Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 151 to 175 of 208 results

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

14:1–35 · Commentators disagree regarding how to subdivide Proverbs 14. Striking here is the opening clause (14:1a, “The wise woman builds her house”), which echoes 9:1. It is followed by the first of three occurrences of “the fear of the Lord” in the chapter (14:2, 26–27). One’s conduct reflects one’s attitude toward God (14:2). Wise behavior is constructive; folly is destructive (14:1, 3; the NI...

152. Proverbs of Solomon

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

This chapter is marked by many antitheses between the wise and the foolish and the topic of speech occurs several times (vv. 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 23, 26, 28). Notably frequent also are the yhwh sayings (“abomination,” vv. 8, 9, 26; “fear of the Lord,” vv. 16, 33). Their frequency in 14:26–16:15 has led some (Skehan, Studies, pp. 17–20) to ask if they were not added to provide a suture between the antit...

153. Better Than Revenge

Illustration

When we are wronged in some way, our natural inclination is to fight back, to get even. Needless to say, this reaction, though thoroughly human, is almost always in error. "Forgiveness," said Epictetus, "is better than revenge, for forgiveness is the sign of a gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature." A dramatic example is the experience of a Hungarian refugee. To protect his pr...

154. Ping-Pong Words

Children's Sermon

Marti Kramer Suddarth

Scientific Reference: Snell’s law: The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Materials needed: - Board - Ping-pong balls (one for each child if you are going to hand them out after the story) - Card stock printed with scripture reference and verse on one side and Snell’s law on the other - Assistant Telling The Story: (Introduce your assistant. Ask your assistant to hold the board p...

155. Proverbs of Solomon

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

There is a noticeable change here. The antithetic style of previous sayings starts to give way to synonymous and synthetic or progressive parallelism. More important, there are indications of a deliberate arrangement. The Lord is the subject of verses 1–7, 9, 11, 20, 33, and the king is the topic in verses 10, 12–15. Moreover, the Lord and the king seem to be meshed together (cf. 24:21): verse 11 ...

156. Why Me?

Sermon

James Merritt

A survey that was recently taken in USA Today asks the question, "If you had the opportunity to get a direct and clear response from God, what one question would you ask Him?" By an almost 2 to 1 margin, over the number two answer, the number one question people would ask God was this, "Why am I here on earth?" Let's face it more than ever before, life, the meaning of it, the purpose of it, the r...

157. The Power of Purpose

Sermon

James Merritt

I spent four years of my life in Deland, Florida about twenty miles west of Daytona Beach at StetsonUniversity. Not long after my freshman year started, I began attending StetsonBaptistChurch and attended there all four years. One of the reasons why I was attracted to the church was because of a pharmacist that worked with college students there named Dean West. Mr. West was (to say the least) a ...

158. Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow

Sermon

James Merritt

Some years ago, Newsweek magazine reported a fortune tellers' convention in Dublin, Ireland. Palm readers, crystal ball gazers and astrologers from all over the world gathered for a week to compare notes, learn techniques, and make new predictions. While they were all together in one of the convention meetings, a thief broke into their hotel rooms and stole all of their crystal balls and tarot car...

159. The Driver’s Seat

Sermon

James Merritt

I want to read one-half of one verse in the Bible from which we are going to base two months worth of messages. It is a verse that is packed with unbelievable implications for you, your life, your family, your future and particularly our church. "The Lord has made everything for His own purposes." (Proverbs 16:4, NLT) I believe everything means everything and I believe purpose means purpose. Behi...

160. Parable of the Bank and the Library

Illustration

"Mother, isn't it wonderful? Last week there were no leaves on the tree, but now the leaves and a nest and eggs in the nest." said Mary as she looked out the upstairs window. "How soon will there be little birds there? How long before the eggs hatch?" "I don't know," said the mother. "Why don't you go to the library? They will have a book that will tell you more about it." "They do have a book a...

161. Parable at the Candy Store

Illustration

Staff

Three children were taken into the candy store by their father who said, "Now each of you can have a candy bar -- whatever kind you'd like." The first child said, "I'll take that giant-sized bar." The youngest said, "I'd like several kinds, but I can't have chocolate. I am allergic to it, so what can I have?" Then she made her choice shortly. The third child was dismayed at the great number of ...

162. How Much Do You Want?

Children's Sermon

Mark A. Hultquist

Materials: A large cup or mug, a smaller cup or mug, and a thimble. Message: How many of you like to go out to eat? Isn't it great to be able to go to a restaurant and to pick out what you want to eat! What are some of your favorite things to eat when you go out? The thing I like best about eating is not only picking out what I want to eat, but also being able to decide on the size I want. If I a...

163. The Order Of The Universe

Children's Sermon

Robert B. Lantz

Object: Magnetic compasses Good morning, boys and girls. Boys and girls, I have an instrument in my hand which will always tell me the same truth no matter where I am on the earth. Can anybody guess what it is? (Response -- Someone should get it.) This is a magnetic compass. It will always point to magnetic north, even if I am away down in South America, or Australia, or New Zealand. I might be on...

