Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. Bedside Manners

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

One of the cruelest things that religious people can do is to blame [a lingering illness] on a lack of faith. Barbara Taylor recalls a problem she encountered when she served as a chaplain at Georgia Baptist Hospital. A group of Christians decided that part of their healing ministry was to go to the local hospital and pray for people who had cancer. They would go into patients’ rooms, gather ar...

2. It Will Take Everything You Have

John 17:6-19

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

Episcopal priest and author Barbara Brown Taylor writes, "If Jesus were in charge of an average congregation I figure there would be about four people left there on Sunday mornings, and chances are those four would be fooling themselves. Jesus would greet newcomers by saying, "Are you absolutely sure you want to follow this way of life? It will take everything you have. It has to come before every...

3. Old Clothes

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

When I was a girl, I spent a lot of time in the woods, which were full of treasures for me. At night I lined them up on my bed: fat flakes of mica, buckeyes bigger than shooter marbles, blue jay feathers, bird bones and if I was lucky a cicada shell, one of those dry brown bug bodies you can find on tree trunks when the 17-year locusts come out of the ground. I liked them for at least two reasons....

4. Our Hope, Our Terror

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

Several summers ago I spent three days on a barrier island where loggerhead turtles were laying their eggs. One night while the tide was out, I watched a huge female heave herself up on the beach to dig her nest and empty her eggs into it. Afraid of disturbing her, I left before she had finished. The next morning I returned to see if I could find the spot where her eggs lay hidden in the sand. Wha...

5. Transactional Theology

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

On the occasions when Jesus praises peoples’ faith, most Christians automatically assume that he means their faith in his divinity, which he then rewards by helping them out; but that is just another sorry example of transactional theology. According to this theology, if you believe the right things about Jesus, then he will help you. If you don’t, he won’t. I am not sure where this idea comes fro...

Showing 1 to 5 of 5all results

Showing all results

1. Bedside Manners

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

2. It Will Take Everything You Have

John 17:6-19

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

3. Old Clothes

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

4. Our Hope, Our Terror

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

5. Transactional Theology

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration

Barbara Brown Taylor

Showing 1 to 5 of 5all results