Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 1714 results

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Brett Blair

... humanity. It gets down to that old philosophical tension between becoming and being. We spend too much of our time concentrating on what we are becoming, and we lose sight of what we are being. Several years ago there was a very powerful movie staring John Hurt called “The Doctor.” This particular doctor was a very businesslike, rather glib surgeon, who had absolutely no rapport with his patients. One day he has in his office a Hispanic farmer and his family. He has run some tests on the man and he is ...

2. Hope for Hurting Hearts

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... wondering? "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Suddenly, we jump back to 2001. Again the sacred Muzak sings, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come." But our hearts are still hurting, and like John we remain prisoners...of our private, personal pain. John's question well may be ours. John may be speaking for any who were once sure of their faith but now are not sure at all (like the minister on "Ally McBeal"), or for those who wonder, "Is there really a God who knows and cares ...

3. Walking Into The Heart Of God

1 John 2:28--3:10

Sermon

King Duncan

... it's not always easy to love. Many years ago while Dr. Albert Beaven was in college, one of his friends did something that hurt him deeply. Albert was so angry with this person that he swore he would get revenge. As he was walking around campus he thought ... is to strive for survival. God's nature is self-giving love. The closer we are to God, the better able we are to love others. John writes, "And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us." That Spirit is love. It's like ...

4. The Cross: A Gift Of Life

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

King Duncan

... , breaks up families, and murders little children in the name of nationalism and racial superiority. Sin is a cancer for which there is only one cure. That cure is Christ. God knows what hurts us. God knows what can destroy us. And God gives us what can save us. What can save us is a broken body hanging dead on a tree on Calvary. John Worth, a Lutheran pastor in Wisconsin, tells of watching a one-act play when he was a child. The plot of this play was centered around a submarine crew trapped at the bottom ...

5. A Squirrel Crossing a Busy Street

Romans 5:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

... , we can embrace those hurts if we understand that God is using them to make us into a new creation--one fit to live with Him forever in the Kingdom of God. Monica Dickens, in her book Miracles of Courage, tells a touching story about David, a 2-year old with leukemia, who was taken by his mother, Deborah, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to see Dr. John Truman who specializes in treating children with cancer and various blood diseases. Dr. Truman’s prognosis was devastating. “He has a 50 ...

6. Family Survival

Genesis 37:1-11

Sermon

Stephen DeFur

... some more pictures of Ben! All of us have some dings from imperfect families, but most folks in this room have some real deep hurts. I want to speak in these moments to three categories of people. 1. Some of you have never worn the robe. Some of you have ... basis and receive that kind of affirmation and love, especially from God. I would like to challenge you to make this verse your own, I John 3:1: "See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are." 2. ...

7. Timeout at Tiberias

John 21:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... than to bear the shame of seeing them again. And so the disciples, seven of them at least--Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John and two other unnamed disciples--decide to take a timeout . . . a timeout at the Sea of Tiberias. After Christ’s resurrection an ... said, “Take care of my sheep.” A third time, once for each denial, Jesus asks, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; ...

8. Hurting People Hurt People

Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... their anger this way. Sometimes we can defuse the situation by a quiet comment like, "It must be very stressful having to deal with people all day." Hurting people hurt people. SECONDLY, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN WE HURT IT MAY AFFECT HOW WE RESPOND TO OTHERS. We can hurt others when we are hurting. According to Pastor John Ortberg, one of the most common terms used today among psychiatrists is, "LFT." This abbreviated term addresses a prevalent problem in our society. "LFT" stands for Low Frustration ...

9. The Power to Forgive

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... parent. Or it may have been a teacher or a friend or a sibling or a spouse who abused us, but somewhere along the way someone has hurt us deeply and we can still feel the pain. For some the pain is so intense that it is simply easier to cut that person out of our ... spiritual freedom that only Christ can give. 1. John Ortberg, Faith and Doubt (Zondervan, 2008). 2. Cited in a recent issue of Reader’s Digest (Reader’s Digest USA). 3. Dr. John Vertefeuille, http://www.cedarpark.org/thechapel/services/2010/ ...

