Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 651 to 675 of 1182 results

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... night in July, 1973, he found himself in desperate need. So, he visited his friend Tom Phillips at his home in suburban Boston. Tom was a new Christian. That night Tom shared his faith with Colson and gave him a copy of C.S. Lewis’s classic book, “Mere Christianity.” Phillips read to him portions of chapter 8 of that book, about the sin of pride. Those words, empowered by the Holy Spirit, nailed Colson right between the eyes. Colson left the Phillips home that night under real conviction. As he drove ...

652. An Unidentified King

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... secondarily a banker or a teacher or a salesperson or a Republican or a white person or a husband or a mother? Is the word "Christian" your most important adjective? When you declare "Jesus is Lord!", have you revealed the essential you? In his classic novel, "The Robe," Lloyd C. Douglas has a character called Marcellus, who has become enamored of Jesus. In letters to his fiancée Diana in Rome, he tells her about Jesus' teachings, his miracles, his crucifixion, and then about his resurrection. Finally he ...

653. The Treasure Principles

Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... over forty years, I really think that most church members do not subscribe to this treasure principle. Most church folks are hopeful that they can have both God and greed. That is, that they can love money and God simultaneously. Their attitude reminds me of a classic song from “My Fair Lady.” Do you remember Eliza’s father singing these words? “With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck, you can have it all and not get hooked!” Jesus said a resounding “No” to this double-mindedness ...

654. Joseph: Don't Bury Me Here

Genesis 50:22-26; Exodus 13:19-22; Joshua 24:32

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... "heel-grabber" because he was born hanging onto his brother's heel. As a second-born twin, I am not sure it's a compliment to be compared to Jacob, but I do tend to identify with this story. And if you ever want to read a tale of classic sibling rivalry, take a look at this one! From Jacob was born a third generation of sons, literally by the dozen—which become the 12 tribes of Israel, until Abraham's descendants filled these hills, "As many as the stars of heaven, and as innumerable as the grains of ...

655. Zechariah I: Stuck Like a Dope With a Thing Called Hope

Zechariah 9:14-17

Sermon

John E. Harnish

When I read this passage, I always see Nellie Forbush. Remember her? She is the "cock-eyed optimist" from Rogers and Hammerstein's classic musical "South Pacific." She sings the exuberant song of Advent: "I'm stuck like a dope with a thing called hope And I can't get it out of my heart! Not this heart." Can't you just see her eager response to the call of the Old Testament Prophet ...

656. The Twenty-Ninth Chapter of Acts

2 Timothy 4:1-22

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... is the only day we have. Today…before winter. This is our day, our time to write the next chapter of the Book of Acts. Today is our time to preach the word and keep the faith. Therefore, come before winter. NOTES: Clarence Edward MacCartney's classic sermon has been quoted and used by a multitude of preachers, sometimes with or without proper recognition. It was published in Christianity Today on Oct. 22, 1976, and the quotations I have used come from that version. It was originally preached at the First ...

657. Yet Alive....Are We?

Romans 12:1-13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... lacking is a compelling message. Alive with passion for the Gospel. Alive with a compelling message. 3. AND ALIVE WITH OUTREACHING LOVE In response to a question about what it means to be a Methodist, John Wesley wrote a pamphlet which has become a classic, called "The Character of a Methodist:" The distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his opinions of any sort, his accepting of this scheme of religion, his embracing any particular set of notions, or mouthing the judgments of one man or another. All ...

658. What Ever Happened to Norman Rockwell?

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

John E. Harnish

For those of a certain age, Norman Rockwell was the artist who captured our American way of life. Beginning in 1916, he painted over 300 covers for the Saturday Evening Post which have become classics in American art—everything from childhood adventures in the old swimming hole to moving tributes to war heroes, gentle laughter and deep sentiments. He imaged what we imagined life was, or could be, like in those days of my growing up. Along the way he also challenged some of the ...

659. Breakfast on the Beach

John 21:1-14

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... is still the same: to be about the business of casting the net, fishing for people, drawing others into this fellowship of Jesus Christ, reaching others with the good news of the empty cross and the empty tomb. James Collins' books on leadership have become classics: Good to Great and Built to Last. In Built to Last, his primary theme is "Preserve the core/Stimulate progress." He says the core ideology, the reason a company exists, must be balanced with a willingness to change and grow in order to fulfill ...

660. On the Mountainside

Matthew 6:5-13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... language) "WHOLLY OTHER." Back in 1961, J.B. Phillips wrote a little book which shocked the staid religious landscape of a settled church coming out of the comfortable 50's, when everyone assumed God looked something like Dwight Eisenhower. It became a classic and is still in print today. The title was simply Your God is Too Small. Phillips describes many of our inadequate concepts for God: Resident policeman Parental hangover Grand Old Man and my favorite...God-in-a-box Phillips writes: "We seem ...

661. From Father Failure to Divine Father

Romans 8:12-17

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... world. If this attitude continues into adulthood, they maintain themselves as self-made men or women, refusing to acknowledge dependency upon the human community of teachers, ministers, doctors, business and government people, and so on. Abnormal independency proceeds to distorted pride, to the classic hubris, to the elevation of the self, and the claim that we need no one at all. We can do everything by ourselves, thank you. This attitude often leads, as it did in the 1960s, to the idea of the secular man ...

662. Where Is Love?

Hebrews 9:1-28

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

Several years ago, a fellow named Lionel Bart wrote a hit song, "Where Is Love," for the Broadway musical Oliver. Based on the Charles Dickens classic, Oliver Twist, the musical tells the story of an orphaned child struggling to survive the cruelties of the streets of England amidst the Industrial Age. No one seems to care, except those trying to use him for profit. "Where is he, whom I close my eyes to see?" Oliver sings. " ...

