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 276 to 300 of 4943 results

276. 2 Samuel 12:1-14

2 Samuel 12:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... stories of David and his unique brand of kingship over Israel. This week for the second time the prophet Nathan appears on the scene. There is some suggestion that Nathan's sudden appearance should be seen as a later insertion into the continuing story of David's scandalous behavior with Bathsheba and its consequences. Nathan's presence serves to reveal the shameful nature of David's sin and explains the punishments that follow. Although only mentioned a few times, Nathan is obviously a highly respected ...

277. Mark 13:1-8

Mark 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... masterful at attaching the credentials of heaven to their earthbound existence. Likewise, Jesus cautions his disciples not to let events in the natural world be falsely labeled as portents of an imminent eschaton. As they have in the past, wars and conflicts will continue to occur. But the simple unfolding of human history is a story controlled and timed by God. In and of themselves, these events are simply part of God's gradual, unfolding plan for creation they are not the looked-for, eschatological, end ...

278. Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42-47

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... apostle's task is to take a community that had witnessed the power of Pentecost and help it understand what that experience demands of the church. The apostles seek to answer the question of where the church must go next. Instead of fueling a continual wildfire experience, the apostles' teaching and their listeners' devotion allows faith to remain ablaze, but controlled, so that others may see it, approach it, and be warmed - possibly even ignited - by it. There is an old adage: The place for the fire is in ...

279. Mark 6:1-13

Mark 6:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... teach with the aim of bringing repentance or conversion away from sin and towards God to those who hear their words. The authority they received from Jesus not only gives power and presence to their preaching, it makes it possible for them to extend and continue Jesus' own ministry. As compassionate examples of God's love these healing activities demonstrate to the people how God's kingdom is already in their midst, even as it is still on its way. This text concludes by offering a sharp contrast between the ...

280. 2 Corinthians 7:3-15

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , not the plumpness of the pocketbook, which determines the “acceptability” of the gift. Paul counsels the Corinthians that it is the “willingness,” or the “desire” to give, that brings favor in God’s eyes. But what also is divinely required, Paul continues, is a kind of “equality” within the Body of Christ. In verses 13-14 Paul argues that the goal of this collection is to help bring a more “fair balance” between those who have deep “abundance” and those in deep “need.” Paul ...

281. The Climb

Joshua 14:6-15

Sermon

James Merritt

... keep. There is no prayer that God cannot answer and there is no problem that God will not solve. No matter how big or how high a mountain may look, you can claim, climb and conquer that mountain if you will remember and count on the promise of God. II. Continue In God's Presence There are times in your mountain climbing experiences you are going to feel like you are all alone. You are going to feel like you are hanging on the ledge with your bare finger tips and you can't make it. It is going to appear ...

282. Jailhouse Rock

Acts 16:16-34

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... The book of Acts chronicles our forays among the nations. And you know, the story isn't over. Let's cheat for a moment and sneak a peek at the end of the Acts of the Apostles. We follow Paul all the way to Rome, where under house arrest he continues the work of the gospel. We read: "He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance" (Acts 28:30-31). And the story ...

283. What a Deal: Investing in Hope

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... all around? Like Jeremiah, we also stand on a promise: a covenant made by God and sealed in the blood of Christ. Despite the "fightings without and fears within" we have Christ's assurance of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit's presence. The enemy will continue to besiege in some form or another. At times, such forces may breach the walls of our best defenses and possibly leave us crushed and wounded. The consequences of unfaithful living will have to be dealt with and our lives made accountable to God. These ...

284. The God Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is To Come

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... .” Muscle memory is how you remember to ride a bike, swing a golf club, cast a fly line. The “muscle memory” of the church is found in the Scriptures. Both the First and Second testaments reveal the God who was — a past record of God’s continued involvement with the world. Deists have proposed the existence of a “watchmaker God” — a divine power who “wound the world up” and now lets it run under its own power until it runs down. Faith in the “God who was” couldn’t be more different ...

285. John 17:20-26

John 17:20-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... relationship will be revealed to all the world. Revealing God, and God’s glory as it is present in the Son, to this world is both the opening and closing theme of the real Lord’s Prayer (see vv.17: 3, 8, 20, 21). In vv.25-26, continuing to reveal God’s love is Jesus’ final promise and prayer. By referring here to God as “Righteous Father” (“pater dikaie”), Jesus’ words remind the reader of the kind of judgment that such a Righteous One could mete out to a world that “does not know” God ...

286. Assurance: The Privilage of All Believers

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... helped Wesley. On Thursday morning, May 25, the day after his conversion, he wrote, “The moment I awaked, ‘Jesus Master’, was in my heart and in my mouth; and I found all my strength lay in keeping my eyes fixed upon him, and my soul waiting on him continually. Then at St. Paul’s in the afternoon, I could taste the good word of God in the anthem which began, ‘My song shall be always of the loving kindness of the Lord: with my mouth will I ever be showing forth thy truth from one generation to ...

287. Exactly How Wide Is It?

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... tells us the door is narrow. Then, just when you think he will give us a way out, it gets worse. He changes his analogy. Not only is the door narrow, it’s only opened for a limited time. This is getting a little unnerving. Listen as he continues: “Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ ” “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ ” Who’s the owner of the house talking to ...

288. A Question of Loyalty

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... was everything Kathleen had heard — "difficult but spectacular." On her way back, she found herself a "little off trail." She wasn't concerned, all she would have to do is retrace her steps and she would be fine. She was sure the trail would loop around. She continued for a while before realizing that she was well off the trail — in other words, lost. She climbed a steep wall, which used to be a waterfall, hoping to once again find the trail. "It's just you and me, Lord," she prayed. "You alone can get ...

