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Showing 176 to 200 of 1185 results

176. A Cross For A Doorpost

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... beyond their comprehension, that in the hour when death threatened him, he would die. And that hour was soon. On a cross he would die a cruel and public death. His eyes would close for the last time, he would breathe his last breath and his heart would cease beating. How could he hold out to them any promise of having their lives spared? He had tried to prepare them not only for the dangers which draw or drive every person into death, but for the particular threat to their lives as witnesses to the gospel ...

177. Let's Live

Isaiah 1:1-31

Sermon

Richard L. Sheffield

... of his prophet Isaiah, to his people: people who didn't get it then and people who "still don't get it now." Actually I think we do get it; we just don't get around to getting it done, do we? Living as God says to live? God says: "... Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow" (Isaiah 1:16-17). (If you don't) "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" (Isaiah 1:11). Don't just pray about it, do something about it. Do ...

178. Week Two Of Lent

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... order. Our readings today suggest what might need our attention and most especially how we should approach this period of preparation. Isaiah gives some very specific ideas on getting our house in order. We are told to listen to God's instruction, to wash ourselves clean, to cease doing evil and to learn to do good. We are told to make justice our aim. All of this is a tall order, but we need to daily work toward these goals. How are we to do these things? The Gospel gives us a very specific answer. Brother ...

179. Week Three Of Lent

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... of the Manichaees, a highly rigoristic sect that was popular in the Patristic Church. The group must have had a powerful attraction to interest someone of the stature and intelligence of Augustine. God, however, had other plans for Augustine. His mother Monica never ceased in her prayers for his conversion. Augustine was lucky; God gave him a second chance to get his life together and make the best of what God had given him. Augustine made good on the second chance. He realized that he had come late ...

180. When Life Doesn't Go According To Plan

Genesis 21:8-21

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... in a relationship outside marriage without harmful consequences. Almost 100 percent of the time, people discover that monogamous relationships are difficult enough. An uncomplicated menage a trois is all but impossible. Sure enough, things become problematic. When she becomes pregnant, Hagar ceases acting like Sarah's handmaiden and begins to act like the queen of the tent. Serious trouble ensues between the two women and Hagar finds herself out in the street. Things do not go according to plan. I It took ...

181. Heaven's Wait

Joshua 24:1-27

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... is the answer Joshua himself gives: "... as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." For even in a world where nothing remains constant, the truth of God's abiding love lives on -- remaining throughout eternity, a love that cannot change and will not cease. As a matter of fact, you can stake your life on it, because it is out of such love that Jesus Christ ultimately gave his. "Now therefore ... now if you ... choose this day." Three times the prophet presses upon these people the dire necessity of ...

182. Wicked Tenants

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... and new political realities all led people to have a different understanding of religious demands and this led to the Reformation. The Reformation is not something simply to be celebrated. It is a reminder that the church needs constant reformation or it will cease to be a faithful servant. The church as a human institution as well as a spiritual organism may be subject to the tendency of all human institutions. They become extensions of self interests. When they do, they either must go through a painful ...

183. The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... Use It or Lose It. A long distance jogger has to start slowly and build up to the capacity to run several miles. The experts advise that one needs to run three to five days a week, with days in between to recover. If one ceases running, however, in three days one is already losing muscle tone. In three weeks one needs to start over to rebuild stamina. Recent research with persons in retirement homes demonstrates that exercise restores bone structure. With weight lifting, even persons in the late eighties or ...

184. Behold The Man Who Turned Toward Jerusalem

Mark 10:32-34

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... in our world today who are takers we are still called by God to be givers. What would have happened if Jesus had not given himself? What if the disciples had not done that? What if you and I no longer did that? The Christian church would cease to exist and God would have no witness in his world. The world has enough selfish people already. What the world needs is Kingdom of God people who give themselves. Some years ago in Russia a group of Christians were meeting secretly one night. Suddenly, two Russian ...

