Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 1533 results

John 6:16-24

Sermon

Richard Hoefler

... I can do it." Now this is an admirable virtue in many areas of life, but in the realm of faith, it is appallingly inadequate. This view of faith is frequently promoted by the "Imitation of Christ" theology. Our Lord is presented as the perfect example that we should resolutely strive to follow. We are encouraged to take scissors of determination and human initiative and cut our lives into the patterned shape of Christ’s perfection. If we just have strong enough faith and iron-bound determination we can do ...

2. The Reception was Excellent

John 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... mechanisms of the natural order. That may be why genuine miracles seem to be so rare. I’m talking about miracles that completely defy the laws of nature. It’s interesting, even the miracles that Jesus performed conformed to God’s natural laws. A perfect example is the turning of water into wine. Pastor Ray Stedman notes that “water is being changed into wine in every vineyard in Northern California right now!” Think about that for a moment. Water is being changed to wine all over the world, in ...

3. Sole Brother

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

... someone in need if someone has provided us with an example of helping before our moment and opportunity. Our supreme example was Christ. Luther called him "God’s Good Samaritan for all." It is obvious that in our human frailty we will not match the perfect example of Christ, but somewhere in our travels each of us will be an example to someone. At those moments we have the unique opportunity to make a very meaningful contribution. The world will not change much because we came, but it will never be quite ...

4. Plumb Line Prophecy

Amos 7:1-9, Amos 7:10-17

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon. Just what is an inch, foot, or yard anyway, or a gallon or millimeter or milligram? It is a nationally-accepted standard of measurement, the perfect example of which is stored intact at the Federal Bureau of Standards in the nation’s capital. Every weight and measure we have finds its final proof in those offices, and all are judged by the perfect measurements that are stored under protection there. Amos ...

5. The Servant Leader

John 13:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... washing and providing basic care for people on the verge of death. And she did it all with a beautiful smile. We know Agnes, of course, as Mother Teresa, a true saint of God and one of the great people of the twentieth century. She was the perfect example of the kind of greatness Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once talked about: “Everybody can be great,” he said, “because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve ...

6. “If I Were Hungry I Would Not Tell You, for the World Is Mine, and All That Is in It”

Psalm 50:1-23

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: One of the great dissimilarities between humanity and God is that we are needy people, but God needs nothing. Understanding the Text Psalm 50 is a perfect example of the kind of liturgical piece that might be recited in the seventh year when the Torah was read at the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut. 31:9–13).1Yet when the Book of the Covenant was discovered in the temple during Josiah’s reign (622–609 BC), it seems that ...

7. Caring for Others: The Christian Vocation in the World

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... common vocation to holiness. And we must realize that nothing can or will stand in God's way to assure this reality. The resurrected Christ, who today ascends to the Father, "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion," leads the way. Jesus is the perfect example for us and thus, as the Pauline writer concludes the prayer, "[God] has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1 ...

8. The World's Fittest Human

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... strength just to get through each and every day. To deny that God's presence and love need be involved in this physicality would exorcise godliness from our existence. As Christians, we have our own "body canon," our own "Ironman" to look to as a perfect example of "fitness." Jesus Christ perfectly embodied the mandates of the Shema reflecting God's love and loving the neighbor with all of his heart, mind, soul and strength. Let Jesus coach you as you train in godliness. Love God and neighbor with all your ...

9. The Set Face And The Turned Head

Luke 9:51-56, Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

Larry Powell

... noble and highly commendable. However, if all we are committed to is the formality of making the commitment, we are, as someone expressed it, "a bluster, a bluff, an empty show." A good case could be made for the claim that our generation is the perfect example of what happens when commitments are neutralized or largely ignored. Can you think of another time in history when the "everyone for himself, grab-what-you-can-now, get out of my way" attitude has been more prevalent? We are dangerously close to the ...

10. The Bridge Builder

Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... . When country music singer Willie Nelson's daughter told him that she was thinking of entering the music business, he gave her one piece of advice: "Paula, look at everything I do closely and do exactly the opposite." (3) Fortunately, that's not what Jesus says. He offers us a perfect example of how to live a lifestyle of love. But we'd rather ignore Jesus' example. We tend to use other people as our yardstick. "I'm as good as So-and-So." "I may not be perfect, but at least I don't do what Mrs. So-and-So ...

11. Jesus the Iconoclast

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . The icon of political authority. The icon of strength. The icon of superiority. The icon of success. The icon of power. Today’s gospel text is just one of many examples of Jesus’ iconoclastic skills. In fact, today’s text is a perfect example of an "iconoclash" by an iconoclast — the head-butting, get-nowhere, everybody is wrong warfare that occurs when two icons collide. In today’s case, the Pharisees are touting the icon of religious righteousness. How could any "good Jew" be willing to ...

12. Lean on Me

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

... into the same ugly situation, then you can walk a mile in her shoes. The fact is that the widow was not going to allow that judge to sleep at night until she was granted justice. In fact, that widow became a model for the early Christians. She was the perfect example of the need for prayer to be without ceasing. She showed that prayer is not a last resort; it is a daily Christian nutrient. We need it, it makes us strong. Her life is an example of a strong faith lived out as a witness to the world. It is ...

13. A Sermon About Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... of time, while others believe that it refers to the immediate now. I like to think that it refers to both. God, it said, please do not judge us now or in the future because, certainly, who among us can stand against your perfect judgment? Having given us a perfect example of a prayer, Jesus taught a little bit about prayer. 5. And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6. for a friend of mine has arrived ...

