Sermon and Worship Resources

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... armor became so elaborate and heavy that fighting in such restrictive outfits was virtually impossible. It was a significant physical feat just to get all the stuff on, and not fall down. The Roman armor described in this week’s epistle text was far different. It was lightweight, utilitarian, proved and improved on thousands of battlefields. The “breastplate” was not like some over-sized tuna fish can encasing the soldier. It was known as the “lorica hamata” or “lorica segmenta” — a kind of ...

2. Tears At The Tomb

John 11:17-37

Sermon

William G. Carter

... to grab the reins of those runaway wild horses. "Tell us, Jonathan," Betsy said, "why did you pick that verse?" With perfect teenage logic, Jonathan replied, "Because it's the shortest verse in the Bible." At first glance, that brief verse looks like a lightweight compared to other verses. The Gospel of John often reveals the eternal Word in single sentences, but the sentence "Jesus wept" does not sound like one of them. Even when the New Revised Standard Version expands it to four words ("Jesus began to ...

3. Too Light A Thing

Isaiah 49:1-7

Sermon

Paul E. Robinson

... so long by focusing on how to move mole hills. And that goes for church work and it goes for us personally. God has unlimited resources for us and calls us to reach out to the world with those enormous resources. In what ways is God calling us away from lightweight things? To what ventures are we being led or called? What about in your own life? I've always been intrigued by the story, supposed to be true, of a man who was so discouraged by his poor health that he decided to end it all by running until he ...

4. Wheels Instead Of Walls

Ezekiel 1:1-28

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... we are brutally honest with ourselves we must admit that that's hard to take. The idea that God doesn't play favorites has always been a bitter pill for religious people to swallow. I guess that's one reason why we preachers preach so many lightweight sermons on self-help, personal happiness, individual depression and the book of Revelation with its emphasis on our Christian revenge. Maybe that's why we have so many bumper-stickers and lapel pins with slogans like "God is my co-pilot" or "In case of rapture ...

5. The Pitcher Is Not Alone In This

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... Ranger" Christians. These Lone Rangers think they can serve Christ without being part of the team. Robert Hastings has designed a "Do-It-Yourself Worship Kit!" for such people. "Here's what you'll find in each carefully planned package: "One portable, lightweight seat, shaped like a church pew. Can be set up anywhere. "One small, paper covered hymnal containing one dozen well-known hymns (words and music). "One harmonica ” or mouth organ ” to take the place of the church organ. (Frankly, you will find ...

6. I'm Mad And I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore!

John 2:12-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... a hall carpet," drawls Haslim, "and watching the dust fly." His invention can pulverize ice an inch thick on the surface of a wing. Yet it uses no more power than a single landing light, and costs less than an airplane tire. "It's so simple, lightweight, and cheap, it's nauseating," says Haslim. It may be that over the next several years, hundreds of lives will be saved because Leonard Haslim got angry watching the 6 o'clock news. (4) Is there something making you angry? I am not talking about shooting ...

7. The Secret Of Champions

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... man, thin, almost gaunt. Their miles of training through the years have pared all the fat off their bones. They are sleek and hawk-like, built for gliding through the countryside. "All are dressed in the usual marathoner ™s attire-flimsy T-shirt, scanty shorts, lightweight running shoes. They all know that the less weight they carry the better their chance for victory. "All but one, that is. Perched in the back of the pack at the starting line is one comical figure who looks shockingly out of place. This ...

8. The King Of Ifs

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Richard Andersen

... head. Some of you have noticed the workman directing traffic for the big trucks down on Branham Lane at Carter, as they build the freeway. He is a weight-lifter evidently with massive arms and great shoulders, but despite all his apparent strength he holds only a lightweight caution sign that a three-year old toddler could manage quite successfully. One thinks it's a bit of overkill...such strength for such a picayune sign. The might is not in the sign, but in the person who holds it. One would not care to ...

9. General Hospital

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Frank Lyman

... with regard to the rights of people with handicapping conditions and thank God for them. The physically and mentally challenged are being brought into the mainstream of society. Much of what we now take for granted: ramps, curb breaks, lightweight braces, leaps in medical science, broader special education, closed captioning, assistance for the hearing impaired and designated parking spaces are recent developments that acknowledge the place of persons in our society who once were relegated to the fringe of ...

10. Ready For A Change

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... his surprise, the little car followed him right into his own driveway. Neel got out to confront the driver. Another surprise--there was no driver. It seems Neel had accidentally backed into this little car at the drug store and locked bumpers with it. The lightweight little car stayed stuck to his bumper for the whole drive home. Neel called the drug store just moments after the Volkswagen owner had called the police and reported his car stolen. (4) In the same way that the little Volkswagen Bug locked on ...

11. Try This on For Size!

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... all around just to have their yokes made by Joseph and Son. They would tie their big oxen to a tree, step inside for a few moments, and soon emerge with a young boy named Jesus. He would walk over to the oxen and take careful measurements. Then a lightweight wood was chosen, carving and filing was done. Finally there would be trial fittings. The yoke must fit just right. It could not be too tight, too small, or heavy or rough. Otherwise, it would gall the oxen's neck. That would never do, for it would cause ...

12. Experience the Mystery

Colossians 1:15-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... set of all the usual suspects. As the gospels and epistles unfold their tale, however, the mystery that is the heart of this story is only slowly revealed. In the gospels Jesus constantly drops lead-weight hints to his dense and often lightweight disciples. They never figure out the mystery during Jesus' ministry on earth. Only after the gift of the Holy Spirit is given at Pentecost do Jesus' followers finally experience the unveiling of the mystery. When the Spirit of Christ enters into the disciples ...

