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 3576 to 3600 of 4943 results

3576. Nose Hairs And Disney

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Sermon

Mary Austin

... listening to Paul’s letter to the early Christians in the city of Corinth. In this reading, he continues with his vision of the church as a body with many, equally important members. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all ...

3577. Christ’s Call to Discipleship

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... I thought this unique. I had never met the lady, she had never been inside my church, and I discovered through our phone conversation that she knew absolutely nothing about the church I pastored. She had no clue about our doctrines, beliefs, theology, policy, or history. Continuing on, she informed me that she didn’t intend to attend the church or give financially, but simply felt a need to belong to a church and wanted me to take her into membership over the phone. I shared with her that she needed a ...

3578. They're Drunk

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Will Willimon

... that religion is an outmoded vestige which we have at last overcome. William James (in Varieties of Religious Experience) characterized religion as a "white hot heat.” America remains heated up over faith. All evidence to the contrary, we continue to sin against Pentecost, continue to attempt to explain away the disruptive descent of the Spirit. And you know why. The Acts 2 threat that one Sunday we might all gather here in our bolted down pews, with our smug reasonableness, our bourgeois respectability ...

3579. Rules for Basic Living

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... man, was detailed, practical, and dealt with the basic rules of living that lead to a spiritual life. What he churned out was a realistic understanding of life where there was substance and fulfillment. The Pharisees missed that understanding of life as they continually made rules. They made those rules as hard and unbending as possible. The rules themselves became the basis of life rather than life being the ruler of rules. Now don’t misunderstand me. I am all for rules for the right reason. Without ...

3580. A Caring Woman

Acts 9:36-43

Sermon

King Duncan

... that Peter, by the power of God, raised Tabitha from the dead. What a remarkable story this is, and what a remarkable woman Tabitha must have been! She was so beloved and respected by her church family that she was brought back from the dead to continue her ministry with them. Hers was compassion with a capital “C.” She truly lived her life walking in the steps of her Master. She lived as Christ would have all of us live . . . with concern and compassion for her neighbor. But what I hope all of ...

3581. Fertilize Your Faith

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... greatest King Israel had ever had. The scriptures are filled with people who in a time of repentance and barrenness receive re-constituted hearts by the hand of God. That’s what God’s “salv-ation” healing is all about. I imagine Jesus must have prayed continually over Jerusalem. And in the end, he could not save them. But he did save many others. Jesus is our advocate today, just as he was in the days he walked the earth. He is a Creator and Artist of Fertilization. Just as God resurrected people ...

3582. The Unlocked Brain

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... alive, that the mission has not ended, but has only just begun. Even after this visitation, it would take the disciples multiple encounters with Jesus before they would be ready for the Holy Spirit’s mission-giving breath at Pentecost. Each time, he would continue to unlock their minds, unfreeze their hearts, unhinge their fear, and restore their faith. Today, we too live in times and through difficulties that can freeze our hearts and lock down our minds in fear and worry. We call it survival mode. We ...

3583. Everything You Do Bears Witness

John 10:22-30

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... coffee was cold and I was sitting at the kitchen table muttering some string of unacceptable epithets. My wife came in from her walk and asked, “What’s wrong?” I turn my head to meet her gaze. “What’s wrong? Why nothing, nothing at all. I’m fine.” She continued to gaze at me, shaking her head and she said with a faint smile. “Right.” My eyes popped open and I said, “What do you mean? I said I’m fine so what’s wrong?” This person has been with me for many years and she just shook ...

3584. Acres of Diamonds

1 Timothy 6:10

Sermon

Russell Conwell

... , and, said he, "I was not worth a cent in the world when I heard your lecture 'Acres of Diamonds'; but I made up my mind to stop right here and make my fortune here, and here it is." He showed me through his unmortgaged possessions. And this is a continual experience now as I travel through the country, after these many years. I mention this incident, not to boast, but to show you that you can do the same if you will. Who are the great inventors? I remember a good illustration in a man who used to live in ...

3585. Christian: Don’t Get So Hung Up On Churchy Things!

Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... the ignoring of the sacraments, of preaching, and of church life in order to attain true spirituality and the knowledge of God. No, I’m saying just the opposite, that we need to keep the emphasis on the Incarnation, we need to continue to venerate and respect the visible and creaturely entities through which God reveals himself. There is nothing wrong with respect for church buildings, veneration of the sacraments, and the sermon. Certainly there is nothing wrong with our commitments to and enthusiasm for ...

3586. Finding Your Place

Romans 12:1-12

Sermon

Will Willimon

... 's that, I live in Marion,” said he. “Patsy Parker,” I replied hopefully. “No kidding! I fish with her dad nearly every week!” I breathed a sigh of great relief and put my wallet back in my pocket. How lucky could you get? “Yes,” he continued, “this makes all the more difficult that I must fine you twenty-five dollars!” Blood Donor? I said. Blue Cross? Master Card? Methodist? Shriner? Oh to have the right card certifying me as part of the group, one of the boys. In Denial of Death, Becker ...

3587. Peter Asks A Question

John 13:1-7 · 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... and again for the forgiveness of sin. Their baptism covered their sins. But what were they to do about the sins they still committed? Did Christians need to lead a totally blameless life? But who could do such a thing? Feetwashing was a symbol of the continuing forgiveness that God offers, a reminder of our hope that even in our frailty God's strength is revealed. Feetwashing was practiced in the early church through the first four centuries at least. There is some indication it was practiced at the time of ...

