Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. A Father's Love

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

Jairus represents a father's love for his children. He was a devout Jew, the leader of his synagogue, and Jesus was considered a religious outcast. But Jairus did not hesitate to seek out Christ and implore his help for his dying daughter. He would do anything to save her life. Recently the newspapers carried an account of a fire that destroyed a home. The father woke up to a smoke-filled house a...

2. A Great Storm Arose

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

Storms at sea have been a part of human experience from the beginning of time. On Christopher Columbus' journey home after discovering the New World, a storm threatened to sink his ship. He was less concerned for his life than he was fearful that his tremendous discovery would remain unknown. So he hurriedly put the message in several bottles which were cast into the sea in the hope that someday t...

3. Call Upon The Lord

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

Daniel Defoe in the well-known book Robinson Crusoe bases his story on the need to call upon God in time of trouble. Crusoe had long been isolated on a small island following a shipwreck. He had come to believe firmly that he was the only human being on the island. But one day as he went to the beach to get his boat he was startled to see the footprint of a man in the sand. Crusoe concluded that i...

4. Conquering Our Own Storms

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

Modern submarines cannot easily be caught without warning of an impending disaster. They have the use of radar, and by means of radio can keep in touch with their headquarters and hear the weather reports. We, too, can tune in to forecasts about the weather and be warned of severe thunderstorms or winter storms of snow and ice. But there are some storms of a different nature, whose advance warning...

5. Do You Not Care If We Parish

Mark 4:35-41, Psalm 50:1-23

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

God indeed cares, and sent his Son to keep us from perishing because of our sins. The story is told of an ancient king who dearly loved his son but wanted him to grow in character by facing up to life's hardships. So he sent him out into life to meet whatever troubles might come his way. The young man thought he was alone and grew with each difficulty he met. He did not know that his father's love...

6. Have You No Faith?

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

People go through life with contrasting attitudes. For some, life can be faced courageously. Others seem to cower constantly before ills that are either real or imagined. Some interesting statistics along this line were issued by the famous Mayo Clinic. They issued a report that anxiety is one of humanity's greatest foes. Their report stated that one person in every ten will have a nervous breakdo...

7. Life's Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

Victor Hugo, in his story "Ninety-Three," tells of a ship caught in a dangerous storm on the high seas. At the height of the storm, the frightened sailors heard a terrible crashing noise below the deck. They knew at once that this new noise came from a cannon, part of the ship's cargo, that had broken loose. It was moving back and forth with the swaying of the ship, crashing into the side of the s...

8. Master Of The Storms

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

An elderly pastor was crossing the ocean some years ago on an ocean liner. One morning he awoke to hear the ship's foghorn blasting an ominous warning every fifteen seconds. Going out on deck he saw that the fog was so thick that he could see only a few feet in front of him. The fearful thought crossed his mind that under these circumstances there could be a fatal crash of two ships and all aboard...

9. Meeting Christ

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

History records a time when two people met each other on July 25, 1807, at a spot in the Tilsit River in Prussia. It was a dramatic meeting to discuss matters which carried serious consequences. In the middle of that stream Napoleon and Alexander held a much publicized private conference. It was widely described in advance as a meeting which would "arrange the destinies of humankind." Cannons boom...

10. Miracle Five: Healing A Withered Hand

Mark 3:1-6

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

Background Material Jesus and his disciples traveled about on foot. They would naturally take advantage of shortcuts. So this day they walked across some farmland that had been planted with wheat. As they were hungry, they reached out and plucked some of the kernels of wheat to satisfy their hunger. But they were seen doing so by some of Jesus' critics who immediately called him to account. But a...

11. Miracle Four: Healing A Paralytic

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

BACKGROUND MATERIAL When Christ began his ministry of preaching and healing, his fame spread, until he was well known throughout a large area. He intended to make clear the message of repentance and salvation from sin, but the news of his astounding miracles was something people immediately grasped, and they spread the information everywhere. As a result, throngs sought Jesus in order to have him...

12. Miracle Nine: Healing A Deaf-Mute

Mark 7:31-37, Mark 7:24-30

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

BACKGROUND MATERIAL It is rather strange that Mark is the only Evangelist to record this particular miracle of Jesus. It is believed that the other Gospel writers had Mark's writings in hand when they wrote their Gospels. And this was a double miracle, a healing of both deafness and of a speech impediment. All the more wonder that Mark is the only one to relate this action. Another area of conje...

13. Miracle Six: Stilling A Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

BACKGROUND MATERIAL Jesus sometimes got into a boat and headed for the farther shore in order to be free of the demands of the crowd who now followed him in great numbers. On this day he was weary from his work and from arguing with the scribes who constantly took issue with his pronouncements. He was on the Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Gennesaret. The lake was about eight miles wide and tw...

