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 2801 to 2825 of 4972 results

2801. Lion of Judah

Gen 49:1-28, Judges 13-15, Matt 4:12-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... field! And Jesus is our Lion of Judah! When we take on the identity of Jesus and allow Him to live His resurrection life within us, we own our identity as a child of God, engraved with a lion’s share of courage, strength, and ability. When Jesus was leaving his disciples in the flesh, He assured them, that all authority and power was given to Him, and that we as His disciples could do even better and greater things, as long as we abide in Him, and He in us. Paul reminds us again and again how important ...

2802. Seeing with Eyes Closed

Exodus 34:1-28, Exodus 34:29-35, John 1:1-18, Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... completely and fully change and de-center our comfortable, predictable lives. Yes, that Godstrike of Truth can cause us at first to enter into a time of chaos, insecurity, fear, and confusion, before the way we need to go becomes clear. Yes, that Godstrike of Mission can leave us for a while in a place of not imagining the way forward, of having to depend on the guidance of the Holy Spirit for our new direction, and for a while dwelling in an area “in between.” Yes, that Godstrike of Light and Power can ...

2803. Job and the Mind Storm

Job 42:7-17, Job 42:1-6, Job 38:1--41:34

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... less likely we are to recognize God as the one who grants us our gifts and our blessings. We are too consumed with how to achieve them ourselves! Thinking, projecting, strategizing, reasoning, living by rules and regulations may feel more secure, but that kind of belief system leaves no room for God and God’s grace in it! It’s all about us. Those who have faith must lay thinking aside and rely on the heart. We must trust in a God bigger and stronger and wiser than ourselves to gift us with the abundance ...

2804. The Lame Truth

John 5:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... you caused it. You are the cause of putting something in motion. But on the other hand, what would be the harm in jumping into something that was already stirred up. This is how kids think, right? And we can learn something from this. For example, remember all of those leaves that the neighbor would neatly rake together and pile up at the corner of the yard? You’d look at it. You wanted to jump in it. You didn’t dare mess it up, did you? But then, you saw someone else do it. They took that first leap ...

2805. God Has Not Forgotten You

Jeremiah 29:1-23

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... I’m waiting for my ship to come in,” replied the man. “I don’t see any ships round here,” exclaimed the man. “Why don’t you come back to town with us. What comes will come.” “I really couldn’t do that,” said the elderly man. “If I leave this spot, that may just be the time my ship comes in.” The man looked worried, “Don’t you think you could come join us for dinner?” “No, I really cannot,” insisted the elderly man. I don’t want to miss my ship. One day, I know it’s ...

2806. The Olfactory Sense of Prayer

Exodus 30:34-38, Exodus 30:22-33, John 12:1-11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... for those called by God into special roles, whether prophet, king, priest or sacrifice. Jesus represents all of these, wrapped up into one. For Jesus, the scent of his anointing carried him from the time of his anointing through to the time of his crucifixion, leaving the scent of blessing and prayer, hope and presence upon him to remember in his time of greatest emotional pain and grief.^^ We too need reminders of God’s presence in our lives that last beyond the time we spend in weekly worship. We too ...

2807. The Tempest

Jonah 4:1-11, Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 2:1-10, Jonah 1:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the belly of a whale to reflect upon and wrestle with his inner feelings? Or as in Where the Wild Things Are, does he fall overboard and experience a period of unconsciousness before waking on the shore in a “different place?” Like every story, it leaves us with an air of mystery. But in either case, Jonah experiences a time of inner meditation and soul searching, as he wrestles with his feelings of anger and his feelings about justice for the Ninevites. Jonah is angry with God. He wants to escape both ...

2808. Look At Your Fixations!

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

Carl Jech

... taken over people's lives. There is the old man who wanders the halls and lounges day after day asking everyone in sight if they have a match or a cigarette. His mind seems unable to focus on virtually anything else. There is the woman who had to leave her native land in mid-life who now constantly asks everyone over and over again where they came from, what their nationality is. There are likely to be many poignant souls who constantly plead or demand "I want to go home!" (They have never been able to face ...