164. How to Lower Your Temper (-ature)

Sermon

James Merritt

"When anger enters the mind, wisdom departs." Thomas a Kempis(1) Respiration deepens; the heart beats more rapidly; the arterial pressure rises; the blood is shifted from the stomach and intestines to the heart, central nervous system and the muscles; the processes of the alimentary canal cease; sugar is freed from the reserves in the liver; the spleen contracts and discharges its contents of con...

165. Proverbs of Solomon

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

17:1 Antithetic “better” saying, with lively assonance. See also 15:17. The margin of the NIV indicates the cultic nuance of the Hebrew term zebaḥ (“sacrifice”), but this may have been gradually lost. The contrast is extreme—sheer bread and sumptuous feast. (See also Amenemope 9.7–8=16.13–14; ANET, pp. 422–23.) 17:2 Synthetic. Although there were rules for inheritance (Deut. 21:15–17), instances ...

166. Making Friends

Children's Sermon

Shirley Jennings

Object: None Lesson: Knowing how to be friendly is important. What do you do when you’re here at church and children you don’t know come to Sunday school class or junior church? Leave them alone? Talk to them? Just talk to the people I already know? A new person would probably like to know your name. You could say, "I’m Betty;" or: "I’m John," or: "What’s your name?" Then listen carefully so yo...

167. At All Times

Children's Sermon

Shirley Jennings

Object: A Bible. Lesson: Friends love each other no matter what happens. Here in the Bible, it says that "a friend loves at all times." What is a friend? (Let them answer.) A friend is someone to play with. Someone to talk to. Someone to get mad at. Someone to stop being mad at. Have you sometimes said to a friend, "I’m not going to play with you anymore"? If you ever said, "I won’t play with y...

168. Summer Fun

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Purpose: To motivate children to take some responsibility for filling up their free time with worthwhile activities. Material: An envelope with a piece of paper folded and placed within it. (If you can afford it, place a stamp on the envelope.) Lesson: Summer is a special time of the year. There are many things you can do, both inside and outside. Tell me, what do you like to do in the summer? ....

169. Bubbles

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Purpose: To learn that making certain choices in life can make a difference in what happens to us. Material: Four small glasses. In one glass place a small amount of flour. In the next glass place a little baking soda. In the third glass pour some water, and in the final glass add a little clear vinegar. I suggest you identify each glass with a letter or notation on a piece of masking tape. Less...

170. Fine And False Speech

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

Purpose: To encourage children to tell the truth. Materials: Two paper hats; one in the form of a crown and the other in the form of the cone shape of a dunce cap. Lesson: Here are two types of hats. Each one is worn by a special person. This hat is called a dunce cap and when it is worn it means that the person wearing it is not very smart. This hat is a crown that is worn by a king to indicate...

171. Proverbs of Solomon

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

18:1 The MT is ambiguous and the meaning uncertain. The NIV understands it as a description of the conduct of an unfriendly (lit. “separated”) and foolish person. 18:2 Antithetic. Without understanding, the fool lacks the sense to be silent or to learn, and instead reveals an (empty) mind. 18:3 Synonymous. The saying describes the sad effects of wicked and shameful conduct. 18:4 Antithetic? Jux...

172. Put Up and Shut Up

Sermon

James Merritt

"I have never been hurt by anything I didn't say." Calvin Coolidge It's a funny thing with kids: after they are born we can hardly wait until they start talking, then after they learn to talk we can hardly wait for them to shut up! Someone has observed that children go through four stages in their communication with their fathers. First, they call you "Da-da." Then they call you "Daddy." Then the...

173. Parable of Granting Your Wishes

Illustration

The old philosopher in a homespun setting was talking to his three nephews. "If I would grant you one wish today my children, what would it be?" "Oh, good, give me one thousand dollars," said Richard, "and I could buy everything I want." "Give me the answers to next Friday's test," said Mary, "and I will have the best grades in the class." "I know what I want," said Janet. "Give me a good frien...

174. Proverbs of Solomon

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

19:1 Antithetic comparison. Verses 1 and 2 are not in the LXX. The antithesis between blameless and perverse is clear, but not so for poor and fool. One would expect “rich” instead of fool. This is the reading of the apparent doublet in 28:6, adopted by many commentators and translations (NAB). 19:2 Synonymous. In Proverbs, hasty action is generally suspect (e.g., 21:5; 28:20; 29:20). It suggests...

175. Proverbs of Solomon

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

20:1 Synthetic. Inebriation is condemned in 23:29–35 and 31:4–5. Here the drinks that produce it are personified: wine and strong drink (perhaps beer). 20:2 Synthetic. For verse 2a see 19:12a. The point of the comparison is the roar of a lion, which like royal wrath produces panic. The meaning of verse 2b is uncertain. 20:3 Antithetic. The idiomatic expression in verse 3a is literally, “sit (or ...

Showing 151 to 175 of 208 results