Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2351 to 2375 of 4986 results

2351. The Emperor’s Son-in-law

Luke 12:22-34, Luke 12:35-48

Sermon

Carveth Mitchell

... is behind much false humility that most pastors hear from time to time: "I’m afraid." Translation: "Don’t expect much commitment out of me, brother, because you’re not going to get it." Or this one: "I’m a Christian in my own small way, but I like to stay in the background." Translation: "I want to be known as a child of God, but I don’t want to do much to serve my Lord." When such people are asked to take some responsibility in the Lord’s work they answer, "Oh, I’m sure you can find someone ...

2352. Formula for Life

Amos 5:1-17

Sermon

... very ground of our being, when we are functioning as responsible valuers, aspiring to and choosing the good. Shall we pause, in the light of this observation, to ask ourselves a few probing questions? Are we alive to God in the realm of truth and values? Are we staying alert not only to what is good but also to the possibility of discovering what is higher and better? In other words, do we think we have arrived at all the truth we need to know? Or are we open and receptive to further revelations of truth ...

2353. Let God Be God

Zephaniah 3:1-20

Sermon

... is that to which he or she gives supreme allegiance. If that is so, the practice of idolatry is surely rampant in our midst. Our idols appear in many guises, and their shrines dot the landscapes of both private and public devotion. If we do not stay on guard alertly, we will be seduced into their worship without realizing what we are doing. Are you and I willing to consider seriously the possibility that we are involved in some form of idolatry? Or that we are being tempted to become involved? What about ...

2354. Life in the Sunbelt

Malachi 4:1-6

Sermon

... in mourning before the Lord of hosts? Henceforth we deem the arrogant blessed; evil doers not only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape." To the darkness of this mood the Lord spoke through his prophet saying, in essence, "Hang in there, stay faithful to the law of Moses, and don’t give in to your discouragement." There was nothing solid or of enduring value, the prophet assured them, in the lives of the arrogant and evildoers. Time would tell. Judgment was in the order of creation. The ...

2355. The Reins of Power

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Sermon

... of power for victorious living that Jesus holds out to us? Why should we live as carelessly as the young rural swains of a generation gone by who went courting and carousing in horse-drawn buggies? Shall we, like many of them, so exhaust ourselves that we cannot stay awake on the way home in the wee hours, drop the reins on the dashboard, and hope the nag we are driving will find the way with us to the destination we desire? Life is too important for us to take that chance. Let us listen to Jesus, wake ...

2356. You Are Worth Much!

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

... live without fear. Let us speak about this glorious theme together: God says, "YOU ARE WORTH MUCH!" I. This is a cheering word, as we said, when most of us consider our past performance. Have you ever had one of those days when it would have been better to stay home in bed? Everything goes wrong. You didn't advance any enterprise. In fact, because of you some things may have actually gone backwards. Or maybe you've had days when sin seemed to get the best of you. There wasn't a thing you could say that wasn ...

2357. How Was Jesus' Death Different?

John 19:28-37, John 19:17-27

Sermon

... debt of love I owe. Here, Lord, I give myself away; Tis all that I can do. Without a doubt, the greatest reason for Jesus' death being different from all other deaths in history was the fact that his death lasted but three days. All other men died and stayed dead. Indeed, Jesus raised a few from the dead but this was resuscitation, not resurrection. These were raised only to die again. Jesus rose from the dead never again to die. On this Good Friday we watch him die as one of three on crosses. We need this ...

2358. Fasting: Foolish or Fruitful?

Matthew 6:16-18

Sermon

... and win back her husband by going to a distant place for a very painful and expensive facelifting. She does that and she looks twenty years younger. She is really beautiful, as only Elizabeth Taylor can be. Her husband comes to visit her at a resort hotel and stays but a couple days. He finds that she has not really changed and he sees no sense in going on with the marriage. He leaves to file for a divorce. Isn't it interesting that they chose the title, Ash Wednesday? Are they not saying that a superficial ...

