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 2526 to 2550 of 4957 results

2526. What's A Savior Worth?

Matthew 6:19-24, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:1-4

Drama

Joe Barone

... don't think I have to apologize. Even Peter denied his Savior. Even for Peter, Jesus wasn't worth the embarrassment -- yes, I think it was embarrassment, not just fear for his life that made Peter deny Jesus ... even for Peter Jesus wasn't worth the embarrassment of having to claim him when he was about to die. But let's leave all that aside for a minute, and let's go back to what it was that I was saying. The one thing I wish I'd done was to think about my life when it was over. I might ...

2527. The Paradox of the Cross

Mark 15:33-41, Mark 15:21-32

Sermon

Robert Allen

... on the horizon. And it is this hope of Jesus conquering death which gives us hope. Because of Jesus Christ, we can see hope beyond the crosses in our lives. A few years ago, a man dropped by my office to see me. I did not know him, although he claimed to be a member of this church. He was one of those members whose name was on our roll, but was not active. In fact, as soon as he was seated, he said, "I just thought I ought to come by and meet the preacher." I laughed and said, "Well ...

2528. An Empty Tomb

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Robert Allen

... the strange scents of the tomb with its bandages and spices and then he walks out of that tomb -- alive forevermore. This is the message of Easter that echoes across the centuries. The tomb is empty. Christ has risen! Jesus is alive forevermore. I don't claim to understand or comprehend the full meaning of Easter. In fact, I doubt if any of us really understand. However, I believe with everything in my being that the first Easter and every Easter since then is the message of an empty tomb. Today, I want ...

2529. Let Me See Your Hands

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Robert Allen

... are vying for our love and attention. Young and old alike are challenged by the call of money, pleasure, fame and a host of other interests. But let us never forget that down the corridors of time walks one who, by merely raising his hands, reminds us of his claim upon us. Those hands were pierced by nails. Those hands were a sign of recognition to the disciples. Those hands are a reminder that there is one who loves us. III. The Hands Of Jesus Remind Us That We Are Called To Act On Our Faith. Thomas had ...

2530. Do You Love Me?

John 21:15-25

Sermon

Robert Allen

... done which denies him, his love forgives us and accepts us because we belong to him. Are you ready to accept his forgiving love? Are you ready to once again try to be one of his followers? Prayer: O God, help us to know that your love forgives us and claims us as your disciples. In Jesus' name. Amen.

2531. Laughing in Church

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Carl Jech

... jokes and/or humorous anecdotes that have given us insight. The laughter would be a liturgical act. We could even do some liturgical applause at the end of such a sermon. It might be a surprise. But it would not be out of place. Conrad Hyers claims that laughter and a comic perspective are uniquely human attributes. I think he's right and I think we need to celebrate this attribute - literally! Speaking of comic perspective, try this on for size: We need imagination to help us deal with what we are not ...

2532. Monologues: Disciples Redeemed

John 20:10-18, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Drama

Raymond I. Keffer

... , but the priests would have none of it. I betrayed the one who loved me with a kiss. I caused Him to die on the cross. "The agony of these selfish acts drove me to take my own life with this rope. I am among the lost which Satan now claims as his own. If only I had listened to Jesus. If only I had died to self as He asked me to do. Since I did not listen to Jesus, I now must spend eternity in despair and lament. Woe unto me, a sinner who has received his just reward ...

2533. Save Us From the World-Savers

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Carl Jech

... work God really cannot use those who have an incurable desire for personal glory ... This is why God chose people who were so insignificant that they could have no natural cause for boasting." We must extend this insight even to cover those who think that by "claiming the world for Christ" they are merely being humble servants of a Christ-centered theology. When we act as if it is up to us to save the world by our witnessing, our theology, our service, then we are being "Christ-centered" in the wrong way ...

