Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2051 to 2075 of 5000 results

2051. Where's Your Spirit?

Acts 19:1-7

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... In fact her parents may discover that something happens long before she reaches sixteen. To define baptism as "covenant" means that it is a promise of forgiveness to each one of us, before we have sinned. That is what is so wonderful about infant baptism, it illustrates dramatically that God takes the initiative in offering grace. God's forgiveness is not based on something that we do, not on our repentance. God's grace is given to us freely. Before we shape up, God has promised that he will forgive us and ...

2052. You Will Never Walk Alone

Luke 24:13-20, 25-26, 28-35

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... me. That is the second thing the Bible says about your journey, you'll never travel alone. And that is exactly what Luke says the Resurrection means. It says, we don't travel alone now. The Lord is with us. He tells the story of the Road to Emmaus to illustrate that. It is a travel story. Two people walking down the road to Emmaus. We don't know who they are. We do know that they are not among the twelve disciples. We assume that they are some of the followers, those people who heard Jesus say, "Follow me ...

2053. Epiphany 6

Matthew 5:17-37, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 3:1-23, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119

Bulletin Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... to be obeyed but in a deeper dimension than that of the scribes and Pharisees. The higher righteousness of the disciples involves not only external behavior, but internal motivation. God demands total obedience of the whole person. Verse 20 (the righteousness that exceeds) is illustrated by the command "You shall not kill." It is not only the act but the anger that leads to the act that is involved. "But I say to you" puts Jesus in a superior position to Moses and the Torah. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel ...

2054. Lent 1

Genesis 2:4-25, Genesis 3:1-24, Romans 5:12-21, Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... lections a series of Sunday morning sermons on the events of characters or questions in the passion history. 3. Develop the lections in terms of the passion and cross. Treat the text in the perspective of the end, the cross. Draw from the passion history illustrations for the sermons based on the lesson. Three Lessons: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Only Good People Are Tempted! Need: Usually we link temptation with evil people. Good people are supposed to be above temptation. The ...

2055. Lent 2

Genesis 12:1-8, Romans 4:1-25, 2 Timothy 1:1-2:13, John 3:1-21

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... as righteousness. In chapter 3, Paul had just explained that sinners are justified by grace through faith and not by the works of the Law. Therefore, believers in Christ have no reason to boast of their righteousness, because it came as a gift of faith, an illustration of what it means to be justified by faith. Abraham did not have the Law and could not perform the works of the Law. He simply believed God, trusted in his promises and obeyed his command. As a result, it was reckoned to him as righteousness ...

2056. Proper 20

Exodus 16:1-36, Isaiah 55:1-13, Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11, Philippians 1:12-30, Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... return, God is good and generous in mercy by pardoning us. Pardon implies sin, and sin separates. Mercy removes the separation and pardon restores the relationship. 3. Thoughts (vv. 8, 9). God's thoughts and ways are totally different from ours. This truth is illustrated in today's reading, the parable of laborers in the vineyard. If God were like the world, he would not take back his enemies and freely pardon them. The world, rather, would seek revenge and treat enemies with hatred. We, by our nature, do ...

2057. Proper 24

Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Isaiah 44:24--45:25, Exodus 33:12-23

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... under God" means that God is above the nation. This is not always the case. Nationalism makes a god of the nation, the total and final authority over people. The passage teaches that God is one and he makes and unmakes rulers. He uses nations for his purpose. An illustration is God's choice and use of Cyrus, a pagan king, to bring salvation to Judah and through Judah to the world. If God is above the nation, then rightly "in God we trust." But do we? Outline: God is above the nation. a. He gives power to ...

2058. Building Our Foundation on God

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... our life, that which is on the inside, is what must be fostered, for without the proper foundation the spiritual house of our lives will never be built. The human penchant for the externals of life and the way they impede God's action in our lives is illustrated by a short story. During the days when God appointed judges to rule over the tribes of Israel, the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred vessel which carried the Law, the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, was lost for a brief period ...

