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 2476 to 2500 of 4986 results

2476. Proper 7 & Pentecost 5

Jeremiah 20:7-18, Psalm 69:1-36, Psalm 91:1-16, Genesis 28:10-22

Sermon Aid

... my classmates and I were graduated from a suburban Philadelphia high school; many of them died, beginning with World War II, and can't attend. It will be special for me for the usual reasons, but also for a kind of hidden agenda; my wife and I will be staying in a motel with several of our classmates, one of whom I have not seen for over thirty years. This man was the Air Force colonel who led the rescue mission that was sent to bury the missionaries who were killed in the attack by the Auca Indians in ...

2477. Proper 12 & Pentecost 10

1 Kings 3:1-15, Exodus 3:1-22, Romans 8:18-27, Romans 8:28-39, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:47-52

Sermon Aid

... it - the Kingdom!" A few days ago, my wife and I spent some time with a young couple - relatives - who are enjoying all the best things there are in life. The man is a very successful salesman, who earns enough money that his wife is able to stay at home with their two small children. They have a lovely home - brand new - the usual two cars, a motorcycle, an expensive boat moored at their lake property, a tractor at home and another at their cottage, the latest in appliances and toys for grownups as well ...

2478. Proper 20 & Pentecost 18

Matthew 20:1-16, Philippians 1:12-30, Philippians 1:1-11, Exodus 32:1-33:6, Jonah 4:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13, Psalm 27:1-14, Psalm 145:1-21, Psalm 106:1-48

Sermon Aid

... , which they worshiped. Had it not been for Moses, who pleaded with God to have mercy upon them, God would have utterly destroyed them at Sinai. Moses' plea was based on all that God had done for them; why throw this away, when the people might yet be saved? God stayed his hand, as Moses requested of him, and gave the children of Israel yet another chance, which they did not deserve and had no reason to expect. Philippians 1:1-5, (6-11) 19-27 (L); 1:20-24, 27 (R); 1:21-27 (E, C) The second readings for ...

2479. The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 25:1-12, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 135:1-21, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Philippians 4:2-9, Philippians 4:10-20

Sermon Aid

... out of the feast suggest that the king was a bit of a hard-line dictator? Weren't they actually rejecting the king himself when they turned down his invitation? In the television special, "The Man who Lived at the Ritz," about the Nazi Hermann Goering's stay in Paris, an American artist who is also a resident of the Ritz Hotel is hired by Goering to evaluate his pilfered art for its authenticity and to make certain that none of the other Nazi leaders diverts any of his holdings to themselves. The artist ...

2480. Proper 24 & Pentecost 22

Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Ruth 1:1-22, Psalm 96:1-13, Isaiah 44:24--45:25

Sermon Aid

... -in-law, the widows of her sons, as her only relatives in that strange land, decided to return to Bethlehem, when she heard that God had reversed the famine so that there was enough food again. The tragedy is alleviated when Ruth, who with Orpah was urged to stay with her people, begged her mother-in-law to take her with her, voicing her love in that beautiful speech: "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people ...

2481. Pentecost 23

Exodus 22:16-31, Leviticus 19:1-37, Ruth 2:1-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 22:41-46, Psalm 1:1-6

Sermon Aid

... to allow her to follow the reapers. By chance, she made her way into the fields of Boaz, a relative of her late father-in-law, Elimelech, who asked his foreman about her identity and, when he had learned who she was, gave her a warm greeting, told her to stay in his fields, and warned his male servants not to harm her. In answer to her question about his goodness toward her, he told her that he knew what she had done for Naomi, and invited her to have "bread and wine" with him. Ruth had "found favor" with ...

2482. All Saints' Day

Revelation 7:1-8, Isaiah 26:1-21, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Revelation 21:1-27, Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 24:1-10, Psalm 149:1-9, Psalm 34:1-22

Sermon Aid

... his prophecies, look to a day when "Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy!" Truly, as the prophet sings, "We have a strong city," and LBW "Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee." This first reading surely is in harmony with All Saints' Day, speaking to it some six and a half centuries before Christ's words, death, and resurrection gave new meaning to the life, death, and resurrection of the dead ...

2483. The Eighth Son

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

... the Lord. He asked Jesse and his sons to first come forward and offer their sacrifices. This was a ruse. His real reason for stopping in Bethlehem was to anoint Israel’s next King. Jesse’s first son passed before Samuel and was not anointed. Samuel had stayed his own gnarled fingers from pouring the sacred horn’s myrrh and cinnamon mixture on the brawny lad. All seven of the boys passed by Samuel without being chosen. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons. Jesse, the tenth century B.C. version of ...

