Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2401 to 2425 of 4937 results

2401. Gifts of Lent II: Mary Gives Her Perfume

Matthew 26:6-13

Drama

Donald Neidigk

Dramatic Monologue You're here to speak with the friends of Jesus, are you? Well then, by all means, let's talk! Shall we sit here in my garden? It's the perfect place. The morning air is still cool and each gentle breeze brings with it the scent of my flowers. How I love my flowers, especially the lilies! Their sweetness always reminds me of that evening so long ago when I poured out an entire flask of treasured perfume on the head and feet of Jesus. It was the week of Passover. Our village of Bethany was ...

2402. The True Story of The Magi (Old Title: Just The Facts)

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

John Jamison

There is a beautiful old tradition about the star in the East. The story says that when the star had finished its task of directing the wise men to the baby, it fell from the sky and dropped down into the city well of Bethlehem. According to some legend, that star is there to this day, and can sometimes still be seen by those whose hearts are pure and clean. It's a pretty story. It kind of makes you feel warm inside. There are other legends about this story of the wise men from the east. For instance, how ...

2403. Facing Up to a Power Problem

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

Today we have a power problem. Before Pentecost the disciples had a power problem; they were helpless. There’s all the difference in the world when the power is turned on. Jesus said to his ineffective disciples: "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you." Then it happened. The air was charged with change. Against their souls in strain A furious wind was hurled. Down some invisible wire, Exploding into fire, God’s lightning came; And their night Was burned away. (a parody on ...

2404. Look Who's Giving Thanks!

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

King Duncan

For the past twenty years or so, a team of nutritionists and home economists on Butterball Turkey's Turkey Talk-Line have answered every conceivable question about how to cook a holiday turkey to perfection. One woman called to find out how long it would take to roast her turkey. To answer the question, the Talk-Line home economist asked how much the bird weighed. The woman responded, “I don't know, it's still running around outside." Leadership magazine had a story sometime back about a lady who was ...

2405. Your Face Gives You Away

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome to worship on this Valentine’s Day, 2010. That’s a reminder to the husbands in the congregation, just in case you forgot. According to one source, it is easy TO TELL YOU FORGOT VALENTINE’S DAY. Here are some dead giveaways: The kids tell you that Mom “went to bed early” and “locked the door” . . . while you were taking out the trash. Hallmark calls, offering discounts on apology cards. You wake up with a florist’s ad stapled to your forehead. (1) Just a friendly warning. And I also need to say ...

2406. A Giving Incarnation

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Shortly after World War II came to a close, Europe began picking up the pieces. Much of the Old Country had been ravaged by war and was in ruins. Perhaps the saddest sight of all was that of little orphaned children starving in the streets of those war-torn cities. Early one chilly morning an American soldier was making his way back to the barracks in London. As he turned the corner in his jeep, he spotted a little lad with his nose pressed to the window of a pastry shop. Inside the cook was kneading dough ...

2407. The Divine Mission

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

A friend of mine taught ethics at a Christian college. Several years ago, there was a scare on campus because a student had been raped. Since my friend wanted his students to deal with actual ethical situations, he began the next class session with a question: “If a friend came to your room in tears, telling how her date had just raped her, what is the first thing you would do to help her?” After a moment’s reflective silence one student raised her hand and asked, tentatively, “Pray?” The whole class ...

2408. Let's Give Jesus a Hand

Galatians 6:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

"What is that in your hand?" God asked of Moses as God called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 4:2). God asks us the same question today. And God will ask us the same question at Judgment Day: "What is that in your hand?" In some churches today there has developed the terribly annoying custom of someone interrupting worship or a concert and hollering, "Let's give Jesus a hand," causing everyone to erupt into applause. While this type of enthusiasm is certainly a welcome sign of life (especially in ...

