Synonyms: renounce, relinquish, dispense with, forswear, disclaim, disown, disavow, discard, wash one's hands of, give up, stop, cease, drop, forgo, desist from, have done with, abjure, abstain from, discontinue, break off, refrain from, set/lay aside, desert, leave, leave high and dry, turn one's back on, cast aside, break (up) with, vacate, quit, evacuate, withdraw from, surrender, cede, yield, indulge in, give way to, give oneself up to, yield to, lose oneself to/in, uninhibitedness, recklessness, lack of restraint, lack of inhibition, unruliness, wildness, impulsiveness, impetuosity, immoderation, wantonness
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 2476 to 2500 of 4963 results
Drama
Denny C. Wise
... by the priests in the temple, so this night there would be no lamb. Choir: "Hevenu Shalom" (or some other appropriate song) (During the song, the Disciples come down the aisle singing if possible, and greet Jesus with Kiss of Peace. They should be happy. All remain standing until Jesus takes his seat in the center.) Jesus: I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I shall not eat it again until all is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God ... Let us pray.... O ...
2477. What is Christianity Without the Cross? Sermon Starter
Matthew 16:21-28
Illustration
Brett Blair
The Second President of the United States, John Adams, said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for a government of any other." In other words, unless our country remains Christian the Constitution will not function properly. Is John Adams right? Can our society survive without the Christian faith? There are many who would say that religion does not have the influence it once had. I agree. But they go on to say that religion is no longer relevant, that ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
... text. Let’s take a look. You are well aware that Israel, during the time of Jesus, had been conquered by Rome. Rome’s presence was a constant reminder that they were a nation under siege. The people learned to live with this but there remained a great tension, a religious underground had actually emerged to fight for freedom. Pilate, Rome’s representative, was despised. And it is apparent from this text that Pilate ruled in a ruthless manner. Some people, who we do not know, come to Jesus to discuss ...
Sermon
Donald Macleod
... has bred, however, an unfortunate spirit of neglect due largely to a misunderstanding of its meaning and significance. In our era of quick fixes and fast everything, Lent as a season seems unduly long. One clergyperson has said, "My people just can’t remain sorry for their sins for forty days." Some parishioners complain about clergy who seem to cram every available hour of Lent with homilies, prayer vigils, and silent reflections to such a degree that everyday living seems to be an intrusion. It would ...
2480. The Vicarious Servant
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Sermon
Donald Macleod
... when he wrote: "He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed" (v. 5). Before a spiritual reality as strong as that, can any one of us remain ambivalent or indifferent any longer? 3. Then, a final thought: Good Friday is a day of remembrance, but it is also a moment for decision. As we "survey the wondrous cross," we can be like those on that awful day at Calvary - enemies, indifferent grumblers ...
Sermon
Donald Macleod
... and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd" (John 10:16 RSV). Let us review Luke’s story in order to see clearly this turning point or the direction the early church took, without which Christianity would have remained merely a narrow Jewish sect within the borders of Palestine. The drama begins with a significant person on stage, Cornelius, an officer of the Roman army, stationed in Caesarea, the capital of the provinces of Judea and Samaria. Daily he rubbed elbows with people ...
Sermon
Donald Macleod
... does it make whether or not we accept whatever truth lies in it? First of all, let us look at what Luke tells us. After forty days of post-Resurrection appearances, Jesus had a final get together with the disciples during which he cautioned them to remain in Jerusalem until the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit would be realized. The disciples were confused - as they had been so often in his ministry - about the nature of the Kingdom. His answer, however, was: "You shall receive power when the Holy ...
2483. Preparing for the Wrong Thing
Luke 12:13-21
Illustration
Larry Powell
... sense of the word, they were more than prepared for a storm. However, in a few short weeks, both of them were killed by a speeding motorist as they attempted to turn from the highway into their driveway. Despite meticulous preparations, the fact remains that they had prepared for the wrong thing. But you say, "It is impossible to prepare for the unexpected!" Yes, that is precisely one of the points Jesus was attempting to underscore in our scriptures. A young businessman, workaholic, full of hustle and ...
