body in the lead, the Spanish forces charged. But they were quickly defeated, for this act fooled no one. A desperate trick that collapsed led to despair ...

638. With Your Head In The Clouds

Exodus 24:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

John R. Aurelio in his book, COLORS!, tells a most intriguing story. At the birth of his son a certain king instructed his royal gardener to develop the most magnificent flower ever grown. This magnificent flower would one day be presented to the woman the king's son chose to be his bride. The royal gardener began at once. He decided that he would focus his attention on the most regal of all the flowers ” the rose. His would be a rose of beauty beyond description. Over the months and years he experimented ...

639. Living With The Birth Pangs

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

Sermon

King Duncan

We made it so far. Nineteen hundred and ninety-six is nearly over and the world is still here. Why shouldn't it be? Glad you asked. Once there was a bishop named Usher who sat down to figure out exactly when the world began. He did it by consulting Scripture. By tracing the begats and other chronological data in the Bible, he deduced that the world was created in 4004 B.C. Some of our older members may remember when it was common practice for King James versions of the Bible to carry a notation in the ...

640. Have You Seen God's Heart?

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

King Duncan

When a general returned to Rome after winning a major victory, he was greeted by a Roman triumphal march. The high political officials would lead the procession, followed by men blowing their trumpets. Then would come wagons carrying some of the spoils taken from the conquered territory, and just behind them a number of defeated army officers in chains. The priests, carrying burning censers from which a fragrance pervaded the air, were next in line. Bringing up the rear would be a group of cheering ...

641. Help For Hurting Dads

Galatians 3:15-25

Sermon

King Duncan

Jeffrey Zaslow is an advice columnist much like ANN LANDERS and DEAR ABBY. Zaslow says he will consider any question. His readers know that, so they send him whatever oddball questions pop into their heads. Consider this letter which one woman wrote: "My husband is a very special man, and I would love to see his face on Mt. Rushmore. I know this is a big request, but how might I go about getting this idea in motion?" Signed, "His Biggest Fan." For an answer, Zaslow called the folks in South Dakota who tend ...

642. Building A Faith

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

A small boy had been told that he must always wait patiently till he was served at meals, and not draw attention to himself. One day he was eating at a friend's house with his mother, and somehow he was accidentally overlooked. Nobody noticed, and for a time he was patient, but at last he could stand it no longer. Leaning across to his mother, he said in an audible whisper: "Mother, do little boys who starve to death go to heaven?" That little fellow was more patient than most of us. I read recently that ...

643. How to Recognize a Prophet

Deuteronomy 18:14-22

Sermon

Curtis Lewis

In his autobiography, Up from Slavery, Booker T. Washington tells of being awakened every morning in the slave quarters long before daylight by an old rooster crowing. The sound of the crowing rooster was the sign for the slaves to hit the floor and move out to the field to begin a day of hard work. According to Washington, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and the slaves realized they had been freed, something changed in the Washington shanty. He recalls awakening the ...

644. The One Who Came Still Comes; The One Who Spoke Still Speaks

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

Michael Milton

Ladies, what would you think if your husband came home with a box of Valentine candy and twelve long stem roses? In July? Well, he certainly would get your attention! Today I am doing something I love to do—preach about a familiar seasonable passage, out of season! Why? First, it is the next text we come to in Mark. But, second, liberated from the church calendar and from some of the expectations and trappings¾helpful and unhelpful¾we are free to explore deeper meaning and richer application for our lives ...

645. True Disciples

Isaiah 1:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Dead Heads. That name probably makes you either cringe, chuckle, or shake your head. Boomers – now with graying hair and growing girths – are the most likely to chuckle. What Boomer doesn't recall the hype and hypnotism of that apparently indefatigable '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s rock band, the Grateful Dead? No band came to stand for a whole generation's growing pains like the Grateful Dead. Boosters – the parents of the Boomers – are most likely, and with good reason, to cringe. They remember heated ...

646. Matthew 21:1-11 - Roll Out the Green Carpet

Matthew 21:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Palm Sunday at last! And thank God for John, even though our reading comes from Matthew. But if it weren’t for John’s gospel (John 12:13), we wouldn’t know that palm branches were used for the celebration that welcomes Jesus into Jerusalem. In Matthew’s gospel this is Jesus’ first time in the holy city, the official center of Jewish life and faith. In fact this “new to Jerusalem” theme explains much of the Palm Sunday/Passion Week tensions as described by Matthew. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus’ Galilean ...

647. The Thrill of Victory Beats the Agony of Defeat

Judges 7:1-17

Sermon

James Merritt

The United States is known around the world as a "Christian nation." There are several reasons why one might think that is true. In America there are: 1,485 Christian radio stations 300 Christian television programs 96% of all Americans are "believers in God" 70 million born-again believers 148 million professing Christians 62% of all Americans say they have "made a commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today." Now if America is indeed a Christian nation, you would think that God ...

648. The Supreme Test

Genesis 22:1-19

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

I like the story that is told about an old dog and a boy. The old dog was named Belker. It had cancer and a veterinarian was preparing to put him to sleep. The owners had brought their four-year-old son Shane to observe the procedure and to say good-bye to Belker. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped away peacefully. Shane seemed to be at peace about the matter. His parents said that it would be nice if dogs lived about as long as humans do. They wondered why animal lives are so much shorter. Little Shane ...

649. It’s All About Him

John 4:19-24

Sermon

James Merritt

The man who wrote "The Heart of Worship" is Matt Redmon, a worship leader in England. His pastor was trying to teach his church the real meaning of worship, and to show that worship is more than music. He did not allow any singing in their services for a period of time, while they learned to worship the Lord in other ways. During that time God moved on his heart to write this classic song. Listen one more time to these words: I'm coming back to the heart of worship, And it's all about you, It's all about ...

650. My Earlier Life

Galatians 1:11-24

Sermon

John Jamison

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. Trust me on this one, everybody had heard about Paul's earlier life in Judaism. It was one of the most common topics of conversation whenever members of the new church got together. And the opinions about that earlier life were mixed, especially when it came to how it compared with the Paul that was converted. Those opinions were so mixed that it threatened to split apart and destroy the church itself. So when people read Paul's opening line — You ...

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