Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: successful, effectual, efficacious, productive, constructive, fruitful, functional, potent, powerful, convincing, compelling, strong, forceful, forcible, weighty, plausible, sound, valid, well founded, telling, operative, in force, in effect, in operation, official, signed and sealed, virtual, practical, essential, actual, implied, implicit, unacknowledged, tacit

Antonyms: ineffective, weak, invalid, theoretical, ineffectual, useless, inefficient, worthless, unproductive, futile, unsuccessful, fruitless, impotent, inadequate, incompetent, abortive, vain, powerless, pointless, inept, unavailing, inefficacious, unable, incapable

Showing 1 to 50 of 229 results

1. Wisdom: The Secret of Effective Living

Proverbs 8:34-35

Illustration

Robert Allen

... his way to living an effective life. And what is the ... secret of effective living? The writer of Proverbs ... wisdom being the secret of effective living. Wisdom is depicted as ... wisdom is the secret of effective living.

2. The Lake Wobegone Effect

Luke 4:14-21

Illustration

Arthur G. Ferry

... thoughtful name the Lake Wobegon effect. Lake Wobegon is author Garrison ... to do with the LakeWobegon effect? Just this. How can I ...

3. Traits of an Effective Leader

John 10:1-30

Illustration

Staff

... are the traits of an effective shepherd? Many traits could be ... several books and quotes about effective leadership I came up with ...

4. Long Term Effects

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... going to have a beneficial effect on their physical health, resistance ... value lies in the cumulative effects that long-term exposure to ...

5. The Effect of Leprosy

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

Leprosy effect upon the body is devastating. ...

6. The Most Effective Communication

Mark 7:31-37

Illustration

Michael B. Brown

... at a time. The most effective way of communicating is not ...

7. Jimmy Carter's Effectiveness

Mark 10:35-45; 2 Cor 12:9

Illustration

Katherine Fagerburg

... think made Jimmy Carter so effective as an international negotiator?" Wall ...

8. The Global Effect of a Galilean Peasant

Luke 23:26-43

Illustration

Larry R. Kalajainen

If history did not tell the story, who would believe that, nearly 2,000 years after an obscure Galilean peasant gained some local notoriety as a wandering preacher and healer, and was executed by the Romans, there would not be a single nation in the world where this obscure peasant was not worshipped and acclaimed as a king, a king whose kingdom shall never end, and who by his power holds the universe together? Fantastic, isn't it! Where in this world can one go and not discover somewhere a group of people ...

9. Effective Leadership

John 10:1-21

Illustration

Tom Lacey

Once there was an ecumenical crusade that was being held in a large city. Every imaginable denomination was in attendance for this unprecedented event. One afternoon the gathering was in session when all of a sudden a secretary rushed in shouting, "The building's on fire! The building's on fire!" Confusion reigned as each church group came together and did what came natural: The Methodists gathered in the corner to pray. The Baptists cried, "Where's the water?" The Quakers quietly praised God for the ...

10. Effective Teaching

Matthew 10:24-39

Illustration

Gary W. Houston

Robert Frost's first assignment for a class of teachers was to read "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." This was Mark Twain's famous story about a frog that lost a jumping contest because he had been pumped full of quail shot. When the class next assembled they were mystified because they did not understand what this story had to do with a course in education. Frost patiently explained to them that this particular story was about teachers. He said that there were two kinds of teachers. There ...

11. Corporate Effects of Sin

Matthew 18:15-20

Illustration

Elie Wiesel

A man is on a boat. He is not alone, but acts as if he were. One night, without warning, he suddenly begins to cut a hole under his seat. The other people on the boat shout and shriek at him: "What on earth are you doing? Have you gone mad? Do you want to sink us all? Are you trying to destroy us?" Calmly, the man answers: "I don't understand what you want. What I'm doing is none of your business. I paid my way. I'm not cutting under your seat. Leave me alone!" What the fanatic (and the egotist) will not ...

12. The Authority to Effect Change

Mark 1:21-28

Illustration

James W. Moore

Have you heard the story about the bride who was extremely nervous on her wedding day? She confided to her minister that she was not sure she could make it all the way down the aisle without shaking or crying. So the minister, a seasoned veteran of weddings, gave her a bit of advice. "When you begin your walk," he said, "just remember this three-point formula: First, look straight down the aisle; second, when you get about half-way, look straight up at the altar; and third, when you get near the front of ...

