Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 76 to 100 of 164 results

76. Peter Listens to His Heart

Mark 8:27-38

Illustration

David A. Van Dyke

... , historian Michael Grant devotes an entire chapter to Peter's weaknesses. Throughout the gospel narratives Peter shows an incredible lack of comprehension as to who Jesus was and what he was all about. And while none of the disciples come across as exemplary faith models, Grant argues that Peter is portrayed in a particularly unfavorable light. Peter is censured by Paul as having misunderstood who Jesus was and what he was trying to accomplish. In moments of confusion and fear, Peter speaks without really ...

77. History Hangs in the Balance

Luke 23:1-49

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... the average and we are self-satisfied. If everyone just did as much as we do, what a wonderful world it would be and how strong the churches would become! We may be tempted to think enough of that and walk on with heads held high, proclaiming our exemplary conduct. Sometimes we hear serious-minded people saying they don't like God. Well, how can you like an eternal being who tells you to forgive those who harm, humiliate, and hate you in ways totally nonsensical? So, now we come into the area of the nature ...

78. Those Who Doubt

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... us we would believe and go on to a lifetime of service for Christ. There are many accounts of such experiences coming out of the Second World War. Death was imminent and God was told that if he would just spare us, we would go home and live exemplary Christian lives. Some of those promises bore rich fruits for others. Perhaps that is not quite the same as a doubting Thomas but don't miss the similarity. In a way, there is a childlike simplicity about Thomas. If you show me the goods, count on my acceptance ...

79. Carrying the Burdens of Others

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... to not only engage in these traditional practices, but actually to become them. To manifest these virtues in our lives is quite a challenge. We must be willing to give of ourselves, to live lives that are a prayer, that are holy and spiritually exemplary. We must be willing to downplay our own efforts to the exaltation of others. Next we went to the mountain with Jesus, Peter, James, and John. As we witnessed Jesus' transfiguration we were challenged to look inside and find what needs transformation in our ...

80. Lost? Looking For Happiness

1 Peter 2:9-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... standards, a different way of treating one another, a different way of looking at the world. As the Message puts it: "Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives." If we're Looking For Happiness, then as Christians, we have to be conscious of ...

81. Have a Jolly Imperfect Christmas This Year!

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. King David. King Solomon. But Matthew also sees fit to include some unlikely, imperfect, maybe even “unsavory” persons into his list of family members. Although several of the Davidic kings Matthew lists had less than exemplary reigns, the gospel writer specifically includes four women swimming in this Davidic gene pool that a different historian might have found it better to forget. 1) Tamar, whose scandalous commitment to passing on her deceased husband’s line is ...

82. Needing a Change of Heart

Matthew 21:28-32

Illustration

Brian P. Stoffregen

... towards each other and couple B in their attitudes about the importance of the words in a public ceremony. Another analogy might be with those who attend church and say all the right words, but whose lives fall somewhat short of John's "way of righteousness" and others who live exemplary lives; but who want nothing to do with "organized religion" and the public expression of their faith. Both need "a change of heart".

83. Your God Shall Be My God

Ruth 1:1-18

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

Like the short story that gave structure to the book of Job, so the book of Ruth is considered to be a finely honed literary piece, often called a novella. It is meant to exhibit exemplary behavior. Just as Job proved faithful through good fortune and ill, so the characters in the book of Ruth are equally laudatory. The story starts with an Israelite family in the time of the judges. (This historical setting becomes the reason that Ruth was put right after the book of ...

84. No Exceptions

Illustration

Paul Borthwick

... 't park here, but after all, I am the pastor. That translates: 'I'm an exception to the rules.' But that employee wouldn't allow me to sneak down the road labeled 'I'm an exception.' I'm not the exception to church rules or any of God's rules. Exemplary conduct means encouraging others to imitate us, even in the small matters."

85. Black Sheep

Illustration

Staff

... an alcoholic and committed suicide at the age of 31. Their next son was expelled from college, failed in business and died of an alcohol-related illness. Only their youngest son, Charles Francis (1807-86), reacted against the family pattern by his exemplary sobriety, his prudence in business and fervent dedication to his wife and children. He spent years writing the biography and editing the words of his grandfather John Adams. But he concluded, "The history of my family is not a pleasant one to remember ...

86. Under Arrest

Illustration

... father? Haven't I worked hard to make a living?" His wife answered, "Of course you have, but why are you asking me these questions?" Her husband then proceeded to explain what had happened and that he was now under arrest. He apparently had hoped that his record as an exemplary husband and father would impress the officer. Even so, he was still an escaped criminal. Though he was "right" with his family, he was all wrong with the state of New York.

87. The Pressures of the Job

Humor Illustration

None of us, though, are beyond God's amusing grace: A cartoon pictures a young man telling the preacher, "Being a minister must be really hard. I mean, living for others, leading an exemplary life. That's a lot of responsibility. The pressures must be tremendous! Having to set a good example...people watching, waiting for one false move, one sign of human frailty they can jump on! Oh, I don't know how you handle it!" Finally, the preacher says, "I stay home a lot."

88. What Does It Taste Like?

Humor Illustration

... . CRUNCH, MUNCH . . . and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek . . . CRUNCH, MUNCH . . ." He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate was it bitter or sweet?" The theologian paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple." The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at the theologian and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my ...

