Synonyms: replica, copy, representation, mock-up, dummy, imitation, double, duplicate, lookalike, reproduction, prototype, stereotype, archetype, type, version, style, ideal, paragon, perfect example, specimen, perfect specimen, fashion model, supermodel, mannequin, sitter, poser, subject, artist's model, photographic model, design, mark, configuration, variety, kind, sort, original, original design, exclusive, toy, miniature, facsimile, prototypical, prototypal, archetypal, illustrative, perfect, exemplary, classic, flawless, faultless, consummate, impeccable
Antonyms: deficient, imperfect
Showing 2751 to 2775 of 2962 results
2751. The Master's Voice
Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6, Luke 4:14-30
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... . Matthew 13:57-58 puts it like this: “And they took offense at him.” The word for “offense” is “skandalizo” which we translate as “stumbling block” but which literally means the movable trigger or baited part of a trap----the part that is designed to trigger the violent snapping shut of the trap and the imprisonment if not death of those who trip the trap. The Nazareth culture of honor and shame, which was based on pride and prejudice, had tripped the devil’s trap. Jesus’ hometown had ...
2752. The Death of John the Baptist
Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29, Luke 9:1-9
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... Herodias’ plots and ploys, it is Herod himself who ultimately gives the order for John’s beheading. The parallel to Pilate’s bowing to the shouts of the crowd to crucify Jesus is evident. Likewise, not unlike crucifixion, beheading was a form of execution designed to dishonor and belittle the reputation of the one being executed. Finally, even as Jesus’ body was claimed by Joseph of Arimethea, John’s disciples claim his corpse and “lay it in a tomb.” Head and Beheading The head is the part of ...
2753. Trust in Me
Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-7
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... would Christmas be without trust? As we approach the Christmas season, children around the world await the legendary “Santa Claus,” whom they trust to appear with treats and toys. Meanwhile adults secretly smile knowing “Santa” is an innocent concoction designed to thrill and delight our young, innocent (and gullible) offspring. At some point, each child will come of age. When that happens, they become “adults” and know “how the world ‘really’ is.” Is it any wonder then that we “pooh ...
2754. Little Ones
Luke 18:15-17, Matthew 19:13-15
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... in your life is in your children. Or your neighbor’s children. Or your friend’s children…..Or your church’s children! How much of your budget do you spend on your children? Children are our greatest asset. Without children, we have no future. Our society is designed to protect our children. And yet in many of our churches, we are ushering our children out of worship. In some of our churches, we cringe when we hear the cry of a baby. But Jesus tells us, clearly and resolutely: “this is the stuff of ...
2755. The Gardener
John 20:10-18
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... spends all of scripture trying to get humans to make the right choices and be in relationship with God, follow God’s ordinances, lead a “garden” style life. The garden image is everywhere in scripture, in the Temple, in the songs, in arkwork, in the design of the Shabbat candles, which represent the tree of life. The garden image is put in fact onto the “arc of the covenant” in order to remind us that our relationship with God, God’s presence, God’s law, is in the “garden” of our hearts ...
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... cakes or biscuits –locust cookies! John wore the prophet’s garb, as did Elijah (2 Kings 1). The mantle in Hebrew meant to wear the glory, splendor, or anointing authority of God. And just as Elijah passed on his mantle to Elisha, John’s message was designed to pass the baton (or the mantle) to Jesus. John lives a role as messenger. He as priest introduces Jesus as messiah, as king, high priest, and prophet even greater than he. And he inaugurates a plan that God has laid to redeem His creation. John ...
2757. Elohim
John 1:29-34, Genesis 1:1-2:3
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... Turn the quilt right side outward.] Our lives change with that relationship. With that revelation. That’s the meaning of metanoia. All of a sudden, we change our position and perspective, and we don’t see dysfunction and chaos, but we see a beautifully designed pattern of love and hope in our lives –a garden of wonder. [The garden quilt represents that pattern of intricate relationships that is our relationship with God.] We were meant to live a garden life with God. We were meant, as many before us ...
2758. Sparkle
Luke 4:31-37
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... this “curse” of treachery, you would throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder and therefore be protected in soul and spirit. The book also contained remedies for various illnesses, as healing of mind, body, and spirit were connected. The beautiful geometric designs posted upon buildings and barns, such as the one I have here, were said to vex evil spirits, so that the farm and the family’s livelihood –and also their minds and hearts-- would be protected from forces of evil. Ancient Judaism also ...
