Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1026 to 1050 of 4508 results

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Robert Valentine once compared Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft as presidents. He said, “The difference was that when you left Teddy Roosevelt’s presence you were ready to eat bricks for lunch, and when you left Taft you felt what’s the use.” (Felix Frankfurter, Felix Frankfurter Reminisces [1960], 85.) We’re hoping that when you leave church this morning, you’re ready to eat bricks for lu...

1027. Your Honor: Jesus' Honor Code of Turning the Other Cheek

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Honor Bound. Those words “honor bound” have deep resonance. *Cub Scouts declare, “On my honor as a Scout...” *Soldiers pledge themselves to “Duty. Honor. Country.” *The fifth commandment (depending on how you count) says “Honor thy father and thy mother.” *Husbands and wives promise to “Love. Honor. Cherish.” A point of honor is a good thing. Honor points us beyond ourselves and our little orbi...

1028. Beyond the Ordinary

Sermon

Joe Pennel

At 7:00 a.m. every Monday, I teach Bible study. About twenty of us meet from 7:00-7:15 a.m. for coffee, juice, and a light breakfast. Each week, a different member of the group brings the food for the rest of the crowd. The fare consists of biscuits, muffins, bagels, and various breads complete with the appropriate condiments. For fifteen minutes, we sip hot coffee and nibble on high-calorie homem...

1029. Going the Second Mile

Sermon

James Merritt

Mark Twain once said this about the Bible: "I have no problem with those parts of the Bible I don't understand. It's those parts of the Bible I do understand that gives me fits." The passage that we are going to study certainly fits into that category. This passage illustrates something I bet most of you have never thought about before. One of the easiest things in the world to do is to become a ...

1030. The Offense of Grace

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

Victor Hugo begins Les Miserables with the story of Jean Valjean. He is an ex-convict who has just been released from nineteen years in prison for stealing bread to feed his sister's children. As he reenters society, no one will house him or give him work because of his criminal record - that is until he stumbles into the bishop's house. Much to Valjean's bewilderment, the bishop treats him with k...

1031. God’s Weather Report

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

In the 1985 movie, Witness, Harrison Ford plays a tough Philadelphia detective who uncovers corruption within his department. To protect himself and a young boy who has witnessed a murder, Ford's character, John Book, hides out among the Pennsylvania Amish, the community from which the little boy comes. In one scene of the movie, Book and several of the Amish go into town for a day of shopping. Wh...

1032. The Plank

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."” (John 8:7) “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18) Props: Colored Vases / Plants (one withered and one healthy) / volunteers I need a volunteer...

1033. Epiphany 7, Ordinary Time 7

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

Order For Confession And Forgiveness Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen, Leader: God speaks to us, “I am the Lord, your God, you shall have no other gods before me.” All: Lord, have mercy. Silence for self-examination and confession Leader: Most holy God, All: you call us to a life of holiness. We confess to you our theft of your good gifts of ...

1034. Love Your Enemy

Illustration

Dr. Martin Luther King

In a sermon written in a Georgia jail and preached just after the bus protest in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., after noting that hate is just as injurious to the hater as the hated, said this about loving your enemies: "Of course this is not practical; life is a matter of getting even, of hitting back, of dog eat dog…My friends, we have followed the so-called practical way for ...

1035. Forgiveness Is a New Life

Illustration

Charles L. Aaron

Immaculee Ilibagiza was a 22-year-old university student in the 1990s when terrible violence broke out in her home country of Rwanda. Hutus killed her parents, her brothers, and hundreds of her Tutsi friends. A Hutu pastor, who risked his life to save her, hid her and six other women. They lived in a small bathroom, a wooden wardrobe covering the door. For three months, they endured hunger, fear, ...

1036. Forgiveness Should Be the First Response

Illustration

James Merritt

Let me give you a simple rule. Be quick to defend others, but be slow to defend yourself. Abraham Lincoln once said, "I never give an explanation of my actions to my critics." He said the reason is simple. "My friends don't need an explanation and my enemies wouldn't believe it." Now that is wise advice, but having said that I think it is worth noting that Jesus suggested two cheeks, not dozens o...

1037. Going the Second Mile

Illustration

James Merritt

Bill Walton learned that to play basketball for John Wooden you had to give up some rights. Coach Wooden had a rule against facial hair. If you played for him no facial hair was allowed. After a ten day break from school, Bill Walton came to practice wearing a beard. Coach Wooden walked up to him and said, "Bill, have you forgotten something?" Walton replied, "Coach, if you mean the beard, I think...

1038. What Christians Are Really Made Of

Illustration

C. S. Lewis

This text from Matthew makes me recall the words of C.S. Lewis, "Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is. If there are rats in a cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats; it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way, the suddenness of the provocation does not m...

1039. Going Beyond Duty: The Second Mile

Illustration

James Merritt

Shortly after the battles ended the American Revolution, but before the peace had been negotiated, George Washington was with his troops in Newburgh, New York. But they began to grow very restless because they hadn't been paid. Washington had begged the Continental Congress to do what they said they would do and pay the soldiers, but they refused. Well, some of the officers began to organize a re...

1040. A Christian Conception of Justice

Illustration

Woodrow Wilson

The nature of men and of organized society dictates the maintenance in every field of action of the highest and purest standards of justice and of right dealing.... By justice the lawyer generally means the prompt, fair, and open application of impartial rules; but we call ours a Christian civilization, and a Christian conception of justice must be much higher. It must include sympathy and helpful...

