Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1751 to 1775 of 2665 results

1751. Good News for Widows

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

King Duncan

... knew her gift would make a difference. Barbara Brown Taylor tells about a single lady in Hattiesburg, Mississippi who made the most of her meager income. Her name is Osceola McCarty. Ms. McCarty is a laundress, an elderly African-American woman who never married. She dropped out of school when she was in sixth grade to begin a lifetime of washing clothes. That was the year her maiden aunt came out of the hospital, unable to walk, and moved in with her family. Twelve-year‑old McCarty left school to ...

1752. Giving - Sermon Starter

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

... that as they watch there is no paper money, so all of the offerings make a terrible noise as they roll down this long horn shaped object and fall into the pool of coins. And here comes this little old lady and she has two small coins worth nothing and drops them in. They barely make a noise. You can almost see the Temple leaders as they roll their eyes and hope for better results with the next person who walks in the door. Jesus then calls his Disciples over and says, "This poor widow has put more in to the ...

1753. The Widow’s Mite for $39.95

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

Brett Blair

... year old Widow's Mite for only $39.95 plus shipping and handling. Remember this is the genuine coin mentioned in the Holy Bible and it makes a perfect gift for your child, grandchild, or favorite clergyman." The advertisement makes it sound like your buying the actual coin the widow dropped into the receptacle. Of course, you are not. It doesn't exist. Harder still is to purchase the woman's attitude of generosity, which is of greater value in today's market.

1754. Give, Give, Give

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

... . Let me ask you this. If there was a dog walking down the street, healthy coat, obviously in good shape, and he had a bone in his mouth, and that dog passed a flee bitten mutt that was near starvation, do you think that the healthy dog would stop and drop his bone in front of the sick dog? Oh, no. He would clinch his bone that much tighter in his teeth as he passed by. That is the nature of animals. Only man knows how to be a giver. God is a giver. He gave us life itself. And his ...

1755. It Wasn’t The Hilton, You Know

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... money. Child 2: Yeah. That’s the whole problem here. You can’t do a decent show without the bucks. (Director runs in from left, followed by the Assistant Director, who is practically invisible because of the mounds of costume pieces she’s carrying. She drops the costumes onto the stage and sits on the edge. During the next scene, she separates the costume pieces into piles for Shepherds, Angels, and so on.) Director: Sorry I’m late. I was out looking for something that might make a better manger ...

1756. Because God Said So, That’s Why!

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... or what his name is. I don’t think anyone knows where they are going. So, count me out. I’ve taken my last step. Esther: King Melchior said God is leading us. And when we find the child, we’ll know why it’s important. You have to come. (drops bundle and tries to pull David up) Come on, you’ll get us in trouble. David: You don’t have to stay with me. Go on if you’re worried. I’m going to take a nap and then I’m headed back to the palace. Esther: Go back? But ...

1757. Good News about Christ

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... neighbor of Yancey’s, who volunteers for Alpine Rescue, has told him hair- raising stories of tourists who must be rescued from certain death after wandering off a trail, falling, or simply being exposed to a sudden hailstorm or thirty‑degree drop in temperature. Nevertheless, regardless of the circumstances, Alpine Rescue always responds to a call for help. Not once, says Yancey, have they lectured a hapless tourist, “Well, since you obviously ignored the most basic rules of the wilderness, you’ll ...

1758. Manna from Heaven

Matt 6:25-33; Luke 17:11-19; John 6:25-35

Illustration

Norman Vincent Peale

... call upon God for help. For more than an hour, the people prayed fervently for food. As they prayed, the young boy felt the presence of God in the room, and he knew that God was answering their prayers. The next morning, food aid flights came roaring over the town, dropping packages full of food. Like manna from heaven, the packages of food saved a starving people and renewed their faith in God's love and providence.

1759. The Last Word

John 18:33-37

Illustration

Steven E. Albertin

Have you ever been in a heated argument with someone and couldn't let the matter drop? You just had to continue making your point. Why? Because you had to have the last word. If you have ever been in a classroom discussion, you have discovered the importance of that class reaching some sort of resolution and conclusion to the discussion. Students will often look to the ...

1760. Secret Santa

Luke 3:1-6

Illustration

King Duncan

... have lost his wallet. The owner of the diner had already sized him up and knew he didn't have the money. The owner came around the counter, approached the man, and bent down as if to pickup something. The owner said to the man, "Well, looks like you dropped this $20 bill." Now the man had enough to pay for breakfast and a little more to keep for the road. He never forgot this totally undeserved act of generosity and goodness. He now gives to others as someone once gave to him. This Advent season we need to ...

1761. The Power of Purpose

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... toil at their present job another single day if only they could be relieved of the burdens and responsibilities of supporting their family; or if they could find another more meaningful way to do it. For some, going to work is a bitter task; leaving work is like dropping a heavy load off their shoulders. I have great sympathy for such people. I’m sorry that I can’t identify with them more than I can, because I don’t know anyone who finds more meaning in what they’re doing than I. There’s another ...

1762. I Am the Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... any person to eternal hell. That misses the point. God doesn’t condemn us to hell – we condemn ourselves. Jesus Christ is loving friend and companion, he is savior who wants to be lord. He does everything he can do – goes to the limits, pouring out every last drop of blood, suffering in an unimaginable way, to die on the cross in order that you and I might be grafted into the vine and be sustained and saved. It is those who refuse him, who deny, or simply ignore and by default fail to receive the love ...

