Sermon and Worship Resources

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Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

King Duncan

... about the widow’s gift: God measures our gift not on the basis of its size, but on the level of the sacrifice involved. Dave Simmons in his book, Dad, The Family Coach, tells about taking his daughter Helen (eight years old) and his son Brandon (five years old) to the ... of giving. A young boy gave two small fish and five loaves of bread and a multitude of thousands was fed. In John Maxwell’s story, Helen Douglas’ gift of $3.30 motivated a congregation of people to give more than they have ever given ...

2. The Terrible Burden Of Judging Others

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

King Duncan

... and obnoxious, and say hurtful things and bother people, but at that point in time, they really can't help it. Others in the church, says Simmons, need to understand and minister to them, rather than trying to run them off the road, or out of the church, or trying to out- ... 1. Isaac Asimov, ASIMOV LAUGHS AGAIN, (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993), p. 135. 2. "St. Bashen's." Cited in John C. Maxwell, BE A PEOPLE PERSON. 3. Ron Lee Davis with James D. Denney MISTREATED (Portland, Multnomah, 1989). 4. ...

3. Jailhouse Rock

Acts 16:16-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... on Aldersgate Street, one of those young men experienced what he called a “warming of the heart.” His name was John Wesley, and he became one of the most effective evangelists of the 18th century. He founded the Methodist movement that ... to the standards they set for me, and that’s okay,” she says. But she is aiming toward a higher standard. “Every day that I’m here,” Simmons says, “I try to be the kind of person my mother wanted me to be.” (4) Some of you had a mother like that. Even if you ...

4. Your Face Gives You Away

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... baby while you are feeding it that you like strained liver, but your face gives you away. Your face, says Ms. Simmons, is a communication tool that transcends language and cultural barriers. “You can communicate emotional content in a split second. You don’ ... the day when we celebrate Christ’s Transfiguration. In our lesson from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is on a mountain with Peter, John and James. As Jesus is praying, Luke tells us, the appearance of his face changes, and his clothes become as bright as ...

5. So Much for So Little

Illustration

Staff

... April 1667, English poet John Milton signed an agreement with Samuel Simmons, a London publisher, by which he sold the copyright of Paradise Lost for five pounds, plus five pounds for the sale of each of three subsequent editions, comprising 1,500 copies. Milton received a second five pounds in April 1669, making a grand total of 10 pounds for the author of England's greatest epic. After his death, Milton's widow Elizabeth sold all remaining rights for eight pounds to Simmons, who became perpetual copyright ...

6. John the Baptist, Sanctified Indifference, & the King of Pop

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to make the world a better place Then look at yourself and make a change.” What if Michael had someone who had the John the Baptist courage to hold a mirror up to his life and remind him on the man he wanted to be. Steve Stockman, who ... has written some great books on the spirituality of U2 and the theological underpinings of rock music, discovered this past week a Sylvie Simmons 1983 article for Creem magazine in The Observer’s Review Special Issue. This is a time in Jackson’s life when he saw ...

7. The Word that Changed the World

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... t ask you to raise your hand if you are still keeping the resolutions you made 2 days ago. Andy Simmons, the Senior Editor for Readers Digest says that he keeps all of his New Year’s resolutions, every single one ... to ask you to focus on some of the most beautiful, dramatic and powerful words in all the Bible. They are found in the prologue to the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were ...

8. As The World Turns

Matthew 4:12-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... Turn it over to Jesus. Become part of his team, his family, his body today. 1. From a sermon by Eric Ritz. Adapted from a story told by Steve May in his ONE MINUTE MESSAGE. 2. John Trent, Ph.D. LIFEMAPPING (Colorado Springs, CO.: Focus on the Family, 1994), pp.185-186. 3. EXPLODING PIGS, Compiled by Ian Simmons, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1997, p. 117. 4. The Associated Press (08-21-01). 5. Bill Hybels, MAKING LIFE WORK (Downers Grove, ILL.: InterVarsity Press, 1998), pp.23-24. 6. Dr. Paul Brand, GOD'S ...

