Sermon and Worship Resources

[While King Duncan is enjoying a well deserved retirement we are going back to his earliest sermons and renewing them. The newly modernized sermon is shown first and below, for reference sake, is the old sermon. We will continue this updating throughout the year bringing fresh takes on King's best sermons.]

As I look back on the 20th century there are milestone events: WWII in the 40s, man landing on the moon in the late 60s, and the advent of the computer in the 80s. There are world dominating brands: Coke, Ford, and Microsoft. And, what about the people? I don’t mean our individual memories but as a culture. Who stands out? I think there are only 3 people who transcend their time on this earth and have become icons beyond the 20th century. Monroe, Elvis and Ali. Muhammed Ali was the unprecedented three-time world heavyweight boxing champion. His picture appeared on the cover of magazines and Newspaper for two decades. Probably more press than any other athlete at that time. At the height of his popularity, none could touch him in our out of the ring. You remember his mantra: float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." Everywhere he went reporters, trainers and his staff followed him. But that was the glory years. What happened to Muhammed Ali in his senior years? There was a reporter by the name of Gary Smith, a sportswriter, who went to find out the answer to that question.

As they were visiting, Ali showed the sportswriter the barn next to his farmhouse. In the barn, on the floor leaning against the walls, were pictures and framed newspaper articles from his prime. It was strange that they were in a barn but maybe, there were just too many and spilled over into the storage of the barn. Photos of the champ punching and dancing, shadow boxing. There was a picture of Ali holding his championship belt high in triumph from the world-famous fight dubbed: "The thrilla in Manilla."

As the camera cut to the pictures, you couldn't help but notice they were covered with white streaks. The white streaks were bird droppings. Just then the ex-champ looked into the rafters at the pigeons who made his gym their home. Then perhaps as a statement of despair, Ali walked over to the row of pictures and one by one turned them over. Then he walked to the door and stared out at the countryside. He mumbled something so low the sportswriter asked him what he said. "I had the world," Muhammed Ali repeated, "and it wasn't nothin'. Look now." (1)

What would it take to make you happy? Wealth? Fame? Popularity? More times than not, the teachings of Jesus run counter to the messages the world gives us about happiness. But Jesus' teachings were consistent with his life. From the beginning of his ministry crowds surrounded him everywhere he went. His disciples thought it was great. They couldn't understand why Jesus didn't share their excitement. According to worldly standards Jesus was a smashing success, an overnight sensation, a hit, their champion. The disciples were trapped into thinking that more was better. They thought this was what Jesus wanted. There were times they didn't understand Jesus at all. If wealth and fame and acceptance don't bring happiness, where are they to be found?

HAPPINESS BEGINS WITH A TOUCH.

Jesus was visiting in the home of Simon Peter. Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. Without anyone saying a word about her illness Jesus went over to her, touched her, and lifted her up. Immediately she was healed. Notice that Jesus never said a word; he just touched her. We are not told how long she was sick in bed, or her condition. All we are told is that Jesus touched her and made her well. It was a miracle. Notice what happened next. Immediately she got up and began serving Jesus and his disciples. Having been sick in bed she must have been weak, but when Jesus touched her she felt a strength she had never felt before. She got up out of bed and began serving him. This was her way of saying thanks. But it began with a touch.

This is a point that must be made. Happiness is not simply an option we exercise. People who buy self-help books on how to be happy are going to be disappointed. Happiness begins with a touch, a touch of the Master's hand.

W. E. Sangster was once asked if he would find time to cheer up a young man who was recuperating from a nervous breakdown. Sangster promised to do his best. He sought the young man out and began to try to help him, but it was hard work. "This is a gray world," the young man said. "I see no purpose in it. It is dull, meaningless and evil. Its pleasures soon pass. Its pains endure. I seriously ask myself the question: `Is life worth living?'

Sangster saw him once or twice a week for nearly two months. Every conversation was the same nothing seemed to improve. Then something happened to that young man. He fell in love. Head over heels in love! On the day his engagement was announced he came to see Sangster and began the conversation with these words: "This is a lovely world. Come out into the garden and listen to that little bird singing, fit to burst its heart. Isn't it a glorious morning? How good it is to be alive!"