1763. Christian Hope Had Changed His Life

Luke 3:7-18

Illustration

James W. Moore

... and trying to identify the dead, so that their families and loved ones back home could be notified. It was a heart-breaking and exhausting task, but it had to be done. The people worked in shocked silence well into the night until they almost dropped from fatigue. When every last remnant of death had been picked up, they each went silently to their individual rooms. That night, after midnight, there was a knock on the chaplain's door. Outside stood the young lieutenant, the Mortuary Officer. He said nothing ...

1764. Putting Ourselves in the Picture

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of him. 12:30 came and the servant arrived. Without saying anything the servant went about his work, tidying up the house, and getting ready a mid-day meal as Tigor looked on with this burning anger mounting within and raging. Finally he said to the servant, drop everything! Cut it out! I can’t stand the sight of you! You’re dismissed! Fired! The servant however continued working for a moment, then looked Tigor in the eye and with quiet dignity said, my little girl died last night. You see, it doesn’t ...

1765. O Little Town of Bethlehem: A Story of Faith

Luke 1:39-45, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20

Illustration

Keith Wagner

... That was on December 27th, 1868. It wasn't published as an official hymn of the Episcopal Church until 1892. The following January, Phillips Brooks died, never knowing the magnitude of the hymn that he created. For some reason the 5th stanza has been dropped from the original score."Where children pure and happy Pray to the blessed Child, Where misery cries out to thee, Son of the mother mild; Where charity stands watching And faith holds wide the door, The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, And Christmas ...

1766. The Real Reindeer

Luke 1:39-56

Illustration

David E. Leininger

According to the US Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year...Male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer, however, retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen...had to be a ...

1767. Jesus Is with Us Forever

Luke 1:39-56

Illustration

David E. Leininger

... me." So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him - for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him FOR ALWAYS.

1768. The Thing With Two Heads

Matthew 16:13-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... say, "Ah, there you are!" (2) Everything has two sides doesn't it? A coin has heads or tails. An old 45 record has a Hit side and the flip side. A piece of bread has two sides, the side that's buttered that always hits the floor when you drop it and the other side. A river, a fence and a tennis court all have two sides. We each have a left side and a right side and most people have a good side and a bad side. A house has an inside and an outside. Beds and railroad tracks ...

1769. Seeing God In The Ordinary: Others

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... at the time, who read about Dr. Albert Schweitzer's missionary work in Africa. He wanted to help. All he had was enough money to buy one bottle of aspirin. He wrote to the Air Force and asked if they could fly over Dr. Schweitzer's hospital and drop the bottle down to him. A radio station got wind of the letter and broadcast the story about this young fellow's concern for helping others. Others responded as well. Eventually, he was flown by the government to Schweitzer's hospital along with 4 1/2 tons of ...

1770. Seeing God In The Ordinary: Family

Luke 4:16-30

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... get her lungs to drain and finally had given up. Suddenly about 1:30 am, her lungs started draining and it looked like the baby was going to be all right. God had answered her prayer! She walked around in a daze for about two weeks expecting any moment to drop dead! It took a lot of years but she eventually came to realize the God had taken her life that night. Just in a very different way than she expected. We can see God in the ordinary when family helps us by inspiring. IV. Family Helps Us To Be Caring ...

1771. Seeing God In The Ordinary: Friends

John 11:1-45

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... that cool? The basic story is that a science professor, Dr. Trevor Anderson, whose radical theories have completely tarnished his reputation. These radical theories were first put forth by his brother Max. Trevor has never stopped believing. With his nephew Sean, who was dropped off by his mother to spend some quality time with his uncle, Trevor embarks on a thrilling journey. On the journey they hire a mountain guide, the daughter of the only other scientist who believed Max's theory. She thinks it is all ...

1772. A Stone’s Throw From: New Life

John 8:3-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... made our messes and we are looking for a chance to start over. We're looking for the kind of place described by Louise Fletcher Tarkington: "I wish that there were some wonderful place In the Land of Beginning Again; Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door And never put on again." The truth is that there is a place just like that. You are in it. Every time we gather for worship we are reminded that this is the Land of Beginning Again. This is a place ...

1773. A Stone’s Throw From: Heaven

Matthew 16:13-25

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... one more beautiful and elaborate than the other. I think Jesus deliberately set himself against the background of the world's religions. I think Jesus probably positioned himself so as they were looking at him, the Disciples had the panorama of all those temples as the back drop. It was there Jesus questions the Disciples Jesus, who is the light of the world; Jesus, who is the spring from which flows living water; Jesus, who is the one whom even the dead obey; Jesus, who is the one for whom and through whom ...

1774. First Class Freedom

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... 't seem real, because there were no Medi-Vac markings are on it. Inside was Ed Freeman. He wasn't Medi-Vac. It wasn't his job. But he flew Huey down into the machine gun fire, after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come. He came anyway. He dropped it in and sat there in the machine gun fire, as they loaded 2 or 3 soldiers on board. Then he flew out through the gunfire, to the doctors and nurses. And he kept coming back, 13 more times and took 30 soldiers who would never have gotten out without ...

1775. Superman: More Than A Super Hero

John 1:1-5, 9-14; John 13:31-32; John 20:30-31

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... t need no seat belt." The Stewardess quickly came back, "Superman don't need no airplane, either." He fastened his belt. (7) While Superman may parallel the story of Christ, it really can't do it justice. You see, faith is not a summer blockbuster with jaw-dropping special effects. Faith is usually seen in the silent touch of a desperate housewife, or the quiet hope of a father walking into a room filled with the smell of death or the anguished hope of a teenager looking for answers in the midst of a crisis ...

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