Sermon and Worship Resources

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Matthew 26:69-75

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... in Washinton, the father said, "In looking back on that, I'm sure that was the greatest mistake of my life. I am the cause of John's tragedy. We forced him out at a time when he just couldn't cope. I wish to God that I could trade places with him ... is enough to bring a person to tears when one looks back over a lifetime and sorrowfully says, "A waste. Nothing but a waste!" In John Jakes best-selling North and South, there is a man, Orry, who failed to accomplish two things he wanted most in life. He wanted a ...

2. Commissioned for Christ

2 Kings 2:1-12

Sermon

Richard Gribble

On a warm and sunny early June day in 1943, John Francis Laboon, "Jake" to his friends, stood with his Naval Academy classmates on Warden Field; it was graduation day. These men were the class of 1944, but because of World War II raging in both the Pacific and European theaters, and thus need of their presence in the fleet, the class was "accelerated" one year in its training. A rough and tumble young man from the steel town of Pittsburgh, Jake had come to the academy in the summer of 1940. He excelled in ...

3. Putting the World Back Together

John 20:1-9

Sermon

David O. Bales

... bombed Japan in April 1942, and the Japanese man had been the pilot in December 1941, who led 360 airplanes to bomb Pearl Harbor.[1] What John wrote in his gospel and what Christians have said or done throughout history convinces only a few that Jesus is alive again and that through him God is hurrying to put the world back together. Just hearing what happened to Jake DeShazer and Mitsuo Fuchida and what they said and did might intrigue people but it won’t lead many to trust Christ. Little can bring us ...

4. Worriers Or Warriors?

John 14:15-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27 LB). Yeah, right. They would be torn apart by lions in the gladiator pits, they would be burned as human torches in Nero ... and not worriers. And that is the same promise Christ offers us today. Perhaps you have come to this house of worship today like Jake seeking "the assurance from someone that things are going to be okay." I can give you that assurance. God's Holy Spirit is here ...

5. Blast From The Past

John 17:1-19

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Blast From The Past. And we feel it. So, let's look at the passage that tells us about this Blast From The Past. Read here - John 17:1-19 (NRSV) Jesus prayed for the Disciples, the each church that would grow and become the church which we belong to, and for all ... and said, "They're going to give the ball to number 45. Don't touch him! Open up a hole and let him score! Understand?" Jake had the run of his life, scoring the touchdown heard round the world, on the Play of the Year. All because of Coach Derek ...

6. Maximizing Your Potential

Isaiah 5:1-7

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... have done' " (Luke 17:10). The misuse of God's gifts is illustrated in a little story. Jake was one of the most colorful and well-known people in a small town. Everyone knew him, liked him personally, and appreciated his work as an artist. One day Jake went to the local general store to pick up a few items. He paid for his purchases ... 20:28). Our reward in heaven will be great! 1. Paraphrased from "A Tale of Two Flowers," in John Aurelio, Colors! Stories of the Kingdom (New York: Crossroad, 1993), pp. 79-80.

7. It Doesn't Matter What I Do

Jeremiah 17:19-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... they prosper . . . for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Psychologist John Trent tells us that in the Hebrew language, the words "wilderness" and "curse" are related. The literal translation of the word " ... the wicked . . ." About a decade ago the Chicago Tribune carried a story about a couple, Jake and Diane Thielke, who bought a piano for $700 at an estate sale. Jake and Diane wanted to find out whether the century-old oak upright was worth repairing, so ...

8. I'm On a Mission from God!

Jonah 1:1-17

Sermon

... Belushi on television this past week? (Or TRY until the cable went out?) John was an incredible comic talent who created fascinating characters. What brings him to mind this morning is the delightfully wacky pair that he and Saturday Night Live partner Dan Ackroyd teamed up to create - Jake and Elwood, the Blues Brothers. These two genial bozos are sent out on an ill-fated fund-raising mission for their old parochial school by a fierce old nun. As they blunder through a series of larcenous schemes and make ...