289. Will It Last?

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... to the contrary. Often it has been because they have mistaken natural God-given talent for disciplined development. I think of a young man who was his state's "Mr. Football" his senior year of high school. He attended a junior college and continued to dazzle the fans and confuse the opposing players with his natural agility. Unfortunately, he transferred to a Division II football program and soon had been dismissed from both the team and the school. He was either unwilling or unable to read and understand ...

290. In Spite of Evidence to the Contrary

Romans 4:13-25

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... who you say you are. Exercise your power. Be a winner. Show to all, especially to yourself, that you are indeed the beloved Son of God." Again Jesus, "hoping against hope," in spite of evidence to the contrary, refused to succumb to such a lie. He continued to cling to the promise of his baptism and resisted the temptation of the devil. Finally, the devil takes him to a high mountain and shows him the kingdoms of the world. "Jesus, just look at the daily newspaper, the evening news broadcast, and the latest ...

291. Getting Off the Merry-Go-Round

Romans 8:1-11

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... church, and even me been telling you all these years that because of Christ you are special ... not only to all of us but to God? Trust me, Alex. It is true. "You have admitted that you have trouble praying. But you pray. You admit you have doubts. But you continue to read the Bible and search for answers. You say that the devil is attacking you. But Alex, you have called me in the middle of the night. You wouldn't have done that, if you didn't have faith. The devil wouldn't bother with you if God had ...

292. Interceding for Us Now

Hebrews 7:23-28

Sermon

Patrick J. Rooney

... prayers. Rather as we pray in the name of Jesus we recall his unceasing work on our behalf interceding for us before the throne of God. Having been called to serve as the great high priest by God, Jesus now, in this very time and in this very place, continues to make intercession for us so that all who approach God may be saved through the precious work he does for us. Christ, as intercessor, does not lessen the role of Christ as king. For Christ serves as king seated at the right hand of the Father and as ...

293. Jesus Rescues Us

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... garland of flowers. Instead of a faint spirit, God will provide a mantle of praise. God's rescue of the Hebrews will continue upon their arrival in their home country. God will build up the ancient ruins; the cities and the nation, in general, will ... in Babylon. Jesus came centuries later to rescue us from the many ways we are prisoners. He died to set us free. As we continue to walk this Advent journey, as we await the coming of Jesus into our lives, let us emulate his actions and die to self so others ...

294. Whistling Jesus

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ,” we need look only one place to find our family tree. We are living out our faith as branches on the Tree of Life, growing out of the origins of divinely gifted life, the incarnation of Christ, the covenant of faith, and of God’s continued, living relationship with this world. In today’s gospel text Jesus tells his disciples that it is only by “abiding” in him, that is only in following his commandment to “love one another,” that they will fully participate in God’s love — a love so ...

295. Don’t Be Childish, Do Be Child-like

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... life and death. Choosing between life and death is a daily obligation of those who confess Christ, but that “debt” (“opheiletes”) can only be met because of the presence and actions of the living Spirit. For those who live without the Spirit, who continue to live “according to the flesh,” there is only one certain outcome — death. Faith is the first action that must be taken in this life and death struggle — the faith that accepts Christ and invites the Spirit to become an active presence in ...

296. The Problem with ‘Hail Mary’ Moments

James 3:13-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... within thy holy Word. Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, e'er to take, as from a father’s hand, one by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land. _________________________________ COMMENTARY The blare of political rhetoric continues to crescendo as our next wave of would-be leaders toot their own horns ever longer and louder. When the candidates come together in their debates, you can brace yourself for the noise of clashing egos to be worse than the deafening decibels ...

297. From Self-Help to God-Trust

Hebrews 7:11-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the traditional line of priests, and yet was offered a unique and elevated place, a priesthood of perpetuity. It is that lineage that the Hebrews’ author alludes to throughout this section of his epistle. In today’s text the Hebrews’ author continues to elaborate on the fundamental difference between what has been and what now is the new possibility in the relationship between humanity and divinity. Most fundamental is the stark reality of the human mortality of Levitical priests, and the resurrected ...

298. Rejoicing Brings Peace

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... title and who I am. I am Moro Naba’s first son. I am proud of that and will never react to your shameful behavior!” The Kaesena people learned that they could not bring shame upon the Mossi prince because he was at peace and, therefore, could continue to sing. The peace that the prince felt inside was an active virtue manifest in his behavior; peace was not simply the absence of violence and war in his life. To become peacemakers, as the story suggests, we must proactively act and speak. As we light the ...

299. The Hidden Gifts of Christ

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... his native land of Ur to what is now Israel, with the promise that if he was faithful he would become the father of a great nation as numerous as the stars in the sky. Throughout salvation history we know of God’s faithfulness, even with the continual unfaithfulness of his people. The Ephesians, and all of us by extension who have inherited the promise, are God’s children by adoption. Made in the image and likeness of God, we were chosen by the creator for a special role in salvation history. What a ...

300. Rejoicing Brings Peace

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... we can bring peace is by being joyful people. Rejoicing truly can bring peace. Rejoicing must become a way of life, not simply a momentary respite from our general worrisome and dour countenance. We cannot win every game; we don't always hit home runs. But, if we continue to play the game, if we never give up, we can rejoice that God is with us. As we draw closer to our Advent goal, as the signs, smells, and sounds of Christmas draw near, let us as Paul suggests, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will ...

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