2759. Dry As Toast
Matthew 12:15-21
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... debilitating this disease of the soul. The less a soul is nurtured, cultivated, watered with the love of God, the more withered it will become. Little by little, the soul withers away, dries up in a sense. That soul has lost its source. For we have been designed to be in relationship with God. Take a look at these plants. [Pick up the potted plants.] This plant has been planted in healthy soil. It’s been watered regularly. Its roots sink deeply into the soil. If this plant were planted by a stream, it ...
2760. The Plank
Matthew 5:38-48; 7:1-6
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... your brother’s eye. While the “plank” and “speck” mentioned could, as some have suggested, be merely a block of wood as opposed to a splinter, I would suggest a more powerful image: that of the threshing board and the chaff. Jesus would have designed and constructed such threshing boards as were used in first century Galilee. As seen, the threshing board was typically made of two large planks of wood raised on one side, with slats in the bottom, into which sharp stones or iron bits were inserted ...
2761. Translucent Grace
Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36, Revelation 1:9-20, Revelation 2:12-17
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... in and through you, to transfigure your life into a beacon of transparent and translucent grace. Amen. *The photo for this sermon comes from “Future Cities” by Matt Burgess **Myjewishlearning.com ***Irenaus in his “Adversus haereses” designated the Nicolaitans engaged in “unrestrained indulgences.” Other church fathers felt that Nicolas and his followers were engaging in a kind of Gnosticism. See Tertullian, Hippolytus, Epipharius. Still others felt the Nicolaitans were encouraging “syncretism ...
2762. The Tragedy of Caiaphas
John 18:1-27 · John 11:45-47 · Matthew 26:36-75
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... would use this Greek word to describe the priests and some of the Pharisees. The word describes Caiaphas to the max. In a sense, Caiaphas wore the mask of the High Priest, but while serving his own interests. High Priest…ever since Aaron, a designation that meant one who serves as an intermediary between YHWH and the Jewish people, one who could receive message on behalf of the people from God, and one who could make atonement to God for the people. Aaron, Eleazar, Zadok,…..Eli…..Ezra…..the priests ...
2763. One Stone Faith
1 Sam. Chapters 16-19
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... boar, or birds of prey; but by lions and bear. A shepherd had to be alert, strong and hardy, quick to act, loyal to the flock. Sheep were raised on the green, lush hills of Bethlehem. In Jesus’ day, those sheep and lambs would be designated as God’s holy flock –those dedicated for the sacred purpose of Temple sacrifice in Jerusalem. Those who tended these holy flocks were professional descendants of David the Shepherd, God’s holy servants. The story of David and Goliath is a story about predator and ...
2764. Babel
Genesis 11:1-9
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... we are different. I-AM-ness is not sameness. The more we embrace our differences, the more we fulfill the Divine Prime for which we were created. Walls are about sameness, about exclusivity, about uniformity, about empty structures, and entombed hearts. This is not who we were designed to be. God in Jesus came to set us free from that bondage, free from ourselves and the bricks we bear that wall us up, free from the chains we carry that drag us down. God tears down our walls and frees us to be people of ...
2765. Deliverance
Isaiah 49:8-26, Isaiah 44:24--45:25, Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 13:17--14:31
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... a bit more challenging, to nearly impossible. Forget the harry Houdini’s and Sherlock Holmes’ of the world. Now every person can be an “escape artist.” But the most interesting thing about escape rooms is that you can’t do them alone. The puzzles are designed to be solved by putting all heads together in a group effort. Each person’s unique skills contribute to the success of the escape. In fact, escape rooms have become the “go to” team-building skill of the current decade. The only way you ...
2766. The Healing Tree
Revelation 22:1-6, Luke 8:1-15
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... a healing medicine for our beings that brings us back into relationship with God, with ourselves, with the world, and with each other. For sin is a heart condition from which we must be healed if we are to be part of that eternal Tree of Life. And God designed us to be part of that Tree. In Revelation, it says that the Spirit and the Bride says “Come!” Then, it says: “Let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’” Because, when we are healed by the Tree of Life, we become part of the Tree of Life, the Tree ...
