Synonyms: renounce, relinquish, dispense with, forswear, disclaim, disown, disavow, discard, wash one's hands of, give up, stop, cease, drop, forgo, desist from, have done with, abjure, abstain from, discontinue, break off, refrain from, set/lay aside, desert, leave, leave high and dry, turn one's back on, cast aside, break (up) with, vacate, quit, evacuate, withdraw from, surrender, cede, yield, indulge in, give way to, give oneself up to, yield to, lose oneself to/in, uninhibitedness, recklessness, lack of restraint, lack of inhibition, unruliness, wildness, impulsiveness, impetuosity, immoderation, wantonness
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 2726 to 2750 of 5000 results
2726. Thistles Among The Wheat
Genesis 28:10-22, Psalm 139:1-24, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Romans 8:12-25
Sermon Aid
William E. Keeney
The parable of the weeds and wheat is intriguing. It raises a number of issues that are complex and can be confusing. Some resolutions of the issues are suggested while for others you need to look elsewhere for more adequate explanations. Some differences are found within the parable itself and the interpretation given to the disciples. One of the issues is the question about the nature of the church. Does this parable apply to the church as part of the kingdom of God? If so, is the church a divine or a ...
2727. Proper 19
Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 14:1--15:13, Exodus 13:17--14:31, Psalm 114:1-8
Sermon Aid
William E. Keeney
Unlimited Forgiveness The parable uses the analogy of a reverse comparison. On the one hand a huge, almost inconceivable debt is forgiven. The amount of the debt of the first character in the parable is staggering. To the person hearing the parable it would be scarcely possible to imagine a debt so monumental, perhaps as hard as to try to imagine today the size of the national debt in the United States. The second character has a relatively trivial debt. It is more the size one might run up on a credit ...
2728. Two Sons: A Parable
Matthew 21:28-32, Matthew 21:23-27
Sermon Aid
William E. Keeney
In the current vernacular people speak of those who "talk the talk" in contrast to those who "walk the walk." Those who "talk the talk" are persons who recognize a problem and analyze the situation. They may rant and rave about the difficulties and the need for change. They make accusations against those whom they believe to be responsible for the situation. But they do not move to action to do anything about it nor do they assume responsibility themselves for the existence of the problem when they may be ...
Sermon Aid
William E. Keeney
The parable has given us a new meaning for talents. At the time of the parable it was a unit of measure for silver or gold. Now we have talent shows, talent searches, talent contests. The beauty pageants that came under attack from feminists for being sexist with their emphasis on bathing suit competitions have tried to shift to the talent of the women. Scholarships are offered as prizes so that talented competitors may continue to develop their talents. Some people still put the emphasis on the monetary ...
Sermon
Mark Radecke
The pastor finishes reading the Gospel text and the people squirm more than usual. What will he say? What can he say? The passage he has just read proclaims a chain of hard sayings, some of them impossibly harsh, condemning sin and strengthening the commandments. Anger, insulting speech, adultery, lust and swearing oaths are all roundly condemned. But it is the stark prohibition against divorce that has the people wondering what he will say. In the text, Jesus clearly says, "No divorce." The pastor must be ...
2731. Confidence To Spare
Psalm 27:1-6, 13-14
Sermon
Robert G. McCreight
Introduction A year and a half ago as I was greeting people at the rear door of the sanctuary following worship one Sunday, I talked with a visitor to worship that day. Standing behind this visitor was Mabel Yark. Mabel is one of my favorite people; she's a favorite with many people. Now you need to know that I have the kind of relationship with Mabel that I could say this to the visitor that day. I introduced him to Mabel and I invited him to guess Mabel's age. I know Mabel would not be offended. He ...
Sermon
Thomas A. Pilgrim
Some time ago there was a stage play called Construction. It was the story of some people who wanted to build a wall. But there was a young man there who urged them instead to build a bridge. The people turned on him and killed him because of what he wanted them to do. After they killed him one of the characters said, "We can't go on crucifying the truth forever."1 When Jesus went to Jerusalem he found a wall. He had come to build a bridge. But he knew all along that on the other side of the wall his ...
