Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1226 to 1250 of 4884 results

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... " in order that we might become what we were not -"the Righteousness of God." It all began in the Crib. Because without the Crib there would have been no Cross. It began in the Crib but was Perfected on the Cross and made a Reality through the EmptyCave. What we need to remember is that Jesus didn't die on the Cross for the perfect. Jesus didn't die for the Godly. Jesus didn't die for the good. If so, none of us would have had a chance. Jesus died for the imperfect, ungodly, sinners like us. The Crib, The ...

1227. Living In The Spirit Of Peace

Galatians 5:22-25, Colossians 3:14-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Colossians 3:14-15 (NRSV) [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let me also read the quote which concerning the Fruit of the Spirit. "Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace ...

1228. Seeing God In The Ordinary: Family

Luke 4:16-30

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . We can see God in the ordinary when family helps us hold it together. III. Family Helps Us By Inspiring We can see God in the ordinary when family helps us by inspiring. Believe me, I know that not all families are what you would call perfect or near perfect, let alone inspiring. The only role model my family could have been used for was that of a "dysfunctional family." But we put the word fun in dysfunctional. A lot of you grew up in similar situations. And yet in the midst of those difficult situations ...

1229. God IS In The Ordinary

Romans 12:1-2, 9-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect.... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." That's why John Wesley gave us Three Simple Rules: Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God. Show the world your love affair with God. Let them see that love through the Harm you ...

1230. Plenty Of Room

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... and during all the baptisms I've performed, I've never heard a voice from heaven. However, each time I baptized an infant, teen or adult, I knew that those words to be true, even though they were unspoken because in baptism God reminds us Who We Are. B. A perfect example can be found in Pixar's Toy Story 2. In the movie, Woody is kidnapped and taken to the apartment of a "bad" toy store owner. Woody finds himself in a dark room, all alone. He's trying to escape when he hears noises behind him and sees ...

1231. Walking First Class

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... like Christ every day. Walkers are those are folks who are truly trying to live the faith. These are the folks who are attempting to be "transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." Or as Wesley would have said are "going on to perfection." Walkers would never admit that they were there but they would admit that they are striving to be like Christ in all they do. These are the folks who influence other people's lives simply by the way they live. You can see the priority of Christ in ...

1232. That's All I Want

Psalm 23:1

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... both David and the Disciples, they had a clear understanding of the role of the shepherd. They could see the shepherds tending their flocks almost every day. They saw the care given and the response of the sheep. And if you think about it, it's a perfect parallel to our relationship with God through Christ. That's why the Biblical writers depict Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Martin Marty points out that a shepherd is needed only when there aren't any fences. The shepherd is someone who stays with his sheep at ...

1233. Cross Eyed: Rebuke

Mark 8:31-38

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... own cross, a life of the bruised shoulder. The cross reminds us WHOSE we are: we belong to Christ. And the cross reminds us WHO we are: we are the Forgiven, those who have been saved by Grace. The cross reminds us that on our own, things will never be perfect. On our own, we will never be whole. On our own, we will never find peace. On our own, we can never know forgiveness, reconciliation or redemption. The cross reminds us that no matter how hard we try, we just can't do it on our own. But through the ...

1234. Conflict Resolution (Series: Fundamentals of Family)

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... whose daughter had been mugged on Main Street. — Sometimes we need to get things in perspective. It will be a happier day in our families when we stop demanding perfection of those we love. You did not marry your idealized woman or man. You married a flawed human being. Your children are not angels and parents are not perfect. We all have our quirks. We squeeze the toothpaste differently, have different tolerance levels of messiness around the house, and hold varied notions of a good time. We all make ...

1235. Valley of Weakness (Series: Peace in the Valley)

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... takes a different slant on strength and weakness. “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” These are hard words, probing words, wonderful words of life. God is not looking for persons who are perfect, but people who are human, bendable, moldable, shapeable, and willing to go with him all the way. Samson was the strongest man who ever lived, but he crumbled a building to his own demise. Pilate was in control of the court that sentenced Jesus to ...

1236. Discover the Surprise of Christmas

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... filled with hope. One in which we know we are not alone. Christmas is about the future and that surprises people Throughout Advent as we've prepared our hearts and homes for the Birth of Christ, we've talked about the greatest and most perfect gift God has ever given. Through the lighting of candles, decorating the Sanctuary, singing the carols and all those other preparations we've made, we've reminded ourselves that gift of Christmas came in the Person of Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes. But somehow ...

1237. The Gift of Preparation

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... , too. Not because of the characters, but because of this boy's love for God and Jesus and Christmas that went into building the scene out of materials at hand and wanting to share it with his parents. What could be more perfect than that? Even if it did feel like drinking a dill pickle milkshake. That's the way we feel when John the Baptist shows up in our Christmas celebration. And here he is again. Once more muddying the waters of Christmas. Listen to the Passage from John. John 1:6- ...

1238. Dare To DV8

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. [3] For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. [4] For as in one body ...