2409. It’s How You Give

Illustration

Keith Wagner

Abraham Lincoln, was once hired by a man to sue someone else because they owed him $2.50. Not a large amount, but in the 1860's it was. Lincoln didn't want to take the case but his client insisted. So Abe asked for a $10.00 retainer fee up front. His client handed him the $10. Lincoln then gave the man who owed $2.50 half of the ten. The man promptly paid his debt and everyone went home happy. It's not what you give, its HOW you give. God wants us to give of ourselves joyfully without expecting anything in ...

2410. Give and Take

Illustration

James Packer

What is meant by fellowship in this verse? Gossip? Cups of tea? Tours? No. What is being referred to is something of a quite different order and on a quite different level. "They met constantly to hear the apostles teach, and to share the common life, and break bread and to pray. A sense of awe was everywhere. All whose faith had drawn them together held everything in common. With one mind they kept up their daily attendance at the temple, and, breaking bread in private houses, shared their meals with ...

2411. Giving Our Best

Illustration

Michael P. Green

Years ago, The Sunday School Times carried the account of a Christian school for the children of “untouchables” in India prior to World War II. Each year the children received Christmas presents from children in England. The girls got a doll, and the boys a toy. On one occasion the doctor from a nearby mission hospital was asked to distribute the gifts. In the course of his visit, he told the youngsters about a village where the boys and girls had never even heard of Jesus. He suggested that maybe they ...

2412. Don't Worry--Give Thanks

Matthew 6:25-33

Sermon

King Duncan

What are you worried about today? If you are like most people, you are probably worried about your weight. That might not be at the top of your list, but according to a survey by Beneden Health in the United Kingdom, that’s the # 1 concern for most people. Here are the Top Ten Worries according to this survey (counting down from #10 to #1): 10. Diet 9. Job security 8. Rent/mortgage payment 7. Credit card debt 6. Low energy level 5. Overdrafts and loans 4. Overall fitness 3. Lack of savings/financial future ...

2413. Suffering Soapsuds

1 Peter 2:20

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Detergent used for washing clothes or dishes and a jar of hot water. Good morning, boys and girls. A few days ago a little boy asked me if I had ever heard of the Dead Sea. When I said yes, he wanted to know what had made it sick and how it died. That is a very interesting question. The Dead Sea is in the Holy Land and it is the lowest spot on earth. In the water there is a lot of salt, just as there is in the ocean, but the water in the Dead Sea has nowhere to go and the Sea just gets saltier and ...

2414. Opening Up Heaven

Luke 3:21-22

Sermon

King Duncan

This morning's lesson from the Gospel deals with the baptism of Jesus. It is a good time for us to affirm the meaning of our own baptism. William P. Barker tells about a machinist with the Ford motor company in Detroit who had, over a period of years, "borrowed" various parts and tools from the company which he had not bothered to return.. While this practice was not condoned, it was more or less accepted by management, and nothing was done about it. The machinist, however, experienced a Christian ...

2415. Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King

1 Kings 1:1-27

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Solomon Becomes King: The narrative that begins our book (1 Kgs. 1–2) is really not a beginning at all, but the last chapter of the larger story of David, which is found in 1–2 Samuel. It is in 2 Samuel 11 that Bathsheba, who plays such a prominent role in 1 Kings 1–2, first appears—possessed by David at the cost of her husband’s life (2 Sam. 11:6–27). Later the lives of various of David’s sons are recounted (2 Sam. 12–18). The end of 2 Samuel is a sorry tale of wickedness and weakness, which raises a ...

2416. Used Up

Isaiah 26:1-21

Children's Sermon

Mark A. Hultquist

Object: A rock, a light bulb, an empty milk carton, and a tube of toothpaste that is partially used. Text: Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting rock ... This morning I would like to talk with you about things that seem to run out at just the wrong time. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Let's say your mom or dad made a batch of your favorite cookies. You came home from school and had several for a snack. Then you took some for your lunch for several days in a row. ...

2417. Ooo Boy!

Matthew 5:33-37, Matthew 5:31-32

Sermon

John Jamison

I don't know what started the argument. I don't know if anyone really knows what started the argument. In all honesty, it doesn't matter. I think we all know that most arguments never end up where they end up because of where they started. It might have started over some disagreement over the children. It might have begun over something about the in-laws, or perhaps it was her cooking again. Who knows. But it really doesn't matter how it started, what matters is that it has suddenly gotten very quiet in ...