Sermon
Marc Kolden
Pentecost is the third great Christian festival. On Christmas we celebrated the birth of Christ, our Savior. On Easter we celebrated his victorious resurrection from death. And today we remember Christ's giving of the Holy Spirit. Our story from the gospel of John takes place on Easter evening, after the disciples had discovered that the tomb was empty and Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene. Jesus told her to tell the disciples that he was risen, which she did, but they did not understand. So on that ...
2734. The Sure Foundation
Matthew 7:15-23, Matthew 7:24-29
Sermon
Marc Kolden
Today we have heard two short sayings from the very end of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. First Jesus says, "Not everyone who says, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven." Not everyone who says, "I believe"; not all who say they are Christians; not everyone who claims to have done great deeds in Christ's name will be saved. "But only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." And we say, "Oh, my. Does that mean me? Am I one of those who is all talk and no walk?" Then Jesus speaks of those who ...
2735. Details
Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 10:1-42
Sermon
Marc Kolden
It's probably not a good idea to speed-read the Bible. You might get the overall story and you might even improve your comprehension but you would be likely to miss the little details. And in our passage today from Matthew 9-10 the details are at least as important as the story of the events themselves -- and the details may be more interesting. The story has to do with Jesus seeing all the people in need of God's blessings and commissioning the twelve disciples to do something about it. All the disciples ...
Drama
Dallas A. Brauninger
WHAT'S HAPPENING? First Point Of Action As Jesus walks along, he sees a congenitally blind man. Second Point Of Action Jesus' conversation with the disciples: The disciples question him about whose sin, the parents' or the man's, caused the man's blindness. Rejecting the notion that sin causes blindness, Jesus notes God's purpose in the blindness. Jesus uses the light of the world metaphor. Third Point Of Action Jesus heals the blind man: Jesus spits on the ground, makes mud with the saliva, and spreads it ...
Sermon
David Belgum
Theatron is the word we translate as "to be seen." In the theater, on the stage, that is the whole purpose, to be seen. On the stage is where persons legitimately pretend (hypocrisis) to be someone other than what they are in real life. It is perfectly okay for Billy Smith to pretend to be Robin Hood in the school play. It is even announced in the program that Billy will "play the part" of Robin Hood. The play would be a big success if the audience were so lost in the action that they actually thought of ...
Sermon
David Belgum
As death drew near for a seventy-year-old man, a cousin was heard to say to his wife, "Don't worry, Agatha, it seems dark now, but in time you'll see the light at the end of this tunnel." Some use another cliche, "It's always darkest before the dawn." These are not helpful statements. And Agatha, about to become a widow, simply sighs and says to herself, "No one understands." It may have seemed to the sisters, Martha and Mary, that Jesus did not understand the seriousness of Lazarus' illness. Here their ...
Sermon
John R. Bodo
As death drew near for a seventy-year-old man, a cousin was heard to say to his wife, "Don't worry, Agatha, it seems dark now, but in time you'll see the light at the end of this tunnel." Some use another cliche, "It's always darkest before the dawn." These are not helpful statements. And Agatha, about to become a widow, simply sighs and says to herself, "No one understands." It may have seemed to the sisters, Martha and Mary, that Jesus did not understand the seriousness of Lazarus' illness. Here their ...
Sermon
John R. Bodo
1. Hosea While only the first three chapters of the Book of Hosea are clearly autobiographical, his prophecies furnish a great deal of additional information about him. The story of Hosea and Gomer, of course, presents a tantalizing and ultimately insoluble puzzle. Did Hosea seek out a prostitute in order to dramatize his message? Did he marry a "good girl" who deceived him and eventually became a prostitute? Did he ... and so on? The Four R's. Hosea, a man of God, acts very much like God toward the ...
