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 3501 to 3525 of 4963 results

3501. Jarius' Daughter

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Brett Blair

... of the stone Jesus’ words: “The child is not dead but asleep.” It was then that I realized how many tens of thousands of parents throughout the last 2,000 years have taken so much comfort from these words. These are words of hope. But Jesus words were not seen as hope on the occasion in question. Indeed, Mark tells us that the crowd scoffed. Mark says simply: “They laughed at him.” There are those who scoff still today. They see religion as pie in the sky, starry eyed lies. But Jesus looks at ...

3502. Life Wish

Mark 5:21-43

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... in order to make it through life and to thrive? Leader: We come with many questions because living life fully is our goal, but living fully is exacting. Collect You, O God, are the source of the life wish that wells within us. You empower us with the hope that we are worthy of life. Through the Holy Spirit. Amen. Prayer of Confession We need the comfort and assurance of your leading us on, O God. We admit that we are weak, that we are weary and worn down by the pressures of daily living, from the frailties ...

3503. A Reason

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... God, that when we stop complaining about our weaknesses and cease mourning what we can no longer do, something tender begins to happen within us. We let our frailties awaken alternative ways of doing things. We find other ways to use our talents. We learn patience and hope because we become "can do" people again. The "I can't" keeps us realistic but no longer defeats us. Strengthen our tenacity, O God, so we might sing a new song of life to you. Amen. Hymns "Praise To The Lord, The Almighty" "Sing Praise To ...

3504. Epiphany 6

Drama

C. David Godshall

... of eternal life, and make us fear separation from you. People: May we know you and the guarantee that we will be raised up to eternal life. Pastor: And remind us that those who believe in vain are deluded, lose hope, and are to be pitied. Assistant: Your power to heal is great, Lord Jesus, and in power you speak blessing and terror: help us to hear you clearly. People: Guide us to the happiness which comes to those who are yours, though we may suffer in this realm. Pastor: And ...

3505. As We Remember - Memorial Day

1 Chronicles 11:10-25

Sermon

T. A. Kantonen

... me from him?" In every case of death, life, as we now know it, comes to an end. If this were not so, resurrection, the creation of new life by the power of God, would have no meaning, for only the dead can be resurrected. The foundation of the Christian hope is the resurrection of Christ. It is the risen Lord who assures us, "Because I live, you will live also." As we remember our dead we wonder: where are they now and what is their condition? The answer must be: the blessed dead are with God and they are ...

3506. God’s Wounded Healers

Jeremiah 8:4--9:26

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... or woman, will ever be able to satisfy our desire to be released from our lonely condition. This truth is so disconcerting and painful that we are more prone to play games with our fantasies than to face the truth of our existence. Thus, we keep hoping that one day we will find the man who really understands our experiences, the woman who will bring peace to our restless life, the job where we can fulfill our potential, the book which will explain everything, and the place where we can feel at home. Many ...

3507. When Jesus Speaks Your Name

John 20:10-18

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... of our intellects, we might meet Christ in the garden of our hearts. We might, even now, hear his voice calling us by name. And we could answer, rise up, and follow him! Prayer: We rejoice, O Lord, in the glad day of resurrection - the rivers of hope in our hearts run free. As all nature has awakened, in these days of spring, so would we individually and as a congregation arise from our winter sleeps to lives of joyful creative service. Let us not be blinded by past assumptions, prejudices, fears or anger ...

3508. The Choice Is Always Ours

Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... going to be the quality of your post-heartbreak compositions? Hidden away in the miseries of old Hosea’s life - which was one kick-in-the-pants-after-another - the old prophet comes up with this polished gem: God can make my dale of trouble to be a door of hope. (2:15, Moffatt) As you remember your powers and freedom to know and to grow, you will re-connect with your own substantive energies and the ways of God will reappear to you. It was Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher, who wrote back in 604 B.C. in a ...

3509. The Gifts of the Left Hand

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... , it got his goat. And yet more deeply, Jesus accepted his "goat" side. He did not take the woman and leave in a huff, but taught Simon a riddle. He accepted Simon’s weak side and invited him to the completeness he was missing. And that’s what I hope our thinking about the left hand can do - invite us to pay attention to our weak side and look for the gifts that it holds. The woman came in all the awkwardness of her life situation - an outcast barging into high society, a lost woman begging to be found ...

3510. Like Trees Walking

Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... story in today’s scripture. The blind man was brought by friends. That in itself was an auspicious beginning. He or they had the hope and the faith that precedes a miracle. Jesus took them outside the village where the distractions of daily commotion would not divert their ... choice in spite of differences? 4) Look at yourself. Do you find yourself charming and irresistible or revolting? Neither, I hope. But if your vision is dim, you will not be able to see yourself as an individual of importance and ...

3511. Smart, Wise, and Foolish

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... unquestionably do!) One new client, depressed and hopeless, said to me in the first session: "I just want to know where I’m coming from." He was willing to pay the price to learn from his past experiences so that his future could be a hopeful one. I frequently work with couples whose marriages are ending in tragedy, or at least they are feeling deeply about their failure. It seems not only worthwhile, but absolutely necessary to spend the time and energy required to discover the dynamics of that breakdown ...

3512. Thomas Didymus: An Honest Skeptic

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... got word that Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha was dead, Thomas, who was with him, said, "We will go with you," fully expecting it was too late to do anything for the family except to comfort them in their loss. He had courage but not hope. Then when Jesus was saying those well-remembered words about going to prepare a place for them, because, "In my Father’s house are many mansions," Thomas was there, listening intently. When Jesus kept on, saying, "And you know the way where I am going," Thomas ...