2484. A Maverick Son
2 Samuel 15:13-37
Illustration
Larry Powell
Absalom was born in Hebron. His first recorded experience is the pathetic story of the rape of his sister, Tamar. Later, during a feast he masterminded the slaying of Amnon after which he escaped to the home of his grandfather at Geshur where he remained for three years. Absalom approached Joab to intercede for him with David in an effort to be reinstated in the royal family. Joab refused twice. Absalom then proceeded to set fire to Joab’s barley fields, forcing him to appear before David in order to ...
2485. Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13-16
Illustration
Larry Powell
... thing was omitted. There were no lights. Instead, little niches had been fashioned into the walls and window bases which were to hold candles. Each member was assigned a niche and told that he was to provide the candle for that particular spot. Otherwise, the spot would remain dark. In a very real sense, they were the light, and they got the message. They also understood that they were not only the light of the Church, but the "light of the world." You and I are challenged to be the salt of the earth and ...
2486. One’s Proper Service
Isaiah 58:1-14
Illustration
Larry Powell
... voice offensive to the ear, but he was given to singing long after the rest of the congregation had stopped. Things had become so disconcerting that even the minister refused to sing. Consequently, Linkhaw was found guilty of a misdemeanor and ordered to remain silent in church. However, the state supreme court overturned the conviction, sympathetic to Linkhaw’s claim that singing was a part of his service to God. I was interested in this particular item because I well remember when an old fellow in my ...
2487. A Mountain-Top Experience
Mark 9:2-13
Illustration
Larry Powell
... , the carpenter’s son was now understood to be the "Son of God." There is also one other noteworthy reference in our selected scripture. In Mark 9:5, James, Peter, and John wanted to erect three booths (or tabernacles) on a sacred spot and remain there in the afterglow. Moses had been tempted to do the same thing following his own mountaintop experience. However, it has always happened, it seems, that following high moments on a "mountain top," there is work to do in the valleys. To formalize a ...
2488. Beyond Ambiguity
Isaiah 42:1-9
Illustration
Larry Powell
... troops and leftist rebels. A Roman Catholic priest claims that nearly 7,000 persons died in "blind violence" in the country during the past year. We will not dwell upon world violence and political unrest here, except to say that there are those who remain outside of the peace made possible by the redemptive work of Christ. But for those who have experienced the power of Christ in their lives personally, they have found it to be a strong potion, even in difficult times. Slightly more than one hundred ...
2489. The Mirror of Judas
Mark 14:1-11
Illustration
Larry Powell
... but that the ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor. From time to time a similar protest is raised today by those who question the wisdom of erecting church facilities costing hundreds of thousands of dollars while so many hungry remain to be fed. Each of us has been entrusted with the freedom of choice and the ability to discern. Do we betray Christ by our choices? 3. Judas had opportunity. His position among Christ’s chosen naturally enabled him to produce a positive witness. And ...
Sermon
Gordon Pratt Baker
... on either side of her. In support of his prophecy the psalmist reminds the monarch that the Almighty has long since chosen him as his instrument for fulfilling the divine intent here. I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. (Psalm 2:6) All that remains is for the king to accept the universal sovereignty the Eternal is pledging him. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. (Psalm 2:8) It is an exhilarating concept and it must have deeply stirred ...
Sermon
Gordon Pratt Baker
... which he has wrought. (Psalm 78:4) There is no doubt about it, the psalmist is declaring. History is both a teacher and a trust. To ignore it is to repeat its mistakes. It is more than that. It is to saddle the future with them. Hence to remain silent concerning it is to betray both God and self to the detriment of all. History: A Mirror Before Israel Having made this declaration, the poet proceeds to hold up the nation’s past as a mirror to her people. None - not even the venerable Moses, he points ...
