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 2601 to 2625 of 4957 results

2601. Practicing and Preaching

Acts 7:54--8:1a

Sermon

... Many people consider the giving of money an embarrassing subject which should not be mentioned from the pulpit. They're often the same tight-fisted people who should be embarrassed by such a discussion. The Bible is very forth-right in its mention of money. It claims we own nothing and hold all we have as a trust from God. The instinct to acquire that makes America tick made the prophets furious. Jesus, whom the Bible records more often talking about money than about prayer, said wealth always is one of two ...

2602. The Focus of Fitness

Jeremiah 18:1--19:15

Sermon

... just for the sake of exercise. They might consider us a little bit daffy. Along with the desire for fitness are the many suggested diets by which to lose weight. "Getting in shape" for many people means losing ten, twenty, thirty or more pounds. Many of the plans claim that theirs is the "easy" way. But is there an easy way? Some of you have tried it, and you know how "easy" it is. Physical fitness is a popular theme because most people are interested in a better quality of life. Who can argue with that? We ...

2603. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Jeremiah 20:7-18

Sermon

... , and we succeed. Sometimes the only burning fire we feel is when we ate too much at the last church potluck. Some of our compulsive speech may not come from divine motivation, but from anger, quick reactions and hasty judgments. We have no business claiming God’s inspiration for our childish outbursts of anger. What Jeremiah is talking about, is the compelling necessity to speak the word of God which may well produce enemies. People simply won’t like it, and they will vent their dislike on the speaker ...

2604. ... and Justice for All

Ezekiel 18:1-32

Sermon

... would be willing to trade our system for something else. Our judicial system seems to be either praised or criticized, depending on how you are affected. We hear it said, "If you have enough money, you can hire expert legal counsel and stay out of jail." Some claim it’s possible to get off easier by knowing the right people. Regardless of the defects in the system, most of us no doubt approve when we hear of the arrest of a person selling illegal drugs. We applaud the law enforcement officers who find the ...

2605. Not Blind but Seeing

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... the same one who was blind all those years. To them the man says, "I am the man!" Then he is brought to the Pharisees, who denounce it all because Jesus healed the blind man on the Sabbath. A division occurs among them, some advocating affirmation, but others claiming the healer is not from God because he healed on the day of rest. Then the man’s parents are brought onto the scene; they are asked questions which can put them at odds with the Pharisees. The blindness is caused by fear. He is our son, they ...

2606. The Two Washings

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... the cross. Our sins are foigiven, no longer held against us, no longer there in God’s mind and memory to stir his wrath over our colossal failures in every way. Those sad memories of occasions when we have played the part of Pilate are behind us, not ever to claim us and defeat us in the despair which the knowledge of our sins creates. All that is put away, washed clean from us. We have been served by the Son of God who loved us with a love so great and deep and pure that we can only respond with ...

2607. L’Chaim!

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... his life for the sheep. The Pharisees threw the blind man out of the temple when he kept on insisting that his sight was returned to him by Jesus and that he now believed in him. The response Jesus made is centered on his concern not simply to have his claims accepted, but to be known and believed as the giver of life with God and to be followed for the sake of the nurture of that life. It’s not just survival that God brings us through his Son. It is a restoring of the whole process of existence with ...

2608. Is the Lord Among Us or Not?

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

... have a need for God. But ultimately life gives the answer. Whatever the experience, when it comes, we have choices. We can be stubborn and resistant. We can insist that we can handle it ourselves, and thus remain in our frustration, our confusion, our wilderness, claiming there is no exit, no way out. Or, in faith, we can acknowledge our need, and believe there is someone greater than we who is able to help. "Behold I will stand before you," God said to Moses. "Water will come ..." Moses believed that, went ...

2609. He Who Vindicates is Near

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

... , in many ways it really is not new. So, what do you do with a man who says he was sent from God to be the Savior, to set up a new Kingdom? Some people believed he was the Messiah. He was a descendent of their great king David. Some claimed that he was the king who had come to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Others, however, tried to silence him and wanted to get rid of him. It was Passover time. A hundred-thousand pilgrims or more made their way to the Holy City of Jerusalem, in this ...

2610. Is Repentance Necessary?

Acts 2:14-41

Sermon

... requirement for becoming a member is the admission that you are not worthy of membership. By the grace of the One by whom it is named you are welcome. God’s purpose is to confirm the goodness within you that you know is there; baptism is the outward and visible claim that frees you to express it. A man came to my office, sat down and asked to talk with me. He said, "I want to be free of something and I want to have peace. For thirty years I have pushed something down that I did for which I am ...

