Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1301 to 1325 of 4914 results

1301. Faith As Healing Energy

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

Most doctors would agree with Norman Cousins, who wrote recently in a national magazine, "The belief system is often activator of the healing system."1 Faith actually affects the chemistry of the body. It can be so specific that it has been called "Spiritual energy injection." Faith makes a difference in health. Through faith (trust), energy channels are opened between the Creator and the created and our bodies begin to function as they are designed to. Even when we feel as though we’re cornered, we are ...

1302. Grace in the Midst of Unanswered Prayer

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Glenn McDonald

No one ever really prepares you for your first theological bull session. Usually it arrives without fanfare or advance warning. Usually it happens long before you enter the relative clear-headedness of your adult years, or before you take that philosophy course in college. Usually it happens when you're a junior high school student, up late with friends at a sleepover, or camping out in somebody's backyard. There's just something about a smoky fire and charred food and stars out overhead that turns twelve- ...

1303. The Holy Spirit Came Upon Them

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Elizabeth Achtemeier

This reading from Acts is the stated lesson in all three cycles of the lectionary. The preacher may therefore want to consult the expositions in Cycles A and B also. In our first lesson for last Sunday, just before his ascension into heaven, the risen Christ commanded his disciples to remain in Jerusalem and to wait until they were clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49) by the gift of the Holy Spirit to them (Acts 1:8). Only then would the disciples be equipped with the power and ability to be Christ ...

1304. The Pride Is Right

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Sermon

James Merritt

The name, Albert Einstein, is one of the most well-known names in all the world. Time magazine chose him as "Person of the Century." His influence is seen in every life around the world. The atomic bomb, the big bang, electronics, quantum physics all bear his influence. He will probably be considered for all time the standard by which all scientists measure themselves. But as tall as he was in scientific theory, he was equally as small in spiritual theology. Because even though Einstein believed in a being ...

1305. Come On Baby, Light My Fire

Matthew 3:11-12

Sermon

James Merritt

I am beginning a series of messages on the Holy Spirit that I have titled "Earth, Wind and Fire." There are many metaphors that are used in the Bible to describe the Holy Spirit. In Matt. 3:16 He is compared to a dove that flies. In John 7:38 He is compared to water that flows. In John 3:8 He is compared to wind that blows. But here in Matt. 3:11 He is compared to a fire that burns. That is why I have entitled this message, "Come On Baby, Light My Fire" because we all need to be set on fire by the Holy ...

1306. Earth, Wind and Fire

Acts 2:1-21; John 15:26-27, 16:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

A church going family took a little girl who was visiting with them to church one Sunday. This girl had never been to church in her life but seemed to enjoy the experience. When they returned home and were eating lunch, they asked the girl what she thought about the experience. She said she liked it, but she was confused about one thing. She asked why the Whole West Coast wasn't included. Nobody in the family knew what she was talking about. So, she explained, "The man in the front kept talking about the ...

1307. Ignite: Fight Fire with Fire

Acts 4:1-22

Sermon

James Merritt

No matter what you do for a living every job has its drawbacks. Every job has its way of jobbing you and all vocations have their frustrations. One of the great frustrations of being a pastor is the realization that people are always looking for the perfect church. I can’t tell you how many times pastors will hear people complain about something in the church, but they will always preface their remarks by saying, “Now I know no church is perfect…” But what you know deep down is they are looking for the ...

1308. Tyre, Sidon—and Israel

Ezekiel 26:1-21, Ezekiel 27:1-36, Ezekiel 28:1-19, Ezekiel 28:20-26

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

In the final form of Ezekiel, a collection of oracles against the Phoenician city-state of Tyre (26:1–28:19) interrupts a series of short oracles against the minor kingdoms surrounding Israel (beginning in 25:1). The pattern of short oracles resumes with a brief oracle against the second major Phoenician port city, Sidon (28:20–23), followed by a summary and conclusion to all the oracles against the nations (28:24) and a promise of salvation for Israel (28:25–26). It seems likely, then, that this series of ...

