Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1951 to 1975 of 5000 results

1951. Living Lightly

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... that will quicken ours. Amen. One of the most tender stories coming out of World War II is that of a small English girl who prayed, “God bless Mary and John, Joan and Michael, and oh God take care of yourself or we shall all be sunk.” It illustrates the freedom of little children. Eric Marshall and Stuart Hamphill have done us a favor and provided laughter, as well as instruction, in what it is like to be alive as a little child. They’ve offered us a collection of children’s letters to God. I hope ...

1952. What If God Is Dependent Upon Our Praying?

2 Chronicles 7:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . Do you see? Prayer is the one identification we have with God, and with others. And there it was. Jeri, Kay, God, all bound together in prayer. Beautiful thing happened as a result of Jeri’s praying. She began to write a story for little Kay, and illustrated it with some of the most beautiful water colors she has ever done. Once each week for eight or ten weeks, she sent little Kay a sequel to the story. A story about a little girl named Kay who played with imaginary characters down by the creek behind ...

1953. Confession And Supplication

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... are also profound. A mark of genius on the part of us persons may be in how we take that which is serious and treat it humorously. That may also be a survival technique. To laugh at that which drives us mad if we take it too seriously. Let me illustrate. Someone has said that the nuclear freeze issue centers in the fact that we may all be cremated equal. And a bumper sticker reminds us that if we see one nuclear war, we will have seen them all. Another serious issue that has been given a humorous touch is ...

1954. Why I Believe In Tithing

Malachi 3:6-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Those three words are precedent, perspective, and performance. First, note this. The precedent for tithing is set in scripture. I believe in and practice tithing because the Bible teaches eat. Orin Johnson shared with me the other day a funny story which illustrates how ignorant we are concerning the Scripture. The new Baptist preacher in a rural congregation, note I said Baptist, forgive me Baptist friends, dropped in on a Sunday school class and began quizzing the students. “Who knocked down the wall of ...

1955. Participants In The Gospel

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... is that of being justified, accepted by God. It is in Christ that we are justified. It is in Christ that we are a new people, living a new life. And we’re always in need of keeping the new status, and the new life God gives us together. This illustration is a simple one, but hopefully it will make the point. A down and outer, you may call him a bum, comes to you in dire need. His dirty, ragged dress is only the outer sign of his destitution and need. He is hungry and sick. You give him a ...

1956. Servants Of The Servant Who Was Lord

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... No. 1. Now this is no new phenomenon. It really began with Adam and Eve in the garden. Though the expression of it is getting a kind of Good Housekeeping seal of approval in our time. Go to our first scripture lesson today. I chose that scripture lesson to illustrate the fact that even in the time of Jesus, this was the case. James and John, the brother disciples of Jesus, were bitten by the bug of winning - of being # 1. So they asked Jesus for the privilege of sitting one of them on his right and one of ...

1957. What Really Matters

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . Paul lists the second aspect of knowing Christ – the fellowship of his suffering. Now this is a harsh, hard, difficult, demanding, but essential truth – we do not know Christ completely until we know him in the fellowship of his suffering. Let me illustrate. Go Out Enjoy is the moving the story of Nina Herman, a chaplain at a children’s hospital. She wrestled as any sensitive person exposed to the daily suffering of children would, with intellectual problems, questioning how all this suffering could ...

1958. What Really Matters The Price Of The High Calling

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... true that the inability to leave the past behind contradicts everything we confess about the healing, forgiving, redeeming power of God? Our inability to leave the past behind – contradicts everything we confess about the healing, forgiving, redeeming power of God. Let me illustrate. The film producer, Igmar Bergman, is one person in the movie industry who uses that media to express his understanding of the world, of God, and of persons. Whether we agree with him or not, he provokes us to think. In his ...

1959. In The Kingdom Now

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... all things unto himself. With that fact clearly in our minds, and with the hope of the coming of our Savior, we can live resolutely and with courage we can stand fast in the Lord. I heard a funny story the other day that illustrates the opposite of standing fast. Two hikers were enjoying some of the less-difficult trails of the Rocky Mountains. The scenery was beautiful. The terrain was not exceptionally difficult. The air was invigorating. Relishing all of that, they rounded a bend and about 50 yards ...

1960. Soul Drain

Psalm 63:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the person who prays to accept the costly reality of God’s initiative and the sovereignty of God’s will. Don’t miss that. For the person who prays, it requires the costly reality of God’s initiative and the sovereignty of God’s will. Let me illustrate it - out of an experience in our family, at a particular time in our lives, about six years ago. Never has a short time frame been so packed with such joy and sorrow, such triumph and such tragedy. It was a roller coaster of mountains and valleys ...

1961. Recovering The Essence

Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... faith. If we’re going to do that, we’re going to have to begin in the little world where we live. It’s one thing to talk about the world. We need to be more specific in talking about our day-to-day approach to things. Jesus powerfully illustrated this, in the simplest, most fundamental aspect of life, those with whom he shared meals. It would be impossible to over-estimate the impact the simple act of sharing meals on the part of Jesus had upon his whole world, the world of his time, and those poor ...

1962. The Power Of Purpose

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... one other word now. Respecting ourselves and investing ourselves are not one-time acts; therefore, we need to keep our commitments current, and that’s the last thing I want to say. Keep your commitments current. I think I can best communicate this by illustration. I remember my friends in seminary telling me about a Methodist minister down in Mobile, Alabama, named Carl Atkins. I never knew him. I wish I had. He was a colorful personality, and an infectious human being. For 25 years, he was the minister ...

