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 251 to 275 of 4946 results

251. Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

Luke 9:51-62

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

They were 5,000 feet in the air in a two-seat Cessna when suddenly the pilot slumped over. It happened not so long ago near Mount Hope, Indiana, to an 81-year-old passenger who was flying to Indianapolis for lunch. When his 52-year-old friend and pilot unexpectedly died, the elder passenger realized he knew nothing about flying and a lot less about landing! In the next twenty minutes you can bet he gave his total attention to the voices on the radio and the instructions given to him. Another pilot nearby ...

252. How Can I Keep From Singing?

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

There is a story of a Vermont farmer who was sitting with his wife one evening on the porch, looking at the beautiful valley laid out before them. Everything about the moment was filled with peace. At last the farmer spoke quietly, as if reluctant to break the spell. “Sarah,” he said, “we’ve had a lot of ups and downs together during these forty years, and when I’ve thought of all you’ve meant to me, sometimes it’s been almost more than I could do to keep from telling you.” Sometimes things just “leak” out ...

253. Guilt: How to Keep Your Conscience Clear

Psalm 32:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

Ogden Nash once wrote this little couplet: There’s only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, And that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all.1 Perhaps the most powerful and poisonous of all human emotions is the emotion of guilt. Guilt can make a person afraid of their own shadow. There is a story told of the time when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the English writer, who created the character Sherlock Holmes, decided to play a practical joke on twelve of his best friends. He sent ...

254. Keep Watching, Keep Warning, Keep Chasing

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

When you turn sixteen, what’s the most important thing in the world? Any 16-year-olds here? Anyone want to take on that question? That’s right. Getting your driver’s license. In most states, if you are under the age of eighteen, you now need to take “Driver’s Ed” before you can qualify for a driver’s license. That means students have already had to learn all the “rules of the road,” those traffic signs and signals that foretell and forewarn about what lies ahead on the highway. Reading the signs — those ...

255. The Question That Will Not Go Away

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

"Do you think I will ever see her again?" The ride had been rather painfully quiet up Northampton Street to the Palmer Shrine Cemetery. About 40 minutes before, some eighty people gathered at the Ashton Funeral Home for a memorial service. She had died too soon, so many shared with me. She had lived a good, full life--even though her health the past three months had erased most of the evidence. One of her dear family members, with tears streaming down her face leaned over and asked softly, "Pastor, do you ...

256. Keeping Alert For Christmas

Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

King Duncan

As Alice sat in worship on the first Sunday in Advent her mind began to wander. She thought of the shopping she needed to do. She thought of all the church programs and neighborhood parties and school activities she would be expected to attend. She had better get those dates on her calendar as soon as possible she thought. And if they really are going to get a goose for Christmas dinner, then now is the time to order it from the butcher. Alice became consumed thinking of all the activities she would be ...

257. Keep Things Flowing

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Richard Patt

There was a beautiful lake that lost its zesty freshness. The water formerly had been clear. It was alluring to animals and people alike. But it became covered with a green scum. The farm animals became ill from drinking the water. Finally someone came by the lake who understood the problem. Debris collecting from the hard spring rains had stopped up the dam and prevented the free flow of water, not into the lake, but out of the lake. The spillway was cleared, and soon the lake was fresh and clean again. ...

258. Go Meditate!

Revelation 19:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

I love commercials. I watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. I watch TV for the commercials. I read magazines for the ads. I love commercials. And the more I love a product, the more invested I get in the product's commercials. Take Prego pasta sauce. I love pasta. And I love Prego pasta sauce. Prego's latest popular tug-at-your-heartstrings TV commercial has already gone through three different incarnations. Prego pasta sauce started out a new commercial series with a sentimental, sepia-colored, sweet ...

