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 2951 to 2975 of 4943 results

2951. For All the Saints

Colossians 1:1-14

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... they face. These are urgent prayers for urgent spiritual needs. For the apostle Paul, praying for the saints in this way was not a one-time exercise. In verse 3, his prayers are plural. In verse 9, they are unceasing. In the same way, we also may continue to pray for those saints we may not know personally — not just one prayer on one Sunday morning, but over and over again, and during the week. Our prayers may also be plural and unceasing. As we pray beyond ourselves, we are also challenged and changed ...

2952. The Word Alone

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... , "the word alone." Our baseline for what we believe must flow from the word alone. One of the many texts used to support this teaching and belief of the centrality of scripture is 2 Timothy 3. Let's look at that text again. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and useful for ...

2953. Rally or Rail?

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... thieves on the cross, you can be in the very presence of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and some will rally to him, and some will rail on him. Which will it be today? Rally or Rail? [You can end your sermon here. Or you can continue to provide some “apps” to your sermon. If the latter, here are some ideas of how you can provide some rubber for the road.] What is keeping you from enthroning Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords? What is keeping you from rallying around him, and instead ...

2954. RSVP

Isaiah 55:1-9

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... has good news for us! An invitation to come to the waters, to eat what is good, and to delight ourselves in something that really fills and satisfies. And, of course, it is all for free, for that is always the offer of grace! The invitation continues. "Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts" (v. 2). Ah, another familiar target audience for the urgent exhortation and gracious invitation of our God. And what does the Lord offer to them? "Let them return to the LORD, that he may ...

2955. Profile Of A Savior

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... 's ear. His tongue has a sweet and gentle purpose, and he maintains the humility to listen and to learn. Then, quite suddenly, the lovely tone of the portrait is interrupted by a discordant note. "The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious," he continues. "I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting" (vv. 5-6). What a strange disconnect. For all of the sweetness and humil ...

2956. Mugwumpers

1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39

Sermon

Stephen P. McCutchan

... in rituals that responded to both the Canaanite gods and the God of Israel. Elijah challenged the people to choose who they truly worshiped. "How long will you go limping between two different opinions?" (v. 21) or as one translation has it, "How long will you continue to sit on the fence?" To use an 1884 political term: How long will you be mugwumpers — that is people who like to keep their mug on one side of the fence and their wump on the other side? Remember that to worship something means to give ...

2957. At Points of Dispair

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a

Sermon

Stephen P. McCutchan

... in the procession with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving as a multitude feasting on the goodness of God, our memory drives us on. God has been faithful to this church for 2,000 years and invites us to listen for God's purpose in our life together, and we continue to move forward. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night God's song is with us, a prayer to the God of our life. Whether we are elated or despairing about any given moment in church life, we are called to stand before God and ...

2958. Sold!

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... in the land of Benjamin, just south of Jerusalem. Jeremiah buys the field in order to keep its possession in the family. Jeremiah's very public action of buying this property, knowing that he will not step foot on it for many years, demonstrates the continual rhythm of loss and restoration that characterizes Jeremiah's prophecies at this point in Judah's history. Where prior to this, Jeremiah's message was almost totally one of gloom and doom, now he speaks of exile, but weaves into this dire prophecy the ...

2959. Live the Lullaby

Luke 1:46-56

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... s people because of this new work God is doing in the world. Although Mary’s song’s declaration of what God has done with his “mighty arm” (literally “right arm”) is declared with past tense verbs, the inference is that these are actions God continues to do for Mary, for all Israel, for the world. God’s “mighty arm” and merciful acts are bringing about a new age of hope and salvation for the world. The proud, the powerful, the privileged will be surprised and unsettled by God’s actions ...

2960. Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Luke 1:39-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2961. When Your Parents Don't Understand

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

King Duncan

... key. And yet, as best he could, this father began sharing his heart. “I love you,” he sang. “I’m so glad you’re my boy. You make me happy. I like the way you laugh.” On they went from one store to the next. Quietly the father continued singing off key and making up words that did not rhyme. The child relaxed and became still, listening to this strange and wonderful song. Finally, they finished shopping and went to the car. As the father opened the door and prepared to buckle his son into the car ...

2962. The Glow of a Star

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... Aleksandr saw a tiny ray of sunlight shine its beam of hope in to his dark cell. This light is what gave him strength to continue on, the light to know that he was still alive and a part of the created order. It was enough for him to know that ... world, but we who are followers of Christ are called to reflect in our lives that we have been in his presence. We do that by continuing to shine the light of his love into our dark world. Henry Van Dyke wrote one of the most famous fictional accounts of the coming ...

