Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 101 to 125 of 4508 results

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” --1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 Dreamers. Few words are as packed with emotion or pump out more meaning that that one word “dreamer.” We can see “dreamers” often critically as people who have their heads in the clouds, who don’t see reality for what it is, or who need to get their feet planted on the grou...

102. Song of Promise

Sermon

Lori Wagner

I have a confession to make: I love Christmas carols. I mean, really LOVE Christmas carols. Can I get a witness? On the radio….on CDs….in the stores….in the car….they just uplift our spirits in this season, don’t they? There’s something about Christmas Carols that just seem to warm the heart and stir the soul. I know you’re not supposed to listen to them until after Advent, but I admit it before ...

103. A Supernatural Leap

Sermon

Lori Wagner

In the Napa Valley there is a place called “Stag’s Leap.” There, it is said that a supernatural stag leaps across the craggy slopes in the light of the moon. The tale goes back to the time of the Native Americans, but it soon was continued by early pioneers who claim also to have seen the mysterious animal leaping through the night. At one point, it’s said that a team of hunters followed the creat...

104. Trust in Me

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Animation: Youtube video of Kaa’s Song from the original Jungle Book There are so many impossibilities that become realities in the Christmas story that one hardly knows where to begin. But here’s one that you may not have thought of before. Mary is too young, and Elizabeth is too old, to have a child. The word we translate as “virgin” really means pre-pubescent maiden. So here we have a post-men...

105. Messengers

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Whether movies like The Arrival (2016) or Sixth Sense (1999), or photos of crop circles, or mysterious messages in bottles, we simply love the idea of receiving signs from somewhere beyond our imagination. Perhaps it’s one reason that the internet draws us in so easily. The idea of receiving messages and photos from long-distance friends, business associates from other countries, or unknown relati...

106. The Gift of Love

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: If possible, a home-made Christmas ornament. Good morning boys and girls. There's a story by Gabrielle Vincent about two characters who, though they are very poor, decide to offer a special gift to their friends for Christmas: the gift of hospitality. These two live in a small cottage without cabinets for dishes nor even beds--they sleep on the floor in pallets. Clothes are strung across ...

107. Advent 4

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

Gathering Leader: To all God’s beloved in (fill in the name of your community) who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. All: Amen. Hymn And Prayer For Lighting The Fourth Advent Candle Sing verse 4 of the hymn chosen for Advent 1. Burn brightly in our hearts, Lord, and lead us home. Offertory Prayer Leader: Great shepherd of our lives, Al...

108. Fourth Sunday of Advent

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 First Lesson—A special child named Immanuel is a sign from God to the house of David. Isaiah 7:10-16 Second Lesson—Great David's greater Son will bring grace and peace far beyond the house of David. Romans 1:1-7 Gospel—God and Mary's child will be named Emmanuel, "God is with us" as well as Jesus, "Savior." Matthew 1:18-25 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of ...

109. Obedience and Compassion

Illustration

Joe Pennel

There is a lot of talk today about what makes Christmas. Newspaper and television advertisements coax people into believing that they can have a real Christmas by going to a festive shopping center, eating at trendy restaurants, or watching glittering "Christmas programs" on television. Others believe that Christmas is made by the fastidious keeping of time-honored family rituals, such as, sentime...

110. No! I am not a virgin!

Illustration

John Thomas Randolph

We call it the virgin birth, and it is one of the most incredible ideas that was ever introduced to the world. Many of us may accept the virgin birth of Jesus on the basis of biblical authority, but we do not understand it. I have a beautiful little friend in the seventh grade whose name is Kristin. She is a very bright and sensitive girl, but she does not understand everything she hears in church...

111. An Angel Came to Joseph

Illustration

Samuel G. Candler

We too often forget about poor Joseph. Every year, we tend to focus on the story of Mary. But this year, it's Joseph. Now, if the angel can appear to Mary, and then also appear to Joseph, there's a lesson in that. That means that the angel can appear to you and me, too. In the Bible, the annunciation does not occur only once, but twice-not just to a woman, but also to a man. The Bible, then, car...

112. Impossible Is Nothing

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

One of the most popular college religion texts, Phil Zuckermann's Invitation to the Sociology of Religion (2003) says that the truth claims of religion are "mind-boggling, implausible,"fantastical," "manifestly unbelievable." I say: Now you're talking, Dr. Zuckermann. For the very category of "impossible" is God's category. The impossible is the very definition of God. So if you tell me, the trut...

113. Bad or Good

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

In a syndicated newspaper cartoon, Santa Claus is pictured at his work bench putting a new toy together. From his nearby TV set, he hears a reporter saying, "We continue our look at the real meaning of Christmas – sales indicators. Consumers have dramatically cut back their borrowing which could slow the economy, but which might be a healthy development after their earlier borrowing which boosted ...

114. What Is the Answer?

Illustration

James W. Moore

Perhaps you have heard the one about the attractive young woman who boarded a plane in Los Angeles heading toward New York. The young woman was tired. She knew it would be a long flight, so immediately she asked the flight attendant for a pillow and a blanket. She hoped to be able to sleep most of the way to New York. Her head had just nestled into the pillow when an obnoxious man with a loud, bo...

