Synonyms: renounce, relinquish, dispense with, forswear, disclaim, disown, disavow, discard, wash one's hands of, give up, stop, cease, drop, forgo, desist from, have done with, abjure, abstain from, discontinue, break off, refrain from, set/lay aside, desert, leave, leave high and dry, turn one's back on, cast aside, break (up) with, vacate, quit, evacuate, withdraw from, surrender, cede, yield, indulge in, give way to, give oneself up to, yield to, lose oneself to/in, uninhibitedness, recklessness, lack of restraint, lack of inhibition, unruliness, wildness, impulsiveness, impetuosity, immoderation, wantonness
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 401 to 425 of 2844 results
401. The Messiah
Matthew 3:1-12
Sermon
Mark Trotter
Tonight the Chancel Choir, the Masterwork Chorale, and orchestra, will present the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah. The Messiah remains one of the venerable traditions of Christmas. I imagine many of you have sung it in church choirs, or community choruses, or Messiah sing-alongs. Let me ask, how many of you have sung in the Messiah? Almost everybody. That's wonderful. It is a great tradition. Joseph Sittler recalls his boyhood as a Lutheran in the Midwest, growing up in a small town. He said that in ...
Sermon
Mark Trotter
I want to tell you about a grave in Peru. I shared this story with you about ten years ago when a grave of a warrior priest was discovered near the pyramids of the ancient Moche Indians. The Moche Indians preceded the Incas in Peru. Their graves have yielded a treasure trove of artifacts, and a thriving black market for the residents in that isolated, northern part of Peru. The inhabitants up there regularly loot the graves and sell the artifacts to collectors. The government decided to crack down on the ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
One of my favorite chairs in our admittedly strange and eclectic collection of antique furniture is a piece known as "The Bishop's Chair." If anyone ever needed a reason NOT to seek that high office, this chair offers some revealing insight into the episcopacy. [If your church has a bishop's chair, or can find a bishop's chair, or an antique chair that fits the description, you might ask some people to come forward, sit in it, and describe how it feels.] Yes, it is a handsome chair-grandly oversized to ...
404. Two Worlds
Matthew 5:13-16
Sermon
James McCormick
I was a young pastor attending a seminar. The featured speaker opened his mouth to speak, and these were his first words: “You and I are living today in a world God did not make. He allowed it, but He did not make it.” That took place many years ago, but I still remember those words vividly. And, I remember the surprise I felt upon hearing them. It had never occurred to me that there was anything God had not made. I now see very clearly that he was right: “You and I are living today in a world that God did ...
405. Proper 24
Exodus 33:12-23, Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Psalm 99:1-9
Sermon Aid
Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe
OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Exodus 33:12-23 is an extended petition of Moses for God to accompany Israel on their wilderness travels. Psalm 99 is a song of praise that celebrates the power of God. Exodus 33:12-23 - "The Power of Petition: Part 2" Setting. See the commentary from last week for an overview of the three-part structure of Exodus 19-34, which is (1) revelation and covenant Exodus 19-31), (2) the breaking of covenant and threat of destruction Exodus 32 -33), and (3) covenant renewal (Exodus 34). The ...
Sermon
James W. Moore
Last week I flew to Nashville, Tennessee to work with The Methodist Publishing House on a video project they are producing in connection with my book, Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several Excellent Excuses.” We made twelve video lessons to coincide with the twelve chapters of the book… so Sunday School Classes can see and hear my thoughts about the material in the book. Now, I have been doing television for over 30 years and in all that time. I had never ever used any kind of make-up… until last ...
Sermon
James Merritt
January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt shared with America what has become known as "The Four Freedoms." He believed that all people should enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Those degrees have been wide achieved in America. Freedom and America are practically synonymous. America is known as the land of the free. We have political freedom; we are a democracy, and therefore a free society. We have economic freedom; we are capitalists who believe ...
Sermon
James Merritt
Larry Walters was a truck driver. But his lifelong dream was to fly. When he graduated from high school, he joined the Air Force hoping to become a pilot, but his poor eyesight disqualified him. When he finally left the service, he had to simply be contented with watching others fly fighter jets over his backyard. One day, sitting in his lawn chair, he dreamed about the magic of flying. Then one day Larry Walters got an idea. He went down to the local Army-Navy Surplus Store, and bought a tank of helium ...
