Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 701 to 725 of 975 results

701. God Makes All Things New

Isaiah 61:10—62:3

Sermon

Richard Gribble

It was just a small, white envelope that stuck out among the branches of our Christmas tree. There was no name, no identification, and no inscription. It peeked out from the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so. Its story, however, speaks of how God makes all things new. It all began with Mike, a man who hated Christmas. Oh, he did not hate the true meaning of Christmas, but he did very much dislike the commercial aspects of it — overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to ...

702. Dial-A-Tale

Illustration

Don Baker

Pastor Don Baker relates a story of Rev. Tom Erickson: There's a public Library has a system called "Dial-A-Tale." Anytime a young child wants to hear a fairy tale, he can call the number and a voice comes on reading a short fairy tale to the listening young ear. However, the number is only one digit different from Rev. Tom Erickson. Because the small fingers often make a mistake, Tom gets frequent calls from a child listening for a fairy tale. After several unsuccessful attempts to explain a wrong number ...

703. I Vow To God

Illustration

In the 1880s a young man who was an earnest Christian found employment in a pawnshop. Although he disliked the work, he did it faithfully "as unto the Lord" until a more desirable opportunity opened for him. To prepare himself for a life of Christian service, he wrote on a scrap of paper the following resolutions: "I do promise God that I will rise early every morning to have a few minutes, not less than five, in private prayer. I will endeavor to conduct myself as a humble, meek, and zealous follower of ...

704. Fine China

Illustration

The Irish Potato Famine (1846-1851) resulted in a 30 percent drop in the population of the west of Ireland. The prolonged suffering of the Irish peasantry had broken the survivors in body and spirit. John Bloomfield, the owner of Castle Caldwell in County Fermanagh, was working on the recovery of his estate when he noticed that the exteriors of his tenant farmers' small cottages had a vivid white finish. He was informed that there was a clay deposit on his property of unusually fine quality. To generate ...

705. The Final Word

Illustration

Staff

Every conscientious parent recognizes how difficult it is to exercise his God-given authority over his children. The delicate balance of being tough yet tender is not easy to maintain. Many parents intensify a rebellious spirit by being dictatorial and harsh. Others yield when their authority is tested. When a strong-willed child resists, the pressure to give in for the sake of peace and harmony can become overpowering. I am reminded of the mother who wanted to have the last word but couldn't handle the ...

706. Dial-A-Tale

Illustration

The Public Library has a system called "Dial-A-Tale." Anytime a young child wants to hear a fairy tale, he or she can call a specific number, and a voice will come on reading a short fairy tale to the listening young ear. However, the number is only one digit different from that of the Rev. Tom Erickson. Because small fingers often make mistakes, Rev. Tom gets frequent calls from children expecting a fairy tale. After several unsuccessful attempts to explain the concept of a wrong number to a small child, ...

707. Steer Clear

Illustration

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted ...

708. Crops in Decline

Illustration

Staff

Ralph L. Woods, an ambitious farmer, unhappy about the yield of his crops, heard of a highly recommended new seed corn. He bought some and produced a crop that was so abundant that his astonished neighbors asked him to sell them a portion of the new seed. But the farmer, afraid that he would lose a profitable competitive advantage, refused. The second year, the new seed did not produce as good a crop, and when the third-year crop was still worse, it dawned upon the farmer that his prize corn was being ...

709. Keep Up the Pace

Illustration

Grant Lovejoy

A recent television documentary pointed out that the cheetah survives on the African plains by running down its prey. The big cat can sprint seventy miles per hour. But the cheetah cannot sustain that pace for long. Within its long, sleek body is a disproportionately small heart, which causes the cheetah to tire quickly. Unless the cheetah catches its prey in the first flurry, it must abandon the chase. Sometimes Christians seem to have the cheetah's approach to ministry. We speed into projects with great ...

710. Lincoln's Autumn 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Illustration

Staff

This is the 1863 Autumn Thanksgiving Proclamation which is the beginning of our official holiday (Note: this is not the first thanksgiving proclamation. Proclamations go back to 1777 and the Continental Congress but this is the speech from the inauguration of the Thanksgiving Holiday). The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they ...

711. Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew 25:14-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The first lesson every politician learns is to address the issue that is most important to the people. Without a doubt — and on a global scale — that issue is easily identifiable. Retreading a slogan popular in the early nineties that James Carville gave to Bill Clinton, “It’s the economy, stupid!” What is everyone’s focus in this dawn of the second decade of the twenty-first century is not new. It was a pivotal concern for Jesus’ first century audience as well. In today’s gospel text Jesus offers his ...

712. God’s Two Hands

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

There is a reason the disciples are best known as the “duh!-ciples.” Jesus hand-picked his own team, these twelve companions in ministry and mission. How could his chosen dozen have been so duh! and dumb? Come on, now. Don’t deny that this very thought has not crossed your mind at some point or another when reading any of the four gospels! From the safe distance of twenty centuries it is easy to look back self-importantly at Galilee and assert that, “If I’d been there I’d have ‘gotten it!’” Really? You ...

713. Outside of Himself

Mark 3:20-30

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

As some commentators have pointed out, it appears that it was particularly Jesus' engagement with the demonic that was causing Mary and Jesus' brothers to arch their eyebrows the sharpest. It all seemed a little bizarre to them. In verse 21 they say literally that they had to get him on home because Jesus was exeste, a word meaning to stand outside of yourself. Even today we may refer to a person who is an emotional wreck as being "beside himself" with grief. The idea is that someone has taken leave of his ...

