Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1126 to 1150 of 1795 results

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... the moment she rises at 7:00 a.m., she's a fidgety, demanding, chattering whirling dervish of a task juggler. Motto: never do just two things at once if you can possibly do four or five." Then they say: Klein's action- and anxiety-packed work style may be extreme, but she's really only a couple of juggling pins ahead of most of us. By now, every modern office worker knows that the gadgets designed to lighten our loads also ensnare us; the dingling digital devices that allow us to connect and communicate ...

1127. Being Single-minded

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... close the door to intelligent and dutiful dialogue. Who has to have the greatest influence in our lives? Friends, this is a no-brainer! We are to be immersed in the healing waters of his love. It is a love that knows no bounds. It reasonably follows that such a style of living will rub off on others. In the Christian context, not to be fishers of men and women is a sad commentary and contradiction. To be sure, idealism is much at work here and we may try to be more than we are intended to be. Frankly, I don ...

1128. The Acceptable Time

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... could. Paul knew the waywardness and fickleness of the human heart. Many in Corinth were making excuses for themselves, saying Paul's letters were strong but his personal sermons weak, therefore they would not heed them. Looking for a flaw in Paul and his style of approach, they neglected the time of their salvation. People haven't changed much. In one church, a lady could never really hear her minister because he didn't dress quite according to her standard. In another church, a woman ignored the minister ...

1129. Are You a Taker or a Giver?

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... cellular phone in hand. In the center is a modishly over-dressed twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl, stylish, sexy, and eating high priced Chinese take-out food. On the right is a blasé, cool ten-year-old boy, attired in the latest pseudo-athletic styles, holding his tiny personal portable television beside his baseball cap. These are the children who have had it all, says Lucinda Franks in her cover article. Herself a mother of a nine-year-old, Franks says her generation of parents has tended to give their ...

1130. Make the Most of God’s Gifts

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... his brains, diligence, and much hard work he rapidly moved into management, beginning at the bottom and moving up. Still in his thirties, national publications such as Forbes, U.S.A. Today, and The Wall Street Journal commented favorably on his managerial style. John Harding seemed to have the perfect resume for life: academic achievement, awards, and many positions of importance. Yet, he sometimes wondered if he used his gifts wisely. With such a record it was not a big surprise when Millennium, the third ...

1131. In Solidarity with Jesus

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

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... of death — even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). The Letter to the Hebrews, which we begin to read today has an interesting history. Originally ascribed to Paul, biblical scholars today tell us that due to significant differences in language, style, theme, and theology the letter was not from Paul's hand, but rather another Jewish Christian of Hellenistic background. Scholars also tell us that the letter was most probably addressed to Jewish Christians to assist those who wavered in their belief ...

1132. Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Paul’s words are not yet harsh. In fact, his tone here is encouraging. Paul invokes the lyrical language of poetry and hymnody to communicate the importance of his point. Even before the Christ hymn is cited in vv.5-11, Paul employs a rhythmic style to describe the Jesus spirit he wishes the Philippians to make their own. Verses 1-4 are one sentence, broken into three distinct strophes, building to the apostle’s ultimate conclusion. In verse one Paul throws out a series of rhetorical questions, each of ...

1133. Which Coaching Is Better?

Matthew 21:23-32

Illustration

King Duncan

... the lives of two talented young basketball players from one of the poorest neighborhoods in Chicago. The young man with more natural talent gets a high school scholarship, a posh summer job, and a coach from hell. However, the constant badgering, pressure, and demeaning style of the coach slowly destroys any fun the kid ever felt in the game. Once the desire to play begins to crumble, he begins to sabotage his own success. He becomes more vulnerable to injuries, his grades drop, and he acts up socially with ...

1134. A Promise Fulfilled: A Gift Given

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... air that we breathe, but somehow it often does not hold such priority in our lives. Saint Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:17) tells us that we must "pray without ceasing." Too often we make excuses why we don't pray: "I'm too busy," "It's not my style," "I feel awkward." Maybe our gift to the Lord today could be a commitment to pray and to stop making excuses for our failures. Our gift of Jesus might be a renewal of a relationship gone sour. The complexity of contemporary life often strains relationships and often ...

1135. Transformation to the Light

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... it." Three students were discussing various versions of the Bible. One said, "I like the New American Bible. It is easier to read than the older versions." A second student commented, "I like the Jerusalem Bible. It, too, is easier to read and it is poetic in its style. I can use it in my daily prayer." The third student stood and said, "I like my mother's version the best. She translated the Bible into action so I can use it in my daily life." An international gathering of young people met for a full week ...

1136. Great Expectations

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... that had one of Reverend King's preaching robes and one of his business suits fitted to busts that were his size. It was indeed powerful to see the robe worn by this man as he preached in Ebenezer Baptist Church, and it was interesting to see the style in which he chose to dress. But, what really shocked me was the obvious reality that he was not a tall or large man. In my mind, over the years, he had grown into a towering figure, literally and figuratively. In my fantasies I would speak with him, looking ...

