Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: john mark, gospel, missionary, disciple, evangelist, the 12, the twelve, apostle, messiah, messianic, messianic secret, miracles, mercy, kingdom of god, blemish, streak, spot, fleck, dot, blot, stain, smear, trace, speck, speckle, blotch, smudge, smut, smirch, fingermark, fingerprint, impression, imprint, symbol, sign, character, signature, autograph, cross, X, scribble, squiggle, initials, logo, seal, stamp, emblem, device, insignia, badge, brand, trademark, token, monogram, hallmark, logotype, watermark, label, tag, flag, motto, point, level, stage, degree, indication, symptom, feature, evidence, proof, clue, hint, traces, vestiges, effect, impact, influence, characteristic, trait, attribute, quality, property, peculiarity, indicator, grade, grading, rating, score, percentage, target, goal, aim, bullseye, objective, object, end, purpose, intent, intention, required standard, standard, norm, par, criterion, gauge, yardstick, rule, measure, scale, discolor, put one's name on, name, initial, put one's seal on, earmark, indicate, tab, show the position of, show, identify, designate, delineate, denote, celebrate, observe, recognize, acknowledge, keep, honor, solemnize, pay tribute to, salute, commemorate, remember, memorialize, represent, signify, be an indication of, be a sign of, herald, characterize, distinguish, typify, signalize, assess, evaluate, appraise, correct, take heed of, pay heed to, heed, listen to, take note/notice of, pay attention to, attend to, note, mind, bear in mind, give (a) thought to, take into consideration, take to heart

Antonyms: neglect, clean, remove, erase, overlook, disregard, forget, do housework, do the cleaning, omit, cause, detag, clear, smooth, undamaged, unmarked, let ride, ignore, scrub, wash, pay no attention to, take no notice of, abandon, cross off, cross out

Showing 1551 to 1575 of 1629 results

1551. Life’s Purpose Is Often Hidden!

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Life is a messy affair. Our purpose is often hidden. We have a parable today that originally may have tried to explore these mysteries — the parable of the weeds in the field. But once again the explanation that Mathew provided of this parable is probably not original, not something Jesus himself taught. No, it is more likely, New Testament scholars increasingly agree, that Jesus' original point in the parable was to affirm the messiness, hiddenness, of life in a context where sectarian sentiments were ...

1552. Hanging Around Jesus Changes You

Philippians 3:17 — 4:1

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Writing to Christians in a Macedonian city of Philippi, Paul writes: “For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ...” (v.18). People don’t like this message, don’t want anything to do with the cross of Christ. No surprise. Who of us wants to mess with death and suffering? Why, it’s just common sense. Cross-bearing goes against the grain of what pop culture in America tells us about life. It goes against the grain of our desire for instant gratification. After all, we’ve been taught to follow our dreams ...

1553. Giving It All Up For Jesus And What’s Ahead

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Take a moment to consider all you have done with your life. Whatever you came up with, Paul says in our lesson that it’s just the past. We ought to look at the past like twentieth-century American poet Paul Eldridge once wrote: “Praises for our past triumphs are as feathers to a dead bird.” Get over your successes. No matter how good you have been, how spiritual you are, no matter how much you have accomplished, it does not matter. We Americans do not want to hear this. Think of Marvin and Harriet Thompson ...

1554. Rejoice: Hints Of Heaven Are Here On Earth!

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Heaven: Have you ever wondered what it’s like? The majority of Americans (72% of us in 2014) believe in heaven, according to a Pew Research poll. Our second lesson from the book of Revelation has some insightful, comforting and refreshing clues. They will shatter our misconceptions as well. What do you think of heaven? It does not seem to be a very exciting or fun place to be, does it? Oh it seems like a nice place. What could be better than to live in the presence of God? But on the whole, it seems like ...

1555. A New Heaven And A New Earth: Our Problems Are Fading Away!

Revelation 21:1-6

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

There is not much more that should or could be said about this song in our second lesson. These are compelling images. A God who wants to wipe away every tear from our eyes is a God who you’ll want to love. He’s a God who makes life a lot easier to live. If we read these words in light of our whole text for the second lesson, in light of the whole book of Revelation, then the idea of God wiping away tears from our eyes becomes even more comforting. For this is a word of comfort about the whole universe. ...