1309. Pop Verses: Isaiah 40:28-31

Isaiah 40:28-31

Sermon

Charley Reeb

Today I continue our series “Pop Verses.” We are taking a closer look at some of the most popular Bible verses. We are finding out why they are so popular and how they apply to our lives. Quite often our favorite verses are just that – they’re verses. They’re not read in context. This can lead to a misunderstanding about the meaning of the verse. I believe this series is giving us a lot of food for thought about these popular verses. Today our pop verses come from the prophet Isaiah. It is a beautiful ...

1310. Soul Food

Luke 9:10-17, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, John 6:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“I am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:35) Prop: a puppy or kitten; recipe for barley flat bread I have with me a little friend today [allow for the oohs and aahs]. Who would like to come and pet him? I know last Sunday was World Animal Sunday. But every Sunday should be World Animal Sunday, our pets are such an important part of our families. [No rushing, give people time … especially children to come up front or walk about the congregation with him….allowing people to see him and touch him. Consider letting ...

1311. It Was the Birthday of a King

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

James Merritt

Ironically, the time of year called Christmas is a time of both celebration and separation. Because at no other time of the year is the Christian more separated from the world than at Christmastime. The world celebrates a season, but the Christian celebrates a Savior. Whether this world likes it or not, and increasingly the world doesn't like it, Christmas is the celebration of the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now there are some people who will be so drunk they will not know whose birthday it is. ...

1312. Signs, Sayings, and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 12:1-28, Ezekiel 13:1-23, Ezekiel 14:1-11, Ezekiel 14:12-23

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

Laying the Blame and Taking Responsibility: The typical Ezekielian expression “the word of the Lord came to me” recurs throughout the chapters between the second vision of the Glory in chapters 8–11 and the oracles against the foreign nations in chapters 25–32—except in chapter 19. Indeed, in the twenty-six chapters between Ezekiel 11 and 38, this is the only chapter in which that characteristic phrase does not appear. This chapter stands out, therefore, in the larger structure of Ezekiel. Further, after ...

1313. Exactly How Wide Is It?

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

King Duncan

Jesus is making his way to Jerusalem. As he makes his way through the towns and villages, he pauses from time to time to teach those who have come out to see him and to listen to him. In the middle of this journey someone poses a question. We don’t know the identity of this questioner. Was he a scribe or Pharisee? Was he a Jew or a Samaritan? We don’t know? His question is an interesting one, though. “Lord,” he asks, “Are only a few people going to be saved?” We don’t know anything about this person, but I ...

1314. Since He's In Charge, We're In Luck

Psalm 33:4-5, 8-9, 13-22

Sermon

Robert G. McCreight

Introduction At the turn of the century the storm clouds that had long been gathering in South Africa suddenly broke loose. Britain and the English-speaking South Africans went to war with the Dutch-descended Boers. The British newspaper, The Morning Post, offered a young reporter by the name of Winston Churchill the job of chief war correspondent to cover the story. He jumped at the chance. Soon after he arrived in South Africa he was traveling on a troop train when it was captured and he was taken ...

1315. Tenders Of The Sacred Fire

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

Today is Pentecost, the day of the Sacred Fire. It was less than two months since the crucifixion of our Lord. The apostles and other followers of Jesus still spent most of their time in a borrowed room in Jerusalem. They were still too frightened to tell their story to the world. They were waiting for something to happen. They believed somehow God would give them a message of what to do and then give them the strength to do it. They sincerely believed Jesus was to return and usher in the Kingdom of God. ...

1316. Proper 5

Genesis 12:1-8, Hosea 5:1-15, Hosea 6:1-6, Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew 9:18-26, Romans 4:1-25

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The call. The book of Hosea is one long plea for the people to turn their hearts to God. The Genesis 12 text and the Second Lesson present the call of Abraham. The Gospel lifts up the call of Matthew, a tax collector regarded as a notorious sinner. When criticized for dining with sinners, Jesus responds: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 12:1-9 (C) God calls Abraham to leave his homeland and go to the country that God had promised him. God pledged Abraham ...

1317. Proper 28

Mk 13:1-32 · Heb 10:11-25 · 1 Sam 1:4-20 · Ps 16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Elkanah and his wives went up to Shiloh annually to offer sacrifice to the Lord. He would give each one a portion of the offering based on the number of children each had. Hannah was barren and the other wife would rub this fact into her face, particularly at the time of their pilgrimage. Being barren was considered a great curse. Hannah became depressed, refusing even to eat. Elkanah was an understanding husband who gently consoled his wife. She decided to take ...

