Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1351 to 1375 of 4943 results

1351. Are You Giving Up Chocolate for Valentine's Day?

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome on this Valentine’s Day. It is ironic that this is also the First Sunday in Lent. Lent is generally that season of the year when people have chosen a favorite treat or some vice to give up for these six weeks. One man said his children traditionally gave up something like candy for Lent. Last year, however, he urged them to go beyond that to giving up some habit or sin that they knew was bad for them. About halfway through Lent he asked the children how they were doing with their Lenten promise. ...

1352. God Will Take Care of You

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

During the long, hot days of summer, dinner-time seems to get pushed back further and further into the evening. In some places it's just too hot to think about cooking and eating a big meal until well after the sun has slid below the horizon. Families who have kids running a hundred different directions - to day-camps, to the pool or the lake, to friends' houses - can't seem to get everyone collected back home for a meal until the evening is well advanced. But maybe we can all stand to wait for dinner a ...

1353. Stand Up and Be Counted

Daniel 3:1-30

Sermon

James Merritt

The Olympics are coming to Atlanta. The Olympic Flame is coming through America. But Cobb County, in Atlanta, has been declared off limits to the Olympic Flame. Why? Because of this resolution that was passed by five Cobb County Commissioners: Whereas, the Cobb County Commission is legally charged with protection of the safety, health, and welfare of the community; and Whereas, there are increasing assaults on those community standards which further the protection of the public safety, health, and welfare ...

1354. Let Your Soul Catch Up

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

A religious poll asked people this question: “Do you believe in the Second Coming of Christ?” If the respondent said yes, a subsequent question was put to them: “What would you do if you knew Jesus was coming back today?” One young man replied, “Look busy, Man! Look busy!” Isn’t that the mindset of our age? It seems as though most of us build our lives on the premise that personal worth and significance, as well as meaning in life, is dependent upon being busy. Too often we are identified by what we ...

1355. Shall We Take the Escalator?

Mark 6:30-44

Sermon

King Duncan

I hope you’re having a great summer. Some of you, no doubt, have visited or are planning to visit one of our nation’s beautiful national parks. Each year the Park Service receives suggestions from guests on how they might better serve people visiting those parks. Here are some actual suggestions and comments they have received. I’ll let you decide which of them have some merit. Here’s the first suggestion: “Many trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building ones that go uphill.” O. K., I’m all for ...

1356. Loving Close-up

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I was with Bishop Bevel Jones recently, and he told me about a funny experience that happened to him recently. He was preaching at a camp meeting down in South Georgia. The tabernacle was packed with people and Bev was really getting with it. He had preached longer than normal – but still had about 10 minutes to go. He was in the midst of a dramatic point of sharing, when out of the corner of his eye he saw a little boy get up from the front row and start toward him. Well he didn't know what was going on. ...

1357. All Keyed Up

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Mark Trotter

There is an old story about a man who went to a doctor for a physical examination. The examination was concluded, and the doctor said, "Sit down. I have good news for you. You are in perfect health. In fact, you have the health of a man half your age." The man thanked the doctor, got up and headed for the door. When he got near the door, he collapsed, and died on the spot. The doctor said to the nurse, "Let's turn him around so it looks like he was coming in." Dr. Karl Wenninger used to ask his medical ...

1358. Close Up - Wives: Sweet Surrender

Colossians 3:18

Sermon

James Merritt

Respect - if the coach doesn't have it, he loses control of the team. If the officer doesn't have it, he loses control of his troops. If the teacher doesn't have it, he loses control of the class. If the home doesn't have it, then the entire family is in trouble. We are in the middle of a series entitled, "Picture Perfect" and we have said over and over, "God desires for your family to reflect His glory." The way the family does that is by each member of the family fulfilling their God given roles and ...

1359. There's A Man Going Around Taking Names

John 1:19-28

Sermon

Thomas Long

There is an old black gospel song from the American South, most often sung to the driving beat of a blues guitar, which includes the following lyrics: There's a man going around taking names. There's a man going around taking names. He took my father's name,And he left my heart in pain. There's a man going around taking names. There's a man going around taking names. He took my mother's name,And he left my heart in pain. There's a man going around taking names. There's a man going around taking names. He ...

