Sermon and Worship Resources

John 1:14

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... us to bridge the great divide between God and man, and in this child, on this night, earth and heaven meet. Track the human genome as far as it will go, study the bones of dinosaurs dating back millions of years, follow the path of evolution to the very origins of life, and through it all, if you look closely with the eyes of faith, you will discover the amazing presence of a creative God, the source of all creation; then listen for the Word which this God has sent: He was in the beginning with God and was ...

2102. The Twenty-Ninth Chapter of Acts

2 Timothy 4:1-22

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... MacCartney's classic sermon has been quoted and used by a multitude of preachers, sometimes with or without proper recognition. It was published in Christianity Today on Oct. 22, 1976, and the quotations I have used come from that version. It was originally preached at the First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, and the congregation requested that he preach it every autumn, which he did for many years. You can find it in volumes of MacCartney's sermons available through our virtual bookstore on our website ...

2103. Keeping Shut About the Good News

Acts 3:1-10; Acts 4:13-20

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... News. Here comes the post script: Some years ago, my brother and I were invited to preach for the hundredth anniversary of our home church in Clarion, Pennsylvania. One of the highlights of the weekend was the opening of the original cornerstone, placed in 1887. The newspaper report reads: Eager anticipation faded to disappointment on Friday as Daniel Schmader, stone mason, finally freed the 1887 cornerstone and its contents. A quick look into the crumpled box revealed an almost indistinguishable collection ...

2104. The Revelation Code II: Crash, Crisis and Christ

Revelation 5:1--7:17

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... or authorities—all things were created through him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17) Or listen to the Eugene Peterson translation of this verse: We look at Jesus and we see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He holds it together right up to this moment. He was ...

2105. High Noon

Psalm 91:1-16

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... is a British Methodist pastor and a frequent preacher at Lake Junaluska, the United Methodist Center in North Carolina. Sermons By The Lake is a volume of sermons preached at Lake Junaluska. Dr. L. Gregory Jones' book, Everyday Matters, is a set of essays originally written for the Christian Century magazine. Both books are available through the virtual bookstore on our website, www.fumcbirmingham.org.1. Reginald Mallett, Sermons by the Lake, page 26, 30 2. L. Gregory Jones, Everyday Matters, page 112

2106. In the Upper Room

John 17

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... " between the two men in the airport has a source. I just can't find it. I heard it somewhere and recreated this from memory, and though I have tried to find the source, I haven't been successful. If anyone can find the original source, I welcome the information. The statistics on the denomination are really more troubling than just the number of professions of faith. For a current report on our membership statistics, go to http://research.gbgm-umc.org and read the "Background Data for Mission" documents ...

2107. On the Mountainside

Matthew 6:5-13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... the President of the Wham-O Corporation. In touting her company's primary product, she actually sounds as if she was talking about today: "In times of depression and despair, people need something to spark their lives...and the Hula Hoop is there!" Since I owned one of the original Hula Hoops-Wham-O brought it out in 1958 when it sold for $1.98, and they sold 20 million of them in the first six months on the market-I have to say I am thankful for the Hula Hoop. And of course, Goldie was right...in times ...

2108. Worship and Wonder

John 1:1-14

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2109. Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2110. Gifts: Standing on the Promises

Malachi 4:10

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2111. Will The Real Saints Please Stand Up

Esther 4:1-17

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2112. Gathered In, Sent Out

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2113. Growing Up

1 Corinthians 13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2114. Called to be a Christian Community: Cracked Pots and Clay Jars

2 Corinthians 4: 1-18

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2115. Grasshopper Religion

Numbers 13:25-33, 14:1-10

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2116. Praising God on an Oatmeal Box

2 Samuel 6:12-23

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . In March, it begins the trip northward, but after laying eggs in the milkweed of Texas and Florida, it will die. Those butterflies will continue northward, laying eggs along the way until some of them, maybe three or four generations removed from the original, make it back to mountains of New York. But when August comes, they will head south, aiming for the exact place their great grandparents visited, a place they have never been. Sue Haplern says: "The monarchs always migrate in community and depend on ...