That young man did not will himself to that change of attitude. It was not a choice he made. Something happened to him within. He fell in love. He was touched. So it is when we experience Christ's presence in our lives. The world seems to change. But it isn't the world at all. We are changed by a touch.

HAPPINESS ALSO COMES WHEN WE DISCOVER THE POWER OF PRAYER.

An unwritten motto of our culture here in the 21st century is that the busier we are, the happier we are. So, we strive to be busy. It's a mistake. Consider Jesus' approach.

By nightfall, word had spread throughout the town that Jesus was there and that he had the power to heal people. By dusk Mark says the whole city was at Simon's door looking for Jesus. They brought their sick, "with various diseases," hoping that he would be able to heal them. The disciples had never seen such a crowd. With all those people Jesus must have been exhausted. It was probably late when they all left. Yet early the next morning, before anyone in the house woke up, Jesus left in search of a lonely place, a place where the crowds would be unable to find him, so he could be alone to pray. Jesus, who had given so much of himself to others, needed some time alone with the Father. He who had given so much; needed some time to receive.

That's also true of us. Some people are so superficial when it comes to their understanding of prayer. "Hey, Father," said a man talking to a priest. "You got it all wrong about this God stuff. He doesn't exist. I oughta know."

"Why's that, my son?" asked the priest.

"Well," the man said, "when I was ice-fishing in the Arctic far from the nearest village, a blizzard blew up with wind and blinding snow. I was a goner. So, I got down on my knees and prayed really hard, begging God for help."

"And did He help you?" asked the priest.

"Heck no," said the man. "God didn't lift a finger. Some Eskimo appeared out of nowhere and showed me the way."

Prayer is a potent force in the life of the believer. It is so potent that some followers of Christ have devoted their lives to nothing else.

In Colorado there is a Benedictine abbey which is home to forty-five monks. One day a reporter stopped to have lunch with the monks and to ask them some questions. He asked them why they lived as they did. Brother William, seventy-years-old explained, "You have to understand, everything we do is a form of prayer." Noticing the puzzled expression on the reporter's face he added, "It's hard for some people to comprehend that. Prayer is not just reciting prayers, it is always talking with God whenever you are alone."

"Then why confine your life to the abbey?" the reporter asked. "Wouldn't you accomplish more by reaching out to people?"

Several of the monks cleared their throats when they heard that question, "Accomplish more? No," Brother William responded. "We do reach out. You can't love God unless you reach out. If I existed the way I should exist” don't get me wrong, I don't ” but if I existed the way I should, then people would be moved to ask more, to see my life as an example." And Brother William added, "In that sense, I am reaching out."

With a genuine sadness Brother William informed the reporter that the beautiful abbey is experiencing financial difficulties. They have had to rent out some of their buildings, and put the rest up for sale. "That is sad," the old monk said, "the intense interest in learning to be a monk isn't there anymore." Many people, he explained, were taking shortcuts in their lives. "We are here as examples," he said, "to show that there aren't any shortcuts. There are only the long paths, the commitments. That's what we do here," he added. "We are an example for people like you." (2) Happiness is experiencing the Master's touch. Happiness is spending time in prayer.

FINALLY, HAPPINESS IS GETTING OUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER.

We need to take inventory of our lives to determine what's important and what is not. Certainly Jesus did.

That next morning when Simon and the other disciples awoke, they discovered that Jesus was nowhere to be found. Perhaps they panicked a bit. They actively searched until they chased him down. They interrupted his prayer time. "Everyone is searching for you," Simon tells him. To this Jesus answers, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." Jesus would not be side-tracked by the adulation of the crowds. He knew where he was headed. Nothing else mattered.

Gorman Williams spent most of his life as a missionary to India. He purchased tickets for a long-awaited vacation back to the United States. He had counted down the months and days until he would be home. A few days before he was to leave he heard about some Jews who had escaped the wrath of the Nazis. They had traveled by boat to India seeking refuge. Since it was a time of global war, the Indian government denied their request to immigrate. They were granted permission to stay for a short time in the lofts of the buildings near the dock. Their living conditions were wretched. But it was better than being sent to a concentration camp in Germany.

