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 426 to 450 of 538 results
Sermon
King Duncan
On February, 27, 1991, at the height of Desert Storm, Ruth Dillow received a very sad message from the Pentagon. It stated that her son, Clayton Carpenter, Private 1st Class, had stepped on a mine in Kuwait and was dead. Ruth Dillow later wrote, “I can’t begin to describe my grief and shock. It was almost more than I could bear. For 3 days I wept. For 3 days I expressed anger and loss. For 3 days people tried to comfort me, to no avail because the loss was too great.” Every parent here can relate to her ...
Understanding Series
James K. Bruckner
The first sixteen verses of Exodus 13 belong to the framework that begins in Exodus 12. They return to the themes of unleavened bread and the firstborn, completing the braided work of 12:1–13:16 (see an outline of this structure in §13). The observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (B′) in verses 2–10, with Moses speaking the message to the people, mirrors God’s words to Moses in (B), 12:14–20. The law of the firstborn redemption in verses 11–16 (A′) mirrors the killing of the firstborn in Egypt and the ...
Understanding Series
John Goldingay
The Gifts of Comfort and Energy: So Isaiah 39, set in Isaiah’s own day, envisages the future deportation of Judeans to Babylon. Isaiah 40–55, however, is set in the time after this deportation has happened. It does not say “In days to come God will send a message of comfort to people who have been punished,” in the manner of a passage such as 30:19–26. It says, rather, “God is now comforting you who have been punished.” The traditional view is that these chapters were written by Isaiah ben Amoz, and we may ...
Sermon
Michael B. Brown
About age 41, I noticed that the quality of print in newspapers and phone books had diminished significantly. The ink they were using seemed of a poorer quality, because the print had begun to blur. The type was much smaller than it previously had been. Prior to complaining to our local publisher, my wife prevailed upon me to consult a nearby ophthalmologist. Following my exam, the man gave me a prescription for bifocals. I asked, "Why do I need bifocals?" and he simply replied with a smile, "It's time." " ...
Sermon
Sue Anne Steffey Morrow
We were school girls dressed in the school colors, green and white, jumpers, blazers, pullover. Our oxfords were tied sturdily all through the winter - replaced by saddle shoes in the spring and the fall. We were school girls in the biology lab and on the hockey field, in the library and in the art studio. School girls reciting Latin declensions, U.S. presidents, the poetry of Emily Dickinson. School girls, we were, tutoring younger children. As we grew older, we became school girls adolescent, with an eye ...
431. Easter 7
John 17:20-26, Psalm 47:1-9, Acts 7:54--8:1a, Acts 16:6-10, Acts 16:16-40, 1 Samuel 12:1-25, Revelation 22:7-21
Sermon Aid
George Bass
THEOLOGICAL CLUE This Sunday might very well be called "Consolidation Sunday," because it is known now as the Seventh Sunday of Easter, rather Exaudi, the Sunday after the Ascension of our Lord. Whereas, Exaudi had a mini-season of a week's duration with Pentecost as its octave, the Seventh Sunday is deliberately incorporated into the great 50 days of Easter. In effect, it "completes" the Easter season, which is brought to a dramatic closure on the festival of Pentecost. The "Christ is risen! He is risen, ...
Sermon
Alvin Rueter
I saw a cartoon once showing a man sweating and grunting, carrying a whole church on his back. Can you identify with that? It seems as though the demands of church membership are pretty heavy, aren’t they? Always asking us for money - if not to repair the roof, then for missions or for hunger. If we complain we don’t have anything to spare, then we’re told we should eat a bit less and give the difference. On top of asking for our money, the church also wants our time - for committees, for teaching, for ...
Sermon
Jerry L. Schmalemberger
Did you ever hear such a story? The Gospel for the day tells it: a man gave a marriage feast and no one showed. He sent his servants out and found everyone too busy. Some even treated his servants badly when they were invited. So he went out into the streets and dragged in anyone who would come, and finally the wedding reception was full. To those who heard the story from Jesus’ own mouth, there was special meaning: The guests who had been invited and didn’t come were the Jewish people. They had been ...
Sermon
Donald Macleod
Three short illustrations fit aptly into the pattern of our thinking today: 1. Mark Antony, in his eulogy at the funeral of Julius Caesar, had just whipped up the emotions of the crowd to fever pitch, and as they broke out into a vengeful mob seeking Brutus and the other traitors, Antony stood by and remarked: "There let it work!" 2. A visitor to the City of Rome was being shown the wealth and riches of the Roman Church - its monuments, shrines, gilded altars and diamond studded chalices - and the guide ...
Sermon
Robert Leslie Holmes
The life of Elijah is filled with fascinating experiences that help us to see God more clearly and live on a higher plane. Today’s Scripture reading is a good example of that. In a nation whose laws required its citizens to provide for the prophets, God used saucy, impudent birds noted for their thievery and dirty lifestyle to feed Elijah. “The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening” (1 Kings 17:6). Ravens live off dead carcasses and steal food stored up by ...
Sermon
James W. Moore
There is no pain in the world quite like it: the awful pain of feeling rejected. It hurts! It crushes the spirit and breaks the heart. Let me show you what I mean with a true story. Pastor James Moore tells a story about a girl named Jessica. She was a tall, slender, sixteen-year-old blonde girl, who looked like she might grow up to be a model or president of the P.T.A., or a corporate executive. She was attractive, outgoing, personable, radiant, and happy. She was an only child and her parents were ...
Sermon
King Duncan
*Have someone sing the refrain: "Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? O-o-o-o, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" Two young boys in Kenya were out working in the fields cutting grass. As they swung their long knives through the tall stalks, one young boy stumbled into the other's path. He suffered a deep cut to his heel. The two boys dropped their knives and headed immediately for the mission ...
