Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2001 to 2025 of 2665 results

2001. Prepare: An Advent Play

Matthew 24:36-51

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... I see you are already preparing for something. What the? (*At this point, Santa, carrying his bag full of toys, appears singing “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” or “Here Comes Santa Claus.”) Santa: Hi from the North Pole, folks. My name is Santa Claus. I’ve dropped by to help John B. here and all of you to prepare for Christmas. John: You’re going to what? Help me, oh fat one? Since when? Santa: (jolly) You bet! I heard that you and these people here (to congregation) are preparing for Christmas and ...

2002. The Rabbi's Gift

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... said he was aware of our pain and struggles and that this teaching was never again to be spoken aloud. (pauses) It is this: The rabbi said (pauses) that one of us is the Messiah. Sexton: Well, the Monks were amazed, to say the least. Their jaws dropped and their eyes got big. And listen ... Monks: (unfreeze and all talk at once among themselves) What does this mean, that one of us is the Messiah? Is Brother John the Messiah? Or Brother Nathaniel or Father Damian or Brother Thomas? Am I the Messiah? Are you ...

2003. Watching for a

Mark 13:1-31

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... are looking for, sir? Waiting Man: Oh yes, in a most surprising but logical place. Ticket Agent: And where was that? Waiting Man: (a bit embarrassed) I found my wallet with my identification, my credit cards, even all my cash, right where it had dropped out — in the men’s restroom — by the stool. Ticket Agent: Well, good for you, sir — now you can at least identify yourself officially when he comes. Waiting Man: Yeah, it would be pretty embarrassing otherwise. Ticket Agent: His plane will land on ...

2004. Joy To the World

John 1:1-18

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... Jesus Shall Reign,” just to name a couple. Reporter: What hymn did you write that is the most loved and sung of all? Issac: Without a doubt — “Joy To The World”! Reporter: You wrote “Joy To The World”? Why, that’s my favorite — even though I dropped out of church some time ago. Issac: Mine, too. Say, Mr. (Ms.) Reporter, maybe you’d like to come back to church — you’ll enjoy the singing, I’m sure. Say, instead of just inviting you back, I’ll pick you up next Sunday in my carriage ...

2005. God Is the Hound of Heaven

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... . Siblings must seek each other as well. Rivalries in families and past hurts often place people in estranged positions. We must do whatever is necessary to find the brother or sister whom we have lost. Old friends as well must seek each other. We must drop the attitude that says it's not my responsibility to seek reconciliation. We need to take the initiative, to do what is necessary, to bring our relationships and friendships back to the level we want and need. Our outreach must go beyond those we know ...

2006. The Renewal of Life

Isaiah 43:18-25

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... go of the past in order to reach for the future. Similarly, the Hebrews needed to let go so God could guide them to a new day. We, too, must let go and God will provide us with a new day as well. Do we have the faith necessary to drop the past and move on to the future? Only you can answer! Amen.

2007. God, The Good Ally

Exodus 20:1-17

Sermon

Ken Lentz

... difficult for modern Americans to avoid making "graven images." Our graven images are anything that is other than Paul Tillich's "ultimate concern." A man began to lose his commitment to his church congregation over a period time. His attendance at church dropped; he stopped making a yearly pledge and occasional checks in the offering plate diminished to zero. First-class letters sent to his address were returned "no forwarding address." He was not angry at the church council and was not offended by changes ...

2008. The Many Faces of God

Isaiah 6:1-8

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

... more than a whisper he said, "We're going into a very special room. You must be completely quiet. I don't want to hear a sound as we walk into that room for God is there." As they walked in and sat down, you could have heard a pin drop. They all sucked air as they glanced at the huge dome high above them. There was a holy hush in the room. I wonder what Isaiah really saw that day. Scripture tells us he saw seraphim, which means fire-spirits. In Isaiah's day, a seraph was an effigy for ...

2009. God Never Gives Up on Us

1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20, (11:14-15)

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

... reins, in this case ruling the people as God's servants on earth. Oh, he knows what they're really like. He's watched them get in trouble all their lives, especially through the teenage years. You know that tear-filled feeling you have as a parent when you drop your firstborn off at some college or university halfway around the country, knowing all the time that this act signals the break up of the family as you've known it? If you're really honest, you have to admit it's a bittersweet moment. You're happy ...

