Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2026 to 2050 of 5000 results

2026. It's Time to Go to Work

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

James Merritt

Do you ever get tired? If the answer is yes, you may have a good reason for it as the following story illustrates: Somewhere in the world there is a country with a population of 220 million. 84 million are over 60 years of age, which leaves 136 million to do the work. People under 20 years of age total 95 million, which leaves 41 million to do the work. There are 22 million employed by the government, which leaves 19 million to do the work. Four million are in the Armed Forces, which leaves 15 million to ...

2027. Gospel Partners

Philippians 1:3-5

Sermon

James Merritt

There was a church secretary who took a most unusual phone call. The caller asked if he could speak to "the Head Hog." Well, she quickly defended the dignity of her pastor, and with an irate tone said, "I want you to know that our pastor is held in the very highest esteem around here, and we address him as Rev. H. C. Herald. Currently Rev. Herald is not available to speak with you." The man then responded, "Well, I am sorry. I just learned about your new building program and my CPA recommended that I ...

2028. No Fear

Psalm 23:4

Sermon

James Merritt

Fear—we all know what it is. It is one of the most debilitating emotions known to the human race. As a matter of fact, it is fascinating to see just what it is that people fear most. Here are the three greatest fears people have in America: Fear number one: Going to a party where they will be surrounded by strangers. Fear number two: Having to speak before a crowd. Fear number three: Being asked a personal question in public.1 Fear is unbelievably powerful. It penetrates the heart, it poisons the spirit, ...

2029. The Marks Of A Spiritual Counterfeit

Jude 1:12-13

Sermon

James Merritt

Few people know that the Secret Service has not only far more to do than to protect the President. That is not even their primary job. Working under the Treasury Department, one of their major jobs is to try to catch counterfeiters. Therefore they have to learn how to recognize counterfeit money. The surprising thing is, the way they are trained to do this is not by studying counterfeit money, but by studying real currency. The better they get to know the real thing, the easier it is to spot the phony. ...

2030. FEAR NOT! You've Got To Be Kidding!

Luke 1:26-37

Sermon

John E. Harnish

It's an obvious understatement to say we live in a day of great fear. The language of "terror" has become the motivating mantra of our day. I did a Google search for the word "fear," and I came up with a fascinating site called "The Phobia List"—pages of phobias, A to Z. Everything from Alliumphobia—the fear of garlic and Lachanophobia—the fear of vegetables to Zemmiphobia—the fear of the great mole rat. It even lists Ecclesiophobia—the fear of church and, get this, Homilophobia—the fear of sermons! You ...

2031. Joshua: Why These Stones?

Sermon

John E. Harnish

It was bound to happen. God knew it. Joshua knew it. Someday, a child would ask the question. · Someday, when the people were comfortably settled in the Promised Land and the tales of Abraham and Sarah living in tents had given way to high rise lofts and seaside condos; · Someday, when the stories of Moses and the manna had blended into a mosaic of ancient myth and the traveling tabernacle had been replaced by a permanent temple; · Someday, long after the bones of Joseph had found their final resting place ...

2032. A Peculiar People

1 Peter 2:1-10

Sermon

John E. Harnish

Last week we looked at one image of the church, that of a circle of grace—God seeking, claiming and sustaining us. Today, another image, taken from St. Peter's letter to the early Christians of what is now Turkey, Asia Minor—a "peculiar people." A dictionary definition of "peculiar" says: "Out of the ordinary, strange, odd, unusual." You might say "just plain weird." I preached a sermon by that title in Ann Arbor in the fall. Little did I know that we had visitors from Birmingham, and I suppose I will ...

2033. Only Matthew…Only Joseph

Matthew 1:1-13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

If you only had Matthew's Gospel, what would you have? Last week we looked at the opening of Luke's Gospel and his version of the Advent narratives, his "orderly account." He begins with Zechariah and Elizabeth and the birth of John the Baptist who would come to prepare the way, then on to Mary and the miracle birth. But if you only had Matthew, what would you have? No Annunciation to Mary No visit to Elizabeth and the Magnificat No detail on John's miraculous birth No enrollment calling people to ...

