Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 651 to 675 of 1089 results

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with musicians, with Jars of Clay and Kirk Franklin named Top Billboard 200 Album Artists in 1996. Christian music sales alone topped $550 million in 1996. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out ...

652. The Ultimate Soul Food

John 6:24-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... you can stop eating and slow your physical body down. We eat to forget, to remember, to feel comforted, to feel stuffed, to be sociable, to be empowered. But we also eat to survive. No matter how smoothly sophisticated, technologically advanced, intellectually gifted or artistically inclined we may or may not be, all human beings all living creatures must eat to survive. We must take in nourishment of the right kind in order to keep our bodies healthy, functioning and able to maintain life. It's the same ...

653. Armageddon Anxiety

John 6:56-69

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... '90s to pondering the 00, and finally to great expectations of the 01. Indeed, the pattern established during the past few centuries tends to support Schwartz's optimism. Historically, the dawn of a new century has been accompanied by a burst of artistic and scientific innovation. The long-awaited new century seems to unleash fresh energies and enthusiasms. The challenge of a clean slate encourages the human spirit to fill it up once again. So what is it? Disaster and the end of everything? Or opportunity ...

654. Waging Wisdom

James 3:13—4:8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

655. The Great Postmodern Soul Train

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

656. An Advent Attitude

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

657. Stable-Time

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

658. The Perfect Time to Lose Your Luggage

Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

659. Fingerprints of the Soul

Romans 5:1-5

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a book about virtues would become a best-seller? Character is what creates the unique fingerprint of our soul. A well-developed character is identified by the ruts and contours that are traced onto its surface. Ever wonder why a smooth, conscience-free con-artist is called a "slick character"? It is because he has no character, no guiding virtues etched onto his spirit. In Robert Bolt's account of Cardinal Wolsey's exchange with Sir Thomas More, who was executed for his refusal to compromise his virtue ...

660. Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Sometime near the end of the first century (about AD 90-95) a virtually anonymous literary artist whom we know as "Matthew" wrote his version of the gospel. The style and grace of his writing tells the story of Jesus' birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection with a unique kind of sophistication and artistry. Luke is a master storyteller, John a consummate theologian, Mark an emotional eyewitness, but ...

661. Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... streamlined rendition. Meier isolates two unique elements. First: As well as sharing the "Q" source and a "Mark" source with Luke, Matthew had his own "M" source of material to draw from. Second: Matthew was what Meier calls a "mesher" - a literary artist skilled at weaving together the strands of many different traditions to create a richer, more vibrant whole. When creating his version of Jesus' beatitudes, Matthew drew on the materials available to him from the "Q" source (Matthew 5:4, 6, 11-12) which ...

662. Rainbows and Roses

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... been skillfully engraved on a copper plate. At first glance this reproduction seemed to be nothing more than a piece of noble writing. However, if you looked at it from the proper perspective, you could discern the portrait of our first President George Washington artistically etched in minute detail in the words of the Constitution itself. Washington’s face is revealed in the shadowing of the letters, and you can see his person in the flowing words. So it is with creation. When we look at the rainbow or ...

663. Remember Me

Luke 22:7-38, John 13:18-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... , her great-grandkids would only have known her name,” says Irwin, “and that she spent all her time cleaning, cooking, darning socks, ironing things that wouldn’t lend themselves to any kind of perpetuity.” They would never have known she had artistic abilities. In an apparent contradiction to the otherwise anonymous nature of her life, she inscribed a plea on the quilt that Irwin calls “the most dramatic two words I’ve ever read.” They say, simply: “Remember me.” (1) Remember me. This ...

664. Bound to Earth, Destined for Heaven

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... up. The grace of God’s redemption was not contained by his death on the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice involved much more. There is no lack of horrific tales of death in human history. Dying on the cross was the science of torture taken to its most artistic limits. But Jesus went beyond death. He journeyed down into the bowels of the earth, to the roots of Sheol, to eradicate that horrible halfway house and enable all souls to journey back to the loving longitudes of God’s Lordship. What Jesus embraced with ...

665. Built around the Cross

Mark 8:31-38

Illustration

Mickey Anders

There's a great story about the artist Rodin, who one day saw a huge, carved crucifix beside a road. He immediately loved the artwork and insisted on having it for himself. He purchased the cross and arranged to have it carted back to his house. But, unfortunately, it was too big for the building. So, of all ...

