Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1126 to 1150 of 5000 results

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... enough to care for them. They have no stable support unless their parents or other adults provide the support. How should the church address both the problem of early, extra-marital sexual activity and the consequences in infants without the family support needed for them? Illustrative Materials 1. The End Times. How do you act in anticipation of the end of the world and history as we know it? In the light of the long delay in that end coming, one should prepare as though history will continue for another ...

1127. The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... the beautiful voice of the soloist, the charismatic teacher. Some members may resent those who are elected or appointed to positions of prominence. How does the church recognize and approve the services of the one talent person who makes good use of what he or she has? Illustrative Materials 1. Use It or Lose It. A long distance jogger has to start slowly and build up to the capacity to run several miles. The experts advise that one needs to run three to five days a week, with days in between to recover. If ...

1128. Christ the King

Psalm 100:1-5, Ezekiel 34:1-31, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... the needs of its citizens. Is it a proper function of the church to pioneer with such models and let the state assume responsibility for doing work in this way on a larger scale? Examples would include schools, orphanages, mental institutions and hospitals. Illustrative Material 1. Overwhelmed by Need · In the '60s Norman Cousins visited India. He was overwhelmed by the massive need he observed on this subcontinent. He puzzled over the question of whether he could in any way do something to meet the needs ...

1129. The Scope Of The Spirit

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... the wind. In the Hebrew the same term is used for both the Spirit and the wind. The word ruach meant breath. It meant the breath of life as well as the desert wind that at times blew violently across the desert. This is illustrated by the incident that happened in 587 B.C. The Babylonians leveled the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. They carried the Israelites off into exile and this was the beginning of what is called the Babylonian captivity. Walter Brueggemann in Hopeful Imagination, declares ...

1130. Behold The Man Who Turned Toward Jerusalem

Mark 10:32-34

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... him on the way to the cross -- the way that leads to life. Will you meet him there and become a follower of the way of the cross? 1. Harold Kushner, Who Needs God, Summit Books, New York, 1989, p. 28. 2. Charles L. Wallis, Editor, A Treasury Of Sermon Illustrations, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, New York-Nashville, 1950, p. 165. 3. Carl Michalson, Faith For Personal Crises, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1959, p. 151.

1131. The Sure Foundation

Matthew 7:15-23, Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Marc Kolden

... , about the wise person who builds his house on the rock, in contrast to the foolish one who builds on sand, it is very tempting to put the emphasis on our building the house instead of on the matter of what the foundation is. In Jesus' illustration, the two foundations (rock and sand) are there and the question is where do we put the house? The focus is not on building the house; presumably both houses were adequate. And the house that stands when the storms rage stands not because its walls are stronger ...

1132. The One Thing That Would Make The Biggest Difference

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

... of us say, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Others say, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Actually both are correct. These instructions about conflict resolution are immediately followed by a parable which illustrates the meaning of forgiveness through a story about the cancellation of real debt. Since that is the text for next Sunday, I will set that aside and concentrate on that other word, "trespasses." People trespass against us when they do not ...

1133. The Lord Has Need Of It

Mark 14:1--15:47

Sermon

Elaine M. Ward

... was mad. Later scholarship showed that he was not so crazy after all. At the end of his flabber dabber line, he wrote a note telling people to look up Anson's Voyage and Psalm 98. Anson's Voyage was a popular work of natural history and one of its illustrations showed flat fish jumping out of the water and seals with fins as hands. Christopher Smart was a foolish man. So was Mark Twain who admitted such, "Ah, well, I am a great and sublime fool ... but then I am God's fool, and all His works must be ...

1134. Outlook Determines Outcome

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

The book of Acts, commonly thought to be a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, is a book of many blessings. It's a book that illustrates for us how the church began after the ascension of Jesus. It's a book about the role and ministry of the Holy Spirit. It's a book about church growth. It's a book about witnessing. It's a historical book; it's a theological book; it's a ...