2010. The Place beyond Revenge

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22

Sermon

Donna Schaper

... sensitive crown of the human heart. His second guide is Reinhold Niebuhr who said (paraphrased) in early Cold War Days, that the US is a gadget-filled paradise suspended in a hell of international security, and on 9/11 the cord was cut and we've been dropped into the scene the world has always known: Insecurity ... so we have joined the rest of the human race. Insecurity is the big word, exploitable by politicians and others who play on fear to mess things up. So we ask, what is the nature of the "security ...

2011. Which Mask Will You Wear?

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... creature that appeared at her door one Halloween. She called it the scariest creature she’s ever seen. The rubber mask, covering the young man’s face and head, had twisted features, a pulled-down mouth and a bright red “wound” on the cheek. Quickly, Marilyn dropped a couple of home-baked cookies into the young man’s sack and he hurried away. A couple of days later, when the paper boy came to collect, he said, “Those sure were good cookies you gave out on Halloween!” You guessed it. He was the ...

2012. Facing the Consequences

Illustration

Tim Kimmel

... paused for a long time before answering. And even when he spoke he wouldn't look me in the eye. "We considered the alternatives, Tim. Weighed all the options." He took a deep breath. "We finally made an appointment with the abortion clinic. I took her down there myself." I dropped the stick I'd been poking the coals with and stared at Tom. Except for the wind in the trees and the snapping of our fire it was quiet for a long time. I couldn't believe this was the same man who for years had been so outspoken ...

2013. The Humble Post Rider

Illustration

... the Boston-New York route. After the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, Bissel was ordered to raise the alarm in New Haven, Connecticut. He reached Worchester, Mass., normally a day's ride, in two hours. There, according to tradition, his horse promptly dropped dead. Pausing only to get another mount, Bissel pressed on and by April 22 was in New Haven but he didn't stop there! He rode on to New York, arriving April 24, and then stayed in the saddle until he reached Philadelphia the next day ...

2014. Argument Attacks

Illustration

Staff

... , Hunter lamented, "My life is at the mercy of any scoundrel who chooses to put me in a passion." These words proved prophetic, for at a meeting of the board of St. George's Hospital in London, Hunter got into a heated argument with other board members, walked out, and dropped dead in the next room.

2015. The Speed of Descent

Illustration

Staff

... was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to ...

2016. Becoming Bible Literate

Illustration

Staff

Suggestions to increase biblical understanding: The KJV is too difficult and mentally taxing for many people. While this is not an exhortation to drop the KJV from use, Christian leaders need to either use translations appropriate to the audience, or facilitate people's understanding of the KJV if they choose to use it. Biblical illiteracy is at least as large a problem to the Christian community as functional illiteracy is to the nation as ...

2017. Are You a Butterfly or Bee?

Illustration

James Hamilton

... getting over a great deal of ground. "But in the same field there is another worker, whose brown vest and businesslike, straightforward flight may not have arrested your eye. His fluttering neighbor darts down here and there, and sips elegantly wherever he can find a drop of ready nectar; but this dingy plodder makes a point of alighting everywhere, and wherever he alights he either finds honey or makes it. If the flower-cup be deep, he goes down to the bottom; if its dragon- mouth be shut, he thrusts its ...

2018. God Makes No Mistakes

Illustration

Bruce Goodrich was being initiated into the cadet corps at Texas A & M University. One night, Bruce was forced to run until he dropped but he never got up. Bruce Goodrich died before he even entered college. A short time after the tragedy, Bruce's father wrote this letter to the administration, faculty, student body, and the corps of cadets: "I would like to take this opportunity to express the appreciation of my family ...

2019. Church Dropouts

Illustration

Alexander Astin

... " category increased by more than 50 percent. Declines in religious interest occur more often among men than women, and most often among the brighter students. Those who lived on campus showed greater declines than those living at home. And those who stay in college show greater declines than those who drop out.

