Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1551 to 1575 of 4884 results

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... Taylor,” for any of you who remember that popular 90s show. We laughed out loud at his tool-related mishaps. His absent-minded antics made us shake our heads and smile. In real life, however, it didn’t feel so funny. The combination lock I bought was the perfect size for the gym locker. Prior to this, I had been carrying my belongings with me every time I moved from one piece of equipment to another at the gym. Putting my things temporarily into the locker would help put my mind at ease while I did my ...

1552. Never Satisfied

John 14:8-17, (25-27)

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... pregnant, Sipping on a milkshake, Luxuriating in the silky smoothness of the ice cream, The sweet, rich taste of the chocolate on the back of her tongue, While under the table Her hand gently strokes Her belly. Meanwhile, her boss, Thin and pert and Perfectly quaffed, Sent down from corporate to fix things, Nibbles at her salad and Frets over a ledger: Sales figures, and Inventories, and Work schedules. That kinda of stuff. Our soon-to-be mother listens And takes another sip off her milkshake, Tries to look ...

1553. Motives Matter

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... to every single day. In prayer, in communion, in scripture, in meditation, in the awareness of God and the respect for God’s mission more than our own. Musicians, sports pros, artists, surgeons – they all will tell you that “practice makes perfect.” As humans, we may never be “perfect.” But practicing your faith will definitely make you more in tune with Jesus and God’s mission for the Church. As you come this day to Christ’s communing table, may your heart be aligned with the will of Christ ...

1554. A Sermon About Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... the eschaton, the end of time, while others believe that it refers to the immediate now. I like to think that it refers to both. God, it said, please do not judge us now or in the future because, certainly, who among us can stand against your perfect judgment? Having given us a perfect example of a prayer, Jesus taught a little bit about prayer. 5. And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6. for a friend ...

1555. The Art and Agony of Patience

James 5:7-10

Sermon

Heather Sugden

... bit more time to be ready.” The woman’s words sounded like a lovely description of an apple tree, perhaps even a beautiful metaphor for pregnancy; but at the time, I simply nodded and decided to not pay this woman too much attention. Why stop the perfect holiday dream before it had even had a chance to arrive? I thought it was best to stick to my Thanksgiving baby plans. Somewhere, though, I tucked away these words of the woman’s wisdom for later. Indeed, they would prove to be useful! As November ...

1556. God Is Like...a Lamb

Exodus 12:3-8 · Luke 22:7-20

Sermon

Kenneth L. Gibble

... their kind were in charge. In the end, the victory belongs to God. The apostle Paul said it best. God’s power “is made perfect in weakness,” wrote Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9). That is the mystery that turns the common perception of things on their ears. It is ... of love, doing to others as we would have them do to us. Though we are sometimes fearful, we dare to believe God’s word that perfect love casts out fear. God is like a lamb and God is like a lion as well, two sides of the coin we call God’s ...

1557. New Wine

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... . Important events are enhanced with detail. So we rejoice that the result of the tarrying, the praying, and the obedience of the disciples was the promised Holy Spirit. What glorious consequences accompanied the event. Remember, these were less-than-perfect disciples of the Lord. They had been cantankerous, frightened, vacillating followers of Jesus, and now they react as men possessed -- as indeed they were -- possessed of the mighty power and presence of the Holy Spirit! They went everywhere preaching ...

1558. "No Contest"

1 Kings 18:16-46

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

When my husband and I play tennis it is a "no-contest" contest. He is a far better player than I. In fact, we have a deal that anytime I can beat him a whole set, he will take me out for a lobster dinner. He is perfectly safe from having to pay. This contest has been running for as long as we've been married, and in 21 years I've had lobster once! The match is a "no-contest" contest. He always wins! In this text we have another kind of competition. The contest takes place ...

1559. Deep Depression Or High Hope?

1 Kings 9:1-9

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... that she slashed her wrists a number of times, trying to kill herself; the girl who jumped off a bridge with her baby in her arms, depressed because she feared she was not a good mother; a brilliant White House aide, ensnared by his own perfection, who took his own life; the student whose wife divorced him, who then went into depression, and managed to hang himself with the bed sheets in the maximum security ward of the hospital where he had been hospitalized. The cases are multitudinous, the causes are ...

1560. Walking On Our Hands

John 8:31-41

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

... the Hebrews puts it: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2). Is that not an invitation to a wild and exhilarating ...

1561. Topsy-turvy Christianity

Luke 6:17-26, Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

... up to the standards of life in the kingdom of God should surely be called a saint. But remember, we are all "called to be saints," a call issued by Paul to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2). But that church had many people whose lives did not perfectly reflect the precepts of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. Still Paul called them to be saints. If we listen closely, that call comes to us as well. "It is a precarious, risk-filled existence, but one the text calls 'blessed.' ""

1562. How The Mighty Have Fallen!

Luke 9:18-27

Illustration

Richard A. Jensen

... some people relished the chance to defrock Swaggart in public. The mighty had fallen indeed. Hopefully he learned something from his trials. A hint of wisdom is evident in some of the things he says. For example, he said reflecting on his experiences: "I have seen that the gospel is perfect but its messengers are not." Jimmy Swaggart could now identify with Peter, who began his ministry with these words: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Ministry always begins in confession!"

