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 3601 to 3625 of 4963 results

3601. Jesus Won! We Won!

John 20:10-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... to a new life. The death of a loved one, however, doesn't feel like a victory. It feels like a wrenching, jolting pain. For Mary, it was not only the loss of a friend, but of one she hoped would bring new life. When Mary stood at the tomb, she not only lost someone she loved; she lost her hopes for the future. Mary's tears were mingled with confusion when she saw that the stone covering the tomb had been moved. When she didn't find Jesus' body there, she assumed someone had taken it. This added to the ...

3602. More Than A Mannequin; Not Quite A Masterpiece

Acts 4:32-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... M. (1) I doubt that the person who put up that sign meant that visiting their church was like visiting Satan's domain. At least I hope not. Church isn't a bad place to be for most of us. In fact, some people actually like church. Art Greer, a writer and preacher ... if you died there, they'd simply burn it down and build a new one. Once you ended up in the hothouse, there wasn't much hope for you. So, as this man went into the hothouse and as the week dragged on, the men in the camp began to anticipate his death ...

3603. Gambling On God

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... that would stand up to scientific scrutiny. When you put your life in God's hands, God does not provide you with a written guarantee of safe conduct. That's what it means to walk by faith. "Faith," says the writer of Hebrews, "is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." If we know beyond all certainty what lies ahead for us, we are not living by faith. Faith is the courage to follow God's leading even though the way ahead be uncertain and treacherous. We have this church today ...

3604. Have You Checked On Your Investments Lately?

John 6:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... amused by his madness, would donate some pocket change toward his cause. Soon, Felix had saved up enough to get to St. Louis, the site of the Games. Felix had never traveled outside Cuba before, and he didn't know a word of English, but he set out with high hopes. Stopping over in New Orleans, Felix was conned by a street swindler and lost all his money. So he got a dish-washing job, and earned enough money so he wouldn't starve. Then, he set out walking toward St. Louis. Often he was able to hitch a ride ...

3605. Preparing For A Royal Visit

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... in poor condition. Thus, the people were expected to repair the roads so they would be smoother for the king. Often the roads had to be straightened and the hills cut down. Doubtless, this was what Isaiah had in mind when he wrote these words of comfort and hope for his people. The King is coming. A voice cries, in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. Get ready for a royal visitation. Suppose you and I were on the committee. Suppose we had been chosen to make certain that the advent of the monarch ...

3606. The Manger Is Empty

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... minds and spirits and dig out the trunk labeled Christmas Memories. It's time to dig out and open that drawstring sack of hope and promise and carefully pour out its contents. Then with equal care so that none of the fragile memories are broken or ... our families and even some of those on TV to try and recapture an elusive feeling. We come with longing. We come to the Advent season hoping that God will once again meet us face to face while we're bent over the manger cradle making goo-goo eyes and silly noises ...

3607. You Shall Call His Name Jesus

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... would repeat her complaint. The next time Norma entered the library, the librarian was indeed all smiles and extremely helpful! Norma reported the miraculous change to her neighbor. "I suppose you told her how poor we thought the service was?" "No," confessed her friend; "I hope you don't mind, but I told her that you were amazed at the way she had built up this small town library, and that you thought she showed good taste in the new books she ordered." (3) Love works. Not the cheap shoddy combination ...

3608. Are You Going Down?

Luke 2:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... automobile through heavy snow and ice it would be a wise idea, we are told, to carry a candle and some matches to keep you warm in case of an emergency. A tiny candle can be a lifesaver under the right circumstances. So it is that a tiny baby offers hope to a world torn by strife and pain. "Are you still going down?" The answer was yes, and light has shone into our dark world. HE HAS COME DOWN, AND THE LEAST AND THE LOWEST HAVE BEEN EXALTED. Some of the finest Christmas celebrations this year will not be in ...

