Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. Who Is God?

Illustration

William J. O'Malley

William J. O'Malley, in his book, Meeting the Living God, gives us some modern descriptions of God, descriptions which he terms "false gods." See if you find your understanding of God among any of these: God is there when I'm in need. Otherwise, when things are going okay, he doesn't ...

2. Proper 20

Proverbs 31:10-31, Mark 9:30-37, James 3:13-18; 4:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... possesses the attitude that Jesus had when he prayed: "Nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done." Outline: Why doesn't God answer some of our prayers? 1. We ask wrongly (v. 3). 2. We ask selfishly. 3. We do not draw near to God (v. 8). William J. O'Malley begins an article titled "Praying" in U.S. Catholic magazine with this analogy: "Praying is a bit like sex. If we engage in it, we're nervous talking about it, and parents wouldn't dream of telling their children what goes on when they do it." He ...

3. Preparing the Way

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... , and God would always be in the background taking care of her. (2) I fear this is where many people are in their understanding of God. God is not their Father. God is their indulging grandfather who overlooks what they see as mere indiscretions. William J. O’Malley, in his book, Meeting the Living God, gives us some modern descriptions of God, descriptions which he terms “false gods.” See if you find your understanding of God among any of these: “God is there when I’m in need. Otherwise, when ...

4. All That From A Little Bit Of Water?

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... JIGS & JULEPS! (New York: Inspirational Press, 1962). 3. Alex Haley, ROOTS (New York: Doubleday, 1976). Cited by Fuller, Gerard, O.M. I., STORIES FOR ALL SEASONS (Mystic, CT.: Twenty-Third Publications, 1996), p. 12. 4. Walt Kallestad, WAKE UP TO YOUR DREAMS (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), p. 48. 5. As told by Sara Owen-Gemoets in EMPHASIS, Jan./Feb., 1999, p. 35. 6. William J. Fallis, POINTS FOR EMPHASIS, (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1993), p. 33. 7. "To Illustrate" by Robert Shannon, PREACHING, July/Aug ...

5. I Believe in Easter

Acts 9:1-29

Sermon

James Merritt

... 1:16-19) As you well know, ever since the Supreme Court decision of Murray V. Curlett (1963) school prayer has been outlawed in America. The Murray who was at the center of that Supreme Court decision was William J. Murray, whose mother was the notorious atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair. William J. Murray had been taught atheism all of his life. He had been taught to hate God, Christianity, the church, and especially the Bible. Well, he read a novel by Taylor Caldwell entitled: Dear and Glorious Physician. At ...

6. The Expectant Parents--And An Unexpected Baby

Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... of God in unexpected ways and in unexpected places for unexpected uses. It is the result of responding to life in Godlike ways. Father William J. Bausch tells of the man who always has a special feeling each year when he receives his first Christmas card. It reminds him of ... the prophets had in their expectation of a Messiah who would bring peace to the world. People: Praise be to God. Prayer O God, our Heavenly Father, the creator of all that is, the sustainer of life, who also participates in it with the ...

7. Big "J" and Little "j"

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , expanding the reach, of our “little j” until we come into the fullness of God’s kingdom and the glorified presence of the “Big J.” In more theological “churchspeak” this was called “sanctification.” But it is really just the making of our “little j” bigger, bit by bit, throughout our lives. William J. Locke has a novel about a ... worship of the one who loved us so much he would die on the cross for us. “What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul? What wondrous love is this?”

8. Living in the Red

Galatians 6:11-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... many years of service, I will let you decide how you will die." "Well," replied the jester, "if it's all the same to you, O most generous Caliph, I choose death by old age." There are some things we get to choose, and some things we don't. We don ... we can be in the red and live beyond our means is because . . . whatever the Father has promised, we can claim it now. William J. Wyne tells the story "of three little girls who are enjoying an evening of play. They started playing the game of counting their money ...

9. Trust that Leads to Transformation

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... pastoring in Columbus, Mississippi. 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word, just to rest upon his promise, just to know, "thus saith the Lord." Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I've proved him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more! William J. Wyne, "A Faith for Life's Fires," The African American Pulpit, 6 (Summer 2003), 90. As we sing this song together, ask yourself: Can I trust Jesus enough to do whatever he tells me to do? It's only this kind ...