714. God Can Turn Your Trash Cans into Treasure Chests

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Southeast Asia is hot. The economies of its countries are sizzling, especially Viet Nam and Indonesia, with the highest growth rates of almost anywhere on the planet. Investors and tourists from all over the world are flooding both countries. Of course, Bali, Indonesia, is where everyone wants to go. But if I could go anywhere in Southeast Asia, it would be the island of Sumatra. Why Sumatra? Because this island is the archipelago of 17,000 islands known as “Indonesia” is where the “manna” of that country ...

715. James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

James 3:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The blare of political rhetoric continues to crescendo as our next wave of would-be leaders toot their own horns ever longer and louder. When the candidates come together in their debates, you can brace yourself for the noise of clashing egos to be worse than the deafening decibels bleated out by those annoying plastic “vuvuzalas” at the World cup soccer matches. Of course, this is hardly surprising — since what politicians run for is the opportunity to be “large and in charge.” In this week’s epistle text ...

716. The Problem with ‘Hail Mary’ Moments

James 3:13-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The end of September means . . . [you might want to Go Live here and ask your congregation to fill in the blank] . . . we are hip deep in football season. So despite the crisp fall weather, and the fashion show of turning leaves, it is not time for weekend afternoon hikes. It is time for the weekend afternoon call of “Hike, Hike!” That means every week for the next couple of months, along with tailgate food festivals and ritual chest painting, yet another “religious” ritual will be enacted by somebody, ...

717. Big Men in Little Planes

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

King Duncan

There is an interesting story that comes out of the Second World War. England and Germany both had state-of-the-art fighter planes. Germany had the Messerschmitt, which was considered to be the world’s fastest fighter plane. The British had the Supermarine Spitfire. The Spitfire was slower than the Messerschmitt. Nevertheless, German pilots were envious of their British counterparts. You see, the Messerschmitt had been designed to hold the perfect German. Who was the perfect German? Who else but Der Fuhrer ...

718. Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

After enduring the worst economic recession in the past fifty years, it is hardly surprising that every political candidate this season promises new jobs, more money in our pockets, and blossoming businesses — if only they are elected. We desperately want reassurance that things are going to get better and our financial security will be assured. It is a safe bet that if today’s gospel reading were a stump speech, Jesus wouldn’t get elected dog-catcher. As Jesus is continuing on his journey to Jerusalem, he ...

719. L4G Live For God

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The front of local markets have been crammed full of candy for the past two weeks. [Get someone to take pictures of your specific local markets.] Halloween “Trick or Treat” might not be until the end of this month. But candy creators want us to stock-up and stock-pile. As a kid it was such a rush to come home after “making the rounds” of the trick-or-treat neighborhood and ceremoniously dump out all that candy crammed into our paper bag. Every piece would be inspected. Perhaps some cautious trades made ...

720. To God Be The Glory!

Isaiah 60:1-6

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

One of the most prolific songwriters of the nineteenth century was Fanny Crosby. She was the daughter of John and Mercy Crosby from Putnam County, New York. Fanny was born on March 24, 1820. At age six weeks she became ill with a slight cold, causing inflammation of the eyes. Her concerned parents sent for the doctor to come and examine her. The family doctor was out of town and a doctor unfamiliar with the Crosby family came to the home. He recommended the use of hot poultices, which destroyed her sight ...

721. Breaking The Cycle - God’s Answer In Forgiveness

Genesis 45:3-11, 15

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

People often mistake forgiveness for a feeling, but it goes much deeper. Basically it boils down to a choice, an act of free will. A prime example of forgiveness from the scriptures is Joseph. Joseph, the elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel, comes to the pages of the biblical account at age seventeen (Genesis 37). He is first seen tending his father's flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, Jacob's other wives. The biblical account does not go into detail about what ...

722. A Marriage Made In Heaven

Hosea 1:2-10

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

This is wedding season, and with the privilege of presiding at the weddings of many couples over the years, I have had the opportunity to hear how these people came to meet one another. Lately, internet dating networks have yielded more and more lasting relationships, but the majority of couples have met through the intervention of friends or family. Once in a while a couple will meet in church, and once in a great while one or the other of them will say something like, "The Lord led me to _____________ ...

723. Parenting — Not For The Faint Of Heart

Hosea 11:1-11

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

Parenting is not, I repeat, not for the faint of heart. For many of us, it was easy enough to bring our sons and daughters into this world and to hold their tiny forms in our arms. We had no idea what was coming. The 4 a.m. feedings, the nights spent vainly trying to comfort a wailing child, watching as they took their first steps, the joys of toilet training, the "terrible twos" ... those moments are but distant memories now. In the blink of an eye, our sons are teenagers, and as I am working on this ...

724. In the Potter's Hands

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

I am not a potter, and I do not play one on television! However, as a student of the scriptures and the life and times of the people in the biblical narrative, I can say with some certainty that crafting pottery is one of the world's oldest professions. Alongside bone and bricks, fragments of earthenware or pottery have long been gathered and studied by archeologists to understand something of the ancient inhabitants of the Middle East and nearly every other ancient culture throughout the world. Few of ...

725. A New Kind of Authority

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

King Duncan

Former President George H. W. Bush, the elder Bush, was speaking to an appreciative audience some years back, immediately after leaving office. He explained what it was like to go from being Vice President for eight years and President for four years, to being a private citizen. “The first day I woke up,” he said, “I reached over to push the button to get somebody to bring me some coffee, but there was no button, and there was nobody to bring any coffee.” Then he added, “Barbara said, ‘Get out of bed and ...

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