1239. Revelation 1:4-8

Revelation 1:4-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... nature of the godhead in a unique way. God the Father is declared to be the one “who is and who was and who is to come,” a divine title used only in Revelation (1:4, 8; 11:17; 16:5). The Holy Spirit is described in sevenfold perfection as “the seven spirits who are before his throne.” The Son is identified by both names, “Jesus Christ,” and by his unique place in the divine mission as “the firstborn of the dead” and “the ruler of all the kings of the earth.” Jesus is the “faithful ...

1240. This Is the Day!

Psalm 118:1-29

Sermon

King Duncan

... corner of the building meant that it was foundational to the integrity of the walls. If it was faulty, the building itself would be unsound. To the surprise of the builders they discovered that this very stone which they initially threw away was the perfect fit. As the verse says, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” No wonder the New Testament church counted this as one of the messianic prophecies. It reminded them of Isaiah’s words of hope: “Behold I am laying ...

1241. Cast All Your Anxiety on Him

1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Raymond and The Osbornes than the 1950's idyllic family portrayals. Do you know what the prefect family and the Easter bunny have in common? They're both a myth. Families and the people that make up families can change and be perfected. But there's really no such thing as a perfect family. Unfortunately we aren't given an owner's manual when we enter into a marriage covenant. Or when have children. We have to learn from the mistakes of our parents, our own mistakes and from Scripture. And Scripture has a ...

1242. The Real Thirst Quencher

Revelation 22:1-6

Sermon

King Duncan

... everlasting life.” Notice it does not say only those who are worthy; notice it doesn’t say only those who are perfect. “Whosoever believeth in him . . .” Do you believe in Christ? Christ believes in you regardless of who you are or what ... But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If you and I were perfect, Christ would not need to have died. But he did die. For whom did he die? “Whoever.” Pastor Tyler Grant of Willmar, Minnesota tells ...

1243. Where Do We Grow from Here?

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... his own bread? I understand. Even so, I risk the boldness of such an undiluted call: Devote yourself to the church. How else can you interpret Paul’s word? Why does Christ grace us? For what purpose are gifts given? Listen to verse 12: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” That is transparently clear. We are equipped for ministry and for edifying the body of Christ. Paul makes no exception. All the spirit’s gifts are to equip us for ...

1244. Happy Marriage...It's All About Choices

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

James W. Moore

... each other and you want to share all of life together… and you are just as married as any couple that’s ever taken those sacred vows. That’s what it’s all about! All the candles and pageantry… that’s just frosting on the cake. There are no perfect weddings and the things that went wrong are just things to laugh about and have fun with for years to come. You love each other… and you are married… that’s the important thing.” Put that over against this. There is a couple I know who had one ...

1245. On the Road with the Little Children

Luke 18:15-17

Sermon

James W. Moore

... … and respond in a way that was absolutely filled with amazement and wonder and joy and gratitude, even ecstasy. * Her little fingers would hole the stem delicately. * (What would you expect? She was and is such a perfect little lady.) * Her eyes would get big as saucers. * Her little mouth would form a perfect circle. * As she would excitedly draw in her breath in awe, Taking in the miracle of the moment, the miracle of discovery, the miracle of an exquisite leaf made by the hand of God. Then she would ...

1246. You Are Accepted

Lk 7:36-50

Illustration

King Duncan

... we loved, or from which we were estranged. It strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness, our hostility, and our lack of direction and composure have become intolerable to us. It strikes when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness and it is as though a voice were saying ...

1247. On Being Faithful and Focused

Hebrews 11:1, 32 – 12:2

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... ? Will the gifts of Walter Nipper bear dividends for the future? Will the seeds of Henry Bixler, planted by Bob Spain and watered by Joe Pennel, come to full fruit and reproduction in our time? In God's plan, “only together with us will they be made perfect," says the writer of Hebrews. Will those who went before us find us faithful? The year was 1995. Professional golfer, Ben Crenshaw, was in Augusta preparing to play the Masters. He had won the green jacket in 1984. He was determined he was going to win ...

1248. Facing Our Fears with Faith

Matthew 10: 27-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... shadow of death, I will fear no evil for God is with me." “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." “There is no fear in love because perfect love casts out fear." “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, nor mourning, or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." Fear not, for God is there. We sing because we're happy We sing because we're ...

1249. We Hold These Truths To Be Essential

1 Peter 3:8-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... of qualifications on following. Peter, John, Bartholomew, Nathaniel, “Just come on. Let's go. We'll talk about it, just come on. Come on and follow. You know, just do it. Start walking." You want to enter this fellowship? Just move with it. But, let me be perfectly honest with you. We will settle for nothing less than helping you be formed in the image of Jesus Christ. This same Jesus began saying to people, “If you want to be my disciple, then deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me." It was ...

1250. Turning Evil Into Good

Genesis 45:1-8a, 50:19-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... all things worked together for good," I was extremely naïve concerning the nature of evil. While my family of origin was far from perfect, I was safe there, protected from the evil one and seldom acquainted with grief. There were no TV's in those days to ... said—Your pit is only a state of mind. A Hindu showed up and said—Your pit is for purging you and making you more perfect. Confucius said—If you would have listened to me, you wouldn't have been in the pit in the first place. A Reporter said—Could ...

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