Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 651 to 675 of 1230 results

651. The Way the World Is

Illustration

King Duncan

... when they quarreled. This only served to offend all the other animals, and so they never could agree. That's the kind of world we live in. And thus, through the centuries young men, and sometimes young women, have been sacrificed in the cause of one noble ideal after another. Some of these wars have been senseless and barbaric, to be sure. But others have been necessary. We honor the memory this day of those who have given their lives believing that they were making the world safer, freer and more humane.

652. Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26

Matthew 9:9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 5:29). Who else would invite a house full of “tax collectors and sinners” to dinner but a tax collector himself! Jesus joins this mix of friends and colleagues, Jews whose professions and personal lives ostracized them from the Pharisaic ideal of religious correctness, without any apparent concerns. Jesus and his disciples sit down with this rabble, sharing food and swapping stories, hardly a good example of Jewish purity and piety. Indeed, this situation is shocking enough to rate a pharisaic rebuke ...

653. Historic: Background to the Declaration of Independence

Galatians 5:1-15

Illustration

Staff

... to Jefferson, regarded as the strongest and most eloquent writer. The document is mainly his work, although the committee and Congress as a whole made a total of 86 changes to Jefferson's draft. As a scholar well-versed in the ideas and ideals of the French and English Enlightenments, Jefferson found his greatest inspiration in the language and arguments of English philosopher John Locke, who had justified England's "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 on the basis of man's "natural rights." Locke's theory held ...

654. If I Only Had One Wish

2 Chronicles 1:1-12

Sermon

James Merritt

... . I do not care to know what you have, only what you have not and desire to have; not your attainments, but what you have not yet attained and follow after; that which comes to you in your victories by day and your dreams by night, the ideal you set before you, the things you approve as excellent, what you seek after and have given your heart to, these are the measure of a man.1 An egotistical person would have asked for fame. A materialistic person would have asked for wealth. An ambitious person would ...

655. Is Sunday Just a Fun Day?

Exodus 20:7-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... ad in Newsweek magazine that caught my attention because of the first two words: In bold print it said, SUNDAY MORNING; but listen to the ad in its entirety: "SUNDAY MORNING: Time to kick back, get comfortable, and perfect the art of doing absolutely nothing. The ideal companion? Pioneers new PD-M710, 6-disc CD player. Now you can enjoy up to six hours of your favorite music without lifting a finger...all of which means you can spend less time changing your music, and more time enjoying it, but don't wait ...

656. When God's Rule is Taken Out of the School

Job 21:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... values they have with so much effort imposed on "their" children. Thus, [voucher plans] legitimate a series of petty tyrannies in which like-minded parents clubbed together to force-feed their children without restraint. Such an education is a mockery of the liberal ideal.22 What this man is saying is he is against vouchers because you might send your child to a school that will reinforce the values you are trying to teach your children, rather than the values some Washington bureaucrat wants to impose on ...

657. Building Your Home on the Rock

Matthew 7:24-27

Sermon

James Merritt

... you live in the South you will face tornadoes. If you live in the North you'll face floods. If you live in the East you'll face hurricanes. You see, Jesus is not telling us how to find a safe place to live, where the atmosphere is ideal, the winds gentle, the rains controlled, where the sun always shines, and the climate is perfect. That place does not exist anywhere on earth, nor does it exist anywhere in life. There's another true story that is also very fascinating to me that happened over almost sixty ...

658. What to Remember When You're Having a Bad Hair Day

Romans 8:28

Sermon

James Merritt

... Shortly after Vietnam fell to the Communists, Hein was arrested for aiding the American cause. He was in and out of prison for several years. During one long jail term, the sole purpose of his imprisonment was to turn him against Democratic ideals and the Christian faith. He was cut off from reading anything in English, and restricted to reading Communist propaganda in French or Vietnamese. Every day he was forced to read Marx, Engels, and other Communist philosophers. He began to buckle under the pressure ...

659. How to Handle the Mess of Stress

Exodus 18:23-27

Sermon

James Merritt

... rest. It makes me lie down only when exhausted. It leads me to deep depression. It hounds my soul. It leads me in circles of frenzy for activity's sake. Even though I run frantically from task to task, I will never get it all done, for my "ideal" is with me. Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me. They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule. They anoint my head with migraines. My in-basket overflows. Surely fatigue and time pressure shall follow me all the days of my life ...

660. It Ain't Over Til It's Over

Matthew 5:31-32

Sermon

James Merritt

... A Divorce Insurance Policy is given to the newlyweds so that if their marriage doesn't work out, the insurance will pay the legal expenses of the divorce. That was the mentality then just as it is now. Somebody has said that today marriage starts out as an "ideal," then it becomes an "ordeal," and then you start looking around for a "new deal." But what you're not told is, that oftentimes the "new deal" is really no deal. People don't have a whole lot of success running from unhappy marriages. While 40% of ...

661. Power in the Pulpit

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... was founded on the Bible, and on the preaching of this Bible as truth. No less than Yale Professor, William Lyons Phelps, once said, "Our civilization is founded upon the Bible. More of our ideas, our wisdom, our philosophy, our literature, our art, our ideals, come from the Bible than from all other books combined.4 Abraham Lincoln once received, he said, one of the most cherished gifts he was ever given. It was a Holy Bible given to him by a delegation of black Americans. The date was September ...

662. A Bridge over Troubled Waters

Psalm 23:2

Sermon

James Merritt

... rest. It makes me lie down only when exhausted; It leads me to deep depression, It hounds my soul; It leads me in circles of frenzy for activity sake; Even though I run frantically from task to task I will never get it all done, For my “ideal” is with me; Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me. They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule; They anoint my head with migraines; My end-basket overflows; Surely fatigue and time pressure shall follow me all the days of my life ...

