Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2126 to 2150 of 5000 results

2126. Jesus, Out of Doors

Matthew 6:25-34

Illustration

J. Ellsworth Kalas

Jesus lived with nature, and he taught from it. If I want an object lesson, I have to carry it into the pulpit or trust that you and I can blend our imaginations to envision a scene. Jesus had his illustrations at first hand; the people could often reach out and touch them. "Consider the lilies of the field," Jesus said, and the people looked at a hillside just to their right. "A certain man went out to sow seed," Jesus said, and every person in the crowd knew what he ...

2127. If I Only Had One Wish

2 Chronicles 1:1-12

Sermon

James Merritt

... has the power to grant his every wish. We have all imagined finding such a lamp and making certain wishes. So let me ask you a fun question: If you found such a lamp, and you could have one wish, what would you wish for? A humorous story I read illustrates that this requires a great deal of thought. There were three men marooned on a desert island. They had no hope of rescue. They were walking around the island and one of them kicked up a lamp. He rubbed the lamp and a genie appeared and offered each man ...

2128. Sleep With the Lions Without Being Eaten

Daniel 6:1-28

Sermon

James Merritt

... is a lions' den, you'll walk in it with faith, and you'll learn to sleep with the lions without being eaten. [1] Charles R. Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, pp. 107-108. [2] Zig Ziglar, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World, pp. 49-50. [3] Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, edited by Michael Green, p. 82.

2129. The Only One Who Is Number One

Exodus 20:1-3

Sermon

James Merritt

... -26. [2] Ibid, pp. 200-201. [3] The Gwinnett Daily, "Turner Explains How His Cable Empire Was Built," Oct. 27, 1989. [4] Michael Horton, The Law of Perfect Freedom, p. 20. [5] R. Kent Hughes, Disciplines of Grace, p. 13. [6] Russ Walton, One Nation Under God, p. 12. [7] Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, edited by Michael Green, p. 253.

2130. The Door Is Always Open

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

James Merritt

... he did have, he was ungrateful for what he didn't have. Understand that the father loved both of his sons equally. He came out of the house for both boys. He wanted both boys to come home. He wanted to make merry with both boys. But these two brothers illustrate a great point. No one is so bad that he cannot come to God, and no one is so good that he need not come to God. But now let's move on to the real star of this story. III. The Sweet Reception of a Sympathetic Father This father ...

2131. Turning Doubt Inside Out

Luke 23:39-43

Sermon

James Merritt

... . He never went to church, never took the Lord's Supper, never put a dime in the offering plate. He was not saved by good works, because he didn't have any. All he had was a Savior's grace, and a sinner's faith. This thief is the classic illustration of two of the greatest verses in the Bible: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Salvation is not in the merit of man, it is in the mercy of ...

2132. Did You Know?

1 Timothy 1:15

Sermon

James Merritt

... come to Jesus you'll have to come as a sinner? Did you know that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners like you and me? 1 Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, pp. 84-85. 2 Ibid., p. 89. 3 Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, pp. 478-479. 4 Cited by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Neucomb, What if the Bible Had Never Been Written, p. 188. 5 Wonder Book of Strange Facts, p. 444. 6 Ibid.

2133. The Only Way to Fly

2 Timothy 3:15-17

Sermon

James Merritt

... way of death." You see, there are many people, both Christians and non-Christians alike, who suffer from spiritual vertigo. They fly the plane of their life by their feelings rather than relying on the instruments of the word of God. Let me give you some practical illustrations: "If it feels good, do it."—that's VFR—But the Bible says, "Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel." (Prov. 20:17)—that's IFR. "He who dies with the most toys wins."—that ...

2134. The Truth about Trouble

2 Timothy 4:16-18

Sermon

James Merritt

... . Now the word to deliver literally means "to take from the presence of." You see, there are two ways to be rescued from danger. You can either have the danger be taken away from you, or you can be taken away from the danger. Let me give you this illustration. Take the matter of healing. God can heal in one of two ways: He can bring healing that is temporary on earth, or He can bring healing that is permanent in heaven. In other words, God can either take the disease away from you, or He can take you ...

