Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: condemnation, anathema, affliction, disapproval, bad luck, calamity, woe, denunciation, adversity, curse, bad fortune, doom

Showing 1 to 25 of 52 results

1. God's Stamp Of Approval

1 Peter 2:20

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Theme: For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. Object: A rubber stamp that reads "Paid." Lesson: Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever had to suffer? (Let them answer.) Suffering is not much fun, is it? I don't know anyone who likes to suffer. There is usually a lot of pain connected with suffering. If you have ever broken a leg or had a lie told about you that other people believed, then you know what it is like to suffer in pain. God knows that ...

2. God’s Chain Reaction

Romans 5:1-5

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... that has been put to the test and been approved. If you take driver training and pass your road test to receive your license, you are dokimas — you have been put to the test and been approved. Or if your toothpaste has received the stamp of approval from the American Dental Association, it is dokimas. It's been tested and approved. So, too, character is tested and proved by suffering and perseverance. In turn, character leads to the fourth element of the chain: hope. Hope is forward looking. It takes us ...

3. When You Drop the Ball, What Next?

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... called him to do — to offer hope and healing, God’s presence and compassion, when he was called upon to do it no matter what day of the week it was. But his obedience to his mission ultimately cost him everything. It cost him the “stamp of approval” of the religious authorities, instantly transforming him from an asset into a threat. It cost him the sense of astonishment and awe that had surrounded his words and works in the local synagogues. The more he succeeded, the more he failed, and the more ...

4. Do You Believe In Easter?

Luke 24:1-12

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... . I will see my son and parents again. When Jesus arose, he blazed a path into eternity for us. The second reason resurrection is so important is that it was God’s confirmation of Jesus’ saving activity on the cross. Easter morning was God’s stamp of approval on Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. Now I know that when I reach the doors to eternity, my sin record will be sealed and stamped "Paid in full at Calvary". The third reason resurrection is so important is that it gives us a preview ...

5. Church Slugs

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... certain gestures off-limits. Political correctness can be applied to individuals, schools, small businesses, huge conglomerates, whole political platforms and, of course, to churches. But lately it is getting more and more difficult to earn a PC stamp of approval. Political correctness has come to be associated with an increasingly rigid ideology which might best be described as a "new fundamentalism." Militant PC advocates will tolerate no disagreement, allow no diversity of opinion, brook no open-ended ...

6. God and Government

Romans 13:1-7

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... ). I mentioned above that both direct taxes (phoros) and indirect taxes (telos) are intended by Paul. Paul probably focused on taxes because this is the most obvious symbol of a government’s rule over its people. In this, Paul had Jesus’ divine stamp of approval: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17; Matt. 22:21; Luke 20:25). The second responsibility that Christians and all citizens have toward their political authorities is to show them honor and respect in general. After all, our ...

7. The Daniel Diet

Daniel 1:1-21

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... Wiggle-Jaw declare that the Bible is a hopelessly outdated book, full or errors, hardly worthy of a thinking person's confidence. But the Bible claims to be "God-breathed" or inspired by God. (II Tim. 3:16) It's the only book on earth that has God's stamp of approval. If that is true, then doesn't it make sense that the Bible should be our authority? Young people, a battle is raging in our society over what or who is a reliable authority. The people of faith lift up this book as God's authoritative word. I ...

8. Chapter III

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Frank H. Seilhamer

... go Moses turned to God to get from him his personal name (Exodus 4:13f.). What he was asking for, you see, was to have God take him into his confidence. To be given God’s name was tantamount to divine acceptance and to bear God’s stamp of approval. By giving his name, God, extended his hand to Moses and took him into fellowship with himself. They would be partners from that day forward. They would be "friends." They would respect each other. Each would value the other so much that he would not treat him ...

9. One Thing

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... racism, a religion which depicted Jesus as the white man’s Savior primarily, a religion which was a pawn of the slave trader and big business. The "old time religion" shunned alcoholics as sinners who could never know the love of God, and gave its stamp of approval to children working in mines and factories from daylight to dark six days a week. The "old time religion" stood in direct contradiction to the Christ of the New Testament, who said, "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelations 21:5), and I want ...

10. The Family Was God’s Idea

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... family. We see it in all kinds of things. Adam probably would have hunted up a marriage counselor if he could have found one for Cain and Abel. Joseph’s forgiveness of his cruel brothers; Ruth and Naomi; David and Absalom; Hosea and Gomer. All these are stamps of approval and insight into the nature of the family. The thing about the Bible is that there’s no glossing over. It’s not a romanticist’s book. It’s a book that is real, and it doesn’t hide the fact that Cain and Abel were murderously ...

11. Augustine, Defender of the Faith

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... what the masses want. He would want to talk to Christians who join the church and fail to experience a real change in their lives, except for that certain respectability they feel because they attend worship occasionally. Usually we want the faith to put a stamp of approval on what we as sinful humans want, rather than what our creator God intended for us. Augustine would remind us that evil is still with us through our free will, our humanness. He would tell us the struggle goes on until we join the other ...

12. Can You Hear the Music?

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . He was already filled with his own self-righteousness. There is no room in his soul for God’s grace. On the other hand, the tax collector emptied himself before God in his prayer, confessing his weaknesses and asking only for mercy — not a stamp of approval. The tax collector understood that God was in charge and that entering the Kingdom of God depended upon being in a real relationship with God. The Pharisee believed he had earned himself a first class ticket to the Kingdom of God all on his own ...

13. Nothing but Christ, and Him Crucified

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

James McCormick

... , we would never have heard about the crucifixion. So, the two are inseparable. But, let’s talk about them one at a time. I. First, resurrection. Throughout the gospels there are events through which God announces who Jesus really is and places his stamp of approval on him. There was Jesus’ baptism, when the Spirit descended as a dove and God spoke, saying, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” There was the transfiguration, when Peter, James, and John saw the glory of God and ...

