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 3376 to 3400 of 4957 results

3376. The Ministry Of Making Many Rich

1 Timothy 6:11-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . “The second question, though, is a tougher one, for God is then going to ask, “Who did you do it for?” You see, how we use our money tells so much about who we are — but the more important thing is that it tells whose we are. Our response to “Claiming the Promise” will be a part of that story — the story of whose we are, told by how we use our money. What sort of witness are you going to share? The world is seeing too few stories of persons who with all they are, with all they have are ...

3377. At Home In The Daylight

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... thought and deed a reflection of the light of Christ. Bill Schwein, a Methodist minister, tells of a young woman who was a music major at the University of Indiana and an accomplished violinist. "She had grown up in a Jewish family but had not claimed her heritage of faith. One day she presented herself for membership in the Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana, and then she shared with Pastor Schwein her journey of faith that led her to that decision. She had recorded her experiences in a journal and ...

3378. If Only -- In Spite Of

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... into the divine secret -- that it is only when we are weak that we are strong. Do you see it? There are basically two ways to live -- we can adopt that gift only response to life which is a response of self-pity; or, we can live in spite of, claiming the power of Christ to take responsibility for our thorn in the flesh, take responsibility and live with our thorn in the flesh, whatever it is, by the power of Christ. And we can turn that living in spite of into suffering for Christ's sake, and out of all ...

3379. Don't Mess With Mr. In-between

James 1:1-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... this half and half life, this double-mindedness? One, we must learn to say no. Now don't think that's so simple that you will not pay it any attention. Let me underscore it. We must learn to say no. Russell Baker wrote a column about it. He claimed that it's the hardest word in our English language -- to say "No." "One of the worst mistakes I ever made," (Baker wrote) was throwing away a brochure from an agent -- I think he was based in Wisconsin -- who was trying to establish himself in a unique business ...

3380. The Word And Words

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of sight to the blind, and the proclamation of the Jubilee -- the acceptable year -- the Jubilee of God's favor. When Jesus had finished reading from the prophet Isaiah, He closed the book and said, "Today the words are fulfilled in your presence." That was the bold claim that in Jesus the Word had become flesh; the words were personified, had come alive in the Word. John put it this way in the Prologue to his Gospel: "The Word became flesh among us, full of grace and truth." So we have the Word -- the Word ...

3381. A Long Obedience In The Same Direction

Luke 22:39-46

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . It is not difficult in such a world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There ...

3382. When Jesus Comes

Luke 8:22-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... no doubt for much needed rest and quiet that Jesus decided to cross the lake. As they sailed, He fell asleep. It is a lovely thing to think of the sleeping Jesus. He was tired, just as we become tired. He, too, could reach the point of exhaustion when the claim of sleep is imperative. He trusted His men; they were the fishermen of the lake and He was content to leave things to their skill and seamanship, and to relax. He trusted God; He knew that He was as near to God by sea as ever He was by land ...

3383. I've Been To The Mountain

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Communion with God always transfigures. Nicholas Bergaev, philosopher-theologian, says that "It is when a man is aware of his personal relationship with God that transformation really begins." And then he makes this amazing claim. "The meaning of the coming of Christ into the world lies in a real transformation of human nature...in Christianity, the central idea is that of transfiguration, not justification." (Freedom and the Spirit, p. 176). I'm not sure that ...

3384. As Real As It Gets

Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... every word I used to turn young Woolworth down cost me a million dollars.' Jesus wants his followers to consider what they are in for, but he does not want them to waste their lives over the matter without ever making up their minds. The all-consuming claim of Jesus is too important! Matters of the Kingdom of God just will not wait. Obedience is necessary when Jesus calls. There are people in this congregation this morning who have been backing away from obedience. The call of the Lord is clear to you--at ...

3385. I Saw Satan Fall

Luke 10:1-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... should do with them. “If the missionaries had enough money to support themselves, then letting them hire a room in a hotel would be a simple commercial transaction carrying no spiritual implication. But if the people were faced with penniless, destitute men, claiming to be Messiah’s own ambassadors, they would be forced to decide whether they would receive and entertain them as such, or reject them.” (David Gooding, According to Luke, p. 197) Earl Davis, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Memphis ...

3386. When You Pray

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... flowers on what she thought was the grave of her husband. The cemetery, however, had made a mistake - - a big mistake. They’d placed her husband’s headstone on the wrong grave and the man was actually buried on an adjacent plot. The suit claimed that the woman suffered severe emotional trauma and distress and that all her prayers had been wasted. Well, some folks have strange notions about prayer, and certainly that woman’s was a distorted theology. But I can understand her trauma. And the picture of ...

3387. Don't Worry Be Happy!

Luke 12:22-34

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... God. FINAL GREETING: I don't suggest that during this week you surprise all your family and friends and companions at work by constantly singing "Don't worry Be happy." I do suggest that you surprise them with the amazing calm and poise that can be yours if you keep claiming the promise of Jesus: "How much more will God take care of you...oh you of little faith."

3388. Turn in an Account of Your Stewardship

Luke 16:1-15

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... all went to England. There were the lectures, and a week at summer camp, and ordinations, and installations and counseling, and all the while, remaining a wife and mother.” And then Dean Keck spoke. “She bonded with the one on whom death no longer holds a claim. And in her sometimes lonely battle for life, she knew that salvation is nothing if it does not deliver us from death.” And then he said this, “This is the victory of the victim which we celebrate.” The victory of the victim. (Mark Trotter ...