1556. Life Between the Times

Revelation 22:7-21

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Famed twentieth-century theologian Karl Barth has claimed that this text, in which Jesus promises to be coming soon (vv.12,20), testifies to a present that looks back to Jesus and expects his final revelation. All time is the time of the man Jesus: Can the Christianity and the church that really derive and are grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ ever be anything better than the place where, from out of and beyond all the required representations of Jesus Christ, the kingdom, the covenant, ...

1557. The Spirit Of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

It was one of the most wonderful and exciting moments in the history of the Christian faith. The Holy Spirit had fallen fresh on the lives of believers. People were filled with the passion and fires of the Holy Ghost. They were shouting joy from all directions. They were gathered from every persuasion and city, every nation and province, all glorifying God, speaking in foreign tongues but understanding each other, expressing different voices but still in one accord. This was the time of Pentecost, when God ...

1558. How Long Will You Limp? (Because God Is Tired Of The Bull)

1 Kings 18:16-46

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

Elijah's magnificent display of strength and courage in facing and challenging the prophets of Baal is instructive for us. He has staked his ground on the summit of Carmel, located in Western Israel at the entrance of the Jezreel Valley. He has braced himself for the fallout. He has taken a firm stand without compunctions or remorse. He knows the wrath of Ahab and Jezebel shall soon be upon him. He knows the God he serves. He has tapped the power source of his faith. He is intrepid, undaunted, and ...

1559. What Money Can't Buy

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a good, upstanding, and righteous man; a great warrior who had fought and won many battles and thus earned the respect of his master. But he had one problem which plagued him and caused him to be an outcast. He was a leper and he needed a cure. He was a great man, like many great men, with a flaw. Here was a fearless warrior who bore the telltale marks of the infirm and afflicted. After asking his king if he could go and see the prophet ...

1560. Tempted By Good

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Don M. Aycock

Have you ever noticed that almost every mountaintop experience in life is followed by a valley experience? You graduate from school with the great expectation of making your mark in the world, but you find out that the world doesn't exactly welcome you with open arms. You get married with the full expectation that your new spouse will relieve your loneliness and solve your problems, but you find out you are still you. Life's high moments are often followed by low times -- depression and bewilderment. If we ...

1561. When The Fat Lady Sings

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

That great twentieth century prophet of Yankee Stadium, Yogi Berra, said it well when describing the uncertainty of any athletic contest: "It ain't over 'til it's over." Until that last fly ball is caught or strike is called or ground ball is thrown to first base and the last out is made, the game is not over. Anything can happen. And more often than not it has. Everyone has a story about dramatic comebacks in the bottom half of the ninth inning. I suppose that is why Red Auerbach, the former great coach ...

1562. The Giver Becomes The Receiver

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Harold Warlick

The text for today lifts before us Yahweh's choice of the family of David as the vehicle for God's divine gift to humankind. Yet the message marked a transition in David's status. According to the passage, David wanted to build Yahweh a "house." He proposed to do what all self-serving rulers in that ancient world would have done. Much of Israel's worship life was well established at that point. The tent which housed the Ark of the Covenant was a recognized institution. A conviction began to emerge that God ...

1563. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

2 Kings 2:1-18

Sermon

Harold Warlick

Many scholars view this narrative as one occasioned by the fear of an uncertain future followed by a sensation of great joy. Indeed, the narrative resolves the transfer of leadership from one generation of prophets to another. There is anxiety over the death of the great Elijah. How will his power be transferred? Who will have the authority when the great man dies? Certainly the scene is one of crisis. Elisha asks for a "double share" of Elijah's spirit. In Hebrew families the eldest son received a double ...

1564. So Much To Say, So Little Time

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Alexander H. Wales

The hours were passing rapidly. Time was running out. Jesus was trying to get everything in before the end of his ministry. He had so much to say, and yet, he was aware of the fact that the disciples were just not ready to take it all in. Up to this point, they were struggling just to understand what he had been trying to tell them. They were still stumbling over the meaning of the parables, attempting to put some flesh on stories that seemed to be like a gossamer cloth spun with gold thread, yet ...

1565. Simply Simon

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Alexander H. Wales

I just don't understand the man! I invited him into my home and what do I get? INSULTS! He was a guest in my house. I don't think he understands who he's dealing with! Some people just can't be satisfied with what they've received. Let me explain ... "You see, a few weeks back, I heard that Jesus of Nazareth was going to be in our area. You know, he's that roving preacher who's so popular with the public right now. In fact, I've heard he's done some amazing things during his meetings. And he teaches some ...