259. Going For the Gold

Joshua 1:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

We have just finished two weeks here in Atlanta watching over 10,000 athletes from 197 countries "Go for the Gold." There were plenty of heroes to go around. Who will ever forget Kerri Strug, a little pixie, who courageously vaulted on a severely sprained ankle, to secure the first team gymnastics gold medal in U.S. history. Then there is Carl Lewis who, at 35, won the long jump for the fourth consecutive Olympics, and secured a record time ninth gold medal. Then, of course, the person that Sports ...

260. On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Mark 1:9-15

Sermon

John Smylie

Mark doesn't waste any time getting us involved in the beginning of our Lord's ministry. In these few verses, we experience Jesus baptized by John in the River Jordan, followed by the Holy Spirit descending upon him. Immediately after, a voice from heaven proclaimed pleasure in Jesus. Moments later, Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness where we learn he is to be tempted by Satan. And by verse 14 we discover that Jesus is back in the Galilee region preaching, "The kingdom of God has come near ...

261. Go, Climb A Mountain!

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

The plane from Amsterdam to Africa was crowded. As three passengers stood in the aisle, you could tell they were hikers. Awkwardly, they stuffed heavy backpacks into already overloaded bins. Excitement seemed to emanate from them. Their conversation was animated as they laughed and focused on their climb up the fourth highest mountain in the world. As the plane flew over the Alps, they strained their necks to catch a view of the majestic mountains. Clouds enveloped the tops of their summits. Soon they ...

262. Where To Go When You Grieve

Matthew 14:1-12

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

Death in Mid-life This funeral sermon was preached for a forty-year-old member of my congregation; he died after an illness of six weeks, leaving a wife and two teenage daughters. What do you do and where do you go when a loved one dies? Where do you go when you have a pain in your heart that no physician can cure? Where do you go when you feel like you've swallowed a stone? Where do you go when the heaviness of your grief is like a staggering load? Where do you go when tears run down like rain on your ...

263. Going Home

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sermon

Argile Smith

At the end of a long trip, home always looks appealing! Turning the corner and seeing the house you left days or weeks earlier can sometimes provide the best snapshot of the whole trip. The word home has a pleasant ring to it, and it’s a particularly beautiful word to hear after being away from it for a while. While such an assertion makes sense after a weeklong vacation at a theme park, it makes even more sense after the long journey called life. For Christians, coming to the end of life’s journey doesn’t ...

264. What Are You Going to Do About Death?

Mt 10:28 · Lk 12:4

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

Emerson once wrote words that sound almost like an invitation to death: And now my chains are to be broken; I shall mount above these clouds and opaque airs in which I live ... Life will no more be a noise; this day shall be better than my birthday; for then I became an animal; now I am invited into the (experience) of the real. - The Poet Recently a college student wrote me, "I think it is probable that the death of the body implies the total cessation of being." This fear is not only a problem for ...

265. When Life Doesn't Go According To Plan

Genesis 21:8-21

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

The letter came from a college senior working as a student counselor in a dormitory at a distant university. "Dear Mom," she began. "During my growing up years, few things irritated me as much as your attempts to quiet my righteous indignation by telling me that life is not fair. I swore I would never say that to my children. However, in my work with distressed college students, I find myself telling them the same thing. I still rail at life's inherent injustices, but I have learned I had best accept that ...

266. Here We Go Again

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

Mark Trotter

This last week I got a letter addressed to, "The Pastor of the MethodistChurch," unsigned. It began, "To the church that awaits my coming. I am the Lord." That got my attention. This is from Jesus, I could see. It was handwritten, which I want to point out to all of you who have been trying to get me to get a computer. I just follow Jesus. When he gets one, I'll get one. I read on. "I am not pleased with those who claim to be members of my body. You have turned away from me." The letter continues with an ...

267. Going Home – Part One: Which Me Will It Be?

Luke 4:14-21

Sermon

John B. Jamison

Things began moving so quickly. First was the baptism at the Jordan River and the day after that, the first disciples began following him. They went to Galilee, where more disciples joined and the crowds began to appear, wanting to hear him speak. The next day, he performed his first public miracle at a wedding in Cana. The next day, he was back at the Sea of Galilee, in Capernaum, resting briefly before making the trip to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and take a highly visible stand against the ...

