Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 126 to 150 of 2815 results

126. Parable of Two Businessmen

Luke 6:38

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One man advertised his product in all the leading magazines using all the superlatives regarding his service, his quality and his ability. The second businessman put advertising in second place of importance to the importance of giving genuine quality, real service and personal consideration. Said the first businessman, "With all the advertising I pay for I can't understand why customers drive by my door to that smaller place of my competitor?" But when customers were asked their opinion they said, "Go to ...

127. Parable of Grading the Teacher

I Corinthians 13:1-2

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"Bill, you will never get into college, if you settle for C's on your report card." "Dad, I work hard, but that new teacher just can't explain things right. He's only a "C" teacher. Everyone in the class says he doesn't know how to teach." "What seems to be wrong with his teaching?" asked the father. "He doesn't have time for questions, he talks about too many other things than the lesson and he can't seem to explain the subject very well. Maybe he will learn after a few years, but it will be too late for ...

128. Parable of the HIdden Need

Luke 12:22-34

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"Should I replace the bandage on his ankle?" inquired the nurse of the doctor. "It looks well enough to be removed now." "Yes, give him a new bandage," said the doctor. "He doesn't really need it there but I want him to come back, so I can check up on something else about him. Without the bandage he won't return." Many times patients are brought to the doctor by members of their family for some hidden reason because the patient will not come for the true reason. This is done to avoid unnecessary rebellion ...

129. Parable of a Song and a Prayer

John 14:5-14

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The war-time song "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" parallels a truth revealed in a true story of a local Bedford citizen. During the war this army pilot and his co-pilot and crew were flying a B24. One day its controls jammed as they took off and they skimmed precariously low as they neared the mountains. The co-pilot folded his arms and said, "Our number is up," but the pilot, helped by the gunner, feverously worked at the controls and finally cleared the controls. The pilot reports, "I got a ...

130. Parable of Two Cakes

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The first homemaker placed her cake in the oven and went about her duties. With watchful care in time she presented her family a beautiful and delicious cake. The second homemaker prepared her cake and placed it in the oven and in time was greatly disappointed for the cake was flat and a failure. She had left out one ingredient, the baking powder. There are ingredients in life that cannot be left out without contributing to failure and defeat. Among them are appreciation, which is registered in worship and ...

131. Parable of the Lapel Pin

Matthew 10:1-42

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Billy said, "Mother, what is wrong with me?" Mother said, "Why nothing is wrong with you dear, why do you ask?" "I haven't got any pin," said Billy, "and all the other kids have one. Jimmy has a scout pin, Dick has a class ring, Mary has a locket and I don't have anything." "Well, those things just say that they belong to something. You'll have one some day." "But I want a lapel pin. Any thing now. I want a lapel pin. Any kind of a pin." "You have to do something to earn the scout pin or the Sunday School ...

132. Parable of Choosing a Gift

John 15:1-17

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"May I help you, lady?" said the sales clerk. "Well, I want to buy something for my sweetheart and I don't know what I want." "Did you have anything in mind at all?" asked the clerk. "I know this -- I want something that will last and something that he can take with him. It should be something useful." "How about a watch?" said the clerk. "No, he has a good watch and that is more than I can afford at this time anyway." "Perhaps a key chain or key case would be good," suggested the clerk. "Let me see what ...

133. Parable of the Quarrelsome Child

Matthew 5:9

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"Jimmy, why are you sitting there all alone?" "Nobody wants to play with me. They always fight with me." "Why don't you go over and see Billy?" "No, he always wants his own way." "You could play with Dick," said the mother. "No, we had a fight this morning. I punched him in the nose and his mother sent me home." "How about Jack?" "We had a fight in the school yard." "If everyone fights with you, maybe it's you," said the mother. "See, you're picking on me, too. Everybody picks on me." "It is natural to ...

134. Parable of Granting Your Wishes

Proverbs 18:1-24

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The old philosopher in a homespun setting was talking to his three nephews. "If I would grant you one wish today my children, what would it be?" "Oh, good, give me one thousand dollars," said Richard, "and I could buy everything I want." "Give me the answers to next Friday's test," said Mary, "and I will have the best grades in the class." "I know what I want," said Janet. "Give me a good friend who will always love me and I will always love her as my favorite playmate." "I think Janet has asked for the ...

135. Parable of How Four Boys Got There

John 10:1-10

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Four boys stood watching the parade some ten miles from the high school classes they were supposed to be. The event was important to them. "How did you get here" asked Dick. "I borrowed my father's car." "I took the bus," said Bill. "I thumbed a ride," said Jack. "Well, at least we all got here, didn't we," said Bill. "Nothing could keep me away." "Me either," said Jack. "When I want to go some place, I go." It is surprising how easily we find a way to go where we want to go. And it is strange how ...

