Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2051 to 2075 of 4914 results

2051. Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

As Mark’s “miracles” section continues, he intensifies the drama and power of these events by once again “intercalating” or “sandwiching” two seemingly separate stories together. The raising from death of synagogue leader Jairus’ young daughter and the healing of the un-named, wholly miserable hemorrhaging woman would seem at first glance to have virtually nothing in common — except, of course, their miraculous outcomes. Yet Mark masterfully molds these two events into a single narrative that exemplifies ...

2052. Submission to the Authorities

Romans 13:1-7

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

In Galatians 6:2 Paul speaks of fulfilling “the law of Christ,” by which he means the spirit and manner of “loving your neighbor as yourself” (13:9). It is this which is the subject of Romans 12 and 13. If grace is the gospel reduced to one word, then agapē is the law reduced to a word (13:9). In chapter 12 Paul spoke of “the law of Christ” as sincere and practical expressions of agapē both inside and outside the church. Another expression of agapē is an affirmation of and submission to governments (13:1–7 ...

2053. Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat

Daniel 8:1-14

Understanding Series

William Nelson

The Vision of the Ram and the Male Goat: Here in chapter 8 the language reverts back to Hebrew. When the Aramaic section began, the narrator introduced it by saying, “The astrologers answered the king in Aramaic” (2:4). There is no explanation given in chapter 8 for the change back. The author inherited the Aramaic material (2:4b–7:28) but shaped it for his purposes. He then added chapters 1 (actually, 1:1–2:4a) and 8–12 in Hebrew. Chapter 8 is linked to chapter 7 explicitly by informing the reader that ...

2054. Wave Riders and Deep-Sea Divers

Jonah 1:1-17, Jonah 2:1-10, Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Today we celebrate one of the most monumental days in history –when Martin Luther, a German monk, posted 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, creating a permanent schism within the Catholic church, one that would result in a new strain of Christianity –Protestantism. The root of Protestantism is “protest.” We are a church that built its identity upon protesting an existing church structure that many felt was corrupt. As new independent churches developed, new theology developed too –a ...

2055. God’s HS Smart App is Always Watching

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Lori Wagner

In the 1991 movie, “Defending Your Life,” lives of the deceased are examined in a court-like setting to see how they have successfully overcome their difficulties in life, especially their fears. The movie suggests that life on earth is a kind of practice ground that teaches us how to successfully navigate ourselves, our responsibilities, and our relationships. While the movie is fictional, it does sound strikingly close to some of Jesus’ most famous parables, particularly the parables of the vineyard. In ...

2056. A Deserted Place

Mark 1:29-39

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

A friend of mine who is in the computer business and real estate business used to have a sign hanging in his office which maybe you've seen. The sign reads: "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle awakens. It knows it must run faster than the lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion awakens. It knows it must run faster than the gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle -- when the sun comes up, you'd better be running." I know how both the lion and the ...

2057. Facing Fears, Kingdom Style

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

Phil Thrailkill

I had heard of the place for years, but never seen it until Tuesday in Chicago- The Pacific Garden Mission. Lori and I were on the way from a science museum to an art exhibit (I believe vacations are for learning!), and there it was on the left side of the street. I first knew it through the dramatized radio program Unshackled which tells the stories of those whose lives were turned around by faith in Christ and the help of the mission. Down-and-out to up-and-on is a story line with endless variations. ...

2058. The God Who Must Be Pursued

Matthew 7:7-12

Sermon

Phil Thrailkill

Arnold Palmer once played a series of exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia. The king was so impressed that he proposed, in good Middle Eastern fashion, to honor his guest with a gift. Palmer resisted, "It really isn't necessary, Your Highness. I'm honored to have been invited." And, in good Middle Eastern fashion, his highness persisted, "I would be deeply upset," replied the king, "if you would not allow me to give you a gift." Palmer thought for a moment, "All right. How about a golf club? That would be a ...

2059. Shaped By The Fire

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Did you hear about the woman who called the fire department one day. She was very agitated, "Come as quick as you can," she cried, "my house is on fire." Then she hung up. A few minutes later she called back, and "Hurry, hurry as fast as you can, it's spread from the kitchen to the dining room." And then she hung up, again. A few minutes later, she called one more time, this time, with the volunteer fire crew all ready to roll the dispatcher said, "OK, lady, just calm down and tell us how to get there." It ...

2060. Shaped By the Fire

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

A mother asked her little girl if she would like an ice cream sundae. The little girl replied, "I don't want to wait until Sunday... I want ice cream NOW." (1) Have you ever waited expectantly for something? Christmas day, your Wedding Day, a birthday, commissioning. There's that whole jittery sense of anticipation. Well, that's sort of the way I've felt about this sermon. Partly because it's Pentecost Sunday, the day we received the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit and the day we celebrate as the birthday ...

2061. The Word Became Flesh

John 1:1-18

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

The prologue is set apart from the rest of John’s Gospel by its designation of Jesus Christ as the Word (Gr.: logos, vv. 1, 14) rather than “the Son.” The term One and Only (implying sonship) is introduced, however, in verses 14 and 18 and sets the stage for the Gospel’s characteristic emphasis on the Father-Son relationship between God and Jesus. The prologue also stands somewhat apart from the rest of the Gospel stylistically. The repetition and linking of certain key words lend a special dignity and ...

2062. 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 ...

2063. The Meek

Sermon

John A. Terry

Psalm 37:1-11Matthew 5:1-12 This is not the beatitude of anyone claiming "I am the greatest." In fact, like all the other beatitudes, we have to wonder how practical these words are. What business could survive being meek? This is not a slogan you are likely to find above the door to the Stoc_esermonsk Exchange on Wall Street. Meekness will not win the play-off series between the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls. We tend to think of the meek as the casualties, not as the winners. "Miserable are the ...