2135. Better To Be a Loner than a Loser

Daniel 1:1-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... of them asked her this question: "Do you believe in God?" After a momentary pause, she looked him squarely in the eye and said, "Yes." After he replied simply, "Why?" he shot her and killed her instantly. But at that one moment, with that one word, Cassie Bernall illustrated a principle that every parent should teach their children—it is better to be a loner than to be a loser. You might say that day that a loner was killed by two losers. The losers are now alone in hell, the loner is now with Jesus in ...

2136. www.Salvation.com

Ephesians 2:8-10

Sermon

James Merritt

... is simply faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But when I talk about faith, please understand I'm not talking about an intellectual acknowledgement of something in your head. Faith is more than that. It is trusting with your heart. A true-to-life story illustrates what I'm talking about. A motorcycle officer was moving smoothly through a Los Angeles suburb on his way to work. As he neared an intersection a red pickup truck sped past without even slowing down for the stop sign. The officer turned on his flashing ...

2137. Bridging the Generation Gap

Ephesians 6:1-4

Sermon

James Merritt

... a successful teacher to your children, model what you teach and teach it in a positive fashion. Prov. 16:21 says in the New Living Translation: "The wise are known for their understanding, and instruction is appreciated if it's well presented." Let me give you an illustration of that. There was a company that had an end-of-the-year banquet. They were going to give their two top salesmen an award. But they did it in a different fashion to prove a point. They sent them out of the room, rearranged the tables ...

2138. If You're Not Loving You're Not Living (Fruit of the Spirit: Love)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... I Love You." Well, if you only think you love me, you probably don't love me. Love is volitional. It is a matter of the will. Let me give you this definition: Love is a commandment that is followed by a commitment. Let me give you this illustration: For thousands of years (and in some Eastern countries to this day) the majority of marriages were arranged by parents. The young people involved sometimes never saw each other until their wedding day. A young lady from India was to be married to a young man she ...

2139. When in Joy, Enjoy (Fruit of the Spirit: Joy)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... unless you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and as your Savior. You were made to know Him. You were made to love Him. When you give your life to Jesus, Jesus will give everlasting joy to your life. 1. A Healthy Dose of Laughter, Newsweek, October 4, 1982. 2. Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, pp. 349-350. 3. Max Lacado, When God Whispers Your Name, p. 173.

2140. Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win (Fruit of the Spirit: Patience)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... , waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the lord is at hand." (James 5:7-8) The word patient is the same word used for longsuffering in Gal. 5:22. James illustrates patience with the picture of a farmer. A farmer plants, weeds, waters, cultivates. Every day he does two things: he watches and he waits. Because he knows that you cannot hurry the harvest, but he also knows that the harvest will come in due time. Now ...

2141. Try a Little Kindness (Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... of sin. He swept me up into His arms, laid His hands on me, and blessed me with forgiveness and salvation. In that spirit and in that name, when we meet fellow saints and fallen sinners on the highway of life, try a little kindness. 1. J. B. Flower, Jr. Illustrating Great Words of the Old Testament, p. 107. 2. U. S. A. Today, "Wanted: Good Citizens, Close Communities," 12-16-96. 3. Ibid. 4. Distilled Wisdom, p. 226. 5. Servant Life, Vol. 2, No. 6, January, 1996.

2142. The Greatest Ability Is Dependability (Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?" God is looking for faithful men and faithful women. We are told that the fruit of the Spirit is "faithfulness." To understand what faithfulness is, and what faithfulness does, Jesus told a parable to illustrate the fruit of faithfulness. It is found in Matt. 25. We call it the parable of the talents, and it tells us three great truths about God and His desire, even His demand, for faithfulness. I. Faithfulness Tells Us How God Regards Responsibility ...

