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 1409 results

276. Clean Garments for the High Priest

Zechariah 3:1-10

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

Vision Report: Zechariah and Joshua in the Heavenly Court: 3:1–2 Zechariah’s next vision begins in the midst of a courtroom scene, a trial of Joshua the high priest in the heavenly court. He was standing before the angel of the LORD, and the accuser was standing at his right side to accuse him. “Satan” is not a personal name but a role. He is also a member of the heavenly court. The text does not report the charge that he has made against Joshua, but we can infer it from the rest of the report. The satan ...

277. Signs and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 4:1-5:17, Ezekiel 6:1-14, Ezekiel 7:1-27

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

The material between Ezekiel’s call (chs. 1–3) and his vision of Jerusalem’s destruction (chs. 8–11) falls into two parts. Chapters 4 and 5 present a series of four sign-acts depicting Jerusalem’s siege and fall (4:1–3, 4–8, 9–17; 5:1–17). Chapters 6 and 7 are oracles of judgment directed against the mountains of Israel (ch. 6) and the people, particularly the leaders, of Jerusalem (ch. 7). However, these two sections are neatly interwoven. In the fourth sign-act, the Lord calls down destruction upon ...

278. Many Parts, One Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: In a fashion parallel to the physical body, which God created with a plurality of parts with different functions, God grants a multiplicity of spiritual gifts in order for the Christ community to function as the incarnate body of Christ. Understanding the Text After giving a theological basis for unity in diversity, Paul now turns to a most memorable explication that stands out in a special way in the Corinthian situation. The multiplicity of spiritual gifts is designed to enable Christ’s members ...

279. The First Four Trumpet Judgments

Revelation 8:6--9:21, Revelation 8:1-5

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: God responds to the prayers of his people by pouring out the first four trumpet judgments on an unbelieving world. Understanding the Text We see three sets of judgments in Revelation: seals, trumpets, and bowls. In both the seal and the trumpet judgments, we find a 4 + 2 + 1 pattern with an interlude coming before the last element: Pattern…Judgments…Revelation Text 4…Seals 1-4…6:1-8 2…Seals 5-6…6:9-17 --…Interlude…7:1-17 1…Seal 7…8:1 4…Trumpets 1-4…8:2-12 2…Trumpets 5-6 (Woes 1-2)…8:13—9:21 --… ...

280. “You Laugh at Them, Lord; You Scoff at All Those Nations”

Psalm 59:1-17

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Although the enemies of our personal world—sickness, slander, uncertainty, and so on—may roam as scavengers of the night, in faithful trust we will sing God’s morning song of love. Understanding the Text In terms of traditional categories, this psalm is an individual lament, for the suppliant’s character has been maligned by his enemies, to which he attests his innocence and confesses his faith in the loving God. Judging from the titles of Psalms 56–60, we see literary threads that connect these ...

281. The Womb of Amazing Grace

John 4:5-42

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

In John 3 we have the record of an amazing encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a man described as a leader among the Jews and a member of the sect of the Pharisees. John 4 presents another stunning encounter, one even more startling. It involves a person from "the other side of the religious and political tracks," someone who lived out her life at the other end of the social and religious strata of that time and place. It is hard to imagine any greater contrast than that which is pictured in these two ...

282. A Question We All Ask

Mark 10:17-23

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: a sheet of price stickers (like for pricing things at a garage sale) and a pen Good morning, boys and girls. You and I are going on an imaginary shopping trip today. We're going to buy some very important things. Let's look for some things we want to buy, and then we'll put price tags on them. Let's see . . . I want to buy that candle on the altar. How much do you think it costs? (Let the children name a price, write the price on a price sticker and stick it on the candle) Okay, so the candle costs ...

