Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 151 to 175 of 517 results

151. Cross Purposes

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... and say, "This you have done for me, and I don't give a damn!" On the other hand, you can say what the native said when he saw and heard a missionary give an illustrated talk on the cross. When the picture of the crucifixion was on the screen, impulsively the man said, "Come down from the cross, Son of God, I, not you, should be hanging there." If you can say the latter, you are no longer at cross purposes with the cross, for, like Paul in our text, you who are being saved found the cross to be ...

152. If Only We Would Accept Responsibility ...

Ezekiel 33:1-20

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... he replied. I usually steered away from any theological discussions with transients who came by our church, but I couldn’t resist this one. I was tempted to ask him why God had made no provisions for his journey, but fought back the impulse, remembering Abram’s instructions to start out to Canaan. (Genesis 12:1) My inquiries brought some conflicting answers from my visitor. "Where were you living when God gave you instructions to go to Florida?" "In Farmville, Virginia." "With whom?" I continued. First ...

153. Proper 7

Genesis 28:10-22

Sermon

... time," there was a young man who cheated his older brother, and when the older brother, whose name was Esau, found out what the younger brother, whose name was Jacob, had done, he hated him and vowed to kill him. That was certainly predictable, given Esau's impulsive character. Word of those threats reached Rebekah's ears and Jacob's mother became afraid for his life. So she persuaded Jacob to leave for awhile. It was a wise move. She knew Esau would soon spend his rage in idle threats and words. His anger ...

154. The Resurrection of Our Lord

John 20:1-9

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

... ? If anyone, friend or enemy, had removed the body, why had they stripped off the graveclothes and left them behind? As John considered that question he must have realized this much at least: Mary's conjecture was not true. Then Peter arrives upon the scene. Hasty and impulsive as ever, he at once enters the tomb. What does he see? From his better vantage point he sees more than John. Not only are the graveclothes there, as John had seen, but they are there in exactly the same place and position as they had ...

155. Honest to Goodness Religion

Hosea 4:1-19

Sermon

... " How true. For many of us, religion is conditional. People are always on the lookout for bargain-sale salvation, cheap commitment and discount discipleship. We have a wistful yearning to do better and to make some real changes in our lives, but fortunately (usually) the impulse does not last too long and we return to normal. God’s people instinctively know where to go for help and where to find answers. Even though the Lord has allowed them to feel the results of their rebellion, they know they can come ...

156. The Friday We Call Good

John 18:1-11

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... ," and puts the whole shameful deed in the context of the fulfillment of what was prophesied a millennium before in Psalm 41: "he who ate my bread lifted up his heel against me." At his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus intervenes against the impulsive effort of Peter to defend him with a sword. "Shall I not drink the cup my Father has given me?" he states. The he heals the one whose head was slashed by Peter’s sword, thereby sparing the disciples the inevitable reprisal that would have brought ...

157. The Resurrection of Our Lord

Acts 10:23b-48, Exodus 10:1-20, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, John 20:1-9, John 20:10-18, Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon Aid

... afraid to enter. He looked into the tomb, but he was too timid to enter by himself. in our time, we get close to the resurrected Christ, but we do not enter into Christ. We are content to be spectators of the drama. c. A direct position - Peter Impulsive, daring, brazen Peter rushes into the tomb. He is not afraid to enter where angels may fear to tread. He sees the absence of Jesus' body, the grave clothes, and the facial napkin. But, the evidence does not lead him to believe Jesus has risen. His bravado ...

158. Easter 3

Acts 9:1-19a, Revelation 5:1-14, John 21:1-14

Sermon Aid

... of them decided to go fishing. The account is strangely similar to Peter's call in Luke 5: fishing all night and catching nothing, and the miraculous catch of fish. Only John recognized the stranger on the beach as Jesus. True to his nature as an impulsive activist, Peter swims ashore to be with Jesus. After serving breakfast to the men, Jesus recalls Peter as a disciple who was to express his love by feeding Jesus' sheep. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: John 21:1-19 1. Again (v. 1). The risen Jesus again ...

