Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2251 to 2275 of 4972 results

2251. Jesus Always Makes Us Better

John 13:31-35

Illustration

Edward F. Markquart

... the cross on their forehead, "Receive the sign of the cross upon your forehead so that you would know that you are baptized and that God loves you just the way you are." But Jesus never leaves that person just the way they are. Jesus always makes people better. Jesus never accepts people just the way we are and leaves us just the way we are and always makes us better. Or to put it another way, Jesus sees beneath the soil to the seeds of human possibility. Or, Jesus sees inside the seeds to the possibility ...

2252. Our Common Life in Christ

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... a new life. Steinbeck is accurate in depicting Susie as a girl of no self-worth, no self-dignity as a human being, because prostitution is a metaphor for self-hatred, and humiliation. But she has the opportunity to leave that old destructive life and begin a new one. As she leaves, her friend says, “Repeat after me: I am Susie and nobody else.” Somewhat perplexed, Susie repeats, “I am Susie and nobody else.” Then the other woman says, “I am a good thing.” And more confidently now, Susie says ...

2253. Living While You Wait

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... cause God’s Kingdom, not our own kingdom. When prayer is seen in that fashion then it is not glib to say that anxiety is an attempt on our part to carry the burden of the present and the future ourselves. Prayer is yielding ourselves to and leaving ourselves present and future in the safe hands of God. IV That leads to the final signal for living while we wait: Attitudes produce action. In verses 8 and 9, Paul provides a kind of catalog of virtues “Whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good ...

2254. A Guide for Growth

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... 200 years ago, Isaac Watts described life in a poem, “Insignificant Existence: “There are a number of us who creep - Into the world to eat and sleep; And know no reason why we born, But only to consume the corn, Devour the cattle, fowl and fish, And leave behind an empty dish.” Rather sad, isn’t it? Extreme and condemning? Yes. Now most of us have more purpose than that - and we are not nearly that selfish outwardly. But that’s not the point. The point is that even living good lives we will miss ...

2255. Discipline and Means of Grace

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... s exciting to see a weakness torn out or strength strongly planted in a moment of exhilarating prayer; but most often, God brings virtues out of us like a plant out of the ground. First there’s a small stalk of green, then the separate leaves, and finally the flowers. Reflection reminds us that growth is a process that keeps us from growing lazy and keeps our hope alive when growth seems delayed. Regular reflection keeps the years from slipping by, unappreciated; we need to taste every one. Who would want ...

2256. The Blood Shall Be a Token

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the terrors of the ten plagues (Exodus 7:12) These are “big judgments” about which we all know, but apart from these, the pages of the Bible are literally filled with judgment. Those who don’t study the Bible seriously, nonchalantly suggest that when you leave the Old Testament and come to the New, the theme of Divine judgment fades almost to nothing. That isn’t so. Even a cursory reading of the New Testament reveals God’s action as Judge. In fact, the entire New Testament is overshadowed by the ...

2257. Updating Some Ancient Laws

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... wouldn’t be here.” Cecil got the message. He’d been trying to run his own life, do it himself, handle his own affairs, and organize his life apart from God. I know what Cecil is talking about. I’ve been there too, and I suspect that many ministers who leave the church for various reasons primarily leave because they find their work impossible. They try to do it in their own strength.

2258. The Ark of the Covenant

Exodus 25:10-22

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... story of a friend of his. This friend remembered going out to the Toronto train station. She was just a girl, had finished nurses training and had decided to go as a missionary to India. Her mother went with her to the station. She hated to see her daughter leave. She pleaded with her daughter not to go - and she cried. Listen to this woman tell her own story: “As I pulled away from the train station, out my window I could see her there weeping. I sat back in my seat, really feeling alone and depressed ...