2059. God, Or the World?

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... ground. Suddenly the snake coiled, rattled, and then bit the man on the leg. "You promised me!" cried the youth. "You knew what I was when you picked me up," said the snake, which then slithered away. Sometimes we rationalize our actions as well. A comical, but illustrative, story shows us how adept we are at this practice: A very overweight man decided that it was time to shed a few pounds. He went on a new diet and took it seriously. He even changed his usual driving route to the office in order to avoid ...

2060. Jesus Breaks Our Chains

John 11:1-45

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... 'm found, was blind but now I see." Yes, John Newton wrote the words to "Amazing Grace." He was held bound in a life he did not want. In the end, God was the one who set him free. The life of John Newton serves as a good example to illustrate one central and important idea in today's gospel. Lazarus, representative in John's Gospel for all men and women, was held in the bonds of death, chains from which he could not be released. But Jesus, in an action which led to his own death, breaks the chains of ...

2061. Jesus, Our Rock Foundation

John 14:1-14

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... it was much more simple. Charlie's ankles and legs were too weak, they could not support his massive bulk, thus he collapsed. You see Charlie could only see his upper body in the mirror and that was all he developed.1 The story of Charlie Atlas is a good illustration of a problem most of us have - we build up the externals of our life, but we forget about the rock foundation upon which our life must be based. We are like the house of which Jesus speaks that is built on sand and is washed away in a storm ...

2062. God Never Gives Up on Anyone

John 14:15-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... completed. Scripture speaks over and over about how God rejoices over one who hears the call and returns to him, for God never gives up on anyone. Today's gospel from John, part of what is known as Jesus' "Farewell Discourse," is an excellent illustration of the way God consistently pursues everyone of us, never wasting a moment and always doing whatever is necessary to assist us. God is with us every step of the journey. In the gospel, Jesus realizes that he will soon leave this world and return ...

2063. Things to Come!

Matthew 13:47-52, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... his apostles (13:36), and finished out his message with three more parables. In the Greek, the word parable means "to cast alongside." They are similes or metaphors, literally, earthly stories with heavenly meanings. But do not be confused. They are not sermon illustrations meant to elucidate the gospel, as is commonly thought. For in Matthew 13:10, the disciples ask Christ point blank, "Why do you speak in parables?" And Jesus says, rather amazingly, "I speak to them in parables because seeing they do not ...

2064. A Life Well Lived

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

King Duncan

... Bear with me for a moment, but this is also an important point. God can take even our sinful past and make something beautiful out of it. Can you grasp that? God can use even your sinful past to God’s glory. This principle is best illustrated by a story told by Jeffrey Krehbiel. Krehbiel tells us of scene from Star Trek the Next Generation. It was the episode where the mysterious alien named “Q” transports Captain Piccard back to his youth and gives him the opportunity to relive certain experiences in ...

2065. The Man in the Tree

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... God knows your need. God awaits you with open arms. Is today your day to begin anew? 1. Lynn Anderson, Finding the Heart to Go on (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1991), pp. 91-92. 2. I’m sorry, but I have lost the source of this outstanding illustration. 3. Larry King, The King (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1988). 4. Christine Wicker, God Knows My Heart (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999), p. 142. 5. Shoulda Coulda Woulda: Live in the Present and Find Your Future (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003).

2066. The True Definition of a Sanctuary

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... knowledge taught that if one sailed beyond the range of known lands and latitudes the edge of the earth would bring an abrupt, ugly end to the voyage. The accepted maps faded off into hazy nothingness, or populated the murky unknown edges with scary illustrations and warnings that "There Be Dragons" in these unknown regions. No wonder all but the most adventurous were content to stay within the safe confines of known lands and waters. The world that lay beyond was too risky to enter. Now with GPS trackers ...

2067. The Purple Church

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... clearly located in the north; grey was clearly located in the south. Today's color division runs through every state and city, no matter what the majority rules or the Electoral College counts determine. The colors red and blue illustrate much more than just political preferences. Increasingly they are the pigmentation highlighting deep cultural differences. Red and blue fissures are isolating communities, neighborhoods, schools, and churches. Both blues and reds like to claim the moral high ground. Each ...