159. Treasure's Tug

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

... in spite of ourselves, attracted to a future where God rules and our sinful self quits messing up life. There are no lottery tickets to this future, but something far more certain. It's called "faith." It's that "letting go and letting God" when we are touched by "the impulse of his love." It's a pearl which will cost us, but it's worth it. Amen

160. An Easier Way?

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

... was so very wrong. I am Peter, disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. Sometimes I go by the name Simon. I know some of you think of me as "good old foot-in-his-mouth Peter," but I'd like you to know I think that's unfair. I may be impulsive, yes, that's true; but when action is needed, I'm ready to go! That's right! And when Jesus called me, I went with him. I was with him when he healed the sick. I saw him satisfy hungry and unruly crowds with food, yes, and more than food ...

161. The Family Reunion

Matthew 9:35-38

Sermon

Glenn L. Borreson

... only did his disciples include loyal Jews, but they included also Matthew the tax collector - one regarded as a traitor to his people. And there was John who had a way with words and gentle love, but beside him stood brash, foot-in-the-mouth, impulsive Peter. And there was Judas Iscariot who achieved a great reputation but at the expense of selling out his master, while with him stood disciples whose names we usually end up forgetting. But this is the family Jesus was restoring. In ever-new and surprising ...

162. The Necessity Of Forgiveness

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... attitude. You cannot serve two masters. Either you will bow before the altar of revenge and scissor people out of your life; or you will bow before the altar of forgiveness and sew yourself to the wider fabric of humanity, as imperfect and impulsive as it is. Peter had not realized the greatness of forgiveness. You cannot forgive someone and pray for them, even if they persecute you, without becoming a person of love. Forgiveness creates a loving spirit. Jesus told Peter, "You must forgive from your ...

163. At Table With The Lord

Drama

... to you. You know I love you, Lord, but I'm a big man, a powerful man, used to doing things my way. Still, you've shown me that my way isn't the best way. How well I remember the time I tried to walk on the water. On impulse I jumped out of the boat and started toward you; then I realized what I was doing, and I started to sink. I panicked, but your strong arms lifted me up and saved me. Your strong arms have always been there when I needed them. Pray God they will always ...

164. Beyond the Ordinary

Matthew 5:38-42

Sermon

Joe Pennel

... once we have met the Gospel's truth, something makes us very uneasy with the path of the world's truth. It is difficult to live out the Gospel's truth because what controls Christians also happens to control non-Christians - very human instincts and impulses. And yet, Jesus said that there is another possibility. There is the possibility that when we are controlled by what love demands, we will be different from other people. When we are controlled by the spirit that lies behind turning the other cheek and ...

165. Bound for Glory

1 Samuel 25:1-44

Sermon

... the lid on anger as tightly clasped as a cookie jar is before a Cub Scout meeting. Nabal was a fool because his anger so upset him that he died from it. David, who was an emotional man with mercurial mood swings, nevertheless was able to bridle his warlike impulses as he remembered that he was indeed in the bundle of life. He was bound for glory, because he was one of God’s faithful children. By yielding to hate he would fall out of this bundle and end up in a bundle of black despair and inner darkness ...

166. Proper 14

Psalm 106:1-48, Exodus 13:17--14:31

Bulletin Aid

... Spirit: that, even in the seemingly natural events around us, we may see your redemptive handiwork. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession Loving God of mercy, we confess that whenever we encounter "deep waters" in the course of our lives, our first impulse is to deal with them under our own power and relying upon our own abilities; and we admit that, more often than not, we wind up "over our heads." Forgive us, we pray, and remind us with the example of the Israelites at the Red Sea that ...

167. NO HELP WANTED

Drama

... traveling. Woman: I’m not traveling. Voice: [A man in the distance] Taxi, Lady? Woman: No. Man 1: Won’t be long before that bag there is just too small. You really should have a bigger one. Woman: But I’m not going anywhere! Man 1: Would it be too impulsive ... I mean, would you mind, if I bought you a bigger bag ... Just as a gift? Woman: I don’t need it. Man 1: No strings attached, if you know what I mean. Woman: I think I do. Man 1: Just a little gift. That’s it. I’ll do ...

