Sermon and Worship Resources

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1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... and beatin' balls, hour after hour until your hands bleed. Then take a break, bandage your wounds, and back at it again. Does the effort pay off? It does in golf. At the moment according to PGA Tour statistics, the golfer with the lowest scoring average is Fred Couples - thru last week's tournament on Hilton Head, his average score per round is 69.61; his winnings so far amount to $870,673. Not bad (probably more than today's whole offering, he said with a grin). In contrast, go down to number 50 on the ...

2. Powerless People

Judges 4:1-24

Sermon

Argile Smith

... he agreed to read the book at his first opportunity. He took the book to his study and placed it on his desk. A couple of weeks later he picked it up and started to read it. The subtitle captured his attention immediately.[1] He wondered what a ... dad’s reply made the day bittersweet. He knew in his mind that his dad didn’t have any use for education, but in his heart Fred hoped that he would transcend his mistrust of degrees and affirm his son’s work. But he didn’t. That day hadn’t faded from his ...

3. Eyes Fixed Upon the Goal

Philippians 3:8-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... priorities--putting first things first. Without priorities . . . The athlete fails to win the prize . . . Couples fail to achieve marital happiness . . . Financial goals go unmet . . . Businesses go bankrupt . . . Churches ... York City Marathon sponsored by New York Road Runners Club. There were obstacles to Fred’s dreams. A New York gang warned Fred that nobody had better run through their neighborhood. That didn’t stop Fred. He went immediately on the offensive. “I need someone to protect the runners in ...

4. The Fred Factor

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... couple of months ago, I read the book Good to Great, in which Gillette was named as a great company. But I was having a hard time getting my mind around what made it so great. Did those executives, engineers, and assembly workers really wake up each morning thinking, "Today is the day that we are going to create an even better razor that will produce smoother legs and faces around the world"? Do people really get charged about that? Am I missing something? Then a friend gave me a small book called The Fred ...

5. The Dream

Galatians 1:1-10

Sermon

John Jamison

... and the pastor gave it. I'll try to retell the story exactly as the visitor told it. He began by saying that his name was Fred, and he talked a little more about his family and what they all did. In fact, he talked quite a bit about those things, the ... My son came home from work, rode his motorcycle up the driveway, and went into the house. He came back out a minute later with a couple of beers and asked if we could talk. We sat in the yard chairs and had a beer." His eyes apologized for the beers, but the ...

6. Fast Forward Faith

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... faith enough to believe. Bartimaeus had faith enough to believe that Jesus could and would heal him and restore his sight. Fred Craddock tells the story of serving in an area where all the local pastors rotated turns as chaplain at the small thirty ... and jumped right in. He saw the light, felt the faith, and fast forwarded his faith to become a follower. Bill and Jill were a young couple who lived down the street from us. Jill's whole family was active in the church. Bill hadn't grown up in the church. Wasn't ...

7. One Life-Changing Word

Isaiah 9:2-7 · Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

Sermon

King Duncan

... he has become, demands that the ghost remove him from the house. The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes Scrooge to Fred’s Christmas party. A major part of this chapter is taken up with Bob Cratchit’s family feast and introduces his youngest son ... s highest hopes and dreams. There is a beautiful story told by Lee Barry that carries a message in it. A young couple began their marriage full of hope and anticipation. They were happy, with good jobs, a nice home, and a loving relationship. In ...

8. Surprised By Christmas

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... left, his wife moved over next to Fulghum to explain his strange behavior. The woman had noticed that, after a couple of strokes some years back, her husband's behavior was changing. Then, one March morning quite unexpectedly, he had come ... somebody actually goes out of their way to help somebody else? Fred V. Alias has written a book about people in his corporation. Fred is with Holiday Inn hotels. One of the people Fred writes about is a man named Rick. Fred says that Rick is one of those people who make you ...

9. For Troubled Hearts

John 14:1-4

Sermon

King Duncan

... have said, “Do not let them be afraid . . .” Have you ever known anyone with a troubled heart? Obviously the young couple staying at the Watergate had troubled hearts. They were afraid that their room was bugged. They went to extraordinary lengths to ... wake up you’ve lost your standing as a genuine worrier. Nobody who sleeps can qualify as a genuine worrier. No, as a professional worrier, Fred Smith said, if he got into bed and discovered that he had something to worry about he’d get up and sit in a ...