2611. Easter 3

Acts 9:1-19a, Revelation 5:1-14, John 21:1-14

Sermon Aid

... to Jesus' command to go to Paul, Jesus explained that Paul one day would be his "chosen instrument." A follower and servant of Jesus can best be understood as an "instrument." An instrument is a means to accomplish something. The instrument does not do it and therefore can claim no credit or glory; it is used to doing it. The scapel is a doctor's instrument to bring health. A piano is an instrument to bring forth music. Without an instrument the person is helpless. Lesson 1: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 See Easter 2 ...

2612. Trinity Sunday

Jn 16:12-15 · Rom 5:1-5 · Prov 8:22-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Therefore (v. 1). The word refers to that which preceded it, and on the basis of the foregoing, certain truths or actions follow. On the basis of the truth in previous chapters, Paul says we being justified by faith have peace with God. What truth precedes this claim? One truth is that all have sinned and are subject to judgment. Moreover, we are not made right with God by obeying the law but by the grace of Christ who died for our sins. This grace is accepted by faith. On the basis of all this, "therefore ...

2613. Proper 8

Lk 9:51-62 · Gal 5:1, 13-25 · 1 Ki 19:15-21

Sermon Aid

... God's call to be the Messiah. This requires his total interest, effort, and sacrifice. What Jesus does in terms of commitment he expects of each follower. The sermon needs to show how it is possible to be totally committed to Christ in the midst of daily claims for his allegiance. Outline: Like Jesus, a Christian - a. Knows where he is going - v. 51 b. Knows what he must do - vv. 51, 52 -- Jesus sends his disciples ahead to prepare the people for his coming. He wants to teach, preach, and heal, to bring the ...

2614. Proper 11

Lk 10:38-42 · Col 1:21-29 · Gen 18:1-10 · 2 Ki 4:8-17

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . We cannot fall from grace but we can lose our faith. If and when we do this, we have rejected Christ and we are back where we once were without Christ. Our constant task is to keep the faith. 3. Lacking (v. 24). This is a difficult passage. Paul claims that by his sufferings as a Christian apostle, he completes what is "lacking" in Christ's afflictions for the sake of the church. This does not mean that anything is lacking in the suffering he bore on the cross for our atonement. The church is the body of ...

2615. PROPER 13

Lk 12:13-21 · Col 3:1-11 · Ecc 1:2; 2:18-26 · 2 Ki 13:14-20a

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... -21 1. Covetousness (v. 15). It was a simple request. A younger brother asked Jesus to persuade his older brother to share the inheritance left by their father. Legally an inheritance want to the oldest son. The younger son(s) has no right nor claim to it. But, the younger brother was hungry for money and possessions. He coveted what was rightfully his brother's. Jesus saw behind the innocent request the basic problem: covetousness. It is the source of theft, conflict, and even war. Because we covet wealth ...

2616. Proper 14

Lk 12:32-48 · Gen 15:1-6 · Jer 18:1-11 · Heb 11:1-3, 8-19

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... " he would speak to him. Yet, not a word was spoken by God while Jeremiah watched the potter make pots. It was a case of non-verbal communication. In the making and re-making of the vessel God spoke to Jeremiah about the fate of the nation. Communicators claim that we communicate far more by non-verbal means: posture, gestures, attitude, voice, facial expressions, etc. 2. Can (v. 6). God asks, "Can" I not do the same with Israel as the potter did with clay? The potter holds in his hands a mess of clay. He ...

2617. Proper 15

Lk 12:49-56 · Jer 20:7-13; 23:23-29; 38:4-10

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... he is angry with Yahweh for getting him into his mess. He was called to be a prophet and he was faithful to speak only what Yahweh told him to say. He felt he had a right to be respected as a prophet and to expect a favorable hearing. Jeremiah claims Yahweh forced him into being a prophet. Instead of giving him a respectful hearing, the people laugh at him, ridicule him, and threaten his life. 2. Cannot (v. 9). So what can Jeremiah do about it? He can quit and no longer speak God's Word. He tried this, but ...

2618. Proper 18

Lk 14:25-33 · Eze 33:1-11 · Phm 1-20 · Prov 9:8-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... ways of God are beyond our ways 2. Sometimes the best surprises are those we would not have guessed 3. God's wisdom will confound all second-guessing on our part Lesson 2: Philemon 1-20 1. What Can You Expect of a Christian? vv. 8-14. Need: If you claim to be somebody or something, if you are a member or not, society can expect certain things of you. You expect a judge to be just, a policeman to enforce the laws, a citizen to vote. What can you expect of a Christian? Philemon was a Christian and Paul ...

