Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1601 to 1625 of 4914 results

1601. Gift of Positive Thinking

2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

For generations the "power of positive thinking" has been touted throughout our land. It is among the most popular and utilized thoughts and themes we have ever known. Cutting across all strata of social and economic patterns it is generally a principle espoused. While the influence generated is obvious, secular and less than desirable ways of life have utilized it. It is frequently taken from a Christian basis and becomes a means to achieve ends that at a minimum are questionable. Of course, there are ...

1602. Faith Is the Victory

Acts 10:44-48

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Through the grace of God we have been promised the incredible possibility of a real, live relationship with the divine. Our appropriate response to this relationship is one of faith. This week's texts help us to acknowledge that our faith is a response which is utterly dependent upon God's faithfulness for its birth and growth. The word "faith" is one of the most widely used words in the NT. It is found in the First Testament through the verbal root aman, or as we would translate the word, "Amen." This ...

1603. Ephesians 6:10-20

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The Ephesians' writer has moved from opening texts of praise and blessing through a long section of urgent exhortations. The verses read today mark the conclusion of this exhortative material, but in typical Ephesians' style the writer first crashes to a great crescendo of powerful images before closing. Interlocking pictures are stacked one upon another, increasing the drama of challenges confronting the believer. The author opens this section with a revealing "finally" denoting the beginning of this ...

1604. Experiencing God

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Stan Purdum

Today is Pentecost, the anniversary of the day nearly 2,000 years ago when the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon the followers of Jesus who were gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. They were so inspired that they rushed out into the streets and began preaching about Jesus. Some 3,000 converts were made that day alone. Most Bible scholars mark that day as the beginning of the church — the birthday of the church. Very likely, none of this comes as news to you. You've heard this all explained before. Even ...

1605. Welcome, Rich and Poor

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Ron Lavin

Can you name some disillusioned people you've met in life? How about a woman who is so badly hurt by her husband committing adultery with a younger woman and then divorcing her, that she wants nothing to do with men? How about a child who believes in Mom and Dad, only to discover that they have frequently lied to him? How about the students of a beloved teacher who find out that their teacher is a pedophile who is going to prison for his sexual molestation of children? How about parishioners who love their ...

1606. Repairing Our Lives

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled over a small kingdom that wasn't powerful nor was it known for anything of any great value. But, the king did possess a large and perfect diamond that had been in his family for many generations. He kept it on display for all to see and appreciate and people came from all over the country to admire this rare and precious gem. People from other lands, hearing about the great diamond, also came and they, too, felt some sense of pride simply by gazing upon the ...

1607. It All Begins with Prayer

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

Clayton A. Lord

Imagine you only have a short time to prepare your successor in ministry. In that time you can only share a few of your insights. What would you tell him or her? There is a story told about a group of seminary students that went to visit an old historic church they had heard a lot about. When they entered the huge building, they were met by a gray-bearded gentleman they thought was the janitor. He offered to lead them on a tour through the facilities and answer any questions they had. They walked through ...

1608. A House for Our Home and a Home for Our Faith

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

An army officer, his wife, and two children were living in a hotel while he was on a temporary military assignment. One day, a guest in the hotel saw one of the little girls playing house in the lobby. She was saddened for the little girl and said, I’m so sorry that you don’t have a home. The little girl responded quickly, oh we have a home, we don’t have a house to put it in. This is Mother’s Day and the festival of the Christian home and I want to talk about that word of the little girl. But I want to ...

1609. Daddy, Tell Me a Story

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

“That bass must have weighed 30 pounds,” said the old fisherman talking about a recent trip on the river. “I fought upwards of three hours to bring him into the boat.” His buddy interrupted the story and scoffed, “I saw the picture you took of that fish. You’re lucky if it even weighed 10 pounds.” The old fisherman replied, “Well, a fish can lose an awful lot of weight during three hours of fighting!” Who doesn’t like a good story even the kind that fishermen tell? I know I would hate to listen to a sermon ...