1563. Gospel Grandmothers

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Illustration

Richard A. Jensen

... behalf. Many adults spoke as well. There was a representative of the women's organization, the men's club, the church board and just about every other group at United. In their speeches people took care not to paint Pastor Snyder as some kind of perfect saint. It wasn't that Pastor Snyder's ministry with them was without fault. In fact, they knew his faults pretty well. There were some well-timed jokes concerning the fact that Pastor Snyder often neglected his own family in order to get all the ministry ...

1564. The Rules

Luke 6:17-26

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: The Law of the Lord is perfect but could easily be a reason for dominating other Christians. Summary: The "Teacher" leads his little band of followers by the rules, but when he leaves, one of them questions his leadership and "the rules." Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: A church Props: None Costumes: Contemporary, casual Time: The present ...

1565. House On Sand

Luke 6:37-42

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... the foundation of Jesus. Summary: Things get worse in this family as the daughter comes home from school, having flunked her test, Mom has burned dinner, and Dad comes home after having a bad day. Everyone is mad at everyone else. The perfect example of not building their house on the Lord. Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: A disturbed home Props: None -- all props are mimed Costumes: Contemporary, casual Time: The present Cast: Mother Kim -- the daughter Father Announcer (MOTHER IS IN THE KITCHEN, COOKING ...

1566. Doubters All, Part I

John 10:22-42

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... GERRIE: You have great perceptive abilities ... in choosing friends. But in choosing religion ... TOMMIE: You know there's nothing wrong with my way of life. GERRIE: Come to think of it, you're right. You have just as much fun in life as I do. You are a perfect roommate. TOMMIE: But it's my reasoning that bothers you. GERRIE: There you have it -- your reasoning. It is faulty. TOMMIE: I don't think so. Where is my reasoning faulty? GERRIE: Well, you said the other day that God is good and today you say He is ...

1567. Take Up Your Cross

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." This is not sour grapes. Jesus simply states the facts that should be most plain. Most surely international events of any given year should make it perfectly plain that we live in an adulterous and sinful generation. If you do not want to admit to that, then listen to the national news on your television tonight and judge whether you live in a sinful and adulterous generation or not. If that does not do ...

1568. Easter Power

John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... who comes from the grave brings with him the new life, the life that has conquered death and reconciled us to God. As the One victorious over death breathes, he breathes into his disciples the new life in which reconciliation with God is the new and perfect relationship that makes people blameless in the court of the living God and enables them to do God's will among people. This new life, which is conferred by the power and force of the Holy Spirit, is synonymous with eternal life. The Holy Spirit enables ...

1569. The Little Boat

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... . Let us learn to call upon him. Our lives are often like a little boat on a great and stormy sea.2 The apostles in the little boat on the storm-tossed sea woke Jesus from his sleep with their question, "Don't you care?" It was a perfectly natural question. Against an illusion of such magnitude, the Lord raised to his full height, turned from the disciples to the furious storm, and commanded the wind and the waves to be still. The elements obeyed Jesus, seeing in him the very fury of God. Jesus then turned ...

1570. Cheers For The Healed

Mark 7:31-37

Sermon

George W. Hoyer

... immediately forget what you are like"? What you are like! You are now made likeable. God is love, making you lovable, lovely. When you see yourself as the holy Other sees you, do you, are you, seeing that you are freed, that you are now under the perfect law, the law of liberty? In many ways the blind must have others lead them. You see! You see yourself! You yourself see! Of course, you did not see this deaf man healed. But you are even more blessed because the Spirit has given you faith and understanding ...

1571. No Box Seats In The Kingdom

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

William G. Carter

... to gather some adults to help me share the work as a youth group advisor. Each one said, "What will I get out of it?" "Teacher, give us what we want." In one sense Jesus is wrong when he replies, "You don't know what you're asking." We know perfectly well what we are asking. We want God to meet our unlimited needs and help us get ahead. Yet in a deeper sense, any request for cheap success reveals we do not know what kind of God we meet in Jesus. "Look," he said to his disciples, "we are going ...

1572. Tears At The Tomb

John 11:17-37

Sermon

William G. Carter

... with a note of sobriety he said, "Jesus wept." That did it. The rest of the kids burst into laughter. Bob and Betsy tried to grab the reins of those runaway wild horses. "Tell us, Jonathan," Betsy said, "why did you pick that verse?" With perfect teenage logic, Jonathan replied, "Because it's the shortest verse in the Bible." At first glance, that brief verse looks like a lightweight compared to other verses. The Gospel of John often reveals the eternal Word in single sentences, but the sentence "Jesus wept ...

1573. All Stirred Up

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Richard Patt

... occasion quickly grew ugly. While she was busy in the kitchen, Mary, her sister, chose to remain with Jesus in the living room, listening to his words of wisdom. Martha wanted everything in the kitchen to turn out just right. Sometimes striving for perfection spells pressure. The resulting tension can drive us to search for an explanation -- even for blame. That's exactly what Martha did. She wondered whether her sister appreciated the tension she was under in the kitchen. In fact, she surmised, if her ...

1574. The Crux Of Being A Christian

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Richard Patt

... To carry out these words means pain for most of us. So it is that Jesus warns in the Gospel reading, "... sit down and count the cost...." Yes, this kind of discipleship may indeed involve renouncing everything: your very self. Jesus, of course, is himself the perfect example of the very thing he calls us to do. Look at his crux, that is, the climactic moment when he hung upon the cross. He was suffering in physical pain there, yes. But the greater pain may have been mustering the last ounce of love whereby ...

1575. God's Passionate Concern

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Richard Patt

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