Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 801 to 825 of 4508 results

801. Troubling Humbling Questions

Illustration

Rabbi Harold Kushner

A friend came to Rabbi Harold Kushner, and said to him: "Two weeks ago, for the first time in my life I went to the funeral of a man my own age. I didn't know him well, but we worked together, talked to each other from time to time, had kids about the same age. He died suddenly over the weekend. A bunch of us went to the funeral, each of us thinking, "It could just as easily have been me." That w...

802. God's In This

Illustration

Brett Blair

This morning I'd like to do something a little unorthodox and recommend an album (sorry CD....sorry again, a download) to you. So far it has sold more than 4 million copies. It won "Album of the Year" awards from the Country Music Association and the International Bluegrass Music Association, and was nominated for five Grammys. Rolling Stone called it one of the best albums of 2001, and Entertainm...

803. Blessed Are the Cheese Makers

Illustration

Brett Blair

Here is the infamous bit from Monty Pythons "Life of Brian." All great humor must have one essential element: Truth. This bit certainly has that. Jesus' words when misunderstood has lead to some pretty fantastic conclusions. And so, this is dedicated to all those knuckle headed interpretations throughout the years. There are two main characters in the bit who are called Trouble and Bignose. They a...

804. An Attitude of Sacrifice

Illustration

Brett Blair

Jesus is the model of sacrifice. He was certainly no one’s doormat, but yet, he was hated, excluded and called evil. Through it all he was God—controlled and not self—controlled. When I think of making sacrifices I also think of E. Stanley Jones, perhaps United Methodism’s most famous foreign missionary. He authored over a dozen books and converted hundreds of Hindus in India to Christianity. He ...

805. The Ungrateful Scorpion

Illustration

Brett Blair

Henri Nouwen told a parable about an old man who used to meditate each day be the Ganges River in India. One morning he saw a scorpion floating on the water. When the scorpion drifted near the old man he reached to rescue it but was stung by the scorpion. A bit later he tried again and was stung again, the bite swelling his hand painfully and giving him much pain. Another man passing by saw wh...

806. The Psychiatrist On The Mount

Illustration

James T. Fisher

If you were to take the sum total of all the authoritative articles ever written by the most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on the subject of mental hygiene—if you were to combine them and refine them and cleave out the excess verbiage—if you were to … have these unadulterated bits of pure scientific knowledge concisely expressed by the most capable of living poets, you would have an...

807. Upside-down Beatitudes

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J. B. Phillips

J. B. Phillips, in his book When God Was Man (Nashville: Abington, 1955), gives an upside-down version of the Beatitudes: Happy are the pushers, for they get on in the world. Happy are the hard-boiled, for they never let life hurt them. Happy are they who complain, for they get their own way in the end. Happy are the blase, for they never worry over their sins. Happy are the slave drivers, for th...

808. Blessed to Be Among the Company of Mourners

Sermon

Albert G. Butzer III

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. — Matthew 5:4 Recently I conducted four funerals in four weeks and by the end of the month I was emotionally and spiritually exhausted. It’s hard enough to conduct a funeral for a stranger, far more so for a friend. And these people were my friends, friends with whom I had attended parties, shared meals, and enjoyed a laugh or a good joke. ...

809. God Sees You

Sermon

Lori Wagner

It’s a tough time out there. It’s only a few days before the election of the century, and tensions are high all around. Much of what’s at stake has to do with the way people are feeling right now during this equally historic pandemic. COVID-19 has changed the way we live, the way we work, the way we look at life and relationships, the way we treat others, the way we look at what we most value. W...

810. A Life of Despair

Illustration

Brett Blair

Two of his daughters and a son-in-law committed suicide. Three of his children died of malnutrition. Marx felt no obligation to earn a living, but instead lived by begging from Engels. He fathered an illegitimate child by his maidservant. He drank heavily. He was a paid informer of the Austrian police, spying on revolutionaries. Though Marx and his wife were poor, he kept investing in the stock ma...

811. A Response to the Beatitudes

Illustration

Brett Blair & James Garrett

If the disciples were students and Jesus was professor the beatitudes would have come off a bit different. Jesus takes his disciples up the mountain and gathers them around, and says, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are they that mourn. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are they who thirst for justice. Blessed are you when persecu...

812. Beatitudes as a Song

Illustration

Eugene H. Peterson

This adaptation of the Beatitudes is from Message by Eugene H. Peterson: 3. You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s t...

