Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 851 to 875 of 4934 results

851. 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 ...

852. Only One Plan

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

There is a legend that recounts the return of Jesus to glory after His time on earth. Even in heaven He bore the marks of His earthly pilgrimage with its cruel cross and shameful death. The angel Gabriel approached Him and said, "Master, you must have suffered terribly for men down there." He replied that he did. Gabriel continued: "And do they know and appreciate how much you loved them and what you did for them?" Jesus replied, "Oh, no! Not yet. Right now only a handful of people in Palestine know." But ...

853. Harmless Hospitality

Luke 10:38-42 · 2 Kings 4:8-17

Sermon

Will Willimon

A few weeks ago I was to speak at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. I took the last flight out of Durham. We landed late. A hair-raising, fifty-dollar, one hour cab ride later, I was deposited at a now utterly dark, locked up tight, Lutheran Seminary. Had no idea where I was supposed to sleep. Wandered about, Willy Loman-like, bag in hand, trying this door and that, everything locked and dark. Midnight. Finally, I saw one last light in a house on campus. In desperation I knocked on the ...

854. Prayers for the Sundays After Easter

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

Our Creator, how we enjoy the arrival of spring. Lush green grass rises in our lawns decorating our streets with home to home carpeting. Bird songs, silent in winter, now fill the air with enchanting melodies. The brown loam of our gardens and fields warms in preparation for the coming seeds and plants. The brilliant colors of jonquils, tulips, and hyacinths edge our flower beds and ring our trees. Who are we that you lavish upon us such splendor? The air warms as the sun dispatches the winds of winter. ...

855. Your Image of Tomorrow

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Mann

"Among those who are born of women ..." If you are thinking of the human race, this is a rather inclusive statement; I can’t think of very many people it leaves out! And this is a statement of Jesus as he offers a summa cum laude of highest praise to one of his associates in the dissemination of truth and light. He says, "Among those who are born of women, there has not arisen a greater prophet than John the Baptizer" (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28). What was it that was so great about John - this son of ...

856. Greed - Putting Things In Their Proper Perspective

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

Mr. Jones had a job that gave him a comfortable income. He enjoyed fishing and motorhome camping. Every year or so he would buy a new combination fish and ski boat, not some little dinghy, but a really nice, fancy boat. Every couple of years Mr. Jones would buy a new motorhome camper. It was obvious that several other men in the neighborhood envied Mr. Jones and tried to keep up with his new toys. They too would buy and sell boats and campers. It was obvious that keeping up with Mr. Jones was a priority in ...

857. Peacemaker

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

James Merritt

Every Christmas I ask myself a question that I bet you ask too. “What will I get this year that I can’t use, don’t need, or would love to pass on next year to someone else?” Most of us if we’re honest have “regifted something to someone else that we didn’t want. I confessed last week I have and most of you have too. We are in a series we are calling “regifted.” One of the things we are learning as we look at the Christmas story is that some things are worth regifting—the gift is just too good to keep to ...

858. Hazardous to Your Wealth: Myths about Money

Malachi 3:7-12

Sermon

James Merritt

Americans are used to warnings. You can hardly turn anywhere that you don't read a warning label on something. There are warning labels that will alert you to inhaling fumes at the gas station, opening hot radiators, drinking diet soft drinks, smoking cigarettes, wearing seatbelts, and even letting small children play with plastic bags that cover the clothes from the dry cleaners. These warnings are all designed to make us aware of potential dangers that could bring us great harm. But when is the last time ...

859. False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 Peter 2:1-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

Watch Out for False Teachers Peter began this letter by speaking of the divine provision for a godly life (1:1–11). He went on to stress the divine inspiration of Scripture truths (1:12–21). Now he warns against those who are threatening the church’s spiritual well being by the way they falsely treat these matters (2:1–22). 2:1 In some respects times do not change. All prophecy, whoever gives it and in whatever circumstances, needs to be interpreted. Furthermore, just as in the period of the OT there were ...

860. Whatever became of Kingdomtide?

John 16:17-33

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

I wonder whatever became of Kingdomtide. Kingdomtide used to be listed on the liturgical calendar of the old Methodist, and now United Methodist, Church as the period between Pentecost and Advent. It began on the last Sunday of August which has traditionally been designated as the “Festival of Christ the King.” During Kingdomtide clergy got to wear green stoles symbolizing the growth of the Kingdom of God in the world. After all, our Lord did teach us to pray: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth ...

861. Encouragement to Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

Salutation After the long elaboration in the salutation to Titus (see disc. on Titus 1:1–4), Paul reverts to a more standard, brief form in this final letter to Timothy. Indeed, except for some slight modifications, these two verses are nearly identical to 1 Timothy 1:1–2. However, as in all his letters, these “slight” modifications reflect nuances of his changed circumstances and of his concerns in this letter. 1:1 It may seem somewhat surprising to us that Paul in such a personal letter should style ...

