Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1626 to 1650 of 4977 results

1626. I Love A Parade

Matthew 21:1-11, John 12:12-19

Sermon

Robert Allen

... an act of humility. A pastor was once asked to speak at a banquet for a charitable organization. After the meeting, the program chairman handed the pastor a check. "Oh, I don’t want this," the pastor said. "I appreciate the honor of being asked to speak. Keep the check and apply it to something special." The program chairman asked, "Well, do you mind if we put it in our special fund?" "Of course not," the pastor replied. "What is the special fund for?" The chairman answered, "It’s so we can get a better ...

1627. The Flight From Light

Isaiah 60:1-22, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Erskine White

... comes and God is ready to fill us, we shut Him out. When God confronts us with the possibility of giving up whatever it is that is keeping us in darkness, we cling all the more fiercely to it and run fearfully from the light. When I send my young children to the basement to ... She waited in fear for the inevitable. One day, there was a knock on the door and the widow cowered in silence, keeping her doors locked and her curtains drawn. She trembled in terror as she heard the knock again, and then a third time. ...

1628. A Prophet Like Me

Deuteronomy 18:14-22

Sermon

Frederick C. Edwards

... pit because there were some who wanted to silence him. On a couple occasions Jesus referred to the persecution, and even the killing of the prophets. So the people and their leaders became angry with the prophets and stoned and ridiculed them, but could not keep from producing them in every generation. God kept calling forth prophets from among the people, and the Hebrews could not deny that God spoke through them, even though they often did not want to hear them. Prophet ought to be part of the definition ...

1629. Courageous Preaching

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Durwood L. Buchheim

... goal becomes survival. We soon discover that nobody wants us. Everywhere we run into negative attitudes: "We have enough economic problems and unemployment the way it is. We don’t need you people adding to it. Move on - we don’t have room for you here." We keep on the move, getting farther and farther from home. Night after night we look into the frightened eyes of our children who ask, "Where are we going now? Why can’t we go home?" It so happens that we are among the few fortunate refugees. A Moslem ...

1630. Christian Courage

Acts 4:1-22

Sermon

Durwood L. Buchheim

... who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet." (Luke 7:24-26) Faithful servants of the Word are not in the pulpit primarily to keep the congregational machinery well-oiled and the money coming in. God’s word not only soothes and blesses, it also judges and demands. Faithful preachers therefore, are not just to be nice and do nice things, but they are also to speak the truth in love. Christian courage ...

1631. When God Was Nothing

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Brett Blair

... before his death he wrote his apprentice Timothy whom he regarded as a son and encouraged him. Timothy, he said, I have been reminded of your sincere faith. Your grandmother had it, your mother had it, and I am persuaded it is in you as well. Keep that faith alive Timothy. And Timothy did taking over for the Apostle Paul when he was martyred in Rome. Love encourages. That’s what love does and it can make all the difference in your life. Edward Steichen was one of the world's most renowned photographers ...

1632. The Ten Commandments - Part 4

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Brett Blair

... false rumors. In his book “The Dream,” Keith Miller has a dream that God takes him on a trip. One place they visit is a church, and low and behold the devil is present incognito. He is dressed as an ordinary church goer. He is not attempting to keep people out of the church. In fact, Satan goes to the worship service himself. But during the whole sermon he is whispering to the people all about him about certain people in the church. “Look at that. There’s Sam Jones. He may be on the Board now, but ...

1633. The King's Reception (What Are You Wearing to the Wedding?)

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

Brett Blair

... . If they had wanted to go badly enough they could have managed. It is really amazing to me how quickly people can clear their calendars to do the things that they want to do. But these three men had no real desire to go, so they let other things keep them away. Well, this parable is being reenacted everyday in the lives of people and in the life of the church. The great enemy of faith and salvation even to this day is preoccupation. God is simply crowded out. We do not disbelieve in him. Nor do we despise ...

