Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. Courage to Face the New Year

Luke 2:21-40

Illustration

James Kegel

There is an odd little carol which is sometimes sung on this first Sunday after Christmas. It begins: There's snow on the mountain and ice on the pond, The Wise Men are home now in the back of beyond. The Shepherd's have left us; the heavens are dumb; There's no one to tell us why Jesus has come. It ends: But God's in His heaven, and Jesus has come To show every sinner he's welcome back home, T...

2. Grace Is Like Water

Luke 7:36-50

Illustration

James Kegel

Some have noted that grace is like water. It always flows downhill. It may snow at 29,000 feet at the top of Mount Everest but eventually that moisture flows down to the sea. In the same way grace always goes to the lowest places in our lives. God is seeking the lost to save them, to search for the outcast, to forgive the secret sins which we do not like to recognize or acknowledge. God in Christ ...

3. I Give Up!

2 Corinthians 12:9

Illustration

James Kegel

Another person has just arrived at the portals of heaven. A voice asks, "What is the password? Speak it and you may enter." "Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved?" "No," replies the voice. "The just shall live by faith?" "No." "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus?" "Those sayings are true," the voice answered, "But they are not the passw...

4. Living for Christ in Daily Life

Matthew 10:1-42

Illustration

James Kegel

It is not easy following Christ in our daily life. To be a Christian Monday through Saturday is, in fact, pretty hard. I would like to share with you the story of a man from my first parish, Chan. Chan was the superintendent of the Sunday school at Edison Park Lutheran Church in Chicago, well-educated and multi-talented. He served as president of the congregation was a gifted public speaker and ab...

5. Silent Night

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Illustration

James Kegel

The Army chaplain of the 106th Division was captured in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Along with many other Americans, he was herded on to a freight car and taken into the heart of Germany. On the evening of December 23rd, the men were in the railroad yard of a German city, when a devastating attack was made by the British Royal Air Force. Many of the American prisoners were killed as ...

6. The Pastoral Search Report

John 10:11-18

Illustration

James Kegel

A pastoral report: "We have been unable to find a suitable candidate for this congregation though we have one promising prospect. We have followed up the recommendations from church members with interviews or calling at least three references. This is a confidential report on the prospective candidates: ADAM: Good man but has had problems with his wife and children. He and his wife have been know...

7. Were These Not Warnings?

Matthew 24:1-35

Illustration

James Kegel

There was once a man who was always afraid of death. He was afraid that death would suddenly overtake him and find him unprepared, so he made a bargain with the Grim Reaper that death would give him clear, repeated notices before he would come. One day, however, unannounced and altogether unexpectedly, the Destroyer appeared to demand his life. "How could you break your pledge?" the man protested...

Showing 1 to 7 of 7all results

Showing all results

1. Courage to Face the New Year

Luke 2:21-40

Illustration

James Kegel

2. Grace Is Like Water

Luke 7:36-50

Illustration

James Kegel

3. I Give Up!

2 Corinthians 12:9

Illustration

James Kegel

4. Living for Christ in Daily Life

Matthew 10:1-42

Illustration

James Kegel

5. Silent Night

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Illustration

James Kegel

6. The Pastoral Search Report

John 10:11-18

Illustration

James Kegel

7. Were These Not Warnings?

Matthew 24:1-35

Illustration

James Kegel

Showing 1 to 7 of 7all results