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 4026 to 4050 of 4943 results

4026. When We Feel God Has Moved And Left No Forwarding Address

Job 23:1--24:25

Sermon

Zan W. Holmes

... moved and left no forwarding address. We hear the cry of the troubled Psalmist who said, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, 'Where is your God?' " (Psalm 42:2-3). We hear the cry of the Hebrew exiles who had trouble finding God in the strange land of Babylon. They said, "By the Rivers of Babylon -- there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows ...

4027. A Voice Crying In The Wilderness

John 1:1-18, John 1:19-28

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... There are other prophetic voices in our midst who are telling us that we cannot disregard creation, nature, or the environment, for to do so is to destroy human life itself. Several years ago Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring. She told us that if we continued to use pesticides and insecticides, especially DDT, that we would wake up some day to a silent spring. The birds would no longer sing, because there would be no birds. Eventually there would be no life, period. She was mocked and ridiculed. After these ...

4028. A Moment Of Decision

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... law which said that good men kept their hands clean and avoided notorious sinners like the plague. Not Jesus. He deliberately went to them and offered God's forgiveness and the chance for a new life. This complete identification with sinners begins at Jesus' baptism and continues all the way to the cross. Afterwards, Jesus heard the words, "This is my beloved Son." These words are taken from Psalm 2, a psalm used at the coronation of a king. As the king was crowned and oil poured on his head, the words were ...

4029. What Shall We Do With The New Wine?

Mark 2:18-22

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... became secondary. Christians confused the treasure with the institution that merely housed the treasure. The fact is that the gospel that can radically change human life can be a threat to the survival of the church as an institution. This tension and struggle continue. That is why the wine must always be placed in new winesskins that will have the elasticity and flexibility needed. Hard to Give Up Old Ways Each generation must pour the new wine from one perishable vessel to another while preserving the ...

4030. Easter Consecration

John 17:6-19

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... petition on behalf of the disciples which is also pertinent to us as followers of the Lord Jesus. First and foremost, Jesus prayed that they might enjoy the same unity with God that the Lord Jesus knew. He prayed that they would be and could be relied upon to continue the mission of love that our Lord Jesus represented to the world. The problem with the world is that when it strives for unity it does so in human terms. Jesus made it possible for us to enjoy a unity which God himself creates. That is a unity ...

4031. Resist Temptation

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... for forty days. Having been commissioned by the Heavenly Father for his ministry, Jesus had to determine in what form he would carry out this ministry. Having received the approval of his Father, "This is my beloved Son," Jesus had to contemplate how he could best continue to please his Heavenly Father. It took the full forty days to think through and envision what kind of entanglements he was likely to face. What would be the best way to show the understanding Jesus had of power? If he was the Son of God ...

4032. Easter 6

Acts 17:16-34, 1 Peter 3:8-22, John 14:15-31

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... with evil. People: But when we set our hearts on doing good we serve our risen Lord. Leader: Then let us live for Christ and lift our voices in praise. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, through the Cross You redeemed us not to continue to serve the wickedness of the world, but to serve in Christ. Give us clear vision of the mighty ways we may serve You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, so often we would accept Your forgiveness and mercy yet we would try to cling ...

4033. The Ascension of Our Lord

Luke 24:36-49

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... ) that will support their efforts. *Roman Catholic see Holy Trinity Sunday. Liturgical Color White Suggested Hymns Up Through Endless Ranks Of Angels Lord, Enthroned In Heavenly Splendor Alleluia! Sing To Jesus A Hymn Of Glory Let Us Sing! The Ascension Of Our Lord Continuous praise in the temple. That's how the disciples celebrated the Ascension. At least for a while -- Then came the time for the next step. Taking the message into the world proved to be a difficult next step, but it was necessary. There ...

4034. Easter 5

John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... with members of the new community of faith became important. Living the Christian life revealed the things which were of lasting importance. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. You have given us this great gift, Lord. We are now members of your royal priesthood. Use us to continue the process of turning the world upside down. Amen.

4035. Emulating God's Love

Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 5:43-48

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Notes These last two of Jesus' so-called antitheses ("You have heard it said ..., but I say ...") continue Jesus' radicalization of the righteousness of (in the first instance) the Old Testament statutes and (in the second) conventional wisdom. The closing demand for perfection (v. 48) should not be taken literally or out of context, but in light of vv. 43ff., as an exhortation to emulate God's perfect ...

4036. God's providence and priorities

Matthew 6:19-24

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... From Heaven With The Lord Begin Your Task Sing Praise To God, The Highest Good Salvation Unto Us Has Come O God Of Mercy, God Of Light As With Gladness Men Of Old Epiphany 8 Lord, we know that we cannot have it both ways. We cannot continue longing for the things of this world while at the same time striving to serve you. Our attention cannot be divided. The pursuit of possessions is an addiction which blocks our spiritual progress. A decision must be made. On our own, we cannot break our dependency upon ...

4037. A Christ for All Nations

Matthew 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... Life's Great Mystery The Epiphany Of Our Lord Everlasting God, your radiance has shown brightly in our world through the coming of your Son. We know that Jesus is Lord. If only everyone would acknowledge this fact! However, the Herods of today continue to influence the world with their ulterior motives. They pretend to bring tolerance and peace, but instead they foster hate and exploitation. Pretenders always prefer the darkness rather than the light. Grant us the courage to follow the path of Jesus and to ...

4038. Lip-service vs. True Service

Matthew 7:21-29

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... door but only a faithful life will allow a person to enter. Help us to be faithful to you by using our gifts and talents to help others who are in need. As we are faithful in small things, move us into larger areas of responsibility. We are ready to continue our faith journey. Lord, help us. Amen.

