Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1776 to 1800 of 4986 results

1776. Not Independence, But Freedom

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... fearful it felt to be surrounded by water? We needed reassurance and someone to hold onto as we learned to breathe, relax, and use our arms and legs to move us through the water. We needed someone there to catch us until we could trust our own ability to stay afloat. With practice, we learned to swim alone, without help from anyone. So it is with so many tasks and skills we've gathered. Not so, however, with our lives in Christ. Our goal is not to become self-sufficient. I wish I could recall who said, "God ...

1777. The Last Days

Luke 21:5-38

Drama

Pamela Urfer

... the service over? Then I suppose I should be getting home. PREACHER: Haven't you been listening? Don't you realize you should be going with the others to the mountaintop? 3RD WOMAN: I heard what you said, and I was very moved, but I think I'll stay home all the same. PREACHER: Don't you believe in the second coming? 3RD WOMAN: I do. PREACHER: Aren't you awed and inspired by what the scriptures say? 3RD WOMAN: Of course. PREACHER: (Annoyed) Then why aren't you panicking? 3RD WOMAN: Oh, do the scriptures say ...

1778. Whose Work Is It?

Luke 21:5-38

Drama

Pamela Urfer

... , having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God." SYNTYCHE: (Sighing) How true that is! How true! EUODIA: (Furiously) It's not true at all and you know it. CLEMENT: (Bewildered) Ladies! Ladies! EUODIA: Clement! You stay out of this. CLEMENT: I ... I ... SYNTYCHE: Go ahead, Euodia. You've been spoiling for a fight for weeks now. What's on your mind? Spit it out! EUODIA: You know very well what's on my mind. SYNTYCHE: Oh, yeah? Well, then why did ...

1779. Paring Down Our Pantheons

Acts 17:16-34

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... Spring Dance, but the other guys don't think she's very pretty, she doesn't dress really great... but she's really pleasant. Maybe she's not a knockout, but then I know I'm not either. They'd make fun. I don't know. Maybe I'll just stay home." What makes a guy pass up a chance at an enjoyable evening, even the possibility of a longer relationship? Call it What-Everybody-Else-Thinks-Is-More-Important-Than-What-I-Know-Is-Right. Put it on a column. It's a start. After hearing the announcements at church ...

1780. Whose Work Is It?

Philemon 1:1-7

Drama

Pamela Urfer

1781. Too Good To Be True

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Thomas G. Rogers

... be true!" And then ... another reality sets in and we find ourselves sinning once again. We think sadly to ourselves, "Yes, it is too good to be true." That is finally where we always end up, isn't it? The whole vision of a new covenant in which we always stay connected to God is just that -- a vision. The idea is just too good to be true. That's where it all ends ... except for one last thing. It would all end there except for the fact that our God does, in fact, have some pretty strange parenting skills ...

1782. All The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... been in the minds of the women on their way to the tomb. In fact, they went to the tomb fully expecting to find yesterday, and instead found tomorrow. They went expecting death and loss, and instead found wonder and hope. What if their lives had stayed stuck in yesterday? Life lived just waiting for some tomorrow. Life lived stuck in the meanwhile of waiting. Once I wandered up into the rooms of the biology department, upstairs from my literature classes. There in a round room of one of the gothic towers, I ...

1783. Be A Wise Christian

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... homes and other belongings, but sometimes that is what it means to be a Christian. Paul tells us today that Christians don't always seem too smart (wise) to other people because they do strange things like sharing their money with the poor, loving their enemies, and staying close to Jesus. But Paul says that real Christians are the smart people because they are following God's word. They are living the way God has asked them to live. So, boys and girls, if your friends ever think you are a little stupid for ...

1784. It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... to the Romans. "Can these bones live?" "Lord, you know." What is the life we hope for? Where is fulfilled Ezekiel's vision of life out of death? Several miles outside Jerusalem in the town of Bethany, lived Jesus' friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Often he stayed there, even as he would the last week of his life, walking outside the city walls of Jerusalem the several miles to their home in Bethany to sleep. The sisters send word to Jesus in Galilee that Lazarus is sick, even dying. As Jesus comes down ...

1785. You Can Be A Livesaver

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

... office Brenda and Brett received marriage counseling and Parent Effectiveness Training. Brenda was advised how to secure affordable day care, enabling her to find a job. Brett was counseled about controlling his temper. A young family on the brink of separation stayed together, and small children began to experience renewed love and hope from their parents. Church people brought tithes and offerings Sunday by Sunday, some of which were sent to a counseling office in a southern city. Those folks who gave ...

1786. God Works Wanders

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... lead them into a new life. And in this new life they received new identities, with new names to prove it. Abraham and Sarah put their very lives in his hands. In whose hands do you want to live your life? It's so easy to stay where we are, even if it's painful, just because it's familiar. Destructive perceptions, abusive habits, hurtful attitudes, broken relationships -- all these, no matter how painful they are, are often more comfortable than venturing into a way of thinking and living which will be new ...

1787. The Ash Account

Matthew 6:19-24, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

Charles M. Mills

... lurking in all our souls. His scalpel cuts to the bone of the skeleton hypocrisy we keep well hidden in our soul's cluttered closet. How often do we catch ourselves doing a good deed with an ulterior motive, thinking such thoughts as, "If I help the boss out by staying late, perhaps he will promote me and not Mr. Smedley at the next desk." "If I tithe, perhaps I can buy my way into heaven." Or, "If I cheat on my income tax I won't be caught." Our self-deception can be a wonder to behold. English poet George ...

