Sermon and Worship Resources

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Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Larry R. Kalajainen

... speedily in relation to God's own knowledge of the situation and according to his own timetable. It is our impatience and our desire to have every problem solved immediately that leads us to experience the situation as justice delayed. I heard a story which illustrates how we often confuse God's timing with ours. A country newspaper had been running a series of articles on the value of church attendance. One day, a letter to the editor was received in the newspaper office. It read, "Print this if you dare ...

1202. Who Lives Inside You?

Ephesians 3:17

Children's Sermon

Object: photo illustration of dove and flame. Lesson: Christ will make his home in our hearts through faith. Boys and girls, how many people live in your house? (response) There's somebody else who also lives there. I have a picture today to give you some clues. Here, let's take a look ...

1203. Easter 4

Psalm 23:1-6, Acts 4:1-22, 1 John 3:11-24, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... in order to engage in evangelism and missions. It is rather to offer to them even more and greater values in the personal knowledge of Christ's compassion and love that offers to people an even fuller meaning and experience of what life should be. Illustrative Materials 1. Laying Down Life for Others. Raoul Wallenberg, a Lutheran, was a Swedish diplomat in World War II. He used his post in Hungary to aid 30,000 Jews to escape persecution and death from the Nazi party. Just before the Soviet Union invaded ...

1204. The Fruitful Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... of a loving God. It comes from the awareness that our life is empowered and directed by the very source and meaning of life itself. It comes not so much because of what we do, but who we are as persons connected to God in Christ. Illustrative Materials 1. Abiding and Acting. Two major figures in church history demonstrate the results of meditation and devotion to Christ, abiding in him. A. Bernard of Clairvaux was a monk who was part of the movement of the Medieval period that tried to achieve a mystical ...

1205. Eating Living Bread

John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... can be servants to them. If we share in the body then any part of it that is hurting becomes our hurt. Relieving the suffering of any member of the body relieves our suffering and the sufferings of Christ, as he also suffers with his body. Illustrative Materials 1. Hunger in the World. According to statistics from Oxfam, 2,500 people will die of hunger during the typical one-hour church worship service. Two-thirds of them will be children. A third of the children in the world are very underweight for their ...

1206. Tying Up A Strong Man

Mark 3:20-30, 1 Samuel 8:1-22, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, Mark 3:31-35, Psalm 138:1-8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... will end. We already have apprehensions of our part in the totality of existence, whether we are part of the good or the evil. How we act in the flesh has a determinative effect on what we are becoming, whether to eternal life or eternal death. Illustrative Materials 1. Exorcism. The news recently carried the story of parents who battered their son to death to try to cast out demons from him. They succumbed to their fears about what they had brought to life and lacked assurance that they could cope with the ...

1207. Proper 8

Mark 5:21-43

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

... adult life, she needed claiming. She needed to hear that she is accepted as part of God's family. All who stood around her that day also needed to hear this truth. It might be argued that the writers juxtaposed these two stories to illustrate the socially accepted and socially unaccepted "daughters." I say everyone is acceptable. We must see the person first before we look at any of the superficial circumstances we tend to connect with that person's identity. Asker: Jesus, when you healed the little child ...

1208. Lessons for Lent 3

John 2:12-25

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... while some pastors feel the same way. Other folks don't feel that the church belongs to them and so they keep away. Let us remember that the church is God's house and offer hospitality to all who seek forgiveness and grace. SERMON POSSIBILITIES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-17 1. Sermon Title: Love And The Law. Sermon Angle: When parents lay down the law for their kids, children feel that their folks are being mean. After they gain maturity they can see that the prohibitions are motivated by ...

1209. Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday

John 13:1-17, Exodus 12:1-30, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, John 13:31-38

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... , 31b-35 John's version of the Last Supper. The Words of Institution are not cited by the fourth gospel. Rather, John uses it as a springboard for Jesus washing his disciple's feet. The footwashing becomes a living parable which teaches humility. It illustrates the hymn to Christ's humility found in Philippians 2, our Second Lesson for Passion Sunday. Jesus, the Master and teacher, assumes the role of the servant. This action serves as a great teaching moment. The disciples of Jesus are not to lord it over ...