4039. God's Gracious Good Will

Luke 2:8-20, Luke 2:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... the picture. On this night, by contrast, the picture is modified. Something quite simple is being celebrated. A birth. And the birth of a child has a wonderful effect upon the human heart. This birth fulfilled your promise. Countless lives have been affected and will continue to be affected. For Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords! His power is revealed not through demanding decrees but through limitless love. We are not afraid,we are filled with awe and wonder. Thank you, God, for this birth.Amen.

4040. Ash Wednesday

Mark 1:1-8

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... for us! Drown our sins again in Jordan's waters! Scrub us clean with your forgiveness! Tear apart the heavens and send down your Spirit upon us! Let your beloved Son lead us again to ways that please you.Save us, O God, or we will be lost forever.(Continue in silent prayer.)Brothers and sisters, John said that he baptized with water, but one was coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.In the name of our holy and righteous God, I proclaim to you that this one has already come and is Jesus Christ, God's ...

4041. Christ the King

John 18:28-40

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... . Let the blood of Jesus' crucifixion be our truth, and let this truth govern us, until our earthly natures are transformed to harmonize with the heavenly kingdom that Jesus brings. Amen. Affirmation of Faith We acknowledge that God creates all life, and that our lives continue only by the mercy of God, and that God sends Jesus to save us from being fatally separated from our Creator, the source and being of our lives. We maintain that Jesus is the Christ, and that our lives are best lived under Jesus' rule ...

4042. The Wisemen

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

... king interrupted. "Well, if there is another king, we are most anxious to join you in your quest and to meet him. But if you are correct in your analysis of the figures and he is not here, perhaps our scholars can come up with something. Let us continue our conversations in the morning." With that, the King smiled, and left the room. The three men silently watched him go. "That was good of him," Balthazar said to the others. "I'm glad to get the help, too," Caspar said. "But there are some things that don ...

4043. In The Carpenter's Workshop

Matthew 18:21-35

Drama

Jerry Eckert

... in my vineyard and I need to know how much it will cost. Joseph: How high? How wide? On a hillside? Tell me all you can about it. Then I can let you know a price. Commentator: Joseph and the customer go over the details as young Jesus continues to rub with his hands the wood he is working on. Joseph: Thank you. I'll be back in a minute. Jesus: Did you hear about the tower that collapsed last week? It killed three workers. Stranger: That was God punishing them. Jesus: Really? Stranger: Why else? Only bad ...

4044. Gifts of Love

John 3:16

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... why I would give a teacher an apple." "Maybe because you liked her?" one child offered. "Yes," I said, "maybe because I liked her -- or even because I loved her. It is possible to love teachers ... if they're nice." This comment elicits several more giggles. "Well," I continue, "almost 2,000 years ago, God gave us a very precious gift. Does anyone know what that was? I'll give you a hint: it wasn't an apple." The children sit with puzzled looks on their faces, thinking about what God's gift might have been ...

4045. Differences

John 7:24

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... some flowers today. Does anyone know what kind they are?" Right away several of the children tell me they are lilacs. "Are they all lilacs?" I question. The children assure me they are, even though they are of three different colors. "When I was small," I continue, "in fact, until just a few years ago, I thought all lilacs were this light purple color. It's a color which is sometimes called lilac or lavender. Then, not too many years ago, someone gave me some white lilacs. I admired the flowers and asked ...

4046. Amazing Grace

1 Peter 3:15

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... . "Ahhhhhh!" I draw in an audible, deep breath as I mimic their expressions of surprise. "Would that be an all right thing to do?" I ask. "NO!" comes their vehement response. "Do you think I might get in trouble?" "YES!" they answer with certainty. "Well, you can relax," I continue. "I'm not going to draw on the pew. But I would like to tell you a story about something I did when I was three years old. My parents had just had the inside walls of our house painted. My mother was in the kitchen doing one of ...

4047. A Basket Of Angels

Matthew 28:2-3

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... and the Beast in my basket. What do I have?" The children have been eyeing the basket with expressions ranging from curiosity to surprise to wonder. "Angels!" they respond in chorus. "Why do you suppose I would have angels in an Easter basket?" I continue. "Because of the angel at Jesus' tomb on Easter," one of the older children answers. "How did you know that?" I ask, fairly certain I knew. "I sang with the children's choir at first service," she responds. Laughter again ripples through the congregation ...

4048. Crumbs

Matthew 15:21-28

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... of my pocket, hold it up and ask, "Is this a crumb?" "No!" I am told, "It's a cracker!" "That's right. It's a cracker. But what if I do this...?" With those words I crush the cracker (still in the baggie to contain the crumbs). "Now," I continue, holding up the crunched pieces, "do I still have a cracker?" "No, you have a bag of crumbs." "Aha!" I respond. "So, now we know what a crumb is. It's a piece of something -- a very small piece. Crumbs are what is left on your plate when you finish ...

4049. Listening and Paying Attention

Matthew 13:1-23

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... you asked us to." But whether it's a case of it's-early-on-a-summer-morning-and-I'm-not-awake-yet or simply an unusual shyness for this bunch, the children remain silent. "Could it be that you came up here to listen to something?" I continue. Finally a few heads nod in agreement. Then I hold up a bag I've brought with me and ask the children what it contains. "Sunflower seeds!" several reply. "Well, suppose I wanted to plant these seeds to grow sunflowers," I suggest. "What would happen if I just went ...

4050. Tears

John 11:17-37

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... and really got hurt or scared." "Yes, I can remember doing that many times," I answer. This brings general laughter from the kids and the rest of the congregation as they recall how many times they have seen me on crutches. "What else might make us cry?" I continue. "Because something makes us sad," comes the next answer, from one of the girls. "Well, what might make you sad?" I ask. "Losing something I really care about, I guess," she replies. So as not to put this one child too much on the spot, I turn my ...

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