1360. God Doesn’t Take Vacations

John 5:1-15

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

No matter what you do, there will always be somebody who won’t like it. Even Jesus had His critics. In our Scripture lesson we read that Jesus had just performed a miraculous cure on a man who had been ill for 38 years. You would think that such an event would be the occasion for universal rejoicing! But some took it as an occasion to criticize. The man was walking through the streets of Jerusalem carrying his bed, when the hyper-orthodox religious leaders stopped him and reminded him that he was breaking ...

1361. Take Dead Aim

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

My wife and I were discussing the state of affairs in America. I said every child of the 1960s knew there was a credibility gap when he said he didn't inhale. I said every golfer knew character would be a continuing issue after correspondents for several golf magazines caught him cheating during a round with two of his predecessors. I said everybody knows he cheated on his wife for years and lied to family, friends, colleagues, and employees. I said he admitted to an inappropriate -- s-e-x-u-a-l -- ...

1362. The God Who Doesn’t Give Up

Hosea 11:1-11

Sermon

"How can I give you up, O Ephraim!" (v. 8) Prayer: Dear Father, we cannot fool you or pretend to be something we’re not; you know us too well. Open our minds and our understanding to know you as best we can, and to grow in appreciation of your great mercy. Amen "I’ve given him a chance three times now. Three times he let me down. I’m not going to be generous any more. I’ve had it. I don’t want to get burned again." This was Douglas, a man usually willing to go the second mile. He was known for his good ...

1363. A Portion of Thyself

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

At a graduation ceremony, the president of a Christian college stood at the podium and looked out over the huge crowd of people. He shook his head and said to himself (right into the microphone, of course!): “All these Christians in one place, and no one’s taking an offering!” We take offerings a lot, don’t we? Every Sunday at worship services, the money plates are passed. In fact, we can hardly think of a meeting of Christians where there is not some suggestion about offerings, donations, or contributions ...

1364. You Can Take It to the Bank

2 Peter 3:1-10

Sermon

James Merritt

I read a story about an angel of the Lord who telephoned the editors of five major newspapers with this message: "God says the world will end tomorrow." The New York Times carried a front page headline which read: "The World Will End Tomorrow Reliable Source Says" A box read: "Analysis on page 11." The Wall Street Journal's front page headline read: "World Ends Tomorrow; Market Plunges" The headline in USA Today read: "We're Gone!" The Headline in the LA Times read: "World Ends Tomorrow; Bill Clinton says ...

1365. The Man In The River

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

John Jamison

One after the other they didn't show up. A whole string of appointments; a morning full of them. They didn't call and cancel, they just didn't show up! Every now and then I would poke my head out of the office door and my secretary would shake her head. Nothing. It was turning into one of those days. When I get frustrated I eat. I don't recommend it, but I do admit it. So, after the fourth appointment failed to appear, my frustration level peaked. I put on my jacket, headed out the door and made my way the ...

1366. Will the Real Christian Please Stand Up?

Acts 11:26

Sermon

James Merritt

I’m reminded of the story of a local businessman who was a fourth grade Sunday School teacher. He was really trying to impress the class because his son was a member of the class. So he asked the class this question, “Why do you suppose that people call me a Christian?” Well, there was dead silence. Nobody spoke up. He asked the question again: “Now kids, why do you suppose that people call me a Christian?” Still no response. Finally, the man with an exasperated look said, “Now come on, think about it, ...

1367. On Taking Candy from a Stranger

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

King Duncan

A man tells the story of leaving a grocery store when he was approached by two small boys selling candy bars for their school band. The man told the boys, “I’ll buy a chocolate bar from you on one condition. You eat it for me.” The boys agreed. The man bought the chocolate bar and promptly handed it back to one little boy so that he could eat it. The boy shook his head and said, “I can’t.” “Why not?” the man asked. The boy looked at him gravely in the eye and said, “I’m not supposed to take candy from ...

