Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1176 to 1200 of 4939 results

1176. When Life Seems to Be Going in the Wrong Direction

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... Bible is packed full with pages of those faithful Biblical characters who traveled the road of life before us and who also experienced broken dreams, crippling roadblocks and major disappointments that seemed to have the tenacity of a junk-yard dog. DO NOT GIVE IN OR GIVE UP. There is hope for our lives. Today I want to share with you the story of one of God''s finest servants and role models, who could overcome broken dreams, difficult moments, and numerous times in life when it seemed he was going in the ...

1177. Pentecost: The Neglected Factor

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of the Holy Spirit with power. And how we need that power. We get into a rut, bogged down in rigid legalistic religion. We tire of keeping the laws, performing the rituals. Doing the expected things. Acting the predetermined Christian way, and finally, by default, we give up to a mediocre life of Christian in name and belief only. Following a service recently, a lady said wistfully to me, I need so desperately the power you talked about today. John and I try so hard, but fail so miserably. We even wonder if ...

1178. Maximizing Your Potential

Isaiah 5:1-7

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... to the Hebrews (11:1) as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." We have been given the gift of faith, but have we used it to its full potential? When our faith is tested do we give into temptation; do we give up when the situation looks bleak, such as in sickness, unemployment, or problems at home, work, or school? Or do we demonstrate our faith and trust God, as did Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and the other great biblical figures of faith? Do we share our great gifts of faith ...

1179. Access Denied

Romans 5:1-11

Sermon

Richard W. Ferris

... small store. At 26, his business partner died, leaving him a huge debt that took years to repay. At 28, after courting a girl for four years, he asked her to marry him. She said no. Now endurance is endurance, but you'd think this guy would know when to give up. But he didn't. At 37, after two defeats, he was elected to Congress. Two years later, he tried for re-election and was defeated again. At 41, his four-year-old son died. At 45, he ran for the Senate and ... he lost. At 47, he failed as candidate ...

1180. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that had already calmed the fears of those who had been present the week before. Jesus now directly addresses Thomas and invites him to go ahead and perform the physical exam he had demanded. But Jesus’ real invitation is for Thomas to give up his doubt, his faithlessness, and instead (“on the contrary”) embrace faith. Though Thomas had talked boldly about needing to poke and prod Jesus’ risen body before he would arrive at a resurrection faith, there is no textual record of him actually carrying ...

1181. Is There Hope For World Peace?

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... be successful, just to be faithful. Britain’s courageous war-time leader Winston Churchill was once invited to present the graduation address at a certain high school. He gave the shortest address on record, just three words, repeated three times. “Never give up! Never give up! Never give up!” That is also God’s word to us as we labor for his kingdom. The Bible’s final word on world peace is this: WORLD PEACE WILL FINALLY COME THROUGH GOD’S MASSIVE INTERVENTION. God will write the final chapter ...

1182. A Fireside Conversation

John 21:15-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... Peter than he did the others. Or is he asking: “Do you love me more than all these fishing implements? (meaning, Do you love me more than your present lifestyle and identity?) (2) Certainly this is valid as well. After all, Christ was asking Peter to give up everything else to follow him. The most interesting part of the story, however, is its climax, “Feed my lambs” and then, “Feed my sheep.” Who are Christ’s sheep and lambs, and what did Christ mean that Peter was to feed them? And what does ...

1183. The Problem with ‘Hail Mary’ Moments

James 3:13-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ” and “eupeithes”) or “gentleness” and “yielding.” The peace loving humility of true wisdom is acted out with a willingness to consider the needs of others, to take the back seat instead of the driver’s seat (or even to give up “shotgun”), in order to foster peace within the faith community. Offering “mercy” (see James 2:8 ff.) and goodness, impartiality and sincerity — all informed by divinely–gifted wisdom, rounds out James’ definition of one who lives according to that true ...

