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 4226 to 4250 of 4957 results

4226. A Truly Universal Operating System

Romans 14:1-12

Sermon

Larry Lange

... "so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark" (Revelation 13:16-17). The mark was supposed to be the name of the apocalyptic beast and "the number of its name" (Revelation 13:17). A fellow from the group, named John, even claimed to have discovered that number in the XC software code. Months later, when a letter finally came to the church in Rome from the apostle Paul (email in Rome had been fatally damaged by a series of Trojan Horses), Billius hoped that something in the letter would settle ...

4227. A Vision Vanished

Philippians 3:4-14

Sermon

Larry Lange

... to give him an idea of what to do to say "thanks." Arnold was definitely not comfortable talking with suits across shiny wooden desks. "Was it Jesus, or am I crazy, or what?" was all he could manage to blurt out. "Well, many people claim to have seen Jesus or the Virgin Mary," the pastor began. He went on to lecture Arnold about how such things were often psychological phenomena through which indigenous people integrated intrusive Western religious traditions into their own cultures, and the pastor went on ...

4228. All in the Family

1 John 3:1-3

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... to see the preacher staring right at him. Ben assumed that the preacher was about to make a guess as to who his father was. Then the preacher said, "Boy, I see a striking resemblance. I know who you are. You are a child of God. Now, go claim your inheritance." Ben left church that day a different person because someone recognized him as a child of God. Later in life, Ben Hooper was twice-elected governor of Tennessee. We are God's children, not because of anything we do, but simply because God loves us. As ...

4229. Character Approved: Stand Up or Stand Out?

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , athletes get a “character approved” stamp from the TV network for doing what they do. Both the actors on USA network shows and the people the network has chosen to highlight on these “character” spots share a common identity. They all claim, “I’m a character.” Being a character is different than HAVING character. Being identified as a “character” means you stand out. Having “character” means you stand up. Martin Luther King implored the crowd listening to his “I Have A Dream ...

4230. A Winning Life

Hebrews 13:1-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... cannot fail. Follow it and not only will you be successful as a follower of Jesus, but you will be successful as a parent, as a spouse, as a member of the community. In other words, you will be successful as a human being. I’m making an extravagant claim, I know, but I have seen this formula work time and time again. Here is the first part of the formula: keep on loving. Now you may ask, love whom? And the answer is, of course, everybody. Love people you go to church with, people you live with, people ...

4231. Servant Morality vs Master Morality

Luke 14:1-14

Illustration

W. Robert McClelland

... we create. Values are not hung "out there" like stars in the sky. We are the ones who do the valuing. The clues to ethical behavior come from within ourselves and are not prescribed for us by some external authority. Values are neither objective nor carved in stone despite the claims of the church. Instead, they come from an internal gyroscope that guides the course of our lives. But the question always arises: How do we then live with thousands of people creating their own morality?

4232. If You’re Angry

Matthew 18:15-20

Children's Sermon

Marti Kramer Suddarth

... people. It happens, and God understands. It isn’t a sin to get angry, but what we do about that anger is important. Sometimes it’s fun to be angry, isn’t it? You get to be the center of attention when you tell everyone about it. You get to claim that you’d never do such a thing. (We call that “righteous indignation.”) But that isn’t what Jesus wants us to do, is it? Imagine Ignatz, again. What if Ignatz didn’t realize that the thing he did would hurt my feelings? What if he didn’t even do ...

4233. What We Do, We Do to Others, Too

Matthew 18:1-9

Children's Sermon

Marti Kramer Suddarth

... have reports to fill out. They may need to clean the bank, they’ll have to learn a new security system, and someone might even lose a job. Many people are affected by the insurance payment, too. The insurance rates will go up if the company pays very many claims, or our taxes may go up if the bank is covered by the government. Even if all of this wasn’t true, there is someone else who is hurt by the bank robber’s actions. That person is you. Remember that we’re imagining the bank robber is someone ...

4234. Help Me, I'm Lost

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... a relationship with Christ, we have a new relationship with every other person on earth. Jesus was telling these parables to a crowd that included scribes and Pharisees, as well as sinners and tax-collectors. Jesus wanted them to see that none of them had an exclusive claim on the kingdom of God. We are all sinners saved by grace. Consequently, we dare not look down on anyone else. Each of us is precious to God and so is everyone else on earth. That makes us brothers and sisters, whoever we may be, whatever ...

4235. When I Say I Am a Christian

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

James W. Moore

... of success. I'm admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt. When I say, ‘I am a Christian,' I don't think I know it all. I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught. When I say ‘I am a Christian,' I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I'm worth it. When I say, ‘I am a Christian,' I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name. When I say, ‘I am a Christian ...

4236. 1 Timothy 2:1-7

1 Timothy 2:1-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... one mediator, this one death, divinely enabled universal salvation for all who hear and follow the gospel. That this is a missional message is further affirmed by the concluding Pauline statement in today’s text. The first identity claimed for Paul is as “herald,” a messenger. The second self-identification, as “apostle,” affirms the divine origin of Paul’s mission and message. Finally he is a “teacher,” specifically charged with communicating this “glorious gospel” to “the Gentiles ...

4237. Like Running a Business

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

King Duncan

... 's attorney argued like this in response: "A church is a nonprofit organization manned for the most part by volunteers. No one has a right to expect it to be run with the smart efficiency of a business concern. Abigail, therefore, has no real claim." If you were the judge, asks the writer, would you award damages to Abigail? What I found interesting in this hypothetical situation was the characterization of the church. "A church is a nonprofit organization manned for the most part by volunteers. . . No one ...