3609. Rushing And Realizing

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

... to greed. What God wants is a new human creation. The old human creation is forever giving in to baser instincts--instincts like violence, injustice and greed. One poet has put it like this: God's plan got off to a happy beginning But Adam ruined it by sinning! I hope the whole story Will end in God's glory, But right now the wrong side is winning. (4) The wrong side is winning. At least it seems that way. But that's not what God wants. God wants all people on this earth to live in peace and harmony and ...

3610. Leadership Styles For A New Millennium

Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... overhear the conversation. Not only could he overhear the conversation but his wife knew that he could hear it. When the caller said, "I hope he's just great now," the Bishop heard his wife reply, "Well, I would not say he was ever great, but he's back ... is much we do not understand, but God is the God who revealed Himself in the manger of Bethlehem. God is a God of love, mercy, hope and peace. God does not coerce by force, but leads by the example of love, the love showed by Jesus Christ upon the cross of ...

3611. Lighting The World

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... to end their lives. But Frankl discovered that if you have a purpose for life, you can endure. In the distance, there was a house surrounded by trees. Early in the morning on cold winter days, the glow emitting from that farmhouse served as a beacon of hope. Frankl envisioned a normal family gathered around the hearth. Deep in his heart he knew that the lights had not gone out in all the world and one day the present darkness would be overcome. And that is Christ's promise to us. The present darkness will ...

3612. How God Gets His Kicks

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

King Duncan

... is an old shoe box full of cancelled checks and W2 forms. He drops that box on the bare desk and says, `Ma'am, I sure hope you can help me.'" Block concludes, "As long as we can remember that math teacher and that fellow in the flannel shirt, there will be ... individual persons whom we can reach out to with the love of God. We will be doing His work when we offer them encouragement, hope and the belief that they, too, are persons of real value for whom Jesus Christ gave his life. When that happens, God and all ...

3613. We Haven't Seen Anything Yet!

1 Corinthians 2:9

Sermon

King Duncan

... too much like “Pie in the sky by and by.” My heart goes out to them. They have missed the most joyous good news of our faith. Belief in a loving God demands a completion to an incomplete universe. As St. Paul writes, “If for this life only have we hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (I Corinthians 15:19) We enjoy a foretaste. We anticipate the future. And we cling to our faith. The Greek philosopher Plato taught that we live in a world that is but a shadow of a better world. For ...

3614. Welcome To The Mountain. Now Go Home

Exodus 24:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... to go alone." Gossip suddenly felt revitalized and started up the steps. "We went together," he reported later. And that is the key to a spiritual life that does not leave usthat does not fade into a distant memory. I hope you have received a blessing from our worship service. I hope the music and the prayers and the fellowship have brought you closer to God than you have ever been before. That's great. There are people outside these walls, however, who need your love and your witness of faith. They may ...

3615. Waiting For The Angels

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... , sometimes hallucinating, then falling back into a coma. After a week of his condition worsening, it was obvious there was no hope. The family gathered in the hospital room. Johnny Cash tells the story: "I remember standing in line to tell him goodbye. ... suppose, than anything else that has ever come to me through any man." (4) You may have questions about such neardeath experiences. I hope, however, when that moment comes to me or someone I love, I'll be listening for the angels. Because they do come. They ...

3616. A Service the Church Will Never Forget

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

King Duncan

... God and this is where we share Him together. This is where we gather together for study and worship, as we are doing this morning. This is where we gather to have genuine fellowship together--to laugh together, love together, sing together, give thanks together. I hope you will commit yourself to reaching out to people you know and inviting them to this place so that we might add to the church everyone who needs Christ. Not for our glory, but so that we can spread the love of Jesus Christ throughout this ...

3617. Belonging To The Right Family

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... Rest in Peace,' and we thought it would be just perfect since you are always asking for a little peace so that you can rest." I hope that, if nothing else, you will allow Mom a little time today to rest in peace. Our lesson for the day from the epistles is I ... the little girl, `I wasn't born yet'?" Predictably, mother was a little bit at a loss for words, but gave what she hoped would be sufficient explanation for a threeyearold. It wasn't nearly enough information for this little girl. "Then why wasn't I in ...