1041. Rain on the Unjust

Illustration

Mark Twain

Mark Twain once said, "The rain is famous for falling on the just and unjust alike, but if I had the management of such affairs, I would rain softly and sweetly on the just, but if I caught a sample of the unjust outdoors, I would drown him."

1042. Showing Courage

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

In the movie "Ghandi", the great Indian leader is walking one day with a Presbyterian missionary, Charlie Andrews. The two suddenly find their way blocked by young thugs. The Reverend Andrews takes one look at the menacing gangsters and decides to run for it. Gandhi stops him and asks, "Doesn't the New Testament say if an enemy strikes you on the right cheek you should offer him the left?"Andrews ...

1043. I’ll Fix Anthony

Illustration

Judith Viorst

In Judith Viorst's children's book, "I'll Fix Anthony," the younger brother complains about the way his older brother Anthony treats him: "My brother Anthony can read books now, but he won't read any books to me. He plays checkers with Bruce from his school. But when I want to play he says, "Go away or I'll clobber you." I let him wear my Snoopy sweatshirt, but he never lets me borrow his sword. M...

1044. Reconciliation: Refusing to Retaliate

Illustration

Steven Molin

It's a story that is repeated on every elementary school playground, nearly every day in our country. Two fourth-graders get into it during recess; something about "he did this, so I did that" and it kind of goes south from there. When they get back to class, Billy trips Joey. After lunch, Joey breaks Billy's pencil on purpose. When nobody is looking, Billy writes on Joey's desk, and later, Joey s...

1045. Love Your Enemies

Illustration

Phil Thrailkill

Former Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Fame third baseman Wade Boggs hated Yankee Stadium. Not because of the Yankees; they never gave him that much trouble but because of a fan. That's right: one fan. The guy had a box seat close to the field, and when the Red Sox were in town he would torment Boggs by shouting obscenities and insults. It's hard to imagine one fan getting under a player's skin, but this ...

1046. What We Grab Also Grabs Us

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

Once there was an eagle which hovered over a lake and suddenly swooped down and caught a two-foot long fish in its talons. Slowly, the bird rose with its ten pound catch, but when it reached about 1,000 feet, it began to descend, until it splashed into the water. Later, both the bird and fish were found dead. Apparently the fish was too heavy for the eagle, but it could not let go, for its talons ...

1047. But If He Strikes the Other Cheek…

Illustration

Richard Niell Donovan

A fine Christian man, was struggling with this text. He didn't like the "turn the other cheek" idea very much. He finally resolved it! He said, "If someone strikes me on one cheek, I will turn the other. But if he strikes me on that cheek, watch out!"

1048. Who Are My Enemies?

Illustration

Phil Thrailkill

I have asked myself this week, "Who are my enemies, and who do I feel justified in putting outside my circle of concern?" I have found the words of Thomas Merton most helpful: “Do not be too quick,” he wrote, “to assume that your enemy is a savage just because he is your enemy. Perhaps he is your enemy because he thinks you are a savage. Or perhaps he is afraid of you because he feels you are afr...

1049. Epiphany 7

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 A preeminent characteristic of God, according to the Pentateuch, is holiness. The Lord is in a class by himself; God is righteous, just, loving, and forgiving. God's people are likewise holy the Lord's. Their behavior must reflect this reality. They must love their neighbor as themselves because all belong to the Lord. Unfortunately, this love was ...

1050. Being At Peace With One Another

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Purpose: To encourage children to do their part in building friendships or being at peace with someone else. Material: Two jars and two small candles. Place one candle in a jar. Fasten the other candle to a piece of wood -- in the center -- so that it can float and stand upright, in the jar. (Experiment at home.) You will also need a way to add water to both jars. A baster will work. Matches to l...

Showing 1026 to 1050 of 4508 results

1026. Fear of Missing Out

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1027. Your Honor: Jesus' Honor Code of Turning the Other Cheek

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1028. Beyond the Ordinary

Sermon

Joe Pennel

1029. Going the Second Mile

Sermon

James Merritt

1030. The Offense of Grace

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

1031. God’s Weather Report

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

1032. The Plank

Sermon

Lori Wagner

1033. Epiphany 7, Ordinary Time 7

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

1034. Love Your Enemy

Illustration

Dr. Martin Luther King

1035. Forgiveness Is a New Life

Illustration

Charles L. Aaron

1036. Forgiveness Should Be the First Response

Illustration

James Merritt

1037. Going the Second Mile

Illustration

James Merritt

1038. What Christians Are Really Made Of

Illustration

C. S. Lewis

1039. Going Beyond Duty: The Second Mile

Illustration

James Merritt

1040. A Christian Conception of Justice

Illustration

Woodrow Wilson

1041. Rain on the Unjust

Illustration

Mark Twain

1042. Showing Courage

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

1043. I’ll Fix Anthony

Illustration

Judith Viorst

1044. Reconciliation: Refusing to Retaliate

Illustration

Steven Molin

1045. Love Your Enemies

Illustration

Phil Thrailkill

1046. What We Grab Also Grabs Us

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

1047. But If He Strikes the Other Cheek…

Illustration

Richard Niell Donovan

1048. Who Are My Enemies?

Illustration

Phil Thrailkill

1049. Epiphany 7

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

1050. Being At Peace With One Another

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Showing 1026 to 1050 of 4508 results