283. Out of Control (Good Friday sermon)

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

John Jamison

[Note to the preacher: As I write this message, my vision is that it is something more than just another sermon. It is written in four sections, each one presenting a step in the story of the events of that Friday. My personal presentation of this message would be in one of two ways, depending on the experience I am wanting to create. Option 1 would be to use this as the format for the entire Good Friday service, with each section of the story separated with music, liturgy, or any other activity desired. ...

284. Why Am I Afraid?

Romans 8:14-17

Sermon

King Duncan

It’s not long until some of you will be heading out for a summer vacation. I hope you won’t take a vacation from God. Some of you undoubtedly will be camping. You may appreciate the story of a couple who were vacationing in Yosemite National Park. The wife expressed her concern about going camping because of bears and said she would feel more comfortable in a motel. The husband said that he’d like to camp. To calm her concerns he said they’d talk to the park ranger to see what the likelihood was of an ...

285. The Trajectory of God’s Grace

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Robert C. Cochran

When I was in junior high, I “inherited” a winter coat from my Uncle George (who is only three years older than I am). It was a very expensive coat and looked practically new, so I knew George hadn’t worn it. The reason was obvious: it was an extremely thick, long ski jacket that made the wearer look like a pregnant, black polar bear. The fur that covered the whole coat had to be four or five inches long. The really sad thing was that the satin lining had a terrific embroidered snow eagle. I would have ...

286. The Power of the Wilderness

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

It is not by strength that one prevails. (Hannah’s Prayer) Props: hiking boots or tricycle (you’ll need a child volunteer from the congregation for this) and matches (or one large match) to light a candle; oil Some of you have probably seen the movie Wild, based on the recent best-selling book. The story is about a young woman, Cheryl Strayed, who takes a long trek through the mountain trails of Washington State in order to deal with her “inner demons.” She is mourning the loss of her mother. She is trying ...

287. Little Ones

Luke 18:15-17, Matthew 19:13-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Animations: stuffed lamb or if you dare, a real lamb; Youtube: “Do Sheep Only Obey Their Master’s Voice?”; (optional: book of fairytales) How many children do we have in worship today? Raise your hands! Why don’t you come on up! All of you… I wonder if you’d come on up and help me with someone. [Bring in the lamb….if you can have some of the children help to hold his leash.] Do you know who this is? Her name is Nessa. Would you like to pet her? [Allow the children to sit up front anywhere they like.] There ...

288. God's GPS

Genesis 28:10-22

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Prop: Shepherd’s Staff You all know and probably have seen at one time or another the bumper sticker, “God is my co-pilot.” Well, I’m here to tell you, “If God is your co-pilot, someone is in the wrong seat!” Trust me, when we are in relationship with God, God always needs to be driving. Can I get an “amen” to that? The bumper sticker may have gotten it skewed, but the metaphor is a good one. Because when God is driving, when we are together with God at the wheel of our cars, buses, planes, or golf carts – ...

Have convictions. Be friendly. Stick to your beliefs as they stick to theirs. Work as hard as they do.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Vilify! Vilify! Some of it will always stick (originally: Calumniate, calumniate; there will always be something which sticks).

Pierre Beaumarchais

291. Suffering Leads to Victory

1 Peter 3:18-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

The Comanche people moaned aloud to the Great Spirit: “O Great Spirit, our land is dying and we are dying too. Tell us what we have done wrong to make you so angry. End this terrible drought and save your people before we perish altogether. Tell us what we must do so that once more you will send rain and restore our land to life.” For three days the people prayed and danced, they prayed and danced, but no rain came. When the rain did not come, the elders of the tribe went to the hills to listen to the wind ...

292. Are Ye Able?

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

Although Christianity was an illegal religion during much of the first three centuries of the faith, there were both times when authorities turned a blind eye to their existence, and other times when persecution was intensified. During the reign of the Emperor Trajan (98-117AD) persecution intensified. In 108 AD, one of those arrested and condemned to be thrown to the wild beasts for the entertainment of the cheering crowds was Ignatius, the overseer of the church at Antioch. Antioch had been a center of ...

