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 4201 to 4225 of 4977 results

4201. John 15:9-17

John 15:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... between God the Father and Jesus the Son. This “abiding” (“menein”), a word we have lost in contemporary speech but need to reclaim, is not some form of passive acquiescence. Rather, it requires disciples to take a specific course of action — to “keep my commandments” (v.10). Just as Jesus’ love for the Father was demonstrated by his perfect obedience to God’s will, even to the cross, so Jesus’ disciples are to demonstrate their love for him by remaining obedient to his commandment. This ...

4202. Breaking Loose

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... our circumstances and not our faith dictate how we feel about life. We are letting our fears and our doubts enslave us. God’s purpose is that we may not give in to our circumstances but they we might overcome them that we might break loose from the bonds that keep us from being all God created us to be. It is sad to see anyone who has been broken by life. Some people have bumped into obstacles for so long that they have quit trying. Life has been so painful for them that they have built a fence around ...

4203. When the Going Gets Tough

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... faith, suffering had deepened it. Listen to his words in our lesson for the day beginning with the seventh verse: “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded ... poor opera singer and I, too, have reacted with surprise and dismay, and maybe with anger. Sometimes I have been able to keep on singing. Sometimes I have not. But that’s life. Sometimes it catches us off-guard. We didn’t schedule sickness on ...

4204. Stop Carrying the Anvil

Mk 6:1-13

Illustration

Maxie Dunnam

... some time he asked her for another kiss. When she refused, he said, "Well, I'm not going to carry this anvil any longer." (Printed 1978 for Wider Quaker Fellowship with permission of Douglas V. Steer) There comes a time when we put the anvil down because we can keep trying too long. It's not easy but we have to find that rhythm, that balance, between not giving up too soon but also not continuing too long. There is a time to stop trying. When things do not work and you know it; when people do not respond ...

4205. Where Is Your Pebble?

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... people who are to convey the gospel. He conveys to them two important truths about the church. For God’s plan to be realized, says the Apostle, two things are critical. First of all, it is vital that our unity be maintained. St. Paul writes, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and ...

4206. Don’t Burn The Cookies!

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... humor to the list ... but I won't refuse them. Christ is coming again, so we need to be spiritually fit, taking advantage of the opportunities presented. As we set our eyes on others, we become the presence of Christ in our world. "Keep watch! Be careful!" Jesus reminds us. We are entering a season of countdown the newspaper reminds us: 25 days to shop! We have our "list" and feel relief in checking off each item: Christmas cards, buying and wrapping gifts, decorating the house, inviting friends over ...

4207. Bridge Builders

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... began to cross on the wooden footboards. "Come on you cowards. Have a little faith. I'll stand right here and wait for you." Cautiously Michael and Jeremy moved onto the bridge. "Keep your hands on the cables and your eyes on me," Sam directed. As the boys neared him, Sam said, "That's good. Stop a minute and rest, but keep your hands on the cables." Michael and Jeremy obeyed, sneaking a glance at the rushing water below. "Has anybody ever fallen from here?" Michael asked. "Not that I know of," Sam replied ...

4208. Hit Me with Your Best Shot

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... mind the words of Moses to the people in the wilderness: Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth ...

4209. This Fellow Welcomes Sinners

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... draws us in, then leaves us with a cliffhanger that challenges us to put ourselves in the story. At different times in our lives we may find ourselves as the father, the older brother, and the younger brother. Or we may even find ourselves absent, though quite alive. Keep in mind, of course, that this is a story. It's a sacred story, it was told by Jesus, but he was telling it to illustrate a point. One of the reasons for storytelling by the teachers in first-century Judea was that we take the story home ...

4210. Stuff!

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

... every last kernel of grain. But let's be clear ... just because I can identify with him doesn't mean that I think he and I have the right idea. As you can probably tell, I feel guilty about keeping all my stuff and not sharing it with those in need. There is an old story about two brothers who inherited the family farm. They also inherited the core value that, within the family, everyone must be treated with absolute equality. One brother was single and the other was ...

4211. The Great Divide

Luke 12:49-56

Sermon

... not discussed, as I said, in polite company. Most congregations didn't like John very much. His reputation always preceded him and often the congregational leaders would balk at the suggestion that they needed him as their interim. Why not bring someone in who could help keep things on an even keel? Why not someone who could be a placeholder until the next pastor was called? No, churches didn't like John very much. At least they didn't at first. But in time, if they didn't throw him out under the guise ...

4212. But I Really Like the Best Seat in the House!

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

... how in business the ones who were last stayed last and the ones that were first had to scrape their way to the top and keep scraping to stay there. "Give away all that you have and follow ... anyone who wants to be first must be last of all and servant ... asked me was how my storytelling was going. I said, "Well, Ed, I'm still setting up the chairs." And he grinned and said, "Keep it up." Albert Schweitzer once said, "The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found ...

4213. The Great Divide

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

... happen. We're not perfect — we fall short from time to time — but we get up and try again and again. We strive to keep our eyes open to those who are struggling and to see that the distance between people inside the church and outside the church, for ... . One point is to remind us to care for the Lazarus' of the world and the other point is that the same distance that sometimes keeps us separate from a Lazarus can separate us from each other, and we must not let that happen. In the kingdom we are to nurture ...