10. A Place Of Honor

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

King Duncan

... talked or the look in his eyes. There are people who inspire such confidence, aren't there? Let me tell you about a couple named Harvey and Pat, who once lived in a lovely residential part of Phoenix, Arizona. One day an elderly lady who lived next ... was like a signal given that only women could hear. Without a word, they all formed a line awaiting their turn. Without a word, Fred danced each lady around the room one time. It doesn't end there. To this day, Harvey reports, when they are out with friends for ...

11. The Baby Leaped

Luke 1:39-45

Sermon

King Duncan

... , Pastor Dahlrimple would come to the words, "and Jesus came down from heaven that night and into the manger of Bethlehem." Elder Fred was to take the cue to lower "baby Jesus" into the manger waiting down on the floor below. The cue came, and the ... a small child, you can see her doing just that. Christmas is an exciting time. A cartoon in The New Yorker magazine a couple of years back showed God sitting majestically on a heavenly throne, with the stars twinkling all around. The planet earth is visible in the ...

12. Asking for Help

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

... , in turn, kept her informed of his progress and sent her copies of all his term papers. Her secretary said later that she always read them with great interest. Later Mrs. Roosevelt visited the couple in their sparsely furnished apartment. The owner of the apartment nearly collapsed when he recognized the famous visitor. When Fred finally finished Medical School he told Mrs. Roosevelt that he didn't know how he would ever be able to repay her. She said that repayment wasn't necessary nor desirable. Then she ...

13. Oops! I Didn't See You

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... The guest went out for a walk and came back in and said, “Oh, those are nice folks next door. I met Mr.Yung and his wife from Seoul. Very nice young couple.” Fred says, “Well, I had heard some Koreans moved in down there, but I didn’t know. When he said their names, I was judged.” Just a familiar pattern, says Fred Craddock. “Come home, read the paper, and eat supper. Then here comes someone strange. Everything looks different, and I think, ‘Where in the world have I been?’” (8) Love sees ...

14. The Box (A Drama about Using Your Talents for God)

Drama

Dave Marsh

... , I've said it. Read on! Cast: John Rubin: A Dad Jimmy: John's Son Props: Boxes List (script!) 2 old toys (I used a couple I had from childhood. Change the dialogue to reflect your toys.) Photo Photo on screen behind you. Provided here! Setting: Home basement (LIGHTS UP CENTER ... he mean by that? Dad: I didn’t know until after he died and my dad gave me the picture. He told me that Grandpa Fred wanted me to have it. I told my dad the story and asked him about it. He said that Grandpa was a really good writer ...

15. Bittersweet

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... those cardigan sweaters, and changed his shoes—each one of those sweaters was made for him by his mother, given to him each Christmas. Fred honored his mother by wearing those sweaters on every show. No matter how famous he became, he never lost track of who he was ... be celebrated in the town of the groom (Bethlehem), and normally, during the betrothal, the groom would build a house for the couple, so that they would have a home after their wedding. However, in the case of Mary and Joseph, they were caught ...

16. It's No Fun to Move

Ruth 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... s the promise that Ruth made to her mother-in-law, Naomi. I wonder, as young couples stand before the altar and light the Ruth candle in their wedding ceremonies, if they understand ... Fred and Ruby. Ruby had advanced Alzheimer’s, and she became more angry and difficult as the disease progressed. But Fred continued to nurse his wife lovingly. Fred devoted himself to her care, even though Ruby could no longer return his love. And then one day Fred ended up in the hospital. He had late-stage colon cancer. Fred ...

17. Paul's Prayer For Us

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... who witness the crimes and do nothing to help. Such a situation would tempt most of us to despair. Such was the case of Judge Fred M. Mester, a circuit court judge from Oakland County, Michigan. Judge Mester had entered his law career with high ideals and great enthusiasm. He ... the other's strengths and weaknesses, a team of psychologists found just the opposite. They asked 180 couples a series of questions about themselves, their partner, their ideal partner, and their satisfaction with the relationship ...