1184. A Miracle Story

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... she ate, every person she encountered, was “spelled out” into her hand. At first Helen Keller didn’t get it. These random motions being pressed into her palm did not connect with experiences she felt. But Sullivan refused to give up. She kept spelling words. She kept giving “tactile-verbal” references for everything Helen encountered. Finally there was a “watershed” moment, which was indeed water-powered. Helen’s breakthrough moment was as she was having water pumped over her hands ...

1185. Dust in the Wind

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

Timothy Cargal

... Application It is customary in our society at the beginning of the year to ask others what New Year’s resolutions they may have made. And it is not uncommon around churches as Ash Wednesday approaches to hear people inquire as to what others plan to “give up for Lent.” But in the light of the gospel lesson, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we are not undercutting the whole point of Lenten rituals if we are comparing notes about them as we would about New Year’s resolutions. After all, how many ...

1186. Is the Doctor in Today?

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

King Duncan

... . Marylou was earning a place on the honor roll and practicing her piano diligently. Manachi finally concluded, “If they love life so much . . . am I to love life less?” (4) Let me say it again. Your life may be hard, but you are not defeated until you give up. God is no respecter of persons. If you have a need, God cares. In any important endeavor in life, faith makes a difference. As long as there is God, there is hope. 1. The Rotarian. 2. http://digilib.bu.edu/dspace/bitstream/2144/501/1/Faith%20at ...

1187. Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam

1 Kings 12:1-24

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... that what has happened is indeed of God. But this situation does not last long; there will be a continuous war between north and south throughout the period after the schism (1 Kgs. 14:30; 15:6, 16). Perhaps Rehoboam was untimately unwilling to give up his own view of reality in favor of God’s. Perhaps the northern tribes (in spite of Jeroboam’s own knowledge of God’s will) were unwilling to accept the continuing contradiction to the corporate decision of all Israel that Rehoboam’s kingship over ...

1188. Jesus Announces His Impending Suffering and Death

Matthew 16:21-28

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... life (often rendered “soul” for the latter). A play on the word is used in these two verses, with psych? referring to earthly life in 16:25 and to transcendent life in 16:26. To focus on preserving earthly life means losing one’s soul; to give up one’s earthly life actually results in finding transcendent life. Both occurrences of psych? in 16:26 refer to the soul or transcendent life, with the idea being communicated that nothing can compare to it. 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come ...

1189. Captains or Parties

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

Kristin Borsgard Wee

... and rejecting the son of the landlord. The problem is that we cannot get away from our own greatness. We've twisted the image of God that we carry into a social-climbing, money-hoarding tenant who kills the messenger and finally the son himself rather than give up our dependence on ourselves and our own greatness. We've got the party routine backward. Jesus came to make it possible for us to celebrate and live for others. He knows us. He sees that we reject him and that we prefer our own selfish goals. Yet ...

1190. The Way

John 14:1-14

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... with Jesus requires us to be in relationship with someone we can’t see! Yes, it was as hard for the disciples then as it is for us today. But it gets easier the more you get the hang of it. All you have to do is give up charting your own destination or looking for a simple set of rules to reach your heavenly goal, and focus your attention on getting to “know” your Creator and Sustainer. Open up your heart to the supernatural, invisible, emotional and spiritual presence of Jesus in your life. Jesus ...

1191. Hope in the Midst of Despair

Isaiah 40:28-31 · Psalm 23 · Revelation 21:1-7 · John 14:1-4, 18-19, 25-27

Eulogy

George Reed

... from everything they knew and loved. Many of them must have thought that things would never get better. They probably felt like giving up. And yet even in these darkest of times, God sent a word of hope. The beautiful words of the twenty-third Psalm ... are plenty of homes and that Jesus will come and take us to himself that we may always dwell with our God. He invites us to give up our fears and to not let our hearts be troubled. Jesus gives us these promises even as he knows he is facing his own arrest, ...

1192. Forsaking All Others

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

Paul W. Kummer

... expression that mirrors an inside reality, yet he does not want only outward actions that are a facade for unrepentance inside. Too often our repentance, though perhaps begun with a genuine attitude of "I'm going to get all the junk out," turns into a "I'll give up the easy stuff and hold onto the junk I really like." We, in essence, are like the boy who was told repeatedly by his mom to sit down. The boy continued to stand, disobeying his mom. Finally, the mother went to him, and physically plopped him in ...

