Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. A Gift of Marbles

John 14:15-31

Illustration

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

A minister on vacation went to visit a boyhood friend who operated a candy and novelty store. While they were reminiscing, a little boy about six years old came in and asked if the man sold marbles. The owner showed him where the marbles were. The boy asked, "How much, mister?" "Ten cents a dozen," answered the owner. The boy stood there scratching his head for awhile. Finally the owner asked, "Wh...

2. Accepting the Storms with Calmness

John 14:15-31

Illustration

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

A story was written some years ago about a man who had discovered an amazing inner spiritual peace. He had lost his entire fortune in the stock market crash in the 1930s. He was drinking himself to death. He decided to take his life by walking out into the ocean and swimming past the point of no return. As he came to the edge of the water, he noticed something sparkling in the sand. It was a pale,...

3. Blessed With Peace

John 14:15-31

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

This week two thoughts were foremost in my mind. One thought was quite normal for a preacher as well as a basic necessity. What shall I emphasize Sunday morning when I am using for my text the words of Jesus which he spoke on his last night upon earth to his disciples? "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you ..." The other thought was quite different. I remembered that 31 years ago last We...

4. Called into Friendship

John 15:1-17

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

I would like to ask you two questions this morning. The first question is this: "What would you consider the highest honor that you could receive? Would it be a promotion in your work or an unexpected invitation to be an overnight guest at the White House?" The second question is: "What is the finest gift that I could give to someone? Would it be money or possessions?" Answers to these questions ...

5. Commanded By Example

John 13:31-38

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

In a book titled, Life Looks Up, Charles Templeton said the history of this world has been changed by events which took place in two small upper rooms. These rooms are separated not only by thousands of miles, but by nearly thousands of years. Yet the events which took place within those walls have changed the course of human history more than any other events mankind has ever known. The first "u...

6. Crowned With Victory

John 14:15-31

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

Easter is the greatest of all holidays. It is the greatest because it celebrates the most outstanding event which ever happened in this world. There has been nothing in all history which has been more significant, more meaningful to people than Christ’s victory over death. Today marks the birthday of our eternal hope. Today is the anniversary of the victory of the human soul over death. It was on ...

7. Not Defeated But Victorious

2 Timothy 4:9-18

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

For a Cancer Victim Preached at a service of a boyhood friend who died at fifty after a long, painful struggle with cancer. His victory over his affliction was a great inspiration to family and friends. In the Old Testament we read that one day King David was visibly shaken and sad of heart. A close friend, a loyal commander of his army, and a distinguished hero had been killed. When King David re...

8. Reinforced With Joy

John 15:1-17

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

Last fall I was invited to a luncheon to hear an outstanding leader in the business world. I sat next to the president of one of our local industries. While we were visiting, stillness fell about our table as everyone there stopped talking and listened to our conversation. When the industrial leader realized this, he looked at the other men at the table and said, "I want to ask the pastor a questi...

9. Strengthened For Life

John 15:1-17

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

During these Lenten Sunday mornings we have been thinking together about some of the things which Jesus shared with his disciples on the last night of his earthly life. These teachings of our Lord are recorded for us in chapters 13 through 17 of John’s Gospel. If you will read these chapters carefully, you will find they contain everything that is most precious in our Christian heritage - every gi...

10. The Transformation of a Hideous Beetle

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Illustration

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

One afternoon, a man, lying in a canoe close to shore, saw many beetles in the muddy bottom of the lake. He felt sorry for these lowly creatures which would never know any other world except gloom and mud and water. Then a big, black beetle came out of the water. He crawled up on the gunwale and sat there blinking at him. Under the heat of the sun the beetle died. Then a strange thing happened. Hi...

11. Wedding: Be a Happy Family

Sermon Aid

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

___ and ____ : The author of First Peter wrote (as we read it in The Living Bible): And now this word to ... you: You should be ... a happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back to those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, a...

12. Wedding: They Became One Flesh

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon Aid

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him ... Therefore a man leaves father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Reading: Genesis 3:18, 24 Dear ____ and ____ : I am sure that the wish of all this afternoon, not only yourselves, but also your parents and certainly our Lord, is that you together might begi...

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