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 4944 results
401. Coming Back Down
Matthew 17:1-13
Sermon
John Jamison
I have visited some places I really wish I could have stayed. If it were my choice I would still be there right now. As much as I like it here, I would rather be there. There is a tent, set on a hill at the top of a 1,500-foot cliff overlooking the Jordan Valley in southern Israel. When the sun comes up in the morning it breaks over the mountains a few miles to the east and literally shatters the darkness around you. The winds sail up the face of the cliff from the valley below and almost make you believe ...
Sermon
King Duncan
In his book, ON A WILD AND WINDY MOUNTAIN, William H. Willimon tells of being in New Haven, Connecticut as a student at Yale in l970 during the famous Black Panther Trial. Those of you who remember that turbulent era recall the strife, discord and agony that tormented our society. During the week that the crisis at New Haven reached its peak, Willimon attended a choral mass at a nearby Catholic Parish. A boy's choir was singing, "Deus Ascendit, "God Has Gone Up." Willimon mused, "Just as I thought. God Has ...
Sermon
Maurice A. Fetty
For some it is ancient history. For others it is as fresh as yesterday. I speak of 1972 when the word "cover-up" came into our consciousness in a big way -- the cover-up by then President Richard Nixon regarding the Watergate scandal. Assured of a landslide victory in his election for a second term, Richard Nixon, overborne with anxiety, apparently felt that was not enough. So he authorized the so-called "Watergate Plumbers," headed by G. Gordon Liddy, to break into the Democratic Headquarters in the posh ...
Sermon
David E. Leininger
"Never give up. Never give up. Never, never, never, never give up!" Of course, you know who gave that advice ... Winston Churchill. It was Churchill's dogged determination during World War II that saved his nation from Nazi destruction. In a speech following the retreat from Flanders before the House of Commons on June 4, 1940, he thundered, ... we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seasand oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and ...
Sermon
Maurice A. Fetty
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. — John 16:13 For some it is ancient history. But for others it is as fresh as yesterday. I speak of 1972 when the word "cover-up" came into our consciousness in a big way — the cover-up by then-President Richard Nixon regarding the Watergate scandal. Assured of a landslide victory in his election for a second term, Richard Nixon, overborne with anxiety, apparently felt that was not enough. So he authorized the so-called "Watergate ...
Sermon
Mark Trotter
I know that you remember Murphy's Law, which said, "If anything can go wrong, it will." There are a thousand variations of that law, such as, "Buttered toast, when falling to the floor, will always fall face down." But it seems that one day in this particular house the toast fell to the floor, and to the amazement of the family, it landed buttered side up. Immediately the scientists were called in to analyze this. Did this really refute Murphy's Law, which said that "buttered toast, when it falls to the ...
Sermon
William L. Self
In the early days of television a popular game show, To Tell the Truth, held the attention of the American audience. A panel of interesting and colorful experts was in place, along with an engaging host. They were presented with three contestants, each claiming to be a famous person or a person who had accomplished an unusual feat. The identity of the real person was known only to the host. After a period of questioning by the panel when the panel and everyone else had been given a chance to vote for their ...
Sermon
James Merritt
I want you to listen again to two lines in this song. Between who you are and who you could be Between how it is and how it should be If that tension is in your life, I am going to dare you to move. I am going to dare you to move to the next level of spiritual growth in your life – to move from where you are now to where you could be on the road to both spiritual life and spiritual maturity. What I want to say to many of you today is something that we all tell our kids (or one day you will tell your kids) ...
409. Head's Up!
Luke 21:5-38
Sermon
David E. Leininger
Wait a minute! Christmas is coming. What about Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright?" Instead we hear "...nations will be in anguish...the roaring and tossing of the sea...People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world...the heavenly bodies will be shaken." Ho, ho, ho! Where is Santa when we need him? So why in the world would the church choose a Gospel lesson such as this to begin Advent and our preparation for the coming of the Christ child? Good reason. The ...
Children's Sermon
Wesley T. Runk
Object: A big bottle of vitamins, box of Wheaties, jar of peanut butter Good morning, boys and girls. How is everyone today? Are you getting excited about Christmas? It will be here before we know it! I'll bet your mothers and fathers have been so busy that they could use some of the things I brought with me today. (Hold up and name the items.) Why do we take vitamins, boys and girls? (Let them tell you.) That's right. Vitamins help us when we are young to grow into healthy men and women. When we are ...
Eulogy
Robert Noblett
Congregation Experiencing Several Deaths In A Brief Period On a fourth of July weekend when I was a fairly young man, a friend of my father's invited a friend of mine and me to go on a boat ride with him on Conesus Lake, one of the so-called Finger Lakes in central New York state. Even as a young man I recognized this person to be one who trafficked with what is dicey, but for some reason we capitulated to pressure and got into the boat. To make short a long story, it was a frightening experience. The man ...
Children's Sermon
Object: A jar of pickles, mustard, catsup, onion, mayonnaise, lettuce, cheese, tomato, relish and anything else you might put on a hamburger. Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about keeping things simple. Being simple is the best way, and usually it is the easiest way. I want to prove something to you and to everyone here so you will have to help me. How many of you like hamburgers? (Let them answer.) Everyone likes a good hamburger. Now I want everyone to tell me what you like on ...
