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 3976 to 4000 of 4986 results

3976. Too Easily Satisfied

Mark 12:34

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... these things to save them, or at least to help them move forward in a grim world. But, as C.S. Lewis once wrote, we are far too easily satisfied. We're like a child who turns down an invitation for a day at the beach and chooses instead to stay sitting in a slum alley making mud pies just because the child really can't imagine how much better a day at the shore can be. "What could be better than making these slimy mud pies?" the child might think. Ah, if only he knew! Or as Dallas Willard writes ...

3977. Show and Sell or Show and Tell?

Hebrews 9:11-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... It seems the parents of Falcon Heene had taken to heart the Nickelback song “RockStar” that has this as its chorus: Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars and Live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap We’ll all stay skinny as we just won’t eat And we’ll hang out in the coolest bars In the VIP with the movie stars Every good gold digger’s Gonna wind up there Every Playboy bunny With her bleach blonde hair And well...Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar ...

3978. A Symbol of Hope

Mk 12:38-44

Illustration

King Duncan

... the country. When he was 15 years old, the house caught on fire. They escaped with only the clothes on their backs. There were no close neighbors to help so he and his father walked to a distant village to get supplies. As they returned they saw something that stayed with Ruele Howe all those years after. Beside the charred remains of what had been their house, his mother had laid out lunch on a log. She had placed a tin can filled with wildflowers on the log. It was a symbol of hope in the midst of tragedy ...

3979. Home By Another Way

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... good hot dinner in several days. Servant 2: He still won’t. Servant 3: Be quiet. There’s nothing wrong with my couscous. Wise Man 3: So, tell us. What’s the news from the outside world? We’ve been on the road so long; it’s been hard to stay in touch. Merchant: Well, the biggest news I’ve heard is that Herod is tearing his hair out about some tot. He’s called in every mystic, soothsayer, and would-be prophet asking about this child, born a year or so ago, that’s supposed to be king. He’s ...

3980. If We Do It, It Will Work

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... church and begin walking up center aisle. Once they reach the front, Messenger exits right.) Gabriel: (to Michael) How did he do that? God: I’m God! It’s all part of the plan. Mary: We’ve been walking so long, Joseph. Can’t we find any place to stay? Joseph: We’ve tried just about every inn in town. Everyone’s here to pay the taxes. Mary: The baby will be coming soon. Joseph: It looks like there’s a place just up the road. I’ll try to talk the innkeeper into giving us something. (Innkeeper ...

3981. Christmas Eve at Angel School

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... can only hear it in your heart. (checks watch) Oh dear, if you don’t hurry, you’ll all be late for your flying lessons. Hurry now. (All Angels exit stage left except for 1st Angel, who sits on the end of the platform stage left. She stays there throughout the next scene.) 1st Angel: So soft and gentle you can only hear it in your heart. I don’t understand. People don’t hear with their hearts. (Angels and Shepherds reenter from left without their costumes and move stage right to the Christmas tree ...

3982. Room at the Inn

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... . It had only six rooms for rent. A small barn stood behind it, housing three cows, an old horse, and a dozen or so sheep. Doves nested in the rafters above. Fresh hay had been laid in the manger for the animals to graze. Normally, very few people stayed at this inn. But the government had ordered a census, and people had flocked to town. All the better inns filled up quickly. So, little by little, the people came, and it was well after midnight by the time the Innkeeper had seen the last tired couple to ...

3983. The Gratitude Attitude

Matt. 6:25-33; Psalm 100; Eph. 4:20; Luke 17:11-19; John 6:25-35

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

... and said, "Sir, I'm going to give it to my granny. My mother and father divorced last year. I was living with my mother, but she married again, and wanted me to live with my father. I lived with him for a while, but he said I couldn't stay, so he sent me to live with my grandmother. She is so good to me. She cooks for me and takes care of me. She has been so good to me that I wanted to give her that pretty flower for loving me." When the little boy finished, the preacher ...

3984. If This Is Your Faith, Tell Me Your Stories

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... pandocheoin,” an “inn” to recover. So it would seem that what Luke is saying in his Nativity story is that the “guest room” was already occupied. If Joseph did indeed have family roots in Bethlehem it would be only natural that he and Mary would stay with those relatives. Does this mean that having arrived too late to lay claim to the guest room Mary and Joseph moved out to some separate stable — a building for animals? Luke’s text doesn’t say. The gospel writer’s only hint at the actual ...

3985. Advent 2

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-20, Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... the people came to John in the wilderness. Rather, Luke says John went to the people. This agrees with the experience of other witnesses. First they came to Jesus and then they go out to tell people. "Come" and "Go" are two sides of a coin. To come and stay adds up to religiosity. To go without coming results in not having anything to say. 4. For (v. 3). It is only a three-letter word but it is significant. Forgiveness comes from the grace of God, but to be forgiven we must want forgiveness. On the divine ...

3986. The Power of Purpose

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , are there by necessity. They job was the only job available. They had to work. They began, they continued, and now they’re permanently situated in a place that they selected only out of necessity. Now there’s nothing wrong with that, and perhaps all of us ought to stay exactly where we are - because I have an idea that, for most of us, relocating is not the key to finding the power of purpose. I know people, and so do you, you may be one of them, who would not toil at their present job another single ...

3987. I Am the Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of the Christian faith. That’s certainly the central focus of Christian prayer – to wait in the presence of the Lord, especially to wait in the presence of the sacrificial Lord in order that we might remember his love for us and in order that we might stay aware of the price he paid for our salvation. I pray you say, but nothing seems to happen. I don’t feel anything. I’m not realizing Christ’s presence. I understand that, it’s common. And that’s the reason I talk about making real Christ ...

