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 4914 results

3226. The God Who Doesn’t Give Up

Hosea 11:1-11

Sermon

"How can I give you up, O Ephraim!" (v. 8) Prayer: Dear Father, we cannot fool you or pretend to be something we’re not; you know us too well. Open our minds and our understanding to know you as best we can, and to grow in appreciation of your great mercy. Amen "I’ve given him a chance three times now. Three times he let me down. I’m not going to be generous any more. I’ve had it. I don’t want to get burned again." This was Douglas, a man usually willing to go the second mile. He was known for his good ...

3227. The Emmaus Stranger

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Dean Lueking

This beautiful text from Luke 24 has inspired poets, musicians, artists, and above all - those who preach and hear the story of the risen Lord appearing to the two disciples as they walked from Jerusalem to the nearby town of Emmaus. The evening hymn, "Abide with Me," is based upon this story. Rembrandt painted the picture of the two disciples with their guest at Emmaus. I have in mind another well-known painting that I have seen in many homes with the memorable scene of Jesus walking along side of the ...

3228. Proper 7

Matthew 10:1-42, Romans 5:12-21, Genesis 28:10-22

Bulletin Aid

First Lesson: Genesis 28:10-17 Theme: God renews his covenant with Jacob Call to Worship Pastor: God expressed confidence in Jacob even though Jacob was unworthy through sin. People: As Jacob was running from his sin, God came to him with the assurance of divine protection. Pastor: God renewed the covenant he had made with Abraham, promising Jacob he would be blessed with God's faithfulness. People: Like Jacob, may we realize God's presence in our lives, and commit our ways to him. Collect O loving God, ...

3229. Proper 18 & Pentecost 16

Ezekiel 33:1-20, Psalm 119:1-176, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 115:1-18, Exodus 19:1-25, Romans 13:1-7, Romans 13:8-14, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 18:15-20

Bulletin Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The eschatological framework of the church year remains in place, but it does little or nothing to reveal any theological clue for worship and preaching or any specific theme for this Sunday. The church year does exert biblical and homiletical influence, however, in continuing to set aside September 21 as St. Matthew's Day. Those who have been preaching on the Gospel of St. Matthew may wish to take advantage of the opportunity to connect the man and his message in a sermon. It might be ...

3230. All Saints' Day

Revelation 7:1-8, Isaiah 26:1-21, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Revelation 21:1-27, Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 24:1-10, Psalm 149:1-9, Psalm 34:1-22

Sermon Aid

THEOLOGICAL CLUE All Saints' Day is one of those days in the church year calendar that many congregations ignore, simply because they don't know what to do with it. It began and developed naturally out of the annual commemoration of the deaths of individual martyrs, beginning with the apostles. Saints' days found their way into the worship of the church before the church year took much shape; many saints' days were in place by A.D. 200, preceding most elements of the church year, except Easter and the ...

3231. Green, The Color of Life

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

H. Michael Nehls

These two sections of Scripture portray for us, in a panoramic way, the story of creation. Genesis teaches that in the beginning there was God who created all things. There was nothing in the beginning until God caused it to happen. He spoke, and creation became a reality. God created everything from nothing. And behold, it was very good! In much the same way, John’s Gospel also teaches us about creation. It begins just as the Genesis creation account: in the beginning. But John says more, proclaiming that ...

3232. The Spiritual Fitness Demands of the New Age

Romans 7:7-25

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

It is possible to be overweight spiritually: groggy, sluggish. Perhaps we need to work out on the weights or to start jogging. The story goes that when a man was asked how he was feeling, he answered: "I just feel medium." "What do you mean by medium?" "Well, I feel worse than I felt yesterday; but not nearly as bad as I’m going to feel tomorrow." Or it’s like an old song I heard last night: "I’m down in the depths on the ninetieth floor." These people need some spiritual calisthenics. Even Paul admitted ...

3233. Life - The Womb of the Eternal

Romans 8:18-27

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

In Romans 8:22 Paul declares: "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now," waiting for "the manifestation of the sons of God." This life with all of its struggle is the womb of the Eternal, wherein receiving the grace of God, and working with him in human relationships, we develop eternal dimensions and are ready to be received into heaven, or we reject grace and miss heaven. Paul, in Romans 12, puts it another way. "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the ...