2034. Zechariah II: Thy Prayer is Heard

Luke 1:5-25

Sermon

John E. Harnish

The problem was there were just too many priests. All the male descendents of Aaron formed the royal priesthood, and as the years rolled on they multiplied. There were just too many to handle the daily religious routine and ritual of the temple, so they were organized in divisions—Zechariah was in the Division of Abijah—then they were assigned on a rotating schedule, maybe only serving a few weeks every year. Then within that band of servants, they cast lots, like the roll of the dice, to see who would ...

2035. Why Not Now?

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

John E. Harnish

So Philip went down the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Wow, if that doesn't carry powerful imagery. I don't know what all it could have meant for Luke or Philip, but I know what it means for us. The road from Jerusalem to Gaza is probably the most critical road in the world—the road which symbolizes all the tensions and conflict of our world; the road most needed and hardest to travel; the road on which the future of the world seems to hang; the road which symbolizes the difficult path to peace in our world ...

2036. Barnabas Found the Way

Acts 4:35-5:16

Sermon

John E. Harnish

Ah, nicknames. Sometimes they can be funny…like Pookey, Peanut or Pee-diddle. Sometimes they can be a problem. I am forever explaining why people call me Jack when my real name is John, while relatives who still can't tell me apart from my twin keep calling me "Twin" or Jim. And, of course, his name is really James. Sometimes nicknames can be very special. In our family, we still call our son David "DD" because that's what he first called himself. And one of my cherished memories is of my grandfather, the ...

2037. Unlikely Election

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

John E. Harnish

You could make the case that right here, in the first days of the first church in the first chapter of the book of Acts, the church made its first big mistake. Jesus left them in Jerusalem with nothing but a promise and told them to wait. Waiting got to be too much. With no idea what was to come, or when, anxious about the future, uncertain about what they should do, they decide to take things into their own hands. I can just imagine impetuous Peter—always ready to jump into a vacuum, to fill the silence ...

2038. Taking the Long View

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

So much seems to press upon us in our daily living that "taking the long view" may not only be remote but considered impractical and therefore shelved. A thousand years equals one day and one day equals 1,000 years. It all sounds so mystical and unscientific! Do you mean we have to rethink being captains of our own ships? That is so basic to the American way and you are suggesting we give it up? After all, we can accomplish anything we set out to do — that is if we just try hard enough. Planning is done ...

2039. Secret Revealed

Romans 16:25-27

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

At last it happens! Jesus the Christ is born of a woman and is here for all to see in flesh and blood. Paul, as is often the case, is in a celebrative mood. It is as though all of creation is pulsating with his entrance into history. Human nature has a way of enjoying secrets and naturally wants exposures to occur. We are fascinated by the possibility of something or someone being revealed. In this case it is far more than fascinating. It is thrilling beyond adequate words to depict. History seems to stop ...

2040. Deep Calling to Deep

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

Wow, our text is not only challenging, it is a momentous portion of scripture that keeps spreading and giving! The profound theology expressed is in some ways more than we are able to handle. Yet, we are called to make an honest and forthright attempt. A conscientious rendering of the passage is in order that others may, at least, taste such wisdom is our goal. To be chosen "in Christ before the foundation of the world ..." is both awesome and ominous. It is as though our free will has been suspended and a ...

2041. In Solidarity with Jesus

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-18

Sermon

Richard Gribble

"Rags, rags! Give me your tired, dirty, and old rag and I will give you a new, clean, and fresh one. Rags, rags." That was the cry to which I awoke one bright sunny Friday morning. I sprang from my bed and peered out my second-story apartment window. There he was, the ragman of our town. He was 6'4" if he was an inch, youthful in appearance and strong of build. I had heard so much about him but never actually seen him. I threw on some clothes, bounded down the stairs and out the front door of my apartment ...

