Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1901 to 1925 of 5000 results

1901. Christianity and Conflict: Dual Citizenship (Part VII)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... , from making her life a worthy witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anne was not only willing to believe in Christ, but also willing to suffer for Him. This was positive proof that her "salvation" was from God. I hope you can see and feel from all the illustrative materials I have shared with you today that being a Christian is not easy. It will bring conflict into your life. However, the Good News is that in doing so, you so transfer your citizenship from this world to the next. As C. S.Lewis says, "If I ...

1902. A New You in a New Year (Part X)

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... I have asked God to make me and you more "faithful in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour." Recently, I talked with a man in my office who started out saying, "I am not a religious man." I responded, "Good, great! God can do a lot with you." Let me illustrate it this way. There was a man who went into a hardware store with a chain saw. He threw the chain saw down at the store owner''s feet and said, "This is a piece of junk. You told me that I could cut down forty trees a day, and ...

1903. A Faith that Works with a Victorious Attitude

Philippians 2:12-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Today, we continue to preach and study through the marvelous letter of the Apostle Paul to the church and believers at Philippi. As many of you know, I often begin with a story or illustration, but today I want to begin our work by addressing and hopefully clearing up two major misconceptions or misinterpretations often associated with this text. THE FIRST MISINTERPRETATION IS THAT WE ARE SAVED BY OUR ATTEMPTS AT GOOD WORKS RATHER THAN SOLELY BY THE GRACE OF GOD revealed through the all ...

1904. The Importance of the Second Violin

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... also when it was challenging and costly. Young Timothy was that kind of servant. He was willing to play second violin behind the talents of the Apostle Paul. He was committed not to convenience but to the purpose of the Cross. There is a powerful illustration of this in that great Christian classic, PILGRIM''S PROGRESS. There is a character named Pliable who wishes to accompany Christian to find the Promised Land. He was excited when he heard the talk and promises of the eternal Kingdom of God and the Crown ...

1905. The Servant Who Delivered the Mail

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... the spectacular dimension. We think that God is like General Motors. We only think BIG. When God reveals Himself it is always in extraordinary ways. There is some evidence in the Bible that God worked in such ways. After all, we do have the following illustrations. The Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. The miraculous parting of the Red Sea. Joshua bringing down the Walls of Jericho. Jesus walking on the water and quieting the storm. The raising of Lazarus from the dead. The conversion of Saul on the Road to ...

1906. Peace or Pieces

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... himself, to strengthen himself, to be cheered. Here the keynote message of the letter is sounded once again. Paul shares that our joy is secure because it is in the Lord and not dependent on circumstances that are always favorable. Let me illustrate. The circumstances of life had dealt a harsh blow to Paul Wittgenstein, who was a distinguished concert pianist. He lost his entire right arm. However, Paul Wittgenstein, in the midst of this very difficult and challenging circumstance, refused to quit. He went ...

1907. Tackling the Tough Tasks

James 2:1-13

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... sacrifice for other people and selfless love are the highest values; not race, class, greed, social status. We know this temptation to switch the price tags comes from the Tempter, but we can say "NO." In verses 1 - 4, James gives us a down-to-earth illustration, and his point is well taken: we must leave all favoritism and status-seeking outside in the parking lot when we come to church. The reason is simple--the ground is level at the foot of the cross for everyone. Jesus'' ministry touched everyone; the ...

1908. The Taming of the Tongue

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... Holy Spirit--can it be used to heal--not hurt." In our own strength, we are incapable of overcoming the power of evil and the devil, which really is at the center of the problem of the tongue. As I studied and researched and gathered material and illustrations for this sermon, I remembered an insight learned from childhood days in Sunday School class: The good Lord gave us two ears, but only one tongue. We should try to listen twice as much as we speak. Like a good physician, Dr. James of Jerusalem wants us ...

1909. The Tenacity of Trouble

James 4:1-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... self-seeking, arrogant or rude, it is not boastful--it does not keep a record of wrongs. Now let us jump quickly ahead to verse eleven where James writes, "Brothers, do not slander one another." I hope you will see the connection between these verses. Let me illustrate it this way: Legend has it that one day the Carpenter''s tools had a conference. Brother Hammer was in the chair. The members informed him that he must leave because he was too noisy. He said, "If I am to leave this shop Brother Gimlet must ...

1910. A Soul Restored

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... He has the power to renew us and make us whole, real, and authentic again. It doesn''t happen overnight--but every journey begins with the first step, every building project begins with the first nail or screw being driven in it. I recently came across an illustration that tells the story about a man who lived in England. He had a three story house that he wanted to tear down and rebuild. The city council would not give him permission to raze the present building. So he put jacks under the second floor and ...

1911. A Cup Overflowing

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... heaven, feed me ''til I want no more-- "Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!"(5) The power and popularity the world provides is tentative and temporary. A good example is Muhammad Ali. He was three times on the cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED--more times than any other athlete. His name was known throughout the world, and everywhere he traveled he was accompanied by an entourage of supporters. That was then, but what about now? A sportswriter visited Ali and found the photos and posters recounting Ali''s ...

1912. Feasting and Fasting for Lent (Part II)

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... turned the channel, but being a young preacher myself I have great feeling for the younger preacher. I received a great insight and blessing from Andy. He told a story to end his sermon that I have never forgotten. I knew I would use it as an illustration someday. I share it with you. He told how on his first date with Sandra, the woman who would eventually be his wife, he ran out of things to say after five minutes. He was dying a thousand deaths. He was grasping for anything intelligent to say. This ...