Sermon
Donald Charles Lacy
The closeness between John the Baptist and Jesus can hardly be overemphasized. It was true from the time of their conceptions and the evident, close relationship between their mothers. It is said that in certain parts of the world there are still a few who follow only the baptizer. After 2,000 years the transition apparently has not been made. Among those disciples that Paul found, they had no clear witness of the far greater one who would follow John. This may very well be a special word for those today ...
Sermon
Richard Gribble
Once upon a time there was an old man who lived on the outskirts of town. He had lived there so long that no one knew who he was or where he had come from. Some thought that he had been a very powerful king, but that was many years ago. Others suggested that he was once famous, rich, and generous, but he had lost everything. Still others said that he was once very wise and influential. There were even some who said he was holy. The children in the town, however, thought he was an old and stupid man and ...
411. Floating on Your Back
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Sermon
King Duncan
Peter Hiett in his book Eternity Now! tells a wonderful story about a little girl named Mary who, against all odds, survived a hurricane. In October 1991, weather fronts over New England combined with the remains of a hurricane coming up the eastern seaboard to form what has become known as the Perfect Storm. A small boat, the Andrea Gail, carrying a father named John and his six‑year‑old daughter named Mary were caught in the storm. John had not checked the weather report when he and Mary sailed off the ...
412. No Substitute
John 2:13-22
Sermon
David T. Ball
Jesus in the temple — oh, didn’t he show those money-changers who were desecrating the temple grounds with their money-grubbing business? Not to mention the mess that all the livestock were making! Out! Out! Out! He cleared them all out, those traders in things that didn’t belong in God’s house. And he had every right to do it, we tend to think. Serves them right, despoiling sacred space with their commerce — profiting off of the desire of the faithful to do something pleasing to God. Exploitation. Good ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
Ours is an educated era. Yet we seem to be filled with facts while remaining ignorant of true understanding. In these texts the greatest teacher we have ever known, Jesus, demonstrates an educative scheme designed to fill our hearts as well as our heads, and destined to get our feet moving along with our minds. The texts examined this week demonstrate the biblical understanding of Truth (aletheia in Greek) as "nonconcealment," the disclosure of the "full or real state of affairs." Two days after the ...
414. Matthew 22:15-22
Matthew 22:15-22
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
Here is a text that even the most "doubting Thomases" in the doubting-Jesus Seminar believe are the undoubted, authentic words of Jesus. All the synoptic gospels record this intellectual wrestling match between Jesus and the strange tag-team of Pharisees and Herodians. It is equally evident in all three gospels that this is no innocent inquiry seeking Jesus' opinion. The underlying agenda of the Herodians and Pharisees is not difficult to detect. Perhaps more difficult than we have customarily understood, ...
415. Philippians 3:17-4:1
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
The sense of closeness Paul feels with the Christians in Philippi reveals itself in the familiarity and straightforwardness of this letter. There are Pauline candor and intense emotions _ both tears and joy _ throughout this text. Philippians has always been one of the best-loved of all Paul's letters, in part because we can feel the pulse beat of Paul's own concern and commitment to this community beneath only the thinnest skin of literary and theological concerns. The portion of the epistle read this ...
416. Mark 5:21-43
Mark 5:21-43
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
As today's gospel lesson begins, Jesus is crossing back to the "other side" of the Sea of Galilee that is, he is returning to the western shore where he began his journey. Despite all this crossing back and forth, the crowds are consistent. Mark carefully paints a picture of a popular Jesus, swarmed by crowds on the very edge of the sea (see 3:7-12, 4:1-2 and 5:1-20). Out of that crowd there steps a solitary, distinguished individual. Jairus is introduced both by name and by stature. He is not just "one of ...
