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 4626 to 4650 of 4944 results

4626. Hosanna!

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

John B. Jamison

Let’s remember the story the way we’ve been told it. Even though the sun was just beginning to peek over the mountains to the east, if you looked at the highway climbing up from the Jordan Valley, you could see the lines of people coming to Jerusalem for Passover. One of the highlights of the Jewish faith was making the annual journey to Jerusalem for Passover and make your sacrifice at the temple. They came from all corners of the world, filling the streets with noise and excitement. On one of those ...

4627. Growing Into Our Scars

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Mary Austin

There’s something about a scar that begs for a story. When I see someone with an intriguing scar, I always want to know how they got it. It would be rude to ask, and so I don’t, but I keep hoping it will come up in conversation. I wonder what lesson is behind the stitches on the knee …what adventure brought the scar on the forehead…what happened right before the mark on the arm? Sometimes it’s a story of challenge and triumph. Other times it’s a painful reminder of a past hurt. But there’s always a story. ...

4628. Schadenfreude

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon

Lori Wagner

How many of you grew up watching either the originals or the re-runs of Wile-E-Coyote and the Roadrunner? Throughout the series of cartoons, we laughed, as Wile E Coyote was continually foiled in his attempts to catch the super-fast and super sly roadrunner. Time and again, the coyote’s efforts and plots come back to bite him, so to speak, as he blows himself up, plunges off of cliffs, and gets pounded by boulders. Every trick up his sleeve backfires, and he never does catch the Roadrunner! (Beep, beep). ...

4629. Fruit Production

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

John B. Jamison

I’d like to tell you about a trip I made the other day, down to the Jordan. You know it isn’t all that far, but it is a challenging walk, so I took plenty to drink and an extra jacket because I knew it would be cold by the time I get back. I threw a couple of snacks in my jacket pocket too, just in case I got hungry. Well, I heard there were a lot of people planning on going, so I left Bethany early to avoid the crowd on the road. You know, some of those places along the road near Jericho are pretty narrow ...

4630. Christ, Our King

John 18:33-37

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

Today is the last day of the church year. The church year starts four Sundays before Christmas, so next week when I wish you all a happy new year, I hope to get a better response than blank stares. The last Sunday of the church is called both “Christ the King” Sunday, and “Reign of Christ” Sunday. This festival goes all the way back to 1925, when Pope Pius XI added it to the calendar. It was set as the last Sunday of the church year in 1970. When I learned this I was a little surprised. I love looking into ...

4631. Choice, Chance, or the Hand of God?

Genesis 50:15-21

Sermon

Will Willimon

“You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,...” In the last few weeks, at the round of receptions, convocations, and introductory gatherings for our new students I've enjoyed asking people, “What led you to Duke?” My mother went to Duke. I like ACC basketball. I want to get in a good graduate school in four years. I couldn't get in Stanford. I'll tell you faculty, very few told me that they came here for the faculty. Of course, absolutely no one told me that he or she came here for the preacher ...

4632. Investing Our Inheritance

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

A friend once told me of an experience he had as a child. When he was eight years old he went with his family to visit an uncle who lived on a farm. He always looked forward to these visits because his uncle had horses that he let the children ride. When it was his turn to go for a ride, he rode the horse until he was out of view of the house. Then he slipped to the ground. He wanted to try mounting the horse as he had seen cowboys on television do it. So he got behind the horse and took a running start ...

4633. How to Rise above Discouragement

Luke 7:11-17

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

It's a dramatic scene when you think about it -- I mean -- a funeral procession halted and the trip to the cemetery interrupted. Of course it was not anything like our scene -- a black Cadillac hearse, followed by one or more black Cadillac limousines, followed perhaps by several cars, lights on, concerned not to lose their place in the line in the traffic. No, this scene was at once more primitive and personal. No city traffic to contend with in this procession. No indifferent motorists disturbed that ...

