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Showing 2376 to 2400 of 2404 results

2376. How About Some Applause for the Creator?

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... life was over. Was this all there is? A lifetime of composing with little to show for it but a lot of music that nobody wanted and financial ruin. He had thought his work was finished but, having been encouraged by a friend, he wrote his crowning achievement: Messiah.” (5) And here's how the story ends. King George was invited to attend the first performance of Messiah in London in 1743. The audience was extremely moved by the music, as was the king. When the words “And he shall reign for ever and ever ...

2377. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... regain their pilot status with the U.S. Air Force. Today, she is a Major and Command Pilot with the Air Force. She also trains Air Force cadets. Christy credits her faith in God and the support of her family, friends and colleagues with helping her achieve her goals. She recalls a fellow amputee, Matt Melancon, who visited her in the hospital right after the accident. One piece of advice he gave her has fueled her recovery: “Don’t for one second long for what you were, but recklessly pursue what you can ...

2378. Vengeance: Human and Divine

Matthew 13:1-9 · Isaiah 44:6-8 · Psalm 1-12, 17-18, 23-24

Sermon

Will Willimon

... in the world. God is good. Injustice angers God as much, more than it angers us. There is a place for righteous indignation. Yet, finally, it is up to God to judge, to decide what is best for the world, and how his purposes are to be achieved. And because vengeance is so natural, normal, because it plays a large part in the Bible, it impresses us with the staggering greatness of Jesus. Vengeance is natural. Utterly unnatural, in a way that can only be described as divine, was his response to injustice and ...

2379. Divine Things

Mark 8:31-38

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... we are brought to our knees and faced with our human limitations. That’s when we realize we need God. The trouble with many of us is that when things are going well, we believe we can forge ahead on our own. Who needs God when we feel we can achieve everything in life that we want all on our own? But the moment we realize we can’t, we become humbled. For some, that’s when our faith kicks in. Others never get it and will continue to strive forward alone for the rest of their lives, never realizing what ...

2380. The Best Little Harlot's House in Jericho

Hebrews 11:31

Sermon

Will Willimon

... you, for you were the fewest of all peoples; but it is because the LORD loves you, --Deuteronomy 7:6-7 It was out of love that God chose Israel. Biblical writers bend over backwards to say that its choice was not due to any achievement on Israel's part. Israel played the harlot many times. Waywardness, infidelity, idolatry, pride, were among the sins charged to Israel's account. Whatever is meant by “a people holy to the Lord," it means something other than a people pure and spotless. A biblical saint ...

2381. Is This All There Is?

Revelation 21:1-6

Sermon

Will Willimon

... system works and becomes the Senior cynic. And if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing, let’s break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is.” We live in a nation of doers, achievers. The “Do-It-Yourself” industry is booming because we like to take matters into our own hands. Cancer? Something to be conquered with more research money. Pollution? Can be cured by tougher . laws. War? Demand more international understanding. Depression? Find a good counselor. And because ...

2382. The Great Reveal

John 12:20-33

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... life source) and die (apothnasko) in order to produce more wheat (to be resurrected or “born again”). One cannot be lifted up by God unless and until one is willing to first “die.” While the process of reincarnation emphasizes the “achievement” of the human spirit, Jewish and Christian theology emphasizes the power of God. For this reason, God’s voice is heard by all bystanders, proclaiming “glorification.” Glorification is a beautiful word used here and gives us the final hint about what ...

2383. The Christian Mother

John 15:9-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... eight weeks pulling ropes, hauling sail and pulling up the anchor. As a result he developed large callouses all over the palms and fingers of his hands. His hands had become so tough he could do almost anything with them, and he was proud of his masculine achievement. When he returned to school, however, he discovered that he had lost his touch. He was afraid he would not be able to do his delicate work again. After a while, though, the tough skin wore away and the sensation returned to his hands. What he ...

2384.

Psalm 145:1-21

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... s central section (vv. 10–13a), which celebrates Yahweh’s kingdom (vv. 10–13a). His royal role is also plain from the references to his glorious splendor (vv. 5, 12). Both of these roles are closely related in other psalms where divine kingship is achieved by establishing creation order (see e.g. Pss. 24; 29; 74; 93; 104). But noticeably absent in this postexilic psalm is any reference to conflict with chaotic powers. 145:1–3 In the opening verses, the speaker announces his intention to exalt Yahweh ...