268. When The Boat Keeps Rocking

Psalm 46:1-11

Eulogy

Robert Noblett

Congregation Experiencing Several Deaths In A Brief Period On a fourth of July weekend when I was a fairly young man, a friend of my father's invited a friend of mine and me to go on a boat ride with him on Conesus Lake, one of the so-called Finger Lakes in central New York state. Even as a young man I recognized this person to be one who trafficked with what is dicey, but for some reason we capitulated to pressure and got into the boat. To make short a long story, it was a frightening experience. The man ...

269. Keep it Simple

Mark 10:15

Children's Sermon

Object: A jar of pickles, mustard, catsup, onion, mayonnaise, lettuce, cheese, tomato, relish and anything else you might put on a hamburger. Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about keeping things simple. Being simple is the best way, and usually it is the easiest way. I want to prove something to you and to everyone here so you will have to help me. How many of you like hamburgers? (Let them answer.) Everyone likes a good hamburger. Now I want everyone to tell me what you like on ...

270. Keeping the Glow On

Exodus 34:29-35

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

Frank Peretti created a stir with the publication of two books, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. He claims that his books are a creative fictional treatment about the spiritual warfare that is going on in the world. He believes that Christian people have the authority to exercise spiritual control over the things and forces which detract from the promise of what the Christian faith can be. In an interview about the nature of his books, he remarked how Christians have lost the ability to ...

271. If There Isn’t Enough To Go Around

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

William G. Carter

Nobody could blame the disciples for their concern. It had been a long and exhausting day. People from all over the countryside had followed Jesus with their aches and pains. Rather than retreat or rest, the gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus sat there and saved all of them, one at a time. Meanwhile his twelve followers were overwhelmed by the need. It was getting late, and all they could see was a long line of needy people who would not go away. “Lord,” they said, “there isn’t enough food to go around ...

272. Let It Go!

Mark 8:31-38

Sermon

Elaine M. Ward

Long ago there was an ancient bell that was famous for its beautiful tone. It had been commissioned by the king. The king's advisors had told him that making a huge temple bell would secure the nation from foreign invasion. The specialist who cast the bell had produced several failures until he concluded that the only way to produce a great bell was to sacrifice a young maiden. Soldiers were sent to find and fetch such a young girl. Coming upon a poor mother in a farm village with her small daughter, they ...

273. Going Through The Waters

Exodus 13:17--14:31

Sermon

I suppose when we hear this passage about the parting of the Reed Sea, many of us cannot help but recall that scene in the movie The Ten Commandments. There is Moses, played by Charlton Heston, in a flowing black robe, long hair blowing in the wind, and his arms lifted up with one hand holding the staff that God had given him. The sea suddenly heaves and parts, creating a path with rolling walls of water on either side. Then, Israel marches through on dry land, barely ahead of the pursuing Egyptian army. I ...

274. How Could A Love So Right Go Wrong?

Genesis 24:1-67, Genesis 27:41--28:9

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

My sermon topic for today sounds like a question: “How could a love so right go so wrong?” It sounds like a country song, like this one, “I’m miserable without you, it’s almost like having you here.” Then there is my favorite, “If the juke box took tear drops, I could dance all night long.” That one makes me cry every time. How could a love so right go so wrong? The Old Testament story of Isaac and Rebekah starts out so beautifully, but it has a tragic ending. Isaac was a 40-year-old bachelor who implored ...

275. Keep Your Eyes Open

Luke 2:26

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A curtain or a window blind. Good morning, boys and girls. Today is New Year's Eve and that is a special time of celebration. What are you going to do tonight to celebrate the New Year? (Let them answer.) What are you going to do different next year that you did not do this year? (Let them answer.) Are you going to make any promises to yourself that we call New Year's Resolutions? (Let them answer.) I am going to promise that I will not gain any weight this year and that I hope to lose twenty ...

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