Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1226 to 1250 of 4933 results

1226. How To Triumph Over Terrorism

Ephesians 6:10-18

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

A year has now gone by and those of us who live and work outside the Northeast have gotten on with our lives. After all, isn’t that what you are supposed to do when you face a tragedy or a great loss—go on! But will we ever be able to simply go on? Something changed that September day that will never simply go away. We now know that we are vulnerable. We now know that the threats of terror are no longer a half a world away. We now know things change — and not always for the better. Will the stock market ...

1227. Living in Gratitude

Philippians 4:4-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Have you heard the old story about the young man who enthusiastically joined the monastery? Wanting the highest and the best, the young monk immediately took the vow of silence. The solemn vow meant the monk could only speak two words a year and those were reserved for his annual evaluation with the Abbott. The first year passed and the Abbot asked the monk how he was doing. Without hesitation the monk replied, “Food Bad." Another year passed and the Abbott again asked the monk how he was doing. The monk ...

1228. Dress For Faithfulness

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

One of my favorite comedians was Danny Kaye. I loved his movies and one of my favorites was the Court Jester. In this movie Danny Kaye is a volunteer with "The Fox" a Robin Hood type character who is trying to protect the rightful heir of the throne (an infant). Danny Kaye takes the place of the new Court Jester, Giacomo, to gain access to the throne and a key that will let "The Fox" and his men into the city through a secret tunnel. It's all typical Danny Kaye fair. One of my favorite scenes is the ...

1229. There Will Be Light

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

Dr. Rob Boyd tells about a man whose name was Charlie Stink. People constantly picked on Charlie Stink because of his name. His friends encouraged Charlie Stink to have his name changed. Finally he agreed and went to court to take care of the legal requirements to have his name formally changed. The next day his friends asked him, “What did you have your name changed to?” And Charlie Stink replied, “I changed my name to George Stink, but for the life of me, I can’t see what difference it will make.” (1) ...

1230. Getting Through the Grief

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

Getting through grief may be one of the hardest things we do as human beings. One of the best ways to begin the process is to find it within ourselves to stand up and say something in a public setting that puts into words both the personal and collective feelings of all who have gathered to mourn. History is replete with stunning examples. Pericles' Funeral Oration as recorded by Thucydides in The Peloponnesian War is certainly one of them. At the end of the first year of war, the Athenians held, as was ...

1231. The Locust Years

Joel 2:23-32

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Do you like bugs? Yes, they are a part of God's good creation and they have a function within it. But I would be just as content if they went about whatever work they have to do without my ever seeing them. I know I'm not alone. A feeling like that is almost ingrained in us from the time we learn: Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet Eating her curds and whey. Along came a spider and sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away.[1] I don't know if Israel had a nursery rhyme to describe their feelings ...

1232. The Narrow Door

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

King Duncan

Some of you remember George Foreman. Foreman is a two-time former heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He is also an Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and entrepreneur. Foreman is a colorful character who is probably better known today for his George Foreman Grill. When he won his second heavyweight world championship, at age 45, he became the oldest man in the world to win the heavyweight title. It’s quite a remarkable story. In his book, God in My Corner, he tells about that ...

1233. An Announcement about Our Future

Mark 13:32-37

Sermon

King Duncan

The Reverend Richard L. Pearson at one time served the Crescent Park United Methodist Church in Sioux City, Iowa. For several years that church had a living nativity scene. On one particular night it was Pastor Dick’s job, along with a man who had a pick‑up truck, to get a pregnant ewe, which was bedded down in the parsonage garage, to the church. They went to get her about a half hour before performance time. Due to her delicate condition they carefully lifted her into the bed of the truck, and Dick rode ...

