Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2126 to 2150 of 3099 results

John 1:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... it was that apparent “purification” act that brought this delegation of “The Jews” out across the Jordan. The first question posed to John, however, is not about authority but simply about identity — “Who are you?” It is John himself who turns the subject towards the person of the Messiah by emphatically declaring who he is not: “I am not the Messiah” (v.20). The gospel writer’s insistence that John “confessed and did not deny it, and confessed” turns this negative statement into a ...

2127. Bear the Light

John 1:19-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

2128. The Unwanted Christmas Gift: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... are those who have faith. When it is just too hard to hang on, we need another we can hang on to. First century Palestine was not a particularly progressive society. Jews and Gentiles, Jewish and pagan, iron-fisted Roman rulers and oppressed subjects lived in an uneasy, unequal social equilibrium. In the first century there were definite “haves” and “have-nots” — the “who’s who” and “who’s not” lists that circulated locally. Getting on one of these “who’s not” lists had far more ...

2129. I Am Baptized!

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... to have amazing powers of observation, as well as the free time to ponder the strangeness of human nature. In his book Wit and Wisdom from the Peanut Butter Gang, H. Jackson Brown, Jr. interviews children and young teens to get their ideas on subjects like families and school. Here is a sample of their wisdom: “You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.” Patrick, age 10 “‘Casserole’ is just another word for ‘leftovers.’” Emily, age 14 “You can’t hide mashed potatoes in your hat.” Chris ...

2130. Crying at the Tomb

John 20:10-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... is true—that Christ has been raised from the dead. There was a report sometime back in the The Futurist magazine. The Futurist is a magazine for people who seek to anticipate the changes that are taking place in our society. The subject of this particular report was “virtual immortality.” What is virtual immortality? Some of you have already guessed it has something to do with computers. You’re right. Imagine that everything that there is to know about you your appearance, your mannerisms, your ...

2131. Touched

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Scriptura” and “sola gratia.” ‑‑For John Wesley “touched” meant claiming that word “all” — grace for all God’s children even if that meant and abandoning the mansions of the well-known and well-heeled. To be “touched” is a “touchy” subject. In mountain culture, to say someone is “touched” is to offer a genteel observation upon the emotional, mental or physical well being of another person. To be “touched” usually meant the “touched” one was a bit off of the ordinary ...

2132. The Lord’s Great Sacrifice

Luke 23:26-43

Illustration

King Duncan

... hump. On the last day of his visit he went to tell her goodbye. Her face seemed to beam with beauty but when he entered, she cast her eyes to the floor. Mendelssohn's heart ached for her. After some small talk, he slowly drew to the subject that filled his mind. "Do you believe that marriages are made in Heaven?" he asked. "Yes," replied the young woman. "And do you?" "Of course," Mendelssohn answered. "I believe that at the birth of each child, the Lord says, 'That boy shall marry that girl.' But in ...

2133. Luke 24:44-53

Luke 24:36-49

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... must be complete before the miracle of Pentecost occurs. As he had been as Jesus’ disciple, the “witness” Peter takes it upon himself to be “large and in charge.” He stands before the gathered group of believers and takes on the touchy subject of Judas. Peter reminds those present, first of Judas’ treachery, becoming “a guide for those who arrested Jesus,” and then of the official status Judas had held within the community of disciples — “he was allotted among us.” And he shared “in ...

2134. Don’t Get Into Things!

Luke 24:50-53

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

2135. Toss Your Cap Over the Wall

Mark 3:20-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’s exchanges was one he had at a state dinner with Nancy Astor, whose own reputation for acid wit and instant repartee was considerable. During this dinner Lady Astor was compelled to listen to Churchill expound his views on a great number of subjects, all of them at variance with her own strongly held views. Finally, no longer able to hold her tongue, she spat, “Winston, if you were my husband, I would flavor your coffee with poison.” To which Churchill immediately replied, “Madam, if I were ...

2136. There Is a Time to Touch

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Brett Blair

... the man born blind and the children in Jerusalem being two examples. An embrace, a kiss, an arm on the shoulder, a pat on the back all of these are ways of expressing a love which goes beyond words. It is lamentable that we are so paranoid on this subject in America. We have grown touchy about touching. In other parts of the world they do not seem to have this hang-up. To me, the guideline that we can use for this is from the 3rd chapter of Ecclesiastes. You recall the familiar verses that read: There is ...

2137. There’s Still Time

Mt 6:1-2, 5-6

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... that our time here is limited, that we don't know how much is left to us, and that we need to make the most of the day that is given to us. Take a look at some of the portraits of the nobility during the Renaissance and after. The subject of the portrait sometimes holds a skull, or there is a skull on a desk or close at hand. The skull functions as a memento mori as well. Just like Uncle Sam pointing out at you from the old recruiting poster, grim death wants you. That's the bad news ...

2138. How Much of an Honor?

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... presented in these words from Jesus. And never forget, these are not our sheep. God refers to them as "my sheep" in this passage (Ezekiel 34:6). Because of their poor stewardship Jesus speaks to them in tones of judgment. A final word on this subject. These images of shepherd and sheep should teach us, if nothing else, something about humility. Those who live in the cities tend to idealize sheep just like we idealize all of God's creatures, instead of accepting — and loving — them for who they are. The ...