2809. The Scariest Job Interview

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. “Okay, folks, change of plans. We are not going to restore Israel’s kingdom at this time. Instead, we’re going to start building the kingdom of God. But I’m leaving. I’m going back to my Father. And I’m leaving this job to you. But don’t worry, I’m sending you the Holy Spirit to give you the power to follow through.” Last week, we talked about how Jesus’ final command to us gave our lives purpose. His final command to us ...

2810. Goin' Down the Road

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

David & Marian Plant

... .” I didn’t sleep for three weeks, certain that death would be upon me soon. After 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 ...

2811. A Dirt Story

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... world is greater than we can possibly see. There is an inspiring book titled Second Calling by Dale Bourke. Bourke writes that, years ago, she attended a publishing conference. A friend named Bruce offered her a ride to the airport. As they were about to leave, the doorman from the hotel stopped them and said that the hotel bus had broken down. Would they mind taking another passenger to the airport? They agreed, and the man who would be riding with them gratefully jumped into the back seat. Bruce asked the ...

In our society leaving baby with Daddy is just one step above leaving the kids to be raised by wolves or apes.

Al Roker

Every animal leaves traces of what it was; man alone leaves traces of what he created.

Jacob Bronowski

However painful the process of leaving home, for parents and for children, the really frightening thing for both would be the prospect of the child never leaving home.

Robert Neelly Bellah

If you would stand well with a great mind, leave him with a favorable impression of yourself; if with a little mind, leave him a favorable impression of himself.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

2816. Dealing with T-A-R-E-ists

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

... that we simply cannot be certain who is “in” or who is “out,” and thank God it is not up to us to decide! We can leave the weeding to the angels on the last day, and get on with the mission Jesus has given us — proclaiming the good news of the kingdom ... . The power of the resurrection proves the truth of the parable of the wheat and weeds. Therefore we can recommit ourselves to leaving the weeds to God while, with all our hearts and souls, we patiently work at nurturing the growth of the wheat God ...

2817. The Complex Human

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... . Some are good to eat. Some are poisonous. Can you tell the difference? [For this section I encourage you to use visuals]. All of you for example know what a dandelion looks like. It’s got jagged leaves and a yellow flower. Some of you from this area of Pennsylvania probably know that you can eat dandelion leaves in a salad. They are extremely nutritious and just slightly bitter to eat. But look at this plant. Looks like a dandelion, appears to be a dandelion. But if you eat it, I promise you, you won ...

2818. The Suffering Servant

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... defying death itself. Jesus knows that it is not the custom that defines mourning, but the way one uses grief to honor the dead. We see this already in Matthew 8:22 when one of his disciples feels compelled to sit shiva for his father. Jesus instructs him to “leave the dead bury the dead,” and instead to remain on their mission to fulfill God’s plan and save the world of the living. Now in our scripture for today, in Matthew 14, we see Jesus racked with grief over John’s death. As most likely one of ...

2819. Wavering Notes by an Uncertain Trumpet

2 Peter 3:1-18

Sermon

Ron Love

... Instead of a strong, steady signal on foreign policy coming from the nation’s capital, regrettably the world has heard a series of wavering notes by an uncertain trumpet, leaving our allies concerned, and our adversaries confused.” Wavering notes by an uncertain trumpet instead of a strong and steady signal. This can only leave people concerned, as well as confused. Wavering notes by an uncertain trumpet is the issue that Peter addresses in our lectionary reading this morning. Peter wrote this letter ...

2820. Oh, That You Would Come Down?

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon

King Duncan

... unusual records. The 1999 edition contains one entry titled “The longest time living in a tree.” It seems a man in Indonesia named Bungkas went up a tree in 1970 and has been there ever since. He lives in a crude tree house he made from the branches and leaves of the trees. No one knows exactly why he took up residence in a tree, but 29 years later he was still there. Neighbors, friends and family have repeatedly tried to get him to come down, but he won’t. (1) I can hear them urging him now. “Come ...