1913. Feasting and Fasting for Lent (Part IV)

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... in the midst of a Lenten sermon series using the imagery of Fasting and Feasting to draw closer to the will of God and to draw closer to Christ by having a closer walk with Him. By using the Word of God and appropriate stories of faith and illustrations, I have urged us and guided us to fast those attitudes, values, words, and lifestyles that are an insult to the Holiness of God, and because there is now a void or empty space created by fasting we can feast on those things which are pleasing and honoring ...

1914. Feasting and Fasting for Lent (Part V)

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... world and inspired the men and women of old to write the pages of Holy Scripture. The uniqueness of the Bible is that it reveals God''s salvation work that reaches its apex in Jesus Christ. So often we miss the message of the Bible. Dr. Barnhouse illustrates this by writing a letter sitting in a hotel room that overlooked one of the most magnificent views of the ocean and the beautiful coastline. He could see the ocean through the window. He was writing the letter to a person who had never seen the ocean ...

1915. Maundy Thursday: Two Memorials

Luke 22:7-38

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... all of his contemporaries assessed his life and found very little to admire. He was referred to as a "self-invented money-making machine," and described as ruthless, selfish, and grasping. According to Kenneth W. Porter, there was an event that took place that illustrated his true character. While on his deathbed, he ordered one of his rent collectors to go out to collect from an impoverished widow, but the employee told Mr. Astor that the woman needed some more time. John Jacob Astor would not accept such ...

1916. Thanksgiving - The Biblical Version

1 Chronicles 16:7-43

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... to ask the question "about life." I think everyone here would agree that very, very few Americans are as SPIRITUAL about Thanksgiving as the Pilgrims were when they gathered together to celebrate with their Indian friends. Like the people mentioned in Dr. Fosdick's illustration, we also would be wise and avoid heartache and spiritual breakdown if we would today turn our attention to Thanksgiving--the Biblical version. Thanksgiving needs to have roots if it is to produce any fruit in our lives. The roots for ...

1917. Living with the Aches and Alleluias

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... to give us strength to sing our alleluias over the aches of life. Third, Advent tells us that we need Jesus to control the events and weather of our lives from both the inside and the outside. There''s a great story about Saint Francis of Assisi that illustrates this very well. One winter night there was a raging blizzard, and the man who was supposed to wake up every couple of hours and keep the fire going at the monastery was unable to find Francis. So he went outside into the storm and found him kneeling ...

1918. A New You or a New Year

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... asked God to make me and you more "full of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior." Recently, I talked with a man in my office who started out saying, "I am not a religious man." I responded, "Good, Great, God can do a lot with you." Let me illustrate it this way. There was a man who went into a hardware store with a chain saw. He threw the chain saw down at the store owner''s feet and said, "This is a piece of junk. You told me that I could cut down forty trees a day and ...

1919. The Marvelous Message of Easter

Mark 16:1-20, Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... last laugh on Sunday. That is a marvelous and awesome perspective on life to have. Third, Easter day makes a marvelous difference, because it declares that God''s truth always has the last move and word--not Satan''s lies. Let me share an illustration here from my colleague, H. Stephen Shoemaker: Remember, the secular prophets of the modern age, Freud and Marx, prophesied that "man come of age" had outgrown religion, but they are gone, and so is their modern age with its contempt for religion, and religion ...

1920. Singing in the Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... and Thomas, "We can handle it. No sweat." The situation is one of pure panic. The storms of life can overpower any one of us, even when we are most sure of ourselves, especially in our family circles or work places. Please notice that this story further illustrates that storms never come at the right time. It would have been nice if the disciples would have had a Sony Walkman on their heads tuned in to the local Galilean radio station and had heard about the storm before they pushed out from the shore line ...

1921. When Life Seems to Be Going in the Wrong Direction

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... your eyes focused and fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen and Amen. 1. Dr. Albert C. Outler, John Wesley (Oxford University Press, Inc., 1964), page 44. 2. Thanks to Zelma Pattillo, found in July-August, 1990 edition of Preaching, page 33. 3. Thanks to Donald J. Shelby for this illustration.

1922. Reverse Direction

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

... meet the Holy One, whether we want to or not. I am not saying that to scare you. It simply is. Secondly, if your life today is in any kind of disarray, an encounter with the Holy One will make a big difference. Let me go back to the illustration I began with this morning. It is human nature to react to meeting people of importance. Meeting the Holy One face to face goes so far beyond such an experience that we cannot even begin to comprehend it. The prospect can even be frightening, for in the presence of ...

1923. Waiting and Witnessing

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

... come home. But in the final analysis, it is through the personal witness of individual Christians that the church of Jesus Christ grows and fulfills its mission. It will take your active witness to make it happen. Permit me to tell you a favorite story to illustrate what I am describing. Sandy MacTavish was one of the town drunks in a small village in Scotland. The local preacher had tried for years without success to get Sandy to go "on the wagon." In a last ditch effort, the parson called a meeting at ...

1924. Seeing Jesus Clearly

Mark 1:29-34

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

... with confidence, and with whom I can be free and open. Strangely enough, it was as I began to "see" him again and began to be open to him again, my crisis of faith began to pass. It is important how clearly we can see Jesus! Another illustration: a story about a small seacoast village in England that routinely would become covered by dense fog. The pride of that village was a lighthouse that had been built on the north end of town where the harbor was navigable and free from the huge rocks that dotted ...

1925. Placard Faith, Complex World

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... "he gave his only Son...." This is John reflecting on God's activity in the life of Jesus. So active through Jesus was God, says John, that to see the Son is to see the Father. The kind of relationship being described by John can be illustrated by the relationship that exists between a composer and a symphony orchestra. When a group of musicians, under talented podium leadership, play a Mahler symphony for example, we know they have done their job well when we feel transported to the essence of what Mahler ...

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