2963. A Baby Changes Everything

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... that have been proclaimed now appear to be coming to pass, despite the fact that every Shabbat was an expectation of the coming of the messiah — yet these “chief priests and scribes” are apparently content to report to Herod and then continue on with “life as usual.” Not only are they not curious about their own discovery. As part of “all Jerusalem,” they are “frightened” by the appearance of the magi and their messianic message. These religious leaders and Torah scholars know that ...

2964. Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2965. Extreme Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’s all right if you’re a fine speaker, or teacher or even a fine preacher. However, your fine words are as futile as the act of striking a gong or a cymbal to awaken a pagan idol if you are not committed to a life of love. St. Paul continues, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing . . .” Friends, that’s radical. That’s extreme. Paul is saying that love is even more important ...

2966. In the Service

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... those who “served” and those who were being served, is no longer part of our everyday experience. Nor is the sense that those who were being “served” were also in the service of those who “served.” But the call to be “in the service” continues. Not for serving the newly rich as a status symbol “butler” (a resurrected position inspired by the show that can reportedly command as much as $250,000/year among the “uber rich”) but to be “in service” for all members of the family of ...

2967. Prayer-Conditioning Your Life

Luke 2:29-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... had three years in which to save the world. How did he spend those three years? Writing a manuscript? Building a temple? Starting a new religion? No, he spent those three years investing everything he had in a team. This team he chose would be charged with continuing his ministry and carrying the gospel into and throughout the world. But before he chose his team, what did he do? He spent the night in prayer (Luke 6:12-13). The greatest decision Jesus made for the sake of the gospel was made after he spent ...

2968. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Now Jesus declares that it is “as the Father sent me” that he now sends out his disciples. Jesus’ death and resurrection was unique. But the method of his mission is part of his identity, part of his “sentness.” It is a presence that he continues to send into the world via his disciples. John’s gospel does not record the dramatic public Pentecost moment found in Acts, Luke’s second volume. Again there is much debate and disagreement about the nature of the event John records here in verse 22 ...

2969. A New Kind of Authority

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

King Duncan

... one of his sons was being sought for committing murder. The man talked to his pastor, at first convinced that his son didn’t do it. As the years went on, the son went to trial and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The father continued to support him, always convinced of his innocence. The father didn’t want his son to be alone at the other end of the country so he found a church of his denomination near the prison and the church folks began to minister to the son. When the ...

2970. On God's Side Or In God's Way?

Acts 11:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... , Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. “Right then,” Peter continues, “three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered [a man’s house, named ...

2971. Fire from Heaven

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... first ones gifted with the Spirit had seen for themselves the life, the death, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus the Christ. They had personally been promised this “gift” of the Spirit by Jesus. Upon receiving this gift it now becomes their mission to continue Jesus ministry on earth and to let the rest of the world know about the gift that is for everyone, anywhere, anytime. And to demonstrate to the world the power and presence of God that is available to all people who accept that gift ...

2972. Between a Rock and a Hard Rock Thrower

Galatians 1:11-24

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... deserving of death. He was responsible for causing a tremendous tide of persecution of Christians belonging to the "Way" which resulted in their dispersion from their home city of Jerusalem (Acts 7:60-8:1). He asked for and received assistance in continuing his reign of terror against these new believers who were threatening to harm his beloved Judaism. He even received official approval for extradition of Christians from Damascus back to Jerusalem for imprisonment and probable death (Acts 9:1-2). That is ...

2973. The Narrow Door

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... and me.” But he had to get his weight down. He would walk and run, walk and run. Finally, he was able to run the whole time without walking. Then he began running longer distances, and with the combination of a proper diet and regular exercise, the fat continued to melt away. He kept running for the next eight months, until he finally got down to his fighting weight 229 pounds. The flab was fun to put on, he says, but hard to take off. Some of us know what he’s talking about. However, he contends, he ...

2974. Wake Up Call

Romans 13:8-14

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... what is left behind. The first Sunday of Advent is about waking up from our slumber to pay attention to God’s Word for us as we prepare to receive God’s gift once again. We wait for that glorious day when Jesus shall return. Meanwhile we continue doing those things that Jesus would want us to do, loving and caring for others, confronting evil in our communities and world. “I do not have the time for this,” muttered Kregg Grippo. Kregg owns a small contracting company in upstate New York. A friend of ...

2975. Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... well have been quoting a favorite hymn when he penned these words, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” God has blessed us in and through Jesus Christ. God will continue to bless us as we enter a new year. As we examine Jesus’life and teachings we discover how much God loves each and every one of us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may ...

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