115. A Tough Question

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

When I meet with a couple in preparation for their baby's baptism, I always ask this question: Have you prepared a will and have you specified in it who would rear your child if you were removed from the picture? Young parents don't like to even think about such a possibility, but life's uncertainties make it necessary. It's a tough question. Whom do you trust enough to rear your precious child? G...

116. It Is Easy for You

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

The great writer Max Lucado tells about his neighbor who was trying to teach his six-year-old son how to shoot a basketball. They were out in the backyard. The father shot a couple of times, saying, "Do it just like that, son; it's real easy." The little boy tried very hard but he couldn't get the ball ten feet into the air. The little fellow got more and more frustrated. Finally, after hearing hi...

117. Don’t Forget Joseph

Illustration

Johnny Dean

As you arrange the Nativity scene on your coffee table or on your fireplace mantle or underneath your Christmas tree – wherever you place it – put the Wise Men and the shepherds around the Christ child, for there is the center of sanity in a large, crazy world. But don't forget Joseph. Put him even nearer to the Christ child. He's earned his place there. Because Joseph – the forgotten one, who jus...

118. A Christian Christmas?

Illustration

David B. Curtis

When you think about Christmas, what comes to your mind? Most, if not all, of us have celebrated Christmas in the traditional fashion since we were born. From my earliest memories, Christmas was presents, presents, and more presents. I can remember my brother and I staying up all night waiting for the appointed hour when we could rush to the living room and open our presents. One year my brother a...

119. What to Give Jesus

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

There was a Director of Christian Education at a church who organized a Children's Christmas pageant. She let the children decide what gifts they'd give the baby Jesus in the pageant. Some wanted to give him stuffed animals. Others wanted to give him toys. One little girl named Sally had several conversations with the Director before she admitted what she wanted to give the baby Jesus. Finally the...

120. A Revealing Reflection

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

In Rome's Barberini Palace there is a great painting by Guido Reni. It is a masterpiece showing the chariot of the sun coming through the clouds, horses and clouds, and darkness and light. The painting is very difficult to see because it is on a ceiling. The problem has been overcome by placing a long table with a mirror top underneath the painting. The mirror reflects exactly the painting on the ...

121. God’s Toughest Job

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

Dr. Al Lindgren of Garrett Seminary tells of taking his junior high school son fishing. While waiting for the fish to bite, they got to talking. The son asked, "Dad, what was the toughest thing God ever tried to do?" His father answered with a question, teacher style! His father asked, "What do you think was the toughest job God tried to do?" The son replied, "In science class, I thought that cre...

122. The Saving Power of a Baby

Illustration

John Thomas Randolph

Harry Emerson Fosdick told the story of General Pickett's baby. It was during the last slaughterous days of the Civil War when the Confederates locked horns with the Union soldiers outside of Richmond. It was the cruelest time of the whole war. Then one night the Confederate lines were lighted with bonfires, and the Union guards discovered that the Southern troops were celebrating General Pickett'...

123. The Miracle of the Virgin Birth

Illustration

C. S. Lewis

The grounds for belief and disbelief are the same today as they were two thousand or ten thousand years ago. If Joseph had lacked faith to trust God or humility to perceive the holiness of his spouse, he could have disbelieved in the miraculous origin of her Son as easily as any modern man; and any modern man who believes in God can accept the miracle as easily as Joseph did.

124. Historical Data about Christmas

Illustration

Adrian Dieleman

What did December 25 originally celebrate? For some time before the coming of Christianity, December 25 was a time of pagan celebration. The pagans knew that at this point in their calendar the shortest day and longest night had passed, that little by little the sun would rise higher and remain longer in the sky, bringing with it the promise of spring. Prior to this day occurred the week-long Ro...

125. For He Shall Save His People

Sermon

Staff

I have a Christmas dilemma. When I was a kid there was no Christmas dilemma. You filled out your wish list and you waited for Santa to fulfill it on the 25th. That was pretty awesome. The rest of the year didn’t work like that so it made Christmas a strange and wonderful time. But you know what happens… Slowly the tables get turned on you until one day you’re being handed the wish list. Such is li...

Showing 101 to 125 of 4508 results

101. The Promise of Dreams

Sermon

Lori Wagner

102. Song of Promise

Sermon

Lori Wagner

103. A Supernatural Leap

Sermon

Lori Wagner

104. Trust in Me

Sermon

Lori Wagner

105. Messengers

Sermon

Lori Wagner

106. The Gift of Love

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

107. Advent 4

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

108. Fourth Sunday of Advent

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

109. Obedience and Compassion

Illustration

Joe Pennel

110. No! I am not a virgin!

Illustration

John Thomas Randolph

111. An Angel Came to Joseph

Illustration

Samuel G. Candler

112. Impossible Is Nothing

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

113. Bad or Good

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

114. What Is the Answer?

Illustration

James W. Moore

115. A Tough Question

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

116. It Is Easy for You

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

117. Don’t Forget Joseph

Illustration

Johnny Dean

118. A Christian Christmas?

Illustration

David B. Curtis

119. What to Give Jesus

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

120. A Revealing Reflection

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

121. God’s Toughest Job

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

122. The Saving Power of a Baby

Illustration

John Thomas Randolph

123. The Miracle of the Virgin Birth

Illustration

C. S. Lewis

124. Historical Data about Christmas

Illustration

Adrian Dieleman

125. For He Shall Save His People

Sermon

Staff

Showing 101 to 125 of 4508 results