1135. Call Home

Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... God. But where and how do we find God? Isaiah tells us to call upon the Lord while he is near. But where do we find God, or does God find us? The Gospel of Luke 15:11 records the story of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This story illustrates how we can suffer spiritual loss if we allow ourselves to become separated from God. The farther we get from God and go our own way, and the more we allow sin to take control of our lives, the more we experience spiritual deterioration. The young man in that story ...

1136. Saved By The Blood Of The Lamb

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

Maundy Thursday, the Thursday of Holy Week, has been celebrated by Christians as a vivid reminder of the institution of the Lord's supper and the washing of feet in remembrance of Christ. While the Lord's supper dramatically illustrates the symbolic remembrance of the bread as the body and the wine as the blood of Christ, the washing of feet symbolizes Christ's humanity and his humility. These symbols of remembrance would mean little without understanding the meaning of the Passover in the lives of the ...

1137. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 8:27-30

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... image, or what thoughts, do you have when you hear the word "sin"? Do you automatically shift your thinking to sins? And if so, do those sins have more to do with the actions of others or you? (moment of silence.) Today, I invite us to think about sin as illustrated in Genesis 3, the fall of Adam and Eve, who represent you and me. Notice what they said, "It's not my fault; it was that woman." "It's not my fault; it's that Sneaky Snake that Tom T. Hall sings about." "It's not our fault, God. You ...

1138. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 9:42-50

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... feeling, Michel Quoist's meditation, "I Like Youngsters," from Prayers. (See Appendix II for address.) Emphasize the child within all of us, at least at the beginning of our lives, until the world demands that we subjugate ourselves to the adult authorities. Then, illustrate Jesus' words about offering a cup of water in his name. Offer the water to each child in Jesus' name. Response "Come as a Child" Reading of the Gospel Even though the Gospel is incorporated in the confession and children's message, for ...

1139. Advent 3

John 1:1-18, John 1:19-28, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 65:17-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Sermon Aid

E. Carver McGriff

... -range advantage which might be had by a bit of deceit or subterfuge, looking life square in the eye and always doing what we know to be right in spite of consequences. There are people like that around us, and thank God for that kind of person. ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS Bruce Larson told of a friend who was single and was feeling sorry for himself because all of his friends seemed to be happily married while he was alone. But one day he said he realized he needed to start looking at the bright side of life ...

1140. All Saints

Isaiah 25:1-12, Revelation 21:1-27, John 11:38-44, John 11:17-37

Sermon Aid

E. Carver McGriff

... . This happens in several ways but requires a positive decision on our part to accept Christ. 3. Prayer plays a major role in this process. 4. Such revival always does two things: it restores the gift of joy, and it summons us to service of others. ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS Gypsy Smith, a nineteenth century evangelist, told of the time he came home early, when a young man, so he could spend some time with his toddler son. As part of their play, he put the little fellow on the kitchen table, then asked him to ...

1141. What Law is Operating Here?

Illustration

John Killinger

Note: We do not advise using this illustration in a sermon. In fact, we strongly advise against it, but we thought it a great meditation for us clergy, considering subjects of Law and Grace. Here it it: In Mary Gordon's novel, Final Payments, a book addressing the repression of many young Catholics of the 50s and 60s, ...

1142. You Can Be Forever Young

Genesis 25:1-11

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

... York, a few years ago. Norman Vincent Peale was alive then. He was still preaching and teaching. On Sunday morning he mounted the pulpit and spoke powerfully and eloquently for 30 full minutes without a single note before him. His exegesis was on target. His illustrations were timely and helpful. His memory was superb. At the time, he was only 91. "And Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age." He (like many still) understood the difference between aging and merely becoming old. For those of us ...

1143. Epiphany 7

1 Corinthians 15:35-58, 1 Samuel 26:1-25, Genesis 45:1-28, Luke 6:27-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Joseph returns good for evil, loves his enemies, and does good to them by bringing his father and family to Egypt to save them from the famine. Old Testament: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 This episode from the David cycle of stories illustrates the opportunity and temptation to take revenge against those who "have it coming." Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 Paul describes the resurrection body. Last Sunday we learned that since Christ was raised, so the dead in Christ will be raised. If so, what ...

