Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 1 to 25 of 517 results

1. The Christian and the World

James 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... , and murder (Didache 3:2; 1 Clement 3:4–6:3). So it is not necessary to assume a corrupt text. The term you covet is the verb form of the noun used in 1:14. This is further proof that both passages speak of the same desire or evil impulse. 4:3 The key word is pleasures, for it is the same word found in 4:1 (“desires [for pleasure]”—while the NIV translates it as “desires” in one verse and “pleasures” in the other, it is the same word meaning “desire for pleasure” in both cases; it is a ...

2. Did You Ask How Much It Was Going To Cost?

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... as they do with inaction. It's that first step that is the hardest. It is that initial decision that is most daunting. Paralysis by analysis is the sin that haunts many of us. Our hearts are warm but our feet are cold. Jesus knew that impulsiveness was a problem only for a few. But many are hindered by their unwillingness to make a commitment. This brings us to the important conclusion that we can draw from Jesus~ teaching. SOMETIME OR ANOTHER, WE MUST MAKE A DECISION ABOUT FOLLOWING CHRIST. We must decide ...

3. Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-12, James 3:13-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... place among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person. The world is something that the Christian usually thinks of as “out there.” James points to his open mouth and says, “The world is in here.” The uncontrolled tongue is the embodiment and seat of the evil impulse in the body. And it is not limited in its effect to its own area, for it spreads evil or stains the whole body: The whole person is tarred by the brush of his or her tongue. Yet judgment awaits even the casual word (Matt. 12:36 ...

4. Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18, James 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

5. Immediately, They Followed

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Will Willimon

... , to give his or her life to something, someone, some great undertaking which is felt to be divinely ordained -- among the first words are, "I know you are going to think that I am crazy, but..." Only half-crazy people gout and stake their lives on an impulse -- that's what we've spent years teaching you. He was a graduate of two of this country's finest medical schools. Could have had a lucrative practice here. But he went as medical missionary to Africa! Why? On what basis? "I just had this feeling it was ...

6. Barking Pigs and Determined Disciples

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... eating their Christmas pie; sticking in their thumb, pulling out a plum, saying "What a good boy am I." Is that what discipleship is all about? Is that what goodness is all about? The good Samaritan didn't become good by playing it safe and never doing anything impulsive. He won Jesus' praise by taking the risk of stopping to help a man who had been attacked by robbers. He could have offered up all kinds of rationalizations why it would be more prudent to pass this man by on the other side, but he saw a ...

7. The Fruitful Vine

John 15:1-17, 1 John 4:7-21, Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:1-31

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... and personality. To dedicate life to openness to his spirit and the transformation of our life becomes a life-shaping activity. 4. Ridding Life of Obstacles to Growth · Temptation to do what we know we should not is a common human experience. At times our natural impulses and desires tend to take over and direct our actions. They may be as mild as the temptation to take those extra calories. They may be as extreme as the hate for someone sufficient to want to injure or kill him. They may even drive one ...

8. The Fruitful Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... and personality. To dedicate life to openness to his spirit and the transformation of our life becomes a life-shaping activity. 4. Ridding Life of Obstacles to Growth. Temptation to do what we know we should not is a common human experience. At times our natural impulses and desires tend to take over and direct our actions. They may be as mild as the temptation to take those extra calories. They may be as extreme as the hate for someone sufficient to want to injure or kill him. They may even drive one ...

9. Laughing in Church

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Carl Jech

... . A character in the documentary film, Word Is Out, describes our laughter as akin to the barking of a dog. There may be something instinctual about it. Another explanation of what laughter itself is (one which means more to me) suggests that the impulse to laugh is the same as the impulse to cry. When a parent teasingly throws a child up in the air the first few times, the child cries. But then the infant quickly learns that the parent is just joking. So now instead of crying the infant giggles or laughs ...

10. Peter, Our Folk Hero

Mark 14:27-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... was not telling the truth. Still it seems that Peter did not mean to move. And then something happened. He heard a rooster crowing, and Peter remembered, and his heart broke.” (William Barclay, The Gospel of Mark, The Daily Study Bible pp. 370-371). That’s Peter, impetuous, impulsive Peter, our folk hero who denies Jesus. II And that brings us to we need to focus today. What does all this say to you and me? Denial is an ugly word. Though Peter may be our folk hero still when we come to this point in his ...

11. Holy Waste

Mark 14:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... timing of it was so perfect coming at a time when I desperately needed to be affirmed and lifted up. Sometimes it’s inappropriate to be sensible, and we need to look for and capture those special moments that may not return – we need to act on our love impulses - not deny and strangle them. III Now a final thing Mary and her act of holy waste teaches us: The best is the only appropriate offering to Christ. And you can all give our best. It doesn’t matter what we have, we can give our best. That’s ...

12. The Sin Offering

Leviticus 4:1--5:13

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... a crime who does nothing is guilty of sin. God holds us accountable not only for what we do, but also for what we do not do. We can do wrong even when we do not intend it. Neglect or inattention can cause us to do something bad. We may impulsively do or say something that we later regret and realize was wrong. Sin is subtle and can overtake us in many ways. 2. God shows grace to sinners. The problem of sin is universal and lifelong. Solomon remarks in dedicating the temple, “There is no one that does not ...

13. As Real As It Gets

Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... discipleship, about following Him. This particular word is His response to three men who said they wanted to follow, but gave reasons why they couldn't do it then. Let's look at these three men and their excuses. I. A Victim of Impulsiveness The first fellow was a victim of impulsiveness. No one ever followed Jesus under false pretense. He made it clear that the demands were tough. Let's read verses 57 and 58 again: As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go ...