417. Mark 8:27-38
Mark 8:27-38
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
The journey that drives Mark's gospel finds Jesus moving on continuing to spread the boundaries of his mission. Already Jesus has been well beyond Galilee, to the northwestern region of Tyre and Sidon, and to the southeast and Decapolis. Now as chapter 8 opens, Jesus and the disciples journey far to the northeast and enter Caesarea Philippi. Here in this distant corner of the countryside, Jesus turns to his disciples and asks, "Who do people say that I am" (v.27)? It is obvious from the recent discussion ...
Sermon
James Merritt
We are continuing to make progress on our Extreme Home Makeover as you can see and the framing is coming right along. Last week we talked about framing values for your children. Today, I want to talk about framing values for your teenagers. Have you listened to teenagers talk recently? I want to be honest and tell you that I suffer from TLD - Teenage Language Deficiency. If you have listened to your teenager talk lately, you know that their favorite word now is "like". I counted up one time and Joshua, my ...
419. Claiming Our New Life in Christ
Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19)
Sermon
Clayton A. Lord
I heard a story about a man who decided that he wanted to live a good life. He set his mind to developing healthy habits. He read every book he could find that laid out the path to a long and productive life. He never smoked, drank, or overindulged at the table. He ate fresh fruit and vegetables and stayed away from anything with preservatives in it. He exercised every day and got his eight hours of sleep each night. He lived in the country and avoided going into the city with its smog and high incidence ...
420. Wisdom's Delight
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Sermon
Stan Purdum
I have a question for you, but let me tell you right up front that it is a trick question. The question is, "What did God create first?" If you are like most Bible readers, your mind will immediately jump to the first chapter of Genesis, and then it is a matter of trying to recall which part of the world God called into being first. In case you can't immediately bring that answer to mind, I'll tell you: It was the creation of light. Genesis says that in the beginning, "darkness covered the face of the deep ...
421. The Shepherd King
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Sermon
John Wayne Clarke
Although we are going to concentrate on Jeremiah 23:1-6, it is important to note that these verses are a part of a larger section that is best understood in its entirety. This section contains a collection of prophecies concerning the Davidic kings. It is not important that it be broken down verse by verse, but rather theme by theme. The first section is a lament over Jehoiakim (22:1-9); then Jeremiah's judgment speech against Jehoiakim (22:10-12); a lament over Jerusalem's disaster (22:20-23); speeches ...
Drama
Lois Anne DeLong
Characters (in order of appearance) Jacob Omar Looseandfree Applause Child (nonspeaking) Shepherd 1 Shepherd 2 Shepherd 3 Lead Angel 2nd Angel Angel Choir Audience Member 1 Wise Man 1 Wise Man 2 Wise Man 3 Servant (nonspeaking) Mary Joseph Audience Member 2 Audience Member 3 Stage Manager Stagehands (nonspeaking) Props Four chairs Handheld microphones (real or fake) Sign with “Applause” written on it Bells Three pillows Baby doll Notes Another one of our “intentional anachronism plays,” “Unto Us A Child Is ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
Sometimes in human relationships, the more we know a person, the more we love them. Now that’s true, not because the more we know people, the greater they become in our eyes, because oftentimes as we know people, we begin to discover their weaknesses, their failures and faults, their shams and their shames. Now unlike our knowing other people, the more we know Jesus, the greater he becomes, and the more we love him. Napoleon was once visiting with a group of cynics and these skeptics concluded that Jesus ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
A doctor and his nurse responded to the anguished plea of a farmer, who was calling the doctor to attend to his wife who was desperately ill. The doctor with his ever-present black bag along with his nurse, were ushered upstairs to the bedroom where the woman was. The farmer stayed with his family in the parlor downstairs. After a few minutes, the doctor came down the stairs with a kind of troubled look on his face and asked for a screwdriver. After some time had passed, the nurse came down the stairway ...
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
Have you ever noticed how on some signs the message which was intended isn't the one that comes across? Like the one in a Department Store which announced: "Bargain Basement Is Upstairs." Or how about these signs: "Show Signs" My favorite is actually a mistranslation, at least I hope. I'm pretty sure they meant valuables but the sign in a Paris hotel read: "Please leave your values at the front desk." Unfortunately, many people do that without being told. And sometimes we are tempted to leave our values ...
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