Sermon
James Merritt
What do men want most in their homes? A survey was taken a few years ago to determine what men care about most, and what they hope their wives will understand. The results were shocking. Men did not want expensive furniture, well-equipped garages, or a private study in which to work. What they wanted most was tranquility at home. In other words, they wanted peace.1 I am convinced that everyone is looking for peace. Recently I was in Jerusalem, and I took a taxi down to the Old City. The cab driver was a ...
Sermon
King Duncan
A few years back there was a movie titled, Tucker. It's the story of a man who tried to fight the Detroit automobile industry by attempting to introduce a car named after himself. In one scene, Tucker is talking about how his mother came from the old country. She was Italian and had a very heavy accent. Tucker remembered that for years when he was young she said to him, "Don't get too close to people, you'll catch their dreams." What she was really saying in broken English was, "Don't get too close to ...
415. Lent: Giving Up
Mark 1:9-15
Illustration
Billy D. Strayhorn
Self Denial is about making a sacrifice that makes a difference, focusing on the Cross and reminding ourselves what Christ gave up for us. Rev. Craig Gates of Jackson Mississippi has a great list of suggestions. He says we should: GIVE UP grumbling! Instead, "In everything give thanks." Constructive criticism is OK, but "moaning, groaning, and complaining" are not Christian disciplines. GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed! Instead, use that time in prayer, Bible study and personal devotion. A few minutes in ...
Children's Sermon
Teresa L. Major
Concept: Sin sneaks up on us slowly, then all at once, it ensnares us. Preparation: A spool of thread. I need a helper this morning. (Choose one youngster to assist. Position him/her where he/she can be seen by the congregation. Have the child extend his/her hands, wrists together, as you tie one loop of thread around the wrists while beginning to speak.) Let's see how strong you are. Can you pull your wrists apart and break that thread? Sure you can, it's just a little piece of wimpy string. Anyone can ...
Sermon
King Duncan
Several years ago, a barbers' supply company held a large convention in a metropolitan city. To show the world how good their products were they organized a publicity stunt. They went to the worst section of town and brought back the dirtiest and most helpless drunk they could find. They presented him on the stage. Everyone saw how dirty and unkempt his hair and beard were. Then they took him out and cleaned him up. They shaved him. They shampooed and styled his hair. They sprayed him with cologne. They ...
Sermon
Donald Macleod
Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, his tongue was ...
419. Questions
Matthew 4:18-22
Sermon
John Jamison
Have you ever had news to tell someone that you were afraid to tell them because you really didn't know how they would respond? You don't want to tell them, but you know eventually you will have to? In my mind, that is how it happened. All the way back from the well, Mary stewed. Would he be angry or sad, or say nothing at all? Would he go away, or stay here? For months he had been paying close attention to everything John had been doing. He had questioned every traveler through town for news of John, the ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
A religious poll asked people this question: “Do you believe in the Second Coming of Christ?” If the respondent said yes, a subsequent question was put to them: “What would you do if you knew Jesus was coming back today?” One young man replied, “Look busy, Man! Look busy!” Isn’t that the mindset of our age? It seems as though most of us build our lives on the premise that personal worth and significance, as well as meaning in life, is dependent upon being busy. Too often we are identified by what we ...
Sermon
Richard W. Ferris
"If I go down, I'm taking you down with me." We've all heard that line. It's been used in movies and on television shows. We've seen it written in books and even in real-life news articles. Maybe we've even had it said directly to us. Somebody is in big trouble, and they are not going to face the punishment without involving someone else in their suffering. Sometimes there's even a line that follows: "That's not just a threat; it's a promise," just to let us know that they are not bluffing. If they are ...
Sermon
Mark Trotter
“Amazing Grace” is always listed among the favorite hymns. It is an old one. It goes back to the 18th century, written by John Newton, who was on the sea from the time he was a little boy. When he was a young man he became the captain of his own ship, a ship that brought African slaves to the colonies to work the plantations. Back in England, between voyages, he went to hear George Whitefield preach and was converted. He realized the evil of his occupation, left it, and became a priest in the Church of ...
Sermon
Robert A. Hausman
All Saints is a time to celebrate the victory over death we share with all the saints and our risen Lord. Still, we must never think that victory is an easy one. Death is an overwhelming power that interrupts our communion with God and with one another. It is the destroyer of all that is true and good. Israel had known that power at work in her own communal disaster, the destruction of Jerusalem. Those kings anointed to be shepherds of Israel fleeced the sheep, and those appointed to care for the welfare ...
Children's Sermon
Wesley T. Runk
Object: Some large containers with things to fill them: trash, candy, clothes, empty bottles, etc. Good morning to you and welcome to God's House. It really makes everyone feel good when God's house is filled and it makes us sad when it isn't filled. Jesus used to tell stories about how God wanted His Kingdom filled with people who wanted to believe and be a part of Him. Once he told a story about a great dinner that a king had prepared. The king invited all of his friends. But his friends made excuses and ...
425. Look Up and Live
Numbers 21:4-9
Sermon
David E. Leininger
Snakes. Do you like snakes? Not many do. I can think of no other creature on the face of the planet that so universally brings forth a sense of revulsion and disgust. True or not, we think of snakes as icky, slimy, nasty, and as our Old Testament lesson reminds, DANGEROUS. It seems that the children of Israel, in the midst of their wilderness wandering after the escape from slavery in Egypt, had stumbled on to a location south of the Dead Sea that is infamous for its lethal snakes. "Big deal," they no ...
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