Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1601 to 1625 of 1967 results

1601. The Smell of Fear

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Can you smell the fear? Hunters and soldiers have long spoken of experiencing firsthand the smell of fear. It's a scent as different from plain old hard-work perspiration as a gardenia is from garbage. The smell of fear has always been associated with panic, desperation, anxiety, fight, flight, and fright. Since September 11, 2001, however, the smell of fear has taken on a new aroma a distinctive scent known by a host of new entrepreneurs as the smell of money. The Business of Fear (Business 2.0 [June 2003 ...

1602. Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Acts 2:1-4

Sermon

James W. Moore

Let me begin with three quick stories. See if you can find the common thread that runs through them. The First Story is about a woman who lives in Texas. She is a motivational speaker who is often asked to give the key-note address at conventions and convocations. Recently she returned home after speaking five nights in a row. Her husband said: “Honey, I know you must be really tired. Why don’t you “sleep in” in the morning?” That sounded good to her, so she did stay in bed longer than usual. When she ...

1603. For His Eyes Only

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

James Merritt

If you have ever gone for a job interview, one of the questions that you will be asked is something like this: "Tell me what you have done in the past that would qualify you for this job?" Or, they may ask you something like this: "What character qualities do you have that would make me want to hire you?" But if you will think back to any job interview you have ever had you were never asked this question: "Why do you do what you do?" When people try to size us up and find out what kind of persons we are, ...

1604. Luke 9:51-62

Luke 9:51-62

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's Gospel text marks the beginning of Luke's "journeying" section. In a major departure from Mark's outline, Luke inserts a huge section of material (9:51-18:23) that introduces new stories gathered around Jesus' journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. The unit opens with a distinctly Lukan phrase and vocabulary. By announcing that Jesus "set his face toward Jerusalem," Luke implies this was the embarkation point for an imminent and unstoppable series of events. Jesus sets out to travel the road ...

1605. Luke 9:51-62

Luke 9:51-62

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

1606. I Love Baskin' Robins

John 1:43-51

Illustration

Brett Blair

I have hunch that we have felt pretty good about letting people find their own way to God. You hear it said in families. We don't want to impose upon our children our religion, these parents say, we want them to find their own way. There is only one conclusion to this path, heartache and sorrow for the missed opportunities. Two robins were sitting in a tree. "I'm really hungry," said the first one. "Me too," said the second one. "Let's fly down and find some lunch." They flew to the ground and found a nice ...

1607. The Big E

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Mike Ripski

How’s your observance of Lent going? In the light of Christ, have you come to see your life or the life of our church differently? I. Seeing the Big E In the 6th Grade I recall learning two things about seeing and not seeing. It was the year the school nurse visited to give us an eye exam. When it came time for me to step up to the line and read the letters on the eye chart, I confessed to the nurse: “I know it’s a big E,” because I’ve heard everyone ahead of me tell you it is. But to be honest, I can’t ...

1608. Bound to Earth, Destined for Heaven

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Even if you’re not Irish, and the most Irish thing you’ve ever done is eat Lucky Charms, you know all about leprechauns. The thing everyone knows about leprechauns is they love gold. The thing everyone knows about gold is that in Irish tradition pots of it languish at the “end of the rainbow.” At the end of every rainbow, guarded by a leprechaun, is a legendary “pot of gold.” Sounds like easy pickings, no? Except for one teeny, tiny flaw in that equation no one can ever FIND the end of a rainbow. Ever try ...

1609. Called by a New Name

Isaiah 62:1-5

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

Two or three generations ago, the only women who did not take their husbands' names after marrying were movie stars and a handful of professional women. Today, many women choose to retain their maiden names, so as not to lose identity with their families of origin. Husbands and wives also combine their names. I know one person who refers to these couples as "the hyphenated families." Some couples even become creative, combining syllables of both surnames in order to form an entirely new name. Children who ...

1610. The Shepherd King

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

Although we are going to concentrate on Jeremiah 23:1-6, it is important to note that these verses are a part of a larger section that is best understood in its entirety. This section contains a collection of prophecies concerning the Davidic kings. It is not important that it be broken down verse by verse, but rather theme by theme. The first section is a lament over Jehoiakim (22:1-9); then Jeremiah's judgment speech against Jehoiakim (22:10-12); a lament over Jerusalem's disaster (22:20-23); speeches ...

1611. Every Kiss Begins with K

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

We’re still in Advent, but who can resist singing Christmas carols? They are either fun, boisterous and bouncy. Or they are sentimental and sweet. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Deck The Halls” fit the fun, boisterous and bouncy theme. “Away in a Manger” and “Silent Night” fit into the sentimental and sweet category. Although I do admit that as much as I love Christmas music, by about now in the Advent season I start identifying with the 17th century English poet John Donne ...

1612. Startled By Jesus

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Years ago I read the supposedly true account of a judge in Yugoslavia who was electrocuted when he reached up to turn on the light while standing in the bathtub. His wife found his body sprawled on the bathroom floor. He was pronounced dead and was placed in a room under a crypt in the town cemetery for twenty-four hours before burial. However, in the middle of the night, the judge came to, realized where he was, and rushed over to alert the guard. Startled, the guard promptly ran off, terrified. ...

1613. Joshua People Study

Joshua 1:7-8, Psalm 119:10-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Years ago I heard the story of a Pastor who was preaching and casting the vision for the future of their congregation. He told them, "With God's help we can see the day when this church will go from crawling to walking." And the people responded, "Let the church walk, Pastor, let the church walk." He continued, "And when the church begins to walk, next the church can begin to run." And the people shouted, "Let the church run, Pastor, let the church run!" Fired up, he continued, "And finally the church can ...

