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 701 to 725 of 779 results

701. Touching Hearts and Transforming Lives

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

At the tender age of eleven, my father and his three siblings were orphaned. His father died in the cold of winter. His mother fled for fear. The four children were left to fend for themselves. In a real drama of Survivor, my father set out the following spring to find work on farms as a hired hand. For 87 years now, he has dug out a living by the sweat of his brow. A few weeks ago, I sat by his hospital bed, holding his hand as he awakened from surgery. My father's hands are huge. If he ever gets you in ...

702. Luke 8:26-39

Luke 8:26-39

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

How long has it been since you did something that took you out of your “comfort zone?” Whether it was a good experience or a bad experience, it was definitely a new experience. And new experiences bring new perspectives, revealing some new information about yourself, others, and life. Jesus and his disciples moved out of their “comfort zone” in this week’s gospel text. For the first time in his public ministry Jesus travels outside of Galilee. He ventures out of territory populated primarily by Jews. ...

703. Watch!

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

A ninety-six year old man won fifty million dollars in the lottery. When his family was notified, they called their pastor for help since they were afraid the news might cause the old fellow to have a heart attack. The pastor agreed to help. He went over to visit the elderly man. They talked about the weather and life in general. Finally the minister asked the old man, “Suppose you won fifty million dollars, how would that change your life?” “It wouldn’t,” said the man, “I would still have arthritis. I ...

704. We Are the Champions

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

Larry Lange

The year I knew Jack, one of the cattle he had raised was awarded the title "State Champion Steer." The big brown-eyed animal, nonchalantly chewing straw, unaware of his celebrity status, was adorned with a blue ribbon, purchased by the highest bidder, slaughtered, sliced up into steaks and roasts, and ground up into burgers. The year I knew Jack, he was a champion among farmers, but he was also a champion at his church. When an interim pastor began serving at Jack's church that year, he immediately ...

705. Lifestyles of the Rich and Faithful

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

When a carnival came to town, the strong man was one of the most popular attractions. One of his tricks was to squeeze an orange dry with his bare hand. Then he would offer $1,000 to anyone in the audience who could manage to squeeze even one more drop from that orange. Having nothing to lose, people were always ready to accept the challenge to make an easy $1,000, but they always failed. They would squeeze and squeeze, but their efforts were fruitless. Then, an older man stepped up to try his strength. ...

706. Unlocking the Access

Ephesians 3:1-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Did any of you hear or see this story back in November. It originally appeared in the Columbus, Ohio paper and was reported in both the newspaper and on ABC 13 News. Here's the headline: Teen locked out of house ends up stuck in chimney An Ohio teenager who locked himself out of the house tried to make like Santa Claus and shimmy down the chimney. It didn't work. Firefighters in Columbus say the 15-year-old was small enough to get most of the way down the chimney, which was about a foot wide. But the flue ...

707. The Scope of Love

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) is the only non Italian sculptor commissioned to have one of his statues erected in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. He was not allowed to sign his “Monument to Pope Pius VII” because he was a Protestant; not Catholic. What Thorvaldsen is most known for, however, is his Christus carving known popularly as “The Resurrected Christ.” You can see it today in the cathedral of Denmark's magical city Copenhagen. Thorvaldsen wanted to create the greatest statue ...

708. Do You Hear What I Hear?

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Years ago, a wise teacher of preachers advised us to prepare our sermons with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. His point was that sermons had to be relevant to the day-to-day lives of our people, and the best way to insure that would be to focus on what is going on in our people's world. That is good advice. So what has the newspaper (or the television or radio or internet or whatever) had for us this week? Probably something bad — a flash flood here or a shooting there or another ...

709. Transitions

2 Kings 2:1-12

Sermon

David E. Leininger

This is one of those passages that has its roots deep in the mythology of ancient Israel. It is at least a little bit familiar to us because this is where the film Chariots of Fire gets its name, and this is where we find the origin of the expression, "passing on the mantle of leadership." The story also gives us one of the earliest uses of the term "Father" as a title for a religious leader (if you have ever wondered where that designation in some churches came from). The story is one of transition. ...

710. When The Baker Becomes the Bread!

John 6:51-58

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

A story is told of a well-to-do man of a former generation who on his brisk early morning walk would daily meet a workingman on his way to the factory. One day as they passed each other, the wealthy man added to his usual nod-of-the-head greeting these words of complaint, "I have no choice but to make this walk early each morning to get a stomach for my meat." The workingman responded, "And I must walk this early each morning to get meat for my stomach!" The reality is that neither man was truly satisfied ...

711. A Death on a Long Friday

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Ken Lentz

After dying in a car crash, three friends went to heaven for orientation. They were given the privilege of spiritually attending their funerals. They were each asked, "What would you like your friends and family members to say about you?" The physician answered, "I hope they will say that I was one of the great physicians of my time and a loving family man." The second deceased person, a schoolteacher, replied, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful wife and teacher." The third auto victim thought ...

712. Be An Apostle! Proclaim Life!

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Sermon

Ken Lentz

Three young lads once rescued a famous politician from drowning. "I will give you anything you like," happily promised the grateful politician. "Thank you for saving my life!" The first lad said, "I'll take a bicycle." The second hero said, "I'll take a motor bike." The third perplexed rescuer said, "Sir, if it's all the same to you, I'd like a military funeral." "A military funeral! Why?" asked the politician. "Because," the boy said, "when my dad finds out whose life I saved, he'll kill me!" Life is ...

713. The Life You Leave Behind

Illustration

Van Campbell

Even if people reject the gospel, we still must love them. A good example of this was reported by Ralph Neighbour, pastor of Houston's West Memorial Baptist Church in Death and the Caring Community by Larry Richards and Paul Johnson: Jack had been president of a large corporation, and when he got cancer, they ruthlessly dumped him. He went through his insurance, used his life savings, and had practically nothing left. I visited him with one of my deacons, who said, "Jack, you speak so openly about the ...