136. Parable of Association

Matthew 7:15-23

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Jerry went out to play in the barnyard and as he watched the pigs wallowing in the mud he seemed to envy the fun they were having and soon he himself first waded and then sat down slopping in the mud. As some friends passed by, one said, "I see farmer Brown has another pig in his pen. He now has ten pigs." But Jerry stood up indignantly and hollered, "Hey, I'm not a pig, I'm a boy." In this day of social mixing and down to earth living there is still a real need for marking yourself for what you are. It is ...

137. Parable of the Cafeteria

John 3:1-21

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Two counter girls stood at their post of supply in the cafeteria. As they kept the display of foods replaced, they conversed. One said, "It just aggravates me to watch these hungry wolves snatch up the beautiful salads we have made. I don't think they see any of the beauty or skill in our work. In a few moments the artistic salad is torn to pieces by their teeth." Said the second girl, "I look at it in a different way. It pleases me to think that these hungry people will shortly leave our place feeling ...

138. Parable of Two Christmas Prayers

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The first was a prayer of a child. Dear Jesus, please tell Santa Clause to help the hungry children and give them homes and loving parents and food and fun and friends. If Santa can't be there, their parents will take care of them and that is better than any one any day. Dear Jesus, see if you can't do this cause I hear there are so many who are so sick, so sad and so lonely. Tell Santa to do this first and I won't mind if he misses me, cause I have the Y.M.C.A., the Church and best of all a good home. ...

139. Parable of the Record

Matthew 6:25-34

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"Put your dime in the machine and punch A-3," said the girl. "That's my favorite record." "Mary, you don't want to hear that again!" said Bill. "They've just played it three times." "That's all right," said Mary, "on pay day I'm buying that record and I'm going to play it over and over." "Don't forget you are going to church with me Sunday," said Bill. "I don't know whether I'm going or not," said Mary. "It's always the same old thing." "You better go," said Bill, "you need it. After listening to Frankie ...

140. Parable of the Flame and the Spirit

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

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A local citizen tested his pastor with the following question: "If you know so much about God, tell me what this is," as he held up a lighted match. "I mean, what is flame and what is fire? Explain it to me." "Well," puzzled the preacher, "we are told it is conversion of energy, of power and of substance changing from one form to another. We know it serves mankind, but wrongly used can be of great destruction." Perhaps the action of fire, which worshipers of ancient times used to worship as God itself, ...

141. Parable of the Road Signs

Matthew 12:38-45

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They were heading down the highway of life and the story of where they were going was written on the road signs they passed. Each was pursuing the pattern he had chosen with his own purpose in mind. As they passed a sign marked, "Three Die Here Daily" they began to think, "What am I doing with my life?" Does that road sign have any warning for me? Is God trying to say something to me?" The first sign on the road said, "Men Working" and they asked, "What am I working for?" The second sign said, "Dead End." ...

142. Parable of a Good Climate

Luke 12:54-59

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"How are you feeling today, Joe?" "This lousy climate gets me down," said Joe. "I'm used to a warm climate that is dry and clear all the year around." "Well," said Bill, "I like the four seasons and the unpleasant days make the bright days better." It is true that climate conditions have some influence on health, but happiness depends more on the spiritual climate. Home is the place where your loved ones are and where the people you live with bring the most contentment and satisfaction. There can be real ...

143. Parable of Three Fools and a Wise Man

Matthew 7:24-29

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The first man was a hard worker. Always ready to help and with a record of good service to thousands. Wherever he was, he pitched in and gave of himself. Some said, "What a fool! Everyone takes advantage of him." The second man was a friendly, cheerful optimist. Laughter and smiles were always his daily gift. Misfortune came and went and he laughed them off. His friendship was for everyone. He even complimented his enemies, unaware of their scorn. Some said, "He doesn't realize he is making a fool of ...

144. Parable of the Wall Socket

Matthew 5:13-16

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"Mother, her face just shines," said Linda. "Yes, she has an inner glow," said her mother. "Her spirit is wonderful." "You'd think she had a light bulb on somewhere in her head." "Well, she's happy and she loves people. She's a working Christian," said the mother. "It would be nice if everyone could look so bright and cheerful," said the daughter. "Mother, this vacuum isn't working again." "Yes, it is. Look at the plug. There's your trouble. You didn't put both prongs in the socket. See, like this." "Oh, ...

