Sermon and Worship Resources

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Romans 1:1-17

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

I am not ashamed of the gospel.... - Romans 1:16 You've probably heard about the first group of Scots to hit shore building the First Presbyterian Church and the second group of Scots building the Second Presbyterian Church across the street. Proving ecumenism and even denominational unity to be a myth, it's not uncommon in many parts of America to find Presbyterian churches within spitting dista...

2. Apocalyptic Moments

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

The following sermon comes from a series of devotionals centered around the game of Golf. This is not a full sermon for the pulpit. It's been said wisdom comes from experience and experience comes from messing up. So I guess that means the older the wiser is another way of saying it's always easier to tell others the right way to do things after you've done them the wrong way for a long time. May...

3. Equipped To Play

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

Just as the United States Golf Association says, "I really, really, really love golf." It's fun, good exercise without a cart, an unconquerable adventure, and cheaper than a shrink. That's why one of us confessed: "My wife said it's her or golf. Boy, am I going to miss my wife." I'm kidding. But there are some things that are really starting to bother me. The prize money on the three big tours ...

4. Every Shot I Ever Hit

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

Do this in remembrance of me. -- 1 Corinthians 11:24b Two old friends were playing a round together. One of them was taking an especially long time to tee off -- checking the wind, checking his grip, measuring the distance, changing his stance, fiddling around with the tee, looking up, looking down, looking all around, and then starting the routine all over again whenever distracted by a car, chir...

5. Footprints

Ephesians 6:10-20

Illustration

Robert R. Kopp

No doubt you have heard the story Footprints: One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him, and the other belonging to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He ...

6. God Knows!

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

You are the man! -- 2 Samuel 12:7 It has become fashionable to pretend a separation of private from public lives. You know how it goes: "What I do in private is nobody's business ... Keep your nose out of my affairs! ... There's no connection between a person's private life and her or his profession ... What I do on my own time is of no concern of yours ... We're not a reincarnation of the Soviet ...

7. Holing Out

2 Timothy 4:9-18

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

The time of my departure has come. -- 2 Timothy 4:6b My dad holed the second ace of his half-century golf career on November 10, 1998. He became a low single digit handicapper not too long after picking up the game as an Army drill sergeant at New Jersey's Fort Dix just after World War II. Knowing perfectionist Ben Hogan had only one ace in his entire competitive career, a hole-in-one requires goo...

8. If You are Looking for a Hero...

Hebrews 11:1--12:13

Illustration

Robert R. Kopp

Just look at the rap sheets of our heroes. Adam and Eve had bad diets. Moses was a murderer. Samson fell for Delilah. See! David just had to have Bathsheba. See again! Thomas Jefferson could really write about life and liberty while enslaving people. Babe Ruth struck out a lot and not just on the diamond. Mickey Mantle was a drunk. Mike Tyson bit off more than he could chew. Cross-waving Evander H...

9. Lean Your Whole Weight on Jesus

Hebrews 11:1-40, 12:1-13; Psalm 118:8-9

Illustration

Robert R. Kopp

He, Jesus, is the friend on whom we can rely in all things. Ralph Earle, the great biblical scholar who taught at Kansas City's Nazarene Theological Seminary and helped edit The New International Version of the Bible, often told the story of John G. Paton who was a pioneer missionary to the New Hebrides. Dr. Paton soon discovered that while the natives had words for house, tree, stone, and the lik...

10. Leave It On The Course

1 Timothy 3:1-16

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

If someone does not know how to manage.... -- 1 Timothy 3:5 My son and I just joined Indian Guides. Sponsored by the YMCA, it encourages dads and sons to be "Pals Forever" by providing opportunities and activities that build character and deepen family relationships. We really like it! One of the first big events is announcing your Indian name. Daniel picked "Golden Eagle" for himself and "Bald Ea...

11. Mind Your Manners

Matthew 7:7-12

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you....-- Matthew 7:12 Everybody's got pet peeves -- annoying things that you'd correct or eliminate from the face of the earth if you were Director of the Universe. While I'm particularly peeved by restaurants that charge extra for blue cheese dressing and refills and people who are fortunate enough to have just enough paper in the duplica...

12. Take Dead Aim

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

My wife and I were discussing the state of affairs in America. I said every child of the 1960s knew there was a credibility gap when he said he didn't inhale. I said every golfer knew character would be a continuing issue after correspondents for several golf magazines caught him cheating during a round with two of his predecessors. I said everybody knows he cheated on his wife for years and lied ...

13. Take Some Lessons

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful....-- 2 Timothy 3:16 My handicap was heading to single digits and those absurd late fortyish daydreams about the senior tour were making denomi-national meetings more tolerable when disaster struck. Playing with my dad in one of those little friendly-while-you're-winning matches, I was even through fifteen holes. I had been slow, steady, and solid t...

14. The Downside Of The Practice -- Performance Equation

Romans 8:28-39

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.... -- Romans 8:28 I'm glad I'm a man. As my son was being born 22 years ago, two thoughts came to mind. First, "What a miracle!" Second, "Thank You, Jesus, for making me a man because I could never do that!" It's like Joan Rivers said, "If a man wants to know what it's like to give birth, all he has to do is take his upper lip...

15. The First Hole

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

Awe came upon everyone.... -- Acts 2:43 I grew up in the Forty Fort United Presbyterian Church near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Though the church has been around for over 200 years, I'm its only son who became a pastor. They even have a picture of me hanging near the back door under an exit sign. Despite my mom's assurances, I've always wondered why it ended up there. That suspicion aside, Forty...

16. The Upside Of The Practice - Performance Equation

Galatians 6:1-10

Sermon

Robert R. Kopp

You reap whatever you sow. -- Galatians 6:7b Even as cancer continues to ravage her body, Nancy Meider's personal relationship with Jesus as saving Lord enables a joy to radiate from her soul, through her eyes, and into the hearts of all who are blessed to know her. We've talked about many things over the past several months. We've been silly on occasion, serious when necessary, and direct at all ...

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