Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2201 to 2225 of 4972 results

2201. A Good Steward

Mark 12:38-44

Illustration

David Reynolds

... the story of Oseola McCarty. She died just a few years ago at the age of 91. She was an African-American woman from Mississippi, who earned a living by washing and ironing other people's clothes. McCarty, who never married, was in the 6th grade when she had to leave school and take over her mother's laundry business while she cared for a sick aunt. "All my classmates had gone off and left me so I didn't go back," she said. "I just washed and ironed." She never had a car. Only recently at the urging of bank ...

2202. Love Finds a Way

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... choir come in from stage right dressed in their robes. It’s the morning of Christmas Eve and they are having their final rehearsal before singing a big anthem at tonight’s service. They are standing stage left. All are excited.) Singer 1: (watching the little ones leave) Good, they’re done. Now we can practice. Singer 2: I can’t wait to do our song tonight. Everybody in my family is coming! Singer 3: Even my daddy’s coming, and he never goes to church. Singer 4: This is my first time singing in ...

2203. No Small Parts

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... I didn’t even get yet. Director: Not now. The kids have to rehearse. Costumer: Well, unless you want a bunch of naked Angels up there.... Director: We’ll knock off a few minutes early and you can do it then. Costumer: All right. But nobody leaves without seeing me first. (Costumer moves off to stage right. Stage Manager helps get the children into place. Director sits in front pew, right side. The Narrator goes up to the podium.) Director: Start with the Lead Angel’s speech. Narrator: Can’t I say my ...

2204. The Word Made Flesh

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... seek the child. Joseph: We don’t mind. We’re glad you came. But, now that you’ve seen the child, I think you should go and tell others what you’ve seen. Shepherd 2: He’s right. This is something we need to share. (Shepherds stand and turn to leave.) Shepherd 3: We’ll come back later, and we’ll bring you some food. (Shepherds start to exit up center aisle.) Shepherd 1: We’d better go check on the sheep first. Shepherd 2: You can go back and check on the sheep. We’ll go in to town. Shepherd ...

2205. Home By Another Way

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... the child at risk if you go back. Wise Man 2: I have had enough of your lip. If we weren’t so shorthanded, I’d leave you behind. It’s not your job to decide what we should and shouldn’t do. Servant 1: I’m very sorry, sir. I’ll tend ... ’t allow it is by using shepherds and merchants to warn danger away. Wise Man 2: That’s it! I won’t have you questioning me again. Leave this camp now. Wise Man 3: You can’t send her away alone in the dark. After we reach the city, you can release her. Now, I ...

2206. The Whole Family Survival Kit

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind’” (Mark 3:21). And in John’s gospel Jesus’ own brothers taunt him, as only brothers can do so well, daring him to flaunt his powers and announce himself to the world. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing, for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ [For not even his brothers believed in him.] (John ...

2207. Get Found

Luke 3:1-6

Illustration

Richard A. Wing

... get lost with bad directions. Robert Fulghum spoke once of playing hide-and-seek. He says that some people get confused. The idea is to hide and get found, not to hide and never be found. He reflects: As I write this, there is a kid under a pile of leaves in the yard just under my window. He has been there for a long time and everybody else is found and they are about to give up on him at the base. I consider finking on him or setting the ...

2208. I Am the Good Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... lambs in his arms and carry them in his bosom, and he will gently guide the young. When you get to the New Testament, the picture becomes even more pronounced, listen to Jesus. What man among you who has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, will not leave the 90 and 9 in the wilderness and go out and seek the lost one until he find it. And listen to Jesus again, fear not little flock, it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And then there’s that beautiful benediction in the ...

2209. Putting Ourselves in the Picture

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... price for everything. There’s a price for being a caring person in relationship. There’s a price for our sin and failure and we often pay that on the installment plan. And, one day, one day there’ll be a time of separation, a time of judgment. So, I leave you, I leave you with the most important question with which you could grapple - Jesus’ question. Are you ready? What will it profit a man, what will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?

2210. What the Lord Does Best

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... covenant, change, conflict, and commitment. I want us to return to this first chapter again this morning, but with a more narrow focus, keeping in mind this old Jewish saying – what the Lord does is certainly best, probably. Now the ambiguity of that may not leave us, but I think the affirmation of faith that it is will become clearer to us. Throughout this book of Exodus, you will find the purposes of God very clear. The purposes are not always clear in prospect, but they’re always boldly discernable ...

2211. Don't Let That Be All That There Is

Luke 1:39-56; Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

The message of Christmas is that God intrudes upon the weak and the vulnerable, and this is precisely the message that we so often miss. God does not come to that part of us that swaggers through life, confident in our self sufficiency. God leaves his treasure in the broken fragmented places of our life. God comes to us in those rare moments when we are able to transcend our own selfishness long enough to really care about another human being. On the wall of the museum of the concentration camp at Dachau ...

2212. Every Day God Empowers

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... him before she even married the man to whom she was engaged. And this guy wasn't even his real father. It was a time of shame and anguish for the families. I don't think it was that hard for this young couple to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem. At least there, they could leave some of the stares and whispers behind. But it didn't end there. You see, all the hoopla caused by his birth made the local King mad. And as a result, he and his family had to flee. They became refugees and exiles. They were ...

2213. The Thing With Two Heads

Matthew 16:13-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the IV, or he could wait until Austin was up in the operating room. In the OR the doctor would give Austin some "goofy" gas, and start the IV when he was more relaxed. Austin said, "I'll take the gas." But when the doctor started to leave, Austin called, "Hey, wait." The doctor turned around. "Yeah, buddy, what do you need?" Austin asked, "Do you go to church?" "No," the doctor admitted. "I know I probably should, but I don't." Then Austin asked, "Well, are you saved?" The doctor chuckled nervously and said ...