2385. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 14:1-35

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... is good” will both practice and experience steadfast love (NIV “love and faithfulness”; Hebrew hesed and emet; cf. Prov. 3:3; 16:6). But merely planning good (i.e., “mere talk”) accomplishes little—no pain, no gain (14:23). Accumulated wealth is a “crowning” achievement for the wise (cf. 14:18, 35), while all that fools multiply is folly (14:24). Life-and-death matters are addressed in 14:25–27. Verse 25 affirms the life-saving power of a truthful witness in a capital case (cf. 14:5 in ...

2386. AAA=A

John 6:35, 41-51

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the Reformers realized those many years ago, starting with Martin Luther! We can’t do this on our own, not even one of those steps! And God never intended that we should. For our salvation is not based on our efforts, our measurements, our works, or our achievements. Our salvation is based on our willingness to faith and trust. This is a choice we make to be in covenant with God. When we trust in Jesus, attune to his voice, and get in line behind him, as he instructed Peter to do, as we align ourselves ...

2387. It’s Lonely At The Top

Mark 9:38-50 · Esther 7:1-10; 9:20-22 · Psalm 124 · Numbers 11:4-29

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

... ’s good to pair this psalm with the Esther story. Esther is one of only two books in the whole Bible that do not mention God. (The other is Song of Songs.) Still, the faithful can sense the Lord’s working through ordinary, flawed, human people to achieve great things. Actually, if God wanted to work with people, the best God can get is flawed, human, broken people. It’s been said that Jesus was a friend of sinners, but what choice did he have, really? In the lesson from Numbers we find another leader ...

2388. Hearing A Familiar Voice

John 10:22-30

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... , to be sure. But also touching. To have that sense, even if we cannot see our Master, that his voice is audible, his presence is near, his care is always certain. One writer told of attending a business conference where awards were being given for outstanding achievements during the past fiscal year. A woman was called to the podium to receive the company’s top honor. Clutching her trophy, she beamed out at the crowd of over 3,000 people. Yet in that moment of triumph, she had eyes for only one person ...

2389. You Are the Christ....Now What About Them?

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

Will Willimon

... arm wrestle everyone else into seeing things the way you now see them." Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon! Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven." In other words, Peter, you believe in me, not as a personal intellectual achievement, but rather as gift. Grace. If this morning you can say…when asked Who is Jesus?, “The Messiah, the Son of God," it's only because it has been given to you. No place for smugness, self righteousness here. Note that first Jesus asks about ...

2390. Why We Light the Candles

Luke 2:1-20 · Isaiah 9:2, 6

Sermon

Will Willimon

... why we light the candles? No. We are not here this night to celebrate human accomplishment, the work of the UN, the good efforts of volunteers and their “thousand points of light,” the elucidation of one or a million hopeful human achievements. Our darkness, the present darkness, dark Durham is greater than our efforts to enlighten it. You have not come to this chapel this night as phototactic bugs, swarming about some streetlight, poor darkened souls who long for a little artificial yuletide fantasy ...

2391. Getters of Things Done

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... to be done, always sitting around thinking and reading and smelling flowers and never really accomplishing anything. There are two kinds of people in the world: Marys and Marthas. Which kind of person are you? Are you a Mary or a Martha? The Slacker and The Achiever I don’t know about you, but my first inclination upon reading or hearing read the story of Mary and Martha is to take sides. I’m betting it’s the same for you. Okay, be honest. Mary people, raise your hands. Martha people? Hands. Uh, huh ...

2392. For Someone Noted for Their Smile

Psalm 39 · John 6:51-58

Eulogy

Richard E. Zajac

... t help but smile. David Brooks wrote a book some time ago that was entitled: The Road to Character. In it, he made a point about resume virtues and eulogy virtues and how too many of us chase after resume virtues (accomplishments, achievements, awards) and not enough chase after eulogy virtues (character, kindness, excellence, integrity).[2] Nancy Campbell had her share of resume virtues, but what made her a standout in life was her abundance of eulogy virtues; her kindness, her integrity, her willingness ...