10. My God Is Real

Psalm 14:1-7

Sermon

James Merritt

... .'" If there is no God then Stalin can kill 20,000 Russians; Hitler can annihilate six million Jews and get away with it. It was the Russian philosopher, Dostoevski, who once wrote: "If God does not exist, then everything is permissible."4 William J. Murray is the son of the famous atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair. He was the chief plaintiff in the Supreme Court decision: Murray vs Curlett in which prayer and Bible reading were removed from public schools. Thirty years after that decision, on June 17, 1993 ...

11. In the Darkness of Despair, There Is the Light of Hope

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... the light of a star. I wonder, in this Advent season, if you would be willing to let the light of Bethlehem fall on you? And would you then be willing to be a person who shares the light? 1.Phillips Brooks, “O Little Town Of Bethlehem,” The United Methodist Hymnal (Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989), p. 20. 2.William J. Carl, III, Waiting For The Lord (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1988), p. 16. 3.Paul Scherer, Love Is A Spendthrift (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1961), p. 98. 4.Lamar ...

12. What To Say When You Roll Out Of Bed

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

William G. Carter

... lack in tone quality, they compensate in volume. The last time Guy stayed in our home, he woke me at 6:45 one Saturday morning by blasting out, "O God of earth and altar ...." Over a bleary-eyed cup of coffee, I put our friendship on the line by asking, "Why do you belt out a ... inscribe these words upon our hearts, we aim ourselves in love toward the God who first loved us. 1. William J. Bouwsma, John Calvin: A Sixteenth Century Portrait (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), p. 39. 2. Eugene H. Peterson, ...

13. Get off the Throne and Learn Wisdom

Matthew 7:1-6

Sermon

Phil Thrailkill

... like prayer and service and patience and kindness, and we learn through painful correction to leave such verdicts to God. P.J. O’Rourke was right on the danger of having a critical spirit, “It is a small step,” he wrote, “from looking ... with God. Let me know how it works. I need the help. You see, I have a log in my eye. 1. Edited from Terrie Williams, The Personal Touch (Warner Books, 1994). 2. The Weekly Standard, Nov. 25, 1996. 3. Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun. 4. PreachingToday.com search ...

14. He Stands Alone

Mark 1:29-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... wealth, sex, drugs but nothing on this earth can suffice. As St. Augustine said so beautifully, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” All people, everywhere, need what only Christ can offer them ... not far off-target. Jesus gave us a clearer picture of what God is like than the Old Testament writers possibly could. In one of William J. Locke’s novels there is a very wealthy woman who has spent half a lifetime on a tour of the great sites of the world ...

15. The Hope Of A Girl-- And The Hope Of The World

Isaiah 7:1-25

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... for a sign. But Ahaz responds by saying, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." Isaiah answers for God, saying, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a ... . 4. Earl G. Hunt, A Bishop Speaks His Mind (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1987), p. 177. 5. William J. Carl III, Waiting For The Lord (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1988), p. 60. 6. Emphasis (Lima, Ohio: CSS ...

16. Easter 5

John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... and can be used as prayers.) "Christ Is the World's Light" *"Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life" "He Is the Way" *"Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather" *"How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" "I Know Whom I Have Believed" "In Heaven Above" "Jesus, Still Lead On ... organist or other instrumentalists move the congregation into quietly singing either Andrae Crouch's "My Tribute" or Gloria and William J. Gaithers' "There's Something About That Name." This could be followed by other praise choruses or hymns.) Drama and ...

17. What Making a Difference Looks Like

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Phil Thrailkill

... 7 They stared at each other in silence. Here’s how to spot the real thing. Mercy is not strained; it is not forced; it is not given with a grudge or I.O.U; it is not delivered with a barb or air of superiority, because if it is it is, then mercy is mixed with something less pure. True mercy creates a rich memory but ... 's Mission," Readers Digest (June 2004) . 15. PreachingToday.com search under Matthew 5:9. 16. Found in William J. Bennett, The Book of Virtues (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993), 262.

18. Changed Lives: Adam and Eve

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

King Duncan

... our lives are not more fulfilling. Yes, there is something in the human heart that is not quite right. Writer P. J. O’Rourke puts it this way, “There is this horrible idea, beginning with Jean‑Jacques Rousseau and still going strong in ... by looking at their outward appearance. The most deadly problems we face originate not from the outside of us, but from within. As William Shakespeare so wisely put it in his play Julius Caesar, “. . . the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves . . ...