185. Easter Sunday

John 20:1-9

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

... the hands of our doubts and behold you with the eyes of our faith. Stir our souls with joy as you move among us. Let us, like Mary, hear you calling us by name in the midst of waiting and sorrow and longing loneliness. Where our hearts have ceased to sing, let Easter songs of victory awaken new melodies of hope. Be the living Master who goes before us, healing the wounds of sin and lifting up the truth of life that would claim our love. We beseech you, O Savior, to give some gracious sign of recognition ...

186. Fools For The Sake Of Christ

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... our individual and corporate decisions -- topics that the Bible addresses directly and repeatedly. Because of this ignorance, while thinking we are in dialogue, and assuming a common moral and religious base, we are really speaking past one another. In his 1995 book Cease Fire: Searching for Sanity in America's Culture Wars, evangelical author Tom Sine does an analysis of how he believes Christians of every variety and theology have been co-opted by non-biblical world-views. He points out, for example, how ...

187. The Future Of The Church!

Matthew 11:25-30

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... and sundry problems and I solve those problems for them. It's what I've been trained to do. Now tell me, Barnabas, with all this knowledge and experience and success that I have attained, why is it I cannot talk to you? (HE STRUMS AGAIN) Will you cease that stupid playing! You know it makes me nervous. (BARNEY STOPS STRUMMING) Thank you. Now, about those grades, Barnabas, they are not up to the standards that your mother and I have set for you. When I went to school, as you know, I was Phi Beta Kappa ...

188. On The Twenty-Fourth Day

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... the confirmation came that even though bitter cold lay ahead spring would someday return, the ancients celebrated. The Israelites believed in an assurance their pagan neighbors did not share -- that, as God had told Noah, "... summer and winter, springtime and harvest, will not cease." This love affair with the solstice, falling as it will on December 20, 21, or 22, is something we baptized when we left behind our pagan past and joined Haggai as part of God's family. It seems like every Christmas I hear ...

189. Is There Any Seed Left In The Barn?

Haggai 2:19

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... Advent and continues through the Feast of the Magi, known as Epiphany (January 6). Each week has a different focus for celebration and worship. In many countries gifts are given on December 6 or January 6, and many of the days in between. To cease singing Christmas carols on December 25 would strike many Christians around the world as ludicrous. Stop? We're just getting started. Christmas is for the long haul. It's a season, not a day, and that requires some serious resolutions. Here are my Ten Commandments ...

190. The Season Of The Nativity

Matthew 25:31-46

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... because he loves. Some of us may tolerate anything and everything (it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere) because we do not love, even though we may say we do. When love steps in (see the scripture once more), toleration ceases. The love that bears all things will not allow harm to rest on the beloved, if we know that person or do not know him/her. The Cross speaks most profoundly of that love" (Author unknown; revised). MUSIC POSSIBILITIES (In Addition To Those Already Suggested ...

191. Gifts of Lent IV: Simon Gives His Strength

Mark 15:1-15

Drama

Donald Neidigk

... day of judgment. That's what you should weep over, Jesus was saying. Weep for your sins, and then turn to me that you might be saved. We walked slowly northward from the city gate, my burden getting heavier with each step. By now I had ceased my complaining, accepting my task, though not happy about it. The soldiers were in a hurry to get the crucifixion over with. But even so, they allowed for the customary last-minute reprieve. That's what the inscriptions were for that were nailed to each prisoner ...

192. Gifts of Lent V: A Soldier Gives His Wine

Matthew 27:45-56

Drama

Donald Neidigk

... I found myself saying aloud. "Surely this man was the Son of God!" That was my confession, straight from my heart, there before the army of Caesar, the leaders of the people, the disciples of Jesus. That was my confession then and it is now. Oh, I didn't cease being a soldier. I stayed there till just before sundown. And as ordered by the governor, I saw to it that the prisoners were dead. It was my lance that was thrust into the side of Jesus, covering me with the water and blood that poured from his side ...