14. Miracle Ten: Healing A Blind Beggar

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

Background Material This is the last miracle which Mark records. It concludes Mark's thrilling reports of the wondrous blessing which Christ bestowed upon the blind, the sick, the deaf, and even the dead. This particular miracle was reported by other Evangelists, who do not name the beggar. It is Mark alone who furnishes the name of Bartimaeus, which means son of Timaeus. It is somewhat curious h...

15. Miracle Three: Healing A Leper

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

BACKGROUND MATERIAL There is considerable variety to the miracles performed by Christ. One was performed in a synagogue (curing the demoniac), another in a home (healing Peter's mother-in-law), and this one he performed on a public thoroughfare. While Jesus and his disciples were walking, a man afflicted with the terrible disease of leprosy approached them. Fear of leprosy was so great that stric...

16. Miracles Seven and Eight: Healing An Issue Of Blood & Healing The Rulers Daughter

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

BACKGROUND MATERIAL Jesus' performance of miracles was now assuming a rapid pace. Great crowds now came to meet him wherever he went, and they brought with them their sick and lame to have the Master apply his healing powers. Here Jesus sets out, in response to a plea from one of the rulers of the synagogue, who asks him to come to his home to heal a sick daughter; on the way, still another mirac...

17. Praising Our Lord and Spreading the News

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

J. S. Bach became known worldwide for his remarkable musical talent, but he never ceased to credit his Creator as the one who was responsible for his ability. The pages of his musical compositions could well have been used to satisfy a personal pride as his name appeared on them. But he was determined to give glory to God for his accomplishments. So he always concluded his original compositions wi...

18. Reach Out

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

The woman with the issue of blood was healed because she reached out to Christ, reached to touch his garment. We, too, can reach out to Christ and as a result receive innumerable blessings. In fact, throughout our life there are so many things that we can possess if we only reach out to secure them. Many of the greatest names in history would have remained unknown if they had failed to reach out w...

19. The Cross Destroys Worry and Anxiety

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

There were six cities in ancient Israel which were designated as cities of refuge. When someone took a human life without premeditation or malice he could flee to one of these cities and there be safe from retribution. Tradition tells that once each year the roads leading to such a city were cleared of rocks and debris to make it easier for a man who was fleeing for his life to reach the haven of ...

20. The Healing Power Of Faith

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

The woman with the issue of blood had faith that by contact with Christ she could be cured. All around us in daily life are examples of people who, by faith, are overcoming life's difficulties. A telephone linesman was up a pole when the pole, which was held in place only by cables, fell over him and he was dashed to the ground. His insides were badly crushed and as he was rushed to the hospital;...

21. The Hour of Death

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you would die? Several years ago a veteran missionary was in a plane that was circling over Detroit and unable to land because of fog. As the plane's fuel ran low and the danger of a crash landing became more apparent, the missionary got out paper and pencil and jotted down his last will and testament. He wrote: "There is peace, perfect peace in ...

22. Why Are You Afraid? Have You No Faith?

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

Faith and fear are enemies. You must choose one or the other, but you cannot have both. Some boys were playing on a beach with a large beach ball. By accident the ball was thrown too high and, driven by the wind, landed in the water. No thought was given to it for a few minutes until one of the boys noticed it was going farther and farther from shore. One of the boys decided to retrieve the ball....

23. Your God Is Too Small

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

The woman with the issue of blood was filled with faith. She really believed that by simply touching the hem of Christ's garment a miracle could be effected. She is an example to us of great faith, and how it is rewarded. We may be committed and praying Christians, but do we think large enough thoughts about God? Do we really believe that God can do anything? Year's ago there was a book titled: Y...

Showing 1 to 23 of 23all results

Showing all results

1. A Father's Love

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

2. A Great Storm Arose

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

3. Call Upon The Lord

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

4. Conquering Our Own Storms

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

5. Do You Not Care If We Parish

Mark 4:35-41, Psalm 50:1-23

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

6. Have You No Faith?

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

7. Life's Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

8. Master Of The Storms

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

9. Meeting Christ

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

10. Miracle Five: Healing A Withered Hand

Mark 3:1-6

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

11. Miracle Four: Healing A Paralytic

Mark 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

12. Miracle Nine: Healing A Deaf-Mute

Mark 7:31-37, Mark 7:24-30

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

13. Miracle Six: Stilling A Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

14. Miracle Ten: Healing A Blind Beggar

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

15. Miracle Three: Healing A Leper

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

16. Miracles Seven and Eight: Healing An Issue Of Blood & Healing The Rulers Daughter

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

17. Praising Our Lord and Spreading the News

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

18. Reach Out

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

19. The Cross Destroys Worry and Anxiety

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

20. The Healing Power Of Faith

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

21. The Hour of Death

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

22. Why Are You Afraid? Have You No Faith?

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

23. Your God Is Too Small

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Harold H. Lentz

Showing 1 to 23 of 23all results