Sermon and Worship Resources

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Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

Dr. Wayne Dehoney, a Baptist pastor in Louisville, Kentucky, tells of a college freshman who attended his first dormitory prayer meeting. Rather unexpectedly he was called upon to pray a sentence prayer. The young man had a slight speech defect which became pronounced when he was under pressure, and thus he prayed: "Lord, make us more thinkful for all our blessings." That young man prayed a bette...

2. "Can Do" Christianity

Philippians 4:10-20

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

Those who lived through the long years of World War II remember a remarkable group of men called the Seabees. "Seabees" was their nickname, based upon their official designation as the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions. These were the men who went ashore right behind the Marines during the Pacific island battles, constructing the new facilities necessary for the support and establishment of our n...

3. Forever His

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

Do you remember the first time you fell in love? I do, and it was a wonderful experience, both exhilarating and painful. I was fourteen years old and a high school freshman when it happened. The young lady’s name was Joyce. She had long brown hair and dark brown eyes, and I was quite certain she was one of God’s own angels. I fell in love with Joyce the first time she let me carry her books home f...

4. Genuine Imitations

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

In the fantastically successful movie, "The Empire Strikes Back," the viewers are invited to continue their involvement in the adventures of the heroes and villains of the first movie, "Star Wars." Once again we find ourselves engaged with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and the robots Artoo Detoo and See Threepio as they battle Darth Vader and the Dark Empire legions. One of t...

5. In Debt Forever!

Romans 13:8-14

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

It seemed as though the bishop was looking straight at me "Are you in debt so much as to embarrass you in your work?" What an incongruous question to ask of a candidate for ordination. It seemed so mundane, so inappropriate for such a hallowed occasion, even if it was one of the questions asked of ordinands ever since the day when John Wesley first posed it. "Are you in debt so much as to embarras...

6. Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise

Romans 11:33-36

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

What happens when an irresistable force meets an immovable object? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? How far is up? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Impossible questions. Questions that have no answers. Questions about which philosophers philosophize and theologians theologize and simple folk wonder, all to no avail. Questions that boggle the mind and strain the brain and l...

7. Magnify Your Ministry!

Romans 11:11-24

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

A very important group in any United Methodist Church is the Committee on Pastor-Parish Relations. The Book of Discipline of our denomination says that one of the primary functions of that body is "to counsel with the minister and staff pertaining to their relationship with the congregation, including priorities to be given in the use of their time and skill in relation to the goals and objectives...

8. One Thing

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

If you could accomplish but one significant deed in your life, what would you want it to be? If you wanted to be remembered for one act of your life more than all others, what would that act be? All want to be remembered, all of us. No one wants to be forgotten. Even our Lord Jesus wanted to be remembered. Surely that was one of the reasons he shared bread and wine with his closest friends on the ...

9. The Only Fact That Really Matters

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

Two weeks before his first heart attack in 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower summoned evangelist Billy Graham to the presidential retreat at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. After nearly four hours of conversation, the President suddenly looked Graham squarely in the eye, and said, "Billy, I want you to tell me why you believe in heaven, and why you believe in the afterlife." Dr. Graham declares Preside...

10. Wedding: All in One Sentence

John 2:1-11

Sermon Aid

Raymond Gibson

The opening sentence of The Order for the Service of Marriage is one of the most starkly beautiful in the English language: Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, and signifying unto us the mystical union which exists betw...

11. What Form of Church Does God Want for the Furture?

Romans 12:1-8, Romans 12:9-21

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

A farmer who had never been to the city was chosen by his grange to represent them at a national convention, and thus he found himself in New York. After checking in at the hotel, he approached an elevator, something he had never seen. He watched as a very large woman walked into the elevator. The door closed, what appeared to be a single hand on a large clock made a revolution, and the door opene...

12. What It Takes to Stay Christian

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

Eleven months ago when I first arrived in Versailles as your new pastor, it was my custom to arise at 5:30 A.M. every morning and run four or five miles before breakfast. I weighed 147 pounds, and for a man of my age, I was in good condition. I was five pounds under my ideal weight, I felt fresh and trim, had a great deal of energy, and slept like a newborn baby. My muscles were firm and tough, I ...

13. When the Church Is the Church

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

The late Bishop Arthur J. Moore was greeting people after a preaching service when suddenly he was confronted by a man who said, "I’m not a church member, Bishop, and I’ll tell you why. I have never found a church that is perfect. If I could ever find a perfect church, I would join it!" Bishop Moore looked the man straight in the eye and said, "My friend, the church is not perfect because I am a ...

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