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Showing 176 to 200 of 4938 results

176. The Sting Of Death

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

Perhaps it makes sense to state the obvious right up front. Here we are, gathered on this well-known day in the church year, Good Friday. This is the one day where the main thought on our minds is Jesus' death, the cross, his suffering and crucifixion. It's the day we Christians, near the end of Lent, and wearied by the 40 days of penitence, fasting, and self-denial, screw up our courage to stare right into the face of death. And doubly so today. For N. whom we have known and loved has died. Does Good ...

177. Turning Evil Into Good

Genesis 45:1-8a, 50:19-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

The year was 1963. I was a graduating senior in high school and as president of our class I wrote in the year book this simple philosophy of life. “All things work together for good." Today, nearly 40 years later, I want to tell you why I still believe that statement is true. We catch up with our hero, Joseph, in the waning years of his life. His father is dead. His brothers are feeling guilty and afraid. But this young dreamer has lived too long to be revengeful. He has spent enough time in prison to ...

178. "Turned On" by God's Love

1 Corinthians 1:9

Children's Sermon

Object: Floor lamp with a large center (3 way) light and smaller lights around it. Good morning, boys and girls. How are you today? Don’t you think that fall weather is really beautiful - when the air seems so fresh and crisp and the sky seems extra blue? It really is something the way God has our world planned with seasons and how they change in such wonderful fashion. I have a lamp here with me this morning that looks a lot like other lamps you have seen, but I hope that it tells a story that will show ...

179. The One Thing That Matters

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

An old story comes to us from Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire. In that conquest Alexander's soldiers overran the palace of Darius the king. Looking for things to steal, one soldier came upon a leather bag containing the crown jewels of Persia. The stones were worth millions. However, the ignorant soldier dumped them on a rubbish heap, saving only the leather bag. He ran around the camp telling the other men about the marvelous bag he'd found to carry his food. How often in life we ...

180. What If the Disciples Had Email and One of the Disciples Was a Woman?

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

From: Priscilla@galilee.net To: Mom&Dad@jerusalem.org Dear Mom and Dad, I just wanted to write and let you know that I'm doing just fine. I know you don't approve of me traveling from place to place with this fellow, Jesus, and his companions, but I need you to know that things are going amazingly well. Before you get to worrying more than you already are, none of the "boys" as you called them, are giving me any trouble at all. Not a single one of them has hit on me, if that's what you're worried about. ...

181. Come, O Blessed Of My Father

John 5:16-30

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

Anthem: Christ Is Risen This past Sunday in church we celebrated what is known as Christ the King Sunday. Picture it: Christ the King, subjecting all powers and enemies under his feet, reigning as king in heaven following his resurrection, and awaiting his return to earth and the ushering in of eternity. In some churches, it is celebrated as "Eternity" Sunday. One of the readings appointed for Christ the King Sunday, or Eternity Sunday, is the familiar Gospel passage from the 25th chapter of Matthew. ...

182. Turn Your Gaze from Me before I Am No More

Psalm 39:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalm 39 is most akin to the prayer psalms of the individual but it is unlike any other, as its closing petition alone shows: “Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more.” It resonates with Job and Ecclesiastes more than with other psalms. The refrain, “each man’s life is but a breath” (Hb. hebel, vv. 5, 11), echoes that of Ecclesiastes: “Everything is a breath” (Hb. hebel, NIV “meaningless,”Eccl. 1:2; 12:8). Unlike most psalms, this one has a ring of autobiography (esp. vv ...

183. Turning on the Lights

1 Peter 2:25

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A light switch. Good morning, boys and girls. How are you on this light and cheery day? Do any of you remember the days in the cold winter when it was still dark as you got up to come to church? Light is very important to us for a lot of reasons, isn't it? It is very hard to do many things in the dark. Have any of you tried to play games in the dark, or have you tried to read or eat without light? It isn't very easy, is it? On the altar of almost every church is something that tells us how ...

184. Flashing Lights

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Robert Beringer

Flashing Lights There is a hunger in human hearts for an experience of God that transforms human life. Years ago, the shrill ring of the telephone awoke me in the night. It was a local doctor asking me to join him in the emergency room where a boy had been taken after a bad drug trip on LSD. The parents were frantic as the boy mumbled incoherently, describing bright flashing lights, beautiful colors, and a "presence" he felt must be God. As I stood there that night, I knew everyone in that room could feel ...

185. A Cultural Breakthrough

Acts 16:6-10

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

At first glance this story seems a bit out of place. Perhaps some background of the events leading up to this text would be helpful. Paul and Barnabas along with the other disciples had gathered in Antioch to encourage and strengthen one another prior to continuing their journeys. Prior to Paul's departure, he and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement over who should continue on the journey. Barnabas wanted to take John, also known as Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise, because John had deserted ...

186. David's Turn From Wisdom

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Sue Anne Steffey Morrow

Above my desk at home is a single pine shelf that holds a row of books, books which through the years have meant a whole world to me. You may have such a collection of such treasures, too, volumes by favorite writers of poetry, prose, narrative, non-fiction. Some of my books are so old that the covers are frayed and the pages yellowing. There is a volume I read for the first time last summer that is crisp and clean. Some have markers to note a beloved section or a poem I'd like to find with dispatch. Some ...

187. The Turning Point

2 Samuel 11:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

At a time when David and his people seem to be thriving, the king commits adultery and murder. Although David repents and the Lord forgives his sin, this whole episode marks a major turning point in David’s rule. From this point on David faces serious challenges from his own family and fellow Israelites and in the process nearly loses the throne. Like Samson before him, David is guilty of sexual immorality, with all its consequences. While committing adultery is bad enough, David compounds the problem by ...