1368. Take Heart

Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon

Will Willimon

Jesus needs a vacation. Crowds pressing in, so many hungry, hurting people seeking something from him. He tries to get away from it all, to be by himself to ponder his future, to pray. He got in a boat in order to get away from it all. But he can't get away. When he finally arrives at some ''lonely place'' it is anything but lonely. Great, hungry crowds press in upon him. He heals them. It grows late and they have had nothing to eat. And so Jesus commands his disciples to help bi1n feed the hungry ...

1369. How Big of a Risk Would You Take?

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

King Duncan

Are you a risk taker? Do you know someone who is? A young man enlisted in the 82nd Airborne Division. He was assigned to their jump school. He eagerly asked his recruiter what he could expect at jump school. "Well," the recruiter said, "it’s three weeks long." "What else?" asked the young soldier. "The first week they separate the men from the boys," the recruiter said. "The second week, they separate the men from the fools." "And the third week?" the soldier asked. "The third week," the recruiter said ...

1370. Take Off The Grave Clothes!

John 11:38-44

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

Today our lesson paints a poignant picture of one of the most famous of Jesus' acts: raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been a dear friend of Jesus and the scriptures say Jesus loved him and his entire family. When news reached Jesus of Lazarus' death, his heart was sorrowful. He wept inwardly and outwardly. Despite the bad news, he kept confidence that Lazarus would be raised. Despite the woeful lament the news caused for those who loved and knew Lazarus, Jesus quietly assured his disciples and ...

1371. Some Things To Get Choked Up About

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

Everyone has his or her own perspective about the meaning of Christmas day. Some years ago, when Lou Holtz was the head coach of the Arkansas Razorback football team, he was taking his team to play in a bowl game in Tempe, Arizona. The game was to be played on Christmas Day. He was asked how he felt about having to play a football game on Christmas instead of being at home with his family. Lou Holtz answered candidly, "Frankly, I'd rather be in Tempe. After all, once you've been to church, had Christmas ...

1372. Some Healing Is Up To You

John 5:1-15

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

There is a famous legend in Buddhist folklore in which the Buddha compares philosophical preoccupation with the matter of God’s existence to a man shot with a poisoned arrow. Before the man would allow the arrow to be withdrawn, he insisted upon knowing who shot him, what kind of poison was in the arrow, who was going to administer the cure, and what was going to be the medication. Needless to say, he died before his questions were answered. The Buddha concluded that in the same way, people need to be ...

1373. When I Grow Up

Ephesians 4:15

Sermon

James Merritt

A man took his young daughter to a carnival and she immediately ran over to a booth and asked for some cotton candy. As she got this huge ball of cotton candy that was almost as big as she was, her father looked down at her and said, "Honey, are you sure you can eat all of that?" She looked up at him and said, "Don't worry Daddy. I'm a lot bigger on the inside than I am on the outside." That story captures perfectly God's third purpose for your life. We are in the middle of a tremendous forty days that we ...

1374. Do I Give Up Praying Too Soon?

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

I’ve heard marvelous stories of people who’ve prayed and found their prayers answered. I’ve heard testimonies like that from some of you. I’ve heard reports from hospital chaplains. One that sticks in my mind is of a young man hopelessly sick. The physicians didn’t think surgery would help but they didn’t know what else to do. So they tried it. The young man was up and around and out of the hospital in a week. The surgeon had seen this happen before and so he asked, "Did he belong to a group and did this ...

1375. God Doesn't Ask A Fig Tree To Produce Bananas

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Lee Griess

A man borrowed a book from an acquaintance. As he read through it, he was intrigued to find parts of the book underlined with the letters YBH written in the margin. When he returned the book to the owner, he asked what the YBH meant. The owner replied that the underlined paragraphs were sections of the book that he basically agreed with. They gave him hints on how to improve himself and pointed out truths that he wished to incorporate into his life. However, the letters YBH stood for "Yes, but how?" Those ...

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