2619. Advent 4

Lk 1:39-55 · Heb 10:5-10 · Mic 5:1-4

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... superiority of Mary as "the mother of my Lord" and the superiority of Jesus over John indicated by the baby's leaping in Elizabeth's womb at the time of Mary's appearance. The second part (vv. 46-55) constitutes the beautiful Magnificat. Scholars claim that the poem is a pre-Lucan product celebrating redemption through the Messiah. The use of the past tense (vv. 51-55) indicates that it was written from a post-Easter perspective. The Magnificat expresses theology in a poetic and narrative poem. THEOLOGICAL ...

2620. The Nativity of Our Lord

Luke 2:1-20 · Isa 9:2-7 · Tit 2:11-14

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... exhausted. Outline: Why Jesus was born - A. Born for our salvation - vv. 11, 14. B. Born to make us godly - vv. 12, 14. C. Born to gain ultimate victory over the world - v. 13. 2. Born to Make Us Good! 2:12, 14. Need: A hymn claims that Jesus died to make us good. This text says that Jesus was born to make us good: "live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world." Our secular Christmas is not associated with godly living: drunkenness, suicides, shoplifting, mugging, pick-pocketing, etc. Put it this ...

2621. Proper 21

Lk 16:19-31 · 1 Tim 6:6-19 · Joel 2:23-30 · Am 6:1-7

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... we were baptized as infants, the "good confession" was consciously made at Confirmation. Though it is not given in the passage, the "good confession" was probably the oldest and most basic confession of a convert: "Jesus Christ is Lord." 3. Immortality (v. 16). This verse claims that God is the only one who has "immortality." This is indeed true, for God by nature is immortal. He is from everlasting to everlasting. This is not the case with humans. It is a pagan philosophic idea that the soul of a human is ...

2622. Proper 25

Lk 18:9-14 · 2 Tim 4:9-18 · Sirach 35:12-18 · Deut 10:12-22 · Zeph 3:1-9

Sermon Aid

... future? We are dealing with vital subjects which will determine our eternal destiny. Outline: See yourself at the crossroads of life A. Your present - "I am already on the point of being sacrificed." (v. 6) B. Your past - Can you say verse 7? C. Your future - Can you claim a future reward? - v. 8 2. When You Stand Alone. 4:16-18. Need: On the human side, there are times when we stand alone as Paul stood alone at his trial in Rome. It is literally true - there is not one person who stands beside you, agrees ...

2623. Reformation Sunday

Jn 8:31-36 · Rom 3:19-28 · Jer 31:31-34

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Jesus tells us - A. What truth is - "If you continue in my word" - v. 31 Truth is the word of Christ; he in the truth. B. What truth does - "the truth will make you free" - v. 32 2. Made free - Not Born Free. 8:34-36. Need: A popular song claims we are "born free." This is a widespread opinion. The truth is we are born slaves to sin, born in original sin. We are in bondage to the power of the Devil. This bondage was broken by the cross. Christians are now slaves of Christ, but in Christ slaves are ...

2624. The Epiphany Season

Mt 2:1-12 · Eph 3:1-12 · Isa 60:1-6 · Ps 72:1-7, 10-14

Sermon Aid

... as the birthday of Jesus. The church in the East continued to celebrate Epiphany in terms of the baptism of Jesus while the Western church associated Epiphany with the visit of the Magi. For the East the baptism of Jesus was more vital because of the Gnostic heresy claiming that only at his baptism did Jesus become the Son of God. On the other hand, to associate Epiphany with the Magi is appropriate, for the Magi did not get to Bethlehem until a year after Jesus' birth. By this time the holy family was in a ...

2625. The Epiphany of Our Lord

Mt 2:1-12 · Isa 60:1-6 · Eph 3:1-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... Kingdom. Christ is for all men; he died for all. This implies that the church has an obligation to spread the Gospel to all nations that all might come into God's realm. 2. Can the church be exclusive? If it is the will of God, as the Second Lesson claims, to include all people (Jews and Gentiles) in the Kingdom, the church must fulfill that will. Thus, the unity of human-kind should be a reality in the church, for both Jew and Gentile are one in Christ. If they are one in Christ, they must be one in the ...

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