188. The Promise Of Belief

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

There are times in our lives when we are confronted with a challenge so overwhelming that we struggle to believe that even God can bring about a positive outcome. We recite scripture verses, think positive thoughts, ask our friends to pray for us, and look for the signs of God's positive intervention. We want to believe, but we still have lingering thoughts of failure. What is there about human nature that allows doubt to creep in and the fear of failure to ruin our faith? This state of unbelief has been ...

189. A Turning Point for Nixon

Matthew 21:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

A number of years ago, Newsweek magazine carried the story of the memorial service held for Hubert Humphrey, former vice-president of the United States. Hundreds of people came from all over the world to say good-bye to their old friend and colleague. But one person who came was shunned and ignored by virtually everyone there. Nobody would look at him much less speak to him. That person was former president Richard Nixon. Not long before, he had gone through the shame and infamy of Watergate. He was back ...

190. GOD - THE STILL POINT IN A TURNING WORLD

Illustration

John H. Krahn

I believe that most of us are experiencing the crunch - the crunch of living - of doing business on the planet called Earth. The simple life has somehow eluded our grasp - even things that we could once take for granted like enough gas for our cars, sufficient oil for our homes, uninterrupted education for our children, and the prospect for a raise that would provide us a little higher standard of living - these things are no longer commonplace. Often we are tempted to ask the question, "Where is God in ...

191. Prosperity after Turning to the Lord

Deuteronomy 30:1-10

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Summary and Renewal of the Covenant: In terms of the rhetorical nature of the book, Moses’ third speech to Israel begins at 29:2 (which is 29:1 in the Hebrew text). In terms of the concentric structure of the book, we are still within what Christensen calls “the inner frame” (chs. 27–30), which is in a position corresponding to chapters 4–11 (cf. introduction, p. 4). And in terms of the message of the book, this section picks up and summarizes much of the earlier material, setting it once again within a ...

192. Tell Them

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

There is no day in the Christian church that holds more joy than Easter. The women arrived at the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus and were startled to find that the stone had been rolled away. Entering the tomb they discovered the body of Jesus missing and standing near where the body had been laid to rest were two messengers from God. Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed ...

193. Changed From Glory Into Glory

Romans 8:1-17

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

Music: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling There is an old story about a fellow who was not very handsome at all. He fell in love with a young woman, but he was sure that she would not be interested in him. So with the help of a surgeon he had a special mask designed, a handsome mask that was then placed over his face. With this handsome new look, he easily won over the woman he loved and they were married. But many years later, she discovered the trick and asked him to remove it. When he peeled off the mask ...

194. Choose One

Joshua 24:1-27, Psalm 70:1-5

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me! All: Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me. One: Let those who say, "Aha, Aha!" turn back because of their shame. All: Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" One and All: But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, ...

195. A Foundling Turned Harlot

Ezekiel 16:1-63

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Few chapters in the Bible provide a more forceful illustration of the love of God than this one, which, incidentally, is the longest chapter in the book. The Lord finds a female child abandoned by her parents, who are described in verse 3 as an Amorite and a Hittite. This may be understood as a reference to the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Jerusalem. This child the Lord rescues, raises, and eventually pledges his troth to in marriage. He lavishes great riches on her. Instead of appreciating and loving her ...

196. One Like a Son of Man

Revelation 1:9-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

It is on “the Lord’s Day” (i.e., Sunday) when John has an ecstatic experience that sweeps his spirit into the heavenly realm (1:10; cf. 2 Cor. 12:2). With imagery that anticipates the heavenly liturgy to come (Revelation 4–5), a great voice like a temple trumpet (see Lev. 23:24) resounds and commissions John to write what he sees on a scroll. A messenger will then take the scroll from Patmos to the mainland and travel a circular route from Ephesus to Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and ...

197. One Solitary Life

Illustration

James Allan Francis

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had ...

198. A Sheep Of Your Own Flock

Psalm 23:1-6

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

No two ways about it, it has been a difficult few days, and we are in a difficult time. N., who has been part of our lives for so long, whom we have come to know and love and care for deeply, has died. We wish it weren't so. We wonder how we can go on without him [her]. We have unanswered questions. We know fear, and grief, and sorrow all rolled into one. Many years ago, there was another person who had some of these same feelings. Not sure where to turn. Scared to death. Heartbroken. A shepherd by ...

199. He is the One We are Looking For

Matthew 11:1-19

Illustration

John Thomas Randolph

You see, God through Jesus Christ is still bringing good news to the poor. He is still bringing those who were dead back to life again! He is still healing those who were broken! In the May, 1982, issue of Guideposts magazine, Norman Vincent Peale tells of a woman who came to him for help. Her husband had been killed in a tragic car crash, and as a result, she felt numb, hopeless, and "broken. Peale was able to help her by telling her a true story about a distinguished British violinist named Peter Cropper ...

200. The Temptation To Pass By On The Other Side

Luke 10:25-37

Illustration

Robert Beringer

Here's a story about how God's Spirit helped one man fight the impulse to pass by on the other side. On September 26, 1944, Ray Hamley, an RAF flying officer, and his crew flying an American-built B-25, dropped bombs on the town of Kleve just inside Germany's border with Holland. Ray was 21 years old, and his bombs that day hit the railroad station, a number of Nazi factories, and the town church. He had an inkling that day that one of his bombs hit the church, but war was war. On the ground that day a ...

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