168. The Touch of the Master's Hand

Luke 5:12-16

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... that each one of them was so valuable in the sight of God that Jesus would have died for him alone. The untouchables were amazed by that radical thought. Colson invited those unfortunate people to receive Christ. Then he did something strictly on impulse. He jumped down off the platform and waded into the crowd, shaking hands and patting prisoners on the shoulders. The result was incredible. Like a flock of birds, those untouchables clustered around this man who dared to touch them. Somehow being able to ...

169. The Deeper Magic

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Brett Blair

... are the thieves, who were crucified on either side of him; and then there is Jesus himself. Looking at the characters assembled on top of that tragic hill, answer this question: Whom do you see as the good guys and who appear to be the bad guys? Your first impulse might be: Except for Jesus they are all bad guys. And you might add that the thief who asked for forgiveness was one of the good guys. There is truth in these answers. But, look at it from another side. Too often we read the bible through the ...

170. The Stiller of Storms

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

... tyrannical power of medieval Rome, but he did. Christians will always be apostles of the impossible for "... With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) When we are sure that we are committed to God’s plans, then the storms of boastfulness, showmanship, and impulsiveness are overcome, and the peace of a high and dedicated purpose prevails. If we are moving ahead on our own steam, we will quickly, like Peter, have our ups and downs: But if we look intently at Jesus, we will be able to walk on the ...

171. If You Had But One Request

1 Kings 3:1-15

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... host said. "You name it and you can have it." The youth demanded, "All I want is to know the guy who shoved me into the pool!" If you were given only one request by God, you would not want to answer on the basis of an immediate or impulsive need or desire. To answer wisely, you would want to think about it, determine your scale of values, and ask for something that would be permanently a blessing to you. In our text, Solomon is put in this predicament by God, who comes to him shortly after Solomon ascended ...

172. Facing Up to a Power Problem

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

... Spirit does not always come as an explosion, as a burst of light - in "the earthquake, wind, and fire." Sometimes he comes quietly, gently, but still life changing. A shaft of light, A waft of wind, A whisper in the soul, A simple thought. A new direction, An impulse to love, A new involvment in mankind; A warmth, a fire, A joy, a peace - Thus, speaks the Holy Spirit Within my restless soul. Albert Edward Day wrote a little book, Existence Under God.1 The thesis of this book was that to be filled with the ...

173. The Gospel According to Christ’s Enemies

John 11:1-16

Sermon

Richard Hoefler

... are the same as her sister’s, they are spoken differently, and Jesus is sensitive to this and treats her quite differently. Instead of the theological explanation he gave to Martha, he says nothing to Mary. He simply weeps with her. Mary, the impulsive and demonstrative sister, encounters the Lord, and he weeps with her. He shares her sorrows at the level of her understanding. Two sisters with the same problem. Two sisters asking the same request. But how different the treatment. Our Lord reasons and ...

174. Virtue Won’t Hurt You

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... least you’re no fool. You’ve got some sense of values." Having expected the worst, I was somewhat taken back by her mild manner. She continued, "What you did was wrong. But your failure to confess to it would have been a greater wrong. To make an impulsive mistake is human, but to have no system of proper values that can be appealed to is tragic." In a strange way, the teacher rewarded my good behavior instead of attacking me for the bad incident. I’ve thought long about that lesson I learned early in ...

175. Defended By the Divine

Mark 14:1-11

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... ? Jesus will look at your loving gift and call it beautiful. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIMELINESS Some things must be done when you have the opportunity - the chance may never come again. Love knows this better than anyone. Often we are moved by some generous impulse, some good intention, and do not act upon it immediately, and the opportunity never affords itself another time. This offering of Mary was one that was not "too late." A woman called me long distance, lately, to tell me of the death of her mother ...

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