13. The Cumulative Effect of Sin

Mark 9:38-41; Psalm 19:12-13

Illustration

Time-lapse photography compresses a series of events into one picture. Such a photo appeared in an issue of National Geographic. Taken from a Rocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, the picture captured the brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout the storm's duration. The time-lapse technique created a fascinating, spaghetti-like web out of the individual bolts. In such a way, our sin presents itself before the eyes of God. Where we see only isolated or individual acts, God ...

14. The Effect of Insult

Matt 5:21-22

Illustration

David E. Leininger

Angry words can wound with insult. Have you ever been hurt...REALLY hurt...by what someone said to you? It has happened to all of us. Let me tell you about an elderly lady, a shy and sensitive lady who lived to be just three weeks shy of her 100th birthday. When she was a young girl, about ten years old or so, somebody told her that she had a terrible singing voice. Now, most of us, I guess, would not let that remark bother us particularly, but it DID bother this lady. Ten years old is a tender age. It ...

15. The Sobering Effect of Truth

John 4:26

Illustration

Brett Blair

When President Kennedy's assassination took place in 1963, British novelist David Lodge, was in a theater watching the performance of a satirical play he had helped write. In one sketch, a character demonstrated his nonchalance in an interview by holding a transistor radio to his ear. The actor playing the part always tuned in to a real broadcast. Suddenly, filling the theartre was the announcement that President Kennedy had been shot. The actor quickly switched it off, but it was too late. Reality had ...

16. The Snowball Effect

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

"How can I ever repay you?" asked a person of a friend who had done him a great favor. "I shall forever be indebted to you for your kindness." "Not necessarily," answered the friend. "If you really want to repay me, keep your eye open for somebody who needs help as badly as you did, and help him. If you are willing to do this, I shall be fully repaid for I shall enjoy the warm feeling chat someday—through you—I shall have helped a fellow I didn't even know."

17. Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide (Long Version)

John 3:1-36

Illustration

Staff

... rain. contributes to the "greenhouse effect" may cause severe burns. contributes ... cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes. has been ...

18. Regret & Comfort

John 14:1-14; 1 Cor 15:8-9

Illustration

J. Ellsworth Kalas

... a high capacity for regret. Effective regret is the growing edge ... . But the key word is "effective!" Saul of Tarsus knew something ...

19. The Words of Boys and Girls

Illustration

Gary Smalley

... percent were yells and sound effects like "Vrrrooooom!" "Aaaaagh!" "Toot toot ... !" In other words - Sound Effects. This difference persists into adulthood ...

20. Religion in the Valley - Religion That Works

Luke 9:28-36

Illustration

James W. Moore

... heaven, if it has no effect on how you live and ...

21. Our Chaotic Life

Luke 13:1-9

Illustration

This notice appeared in the window of a coat store in Nottingham, England: "We have been established for over 100 years and have been pleasing and displeasing customers ever since. We have made money and lost money, suffered the effects of coal nationalization, coat rationing, government control and bad payers. We have been cussed and discussed, messed about, lied to, held up, robbed and swindled. The only reason we stay in business is to see what happens next."

22. A Ministry of Interruptions

Luke 19:1-10

Illustration

Larry R. Kalajainen

... once said something to the effect that in his ministry he ...

23. Losing Sight of Life's Goals

John 17:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

... "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," he talks about losing ...

24. The Ability to Hear - Listening

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Will Willimon

... the chief characteristics of the effective pastor. I want to be ...

25. True Communication

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Will Willimon

... you for your letter. The effect of such acid upon ferrous ...

26. The Direction We Walk

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Joel D. Kline

... was one of the most effective leaders of revival or evangelistic ...

27. The Tiniest Hinges

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

John A. Stroman

Experiences have the effect of changing the direction of ...

28. Mr. Macho & Forty Days of Love

Mk 9:2-9

Illustration

King Duncan

... than a mountaintop, but the effect was the same - his perspective ...

29. Public Pressure

Mark 6:14-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

... question is how will it effect our judgment? That is the ...

30. Forfeiting Freedom

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

David E. Leininger

... waking hour. He was an effective guard. The only time another ...

31. Absolute Devotion

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

James Merritt

... silently facing the city. The effect on the citizens and the ...

32. Reading the Signs

Luke 21:5-19

Illustration

... signs of his coming. In effect, he says to us, "Pay ...

33. Jesus Calls the Common Man

John 1:29-42; Matt 4:12-22

Illustration

Gary Inrig

... into one of the most effective servants of God in church ...

34. The Greatest Miracle of All

Jn 8:48 - 9:12

Illustration

Ronald Reagan

... 2000 years, had a greater effect on the world than all ...

35. A Positive Affliction

Illustration

James Dobson

... than two years. The ultimate effect of that diagnosis, beyond its ...

