Sermon and Worship Resources

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Mt 6:25-33 · 1 Tim 2:1-7 · Joel 2:21-27 · Ps 126

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... to the Merrill Lynch vault near Wall Street to visit her stock certificates. She did that a lot." The life of this poor woman is not the success story it might appear to be on the surface, even by the world's materialistic standards. Rather, it is a tragic illustration of a life driven by a misguided set of priorities. That is why Jesus taught that we shouldn't be worried about what we eat, drink, or wear. If we do as the Lord says and "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," we will inherit ...

152. Christmas 2

Jn 1:1-18 · Lk 2:41-51 · Eph 1:3-18 · Jer 31:7-14 · Ps 147

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... pain and sorrow, we might also ask, "Is God really a Christian?" Remember, "the light shines in the darkness ..." (v. 4). God's love comes through human flesh and lives with us (v. 14). Do our lives proclaim that God is still a Christian? Illustration: The horror of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, in April of 1995, may have caused some people to question the presence of the Word in our midst. Yet consider this. Thousands of rescue workers gave freely of themselves and their time ...

153. Structure And Clarity

Sermon

Michael Rogness

... this. 1 -- Too Many Ideas. The sermon didn't fit together, because there were too many ideas in it, one of the most common problems in preaching. We might have a good theme in mind on Tuesday, but by Thursday we have added other good ideas and illustrations. Having thought about it for hours, it is very clear to us how it all fits together. Maybe even while delivering the sermon we think of another interesting item and lob that into the sermon as we're preaching. Then we are surprised to discover that there ...

154. What Shall We Be?

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... as you grow up. Some day, if all goes well, when the time is right, the mold can be removed and you will end up as a person who is unique among all people. Some day you will be old enough to move into your own home and community. This illustration says many things, but let me point out just two of them. First, it says to you, "The things you learn now are very important. They will determine what you will be like in later years. Therefore, take advantage of your opportunities to learn so that you will have ...

155. Portrait Of A Powerful Servant

John 13:1-17

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... the disciples, it is hard for us to understand because we tend to use power as a show of force, to manipulate, to get what we want. It has always been that way. Go as far back in history as you wish, and you will see the problem illustrated. You will discover the struggle between the two approaches to the use of power, between the manipulator and the servant. One can see the conflict in the Egyptian court when Moses the servant stood before Pharaoh the manipulator and cried, "Let my people go!" One can see ...

156. Episode 1: The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Brett Blair

... we in the Methodist Church, forget that our purpose is making disciples for Jesus Christ we will also become obsolete. If we loose our focus and get distracted by tradition, habit, custom, ritual, routine, we will go the way of the trains, the Swiss, and Sports Illustrated. We must remember our basic identity. We must—whenever, however, wherever—fulfill our basic purpose. I want to be part of a church whose soul purpose is to win people to Jesus Christ. I want to be part of a church that is empowered by ...

157. The Real Jesus is Channeling Grace

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Carl Jech

... Schuller's "Hour of Power" promoted this series of messages: "Six Success Points for Parents," "Ten Tips for Teens," and "Eight Words of Wisdom for Husbands and Wives." No doubt there was much helpful material in these presentations, but they clearly illustrate the phenomenon of "a-theological Christianity." We do not make religion more palatable and meaningful to people by diluting the message or by avoiding God-talk! We do not promote religious unity by homogenizing all religious ideas and reducing them ...

158. What's Our Purpose?

Acts 2:1-21

Illustration

Brett Blair

159. A Glass Full of Worry

Illustration

Brett Blair

... on the internet that is false. The measurements are not even close to accurate. The amount of water described is way below the amount required to produce the described amount of fog. We include this illustrations as an example to be careful when using illustrations sites: I have been told that a dense fog that covers a seven-city-block area one hundred feet deep is composed of less than one glass of water divided into sixty thousand million drops. Not much is there but it can cripple an entire city ...

160. How’s Your Appetite?

Matthew 5:6 · Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... Do you have any good stories today?" After the sermon, "I liked the story you told about so and so," or "You didn’t tell enough stories in that sermon." We all have an appetite for stories. Jesus was an excellent preacher because he always told stories to illustrate some of the deep things he talked about. For example, you remember that in one such parable a lawyer came to him and asked him to preach on the qualifications of a good neighbor. Jesus told a story about how three men, seeing someone in need ...

161. I Knew You’d Come

John 6:16-24

Sermon

Richard Hoefler

... the edge of the lake."2 However, Harvey goes on to point out that the setting of the text suggests the writer believed he was describing a supernatural event. Alan Richardson finds here the teaching that Christ is Lord of the seas. "This event is used to illustrate the unity of Christ with the God of the Old Testament who controls the deep - storm - wind and waves."3 Van der Loos puts this position very well: Yahweh is the creator of seas and rivers; He guides them and subdues them, He is their Lord! This ...

162. Name Above Every Name

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Leonard Mann

... considered themselves honored to bear it, and so should we, and as we bear it, care for it well. We have said there is a magic, a wonder, a miracle quality about this name. But how? why? what is it? Let me try to answer this question with one illustration of the unique significance and authority of the name. I would speak with you of the singular role this name plays in the mighty drama of prayer. You and I need God. We need the touch of his hand upon our lives, his forgiveness, his blessing, his help. We ...

163. Dying to Become

2 Corinthians 5:17

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... two types of changes as provided by the example of a nightmare. The dreamer can do different things within the dream, including hiding or fighting. Such changes are first-order changes, but none of them will terminate the nightmare. Second-order change is illustrated by changing from dreaming to waking, or changing to an altogether different level of consciousness. Examples of first-order changes abound. A common occurrence of human behavior is a man who falls in love and marries a woman upon whom he can be ...