2214. A Crib, A Cross, And A Cave

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... concerto, she got stuck. And in the process she lost confidence in herself. Mr. Magorium decides it's time for him to depart. Neither the magical store nor Molly Maloney take it very well, even though Mr. Magorium is leaving the store to Molly. The store throws a temper tantrum. And on the day that Mr. Magorium leaves, all the color drains out of both the toys and the store. The store has lost it's magic and it has become so ashen and lifeless that balls won't even bounce in the store. Throughout all of ...

2215. Living in The Spirit of Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:6-12, Galatians 5:22-25

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Soul, Rev. John R. Ramsey tells how in one church a certain person provided him with a rose boutonniere for the lapel of his suit every Sunday. At first he really appreciated it but then it sort of became routine. Then one Sunday it became very special. As he was leaving the Sunday Service a young boy walked up to him and said, "Sir, what are you going to do with your flower?" At first the preacher didn't know what the boy was talking about. When it sank in, he pointed to the rose on his lapel and asked the ...

2216. Living In The Spirit Of Faithfulness

Galatians 5:22-25, Hebrews 10:23-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." And in 1 Kings 6:13 "I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel." In John 14:18 Jesus said, "I will not leave you orphaned...." Page after page of Scripture shows us God's Faithfulness. We have turned away. We have been the ones who have been unfaithful. God has never turned away from us. God has consistently and constantly sought to bring us back. Even before we are aware of the ...

2217. Seeing God In The Ordinary: Family

Luke 4:16-30

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... ?" Despite begin afraid of him, she replied: "I'm taking the baby to the doctor if I have to walk all 15 miles to get there!!" The stepfather then hatefully instructed her Mom to drive. However, this 15 year old, handed the baby to Mom and drove. After leaving them at the hospital, she returned home. Before going to sleep, she opened her heart to God and prayed: "Dear Heavenly Father, if you must have a life tonight, please take mine and let my baby sister live." She went to sleep weeping. About two am, she ...

2218. God IS In The Ordinary

Romans 12:1-2, 9-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... claim to be wiser than you are. [17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. [18] If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. [19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." [20] No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads ...

2219. They Keep Getting Worse and Worse

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Illustration

... the church for another call. As he was standing at the door greeting people one of the elderly saints approached him, her eyes were filled with tears. She sobbed, "Oh pastor, I'm so sorry you've decided to leave. Things will never be the same again." The young man was flattered, but was equal to the situation and took her hands in his and most benevolently replied, "Bless you, dear lady, but I am sure that God will send you a new pastor even better than I." She choked ...

2220. Room At The Inn: Is There Room For Christmas?

Luke 2:1-7; John 1:1-5

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Baby A. And The World Still Needs This Baby because this baby embodies Hope. This Baby is hope in the flesh who came to dwell among us. This Baby grows to be a man who gives His life willingly for us and promises to "never leave us or forsake us." Or "leave us orphaned." He promised "to be with us always, even to the ends of the earth." The World Still Needs This Baby because the world still needs the constant companionship, assurance and understanding which only Christ can bring in a troubled time. And it ...

2221. Joshua People: Remember, Remind and Recommit

Joshua 24:14-18, 2 Peter 1:10-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... creep who is verbally abusive. Jenna's one outlet is baking pies. She is creative and the bakes the most delicious pies around. Her dream is to win a pie-baking contest so, with what little money she has squirreled away, she'll have enough cash to leave her husband. But then she discovers she is pregnant. As the pregnancy advances, life with Earl becomes less tolerable, a way out less clear, and life just seems to get more complicated. In one of those moments of depression she waits on Old Joe, a crusty old ...

2222. A Stone’s Throw From: Temptation

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... ." Or how about these signs: "Show Signs" My favorite is actually a mistranslation, at least I hope. I'm pretty sure they meant valuables but the sign in a Paris hotel read: "Please leave your values at the front desk." Unfortunately, many people do that without being told. And sometimes we are tempted to leave our values somewhere else, too. Jesus even faced that kind of temptation every day. This morning we begin our Lenten Journey with Jesus, we travel with Him into the wilderness where He was tempted ...

2223. A Stone’s Throw From: The Harvest

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... /son relationship, fulfilling your dreams, and shining no matter what you are made of. There's a scene where Rodney has decided to leave home. He is at the train station and wants to go to RobotCity and become an inventor. His mother finds him and objects ... doing, he was just teaching Sunday School. None of us ever know what we're doing. We're simply called to keep sowing seed. We have to leave the rest to God. We know what kind of soil we've become, we know how valuable the seed is. We may always be "A Stone' ...

2224. For Comfort, Guidance and Strength

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... do wrong, I'll whisper the truth to ya so you won't do it no more." The tears came to both their eyes. Her mother opened the dresser drawer and took out a neatly folded handkerchief and placed it in the pocket of Sally's dress. Upon leaving, Sally felt completely alone. As she fought back the tears, she reached into her dress pocket to take out the handkerchief her mother had placed there. Then she noticed a knot in one corner just like her mother used to tie her milk money in her handkerchief. Upon untying ...

2225. Saturday: The Week Of The Cross: Lazarus, Come Forth

John 11:1-7, 17-44

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... First, just because you're a believer, just because you're a friend of Jesus doesn't mean you won't have trials and tribulations or get your heart broken from time to time. I think it's important that we hear that because so much of pop culture Christianity leaves us with the notion that if you believe, I mean really believe, then nothing bad or horrible will ever happen to you. And if something bad happens it's because you didn't have enough faith. Well that's a crock. I have no idea how those who espouse ...

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