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 3226 to 3250 of 4681 results

3226. Wait and Watch

Luke 21:25-36; Matt. 28:20

Illustration

Mark Trotter

... prayers, she told them she was going to go away, and asked if in their prayers they would like to ask God to protect her on her journey. Jesse, the six year old, thought not. But Luke, the four year old, prayed this prayer: "Dear God, if buffaloes or bears, or other mean animals, come near mommy, can you handle it? If you can't, just call on Jesus." Luke attends a Nazarene preschool. I suspect that is where he got he got that accent. But the words are universally Christian. There is a new covenant now, a ...

3227. Repentance

Luke 3:1-6; 13:1-9

Illustration

Paul Lee Tan

The Romans sometimes compelled a captive to be joined face-to-face with a dead body, and to bear it about until the horrible effluvia destroyed the life of the living victim. Virgil describes this cruel punishment: The living and the dead at his command Were coupled face to face, and hand to hand; Till choked with stench, in loathed embraces tied, The lingering wretches pined away and died. ...

3228. The Power of Purpose

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... -known world – through the deserts and over the mountains, through blinding blizzard and blistering sun, traveling in peril of his own life, shipwrecked, beaten by the Romans, stoned by the Jew. Yet, throwing back his great cloak to show the scars of his beatings there saying, I bear in my body the marks of Jesus Christ. It matters. It matters that it’s a man like Paul who says this, I have fought the good fight. I have kept the faith, I have finished the course. The truth is obvious. There is power in ...

3229. I Am the Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... truths. He told parables, he painted word pictures, he referred to ordinary things in order that he might underscore extraordinary and eternal truths. The disciples would have been able to identify this image of Jesus, the image of the vine and the branches, fruit bearing and pruning, dead branches burned. They would have been able to identify with it because Palestine was the land of vineyards. But more than that, the vine was the symbol of Israel. Over and over again in the Old Testament, in the Psalms ...

3230. Thou Sayest I Am King

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of the word, he was a king. And that claim that he made, in an indirect way, is the claim that we want to focus upon this morning. Thou sayest I’m a king. To this end was I born and for this purpose came I into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everything that Christianity means to us, I believe, centers around how you and I respond to that claim. So let’s look at it. But in looking at it, let’s get an entire sweep of our scripture lesson today, and discover there some significant truths ...

3231. What the Lord Does Best

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , My Name is Asher Leve, an interchange between a Jewish father and his son which really gives us some insight on the question, why we die. The father and the son were walking down the street and a bird laid in the street and the little boy couldn’t bear to look at it, so he asked his father, ‘Papa, is it dead?’ And the father said, ‘Yes, Asher.’ Why did it die? Everything that lives must die. Everything? Yes. You too Papa? And Mama? Yes. And Me? Yes. But why? Because God made his world that way ...

3232. Every Day God Equips

John 14:15-27

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... undercover agent goes into the room wearing a wire and an ear piece that looks like a hearing aid so the police or handler or whoever can tell them what to say? Well, that's sort of what the Holy Spirit does for us. When we're called upon to bear witness, we don't have to rely on ourselves. We don't have to rely on OUR words or OUR power. Instead we're called to rely on the power of God through the Holy Spirit to supply the words, the Holy Words we need. I've been in the ...

3233. They Devoted Themselves

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... world takes notice. And that's vitally important. Why? We want the world to see the likeness and presence of the Son of God, the one who sets us free from sin and offers new life, in our lives. But if our actions, our words and our lives don't bear witness to Christ, then we've missed the boat completely. And our faith doesn't make any difference. III. What About Us? A. That leads to the question: "Has Jesus made a difference in your life?" That's basically what it boils down to isn't it? Faith is about ...

3234. Living In The Spirit Of Peace

Galatians 5:22-25, Colossians 3:14-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... heart! I have overcome the world." B. I heard Charles Stanley say one time that "Grace and peace are twin sisters, grace being the firstborn. Where grace abounds, peace thrives. Where grace is stunted, peace shrivels." (4) Peace comes from "the Holy Spirit bearing witness to our Spirit that we are the children of God," children who are forgiven and loved. Children who are heirs with Christ, brothers and sisters with Jesus, the Son of God, which makes us Sons and Daughters of God, joint heirs with Christ ...

3235. Living in The Spirit of Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:6-12, Galatians 5:22-25

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... replied, "Look, mister, I feel very good about helping you. If I took your money, you'd buy that feeling back from me. And it's not for sale!" (3) That farmer understood that being Generous With Our Love is an important part of being a Christian and bearing Fruit for the Kingdom. II. Generous With Our Forgiveness A. We are called to be Generous With Our Forgiveness as well. Perhaps you heard the story about the woman who was ordered to fill a large bucket with water and was told to carry the bucket from the ...