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... black and white) to a dazzling, rainbow-like fantasy land. Yet Oz’s visual beauty does not always reflect what lies beneath the surface. Only the “heart” contains true beauty. And that beauty can be found not in a special land or designated place, but anywhere one’s heart takes root in another. In our scriptures for today, God through Jeremiah instructs those exiled in Babylon to “prosper” in their cities. Foreign cities. With new neighbors. Pagan neighbors. They are to embrace their new life ...
2768. Holy House
Eph 2:11-22, Rev 3:1-22, Heb 9:1-28, Jn 14:15-31
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... our benefit. As we enter into that space at the table of the Lord, Jesus opens a door, and He invites us in to tabernacle with Him and He with us. All we need to do is make space in our lives and hearts for Him. Can you make space designated for God in your life? Only in this way can you truly be fed. You Feel God’s presence. You Embrace God’s presence. And you Dwell with Him and He with you. In this, you are FED. We as the people of God must look at our “diet” –our ...
2769. Shepherd Dreams
Jeremiah 23:1-8, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 80:1-19, Psalm 23:1-6, John 10:22-42, John 10:1-21
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... chart the Way. They dare to forge new territories in search of new sustenance. They love and they care. They form intimate bonds with those that they are charged to protect and keep. They establish and maintain boundaries when necessary; yet explore and designate spaces for creativity and freedom and mountaintop experiences. At night, they vision and light the Way, staying alert to threats and those who would prey upon the flock. They are trustworthy, and they are faithful. You can count on them to save you ...
2770. The First Songs of Christmas
Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:46-56
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... heart songs.” Songs with heart. The word carol comes from the Old French “carole.” Since about 1300, the word was used for a joyful, euphoric song sung in a kind of circle dance. Carols were folk tunes, not “high church cantatas and operas” designed for liturgical rituals. Carols were songs of the people. In the Reformation, carols became the Christmas theology of the common folk. Carols seemed to protestant preachers a way to bring the joy of Christ’s birth directly to the people in their own ...
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... alpha. He is your omega. And he is everything in between. May your days be blessed, and your ministry and mission be His tabernacle of love. For wherever you go, and wherever you pray, Jesus goes with you. *Many synagogues and some churches are designed in “tent” style after the tent of meeting or tabernacle. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Jesus’ Transfiguration (Luke 9:18-36) Minor Text Let There Be Light (Genesis 1) Moses and the Burning Bush on God’s Mountain (Exodus 2) Witnesses to ...
2772. The Physician
Isaiah 38:1-22, Matthew 8:14-17
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... us to our former state of health, but He saves us and restores us to the way God made us. In Him, we enter into a new and restored kind of condition, in which we are new and improved, re-formed and re-created into the beautiful creature God designed us to be. In Him and through Him, the original image of God in us is restored, and our spirit redeemed. Jesus is the Supreme Artisan of Restoration. Yeshuah is the great Artist of Life and Master of Miracles. In the painting by Rembrandt, Jesus stands looking at ...
2773. By Invitation Only
Luke 14:1-14, Luke 14:15-24, Proverbs 25:1-28
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... , and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.” Drawing upon proverbs, Jesus turns this advice on hospitality into an entire set of parables, designed to address what it means to be a Jesus follower, or rather what kind of heart God appreciates and favors most. For Jesus, the advice to wait to be invited is not just practical wisdom about good “table manners,” but he sees this table phenomenon as ...
Sermon
David & Marian Plant
... all, weren’t the bedtime prayers, “If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take” what we prayed nightly? Death is not the only thing that can leave us perplexed and irritated. The inability to lose weight or stay the course in a disciplined lifestyle designed to help us make a healthy change comes to mind. Or the inability to do some of the fun things we like to do that make the daily tasks more bearable. I once had a member of the trustees who, if he couldn’t get in his requisite number ...
2775. Priceless!
Matthew 13:44-46
Sermon
King Duncan
... will possess a treasure that is priceless. 1. “Veteran collapses upon learning value of his old watch: 'You've gotta be kidding me,'” In The Know, Alex Lasker, AOL.com, Feb 1st, 2020. 2. Mail & Guardian Wendy Northcutt, The Darwin Awards 4: Intelligent Design (New York, NY: Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2006, p. 82). Darwin Award: A Closer Look at Victoria Falls, Confirmed By Darwin, 31 December 2004, Zimbabwe. 3. Michael J. Coren, May 24, 2019. Quartz.com/. https://qz.com/1627772/what-is-lunch-with-warren ...
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