Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1126 to 1150 of 4884 results

Proverbs 18:21

Sermon

James Merritt

... to speak less, and listen more. There was a very wealthy grandfather who was getting up in age; he was going deaf, but he went to the doctor and was fitted with a unique hearing aid. It not only overcame the old man's deafness and allowed him to hear perfectly, but it was concealed so no one could see it. When he went back to the doctor for a checkup, the doctor said, "Your family must be extremely happy to know that you can now hear." The grandfather said, "Well, I haven't told them about my hearing aid. I ...

1127. The God of Grace and Glory

Psalm 84:11

Sermon

James Merritt

... and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12) God's grace not only saves you from sin, but it turns you against sin. I don't believe a person will always live perfectly even if he's saved; but I do believe a saved person will try to live perfectly. My friend, your salvation is not only determined by how much you love God, but also how much you hate sin. God's grace is sufficient grace. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, as you well know. He asked the Lord ...

1128. What Church Is All About

Psalm 100:1-5

Sermon

James Merritt

... : "For the Lord is good." The Lord is not only God, the Lord is good. "The Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly before Him." (Ps. 84:11) "Every good and perfect gift comes from above." (Jas. 1:17) How good is God? "His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations." (v.5) He is a God of everlasting mercy; it never runs out. He is a God of enduring truth; what God says is true was true yesterday ...

1129. Love: The Happiness of a Godly Family

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Sermon

James Merritt

... , "Every time you turn green with envy, you are ripe for trouble."15 Love is humble "Love does not parade itself and is not puffed up." (v.4) Let me make this plain. Real love admits wrong doing; real love asks for forgiveness; real love realizes that no one is perfect. Not too long ago I saw a rerun of the movie, Love Story. If you saw that movie you know the last line goes like this: "Love means never having to say you're sorry." That is so dumb it is stupid. Love does not mean never having to say ...

1130. The Battle of New Orleans

2 Timothy 3:1-4:8

Sermon

James Merritt

Being President of the SBC for one year has been both one of the greatest blessings, and one of the greatest burdens of my life. On the one hand, it has reminded me of just how blessed I am to be a Southern Baptist. Southern Baptists are not a perfect people, but they are a precious people. I don't believe there is a group of Bible believers anywhere in the world that love Jesus more than Southern Baptists. I sometimes feel like a lady who lived up in the mountains of North Carolina. She was a Baptist ...

1131. The Prosecutor Perry Mason Can't Beat

John 16:7-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... is not righteous because of what they do, they are righteous because of what they are. Righteousness is not an external act, it is an internal condition. You see, we have a sin problem. We just learned that. But God doesn't. We are sinful but God is perfect. If God is righteous but we're not, then in order to be right with God we must have a God-kind of righteousness. There are actually two kinds of righteousness. There is man's righteousness and there is God's righteousness. The reason why the Jewish ...

1132. His Way is the Right Way

Psalm 23:3

Sermon

James Merritt

... . He never makes a bad decision, He never makes a mistake, and He will always guide you to paths that are right for you. What a path it is! Prov. 4:18 says, “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” Think about it. This path that God will guide you on is a path of no darkness, a path of no danger, a path of no disappointment. Prov. 12:28 says, “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.” Even though sheep ...

1133. Practical Tips For Powerful Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... man called the minister to tell him that her father had died peacefully. And then she said, “For some reason, his hand was on that empty chair alongside his bed. Isn’t that strange?” The minister said, “Oh no, it’s not strange at all. I understand perfectly. He was just reaching out in trust to his best friend.” (2) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (1) Moore, James, W., If You’re Going the Wrong Way…Turn Around!” (Dimensions for Living: Nashville, 2004), p ...

1134. Stop Fuming, Start Forgiving!

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... the Greek word for sin in the Lord’s Prayer means literally “debt.” So, I guess the Presbyterians are right in that regard. This word refers to a failure to pay that which is due, a failure in duty. Surely none of us can claim that he or she has perfectly fulfilled his or her duty to God and to all persons. Sin is a universal disease that infects all of us. The Bible is surely correct in declaring, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” (Isaiah 53:6) Scarcely a day goes by but that all of us need ...

1135. The Love Triangle: Man-Woman-God

Psalm 127:1-5

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... Jesus Christ had been the Lord of their home. I would not advise you to say to your spouse, “I am God’s gift to you.” That would sound arrogant and presumptuous. But you really are. The Bible says so. In James, chapter 1, we read, “Every good and perfect gift comes from God.” I hope that you consider your spouse to be one of the best gifts God has given you (at least on most days). Perhaps you could agree that you both are God’s gifts to each other. Remember, every great marriage is a glorious ...

1136. Joseph: Don't Bury Me Here

Genesis 50:22-26; Exodus 13:19-22; Joshua 24:32

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... student editor's reworking of Wesley's dictum read: Get all you can. Can all you get. Sit on the lid. But spiritually, we are called to be sojourners, pioneers, travelers. Wesley called it "Christian perfection." It's the growth in grace which takes place over the lifetime of the believer, being perfected in love, the holiness of heart and life. Call it sanctification or spiritual formation, call it Christian maturity or personal discipleship, but whatever you call it, the goal of the Christian life is to ...

1137. Secret Revealed

Romans 16:25-27

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... history, we might very well conclude the coming of Jesus and his ministry should have happened in some other generation or century. Is that blatant arrogance? I don't think so, as long as we admit our views are always severely limited and our understandings less than perfect. Frankly, I think it is healthy to theorize about other periods in history for his entrance, as long as we are willing to admit to what we are doing. Whoever became any less by testing revelation in a way that can cause us to refine our ...