1610. The God Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is To Come

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

It has always bothered me that the symbol for Easter is a rodent. It is bad enough that the symbol for Pentecost is a dove, a fancy name for a white pigeon, or a trash bird. But the high and holy festival of Easter a rodent? How’s that for a beginning to what is sometimes known as “Low Sunday?” Okay, okay. Technically, no longer are rabbits classified as rodents. As of 1912, rabbits and hares went from being classified in the order Rodentia to a new order, Lagomorpha, which also includes pikas. But up ...

1611. The Color Wheel of Blindness

John 10:22-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

When anxious teenagers finally go to get that sovereign rite of passage into adulthood called the “driver’s license,” they have to pass a tricky written test and a nerve-racking driving test. But there is a third test they must pass as well: A vision test. It is one of the odder quirks of the DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) that the eye exam is often given last — suggesting that knowing the rules and operating a vehicle are more important than being sure you can see where you are going! For most drivers, ...

1612. Go

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

This morning I'm going to use a word that some people say shouldn't be used in mixed company. Some say it should NEVER be used from the pulpit because it will run off any visitors you have. And still others say it is so repulsive a word that it should never be used at all. I'm going to go out on a limb this morning and use that word. And I hope it doesn't offend your sensibilities too much. I'm talking about the "E" word. Evangelism. I hope you'll forgive me if that offended you but that's what I think our ...

1613. The Shepherd Lord

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Henry Ward Beecher called this 23rd Psalm “the nightingale of the Psalms.” This beloved poem – one of the most familiar passages in Scripture had filled the whole world with melodrama and has been “a very present help for time of trouble.” You know I have never preached a sermon on this Psalm and I’ve been preaching for more than 30 years. I’ve quoted it at funerals and weddings. I’ve shared it as comfort with sick folk. I don’t know how many times I have laid my hands on the forehead of a dying person - ...

1614. Why Do People Suffer?

John 9:1-7

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

There is an old story about a construction worker who attempted to lower a barrel of brick by means of a rope and pulley. The bricks however, were heavier than the worker. The man went up as the brick came down. The two collided in mid-air, injuring the worker's shoulder. Upon impact, the bottom of the barrel ripped open. The brick spilled out. Now, the worker was heavier than the brick. As the man came down at high speed, he collided with the barrel coming up, causing injury to his shins. This time the ...

1615. Made Perfect In Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

When Ben Franklin was the ambassador to France for the newly independent United States of America, his quick wit and well-thought wisdom opened many doors for him and for this new country. At one dinner in 1781 where the guest list included the powers of the day, the French foreign secretary began the dinner with a toast to King Louis XVI, "To His Majesty, King Louis, the Sun, whose shining presence radiates the earth of France." Not to be outdone, the British ambassador rose with the toast, "To King ...

1616. God Can Turn Your Trash Cans into Treasure Chests

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Southeast Asia is hot. The economies of its countries are sizzling, especially Viet Nam and Indonesia, with the highest growth rates of almost anywhere on the planet. Investors and tourists from all over the world are flooding both countries. Of course, Bali, Indonesia, is where everyone wants to go. But if I could go anywhere in Southeast Asia, it would be the island of Sumatra. Why Sumatra? Because this island is the archipelago of 17,000 islands known as “Indonesia” is where the “manna” of that country ...

1617. Credible Witnesses

2 Peter 1:12-21

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

Each one of us can remember those special transforming moments in our lives. We remember and can recall with great detail a life-changing experience. We describe such a time as once in a lifetime experience. Some of us might remember meeting an important person, or a celebrity, and gladly retell the story to anyone who will listen. We may recall a time when our faith came alive, when we met Jesus through the love of a Sunday school teacher, a friend, or a pastor. Those are the experiences we carry with us ...

