Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1501 to 1525 of 2962 results

John 20:10-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... keep his disciples from stealing his body. Surprise. Surprise is the best word to describe that first Easter Sunday. All of us enjoy surprises, don’t we? Recently, an article was published in a computer magazine concerning little surprises that the designers of computer software sneak into their products. Programmers add these surprises to give the programs added appeal. Some of the examples are funny--like the hidden message “I’m being held prisoner in a software factory,” which was included in one ...

1502. The Lost and Found Son

Luke 15:11-24

Sermon

James W. Moore

... , magnanimous, forgiving, compassionate, patient and loving… and here is the key… This is how Jesus pictured God: - Not as a harsh, vindictive judge. - Not as an impersonal, un-caring computer. - But as a gracious, loving Father. Now, a Parable is a story that is designed to make one central point… and the point of this parable is found – not in the revelry of the prodigal, - not in the bitterness of the elder brother. It is found in the goodness of the father, the forgiveness of the father; it is ...

1503. That's What Jesus Does for Me

Psalm 139:7-12

Sermon

James W. Moore

... for weeks and weeks. One day, they tied explosives all over his body and he was certain this was the end for him. Another day, they attached a chain to the ceiling of his cell and he was certain they were going to hang him. But, it was all designed to torture and intimidate him. Father Jenco tells of how one day he was bound and trussed like a turkey… and shoved into a rack beneath a flatbed truck where the spare-tire is usually stored. Apparently his captors were taking him to a new hide-out. But Father ...

1504. How to Live a Sizzle-When-It-Drizzles Life

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006), 5-6. You can sizzle-when-it-drizzles; you can live a sizzle-when-it-drizzles life if you pick up that umbrella, put on some boots, and wipe your lenses clean and clear to see life as God designed it to be. Illustrations, Illuminations, Ruminations, Animations, Applications I don’t like language that refers to “the spiritual life.” In fact, such language of “The Spiritual Life” is part of our problem. There is no spiritual life. There is only life. One life ...

1505. Living as Orphans

John 14:15-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’s the “Quantrill Technique,” in case any of you decide to embark on a life of crime. Human nature never changes. Some people will do anything to keep from being held accountable for their actions. I read recently that March 13 of this year was designated as “National Blame It on Somebody Else Day!” Some people are like that. It’s always somebody else’s fault. But we are accountable. We are a part of a family, the human family, God’s family. Being part of a family, we have responsibilities ...

1506. Good and Bad "Magical Thinking"

Acts 17:16-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is never enough. The human spirit knows there is always more to be revealed, that there is something more out there if we could only lift the veil. Paul’s speech to the Athenians gathered at the elite Court of the Areopagus was designed to get his audience thinking about that inner yearning for “something more,” that “groping” for the “unknown God.” But Paul also warned them that there was a difference between religiosity and righteousness. The God who created the universe, who gave life to ...

1507. Good and Bad “Magical Thinking”

Acts 17:22-31

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

... reality is never enough. The human spirit knows there is always more to be revealed, that there is something more out there if we could only lift the veil. Paul's speech to the Athenians gathered at the elite Court of the Areopagus was designed to get his audience thinking about that inner yearning for "something more," that "groping" for the "unknown God." But Paul also warned them that there was a difference between religiosity and righteousness. The God who created the universe, who gave life to human ...

1508. The 3 Rs of a Holy Life

2 Corinthians 13:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... us to experience “the love of God.” As we stand renewed and redeemed before this loving God, yet another gift is made available, “the communion of the Holy Spirit.” The person, the power, and the presence of God come to us in a threefold design-package. Those forces that work AGAINST the divine have also traditionally been divided into the “big three.” How many of you remember preachers warning their flock to be on guard against the three evils—“the world, the flesh, and the Devil.” If we ...

1509. What's Holding You Together?

Matthew 7:21-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... distinctive cross shape, because there is an over-arching divine Creator guiding the universe, involved in all of existence, and according meaning and message to all life. Laminin does not echo Christ’s cross. The cross of Christ echoes laminin. That which God designed to hold us together within our physical body works to hold us together spiritually as well. What is the difference between the structure of the laminin protein and the tortilla or potato that sports the face of Jesus? The difference is huge ...

1510. Matthew 7: 21-29

Matthew 7:24-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... recognized the most unique feature of Jesus’ teaching: “he taught them as one having authority” (v.29). Most specifically, the crowds discern an essential difference between Jesus and the “scribes.” In first-century Judaism the scribes were the designated authorities on the Law. Based upon their knowledge of Torah, the scribes provided people with legal decisions. Scribal authority on all things scriptural was a given. Yet Jesus’ teachings stood apart because he did not follow the scribal rules ...

1511. A Sudden Storm that Tests Everything

Matthew 7:24-29

Illustration

Phil Thrailkill

... building with arcaded stories, a fine example of Tuscan Romanesque architecture. There was just one "little" problem. During construction, the builders discovered that the soil around the Pisa Cathedral was much softer than they had anticipated. The foundation Pisano had designed for the building was far too shallow to adequately support the structure. Before long, the whole building had begun to tilt, and continued to tilt, until finally the architect and the builders realized that nothing could be done to ...

1512. A Call to Action

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

... "Taps" can be played on a CD player during their funeral. In order to keep the ceremony a little more stately, a whole new "instrument" has been invented. This "instrument" looks like a bugle. But instead of brass keys and open airways, this "bugle" is designed around a CD player. When the "musician" hits the "play" button on this phony bugle, a red and green light comes on. The "musician" then has five seconds to get the "bugle" into his or her mouth before the recording starts to play. Not surprisingly ...