1144. Passion Sunday

Isaiah 50:1-11, Luke 22:14--23:56, Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... etc. When we do something senseless, we say we were not in our right minds. Paul felt that way about members of his Philippian church they were haughty and proud. This resulted in divisions. The solution was a change of mind to one of humility as illustrated by Jesus. "Have this mind among yourselves" what mind? Outline: Marks of being in your right mind a. A mind of humility "he humbled himself." v. 8. b. A mind of obedience "became obedient unto death." v. 8. c. A mind of consecration "every knee should ...

1145. Proper 14

Luke 12:35-48, Isaiah 1:1-31, Hebrews 11:1-40

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... But if they resist and rebel, they will be doomed. Epistle: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 True faith is exemplified by Abraham and Sarah. Hebrews 11 is known as the faith chapter of the Bible. At the beginning of the chapter, faith is defined and then illustrated by various characters among whom Abraham and Sarah were chief. Faith is portrayed as trust in God's promises for the future. In the case of the sacrifice of Isaac, faith is seen as obedience. Life is considered a pilgrimage and the faithful look with faith ...

1146. Proper 19

Luke 15:1-7, Luke 15:8-10, Jeremiah 4:5-31, 1 Timothy 1:12-20

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... work of a later author who was a member of the Pauline school. However, this pericope is Paul's theology. In spite of his persecuting the church, Paul was shown mercy in that Christ forgave him and called him to be an apostle. Paul's experience illustrates God's way with sinners. As a Jewish fanatic Paul persecuted the church. Yet, Christ turned his life around and he became God's ambassador and Christ's witness. Gospel: Luke 15:1-10 In response to criticism that he associates with sinners, Jesus tells the ...

1147. Proper 25

Luke 18:9-14, Joel 2:18-27, Joel 2:28-32, 2 Timothy 3:10--4:8, 2 Timothy 4:9-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... , too embarrassed to lift his eyes to heaven, had not a word to say for himself. All he could do was throw himself on the mercy of God. It is the latter who was justified by God not by works but by grace. The parable further illustrates pride and humility. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: Luke 18:9-14 1. Themselves (v. 9). The two men in the parable represent self-centeredness and God- centeredness. The problem is with those who focus on "themselves." They trust in themselves to be acceptable to God. They ...

1148. Proper 7

1 Ki 19:1-18 · Lk 8:26-39 · Gal 3:23-29

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 3,000 to 5,000 infantry. 3. Swine (v. 33). The demons did not want to go back to the place from which they came. They asked to go in the swine which were in the nearby fields. Possessed with demons, the pigs rushed to the lake and drowned. It illustrated the truth that a spirit must have a body whether it is an animal's or a man's. 4. Leave (v. 37). When the people learned that their pigs were lost, they asked Jesus to leave their region. They were not delighted or thankful that a deranged man was ...

1149. The More I Understand, The Less I Know

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Johnny Dean

... high achievers, do-it-yourselfers, pragmatics. What do we have to DO? Is there a technique that produces the best results? Is there a "Christianity for Dummies" book I can buy and read about it? Is there a web site I can visit that has illustrated directions? Is there a fresh wind of the spirit blowing anywhere today? I remember growing up in the South, in cotton country, in the summer, before air conditioning became something almost every home had. Several of those summers I spent working on my uncle’s ...

1150. Facing Up To Temptation

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Thomas Long

... USA Today. "Well, there she is," he said, pushing the paper under my nose, making sure I saw the color photo of the attractive young woman in a bikini. "Who is that?" I asked. "Who is that? That's Kathy Ireland ... you know ... the cover girl for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue." "You going to buy a copy?" He chuckled lecherously. "I dunno. I'm tempted." I'm tempted ... what does that mean? Most of us think that if there is one thing we know about in life, it's temptation. If there's one theological ...

Showing results