714. Do You Know Your Place?

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The world of sled dog racing is famous for a truism: “If you aren’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” In other words, only the lead dog gets to see what is up ahead. Only the lead dog gets to sniff out new possibilities, gets to choose a new path. For the rest of the pack, there is nothing but a view of bushy backsides. No wonder in life we are all constantly striving to be “lead dogs.” Across the political spectrum, there is one common refrain. As the 2012 political races heat up every candidate, ...

715. The Call of God

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

Jeremiah had a task, a vision, and a promise from God. The prophet Jeremiah had a call from God to preach his word to a people needing to hear from God. His call has been duplicated multiple times over the centuries. Moses, Samuel, Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel could point to a precise moment in their journey when God called them to be prophets ... ones who announced God's actions and words. Preaching, announcing God's presence, word, direction comes first from a person who has a passion for what matters in ...

716. A Stupid Question

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

David J. Kalas

Generous teachers sometimes assure their students that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Personally, I'm not so sure. It seems to me that I have heard some pretty stupid questions over the years. I'm quite sure that I have asked some very stupid questions along the way, as well. In this episode from the first days of the early church, the disciples asked a stupid question. Or, at least, they asked the wrong question. They asked Jesus, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom ...

717. Not Another Rerun!

Jeremiah 31:27-34

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

Not another rerun! Many of us probably expressed that sentiment at some point during the past summer when we sat down in front of the television for an hour or so of relaxation after a hard day's work. Disappointment then set in as we surfed our favorite channels only to discover that overly hyped unreal "reality" shows and reruns of programs we had already seen were all that was being shown. By the time fall came around we were eager for something new. Our desire for something new extends to more ...

718. Your Life as a Provenance of the Jesus Story

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

If you’ve ever driven across the U.S. using I-90 (the northern route), you have seen signs for “Wall Drug.” Located in Wall, South Dakota, Wall Drug is a totally smarmy, schmaltzy, middle-of-nowhere “tourist trap.” And it is THE place to stop. Why? Because around 1936 the family running Wall Drug figured out that they were still on the road to somewhere. Wall Drug’s “claim to fame” is that when Mount Rushmore opened, Ted and Dorothy Hustead, owners of a “mom’n’pop” pharmacy/soda fountain shop way out in ...

719. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Easter morning is a synonym for drama. There was the witness and wonder of the empty tomb. There was the reality of a stone rolled away. There was the breathless report back by Mary Magdalene “I have seen the Lord” (20:13). Yet . . . Easter Eve still found Jesus’ disciples bewildered and disbelieving. The eye-witnesses of Peter and the “beloved disciple” John and the ear-witness of Mary’s astonishing announcement had not been enough to move the disciples from fear to faith. It is, then, “for fear of the ...

720. The Light Has Come

Ephesians 3:1-13

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

As the Magi scanned the heavens they noticed a star brighter than all the others in the night sky. It caught their attention enough to warrant further investigation. They felt as though the star had a message for them. They would follow the star to see where it would lead them. Their journey would cover hundreds of miles as well as a considerable amount of time before they would meet the Christ Child. The star of Bethlehem announced the birth of the Son of God to the world. The Magi were the first ...

721. Stargazing, Naval Gazing, and Other Waiting Games

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Tony Everett

Hurry up and wait! Hurry up and wait! Anyone who has spent time in the military has heard this and lived this as a part of their daily routine. Rapid flurries of activity are followed by long periods of waiting in line. Waiting seems to be part of life in every context. We wait in lines at grocery stores, department stores, banks, athletic events, concerts, motor vehicle offices, and government agencies. It seems like time passes with the speed of light on our way there and at the pace of a slug after we ...

722. God Will Provide the Resources

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a time-honored story about a pastor and his wife who decided to invite the church council and their spouses over for dinner. It was quite an undertaking, but this devoted couple wanted to be a good example for the leaders of their church. When it came time for dinner, everyone was seated and the pastor’s wife asked their little four-year-old girl if she would say grace. The girl said, “I don’t know what to say.” Her mother said, “Honey, just say what I say.” Everyone bowed their heads and the ...

723. Those Amazing Two Words (Thanksgiving)

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

King Duncan

Pastor Doug Henry tells about a television commercial from Citibank. The bank wanted to say “thank you” to their customers for using their credit cards, so they were starting a rewards program whereby you could earn cash back just for using their card. One of the commercials involved two ladies in a grocery store. One lady put her hand on the stomach of the other and asked her when her baby was due. The woman looks at her and says, “I’m not pregnant.” Oops! Not knowing what else to say, the woman replies ...

724. Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

Acts 1:12-26

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

The period between the ascension and Pentecost was one of waiting, but not of inactivity. Chiefly, for the disciples, it was a time of prayer, but it also saw them finding a replacement for Judas. In this connection, we have the first speech in Acts. Like most of the speeches in this book, it is probably only a summary of what Peter said. Nevertheless, behind Luke’s report we can still catch the original tones of the apostle. 1:12–14 As instructed, the apostles retraced their steps from the Mount of Olives ...

725. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Acts 9:19b-31

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

Here we see how seriously Paul took his new vocation as a man “saved to serve.” But the pattern for the Twelve had been first to be with Jesus then to be sent out (Mark 3:14), and Paul soon found the need to be alone for a while with the Lord (cf. Mark 6:31). His own writings add a number of details to Luke’s narrative at this point. 9:19b–22 As the bearer of the Sanhedrin’s commission, Paul would have been expected to preach in the synagogues of Damascus, and so he did, using them as he would the ...

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