1234. Eastern Tribes Return Home

Joshua 22:1-34

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

An Altar Crisis on the Eastern Side of the Jordan River: Joshua closes with three chapters that form an addendum pointing out challenges for the next generation. These chapters include speeches that address concerns of Deuteronomy and use Deuteronomic language. Crises in these passages point toward the book of Judges and the rest of the so-called Deuteronomic History (Samuel and Kings). The closing chapters of Joshua parallel the final chapters of Deuteronomy with its farewell speech of Moses and story of ...

1235. God Subjugates Judah under Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Big Idea: The incomparable Lord is sovereign over all earthly kingdoms, holding rulers and subjects alike accountable for sin and challenging believers to spiritual fidelity. Understanding the Text Daniel 1:1–21 introduces the narratives of chapters 1–6, which reflect the writer’s perspective on the approximately seventy years of Judean exile (605–538 BC) alluded to in verses 1 and 21 and throughout the book. It also serves as the Hebrew prologue to the book’s concentric Aramaic and Hebrew sections (chaps ...

1236. Paying What's Due

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

David G. Rogne

In Joseph Heller's book Catch-22, an Air Force bombardier is desperately seeking relief from going out on the deadly missions he must fly each day. As he gets close to the number of missions that will allow him to be rotated, the number of missions needed for rotation keeps changing. He concludes that only a crazy person would keep flying those dangerous missions. He thinks he must be crazy, and therefore he should be sent home. His superiors agree with him that a crazy person should be sent home but only ...

1237. Love

Romans 12:9-21

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

In his famous hymn to love in 1 Corinthians 13 Paul says, “if … I have not love, I am nothing” (v. 2). In Romans 13 he says that “love is the fulfillment of the law” (v. 10), and he enjoins Christians to owe no one anything except the debt of love (v. 8). In the latter half of Romans 12 Paul provides insight and guidance concerning the nature of love. Love is defined at the outset (v. 9), middle (v. 17), and end (v. 21) as a commitment to good, and especially the victory of good over evil. This section is ...

1238. Actors

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

John Jamison

Whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets.... We can almost see the people in the crowd leaning forward as they try to hear these things Jesus was saying that afternoon on the hillside. He had been talking for a while now, and although he started out talking about things that were theological, he was now getting to things that actually made sense to everyone. It was nice to hear him say how the poor are actually blessed, and the weak ...

1239. God's Most Welcome Gift

Isaiah 9:6-7

Sermon

King Duncan

We’re grateful for the boys and girls in our congregation this evening. I want to begin with a riddle just for them. Boys and girls, what did Adam say to his wife on the night before Christmas? The answer: He said, “It’s Christmas, Eve!” And, of course, it’s true. This is Christmas Eve. And what an exciting evening it is as you await the coming of Santa. Of course this is the season for giving and receiving gifts. And the greatest Giver of gifts is God. Think for a moment about all the gifts God has given ...

1240. Why Pass By?

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) Why didn’t they stop? Why did they pass by? One was a priest and one was a Levite, a member of the priestly class. Their high status was that of the holiest, most revered men in their community. It wasn’t that they didn’t see him there, bleeding, perhaps moaning, dying by the side of the road. That is made clear in the story. They saw him and, intentionally passed by on the other side. Why? Why did they pass by? Maybe ...

1241. Differences

John 7:24

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: Lilacs in three colors (or any other flower which comes in more than one color). Lesson: Differences; tolerance. "I've brought some flowers today. Does anyone know what kind they are?" Right away several of the children tell me they are lilacs. "Are they all lilacs?" I question. The children assure me they are, even though they are of three different colors. "When I was small," I continue, "in fact, until just a few years ago, I thought all lilacs were this light purple color. It's a color which is ...

1242. Have You Confronted Christ?

Mark 3:20-30

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

Simon bar Jacob - Simon, son of Jacob - had just finished the pruning of his olive trees, ending with the three old trees farthest from the road. He was pleased with his work and looked at it for some time, complimenting himself with satisfying grunts. "Job well done!" He turned to look out upon the full olive grove of 57 trees. Each one had received his careful work, talents learned through the years and taught to him by Jacob, his father. But as he looked toward the roadside near the orchard his heart ...