14. The Voice From Heaven

Luke 3:1-20, Luke 3:21-38

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

... down upon Jesus. Holy, holy, holy -- that is, I mean to say, Jesus first appeared to be any person immersed then raised from the river. However, he took on a great strength. Jesus' baptism was no baptism only by water. Could it be that God's stamp of approval, God's blessing, also comes through to us at our baptism? Jesus' baptism transformed the significance of my baptism by water. Could it be that the Creator also is pleased with the creation of me? Would that be presumptuous on my part? Could it be that ...

15. The Telling Trademarks of Truth

James 3:13-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... a "gospel"; a chapter each day, By the deeds that you do, by the words that you say; Men read what you write, whether faithless or true-- Say, what is the "gospel" according to you? If you listen to James'' writing--it will be a Gospel worthy of Christ''s stamp of approval. Amen and Amen

16. Matthew 3:1-12

Matthew 3:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 's words accuse these religious leaders of both cowardice and hypocritical action. They are cowardly because they seek out John's baptism purely as a safety measure - a means to escape "the wrath to come." They envision this cleansing ritual as a kind of divine stamp of approval. But John the Baptist saw the baptism he offered as only the first step in a new life of repentance - not as some sanctifying wash over the rest of an individual's life. For John, the test of baptism was in the "fruit" it brought ...

17. Freeing Those in Bondage

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

George Reed

... could knowing that the conditions of their lives made much of it unattainable. If Jesus’ presence in the synagogue signified anything it was his openness to honoring God in whatever way one was able. The second problem with reading this story as a stamp of approval on our traditional way of doing things is clearly presented when Jesus healed the woman with the crippling spirit on the sabbath. If you thought Jesus was giving the thumbs up to tradition over all, then think again. The religious leaders were ...

18. An Unidentified King

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... a sin into an All-American virtue. On the other end of the political spectrum, some mainline church leaders try to make Jesus the spokesman for the left-wing of the Democratic Party. Jesus is bigger than anybody's political agenda. He will not put a stamp of approval on either political party. Jesus is bigger than the public perceptions of him. Jesus did what only God can do. He forgave sin. He allowed people to worship him. He said, "I and the Father are one." The great British teacher C.S. Lewis was right ...

19. Doorkeepers for Disruption

Mark 13:24-37

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... with noise, intruders, or crowd control, so that the Senate could continue to do its duty even during and after disruptive events. Always alert and aware, the doorkeeper is often seen as the calm, friendly face of the senate, a “stamp of approval” for the healthy disruption that goes on within the Senate chamber. Sometimes the debate within the Senate is orderly and attentive. Other times disagreements can be loud and boisterous. But the quorum must remain. In Jesus’ continued close conversation with ...

20. 1 Kings 19:9-14

1 Kings 19:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... .15-18 God explains to Elijah how judgment will be visited upon those threatening Israel's well-being - both the exterior threat of Syria and the interior threat of ba'alism. Elijah is told he will get this judgment process underway by placing his stamp of approval on the next generation of leaders - Hazael for Syria, Jehu for Israel, and Elisha for the Lord. Impressed by God's mountaintop display of power, soothed by God's comforting presence in the cave, and now inspired by God's new instructions for his ...

21. Recognize that, in the Light of Death, One Must Redeem the Time

Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... joy with your marriage partner! This is not a license for unbounded self-indulgence (cf. also Eccles. 11:9), for it is balanced by a call to strenuous, skillful, and smart work (9:10). What is the basis for such advice? (1) Such a course of action bears God’s stamp of approval, since it is his gift (9:7b; cf. 3:13; 5:19), our lot in life, and the reward for our labor (9:9b). (2) Our opportunities for both work and pleasure under the sun are limited. Our days are hebel, and we all are headed for the realm ...

22. Character Approved: Stand Up or Stand Out?

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

August is county fair time. Hooray! Who doesn’t like a county fair? Yes, we are sophisticated, urbane, high-tech people. But there is something about a good old-fashioned county fair that is like catnip. County fairs still draw us to our local fairgrounds like cotton candy draws us to paper cones. Who can resist taking just one ride on the Ferris wheel? Who can resist eating deep-fried something (this summer’s new something hamburger with a deep fried doughnut for its bun!). Who can resist walking through ...

23. Surprised by Joy

Luke 2:8-14

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

The carol shouts “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” In another the musicians are instructed to “play the oboe and bagpipes merrily.” In the little town of Bethlehem “we hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell.” The songs of Christmas are filled with “Hark!” and “Gloria!” and “Hallelujah!” The angels tell the shepherds to be not afraid because they are bringing “good news of great joy.” The Advent/Christmas season is one filled to overflowing with Joy. No wonder the secular world embraces ...

24. If Only You Were To Me A Brother

Song of Songs 8:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In escorting the shepherd to her mother’s home the maiden accomplishes two goals: she gains approval from her mother and the brothers of the shepherd, and she fulfills her dream of consummating their vows in the place where she was “schooled” by her mother in the art of romance and lovemaking. “Spiced wine” and mandrake apples were renowned aphrodisiacs in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The phrase “nectar of my pomegranates” (8:2) has distinctly erotic connotations, the woman’s breasts being identified with ...

25. The Bridge

John 1:1-18, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:8-20, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 1:26-38, Genesis 3:1-24

Drama

H. J. Hizer

Narrator: Opening: Genesis 3:8-15 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him "Where are you?" And he said "I heard the sound of thee in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat ...

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