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 426 to 450 of 609 results

426. Getting to a Teachable Moment

Mark 15:1-15

Sermon

Craig MacCreary

... am placed in the context of the crowd I find much evidence of who I am. I shout for quick answers. Jesus helps us come to terms with the unanswerable and the reality “of that day or hour nobody knows.” I want solutions to problems. Jesus leads me to cherish the mystery that people are. I like to believe that most of what bedevils human experience can be handled by human inventiveness. I don’t want to admit that I often meet failure in life because the most dangerous demons can only be cast out by a ...

427. Show Me Your Baptismal Certificate

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... covenant, where we take on the identity as followers of Jesus, and where we find our authority to minister in the body of the church and to exercise Jesus’ mission in the world. To say “I am baptized” is to proclaim an identity found in a love that cherishes the most when it lets the loved one go. It’s more than a “kind” love. It’s a sacrificial love. It’s a love that “lays down” one’s own preference so that others can “pick up” the truth. When a parent truly loves a child, they ...

428. Poem: Adonais

Eulogy

Percy Bysshe Shelley

... refulgent prime; And some yet live, treading the thorny road Which leads, through toil and hate, to Fame’s serene abode. VI. But now, thy youngest, dearest one, has perished - The nursling of thy widowhood, who grew, Like a pale flower by some sad maiden cherished, And fed with true-love tears, instead of dew; Most musical of mourners, weep anew! Thy extreme hope, the loveliest and the last, The bloom, whose petals nipped before they blew Died on the promise of the fruit, is waste; The broken lily lies ...

429. No Longer Strangers

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others, Comes back into our own. Now, each of us has different needs. I recognize that some of us have a need for privacy. There are some of you who would say to me, “The greatest thing I cherish is my privacy.” I can understand that. Everybody needs to be alone at some point or another. Even Jesus needed privacy. There are those places in the Scripture where he says things like, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place . . .” (Mark 6:1) and the ...

430. Peace Comes to Our Hearts

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... grasp at things external because internally they are paupers. “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Could you give thanks this Christmas if some of the things you cherish most were stripped from you? How about your sight and your hearing and even your speech? There was a little girl who was born in 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, named Helen Keller. She came into a dark world . . . without sight, without hearing ...

431. Peter Addresses the Crowd

Acts 2:14-41

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... had. For Peter it was still a matter of our God in the narrow sense of Jewish nationalism, and even the reference in 3:26 to Jesus being sent “first” to the Jews does not necessarily imply “then to the Gentiles also” in the Pauline sense, but only the long-cherished hope that in the new age the Gentiles would flock to Mount Zion to join in the worship of God (see, e.g., Ps. 22:27; Isa. 2:2f.; 56:6–8; Zeph. 3:9f.; Zech. 14:16; Psalms of Solomon 17:33–35; Sibylline Oracles 3.702–28, 772 ...

432. Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

Acts 16:11-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... a number of veterans. It was in Antony’s mind to make it a colony, but it was only after his defeat by Octavius in the battle of Actium (31 B.C.) that Philippi was granted that status. With it came more Italian settlers. The most cherished possession of such a colony was its “Italian right” (the ius Italicum) “by which the whole legal position of the colonists in respect of ownership, transfer of land, payment of taxes, local administration, and law, became the same as if they were upon Italian soil ...

433. Freedom In Christ

Galatians 5:1-15, Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... Christians to advocate circumcision so that they could interact with Gentile Christians without risk of being persecuted themselves (6:12; see notes on 4:17 and cf. Phil. 3:2–3). Paul may be including in his reference to persecution the fact that his cherished Galatian churches are being negatively influenced by the rival evangelists. Paul regarded the cross as the pivotal point of his message and so as synonymous with the gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 1:17). The “message of the cross” is the saving power of God ...

434. Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... the pastor and his/her people (cf. Gal. 4:19; also Num. 11:12; see W. A. Meeks, The Moral World of the First Christians [Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986], pp. 125–30). The verb, thalpō, means strictly, “to warm,” but carries its secondary sense, “to care for,” “to cherish” (cf. Eph. 5:29). 2:8 We loved you so much, Paul adds, and the verse ends as it begins on this note, that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. It is conjectured that the ...

