Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1576 to 1600 of 4935 results

1576. Prayer And Compassion Fatigue

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

They were tired and they needed a day off. The crowds kept getting larger. More and more sick people were being brought to Jesus and his disciples were getting burned out dealing with all that human misery. So Jesus declared a holiday. "Let's go camping," he said. At least that is what I think he said. Matthew makes it sound like he said, "Let's go off alone to a deserted place." My guess is he got no arguments from his disciples. They took off their beepers, unplugged the phones and put up the "Closed for ...

1577. Proper 17

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

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Suffering for righteousness' sake. Both Jeremiah and Peter rebelled against the idea of suffering for the sake of the kingdom of God; both of them had to be reprimanded by God and brought back into a state of obedience. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 3:1-15 Moses observes the mysterious burning bush on Mount Horeb and draws closer for an examination. An angelic presence is seen in the fire and then the voice of God calls out to Moses. The voice identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and ...

1578. The Healing Of Simon Peter's Mother-In-Law

Mark 1:29-34

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

WHAT'S HAPPENING The Gospel called Mark wants to set a tone of direct action and quick response in this story. Mark shows an absence of dragging feet and suggests a sense of urgency. Jesus gets things done. From Mark's perspective, whatever happens around Jesus, the response is always immediate. "Immediately" is a favorite action word in the first chapter of Mark. After the baptism of Jesus, the Spirit immediately drives him out into the wilderness (Mark 1:12). When Jesus calls Simon and Andrew to be ...

1579. Forgiving the Bully

Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 5:43-48

Sermon

John Jamison

I like the first part of this story about Jesus. All those blessings, and that neat parable about the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. It makes me feel good inside. But now it gets difficult. Let me put this in terms that I can understand. The first time I ever remember hating anyone was in the third grade. The kid's name was Les. Les moved into town part way through the year and from the beginning we had trouble. On the first day, I received a note during spelling. The note read, "After ...

1580. Must We Have All the Answers?

Gn 2:9 · Deut 30:19-20 · Job 52:5

Sermon

Robert Noblett

The young man and his father were headed into New York City for a Saturday outing. It had been some time since they had spent much time together, and the father reasoned that a day such as this was just what was needed. As they crossed The Tapanzee Bridge into Fun City, the son asked, "Dad, what is the name of this bridge?" The father answered, "Son, I don’t know." Later they were driving along Fifth Avenue and the son asked his father, "Dad, is that the Empire State Building?" Replied the father, "Son, I ...

1581. What Is Caesar's and What Is God's?

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Brett Blair

A young lady was soaking up the sun's rays on a Florida beach when a little boy in his swimming trunks, carrying a towel, came up to her and asked her, "Do you believe in God?" She was surprised by the question but she replied, "Why, yes, I do." Then he asked her: "Do you go to church every Sunday?" Again, her answer was "Yes!" He then asked: "Do you read your Bible and pray everyday?" Again she said, "Yes!" By now her curiosity was very much aroused. The little lad sighed with relief and said, "Will you ...

1582. The Lord Has Saved His People

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Alton F. Wedel

Perhaps this is the best that I can offer you today as good news in a world of grizzled news, this shout of praise from Jeremiah’s lips: "The Lord has saved his people." "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘The Lord has saved his people.’ " But it seems to this observer who is more than casual in his observing that the church has punctuated Jeremiah’s praise with question marks instead of exclamation points. "The Lord has saved ...

1583. The Word And Words

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I wish I had discovered Eugene Patterson long ago. He's a Presbyterian Pastor, and also an outstanding writer. He's the pastor of Christ Our King United Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He has been there for 27 years; (maybe I'll make it that long here). This is one of Patterson's simple, matter-of-fact, powerful expressions of truth: "There is no such thing as successful churches. There are, instead, communities of sinners, gathered week after week by the Holy Spirit, in towns and villages all ...