1788. Surviving The Present Trials

1 Peter 1:1-12

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... a hairpin next to the open electric socket. If we are going to ask God to suspend the rules every time someone is in trouble, the universe becomes undependable. You would never know, from one second to the next, whether laying a knife on a counter meant it would stay there or float across the room! It must be that the world can be counted upon to continue to spin in its orbit, revolve once every 24 hours, and that such rules as "two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time without injury to one ...

1789. A Ransom Paid

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... ransom was dead. They had killed the one who claimed to speak for God, and figured that was that. The ransom was paid, but the captured were not set free. The reign of terror was still in place. But God had a surprise waiting for them. The dead did not stay dead. The one who came to pay the ransom was himself raised from the dead. "Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God." Our faith and hope were given ...

1790. The Power Of God For Us

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... not understand the good news. We cannot just stop at hearing the good news from others, or we will disbelieve and despise those who say it's so, as Paul did. We must be like Mary Magdalene, who knew her own weaknesses, acknowledged her anguish, her need, and stayed in the garden, crying her heart out. It was because she was powerless, and acknowledged her need of Christ, that she was granted a glimpse of the risen Christ. It was because of her tears that she was granted such joy. It was because her loss was ...

1791. Make Scriptural Hope Your Own

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... the frontier country planting apple trees. What is not as well-known is that he also was a great student of the Bible and further that he shared his enthusiasm for the Bible with others. As he went about his travels he often would be welcomed to stay the night in the home of a kindly settler. During his sojourn he was observant of the personal needs of the host family. Many of these people living on the harsh, bleak frontier were lonely, frustrated and worried. Before Johnny left the home in the morning he ...

1792. Unconditional Love

Romans 4:1-25

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... just was lucky enough to be born your baby! Maybe just an hour ago, you were struggling to get some cereal in her mouth, between screams and tears. Maybe your little guy is teething, and for two weeks getting to sleep has been harder than anything except staying asleep. Irritated as we may be, though, usually we clean up the mess, strip off the oatmeal-covered shirt, wash the baby, put some painkiller on those budding teeth, and try to comfort our little one until sleep sets in! Our love for our babies may ...

1793. Living In A Special Time

Psalm 118:24

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... : balloon, candy, homemade cookie, etc.). I hope you will enjoy this little treat and that it will help to make your day happy. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When your child is feeling unhappy because the weather is bad and he or she has to stay in the house. When your child has been to a special party. When a person has been baptized in your church. When you think the time is right for teaching your child to look for special things in each day. Adapting Note: This idea can be used in ...

1794. Mother's Day

Romans 16:1-27

Sermon

Brett Blair

... he meant, and most Biblical scholars agree that that is indeed what he meant, then it raises some interesting speculation. When and where did Paul meet Rufus’ mother? Did she nurse him through some serious illness? Did she receive him into her home for an extended stay during his missionary journeys. How did this woman and Paul form such a close bond that he refers to her fondly as being like his mother. Mark tells us that Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus cross, had two sons: Alexander and Rufus ...

1795. A Salute to Mothers

Romans 16:1-27

Sermon

Brett Blair

1796. Living In A Special Time

Psalm 118:24

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... balloon, candy, homemade cookie, etc.). I hope you will enjoy this little treat and that it will help to make your day happy. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home: When your child is feeling unhappy because the weather is bad and he or she has to stay in the house. When your child has been to a special party. When a person has been baptized in your church. When you think the time is right for teaching your child to look for special things in each day. *Adapting Note: This idea can be used in ...

1797. Week Four Of Lent

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... this expression describes a reality, a physical division of the city. In all cases, however, the words "the other side of the tracks" bring to mind certain images. Isolation is one idea. Those who live on the other side of the tracks are isolated; it is best to stay away from these people. The other side of the tracks generally means the bad side; one does not want to be caught on that side. What would people think? A stereotype comes to mind when we think of those on the other side of the tracks. People ...

1798. I Can't Say No

Romans 7:15

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... ! If I do that very often, I will soon get fat, won't I, boys and girls? (Let them respond.) I want to tell you about a friend of mine who really needs to lose weight. She weighs about 250 pounds and the doctor has told her that she must stay on a diet, otherwise she will get sick from being too fat. What kinds of things will she have to stop eating if she goes on her diet, boys and girls? (Let them tell you.) Yes Ä all those "fun" foods, like cake and cookies, ice cream, soda pop, potato chips ...

1799. Week Two Of Lent

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... God are obvious. As the prophet says, trusting in God nourishes us like the tree whose huge roots have spread in all directions and are now fed by the stream. Even though the rains do not come the tree will continue to be fruitful, its leaves will stay green, for it always has a source of nourishment. The signs that lead away from God are equally clear. Those who choose to trust in human solutions, who seek their strength in the flesh, they will be like the barren bush in the desert, that enjoys no change ...

1800. Holy Week

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... group of ascetics, people who spend much time in prayer and reflection. Possibly, thought Siddhartha, the meaning of life can be found here. The boys asked permission from the community leader to join and learn the ways of prayer and meditation. The boys stayed for several years, growing from youths to young adults. But after learning the ways of prayer and filling himself with methods of reflection, Siddhartha realized that the meaning of life was not to be found here either. Thus, the two friends moved on ...

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