1243. The Thankful Leper

Luke 17:11-19

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: By faith, God makes us whole. With thanksgiving, we witness to God's wonderful work in our lives. People: We believe God touches our lives with innumerable blessings. But our thanksgiving has not been as audible as it ought to be. Pastor: When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one returned to thank him. Which of the ten lepers is most convincing to you? People: The thankful one, of course. May the thankfulness of our hearts come to our lips, and convince others of what God has done for ...

1244. Who Is Jesus?

Matthew 11:1-19

Children's Sermon

Object: A three- or five-way plug and some objects to work off it, such as a razor, a lamp, a can opener, etc. Good morning, boys and girls. Is anyone here excited about what is going to take place in a few weeks? I can remember how excited I used to be at this time of the year when I was your age. I think God likes some of the excitement he causes at this time of the year. We know what Jesus is like and all the wonderful things he can do. But did you know that when Jesus was living in Israel and doing a ...

1245. Getting Untwisted

Galatians 5:1

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Some string that easily twists and untwists, or a necklace or chain. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you hove ever played with a chain or a necklace like this and watched it get all twisted up, and then untwist itself? Oh, that’s good, a lot of you have done this. That means that you will understand what I am talking about in our little experiment. It is important that you watch the chain when it is unwinding, or otherwise it will wind right back up the other way. Now if you want your ...

1246. What Have You Done for Me?

John 12:20-36

Illustration

George Bass

When Count Nicholas Zinzendorf was a young man, he had an experience in an art gallery that changed his life forever. He was born an aristocrat and had always known wealth and luxury, and he was an extremely gifted individual. Zinzendorf had been reared and trained for a diplomatic career in the Court at Dresden. Beyond all of this, it has been said of him that he was a child of God. One day, on a trip to Paris, he stopped for a rest in Dusseldorf; during his stay in the city, he visited the art gallery. ...

1247. Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?

Matthew 24:36-51

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

Theme: An alternative way to celebrate Christmas Characters: Narrator Jason Children (nonspeaking) Father Son Daughter Mother Player 1 Player 2 Mr. Brown Grandmother Mrs. Brown Letter Carrier Props: Basket Ball Table and chairs Eating utensils A-1 Sauce bottle Door Cake Packages Mail bag Cards Unicycle or bicycle Megaphone (Music plays in the background.) Narrator: This is a story about Jason, an eight-year-old boy who had a very strange birthday celebration. (Jason walks to center stage.) Narrator: Jason ...

1248. Set the Sail

Illustration

Warren Wiersbe

In 1853, when young Hudson Taylor was making his first voyage to China, his vessel was delayed near New Guinea because the winds had stopped. A rapid current was carrying the ship toward some reefs and the situation was becoming dangerous. Even the sailors using a longboat could not row the vessel out of the current. "We have done everything that can be done," said the captain to Taylor. But Taylor replied, "No, there is one thing we have not done yet." There were three other believers on the ship, and ...

1249. The Power of Believing

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Edward F. Markquart

Dr. Robert Schuller told the story of a Ph. D. student in mathematics who was going to take his final test for his PhD. Unfortunately, the student arrived late for that test. Everybody else in the classroom had already started the test. On the blackboard were three math problems. The late student sat down immediately to do them. He worked feverously for an hour and a half but everybody else had finished the test and left. He felt to himself, "What an idiot I am, for I am the last one here taking the test. ...

1250. Forgiven!

Sermon

Lee Griess

John 12:1-8 On a recent religious talk show the hostess was interviewing a young woman who had just recently come to know Christ and had been received into the church. Until her recent conversion, she had lived on the wrong side of the tracks, lived in the fast lane, and teetered on the brink of destruction. So overwhelming was the sense of forgiveness that this young woman practically gushed with joy as she spoke. "I can't express," she said, "the sense of gratitude that I feel that God has changed my ...

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