2534. Giving Away the Store

Luke 22:7-38, John 13:1-17

Sermon

Carl Jech

... self-giving love of Jesus. We are called to absolute humility. There is no room for sanctimoniousness nor boasting! As Jesus whom we call Lord and Teacher took on the role of a servant and washed the feet of his disciples, so too we are to stop claiming, and start giving. The church is not a storehouse where grace is stored up and sold to those who come bearing the proper coin, namely, a willingness to accept a set of doctrines about Jesus or a rigidly-defined, legalistic lifestyle. To the degree that we ...

2535. Colorizing Jesus

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Carl Jech

... in a special way through Jesus, the Christ, in contrast to Buddha, for example. It is historically dishonest to pretend that Buddha and Jesus are the same, because the two figures come out of profoundly different contexts. The "scandal" is not that Jesus claims to be better than Buddha, but simply that the particular New Testament understanding of Jesus as the Christ gives a unique flavor (or color!) to the meaning of God's grace. Without this particular flavor/color, the "grace of God" too easily becomes ...

2536. Throw Your Heart at the Sky

John 21:1-14

Sermon

Carl Jech

... about what God is. Who knows really what we mean by "spirit"? In the same way, when we speak of God as if God were a person, we really don't mean that God is a flesh and blood person with arms and legs like ours. To make such a claim would be to believe too loudly, would be to think more highly of our own notions than we ought. What we mean simply is that God "relates to us in a personal way!" We can never truly comprehend God-language. I often refer to theology or "God-talk" as "the ...

2537. The Power To Defy Evil

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... Moses would have been overcome with awe and would have been filled with enthusiasm to take up the cause of his people by leading them to freedom. But, not so. He was too comfortable in his present circumstances. So, he attempted to refuse the call by claiming that he lacked the personal qualifications for such a task. But, God cut beneath this self-deceptive modesty. "I will be with you," said the Lord. Moses still sought to escape. He argued, "I am not eloquent ... I am slow of speech and of tongue." God ...

2538. The Symphony of God

Acts 5:17-42

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... and the core of the Sanhedrin's response of fury and fear revolved around one focal point - the potential power of the people. The leaders of Israel couldn't have cared less about an ignorant fisherman telling his tales about a carpenter's son, one who claimed to be the Messiah and was found guilty of treason; thereby, ending up on a criminal's cross. The Sanhedrin did care, however, that Peter and the apostles were spreading the rumor that the crucified one had risen and was still alive. The high priest ...

2539. God is About to Strike

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... , and his mind was dead-set on murder. Paul was convinced that he was commissioned by God to destroy all the fool-hearted followers of the "Mad Messiah" - that pretentious peasant - that son of a village carpenter - that common "nobody" - who had made the blasphemous claim that he was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Paul was just outside the gates of the city when, suddenly, a blinding light flashed like a bolt of lightning from heaven. It enveloped him with a glowing circle of light. It was noonday ...

2540. Love Leads to Knowledge

Philippians 1:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Knowledge is a wonderful gift God gives to us. People: It certainly is. God has blessed us with so much knowledge, even though we claim ignorance at times. Pastor: Our knowledge can increase even more as our love abounds; especially our knowledge of the way God wants us to live. People: May our love grow in knowledge and obedience, that we may live the life God calls us to live. Collect O God our Father, ...

2541. Jesus Fulfills God's Promise of Deliverance

Luke 4:14-30

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... and receive your Son as the Word made flesh, that we may be released from bondage to sin. In his name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Father, we have professed with biblical proficiency that Jesus is your Son. But our response to his mission denies what he claims to be. Forgive us for quoting Scripture that hails him as Savior, and then living as if we had not heard our own lips. Forgive us for hearing with our ears only, while at the same time making our hearts deaf to his saving love. Deliver us from ...

2542. Our Conduct Must Prove We Are Citizens of Heaven

Philippians 3:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... are citizens of God's Kingdom. People: We affirm our faith in Christ; and witness to our desire to stand firm in the Christian Life. Collect Eternal God, source of our existence, and strength of our being, whose Kingdom is known on earth by those who claim citizenship: Grant us the desire and self-discipline to express our faith through our life style, that body, mind, and soul, we may belong to you. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer of Confession Dear God, faith is so hard to put into practice ...