1318. This Is My Body

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Thomas Slavens

Sunday • World-Wide Communion Sunday • World While Americans were sleeping, Christians in Zaire left their homes for places of worship to see their pastors take bread in their hands and declare, “This is my body.” In Saint Sophia’s Cathedral in Istanbul were heard the words, “This is my body.” In Saint Paul’s in London a hush fell across the congregation as the pastor declared, “This is my body.” In churches and cathedrals across the United States today pastors take bread into their hands and declare, “ ...

1319. Lent 4

Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 · 1 Cor 1:18-31 · 2 Cor 5:17-21 · Isa 12:1-6 · Jos 5:9-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Joshua 5:9-12 Joshua and his people keep the Passover at Gilgal. Under Joshua's leadership the Israelites cross the Jordan to the Promised Land. In preparation for the conquest of the land, all were circumcised as a renewal of the Abrahamic covenant. Also, the first Passover was kept in the Promised Land at Gilgal. It marked the end of the wilderness wanderings. On the day of the Passover, manna from heaven ceased and the people began to eat the fruit of the land. Isaiah 12:1-6 Rejoice in God's ...

1320. Easter 6

Psalm 66:1-20, Acts 17:16-34, 1 Peter 3:8-22, John 14:15-31

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE This Sunday, as the Fifth Sunday after Easter, was known as Rogate Sunday, or Rogation Sunday, which signaled the approach to the three special days of supplication and prayer that preceded the Ascension of our Lord. In most non-Roman Churches, this Sunday became a day for prayers that had, in the minds of most people, only a limited connection with Easter; Rogation Day was a time given over to particular and pointed prayers for the fields that had been planted in the hope of an abundant ...

1321. Anne Sullivan

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

Carroll Gunkel

The name of Helen Keller is a familiar name; her story is a familiar story. Helen’s family was living in Tuscumbia, Alabama, when she was born on June 27, 1880. She was born to a distinguished family Swiss ancestry on her father’s side, and cousin to the revered General Robert E. Lee on her mother’s side. The family’s ancestry was enhanced by the birth of a beautiful daughter. At the age of eighteen months tragedy struck the family. Helen was stricken by an intensive fever of indefinite cause. Perhaps it ...

1322. Born to Play Second Fiddle

Luke 1:57-66

Sermon

George Bass

Sunday is the day when the people who call themselves Christians remember and celebrate the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every Sunday is a "little Easter" - that is what Sunday means and why those who believe in Christ worship on the first day of the week instead of following the Old Testament practice of setting aside the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath or day of rest. But Christians also remember the birth of Christ whenever the Eucharist is celebrated as they sing the song the ...

1323. The Inner Galaxy

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

Christmas Eve is the night for midnight blue skies, cloudless and serene; a night for stars dazzling and tantalizingly close to earth in all their silent glory; the night for galaxies vast and mysterious, drawing us away in time and space to worlds beyond the fringes of sense and imagination. Increasingly urban as we are, we often lose the appreciation for the sky's nighttime splendor so spectacular to dwellers in the more arid climes. As a very young child in Wisconsin, on our way to the school Christmas ...

1324. The Fourth Day Comes

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

The Emmaus walk is one of the most significant, spiritual renewal experiences in which I have ever participated. You may have heard something about this experience, perhaps you read about it in The Courier a few weeks ago. Almost 100 membership of Christ Church have shared in it, and at the end of April, members of our church and other churches in Memphis will lead the first Memphis Emmaus for men. And then toward the end of May, we will have an Emmaus experience for women. The pivotal event in this ...

1325. Lord of the Dance

Mark 2:13-22

Sermon

Mark Trotter

The song we have just sung, "Lord of the Dance," declares that the proper response on learning the meaning of the Gospel is to celebrate, to dance. This hymn is one of the less traditional hymns in our hymn book, written in the 1960's, which you may have guessed, when the Church began experimenting with new music. It was finally included in the 1988 hymnal. It was written by an Englishman, a man named Sydney Carter, who put the words to the arrangement of the American Shaker hymn, "Tis a Gift to be Simple ...

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