2259. Just When We Think We're Safest, There's a Sunset Touch

Mark 6:30-44

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... him to fix the pipes.” “Oh no,” the pupil declared. “I’m ordered by the Duchess not to return without you.” Leonardo tried to resume his work, but it was no use. The image was gone. He slowly closed his box of colors and descended the scaffold, leaving off painting the face of Jesus to go and fix the plumbing. Well, that’s the way it is, isn’t it? Just when we’re safest, when we have it together, when all is going well, there’s an interruption. Many times the sublime is interrupted by ...

2260. Who Are We Waiting For?

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... idea. God is like a Coke: He’s the real thing. God is like Pan Am: He makes the going great. God is Bayer aspirin: He works wonders. God is like General Electric: He lights your path. God is like Tide: He gets the stain out that others leave behind. God is like VO5 Hairspray: He holds through all kinds of weather. Keep in mind as we reflect briefly today on the question, “Who Are We Waiting For?” This is the first Sunday of Advent. In the Christian year, particular seasons help us to focus on the ...

2261. Three Wise Women

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... to her, that they were to return to their own people. Then comes that beautiful word that is celebrated so much in marriage ceremonies. Is there a more tender word in all of Ruth when her mother-in-law insisted that she return to her family? Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried.” So, Ruth returns with her mother ...

2262. Jesus' Baptism: Affirmed by God

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... by John in the Jordan.” From his perspective, Jesus’ baptism was a moment of personal decision and commitment. He had been doing manual labor in the carpenter’s shop until he was 30 years of age. He knew that the time had come for him to leave his family, his friends, his vocation, the security that he had grown up knowing - and obey the call of God. Certainly Jesus was the Son of God. He was the Messiah. But He was also human, and human beings make decisions and commitments which determine their ...

2263. Led by the Spirit, Tempted by the Devil

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... ” or “under the control of.” Mark wants us to get the full impact of that - that’s the reason he uses the word immediately. It was under the strong pressing control of the Spirit that Jesus leaves that glorious beautiful baptismal experience at the River Jordan - He leaves that experience not in a leisurely fashion - not on a meditative walk - but with determined steps, almost impetuous movement. Mark wants to give us the picture that Jesus is being driven irresistibly by the knowledge that there ...

2264. A Parable in a Miracle

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , he said that you were not a converted man either.” Alexander White stopped and sank into his chair. He put his face in his hands, and for a moment did not say a word. Then he looked up to his friend, and said with great earnestness, “Leave me, friend, leave me! I must examine my heart.” (William E. Sangster, The Pure in Heart pp. 161—162) The leper knew his condition, but do we? Do we know that he anger we repressed is burning into resentment and is taking its toll on our relationship with our ...

2265. Audacious Faith

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , Dr. White, he said that you were not a converted man either.” Alexander White stopped and sank into his chair. He put his face in his hands, and for a moment did not say a word. Then he looked up to his friend, and said with great earnestness, “Leave me, friend, leave me! I must examine my heart.” (William E. Sangster, The Pure in Heart pp. 161—162). Dr. White knew the power of sin in human life, how subtle it is and how it can play havoc in our lives unless we keep vigilance against it. A close ...

2266. Lord, Is It I?

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... you were not a converted man either.” Alexander Whyte stopped and sank into his chair. He put his face in his hands, and for a moment did not say a word. Then he looked up to his friend, and said with great earnestness, “Leave me, Friend, leave me! I must examine my heart.” (William Sangster, The Pure in Heart pp. 161 - 162) There is another story out of Dr. Whyte’s life that shows the spiritual sensitivity of this remarkable man. An admiring worshipper was expressing her admiration and appreciation ...

2267. When It's Time to Wait

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... you have not figured out why you are here, if you have no reason to be born, save to consume the corn and eat the fish, and leave behind a dirty dish, you are going to be bored with these in-between times in life. If you know why you are here, if you have ... waiting for two hours to see you. People come to see me, wait ten minutes, and if I'm not there they write me a nasty note, leave it under my door and go on their way." She says, “Well, Howard, maybe people need to see me a lot worse than they need to ...