438. Living in the Red
Galatians 6:11-18
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
Once upon a time there was a court jester who had served the Caliph at Baghdad and his court, keeping them amused whenever they called on him. One day in a moment of thoughtlessness, he offended the Caliph. For his impertinence, the Caliph ordered that the jester be put to death. "However," said the ruler, "in consideration of your many years of service, I will let you decide how you will die." "Well," replied the jester, "if it's all the same to you, O most generous Caliph, I choose death by old age." ...
439. Make Me a Sheep
Revelation 5:1-14
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
Our eight year old came home from school a few weeks ago singing a new song they had been learning, "Lord, Make Me A Sheep." Now . . . even though the song was cute and catchy, and even though I know it was teaching an important theological truth, it still rankled. Make Me A Sheep? It just doesn't sound like a dream any father or mother should want for their son or daughter. Make me courteous and kind. Of course. Make me strong. Yes, definitely. Make me independent. Sure! Make me courageous. Of course. ...
Sermon
J. Howard Olds
Happiness is…. Well, how would you define it? The playpen philosopher, Marvin, says, “Happiness is a diaper fresh from the dryer on a cold morning." Author Robert Fulghum says, “Happiness is a big box of crayons, the kind with the sharpener built in." Ziggy says, “I wish I knew the secret to happiness. I would tell everybody I know." Writer John Powell says, “Happiness is an inside job." The Westminster Confession says, “To be happy is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." The author of Psalm 100 says, “ ...
Sermon
King Duncan
Pastor Doug Henry tells about a television commercial from Citibank. The bank wanted to say “thank you” to their customers for using their credit cards, so they were starting a rewards program whereby you could earn cash back just for using their card. One of the commercials involved two ladies in a grocery store. One lady put her hand on the stomach of the other and asked her when her baby was due. The woman looks at her and says, “I’m not pregnant.” Oops! Not knowing what else to say, the woman replies ...
442. All Night Long
Song of Songs 3:1-11
Understanding Series
Elizabeth Huwiler
Dream and Vision: This chapter presents a surprising mix, unlike what has come before, although it is clearly linked with the context. The opening section (3:1–4) apparently reports a dream in which the woman seeks her lover and finds him, followed by another instance of the adjuration to the daughters of Jerusalem (3:5). The next verse (3:6) is an enigmatic question or exclamation, perhaps functioning as a transition from the adjuration to the following section. The closing verses form a descriptive ...
Sermon
King Duncan
Years ago a religious talk show hostess was interviewing a new believer. The new believer had come from the wrong side of the tracks--economically, socially, morally, and spiritually. As he gave his testimony, this man, who had seen it all and done it all continually thanked God for the change God had made in his life. “I can’t express,” he said, “the gratitude I feel that God has changed my life.” The talk show hostess knew where he was coming from--for she, too, had walked on life’s wild side before ...
Sermon
Tom Garrison
What intrigues us the most is that mysterious boundary where the human and the divine intersect. This was the place I said I wanted to plant my life and to do my central work. This was, in fact, living out the charge that was given to me the night I was ordained to the Christian ministry. I still remember the way an old pastor stated it. He said, "Tom, I admonish you to stay close to God, stay close to humankind, and to make it the goal of your ministry to bring God and humankind closer together." This ...
Sermon
Ronald Lavin
...Here am I among you like a servant. -- Luke 22:27 (NEB) ____________ The old Gospel hymn, "I Love To Tell The Story," is a helpful point of departure as we begin looking at Jesus, the Servant. I love to tell the storyOf unseen things above,Of Jesus and his glory,Of Jesus and his love.I love to tell the story,Because I know it's true;It satisfies my longingsAs nothing else would do. I love to tell the story:How pleasant to repeat.What seems, each time I tell it,More wonderfully sweet!I love to tell the ...
Sermon
John R. Brokhoff
"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God ..." "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) "Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus ..." In a gospel song, these words of the refrain are sung over and over with each stanza. The chorus repeats the truth of our test: Obedience to God’s commands is the only way to get happiness (blessing). People in palaces are not automatically happy. The ...
447. Where Is Your Home?
2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Sermon
King Duncan
Children say the most outrageous things. Laurie and her husband, Ralph, have a little ritual they go through with their kids when one of their pet goldfish dies. The whole family gathers in the bathroom and around the commode. Little Anthony, the 3-year-old, holds the "deceased" while his sister says a little prayer. Then Anthony drops the fish in the bowl and Lexy, the 5-year-old, flushes it to heaven. One day, during one of these rituals, Lexy asked her dad if "Wito," her Grandpa who passed away a few ...
Sermon
Eric Ritz
Now, let us shift gears and travel on to the beginning of verse five: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." A distinguished colleague wrote of the time he experienced such gracious hospitality when he stayed at the home of a friend. He wrote: "They received me into their lovely house, which the wife had labored all day to clean for my arrival. They ushered me into the most comfortable bedroom, where their own clothes had been removed from the closet to make room for mine. They ...
Sermon
David T. Ball
Toward the end of the last presidential campaign, I heard an amusing report on one of the cable news networks about the candidates’ determination to get out their “talking points” in all of their interviews, regardless of what question they were asked. They had obviously decided, in their closed-door strategy sessions with their inner circle of campaign strategists, that they needed to try to bring all interviews back to the topics that were most favorable to them, and to hit a few key points on those ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
The world of sled dog racing is famous for a truism: “If you aren’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” In other words, only the lead dog gets to see what is up ahead. Only the lead dog gets to sniff out new possibilities, gets to choose a new path. For the rest of the pack, there is nothing but a view of bushy backsides. No wonder in life we are all constantly striving to be “lead dogs.” Across the political spectrum, there is one common refrain. As the 2012 political races heat up every candidate, ...
Showing results