18. Bringing Life to a Party

Luke 24:36b-48

Sermon

King Duncan

... confident, as if you belong there, and no one will question you. (1) Our Bible verses today make me think of Fred Karger and the “art” of party-crashing. This time, though, the party crasher was Jesus. The interesting thing is that it ... a few years ago in Fairfax County, Virginia who heard a landlord-tenant dispute for a landlord who wanted to evict a deaf couple who couldn’t afford to pay their back rent. Judge Donald McDonough was accustomed to dealing with more than 100 landlord-tenant disputes on ...

19. What's in a Name?

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

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... out. Ask Essie Mae Washington-Williams. Or should we say Essie Mae Thurmond? We heard about her a couple of weeks ago as the story broke that the late Senator Strom Thurmond, who rose to national prominence ... a striking resemblance, boy!' He swatted me on the bottom and said, 'Go, claim your inheritance.'" And then the old man who was telling the story said to Fred Craddock, "I was born on that day!" What's in a name? For Ben Hooper, for Essie Mae Washington-Williams, for everyone of us, there is so much!!! ...

20. A Goodly Heritage

Psalm 16:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... came over to the table and greeted them and began asking: if on vacation, good time, where from, and what did for living. When Fred said that he was a preacher, the old man pulled up chair and said, “Let me tell you about a preacher.” “I was born ... down then, as the first truth to underline this morning. Like the Psalmist, we have a goodly heritage in this land of ours. A couple of Sundays ago, Gordon Slappey gave me a dollar bill. He wanted to exchange dollars with me, but when I didn’t have a ...

21. When Christians Pray

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... I need to say that each of us needs God’s presence in our lives for the very same reason? It reminds me of a couple that I read about recently. Rachel and Jim owned a commercial building, half of which Jim used for his dental practice. For fifteen years, ... ,” she said, “but the moment I saw you guys praying I felt excited all over again.” “Once you accept the Lord,” said Fred, “He becomes part of your life. You can try to turn away from him . . . but he’s still there. He loves you, and like ...

22. The Baby or the Window?

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

King Duncan

... was turning purple and had foam on her mouth. It was becoming a life-or-death situation. At this point Fred Arriola, a wrecker driver, arrived on the scene. He grabbed a hammer and smashed the back window of the car to save the small child from ... the color of her eyes?” The man answered, “Never noticed.” “The color of her hair?” the sergeant asked. “It changes a couple times a year,” said the man. “Maybe dark brown.” “What was she wearing?” the sergeant asked. “Could have been a skirt ...

23. Love Your Enemies--It Will Drive Them Crazy

Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

... we would like to duck most are the ones in front of us, the ones about forgiving enemies. They are so difficult. Fred Craddock, a good teacher of New Testament and preaching, was teaching an undergraduate course in Oklahoma on the Gospels of Jesus. He ... would take it across to an elderly Palestinian couple and he would feed them. The soldiers at the gate would ask every day, "Why are you doing this?" What was even worse, they would discover in time that the couple he was feeding were persons who had lost ...

24. Congratulations, Joseph, It's A God!

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... have their day and then they are gone. A couple out in California lost nearly $50,000 this past year, I understand, promoting an Ollie North doll. Remember Ollie? At the height of "Olliemania" this couple had visions of selling millions of dollars worth of ... who loved them. But we know how much he gave up to minister to them and to us. "Congratulations, Joseph, it's a God." Fred Craddock once told a parable about a man who moved into a cottage equipped with a stove and simple furnishings. As the sharp edge ...

25. Jesus' Advance Man

John 1:6-8; 19-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... like our sins treated more gently. Preferably we would like them mentioned not at all. “From his birth,” says Dr. Fred Craddock, “John was set aside as a Nazirite. A Nazirite . . . was a person who was devoted to God and therefore ... and events of that first Christmas, give a little thought to another small child born six months before Christ to a deeply devout couple named Zacharias and Elizabeth. Their son was not the Messiah. He simply bore witness to the Messiah. There was no star shining over ...

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