293. For the Glory of Christ

John 12:20-33 · Hebrews 5:5-10

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Maybe you've had a similar experience. There was a mother who asked her two and 1/2 year old daughter: "Would you like an ice cream sundae?" The daughter got real upset and replied, "No...I want ice cream now." (1) Then some time back, in the comic strip The Ryatts, the little boy, Winky is sitting on the couch, Mom comes in and says, "Winky, your socks don't match." Winky looks at his socks and then says, "I tried to find some...but none of the socks in the drawer belong to the same family." (2) Sometimes ...

294. The Green-Eyed Monster

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Who has heard of the “green-eyed monster”? Many predators can have green eyes: wolves, foxes, dogs, cats, among others. Those glow-in-the-dark, green eyes can chill us to the bone if we encounter them in the dark. And they should. They are probably contemplating what you’ll taste like for dinner. Narcissists think along similar lines. Give them your heart, and they’ll snack on you without batting an eyelash. But the phrase “green-eyed monster” actually comes from Shakespeare![1]In his plays, Shakespeare ...

295. Ponder This!

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

Sermon

John Jamison

This is the story we remember. There is Mary and Joseph, the animals, the shepherds, the angels, and the baby all wrapped up and lying in a manger. It is quiet and calm. The star is floating overhead. Even the animals seem to understand that something important has happened. This is the image of Christmas the artists recreate, and the Christmas we show every year with our nativity scenes. As I remember the story now and think of that image of all of them gathered around the little baby, I find one line ...

296. How Much Should We Pack?

Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23)

Sermon

William G. Carter

As much as I like to travel, I am never sure how much to pack. When my wife and I take off for a week long vacation, we do our best to keep a week’s worth of possessions down to one suitcase. That is the goal. There is never a guarantee it will happen. Packing is determined by two contradictory principles: how do we move quickly? How can we be prepared for every contingency? How many pairs of pants can I take, or in my wife’s case, how many pairs of shoes? Should we pack a sweatshirt? Does it rain in New ...

297. Welcoming Jesus

Matthew 10:40-42

Sermon

William G. Carter

Some years ago, my wife and I landed on the mystical island of Iona. Located off the western coast of Scotland, the small island has an abbey that traces its roots back to the sixth century. The abbey has been rebuilt over the last eighty years, and it now serves as a center for conferences and spiritual retreats. We arrived on an August afternoon in time for the evening worship service. Taking our seats in the ancient stone sanctuary, we discovered we were in the midst of a Christian youth conference. ...

298. Mind Your Manners

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

Will Willimon

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:1, 7-14 If you are new here you have been subjected to what is called Freshman Orientation. That's when PISCES, ASDU, DCM, CAPS, and every other campus acronym tries to orient you to life at Duke, tries to put you in your place, so to speak. If you are a Freshman, you have already been subjected to long hours of sitting in auditoriums, listening to speeches, and standing in lines at receptions. I also ...

299. Schadenfreude

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon

Lori Wagner

How many of you grew up watching either the originals or the re-runs of Wile-E-Coyote and the Roadrunner? Throughout the series of cartoons, we laughed, as Wile E Coyote was continually foiled in his attempts to catch the super-fast and super sly roadrunner. Time and again, the coyote’s efforts and plots come back to bite him, so to speak, as he blows himself up, plunges off of cliffs, and gets pounded by boulders. Every trick up his sleeve backfires, and he never does catch the Roadrunner! (Beep, beep). ...

300. Shake It Off

Mark 6:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

June 21, 2024, Taylor Swift arrived at Wembley Stadium in London to perform her astonishingly popular “Eras Tour” concert. That same Friday, before the weekend shows began, the royal family shared a video on Instagram of the royal guard (usually silent and staid) joyfully rocking it to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.” The band formed a semi-circle right in front of Buckingham Palace during the change of the guard. What a wonderful display of Britain’s youthful and fun-loving spirit. Later, social media ...

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