2821. Giving Comfort

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem . . .” The Lord has not forgotten His people. Indeed, God Himself will soon be coming to them. This is one of the many messianic prophecies of Isaiah. Isaiah is telling the people that God will not leave them desolate—just as He will not leave us desolate. As he says in chapter 7, verse 40, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel” which means “God is with us.” God with ...

2822. To Whom Do You Belong?

Mark 1:4-11

Sermon

Michael L. Sherer

... time and did not come to pick up the youngster. And so the boy sat on the front steps of the school building and waited. Three o’clock gave way to three-thirty and then to four. Finally, at four-thirty, the last staff person to leave the school building came out onto the front steps, where she encountered the little boy. Sitting down next to him, she asked solicitously, “Do you go to school here?” Came the transparent answer, “Yes. I go here every day.” The school employee said, “Whose little ...

2823. Enduring the Trials of Faith

Romans 4:13-25

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... . We recall the basic story as articulated in the book of Genesis. Abram (the original name of Abraham) was a wandering Aramean from the land of Ur. God came to him with an unbelievable story — that he would be the father of a great nation. He was told to leave his ancestral heritage and go to a new land that would become the home of this great nation. Paul reminds us that Abram was an old man who was childless and his wife, Sarah, was barren and beyond the age to give birth, yet somehow he continued to ...

2824. How Faithful Are We?

1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... once famously uttered at his trial for corrupting youth, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Saint Paul’s description of the institution of the sacrament of Communion, where Jesus brought to an apex his consistent action of fidelity to humanity by leaving his presence among us, must prompt us to examine our lives and ask how faithful have we been? Fidelity must be found in our relationships, in marriage, family, and friendships. When we fail to be faithful and responsible to others we are ...

2825. Gratitude

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

Will Willimon

... Christmas morning, or a family reunion, or a vacation at the beach. There he was. But Paul says to us, "always and for everything give thanks." Isn’t this a bit much to ask? I don't mind having Gratitude there for Thanksgiving dinner, or on the day we leave for the family vacation, that is, when it's the time and the place. But always? Everywhere? In every situation? Every life knows dark days when Gratitude is the last person you want to drop by. It has nothing to do with not liking him. It’s just that ...

Showing results

Showing 2801 to 2825 of 4972 results

2801. Lion of Judah

Gen 49:1-28, Judges 13-15, Matt 4:12-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2802. Seeing with Eyes Closed

Exodus 34:1-28, Exodus 34:29-35, John 1:1-18, Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2803. Job and the Mind Storm

Job 42:7-17, Job 42:1-6, Job 38:1--41:34

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2804. The Lame Truth

John 5:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2805. God Has Not Forgotten You

Jeremiah 29:1-23

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2806. The Olfactory Sense of Prayer

Exodus 30:34-38, Exodus 30:22-33, John 12:1-11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2807. The Tempest

Jonah 4:1-11, Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 2:1-10, Jonah 1:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2808. Look At Your Fixations!

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

Carl Jech

2809. The Scariest Job Interview

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

2810. Goin' Down the Road

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

David & Marian Plant

2811. A Dirt Story

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

King Duncan

In our society leaving baby with Daddy is just one step above leaving the kids to be raised by wolves or apes.

Al Roker

Every animal leaves traces of what it was; man alone leaves traces of what he created.

Jacob Bronowski

However painful the process of leaving home, for parents and for children, the really frightening thing for both would be the prospect of the child never leaving home.

Robert Neelly Bellah

If you would stand well with a great mind, leave him with a favorable impression of yourself; if with a little mind, leave him a favorable impression of himself.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

2816. Dealing with T-A-R-E-ists

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

2817. The Complex Human

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

Lori Wagner

2818. The Suffering Servant

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon