Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1226 to 1250 of 5000 results

Isaiah 61:10–62:3, Luke 2:21-40, Galatians 3:23–4:7, Colossians 3:12-21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... white dress, symbolic of purity. Isaiah exalts that God has clothed his people with the robe of righteousness. That is certainly true for those of us who have put on Christ. God marries his people. The imagery of marriage turns up frequently in the Bible to illustrate the relationship of God to his people and is the primary image of this passage. God loves us, delights in us and has pledged himself to us (covenanted with us). Such a love calls for faithfulness on our part. Epistle: Galatians 4:4-7 The time ...

1227. Love And Friendship

1 John 4:7-21

Sermon

Mark J. Molldrem

... us to follow him as friends. He has befriended us and invites us to be friends to one another in his name. In other words, what Jesus gives to us, he calls out of us to give in turn to one another, as the following story illustrates. Little did Arleen know how their life would be challenged and changed by the knock on the door that early Friday morning. The officers had a warrant for Edgar. Apparently he had been rotating company funds illegally, borrowing money from certain policies to make investments for ...

1228. Love One Another (or Strike Up The Band)

John 13:31-38

Sermon

Lee Griess

... high band, unsure of our parts, tentative in our roles, reluctant to trumpet forth the music of faith that God desires of us. And that's because we have trouble deciding what's most important to us. An incident several summers ago in San Antonio, Texas, illustrates what I'm talking about. It was a hot, 99-degree August day when a ten-month-old baby girl was accidentally locked in a parked car by her aunt. Frantically the mother and the aunt ran around the auto in near hysteria, while a neighbor attempted ...

1229. Fourth Sunday In Advent - Joy!

Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45

Bulletin Aid

David M. Oliver

... need to be able to affirm the spiritual significance and fruitful possibilities to be found in our difficulties and suffering, instead of waiting for fair weather and pleasant circumstances. To do so will assure that true joy, born of faith, will become our song. Let me illustrate this with a story. It was in the midst of adversity, 178 years ago, that two men found a song to sing to the Lord. The young pastor was sad. As he strolled across the snow-covered slopes above his village of Oberndorf, Austria, he ...

1230. A Monolgue from Peter

Mark 8:27-30

Drama

Dr. Raymond Bailey

... that is contrary to strongly held beliefs. We expected a Messiah that was very politically powerful -- a world ruler over the kingdoms of this world. We thought Jesus would do this, and do it now. We simply tuned out any hint of vulnerability. Let me illustrate from an event in your time. In the early '60s it was discovered that there was a clear connection between health and the use of tobacco. The American Cancer Society wrote up the information in pamphlet form -- put such pamphlets in public places for ...

1231. The Return Of The Lost

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

... us home to his love. For you see, God also knows the joy of finding and bringing home that which is lost. Certainly this is good news for us, people who so often feel lost and alone in a difficult and confusing world. As Edward Carothers observes, this parable illustrates very well for us Jesus' belief that, with God's help, our lives can move from bad to good, from hurt to healing, from death to life. "His own personal experience of God led him to see in this process the active work of God. This is the ...

1232. Counting The Cost - Sacrifice

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

... costs to raising children. Before having them, a couple should count the cost. There are just too many lonely and neglected and deprived children out there with parents who have not done so. In the scripture lesson, Jesus makes his point again with another illustration. He asks his audience, "What king, preparing to go to battle against another king, would not first sit down and consider whether or not his army of 10,000 men would be able to fight successfully against 20,000?" This is the mistake that ...

1233. The Condition Of Mercy

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

... willing to do the same for somebody else. What Jesus is saying here is that this is the kind of behavior that God cannot and will not tolerate. This parable is one of the most important teachings that Jesus ever shared. Because in this story Jesus is illustrating the principle which is enshrined in the Lord's Prayer which we say here every Sunday morning: that we are to forgive our debtors just as we have been forgiven by God our Father in heaven. There is no question that it is not easy to forgive those ...

1234. Surprised By Joy

Matthew 13:31-35, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:47-52

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

... a glimpse of the spiritual, of the eternal. Real joy then is that feeling that points toward God. To feel joy is to experience personally the living Spirit of God Almighty in one's heart and soul. In our gospel lesson, Jesus tells a parable that illustrated for his audience the meaning of joy. Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven, which we all are seeking, is like finding treasure that has been buried in a field. In doing so, Jesus strikes a theme which has always had romantic interest for men and women ...

1235. Business Leader

Romans 8:28-39

Eulogy

Mark P. Zacher

Illustration and Conclusion to a Funeral Sermon: On June the 18th, 1915, 175 years ago to this day, the combined forces of Austria, Russia, Great Britain and Prussia, under the leadership of the British general Arthur Wellesly Wellington, engaged the powerful army of the French Empire, under Napoleon Bonaparte, near a ...

1236. When The Boat Keeps Rocking

Psalm 46:1-11

Eulogy

Robert Noblett

... all the talking? Then when you go to talk, their ears are not available. Or on the other hand, do we not know people who will never disclose themselves and want only to be someone with whom others share the contents of their hearts? The simplest illustration of what we are talking about is something we have in our hand hundreds and hundreds of times a year. Telephones have receiving components and sending components. Who ever heard of a telephone where you could only listen and not speak, or speak and not ...

1237. Delivery

Sermon

Michael Rogness

... speaking for two, three or four minutes without notes, select parts of the sermon to deliver without looking at notes. Don't even take those notes into the pulpit. The easiest parts of the sermon to deliver without notes are stories and illustrations, because telling a story without notes seems natural. The next step is to do the opening and closing without notes, because they are the most crucial times in the sermon to speak directly to the congregation. Learning The Manuscript How does one learn ...

1238. The Wonderful Mystery Of The Christian Religion

1 Timothy 3:1-16

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

... blow, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and God's love remains constant. That also is part of the wonderful mystery of the Christian faith. The hymn that we often sing in parting, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again," illustrates our confidence in the wonderful mystery of the Christian religion. Its author, Jeremiah Eames Rankin, told this story of its origin. "Written in 1882 as a Christian's goodbye, it was called forth by no person or occasion, but was deliberately composed as a ...

1239. The Beauty Of Holiness

Psalm 96:1-13, Psalm 29:1-11

Illustration

Clement E. Lewis

... have long been accustomed to using the words from the King James Version. Worship ought to be made beautiful in sight, sound, and thought. The physical settings of worship experiences serve to enhance and reinforce the yearning for understanding and completeness. This may be illustrated by a question: "Would you rather have a picnic on a graveled area in the heat of the sun, or where there is verdure of grass, and the shade of trees?" Worship is best when the scene is not barren, but blessed with good ...

1240. Lo, I Am With You Always

Matthew 11:29; 28:20

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... is seen in our lives. He guides us as we learn from him. His effect upon us shows us that he is with us. As we move through life with Jesus, we are attached to him by an unseen force that is always with us. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When children have been playing ping pong, or some other game that uses a small ball. During the time of cleaning the house. When a child questions why we cannot see the risen Lord.

1241. Keep Spinning

1 John 4:7-21

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... study, and we release it into our world. But, then after we have done that, we must return to worship and study to be strengthened and nurtured again. This give and take is what will keep your Christian life moving, as with the spinning disk. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: On that day when your child doesn't know what to do. Let him or her make this toy and while it is being used in play, you might raise the subject of how we receive from others and then we must give of ourselves to ...

1242. The Lightning And The Current

John 7:46; 14:6

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... , and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Every life, regardless of age or condition, has great powers for good within it, if that life is lived under God's direction. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: During a thunderstorm.* When a child has used his abilities in a wrong way; perhaps hurting someone or destroying something. When a child thinks that his or her abilities are small and unimportant. (The lamp is more useful than the powerful bolt of ...

1243. Inner Warmth

1 John 4:7-21

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... are to be kind and courteous and helpful, not only to our parents, but to our brother and sister; and to all we meet. Let the strong, warm, steady love of God fill your life to overflowing. Then let that fullness be seen. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When there is a lack of expression of love between members of the family. If we truly accept the love others have for us, then by the very nature of love, its warmth will be shared with others. When an older child wants to stop attending ...

1244. Know Your Limitations

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... , a balloon filled with air is fun to have; but one that has been pushed to the breaking point is good for nothing once it has burst. Live to the fullest, but also recognize and accept the limitations life has placed upon you and others. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When a child becomes involved in too many activities. When someone in the family expects too much of self or others. When someone fails to measure up to what has been expected of that person.

1245. Learning From Riddles

Psalm 139:14-16

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... given to us. Just think of all the things you would miss if you could not walk or see or hear or speak. Never take these wonderful gifts for granted! Thank God for them and use them wisely. Learn to take good care of yourself. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When your child comes home with a new riddle. When a child is sick because of improper personal care. When the attitude of the child indicates that he or she thinks that material things are more important than people.

1246. The Sawhorse

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... . It stands as a constant reminder that a man inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus can use even the simplest things in life -- like a sawhorse -- to bring honor and glory to God and to show concern for one's neighbors. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When a sawhorse is being used, or you use firewood in your fireplace. When there is a sick or needy neighbor and there is something you and your children can do to help. When a child feels inferior because of small talents or limited ...

1247. Wave The Flags

John 10:10 · Luke 12:48

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... gifts from God and we are called to respond to his love, as seen in the sacrifices of Jesus. Our response is to obediently follow the pure, holy, perfect example of our Lord, for this is the only way that leads to true, abundant life. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: On a national holiday, when the flag is displayed. After watching a parade, in which the flag was carried.

1248. The Need For Balance

Matthew 4:4

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... each person must work with his or her own life to see that all things are in a proper relationship to all the other parts. Remember also that the best way to keep life balanced is to have God at the center of your life. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: Upon returning home from a circus or other show where jugglers performed. When a child spends too much time watching television or in some other activity.

1249. Listening To The Whistle

James 2:14-17

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... to do these things? The Spirit of God must enter into us and be seen and heard in the way we live. Listen again to the whistle ... and remember that if the outside force does not pass through, the whistle would be a useless instrument. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When a child fails to do what is expected. When a small child has just received a new toy whistle. After attending a game where a whistle was used by the referee.

1250. Patience In Learning

Romans 8:25

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... for doing other things later. This morning I want to give you a little lesson in patience. Here is a candy bar. You may have it now, but I want you to wait until after lunch before you remove the wrapper and eat it. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When your child complains about not being able to do what an older brother or sister can do. When your child does not want to practice something that you feel is important for your child to learn. When you have been to a baseball game or ...

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