Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 76 to 100 of 1967 results

76. Love without Limits

Acts 11:1-18

Sermon

Charley Reeb

The eloquent preacher Tom Long tells the story of a small church-related college that held an annual event called Christian Emphasis Week. It was the task of the Christian club on campus to invite a speaker who would come and lead a college revival. This particular year they invited a preacher who had come highly recommended. They were told of his dynamism and his unique way of communicating the gospel. The first night of the revival the chapel was filled with the faithful. There were no “animal house” ...

77. Wash and Rinse

Humor

A church choir was raising money to attend a music competition and decided to have a car wash. To their dismay, after a busy morning, the rain began pouring down in mid-afternoon, and the customers stopped coming. Finally, one of the women printed this poster: "WE WASH," (and with an arrow pointed skyward) "HE RINSES!" Business was soon booming once again.

78. Who Will Wash Your Sins?

Illustration

Alila stood on the beach holding her tiny infant son close to her heart. Tears welled in her eyes as she began slowly walking toward the river's edge. She stepped into the water, silently making her way out until she was waist deep, the water gently lapping at the sleeping baby's feet. She stood there for a long time holding the child tightly as she stared out across the river. Then all of a sudden in one quick movement she threw the six month old baby to his watery death. Native missionary M.V. Varghese ...

79. Washed in the Same Blood

Illustration

H.A. Ironside

On the Lord's day a group of missionaries and believers in New Guinea were gathered together to observe the Lord's Supper. After one young man sat down, a missionary recognized that a sudden tremor had passed through the young man's body that indicated he was under a great nervous strain. Then in a moment all was quiet again. The missionary whispered, "What was it that troubled you?" "Ah," he said, "But the man who just came in killed and ate the body of my father. And now he has come in to remember the ...

80. Love One Another

1 John 3:11-24

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

Loving One Another Verses 11–18 are unified by the theme of loving one another. Love among the members of the community was first raised in 1 John 2:10 (as love for one’s “brother” or sister) and was the link into this section of the letter in 3:10b. The background to this emphasis on love is the schism which has divided the community (1 John 2:19) and has set former community members against one another. The schismatics have shown a flagrant, Cain-like disregard for their fellow believers. The Elder is ...

81. Can Two Stay One?

John 13:31-38

Sermon

James Merritt

Many of you either have heard of or remember the famous daredevil Evil Knievel. He was famous for jumping motorcycles over cars, trucks, tractor trailers, and even tried to jump a rocket propelled motorbike over the Grand Canyon. Before all of his jumps he would look into the camera and give this disclaimer: “Kids, don’t try this at home.” The following story I am going to tell you is true, but if you are single and contemplate getting married one day, don’t try this at home. On my very first date with ...

82. One Commandment is Enough!

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Rules, commandments, and laws are nothing new. For instance, everyone knows Murphy's Law: "If there is a possibility that something will go wrong, it will." Or how about the Law of Gardening: "You get the most of what you need the least." Jones' Rule of the Road is: "The easiest way to fold a map is differently." I like Erma Bombeck's Rule of Medicine: "Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died." One of my favorites is Agnes Allen's Law: "Almost anything is easier to get into than out of." But no ...

83. The One Who Made His Cross

Drama

Production Notes "The One Who Made His Cross" may be presented at a worship service of the congregation, or it may be produced in an area of the church building where more elaborate staging is a possibility. In the second case, it may well be that the drama would be offered as a program rather than a worship segment. Characters may costume themselves in first-century attire. While costumes are not required, they will add to the effectiveness of the presentation. Appendix 1 provides a suggested stage ...

84. Among You Stands One

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Dr. Tom Long in his book, Shepherds and Bathrobes, tells a story that appeared years ago in the New York Times. It was just before Christmas. David Storch, a music teacher, borrowed a copy of the score of Handel’s Messiah from the Brooklyn Public Library. For some reason, through a clerical error, the transaction was not recorded. Afterward, there were several other requests for the score, and the library staff--unaware that it had been checked out--spent many hours searching in vain for it through the ...

85. One of the Family

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I read about a preacher whose daughter keeps a daily notebook. On one page she had drawn a picture of her father and written carefully his name and address. When asked why, she explained. She had been watching a movie about amnesia. And then she said, "If I ever forget who I am, I want everybody to know who I belong to." Belonging is very important. And knowing who we belong is even more important. This morning the author of the letter to the Hebrews talks about Belonging and our relationship with God. Let ...

86. Love One Another

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

James W. Moore

A man was driving home from work one day when he saw a group of young children selling lemonade on a corner near his home. The kids had posted the typical Magic Marker sign over their lemonade stand: “Lemonade – 10 cents” The man was impressed with the enterprising young children, so he pulled over to the curb to buy a cup of lemonade… and to give his support to the children’s financial effort. A young boy approached his car and the man placed his order for one cup of lemonade… and he gave the boy a ...

87. If You Really Want to Be Number One

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

King Duncan

The politician was sitting at his campaign headquarters when the phone rang. He listened intently, and after a moment his face brightened. When he hung up, he immediately phoned his mother to tell her the good news. “Mom,” he shouted, “the results are in. I won the election!” “Honestly?” she asked. The politician’s smiled faded. “Aw, Mom, why bring that up at a time like this?” We all like to win, don’t we? We all want to be part of the crowd chanting, “We’re number one! We’re number one.” “Winning isn’t ...