13. Atlas or Jesus?

1 John 1:1-4

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... believe in strongly. Look again at the statue of Atlas and see the strain and stress, the agony and endurance, required of anyone who tries to go it alone. 1 John's message to his house churches is the message of the child-Jesus balancing the lightweight "ball" of the whole of creation. God does make it easy. With God our lives are not a solitary struggle for survival. The assurance of Christ's atonement for our sins, Jesus' constant mediation on our behalf, gives all of life a secure, ever-present safety ...

14. The World's Fittest Human

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , making your every step a step toward love in action? As admired as Tiger Woods' accomplishments are, it is hard for us non-golfers to think of someone who strolls around the manicured links of a golf course hitting a tiny ball with a lightweight stick as an "athlete." We need a more muscled-up, worked-out, blood-and-sweat example of athleticism. Enter Mark Allen six-time "Ironman" winner and holder of the title "The World's FittestMan." "Ironman" competitions (there are also Ironwoman competitions in fact ...

15. By Whose Standards?

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... modern rowing: Jesus is the coxswain directing and urging on the crew of which Paul and Apollos are members. Well, that's okay as far as it goes but it misses the fact that we are talking about under-rowers. The image is not that of a lightweight shell skimming the Charles River near Harvard, but a large galley, perhaps outfitted for war. It is not a crew of equals. And the huperetes is at the bottom of the totem pole. So by this term, Paul is really emphasizing lowliness. Then, somewhat surprisingly, Paul ...

16. Right-Handed Sinners!

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... s kingdom: "You must be born again" (John 3:7). In one fell swoop, Jesus places the entire company of the Jewish religious leaders outside the kingdom of God! The Jewish leaders are not born again. Therefore, they are not counted in Christ's family. That is no lightweight statement. Then there is the rich young ruler whom Jesus tells to get rid of all his possessions — not just some of them, not a mere tithe, not even half or most of them, but all of them! Jesus sets up a struggle within the heart of that ...

17. Sleeping in on Sunday

Ephesians 6:10

Sermon

Thomas Lentz

... a heavy, clumsy gate. One of his friends often wondered about that gate and why a man of his standing would put up with such an unattractive gate on his property. One day he ventured to ask about it and to suggest casually that Edison get something more modern, lightweight and easy to close or open. Mr. Edison looked at him with a twinkle in his eye. "Come," he said, "let me show you something." He showed him how the big gate was geared in with a pumping contraption. "You see, every man who comes to see me ...

18. Stand by Me

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... it is important to always bring a sweater with you. Huh?! (Yes, I know a sweater is something your mother puts on you when she is cold!) Likewise if you head to Minnesota in mid-winter you would be wise to bring something lightweight and with short sleeves. Crazy?! These seemingly illogical suggestion are actually good ideas. Why? Because our culture is addicted to “climate control.” Air conditioning and central heating make it possible for us to create any kind of climate, any sort of indoor “weather ...

19. Let's Take This from the Beginning

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

James Merritt

... to just 10. These riders rode 6 days a week, for that time, at a very high salary of $125 a month. Each man was outfitted identically with a bright red shirt and blue trousers. Their company issued gear included an ultra light saddle, colt revolver, lightweight riffle, and a Bible. No other books or heavy packages were allowed. Mail had to be written on very thin paper so the weight would be reduced and they could carry more of it, but a Bible was included in every man’s saddlebag. Amazingly, the Pony ...

20. The Art of Fruit

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the hearts of many. Jesus’ baptism will be a discernment of the heart committed to God. The threshing stone is an amazing metaphor in scripture. It was a round, flat, clearing of land, usually on a hill, designed for separating grain from chaff (the lightweight husks that surround the grain). Using a winnowing fork, a kind of large cross between a pitchfork and plow, the farmer would draw it across the pile of grain. In doing so, the empty husks would fly away into the wind. The heavier and nutrient ...

21. Lesson from a Prosthetic Toe

Luke 17:5-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... and decided to invest in his work. He also connected Easton with major software and electronics companies. With Robbins’ help, Easton founded his company, which he named Unlimited Tomorrow, in 2014. By 2017, Easton manufactured his first robotic arm that was multifunctional, lightweight and inexpensive—in the $5,000 range. He gave it away to a 10-year-old girl named Momo. Easton and Robbins have created a crowdfunding campaign called 100 Tomorrows to raise money to build and give away 100 3D printed ...

22. Imperfect Pastors

Exodus 32:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... like King Kong, War of the Worlds, or the Fast and Furious franchise. He describes riding a tram through the movie lots and seeing the sets from famous movies. Although the sets look realistic and sturdy, most of them are just facades, lightweight, external front pieces with no actual building behind them. They have an impressive appearance, but no lasting substance. Pastor Evans makes the point that many Christians are like those movie lots. They may go through the motions of attending church, but they ...

23. Growing Into Our Scars

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Mary Austin

... for the field trip. “Kyle took a sharp left and began walking through a dilapidated strip mall. [Getting tired,] he bent over with his hands on his knees, [trying] to catch his breath. That is when he saw me. I must have looked ridiculous — the front of my lightweight blouse soaked with sweat, my once-styled hair now plastered to the side of my beet red face. He stood up abruptly …but it was not a look of fear. I saw his body relax. He did not attempt to run again …My exhaustion caused me to slow ...

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