9. Look Up and Live

Numbers 21:4-9

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... . Some wag has noted Jesus could turn water into wine, but has never been able to turn whinING into anything. Sometimes we might NEED snakes. There is a story of three men who live on a ranch out West, the father John, the sons, Jake and Joe. They never had any use for the church until one day Jake is bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor is summoned, but the prognosis is not good. Jake is going to die. The younger son is sent to bring the preacher. When he arrives, the parson is asked to offer a prayer for ...

10. When You Are Uncertain About Your Salvation

1 Kings 3:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... alone. Many of the best Christians who have ever lived have gone through times when they doubted if their conversion was real. It happened to Martin Luther. It happened to John Wesley. It can happen to you, and it can happen to me. That is why we need to hear St. Paul's words: "If you confess that Jesus is Lord ... Lord to love you without knowing you than if He knowed you like I do." Let me tell you something: Jake's friend was wrong. The One who knows us best loves us most. As E. Stanley Jones once put it, " ...

11. Look Up and Live

Numbers 21:4-9

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... wag has noted Jesus could turn water into wine, but has never been able to turn whining into anything. Sometimes we might need snakes. There is a story of three men who live on a ranch out west, the father, John, and his sons, Jake and Joe. They never had any use for the church until one day Jake is bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor is summoned, but the prognosis is not good. Jake is going to die. The younger son is sent to bring the preacher. When he arrives, the parson is asked to offer a prayer for ...

12. A Say-so Spirituality

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... under God's "say-so." Comedians Dan Akroyd and the late John Belushi teamed up to create a host of memorably wacky characters. But few could top the absurdity of Jake and Elwood, the Blues Brothers. These two genially corrupt, amiably amoral bozos are sent out on an ill-fated fundraising mission for their old parochial school by a fierce old nun. As they blundered through a series of larcenous schemes and made movie-mayhem, Jake and Elwood established their credibility by quietly proclaiming to all their ...

13. Faith In Conflict

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... or should I give that up? We see this kind of conflict taking place in Herod. Even though Herod has locked up John the Baptist in prison, he feared John, protected him, and actually sought his guidance. Here we see a strange mixture of error and truth battling for control of ... the bartender. "What else can he do, can he walk?" The man flicks a quarter down to the end of the bar and says, "Hey, Jake. Go get that." The little guy runs down to the end of the bar and picks up the quarter. Then he runs back down ...

14. How Did That Hole Get There?

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... a glass. The man downed the drink in one big gulp. So the bartender said: “Would you like another drink?” The huge man turned to leave but yelled back over his shoulder: “No! I don’t have time. Haven’t you heard? Big Jake is coming and I have to git.” (3) John the Baptist announced the coming of Jesus. In his own words speaking of Christ he said, “He must become greater; I must become less.” In other words, “Jesus is coming; I have to git.” In the same way, Jesus announced that he must ...

15. Easter 5

John 13:31-38, Revelation 21:1-27, Revelation 19:1-10, Acts 14:8-20, Leviticus 19:1-37, Acts 14:21-28, Psalm 145:1-21

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... the people of God into the world and daily life. The world will know that people are Christians and disciples of Christ "by their love." SERMON SUGGESTIONS John 13:31-33a, 34-35 (RC); 13:31-35 (E, L, C) - "The Sell-Out." Jesus was about to be sold-out, betrayed by one of the ... estranged son of the head of organized crime in Hawaii, is tricked and trapped, along with his father, Henry, and Jake Styles, by enemies out to destroy them. When the shooting starts, Henry throws his body in front of his son, suffers ...

16. Smart As A Goat

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... member of the “team" to use his or her special gifts to make the church complete. Bishop T.D. Jakes makes the point that few of us move outside our comfort zones in life. We hang around with people ... life by stepping outside your relational comfort zone too. As Bishop T. D. Jakes says, “There is a difference between harmony, which is derived from two distinctly ... . Greg Allison, Leadership, Fall, 1998, p. 73. 4. T. D. Jakes. Maximize the Moment (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999), p. 42. 5. Charles ...

