Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1276 to 1300 of 1795 results

Galatians 6:11-18

Sermon

James W. Moore

... ourselves Christian can do no less than preach Christ by the way we live. The best witness is the person who lives the faith day-in and day-out, the one who stands tall for what is good and right and clean, the one who sees Christianity as a life-style… not just a creed we profess, but a life we live. Remember how powerfully Edgar Guest put it in his poem entitled Sermons We See… “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely show the way. The ...

1277. On the Road with Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

James W. Moore

... God. We play around with some of the notes of faith, but we don’t play the full scale… - We forgive, but not completely. - We love, but not completely. - We serve, but not completely. - We accept Christ, but not completely. - We live the Christian life-style but not completely. - We commit our lives to God, but not completely. But then, even when we treat God shabbily, in his infinite patience and amazing grace, he continues to reach out to us,… he continues to love us. Some years ago, a young man ...

1278. Assurance: The Privilage of All Believers

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... last Sunday on Christian perfection or sanctification, and our sermon today. The birds “sang under the brooding shadow of the raven. In simple truth they had forgotten the raven, for they were the singers of life and not of death.” It is a revealing image of the style of a Christian. How beautifully and with what power did Paul express it in our scripture from Romans 8? Listen to him: Verse 2 —“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death.” Verse ...

1279. Dying to Live

John 12:20-36

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the question more graphic. Where are we as we consider our call in relation to that kind of commitment, “Whom will I send, and who will go for us?” Are you listening? Are you really listening? Do you hear? Really hear? Jesus said, when we follow him in dying as style of life, when we finally die we will be where he is – that is we will live with him eternally. That clinches his argument. I’m convinced – Are you? Dying we live!

1280. God's Chosen People: Partners

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the dead. Then it hit me. It is the same reveille played as a trumpet call to awaken soldiers in the morning. What a symbol. Music in memory of the dead, the same music to awaken us in the morning. Jesus said when we follow him in dying as a style of life, we will be where he is when we die – that is we will be awakened to live eternally. That clinches his argument. I pray that you are convinced.

1281. Redemption: A Wide Angle Picture

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... temples and cities. For years the toiling masses had longed for his death, thinking that would bring a relaxation of their miseries. Yet, when he died, his successor, Menethah, instead of relaxing the inexorable cruelty of his father, maintained and enforced his style. Now it seemed as though their heartstrings long stretched to breaking point, could endure the strain no longer. So, they groaned under their bondage, and they cried out for help. Now focus on God’s response. He heard their groaning, and he ...

1282. Let God Be God - As if It Could Be Otherwise

Exodus 7:14-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... abort new life. I believe the next few decades are going to reveal suffering we’ve never dreamed of - suffering of people who have taken this easy route of abortion to deal with what in its best light may be labeled an irresponsible life-style, and which, at its worst and probably in its most truthful description – must be labeled a life of sin. The mental, emotional, and relational suffering that is going to come from this is going to occupy psychiatrists, psychologists, and ministers for years to come ...

1283. When Being Christian Has Worn You Down (Compassion Fatigue)

1 John 4:7-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... summary the bottom-line: “And this commandment we have from him: that He who loves God loves his brother also.” (vs. 21) That’s our call the call to love. We’re clear about that. There’s no other alternative. When you boil it all down - compassion is the style of the Christian – loving out of the love of God, loving with the Love of God, continuing to love until we give up the last ounce of our being on behalf of the Kingdom. Now that wears us out. We get tired. We grow weary, and there’s no ...

1284. Who Are We Waiting For?

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of the Kingdom of God – God has a better idea – He makes the going great – He’s worked wonders – He lights your path – He’s gotten the stain out that others left behind – He cared enough to send the very best. This little girl operated after the style of God Himself. God knew that not many could rise to the understanding of the prophet Isaiah. So when the time was right – when the fullness of time had come, the scripture says – He sent his own Son to show us who He was, to fulfill our ...

1285. The Geography of the Christian Experience

Galatians 1:11-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . Women, slaves, children you are somebody. God loves you. You are free.” Now, he says, be submissive voluntarily not because you are a woman, but because you are Christian - all Christians - men included are to be subject to one another in love. Submission is the Christ style of life. Paul called women and men to live a new life in the home to demonstrate Christ’s love. His word to men was as radical as his word to women. “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her ...

1286. Not a Servant, but a Son

Galatians 4:6-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... -Rebecca’s porch to watch the night arrive, and talk into the darkness, It was news-swapping time, a bit of gossip, a sharing of home-spun wisdom, and a good deal of conversation that was repeated for generations. In his attention-holding story-telling style, Baker told of the “outstanding persons of the town” who would not be on the porch. One as Annie Grisby, “Ida-Rebecca’s next-door neighbor!’ Annie had been born in slavery, and that made her a notable citizen. Her log house was pointed out ...

1287. When You Want to Run Away

Psalm 11:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... with God – being able to behold God’s face. I’ve shared with you before my appreciation for Sheila Cassidy’s autobiography, Audacity to Believe. It’s the moving story of her experience in Chile when she was arrested by Chile’s Gestapo—style secret police treating a wounded revolutionary She was in solitary confinement for 3 weeks and then for five weeks she was in a crowded detention camp with over 100 women political prisoners. A doctor, for some unexplainable reason, brought her a Bible, It ...