2068. Celebrity Culture

Psalm 95:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Note: There are a lot of props you can use as you preach this sermon: a styrofoam cup for the "The Elvis Cup" illustration is the suggested symbol of celebrity culture; also, here's an idea I got from Jordan Fowler, Worship Leader at Northwood Church in Keller, Texas. He began his sermon munching on a bag of potato chips but any form of junk food will do. All the while he was preaching ...

2069. How to Beat the Devil

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... exhaustion), or his spiritual strength (his affirmation as God's beloved Son). Jesus simply remained confident, obedient, and humble in the face of life's reality and God's omnipotence. Staple's, the huge office supply chain store, has a new commercial out that illustrates the power of the devil's various temptations. In their ad whenever an individual confronts a difficult situation, all they have to do is reach over and push a red, over-sized, glowing button that reads, "easy." Got to pick up three kids ...

2070. The FUD Club: Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... become a doomslayer. Don’t join any FUD Clubs. In fact, you can turn FUD clubs into DUD clubs with the “good news” of the gospel: Christ is alive, and living his resurrection life in and through us. What do we have to fear? Animations, Illustrations, Illuminations, Ruminations 365 times in the Bible it says, in one form or another, “Be Not Afraid,” or “Fear Not,” or in today’s language, “No Fear.” One for every day of the year (note from sermons.com editors: this is a common meme going ...

2071. A Sourdough Sprirituality

Matthew 13:31-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... you go, those microorganisms pounce on that sourdough starter, making it unique and original. 5) "To stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and the future," is the goal of life, said 19th century author Henry David Thoreau. Sourdough starter is a good illustration of this, an AncientFuture faith. In order for things to stay the same, they have to change. In order for the church to move into this new world, it must "hold fast to our confession" (Hebrews 4:14). But unless we're willing to bake ...

2072. Move Life from Duty to Destiny

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Jesus to tell them WHEN the eschaton would arrive. Jesus wanted to tell them WHO the eschaton was. The “Day of the Lord” is everyday, if we live out the life of Christ as our destiny. “We Beheld God’s Glory:” Animations, Illuminations, Illustration, Ruminations, Applications If you have time, you might want to develop this Time-Travel theme a little more, using the GPS imagery of how to live your destiny, to arrive at your destination, and inhabit your future filled with Christ’s presences and ...

2073. Don't Forget the Mustard

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , pungent spiciness of mustard adds zest and flavor to anything to which this condiment comes into contact. Mustard makes the juices flow and our mouth water. Mustard is alive, bursting with flavor and color. Mustard is never neutral or lukewarm like Laodicea. The Biblical Illustrator for Mark 4:32 recounts that Darius sent Alexander the Great a bag of sesame seed to symbolize the vast number of his army. In return, Alexander sent back a sack of mustard seed, showing not only the number but the fiery energy ...

2074. Eleven Plus One

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and foolish, accepting and rejecting, fearless and fearful, a man of doubt and a man of faith." He talked before he thought; not satisfied by mere talk, he required action. Devoted to Jesus, even though he denied him. His presence among the disciples illustrates what God can do with the ordinary man because Peter overcame his many weaknesses. Impetuous and sanguine, practical and realistic, but also hopeful, prompt, independent, and bold. Our first pick was a Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4x4. But there are more Ford ...

2075. God's Original Seatbelt (Mother's Day)

John 13:31-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , she helped create who you are and how you respond to the world. Personally, growing up with my preacher-mom, I got "momilies" as well as homilies. But as author Hester Mundis noted, "There's no such thing as a nonworking mother." As Michelangelo's Pieta illustrates with such heart-breaking poignancy, even Jesus ended where he began: in the arms of his mother. Nearly three-quarters of the nation's 103.4 million women aged 15 and older are mothers. 23% have one child; 35% have two; 21% have three; 21% have ...

Showing results