435. Paul's Charge to Timothy

1 Timothy 6:11-21

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... . 12:8, 13; 2 Cor. 9:6–15). Paul’s command strikes at the twin perils of the wealthy: not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain. The word for arrogant is a compound of two words that mean “to think, or cherish, exalted thoughts” (KJV, “high-minded”; cf. Rom. 11:20; 12:16). Arrogance, or pride, is the deadly sin of all people, but it seems to be the special curse of the rich. Not only that, but they tend to put altogether too much confidence in what is so uncertain ...

436. Division of the Land East of the Jordan

Joshua 13:8-33

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... for today’s spiritual leaders. It parallels Jesus’ promise of sending the Holy Spirit, the Counselor (John 14:26), who quiets the fears of believers and guarantees Jesus’ presence with followers (Matt. 28:19–20). The presence of God provides a blessing equal to possessing land. That presence remains the cherished inheritance of Christians.

437. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 19:1-29

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... the idea of verse 4b; see also 14:20a. Relatives have the greater obligation toward their own. The final line is corrupt; see Additional Notes. 19:8 Synonymous. True love of self lies in the possession of “heart” (which the NIV renders as wisdom). Cherishes is weak; “keeps” is better. 19:9 See the comment on verse 5. 19:10 Synonymous a fortiori conclusion. According to sapiential (wisdom) thinking, the fool should not prosper so as to be in luxury. But as verse 10b exemplifies, there can be even ...

438. Punishment for Israel

Hosea 9:1--10:15

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... . It is like an uprooted tree or like an unwatered tree that shrivels and dies and therefore cannot bear fruit. And the death of its children is now, not the result of war or exile or flight, but the result of the act of Yahweh himself: I will slay their cherished offspring. God himself will do his people to death. God, the lover of his bride Israel (2:15), God who reared his infant son of a people (11:1–4), God who desires to heal his people (6:11–7:1) and who agonizes over losing them (11:8–9 ...

439. Judgment on Israel's Enemies

Zechariah 9:1-8

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

The First Oracle: The arrangement of the various prophetic sayings in Zechariah 7–8 has opened up a space between the return to the land and the promised age to come. God has reaffirmed the cherished promises but moved them into the future relative to the fourth year of Darius, thereby encouraging the waiting community to hold on to its hopes. Meanwhile, God makes clear to them that the Law and the earlier prophetic preaching still define their relationship to God. Even after coming through the ...

440. Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel

Philippians 1:12-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

Paul’s Present Situation The Christians of Philippi were deeply concerned about Paul. They cherished a warm affection for him; they knew that he was now in custody awaiting trial and that his case was due to come up for hearing soon before the supreme tribunal of the empire. How was he faring right now? And what would be the outcome of the hearing when ...

441. Timothy and Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:19-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... as a suitable companion and trusted representative in his apostolic ministry were qualities that might well have worked for his personal advantage had he decided to exploit them to further his own career. One can only guess the ambitions Timothy might have begun to cherish in his mind when Paul visited his home in Lystra and persuaded him to be his associate and helper. A year or two earlier Paul had been disappointed in another young man, John Mark of Jerusalem, who bade farewell to Barnabas and himself in ...

442. The Birth of Isaac

Genesis 21:1-7

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... a son when he was old. She who had laughed in disbelief at the angel’s announcement that she would bear a son (18:12–15) now laughs in joyful glee for her son named “laughter.” 21:8 Delighted at finally having a son by Sarah and desirous of cherishing the stages of his son’s growth, Abraham held a great feast when Isaac was weaned. Although weaning took place at different ages, Isaac must have been older than three (1 Sam. 1:22, 24; 2 Macc. 7:27). 21:9–10 At this feast Sarah became extremely ...