2359. Born Naked With A Cross

Sermon

... of all things, nor in ability to preach so well that unbelievers would be converted. They asked him, then, wherein was joy. He said, "When we get to the monastery, cold and wet, and they call us thieves and won't let us in, and we have to stay out all night in the freezing weather. If, then, you suffer patiently with love and gladness, you have perfect joy. If you think of the agony of Christ and endure all the pain patiently and joyously, you have perfect joy. Joy is in overcoming self in love for ...

2360. Killing A King

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

... , but he did not. He was too much of a king for that! He acted like a king when he refused to run away from his enemies. When he was a child, his parents fled with him to Egypt and now he could have escaped to another country. But, he stayed and stood his ground. It was not easy. He went with the problem to God in the Garden of Gethsemane. In a bloody sweat, he prayed it out and he yielded to God's will to go to the cross: "Not my will, but thine be done." Jesus not only ...

2361. If Only We Would Let God Mold Us ...

Jeremiah 18:1--19:15

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... tubes put in both ears so that the fluid building up behind the drum can drain. Unless this is done, he will continue to have ear infections and his hearing might be impaired." Dr. Pope explained the surgical procedure and the necessity of a two-day stay at the hospital. "I wish I could guarantee," he continued, "that this one time would do it. There is always the possibility of having to repeat the procedure when John is older." The necessary arrangements were made for John to be admitted to the hospital ...

2362. If Only We Would Accept Responsibility ...

Ezekiel 33:1-20

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... Abram’s instructions to start out to Canaan. (Genesis 12:1) My inquiries brought some conflicting answers from my visitor. "Where were you living when God gave you instructions to go to Florida?" "In Farmville, Virginia." "With whom?" I continued. First, he said, he was staying with friends and God told him the friends didn’t want him there any longer, so he left. "Is that when you were told to go to Florida?" I asked. "No," he answered. "I then went to live with my parents in Farmville. They did ...

2363. The Devil is a Mosquito Bite

Romans 8:1-17

Children's Sermon

... do it. The same is true about our lives as St. Paul teaches us. There are certain things that always look like they would be a lot of fun, but our experience teaches us that we will only get into trouble if we try them. Our parents tell us to stay close by while all of our friends are going away. What shall we do, listen to our parents whom we know are right, or listen to that voice inside of us that is just begging for us to go? Sometimes we see something that we know does not belong to ...

2364. Making the Most of Time

Ephesians 5:16

Children's Sermon

... with the organist. The time goes fast when we use it the right way. Time is important and so is Aaron. If I didn't have Aaron, I might go to the church in the morning to teach my class and miss the meeting and Mrs. Jones. Aaron helps me stay on schedule and use my time right. God teaches us that we are going to do something with the time that we have and that, if we don't plan it wisely, we will soon find ourselves wasting it. Pretty soon we will use the time that God has given ...

2365. The Bells Of Christmas Eve

Drama

... why they aren't ringing. TONIO: Who is this? CESCA: It is Giuseppe the baker. He has fallen by the wayside. TONIO: We must help him, Cesca. CESCA: What can we do? He is too heavy to lift. There is no one close by to help us. TONIO: I will stay by him. My body will keep him warm. CESCA: But you will freeze to death yourself. TONIO: No. I'll be all right. Cover us up with my cloak. But hurry. Hurry to the village and bring help for the old man. CESCA: I will hurry, Tonio. I will hurry ...

2366. Proper 8

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

... from the strong egocentricity that marked his conduct in youth and during the early stages of his exile. The younger Jacob would have run when told Esau was coming to meet him with 400 armed men, but now he listened to the voice that told him to stay and - though solicitious regarding the welfare of his family and servants - he does not try to bargain with God. Instead, he offers a nobler prayer of thanksgiving for all God has done for him, and for all the blessings he has received. Finally, he implores God ...