14. The Spiritual Gateway

Sermon

Stan Purdum

... say that all persons are spiritually minded. I am simply saying that almost everybody has a part of themselves where values reside, where a conscience exists, even if it is only a glimmer, where faith, even if it is only faith in themselves, arises, and where the impulse to worship lives. Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who disappeared a few years ago and was later found murdered, was the best-known atheist of our time. Did she have a spiritual side to her personality? Sure she did. Here is part of what she wrote in ...

15. Becoming Good Trees

Matthew 5:17-30

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... of practice becomes a joy. We in the church support one another, pray for one another, and help each other to live out this new law that Jesus gives us. God's sanctifying grace and the Holy Spirit empowers us. We show the world that our emotions and our impulses do not control us. God's righteousness can go to the deepest part of our souls, transforming even our most basic emotions. Then we can bear good fruit. Then we can become the salt and the light. Then we can build our faith on love, not fear. Amen. 1 ...

16. Trials and Temptations

James 1:1-18, James 1:19-27

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... of all perfect gifts. What God gives is not stated, but if our analysis of form is correct (Introduction, “Form”), then this is parallel to 1:5–8 and thus concerns wisdom, the best gift of all (as Luke 11:13), which is needed to counter the evil impulse of 1:2–4 and 1:12–15. The phrase added is frequently used to indicate the divine origin of God’s Spirit or of faith (in contrast to demonic or earthly origin): John 3; Shepherd of Hermas Mandate 9.11; 11.5. The phrase Father of the heavenly ...

17. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

18. Ask Jacob!

Matthew 6:25-34, Genesis 25:19-34

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... . Esau, an earthy fellow, arrives home from his labors, exhausted and depleted. As he smells Jacob’s stew (perhaps a metaphor on the plot Jacob and his mother will cook up), he begs for some of the hearty red stuff. Jacob, seeing his distracted and impulsive state of mind and no doubt too sensing his brother’s nonchalance about his role as firstborn son and covenant carrier, offers him a deal: the stew for his birthright. Esau immediately agrees. And in doing so, he makes light of God’s covenant, his ...

19. Second Thoughts

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Robert Beringer

... meetings than anywhere else. There's a sign I have seen in churches that reads, "God So Loved The World, He Didn't Send A Committee." But that is the great thing about this Samaritan. He simply did not let those second thoughts destroy the loving and gracious impulse that God put in his heart. To be fair about this, I should quickly tell you that there are times in my life when I have been very grateful for second thoughts. Our second thoughts were given to us by a Wise Creator as a sort of watchdog ...

20. I Knew You’d Come

John 6:16-24

Sermon

Richard Hoefler

... his experience and let down his nets in the depth of the sea, Peter knew how foolish his actions would appear to his friends, but he dared to be the fool. Because of this he became the big fisherman. And when he saw the Lord walking on the water, impulsively he threw caution to the wind - the very wind which was to defeat him. There is no thought of self-consciousness here. He didn’t care how reckless or foolish his actions would appear to others. He simply saw his Lord doing a marvelous thing and he was ...

21. A Reed Who Became a Rock

John 1:35-42

Sermon

R. Blaine Detrick

... road was so radical and extraordinary that it differs greatly from our own. But Peter, in many respects, is like us. He had yielded to Jesus; he believed in him; he trusted him; he followed him; he served him. Yet, he also yielded to temptation. He acted impulsively, and then regretted his actions. In Peter we see a strange combination of faith and doubt, strength and weakness, courage and cowardliness. I don’t know about you, but in lots of ways I am like that Peter. And I feel a certain nearness to this ...

22. OUR LORD DENIED

Sermon

E. Jerry Walker

... desperately to make their way to the shore, and they saw the Master there. "It is a ghost!" one of the fishermen had cried. But it wasn’t a ghost. It was the Lord, and he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." Peter, exuberant, impulsive, had cried out, "Lord, if it is you, bid me to come to you on the water." "Come!" he said. So Peter started over the side of the boot, but even as he slung his leg over the gunwale, the winds whipped at his clothing and the lightning flashed in ...

23. On Doing Beautiful Things

Mark 14:1-11

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... once. One of the tragedies of life is when we are tempted to do something beautiful, and restrain ourselves, and refrain from doing it. We have second thoughts. The impulse to send a letter to someone to thank them for something they have done which has enriched our lives, the impulse to tell someone how much we love them, and how much they mean to us, the impulse to send a special gift, or to speak a special word. But the opportunity comes - and goes - and the deed is not done, and the word is not spoken ...

24. A Kingdom Investment Policy

Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Phil Thrailkill

... be his follower requires a great deal of un-teaching and un-learning and re-programming. Life as a companion and understudy of Jesus is most often upside-down, inside-out, and bottom-side-up from the way the world operates under current management. Our first impulse is to domesticate the teaching and take away the edge. Think how crazy it sounds to be invited to make deposits in an invisible bank: “Do not make a habit of laying up for yourself treasures on earth, where moths eat holes in the fabrics and ...

25. What Gift Do You Bring?

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Gary L. Carver

... foul penalty that cost them fifteen yards and set them back so far they did not get a touchdown nor were they able to get a field goal. They lost the game by seven points. Ohio State won. A silly penalty! An action or a reaction! A decision! An impulse! And that one decision probably changed the outcome of the ballgame. Someone might say, "Well, he was probably hit and was only responding to what someone did to him." It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter if he acted or reacted. He still had the decision to ...

Showing results