Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1826 to 1850 of 4972 results

1826. Don't Forget The Batteries

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... I've got the money right here." The stranger paused. "$10,000? Well, O.K. It's yours for $10,000." The man was absolutely elated. He paid the stranger, took the watch, and snapped it on his wrist with glee, and said, "Thanks," as he turned to leave. "Wait," said the stranger. With a big smile, he handed the two heavy suitcases to the man and added, "Don't forget the batteries." Silly story, but this is the continual temptation that haunts us as the church, is it not? That we will forget the batteries--that ...

1827. A Lightning Rod Instead of a Cross

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... in our tradition. To tell the truth, neither has being filled with the Holy Spirit. There is a wonderful story about a very dignified pastor who was visiting a lady in a nursing home. This lady was confined to a wheel chair. As the pastor stood to leave the lady asked him to have a word of prayer. He gently took her hand and in a somewhat perfunctory way prayed that God would be with her to bring her comfort, strength and healing. When he finished praying her face began to glow. She said softly, “Pastor ...

1828. Being Alone

Genesis 2:18

Sermon

King Duncan

... We feel that there must be something wrong with us. There must have been something we said or something we did. Where did we go wrong? Remember that clumsy scene in the old movie An Unmarried Woman, in which Jill Claybaugh's husband tells her that he is leaving her? She had not even sensed that anything was wrong in their marriage. She had thought that they were happy. Then they were sitting in a restaurant having lunch one day, when he suddenly broke down and began to cry. Then he told her that he had been ...

1829. A Man Of Character And Generosity

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... be trusted with his master's possessions--even with his master's wife. But Potiphar's wife became fixated with her desire to have Joseph. Day after day she badgered him to submit to her charms, but he refused. One day she grabbed his cloak. He fled, leaving his cloak behind. Potiphar's wife plotted her revenge. She accused him of attempted rape. Thus Joseph found himself in prison. Twice now at a young age he had been gravely wronged--first by his brothers, now by his master's wife. Any one of us would ...

1830. Another Great Love Story

Genesis 29:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... his uncle Laban. But we're getting ahead of our story. It's interesting, isn't it? God called Abram to leave his home in Haran to go out and found a new people, but when Jacob, the one heir to Abram--or Abraham--who carries in his loins the promise God ... made to Abram that he would father a great people, leaves his family home, he flees back to Haran. But there is a purpose to the plan. He is to find a wife there who will be ...

1831. The Coat Of Many Colors

Genesis 37:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... , he encountered another test of faith. Potiphar's wife took a liking to this "well-built and handsome" young man, and she tried to seduce him. But Joseph refused. One day, Potiphar's wife caught him alone and tried to force him into bed. Joseph ran away, leaving her clutching his cloak. Isn't that a great response to temptation? Joseph simply turned and ran away. This is not cowardly. This is godly. So Potiphar's wife claimed that Joseph tried to rape her, and used his cloak as proof against him. So once ...

1832. Witness to the Light

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... may walk in the light, and there will be no darkness at all. Some of you may be familiar with a story Fred Craddock once told about Dr. Oswald Golter. Dr. Golter was a missionary to China more than 60 years ago. After World War II he was asked to leave that country. So his missionary society wired him a ticket and Dr. Golter made his way to India to catch a ship home to America. While he was there he noticed that there were many Jews living in the area--in attics and sheds and barns. They were there because ...

1833. People of Influence

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... . Hardly anyone remembers Innocent today, but hundreds of thousands of people each year journey to the small town of Assisi to honor St. Francis. In 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. We’re told that his footprints are still there. Where are you leaving your footprints? Are you determined to make a difference? What is your passion? How do you feel about other people? Answer these questions and you are on the path to becoming a person of influence. 1. James L. Garlow, The Twenty-One Irrefutable Laws ...

1834. The Eureka Experience

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

... that's led to six concussions in her short lifetime. For 19 years she lived with pain in her spine before she obtained relief through a spinal fusion. She was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder, but the doctors could not determine how to treat it. It's such that it leaves her with fatigue, nausea and vomiting, skin rashes and a low-grade fever. Once that low-grade fever lasted for over a year. It confines her to bed for days at a time, and when she is able to be up and about she has to make her way in ...

1835. Yes, Virginia, There Is a Hell!

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

... or hell right now in this world. It all depends on how we respond to Jesus Christ and his offer of salvation. If we respond positively, we have a taste of heaven; and when we leave this world all that love and joy and bliss will be magnified immeasurably. But if we reject him in this world, we''ll experience hell here and when we leave this world. Our choice makes the difference. Jesus asks for a yes or no, an up or down, answer. Let''s look for a few minutes now at this parable''s perspective on hell. Hell ...

1836. Transforming Tragedy into Triumph

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

... for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection." ONE OTHER THING WE MIGHT DO TO TRANSFORM OUR TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH IS TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO CHRIST SO HE CAN FULFILL HIS PROMISE OF BEING WITH US. For he said, "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." Bob Benson, of publishing and music fame and an author, tells of visiting a pastor friend in Ohio where Bob was to speak at the friend''s church. Before the service they went to a local restaurant where his friend and his ...

1837. A Way Made Ready

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Darrick Acre

... deliver and give victory over warriors like Goliath, but over the monstrosity of sin that has towered over us for so long, leaving us trembling in its shadow! All this and more; the new creation of God springs forth in the person of Jesus. In ... nature of who we have become. We cannot get away from it, we cannot stop it, and we cannot change it. The prophets, however, didn’t leave humanity to languish in despair over that piece of news. They offered a message of hope: “I will give you a new heart and put a ...