1288. Led by the Spirit, Tempted by the Devil

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , we’re affirmed, the heavens are opened, and we hear God’s voice. But the wilderness is just beyond the Jordan, just outside the doors of this church - maybe in the office do your daily work, where competition and callousness mark the style of relationships – where money is god and material success is the kingdom most folks are seeking. Or, the wilderness may in the marriage relationship that is far from heavenly or affirming. The wilderness may be the new life invitation you are now experiencing ...

1289. When It's Time to Reconcile

Romans 12:9-21

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the aisle toward Billy, the preacher and every person in the congregation cringed at what might be about to happen. But the old man came to the front of the church and when he got to Billy, he bent his creaky knees until he could sit down Indian-style beside him. He reached over and said, “We’ll enjoy this together.” Together they sat on the floor in the front of the church until the service ended. That day a self-righteous church understood what it means to love one another. By this shall all people ...

1290. Why Am I A United Methodist?

I Timothy 1:12-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... less time denouncing it. In essentials, let us have unity. B. In Non-Essentials, Liberty But in non-essentials, it is our way to express liberty. “Think and let think.” Does the water capacity of a baptismal pool really matter? Is the style of worship or instruments used a barometer of spiritual vitality? Does the frequency of communion determine the faithful? Should the day of worship define a denomination? Is any agreement about the end of the world conclusive? Is the gender of the preacher ordained ...

1291. Jesus’ 10 Commandments

Luke 8:26-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , as toxic and traumatic as those that came raging forth from the Geresene demoniac. The spew from one of our most destructive demons is even now washing up in greasy globs all along the coastlines in the Gulf of Mexico. We are possessed by a life style lubricated by more and more oil. We will do anything to keep the grease coming. We are possessed by a greed that puts profits before protecting people and the planet. We are possessed by an insatiable desire for “more stuff” — and the cost of that ...

1292. Foundations are Critical

Matthew 7:24-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the winds blew and beat against the house. God never said you’d only have sunshine. He never said there’d be no rain. He only promised a heart full of singing, about the very things that once caused pain. I’m concerned about a style of architecture that is emerging in Christian churches throughout our community and around the world. We are building auditoriums with the finest of sound systems, the latest in stage lighting, and the best of theater seating, but no cross is to be found on the premises ...

1293. What Power Has He?

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... people, including members of his own family and his own political party. I remembered how he kept his country in turmoil and persecution. I watched again the tapes of his claim to fame and defiance against the United Nations. I saw once more his elaborate life style full of palaces and personal extravagance. Then I saw the spider hole where he spent the last days of his life. I watched the endless running of the tapes as a doctor searched his head for lice. I thought how he more closely resembled a homeless ...

1294. What Is the Future of United Methodism?

John 2:12-22

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... now read Community, Fellowship, Non-denominational. Even churches that are connected to denominations often hide their identification. Grace Street was lined with lovely, matured trees, manicured lawns, and three churches. The three churches were each built in different styles and shapes, but they each posted a sign out front proudly displaying the name of their church. The three churches were named First Community Church, Second Community Church, and Third Community Church. One day the pastors of these ...

1295. The Lord's Unanswered Prayer

John 17:20-23

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... and administrative mergers. Many of you in business know what I'm talking about. Whether in church or business, merging structures is not the same as uniting people. We should never organize our churches the same. We don't need to. We need never worship in the same style. We don't need to do that. We will never believe exactly and precisely the same thing. Nor should we. Unity is not uniformity. There must be diversity in our unity or we will all die of boredom. But here is the clue. Unity is not something ...

1296. The Power of a Vision

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... lived on their own. Verse 15—He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them. Church is not about you, not about me, not about being conservative or liberal, not about denominational loyalty, not about worship styles—Church is about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who has the power to make us what we ought to be. Somewhere in our lives we make a decision about that. For me it was a long time ago, as a teenager. I remember making ...

1297. From Hunger to Satisfaction

Mark 6:30-44

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... a hunger that food will not satisfy? Jesus, tempted in the wilderness to turn stones to bread, replies to Satan: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." The sin of gluttony is not about size, or style, not even health. It is about idolatry. It is the assumption that food will provide the comfort, the satisfaction, the acceptance that God alone can give. Verses 39, 40: “Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass ...

1298. From Greed to Generosity

Mark 10:17-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... of the common good. We all have a need for greed. We are born to be greedy. It would be easy today to talk about the greediness of Enron executives who are on trial for pocketing millions of dollars. It would be convenient today to criticize the extravagant life styles of the rich and famous, the music stars, the football heroes, who live and work in this community. That's not what I intend to do. I want talk about me. I want to talk about you. I want to talk about those personal desires and hidden needs ...

1299. Reaching Up—Reaching Out

Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... would do for them, I made up my mind that God should have all of William Booth there was." Thirty-six years ago this past June, I was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church. The presiding bishop was Roy H. Short. Bishop Short had a unique style of preaching. He knew how to tell stories before story-telling was an art. He seamed his sermons together with gospel songs and jingles that he collected or made up. He said something in a sermon all those years also, I have never been able to get off ...

1300. The Humble King

John 12:12-19

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... Worship is not designed to please us, but to exalt Jesus. The question is not did the service suit me? The question is did it honor God? Jesus said, “God is spirit and those who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth." Worship is not about style; worship is about Spirit. In genuine worship God's presence is felt, God's pardon is offered, God's purposes are revealed and God's power is displayed. In genuine worship we bow before our Maker. Easterners have the art of bending and bowing as a means of ...

Showing results