19. Fatal Attraction

Matthew 5:27-30

Sermon

James Merritt

... never stops playing. Remember, sexual sin of any sort is a fatal attraction, but it can be overcome through Jesus Christ and His Word. 1 The Atlanta Journal, 9-10-95. 2 John Armstrong, Can Fallen Pastors Be Restored?, pp. 29-30. 3 "A Bad Start?", Newsweek, January, 1999. 4 William J. Bennett, The Broken Heart, p. 77. 5 "Divorce: Can We Do Better?", Denyse O'Leary, Faith Today, November-December, 1998, (Vol. 16) No. 6, pp. 20-27. 6 In Other Words, May-June, 1994. 7 Newsweek, Oct. 21, 1996, p. 18.

20. Standard Building Codes

Matthew 5:27-30

Sermon

James Merritt

... or ever existed." [[9]] What a great testimony. May that be your testimony through life, because that will meet God's Standard Building Codes. [1] "A Bad Start?", Newsweek, January, 1999. [2] William J. Bennett, The Broken Hearth, p.77. [3] "Why Purity Matters", Joe White, Focus On The Family, 3/26/2001. [4] "Divorce:Can We Do Better?", Denyse O'Leary, Faith Today, Nov-Dec. 1998, (Vol. 16), #6, pp. 20-27. [5] "In Other Words", May-June, 1994. [6] MSNBC/Stanford/Duquesen Study, Washington Times, 1/26/00. [7 ...

21. Jesus, The Light of the World

Revelation 21:10, 21:22-22:5

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... reality: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined." He concludes, "O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!" (Isaiah 9:2; 2:5). Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, but who prophesied to the northern ... to follow his lead and do the same. 1. Paraphrased from "Sea Gull," in William J. Bausch, A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers (Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1999), pp. 79-80.

22. Sheep Just Wanna Have Fun

John 10:1-21, Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Earlier this month in some parks, farms, and yards of the UK, British sheep have been experiencing a new sense of freedom. Even as parks and open spaces are shut down due to coronavirus, and people are secluded in their homes, sheep have taken to roaming about the newly open spaces. But rather than wandering aimlessly through the fields, it seems, sheep have been seeking out children’s playgrounds, and have begun [wait for it] to play! It appears, their favorite activity is to take turns riding the “ ...

23. Set Free Through Forgiveness!

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... . 3. Colonel Jeff O'Leary, TAKING THE HIGH GROUND (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 2001), pp. 240-241. 4. Penelope J. Stokes, SIMPLE WORDS OF WISDOM (Nashville: Countryman, 1998), p. 20. 5. Jill Briscoe, HEARTSTRINGS (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1997), pp.45-46. 6. Michael Brickley, "The Extended Life: Four Strategies for Healthy Longevity," THE FUTURIST, Sept.-Oct. 2001, p. 55. 7. Tony Campolo, LET ME TELL YOU A STORY (Nashville: Word Publishing, 2000). 8. Garrie F. Williams, "Welcome, Holy ...

24. Illusion Or Reality?

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... when reality and its people aren't perfect. We want our teachers to be like Robin Williams, our wives to be like Meryl Streep, our boyfriends to be like Mel Gibson, and ... ourselves. A person who did that for me early in life was a boy named P.J. Crowley. I met P.J. when I was fourteen years old. At that time I was a member of the Sunday ... good. It is limited by factors of environment, upbringing, and personal character. Herbert O'Driscoll is right: "Conscience needs grace."31 Conscience must have a source of ...

25. Being Prepared

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... window in the house. The explosion caused $65,000 in damage. Don’t worry. J. R. was safe. Fortunately, he had closed his bedroom door. (1) Can somebody tell me ... once more into the air, watching the cruise ship sail away. Don’t worry. William survived. Although he had failed to make his James Bond entrance, “People on the ... -sermons/Nor-12-5-99.asp. 4. (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1987), pp. 15-17. 5. Wilson O. Weldon, Not Afraid! (Nashville: The Upper Room, 1984). 6. Jim Pye, http://www.sermonsplus.co.uk/ ...

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