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 351 to 375 of 4915 results

351. Through the Wilderness

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Elizabeth Achtemeier

Israel is underway in this story, as the church is underway. Israel’s story is our story. She has been redeemed out of slavery in Egypt, just as we have been redeemed by the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ out of our slavery to sin and death. And now, like Israel, you and I are making our way through the wilderness toward a promised land of rest. We are midway between our redemption and our final salvation in the Kingdom of God. The goal toward which we press lies out there ahead of us (cf. ...

352. A Mystery

John 16:12-15

Sermon

Robert C. Cochran

Of all the theologians I read regularly, I think the religious writer who most consistently delights me is Peter Marty, son of long-time Lutheran writer Martin Marty. Like his father before him, Peter appears in The Lutheran magazine every month. For me, his article is usually the highlight of the magazine. One month, Pastor Marty spoke of prayer as a conversation with God, not as much a chance to get to know God as it is a chance to enjoy God. In prayer we celebrate our relationship with God while ...

353. Like a Phoenix

Mark 6:1-13

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

Almost every culture has, in its foundational mythology, a Phoenix or firebird. The one with which we westerners are most familiar is the Greek Phoenix which, like all such mythological creatures, is said to die in a burst of sparks and fire only to be born anew from its own ashes. Because this mythological creature lives in a constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, the Phoenix is, in most cultures, a symbol of renewal. While early Christians rejected any literal interpretation of the Phoenix myth, ...

354. Developing Staying Power

1 Peter 4:12-19

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

Some people read this passage, and they decide that everything that happens to us is to be seen as a "blessing" from God. They will tell you, quite straightforwardly, that God has every event of your life planned, including anything that seems to be bad at the time. If that gives them faith that everything will come out right in the end, it could be a blessing. But too often, what happens is that we then think that every evil thing that happens is visited on us by God. And instead of being led to a renewed ...

355. From Rooftop to Valley and to Heaven Again!

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Donald Zelle

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses and all the King's men Could not put Humpty Dumpty together again. This nursery rhyme tells the story of King David of our text. Those who live in the crowded cities, surrounded by privacy fences, can easily imagine how it happened. Of course, it is not proper to set up a stepladder against a privacy fence to see what it is the neighbors are grilling for their cookout. It is impolite to peer into their home to watch them, or ...

356. It’s as Simple as That

2 Kings 2:1-18

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

Elijah was the leader of the Sons of the prophets, bands of prophets located throughout Israel. Elisha was his protege. Naturally the other prophets were jealous of him. Our scripture opens when there is general knowledge among the prophets that the Lord was soon to take Elijah. Elijah was told by God to go on a journey from Gilgal to Bethel. He told Elisha to remain behind. Elisha refused, saying that as long as the Lord and Elijah live he will not leave his master. Together they arrive at Bethel where ...

357. Peace With God Through Christ, Our Lord

Romans 5:1-11

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. Come, let us worship Almighty God, revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Collect Almighty and Everlasting God, we give you thanks for the hope that is within us revealed to us by your Son, Jesus Christ. This hope that one day we will share your eternal glory is strengthened by the outpouring of your love for us by means of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to you, O God. Amen. Prayer Of ...

358. The Power of Positive Dreaming

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

According to tradition, Joseph was the strong, silent type - an older carpenter who willingly submitted to impotent fatherhood - a second-string player in the drama of God's human birth. But according to scripture, none of this is true. All that is actually recorded in the Bible is that Joseph was a dreamer - a righteous man who transformed the meaning of righteousness by taking seriously his dreams. To be righteous, according to Torah, is to be law-abiding. And so, as a law-abiding Jew, Joseph could have ...

359. Who Are You Following?

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

Roy Howard

“If any want to be my followers, let them deny themselves, take their cross and follow me.” The first thing that needs to be said is that this is a difficult teaching of Jesus. We should not fool ourselves. It’s better to confess this at the beginning than to pretend otherwise and lose our way in the end. The honesty with which we hold our lives before God is the measure of our desire to be followers of Jesus and not merely religious spectators. The second thing that needs to be said is that it’s the end ...

360. The Power Of The Resurrection

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Christ is risen! Risen indeed! I should have warned you last week when I was praising what a marvelous thing Jesus’ resurrection is that we might not feel the joy and reality of Christ’s resurrection this week like we did last Sunday. It’s true, isn’t it? Last Sunday’s high didn’t last the whole week, did it? And as for today, the church’s isn’t packed like last week. That sense of enthusiasm isn’t as apparent. We’re not as certain in our faith. Why not? Maybe Christ hasn’t risen after all. After all, ...

361. Shameless!

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Dave Zuchelli

One of the reasons I want to preach on this passage of scripture is because I’ve never really understood it. The only way to really make sense of it is to view the story of the friend at midnight as a parable. You may remember the old definition of the word, parable. It goes something like this. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. We could flesh that out considerably, but this little quip really captures it quite nicely. Parables are sometimes confusing until you realize that most, or at ...

362. Christmas Gift

Isaiah 61:1-11

Sermon

Thomas D. Peterson

My Father worked long hours six days a week, so there was not much time for father-son things. Those few times when we touched at a deep level are very precious to me. One of them was Christmas, especially Christmas morning. We four children had hung our stockings and left fruit cake and wine for Santa Claus on the hearth. It was always consumed. Early Christmas morning Daddy went into the rooms, bent down, and whispered into the ear of each child, "Christmas gift." I was awake instantly. Visions of ...

363. Getting Through the Grief

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

Getting through grief may be one of the hardest things we do as human beings. One of the best ways to begin the process is to find it within ourselves to stand up and say something in a public setting that puts into words both the personal and collective feelings of all who have gathered to mourn. History is replete with stunning examples. Pericles' Funeral Oration as recorded by Thucydides in The Peloponnesian War is certainly one of them. At the end of the first year of war, the Athenians held, as was ...

