Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: ruler, sovereign, monarch, supreme ruler, crowned head, majesty, Crown, head of state, royal personage, emperor, prince, potentate, overlord, liege lord, lord, leader, chief, star, leading light, luminary, superstar, mogul, giant, master, kingpin, celebrity, lion

Antonyms: queens, peasant, serf, slave, subject, servant, average joe, common man, rank and file, lower class, common person, workers, commoner, the masses, the poor, plebians, bourgeois, proletariat, laborer, working class, middle class, blue-collar, a nobody, subvassal

Showing 1 to 25 of 113 results

1. Jesus Christ, Superstar

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... the text. He tried to sit down with his disciples for a little rest and relaxation, but the people would not let him alone. No matter where he went, people clamored for his attention, and in particular, his healing touch. He was a superstar. These days, calling Jesus Christ a "Superstar" is not particularly startling, but in 1970, when the rock opera of that name came out, it was a jarring choice of words and caused quite a stir. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber put together a two-act musical that largely ...

2. Troubled By A Talking Whirlwind

Job 38:1-7 · Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... put them down for the donkey to walk on. They cut palm branches and waved them in the air as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. In the Matthew account, they shouted out: "Hosanna, hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." In Superstar they sing: Christ, you know I love you, did you see, I waved? I believe in you and God, so tell me that I'm saved. Christ, you know I love you, did you see, I waved? Because of that Palm Sunday parade, the whole city of Jerusalem was thrown ...

3. Why Jesus Didn't Hire A "Public Relations Guy"

Mark 8:27-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... . In the musical, Judas Iscariot mocks Jesus with the theme song of the musical. The lyrics of one of the verses are something like this: "If you'd come today you could have reached the whole nation-- Israel in four B.C. had no mass communication . . . Jesus Christ Superstar, Do you think you're what they say you are?" (1) Makes sense, doesn't it? Judas' line of thinking indicates that God should have hired someone to handle public relations. A "P.R. guy." It wasn't very smart of God to send His Son to a ...

4. Listen to Him

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... to live, as Thoreau described it, “lives of quiet desperation.” The voice from Heaven said to the three disciples, “Listen to him.” That’s God’s prescription for a successful life. Listen to Jesus. Learn from him. Open yourself to him. He is more than a hero. More than a superstar. He is Son of Man and Son of God. He knows the heart of God. He is the heart of God. Listen to him because of who he is. And listen to him because of what he has done. Not everyone who gives his or her life for a cause ...

5. On Getting Out Of The Way

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

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... experts to see that their names stay in the press, raise money by using their personal charisma. While all this makes for fame and fortune, it may not advance the cause of Christ, honor God or otherwise accomplish what the church should be about. Sometimes the superstar has to get out of the way so that people can see Christ. I do not stay awake worrying about my popularity -- either its over- or its under-supply. I have earned some modest respect, and there are enough people around who believe it is their ...

6. The Rich Young Ruler

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Brett Blair

... or business. This is a story about ranking and how we get our ranking--by being aggressive, achieving, by being superior. Yet, this story raises the issue of how God sees true success. Spencer Haywood, a former pro basketball player, once said: They call me a superstar. I’ll tell you who the superstar is. The guy who is raising 4 kids on $150 a week." I don’t want to put words in the mouth of Jesus but if he were to define winning I think he would define it as a despised Samaritan who stops and helps a ...

7. It Might Have Been ...

Luke 22:1-6, Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 27:1-10, Matthew 26:47-56

Sermon

... needs. II Judas failed in another way. HE MIGHT HAVE LOVED. In the hit recording of the rock opera, "Jesus Christ, Superstar," Judas sings a line that is plaintive, frustrating, and wistful. "I don’t know how to love him." Judas, like all of ... just that way. Judas couldn’t do it ... so ultimately he couldn’t love. "I don’t know how to love," he sings in Superstar. How true. He didn’t, because he couldn’t accept him. III But ultimately, JUDAS MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHANGED; HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN. ...