10. Lazarus Rising

John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44

Sermon

... so many of us do not: God is there in our suffering. Oh f rends, you have a heavenly father who cries with you when you cry. He understands eternally what it means to hurt, but because he has taken on our hurt in the person of Jesus. Jesus now went over to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone rolled in front of it John tells us. He ordered the stone removed, but Martha, ever the practical one, ever the realistic one, said: “Master it has now been four days and there will now be a stench.” Jesus replied ...

11. Are You the One Who Is to Come?

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... haunting country song that went like this, "If we make it through December...." Some of you know the meaning of those words. "If we make it through December...." It was December for John the Baptist. He was hurting in Herod's prison. He was hurting physically and he was hurting emotionally. He was gripped with disappointment. John Was Disappointed, First of all, Because He Had Different Expectations of What a Messiah Would Do. He was a product of his time. He expected the same kind of Messiah everyone else ...

12. Jesus, Where Are You?

John 12:20-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... life. Many of these children will turn to a life of crime. Can you look into the eyes of someone who is hurting and see Jesus there? That is the real test of discipleship. Discipleship has little to do with perfect attendance in church. Church ... OF ALL, WE SEE HIM IN THE HISTORICAL RECORD. We first encounter Jesus in the record made of his life by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is not a very complete record. For example, we have no idea how Jesus really looked. Was he tall, short, slender, chubby? You may ...

13. Liar, Liar

Exodus 20:16

Sermon

James Merritt

... true. This book tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth which is why Jesus said in John 17:17, "Your word is truth." (John 17:17, NASB) So, when I lie I dishonor the God of truth. II. I Should Tell The Truth Because ... better than the penalty for murder." That may be true, but perjury can get people killed. Whenever you tell a lie, somebody always winds up getting hurt someway, somehow. I read about a man who was trying to park his car and he scraped the side of a Porsche. He didn't ...

14. To Bethlehem and Beyond

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Leonard Mann

... love out to anyone." But God takes that risk. He has put his love out to everyone. Don’t overlook the fact that it was "his own beloved Son" whom he gave (John 3:16). And he got hurt. It may seem somehow improper to say this; but we’ll never understand the meaning of his loving act until we understand that in his putting himself out for us, God got hurt. There was a crown of thorns, and a cross, and the pain of nails in hands and feet - and the deeper pain of being rejected by those whom he loved. But ...

15. Judas

Luke 22:1-6

Sermon

King Duncan

... . It always hurts to be betrayed by a friend, a spouse or anyone close. IT IS EVEN WORSE TO BE AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE BETRAYED CHRIST. It was not just any friend that Judas betrayed. Throughout history, friends have betrayed friends, but their names are not remembered as is Judas'. Judas did not merely betray a friend. He betrayed Christ. Haven't we all? Most of us remember John Bunyan as the author of one of the greatest works of Christian literature, PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. John Bunyan was not always strong in ...

16. The Desperate

John 9:1-12

Sermon

James Merritt

... time of day, but they were in desperation mode. People in this mode normally have three characteristics. First of all, they are hurting. They’ve got a problem such as a deserting spouse, a wayward child or a life-threatening illness. Then they feel helpless ... will find ourselves in the story that we are going to study. One of those amazing stories is found in the Gospel of John. [Turn to John 9.] We are going to study a man who was not only desperate, but he was born in desperation. He was born blind. There ...

17. Journey To The Cross II: Jesus And The Hemorrhaging Woman

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

James W. Moore

... no strangers in my world. Only brothers and sisters. Some of them I haven’t met yet.” Reflecting on that experience, John Powell wrote this remarkable paragraph. Listen closely. He said: “That lady drew out of me a deep and warm reaction of ... research is now confirming what many of us have suspected all along – that love plays a big part in the healing of a hurting body. Love has the power to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Have you heard the legend of the Fisher King? When the Fisher ...