666. What Have You Done for Me?

John 12:20-36

Illustration

George Bass

... he was a child of God. One day, on a trip to Paris, he stopped for a rest in Dusseldorf; during his stay in the city, he visited the art gallery. There he caught sight of Domenico Feti's painting of the crucified Jesus that he calls "Ecce Homo." The artist had written two short lines in Latin beneath the painting: Hoc feci pro te: Quid facid pro me? This is what I did for you: what have you done for me? As the story goes, when his eyes met the eyes of the thorn-crowned Savior, he was filled with ...

667. The Work of the Students

Lk 24:36-49

Illustration

King Duncan

The painter Rubens is recognized even today as a genius. His work has been so influential that we sometimes talk about the "Rubinesque" figure. Rubens was also quite a businessman. Unlike many other immortal artists, Rubens was fortunate enough to taste the fruits of success while he was still alive. He was highly commissioned for his work. In fact he was so highly compensated that he opened what one writer called a painting factory. He hired a school of pupils, and started an assembly line! ...

668. Anybody NOT seeing red?

1 John 1:5--2:14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... those who don't. 2) A youth minister and budding singer-songwriter suggested that it was because most Christians spend so much energy pretending and trying so hard to be someone they’re not that they become exhausted and have nothing left 3) An artist who works with Youth for Christ made his case that it's what he called “Christian entitlement syndrome” and he then re-tweeted that Christians need more child of God humility and less chosen arrogance 4) A high-level administrator at a para-church ...

669. Servants of the Most High

Jn 15:1-8; Rom 7:7-8:2

Illustration

Brett Blair

... the cities would have green spaces, birds in their trees, and architecture to quicken the awareness of the divine life throbbing in the whole of the world. And the towns? the towns would have galleries to hold the works of their artists; theaters for the performing arts would spring up in their squares; scientists and poets would confer with each other; students would gather for debate and reflection, children would want to continue in life, and church congregations everywhere would be struggling 'to ...

670. Trifles Make Perfection

Mark 4:30-34

Illustration

King Duncan

Michelangelo, one of the world's great artists, was also a great sculptor. One day a visitor was looking at a statue that Michelangelo was making. The visitor said, "I can't see that you have made any progress since I was here last time." Michelangelo answered, "Oh, yes, I have made much progress. Look carefully and you ...

671. Proper 10

Mark 6:14-29, Psalm 24:1-10, 2 Samuel 6:1-23, Ephesians 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... are forgiven through the shedding of his blood. Pastor: Friends, believe the good news! People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Exhortation Live for the praise of God’s glory. PRAYER OF THE DAY Lord of all being, we would offer all our artistic gifts to you rather than to any human authority, giving praise to you for all the beauty of creation by our own creativity, however modest in comparison to yours; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Parenting God, Adopter of children ...

672. Proper 7

1 Kings 19:1-8, Psalm 42:1-11; 43:1-5, Luke 8:26-39, Galatians 3:23-29

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... public opinion, who publish the news of the world in print and in the electronic media. Save them from distorting or falsifying the truth, from seeking to make scandal for its own sake, from invading the privacy of citizens or celebrities. Inspire artists and authors, dramatists and producers, that they may show forth things lovely and of good report without avoiding theevil that is present in the world. Bless all who proclaim the gospel, giving them strength of character and will that they may not shrink ...

673. Proper 9

2 Kings 5:1-27, Psalm 30:1-12, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, Galatians 6:1-16

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... be governed by people of integrity and sensibility. Save us from sloganeering that oversimplifies the path to peace and community. Grant to us the vision of the beautiful and the good that can be renewed through the gift of wise poets and writers, artists and photographers, film makers and mass media specialists. O God, overcome evil with goodness with our obedient support and action; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Compassionate God, we do not understand why some are sick and some are well. Jesus did not ...

674. Proper 12

Psalm 85:1-13, Hosea 1:2-10, Luke 11:1-13, Colossians 2:6-23

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... honest government. Give us leaders who are prayerful and careful. Preserve and perfect good customs. Strengthen wholesome family life and encourage pure and genuine religion. As your inspiration alone gives us wisdom and understanding inspire our writers and scholars, artists and inventors, researchers and explorers, that all may seek to contribute to our common knowledge and welfare. We commend to your fatherly/motherly gentleness all who are sick or depressed, especially any who look to us for our prayers ...

675. Advent 2

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... lethargy has set in and where lukewarmness in worship and service disgraces your cause. We pray for our country, its leaders and elected officials at every level of government. Bless our land with educators who have a love for truth. Inspire our artists, writers, composers, musicians, and all who participate in the lively arts that a vision of beauty may again capture the public imagination. Give to captains of industry and commerce an understanding of the public good beyond the profit-making goal. We pray ...

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