Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1676 to 1700 of 2332 results

1676. A Salvation Army Parade

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Lee Griess

... trust and our faith. Remember: it's easy to shout but harder to serve. There is a story from the days of the Civil War about a woman who sat crying on a park bench outside the White House. Her son, upon hearing of the death of his father, had deserted his post in battle to return home and offer his mother comfort and support. However, upon arriving home, he was arrested and was now to be shot by a firing squad. The woman had come to the capitol to see President Lincoln in hopes that he might intervene on ...

1677. Behind Closed Doors

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Lee Griess

... their hearts with their cowardly deeds, their faithlessness, and failure. But he didn't. He didn't. Instead, he said, "Peace be with you." For that's what they needed most. That's what they lacked. They knew their failure. They knew how they had deserted him. They knew their denial, their cowardice, their sinfulness and they didn't need reminding of it. And he knew that, too. What they needed was their lives, their thoughts, their hopes and dreams back again. They needed to be made whole. They needed to ...

1678. Hunger and Politics

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... , he obviously wields divine power and purpose. Therefore, if the God of ancient Israel made it a concern to feed those who came out into the wilderness to experience God's leading and provision, people in Jesus' day could expect the same thing from him. In the deserts of the Sinai Peninsula God provided manna to the hungry tribes of Israel; Jesus, as God's agent, makes sure there is food enough for the famished Jewish crowds. It's a no-brainer. Anybody Hungry? But that only leads us to the second and more ...

1679. Personal Politics

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... , they each became warders for the prison of the other. Yet, like the guards who traveled to Australia on the first convict ships, it became apparent all too soon that there was little difference between the jailer and the jailed. Both came ashore onto a deserted island in the middle of an alien sea with no way to escape. Jesus' words are necessary. We are social creatures who cannot live in isolation. Yet, because of the sin and stupidity that trouble our human condition, we do not live well with those ...

1680. A Career in The Kingdom

Matthew 21:23-32

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... was nothing inherently wrong with Meshech as a land. Nor were its people uncontrollably cruel. Instead, within the economy of ancient boundaries, God had placed his people in Palestine for a particular reason. The bridge territory between Africa and Asia, between the deserts of Arabia and the Mediterranean Sea, formed a natural stage on which the drama of divine revelation and redemption could be played. Jerusalem was only a city of the Jebusites until David and God together made it "Zion," the house of the ...

1681. The Holy Way

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon

Tony Everett

... were weak, their knees had grown feeble, and their hearts had become fearful. There appeared to be no hope, no help, and no way to be restored and renewed. You know, sometimes it may seem as if we are also living in a wilderness — a barren desert bereft of all hope for deliverance. Our families and friends don't understand our fears. Our world is in chaos. If anything can go wrong, it does. Even the little things of daily life become insurmountable obstacles for our fainting hearts and feeble knees. One ...

1682. Why Did You Bring Us Out of Egypt?

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... calm down for the present. It seems we have much in common with this Exodus people. Not only do we whine and complain and fail to trust in our leaders, we are also — like them — wandering in the wilderness. Our wilderness, though, is not the Sinai desert. Our thirst does not come from a lack of water, nor our hunger from too little food. The wilderness in which we wander these days is one of our own making. It is a frightening landscape in which we find ourselves etched and carved by this epidemic ...

1683. A Way of Seeing

Genesis 21:8-21

Sermon

Stan Purdum

... was childless, she had encouraged Abraham to produce an heir with Hagar. Yet, once her own son was born, Sarah became jealous of Hagar and demanded that her husband send Hagar and her son, Ishmael, away. Abraham does this, and Hagar and Ishmael were banished into the desert, where, they were soon lost and out of water. Eventually, Ishmael was at the point of dying of thirst. Hagar put him down under a bush, turned away, and began to weep. God heard her, and, "God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water ...

1684. The Ladder from Our House

Genesis 28:10-19a

Sermon

Stan Purdum

... of a minister's son, named Chris, whose mother had died when he was seven. His father eventually remarried and although Chris' stepmother was good to him, the young boy was deeply hurt by the death of his mother. He felt as if he had been deserted. As a result, this boy avoided attachments with others for fear of being hurt again. Resentment and rebellion churned in him. He became difficult to live with and hard to understand. He was so impossible to deal with that he was expelled twice from school before ...

1685. A Change of Mind

Exodus 32:1-14

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... of great risk, Moses stood before God pleading on behalf of the people who obviously were sinning at that very moment. In addition Moses asked God, "What would the Egyptians think, that God led them to freedom just to kill them out in the desert?" In a passionate appeal, "Turn from your fierce wrath," Moses told God, "change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people." Moses wanted God to remember the covenant established with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, the promise of "descendants like the stars of ...

1686. A Question of Loyalty

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord." Perhaps it was easier for the people to trust God when they were traveling out in the desert, depending on God to meet their every need during their long journey, than it was once they settled in the promised land where they were more self-sufficient. Once there, they became distracted with other things that began to crowd God out of their lives ...

1687. A Vision of Hope

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... time. It had been nearly 400 years since the time of David. The promise that God would send a new leader, a new shepherd in the line of David, filled the people with expectant hope. The new shepherd would love and care for the sheep and would not desert them in the face of danger. Even though the people living in exile were scattered, the day would come when God would act, and they would return to their home together. The appeal of returning home struck a cord with the people living in exile. There under ...

1688. Righting Wrong

Romans 9:1-5

Sermon

Larry Lange

... have no interest at all in striving for righteousness in their living and giving? It is possible. It is possible, because Christ did not come for those who think of themselves as having achieved righteousness. Christ came for sinners, stumblers, strugglers, stragglers, deserters, betrayers, deniers, and crucifiers. None of us has achieved perfect righteousness. As Paul wrote earlier in his letter to the Romans: "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Or as the apostle Paul wrote ...