88. Is There More Than One Way to Heaven?

John 4:19-26

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Around the world of religion today, there are about 2 billion Christians, 1 billion Muslims, 750 million Hindus, 334 million Buddhists, 18 million Jews, and a growing number of people who declare no religious allegiance at all. Once upon a time, religious tolerance consisted of Baptists having a worship service with Methodists or a Protestant marrying a Roman Catholic. Now a Hindu may be your next door neighbor or a Baha'i may be dating your daughter. All of us down in our hearts are trying to decide ...

89. That We May All Be One!

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

In the nineteenth century, most American denominations felt pretty smug that theirs was the real faith. Some might have grudgingly admitted that not everyone would be cast into outer darkness for the sin of worshiping in the wrong building. But overall it was a time when theological differences as well as points of practice separated people. Having said that, some denominations had a lot in common, whether they wanted to admit it or not. Take the Mennonites and the Dunkers, otherwise known as the German ...

90. One Nation, Under Mercy

Sermon

Days of gratitude have been a long tradition on this continent. A group of settlers who arrived in Maine in 1607 held a service of thanksgiving for a safe journey to these shores. William Bradford of the Plymouth Colony proclaimed a special day of gratitude to the Almighty God when the settlers gathered in a bounteous harvest. The Battle of Saratoga was commemorated, at the orders of the Continental Congress, with a day of thanksgiving, the first time all the colonies observed the day together. Washington ...

91. Shepherding One Another in a Collapsing World

Romans 9:1-29

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

In the Scripture for this Sunday, Paul reveals an almost violent concern for his people. He is thinking about the Jews who have rejected Christ and the ultimate step in their history of being the people of God. Note Paul’s concern: "I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." Paul was not mad at his people. He was heartbroken. He must have felt like Jesus felt when he cried out over ...

92. Two Are Better Than One

Ecclesiastes 4:1-12

Sermon

Sandra Herrmann

Well, here we are -- despite whatever trepidation you may have felt over the last few weeks or days, the time has finally arrived for you two to stand up before your family and friends and to announce your vows for everyone to hear. This is no small thing. In a world of change and uncertainty, when people move and change every aspect of their lives not once but three or four times in their lives, where the bonds of matrimony are easily severed when things go wrong, and every other marriage ends in divorce ...

93. Life's Four Big 'Ds' and One Bigger 'D'

Galatians 2:11-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Here are the catalogues that came to our house this past week. (Save in a box or basket all the catalogues that arrive at your home for one week, and empty them out in front of the congregation.) Order anything from any catalog and you immediately get on the mailing list for hundreds of others. Depending upon your attitude, these catalogs can either be a delightful escapist fantasy, or a miserable consumeristic experience in "wannabe-ness." Here are some exclusive, high-end catalogs. These are especially ...

94. Eight Glasses of Water

John 4:13

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Objects: Eight glasses of water. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to drink water? (Let them answer.) Not many of you are water drinkers. What do you like to drink best? (Let them answer.) That's what I thought. You like milk, Pepsi, and hot chocolate, but not many of you care for water. But water is really good for you. As a matter of fact, the doctor tells me if I drink eight glasses of water a day it would be the very best thing that I could do for my health. Water is very important to ...

95. Who'll Do the Dishes?

Matthew 21:28-32

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Some dirty dishes. Good morning, boys and girls. Did all of you know that Jesus was a super storyteller? (Let them answer.) Of course you did, and I have one of those stories to tell this morning, only I am going to change the objects so that you will understand it better. How many of you have ever done the dishes at home? (Let them answer.) This is the story about a brother and sister who lived at home with their mother and father. The mother had worked very hard one day and was so tired when she ...

96. At Least the Bucket Is Moist

Mark 7:1-23

Illustration

Cliff Richard

Sixties British rock star Cliff Richard, once called the "bad boy of pop" and "too sexy for television," became a devout believer and disciple of Jesus. Back in the '70s, he visited missionary outposts in the Sudan and refugee camps in Bangladesh as part of a mission trip for Tear Fund. In his book about his conversion to Christianity called Which One's Cliff?, he tells how "the first morning, I must have washed my hands a dozen times. Whenever we stopped, I made a beeline for the communal tap or the well ...

97. Eighty Years and One Night

Illustration

Thomas Lindberg

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man's feet and gave him food and drink. The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him, "Don't you worship God?" The old traveler replied, "I worship fire only and reverence no other god." When he heard this ...

98. Many Parts - One Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Children's Sermon

Mark A. Hultquist

Object: A shoe with laces, a toothbrush, and a jacket with a zipper. The other day I was thinking about how quickly all of you are growing up! Why, not too long ago you needed your parents to do just about everything for you. When you were only a baby they had to feed you and help you with your clothes every time you got dressed. When you first started to get teeth, they had to brush them for you to make sure they would be clean. They did almost everything for you! But have you noticed how much more you ...

99. The Way of the Lord

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

April Yamasaki

For Lent, one year, our worship committee planned to focus on a different name or title given to Jesus in scripture. When we read the story of Nicodemus, I was immediately drawn to Jesus as Savior, sent by God not to judge the world, but to save it. For Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, my sermon highlighted Jesus as king. When it came to the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, I first thought of Jesus as servant. That’s definitely part of our reading for today, which tells the ...

100. Immersed

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Washed in the blood of Jesus. That’s what our early hymns proclaim. We are washed in the blood of the Lamb, the blood of sacrifice, the blood of salvation, the cleansing blood of the messiah Jesus. For most of us today that sounds like a rather strange concept. But then, when you think about it, so is partaking of the “body and blood” of Jesus as we celebrate what we know as Holy Communion. In fact, this was a strange concept in the early church as well! Early Christians were in fact often called out for ...

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