Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1276 to 1300 of 4938 results

1276. What to Do With Human Failing

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9) Notice what is happening in this story. A backyard fig tree has yet to produce figs. The owner suggests giving up and cutting the tree down. The gardener suggests another way. Give it more time and a little tender loving care. Loosen the soil and apply some fertilizer. Give it another year. If it still doesn’t produce figs, the option of cutting it down will still be available ...

1277. Thy Will Be Done

Luke 20:27-38

Sermon

Molly F. James

... possibly be capable of, but in fact it is probably one we do on an almost daily basis. We just might not see it that way. Think of a beloved person in your life, a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend. Think of all the ways in which you give up something of yourself — your time, your resources, your love, because you know it makes a difference in their well-being. It is easy to give of yourself because you know the joy it brings you to see that beloved person happy and well. We all know of stories from 9 ...

1278. Are You Ready to Wait?

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Albert G. Butzer III

... hope. We may pray, “Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven,” but in spite of our well-meaning prayers, God’s kingdom seems no closer today than it did yesterday or last month or last year. No wonder we are tempted to toss in the towel, give up our hope for a better tomorrow, and call it quits. But the New Testament won’t let us do that and in its own prophetic way urges us to believe that “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again,” as we say in our Communion liturgy. The ...

1279. Feet and Hearts

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

Mary Austin

... of our doubt… our fickleness of faith when things don’t go well… our inattention… our small thinking. Jesus sees all of that in his friends, as he sees it in us, and what does he do? He comes closer. He doesn’t throw up his hands and give up. He doesn’t run away. He comes closer. On this night, he gives his friends — and us — these enduring signs of his presence. In the depths of human emotion, in the worst that we can be, at our least faithful, he comes closer. Everyone is welcome at the ...

1280. I Am Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-10

Drama

Dr. Raymond Bailey

... to be better around this house. Why, this morning, he even took the garbage out!" I laughed right out loud. If I had followed the orthodox teachings of my family, we wouldn't be eating hog anyway. But, she's right. I may even have to give up my vocation. I'll probably be a lousy tax collector. I'm not into control anymore. I've surrendered the control over my life, and its circumstances, to the Master. I found myself, wonder of wonders, entering this relationship without even negotiating a contract. My old ...

1281. A Big Fisherman · Peter

Mt 16:13-20 · Jn 1:35-42

Sermon

Gordon Pratt Baker

... with equal vigor. Nor did Peter neglect Jerusalem while doing all this. Instead, as Henry K. Rowe reminds us, he led his fellow disciples "in a drive on the callous soul of Jerusalem and won many." Here was a man who might give out, but he would never give up. For he had the courage to follow the dictates of his heart, not the least of which was the conviction he held that God was calling him to break down the distinction between Jew and Gentile. It was a conviction upon which Peter stood ready to act at ...

1282. Living Sacrifices

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

William J. Carl

... her what had inspired her Christian faith and action, she shared her story of how seeing another Christian’s faith converted her. She was a Jew fleeing the German Gestapo in France during World War II. She knew she was close to being caught and she wanted to give up. When she came to the home of a French Huguenot, a widow working with the underground came to tell her it was time to flee to a new place. This Jewish lady said, “It’s no use, Ma’am, they’ll find me anyway. They are so close behind ...

1283. Stewards of Creation

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... issues. The American farmer is having a tough time financially right now. When we Americans get our back up against the wall with a negative cash flow (which used to be called losing money), we are apt to compromise all of our ethics and give up all of our Christian morals. Herbert H. Kirsten wrote in The Des Moines Register of June 7, 1985, "A prudent solution requires a national land-use law that will recognize that each generation of land users are merely temporary guests on farmland that must support ...

1284. The Technicolor Sign

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

Larry Powell

... to his question by promptly "sweeping it under the couch," exposing the young man’s reserves: "One thing you lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me" (Luke 18:22). Unwilling to give up his reserves and affix his signature to the covenant, "he went away sad." What do you hold in reserve? A personal habit, is it, which if removed would cause you distress? A sizable chunk of ego to which you feel you are entitled? A segment of ...

1285. Hang in There!

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... is no substitute for faith. As Jesus said on another occasion, it can move mountains. You church historians among us will remember what a hopelessly debauched prodigal young Augustine was. Many parents would have thrown up their hands, yet his mother absolutely refused to give up hope that be could become great in the sight of God. As he went from bad to worse she prayed day and night, sharing her broken-hearted pleas with priest and bishop. Even the most distressing news of his last escapade could not ...

1286. The Awesome Power Of Love

John 15:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... bodies. Love heals hearts, emotions, spirits. LOVE ALSO LIFTS US TO A HIGHER PLANE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. How often the story has been told, "He did it because of love." That was true of Elias Howe. He was a man broken in health and poverty stricken. He wanted to give up. After all, why keep trying when life has knocked you down so many times? Day by day, though, he watched his wife slowly sewing in order to get them a little money for the next meal. Beyond and above all things, Howe loved his wife, and it hurt ...

1287. The Cross We Do Not Want To See

Mark 15:21-32

Sermon

King Duncan

... died a brutal death. Pastor Rouse sums up the meaning of that event for him particularly in the light of the cross: "Our Lord and Savior," he writes, "expressed extravagant love for the unlovely, the wretched, the worst of the worst. He saved our lives while giving up His own. He experienced the full weight of sin as it smashed into Him at Calvary, while we stood at a safe distance and watched." Douglas G. Pratt a pastor in Allison Park, Pennsylvania drew another analogy. He notes that in the 1993 hit film ...