1963. He Is Not Here He Is Risen

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... which we want to look. See it there in verse 7: “But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you.” What a bracing truth. Christ always goes before us. Let me illustrate it out of a dramatic situation with which you and I can only faintly identify — the situation in South Africa. One of the most unforgettable times of my life was the 15th World Methodist Conference which met in Nairobi last year. The highlights were numerous. I believe ...

1964. Put My Tears In Thy Bottle

Psalm 56:1-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , as certainties you and I may claim for strength and guidance. I. First, the second part of verse 9: "This I know, that God is for me." What a person knows is very important. There's a classic story that I've heard a number of preachers tell that illustrates this. One day in London an atheist sought to make sport of an unlettered man who had been converted only a few years before. "Do you know anything about Jesus Christ?", the atheist asked. "Yes, by the grace of God, I do," was the answer. "When was He ...

1965. Proclaiming The Gospel

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear." Do you get the point? -- we can proclaim the Gospel anywhere. There's a story about the old evangelist, Billy Sunday, which illustrates this. He was in New York City preaching a revival and had a day off, so he thought he would see the sights. He went to the Empire State Building and got on a crowded elevator, taking sight-seers up to the roof. They all stood there in ...

1966. If I Have Not Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... ever seen. I got that piece published in "Alive Now" -- then it appeared in a collection of writings from women entitled Images, and then a beautiful, powerful little four-minute dramatic movie presentation was made of it. It's one of the most gripping things I know to illustrate what I'm talking about. It was entitled "Minnie Remembers". God,My hands are old.I've never said that out loud before but they are.I was so proud of them once.They were soft like the velvet smoothness of a firm, ripe peach. Now the ...

1967. East Of Eden

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Now they were ashamed. And what is the truth of this. Not only were Adam and Eve separated from God -- they were separated from each other. Their estrangement from God manifested itself in their estrangement from each other. I heard a story recently which illustrates comically this tragic truth. Adam came home late one night, long after they had been expelled from the Garden. Eve was suspicious. "Where have you been? Have you been seeing another woman?" "Don't be silly -- you're the only woman in the world ...

1968. Look Carefully How You Walk

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... to be attracted to that city. Paul was preaching in the Synagogues and he aroused a lot of attention -- especially the attention of the philosophers on Mars HIll. So they invited Paul to the Areopagus to address them. Paul was brilliant in his word -- illustrating the fact that we who would proclaim the message of the Gospel must proclaim it in the context of those whom we're seeking to influence -- understand their culture, and speak to them where they are. Paul had observed thousands of statues and idols ...

1969. The Ministry Of Making Many Rich

1 Timothy 6:11-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... letting them know by our love, care, and attention that they are important, that they mean something to God. That’s the poverty of people. They don’t believe they count. Nobody has ever told them or shown them that they do. Let me illustrate with one story and close. “On Christmas Eve, 1988, a congregation of United Methodists in Nebraska had a wonderful opportunity to do that. Their pastor, Rev. Jean Samuelson told how it all came about. Apparently a transient moved into the community who frightened ...

1970. God's Hello People

1 John 1:5--2:14

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Syndrome. When she was growing up her brother would fight other young people who ridiculed Jeanna because of her looks. Still she could pray "Dear Jesus, thank you for making me the way I am and I love you anyway." She was saying hello to herself. Here is an illustration from the other side of the fence -- and I probably have shared this with you -- I know I have shared it as a perception. A couple of years ago, my wife, Jerry, attended a women's retreat led by Sister Susan out at the House of Prayer. A few ...

1971. At Home In The Daylight

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... has no idea how the show ended. People do not know how to respond when a grown man cries, or a grown woman for that matter." (Dr. Walker L. Railey, "When God's Heart is Broken", April 5, 1987). Still, we need to express our feelings. Both these points are illustrated in the words of the anonymous writer: There isn't much that I can do, but I can share my bread with you, and sometimes a sorrow too -- as on our way we go. There isn't much that I can do, but I can sit an hour with you ...

1972. God Shaves With A Borrowed Razor

Isaiah 7:1-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . 11) Two or three years ago, Bishop Roy Clark, Methodist Bishop now retired here in Memphis, visited Ethiopia. Apart from his comments on the tremendous need of those people, because of the famine, Roy made some observations about the Ethiopian Orthodox Church which illustrates the fact that God shaves with a borrowed razor. That church is an Independent Orthodox Church which has existed at least since 325 A.D. The interesting thing is that up until 1974, it was supported entirely by contributions from the ...

1973. Swift To Hear -- Slow To Speak

James 1:19-27

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs" (James 3: 3-4 RSV). These pictures illustrate two important lessons. First, when we control our tongues, all the rest of our lives are under control. Two, if we don't control our tongues, every part of our life is threatened. The picture that James gives is that of a vast forest that is set aflame ...

1974. What Is Your Life?

James 4:13-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... life. We too easily allow limitations to limit us. We settle for less than is possible. We allow mediocrity to become the mean, the standard of our life. So, we are not faithful -- we are not good stewards of the gift God has given us. This is glaringly illustrated in our stewardship of financial resources. There are scores of people in this congregation who have been giving $100 a month to the church for the past 5 years. Scores of them settle in at other levels. The point is, too many of us settle in. We ...

1975. Baptized...and Baptized

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Christ. A group of reporters waited outside the office of a senator campaigning for re-election. Suddenly the door flew open. "Quick!", the candidate shouted to his secretary, "where's that list of people I call by their first names?" May I use the ridiculous to illustrate the sublime. That's what baptism is all about. We are named by God. God calls us by our first name. But baptism by water is not complete within itself -- the baptism of the Spirit -- that is the yielding of our life to the Holy Spirit ...

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