2484. April Showers

1 Samuel 20:1-42

Sermon

... the Ancient of Days to remove the cup of suffering from his hands. Silence met his pleas. He drank the cup of death, defeat, and degradation to the bitter dregs. He died so that Death and his henchman Fear would beat against the island of our mortality and be stayed in their fury by his defenceworks of love. At church we sing silently with our choir the old chant about him who is our friend, him who conquers our fears and steadies our boat as we sail into the cruelest month of all. Can you catch the melody ...

2485. The Farmer and the Fugitive

1 Samuel 25:1-44

Sermon

... s Billy Martin, he enjoyed kicking water coolers and umpires in the shins, Nabal’s path to destruction was broad and open. Once there was a rich land owner in Virginia. A biographer tells us that he would receive about a thousand visitors a year - some of them staying at his farm for several weeks or even months. His farm was often in debt, and he had to find shillings to feed the constant Coxey’s army of callers who dropped in on him. This wealthy plantation owner turned no one away from the table at ...

2486. The Visit To Elizabeth

Drama

... her womb. I was so overwhelmed by her love and acceptance, I cried. I began to see that I was a part of God’s plan. I was filled with love and gratitude, and I sang a song of praise to God for the wonderful privilege that was mine. I stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Her husband, Zechariah, was mute, because he had doubted God’s promise that a child would be born to them. Elizabeth and I made up for his silence as we planned and prayed for wisdom and strength to play well the parts God had ...

2487. Born One Of Us

Drama

... ) Here - in Bethlehem. Father: (Placating her) Yes, Mother. Here in Bethlehem (Clears his throat) when he comes. When he comes - uh, later - Miriam: (Brightly, trying to do her part to cope with this strange Mother) What was the baby, Mother? Mother: (She stays terribly tense throughout, making the others uncomfortable) A boy. Father: Good. (He rubs his hands together) A boy, good. Good. A boy. Good. Good. Abner: Was the father a fighting man? Mother: No, a carpenter. Abner: Too bad. Miriam: Did many come ...

2488. The Secret Story of Gabriel

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

... ’s account of how God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary. But this is not the only version of the story. There is another, unofficial, version which came to light recently when an ancient manuscript was discovered in Bethlehem. For those of us who like to stay on the cutting edge of biblical research, this new discovery is exciting and has changed forever the way we know the story of Gabriel. It took the experts a long time to translate this manuscript because it was so badly faded and worn. In addition, some ...

2489. The Rest of the Christmas Story

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

... of a white man’s wage for your labor. Because you are black, your family cannot follow you to your job. You may remain temporarily in a white area because you have a useful skill: but your wife and children have no useful skills, so they must stay on the "reservation." You live in a barracks next to your factory with fifty other men who, like yourself, are forced by apartheid to leave their families to be able to provide for them. Because you are black, you must send your children to grievously inferior ...

2490. A Most Amazing Night

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

... driven up the rents around here. This town is full of travellers tonight, so I must charge top dollar. I’m sorry the girl is pregnant, but business is business, you know." Finally, they hear about a small cave on the edge of town, where poor and migrant people often stay. In front of the cave is a lean-to stable. Inside, there is some straw and a manger. Time is running out, so Joseph gets busy. He pushes the animals into the cave and makes a bed with his blanket in the straw. He builds a small fire to ...

2491. The Girl Who Was Too Smart to Learn

Luke 2:25

Children's Sermon

... was too smart to learn ... or, I should say, she thought she was too smart to learn. As soon as she knew a little bit about something, she figured she "knew it all" and had nothing else to learn. She didn’t want to keep growing. She was content to stay where she was. By contrast, the Bible tells us about someone named Simeon who never stopped learning and growing. Simeon was an old man when Jesus was born; but he wasn’t too old to see something new in life. He wasn’t too old to be led by faith ...

2492. Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1-22

Bulletin Aid

... of God's light Exegetical Note This postexilic poem of Third Isaiah anticipates a time in which, because of God's arrival in glory, Jerusalem will be so radiant that all nations will be drawn to its light, bearing not only the children that have stayed behind in the land of captivity, but treasures, such as gold and frankincense. This passage, together with the responsorial Psalm 72, was apparently one of Matthew's sources for his story of the Magi. Call to Worship Leader: Blessed is the God of Israel ...

2493. Easter 7

Acts 1:1-11

Bulletin Aid

... Jesus and the time immediately afterward, before the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), which would signal the real birth of the Church. Noteworthy here, on the basis of vv. 12-14, is the fact that they are already a community, staying together and praying together; and that community, moreover, is inclusive. Not only are the male disciples named, but the women are specifically mentioned, which, for an age that greatly undervalued women, signals an extraordinary role and status for them as equal partners ...

