Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2026 to 2050 of 4937 results

2026. I Am the Only One Left Who Cares!

1 Kings 19:9-18

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... that can produce electricity to light great cities. Our lesson from the Bible is about a man named Elijah who forgot two important lessons: You can win great victories if like the drop of water falling on a rock you hang in there and keep trying. Don't give up. The other lesson he forgot is that you can also be victorious if you find other people to help you. Of course Elijah's greatest help came from God. That's where our greatest help comes from, too. We can even be more powerful than Niagara, because God ...

2027. Judgment and Salvation

Isaiah 65:1-16

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... when I called, because they were too busy worshiping the gods Fortune and Destiny. For the first time, the terms my servants and my chosen describe a group within the community, in effect a “faithful remnant.” It is a fateful moment as the prophet gives up on the notion of the whole community as chosen servant. For all Yahweh’s efforts to make this ideal work, in the end it has to be abandoned. Jacob’s “seed” will indeed possess my mountains and inherit them, and they will enjoy the benefit ...

2028. Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a Peaceable and Humble King

Matthew 20:29-34, Matthew 21:1-11

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... surprising, they are always connected to and build upon what came before. In a similar way, not all facets of Jesus as the Messiah fit Jewish expectations. Jesus’ peaceable way of being king is one such facet; he lives out a countercultural kingship that gives up rather than garners power. Scripture: In the book that bears her name, Esther, along with her uncle Mordecai and all the Jews in the Persian Empire, appears to be at the mercy of King Xerxes. This ruler exercises his power by commanding the ...

2029. The First Disciples

Luke 5:1-11

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... . 5:11 they . . . left everything and followed him. The same will be said of Levi, the only other disciple whose calling Luke specifically records (5:28). In this they are model disciples. In 14:33 we are told that an essential requisite for discipleship is to “give up everything you have,” and in 18:29–30 disciples are those who have left home and family for the sake of the kingdom of God. On the other hand, the continued availability of a boat for the journeys of Jesus and the Twelve (8:22, 37 ...

2030. The Rights of an Apostle

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... saving gospel of Jesus Christ. For Paul, as their apostle, also shares in the blessing of their entrance into a growing faith (9:23; see also Col. 2:5). A last illustration allows Paul to compare his restraint with that of a runner who gives up much in “strict training” to attempt to gain the winner’s “crown” in “the games” (9:24–25). Paul does not renounce his rights to no purpose, like a halfhearted runner running aimlessly, or a casual boxer who is always punching the air. Rather, like ...

2031. Epilogue

Job 42:7-17

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... Job’s life more than the first. God’s blessing of Job is abundant and free. There is no causal link here other than the gracious care of God for his servant. We have learned that the servants of God may suffer horrendously (as Job has) without giving up their claim to righteousness. Job does not earn this final blessing but receives it freely—and it is freely given. A quick comparison of the numbers of Job’s livestock before and after the test reveals the doubling of his herds in every instance (e.g ...

2032. Asa's Reform

2 Chronicles 15:1-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... as an encouragement to the king on account of his cultic-restoration measures. Those acts were seen as “seeking” Yahweh, which would result in “being found” by Yahweh. However, this also provides encouragement for the future: be strong (chazaq) and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. This is then indeed what Asa did when he heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, namely, he took courage (chazaq again). The cultic reforms therefore culminated in an assembly ...

2033. His Final Words

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

King Duncan

... cost her own. As the train smashed into their car, Alice was too close, and she felt its entire fury. Wayne Rouse writes, “Our Lord and Savior expressed extravagant love for the unlovely, the wretched, the worst of the worst. He saved our lives while giving up His own. He experienced the full weight of sin as it smashed into Him at Calvary, while we stood at a safe distance and watched. Genuine extravagant love.” So these were Christ’s final words this side of the grave: “Father, forgive them, for ...

2034. One Step More

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

An explorer named Fridtjof Nansen was lost with one companion in the Arctic wastes. By miscalculation they ran out of all their supplies. They ate their dogs, the dog's harnesses, the whale oil for their lamps. Nansen's companion gave up and lay down to die. But Nansen did not give up. He told himself, "I can take one step more." As he plodded heavily through the bitter cold, step after step, suddenly across an ice hill he stumbled upon an American expedition that had been sent out to find him.

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.

Anne Lamott

You do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can't, you do the next best thing. You back up but you don't give up.

Chuck Yeager

In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.

Henry Ward Beecher

2038. The Joy Of Being Found

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... and nine sheep in the wilderness unprotected. The emphasis here is to accent God’s amazing love represented by the shepherd who diligently searches for the loss sheep at the risk of his own life. In the second parable about the lost coin the woman also did not “give up” until she found it. Then when she found it she was filled with joy. She must tell others. She had a party. Her joy must not be kept to herself, but she must share it with someone else. The first parable is about a lost sheep. Jesus ...

2039. Stay the Course

Luke 21:5-19

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... inner eye steady, trusting that you will find your way through and come out on the other side. You must stay the course. That is what it’s like for Christians navigating a world today filled with deceptions, distractions, and lies. You will inevitably be tempted to give up. You may imagine you see your path only to be faced with yet another false image. But close your eyes and trust Jesus to be your guide, and he will lead you through. We Christians, those with faith, need to trust in our inner eye, that ...

2040. Sola Fide

1 Peter 1:3-9

Sermon

Dr. Ronald Love

... dedicated Army officer with 25 years of active service that exposed him to many battles, is ordered by Pontius Pilate to disprove the rumors that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah who had risen from the grave. In the course of the movie Clavius becomes a Christian and gives up his position in the army. But in one telling scene, Clavius in his confusion to learn the truth, is seen kneeling in the empty tomb holding the burial cloth of Jesus, which of course is an ex- act replica of the Shroud of Turin. So, unto an ...

