Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1501 to 1525 of 4972 results

1501. Scandalous News

Luke 4:16-30

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... complaining about yours, and follow me. I will show you how to carry a cross. I will do even more than that. I will show you how carrying a cross is going to lead to a new life. So stop thinking about yourself all the time, and start following me. You read the New Testament and you can divide it this way. Some people he healed, he set free, simply by touching them. He healed them because of his compassion. He healed them with his comfortable words. There were thousands ...

1502. Serpents and Other Signs

Numbers 21:4-9

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... he did was wonderful, because it was a sign. It was a sign of hope, that maybe the day has come when we can live differently in this world, when we can confess our sins honestly, and forgive one another, and stop remembering from generation to generation the evil of other people's ancestors, and stop teaching our children generation after generation that there are certain people they have to hate. I tell you, it was a sign of hope that that can change, and the world can be different. Music has the power of ...

1503. The Messiah

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... of the foundations of life, after the judgment, then, and only then, will the Messiah come. The Christian gospel is not cheap grace. If we are to be redeemed, we must change. That change may be costly. For us to change may mean we have to stop what we are doing and turn around, go another direction. Repent, is what that is called. For the world to change, institutions and nations will have to change. And they don't change willingly or easily. The larger the institution, the greater the nation, the more ...

1504. The Time of Waiting Is Over

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... number of battles that Jesus engages in with the demons and the evil powers of this world. Especially in the opening chapters of the Gospel of Mark. In the first several chapters he goes from one encounter to another, as furiously as he can go, so that he has to stop and go apart by himself to rest and regain his powers. We read that description and it occurs to us that that world is a world that is alien to us. It is something strange to our experience. And in a sense, that is true. But if you read the ...

1505. This Is Not the Race I Entered

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... and they were off, like a huge wave, hundreds of runners, sweeping her up. She was in the race. After about four miles it occurred to her that they ought to be turning around and heading back to the finish line. She wondered why they didn't turn around. She stopped and asked an official, "How come the course isn't turning around?" He said, "Ma'am, you are running the Cleveland Marathon" Twenty-six miles. Her event, the 10K, was to start a half hour after the start of the marathon. Some of us would have ...

1506. Two Women

Luke 1:39-45

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... I imagine, they wept, then they laughed, and then they danced, amazed that God would reveal himself in such an unpredictable way. Then Mary sings the Magnificat, which you heard the choir sing. In comes in the sequence of the story right after the New Testament lesson stopped, so it is appropriate that the choir would pick it up, and sing it, which is the way it is supposed to be heard. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden ...

1507. When Saying No Means Yes

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... on God. So the real test of whether all is right with your soul is to deny yourself some comfort, and see what happens. Can you do without drinking for forty days? Can you do without eating all you do for forty days? Can you stop buying so many things for forty days? Can you stop watching television for forty days? Can you give up whatever it is that you are beginning to fear you are addicted to? If you can't give it up, then it has replaced God as the center of your life, the source of your strength ...

1508. You Have Outwitted Me

Hosea 11:1-9

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... , that it is said that when Somerset Maugham was dying, he called A. J. Ayer to his bedside, like a priest, to reassure him that there was no life after death. This article said that a year before Ayer died, he suffered a heart attack and his heart stopped for four minutes. Then the doctors brought him back. Ayer wrote about that experience. He said he saw a red light and had become aware that the light was responsible for the governance of the universe. We know that as a near-death experience, or an out-of ...

1509. Proper 17

Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:1-8, Romans 12:9-21, Jeremiah 14:1--15:21, Jeremiah 20:7-18, Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . 3. c. Remove your shoes (confess sin) - v. 5. d. Listen to God's call - v. 6.. Old Testament: Jeremiah 20:7-9 1. I Can't Stop Loving You (20:7-9). Need: It is dangerous to be a servant of God. It often means that God does not give us peace and prosperity ... love and serve. Christian leaders and lay servants need to be encouraged to serve regardless of the consequences. Outline: God, I can't stop loving you - a. Even though you deceived me - v. 7. b. Even though your people deride me - vv. 7-8. c. Because the ...

1510. All Saints Day

Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... , we are humans, but more than that - children of the King. How do we know we are God's children? We know it because of the cross and resurrection, because of God's Word, because of faith, because the Spirit witnesses to our spirits that we are his children. Now stop and think of what it means to be a child of God. PREACHING POSSIBILITIES Three Lessons: Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 When We All Get To Heaven. Need: Constantly people are asking about heaven: what is it like, what will we do ...

1511. Call Waiting

John 1:29-42

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... their tracks, and, like those disciples on the road to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke, the hearts of these disciples seem to burn within them. Yes, my friends, there is something about Jesus, something about God, something about the deep question of life that can stop us in our tracks, that turns us around, that changes us - when and if we listen. Andrew and Simon respond to Jesus' question with a question of their own: "Where are you staying?" They feel so immediately drawn to the spiritual power of this man ...

1512. God, Or the World?

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... a child. In those days, the Mexican government said that is was illegal to practice the priesthood, but that did not stop the Whiskey Priest. Everything he did; the Masses, baptisms, funerals, and weddings had to be conducted in secret, staying one step ... lieutenant represented the government. This band of soldiers possessed the power. It was their job to find the Whiskey Priest, to stop his activity, and ultimately to eliminate him. The hunt went from town to town, village to village. In one village the ...

1513. Transformed in Christ

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... ! Lent is a time to transform our personal habits. We need to heed the warnings and advice we have received with respect to personal health and have the courage to change to a more sane, healthier, and more productive lifestyle. We know what we need - to lose weight, stop smoking, cease certain activity - but we often balk. At times we are lazy or do not want to pay the price that the removal of a certain habit will cost. All of us need to transform our faith practice; there is always more that can be done ...