2494. Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12

Bulletin Aid

... One day, however, there stood in the gallery a great master of the game. He refused to leave the room, fascinated and absorbed as he were with the facial expression of the two players and with the game on the board. Other visitors came and went, but he stayed to study. Suddenly the master shouted, "It's a lie! The king and the knight have another move." The king and the knight do have another move. That's God's promise this Advent Season; and in that promise is our hope. Planning for Your Congregation Other ...

2495. Christmas 1

Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon Aid

... Say" "Joy to the World" III. Other Music Possibilities Music for Preparation: "Jesu Bambino" Response to the Assurance of Pardon: "Pardoned Through Redeeming Grace" Response to the prayer after the sermon: Choir "With Joyful Mirth" Offertory: "Greensleeves" Music for Dismissal: Medley of Christmas Carols (perhaps the congregation would like to stay and sing for a while.)

2496. Proper 5

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon Aid

... God called the church into being, then it's also true that God calls the church into being each day, and each Sunday. Do you believe that God has called you here today? And, when you don't come, do you believe that God calls you to stay home from worship?" You may want to follow with this litany between pastor/ministers: Pastor: Be alert! Be awake! Be expectant! Ministers: Make us ready for a God-event! Pastor: Be enthusiastic about God, other, self! Ministers: We praise the living Lord who has called us to ...

2497. Proper 14

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon Aid

... ; sometimes we disappoint. We break trust. It's okay to begin again. In Christ, however, we never shall be disappointed. Stewardship Challenge Suggestion: for the Stewardship of Trust: Some people leave the church when their trust has been broken; some (most) continue to stay, because they recognize that all of us break trust with God, with each other, over and over. We have the choice, as Peter did, to trust, or not to trust. Charge to the Congregation Consider this: Build around this idea. A person of ...

2498. Proper 25

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon Aid

... the gift for 'many of our gifts are like fish hooks.' " (Pierre Corneille) Stewardship Challenge Try this: If this is Stewardship pledge Sunday, invite the people to bring their pledge cards and place them on the communion table, to offer a prayer of commitment, to stay as long as they want before returning to their pews. You might even have a soloist sing, "Who Will Answer?" Put an offering plate in the narthex for the shy. One other suggestion: Lead the congregation gently, or not so gently, away from the ...

2499. A Glory Revealed in the Cross

John 8:12-30

Sermon

... was raucous. We were weeping. "Cover your heads!" Then the march past began. The two adults were no longer alive. Their tongues hung swollen, blue-tinged. But the third rope was still moving; being so light, the child was still alive.... For more than half an hour he stayed there, struggling between life and death, dying in slow agony under our eyes. And we had to look him full in the face. He was still alive when I passed in front of him. His tongue was still red, his eyes were not yet glazed. Behind me, I ...

2500. The Word Became Flesh

John 1:1-18

Bulletin Aid

... the mountain, they followed Christ their Lord, And there beheld God’s glory, as light around him poured. In company with prophets, with heroes of the Word, In this transfiguration, God’s voice on earth is heard. 2. Disciples came to Jesus to beg that they might stay, And there upon the mountain, relive the glorious day. But not in mountain’s grandeur, nor glory like the sun, Will God be found incarnate, while his work is undone. 3. We follow to the valley, we follow full of fears; A cross waits in the ...

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Showing 2476 to 2500 of 4986 results

2476. Proper 7 & Pentecost 5

Jeremiah 20:7-18, Psalm 69:1-36, Psalm 91:1-16, Genesis 28:10-22

Sermon Aid

2477. Proper 12 & Pentecost 10

1 Kings 3:1-15, Exodus 3:1-22, Romans 8:18-27, Romans 8:28-39, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:47-52

Sermon Aid

2478. Proper 20 & Pentecost 18

Matthew 20:1-16, Philippians 1:12-30, Philippians 1:1-11, Exodus 32:1-33:6, Jonah 4:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13, Psalm 27:1-14, Psalm 145:1-21, Psalm 106:1-48

Sermon Aid

2479. The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 25:1-12, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 135:1-21, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Philippians 4:2-9, Philippians 4:10-20

Sermon Aid

2480. Proper 24 & Pentecost 22

Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Ruth 1:1-22, Psalm 96:1-13, Isaiah 44:24--45:25

Sermon Aid

2481. Pentecost 23

Exodus 22:16-31, Leviticus 19:1-37, Ruth 2:1-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 22:41-46, Psalm 1:1-6

Sermon Aid

2482. All Saints' Day

Revelation 7:1-8, Isaiah 26:1-21, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Revelation 21:1-27, Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 24:1-10, Psalm 149:1-9, Psalm 34:1-22