18. True Colors

Acts 9:1-19a, Acts 9:19b-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... stare at the sun too long, even as far away as it is, my eyes will be damaged from doing that too. Sometimes, we can hurt our eyes and not even know it. Science tells us that light can be present, even when we can’t see it. Or even when ... person, a covenant, some kind of spiritual or physical change. Saul’s story is a birthing story. Saul encounters the Creator God/Jesus of John’s gospel. And he is encircled by the shekinah, which plunges him back into a womb-like place, where he is morphed and changed, ...

19. Lasting Impressions

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... God doesn't make garbage and you are not a mistake." "Over the years I've put together the staff and raised the money to create children's homes in Arkansas, Georgia, two in Tennessee, and one in Colorado. It started with one, but there were too many hurting kids for one home. We just had to start more." John Croyle has helped over 1,200 children since he started.1 Blessing does not come as a reward to the person who acts kindly toward others. Rather generosity and concern for others is its own reward as ...

20. Conviction with Compassion

John 8:1-11

Sermon

James McCormick

... in fact, just the opposite. It was precisely because he did love her that he had to identify and condemn the behavior that was hurting her. We could use more of that kind of tough love. I wish we could learn once and for all that genuine love is ... moral vision to become so blurred that I begin to call the darkness, light, and the light, darkness. Look at the story from John’s gospel. Jesus’ love for the adulterous woman did not prevent him from calling her actions sinful. Indeed, his love for her required ...

21. The Prosecutor Perry Mason Can't Beat

John 16:7-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... to heaven. Only the Holy Spirit can bring that truth to your heart. There is an old saying that "What you don't know can't hurt you." But the real truth is, what you don't know can kill you. I read a story one time about a Mexican bank robber by ... as long as you compare yourself to somebody else. But when you compare yourself to the Lord Jesus, you realize that everybody fails. That is why John goes on to say in v.10, "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more." Jesus had come from the ...

22. We Interrupt This Service

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Thomas Long

... 's wings, to leave the earth behind, and to ascend into the celestial heights to be with God and his logos, his Word. But John's poem does not end with the first line. The eagle suddenly dives toward the ground. The violins give way to the blunt thud ... people always do the right thing or even the best they can. It does not mean that people do not waste their lives, get hurt, or hurt other people. It does not mean that there is no hardship, no drudgery, no evil, no tragedy. It would be an illusion to pretend ...

23. Easter 4

Psalm 23:1-6, Acts 4:1-22, 1 John 3:11-24, John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... life willingly for them. His eternal presence enables his followers to obey the command to love in the same manner as he loved. Gospel. (John 10:11-18) The parable of the Good Shepherd contains the statement by Jesus that an evidence that he is the shepherd is his ... 16) How can we heed the voice of Jesus speaking to us today? A. Steep Oneself in Scripture about Jesus B. Be Sensitive to the Hurts and Pains of People C. Seek to be Faithful to Jesus' command in Word and Deed 5. The Sheep Are His Own. (v. 14) The ...

24. Reconciliation: The Heart of Love

Hosea 2:14-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... (John 21:15b). When Peter responded in the affirmative, Jesus repeated the question twice more and received the same response. Certainly, Peter had to understand Jesus' reason for asking and how reconciliation was in a very real way affected at that moment. Even if we deny the Lord, Jesus will welcome us back with open arms. As God has been merciful and compassionate toward us, we must be merciful and compassionate to each other. People make mistakes; it is part of being human. Thus, sometimes we will hurt ...

25. Even in Our Hiding

Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... with his parents and hid under the radar most likely in a town in the Jewish section of Cairo. It’s said, his cousin John (later to be called the Baptist) was taken by his mother into the wilderness of Judea, where they may have been protected and hidden ... This is the result of sin….the kind of sin that eats away at the heart and tarnishes the soul. And God mourns for his people hurt by those who would kill and maim. That’s why…sometimes, it’s okay to hide. And God will be with you in your hiding ...

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