9. Who Is Your Hero?

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... said, "Go on, ask her." The other said, "No. You ask her." Finally one of them came forward. "Excuse me," she said to Olivia Newton-John's friend, "Isn't your name Faye? Weren't you in my class in grade school?" It has been said that people today worship ... think to herself, "Barbara Jordan grew up here, too." The thought inspired her. And that little black girl grew up to be Ruth Simmons, the president of Smith College. (4) We need heroes to inspire us. Of course, Jordan became a celebrity as well as a ...

10. The Love of the Shepherd

Ezekiel 34:1-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... here is what we learn from Jesus God loves His sheep so much that He will lay down His life for them. That is what we read in John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep . . .” On the surface of it, that sounds absurd. As ... really does love you that much. The Shepherd lay down his life for His sheep. 1. Exploding Pigs compiled by Ian Simmons, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1997, pp. 9-10. 2. Reuters. 3. http://www.day1.net/index.php5?view=transcripts&tid= ...

11. In the Wilderness With Moses

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... being left out altogether--especially those without health insurance. But the greatest toll may be spiritual. Lutheran pastor John D. Herman visited northern Tanzania in east Africa. He was amazed at how the people he met were so ... of people crossing lines that were once regarded as uncross-able? Author Tom Wolfe wrote a best-selling novel titled, I Am Charlotte Simmons. It is based on extensive research on college and university campuses looking at all aspects of college life as it is being lived today ...

12. Brushing Your Teeth with Oreos

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

King Duncan

... Sunday school? What is that saying to your children? I appreciate something that Rose Kennedy, the matriarch of the family that gave us President John Kennedy and his famous siblings once said: “Whenever I held my newborn babe in my arms,” said Rose Kennedy, “I used to think what ... , know they have a special relationship with God too. 1. Matthew Cole, Plant City, Florida. Cited by Andy Simmons in Reader’s Digest (Reader’s Digest USA). 2. Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, www.gizmag.com. 3. Tom ...

13. When You Are Weary

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... man. The man was hardly paying attention to the chaplain’s visit until he heard the Bible passage the chaplain had chosen. It was Jesus’ words from John 14: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be ... Farmington, New Mexico in “People Shared Their Funniest Family Stories and It Got Heartwarming Real Fast” by Andy Simmons. Updated February 7, 2023, Reader’s Digest, https://www.rd.com/funny-stuff/funny-family-stories/. 4. Making ...

14. Smart As A Goat

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... power of the Holy Spirit. You were blessed with a spiritual gift so that you could be a blessing to others. This church needs you. This world needs you. Will you answer the call? 1. Exploding Pigs and Other Bizarre Animal Stories compiled by Ian Simmons (New York: Barnes & Noble, 1997), p. 19. 2. Haggai, Tom. How the Best Is Won (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1987), p. 123. 3. Greg Allison, Leadership, Fall, 1998, p. 73. 4. T. D. Jakes. Maximize the Moment (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999 ...

15. Holy Habits

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... must have known something we need to learn. Start off by reading at least five or six verses each morning from the Gospel of John and then talking with God. Starting the day correctly is like programming a computer properly or making your first shot in a basketball game. ... are teaching. Then there are others such as Keith and Jennifer Merriman and Sandra McDuffie and her teaching partner Marianne Simmons who have chosen to teach year after year. Some would say that teaching is a service to the children. But ...

16. All for Some Dumb Sheep

John 10:11-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... They deserve our applause. JESUS SAID, “GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS: TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS” (John 15:13). This is the ultimate display of human affection and character--to sacrifice one’s life for someone else. And it ... a flock of intellectually challenged sheep. As someone has said, “God created sheep in order to make chickens look smart.” Ian Simmons in his book Exploding Pigs tells about a group of Chinese shepherds in Mongolia who were put in a difficult place when ...

17. Mary, Let's Go To The Barn

Luke 2:1-20; Matt 1:18-25

Illustration

Brett Blair

I love this story: A grade school class was putting on a Christmas play which included the story of Mary and Joseph coming to the inn. In that class was one little boy who wanted very much to be Joseph. But when the parts were handed out, his biggest rival was given that part, and he was assigned to be the inn keeper instead. He was really bitter about this. So during all the rehearsals he kept plotting in his mind what he might do the night of performance to get even with his rival who was Joseph. Finally ...

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