2543. God Shows His Glory to the Nations

Deuteronomy 31:30--32:47

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... , and redemption. He is our King victorious! Collect Almighty God, who does not desert us when rejected by our false appearance of allegiance: Draw us out of our complacency to recognize your redeeming presence in Christ who suffered for sins such as ours, to claim us as your children. Hear us for his sake. Amen. Prayer of Confession Father in heaven, we are your children, but we adopt other loyalties that replace your supremacy in our lives. Forgive us for developing life styles that do not reflect our ...

2544. The Narrow Door

Luke 13:22-30

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... in Christian discipleship, and pray that God will help us to be faithful. Collect Almighty God, whose Son came to call sinners to repentance, commanding them to live a new life after repentance: Guide us in our daily living, that we may not perish outside your kingdom, claiming good intentions while failing to produce the new life your Son directed us to live. In his name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession We want to be saved, Father, but the door of salvation is so narrow for the kind of life we want to ...

2545. Fear Not the Threats of the World

Luke 13:31-35

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! People: But there is so much in the world we fear, so much that threatens us. Leader: Why should we fear the world when we are safely held in God's hands? People: But there are so many with power who lay claim upon our very lives. Leader: Yet it is the Lord God Almighty alone who holds our eternity. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, You have called us to be Your obedient servants in the face of whatever may come, and ...

2546. The Gathering

Luke 24:44-53

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... established Your Church and empowered it to stand even against the gates of Hell. Give us the strength and courage to help lead the way for You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord, so often we have listened to the voices of the world that would claim self is all there is to consider in life. Too often we have been unwilling to follow Your example and put the needs and well-being of others first, even as You did in allowing us to nail You to the cross. Forgive us, Lord, and help us more ...

2547. Rejoice in the Lord Always

Philippians 4:2-9

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... have thought of the depth of Your love for us. We give You our heartfelt thanks and praise for the love You first showed us. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord, so often we have allowed the ways of the world to come before Your claim on our hearts. We have even accepted Your blessings and yet failed to stop even for a moment to express our gratitude. Forgive us, Lord, and call us again into Your faithful service and bless our efforts to share the Good News of salvation in Christ with others ...

2548. After A Lost Election, Field Of Dreams

Jeremiah 8:4--9:26

Sermon

James Angell

... are suspect. But loyalties, once established, are as fixed as the hills. Fascinating names of eastern Kentucky's hamlet world include Pippa Passes, Kingdom Come, Thousand Sticks, Cranks, and Crummies. Bruce Davis liked to say he was the "senior elder." And he was. He also claimed that, after finishing the work of creation, God had made Kentucky, and used it as a signature for the final masterpiece. Learning that he was ill, I made a visit one day to his upstairs bedroom. I had left word at the church where ...

2549. Confessional Services

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Bulletin Aid

G. William Genszler

... more than I love Thee. My pleasures, my family, my money, my desires can become gods that I serve and place above Thee. Congregation: Be merciful, to me, a sinner. Commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Minister: Lord, I claim the family name -- Christian, yet I refuse at times to bear the family likeness. I do so little to make Thy Good Name loved and respected because I am too busy trying to impress others with My name and My importance. Congregation: O Lord, have mercy on ...

2550. Don't Just Stand There! - Get Involved!

Luke 3:1-20, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Dr. John Thompson Peters

... Master concerning the Kingdom of God and the meaning of discipleship. Here three men are tendering their applications to join the "Corps of Jesus," being impressed with the Leader and the movement. The first is a very enthusiastic young man who makes an extravagant claim, "I will follow you wherever you go." In such an instance it might have been expected that Jesus would have responded with equal enthusiasm and welcomed the young man into the ranks. Instead of this he went out of his way to point up the ...

Showing results