1634. The Path of Dignity

Drama

William Grimbol

... of the disciplined - determined - dedicated life of the disciple ... those who choose to run the race. As individuals we must face the Cross inspired scrutiny of our laziness, and the sin of our quest for the good life, a good life that ironically keeps us out of the race almost totally. In friendship and within the family, we must address the issues of pride - selfishness - the refusal to forgive, or be forgiven - the Demolition Derbies of jealousy and anger and hurt - our lack of awareness and attention ...

1635. Resurrection: From Brokenness to Wholeness

Matthew 15:29-39

Sermon

Leonard H. Budd

... in a caring Heavenly Father. Some things are not possible in God’s world, but so much more is possible. In the care of God, what might be hindrance can, instead, be means of learning, means of growth, means of resurrection to something new. God keeps his creation. God guards. And what seems impossible, with God’s care, is not impossible. Then Jesus again touched Jahmai’s leg. Jahmai could feel a warmth in his touch, in the gentle, caring touch. Jesus’ hand held the leg, pressing it now, pressing it ...

1636. Augustine, Defender of the Faith

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... are not struggling, we probably don’t yet have the correct concept of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Those evil desires of our imperfect nature tempt and convince us, also: • that lust to possess others sexually; • that greed to get and keep all we can; • that self-centered ego which tells us to tramp on others to get ahead; • that lack of self-esteem which drives us to be critical of everyone else; • and that which our American way of life encourages: "If it feels good, do it ...

1637. Martin Luther: the Shape of Grace

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... found the church. He was freed. So may we be as well. It broke Luther’s heart that his protest brought about a split between Protestant and Roman Catholic Christians. He didn’t want to split the church. Rather he wanted to re-shape and re-form it keeping the unity of the body of Christ catholic. Luther would be pleased with the mood of our day. He would like the new direction in 1985 of seeking out unity of purpose and mission again. We no longer are "Catholichaters" as some have been. We recognize each ...

1638. Christmas Gift

Isaiah 61:1-11

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

... itself from a feeling of vengeance, for God alone exacts vengeance, and she was to comfort those who mourned. What a wonderful list of verbs to characterize the nature of God’s garment as it was worn out "under sentence of life." Israel was to keep the covenant relationship between itself and God, as well as among itself in such a way that the impact would be felt by the world around it. Robes of righteousness were daily lives of faithfulness to this network of relationships which God had established in ...

1639. God’s Dwelling Place

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

... and there shall be no need for houses or temples at all, for "... the temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb" (Revelation 21:22). This is the great vision. I freely admit just how visionary it is; but, I am likewise sure that visions keep a people alive and growing by holding before them what is ultimately in store. History has verified over and over again the insight of the wise, "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" (Proverbs 39:18). The church ...

1640. What Do We Do Now That We’re Happy?

Isaiah 62:1-12

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

... Christmas after Christmas when I was young, the feeling of being lost when the final gift was unwrapped, and the quiet reality of the day came over me. Where was the marvel? When was it to come? The gifts looked so ordinary, so regular, so - well, somehow unable to keep me on a high. What do we do now that we’re happy? Well, I got up and got out of the house and went visiting. Mother got busy preparing dinner. To get what we want is often just as treacherous. We wanted a super-ordinary surprise from the ...

1641. All Dressed Up and No Place To Go

Isaiah 61:1-11

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

... ? Let’s look and see. Among the first things Mary and Joseph did was to bring Jesus to the Temple to present him to the Lord, for the law required that every male that opened the womb was holy to the Lord. They had begun their going places by keeping their heritage. As they nurtured him, he grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and all persons. When grown he went to the desert where, in the temptations he measured himself against the ministry he was beginning to feel to be his. In this time of trial ...

1642. Noise Is Anything That Corrupts the Integrity of a Message

1 Samuel 3:1--4:1

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

... that is when we confirmed our faith in becoming members of Christ’s church. We vow that we are willing to follow him faithfully in our prayers, presence, gifts, and services. Does the integrity of his call come to us without static? He calls us to keep a faithful prayer life. Sometimes outside noises interfere with his message. We know people who are big on prayer and short on compassion. The noise is from outside. But, the noise can be from within. We have been taught that if we pray sincerely the Lord ...