1193. Saul, The Tormented King

1 Samuel 8:1-22

Sermon

Arthur H. Kolsti

... "shall we have a king" but "who shall be our king." At this point Saul enters biblical history. He comes out of obscurity. When we first meet him he is not politicking for the crown. He is out looking for some lost asses and about to give up the search when one of his servants suggests they consult Samuel. The child priest we met last week has become the eminent priestly leader with more than local reputation and influence. The minute his eyes fell on the handsome and striking Saul, Samuel knew he had ...

1194. A Lack of Faith

Mark 6:1-6

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... on sowing." "Where can I turn for assurance?" Jesus: "Read my Word. Listen to my Word. I sow the Word to call you to faith." "What can I do about you?" Jesus: "Just keep on coming with a receptive heart. You keep coming. I'll keep sowing. I will never give up on you. I'll be sowing the word of life on the soil of your heart for all eternity. Amen." 1. Donald H. Juel, Mark (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1990), p. 92.

1195. What Does Jesus Expect of Us?

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Donald Macleod

... , and live on the edge of burnout, because they seem to know where to put their values in life. All of them seem urged to pioneer against the tremendous odds of disease, poverty, and human ignorance of this universe. Daily they say "No" to every temptation to give up, to quit. Something within them compels them to go on, to stay on, and to out-think the mysteries of his farflung world. And what of Christianity and the servants of its faith? Jesus still says: "He who would save his life shall lose it; and ...

1196. The Strength To Wait

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Erskine White

... slavery, but he never complained as decade after decade passed and his efforts seemed to bear no fruit. After all, he had just been waiting those past fifty or sixty years for slavery to end; God had been waiting for centuries for men and women to give up this odious evil. Finally, as Wilberforce lay on his deathbed, exhausted from a lifetime of struggle, Parliament passed the law which eliminated slavery in the British Empire. Of course, it's easier to wait if we know that our waiting is not in vain, that ...

1197. Add Something Nice

Matthew 6:1-4

Children's Sermon

... sunlight. Lent is the 40 days, not counting Sundays, until Easter. So Easter is only 40 days plus Sundays away. Sometimes during Lent you might hear people talk about "giving things up for Lent". Maybe they're trying to lose weight, so they say, "I'm giving up desserts for Lent". When I was much younger, I remember that during Lent some churches had a special coin holder. We collected a dime each day for the 40 days of Lent. At the end, on Easter, everybody turned in their coin folder all filled up with ...

1198. Rocky

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

William J. Carl

... should endear him to us immediately when we think of all the ways we have made a mess of our Christian lives; all the times we have tried to do the right thing in our lives and blown it and figured, ‘‘Well, that does it. Surely God is going to give up on me now.” Surely I’ve had my last chance. About the time we think we’re doing everything pretty well, we go and pull a boner. ’Course Peter never did it halfway. When he made a mistake, he did it so everyone could see and hear it loud and ...

1199. Religion's Built-in Hazard

Isaiah 58:1-14

Sermon

Robert Beringer

... to God. The focus was not on the self, but on God, and I cannot help wondering if that little couplet that used to be quoted to those who quit smoking could well be recited for those who make such a show of their dieting: "Giving up eating too much isn't enough. It's giving up bragging about it that's tough." But that is precisely what Isaiah's message to us is - a call to move beyond public displays of piety to a faith that touches every aspect of our private and public lives. It is no accident that behind ...

1200. The Family of Judas

Drama

William Grimbol

... I knew it wasn't long until it destroyed him completely. (Pause) There was no betrayal of Jesus. They all lived a lie. The all lived a tragic illusion. It was living that lie that took my son. It was following that tragic illusion that made him give up on Jesus. Still, I doubt he ever really stopped believing in Jesus ... he was just too dedicated ... too committed. No, I just think he was simply too exhausted ... too weary to keep on going. He just gave up, or should I say his whole spirit just collapsed ...

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