36. Bought on a Good Name

Illustration

Brett Blair

... Gaither experienced the real world effects of a good name. He ...

37. Relay for Life

Mt 16:24; 2 Tim 4:7

Illustration

Brett Blair

... adults with an experimental but effective anti-diphtheria serum. But it ...

38. Clinging Creepers

Illustration

J. Alistair Brown

... still cling and have some effect. But sin's power is ...

39. We Are in Charge of Our Attitudes

Eph 5:15-20

Illustration

King Duncan

... a wonderful paragraph about the effect of a positive attitude in ...

40. Conquering the Highest Peak

Illustration

Robert Jastrow

... the chain of cause and effect backward in time.… Now we ...

41. Getting Under Someone's Skin

Matthew 5:7

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

... medication to control the side-effects, but it makes him very ...

42. Four Lessons from Geese

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... never become a church that effectively reaches out to those who ...

43. Details Make the Difference

Illustration

Horace Bushnell

... . It is an element of effectiveness which no reach of plan ...

44. Using Persuasion to Change People's Minds

Illustration

G. Collins

Effective Communication and Persuasion People are ... of distraction can increase the effectiveness of a persuasive appeal. Information ... permanent changes. In time, the effects of oratory and persuasive communication ... . A persuasive appeal is more effective when people are required to ... to themselves. A communicator's effectiveness is increased if he or ... be hostile, it is most effective to present facts first (building ... the end. Communication is most effective when information comes through different ...

45. The Greatest Truth

Proverbs 8:1-36

Illustration

Robert Allen

... me so.’" The secret of effective living is to discover the ... have discovered the secret to effective living.

46. Be Careful How You Live - Sermon Starter

Eph 5:15-20; John 6:63

Illustration

Brett Blair

... story? The world saw this effect in the spirit of the ... . 1. The New Spirit's Effect on the Early Church. 2 ... . The New Spirit's Effect upon Human Conduct. 3. The ...

47. A House of Prayer

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

... faith in his promises." The effectiveness of a friend's prayer ... the righteous is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). That is ...

48. Criticism and the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26-27

Illustration

Oswald Chambers

... becomes good for nothing; the effect of criticism knocks all the ... . Criticism is deadly in its effect because it divides one's ...

49. Spiritual Needs of Americans

Illustration

Staff

... churches and synagogues are not effective in helping people find meaning ... , in large measure, on their effectiveness in responding to six spiritual ...

50. Chisholm's Laws of Frustration

Illustration

Staff

Chisholm effect - The basic laws of frustration, ...

Showing results

Showing 1 to 50 of 229 results

1. Wisdom: The Secret of Effective Living

Proverbs 8:34-35

Illustration

Robert Allen

2. The Lake Wobegone Effect

Luke 4:14-21

Illustration

Arthur G. Ferry

... thoughtful name the Lake Wobegon effect. Lake Wobegon is author Garrison ... to do with the LakeWobegon effect? Just this. How can I ...

3. Traits of an Effective Leader

John 10:1-30

Illustration

Staff

... are the traits of an effective shepherd? Many traits could be ... several books and quotes about effective leadership I came up with ...

4. Long Term Effects

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... going to have a beneficial effect on their physical health, resistance ... value lies in the cumulative effects that long-term exposure to ...

5. The Effect of Leprosy

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration

Brett Blair

Leprosy effect upon the body is devastating. ...

6. The Most Effective Communication

Mark 7:31-37

Illustration

Michael B. Brown

... at a time. The most effective way of communicating is not ...

7. Jimmy Carter's Effectiveness

Mark 10:35-45; 2 Cor 12:9

Illustration

Katherine Fagerburg

... think made Jimmy Carter so effective as an international negotiator?" Wall ...

8. The Global Effect of a Galilean Peasant

Luke 23:26-43

Illustration

Larry R. Kalajainen

9. Effective Leadership

John 10:1-21

Illustration

Tom Lacey

10. Effective Teaching

Matthew 10:24-39

Illustration

Gary W. Houston

11. Corporate Effects of Sin

Matthew 18:15-20

Illustration

Elie Wiesel

12. The Authority to Effect Change

Mark 1:21-28

Illustration

James W. Moore

13. The Cumulative Effect of Sin

Mark 9:38-41; Psalm 19:12-13

Illustration

14. The Effect of Insult

Matt 5:21-22

Illustration

David E. Leininger

15. The Sobering Effect of Truth

John 4:26

Illustration

Brett Blair

16. The Snowball Effect

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

17. Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide (Long Version)

John 3:1-36

Illustration

Staff

... rain. contributes to the "greenhouse effect" may cause severe burns. contributes ... cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes. has been ...