1643. A Streak of Common Sense

Deuteronomy 18:14-22

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

... so upon reflection. Common sense today can become arrant nonsense tomorrow. In these years I have come to feel that two conditions help determine what is genuine common sense. First, a person must think through to the long-range consequences; and, two, the person must keep faith with the daily requirements which must be met to arrive at the desired goal. A handy illustration is known to us all. The honored story of "The Three Little Pigs" spells it out. Three little pigs left home to make their way in the ...

1644. "But, Lord, I Didn’t Want To Be Saved in That Way"

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

... experience that could be convicting. Come to think of it, it would befit a person of my position, of my doubts, of my sincere desire for a visitation of God. If only ... If only I had an experience like that, I would know I was saved. What does the Lord keep saying to us? Be faithful to what you know until you are given more. Do what you can as best you can until you learn to do better. Go, bathe in the Jordan seven times - a dull, repetitious task that seems to be nothing and leads nowhere. How dull and ...

1645. Epiphany 6

2 Kings 5:1-27, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Mark 1:40-45

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

... us from our sins! People: YES! HE HAS! HE HAS LIFTED OUR BURDENS AND BRIGHTENED OUR LIVES! Leader: Then don’t just stand there! Let us give God thanks and praise, blessing and glory; People: AND LET US THEN GO AND SHARE THE NEWS THAT IS TOO GOOD TO KEEP! Collect God of truth and grace, who have cleansed us of our sins, make us feel in the depths of our souls the healing that is ours; that, in newness of spiritual health, we shall be compelled to share the joy of our transformation with others. In the name ...

1646. Epiphany 7

Isaiah 42:18-25, Mark 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

... Confession God of compassion, we confess that we have forgotten you and our relationship with you again and again. We have transgressed against you, your Word, and your will, and have failed to live as your people. Forgive and forget our forgetfulness, we pray. Keep us ever mindful of our responsibility to you. Help us to serve you in sincerity and faithfulness all the days of our lives through Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 Theme: The unambiguous affirmation ...

1647. The Discipline of Witnessing

Isaiah 43:1-13

Sermon

... others to death with small talk about the accomplishments of our heirs ("they walked today" or "they said their first word," and so forth.) Normally, we talk about things that interest us; we discuss the things that really hold our interest and we can’t keep still too long about those we love. Unless there’s been some time when we’re so enthusiastic about God that we want to tell others - the chances are that we’ve never really felt very deeply about Him. If you’ve never been enthusiastic why ...

1648. The Good News of the Cross

Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

... crib, but my children do not know." Today I am full of what must be the sorrow of God as He looks upon the City of Des Moines, where on Good Friday Des Moines will be just another day at school. Oh, yes, we’re meticulously careful about keeping religion out of our schools. That is against the law, the Constitution, and we must be lawful. Of the school’s constantly encroaching upon any time that the children might have for the CHURCH - that’s a different thing. Oh, yes, they are dismissed for the Drake ...

1649. A WALL OF ROCK AND THE EVERYBODY GAP

Drama

William McKee Aber

... ! (adds BLOCK) Sue: I mean you get out every day and see people and I want to talk now and you don’t want to. Why don’t you forget that sports page once in a while and pay some attention to me? (adds BLOCK) Wormwood: Self-pity. Keep pushing it and believing it! Jack: Why look at sales - you know we can’t afford anything. (adds BLOCK) Sue: (lets it drop, pauses) Party was boring last night ... (waits ... no response ... Jack adds a BLOCK) Are the eggs still warm? Jack: Yea. (adds a BLOCK) Sue: Will ...

1650. The Crowd That Hated Him

Matthew 27:11-26

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... . Pilate wants you to let Jesus go, but he doesn’t have much more courage. He knows the leaders are lying about Jesus. He knows that the leaders have lied to you but he is running out of courage. Keep shouting and the next thing that you know Pilate will give you what you are shouting for. The crowd keeps chanting. "Crucify Him, Crucify Him, Crucify Him." Pilate is wringing his hands. He wants a bowl of water to wash his hands so that you know that the blood of Jesus will not be on his hands but on ...

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