2041. Perseverance

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... They lash out and try to obliterate everything they \nfear. \nAURANT: Us. \nNEBUTH: Yes, and others like us. \nAURANT: You said we have control? \nNEBUTH: Yes, of course we do. As long as we are true to Jesus. \nAURANT: But I am so weak. I was ready to give up my faith. \nNEBUTH: But you didn't. \nAURANT: No, but if they hadn't stopped when they did, I would \nhave. I know I would have. \nNEBUTH: No, you wouldn't. \nAURANT: You're so certain. I am not so certain about myself. \nNEBUTH: I am certain because ...

2042. Tiny Town: Promised Power

Micah 5:1-4

Sermon

Tony Everett

... , Alger became famous for writing over 100 novels featuring rags-to-riches stories that became the epitome of the American dream. The principle character invariably started life in poverty, experiencing a series of rejections and failures. Then, through a refusal to give up and a renewed dedication to succeed, the hero would basically pull himself out of poverty by his own bootstraps. Success and power were the certain result. Happy endings became the trademark of an Alger novel. Alger's own life, however ...

2043. What A Sweetheart

Romans 5:8

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... 't notice that a car was coming very fast, right in her direction. Sweetheart jumped between that lady and the car, quick as a wink, and saved the lady's life. Unfortunately, Sweetheart got hurt real bad himself. Sweetheart just loves people, and he would rather give up his life to save another person from being hurt. Would you like to have a dog like Sweetheart, boys and girls? (Let them answer.) You know, all of us have someone who is much better than Sweetheart. This person watches over us and loves us ...

2044. Faith Beyond Human Reason

Genesis 18:16-33, Genesis 18:1-15

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... when we are confronted by the problems and challenges of life we tend to respond only in terms of our own resources and we forget You. Too often, Lord, we forget Your ways are not our ways and when our reason and logic fail we tend to lose hope and give up. Forgive us, Lord, and use our lives to proclaim Your Good News. In Christ we pray. Amen. Hymns "He Leadeth Me" "Standing On The Promises" "Abide With Me"

2045. A Time To Die

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

... .' " We receive the ashes of Ash Wednesday as a sign of our mortality: a precursor of our own death and those final words: "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Lent is also the traditional time of self-denial, of practicing "dying to self." By our giving up of chocolate, meat, television, and other things, we practice, in ever so small a way, our own inevitable death. Lent culminates in Holy Week with the reading of Christ's passion, the story of his crucifixion, the tolling of the bells on Good Friday at his ...

2046. Epiphany 5

Luke 5:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... We Your Precepts, Lord, Fulfill O Christ, The Healer, We Have Come Epiphany 5 Lord God, it is exciting to hear how you overcame the resistance of the disciples. They said that they had fished all night. They had caught nothing. They were prepared to give up, but at the word of Jesus, they let down the nets one more time. They experienced a catch beyond belief! They were astonished and afraid. Jesus reassured them. From that point on, they would be catching people. They were ready to be sent! It is exciting ...

2047. The Lost Dog

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

John E. Sumwalt

... that . . . for weeks the old man searched till finally his neighbors and friends convinced him that there was no use in looking anymore. Surely the dog is dead, they said: hit by a car, no doubt, and crawled off by himself to die. Still the old man would not give up hope. Every night, before bed, he went out on the porch and called out the dog's name at the top of his voice. This went on for several months. The neighbors were certain that the old man had lost his mind. And then one night, as the old man ...

2048. Proper 9

Mark 4:35-41

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... people we work with. We are able to sense both their need for you and their resistance to the truth. We need the constant guidance of your Holy Spirit. Help us to watch for opportunities to share the hope and power of the good news. Do not allow us to give up when we are frustrated by the lack of response. Help us to remember that you prepare hearts to be receptive. Use us to reach through the unbelief of others. Amen.

2049. Easter Sunday

John 20:1-9, John 20:10-18

Sermon Aid

Wayne B. Keller

... world); and while its enemies from inside sat on their dedicated apathy, and insisted, "We've never done it that way before." (the seven last words of the church.) Yes, we Christians still act phonily and pretend; because we have such difficulty giving up something so dear to us. And yes, God daily makes us over into the divine image and likewise, making us new, not perfect, persons. He is replacing our phoniness with authenticity, our play-acting with risk-taking, our illusions with truth, our delusions ...

2050. Is It Really Worth It?

Drama

Timothy W. Ayers

... and wife Scene: Living room or family room Wife: I was reading in the paper that two of those churches that are near our house are having special Easter Services. Husband: (Reading the mail) Yeah, so what? Wife: So, I'd like to go. Husband: Come on. Why? Why give up a quiet, peaceful Sunday morning to hear some preacher whine about how much money the church needs and how terrible cable TV is for the morality of our nation? It just ain't worth it. Wife: Not worth it? What do you mean? This isn't just any ...

Showing results

Showing 2026 to 2050 of 4937 results

2026. I Am the Only One Left Who Cares!

1 Kings 19:9-18

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

2027. Judgment and Salvation

Isaiah 65:1-16

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

2028. Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a Peaceable and Humble King

Matthew 20:29-34, Matthew 21:1-11

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

2029. The First Disciples

Luke 5:1-11

Teach the Text

R.T. France

2030. The Rights of an Apostle

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2031. Epilogue

Job 42:7-17

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

2032. Asa's Reform

2 Chronicles 15:1-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

2033. His Final Words

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

King Duncan

2034. One Step More

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.

Anne Lamott

You do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can't, you do the next best thing. You back up but you don't give up.

Chuck Yeager

In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.

Henry Ward Beecher

2038. The Joy Of Being Found

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

Richard Hasler

2039. Stay the Course

Luke 21:5-19

Sermon