Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1476 to 1500 of 4963 results

1476. To Live in Joy

Revelation 1:1-3

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... in my fingers but when I loosed her she didn’t seem to have the strength to fly away. I threw her gently into the air, hoping to send her on her way, but she plummeted to the sand. For a moment I felt pain. I identified with that butterfly’s helplessness. Had ... the Lord. He knew that he was dying, but he knew that he was going to make it. And that’s the promise, that’s the hope, of every Christian. We’re going to make it! We’re going to make it in this life, and we’re going to make it to ...

1477. More Than We Are

1 John 2:28--3:10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... read Eric Marshall and Stewart Hample’s Collection: Children’s Letters to God? One little boy wrote, “Dear God, I’m sorry I was late for Sunday School, but I couldn’t find my underwear.” Another said, “Dear God, where does everybody come from? I certainly hope you explain it better than Daddy did.” Children are fresh and alive in their imagination. Too bad we allow this faculty to die within us as we grow older. How it would serve us in our dark hours, in our loneliness, in our boredom I am ...

1478. Holiness of Heart and Life

Romans 2:21-23

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... as Christians for justice and peace; it doesn’t mean that we don’t take seriously the political process and work for systems and structures, legislation and political leaders who will serve “the common good.” What it means is that we do not put our hope in these. It means that the church does not put her trust in any part or person, economic or governmental promise of panacea. We perfect our lives in holiness, we live together in the church as a people who have already tasted the kingdom, we ...

1479. Some Second Thoughts about Giving

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... attitudes and reactions are galvanized with a protective coating. Too many of us are as open to new ideas as a pyramid tomb is to fresh air. Now this could be the sermon, but it’s really only the introduction so I won’t pursue it any further. I hope the point is well taken: We need to have second thoughts. Today I want to share with you some second thoughts about giving. We are in the midst of our stewardship emphasis and the theme of our emphasis is such an exciting one, packed with truth: Giving to ...

1480. He Presented Himself Alive

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... risen as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” It was from that experience of despair that had been transformed into hope that those women ran quickly with fear and great joy to carry the word to the disciples. But the presence of the angel was ... the expressed pain of a broken heart. But there was added to that a numbing despair. Jesus had kindled in them the burning hope of a Messiah’s reign. They had begun to see him as the “Promised One.” They had forgotten, and had probably never ...

1481. God’s Plan for Renewal

Illustration

George Bass

... of all people on earth, and his mission was - he believed and staked his life on this - to initiate that plan to bring in the fullness of the kingdom of God. If Alvin Toffler, author of The Third Wave, is right, we need that kind of hope more than ever. In the face of chaos all over the world, Toffler insists that we are going through something more drastic than temporary hardship. He believes that we are suffering the "birth pains of a new civilization." Arthur Coxe's verse sounds so contemporary: We ...

1482. The Shared Life of the People of God

Galatians 6:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... young people didn’t think of him in that light, either. But they went to him to share their problems and needs, their hopes and dreams, their failures and disappointments. During a five year ministry in San Clemente, scores of young people who had no contact ... you will remember the help we needed wasn’t simple to give, but you gave it and we are grateful. As we say farewell. We hope that your God is standing outside your window smiling, because we know he is as proud as we are of you. We wished that we ...

1483. Following the Footsteps of the Faithful

Hebrews 11:1-13

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... not just a pipe dream. I have in mind what the writer of Hebrews said about faith centuries ago. Faith is being sure of what you hope for and being certain of what you do not see. By faith, you board an airplane. By faith, you drive a car. By faith, you visit ... down Franklin Road to this property. By faith, on February 19, 1989, the church voted 608 to 159 to build this sanctuary in hopes the membership would reach 4,500 people by 2000. By faith, next week with the membership of nearly 5,400, we will determine ...

1484. My Country, Is It of Thee?

Psalm 9:9-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... that, but I do know I don't ever want to become deaf to the huddled masses yearning to be free. God save me from becoming deaf to the cries of the needy. It is hope for the afflicted. “The hope of the afflicted will never perish" (Psalm 9:18b). The hope of the afflicted. I find that an interesting phrase. Hope of the most lost among us. I was serving my first pastorate out of seminary. It was the custom of the Council of Churches in that community to deliver Christmas baskets to the needy. Like Ebenezer ...

1485. What is the Connection Between Church and State?

Mark 12: 14-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... real answer to religion in America comes not from words written by our forefathers in documents and stone, but words written on the hearts of our people and practiced in our relationships with one another. Not civil religion, but authentic faith is our hope of salvation. We continue to be an incurably religious people. Ninety percent of us believe in God. Eight-five percent of us are Christian. Sixty-five percent of us consider religion to be important in daily life. Forty percent of us attend a religious ...

1486. Watch!

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... is, and who is to come has arrived, is here and is yet to return. If that blows your sense of time and space, let me put it another way. The Babe of Bethlehem is the present Christ who is returning as King of kings and Lord of lords. I hope we’ll all be ready. That’s what Jesus was trying to say in the scriptures for today. The sermon in a single word is WATCH—pay attention, look, listen, be prepared, be faithful, be alert. I. CHRIST IS COMING, BE PREPARED. The bi-partisan 9/11 commission made their ...

1487. The New Road

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... by another road." They returned to their country on the road less traveled, without the benefit of a roadmap or, for that matter, even a road. There was no GPS on the noses of their camels. Such is the nature of faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." By faith, Noah built a boat in the desert that saved his family from the flood. By faith, Abraham when he was called…obeyed and went, even through he did not know where he was going. By faith, Moses chose to ...