1838. THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART

Drama

Angela Akers

... message) "Learn the difference between the things you think will make you happy, and the things that really will make you happy." (Pause as the genie smiles beatifically. The woman looks bewildered.) Woman: "That''s it? That''s my advice?" Genie: "That''s it." (Genie starts to leave) Woman: "Wait! Don''t leave yet. I still don''t know what to wish for." Genie: "Lady, if you take my advice, you won''t need me around to grant any wishes. You''ll be just fine on your own."

1839. Why the Church?

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... why pastors become so concerned when church members drop by the wayside and become lax in the worship of God, and in receiving the sacraments, lax in trying to do the work of Christ in the world. When we leave the Church it means far more than dropping out of the country club or resigning our lodge membership. We are leaving the Body of Christ. It is Christ who is hurt, Christ’s work in the world which is hindered, by our absence. And that should concern all of us. Once in awhile I hear people say: I can ...

1840. What the Heck Is Sin?

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... you took the keys out of your car and brought them with you. Why? Because of sin. And when you have any money, you do not leave it lying about, but put it in a safe or a bank and lock it behind massive steel doors. And when you go to draw it ... Thank God! For that includes me, somewhere in there. And you. And all people. Christ does call the broken and the defeated. But He does not leave them that way. He makes new creatures out of them. If anyone is in Christ, said Paul, that one is a new creation. The old has ...

1841. Jesus: The Life of the Party

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... was merely hinting that inasmuch as He and His fishermen friends had caused the shortage, the least that they could do is send out for more wine! One scholar suggests that it was really a broad hint that Jesus and His motley crew of friends should leave forthwith. John Calvin suggested that Mary wanted Jesus to make a speech and thereby relieve the situation. How effective that would have been, one can only speculate. Scholars have also puzzled over what seems to be a rather rude reply on Jesus part to His ...

1842. Born Again? When?

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... done. Neither can you, by your own efforts, cause God’s grace to come upon you. While sailing, you are entirely at the mercy of the wind (along with your skill at capturing it). You may capture the wind in your sails for a time, but it can disappear suddenly, leaving you stranded in the middle of the lake, and, if you do not have a motor, too embarrassed to ask for a tow. Sailing is a humbling experience. You may use the wind to take you where you want to go for a time, but it can shift directions without ...

1843. Is Suffering Punishment for Sin?

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... we are really asking for. One might give a theological answer, but that would not stop the pain in our hearts. What we need is not an answer, but an assurance that behind everything that happens to us there is a loving God who will neither leave us nor forsake us. So: Jesus specifically rejects the notion that suffering is necessarily the result of human sin. I say “necessarily,” because the fact of the matter is that there is just enough truth in this old notion to keep it alive across the centuries ...

1844. So Who Needs A Shepherd?

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... wrong kinds” of people, he replied to His critics: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4) Years ago, someone ... gives up on any one of us, and God never takes away from us the freedom to say “No.” How it will all work out ultimately, I leave to God. So who needs a shepherd? We do. I do. Cows do not need a keeper in the fields. They can pretty well take care of ...

1845. Love Is Extravagant

John 12:1-11

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... may have had his hand in the till. Whatever the truth of that accusation, Judas had a point. The perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. It was no small amount of money, either! Judas says that the perfume was worth 300 denarii. (Leave it to him to know the cost of everything.) Our footnote to this text tells us that three hundred denarii would be nearly a year’s wages for a laborer, and so Mary was wasting on Jesus something worth almost a year’s work! Judas’ objection sounds ...

1846. If Christ Had Not Come

John 15:18--16:4

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... .” (John 14:1-3) But I stop short. All of this is absurd and foolish, if Christ never came. Regretfully, I tell him that the secular government will now provide free funerals, without the religious trimmings, for those who need them. As the sad-faced man leaves, a young woman comes into the church. She has wasted her young life in sin and selfishness, but now life has caught up with her, and she is tortured by guilt and remorse. Seeing her look of utter despair, I instinctively want to quote to her the ...

1847. Whatever became of Kingdomtide?

John 16:17-33

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... have us picture the situation in the world in this way: it is as though we were living in some small republic somewhere where a dictator has been in power for many years. Suddenly there is a popular uprising, and the dictator is overthrown. He leaves the country in a hurry, probably going to Switzerland to become reunited with his money! The new revolutionary government has taken over the presidential palace but the new and victorious leader has not yet appeared on the balcony for the public to see. However ...

1848. Life Begins at Thirty-Eight

John 5:1-15

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... created to be; but rather sloth, the unwillingness to be all that we are capable of being. Humanity’s besetting sin is shrinking from responsibility. In his book with the provocative title, On Not Leaving it to the Snake, Harvard theologian Harvey Cox said, “the Gospel is first of all a call to leave the past behind and open ourselves to the promise of the future. I believe that a careful examination of the Biblical sources will indicate that man’s most debilitating proclivity is not his pride; it ...

1849. God Doesn’t Take Vacations

John 5:1-15

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... even while you are out of town. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t pay up our pledge for the summer before taking off, of course, because the church’s work goes on even while we are away; but it does mean that we can safely leave our cares behind and take some time off, even from doing good things. In doing research on this book of sermons on the Fourth Gospel I came across some fascinating stories from early church history about the apostle John, the presumed author. An early Christian writer named ...

1850. That Would Be Some Miracle!

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... Tiberias. From Capernaum to “the other side” of the Sea of Galilee is a distance of about four miles and Jesus went by boat. The people had been watching the things He had done with increasing astonishment, and this time they were not about to go home and leave Him alone. So they followed Him around the north shore of Galilee. The River Jordan flows into the north end of the Sea of Galilee, so they would have had to ford that river to follow His boat, and it seems that is precisely what they did. Luke ...

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