145. Parable of the Road Map

1 Samuel 15:1-35

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"Mother, what is this?" said Ralph holding up the road map. "That is a map of our state," said his mother. "What is a map? What is it for?" "Well a map shows where we live and these road numbers are marked on the map and on the roads as you drive along and if people follow the right numbers, they can get where they want to go." "How does it work?" asked Ralph. "Our town is on this route number 14 and if you are in another town, you watch for that number as you drive along the road and it brings you safely ...

146. Parable of Easter and the Planting Season

John 4:27-38

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"I love the Easter Season. It sure was fun with all the candy and things we got too," said Carolyn. "I like the Christmas Season better," said Joan, "the music, the decorations, and the presents, too." "Yes, but now that Easter is over, all we can look forward to is vacation," said Polly. "I used to live in the country and as soon as Easter was over, we did a lot of planting of our seeds for the garden. We all had fun thinking what we were going to raise and watching it grow," said Martha. Many Christians ...

147. Parable of the Correction Fluid

Galatians 6:1-10

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"What is the little blue bottle? Ink?" the lady asked the secretary. "No, that is stencil correction fluid. It covers up the mistakes you make, when you cut or type a stencil." "Oh," said Margaret, "show me how it works." "Well, you place your stencil sheet in the typewriter, set the ribbon at off and whatever you type the letters cut holes in the stencil where the ink may come through. When you cut a wrong letter or word, this correction fluid fills in the hole and quickly dries." "That's good," said ...

148. Parable of the Passing Parade

Luke 6:37-42

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In a small western town an old minister was marching in a Memorial Day parade along with the soldiers and dignitaries. Gathered on the sidewalk were crowds of the local people including the town lawyer, mayor, doctor, dentist, and business executives. A little boy standing in front said, "What's the preacher doing in the parade? What battle did he ever fight"? Behind him the lawyer said, "Well son, he helped me personally." The doctor said, "He has helped me with some personal problems too." The dentist ...

149. Parable of the Tree Brace

Psalm 1:1-6

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"Why are you putting that big stick next to that little tree?" said Richard. "Someone ran over the curb with their car and knocked it down. So I'm bracing it to make it grow straight." said the father. "Gosh, if it's that weak," said the boy, "how can it ever grow to be a beautiful tree?' "Watch and see," said the father. "If it is guided and fed long enough it can become a tall, strong and beautiful shade tree for it is the right kind of tree." Human beings are like trees in many ways. In the early years ...

150. Parable of the Three Ears of Corn

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A father took three ears of corn from the field and handed them to his son. "These three ears," he said, "came from the same row of corn. Do you think they will be alike." "Let's open them and see." said the boy. The first ear was full and beautiful. "Isn't that wonderful corn." said the boy. The second ear was under developed and barren on one side. A large worm was in the third ear and what would have been a good ear was half eaten and ugly. "How did that happen." asked the boy of his father. "Well, the ...

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Showing 126 to 150 of 2815 results

126. Parable of Two Businessmen

Luke 6:38

Illustration

Staff

127. Parable of Grading the Teacher

I Corinthians 13:1-2

Illustration

Staff

128. Parable of the HIdden Need

Luke 12:22-34

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129. Parable of a Song and a Prayer

John 14:5-14

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130. Parable of Two Cakes

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131. Parable of the Lapel Pin

Matthew 10:1-42

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132. Parable of Choosing a Gift

John 15:1-17

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133. Parable of the Quarrelsome Child

Matthew 5:9

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Staff

134. Parable of Granting Your Wishes

Proverbs 18:1-24

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135. Parable of How Four Boys Got There

John 10:1-10

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136. Parable of Association

Matthew 7:15-23

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137. Parable of the Cafeteria

John 3:1-21

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138. Parable of Two Christmas Prayers

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139. Parable of the Record

Matthew 6:25-34

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140. Parable of the Flame and the Spirit

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

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141. Parable of the Road Signs

Matthew 12:38-45

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142. Parable of a Good Climate

Luke 12:54-59

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143. Parable of Three Fools and a Wise Man

Matthew 7:24-29

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144. Parable of the Wall Socket

Matthew 5:13-16

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145. Parable of the Road Map

1 Samuel 15:1-35

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146. Parable of Easter and the Planting Season

John 4:27-38

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147. Parable of the Correction Fluid

Galatians 6:1-10

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148. Parable of the Passing Parade

Luke 6:37-42

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149. Parable of the Tree Brace

Psalm 1:1-6

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150. Parable of the Three Ears of Corn

Illustration

Staff

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