443. Abraham Tested

Genesis 22:1-19

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... ’s resolve overcame his resistance as he set out for the place God had told him about. 22:4–5 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. We can imagine that their pace had been quite deliberate as Abraham cherished the brief time he had left with Isaac. Apparently he did so in silence; the silence conveys the sobriety of his feelings as he carried out God’s command. Having arrived in the vicinity of the designated place, Abraham needed to give instructions. Wanting to make ...

444. Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessing

Genesis 27:1-40

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... to the blessing he had lost. 27:30–33 As soon as Isaac finished the blessing, Jacob left. For him the tension was over. For the reader, however, the suspense increases. What will be the reactions of Isaac and Esau on finding out that a long-cherished dream has been shattered? At the beginning of this scene the narrator identifies Isaac as Jacob’s father and Esau as his brother to underscore that Jacob’s deception had been against the closest members of his family. Soon after Jacob left his father’s ...

445. Jesus Transfigured as a Foreshadowing of Future Glory

Matthew 17:1-13

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... and certainly expresses Matthew’s exhortation to his own audience. All believers in Jesus should listen and follow what he says. And what we hear from Jesus in these “discipleship chapters” of Matthew sometimes involves teachings that challenge our cherished understandings, much like they did Jesus’ disciples, who struggled to comprehend his expectations for them. For example, Jesus teaches about a way of discipleship that is cross-shaped, as is his own mission (16:21–28). This cruciformity pushes ...

446. The Disciples’ Insufficient Faith to Heal as Jesus Heals

Matthew 17:14-23, Matthew 17:24-27

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... aside rights willingly probably sounds strange to many. We speak regularly of our rights (the Bill of Rights, constitutional rights, human rights, civil rights, Miranda rights, patient’s rights). We live with an expectation that our rights will be honored and protected. Listing the rights that we cherish and then reading through them in light of a cruciform discipleship described in this text (specifically, 17:24–27) would create a rich point of reflection and discussion among contemporary disciples.

447. Eschatological Discourse: Prediction of the Temple’s Destruction

Matthew 24:1-35

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... meaning rumble on in every successive generation of Christian discipleship. We too are called to be faithful, to hold on and not be alarmed. We too may be called to live through troubled times and to last out to the end. We too may see the destruction of cherished and beautiful symbols. Our calling then is to hold on to Jesus himself, to continue to trust him, to believe that the one who was vindicated by God in the first century will one day be vindicated before the whole world. We too are called to live ...

448. The Model of Jesus for Discipleship Service, Not Self-Seeking

Mark 9:33-37, Mark 9:38-41, Mark 9:42-50

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... . A related term is to “put off” or “throw away” such vices (Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:8; Heb. 12:1; James 1:21); they are old, useless clothes that must be completely discarded. The tendency of all too many of us to rationalize our cherished sins is a terrible, dangerous gambit that will backfire on us and bring present misery as well as future judgment. 3. Trials are essential to spiritual growth.Too many people believe that Christians are not supposed to have difficulties, that since we are “the king ...

449. The Good Life

Luke 6:17-26

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... ., “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” etc.; Matt 5:3–10). This theme, which runs throughout Luke’s Gospel, can produce challenges as well as opportunities for the pastor and teacher. In a society where wealth, privilege, and power are so cherished and sought after, how can poverty, hunger, weeping, and persecution be avenues of blessing? Think of experiences in your life or the lives of others where need and want have actually been opportunities for God’s blessing. Consider also the implications of ...

450. The New-Covenant Blessings: Peace and Hope

Romans 5:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... might imply that Christians have gained entrance before God only once, while the second rendering indicates continual appearance before God. 3. The theme of glory through suffering (see 5:2b–4) has two backgrounds: Adamic and eschatological. The first has to do with the cherished hope in Second Temple Judaism that righteous suffering would restore the lost glory of Adam (e.g., 1QS 4.22–23; CD 3.20; 1QHa 4.15; 2 Baruch; 4 Ezra).3Second, Paul’s term for “suffering” in 5:3, thlipsis, can simply ...

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