8. Preconceived Ideas

Mark 8:27-38

Sermon

Brett Blair

... to rescue them from all of the problems and tough decisions that the world throws at us. This theory was seen in Jesus Christ Superstar. “So your the Christ the great Jesus Christ; prove to me that you’re no fool, walk across my swimming pool. So you’re ... , Or has something gone wrong, why do you take so long. Come on King of the Jews, I only ask of you what I’d ask any Superstar. What is it that you’ve got that put you where you are? I’m waiting I’m a captive fan, I’m dying to be shown that ...

9. Stay in the Boat!

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... but sinking like a stone until being told where the rocks and roots are just under the surface. In the musical Jesus Christ, Superstar the character who plays the buffoonish King Herod sings, So if you are the Christ Yes, the great Jesus Christ Prove to me ... the boat. Because it is here we hear, "Take heart. It is I; don't be afraid." Amen! 1. "King Herod's Song" from Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice ; music by Andrew Lloyd Webber 2. Mark 6:45-52, John 6:15-21 3. Helen H. Lemmel 4. Posted to Ecunet ...

10. Vive La Difference

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... on what you can still do well, instead of what you once could do, you can help the team a lot." For most players, that understanding freed them to do a few things well and not be paralyzed with regret at their shortcomings. (3) You and I need not be superstars to serve God. We all have gifts that can be used to His glory. WE ALSO NEED TO SEE THAT WE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT OUR GIFTS ARE UNTIL WE RESPOND TO A NEED. Spiritual gifts within the body of Christ are different from talents. Most of us know ...

11. Choices

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

King Duncan

... much of that change to her newfound faith in Jesus Christ. Blige claims that her early years in show business were marred by heavy alcohol and drug abuse. She projected an image of toughness, but inside she was hurting. One day, Blige read an interview with superstar Beyoncé, in which Beyoncé spoke of her love for her mother and father. Blige found herself crying over the desire to experience that kind of love. In recent years, after giving her life to Jesus, Mary J. Blige is able to say, “It was later ...

12. This Is a Test

Genesis 22:1-14

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... the NBA finals. There is a similar lesson there. The team that can play humbly is the team that is probably going to win. Remember, the Chicago Bulls won six championships. It was amazing. But they could not win one when they had just one superstar. When that superstar humbled himself, and played to make other people look good, then they won. It is the same this year. The wonderful team, the San Antonio Spurs, won because they could let each other share in the spotlight. I remember when Al McGuire was coach ...

13. God, Elvis, and O.J. Simpson

Psalm 139

Sermon

James Merritt

... remember that Hertz commercial where O. J. Simpson is running through the airport. He leaps over luggage and chairs with a single bound. I can still remember one commercial where a little old lady is screaming at him, "Go, O. J. go." He became known as "The Superstar of Rent a Car." O. J., up until his arrest, and subsequent trial, had been running with the big dogs. He was worth an estimated $10 million; he lived in a multi-million dollar mansion; his last year's income was almost $1 million. In some ways ...

14. Will You Join the Jesus Team?

Exodus 24:12-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... we willing to scale down in order to get a move on? Alternative Sermon The Dream Team There are two chief characteristics to every "dream team." First, every member of the team is a superstar in his or her own right. A dream team is a team of superstars. Australian management consultants David Limerick and Bert Cunnington call this "collaborative individualism" in their marvelous book Managing the New Organization: A Blueprint for Networks and Strategic Alliances (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1993 ...

15. Stilling Storms

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

... . We disparage when it’s time to encourage. We sulk when we should be reaching out. We have to calm the storm within us before we can have satisfactory relationships with others. Baseball superstar Mickey Mantle was interviewed shortly before his death. He had been a hero on the ball field, but not such a superstar outside baseball. After his playing days ended, he checked into the Betty Ford Clinic to deal with the consequences of a lifetime of alcohol abuse. Part of his struggle involved the loss of ...

16. The Sound of a Mighty Wind

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... or high government officials. They were very ordinary men with ordinary dreams until the Holy Spirit fell upon them on the Day of Pentecost. Andrew Lloyd Weber and Timothy Rice got it right in their portrayal of the disciples in their 1971 rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Remember that one song sung by the disciples? Always hoped that I’d be an Apostle, Knew that I would make it if I tried. Then when we retire we can write the gospels So they’ll all talk about us when we die. The disciples ...