1514. Pentecost! Slow ... and Sure!

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... us what to do, he gives us the power to do it! Such was the first Pentecost service in church. It started off slowly, but ended fast. It began with the heaviness of guilt, fear, and doubt, but ended with assurance, gladness, and peace. Now the lectionary reading stops there, but it's worth reading on a bit, for a sad note follows. Jesus has come and ministered. Now he is gone. And who should walk in the door next but Thomas, one of the twelve! "Where have you been, Thomas?" the disciples ask in frustration ...

1515. A Guide to Christmas

Matthew 21:23-32

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... to the Christ of Christmas. God knows we are apt to get lost in our quest for the manger child, hence he has sent us a guide, our guide to Christmas. His name? John. John the Baptizer! In the text, a group of religious persons is testing Jesus' authority. Jesus stops them in their tracks with a hard question. "The baptism of John, from whence did it come?" The Pharisees couldn't answer him. Can we? John's Purpose In the Bible we are told of John's purpose. He was a go-between. He kept pointing to one coming ...

1516. God, The Venture Capitalist?

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... !" "Do you want a ride?" the banker asked. "Wow! Sure I do," the lad said and got in. Soon the boy asked if he could stop in front of an old building while he ran upstairs. Thinking the boy was going to fetch a friend to gawk at his car, he ... home; he'll ask the number of people you sheltered. He won't ask your net worth; he'll ask about your generosity in helping others. Stop and think for two minutes. Quick! Name the last three Miss Americas. Name the past ten Super Bowl Champions. Give the names of ten U. ...

1517. Celebrity Culture

Psalm 95:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is especially aromatic and fits in with your local food culture. As he preached he continued to eat the chips. At the end of his sermon, when the barbecue was ready, someone brought it up front, and he cut into it, and started to put it in his mouth . . . then stopped (to the gasp of the congregation). He couldn't eat it. He was too full of junk food. How many of us aren't feasting on the food of the promised land because we're too bloated from junk food?) Next month our daughter will join a hundred or so ...

1518. Move Life from Duty to Destiny

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... way into your skull like an earworm and won’t get out . . . . it just nestles in your ear, squirms and squiggles until you sing (let’s hear it now, “It’s a Small World After All, It’s a Small World After All . . .” Stop it before we can’t stop it. Disney is rebuilding “It’s a Small World” because Americans have gotten too big for “Small World.” Our butts have gotten too big for our “Small World.” In many ways this is the problem of the disciples in this morning’s gospel reading ...

1519. Are You a GOT TO or a GET TO Christian?

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... in focusing the public eye their way, these various groups have vowed to "Take Back The Night" - delivering the darkness, and themselves, from the criminals who stalk the night. They march down streets lined with crack-houses; they parade through parks and bus stops; they patrol playgrounds; they shine bright lights into all the dark corners where violence and hatred lurk and wait. These brave demonstrators find that only by taking back the night do they begin to feel safe again, begin to feel free again ...

1520. A Case for Living Together

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . And more churches are interested in numbers, not salvation. I wouldn't trust my sons and daughters to be in your youth group, I would be afraid for their safety. I say all of this in love, a love for truth. And in truth, this youth group made me stop and think about what isn't going on in church today. It's sad that most churches thrive on numbers and money rather than withstanding the unpopularity of being truth bearers. When we reach heaven, we all will have to answer an all knowing God who will indeed ...

1521. You're Fired!

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... And God proved the strength of those arms. God's hug is strong and loving enough to resist whatever you can flail or throw at it: fists, kicks, whips, chains, spikes, thorns, nails, spears, crucifixion. There's nothing you can do to make God stop loving you and hugging you. God will stop at nothing, not even death on the cross, to let you know how much God loves you. As the Passion reveals, God's love is overwhelming, an all-consuming fire. But first you have to hear these words: "You're Fired." Old things ...

1522. Drop It!

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to show trophies of your spiritual successes, Jesus says, close your bags and put your prizes away. DROP IT! What do you need to drop this morning? One of the hardest things in life is to learn to drop it! One of the biggest reasons why people stopped following Jesus was because they couldn't drop their habits and preconceptions. What are you having trouble dropping? What do you need to drop this morning? Are you a control freak, a control junkie? DROP IT! Do you have a secret sin that no one knows about ...

1523. Set in the Dark Places

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... out loud. Finally his big sister had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." 'Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're ... t we been promised that "The lamp of the wicked shall be put out, and the way of transgressors is hard"? Maybe it's time to stop focusing on preserving the light and protecting the light from the dark and wind rather than lighting the darkness and blowing in the wind. Maybe ...

1524. Maker's Mark

2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... I wrote an autobiography. We think about ourselves first; our highest regard is reserved for ourselves." (Pastor/writer David W. Henderson, Culture Shift: Communicating God's Truth to Our Changing World; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998, 103.) What would happen in this world if we stopped trying to make our mark and started focusing on how we might better illumine the Maker's mark that's been tattooed on our souls, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. When we're trying to make our mark we're trying to become rich ...

1525. Be Kind

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

James McCormick

... a decision to let death come. She wrote on the chart an order not to resuscitate. But when, mercifully, her heart stopped beating, the young doctor rushed in and began trying to revive her. When the nurse protested, the doctor said, “But she is research ... !” At that, the nurse physically got between Vivian and the doctor and made him stop. She allowed her to die in peace - the final kindness. That movie drove me from complexity to simplicity. With all that we ...

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