1618. To Elders and Young Men

1 Peter 5:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

A Special Charge to Elders 5:1 Peter now turns to address the local church leaders, the elders among you. The term elders can indicate those senior in age (as in v. 5) or as here, senior in experience. In the nature of the case, of course, the latter meaning will often include the former. Hints of the function of elders can be gleaned from verses 2–3. Their duties include leading and pastoring church members, taking financial responsibility, and living exemplary lives that match up to Christian teaching. ...

1619. Abimelech

Judges 9:1-57

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

The Rise of Abimelech: The story of Abimelech reveals the depths of degeneracy to which Israel had fallen in their rebellion against the Lord. Abimelech, evil as he was, was able to accomplish what he did because he exploited Israel’s tribal chauvinism and perverse desire for an earthly king, which gave expression to their inner rebellion against the One who already was king in Israel (8:23). Israel got what it deserved in Abimelech. Here, for the first time in Judges, the oppressing power came from within ...

1620. Jesus Is Crucified

Mark 15:21-32

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: The central purpose of Jesus’s incarnation is his death on the cross (Phil. 2:6–8). All takes place in accordance with God’s will and plan, so divine sovereignty, not Jewish hatred or Roman might, controls the action. Jesus dies as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Understanding the Text There are four parts to the crucifixion narrative in an A-B-A-B pattern: the mockery by the soldiers (15:16–20), the crucifixion of Jesus (15:21–27), the mockery by the Jewish spectators and leaders and the two ...

1621. Unity of Life and Faith

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Spiritual life cannot be separated from the material. Rather than being spiritually irrelevant, the body is the sphere of worship—a place for God’s presence to be revealed. Christian identity and Christian lifestyle are interlocked. Understanding the Text Following his vice list in 6:9–10 and getting ready for his teaching on marriage in chapter 7, Paul now revisits and broadens his discussion on sexual immorality from chapter 5. Whereas chapter 5 and 6:1–11 dealt with particular and somewhat ...

1622. Consider Others Higher Than Yourself

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Genuine knowledge of Christ causes a believer to consider how personal behavior affects the faith of fellow believers. Christian love and care for others must trump personal rights. Understanding the Text Paul now takes up the next question posed by the Corinthians in their letter (cf. 7:1).1Moving from the larger question of human relationships, with a special focus on marriage, divorce, and singleness, he now takes up another pertinent question that relates directly to the domestic situation of ...

1623. Imitation and Role Modeling

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Christ followers must aim to become imitators of Christ in all they do. Their testimony to their relationship to Christ trumps their Christian “rights” and leads to a rejection of contexts that hamper this testimony. Understanding the Text After a rather direct warning to the “strong” Christians in Corinth against self-assuredness and the pursuit of personal rights at the expense of the “weak,” Paul now returns to his earlier differentiating argument about the relationship between idol meat and ...

1624. The Prophet’s Prayer and God’s Exaltation

Habakkuk 3:1-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

3:1–2 · The prophet’s prayer:Habakkuk’s prayer in this chapter is actually a prayer psalm. The Hebrew word for prayer used here designates five psalms (Psalms 17; 86; 90; 102; 142) and is also used of the collected psalms of David (Ps. 72:20). Habakkuk’s prayer psalm is genuinely personal and yet designed for the sacred liturgy, as further indicated by the final footnote at the end of the chapter and the recurring use of the musical term selah, probably designating a musical interlude. The phrase “On ...

1625. Elephants in the Room: Addiction

Romans 7:15-22

Sermon

Charley Reeb

As kids we often wondered if monsters existed. We would look under our bed to be sure there wasn’t one hiding there. Well, a monster does exist and it is often kept hidden. That monster is addiction. That’s how Hunter Thompson described it. Thompson was a writer for Rolling Stone magazine. He had a wonderful job and all the opportunities a person could ask for. The problem was that he was addicted to drugs and alcohol for most of his life. He committed suicide in 2005. Shortly after his death, his first ...

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