17. In the Shadow of His Brother

John 1:35-42

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’re not called to be a sales person for Jesus. You’re called to listen carefully and answer honestly on the basis of your own walk with the Master. Here is the most important truth: you don’t have to be a superstar in order to impact this world. Most people are not superstars. That doesn’t mean you cannot make a significant contribution to the kingdom of God. There is an old African-American spiritual titled, “There Is a Balm in Gilead.” Do you remember it? It speaks to the Andrew in each of us ...

18. The Foolishness of God

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

King Duncan

... had big names or power or wealth. Paul was saying, “Look, God hasn’t chosen celebrities to proclaim his word. He’s chosen farmers, fishermen, tax-collectors, housewives.” That’s how God works not from the top down, but from the bottom up. Not through superstar evangelists, but through electricians and plumbers and sales people and teachers. That’s who God depends on. God depends on Sunday school teachers, greeters, people singing in the choir, people filling out pledge cards. Good people. Not ...

19. We Would Like to See Jesus

John 12:20-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... and said, “Oh, honey—don’t stop now!” (2) We all hope we could stay calm and composed when we meet our favorite celebrity. We hope we wouldn’t do anything too foolish. Like not recognize them at all. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres convinced soccer superstar David Beckham to pose as a Target employee to surprise his unsuspecting fans. Beckham, dressed in the standard red shirt and name tag of a Target employee, stood at in the perfume aisle and tried to convince passing customers to buy his new David ...

20. Exercise Your Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... , one of the greatest baseball players ever to wear a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform, showed great promise even in his rookie year. Once when he was playing in New York, a reporter interviewed him and began comparing him with Willie Mays, a recognized superstar. Any rookie would have been flattered with such a comparison and undoubtedly this young Pirate outfielder was, too. But when the reporter finished speaking the rookie said to him: "Nonetheless, I play like Roberto Clemente." God has given each one of us ...

21. Screaming For A Reason Why

Matthew 26:36-46; 27:45-46 · Job 3:1-26

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... he had shared the evening meal with his twelve disciples, that Jesus went to a secluded spot in a city park. And he did as Job had done as he sat on his ash heap. "Why? Why a cross? Is this the only way?" In the rock opera, Jesus Christ, Superstar (Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice), Jesus asks some questions in the "Gethsemane" number: "Why should I die? Would I be more noticed than I ever was before? Would the things I've said and done matter anymore? Can you show me now that I would not be killed in ...

22. What Triggers Your Panic Button?

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

... had much coverage in the media. One Rotarian said, “Judges walk on water, don’t they?” The local judge answered, “Some judges think they walk on water!” It brought a laugh. One of the most memorable lines in the rock opera, Jesus Christ, Superstar, was Herod’s cynical line, “Prove to me that you’re no fool; walk across my swimming pool.” And then there’s the legendary telephone conversation with the wife of the former football coach, Bear Bryant. When someone calls, she says, “Oh, no ...

23. God’s Flowing and Our Ebbing

Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... of events! Brought into the blazing and incomprehensible presence of God, painfully aware of his finitude and transitoriness in the presence of the Eternal, forgiven and now commissioned invited to flow. God, Isaiah’s commissioning reminds us, is not looking for superstars and flawless people (even if they were available!). God is perfectly able to take our brokenness, our faith and lack of faith, our energy and lack of energy, and use us for kingdom purposes. Nothing new, this. It is nothing short ...

24. Giving Your All

Mark 12:35-40

Sermon

Erskine White

... to be on the receiving end. In our text from Mark, Jesus is again speaking of the scribes; and again, He is excoriating them for their religious hypocrisy, which is probably the sin that angers Jesus the most. They are the celebrities, the big names, the superstars of the faith, and they love every minute of it. They parade around in long robes and luxurious clothing so that everyone will know how important they are. They take the most prominent seats at public events and they expect the V.I.P. treatment ...

25. Let It Shine!

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... so they can legislate your light right out of existence. Their whole design is to get you to lower your opinion of yourself - make you think you're boasting because you shine the light God gave you. They want you to feel bad about being a superstar so they use machinations and gambits to make you lower your expectations and standards of yourself and others around you. They specialize in bringing out the worst in you because they have such a low opinion of themselves. Watch out for the legislators of the ...

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