164. Light to Serve

Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... was fishing. Jesus uses the draught of fishes to teach them that the obedience to his word enables them to have great success at their work. Jesus tells them that he can do the very same thing for them in catching people. For them the lesson was a dramatic illustration how the word of God works. They could see the result in their nets, but they would not always be able to see the results of their work among people in the same way. We can take heart the same way. What the Season of Epiphany is designed to ...

165. Does God Care Who Wins the Superbowl?

John 14:5-14

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... ? It does me. I confess I am more than glad that there are public figures acknowledging the importance of faith in their lives. That is GOOD! But I am dismayed by the implication that Jesus Christ helps anyone "kick butt." On or off the field. In the Sports Illustrated article, the reason, according to at least some of the players, that the Broncos are in this afternoon's game is because God decided it should be so. "It was the Lord's will that we win, and we won" - so says Denver guard Mark Schlereth; he ...

166. Ban the "Buts"

Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... miss the ironing. Beautiful. Is there a BUT that is hindering your Christian journey? A BUT that is keeping you from a blessing? An expert on the subject of time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will probably never forget. As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered over-achievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on a table in front of him ...

167. Be Joyful

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... , this is God's will for us this Advent season. That we should discover joy! 1. Michael Hodgin, 1001 HUMOROUS ILLUSTRATIONS FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House), p. 163. 2. (New York: Walker and Company, 1993), p. 75. 3. BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR 4. THE KESWICK WEEK, (London: Marshall, Morgan, and Scott, Ltd., 1958), p. 133. Cited in J. B. Fowler, Jr., ILLUSTRATING GREAT WORDS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1991). 5. "A Joyful Noise," by Joyce Hollyday, SOJOURNERS, 6 ...

168. How Can I Know It's Real?

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... to change it can be yours. All Christ wants is to bring out the best that is within you. He did it for Zaccheus. He can do it for each of us as well. 1. Castel, Albert. "Men Behind the Masks: The James Brothers," American History Illustrated (June, 1982), pp. 1018. 2. McGinty, Brian. "John Wesley Hardin," American History Illustrated (June 1982) pp. 3236 3. John Madden, ONE KNEE EQUALS TWO FEET, (New York: Jove Books, 1987). 4. POWER OF THE PLUS FACTOR, (New York: Fawcett Crest, 1987). 5. J.B. Fowler, Jr ...

169. Sinner Or Saint?

Hebrews 7:11-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... way he perceives himself." And that's true. If we perceive ourselves to be sinners, then that is how we will act ” sinfully. But if we view ourselves as saints who occasionally sin, then we have an entirely different frame of reference. Anderson gives a vivid illustration of this point: Imagine for a moment a typical, macho college man. Let's call him Biff. Biff is into the whole college scene. He sees himself as a skin-wrapped package of salivary glands, taste buds and sex drives. So how does Biff occupy ...

170. Where Is Your Citizenship?

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... . HE ALSO SAYS THEIR GOD IS THEIR STOMACH. In other words, all their pleasures are pleasures of the flesh. They are captive to their physical drives. Not all slavery is involuntary. There was a story in the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC sometime back that illustrates that truth. A reporter in Peru found that many of the workers received unusual pay. The foreman would provide the workers with liquor and coca leaves (from which cocaine is produced) an agreed upon number of times a day. The workers then chewed ...

171. Building A Life

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... the ground as great as that of the visible building above the ground. To build a great life is like building a great cathedral. You start with a sure foundation. A seminar leader was speaking to a group of business students. To drive home a point, he used an illustration. He said, “Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. He produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the ...

172. Tongue-tied By Three Zeros

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Sermon

Siegfried S. Johnson

... 's the H2O analogy. Water in three states--liquid, frozen, and steam. And who can forget the person in three roles analogy? One can be a son at the same time he is a father and a grandfather. Dr. Leonard Sweet introduces us to yet another illustration of the Trinity. Three braids twisted together into a pig tail. Balanced. Entwined. If one unravels, the whole unravels. If you ask me, it's our tongues that are twisted, not braids of hair. Here are the words of the 1549 Westminster Confession: "In the unity ...

173. The Difference Between Looking Good And Being Good

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... life." (9) Jesus wasn't trying to abolish the Law of Moses. He was trying to go beyond it, to show people the abundant life that flows from living in a true relationship with God. Let me close with a story about two men who illustrate Jesus' principle very well. Brothers David and John Livingstone had very different goals for their lives. John dreamed of being rich and famous. From a young age, David dreamed of following Christ. Both boys achieved their goals. John Livingstone became rich and famous. David ...

174. First Things First

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... , which noted that his mother, Bee, formerly had once described her outspoken son as “rude”; his wife had used the word, “arrogant”; and his caddie, “impatient and not very self confident.” “The peace I have now is so wonderful,” Stewart told Sports Illustrated. “I don’t understand how I lived so long without it.’“ (6) [As you take the sacrament today, reflect on Christ’s peace.] Do you have that peace, a peace that comes from a first-hand faith? St. Paul did. His priorities were ...

175. The Shy Member of the Trinity

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... when he introduced Johnny Carson with the familiar words—“He-e-e-ere’s Johnny!” Instead of saying “He-e-e-ere’s Johnny!” the Holy Spirit says to us, “He-e-e-ere’s Jesus!” Then he said that the Holy Spirit might be illustrated by drawing a stick figure on a blackboard, a figure of Jesus, and then step behind the blackboard and point persistently and continually to Him: “Here’s Jesus!” He noted that in recent years some theologians have spoken of the Holy Spirit as the “Cinderella ...

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