3389. A Pattern For Giving And Living

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... an incurable disease. The pattern of the disease is erratic, uncontrollable. She may have ten years or thirty, and to what degree and when the diseases will limit and cripple is not known. "We've had to re-prioritize everything. We are living differently now, and claiming every day as good. The Lord gives us strength and our friends in the church are so supportive." I see it all the time: persons in the midst of their suffering, coming alive in their faith. I know from personal experience, as many of you do ...

3390. The Easter Question: Why Are You Weeping? Whom Do You Seek?

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... in a liturgy CHRIST IS ALIVE IN THE WORLD Hallelujah! CHRIST IS ALIVE IN ME! Hallelujah! THROUGH MY TEARS I WILL SEE HIS FACE Hallelujah! IN MY CONFUSION I WILL SEEK HIS GUIDANCE Hallelujah! IN MY SIN I WILL REPENT AND RECEIVE HIS FORGIVENESS Hallelujah! IN MY DEATH I WILL CLAIM ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM Hallelujah!

3391. To Live Is To Grow

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... for broke." That cannot be true of us if we are going to grow. We must have the courage to fail. I've said that to live is to grow and I've named three conditions for growth. One, a change of focus.Two, self-affirmation which admits limitations and claims strength;Three, exposure and openness;Four, courage to fail.

3392. Rejected at Home

Mark 6:1-6

Sermon

King Duncan

... him different from other folks, and develop that for all he's worth. Society and schools may try to iron it out of him; their tendency is to put us all in the same mold, but I say, 'Don't let that spark be lost; it's your only real claim to importance.'" That's a good word for us all. We may not be getting the positive strokes at home that we feel we deserve, but that need not keep us from being all we can be. There's a man hanging on a cross who was rejected by his ...

3393. The Dividing Line

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... more Jews were in danger. After his conversation with the rabbi, Mendes retreated to his bedroom, where he lay in bed for three days and nights. During this time, he refused to eat or to talk with his family. When he emerged from his bedroom, Mendes claimed that he had heard God telling him what to do. He began writing exit visas by the hundreds, then by the thousands, offering them to the refugees who crowded his residence day and night. By month's end, Aristides de Sousa Mendes had written some ten ...

3394. Making Your Days Count

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... he never finished high school. In his book, Well Done: the Common Guy's Guide to Everyday Success, Dave said he got his MBA long before his G.E.D. He says he has a photograph of himself in his MBA graduation outfit--a snazzy knee-length work apron. He claims to be the only founder among America's big companies whose picture in the corporate annual report shows him wielding a mop and a plastic bucket. That wasn't a gag. He calls it leading by example. At Wendy's, he says, MBA doesn't mean Master of Business ...

3395. Choices

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

King Duncan

... . She has had several #1 songs. Many people regard her as today’s queen of soul. Mary J. Blige has changed her image significantly over the course of her career, and she credits much of that change to her newfound faith in Jesus Christ. Blige claims that her early years in show business were marred by heavy alcohol and drug abuse. She projected an image of toughness, but inside she was hurting. One day, Blige read an interview with superstar Beyoncé, in which Beyoncé spoke of her love for her mother ...

3396. Fit for God

Psalm 24:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... T-shirt slogans. Two shirts with similar messages tickled the funny bones of their editorial staff. One shirt had a big, bold message on it: "I FINISHED THE TOUR DE FRANCE." The other shirt read: "I’VE HIKED THE ENTIRE APPALACHIAN TRAIL." Those are impressive claims. Most of us would boast about either one of those achievements. But a closer look at each shirt reveals that the truth is in the fine print. In fine print in between the larger words lies the real message: "I FINISHED reading THE TOUR DE ...

3397. Learning to Give Thanks

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... blessings. This is the key to happiness. 1. Bob Fenster, Well, Duh! Our Stupid World and Welcome to It (Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2004), p. 85. 2. Karl Shaw, Oddballs and Eccentrics (Castle Books), p. 437. 3. Maxie Dunnam, Jesus’ Claims Our Promises (Nashville, Tennessee: The Upper Room, 1985), pp. 61-62. 4. Patti Greenberg Wollman & Merril Feinstein-Feit, I’m Afraid of the Vampire State Building (NY: Golden Books, 1997). 5. Dr. Daniel Lioy, Tarbell’s Lesson Commentary, Sept. 2004- Aug ...

3398. Preparing for Christmas

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... of pure hearts, of undiminished hope and goodwill for all humanity. 1. John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002). 2. Michael E. Hodgin, Humorous Illustrations For Public Speaking (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004). 3. Maxie Dunnam, Jesus’ Claims Our Promises (Nashville, Tennessee: The Upper Room, 1985, pp. 54-55). 4. Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, St. Paul’s UCC, http://www.bright.net/~coth/whenlove.htm. 5. Rodney J. Buchanan, Mulberry St. UMC ...

3399. God's Sneak Attack

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... bigger story of Christ's birth. At that time, Rome was the most important city in the world, and Bethlehem was just a two-bit town in a conquered country. Now, Bethlehem is one of the most famous, most visited places on earth. And Rome's greatest claim to fame today and through much of Western history is, arguably, the role it plays in Christ's church. I call Christmas "God's sneak attack" because he didn't come into the world marching through the front door. He didn't come with power or prominence, with ...

3400. Epiphany: A Faith to Work Miracles

John 2:1-11

Sermon

J. Ellsworth Kalas

... we don't have the faith to dare. Larry Sachau says that most Christians have "an almost terminal case of practicality." I fear he's right. God seems to find a stronger voice for hope and daring venture among secular leaders than among some of the people who claim to be his disciples. We Christians ought to be an expectant people, because we follow One who has the power to set the world right. Much of the living of our time has taken on the quality of a wedding feast in which the celebration has faded into ...

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