18. Regret & Comfort

John 14:1-14; 1 Cor 15:8-9

Illustration

J. Ellsworth Kalas

... a high capacity for regret. Effective regret is the growing edge ... . But the key word is "effective!" Saul of Tarsus knew something ...

19. The Words of Boys and Girls

Illustration

Gary Smalley

... percent were yells and sound effects like "Vrrrooooom!" "Aaaaagh!" "Toot toot ... !" In other words - Sound Effects. This difference persists into adulthood ...

20. Religion in the Valley - Religion That Works

Luke 9:28-36

Illustration

James W. Moore

... heaven, if it has no effect on how you live and ...

21. Our Chaotic Life

Luke 13:1-9

Illustration

22. A Ministry of Interruptions

Luke 19:1-10

Illustration

Larry R. Kalajainen

... once said something to the effect that in his ministry he ...

23. Losing Sight of Life's Goals

John 17:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

... "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," he talks about losing ...

24. The Ability to Hear - Listening

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Will Willimon

... the chief characteristics of the effective pastor. I want to be ...

25. True Communication

Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Will Willimon

... you for your letter. The effect of such acid upon ferrous ...

26. The Direction We Walk

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Joel D. Kline

... was one of the most effective leaders of revival or evangelistic ...

27. The Tiniest Hinges

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

John A. Stroman

Experiences have the effect of changing the direction of ...

28. Mr. Macho & Forty Days of Love

Mk 9:2-9

Illustration

King Duncan

... than a mountaintop, but the effect was the same - his perspective ...

29. Public Pressure

Mark 6:14-29

Illustration

Brett Blair

... question is how will it effect our judgment? That is the ...

30. Forfeiting Freedom

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

David E. Leininger

... waking hour. He was an effective guard. The only time another ...

31. Absolute Devotion

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

James Merritt

... silently facing the city. The effect on the citizens and the ...

32. Reading the Signs

Luke 21:5-19

Illustration

... signs of his coming. In effect, he says to us, "Pay ...

33. Jesus Calls the Common Man

John 1:29-42; Matt 4:12-22

Illustration

Gary Inrig

... into one of the most effective servants of God in church ...

34. The Greatest Miracle of All

Jn 8:48 - 9:12

Illustration

Ronald Reagan

... 2000 years, had a greater effect on the world than all ...

35. A Positive Affliction

Illustration

James Dobson

... than two years. The ultimate effect of that diagnosis, beyond its ...

36. Bought on a Good Name

Illustration

Brett Blair

... Gaither experienced the real world effects of a good name. He ...

37. Relay for Life

Mt 16:24; 2 Tim 4:7

Illustration

Brett Blair

... adults with an experimental but effective anti-diphtheria serum. But it ...

38. Clinging Creepers

Illustration

J. Alistair Brown

... still cling and have some effect. But sin's power is ...

39. We Are in Charge of Our Attitudes

Eph 5:15-20

Illustration

King Duncan

... a wonderful paragraph about the effect of a positive attitude in ...

40. Conquering the Highest Peak

Illustration

Robert Jastrow

... the chain of cause and effect backward in time.… Now we ...

41. Getting Under Someone's Skin

Matthew 5:7

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

... medication to control the side-effects, but it makes him very ...

42. Four Lessons from Geese

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... never become a church that effectively reaches out to those who ...

43. Details Make the Difference

Illustration

Horace Bushnell

... . It is an element of effectiveness which no reach of plan ...

44. Using Persuasion to Change People's Minds

Illustration

G. Collins

45. The Greatest Truth

Proverbs 8:1-36

Illustration

Robert Allen

... me so.’" The secret of effective living is to discover the ... have discovered the secret to effective living.

46. Be Careful How You Live - Sermon Starter

Eph 5:15-20; John 6:63

Illustration

Brett Blair

... story? The world saw this effect in the spirit of the ... . 1. The New Spirit's Effect on the Early Church. 2 ... . The New Spirit's Effect upon Human Conduct. 3. The ...

47. A House of Prayer

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

... faith in his promises." The effectiveness of a friend's prayer ... the righteous is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). That is ...

48. Criticism and the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26-27

Illustration

Oswald Chambers

... becomes good for nothing; the effect of criticism knocks all the ... . Criticism is deadly in its effect because it divides one's ...

49. Spiritual Needs of Americans

Illustration

Staff

... churches and synagogues are not effective in helping people find meaning ... , in large measure, on their effectiveness in responding to six spiritual ...

50. Chisholm's Laws of Frustration

Illustration

Staff

Chisholm effect - The basic laws of frustration, ...

Showing results