2139. Simple Enough?

John 13:31-35

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... ready to do the same. This scene shows us that there is nothing love is not willing to do for the beloved. Caregivers know this, as they share times of service and ministry in the most gut-wrenching of circumstances. Love is not just the subject of valentines and little pink cherubic angels with stubby wings. Love is for the tough times, the real times. Having shown them what love means, Jesus wanted to say something about it as well. After addressing his good friends as "little children" (here it is worth ...

2140. The End of The Beginning

Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:50-53

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... of William C. Thurman (c. 1830-1906), nothing happened. Eventually some local rowdies set fire to the hay, forcing the believers to come down, severely disappointed. It wouldn't be the last time. Thurman was a Virginia Baptist who wrote on many different subjects, including biblical nonresistance, foot washing, and baptism. But he was best known for his views on the end of the world. In Sealed Book of Daniel Opened, he set the date for the return of Christ on September 27, 1868. Many Christians ...

2141. Veni, Spiritus Sanctus, Veni

John 14:8-17 (25-27)

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... said, "The art of teaching is the art of getting out of God's way. The best teacher is he who most truly transports each individual into the presence of God. God-centered, Christ-centered, Spirit-centered teaching — this is true teaching."2 I was never subjected to, nor crippled by, a bad teacher. History abounds with teachers who failed to teach well and who failed to teach the truth. Marcion was one bad egg. Marcion was declared a heretic by the early church, since he would have thrown away the Old ...

2142. Getting Back into Shape

John 8:31-36

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... to a scholarly debate on the door of a church in northeastern Germany. It doesn't sound like a very big deal, and it's doubtful that Luther himself ever imagined it would be a big deal. But the debate Luther hoped to schedule was on the subject of the selling of indulgences, a practice that boiled down to some people saying you could buy your way into heaven for cold, hard cash, and other people going into hawk to come up with the money. Luther's sixteenth-century Post-it® Note became such a big ...

2143. Quitters

John 6:60-71

Sermon

King Duncan

... want to clear a room quickly, just begin a deep theological discussion. Like rats fleeing a sinking ship the room will empty in a hurry. What Jesus began discussing was what we know as the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. It was not a popular subject for an after dinner conversation. The people who heard him didn’t know what he was talking about and they were repulsed by his imagery. After all, he seemed to be talking about his disciples eating his body and drinking his blood. What is this? the people ...

2144. Love Your Enemy? Are You Kidding, Lord?

Luke 6:27-38

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... Jesus is reported to have said, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:43-44). Whether Jesus was thinking of the Essenes when he brought this subject up we have no way of knowing, but the point is that people (religious or not) do think and act in terms of hatred for their enemies, and Jesus says, "This ought not to be." All right, we can go along with that. Do not hate the Afghanis, the ...

2145. Sonny Moneybags

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... is not only waiting to take us back, but so anxious for our return that he comes running to meet us. But if that is the only point of what Jesus was trying to get across, why did he not quit after verse 24, and move on to some other subject? The answer is that there is a whole lot more Sonny in most of us than there is Junior. Beware.

2146. Dorcas

Acts 9:36-43

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... that Joppa was an important city in the spread of Christianity. It was only about 35 miles northwest of Jerusalem, a seaport from which were launched trading vessels to every port in the known world. No doubt, the wonderful ministry of Dorcas became the subject of conversation, both on shore and in the ships — her reputation became the reputation of her church. No wonder Christianity grew! Who would not want to be part of something as special, as loving, as caring, as that? True, we never hear of Dorcas ...

2147. Religion and Politics

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Religion and politics - in years past we were told those were two subjects that were not good for pleasant conversation. In the church, many of us grew up hearing that religion and politics should be kept strictly apart - "separation of church and state," after all. But in recent years, we have been treated to regular helpings of both from every point on the ...

2148. Would A Loving God Really Let Anyone Go To Hell?

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... the God of love whom we have come to know in Jesus would not condemn someone to the kind of hell our tradition has always described. Does that mean there is a possibility that everyone will eventually be saved? Scripture seems to speak with two minds on the subject. There are places where it seems to indicate "Yes" (John 12:32; Romans 11:32; 1 Corinthians, 15:24-28; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; and more), and there are other places where it indicates "No." If scripture is not crystal clear, we had best not be making ...

2149. When God Overdoes It

Lamentations 1:1-6

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... to his side. "I think," he says, smiling, "God overdid it."(1) If you have been following the news lately, it is easy to agree with Morrie. Sometimes it does indeed seem like God overdoes this suffering business. The little book of Lamentations certainly deals with the subject of suffering. So much of it is so dark it is no wonder that there is not much preaching from it. Who comes to church to hear such gloom and doom? Yet, like it or not, Lamentations asks us to understand what the convulsions of our time ...

2150. Rich Man, Poor Man

James 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

It is said that in Hollywood there is an exclusive school attended by children of movie stars, producers and directors. One day a teacher in that school asked her very privileged pupils to write a composition on the subject of poverty. One little girl started her literary piece like this: “Once there was a poor little girl. Her father was poor, her mother was poor, her nanny was poor, her chauffer was poor, her butler was poor. In fact, everybody in the house was very, very poor.” I don’ ...

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