1488. The Lord of All

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... invited to live life in all of its abundance. You will know life to the fullest when you crown Christ King of your life. III. CHRIST IS LORD OF DEATH. Christ is the firstborn of the dead. If God has the power to raise Jesus from the dead, there is hope for you and me. Every once in a while someone asks me, “Are you afraid to die?" I've pondered that question more than most of you and I can honestly say, “No." Why should I be? Yes, I am afraid of suffering; I am fearful of weakness; I am ...

1489. Encountering Incomparable Riches

Ephesians 2:4-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . It takes grace to put on the mind of Christ, to see as Christ saw, to think as Christ thought, to love as Christ loved. So Wesley liked to ask the question—Are you going on to perfection? Are you earnestly striving for it? Do you hope to be made perfect in this life? Christian Perfection is not pride—it is ultimate humility. Christian Perfection is not accomplishment—it is all grace. Christian Perfection is not arrival—it is constant growth. What is perfect for a 4-year-old is hardly perfect for ...

1490. The Curse of the Impossible

Mark 9:14-32

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... out the demons, but they could not. After his sharp word of disappointment “O faithless generation! How long am I to be with you?” Jesus asked that the little boy be brought to Him. In this father we have a picture of near despair, yet a burning hope — a picture of faith that struggles with reality. He can’t help but rehearse the awful, dreadful, condition of his son. “He’s like that since he was a child,” he said. “He often throws himself into the fire or into the water and tries to destroy ...

1491. The Prayer Life of Highly Effective Christians

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... insist on a certain outcome. (3) Every prayer is heard. Every prayer is answered, but sometimes not in the way we might hope. Pastor Jim needed to know that Becky was in God’s hands even though her leg had to be amputated. The important ... a Friend, who never forgets us nor forsakes us. Do not hesitate to pound on heaven’s door. But do not lose hope, even if things do not turn out as you had hoped. God has not forgotten you. Some day you will see God’s plan in all it fullness and you will understand ...

1492. Is It Time Yet?

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

Tony Everett

... ; my people do not understand" (Isaiah 1:2-3). God's people simply did not see the reality of God's continuing presence and guidance. Is it time yet? For them it was only time for the "same old, same old thing"... no real change, no real hope, just a collective group sigh as they anticipated only more of the same misery. Isaiah describes this attitude in chapter 1, verse 5: "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint." In other words, the mind only perceives more desolation. The will to perceive God ...

1493. Martyrdom Chic

Acts 7:55-60

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... Martin Luther King Jr. put it, "just do God's will"? What would our church community look like if we pooled all our efforts into being a community that focused all our energies on living for our faith? In raising up this possibility, in lifting up this hope, let us make the confession together that we are and have been little more than part-time Christians. Let us lay out the truth that too often our faith ranks about as high in our lives as our commitment to the children's soccer games or our involvement ...

1494. Hearts on Fire

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... we leave this place of worship may we do so knowing we can make a difference and cannot remain silent any longer. May we take our stand and speak out against injustices knowing that Jesus is with us always. The church remains the world's great hope! Amen. 1. Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts of Faith (New York: Riverhead Books, 2005), p. 195. 2. Lisa Miller, "The Innovator," Newsweek magazine, July 3/July 10, 2006, p. 66. 3. Dan R. Dick and Barbara Miller, Equipped for Every Good Work: Building a Gifts ...

1495. The Victory Is Ours

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... , those in power shipped him off thinking that would be the last they would hear from John. There on that tiny Greek island John had a powerful vision of the end time. While some may shy away from the book of Revelation, it actually is a word of hope proclaiming that no matter what happens to us we will be with God and Jesus. Therefore, in the end, all of our struggles and suffering will be worth it. In that powerful vision, there was a large crowd gathered, "a great multitude that no one could count," John ...

1496. So, Explain It to Me

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... . She was convinced that she was an ugly duckling, fat and plain and surely never the kind of girl that any boy would ever give the time of day. But she went to the dance anyway, hoping against hope that that one particular boy she had secretly had her eyes on for months would pay attention to her and, hope against hope, might even ask her for a dance. She stood where all the ugly ducklings usually stood: off to the side, out of the way, almost hidden because she was too ashamed to be visible, out in ...

1497. Children of the Heavenly Father

Romans 8:12-25

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... the pangs of birth, the labor pains of a better life to come. Therefore, extraordinary efforts to hold on to life do not need to be taken. It is not just a matter of saving money or good stewardship of our healthcare system. It is a matter of our Christian hope in the life to come. We can let go and let God. The cruciform life takes many shapes. Like Jesus before us, we can give ourselves away, even if it is inconvenient and painful. Sooner or later every one of us has had to bear a cross like this. There ...

1498. Good and Mad

Luke 4:21-30

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... with all the noise that child wanted to make. Because the presence of that child, and the noise that child made would be a sign of hope and growth, and a symbol of the future. This is what I know about anger, most of mine isn't righteous anger. Most of my anger ... see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. [13] And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Now I know it's NOT like the old Beatles' song, "All You Need ...

1499. The Garden of Temptation

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

King Duncan

... his servants will serve him.” In Christ, the curse of death has been removed. Christ has made it possible for innocence and intimacy to be restored. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil will one day be transformed into the tree of life. And that is our hope. This broken world is not God’s final word because one man kneeled in a garden and prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done,” then he allowed himself to be sacrificed upon a cruel cross. But that is all it took, and sin and death no longer ...

1500. Planning Your Way Out

John 6:35, 41-51

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... the apostle Paul spoke to those who are committed to this way of life when he wrote, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men" (1 Corinthians 15:19). There is a fourth belief system. It is ... away. Despite that, there are still many people like that young man who overlooked planning his exit from the Far North country. Only Jesus provides hope against the reality of death. He alone satisfies the heart's true yearning for all of us who have stood by a loved one's ...

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