1513. Not Now, Honey

Ephesians 6:1-4

Illustration

... , honey, I'm busy, go watch television.. The most often spoken words in the American household today are the words: go watch television. If not now, when? Later. But later never comes for many and the parent fails to communicate at the very earliest of ages. We give her designer clothes and computer toys, but we do not give her what she wants the most, which is our time. Now, she is fifteen and has a glassy look in her eyes. Honey, do we need to sit down and talk? Too late. Love has passed by." That's the ...

1514. Matthew 10:24-39

Matthew 10:1-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is hard for us to hear the hideousness of Jesus’ suggestion. Crucifixion was the favorite means of public execution by the Romans—the pagan power currently crushing Israel. Crucifixion was not just an intentionally slow and agonizing form of death, it was also designed to shame and disgrace the one being executed as much as possible. To that end the Romans enjoyed forcing the condemned to walk to their execution site carrying their own cross-piece. The trek was part of the torture. It is no exaggeration ...

1515. Matthew 10:40-42

Matthew 10:1-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... (though not specifically articulated here), rejecting these disciples was not only a rejection of Jesus; it was a rejection of the Divine — a potentially hazardous path to take. In verses 41-42 Jesus’ words designate distinct individuals and their identities within the faith community. Most commentators suggest that these titles — “prophet,” “righteous ones,” “disciple,” even “little ones,” were recognized identities within the Matthean community, making Jesus’ directive even more ...

1516. Cook Food. Serve Love.

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... any interlopers take the form of complex directives, quirky, yet demandingly incremental steps that must be accomplished in order to gain access. To use a PC you must learn to speak a new language, read a new set of signs and symbols unique to its design. Apple’s concept of “putting it all together” is less like building a pyramid, more like putting everything in a blender. Apple uses all the same “stuff,” but it takes on a new form. The rise, then fall, then rise again, of Apple operating systems ...

1517. Historic: Background to the Declaration of Independence

Galatians 5:1-15

Illustration

Staff

... forth the principles upon which the Congress had acted two days earlier when it voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee's motion to declare the freedom and independence of the 13 American colonies from England. The Declaration was designed to influence public opinion and gain support both among the new states and abroad especially in France, from which the new "United States" sought military assistance. Although Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston comprised ...

1518. If I Only Had One Wish

2 Chronicles 1:1-12

Sermon

James Merritt

... As the leading shipping magnate, he had a fleet of merchant ships that sailed throughout the world collecting treasures. By his wealth he easily topped the Forbes 400 list. He was a master builder who constructed mammoth projects. His architectural designs became the world's most important buildings. He built vineyards, gardens, parks, and reservoirs. Tired of commerce, he turned to science, relentlessly pursuing the classification of nature. He was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, building a vast ...

1519. First-Class Christianity

Ephesians 5:18-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... does not want us to do his work for him, He wants to do his work through us. The Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit can be compared to a glove. Until a glove is filled by a hand, a glove is powerless and useless. The glove is designed to do the work, but it can do no work by itself. It can only work when a hand gets into it and controls it and uses it. The gloves' only work is the hands' work. Now the glove does not ask the hand to give it an assignment and ...

1520. The Scarlet Letter

Exodus 20:14

Sermon

James Merritt

... to grips with a "new morality" that questions whether any "sin" including adultery or other non-marital sex is wrong in all circumstances.[5] The Time article ended with this statement: Against the traditional concept that God wants men to conform to a fixed divine design, the new morality stakes its case on the idea that God would prefer men to make their own responsible decisions.[6] Without a question, we are, in the words of Jesus, "A sinful and adulterous generation." We are still in the middle of a ...

1521. The Sword of the Lord

Hebrews 4:12-13

Sermon

James Merritt

... , and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be ...

1522. High and Lifted Up

Isaiah 6:1-8

Sermon

James Merritt

... statement: "God is holy; evil will not triumph." Only 18.5% indicated a preference for the second statement, and only 1.1% indicated that they affirm both statements equally. Now though some students did not like having to choose between the two statements, the question was designed to investigate their foundational understanding of God, and by a ratio of more than four to one, they choose the God of love over the God of holiness.3 Well, I think it would be said that in the world around us that ratio would ...

1523. The Supreme Worth of the Second Birth

John 3:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

... God does. By the way, God's when is always now, and God's where is always here. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (II Cor. 6:2) Neither is the new birth "of the will of man." It is not of human design. It has nothing to do with the rigor of your religion. Men have invented all kinds of creeds, codes, and classes to get into heaven. But no amount of dreaming or skimming can bring you regeneration. Whatever you may do after you are regenerated God must do before you are ...

1524. Don't Sweat the Sin Debt

John 19:30

Sermon

James Merritt

... truth in the Lord Jesus Christ. III. The Payment for Sin Was Finished On 43rd Street in New York City there is a 25 x 10 sign that has become both a fixture and a tourist attraction in downtown Manhattan. It is called the National Debt Clock. It was designed by a real estate developer named Seymour Durst in 1989 when the debt was $2.7 trillion. It is now flashing the staggering total of $5 trillion. Each family's share of the debt has increased from $42,000 to more than $64,000, and the national debt is ...

1525. Saving Private Ryan

Acts 1:8

Sermon

James Merritt

... —to keep that light burning. We have all been given the oil of the Holy Spirit for one primary purpose—to keep the light of Jesus Christ burning in our hearts, and sharing that light with a world that is lost in darkness. II. The Designated People God Selects For The Mission When Jesus said, "You shall be witnesses to Me," He was talking to tax collectors, fishermen, homemakers, farmers, people just like you and me. When He said, "you" he was talking to disciples. If you are a Christian, and therefore ...

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