3236. Living In The Spirit Of Faithfulness

Galatians 5:22-25, Hebrews 10:23-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... through God's Holy Spirit, God whispers God's love for us everyday. The Faithfulness of God is the model for our Faithfulness. II. Faithful In Our Witness A. Because of God's Faithfulness, we are called to be Faithful In Our Witness. Our task as Christians is to bear witness to the love of God through Jesus Christ, who gave His life on the cross for our sakes. Christ gave his life so we could have life, a life free from the guilt of and punishment for our sin. We have been given access to the Abundant Life ...

3237. Living In The Spirit Of Gentleness and Self Control

Galatians 5:22-25, Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSV) [12] As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. [13] Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let ...

3238. Joshua People Always Look Forward With Hope

Joshua 1:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Hope and it also Receives Hope. III. Trust A. Joshua People Always Look Forward With Hope and Hope Always Begins With Trust. That's one the things we've learned over the last 125 years as a congregation. That's one of the things we've learned and seen bear fruit over the last 10 years and especially in the last year. How do we live with Hope in tough times? How do we look forward with Hope when the world is in turmoil? How do we maintain Hope when there is so much despair? Sadness? Hopelessness? We do ...

3239. A Stone’s Throw From: Temptation

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, [10] for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' [11] and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" [12] Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" [13] When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. [14] Then ...

3240. A Stone’s Throw From: The Harvest

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. [23] But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." We know there are three elements to this parable the Sower, the Seed and the Soil. Usually we focus on the Sower and the Soil, and expanding what Jesus said about the types of ...

3241. A Stone’s Throw From: Heaven

Matthew 16:13-25

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... ? "No." I think one reason Peter had so much trouble is he tried to compartmentalize everything, just like most of us do. What Jesus told him didn't fit into any of those compartments. Peter was treating life like Cheesecake when a life of faith is really like Pie. Bear with me and let me explain. I know you've all seen those Combo Cheesecakes with 4 to 8 different flavors. You do know that they are not baked that way don't you? Each flavor or style of Cheesecake is baked separately, sliced and then like a ...

3242. Same Table, Different Chairs

John 15:11-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. [16] You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. [17] I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. I. Friends The phrase that has always stuck out for me is "I no longer call you ...

3243. First Class Freedom

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... back to help set others free and bring them home. (4) We, too, have one who came back. Jesus. He wants to bring us home. He IS the Medivac, He is the great physician; He is the one who gave His life for us so we don't have to bear the weight of our burdens, so we don't have to be ensnared, bound, imprisoned, slaves to, whatever it is that is holding us. So we can be Free and live a life of Mutual Responsibility. And today we meet Him at this table, a table open to all people ...

3244. Walking First Class

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

McFaith. You know people like that don't you? They want Gospel Lite as if it were something consumable and not something to consume their souls. They don't want to bear the cross as Jesus said, but they'll gladly wear it as jewelry. They don't seem to get it. They have no idea what their destination or purpose in life is all about. They remind me of a story told about the late Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. ...

3245. Spiderman: Saved To Serve

Colossians 3:1-4, 12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. [12] As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. [13] Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let ...

3246. LOST? Looking For Love

John 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 1 John 4:7-19

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... 13:4-8 (NRSV) [4] Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. [7] It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never ends. 1 John 4:7-19 (NRSV) [7] Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does ...

3247. LOST? Looking For Peace

Matthew 18:21-22, Colossians 3:8-15, Hebrews 11:1

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! [12] As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. [13] Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15 ...

3248. Lost? Looking For Happiness

1 Peter 2:9-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... why there are so many laws in the Old Testament. God said: Love God and Love Your Neighbor but we got curious and said, well what's that mean? So God expanded the two to 10. And then we got even more confused. Well, what do you mean by bearing false witness and lying? What about little white lies to protect someone's feelings. Is borrowing half a dozen paper clips and a half a ream of paper from the office really stealing? We make it more complicated than it is and become confused. Confusion seems to reign ...

3249. Monday: The Way Of The Cross: Figs & Fig Trees

Matthew 21:18-22

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... receive." I think this is kind of a bizarre little passage. One of the greatest lessons about prayer is associated with one of the weirdest acts of Jesus' whole ministry. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, has a snack attack, stops at a fig tree. The tree doesn't bear any fruit and so Jesus curses it, it shrivels and it dies. Right then. The disciples are blown away. And then Jesus begins to teach about prayer. Those to don't seem to go together, do they? So, what are we to make out of this event that took ...

3250. Wednesday: The Way Of The Cross: Oooh, That Smell

John 12:1-11

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... we're called to live a poured out LIFE. II. A Poured Out Life A. So, what do I mean by a poured out life? Well, first, you and I are called not just to believe and have faith, we're called to make a difference. We're called to bear witness and be ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. Because we've given our lives to Christ, we no longer live for ourselves, we live for Christ. As a result, we're called to leave a pleasing aroma wherever we go. Have you ever heard of a woman by the ...

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