14. "When E. F. Hutton Talks"

Jeremiah 26:1-24

Sermon

Peter Rudowski

... by feelings underneath that say we want to be fulfilled. The challenge stirs us up inside and makes us think. Like the E. F. Hutton ad, when God speaks, we are to stop, look, examine, and change. Our lesson today gives a perfect example of God calling people to change. We have a perfect example this morning of God saying to people that they had better examine their investment plan. The job of the prophet Jeremiah is to raise the issue with the people just as if he was the ad on television. Jeremiah is sent ...

15. Rule Breakers

Matthew 5:21-37

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... We will realize why Jesus urges us to make peace with others, to heal our separation with others. It is more honoring to God to live in harmony with others than to offer religious sacrifices. I think the story of Capt. Pete Peterson is a perfect example of thoroughly experiencing change in a relationship that seemed to be beyond repair. On September 6, 1966, Capt. Pete Peterson and his co-pilot were shot down while on a bombing run over Hanoi, Vietnam. Peterson was captured by Viet Cong soldiers and held in ...

16. When Life Seems Out Of Control

2 Samuel 18:1-18

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... he went wrong. It's easy to identify his mistakes. What is hard for us to see is that what we are doing is wrong and might lead to disaster. When everything seems to be going well, it's hard to see any differently. David Loe is a perfect example of someone who thought everything was all right. David Loe grew up in Texas and claims that he has been interested in airplanes and flying since he was in junior high school. While growing up, David had models flying from his ceiling. When persons asked him what he ...

17. Read the Directions

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... refused to resign, claiming that this would not impair his ability to be a judge in city court. Christ’s justice does not come from a source like that. He was never fairly convicted of any wrong. In generosity and concern for others, Christ is also the perfect example. He only lived for the good of others. What the prodigal son’s father said to the disgruntled elder brother at the end of Jesus’ parable is what the Lord says to us, “All that is mine is yours.” No one can be more generous than that ...

18. Wave The Flags

John 10:10 · Luke 12:48

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... one to whom much is given, of him will much be required." (Luke 12:48) Now, the abundance of things is not necessarily the same as an abundant life. True living comes from following Jesus. How do we find true life in Jesus? First, we see his sinless life, his perfect example. We can let the white stripes on the flag remind us of that. Also, in Christ, we see that we have a way of having our sins forgiven. We can let the red stripes stand for the life he gave for us. If we can look at the things in ...

19. What's So Good About Feeling Bad?

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Joann Hary

... the victim of a diving accident that left her paralyzed. She lives in a wheelchair, and proclaims the love of Jesus Christ in every way she can, even by painting with a paint brush held in her mouth. So often as I am working on a sermon, the most perfect examples surface during the week; but even scarier than that, so often what the humans in the Scripture that week are doing, so also am I. That, too, happened as I was hurt and humiliated by an incident where I really felt used, and it didn't take me very ...

20. Through the Lens of God

John 4:5-42

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... those we accept and those we do not, including ourselves. Maum Jean became the Christ to that little boy, pouring out her love to him in abundance. Lent is a time when we seek to be transformed and to be renewed. Jesus provides the perfect example and today's celebration is the ideal environment to enter fully into this process. Let us, therefore, be renewed by breaking down the barriers of hostility, hatred, prejudice, and exclusivity. Let us build bridges of friendship, love, peace, and justice. Let us do ...

21. That Is SO God!

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... outset of Jesus' life. Baby Jesus was a loser, all right. A no-account baby from a no-account town, with no-account parents, and a no-account ancestry. The perfect "SO God." No wonder John the Baptist had his doubts. Although he himself was a perfect example of a SO God idea – a scruffy guy bellowing to outcasts camped along river beds – John was expecting rather more from his Messiah. How about a little fire, a little godly glory, a little zap or two of righteous judgment? Instead, of course, he gets ...

22. Plenty Of Room

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... during all the baptisms I've performed, I've never heard a voice from heaven. However, each time I baptized an infant, teen or adult, I knew that those words to be true, even though they were unspoken because in baptism God reminds us Who We Are. B. A perfect example can be found in Pixar's Toy Story 2. In the movie, Woody is kidnapped and taken to the apartment of a "bad" toy store owner. Woody finds himself in a dark room, all alone. He's trying to escape when he hears noises behind him and sees packing ...

23. That's All I Want

Psalm 23:1

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... girl "The Lord is my Shepherd. That's all I want!" Unfortunately we live in consumeristic culture that at least every 14 minutes tells us we need something new or different to be better people. Or fit the norm B. The animated film Robots gives a perfect example of what I mean. The main character heads out to Bigweld Industries to become an inventor like Mr. Bigweld. In the process, discovers a plot to take over the company and do away with antiquated Mr. Bigweld. In the board room of Bigweld industries, the ...

24. Call Waiting

1 Samuel 3:1--4:1

Sermon

Frederick C. Edwards

... he helped to complete God’s revelatory act to Samuel, for without Samuel’s response there would have been no relationship. God may call us, but the call awaits our answer. The story in the scripture is quick to tell us that Eli was not a perfect example. None of us are. The chief criticism of Eli was that he was unable to control his unruly and contemptuous sons. Still God calls us through the imperfect examples of people like ourselves. (Bible scholars feel the condemnation of Eli may have been a later ...

25. Genuine Imitations

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... been missing something. I’ve thought about it - yes, and prayed about it, but I’m not very good at that yet. Mary invited me to church. She’s waiting for me now. I want you to help me find a faith like hers."1 That is a perfect example of what happens when Christian faith goes forth out of the life of an individual Christian or from a Christian congregation. It begets more faith, it creates a desire for faith just like it; it multiplies faith, and it happens because it is faith born, nourished, and ...

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