193. Sometimes It's Simple

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... for a long time to what they have to say, I find myself blurting out, "You must stop doing that!" Heavens! I may lose my counselor's license. I may have just violated the Rogerian categorical imperative. I've told someone, without shading it a bit, to cease and desist! I have just given advice! Occasionally my counselee is as shocked by my outburst as I am. But more than occasionally there is a great sigh of relief. They may have gone to a dozen other ministers before ending up in my office, and nobody ...

194. We Know Exactly How You Feel, Jesus

Hebrews 2:5-18

Sermon

Frank Luchsinger

... And sitting up, the dead man began to speak (Luke 7:11-15). Likewise a woman who for a dozen years searched for healing from a flow of blood came up behind Christ, and she touched him, touching his garment's fringe, and immediately the flow of blood ceased (Luke 8:43, 44). He touched the one who could not hear and could not speak. He touched the one born blind and he touched the children and blessed them. But study these Bible stories and we learn that "touched" would more correctly be translated "held or ...

195. You Can Be Eternal

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

... author of death. Instead, I think the promise he made simply tells us that when death comes, Jesus transports. He carries us to a place of ultimate beauty and peace where he is. That is the promise he made -- that our lives will not just end. We will not cease to exist, but rather will be transported to a place where we shall live forever in his presence. We may not understand exactly what heaven is like, but we know it is wonderful because he is there. We also know he has promised that someday we will be ...

196. You Can Be Well Fed

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

... on him. His was truly a tragic story. And I certainly have never missed many meals. The point is simply that sometimes our personal hungers become excessive and blind us to the needs and issues of the world in which we live. Whenever that happens, we have ceased to "hunger and thirst for righteousness." Happy people, people whose lives have meaning and dignity, are always people of compassion. They focus day by day not on how much they can get from the world but rather on how much they can give to make the ...

197. Epiphany 4

Lk 4:21-30 · 1 Cor 13:1-13 · Jer 1:4-10 · Ps 71

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... thing is not. It is a reverse way of getting to the truth. Paul uses this device when he explains the nature of love it is not jealous, arrogant, rude, irritable, or resentful. 3. Never (v. 8). Paul claims that love "never" ends. Is love eternal? Love ceases in marriages and divorces result. Friends break up. Nations go to war. Churches split. Love seems to die in these cases. That is human love, probably eros or philia. Paul is speaking of agape, a divine love. This kind of love never ends, because God is ...

198. Epiphany 6

Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 6:17-26, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... into a tree. The tree is by a river where it gets water. Outline: A person trusting in God is like a tree a. Planted "like a tree planted by water" v. 8a. b. Provided for "sends out its roots by the stream" v. 8b. c. Productive "It does not cease to bear fruit" v. 8c. 2. A tale of two trees (17:5-10). Need: People are either blessed or cursed. There does not seem to be any middle ground. The key to which it shall be is trust in God or in people. Our text gives us the contrast ...

199. Christmas Eve

Lk 2:1-20 · Tit 2:11-14 · Isa 9:2-7 · Ps 96

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... lives by his teachings. This leaves the church with a huge task of converting the world to Christ. At the same time our personal lives will change only when Christ is born in us. Outline: Because Jesus was born -- a. Darkness can turn to light -- v. 2. b. Oppression can cease -- v. 4. c. War can be eliminated -- v. 5. 2. Who is this child? (9:6) -- "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given." Need: The good news of Christmas is that a baby has come to the world. How can this be good news ...

200. Passion Sunday

Isaiah 50:1-11, Luke 22:14--23:56, Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... was: the Messiah. 3. Rested (23:56). The women observed the removal of Jesus' body from the cross and placing it in Joseph's tomb. Then they went home to prepare spices to embalm the body when the sabbath passed. Since the sabbath began at sundown, they ceased their work and "rested according to the commandment." With something as critical and traumatic as the death and burial of their Lord, it is amazing that they were still obedient to rest on the sabbath. With so much to do in caring for the dead body ...

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