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 2501 to 2525 of 4943 results

2501. Sending Good Messages

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... re a special kind of mother…You make us laugh…You don’t mind carrying out the garbage…You are a spiritual leader in our home.” Oh well, I think you get the idea. A marriage can’t survive on left-overs. It must be fed continually or it will eventually starve. (2) Now that we have discussed how to avoid hurtful messages and how to deliver good messages, let me suggest a constructive Sunday afternoon exercise to improve communication. All you need is an hour or so of privacy, two spiral notebooks ...

2502. Keeping Shut About the Good News

Acts 3:1-10; Acts 4:13-20

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... be like boycotting baseball or banning apple pie. We raised our hands. The motion passed. A committee was formed. Since that humid night in Baltimore in 1984, we have lost fifty thousand members and are continuing to hemorrhage at the rate of a thousand members a week. [1] And since 1986, the trend has continued. Not only have we not reached twenty million members, we have declined each year. And this year, our total membership dropped below eight million for the first time since 1930. That's what I call ...

2503. The Revelation Code II: Crash, Crisis and Christ

Revelation 5:1--7:17

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... . Only peacemakers can see the way forward to a world of peace. We give our lives to that vision and trust that one day it will come. [2] Well, the circus goes on, moving at the speed of life. The crash of violence, conflict and crisis continues to stampede like horsemen across the stage of human experience. And in the midst stands the Christ, holding the very scroll of history in his hands, offering the vision, the dream, and the revelation of God's kingdom come. Only the dream has the power to confront ...

2504. It's So Daily

Matthew 16:21-28, Luke 9:18-27

Illustration

... to grow in our relationship with God. Jesus Himself said that those who wanted to be His disciples were expected to be in a continual attitude of self-denial and obedience to Him. Here's how the Lord put it: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let ... ourselves that this is a day dedicated to God, that it is to be used for His glory, and that it is best lived with a continual recollection of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Starting today, let's look at life that way. It's a daily commitment. The Christian ...

2505. Deep Calling to Deep

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... . Then Saint Paul's brilliance may not become crystal clear, but at least we are familiar with the magnificent and marvelous theological artistry put before us. Yes, and when we are stumped, we are to go to prayer, not as an escape but as a tool to continue our in-depth excursions. We value the news in-depth. Why can't we do as much for our spiritual lives? It seems to me the choice is plainly before us. 4. Everyone — in a sense — is his/her own theologian. Ideally, every person who professes Jesus ...

2506. Taking a Necessary Step

Acts 19:1-7

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... brings completeness. True, the church — both visible and invisible — enters the picture but without him it has no real power or relevance. Paul found his way in Jesus Christ the crucified. So, our rebirth is an experience that gives us the reason and format for continuing our lives in a victorious manner. We must move beyond John the Baptist or anyone else who has given meaning to our lives. Many of our parishioners tend to go through years of their lives never coming to terms with the truth of which we ...

2507. Proclaiming Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... understanding. Sorry to say, in our often partially dedicated lives, we are thankful when most things are going right for us! The corpus of Pauline writing shows a man so thankful that some probably inquired about his sanity. How can anyone go through what he did and continually give thanks just to be a vessel for promoting someone else? The normal attitude is to insist that if we are going to do the hard work and suffering, then we are going to get the credit. After all, isn't that the only really fair way ...

2508. Birthpangs of the New Age

Romans 8:22-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

2509. From Father Failure to Divine Father

Romans 8:12-17

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... no weakness, who never fails, and who takes care of everything for us so our lives will be problem-free. While this might be an apt description of God it may prove an infantile conception on our part, enabling us to continue to be spiritual thumbsuckers. We have all known religious people who insist they turn everything over to God — all their decisions, all their thinking, all their responsibility for living. In other words, they want to remain spiritual infants, dependent, afraid, infantile, childish ...

2510. The Acceptable Time

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... sometimes, but we need more information. So in an effort to inform people, the church sent out brochures, letters, and flyers. And what do you think people said then? They said, why are you sending out all those mailings? Doesn't it cost a lot of money? People continue to make excuses. If the church would do this or not do that, we would come. If the minister would say this and not that, we would respond to the message. If religion would just have this emphasis rather than that one. If the church just had a ...

2511. Modeling a Necessary Future

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... The writer of the text calls upon the church to be the model of a necessary future, because we are all in this together, and not one of us gets out of here without a stop at the cemetery. I In modeling a necessary future, the church needs to continue to do as Christ did — to break down the walls of hostility between people. In Paul's day, the walls of hostility were very real between Jew and Gentile. In the eyes of many Jews in this time, there were two main divisions of humanity on Mother Earth — Jews ...

2512. Make the Most of God’s Gifts

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... that the days were short, such a warning was essential. Paul was telling the people that Christians had a special vocation to fully and rightly use each and every day. Each day brought many opportunities to give praise and glory to God, occasions to continue the construction of God's kingdom in this world. The apostle understood human nature well and the tendency we have to procrastinate, to let things go, the attitude that we will always have tomorrow. Paul was most probably aware of Jesus' teaching on the ...