2064. The Demanding Crowd

Mark 1:29-34, Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

John A. Stroman

And the whole city was gathered around the door. -- Mark 1:33 Jesus was mobbed by the crowds. Because he taught with authority and healed those possessed of an unclean or evil spirit, the crowds sought him out. Everyone with an ailment joined the demanding and pressing mob of people. The text tells us that the entire city was at his doorstep. The crowds came with their brokenness and said, "Fix me." People who were sick, hopeless, and desperate came to him because he offered a glimmer of hope in a hopeless ...

2065. The Meek

Psalm 37:1-40

Sermon

John A. Terry

This is not the beatitude of anyone claiming "I am the greatest." In fact, like all the other beatitudes, we have to wonder how practical these words are. What business could survive being meek? This is not a slogan you are likely to find above the door to the Stock Exchange on Wall Street. Meekness will not win the play-off series between the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls. We tend to think of the meek as the casualties, not as the winners. "Miserable are the meek, because they get trampled upon." ...

2066. Your Spiritual Check up

2 Corinthians 13:1-10

Sermon

Erskine White

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith ... Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?" (2 Corinthians 13:5) We all know that having a physical checkup is important for our health and well-being. We're supposed to get one every year. But what about a spiritual checkup? Why shouldn't they be even more important and when was the last time you had one? "Examine yourselves," says Paul, "to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus ...

2067. Endorsing The Future

Sermon

Harold Warlick

One of the first things you do when you move to a new place is establish a checking account with a local bank. We can all tell stories of inexperienced people and their checking account problems. I remember a student who wrote check after check, only to discover he had no money left in his account. In exasperation he explained to the teller, "But I still have some checks left." My sister-in-law, during her first semester in college, receiveda notice from the bank that she was $27.60 overdrawn in heraccount ...

2068. WHAT IS MAN?

Sermon

Larry Powell

Fascinations often come upon me from the strangest sources. For instance, two recent obituaries strike me as being peculiarly fascinating. The first is that of Vitaly Rubin, aged fifty-eight, a Soviet scholar. Rubin, a native of Moscow, was the former leader of the Soviet Jewish emigration movement. The intrigue here is that in 1976, Rubin, a Russian, was allowed to emigrate to Israel where he taught Chinese philosophy, of all things, at Hebrew University. The other obituary was David Wadell Guion's, aged ...

2069. The Importance of Unity

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Sermon

Hubert Beck

Sometimes want to cry when hear non-Christians say that they have rejected the church because of its divisions. They may mean denominational divisions on occasion, and that is bad enough. But more frequently they mean the internal strife that characterizes all too many congregations. For it is, after all, on the local level that most people encounter the church, and when they see discord and argumentation marking a congregation, they want nothing to do with that. I want to cry because the very body of ...

2070. A SERMON-DRAMA FOR EASTER

Drama

Tom Eberle

Easter Prior to the 4th century, Good Friday and Easter were celebrated as one festival in the church. This is the background for the sermon-drama for Easter. They were not observed as historical pageants as we do today, commemorating the death of Christ on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Rather, the early church observed a festival of redemption, combining the death and resurrection of Christ within the framework of an all-night vigil, concluding with the first rays of sunlight on ...

2071. The Un-Parade

Matthew 16:21-28, Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

Robert Noblett

In the section of the country where we live, February and March are always cold and slushy months. So come April, nothing dampens my ardor for the coming of spring. I’m ready for it! Part of the reason I am ready for it is the fact that warm weather means the return of parades, and as the song says it, "I love a parade!" A community in which we lived some years back boasted the first Bicentennial parade in the nation, and well do I remember a family’s invitation to share that event with them from the bluff ...

2072. To Hoist a Sail

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Allan J. Weenink

On Pentecost, nearly 2,000 years ago, the Holy Spirit descended with the sound of mighty rushing wind. Those 120 souls, gathered for prayer, were engulfed by a stupendous life-surge. There was neither time nor inclination to question or speculate. All they could really do was respond to the miracle of God’s inspiration. That they did, by hoisting the sails of the soul, surrendering their lives to an overpowering influence and setting out to transform the world. The church was born at a wake. In the midst ...

2073. Advertised Goodness

Matthew 6:1-2, Matthew 6:5-6

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

Children and adults, listen as I tell you the legend of the proud frog. This frog wanted to visit his cousins in a pond several miles away, but that's a long journey for a slow moving frog. But in the pond where he resided, there were some Canadian geese. The observant frog noted how much they liked corn. This enterprising frog found a flat, strong stick about four feet long. He approached the geese with a proposition: "If two of you will take the two ends of this stick in your mouths, I will clamp my ...

2074. Religion in Focus

Mark 8:27-30

Sermon

Richard Patt

"Tell me, who do people say I am?" (v. 27b) Every photographer knows the importance of having the camera lens in focus before triggering the shutter. You can set the right shutter speed. You can open the lens to its proper setting. But if that lens is not in focus, the picture will be worthless. Anyone who’s trying to sell something these days knows the importance of having an accurate focus on the market for which a product is intended. Whether you’re trying to sell soap or soft drinks, it’s necessary to ...

2075. The Fruit of One's Doing

Jeremiah 16:1--17:18

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

A biography of Humphrey Bogart by Sperber and Lax portrays the star of the golden era of Hollywood as a troubled man. Bogart reached stardom in Hollywood as only a limited number have. He was the leading male box office attraction. He was financially secure. He married Lauren Bacall. Yet his discomfort with what he did was obvious always to those who knew him. He worked intensely at his craft. Yet one day while on the set making a new film, he remarked, “What a way to make a living!” On one occasion a ...

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