2042. Our Ultimate Destination

Revelation 21:1-6a

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

On U.S. Route 40 just west of New Concord, Ohio, stands an S-shaped bridge spanning a creek on the old National Road. Standing uphill from that bridge a traveler can simultaneously observe five historic transportation links that helped to build a nation: •The original trail blazed by Ebenezer Zane, also known as "Zane's Trace." •The brick roadbed of the old "National Road" that followed. •The train tracks of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which nearly made that early highway obsolete. •U.S. Route 40, built ...

2043. Just Wondering About That Star

Matthew 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship Lord of light, at this time of new beginnings we come to worship you. Father of glory, we begin again the joyous praise we carry in our hearts. Spirit of power, descend to us, we pray, and move in our midst. You are the word made flesh, you are the word of revelation, you are the word we read in your world all around us. Guide us today in our gathering. These things we pray to you this day. Amen. Collect Men: This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ ...

2044. Christ’s Twin

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

I want to begin by stating categorically that Christ did not have a twin brother, in case you were misled by today’s sermon title. There are so many people around who are conspiracy theory buffs that you can’t be too careful. I can see the author of The Da Vinci Code weaving a complete novel out of the idea that Jesus secretly had a twin. So let me state categorically that Jesus did not have a twin. However, today’s lesson from Philippians provokes an interesting question. If Christ had a twin what would ...

2045. Forgetting What the Voyage Is All About

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

The story is told of the Lee Steamboat Company carrying a cargo of salt pork from New Orleans to Memphis. As they passed Natchez another boat attempted to pass her and the race was on. The Lee steamboat captain ordered full steam but it was insufficient to pass her smaller counterpart. Then the captain got an idea. He ordered that some of the salt pork they were carrying be thrown into the furnace. Instantly thick black smoke came billowing out and the boat increased its power. This worked so well that ...

2046. Don’t Fear the Wait

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

A long time ago there lived a little boy whose parents had died. He was taken in by an aunt who raised him as her own child. Many years later, after the boy had grown and become successful in business, he received a letter from his aunt. She was terminally ill and from the tone of her letter, quite afraid of death. Thus, the man who had been raised and strongly influenced by this woman decided to write her a letter in response. He began, "It is now 35 years since I, a little boy of six, was left quite ...

2047. Discipleship: The Beauty and the Cross

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Once upon a time a bowl was born. It was not much of a birth — no long months of planning and no great anticipation, no patient shaping under loving hands. Scarcely a thought went into the creation of this little bowl. The quick impersonal movement of a few machines and a trip through a hot oven was all it took for him to be created. There was really nothing to look at, no warmth and no beauty. He was shipped off to a store to be sold. One day this bowl was purchased, not because he was beautiful, but ...

2048. How to Play Fair in Foul Play

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

We have all felt the sting and bite of unjust treatment and criticism. Sometimes it feels like no matter what we do, we can't win. So why try? What's the use! The people who are criticizing you aren't out there on the road, spending their time and money in trying to do the right thing. They're just sitting around, holding meetings, and backbeating one another. How can the Christian play fair amid foul play? Sitting down in a civilized manner to determine just how brutal we may act during the uncivilized ...

2049. Wounding Love

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

What do you think of clergy who lived through the bubonic plague and never addressed it pastorally with their people? We are precisely in that situation today with ministry in "the AIDS era" - the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic, perhaps the worst disaster to have befallen humanity since the Great Plague of 1347 to 1350, where close to one-third of the population perished. Mother Teresa, who established an AIDS hospice in New York City and an AIDS home in San Francisco, believes that "God is ...

2050. Doorkeepers, Lampkeepers and Wisdomkeepers

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Celebrate the keepers of wisdom in your midst. How many times have you slammed the car door only to notice your keys hanging uselessly in the ignition? The entire vehicle, all its horsepower, comfort, gadgetry and security is suddenly completely inaccessible to you. Your dependence on that skinny little slip of metal is depressingly clear; your plans for at least the next hour or two are radically changed. Without keys, the familiar old family car suddenly becomes a menacing obstacle daring you to breach ...

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