2513. Engage Mind before Putting Mouth in Gear

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... There is nothing to fear but fear itself." He went on to articulate his four freedoms: freedom of speech and worship, and freedom from want and fear. He called upon Americans to unite for the common cause and good of all. In the 1960s, Americans continued to be inspired and motivated by the words of great leaders. John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961 challenged Americans: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Volunteerism in programs such ...

2514. God’s Wisdom or the World?

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Jesus continued, "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:23b-24, 26b). Clearly Jesus is telling his disciples that they must choose God and not the world. Lastly, Jesus himself was given the challenge of choosing the world or God. After his baptism ...

2515. Prayer: A Way of Life

James 5:13-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... spirited, but he always seems to be right, no matter what the situation or question. The rabbi could not have meant Brother Phillip. He is very passive — a real nobody, but one has to admit that he is always there when someone needs assistance. As they continued to contemplate this question, the old monks began to treat each other with great respect, on the off chance that the one with whom they were dealing really was the Messiah. They again began to live the gospel message. The monastery was a much more ...

2516. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... family was scrupulously observant in performing this ritual, since it took place on the prescribed “eighth day” after their son’s birth. In case the ritually correct observance of circumcision was not enough to demonstrate his family’s stature, Paul continues revealing the purity and depth of his own gene pool. First he declares himself an “Israelite,” not just a Jew — thus claiming for himself identification with those people specially chosen by God and heirs of the promised land of Israel ...

2517. Christ the Righteous Judge

Revelation 20:11-12

Sermon

Shirley Gupton Lynn

... be obsolete as a method of settling disputes. That was scores of wars and two atomic bombs ago. Not only has war continued, at this very moment peace eludes us, and we are reeling from fresh news of terrorism. And wars are fought over the ... is ours. Those who want to be saved for eternity will be saved. They will put all their faith and loyalty in Jesus Christ. Those who want to continue to love self more than God will end up without God's company. To be without God is what hell is, you know. Think of it. If ...

2518. Outrageous Love

John 13:1-15

Sermon

Shirley Gupton Lynn

... I are such undeserving sinners, but because this lover-to-the-utmost is God incarnate. Jesus, the Christ, loved us enough to die for our redemption. It's mind-boggling, but it's also heart-melting. How can I continue to deny Christ as Lord of my life in the presence of such outrageous love? How can I continue to regard others as less than persons of sacred worth in the face of such outrageous love? How can I live in any manner except striving to obey what God commands? It's a life-changing love, and Christ ...

2519. Floating on Your Back

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... at Thessalonica became one of Paul’s success stories due to the faithfulness of the converts there. So Paul begins this letter to the church with high praise for the Thessalonians. He says he “always thanks God” for them. He writes that he continually remembers their “work produced by faith,” their “labor prompted by love,” and their “endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s high praise for any group of believers. It is something for us to aspire to. In a sea of ...

2520. Mary, Did You Know?

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... kind of greeting this might be.” “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” What does it mean to be favored by God? This is an important question. Evidently it doesn’t mean that your life is going to be a bed of roses. Listen as Luke continues, “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most ...

2521. Don’t Fear the Wait

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... , neighbor, coworker, and certainly with God. Others might have a very different response. Some of us might do nothing differently. Some in a defeatist attitude might say, "There is nothing I can do at this late hour. God has already decided my fate. I might as well continue what I have been doing all along." There are still others who might not change a thing they are doing, but not in a defeatist mode. Some of us hopefully would say, "Isn't this the event for which the world has been waiting? Isn't this ...

2522. A New Day Is Coming

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... teacher with the ability to expound on the scriptures, but at least I can be a copper kettle Christian, catching the rays of the Son of God and reflecting that light to someone living in a dark corner." In order to successfully traverse these dark nights, we must continually seek the light. Advent is a time when we take a journey from the darkness which is the absence of God to the birth of the light. Our Gospel Reading today tells us it is time to rejoice for the light, the Lord, is near. We can have total ...

2523. Letting Go and New Beginnings

Mark 9:2-9

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... , and heard the Father speak from the heavens, "This is my Son, listen to him." Seeing and hearing Jesus in a new light transformed their thinking about him, but it also challenged them to realize that as Jesus changed, so must they if they were to continue as his apostles. Yes, the lives of the apostles Peter, James, and John, the three of the inner circle who are always present at the most important events in Jesus' life and ministry, were forever altered. They would now have to move in another direction ...

2524. No Substitute

John 2:13-22

Sermon

David T. Ball

... going on in the temple, and it’s not clear why Jesus didn’t see it that way. Unless there’s a concern that we can discern that Jesus felt seriously enough for him to jeopardize, at this early stage in his ministry, his freedom to continue to travel and preach. Because it wouldn’t have been far-fetched at all for the Roman authorities to have reacted to this very disruptive disturbance of the peace at a time when thousands of Jews were streaming into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover by arresting ...

2525. Water and Spirit

John 3:1-17

Sermon

George Reed

... and Spirit of God. This understanding has followed through the church as it struggled with the nature of Jesus finally declaring that he was both truly man and truly God. It continued in the understanding that the future reign of God must include the resurrection of the body because without our bodies there was no way to talk about a continued existence. It may be a transformed, glorified body, but there must be a body or the spirit has no home. And so Jesus addresses Nicodemus with the admonition that one ...

Showing results