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 2651 to 2675 of 4962 results

2651. The Dedication of the Temple

1 Kings 8:62-66

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... , is the way in which 1 Kgs. 8:46–53 quite consciously uses the language and ideas of Deut. 29:17–27 to evoke this idea of reversal of fortunes in the case of exile in particular. See further J. G. McConville, “1 Kings 8:46–53 and the Deuteronomic Hope,” VT 42 (1992), pp. 67–79, although his assertion that the Kgs. passage and Deut. 30:1–10 differ in their view of Israel’s future must surely be modified if 1 Kgs. 8:33–34 and 46–53 are read as part of the same text. First Kings 8 ...

2652. The Lord Appears to Solomon

1 Kings 9:1-9

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

2653. Jehoiachin Released

2 Kings 25:27-30

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... yet necessarily lost after all; the destruction of the family of the “last king of Judah” does not mean that there is no member of the house of David left. As the prayer of Solomon in 1 Kings 8:22–53 looks beyond the disaster of exile, grounding its hope for the restoration of Israel to the land in God’s gracious and unconditional election of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (cf. also 1 Kgs. 18:36–37; 2 Kgs. 13:23; 14:27); as it refuses to accept that God’s words about the rejection of people, city and ...

2654. To Us a Child is Born

Isaiah 9:1-7

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... the evidence that the Mighty God really will bring to effect a wonderful purpose and that the Everlasting Father will act effectively as a commander, for the sake of people’s spiritual and physical well-being. But this is a judgment and a statement of hope based on what we know of Jesus rather than an exegetical judgment about the meaning of this passage. The passage is a vision of what God is committed to achieving through David’s line. It receives partial fulfillments in the achievements of kings such ...

2655. Joy of the Redeemed

Isaiah 35:1-10

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... miracle reflects the work of God? Whichever is the case, evidently the miracle of the glory/splendor of Israel’s God exceeds this new manifestation of the glory/splendor of Lebanon/Carmel/Sharon. 35:3–4 This second scene moves from fear to hope for people whose lives have collapsed and who sit head in hands, fearful, anxious, depressed, lonely, tired, despairing. They have (literally) “hasty hearts”: they are always jumping up in fear. They can see no future, no end to this thralldom. Then the same ...

2656. The False Prophet Hananiah

Jeremiah 28:1-17

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... , considering he has been presenting a different divine message, he greets Hananiah’s prophecy warmly yet with suspicion. Jeremiah would love to be wrong and see his people return to the land. He takes no pleasure in the destruction of his people. He hopes for and is open to God changing his mind and speaking through Hananiah. Thus, he reacts with an Amen, “so be it.” An alternative interpretation understands Jeremiah’s statement as ironic (Lundbom, Jeremiah 22–36, p. 333). It is difficult to read ...

2657. A Cat In a Tree

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... of the compassion Jesus had for the needy in this world. And who are the people who are to have that compassion? You know, don’t you? As Christians you and I are accountable for the needs of our neighbors--whether next door or around the world. I hope nobody ever tells God that we who live in this prosperous nation heard that 27,000 children are dying each day from hunger-related diseases and we did nothing to help. There is a story about Rabbi Joshua ben Levi, a scholar of the Talmud, who lived in the ...

2658. You Are Invited to a Banquet

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... . We are not here in order to work our way to Heaven. We are here simply to say, “Thank you.” We are here to sing the great hymns of faith not for our personal entertainment but as testimony of praise. “Oh, God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come . . .” “How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in His excellent word . . .” “O, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise . . .” We are here at a banquet given by a gracious and loving King ...

2659. Are You a Victim of Identity Theft?

1 John 3:1-3

Sermon

King Duncan

... be denied if he were to use his real name. (1) Have I succeeded in making you paranoid yet? No need to be, but I hope I’ve helped you be more vigilant. Identity theft is a threat to us all. It could happen to anyone. Of course, you could ... not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” Who are you? If you have made Christ Lord of your life, then you are a child of God ...

2660. Gratitude: A Matter of Perspective

Deuteronomy 8:7-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... caught her husband weighing himself on the scale. He was sucking in his stomach. “That won’t help you, Fred,” the woman said. “You know that, don’t you?” “Oh it helps a lot,” said Fred. “It’s the only way I can see the numbers!” I hope you’re ready for Thanksgiving--and not just for the turkey and all the trimmings. Giving thanks is important to a successful life. A growing body of research is indicating that a sense of gratitude is vital if we are to be happy and whole persons. Of ...

2661. Everyone Is Looking for You

Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... chasing a fake rabbit! Hey, I didn’t retire; I quit!” (2) Well, no wonder that dog quit, and was eager to tell Fred why. I hope no one in this room can relate to that greyhound. But there are many people who can relate. They’re spending their lives chasing fake rabbits ... IT’S CHRIST. IT’S JESUS CHRIST AND HIS LOVE FOR ALL OF US. He is the light that shines in the darkness. He is the hope that never fails. He is the life that never ends. He is the key to the secret of life. When we join our life with ...

2662. You Are God's Handiwork

Ephesians 2:10

Sermon

King Duncan

... tries. “I’m Suzy, and I’m a good . . .” And Suzy begins to cry. (9) She couldn’t say, “I’m a good thing.” I wonder if anybody ever told Suzy that she is God’s handiwork, that she is God’s work of art? I hope someone finally did. That great Christian philosopher and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a poem just one month before he was executed: “Who am I? They often tell me I would step from my cell’s confinement calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house. Who am ...