2418. Storing Up the Good

1 Timothy 6:19

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

Props: A cup of water, a cup of coffee with some grounds, two coffee filters, and a pitcher. Lesson: Today we are going to do an experiment. Hold up the cup of water. What do I have here? (response) Yes, it is water. I'm going to pour this water through this filter and into the pitcher. After I am done, I want you to tell me if there is anything remaining on the filter. Pour the water through the filter and into the pitcher. Do you think the water left anything on the filter? (response) Look at it. What do ...

2419. Waiting for Jesus

Romans 13:11b

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A driver's license. Good morning, boys and girls. A very happy day to you. This is the first Sunday in Advent, which means that we are now preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ into the world again. That's right, we are here this morning to pray and hope that Jesus will come again, and that when he does we will know that the perfect world that God has planned has happened. The Bible says that the coming of Jesus into our world is closer to happening now than when we first heard about Jesus. Let ...

2420. The Restaurant in Downtown Jericho

Matt 3:1-17

Illustration

John Jamison

The way it happened in my mind is that he walked into this little restaurant in downtown Jericho, took a deep breath and hollered, "Repent!" Folks stopped eating mid-bite. It got so quiet you could hear the motor running in that tall machine over in the corner that kept slices of pie turning around behind the glass all day. Every eye in the place was on him, and that was what he was waiting for. He started talking, and shouting, and waving his arms, and every time someone would try to laugh at him and go ...

2421. Cleaning Up Our Act

Matthew 23:1-12

Illustration

Billy Graham tells of meeting a well-known attorney on an airplane one day as he was flying to a speaking engagement. Dr. Graham observed that the man was drinking everything the stewardess would bring him in order to drown his pain. But it wasn't working. A conversation began. The man told Graham that he was a church member in good standing. He acknowledged, however, that he needed "to clean up his act." Deep in his heart he knew right from wrong and realized that he had to change his life. He said, "I ...

2422. Down the Up Staircase

Genesis 11:1-9

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Whose life will be a staircase for God''s descent to earth? The tower of Babel would seem like pretty short stuff compared to today's architectural wonders. Buildings are now built so tall that engineers design flexibility into their frames, allowing them to sway in the swirling winds without damaging the integrity of the structure. Our cities are so filled with sky-scraping boxes that we have created whole new weather and wind patterns within these steel and concrete canyons. A few creatures have even ...

2423. Lighting up Your Neighborhood

Acts 13:44-49

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. The Bible is quite insistent about that. Eight times from Leviticus to First John the Bible comes right out and commands it. Numerous times it is mentioned as the foundation of all human relationships. Loving your neighbor is not a plaque to be posted in our court houses. It is a principle to apply in our lives. What part of neighbor don't we understand? I. NEIGHBORS ARE THOSE NEARBY The literal translation of neighbor is the “the person next to a person." Turn to ...

2424. Stand Up and Be Counted

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Some years ago, Premier Khrushchev was speaking before the Supreme Soviet and was severely critical of the late Premier Stalin. While he was speaking someone from the audience sent up a note: "What were you doing when Stalin committed all these atrocities?" Khrushchev shouted, "Who sent up that note?" Not a person stirred. “I’ll give him one minute to stand up!” The seconds ticked off. Still no one moved. "All right, I'll tell you what I was doing. I was doing exactly what the writer of this note was doing ...

2425. Fired Up and Fit for the Feast

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Lori Wagner

In this second week of Advent, we have a powerful scripture this morning, a kind of holy hellfire prophetic voice coming from one of the most interesting figures in the gospels –John, known as the Baptist. Though we know little about John directly from gospel stories such as this one, we can glean from mention of him, the circumstances of his life, and the many times Jesus’ disciples and apostles encounters John’s disciples, that his ministry was significant, widespread, well-known, respected, and his ...

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