3234. Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise

Romans 11:33-36

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

What happens when an irresistable force meets an immovable object? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? How far is up? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Impossible questions. Questions that have no answers. Questions about which philosophers philosophize and theologians theologize and simple folk wonder, all to no avail. Questions that boggle the mind and strain the brain and lead to endless argument. Useless questions - maybe. Why maybe? Why should there be any doubt? Why concern ...

3235. The Therapy of Song

1 Samuel 16:14-23, Exodus 15:1-21, Psalm 5:1-12

Sermon

Robert Noblett

Those of us who make our homes in an urban area are certainly familiar with the whole flood of billboards that populate just about every available place - so much so, that we take them for granted. But every so often we come across one that catches our eyes because of its unusualness. Driving through downtown Boston during the rush hour a while back, I was attracted to one in front of an apartment building which did little to reassure me at the moment. It read: "If you lived here, you’d be home by now!" ...

3236. Christianity Can Be Fun

Sermon

Harold Warlick

A man nervously sat in the chair in his doctor’s office. His bouncing feet indicated a certain anxiety concerning his fate. For months the man had been fatigued almost to the point of depression. At last his doctor looked up at him in a sympathetic gesture. The doctor looked him in the eye and rendered the verdict: "Boredom!" "Boredom!" retorted the man. "How do I deal with that? I came here expecting you to get at the roots of my depression and give me some medication." "I could give you antidepressants ...

3237. Derailed Dreams

Genesis 37:12-36, 50:15-21

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

In the pre-dawn hours of Monday, October 9th, Amtrak's Sunset Limited train tumbled off a trestle in a remote section of Arizona. One crewman was killed and dozens of passengers were injured. A note found near the wreck took responsibility for the sabotage in the name of "Sons of Gestapo." Trains are not the only things that get derailed. D r e a m s sometimes get derailed too. Some dreams are sabotaged by enemies. Others are wrecked by one's own mistakes or negligence. For example, if you give your child ...

3238. The Hiding Angel

1 John 2:28--3:10

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

In art class some children were working with plasticine, a clay-like substance that can be used over and over because it does not harden. A little girl had made a very nice model of a creature with wings. She held it up and said to everyone, "Look at the angel." There were exclamations of delight from the class and teacher. Then the girl quickly molded the angel back into a ball and asked everyone, "Now what is this?" Someone said, "It looks like a ball to me." "No," she said, "It's a hiding angel." The ...

3239. The Centurion - Arranging Death, Announcing Life

Mark 15:33-41

Sermon

Carl E. Zahrte

Was I there, did you ask? Yes, I was there all right. I had to be. I was the man in charge of the soldiers who crucified Jesus of Nazareth. It was a day I’ll never forget, the day when the sun refused to shine. You won’t find my name in the Bible, but if you study any of the traditions associated with the death of Jesus, you may learn that I was called Longinus. But my name is not important. What you should know is that I carried out the arrangements for the crucifixion. As I did my job and watched what ...

3240. William Booth and His Hallelujah Army

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

In addition to those faithful millions who have prayed, sung, studied the Bible, and witnessed to their faith, there have been a few exceptional saints in every age who have altered the shape and course of the Christian church in their days and in the days to come. These few, through whom the Spirit of God did mighty acts, walked ten feet tall. They were spiritual giants while they lived. They have followed in the footsteps of such as Moses, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea, Peter, John, and Paul. Their vision for ...

3241. Proper 7

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 2 Samuel 5:6-16, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Mark 4:35-41

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 5:1-12 Theme: The God who establishes Kingdoms Exegetical Note This account of David’s becoming king over Israel as well as Judah, the latter of which he had ruled for more than seven years, is not entirely clear and seems to contradict some details of the version in 1 Chronicles 11. Nevertheless, the theological point is clear (and spelled out in verse 12): it is God who has established this Kingdom, against all odds and certainly counter to the expectations of the Jebusites, the ...