1584. You Shall Name Him Jesus

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

King Duncan

Author Calvin Miller tells a wonderful story about a boy named “Fruit Stand.” The story takes place in Santa Cruz, California. As the hippie era of the 1960s began to wind down, many of the refugees of San Francisco’s Haight‑Ashbury district moved down the coast to Santa Cruz. As they had children these hippie parents never gave them simple names like Tiffany or Michael. Instead, they gave them profoundly meaningful names like Snow Princess, Sea Foam, and Panache. People around Santa Cruz grew accustomed ...

1585. Confronting a Christless Culture

2 Timothy 3:1-17

Sermon

James Merritt

I heard of a pastor who resigned his church to go to another pastorate. After announcing his resignation, he was approached by one of the sweet older members of his congregation. She was weeping over the pastor's decision to leave. She said, "Things will never be the same after you're gone." Well, the preacher tried to console her by saying, "Don't worry, I'm confident God will send you a new pastor who is far better than me." When he said that, she let out a large wail and said, "That's what the last ...

1586. Nothing Great Happens Without It

Luke 14: 25-35

Sermon

James Merritt

There's is an old fable about an Emperor who many years ago gathered together the wisest people in his kingdom and said, "I want you to assemble all of the great knowledge of our civilizations so that it will be available for future generations." They worked many years before returning with ten bound volumes. The Emperor glanced at the stack of books frowned and said, "Too long." The sages scurried back to work and did not return until they had edited the ten volumes down to one. However, when they handed ...

1587. A Life to Die For

Acts 6:8-15; Acts 7:54-8:1

Sermon

John E. Harnish

October 31…Halloween. It seems to get bigger every year. On my street, there are more decorations, more lights, more pumpkins, more ghosts and goblins. November 1, on the other hand, passed with little notice. For John Wesley, it was just the opposite. It was his favorite holiday. Reading his journals, you can pass December 25 with hardly a word about Christmas, and you can comb through his entries from February to June any year and hardly determine Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. But on November 1, Wesley ...

1588. Advent 3

Isaiah 61:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, John 1:1-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Isaiah 61:1-13 is the text for Jesus' inaugural sermon at Nazareth (Luke 4). It gave the forecast of his ministry. This passage comes from an unknown author of the sixth century B.C. when the Babylonian exiles returned to Judea and found their country in ruins. It constituted a message of good news of liberation and comfort. Verses 10-11 comprise Israel's happy response to the glad tidings of liberation and salvation. The people rejoice in Yahweh for his ...

1589. Faith to Follow

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Lee Griess

How much faith does it take to follow? How much trust in God must we have? What does it mean to be part of the kingdom? How can we be born again? That's the question that Nicodemus asked. That's the theme for our time together this morning. How much faith does it take to follow? I came across an interesting idea this past week. I read an article about businesses that reward their employees when they make a mistake. Have you heard about this new trend? A temporary office-help agency in Washington DC ...

1590. Good and Mad

Luke 4:21-30

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Before we start the message this morning I need you to do something for me. I want everybody on this side (point to the right side) to move over here (point to the left side). I want everybody in the center to move there (point to the right side). And I want everybody on this side (point to the left side) to move to the center. OK, let's go. After everyone has moved, and is uncomfortable, mad and grumbling. Did that make you mad? Of course it did. It probably made you "Good and Mad" We don't like change. ...

1591. The Final Exam

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Steven Molin

In 1993, former president Jimmy Carter presented the commencement address to the graduating class at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He shared the story of a young college freshman who overslept for the final exam in geometry and pleaded for mercy from his professor. The professor granted it — sort of. "If you provide an accurate answer for one question, I will submit a passing grade for you." Without much choice, the student agreed. Here is the question: "If I give you a barometer, how can you use it ...