862. The Prize of the High Calling of God

Hebrews 11:1-40, Philippians 2:12-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I am intrigued by bumper stickers. Someone was smart. Since modern Americans spend so much of their time in cars, why not turn the bumper into a kind of chrome or, alas with modern cars, plastic bulletin boards. Thousands would get the messages as they come near the car in front of them. It was a brilliant idea. Religious folks have not missed this communication opportunity. So you have the traditional bumper sticker message: “Honk if you love Jesus”. And the more avant-garde, “In case of the rapture, this ...

863. The Prize of the High Calling of God

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

864. Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

Prejudice and the Poor In chapter 2 James expands upon the theme of worldliness and the care of widows. Worldliness shows up not only as personal ambition but also in a church’s paying regard to someone’s worldly power and position rather than dealing only on the basis of that person’s spiritual position in Christ. This issue, in turn, leads to the statement of the need for generosity and to a warning against a complacent orthodoxy that stops short of gospel obedience (2:14–26). 2:1 My brothers recognizes ...

865. Faith and Deeds

James 2:14-26, James 2:1-13

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

866. Confronting a Christless Culture

2 Timothy 3:1-17

Sermon

James Merritt

I heard of a pastor who resigned his church to go to another pastorate. After announcing his resignation, he was approached by one of the sweet older members of his congregation. She was weeping over the pastor's decision to leave. She said, "Things will never be the same after you're gone." Well, the preacher tried to console her by saying, "Don't worry, I'm confident God will send you a new pastor who is far better than me." When he said that, she let out a large wail and said, "That's what the last ...

867. Entertaining Angels Unaware

John 1:1-18

Illustration

Mark Trotter

The Letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament reminds us of that incident, and counsels Christians to make hospitality a Christian virtue. "For you may be entertaining angels unaware." But more than that, you may be doing it to Christ, who said, "If you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me." Tom Long teaches at the seminary at Princeton. But for a while he lived in Atlanta, and attended a Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta. Like most downtown churches, it has to cope with the ...

868. Who Will Vouch for Me?

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

William Barkley points out in his commentary on this passage that there was a common practice in the ancient world of sending letters of commendations with a person when he traveled into strange and foreign communities. To insure his reputation or even safety, these letters written by a trusted friend would testify to his character. It was sometimes difficult, however, to determine whether a recommendation was sincere or merely flattery or, worse, forgery. The same is true today, isn't it? If we don't know ...

I have said what I meant and meant what I said. I have not done as well as I should like to have done, but I have done my best, frankly and forth-rightly; no man can do more, and you are entitled to no less.

Adlai Stevenson

We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

Anonymous

871. The Cost of Discipleship

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Long ago on a high mountain top three trees were speaking about their future dreams. The first tree said, “I would really like to made into a cradle so that a newborn baby might rest comfortably and I could support that new life.” The second tree looked down at a small stream that was flowing into a big river and said, “I want to be made into a great ship so I can carry useful cargo to all corners of the world.” The third tree viewed the valley from its mountain top and said, “I don’t want to be made into ...

872. If I Only Had One Wish

2 Chronicles 1:1-12

Sermon

James Merritt

We have all thrilled to the story of "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" in The Arabian Knights. As you remember, Aladdin finds a magic lamp that, when rubbed, produces a genie who has the power to grant his every wish. We have all imagined finding such a lamp and making certain wishes. So let me ask you a fun question: If you found such a lamp, and you could have one wish, what would you wish for? A humorous story I read illustrates that this requires a great deal of thought. There were three men marooned on a ...

873. No Excuse

Luke 14:15-24

Sermon

James Merritt

Imagine this: U2 has just made an announcement they are splitting up. They have been at it a long time, made all the money they could ever spend, and they are tired of traveling. To celebrate their long careers one of the most successful bands in the history of music are going to do one last farewell concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. For one night only, last chance to hear them doing all their best songs, they are advertising it as the greatest show they will ever put on. It is destined to ...

874. Recollections of Enoch, A Jewish Captive In Babylon

Isaiah 12:1-6

Drama

Robert A. Morgan

I thought I was an old man when we were brought to Babylon, and I am ten years older now. I never expected to live this long under what I assumed would be the acute hardships of being captives, held against our wills in this strange land so far from home. But actually, daily life since we reached here has not been all that difficult. The journey from Jerusalem was very difficult. The Babylonian soldiers who had herded us together saw to that. There were not enough horses or donkeys to carry us all, and ...

875. Leave No Child Behind

Mark 10:13-16

Sermon

Mark Trotter

The familiar words of Jesus, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God," are the inspiration for a number of hymns, such as the one we have just sung. You also see that same scene in Sunday School art showing Jesus, meek and mild, a pastoral scene, sitting on hillside, with the flowers in bloom, birds singing, and little children gathered around him, leaning on his shoulders and knees, captivated with the stories he tells them. So predominant and ubiquitous is ...

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