1614. Cross Eyed: Triumph

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Mark was three years old when his pet lizard died. Since it was her grandson's first brush with death, Grandma suggested that Mark and an older boy in the family hold a "funeral" for the lizard. Grandma explained what a funeral was: a ceremony where you say a prayer, sing a song, and bury your loved one. Grandma even provided a shoe box and a burial place in the backyard. The boys thought it was a great idea, so they all proceeded to the backyard. Taking the lead, the older boy said a prayer. Then he ...

1615. Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

In contrast with other synoptic gospels, in Luke Jesus’ public ministry with his disciples begins after “a report about him spread through all the surrounding country” (Luke 4:14). In the scene Luke sketches of Jesus calling his disciples, Jesus’ first followers get to witness Jesus’ popularity and hear his powerful teaching before they are challenged to give up their old lifestyle and “catch people” instead of fish. Today’s text starts with a big picture. A large crowd has gathered to hear Jesus speak a ...

1616. What Matters In the Light of Eternity: “Prayer Matters”

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Big Ed went to church and listened to the preacher. When people were invited to come forward for prayer, Big Ed got in line. “What do you want me to pray about?” asked the preacher. “About my hearing,” answered Big Ed. So the preacher promptly put one finger in Big Ed’s ear, lays his hand on his head and prays fervently for Big Ed’s hearing to improve. After several minutes the preacher said, “Amen,” and asked Big Ed, “How’s your hearing?” “I don’t know,” replied Big Ed, “the hearing won’t be until next ...

1617. Resurrected Obedience (Series: Living on the Resurrection Side of Life)

John 14:15-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. I’ve been singing those lyrics since childhood. In more recent days of adulthood, I’ve been trying to live them in the very core of my being. I. Trust Trust means to have confidence in, rely on, depend on, believe in A. In God We Trust. We inscribe those words on our money. Do we embrace these words with our lives? God has set his people free. He has placed before us all the benefits and delights of belonging to His ...

1618. Finding Common Ground

Galatians 3:15-25

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

After visiting six different countries the past two weeks, I found myself humming the tune of Lee Greenwood’s song as I touched back down in the U.S.A. a couple of days ago. While we were treated well everywhere we went, I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free. The Apostle Paul was proud to be a Christian for Christ had set him free. Spiritual freedom was on his mind when he wrote this little letter to the churches in the region of Galatia. Some might call this letter in the Bible a ...

1619. Rethinking Our Riches (Series: Questioning Our Values)

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Buy a cup of coffee from any fast food restaurant and somewhere on the cup you will likely find these words, CAUTION: CONTENTS MAY BE HOT. What you need to wake you up can also scald your tongue. So beware, say the makers, and keep us all out of court. Something similar could be said about the Beatitudes of Jesus. These formulas for bliss are also bombshells for life. They are flashes of lightening across the landscape of our ordered lives. As William Barclay says, “The Beatitudes of Jesus turn standard ...

1620. Judas, A Person Like Us

Mark 14:43-52

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Would you ever consider naming one of your children Judas? We name our children James and John and Matthew and Peter and Andrew and Thaddeus. You may not have thought of the apostles of Jesus when you gave these names to your sons. You may have been thinking of a father, or grandfather, but the names go beyond that, back to those disciples of Jesus. But Judas! The name is not in our repertoire of treasured names for our sons. Yet, the name was common among the Jews. There are several Judas’ in the Bible. ...

1621. The Forgiveness Which Oils the Human Machine

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

A Gallop poll asked Americans what they try to do when wronged. Forty-eight percent said they try to forgive. Eight percent said they try to get even. In our minds, at least, forgiveness wins over revenge six to one. Forgiveness, what a great idea. Forgiveness is the oil that lubricates the human machine. Without it, all of life becomes hot and screaky. Lewis Smedes says, “God invented forgiveness as a remedy to the past that even He could not change.” Jesus said when you pray learn to say, “Forgive us our ...

1622. Repent

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

There are nineteen more shopping days until Christmas. The big Christmas parade is past. The decorations are up. The parties are on. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. In the midst of jingle bells and Santa Claus, we find our way to church hoping to hear a few strains of “Silent Night.” Instead, we are shocked to our senses by a pit bull-type preacher shouting REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR! Who is this back roads guy with no degrees, no titles, and not many clothes, whose only ...

1623. Daniel: The Problem of Power

Daniel 6:10-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

It was a large, impressive waiting room stocked with the latest magazines and furnished with the finest of furniture. On this particular day the place was packed with people waiting to see one of several physicians. In one corner of that waiting room, there sat an elderly lady crying. At first, she cried quietly, but as the hopes and fears of all years gushed forward she began to weep openly. There was a little boy sitting across the room playing with toys he found in his mother's purse. As the elderly ...

1624. Sentimental Slaves

Exodus 16:2-15

Sermon

David J. Kalas

Let me ask you to do a little remembering today. I don't know specifically what it is that I'm asking you to remember: that will vary with each individual. In general, though, here is the assignment: I want you to remember "the good old days." What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? What time? What place? What period of your life and experience first occurs to you when you hear a reference to "the good old days"? When our oldest daughter was just five years old, she was sitting with my wife and me ...

1625. Power!

Mark 1:4-11

Sermon

David E. Leininger

In a former congregation of mine, a Sunday school teacher told me of an incident that happened there some years ago. Two of the young girls in her class — both about nine years old — came to her and said they wanted to be baptized. She was understandably pleased at their desire and told them to go home and talk to their parents about it, then appropriate arrangements could be made. A week later, the girls came back with the sad news that the parents thought they should wait until they were older and could ...

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