1137. What Part of “You Shall Not” Don’t You Understand?

Exodus 20:1-17

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday because of Easter. Since Easter, the day of re-creation and redemption, was on Sunday, Christians worship on the first day of the week. For those who have conflicts or who prefer a different style of worship, alternative days of worship are sometimes provided. Fourth, we are called to respect our parents. The first three Commandments are called the first table of the law. They deal with our relationship with the Lord. Commandments four through ten are ...

1138. Salvation in Jesus’ Name

Acts 4:5-12

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... out of plumb. I keep the model of the plumb line handy near a cross my dad made for me. Both help me to measure my life each day. It's good to have an objective standard to guide my daily living. The Ten Commandments have not gone out of style, and Christ's call to be a servant has not changed and Christ's call to be a servant has not changed. Christ himself is our plumb line. -- Anonymous A plumb line is a line with a weight at the end to determine verticality. In other words, by looking at ...

1139. Prepare the Way - Sermon Starter

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

Brett Blair

... John, He came for testimony to bear witness to the light that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to bear witness to the light. What drew people to John and his message? Well, John was far-fetched. His austere life style was a compelling reason to listen to him and perhaps his strange ways convinced some people to follow him. I think many thought he was Elijah the prophet who returned. But there was more to John than simply a bizarre strange life. John understood that God was ...

1140. No Comment

2 Kings 2:1-12a

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... persisted in his "No comment." Then he would leave the room, smiling softly and adding, "Now don't quote me." Calvin Coolidge hardly stands out in our national history as a bright and shining example of presidential leadership and power - his laid-back style and renowned nap-taking are the few legacies of his presidency. Even his White House portrait, under which small July 4th birthday parties would take place in the Reagan era, has been replaced by Theodore Roosevelt's portrait. However, Coolidge did seem ...

1141. The Job Description of a Leader

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... think like leaders. Leadership is not for the few and the special, the exception rather than the expected. Whether this mysterious thing called "leadership" comes naturally or is an acquired talent, every Christian must come to terms with it. A biblical style of leadership and language of leadership must become endemic in the church. In the Old Testament and Gospel lessons for this week both David and Jesus illustrate the mysterious qualities and unique characteristics God has chosen to hold up as necessary ...

1142. How to Play Fair in Foul Play

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... enemies. Destroying this future food supply was considered "foul play." During the American Revolutionary War the British regiments sustained heavy casualties because they insisted on lining up in neat, orderly, easily targeted rows during their assaults. The guerilla warfare style of the colonists (who learned it from the Native Americans) was considered "foul play." In World War I a new technological weapon, mustard gas, was employed with deadly effects. In World War II, then, poisoning troops to death ...

1143. Tweed Jackets, Sweat Pants and Wet Suits

Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... " its faith. At its best, there is established a bedrock of basics and the tradition of classical Christianity is fully embraced. At its worst the tweed suit becomes a straightjacket, unable to allow for creativity, unreflective of one's unique style, incapable of adjusting to new sets of cultural circumstances. However serviceable, indeed indispensable, the tweed suit stage maybe, there will nevertheless come a time in the life of faith when it becomes inappropriate attire. A little boy watching his father ...

1144. The Seduction of the Palms

Luke 19:28-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... time." What Kellermann and Stringfellow suggest is that this ecstatic moment of entry into the city may be that moment. "If this thing is built, as we may imagine, in bandwagon fashion with surging and cheering crowds, the option of a sudden zealot-style revolt - the very thing he's come to avert! - may have its own tempting momentum" (172). Luke certainly knows his Greco-Roman cultural milieu. He takes care to omit the inflammatory palm fronds and the extremely Jewish-sounding "Hosannas" from his version ...

1145. Toys R Us. NOT!

Ephesians 1:11-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... strange grammar from the bizarre yet popular 1992 movie Wayne's World. This sleeper hit, based on a skit concept from the television show "Saturday Night Live", features the lives of two weirdly nerdy types "Wayne" and "Garth." Their California-quirky language style has made an enduring impression. Among their favorite expressions is the practice of making a statement and then following it with the single negative "not" to indicate that the opposite of what was stated is, in fact, the truth. Hence all those ...

1146. Keep the Stars in Your Eyes

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with antiquers. Gothic revival furniture is now all the rage, partly because the "Gothic" style connects us with a more spiritual past. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is ...

1147. Holy Hocus-Pocus!

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1148. Hear the Vision?

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1149. Five Steps to Takeoff

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... repentance. Jesus knows that our sins and shortcomings, prejudices and preconceived notions can effectively block us from making any headway in our search for God's kingdom. Sometimes, like the airplane chocks, these can be seemingly ridiculously small matters of attitude or style that appear utterly insignificant to others. But in our own lives, these small matters can easily stop us from reaching out and "believing" in the power that the gospel offers over sin and death. Before we can hope to begin our ...

1150. The One and Only Original Sin

1 Peter 3:18-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

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