3988. The Intimate Gospel: The Word became Flesh

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Susan Ruby Lamb, we received their tickets to the Metropolitan Opera this past Monday night. Now, I need to say right off that opera is not my favorite expression of music. Now that probably reflects more on me than it does on opera, and I admit that. I stayed for 3 ½ hours; the opera went for 4 ½ hours. Even though I am unsophisticated musically, I was moved by Voegner’s music. And soon as the orchestra began, I knew that we were in for a high time of majestic and powerful music. And I thought about ...

3989. Deliverance through Thanksgiving

Psalm 50:1-23

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... you the way I read the Bible devotionally. Perhaps this might be helpful to you. At a time of quietness, reflection and prayer, I simply begin reading a pre-selected passage of scripture. With an open mind and heart I read until, until some word grabs my attention, and I stay with that word, I allow it to tumble around in my mind. I seek to taste the word by reflecting upon it in my mind and heart. I ask the word questions and I allow the word to ask me questions, and then out of that reflection, in that ...

3990. The Perfect Gift

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... just looked at her and said, ‘here lady, you need these more than I do.’ Contacted later, the young Dailey said ‘the deed was really nothing, and he smiled, after all, it’s Christmas.’ That 16- year old boy had found the answer. Emanuel dwells in us in love, and stays alive in us as we share that love. When we love in the fashion of Jesus, the light will shine in the darkness and the darkness will never put it out. You have the opportunity of receiving and giving the perfect gift. Amen.

3991. Beware of Cute

Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... s ear, and finally now to Elizabeth’s ear. The fun of playing “telephone” is to see how mixed up the message has gotten as it has been passed around the circle. But when an archangel is responsible for passing along this remarkable news, the message stays clear. Elizabeth’s interpretation of her baby’s leap for joy is perfect. First, she praises the event itself: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (v.42.). Next, Elizabeth offers a blessing for all those in the ...

3992. Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

Luke 1:1-4

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... s seemingly impetuous excursion does, however, enable Luke’s text to bring two cousins into the same conversation. Mary’s journey also gets her away from Galilee and her betrothed, immediately after the angelic pronouncement of her miraculous pregnancy. That Mary stays away from home and Joseph for three months also helps dispel disclaimers about the manner in which her child was conceived. As would be appropriate, it is Mary, the younger woman with less status, who travels to meet Elizabeth, the older ...

3993. All Part of a Package

Lk 1:39-56

Illustration

King Duncan

... , you can rest assured that they will always be there for you regardless of what may come. It's all part of a package. It has to do with a commitment that they have made - to God, to one another, and to you. The family that prays together generally does stay together, as trite as that may sound. Faith was important to Elizabeth and Mary. They trusted God.

3994. Growing Up Fast

Luke 2:41-52

Illustration

Sid Burgess

Kids grow up awfully fast these days. It seems like one minute you are trying to encourage your child to go faster on his bicycle, to get up enough speed to stay balanced, and the next you are pleading with the same boy now at the wheel of a car, pleading with him to slow down and live. One minute you're urging a shy daughter to say hello to strangers, and the very next, you're trying to discourage her from ...

3995. The Martha and Erma Christmas

Luke 2:41-52

Illustration

Brett Blair

... , I must run. I need to finish the buttonholes on the dress I'm wearing for breakfast. I'll get out the sled and drive this note to the post office as soon as the glue dries on the envelope I'll be making. Hope my breakfast guests don't stay too long, I have 40,000 cranberries to string with bay leaves before my speaking engagement at noon. Love, Martha Stewart P.S. When I made the ribbon for this typewriter, I used 1/8-inch gold gauze. I soaked the gauze in a mixture of white grapes and blackberries ...

3996. The Thing With Two Heads

Matthew 16:13-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... deeply. The fall from the height of the pride of being called the head of the church with the keys to the kingdom, to being called 'Satan' must have nearly killed him. Simon was a Man with Two Heads and Two Hearts. II. Making Disciples A. But Simon didn't stay that way. Jesus couldn't have used him in such a powerful way if Simon hadn't become Peter. Remember what Jesus said, "you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Jesus gave Simon a new name and a new personality to shoot for. Peter means ...

3997. Startled By Jesus

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the dead on the third day, [47] and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." The disciples were startled by Jesus' sudden appearance in the Upper Room where they were gathered out of both grief and fear for their own safety. The passage says, [37] "They were ...

3998. The Spirit Has Landed - Sermon Starter

Luke 3:1-20

Illustration

Brett Blair

... the number of sermons preached and the prominent pulpits occupied. But Saint Peter said no one had heard them in heaven. The discouraged servant enumerated his community involvement. He was told they were not recorded. Sorrowfully, the pastor turned to leave, when Peter said, "Stay a moment, and tell me, areyou the man who fed the sparrows?" "Yes,"the Scotsman replied, "but what does that have to do with it?" "Come in," said Saint Peter, "the Master of the sparrows wants to thank you." Here is the pertinent ...

3999. Plenty Of Room

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I just read a short piece about someone traveling across country, staying exclusively in Bed and Breakfasts. At one B&B which had six bedrooms, this traveler noticed these two signs side by side on the check in desk. The first sign read: "Please introduce yourself to your fellow guests since we are one big happy family." Next to it was a ...

4000. Joshua People: Turning Worlds Upside Down

Joshua 10:12-15, Acts 17:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... that commercial may have caught a bit of the anxiety of our times. As a rule, life might very well be like the CareerBuilder.com commercial. The overarching message of CareerBuilder is that you don't have to live like that. You don't have to stay in that kind of environment. In a sense, it mirrors the good news of the Christ. God offers us new life. The Christian faith is all about starting over, second chances, do overs, new beginnings, forgiveness, and resurrection. When that takes place in our hearts, it ...

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