3588. High Anxiety

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... not enjoying her “ministry.” She sees it as a task to be completed. I don’t know about you, but if I were a guest and the host was angry and felt put upon about serving me, I think I’d rather slink out the back door than continue to wait for the meal. What do you think? Martha has turned the beauty of hospitality into a posture of duty. She has made her ministry about “tasks and lists” instead of about intimacy, engagement, joy, and the company of Jesus. Jesus is not scolding her for her service ...

3589. What We Learn from Love

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... Creator God, the Great I AM, loved us enough to be known by us. How awesome is that? Immanuel—God with us. In the flesh, through the birth and life of Jesus Christ. And in our hearts and minds as the Holy Spirit who continually grows us in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. God’s continual presence with us is proof of His never-ending love for us. Many years ago, Bono, the lead singer of U2, tells of a Christmas Eve service that changed his life. His band had just come home after a long tour. He went to ...

3590. A Pep Talk for the Kingdom

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... trust in God. Kate Bowler is an author and associate professor at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. In 2015, she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and given just months to live. She has endured countless, invasive treatments, but has remained stable and continued to work and raise her family. She wrote a few years ago about a road trip she and her family took to the Grand Canyon when she was in between cancer treatments. Off Route 66, they stopped at a roadside chapel. The altar and the ...

3591. A Law Against Dying?

Luke 20:27-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.” Did you catch that? “They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection . . . But in the account of the burning bush,” he continued, “even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” In this moment ...

3592. God IS

Luke 20:27-38

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... . Faith acknowledges that it exists. I doubt that any of us can imagine how it might feel to look down at our earth from the emptiness of space, to acknowledge how small it all looks, and yet how special and unique. Out of nothing, God created life. And God continues to create life, to sustain life, and to acknowledge life. What God has created and who God claims does not die but lives eternally with God. We don’t understand how. We can’t comprehend where or in what way this can be. We only know that it ...

3593. Are We Living In The Last Days?

Luke 21:5-19

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... societies that began to reform a variety of social ills. Optimism was in the air. Many were looking forward to a golden age of one thousand years that would climax all their efforts. The weakness of this view was that such progress did not continue with two world wars in the next century and a giant economic depression in between, in the 1930s. Jonathan Edwards, congregational pastor at Northampton, Massachusetts, and a leader of the Great Awakening, had a keen interest in “the last days.” He set forth ...

3594. A Sign in the Heavens

Isaiah 60:1-6 · Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... light of Jesus Christ. Jesus then selected some men and women to carry on his work of shining God’s light in the world. That brings us to a final thing to be said about Epiphany. As the church of Jesus Christ, this is our calling: we are to continue the task of shining Christ’s light into the world. The word Epiphany is from a Greek word that means literally “coming to light,” or “shining forth.” As followers of Christ, we are to bring light to the world. Think of the many benefits of light. A ...

3595. Time to Listen

Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... to resolve the scene. So the actor who had missed his line suddenly stood up and said, “Well, here’s where I get off.” And he walked off the soundstage. Leaving the other two actors, who were supposedly in an airplane 30,000 feet off the ground, to continue the scene without him. (2) Now there’s sure one way to ruin the ending to a story! Just walk off the stage. Let someone else finish it. In our Bible story today, Jesus led three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, up on a high mountain ...

3596. Beloved

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... to be loved. Your greatest love is God. You know that God loves you unconditionally! Last week, we spoke of the power of unconditional love to stop corrupt power in its tracks. Today, that theme continues: Love also powers and empowers you. It brings out the best in you. It gives you joy, purpose, and peace. It propels you to be everything you possibly can be. It allows you to feel confident, stable, and healthy. It frees you to love others well. In our scripture for ...

3597. In the Wilderness

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... her journey to the High Places, she has faith in the Shepherd and in his promise to protect and guide her. Even when the way seems to go in the opposite direction at times, in spite of her doubts and fears, she continues on the way with Jesus. In the end her mission is complete as she reaches the High Places and receives her new name of Grace and Glory. Even her traveling companions are transformed from Suffering and Sorrow to Joy and Peace. Through all of her adventures and misadventures, the Good ...

3598. Transformed

John 4:5-42

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... , or share a drink out of the same vessel. Most Jews would have taken a different route to avoid traveling through Samaria. But Jesus was like no one else. He did not move away, and instead of remaining silent, he asked the woman for a drink, and continued to engage her in conversation. He spoke of the gift of God, of living water, and eternal life. He told her to call her husband, then come back, and when she said she had no husband, he somehow knew about her circumstances. Whether she had actually been ...

3599. When the Way Is Hard

Matthew 26:14-27:66

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... a cruel death, and the crucifixion of an innocent man even more inhumane and unjust. Yet in the face of such cruelty and pain, God’s good news could not be contained: Jesus who suffered and died arose from the dead! Glimpses of resurrection continually broke through the narrative of denial, betrayal, suffering, and death. Vindicated by God, Jesus was finally raised three days later. Life conquered death. Joy overtook sorrow. Love covered the multitude of our sins. God’s power was and is all in all. The ...

3600. The Way of the Lord

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... on you as teacher and Lord, and just like Peter, we think we know what that means. But you go on to surprise us again and again. As Lord of all, you took the role of servant to wash your disciples’ feet, to lay down your life for the world. Continue to teach us, continue to surprise us, as we follow in your way. Amen.

Showing results