1288. Trees

Jeremiah 16:1--17:18

Sermon

King Duncan

... resin and oil content, the trees served as living torches, igniting the houses and vegetation around them. Such trees as pine and juniper which regularly drop their leaves will also provide fuel for an oncoming fire. But that doesn't mean you should give up on landscaping altogether. Fire-prevention experts suggest that you provide a fire break for your home by planting only succulent plants that retain water around your home--like cacti, yuccas, and euphorbias. (2) I hope you never have to worry about such ...

1289. Living with the End in Mind

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

Sermon

King Duncan

... on to your heirs? Are you living out those values right now? One of Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is, “Live with the End in Mind.” That’s what we are to do today. And those of you who have lost someone you love--don’t give up. The person you love is now in Christ’s care. They know a peace and a joy that is unattainable in this world. One day, you’ll be reunited. In the meantime, this sanctuary is a good place to be each week. On February 1, 2003, the U.S. lost ...

1290. An Incredible Encounter

Genesis 32:22-31

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... the following story about Disney: "Several years ago I met a gentleman who served on one of Walt Disney's original advisory boards. What amazing stories he told! Those early days were tough; but that remarkable, creative visionary refused to give up. I especially appreciated the man's sharing with me how Disney responded to disagreement. He said that Walt would occasionally present some unbelievable, extensive dream he was entertaining. Almost without exception, the members of the board would gulp, blink ...

1291. Swept Away!

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... can wait expectantly. We can bury our fears in the deep valleys of sleep. Or we can wake up and watch the horizon. We can crawl into caves of dread and despair. Or we can find our way into the hallowed halls of hope. We can give up and settle for little. Or we can work diligently for the salvation of the world - trusting that God will complete our work with wholeness and abundance. In her novel Animal Dreams, Barbara Kingsolver introduces us to two sisters - Codi and Hallie - whose mother died in childbirth ...

1292. The Gravity of Grace

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... free fall is the best we can do, we can grasp at the grace we are freely offered, " ... so that we ... might live for the praise of [God's] glory" (v.12). The pleasures of grace are yours. But the pleasures of grace don't come cheap. You have to give up living to please yourself and live a life that is pleasing to God. Whom do you want to please the most? John 5:30 reads "I seek not to please myself but him who sent me" (NIV). Even Jesus did not please himself. Whom are you going to please? What ...

1293. Light and Hope for the New Year

John 1:10-18

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... . However intractable, however persistent, however treacherous the darkness seems to be, it cannot win. God's light continues to shine. That statement is not just wishful thinking, not just looking on the bright side. That statement is faith. It is a faith that refuses to give up, refuses to surrender to the darkness of the world. It is a faith that claims the promise of the victory of the light. It is a faith that seeks to bring light to the darkened parts of our world, sharing grace and healing with those ...

1294. St. Andrew Christians

John 1:35-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the Christ. With our words and with our witness we the “St. Andrew Christians” should be spending our lives introducing people to the truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus is doing in this world. St. Andrew Christians don’t just offer to give up their seat on the bus or our space in the parking lot. St. Andrew Christians offer Jesus to all the world. As Jesus’ disciples we have “bragging rights.” It is our mission to go around “bragging on Jesus.” When Jesus performed healing miracles he ...

1295. Playing the Blame Game

John 9:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... That is how many of us might have responded particularly if we had let our blindness defeat us, make us bitter, cause us to give up on God. That’s how this man could have responded. I can’t help but believe that this man’s healing was connected to ... or in the life of someone you love, believe that God’s will is for healing. Look for that healing. Work for that healing. Never give up hope. Just as Christ healed the man blind from birth, God’s will is for all God’s children to be well, to be strong ...

1296. Learn To Play Again

Mark 10:13-16

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... to know how this shorter catechism begins? “What is the chief end of humankind? To glorify God and enjoy him forever!” I come across so many people who won’t allow God into their lives because they think God is going to make them give up fun. Many misguided Christians have perpetuated this nonsense. They give off the impression that to become a Christian means the party is over — that being spiritual means being miserable. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, to become a Christian means ...

1297. Pop Verses: Lamentations 3:22-23

Lamentations 3:22-23

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... ” means “wholeness.” So you need help from God today? You need hope? Ask God for help and wait quietly and confidently for his help. Let me tell you what I have learned: “God may not come early, but he will never be late!” He is always on time. Don’t give up! Help is on the way! In the meantime, don’t try to guess what God is going to do. Just trust his word and stick close to him. And don’t look at everything at once. Just do the necessary things God calls you to do, one step at time ...

1298. Who Is This Man?

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... her anyway. And then something quite unexpected happens, something that never happens in traditional fairy tales. Rather than being transformed back into the beautiful Cameron Diaz-like princess, Fiona is permanently transformed into a fat, green ogre. She loves Shrek so much that she gives up her former beauty and becomes like him. (3) And that, of course, is what God does for us in Jesus Christ. Out of His great love for us, God empties Himself and becomes as we are. Who is this man Jesus? He is the ...

1299. Some Greeks

John 12:20-33

Sermon

John Jamison

... recognition on his part that he had done everything he could do to prepare but it was now time for the big test. He said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” His ministry had come to its end and the final step was to give up his life to help people understand. That was the only way they would grasp that he was not interested in being ruler of a temple or a country but was really talking about something beyond that. The fact that the Greeks had come to him showed that his message had ...

1300. Stay Awake!

Mark 13:24-37

Sermon

Michael L. Sherer

... such a way that you will be alert when events transpire that you believe to be of critical importance to you. In this young woman’s defense, once the World Series began, she stayed awake for every game. Her comment was, “True Cubs fans never give up.” And, in demonstration of her commitment to her favorite team, she remained faithful to the last out — staying awake for all of it. The writer of the gospel of Mark sets the tone for the Christian season of Advent with appropriate advice. “Something ...

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