1210. Passion Sunday

Mk 14:1 - 15:47 · Isa 50:4-9 · Phil 2:5-11 · Ps 31:9-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... in Jesus. Our Lord experienced loneliness time and again. He struggled in spiritual isolation at Gethsemane to discern the Father's will. When he was arrested, the disciples all fled. On the cross, he felt totally abandoned. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Illustration: The other day I heard on the radio that the average male does not have a single close friend. He may have plenty of companions or acquaintances but there are few, if any, with whom he can share his fears or failings. Maybe it's ...

1211. Proper 12

John 6:16-24, John 6:1-15, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... all he wanted to eat and yet there were twelve baskets left over (also symbolic of the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel). God doesn't parcel out his grace like a penny-pinching miser; he supplies our needs in abundance. SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 11:1-15 Sermon Title: Perils Of Prosperity. Sermon Angle: David was at the apex of prosperity and success; his enemies were in check, his capital was established, he had a fancy palace and could now take his ease. As he ...

1212. Proper 13

Ephesians 4:1-16, 2 Samuel 12:1-31, John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... his reinstatement. The Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests picketed. The Catholic Church has placed conditions on his return. He must have other adults present when he ministers to children and he must continue to undergo counseling. The story illustrates the principle of forgiveness. God forgives, many other people will forgive, but a cloud of suspicion remains because trust has been put into question. The sinner can never re-create the world as it was before his transgression. Epistle: Ephesians ...

1213. Proper 15

Ephesians 4:17--5:21, 1 Kings 3:1-15, 1 Kings 2:1-12, John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... lifted the thin strip of flesh over his mouth and dropped it in. A wave of triumph flashed across his face. He knew that they would survive. That night, several people went outside to eat. 2. Sermon Title: Holy Communion. Sermon Angle: The story above illustrates a type of Holy Communion. It was a sacred and communal act because it gave life. This sixth chapter is John's account of the institution of Holy Communion. Holy Communion is: Outline: 1. Eating Christ (v. 55). 2. Abiding with Christ (v. 56). 3 ...

1214. Advent 1

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... fit for his Spirit. Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Waiting -- active and passive. It seems that we're always waiting for something: waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting to speak on the phone or waiting for the weekend. Waiting can be active or passive. To illustrate, yesterday my wife and I went to the health club. She left early and we agreed to meet at a certain time upstairs. I got up there by the appointed time but she was not to be seen. I sat down in the lounge and passively waited for her ...

1215. Advent 2

2 Peter 3:1-18, Isaiah 40:1-31, Mark 1:1-8

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... proclaimed: "After me will come one more powerful than I..." (v. 7). SERMON POSSIBILITIES Old Testament: Isaiah 40:1-11 Sermon Title: The Shepherd King. Sermon Angle: Many kings have boasted of their might and power, which they have attempted to illustrate through acts of war or by making grand monuments to their own glory. To maintain authority a ruler has to demonstrate strength and determination. However, few kings have prided themselves on their mercy and compassion. The Old Testament writers held out ...

1216. Advent 4

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... this tidal wave of debt, which caused the congregation to assume a survival mentality. All energies were consumed by the debt. Only through hard work and the grace of God did these people of God keep their head above the surface. This story illustrates what happens when pastors and congregations become focused on building structures and monuments rather than the people of God and the mission of Christ. Epistle: Romans 16:25-27 Sermon Title: The Power Of Good News. Sermon Angle: Paul's benediction states ...

1217. Easter 2

Acts 4:32-37, 1 John 1:5--2:14, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... is a key concept in this passage. John contends that the end result of proclaiming the risen Christ is fellowship (community). In fact, the thread of community runs through all three pericopes this week. More will be said about this under "Sermon Approaches With Illustrations." Walk in the light. John calls on the believers to match their words with their actions. If we say we have fellowship with the Lord and his people, while we walk in the darkness, we make ourselves liars. But if we walk in the ...