1138. Precious and Privileged Children

Galatians 4:4-7

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... , go to any walk of life and we discover this phenomenon at work. Even the Mafia chieftains patterned their evil ways after those already successful in corrupting human lives! The Almighty knew the power of imitation far better than any of us. So, the best — the perfect one — was sent into our midst that we might know the way of spiritually happy life. The New Testament with the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) sets the stage for us. 2. The Father seeks to be our parent. We are no longer slaves! We are ...

1139. Deep Calling to Deep

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... for us to kneel and worship our Savior and Lord more completely. In addition, it especially provides a thrilling time of study that makes us forget all about the light-weight stuff we have been reading in popular devotionals! With heart and mind perfectly attuned to the Holy Spirit our labors become more and more fruitful. We are brought in touch with understandings — indeed wisdom — that enable us to celebrate Christmas on a daily basis, recognizing in joy our greatest gift is the Christ. The challenge ...

1140. Being Single-minded

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... be having hallucinations? My answer to this not uncommon inquiry is, "But, my dear friends, have you tried it?" As that answer is being given we must never assume power in our own strength. As Paul discovered, God's grace is sufficient because his power is made perfect in weakness. This is an imperative we must learn, hopefully early! We were bought with the supreme price of the Father's Son. When the end for us comes in this life, are we prepared to have a glimpse of our funeral service and place of burial ...

1141. Make the Most of God’s Gifts

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... even though he had to ride his bike five miles each way to the field. When the season was over and it was revealed that Timmy Noble had terminal cancer, John Harding knew the reason that God had led him to manage the Angels. John had the perfect gifts for personal success, but Timmy Noble used his gifts for the benefit of others.1 Timmy Noble was not blessed with natural talent as a baseball player, but he had great gifts nonetheless and used them to their maximum. His seemingly limited gifts were actually ...

1142. In Solidarity with Jesus

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

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... one with the people. His ability to be in solidarity with others brought him several trials, but in the end he received the exaltation that is the reward for those who love God. Today's reading from the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus found perfection, through suffering and becoming one like us in all things but sin. God becomes one with us; we must, in turn, have the courage to become one with Christ by being one with each other. Our solidarity with Christ is our solidarity with our brothers and ...

1143. Looking in All the Wrong Places

Romans 3:19-28

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... and empty pleasures. being filled with his Spirit we are given liberty to love others in creative and inspired ways without regard to their return of affection. We are freed to connect joyfully with others without fear of their demands. being perfected in his love. Through this perfected love we are able to know ourselves through the eyes and heart of our Creator, and we are challenged to grow and achieve beyond anything we thought possible. In serving Christ we find our true selves, and achieve our true ...

1144. Our Ultimate Destination

Revelation 21:1-6a

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... " and there enjoy a new home with a fancy car, and to pluck the harvest of a healthy pension plan. For others, fame and fortune signal "arrival" in the promised land. Some can only envision their fulfillment in a walk down the aisle with their perfect mate or through the achievements of their children. Some become so beleaguered in the daily battle for food, shelter, and human justice that any hope for a better world fades in the mists of despair and cynicism. Throughout life's journey it is the vision ...

1145. Holy And Blameless

Hebrews 7:23-28

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... . God does not make mistakes. God has not made a mistake in calling you today. You are here. You belong. We widen and open the circle as we approach together the throne of grace and glory. Collect Perfect Lord and Savior, we rest assured that you will never leave us, but will sustain us as you reign forever, High Priest and King. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Jesus has gone before us, blazing a trail through death and beyond to salvation and glory! Hymns Just A Closer Walk With ...

1146. Christ the Righteous Judge

Revelation 20:11-12

Sermon

Shirley Gupton Lynn

... of the Middle Ages said, "It is not a biblical book." But other scholars have called it well: "a handbook for martyrs," "a tract for the times." It is a tract for our times, too, for the message to those suffering Christians and to us is perfectly clear: HOLDON. GOD WILL WIN. EVIL WILL HAVE ITS DAY, BUT JESUS CHRIST HAS ALREADY ASSURED THE VICTORY. BUT TO SHARE IN THAT VICTORY, CHRISTIANS MUST BE 100% FAITHFUL, FOR ALL PERSONS ARE 100% ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD. The details of the judgment are the subject of ...

1147. Jesus the Iconoclast

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... gospel text is just one of many examples of Jesus’ iconoclastic skills. In fact, today’s text is a perfect example of an "iconoclash" by an iconoclast — the head-butting, get-nowhere, everybody is wrong warfare that occurs when ... But God…" Life is difficult. "But God." I can’t go on. "But God." The odds are overwhelming against me. "But God." I’m so far from perfect, you can’t mean me! "But God." You meant it for evil. "But God" . . . meant it for good. And the greatest "But God" in the Bible? ...

1148. Transformation to the Light

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... and then, as the diamond learned, begin to radiate that light to others. We can do this in assorted ways, but many, if not all, require some pain and adjustment. God hones and chips away at us, like the rough diamond, so that we will be that more-perfect manifestation of the light, that is God's love to others. Bringing the light, as we heard in today's Gospel Reading, means a radical call to discipleship. From the day of our baptism, whether we understood the reality or not, we have been called in a formal ...

1149. A Clock or a Compass?

Mark 1:9-15

Sermon

David T. Ball

... they navigated their ships across the oceans. Beginning in the thirteenth century, when the magnetic compass was perfected as a navigational instrument, the explorers could take their bearings confidently and avoid shipwreck in the daytime ... later? If the time to repent was fulfilled then, what are we to do today? This is an example of how sometimes our mindsets that work perfectly well for some purposes can trip us up for others. We are very precise about time these days, but for Jesus and the people of his ...

1150. Tasting the Gruel of Love

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” The perfect answer. Christ’s answer. What is it that matters most in life? Love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Nothing could be simpler than that unless you ask the question, what does it mean to ...

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