17. A Time to Get Angry

John 2:13-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... The game heated up when Boston third baseman Tommy “Foghorn” Tucker slid into third base and the legendary third baseman John McGraw of the Orioles kicked Tucker in the face. Within minutes all the players from both teams had joined in ... amazing” says the bartender. “What else can he do, can he walk?” The man flicks a quarter down to the end of the bar and says, “Hey, Jake. Go get that.” The little guy runs down to the end of the bar and picks up the quarter. Then he runs back down and gives it ...

18. A Gallery of Mirrors

John 12:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... had a gift for handling money – that’s why Jesus gave him that job. Yet, “Judas became so fond of money that he became a thief and then a traitor for the sake of money.” (Barclay, The Gospel of John, Vol. 2, page 130). How often do we see it happen? Isn’t that the story of Jake Butcher over in Knoxville? And we name him only because it is dramatic. A person has a particular gift, people recognize it, affirm it, then too often it becomes a source of pride, even conceit. Also, it becomes the avenue ...

19. Who Says A Good Man Is Hard To Find?

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... know that wherever I am I will be with each of you every day, always! Your loving husband and father. H. Norman. Dad." (5) Who says a good man is hard to find? 1. John Welsh, quoted by Tom Hritz in PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/15/91). 2. Rupert Hughes, "When Will Rogers Wept," in FOLKS SAY OF WILL ROGERS, comp. William H. Payne and Jake Lyons, (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1936). 3. Lisa Rock in St. Paul PIONEER PRESS, 8-18-91. 4. Dian Dincin Buchman & Seli Groves, WHAT IF, (New York: Scholastic Inc., 1988 ...

20. The Art of Impersonation

Matthew 5:21-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... being, ‘You’re it. You’re No. 1.’ That’s really important. It’s actually kind of affected me personally,” says John DiDomenico. “It actually helps me be more confident, because his confidence is so, oh so big. I have to carry that ... for us to be. 1. “Meet Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton Impersonators Who Make a Living by Playing the Presidential Candidates” by Jake Lefferman and Alexa Valiente, Oct 31, 2016, https. 2. “Meet The World’s Top Joel Osteen Impersonator” by Michael Hardy, ...

21. Where is the Nearest Sycamore Tree?

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Johnny Dean

Theologian John Killinger has written that Zaccheus is just about the only person in the New Testament who is singled out for comment on the ... year and health clubs continue to advertise, "You can be a whole new you in just a matter of months!" The manufacturers of exercise equipment tell us, "This could be YOUR body!" Yeah, right, Jake! We live in a society that preaches that the one solution to all the problems each of us face is better self-esteem, a more positive regard for our personal selves. You can be ...

22. Journey To The Cross V: Jesus and Simon Peter

Mark 14:66-72

Sermon

James W. Moore

... Finally, Our Actions Can Be Profane. Last week, June and I went up to Georgetown for the inauguration of Jake Schrum as the fourteenth president of Southwestern University. The guest speaker was former president of the United States, Jimmy ... according to the date on which they fell… as if to say, this day will always be remembered because this person, on this day John or Mary or David or Rebecca died. Fifty-eight thousand names… everyone is there. When they dedicated that memorial they read aloud every ...

23. The Way We Raised You

Illustration

King Duncan

... 14 he noticed his father wearing a happy grin as he came home from work. “Got pinched for speeding, but Jake down at city hall got the ticket fixed for me,” he said. When Junior was 15, he was with his ... 16, he listened to his grandfather reminiscing about the “good old days of rationing” when he made $100,000 black‑marketing cars. That same night Uncle John was bragging that in his business he sent no bills and received only cash. “Why be a sucker and let the Internal Revenue Service get all my ...

24. You're Going To Have A Baby!

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

During a pastoral call, a three-year-old boy climbed in the lap of a pastor and whispered confidentially, "I know a secret!" The pastor asked, "Will you tell me your secret?" "Yes," the little fellow giggled delightedly, "but you mustn't tell my mamma." When the pastor promised not to tell, the boy continued, "My mamma's going to the hospital to have a baby. But don't tell her. Me and Daddy want her to be surprised!" Would you be surprised if someone told you that you were going to have a baby? The men and ...

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