2663. Actors

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

John Jamison

... people. The camera is now on us. We have also come for a variety of reasons. Some have come because this is where you are supposed to come on Ash Wednesday. Some have come to see if there is anything interesting going on. Some have come praying to find hope: some word or some act that will help you find an answer, or help your faith feel more real. Regardless of why you are here, keep the following words in your mind as you leave. Ash Wednesday is fifty days before Easter, created to mark the beginning of a ...

2664. Have You Ever Screwed Up?

John 20:1-18

Sermon

John Jamison

... to offer. She ran back to Peter and another disciple with him, telling them what had happened. We can see the footrace that followed as the three of them all ran to the tomb. Peter was the last to get there, perhaps because he had already given up the hope needed for a good, fast run. Over the next few minutes, they walked in and out of the tomb, seeing the strips of burial cloth and the things Mary had brought for the anointing, but nothing else. I try to imagine the confusion in their minds as they slowly ...

2665. Does Easter Really Matter?

Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... the grave if you want to make any sense out of living. Easter is important not only because of what it says about life beyond the grave, but because of what it says about life on this side of the grave. If Christ lives, then life has meaning. There is hope even in the most difficult circumstances. Even at the very end of my rope, here is a knot I can hang on to. If Christ defeated death, if my life goes on forever, if the gospel is true, I can live courageously, victoriously. I can overcome my fears by his ...

2666. Please Pass the Resurrection Biscuits

Luke 24:35-48

Sermon

King Duncan

... weeks after that. Yes I know, it is simply too wonderful to believe that there is a world beyond this one--another existence in which that which dies here is resurrected to new life there. Yet such a conviction is at the heart of our faith. I hope that in this Easter season you will at least entertain the possibility that this, the greatest news that the world has ever received, is worth investigating. Sometimes you and I can be like the twin boys an unknown author tells about who were conceived in the same ...

2667. All for Some Dumb Sheep

John 10:11-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... between equals. A man laying down his life for dumb and dirty sheep is different than laying down his life for another human being. I hope you don’t mind being called a dumb and dirty sheep, by the way, because that is who Christ died for--you and me. Actually ... s life, but we sure can brag on God.” (7) What a wonderful God we worship--to have mercy on such as you and me! What I hope you see is the divine absurdity of it all. The Lord of all the universe lay down His life for you and me. He lay aside his ...

2668. Have You Been Pruned?

John 15:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... I am the true vine,” said Jesus, “and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful . . .” Those are powerful words and I hope you will give them your undivided attention for just a few moments. There is an important message here. “. . . my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will ...

2669. United We Stand

John 17:11b-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... such an experience. Regardless, we are united in our belief that Christ is the way to God. And we gather here each week in the hope that God will make Himself known to us--that, if we have not already done so--we will one day experience God in our ... He is the inspiration of our lives. He is the living presence who works within us. He is the Lord and Master of all we are and hope to be. We are his. It is in his steps that we walk. Pastor Bill Hinson, in his book Faith, Lies, and the Opinion Polls tells the ...

2670. Why Am I Afraid?

Romans 8:14-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... what ifs.” She felt like her brain was about to explode. When the “what ifs” started to obliterate reality, she knew she had to do something. She threw off the covers, ran to the window, ripped open the curtains, and screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping to scare the intruder more than he was scaring her. She jumped back, startled. There, staring at her through the window was . . . a horse! She says he looked at her in a curious sort of way as if to say, “Hey lady, what’s your problem?” That ...

2671. Treasure Hidden In a Clay Jar

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... an olive.” Now, that’s more like the kind of luck you and I usually have. I can’t even imagine what they went through to reclaim that treasure--or if they even tried. Everybody loves a good story of a successful treasure hunt. Such stories give us hope that someday we will be that fortunate too. Today, I want to invite you on the greatest treasure hunt of all. It is a hunt for the treasure that surpasses all others. People don’t recognize that it is the most desirable treasure of all because it is ...

2672. You Are What You Eat

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

... example of a bad value, in my mind, that I didn't want my kids to acquire, was that they were to win at any cost. Hopefully we don't see much of that in our schools, but in professional sports it's there all the time. Bonuses paid to players who injure ... me, it's about carrying on the mission of Christ and a big chunk of that is service to others. Well, that's enough for now. I hope though, that we'll all give this a bit of thought today and this week. What values are we doing our best to instill in our kids ...

2673. What Really Counts

Mark 9:38-43

Sermon

King Duncan

... ? Does anyone remember that you spoke to her today? Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that’s slipping fast, That you helped a single person of the many that you passed? Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said? Does the man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead? Did you leave a trail of kindness, or a scar of discontent? As you close your eyes in slumber, do you think that God will say, “You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?” (5) We don’t ...

2674. The Peace of Christmas

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... , PEACE,” and the fjord echoed back. . . Peace . . . peace . . . peace. The young man sat down and cried . . . There was no peace. Peace for him was only an echo that began to fade and fade and fade far away. (3) It is difficult to hold on to the messianic hope of peace on earth in a world where people are so much easier stirred up to hate rather than to love. “Each year,” writes Daniel J. Dyke, “we watch the news as people gather in Bethlehem to mark Christmas in the place where Jesus was born. We ...

2675. Crisis Management

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... let God be God — intuitively trusting that everything depends on God — a God who tosses stars of life and death into our lap. Letting God be God also means to claim the God inside each of our souls. We must keep on working, keep on dreaming, keep on hoping, and keep on loving — just keep on keeping on — living as if everything depends on us. This is the paradox and the power and the promise of Advent. We are to watch as if everything depends on God. And then as we live between the beginning and the ...

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