89. A Resume of Righteousness

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... know: "How am I to know that I shall possess it?" He's looking for a little proof, a guarantee, a sign. That concludes the words of Abraham in this watershed moment. Two questions and a complaint. That's it. We think of far more heroic and exemplary words by other characters at other times. We think of Joseph's integrity when he was seduced by Potiphar's wife. We think of Joshua and Caleb among the whining spies. We think of David before Goliath or Shadrach and company before the fiery furnace. We think ...

90. Joshua's New Diet

Joshua 5:9-12

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... to a generation of wandering in the wilderness: ample time for the faithless generation to die off and their children to grow up. Then, God guaranteed, he would bring that next generation into the land of his promise. Though he himself was innocent and exemplary, Joshua spent most of the rest of his life in the wilderness. Joshua spent most of the rest of his life gathering manna every morning and eating manna every evening. His hair turned gray in the desert. His face wrinkled and his children grew up ...

91. Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... also had dubious personal missteps. *Samson and David took infamous moral nosedives… *Barak and Gideon both balked at entering the battlefield… *Jephthah followed through on the heinous of all ill-conceived vows (Judges 11:30-31). *Samuel’s career was fairly exemplary, but it is doubtful that any descendent of Saul’s would have anything good to say about the man. Yet it is their moments of faithfulness, not their moments of failure, that the Hebrews author remembers and uplifts. Hebrew history moves ...

92. Lean on the Cloud

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... also had dubious personal missteps. Samson and David took infamous moral nosedives… Barak and Gideon both balked at entering the battlefield… Jephthah followed through on the heinous of all ill-conceived vows (Judges 11:30-31). Samuel’s career was fairly exemplary, but it is doubtful that any descendent of Saul’s would have anything good to say about the man. Yet it is their moments of faithfulness, not their moments of failure, that the Hebrews author remembers and uplifts. Hebrew history moves ...

93. Dust Off The Throne

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:26-38, Romans 16:25-27

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... s door to find out what the Lord has to say. Still more rare is David’s move here: the king initiates the conversation, not because of what he wants from the Lord, but because of what he wants to do for the Lord. David’s sensitivity is exemplary. He saw for himself precisely the kind of thing that we usually need someone else to point out to us. Indeed, David saw for himself essentially the same thing that the prophet Haggai was required to point out to the Jews of post-exilic Jerusalem 500 years later ...

94. God's Pattern for Sainthood

Psalm 24:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... said not to worry. He had a funeral meditation that he had written to commemorate the life one of his church’s leading saints, a meditation that had received many accolades. Evidently the person the father had eulogized was a person who had lived an exemplary life. Apparently this was not so for the person who had died in the son’s parish. Indeed, he was something of a scoundrel. So as the son rattled on about what a great saint the deceased was, the family became increasingly uncomfortable. They knew ...

95. Brushing Your Teeth with Oreos

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

King Duncan

... for all time and for eternity. What a challenge,” she added, “what a joy.” (6) It is a challenge and a joy. Mary and Joseph were not helicopter parents, but evidently they were attentive to their son’s needs. And they set an exemplary example for him. They were devout people. They didn’t always understand their son just like parents today don’t always understand their children . . . or children, their parents. I’m sure that sometimes it was like brushing their teeth with Oreos--like the day ...

96. Saints Are Awake to Life's Deepest Joy

Luke 6:20-31

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... All Saints honors and remembers all who have died in Christ and sainthood is the designation of all deceased Christians. Among other Protestants, saints are understood, not only as Christians who have died, but also as the living Christians who lead exemplary lives of faith or who serve as extraordinary teachers of the faith. The Roman Catholic church has a narrower understanding and well-defined process concerning sainthood. The designation of saint is bestowed only on those who have met certain stringent ...

97. There Are No Lazy Ants

Illustration

Michael P. Green

According to John Silling, a Purdue University entomologist, the ant is an exemplary worker. “Basically the ant’s entire life, which can range up to seven years, is spent working,” says Silling. “They gather food, bring it back to the nest, and use it for day-to-day meals as well as to store for the winter.” In addition, the amazing insects can ...

98. Jehoshaphat King of Judah

2 Chronicles 17:1-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... of the Chronicler, using again the well-known term kun to reflect the writer’s understanding of Yahweh’s kingdom as well established and well ordered. The failed maritime project comes as a very last confirmation that Jehoshaphat is not altogether an exemplary king. Another prophetic voice, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, interprets this event: because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made (20:37). To rely on alliances means not to rely on Yahweh. The ...

99. Jehoram King of Judah

2 Chronicles 21:4-20

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... , were (mainly) positive role models of the Davidic kingship in both Chronicles and Kings. (For darker episodes, see the turn of events in Asa’s and Jehoshaphat’s reigns in 16:1–14 and 20:35–37, respectively.) However, the Chronicler even enhanced their exemplary profiles with some of his own material. The same does not apply to Jehoram’s history. His portrayal is very negative, with the ominous note already sounding early in the narrative: “he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel” (21:6 ...

100. Paul's Hardships

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... “holy and blameless and beyond reproach” before God if they continue in the faith (cf. Col. 1:22–23). 6:4–10 Far from discrediting his ministry through his allegedly scandalous behavior in word and deed, Paul presents his behavior in verses 4–10 as genuine and exemplary in every way. He is one of the servants of God (theou diakonos), a term that he applies elsewhere to the Roman emperor (Rom. 13:4; cf. Wis. 6:4). More to the point, Paul describes himself in 2 Corinthians 11:23 as a “servant of ...

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