2393. For Someone Who Led an Extraordinary Life

2 Timothy 4:1-2; 6-8 · 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 · Luke 24:13-35

Eulogy

Richard E. Zajac

... ’ve marveled at his embodiment of the Coast Guard values of honor and respect and dedication. You would’ve marveled at all the medals he was awarded, all the accommodations he received. You would’ve marveled as to how a South Buffalo boy went on to achieve hero status, how a South Buffalo boy could be seen by the entire country as one of the greatest soldiers that ever lived. Now admittedly, it is a shame that, unlike our ancestors, none of us go out on a Sunday afternoon looking for marvelous things ...

2394. An Up-Close Nativity

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

Heather Sugden

... our faith is supposed to look like, where the characters stand in relation to one another, how they form a scene that will look perfectly beautiful to the eye. Each of us has imagined the rites of passage that mark our faith journeys and life achievements: baptism, Holy Communion, education, love and the expansion of our own families, work, pleasure, and personal growth. And often the models in our minds look nothing like real life, and nothing like our own lives, either. We can spend lots of time trying to ...

2395. Calculated Christianity

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

... a viral TED talk by Angela Duckworth in 2013 and then she published a book of the same title in 2018 ― Grit: The Power Of Passion And Perseverance. In a nutshell, “grit” is mental toughness, the ability to persevere and keep at it in order to achieve a long- term goal. Like calculating what it is going to take to build that big tower and then keeping after it, no matter that a storm knocked it down or that the permit got delayed or that thieves stole the materials, just keep calculating and working ...

2396. The Spirit Blows Where It Will

John 3:1-10

Sermon

Will Willimon

... Now, you're catching on." “You must be born from above." (By the way, the “you” here is in the plural. Jesus was from Georgia. You all must be born from above.) And we are. That's what's so confusing about it. For we are such high achievers, do it yourselfers, pragmatic, programmic. What do we have to do? Is there a technique? Can we read a book about it? Are there illustrated directions? That's the image I have of us on Sunday morning. We come with our little notepads ready to receive our assignment ...

2397. Ghosts - 1951

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

Kent Moorehead

The key idea that unlocks the haunting theme of Henrik Ibsen’s undying drama, Ghosts, is succinctly stated by Mrs. Alving when she exclaims: Ghosts! When I heard Regina and Oswald in there, I seemed to see ghosts before me. I almost think we’re all of us ghosts, Pastor Manders. It’s not only what we have inherited from our father and mother that "walks" in us. It’s all sorts of dead ideas, and lifeless old beliefs, and so forth. They have no vitality, but they cling to us just the same, and we can’t get ...

2398. The First Murder - 1940

Matthew 7:1-6

Sermon

Kent Moorehead

There are four highly accredited ways to study the Bible. First, study the beauty spots, the familiar passages. Second, study the individual books and master them. Third, study the great biographies and know them. And fourth, study the structural ideas of the book as they are developed. Now this last method is unquestionably the most rewarding and likewise the most adequate way of knowing the Bible, but it isn’t the most interesting. The most interesting way to study the Bible is by studying the ...

2399. The Evangelism Of Emphasis - 1946

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Kent Moorehead

Emphasis on evangelism is essential to vital Christianity. The evangelization of the world is its main business. But this means vastly more than a matter of additional church members. It is, above all else, a matter of transformed, empowered personalities. Evangelism means preaching the gospel to secure conversions. The essence of the gospel that the Christian Church is supposed to proclaim is simply this: "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; they are become new ...

2400. What Are Christian Liberals? - 1951

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Kent Moorehead

The principle wrapped up in that text would seem to be quite obvious - that the most important thing to remember in dealing with all ambiguities, controversies, uncertainties, is that there is a spirit of truth available and if we keep our hearts and minds receptive, attentive responsive, we shall be led into all truth. Now that’s the core of the liberal’s approach to life. Keep that in mind as we proceed to discuss this very interesting and important issue: What Are Christian Liberals? I shall never ...

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