813. Happiness

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: Happiness comes from a life emptied and humble before God and not from a life full and easy. Props: Several dollar bills or a hand full of coins, a toy that laughs, some kind of food, and a toy sword like a light saber or any object to represent conflict. Also a box or big glass jar. Optional humorous prop: A football or some sports object that is presently in season. If there is...

814. All Saints Day

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-17 John gives a vision of heaven where innumerable saints worship God. The book of Revelation, written ca. A.D. 96, has as its purpose to comfort and strengthen Christians at a time of great distress. They are enduring persecution at the hands of the Roman Emperor, Domitian. They are encouraged and strengthened by the news of ultimate victory in heaven. Ch...

815. All Saints' Sunday

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Epistle: Revelation 7:9-17 This is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seals. The saints are marked with the seal of God which affords protection from the plagues and coming judgment. During this period of great persecution under the Roman Emperor, Domitian, about 96 A.D., John encourages the struggling church with a heavenly vision of light and glory. A great throng of believer...

816. All Saints' Sunday

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 25:6-9 Through his prophet, the Lord promises to make a joyous feast for his people on Mt. Zion, replete with rich food and wine. God will remove the pall of gloom and sorrow by destroying death and personally wiping away the tears from the eyes of his people. Epistle: Revelation 21:1-6a John's vision of the new heaven and new earth, predicted by Isaiah (65:17; 6...

817. All Saints' Sunday

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 In God's city of salvation where the righteous dwell, the dead rise, sing for joy, and escape God's wrath. Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 A vision of heaven where the glory of God is a perpetual light and where those whose names are in the Book of Life dwell. Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 1. Disciples (v. 1)...

818. Christ Comes Into Our Hearts

Children's Sermon

Robert B. Lantz

Object: Heart stickers Good morning, boys and girls. (Show heart symbol.) What is this symbol? (Response -- heart.) Why do you suppose we have made such a symbol of one of the inner organs of the body? What does it represent? (Responses -- Love, sweethearts, romance, and so forth.) When we talk about love, we are really talking about a feeling, aren't we? Part of that is intellectual, that is, w...

819. The House on The Rock

Sermon

Lori Wagner

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18) Props: river stones (rocks) passed out among the people at the beginning of the service or beginning of the sermon OR small tools (such as small hammer, nails, concrete trowel) OR bricks Setting: Consider hol...

820. How’s Your Appetite?

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

In any home where there are small children with parents who do not sanction a complete submission to television, the most familiar request is: "Tell us a story." And those stories are remembered for the rest of their lives. There is not a single adult or child, I dare say, who could not tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood, of Goldilocks and her bears, of the three little pigs, the big, bad w...

821. Why Are We So Split Apart?

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

What does the word "peace" mean to you? When Jesus said: "Blessed are the peacemakers," what did he have in mind? It was top news when the President decided to stop production on the supersonic bomber, the B-1. He gave budgetary, as well as strategic, reasons for his decision: the B-52 can infiltrate Soviet air defense if it is fitted with more efficient engines and other equipment; the B-52 can ...

822. The Joy of Sorrow?

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

As I walked down the hall of a hospital Thursday afternoon, I noticed coming toward me a young man maneuvering himself in a wheelchair. Because there was at least a minute before we passed each other, I saw that his left leg was missing, just below the knee. It was so heavily bandaged that I surmised he had recently had surgery. If I had stopped that young man and asked him if he knew what sorrow ...

823. Do I Dare Be Different?

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

William Inge was one of England’s most outstanding preachers. At the beginning of this century, because of his insight and forthrightness, he was either greatly admired or bitterly disliked. After the First World War he was speaking at a public gathering, and in his speech, he urged that realism instead of revenge be his country’s guide in its treatment of a defeated Germany. Three days later, Dr....

824. Who Has Everything?

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Some years ago the News and Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina, published an article entitled, "Do You Measure Up As a Man?" The article stated that some extensive research had been conducted on the twentieth century standards for measuring a man. The eight criteria are quite interesting: his ability to make, conserve, and amass money; the cost, style, and age of his car; how much hair he has or ...

825. Who Keeps Getting in My Way?

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Some years ago, ten doctors were appointed by the United States Government to meet together and draw up ten laws of public health, which were to be given to the American people to serve as a guide for good health. After twelve days of extensive debate, they found that they could not agree on the laws because of their diverse areas of concern: one was a cancer specialist, one a heart surgeon, one a...

Showing 801 to 825 of 4508 results