364. Second Nature through Spirit Nurture

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

It is every parent’s dream. It goes like this . . . Your child is a guest at someone’s home. Maybe a friend or a relative. When the meal is over, your child is the one who, without being told, spontaneously rises from the table, gathers their plate and even grabs another place setting, and takes them into the kitchen and put them either in the sink or in the dishwasher. What parent doesn’t live with the eternal hope that our ten thousand nudges to our kids “pick that up” and “put that in the trash” and “ ...

365. And They Lived Happily Ever After... or Did They?

Mark 10:2-16

Sermon

Rick McCracken-Bennett

This is a story I tell from time to time at weddings. It's based on a Moroccan folktale.[1] Once upon a time there was a much beloved king who was so rich that he measured his wealth in bushel baskets. Sadly, his wealth did not prevent him from contracting a fatal illness and in time the man lay on his deathbed. He called his only son to his side and said, "Son, you are all I have left. Your mother is gone, you have no brothers or sisters, and so in a short time you will become king. Besides my hope that ...

366. The Foolishness of the Cross is the Power of God

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: God's love for sinful people may sound foolish; but God's foolishness far surpasses any of man's wisdom or power. People: We thank God that faith is not dependent on the wisdom of man. Pastor: We boast in the Lord, then, not because of spiritual knowledge, but because of what Christ has done for us on the cross. People: Our confidence is in the salvation promised in that message of the cross. Collect Almighty God, whose wisdom and power was demonstrated by the crucified Christ, ...

367. Authority Through Servanthood

Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Dean Lueking

The Question Of Our Time Today’s sermon is on the subject of authority, based on the text above. It is no overstatement to say that authority is the question of our time. Wherever one looks in our world today, in family, government, business life, and the church, the conclusion seems unanimous. Authority is in a bad state of erosion. Why is this so? What can be done about a matter so vital to people in every aspect of life? The story St. Matthew tells us in today’s text speaks directly to the problem of ...

368. Faith and Expectation

Acts 1:1-11

Illustration

Larry Powell

Acts 1:4-14 contains certain encouragements to the followers of Christ to be an "expectant" fellowship. With this in mind, let us consider some specific instances where expectancy is implied. 1. Acts 1:5: "For John baptized with water but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." What is the difference between John’s water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit? a. John’s baptism. Water baptism was commonly practiced by the Jews long before the appearance of John. It symbolized ...

369. Whatever Happened To Sanctification?

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Durwood L. Buchheim

Let Us Pray: Almighty and Merciful God, help us to find our lives by offering them to you. Grant us wisdom to understand your will and the energy to bring your will into our daily lives. Amen. It has been said that the gospel of Jesus Christ has two sides: "a believing and a behaving side!" Followers of Christ are not only invited to be redeemed, but also to be responsible. The Christian faith is not only a way of believing, but a way of living. Years ago, I heard Dr. Alvin Rogness, long-time mentor and ...

370. The Power of Our Words

James 3:1-12

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call To Worship Leader: Let us lift our voices in praise and song before the Lord of Hosts! People: In our hearts we praise Almighty God for every blessing we have received. Leader: And we open our hearts to the Lord's leading in all we do in life. People: And we ask God's help that we should use our words for good and not evil. Leader: For we have been blessed with an awesome gift in the power of words. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, through Your Word You created the universe and You ...

371. The Power of Uninformed Decisions

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Sermon

Harold Warlick

One of the most nerve-wracking experiences in life is finding a place to live and a person to live with. It’s as true for college students as it is for older adults. Everyone at some time or another has to house-hunt, roommate hunt, room hunt, or apartment hunt. In fact, one of the biggest changes in life occurs in college when you actually have a choice as to where you will live and with whom you will live. The freshman experience is an unknown experience. You either room with someone you think you know ...

372. Daniel: The Problem of Power

Daniel 6:10-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

It was a large, impressive waiting room stocked with the latest magazines and furnished with the finest of furniture. On this particular day the place was packed with people waiting to see one of several physicians. In one corner of that waiting room, there sat an elderly lady crying. At first, she cried quietly, but as the hopes and fears of all years gushed forward she began to weep openly. There was a little boy sitting across the room playing with toys he found in his mother's purse. As the elderly ...

373. The Power to Begin Again

Acts 3:12-19

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Being married to a public school teacher, I have always been fond of this old poem: He came to my desk with quivering lips, The lesson was done. Dear Teacher, “I want a new sheet," he said, “I spoiled this one." I took the old sheet, stained and blotted and gave him a new one, all unspotted, And into his sad eyes smiled, “Do better now my child." I came to God with a quivering soul The old life was done. Dear Father, “Have you a new life for me? I spoiled this one." He took the old life, stained and ...

374. Getting at the Truth

John 14:16-17

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another counselor, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. — John 14:16-17 The truth is hard to find these days. Perhaps it has been hard to find in any day. Do you remember ancient Diogenes who walked about with a lamp, shining it in men's faces, saying he was looking for an honest man? Diogenes felt he could never ...

375. Jerusalem: City for All Time

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Sermon

Donald Zelle

"If you want one simple word to symbolize all of Jewish history, that word would be Jerusalem." So wrote Teddy Kollek in 1981, then mayor of the city. He explained it further. "I do not think you can find any Israelis who are willing to give up Jerusalem. They cannot and will not. This beautiful golden city is the heart and soul of the Jewish people. You cannot live without heart and soul." Similar words, though probably without military overtones, would express the feelings of many Christians. Moslem ...

Showing results