It was Christmas Eve when Gorman Williams heard about the plight of these Jews. Immediately he went to the dock, entered the first building and called out, "Merry Christmas! What would you like for Christmas?" The response was slow. "We're Jewish," someone called out. "I know," Williams said, "but what would you like for Christmas?" The weary Jews, fearful for their very lives, replied, "We would like some German pastries."

At that point Gorman Williams sold his ticket to the United States and purchased more German pastries than anyone had ever seen. He bought a huge variety and carried them in large baskets.

Later he told this story to a group of students. One brash, judgmental young man reprimanded him. "You shouldn't have done that," he said, "they were not even Christians." "No they weren't," the wise missionary quietly replied, "but I am." (3) Gorman Williams had his priorities in order.

What would it take to make you happy? Every study I have seen on the subject indicates that people who are actively engaged in serving God are far happier than the general population. That does not surprise me. Happiness is the touch of the Master's hand. Happiness is discovering the power of prayer. Happiness is having your priorities in order.

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1. Max Lucado, THE APPLAUSE OF HEAVEN, (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1990), pp. 152-153.

2. Jim Lilliefors, HIGHWAY 50: AIN'T THAT AMERICA. (Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing, 1993), pp. 169-173.

3. Nell W. Mohney, DON'T PUT A PERIOD WHERE GOD PUT A COMMA, (Nashville: Dimensions for Living, 1993), pp. 21-22.

[ORIGINAL SERMON]

Muhammed Ali was the unprecedented three-time world heavyweight boxing champion. His picture appeared on the cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED more times than any other athlete. At the height of his popularity he was "floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee." Everywhere he went reporters, trainers and his staff followed him. But that was years ago. Whatever happened to Muhammed Ali? What is he doing today? A few years ago sportswriter, Gary Smith, went to find out the answer to these questions.

As they were visiting together Ali showed the sportswriter the barn next to his farmhouse. In the barn, on the floor leaning against the walls, were pictures and framed newspaper articles from his prime. There were photos of the champ punching and dancing. There was one picture where his fist was punching the air. There was also a picture of Ali holding his championship belt high in triumph. "The thrilla in Manilla" a framed poster read.

As the sportswriter looked at the pictures he couldn't help but notice they were covered with white streaks ” bird droppings. Just then the ex-champ looked into the rafters at the pigeons who made his gym their home. Then perhaps as a statement of despair, Ali walked over to the row of pictures and one by one turned them over. Then he walked to the door and stared out at the countryside. He mumbled something so low the sportswriter asked him what he said. "I had the world," Muhammed Ali repeated, "and it wasn't nothin'. Look now." (1)

What would it take to make you happy? Wealth? Fame? Popularity? More times than not, the teachings of Jesus run counter to the messages the world gives us about happiness. But Jesus' teachings were consistent with his life. From the beginning of his ministry crowds surrounded him everywhere he went. His disciples thought it was great. They couldn't understand why Jesus didn't share their excitement. According to worldly standards Jesus was a smashing success, an overnight sensation, a hit. His picture was on the cover of the Rolling Stone, as they say. The disciples were trapped into thinking that more was better. They thought this was what Jesus wanted. There were times they didn't understand Jesus at all. If wealth and fame and acceptance don't bring happiness, where are they to be found?

HAPPINESS BEGINS WITH A TOUCH. Jesus was visiting in the home of Simon Peter. Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. Without anyone saying a word about her illness Jesus went over to her, touched her, and lifted her up. Immediately she was healed. Notice that Jesus never said a word; he just touched her. We are not told how long she was sick in bed, or her condition. All we are told is that Jesus touched her and made her well. It was a miracle. Notice what happened next. Immediately she got up and began serving Jesus and his disciples. Having been sick in bed she must have been weak, but when Jesus touched her she felt a strength she had never felt before. She got up out of bed and began serving him. This was her way of saying thanks. But it began with the Master's touch.

Sangster saw him once or twice a week for nearly two months. Every conversation was the same ” nothing seemed to improve. Then something happened to that young man. He fell in love. Head over heels in love! On the day his engagement was announced he came to see Sangster and began the conversation with words something like this: "This is a lovely world. Come out into the garden and listen to that little bird singing fit to burst its heart. Isn't it a glorious morning? How good it is to be alive!"