2367. Proper 9

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon

... mother was made his nurse. We're not told how long she nursed her son, but in the society of the time, a baby boy was not normally weaned until the age of three, and sometimes, was even as old as five. At any rate, it is certain Moses stayed long enough with his parents to have his people's identity and hopes impressed upon him. There is a Hebrew word for hope whose root means to twist, to twine, and, in Moses' life, a hundred little strands of events came together, became entwined, and, eventually, made a ...

2368. Estranged Hands

Matthew 6:5-15

Children's Sermon

... enemies. Now, each of you tell the other one you're sorry. John: I'm sorry. Mary: I'm sorry. Teacher: Shake hands now and make up. Children: (shake hands) Have you seen things like that happen before? How sad it would have been if John and Mary would have stayed angry and not played with each other or spoken to each other. That would have been wrong. It is not good for us to hold bad feelings that separate us from each other. It is even worse when we have bad feelings in us that keep us away from Jesus ...

2369. A Good Picture of Bad People

Luke 16:1-15

Sermon

... of his colleagues that he could not vote for the statement, and most of these friends pleaded with him to change his mind or at least not be present while the vote was being taken. They advised that it would be for his own political good. But Governor Hatfield stayed to cast his vote, and this is how he describes the scene and some of his feelings. One after the other the "aye" votes sounded in the hushed room. As the roll call came nearer ... the room began to seem to me like one vast sound chamber with ...

2370. The Confessions of a Younger Brother

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

... listening ear. Whenever anyone who is in need comes to ask me to share the gifts and graces of my life with him/her, God is in that request. God came to the rich man again and again and again in the life of the beggar Lazarus. In Lazarus, God stayed at the doorway of the rich man’s house. God was in Lazarus begging the rich man to embrace God through his ministry to this poor beggar. That’s the secret, the sign, the good news. In every way God reaches out to you and me through the lives of ...

2371. Faith-Filled Living

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

... in the filming of the Father Brown stories which were written by G. K. Chesterton. The "shooting" was taking place in a small village in France. One night, after a hard day’s work on the set, Guiness started his walk home to the village where he was staying. He was still attired in his priest’s garb which he was wearing in the film. As he walked through the dark night, he heard the footsteps of someone running up behind him. It was a little French boy, who, thinking that Guiness was a priest, took hold ...

2372. God Is Good But Not Easy

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

... to God, "Give me, give me," to the place where he said to God, "Show me your glory." Unlike Jacob who wrestled with God all throught the night, Salieri made one visit and expected that encounter to bring the answers and solutions which he sought. Jacob stayed persistently with God until he grew to the place where he stopped saying to God, "Give me, give me," and said instead, "Tell me ... thy name." (Genesis 32:29) Nevertheless, in Salieri’s experience God was seen as a bargainer. So he made a bargain ...

2373. Parable on Love and Friendship

Hebrews 13:1-25

Illustration

... of a friend who can help a stranger gladly as well as be trusted by those who are close to me." Dick snorted, "You can sure be a sucker, a sucker for a soft touch with that attitude. Where did you get that idea? Let the strangers prove themselves or stay home." "I find it in my Bible," offered Bill. "But more important I find it makes life happy for me to feel that way about all people. I like to make strangers happy as well as acquaintances for it makes me joyous within." The world grows smaller as the ...

2374. The Third Sunday in Lent

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

... apartment in the middle of the city's caroling consumers, found a wilderness in the bleak midwinter. The teenagers who can't get jobs and who find society will pay more if they hustle their bodies on the street than reward them if they stay in school, have found a broad and easy highway to the wilderness, paved and paid for by the taxpayers. The housewife, children gone and husband at work, provided with no opportunity to discover her own identity apart from others' demands upon her, makes a wilderness ...

2375. The Fifth Sunday of Easter

John 14:1-4

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

... do, because I go to the Father." Jesus promises power on the path that leads us to the place he has prepared. So, this hardly seems a funeral text. It is a text brimming with life! It is a text I can begin to live with now and it will stay with me into the hereafter. Indeed, the hereafter has started now and the grave is but a slope to be descended before I rise to the other side. Yes, I went to my funeral when I went to my baptism; now the promise, the place, the path, the power are ...

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