1566. The Oil For Squeaking People

Genesis 18:1-15

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

Let me remind you of two biblical narratives which concern the announcement of unexpected births. In each case, the husband and wife are beyond the age when pregnancy is expected -- yet the Lord tells them that a son will be born to them. In the New Testament book of Luke, we are informed of how an old priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were to become parents of the fellow we know as John the Baptist. Zechariah was at work in the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem when an angel appeared to him. ...

1567. Expecting the Unexpected

Judges 4:1-24

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

Whoever started the tradition of referring to the various documents of the Bible as "books" probably meant well. However, it seems to me, this rather generic designation often obscures an important truth: namely, that the "books" are, in fact, an extremely diverse body of literature -- containing everything from laws to letters, and poetry to prophecy. Even a casual reader soon realizes that the so-called "Good Book" is actually an eclectic collection of pieces written over the course of centuries by God ...

1568. Recalling, Remembering, And Rejoicing

Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

For all of his charisma as a leader, his skills as a diplomat, his savvy as a politician, Moses was not the sort for whom making speeches ever came easily. Rhetoric simply wasn't included on his resume, public speaking never being one of his fortes. And of course, back at Sinai before this improbable pilgrimage began, he had admitted as much to Yahweh: "O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue" ( ...

1569. The Truth Will Make You Free

Sermon

Phyllis Faaborg Wolk

The alarm went off early that particular Sunday morning. As Chris showered and got dressed, thoughts of the upcoming worship service and memories of the past few years swirled through his mind. Confirmation Sunday had finally arrived. After today, there would be no more requirements to be met. Sermon notes were a thing of the past. Wednesday afternoons could now be filled with sports or television, play practice, homework or just goofing around. No more memory work lurking in the back of his mind. Although ...

1570. The Truth Will Make You Free

Sermon

Phyllis Faaborg Wolk

1571. The Breath Of God

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Marc Kolden

Pentecost is the third great Christian festival. On Christmas we celebrated the birth of Christ, our Savior. On Easter we celebrated his victorious resurrection from death. And today we remember Christ's giving of the Holy Spirit. Our story from the gospel of John takes place on Easter evening, after the disciples had discovered that the tomb was empty and Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene. Jesus told her to tell the disciples that he was risen, which she did, but they did not understand. So on that ...

1572. The Temptation Of His Life

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

Robert Penn Warren wrote a novel called All The King's Men. It was the story of a governor of Louisiana and his rise to power. His name was Willie Stark. At the end of his story he is shot down dead.1 Here was a man who gained a kingdom and lost all he ever had. Two thousand years earlier a man from Galilee said, "What would it profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost his soul?" Perhaps when He made that statement He was not only addressing it to those who heard Him, but also was looking back to ...

1573. When We Feel God Has Moved And Left No Forwarding Address

Job 23:1--24:25

Sermon

Zan W. Holmes

There are times in our lives when we have a greater awareness of God's absence than we do of God's presence. Indeed, this is the experience which confronts Job in our text. In the midst of his suffering he has tried to lay his case before God. He goes forward and backward, to the left and to the right, seeking in every place to find God. To be sure, Job wants to find God because Job knows that he is an innocent sufferer, that he is an upright person. And since God is just, Job is confident that he would ...

1574. Made New By Getting Lost

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

For those of you who have come here feeling lost, I have good news for you. For those of you who have come here willing to get lost, I have even better news. The good news is "fear not." The God we worship specializes in finding lost people. The God we worship gives life the moment we lose ours for the sake of heavenly causes. Our text has two words that become backdrops for the entire season of Advent. Those words are "wilderness" and "about face." John comes out of the wilderness, the necessary passage ...

1575. Edges

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

"Life is a daring adventure or it is nothing." Helen Keller said that, a lady robbed of her sight, hearing, and ability to speak. She was saying that life is to be lived on the edge, or not at all. There is a difference between living on the edge and being what we call an "edgy" or irritable person. Jesus was on the edge at all times, and only once can I recall when he was edgy. That moment was when he went storming into the Temple, white-hot with rage, and made a whip and turned over tables. Matthew, Mark ...

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