663. Practicing God’s Presence

Hebrews 10:11-25

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... him. It was said of him, "He pretended nothing, was compliant with everyone and tended to treat his brothers and friends amicably without being pretentious." His written reflection, titled The Practice of the Presence of God is today considered a spiritual classic. It continues to change lives.1 For the most part, the goal of the human religious quest is a direct encounter with divine being. Various religious traditions have different names for it — paradise, heaven, nirvana, but the images are similar ...

664. Sacred Pleasures

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... : Willie Nelson. I love country and western music, and the musical sound and soundtrack that Willie Nelson has given the world is a national treasure. If you’ve every been to a Willie Nelson concert, you know how it ends. After singing the classic Nelson songs for an hour and a half . . you know them [maybe have them call out their Willie Nelson favorites] . . . . “Always on My Mind,” “On the Road Again,” “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “Crazy” . . . Willie ends with ...

665. The Blessing Complex

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... down and revealed to be a “loss.” All those brokerage firms and banking giants that were doing so “well” at financing mortgages were suddenly drowning in red ink. Do you remember The Phantom Tollbooth (1961)? In this award-winning children’s classic there is the kingdom of the Mathmagician where the residents only eat when they are full, dining on “subtraction stew.” Visitors Milo, Tock, and the Humbug are normally hungry and unsuspecting when they sit down to their meal of subtraction stew ...

666. Oh, You'd Better Watch Out!

Mark 13:32-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... his return will be. And we really can’t say much about what will happen when that day does come. I know there are some people who are enamored with the Left Behind series of books and movies. And don’t forget Hal Lindsay’s classic, The Late Great Planet Earth. And my favorite, Eighty-eight Reasons Why the Rapture Will Definitely Occur in 1988. I’m sure these books were written by well-meaning individuals, but their attempts at biblical scholarship are quite lacking. The scriptures provide us with ...

667. Blue Christmas

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... than “Blue Christmas.” It is a real tear-jerker titled, “Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas).” That one didn’t reach the popularity of “Blue Christmas.” I’ll bet most of you can’t guess who first sang this Christmas classic? The late, great folk singer, John Denver. Clean-cut and wholesome, “Rocky Mountain High,” John Denver. Singing from the point of view of an eight‑year‑old, Denver reminisces in the song about a Christmas when Daddy drank too much and fell down ...

668. It’s Good to Know Who Is Calling

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

When I was a boy, our family used to have a parakeet. The bird's name was "Beauty." Beauty was a bird like most. She spent her life in the cage poking at a mirror and whistling while my mom played classical music. She was quite tame, and we all loved playing with her. One special skill that she acquired, however, was whistling. In fact, she was able to perfectly copy the whistle that my dad used to call our pet dog. It was amazing. You really couldn't tell whether it ...

669. Making Your Mark

Mt 23:1-12

Illustration

King Duncan

A legend during the classic time of Greece tells of a terrible thing happened in one of the temples. One night the statue of Zeus was mysteriously smashed and desecrated. A tremendous uproar arose among the inhabitants. They feared the vengeance of the gods. The town crier walked the city streets commanding the criminal to ...

670. Surprised Saints

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

King Duncan

... CB radio signals. Imagine his surprise when one day he had the device to the abdomen of one of his patients when a voice came through as clear as day. The voice asked, “How are things out there?” Life is full of surprises. Another Reader’s Digest classic concerns the true story of a man who was on his way to a funeral in a rented, chauffeur-driven car. The man leaned forward and tapped the driver of the limousine on the shoulder to ask him a question. The driver jumped. The man apologized to the ...

671. The Source of Thanksgiving

Lk 17:11-19; Mt 6:25-33

Illustration

Brett Blair

Remember that wonderful Children's holiday classic "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas." You'll recall in the story how the Grinch enters all the homes by way of their chimneys disguised as Santa Clause. He takes all the presents and ornaments, the trees and stockings, and even their food down to the last morsel. He drags his ...

672. Merry Christmas or Happy Kitschmas?

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to having babies of their own, like everything else about this “pig-in-the-python” generation, they put their own big footprint on the art and science of childbirth. Among the host of boomer books on natural childbirth, midwifery, home birthing, came a classic that is still in print today. Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Muzel co-authored the first of what would become a series of books entitled “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” This straightforward, month-by-month reporting of a pregnancy answered ...

673. Where Is Loyalty in an Age of Immediacy?

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

Elton Richards

... immediacy instant foods, instant winners with our lottery mentality, instant information in the computer world, instant gratification in the drug culture. There is little loyalty to the past nor sacrifice for the sake of the future. Christopher Lasch in his classic, "The Culture of Narcissism," notes the forgetful character of the late twentieth century U.S. culture: "to live for the moment is the prevailing passion to live for yourself, not for your predecessors or posterity. We are fast losing the sense ...

674. Revitalizing the Lo-cal Church

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... assuming the initiative with God. Prayer is not (I repeat not) best seen as talking to God. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. It does not say to talk without ceasing. The Christian church has largely lost, to its detriment, the classic distinction between meditatio and prayer and contemplatio. Meditation refers to quiet thinking and reflection about life and God. In the prayer-life of early monks and nuns, novices were sequestered from the community for meditation training, so important was its value ...

675. Stand Together or Fall Apart

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... story of Jesus and the woman who was being prosecuted for adultery (John 8:1-11). Here is a typical scapegoat scenario: The woman is isolated, the community's rejection of her is complete, and her traditional punishment (stoning to death) is a classic act of violence. When confronted with this clear-cut situation, Jesus invokes his new rules for community and destroys the establishment "logic" of legal violence. Jesus' retort to the Pharisees, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw ...

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