Sermon
Elaine M. Ward
Garrison Keillor has said that if you are shy and from the Midwest and Lutheran, it is always Lent. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lecten meaning "spring." Its liturgical color is purple, signifying both humility and royalty. In the early church Lent was a time to prepare for baptism, which took place on Easter Eve. Lent is the forty day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter (excluding the six Sundays), a symbolic reminder of the forty years of the Exodus of God's people in the desert and the forty ...
Sermon
Elaine M. Ward
When the Israelites heard the first word of the Law in the Ten Commandments, so the old rabbinical story goes, they swooned. Their souls left them. So the word returned to God and cried out, "O Sovereign of the Universe, you live eternally and your Law lives eternally. But you have sent me to the dead. They are all dead!" Thereupon God had mercy and made his word more palatable.1 God told a story. Our sacred story for today said that they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. Long ...
2743. Yearning For A Loyal Friend
Job 6:14-30 · Matthew 26:69-75
Sermon
Wallace H. Kirby
Do you ever find yourself in the Bible? When you read one of the biblical stories, do you ever identify with the character or characters? Do you ever say to yourself after reading an incident, "That describes me and my situation"? Sometimes that identity can boost the ego. Sometimes it may have the opposite effect, bringing to reality some of the things about our lives that we need to correct. Every time I read the Old Testament book of Job, I have pangs of guilt because I can identify with those three ...
2744. Responding In Anger
Job 7:11-21 · Matthew 21:12-13
Sermon
Wallace H. Kirby
A 75-year-old man went to his doctor for a physical examination. The doctor went through all the procedures and found everything to be perfect. "It's amazing," the doctor said to the patient. "You have the body of a man 25 years younger. What's your secret?" The patient replied: "Well, when my wife and I were married fifty years ago, we made an agreement. We decided never to fuss or to argue with one another. Whenever we have a difference of opinion that causes friction and we can see a fight coming on, ...
Bulletin Aid
H. Burnham Kirkland
Call To Worship "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting ... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Let us come expectantly as we worship God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ...
Bulletin Aid
Derl G. Keefer
Hear these words from Scripture as they are found in the Book of Ruth, chapter 1, verses 16-17 (RSV): But Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you." Also hear these words from 1 Corinthians 13 (RSV): Love is patient and kind; love is not ...
2747. Equipped To Play
Ephesians 6:10-20
Sermon
Robert R. Kopp
Just as the United States Golf Association says, "I really, really, really love golf." It's fun, good exercise without a cart, an unconquerable adventure, and cheaper than a shrink. That's why one of us confessed: "My wife said it's her or golf. Boy, am I going to miss my wife." I'm kidding. But there are some things that are really starting to bother me. The prize money on the three big tours is increasingly obscene and already unconscionable. And it's getting really, really, really expensive. The costs ...
2748. Every Shot I Ever Hit
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Sermon
Robert R. Kopp
Do this in remembrance of me. -- 1 Corinthians 11:24b Two old friends were playing a round together. One of them was taking an especially long time to tee off -- checking the wind, checking his grip, measuring the distance, changing his stance, fiddling around with the tee, looking up, looking down, looking all around, and then starting the routine all over again whenever distracted by a car, chirping bird, flowing stream, or his friend's breathing. Finally, his exasperated friend screamed, "What's taking ...
Sermon
David O. Bales
To strangers the plains of Eastern Montana seem barren, especially in late autumn. The horizon appears endlessly flat, and only occasionally above the plain a low row of hills pushes up -- sometimes just a large bump of ground. Homesteaders built a small frame church upon one such rise, and it has stood since 1912, spared prairie fires, but not free from time's toll. For safety the steeple was removed and the roof sags six inches in the middle of the span. But every season and every week, worship is held. ...
Sermon
David O. Bales
Since his dying father placed a hand on his and asked that his ashes be taken to Bloomfield, Iowa, and while there an envelope be delivered to a Doctor Francis Casparis, Roger decided that he had better do it. His father had said, "I have metastatic cancer, and I will be dead within a week." And his father insisted that the envelope go to Iowa with his remains. His father said that Doctor Casparis had saved his life and that the doctor would tell Roger about it, and would help him also. Roger Leeth stood ...
Showing results