1592. Ignite: Fight Fire with Fire

Acts 4:1-22

Sermon

James Merritt

No matter what you do for a living every job has its drawbacks. Every job has its way of jobbing you and all vocations have their frustrations. One of the great frustrations of being a pastor is the realization that people are always looking for the perfect church. I can’t tell you how many times pastors will hear people complain about something in the church, but they will always preface their remarks by saying, “Now I know no church is perfect…” But what you know deep down is they are looking for the ...

1593. The Good Samaritan (Revised Edition)

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

"Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." — Luke 10:36-37 It was a dark, rainy summer night on a remote road. David was driving home to his lake cottage after a movie in the resort village. Going around a corner he thought he saw it. He slowed, wondering if he had seen correctly. He stopped, backed up in the driving rain, then moved his car toward the edge of the road ...

1594. Final Instructions

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

Generally speaking, the report brought by Timothy concerning the church in Thessalonica was most heartening, and when Paul heard it, he offered thanks to God for their faith and love, for their hard work and hope. But in some respects there was room for improvement. Of particular concern was the relationship between the leaders of the church and the other members. Due perhaps to a restlessness provoked by uncertainty about the Parousia or by some other factor (see disc. on 4:11; 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6–13 and ...

1595. Worship and Humility

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Christian worship must happen in an atmosphere of humility and self-giving. Self-promoting pride desecrates Christ and brings devastation to his community. Understanding the Text The danger of an amalgamation between pagan and Christian worship loomed in the Corinthian setting. After pointing out how clothing (veiling) blurred what should have been a clear distinction between pagan and Christian worship practices (11:2–16), Paul now turns to the issue of the Lord’s Supper itself. The very rooms ...

1596. Barren No More

1 Sam 1:1-20–2:11

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord, the incomparable King, vindicates his loyal followers. Understanding the Text The judges’ period was a low point in Israel’s history. God’s people, without effective leadership, hit rock bottom morally, ethically, and spiritually. The final chapters of Judges contain alarming accounts of gang rape, civil war, mass slaughter of entire tribes and cities, and kidnapping. The book ends by declaring, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judg. 21:25). First Samuel ...

1597. Titus Sent to Corinth

2 Corinthians 8:16--9:5

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

8:16–24 Having exhorted the Corinthians to complete the collection that they had begun (8:7–15), Paul recommends the emissaries he will send to take it to Jerusalem (8:16–24; cf. 1 Cor. 16:3–4, where Paul’s original plan was different). In doing so, Paul takes up where he left off in verse 6, with the sending of Titus. Paul wants to send Titus back to Corinth with two companions in order to bring the collection to a fitting conclusion. Paul did not need letters of recommendation to or from the Corinthians ...

1598. A Bridge Between Two Worlds

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

If you ever read stories or watch movies about spies and espionage, then you know that spies live in constant tension of being found out. Because spies are hiding their true identity and purpose, even the tiniest false move could blow their cover and put them in danger. That kind of premise guarantees that a spy story or movie will be filled with tension and excitement. One of the most famous true spies of modern times was a Spanish man by the name of Juan Pujol Garcia. At the start of World War II, Garcia ...

1599. The Gospel in Miniature

John 3:16

Sermon

King Duncan

According to the Christian History Institute, a man named George Bennard was struggling with personal problems that were causing him a great deal of trouble and anguish. In his suffering, his mind returned again and again to Christ’s anguish on the cross. This, he thought, was the heart of the gospel! The cross he pictured was not ornate, or pretty, or gold or silver. It was “a rough, splintery thing, stained with gore.” George Bennard was under the influence of our text for the day, John 3:16. “I saw the ...

1600. A Sure Path to the NFL

1 John 2:28--3:10

Sermon

King Duncan

If I were to ask you to name someone whose character inspires you to be a better person, who would you name? Did a name pop into your head right away? I hope so. I hope we all know someone--a parent, a teacher, a colleague, a neighbor, a church member—whose example inspires us to live better lives. Here’s a little trickier question: How many of you thought of a Disney character as an influence on your life?? Last year, a British couple put an advertisement on a childcare website asking for a nanny. They ...

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