3242. The Miracle of Salvation

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

I suppose that one of the classic poems on sin is the one titled, "This Side of Calvin" and it goes like this: The Reverend Dr. Harcourt, folk agree, Nodding their heads in solid satisfaction, Is just the man for this community. Tall, young, urbane, but capable of action, He pleases where he serves. He marshals out The younger crowd, lacks trace of clerical unction, Cheers the Kiwanis and the Eagle Scout, Is popular at every public function. And in the pulpit eloquently speaks On diverse matters with both ...

3243. OUR LORD SMITTEN

Sermon

E. Jerry Walker

Nearly all the morning hours had been exhausted in the trial which left the centurion with the task of crucifying three condemned men. The sun was pressing toward its meridian, and the desert wind from the east which had prevailed during the night was quiet. A tense, hot stillness hung over Jerusalem, harsh as the dust that fogged the air, raised by the feet of thousands of pilgrims entering and leaving the temple compound. It clung to the skin and caked the nostrils, and the centurion longed for the day ...

3244. Mary Ann Was Born Again

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Richard L. Eslinger

In the early church, three Sundays were reserved for the baptism of new Christians. Except in an emergency, these candidates for initiation into the church were baptized on one of these three days. The Easter vigil was the primary occasion, with its drama of darkness and new light, death, and new life. As our Lord made his Passover from death to new life, so the candidates were baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection. Pentecost Sunday was the second of these baptismal days for the early church. The ...

3245. Total Commitment

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

Richard Patt

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?" (v. 50a) The theme "Total Commitment" arouses deep questions within us. How committed a person am I concerning the ideals I hold dear? How much do I really stand up for the truths I have learned? Am I really convinced about my "religious convictions"? What are my commitments in life anyway? A chicken and a pig were having a conversation one day. They were discussing how each of them provided for their master’s daily breakfast. ...

3246. Life After Life

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

An author writing in Vogue magazine says that he believes America’s loss of values, and her moral and ethical breakdown, arise from the fact that for the first time in history most of the people of America do not believe in life after death. When we lose our faith we lose our focus on a dependable structure of life. If life has no meaning, if it is going nowhere, then we can summarize history and the future, - "So What?" Eat, drink, and be merry - if you can! If life after death is not, I don’t want to ...

3247. Happy New Year?

Isaiah 61:1-11

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

At the beginning of a new year it is customary for us to greet each other with "Happy New Year!" Do we mean "day" rather than "year"? We give the greeting on New Year's Day, but on this seventh day of the new year, are we still saying it? Are we wishing friends to be happy for only a day or for a whole year? How can one be happy for a whole year when the forecast for the new year may predict unhappy times? Can you be happy if in the coming year you may have less to eat, if you must make old clothes do for ...

3248. Jesus and Mary Magdalene

John 20:10-18

Sermon

James W. Moore

Then came Sunday morning, EASTER SUNDAY MORNING! While it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. She saw immediately that the stone had been rolled away from the cave’s entrance and that the grave was empty. Alarmed, Mary ran to find Simon Peter and John. Together, they ran back to the grave site and found it just as Mary had described it. The stone pushed back and the tomb empty. Peter and John turned back toward home, trying to sort out what on earth this could mean, but Mary, so crestfallen, ...

3249. Christ The King

Colossians 1:15-23

Sermon

King Duncan

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I heard about one 4-year-old boy who was asked to return thanks before dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation and waited ” and waited. After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked, "But if I thank God for the broccoli, won't he know that I'm lying?" Most of us weren't lying when we gave thanks this past Thursday. God has blessed us in bountiful ways. Welcome to this celebration of Jesus Christ the King. Listen once again ...

3250. What On Earth Is The Trinity?

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

English mystery writer Dorothy Sayers was also a lay theologian in the Church of England. In one of her books she discussed the difficulty a missionary to the Orient had in trying to explain the Trinity. As you know, one of the symbols for the Holy Spirit is a descending dove. The Oriental gentleman, lost in the maze of theology, said: "Honorable Father I understand. Honorable Son I understand. Honorable bird I don't understand at all!" He is not alone! George Bernard Shaw once said that all professions ...

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