663. And the Angel Said to Harry Potter

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

... seems like everywhere I turn, religious types are inviting me to enhance my spiritual journey by walking the labyrinth. Sometimes laid out on the floor of a gymnasium…. other times, painted on the surface of an asphalt parking lot….or (ideally) sculpted in a grassy glade, complete with hedgerows for trail markers….the labyrinth has, for centuries, invited seekers to walk in circles (quietly, meditatively), drawing ever inward and closer to the heart of whatever….God, the soul, the truth, the matter ...

664. Sending Good Messages

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... , it is proper as we begin this series of messages on marriage, that the first one be entitled “Sending Good Messages.” Our choice of words and the tone with which we speak them are vital to marital success. The Apostle Paul gave us the communication ideal in the fourth chapter of Ephesians. He intended his words to apply to communication within the church. But his words are just as relevant to marriage. He said, “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head ...

665. Holy Habits

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... great saints of Christ Church, D.A. Noel. As I listened to people talk about D.A., I heard this comment countless times—“He would never say a negative word about anybody.” Wouldn’t you like for people to say that about you? St. Paul gave us the ideal standard in Ephesians 4:15: “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ.” In the book of James we read, “Let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no.” (James 5:12) Anything else gives an opportunity to the devil ...

666. A Point of Reference

Matthew 16:13-20

Illustration

King Duncan

... is how the good life is lived." For Christians there is such a reference point - and that is Jesus. What would Jesus do? That is the question that continually helps us in our quest for right living. Jesus not only revealed the character of God but he also patterned the ideal life for humanity.

667. In Celebration of American Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:2-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Illustration

... it is British and American thanksgiving that we may celebrate today. And why is that? It is because under the compulsion of mysterious and all-powerful destiny we are together. We are joined together, shedding our blood side by side, struggling for the same ideals, and joined together until the triumph of the great causes which we serve has been made manifest.” But there is a greater thanksgiving day, which still shines ahead, which beckons the bold and loyal and warm-hearted. And that is when this union ...

668. Thanksgiving and Thanksliving

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... considered "extension." The implication of that is a subtle way of blighting a much more thorough and complete "outreach!" Ponder that for a moment. You may discover our church has taken the easy way out! 3. A truly grateful person spontaneously desires to share. Ideally, in the hearts and minds of Christians is an unending flow of "great thanksgivings." This is seen so distinctly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. It seems as though he can't stop giving thanks, especially for what he has found in Jesus ...

669. Deep Calling to Deep

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... escape but as a tool to continue our in-depth excursions. We value the news in-depth. Why can't we do as much for our spiritual lives? It seems to me the choice is plainly before us. 4. Everyone — in a sense — is his/her own theologian. Ideally, every person who professes Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is on a theological journey that makes him/her a student of God. It is a beautiful and even sacred phenomenon to observe some laity commit themselves to study the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are ...

670. Getting It Straight

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... and virginity. It has been there since the very early centuries and in a way is underlined by speaking of Jesus' mother as the blessed Virgin Mary. In addition, marriage is considered a sacrament. Yes, all of us can learn a great deal of practical idealism from them! Then, there is this business of all situations being relative. This has been with us now officially for more than two generations. In reality I believe you can make a case for it beginning with Adam and Eve! Paul is not speaking of relativity ...

671. Being Single-minded

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... in the healing waters of his love. It is a love that knows no bounds. It reasonably follows that such a style of living will rub off on others. In the Christian context, not to be fishers of men and women is a sad commentary and contradiction. To be sure, idealism is much at work here and we may try to be more than we are intended to be. Frankly, I don't think we should be overly worried about this. Remember, to pray that every day is successful in God's sight and not ours. This is a brilliant conditioner ...

672. Looking Out for Others

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... and different in their lives virtually on a daily basis. Perhaps the news media has aided and abetted this! 2. Liberty in thought and action is intended to benefit others. Isn't this what the United States of America is about? In our idealism — since the beginning — we have sought to make this a guiding principle. Sure, we attempted to improve ourselves individually but in doing so we likewise — at least at an idealistic level — wanted the same opportunities for others. We have always been a melting ...

673. A Time for Us

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... , actualizing the full extent of our powers; some of us are not. Some of us can look back on our lives with satisfaction and contentment; some of us cannot. Some of us are proud of our children; some are not. Some of us have fulfilled our dreams and ideals; some have not. Paul urges us not to despair the times, but to make the most of them. Use every opportunity you have, but do not expect you will climb every mountain and at last find your dream. Some enchanted evening you may see a stranger across a ...

674. Christ’s Twin

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... us to be “like-minded” with Christ? The King James Version uses these words, “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” Wow! The same mind in us that was in Christ! Is that possible? Forget how presumptuous it sounds. This is the ideal that we should seek for, according to Paul to be a spiritual twin of Jesus. So, in practical terms, what does that mean? What kind of mind, or attitude, did Christ have? PAUL SAYS, FIRST OF ALL, THAT CHRIST HAD AN ATTITUDE OF HUMILITY. Paul writes, “Do ...

675. The Blessing Complex

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the waiter brings the food, and draws them into the blessing. “Is there anything I can pray for you? Is there a special blessing you need?” Reggie and his wife Cathy try to bless someone at every meal. It’s a spiritual practice for them. [This may be an ideal time for a mini-drama as to what this might look like.] But wait a minute. What is it we are offering as we bless others? Not ourselves. Let’s be clear here. WE are not the blessing. Our presence is not the gift. As Paul pointedly reminded his ...

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