That young man did not will himself to that change of attitude. It was not a choice he made. Something happened to him within. He fell in love. So it is when we experience Christ's presence in our lives. The world seems to change. But it isn't the world at all. We are changed by a touch.

HAPPINESS ALSO COMES WHEN WE DISCOVER THE POWER OF PRAYER. An unwritten motto of our culture is that the busier we are, the happier we are. So we strive to be busy. It's a mistake. Consider Jesus' approach.

By night fall word had spread throughout the town that Jesus was there and that he had the power to heal people. By dusk Mark says the whole city was at Simon's house looking for Jesus. They brought their sick, "with various diseases," hoping that he would be able to heal them. The disciples had never seen such a crowd. With all those people Jesus must have been exhausted. It was probably late when they all left. Yet early the next morning, before anyone in the house woke up, Jesus left in search of a lonely place, a place where the crowds would be unable to find him, so he could be alone to pray. Jesus, who had given so much of himself to others, needed some time alone with the Father. He who had given so much; needed some time to receive. That's also true of us. Some people are so superficial when it comes to their understanding of prayer. "Hey, Father," said a man talking to a priest. "You got it all wrong about this God stuff. He doesn't exist. I oughta know."

"Why's that, my son?" asked the priest.

"Well," the man said, "when I was ice-fishing in the Arctic far from the nearest village, a blizzard blew up with wind and blinding snow. I was a goner. So I got down on my knees and prayed real hard, begging God for help."

"And did He help you?" asked the priest.

"Heck no," said the man. "God didn't lift a finger. Some Eskimo appeared out of nowhere and showed me the way."

Prayer is a potent force in the life of the believer. It is so potent that some followers of Christ have devoted their lives to nothing else.

"Then why confine your life to the abbey?" the reporter asked. "Wouldn't you accomplish more by reaching out to people?"

Several of the monks cleared their throats when they heard that question, "Accomplish more? No," Brother William responded. "We do reach out. You can't love God unless you reach out. If I existed the way I should exist ” don't get me wrong, I don't ” but if I existed the way I should, then people would be moved to ask more, to see my life as an example." And Brother William added, "In that sense, I am reaching out."

With a genuine sadness Brother William informed the reporter that the beautiful abbey is experiencing financial difficulties. They have had to rent out some of their buildings, and put the rest up for sale. "That is sad," the old monk said, "the intense interest in learning to be a monk isn't there anymore." Many people, he explained were taking shortcuts in their lives. "We are here as examples," he said, "to show that there aren't any shortcuts. There are only the long paths, the commitments. That's what we do here," he added. "We are an example for people like you." (2) Happiness is experiencing the Master's touch. Happiness is spending time in prayer.

FINALLY, HAPPINESS IS GETTING OUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER. We need to take inventory of our lives to determine what's important and what is not. Certainly Jesus did.

Gorman Williams spent most of his life as a missionary to India. In 1945 he purchased tickets for a long-awaited vacation back to the United States. He had counted down the months and days until he would be home. A few days before he was to leave he heard about some Jews who had escaped the wrath of the Nazis. They had traveled by boat to India seeking refuge. Since it was a time of global war, the Indian government denied their request to immigrate. They were granted permission to stay for a short time in the lofts of the buildings near the dock. Their living conditions were wretched. But it was better than being sent to a concentration camp in Germany.

At that point Gorman Williams sold his ticket to the United States and purchased more German pastries than anyone had ever seen. He brought lots and lots of them and carried them in large baskets.

----------------------------------------------------------

1. Max Lucado, THE APPLAUSE OF HEAVEN, (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1990), pp. 152-153.

2. Jim Lilliefors, HIGHWAY 50: AIN'T THAT AMERICA. (Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing, 1993), pp. 169-173.

3. Nell W. Mohney, DON'T PUT A PERIOD WHERE GOD PUT A COMMA, (Nashville: Dimensions for Living, 1993), pp. 21-22.

Dynamic Preaching, Collected Sermons, by King Duncan