Sermon
Gordon Pratt Baker
... his own feelings. To be sure, his neighbors’ evil ways are making matters uncomfortable for him; but that - difficult as it may be to take - he will endure as the price of belief. It is rather that God’s honor is at stake, and the singer cannot remain silent. For the desecration of the Lord’s name must be avenged. So he petitions the Almighty to "slay the wicked ... who lift themselves up against thee" (Psalm 139:19a, 20b). Yet even as the poet’s prayer falls from his lips what he hears himself ...
Sermon
Robert Allen
... -key ... the tenor next door flats his high ones ... the piano across the hall is out of tune ... noise all around me, noise ... noise ... noise; but that, my friend, is ‘A.’ " I believe it will steady your soul to remember that. Some things remain constant in the midst of noise and change ... some things are not transient ... some things are not at the mercy of popular vote ... some things, like the Ten Commandments, are timeless and permanent! You can come back to them and confidently follow them with ...
Sermon
Robert Allen
... changing us. I called for some time on a young man who suffered from Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS. I suppose that this is one of the most debilitating illnesses known. Over a period of time, all of the muscles of the body become useless. But, the mind remains clear and sharp - trapped in a body that cannot move. Of course, this man reacted the way you or I would expect. He was bitter and angry at what was happening to him. When he did pray, his prayers were questions that asked, "Why me, God? Why is this ...
Sermon
Erskine White
... shadow across our souls, we may be thankful. Even when we feel alone and unappreciated, wondering where we will find the good cheer and grace to go on giving, we may be thankful. We may continue to offer God our gifts of thanksgiving, because there remains a spiritual anchor within which holds us steady and reminds us of His love. Surely, we help ourselves and make ourselves happier if we offer thanksgiving for all things, even adversity. More importantly, we make God happy as well, since He has made it ...
2496. Blessed among Women
Luke 1:39-45, 1 Samuel 2:1-11
Sermon
Erskine White
... self-subordination is condemned in many circles by women and men alike, who consider it "old-fashioned," "repressive" or "unliberated." It may be all of that and more in the eyes of the world, but Mary’s spirit of self-giving obedience and humility surely remains beautiful in the eyes of God who wishes to see more of it in both men and women today. Besides the courage and humility we usually associate with Mary, Luke’s gospel tells us much more about her, because the opening chapters are written almost ...
Sermon
Erskine White
... ever saw. It was a prosperous country as well, where even the poorest of Cornucopians felt blessed with "the good life" and considered themselves better off than most other people in the world. People sometimes wondered how an idyllic little country like this could remain largely unnoticed by the rest of the world, but it really isn’t so mysterious! You see, no one from Cornucopia ever wanted to leave, and the few visitors who did come quickly decided that they wanted to stay. In this way, Cornucopia went ...
2498. Is There Life After Christmas?
Luke 2:21-40, Isaiah 12:1-6
Sermon
Erskine White
... was His own, and His own people received Him not" (John 1:10-11). He was rejected then, and we who are His own people reject Him even now, as we restrict His claim upon our lives, as we keep our faith within manageable and reasonable limits, as we remain beholden to the world, using almost all of our time, our talents and especially our money for ourselves and not for Him. Today, we look at newborn babies and wonder what the future holds for them, but Simeon knew as he looked at Christ; that’s why Simeon ...
2499. The Flight From Light
Isaiah 60:1-22, Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon
Erskine White
... to the brink of real sharing and genuine communion, we back away. When we come to the brink of one searching person deeply touching another searching person with honest love and fearless truth, we retreat and raise our guard. We practice the art of remaining strangers. In ways we may or may not recognize, we are continually fleeing from the light of caring and sharing into the lonely darkness again, desperately wanting communion with others but afraid to open our hearts and be vulnerable, afraid to expose ...
Sermon
Frederick C. Edwards
... indeed a tragedy mourned not only by that city and the English people, but by people around the world. The work and skill and devotion and artistry that had taken generations to produce that glorious edifice took only one night to destroy. Its spectral ruins remain, left as an awesome mute reminder of what happens when we wander so far from God. The cathedral was only part of the destruction of course. Factories and homes and lives were lost in that horrendous night of fire-bombing. How then could anyone ...
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