2117. When Religion Becomes a Laughing Matter

Genesis 18:1-15

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... in common with weeping. No matter what the immediate occasion is of either your laughter or your tears, the object of both ends up being yourself and your own life. [1] It's preposterous, impossible, silly, foolish, outrageous, laughable. And, of course, so was the original invitation. Abraham is minding his own business somewhere in the land of Ur. Along comes God and says, "Go." "Go where?" "Go to a land I will show you." So Abe goes into Miss Sarah's kitchen and says, "Start packing, we're going." "Where ...

2118. Secret Revealed

Romans 16:25-27

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... t! We received, as Gentiles, the revelation secondarily. To put this matter in perspective it helps to read and ponder Romans 9, 10, and 11. While Paul must have had many enemies among his countrymen who hated him, he never gave up hope for them. Salvation is originally from the Jews and not the Gentiles. Who better to spread the gospel than a former Jewish rabbi? 4. God leaves no doubt that he has acted in a singular fashion. The words "according to the command of eternal God" have a way of telling us this ...

2119. Precious and Privileged Children

Galatians 4:4-7

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... . Don't you feel sorry for those who never seem to get beyond a distant deity, who neither feels nor handles anything or anyone directly? Some have said the founding fathers of our nation were mostly deists. Frankly, that is debatable. Read the original materials of Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington more carefully. Do not depend on those who want to tell you their feelings and thoughts. Evangelical Christianity, to my knowledge, has always preached that God is very familiar with his children. Only as we ...

2120. Getting It Straight

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... part belongs to me." In other words, lordship is denied in certain areas. Again, we must not be too judgmental. We all have the same tendency at work in us. It is as though humankind was born with it. Perhaps it illustrates the affliction of original sin! Such fragmentation always and eventually shows itself. The wounds come to the surface. The unforgiven sins become noticeable. The out and out hypocrisy exudes an odor that hardly anyone can miss. It is a sad and very trying time. Of course, the remedy is ...

2121. God Our Protector and Shield

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... never backed down. Gillis believed with complete sincerity that not only were his opinions correct, but that failure to reform along his recommended line would be disastrous and possibly fatal for the nation. His belief in America's democratic principles that originated with the founding fathers never wavered. With the fear of God as his shield Gillis fended off the forces of darkness, as he perceived them, which imperiled America, while he attacked perceived wrongdoing or faulty ideas, using the pen and ...

2122. Strength through Diversity

James 2:1-17

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... acceptable; others are given the proverbial dirty eclair. We make distinctions based on political and religious views and ideologies. Again, some are acceptable and others are not. We categorize and separate ourselves based on physical and mental condition, ethnic and racial origins, and even cultural views. Our tendency to be exclusive occurs not only in our relationships with those who are different; it also happens with those who, at least on the surface, are in "our own group." Believe it or not much ...

2123. God’s Wisdom or the World?

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... in reality they were being asked to choose the world over God. They took the bait; they chose unwisely, seeking ambition over what they had been given. The end result was the disorder and wickedness in the world, what many contemporary theologians call the "original sin" as it is the common lot of all; none can escape from this reality. Later in the Pentateuch, God, in a conversation with Moses, places another fundamental choice before the great deliverer. We read in Deuteronomy: "I have set before you life ...

2124. In Solidarity with Jesus

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

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). The Letter to the Hebrews, which we begin to read today has an interesting history. Originally ascribed to Paul, biblical scholars today tell us that due to significant differences in language, style, theme, and theology the letter was not from Paul's hand, but rather another Jewish Christian of Hellenistic background. Scholars also tell us that the letter ...

2125. Our Ultimate Destination

Revelation 21:1-6a

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... 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 ...