2020. With a Repentant Heart

1 Cor 11:9

Illustration

Charles W. Colson,

... 's office. When Pat walked into the room, John was sitting limply in his bed, strung with IV tubes, staring listlessly at the wall. He was a tall, grandfatherly man, balding a little, but his sallow skin hung loosely on his face, neck, and arms where the weight had dropped from his frame. His eyes were hollow. Pat was terrified; he had no idea what to do. But John seemed to brighten a bit as soon as he saw Pat's chaplain badge and invited him to sit down. As they talked, Pat sensed that God was urging him ...

2021. Many Ways To a Good Grade

Illustration

Tim Hansel

... ; he was just thinking of the best one. I excused myself for interrupting and asked him to please go on. In the next minute, he dashed off his answer which read: "Take the barometer to the top of the building and lean over the edge of the roof. Drop the barometer, timing its fall with a stopwatch. Then using the formula S = 1/2 at2 calculate the height of the building." At this point, I asked my colleague if he would give up. He conceded, and gave the student almost full credit. In leaving my colleagues ...

2022. Bury the Problem

Illustration

Staff

... a crowd of other peasants carrying shovels. They began digging a huge hole next to the rock. The rock was propped up with timbers to prevent it from rolling into the hole. When the hole was deep enough, the timber props were removed and the rock dropped into the hole below the street level. It was then covered with dirt, and the excess dirt was carted away. It's an early example of what creative thinking can do to solve a problem. The unsuccessful bidders only thought about moving the rock from one place ...

2023. A Falling Leaf

Illustration

Christina G. Rossetti

... void and brief And tedious in the barren dusk; My life is like a frozen thing, No bud nor greenness can I see: Yet rise it shall the sap of Spring; O Jesus, rise in me. My life is like a broken bowl, A broken bowl that cannot hold One drop of water for my soul Or cordial in the searching cold; Cast in the fire the perished thing, Melt and remould it, till it be A royal cup for Him my King: O Jesus, drink of me.

2024. Wait For the Storm To Pass

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Brett Blair

Robert Schuller told the following family story: I remember one winter my dad needed firewood, and he found a dead tree and sawed it down. In the spring, to his dismay, new shoots sprouted around the trunk. He said, "I thought sure it was dead. The leaves had all dropped in the wintertime. It was so cold that twigs snapped as if there were no life left in the old tree. But now I see that there was still life at the taproot." He looked at me and said, "Bob, don't forget this important lesson. Never cut a ...

2025. A Historical Loss

Illustration

Source Unknown

... collected the honor of the worst loss in college football history: 222-0. Cumberland also left posterity one of its most memorable football plays. A Cumberland kickoff returner fumbled, probably from sheer weariness. He yelled to a teammate, "Pick up the ball!" Replied his teammate, "Pick it up yourself! You dropped it!"

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Showing 2001 to 2025 of 2665 results

2001. Prepare: An Advent Play

Matthew 24:36-51

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

2002. The Rabbi's Gift

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

2003. Watching for a

Mark 13:1-31

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

2004. Joy To the World

John 1:1-18

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

2005. God Is the Hound of Heaven

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Sermon

Richard Gribble

2006. The Renewal of Life

Isaiah 43:18-25

Sermon

Richard Gribble

2007. God, The Good Ally

Exodus 20:1-17

Sermon

Ken Lentz

2008. The Many Faces of God

Isaiah 6:1-8

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

2009. God Never Gives Up on Us

1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20, (11:14-15)

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

2010. The Place beyond Revenge

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22

Sermon

Donna Schaper

2011. Which Mask Will You Wear?

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

King Duncan

2012. Facing the Consequences

Illustration

Tim Kimmel

2013. The Humble Post Rider

Illustration

2014. Argument Attacks

Illustration

Staff

2015. The Speed of Descent

Illustration

Staff

2016. Becoming Bible Literate

Illustration

Staff

2017. Are You a Butterfly or Bee?

Illustration

James Hamilton

2018. God Makes No Mistakes

Illustration

2019. Church Dropouts

Illustration

Alexander Astin

2020. With a Repentant Heart

1 Cor 11:9

Illustration

Charles W. Colson,

2021. Many Ways To a Good Grade

Illustration

Tim Hansel

2022. Bury the Problem

Illustration

Staff

2023. A Falling Leaf

Illustration

Christina G. Rossetti

2024. Wait For the Storm To Pass

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Brett Blair

2025. A Historical Loss

Illustration

Source Unknown

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