1689. Leaders Worthy of Imitation

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... kicks in and we decide, consciously or otherwise, whether to stand our ground or to run for our lives. Paul plants his heels and prepares to stand firm, while the Thessalonians fear for his life. Paul's enemies may have accused him of being a shepherd who has deserted the flock at the first sign of danger. What they did not know was that church members insisted he leave town for his own safety. They were afraid of another mob demonstration like the one in Philippi (Acts 17:10). It is easy for those not in ...

1690. Heroes of Faith

Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... , and even chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented [38] of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. [39] Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, [40] since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made ...

1691. LENT: The Passion of Christ: "Raised"

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... treasured possession into the cupped hands of her friend. "Take my Jesus," she said. "If my Jesus is with you, you won't be afraid." (3) The risen Lord Jesus gives us confidence to face all of our tomorrows. The risen Lord is with us and will never desert us. BEYOND THE TOMB WE'RE CALLED TO REMEMBER THE PROMISES OF CHRIST. AND TO REMEMBER THAT THE TOMB IS EMPTY, BUT NOT THE PROMISE. Conclusion One of the series of movies that has intrigued me over the last couple of years has been "The Matrix." Not just ...

1692. Rolling Thunder or Voice of God?

John 12:20-33

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... have hope? And how could He think about glorifying God when He knew the whole world would turn its back on Him in His greatest hour of need? Even His closest friends would turn away from Him. One would betray Him, one would deny Him and all the rest would desert Him. How could He glorify God when He knew that darkness would descend upon the earth because the horror of watching the Son of God die on the cross was too much even for God. And because of the deep love for His Son, God would have to close His ...

1693. 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the novel, unscriptural offerings of others will scratch the “itch” of those discontented with or dismissive of the truth of the gospel. These unfounded, unsound doctrines are dismissed by Paul as mere “myth.” Despite disappointments and desertions, Paul concludes by encouraging Timothy to remain fully focused (“always be sober”), unswervingly steadfast (“endure suffering”), and committed to his call (“the work of an evangelist”), so that he might “fully” serve Christ in his ministry ...

1694. Three Secrets of a Life Well Lived - Sermon Starter

2 Tim 3:10 - 4:8

Illustration

Brett Blair

... Ephesus. He writes: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." It might be well for us this morning to review the secret of a life well lived. Here are the three secrets: 1. A good fight is worth fighting for. 2. Desertion does not mean defeat. 3. Faith must not be lost.

1695. The Impossible Takes a Little Longer

Luke 21:5-19

Illustration

Keith Wagner

... with a friend. He was going to meet his fiancée and complete their wedding plans. During the long drive, he fell asleep while at the wheel. His car hit an abutment and rolled down a hill. He was ejected from the car and found himself laying on the desert with a broken neck. He was paralyzed from the chest down. He completely lost the use of his legs and arms. The doctors told him he would never work again. They concluded that he could never play sports again and would be dependent on others the rest of his ...

1696. Baptism Of Our Lord

Psalm 29:1-11, Isaiah 42:1-9, Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 10:34-43

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

... thanks and praise. Leader: It is indeed right and salutary...that our darkness should give way to his own brilliant light. Leader: God of all holiness, by your power you make all things holy. The creation echoes your praise. The rivers flow with your mercy. In the desert the nomads gathered to water their flocks by your wells. In the cities the poor and needy were washed clean by the words of the prophets. And to all who were hungry and thirsty for life your Son took bread and gave thanks, broke it and gave ...

1697. Easter 3

Psalm 116:1-19, Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

... Lord our God. All: It is right to give him thanks and praise. Leader: It is indeed right and salutary... we join their unending hymn: All: Holy, holy, holy... Leader: From darkness you brought forth light; from dust you breathed a man. In the desert you ran streams of water; beyond a flood you raised dry land. All: Nothing is beyond your comprehending; no one is beyond your care. Leader: Fruit of the earth, fruit of the vine, your holy manna comes to our parched hearts —thirsting for companionship, hungry ...

1698. Epiphany 4, Ordinary Time 4

Psalm 15:1-5, Micah 6:1-8, Matthew 5:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

... Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give him thanks and praise. Leader: It is indeed right and salutary ... we praise your name and join their unending hymn: All: Holy, holy, holy ... Leader: O God of mountains and valleys, prairie and desert, sea and sky, you have bound yourself to us in love. Again and again we turned from you but your word burned hot in the mouth of your prophets, and you turned our world upside down. Your Son lived among the poorest of the poor, bringing dignity ...

1699. Proper 13, Pentecost 11, Ordinary Time 18

Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21, Isaiah 55:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21, Romans 9:1-5

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

... who would speak your word, that life would be created anew and together people would discover your true intentions for their lives. All: You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living creature. Leader: And as you once did for the crowds in that deserted place, in the night of your betrayal you took bread and gave thanks, broke it and gave it to your disciples saying, “Take and eat. This is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” All: You open wide your hand and satisfy ...

1700. Repent Your Way to a Merry Christmas - Sermon Starter

Matthew 3:1-12

Illustration

Brett Blair

... . I would not be concerned about economics, politics, the weather, the size of house or the type of car. At such a time I would want to dwell on the profundities, on what life was all about and what things were absolutely essential. John in the desert was in the great tradition of the Hebrew prophets. He was aware that time was running out. In his burning message he had no time for peripheral matters. He was not playing Trivial Pursuit nor was he prepared to splash about in the shallows. Soon the sword ...

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