3513. A Lack of Feeding in the American Dream

Romans 6:1-14

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... to so many people in your life and felt rejected," then we have done two things, three things. We have given them some feeding, have underlined the normalcy of what they are going through, and have instilled implicitly the idea that there is the possibility of hope further down the line, that feeding is available, though we understand how they are having trouble seeing that now. The second thing I want to lift up for all of us is the possibility of a religious death and a rebirth to new meaning and freedom ...

3514. No Fifth Wheels in God’s Economy

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... with each other. Many times it is in relationships other than marriage that we begin to discover the communion, the transparency, the openness, the knowledge of another person, that gives us an image of what it will be like to be totally open before God. I hope you singles get the point of what I am saying here. While marriage has its own special place in God’s economy, it is certainly not the only place where God speaks to and involves himself in life and experience. It is in any relationship of openness ...

3515. A Little Child Shall Lead Them

Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... the little child within us. When did you last let another see the inner child in you? When you let your inner child come to life, then the divine child can be born, and the warring parts of you can come to peace, and you can have meaning and hope and even joy. If you cannot be childlike, you shall never be whole, creative, and at peace. Jesus said that except we be born again and become as little children, we shall not enter into the kingdom of wholeness, creativity and peace. It was true in his time, in ...

3516. Backsliding

John 6:60-71

Sermon

Brett Blair

... from the Old Testament, the other from the New Testament. Who in the Old Testament began a more promising career than Saul? There was not a man among the people of Israel who offered more potential in leadership. He represented more than a King. He represented hope. Yet, Saul was eaten with jealousy when the young David appeared on the scene and stole the spotlight, and twice he attempted to have him killed. So a life that seemed set for success and honor, ended instead in failure and tragedy. In the New ...

3517. Finally

Hebrews 9:11-28

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... . Collect Into the sin of laziness, into the sin of mental or physical cruelty, into the sin of guilty living, and into all the other sin that separates us from God, our neighbors, and ourselves, you come, O Christ, offering your transforming hope to those who wait for you. Hear the invitation of our prayer. Through Christ. Amen. Prayer of Confession We recognize, O God, that, unlike Christ, no progress is final for us. We appear to move forward in our lives, then we backslide. Help us to garner strength ...

3518. Birthpangs of Change

Mark 13:1-31

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... the birthpangs of change intensify in the midst of a broken world, Creator God, sustain our wisdom and fortify our hope of wholeness. As new realities push toward birth, increase our curiosity and our appreciation of life's wanting to be in full, healthy creation. Amen. ... Prayer of Confession Be with us, Giver of hope, in the letting go time before we allow change to happen. Then we are hesitant, then we are afraid, then we are ...

3519. Mystery, Mystery

John 18:28-40

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... truth. Collect We hear your voice in the truths our highest laws point to, O victorious, reigning God. We hear your voice in the fair acts that reflect relationships governed by love. We hear your voice in the hope welling up within us with sufficient vigor to keep us going. All praise to you, O living God. Amen. Prayer of Confession We proclaim you sovereign, O God, within a world that appears oblivious to authority. Perhaps, God, you are that power enabling us to persist in talking out troubling ...

3520. Coming Forth

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

Call to Worship Leader: Come forth, O love divine. People: Meet us in the crevices between hope and hope. Leader: Come forth, O holy one. People: Meet us when we fade like the leaf. All: Come forth, O love divine. Collect In so many ways you come forth to us, you ever-concerned and active Parent. So variously you lead all your children, you who works for those who ...

3521. A Falling Star?

Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... come to you with hearts grateful for your patience. Amen. Prayer of Confession A falling star? No falling star, this that shines its constant sign, yet as easily missed if we are not ready. Creator of the stars of night, let us prepare to receive your promise and your hope. Amen. Hymns "We Hail You God's Anointed" [1] "O How Shall I Receive You" "Now Bless The God Of Israel"[2] "Creator Of The Stars Of Night "O Lord Of Light, Who Made The Stars," or "O Loving Founder Of The Stars" 1. As either an introit or ...

3522. God's Child

Luke 2:21-40

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... families. Then we meet the very old -- an Anna, a Simeon, perhaps a great-aunt who did not marry, or one to whom no children were born. Come, be like the prophetess Anna or the devout Simeon to whom, in their advanced age, God gave the gifts of hope, of seeing possibility, and of being able to recognize Christ among us. Collect Thank God for the eldest among us who possess the perspective to see what is important. Thank God for those who have the time to carry others in their prayers. Thank God for those ...

3523. Lord, I Want to See - Sermon Starter

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Brett Blair

... : "I who am blind can give one hint to those who see: Use your eyes as if tomorrow you were stricken blind.' As bad as blindness is in the 20th century, however, it was so much worse in Jesus' day. Today a blind person at least has the hope of living a useful life with proper training. Some of the most skilled and creative people in our society are blind. But in first century Palestine blindness meant that you would be subjected to abject poverty. You would be reduced to begging for a living. You lived at ...

3524. Wrinkled Wrappings

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... He said, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation ..." He is saying that now he has seen everything. He is ready and content to die. His life is now fulfilled. Since the Messiah came, he can die in peace and in hope of eternal life. He surrendered all, even his life. This is the way people have always felt when they came to see God in Jesus. They have found the pearl of great price, and they sell all they have to buy that one pearl. He is the very best and ...

3525. Someone Greater Than a Prophet

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... but the very Son -- the only begotten Son of the Father, begotten, not made, as the creed puts it. John the Baptist, great prophet that he was, knew that the title "Son" did not belong to him. I am not the Christ, he told his followers when they asked in hopeful anticipation; I am the voice crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord." The One who comes after me is greater than me, greater than the prophets. I am not even worthy to untie his sandal, so great is he in comparison to me and all the ...

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