2143. You've Gotta Believe

Hebrews 11:1-6

Sermon

James Merritt

... as guaranteed in the present. Faith is not believing something in spite of what you think is true. It is believing something because of what you know is real. You see, real faith is based on fact although it is different from fact. A preacher was trying to illustrate the difference between fact and faith, and he said to his congregation: "Now it is a fact that you are sitting in those pews. It is a fact that I am standing behind this pulpit. But it is only by faith that I believe any of you are listening ...

2144. A Trip to God's Woodshed

Hebrews 12: 5-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... not do what this one snake has done. Thus we conclude that the only thing left that will do this family any good, is more rattlesnakes. So Lord, send us bigger and better rattlesnakes we pray in Jesus name. Amen! That story is humorous, but it does illustrate a point. God will use anything from snakes to scorpions to discipline his children and to bring them back to a place of repentance and holiness and love. II. The Personal Route of Discipline Now I have shown you why God disciplines us. But how does God ...

2145. What Child Is This?

Isaiah 9:6-7

Sermon

James Merritt

... ? That child is God's gift to you by special delivery wrapped up in love. Won't you receive that child, God's gift today? [1] "O Come, All Ye Faithful", translated by Frederick Oakley. [2] Answers for Atheists, Agnostics, and Other Thoughtful Skeptics, E. Calvin Beisner, p. 103. [3] Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, edited by Michael Green, p. 230. [4] "Jesus Shall Reign", Isaac Watts.

2146. Don't Forget to Remember

Jude 1:5-7

Sermon

James Merritt

... first sermon, and he wanted to have a smashing introduction. So he went to an older pastor he knew, and said, "Do you know of any surefire introduction that is guaranteed to get everybody's attention?" The old preacher said, "As a matter of fact I have an illustration that works every single time." He said, "When you walk to the pulpit, make this statement: ‘Some of the greatest days of my life I spent in the arms of another man's wife.'" He said, "Wait for a moment, and then say, ‘My mother.'" He said ...

2147. God's Prescription for a Healthy Christian

Jude 1:17-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... the Spirit of God. That is a prescription guaranteed never to fail. 1. Arnold Dalamore, Spurgeon (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 206-207. 2. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Translation by Henry Beveridge, I (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1953), 66. 3. Michael P. Green, ed. Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Bookhouse, 1989), 50. 4. U. S. News & World Report, March 17, 1997, 16.

2148. Once Save - Always Saved

John 10:27-29

Sermon

James Merritt

... will bring peace to your mind as a child of God, that once you are saved you are always saved. In John 10:27-29 Jesus tackled this question head-on. It is interesting that he uses the analogy of a shepherd and his sheep to illustrate the principle of eternal security. If you will remember, the following three statements it will help clarify this in your mind: The shepherd is solely responsible for the salvation of the sheep. The shepherd is solely responsible for the safety of the sheep. The shepherd is ...

2149. Going For the Gold

Joshua 1:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

... ankle, to secure the first team gymnastics gold medal in U.S. history. Then there is Carl Lewis who, at 35, won the long jump for the fourth consecutive Olympics, and secured a record time ninth gold medal. Then, of course, the person that Sports Illustrated simply called "The Man," Michael Johnson, became the first Olympian in history to win both the 200 and 400 meters and shattered a world record by an unheard of three tenths of a second. But the Olympian that I will always remember from these games ...

2150. Away In a Manger

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

James Merritt

I want to share with you three stories, that take place in three different nations, that illustrate a central truth about Christmas. The headline read "Japan Goes Wild for Ho-Ho Holiday." A nation, made up almost entirely of Shinto and Buddhist believers, has taken to celebrating "Kurisumasu" with the heartiest of Ho-Ho-Hos. The season is marked by extravagant gift-giving, with shoppers lined up ...

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