3618. Response To The Resurrection: Christian People In A Pluralistic Society

Acts 17:16-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... one day and finds a little boy. The little lad asks the pilot to draw a sheep. But the man sketches out instead his original drawing. The little prince says, "I didn't ask you to draw and elephant in boa constrictor." The man's eyes light up with a hopeful radiance as if to say, "This little boy understands me. He believes in my art." The ending of the story is sad but happy. The little boy dies, and the man who has pledged that he would never care much about anybody tearfully holds the little prince in his ...

3619. Out Of Our Control

Romans 8:18-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... and skips off the player's glove. A run scores. Through no fault of the player, the game is lost. He's the goat. Wrong place, wrong time. SOME THINGS IN LIFE ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL. A daughter has an outdoor wedding planned. Mom and Dad are hoping for sunshine. The darkest clouds of the summer roll in. Baby smiles that first big smile. Parents have been waiting poised weeks with the camera. The corners of the mouth turn up, grab the camera, push the button, "poof," the bulb in the flash fails at precisely ...

3620. Where Are Your Loaves And Fishes?

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... Gospel of John brings him to our attention. We have young people in this church and they are so important to the work of Christ. Every once in a while, when something important needs to be done, a young person will step forward and make a difference. I hope our young people will particularly pay attention this morning. You and I share a very deep concern. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO BED HUNGRY EVERY NIGHT. You and I have heard that truth so often, we might not take it very seriously. That would ...

3621. Wrestling With God

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

King Duncan

... his life. A friend was teasing him about it. "Say John," he asked mischievously, "You still spending a lot of time wrestling with the old Devil?" The fellow answered goodnaturedly, "Nowadays, I spend most of my time wrestling with God." His friend asked indreduously, "Wrestling with God? How do you hope to win a wrestling match with God?" John smiled and answered, "Oh, you misunderstand. In this wrestling match, I'm ...

3622. Walking On The Water

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... Jesus aside and tells Him how He ought to go about His ministry. Here is a man who tells Jesus that even if all the others forsake Him, he will never forsake Him and then the same night denies three times that he ever knew Him. Is there any possible hope that such a man will ever walk on the water? The answer is positively yes! The reed did become the rock. St. Paul may be better known to us in the story of the church after Pentecost because of his letters. But Simon Peter was the rock for the early ...

3623. When Someone Else Gets The Honor

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... and there is someone else asking, "Why him? Why not me?" The question is, why do we feel that way, and is there any hope for us? WE NEED TO BEGIN BY NOTING THAT ENVY ALWAYS SPRINGS FROM A FEELING OF INSECURITY ABOUT OUR OWN SELF-WORTH. If we ... ruined. His jealousy backfired! That's what happens every time we let envy into our hearts. It is we who pay the greatest price. Is there any hope for us in dealing with the demon of envy? THE ANSWER IS, YES. THERE IS A MAN HANGING ON A CROSS WHO SAYS TO US, "YOU ARE ...

3624. The Way Life Ought To Be

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... and thought she was safe. When she rang the bell, a woman came out of the house and attacked her and bit her. The bite broke the skin, too, and required medical treatment. It's a crazy world!Still we dream. We share with St. Paul that idyllic hope of a world patterned after the life of Jesus himself. Listen to St. Paul's words: "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the ...

3625. Save The Tokens For Uncle Sam

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... say to our husband or wife or sweetheart, "I love you with all my heart," we are saying, "I am committed to you. All that I have is yours. I trust you enough that I am willing to share with you everything I have, everything I am, and everything I hope to be." That kind of commitment is what God asks as well. For truly it's all His in the first place. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Render unto God the things that are God's. There is a silly story going around that makes a ...

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