4238. The Purpose of Wealth

Luke 16:1-15

Illustration

Donald M. Tuttle

... of companies housed in the World Trade Center and the surrounding buildings lost not only millions of dollars in business but more importantly the people at the core of their success. Insurers paid as much as $35 billion in attack-related claims. The airline industry was crushed. More than 120,000 airline employees were laid off. Restaurants dependent of convention business suffered. Taxi drivers who serve airports. Cruise lines. The list was endless. The Dow Jones Stock Exchange fell dramatically. And the ...

4239. Finder's Keepers

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... nature of people who have lost something and are in search of it. Remember the childhood little "Finder's Keepers, Loser's Weepers." We all used to use it when our brother or sister dropped a nickel or a dime and we found it. It was our way of laying claim to that which had been lost. Today in our Scripture, Jesus not only illustrates the frantic nature of those doing the searching; He also shows how much rejoicing there is for the one who is found. Let's look at Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV) : [1] Now all the tax ...

4240. Broken Lives and Broken Chains

Luke 8:26-39

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... Goods, ready for the trash heap. Jesus helped Blackie change the Legacy he was leaving behind. Conclusion On the cross, Jesus broke the stranglehold that sin and death have over us. Through the cross and the empty tomb, Jesus won forgiveness for us. He has redeemed us. He has claimed and reclaimed us as his own. He has made us new, given us a fresh start, and given us his Holy Spirit to help us in the face of Temptation. I don't know what Chain is holding you today. I don't know what Bondage you feel your ...

4241. Moving Day

John 14:23-29

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... we will come to them and make our home with them." If we are obedient and faithful God promises to Move in with us. B. But the opposite is also true. Jesus said: "Whoever does not love me does not keep my words." Our country and the faith we claim has been given a black eye because a few people did not keep God's word. Our credibility, our integrity and our faithfulness have been called into question by a few overzealous, self-righteous thugs who have forgotten what we as a people and nation stand for and ...

4242. How's Your Serve?

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... 're called to follow His example. And we can only do that when our heart belongs to Him. Let me give you an example. James Moore tells about a man named George. George was a peacemaker with a big heart and wonderful sense of humor. George claimed he was, "so tenderhearted that he cried at supermarket openings!" Everyone at Church loved George. He was respected at the hospital where he worked. The reason so many people loved George was because he was always kind and always respectful to everyone he met. His ...

4243. Remember: Live Worthy of the Calling

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . Not wanting to get in trouble myself, I told them I would, if I could. First the man asked if Woody Mathews was a member of our congregation and I said, "Yes he is." Then the man proceeded to tell me that for the last three years Woody Mathews has claimed that he has donated $20,000 to the church. Then the IRS agent asked: "Did he really write those checks?" And I answered the only way I could. I said: "He will." (5) That's called Faith. You see I have faith that if that really happened, A.J. / Woody ...

4244. Family Matters

Romans 8:12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (John 14:18) "I will not leave you orphaned." (John 3:36) "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life." B. There are hundreds of other promises as well. Promises that we can and should claim; promises that are ours because we are heirs with Christ and they are part of our inheritance. These are the promises of the Family. These promises are Family Matters. And as Family Matters they should be passed down from parent to child. They should be passed ...

4245. Eyes To See, Ears To Hear

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

James McCormick

... with that God. How are we to understand that? The Christian gospel proclaims the existence of a God who has not said His last word, a God who has not done His last deed, a God of the present and future as well as a God of the past. We claim that God is here and that God is at work. Yet, most people say, “Where? Yes, I believe in God, but I have never had any personal dealings with God.” How are we to understand that? Maybe the problem is not with God’s absence or God’s silence. Maybe ...

4246. WWE Raw, Jesus Style

Luke 6:17-26, Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... .com” the appearance of a single “leaf” next to a name is the signal that there is more information available. But many of us don’t have “family trees.” We don’t have a familiar forest of known relatives we can point to and proudly claim as our own. Some of us have family blackberry bushes. By that I mean unwieldy, twisted, brier-patch knots that are way too thorny to investigate without getting hurt. Whether you have a well-shaped family tree or an untamed bramble bush in your personal ...

4247. Can You Be Popular and Serve Jesus?

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... sixteen sounds were heard. So the professor, thinking that he perhaps had erred while he counted, finished up the tally by reporting that he heard sixteen sounds. The same process was repeated. This time the professor counted nine. During the second round all claimed to have heard eleven sounds. When it came time for the professor to report, he sighed with resignation and said “eleven.” In succeeding rounds, the numbers varied wildly. Sometimes they were off as much as half the number. But each time the ...

4248. When the Church Becomes a Culture of Complainers and Crusaders, What To Do?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... destroy you. But in spite of being treated as the enemy, the biggest thing Paul did was to remind his readers of what they had heard for themselves: they had heard from him, from those they knew and trusted, and from their community of faith. Paul claimed for himself the apostolic authority of followership, and he proved his passion adamantly and with attitude. He faithfully lifted up the words of Jesus, the mission of Jesus, and the grace and love of the God who sent Jesus into the world. Yet no matter how ...

4249. Good News about Hair

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

King Duncan

... when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” Jesus had no use for those who were continually looking for signs. He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation ...

4250. The End Is Near

Luke 21:5-19

Illustration

Lewis Grizzard

Humorist Lewis Grizzard wrote about a man in his hometown named Luther Gilroy. Luther claimed he was out plowing his field and saw a sign in the sky that said THE END IS NEAR. So Luther let his mule and his cow out of their pens, gave all his chickens away, and climbed on top of his house to await the end. When it didn' ...

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