Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. A Little Longer Of Earthly Darkness

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

Most of you don't know the name of the great Christian hymn writer Ira Sankey, who wrote over 200 hymns. He was an associate of Dwight L. Moody. He lived in Brooklyn, New York during the last years of his life. After years of blindness due to age and ill health, he died in 1908. Just before his death, in his blindness and his frailty, he dictated this farewell message: "I have only a little longer...

2. A Russian Resurrection

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

An old illustration about Russia with an update. You'll see in the update that Yancey picked up on a movement that seems to have held: Columnist Philip Yancey, in an article titled "A Russian Resurrection," writes of his visit in October 1991 to the former Soviet Union. He says that it "would be hard to overstate the chaos that he found when he arrived in the Soviet Union, a nation that was about...

3. Counting The Cost - Sacrifice

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: O God of love and glory, on this day we come to you asking that your Spirit might be with us as we consider the important decisions in life that we all must make. Lord, in these moments, may we feel your presence among us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. The major issue of the 1992 presidential campaign was the state of the American economy. Bill Clinton, George Bush and Ross Perot all...

4. Counting the Cost in Marriage

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

In order to live life fully and happily, we must be people who are able to count the cost in almost every area of living. Marriage is one of those institutions which demands a high personal cost. The church's wedding ritual begins with these sobering words, words that are so often taken too lightly. It says, marriage is "not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the f...

5. Life As An Investment

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Gracious and eternal Father, we come before you this day seeking to make the most of the gifts which you have given us in life. Lord, as we now hear your word, may we learn how it is that we may serve you with all that we are. Lord, in these moments, grant us wisdom, understanding and peace. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. During the 1992 presidential campaign, one of the slogans which...

6. Living In The Resurrection Age

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: On this day, O God, we lift up our heads and shout the good news that your son Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. In these moments, may we come to know in our hearts as well as our minds that Jesus lives now and forever. May the words of our mouths, the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. Columnist Philip Yancey, in an ...

7. Saddam Hussein's Mistake

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

In the scripture lesson, Jesus makes a point about preparedness with an illustration. He asks his audience, "What king, preparing to go to battle against another king, would not first sit down and consider whether or not his army of 10,000 men would be able to fight successfully against 20,000?" This is the mistake that Saddam Hussein made against the Coalition of Nations, which opposed his invas...

8. Saving Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

George Bernanos, in a book titled Diary of a Country Priest, describes the ministry of a humble and unsuccessful country pastor. Most of the time the pastor is inept. The bored villagers he serves ignore him, his church all but deserts him. There is one wealthy parishioner who is particularly harsh on the poor minister. In part this is because of her personal bitterness toward God. However, as thi...

9. Surprised By Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Gracious and eternal Father, we come to you this day seeking to understand the ways in which your Spirit moves in our lives. Lord, in these moments, may we be moved by love in our hearts and receive wisdom in our minds. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address has been called America's "greatest gathering of words."1 Lincoln's message was given over 130 year...

10. Surprised By Joy

Matthew 13:31-35, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:47-52

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: O God our heavenly Father, in many ways we seek to know you so that we might find the true riches of life. Hear now thy servants who desire to learn of your love and glory. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. The Christian author C.S. Lewis, in an autobiography which he has titled Surprised by Joy, tells of his conversion to Christianity. This book is an account of how Lewis, an acco...

11. The Condition Of Mercy

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Our Father and our God, on this day we give you thanks for all the blessings of our lives. In these moments, may we learn something about what it is for which we need to be most thankful. Lord, in these moments may we experience your mercy and your grace. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. A social psychologist by the name of David Myers has written a book titled The Pursuit of Happiness....

12. The End of the World

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

There is a beautiful valley in Switzerland which is deeply hidden in that mountain range known as the Alps. That valley is completely surrounded by steep mountain walls. If one enters this valley, that person will move along the only road until it ends at the base of a steep wall of rock. The Swiss call this place the "End of the World." However, if one is willing to go climbing by foot, Swiss gu...

13. The Return Of The Lost

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Gracious and eternal Father, today we come seeking to understand your purpose and your will for our lives. Help us to know that although we seek you, you have sought us first in love. Lord, grant us wisdom in these moments. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. One of the most common complaints that I hear about the medical profession is that many doctors are too detached from their patients...

14. Up And Down The Mountain

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Gracious and eternal Father, as we begin this Lenten journey, we seek to focus our hearts and minds upon understanding the ways in which you work to heal us of our afflictions. Lord grant us wisdom in these moments. May the words of our mouths, the meditations of our hearts be always acceptable in thy sight, O Lord our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. Sir Edmund Hillary is the explor...

15. What is Possible When there is Hope

John 20:10-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

A school teacher was assigned to visit children in a large city hospital. One child, she was told, was a must visit. She took the boy's name and room number, and was told by the teacher on the other end of the line, "We're studying nouns and adverbs in this class now. I'd be grateful if you could help him with his homework, so he doesn't fall behind the others." It wasn't until the visiting teach...

Showing 1 to 15 of 15all results

Showing all results

1. A Little Longer Of Earthly Darkness

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

2. A Russian Resurrection

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

3. Counting The Cost - Sacrifice

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

4. Counting the Cost in Marriage

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

5. Life As An Investment

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

6. Living In The Resurrection Age

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

7. Saddam Hussein's Mistake

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

8. Saving Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

9. Surprised By Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

10. Surprised By Joy

Matthew 13:31-35, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:47-52

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

11. The Condition Of Mercy

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

12. The End of the World

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

13. The Return Of The Lost

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

14. Up And Down The Mountain

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

15. What is Possible When there is Hope

John 20:10-18

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

Showing 1 to 15 of 15all results