1218. Easter 7

John 17:6-19, Acts 1:12-26, 1 John 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... The groom likewise first comes to know the name of his beloved and then the person behind the name. Revealing our name signifies a process of unveiling and of making our deepest selves known. Marriage, as it was intended to be, presents us with an apt illustration of the believer's relationship with God. Outline: 1. Marriage is a relationship of intimacy beginning with our names. 2. In the biblical sense, to disclose one's name was more than sharing a label; it meant to reveal one's character and person. 3 ...

1219. Epiphany 6

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Leviticus 13:1-46, 2 Kings 5:1-27, Mark 1:40-45

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... goal clearly focused (v. 26a). 2. Many people run for sport. For what purpose? 3. We are all runners in the race of life but why are we running? To what end? 4. Run with Jesus to obtain the imperishable prize. The blockbuster movie Forrest Gump illustrates the question posed above. That is, why are we running? Where are we going? Forrest was a somewhat mentally deficient boy who started running to elude his persecutors. The doctor placed braces on his legs but one day when some bullies were chasing him down ...

1220. Epiphany 7

2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4, Isaiah 43:14-28, Mark 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... that becomes stale but God doesn't; he shows forgiveness and grace. 4. God has time and again done a new thing (v. 19) to restore his relationship with his people. What new thing does God want for you in your relationships? The River Wild illustrates that new things are possible in our stale and ineffectual relationships. Gail, a former river rafting guide finds herself in a dysfunctional marriage. Her husband Tom doesn't seem to have time for his family. Tom has lost the respect of his son, Roark. The ...

1221. Epiphany 8

Hosea 2:2-23, Mark 2:18-22, 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... bride and God the bridegroom. Outline: 1. Are you uncomfortable associating the concepts of love, sex and marriage? 2. The Canaanite Baal religion worshipped their gods through sex; many moderns worship sex as our god. 3. Hosea metaphorically uses the marriage relationship to illustrate Yahweh's relationship with his people. 2. Sermon Title: The Power Of Hope. Sermon Angle: At a time of national crisis, Hosea has hope in the Lord. He portrays God as a jilted lover who will never give up on his beloved. He ...

1222. Proper 20

Proverbs 31:10-31, Mark 9:30-37, James 3:13-18; 4:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... them what they were arguing about along the way. At first, they remain silent. They were ashamed to admit that they had a dispute concerning who among them was the greatest. Jesus counsels that he who would be the first must be the servant of all. To illustrate his point he takes a child in his arms and pronounces: "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me...." The Father extends his welcome not to those who are great but those who love his little ones. Psalm Of The Day Psalm 1 (C) -- "Happy ...

1223. Proper 24

Job 38:1–41:34, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Mark 10:35-45, Hebrews 5:1-10

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... , as I am about to do? They answered affirmatively, even though they didn't really know what they were saying. Our lives are like cups. God promises that if we pour them out, God will keep on filling them up. He calls it servant leadership. (This sermon could be illustrated with a large cup as a visual aid. Have a pitcher and a pan also. Pour water into the cup as you explain that we like to have our lives full to overflowing. Then take a baster (siphon) and show how various demands seem to siphon off the ...

1224. Proper 28

Mk 13:1-32 · Heb 10:11-25 · 1 Sam 1:4-20 · Ps 16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... : The persecutions described in vv. 9-13 scatter the elect of God. At the end of this world and the beginning of the next, God will gather his own (vv. 26-27). Live in anticipation of the great gathering into the community of God's grace. Illustration: As I was completing this chapter, the mail woman deposited our mail. One of the letters was from Bill Bright, of Campus Crusade For Christ. He was soliciting funds for the teams going throughout the world showing the Jesus film. The purpose of the film is ...

1225. Proper 7

Mk 4:35-41 (5:1-20) · 2 Cor 5:14-21; 6:1-13 · 1 Sam 1:32-49 · Job 38:1-11, 16-18 · Ps 9

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... attitude toward life. Saul and his army were paralyzed by a defeatist attitude (v. 24). David had a positive belief that God would give him victory (vv. 32, 37). Christ has won the victory for us; therefore, we can think and act positively. Illustration: Almost everyone has heard about the terrible accident that happened early summer, 1995, when Christopher Reeve, who starred as Superman, was thrown off his horse and suffered paralysis from the neck down. It seems so ironic that the person who played the ...

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