4214. Can't Stay Away

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he ... his job, his family, and his place in the world. He had to go back to Jesus. He had to return and give thanks. He just had to. He couldn't keep away. That's what faith is. Faith is being unable to stay away from Jesus. To have faith in Jesus is to be in love with Jesus. Jesus loves you no ...

4215. Begging and Bragging

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... pretty good people. They did everything right. The followed the law of God to a "t." We struggle with the daunting job of keeping the Ten Commandments. The Pharisees went way beyond that. They dug through the Old Testament, from Genesis all the way to ... There are things that we get right, but we can't get it all right all the time. The truth is that we have no hope of keeping 613 commandments and more. We can't handle ten. The truth is that we aren't always very loving. We aren't always very kind. We ...

4216. Saint Who?

Luke 6:27-36, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... gain or personal security ahead of loyalty to their nation, ahead of love of their own people, and ahead of respect for the promises of God. Zacchaeus was one of them. Zacchaeus was working for the wrong side. He was aiding the enemy. Zacchaeus helped those who were keeping his own people down. His job was to take money from the people of Israel, and then hand that money over to help pay for the Roman presence in Israel. Zacchaeus had made a fortune by going directly against what God had promised to do. The ...

4217. Just Deal with It

Luke 20:27-38

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... listening to other Christians. We have the same opportunity the Sadducees had. Let's not waste it setting traps like they did, saying things like, "If God is there, then this will happen" or "Since this is going on, God must not care." We must keep asking questions, keep seeking knowledge and wisdom, but we have to understand, first off, that we're not going to understand everything. God doesn't owe us an explanation, and we wouldn't comprehend it if we had one. Life's big questions have answers that ...

4218. Quitters

John 6:60-71

Sermon

King Duncan

... magnificent statement of faith! No wonder Jesus loved Simon Peter. Simon wasn’t perfect. There would come a time when he would let Christ down. But isn’t that true of all of us? No matter how intent we are on following Christ, no matter how hard we try to keep crickets from distracting us, there will be times when we will falter. We are not Christ, just as Simon Peter was not Christ. That does not mean, however, that deep in our hearts we do not want to serve Christ. He is our Lord. He is our Master. He ...

4219. Ready Or Not, Here He Comes!

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... people ready to have the dross and dead wood removed from their lives. The word he uses for the process is repentance. John is not content with someone saying, "Sorry." Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk. John says, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8). The phrase "in keeping with" [in Greek, axios] has as its root the image of a balance scale. One side needs to weigh the same as the other side. It has the idea of being "worth the same as" or "equivalent to" or "measuring up to." In ...

4220. Silly Goose

Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... message of the geese is take turns doing the hard jobs. It is better for everyone. Have you ever listened to a flock of geese as they fly overhead? They can be noisy critters, can't they? The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What do we say in the church when we honk from behind? Are we picking or praising? Which do you think will do the most good? From Mongolian folklore comes this helpful little fable. Two geese were about to start southward on their annual autumn ...

4221. Risky Business

Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... congressional investigators or special prosecutors at bay. Are we more secure now than on 9/11? I doubt it. US elections ever since have been something of a referendum on who Americans think will keep us the most secure, both militarily and economically. On an individual level, security is an equally powerful motivator (and, at times, de-motivator). "Is it worth the risk?" we ask, before venturing into uncharted territory. An entire multi-billion dollar industry — insurance — exists to help us "manage ...

4222. A Tale of Two Sisters

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... too much of their time on the C priorities! Then he asks, "Why do you think that is?" The answer is that the C priorities are, first, much easier to accomplish, and, second, give you the impression that you are actually getting something done. In other words you can keep busy with the C priorities all day and never get to the more important things. The lesson from Mary and Martha is "Don't let the good (the C priorities) get in the way of the best (the A priorities).[1] Sound like anyone you know? So, which ...

4223. Religion and Politics

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... is pleading for a turnaround and an outcome other than judgment. Do it and be blessed; don't do it and "be devoured." Religion and politics - as old as the ancient prophets; as modern as tomorrow's newspaper. In my estimation, it is impossible to keep them separated and, frankly, anyone who says so understands neither religion nor politics. Both have to do with not only deeply held convictions but the way we live our lives. In other words, what we believe determines how we behave. Certainly, what we believe ...

4224. Repressive Religion

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... pick up the phone and call all their friends. "Did you hear what the preacher did?" Truth be told, what Jesus did was bound to cause a stir. He had healed this woman on the sabbath. That was a clear violation of God's commandment. "Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy ... Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work...." — Deuteronomy 5:12-14 Healing is work; ask any doctor or nurse. Good Jews to this day are ...

4225. Rich Man, Poor Man

James 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... noticed that the knight was crying. “You are one of the noblest knights I have ever seen,” said the king. “Why do you cry?” The knight responded: “Your majesty, I took a vow that I would bow and lift my arms in homage to you, but I am unable to keep my vow. These years have done their work and the joints of my armor are rusted. I cannot lift my arms or bend my knees.” With the loving voice of a parent the King replied, “Perhaps if you had knelt to help all those who passed by, and lifted your ...

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