2268. Living on Full Alert

Matthew 24: 36-44

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... other left. The scene is the interior of a Boeing 747. It is the wee hours of morning and the plane is somewhere over the Atlantic en route to London. The captain leaves his cockpit and strolls down the aisle intending to flirt with the senior flight attendant. She is in shock. People are missing. They have vanished leaving shoes, socks, clothes, jewelry—everything behind. An elderly lady, sitting in first class, cries as she holds her husband's sweater and pants. She has been left behind. So begins the ...

2269. Why Doesn’t God Do Away With Evil?

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... of good and evil? It would seem so in the Book of Revelation. Most of us have felt the knots in our stomach as we wrestle like Jacob of old trying to deal with evils within. We know that struggle. Is that the nature of evil? Of course, that even leaves us with questions. Why is an omnipotent God so weak? Why doesn't He just call ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set us free? Some say evil is our sin. In the creation story, so simple that a child can understand it and so profound that scholars ...

2270. Finding Our Place in All Creation

Genesis 1:1, 26-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... I am free.” I suspect that everybody needs a place like that. A place to reconnect with that which is good at the core of the earth. A place where goodness still reigns and things are still right with the universe. For goodness sake—for goodness sake leave the world a better place than you found it. For goodness sake find a need and try to fill it. For goodness sake live your life with integrity because it matters to the generations yet to come. For goodness sake praise God from whom all blessings flow ...

2271. The Darkness Before the Dawn

John 13:18-30, John 13:31-38

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... our wits from time-to-time. Eugene Lowery says, “When I was ten years old, my parents used to go out at night and leave me with my fourteen-year old brother, my oppressive, older brother, Ralph. I would go downstairs to the rec room in the basement to ... down and lock the door and turn off the lights. I would scream for him, Ralph! Ralph! But he wouldn't say a word. He'd just leave me there. I was totally out of control." It was a dark and fearful night. IV. FOR JESUS, IT WAS A DARK NIGHT OF STRUGGLE. 'Neath ...

2272. It Doesn't Have to Be That Way - Sermon Opener

Luke 8:26-39

Illustration

James W. Moore

... in this Canadian hotel, he craters. He hits bottom. Filled with anxiety, completely immobilized, paralyzed by his emotional despair, unable to leave his room, lying on his bed, he moans out loud: "Life isn't worth living this way, I wish I ... ." Well, the man is still prone to anxiety. He still has to work hard. But, now he has a source of strength. During the week, he often leaves his work-desk and goes to the church near his office. He sits there and prays. He says: "It clears my head. It reminds me of who ...

2273. We Believe in Jesus Christ

John 20:19-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... pardoned. And then I thought, we err and stray from God's ways like lost sheep. We do those things we ought not to do. We leave undone those things we ought to be doing. We really don't have much of an excuse. But through Jesus Christ we are pardoned. Do you ... new life into His dead body, it would only take a little plastic surgery to make Him look a little better. But, no, He leaves the scars. What possessed the early Christians to embrace the cross as the central symbol of our faith so that we put it in ...

2274. Engaging the Master Designer

Psalm 139: 1-18

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... hope secures, He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures. God’s plans include hope and a future. God wants you to live, not merely survive. He wants you to invest, not merely spend. He wants you to put in more than you take out, to leave things behind a little better than you found them when you came. God wants you, in the span of a lifetime, to live life fully, help others freely, enjoy God eternally. God has a plan for you—plans to give you hope and a future. III. WE ARE GOD-DEVELOPED ...

2275. About Whose Business Was He?

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... before, but I will speak to his parents." Completely flustered the pastor approached the subject at the Church Council. A white-haired gentleman on the council spoke up and said, “Well, Pastor, I move we take the money from the general fund and pay for the walls and leave it at that." Just in case you do not remember, Joshua fought the battle of Jericho when the walls came tumbling down! Church is a place to accept, not a place to accuse. Church is a place to be loved, not a place to be left alone. Church ...

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