4634. Flatliners

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

What would happen if on this Sunday we were to come to Jesus and ask, "Tell us flat-out what you're about?" Jesus might, on this particular day, say, "I have come to give comfort to the uncomfortable and to make uncomfortable those who have comfort." He has a way of flattening things out. Jesus is a flatliner. What if we were to ask that question of the entire Bible? "Don't give me the six-week course. Just give me a compendium of that battered and complex book. What does it look like?" He would have to ...

4635. Praying With Bloody Knuckles

Isaiah 62:1-12, Isaiah 61:1-11

Sermon

William L. Self

My wife was conducting a prayer workshop recently and a member of the group told her this true story. She had grown up in London and her pastor walked from his home to the church every day. Along the way he had to pass through some rough sections of town, and as he passed one particular bar there was always the same man loitering outside, very drunk and very loudmouthed. The pastor was really angry at the wasted life and annoyed by the obnoxious taunts of the man. He started praying for the man every time ...

4636. Brothers

Luke 15:1-7

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: Two brothers, Nathan and Joshua Length: 6 minutes (NATHAN is seated on his stool, looking dejected. JOSHUA enters and goes up to him.) NATHAN: (Jumping up) There you are, brother! I thought you'd never come. JOSHUA: (Taking his seat) It was hard to get away. There's so much going on this time of year. NATHAN: I know. And I really appreciate it. Tell me, how is our father? JOSHUA: As well as can be expected. He's getting old, you know. And life has been hard for him these last few years. NATHAN: I ...

4637. Behold The Man Who Taught By The Sea

Mark 4:1-20

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

It was the end of the school year and a first grade teacher was saying good-bye to her students. One little boy said to her, "Teacher, I sure do like you. I'd like to stay in the first grade forever, but I've been promoted. Boy, I wish you knew enough to teach me in the second grade."1 So many people who are successful are able to look back at a person who first turned on a light inside the mind, who quickened the thinking, who first stirred the desire to learn. Behind every successful person there is the ...

4638. Prayers for Memorial Day, Election, Thanksgiving

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

Memorial Day Today, Creator God, we remember. We remember the courage of our forefathers who decided they could no longer bow to England's crown, so they went to war to gain our country's independence. We remember the agony and blood-letting of that war that pitted American against American, the north against the south. Even to this day the wounds of that fighting are yet to be healed. We remember that many years ago we sent our troops to "fight the Kaiser" in a war that was to end all wars. Then less than ...

4639. Why Do People Suffer?

Mark 15:33-41

Sermon

David O. Bales

Susan Ingraham was late for worship, but no one could tell she was hurrying -- regular, sharp gait, everything about her seemed shiny and healthy. At 34 Miss Ingraham was startlingly beautiful, especially to twelve year old Chrissy Dillenburger. Chrissy was captivated by her since the day Susan came to worship wearing a plain black dress, black shoes, perfect lipstick and a gold brooch. First thing in the car going home Chrissy said, "Did you see Miss Ingraham? That dress -- and the lipstick was just right ...

4640. Everyman And Woman

John 17:6-19, John 17:1-5

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: The church as the body of Christ is "in the world" and needs to relate to spiritual things but keep its feet firmly planted on solid ground. How does it do that? Confession leads to forgiveness. Summary: A rehearsal for the medieval play Everyman erupts into an argument when the actor playing Everyman cannot confess. Playing Time: 7 minutes Place: Your church Props: None Costumes: Mideval Time: The present Cast: Everyman Conscience -- a woman Confession -- a woman (A REHEARSAL FOR EVERYMAN) EVERYMAN ...

4641. The Lord, The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:14-41, Acts 2:1-13

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: The baptism of the Holy Spirit for service. Summary: A choral reading. Several renowned Christian leaders speak about their empowering by the Spirit for service. Playing Time: 7 minutes Place: A neutral reading area Props: Black folders with scripts Costumes: Black Time: The present Cast: First Reader Second Reader Third Reader Fourth Reader D.L. Moody Charles Finney R.A. Torrey Catherine Marshall FIRST: (ENTERS ALONG WITH SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH READER) We are living in the age of the Spirit. ...

4642. While This House Lies In Ruins

Haggai 1:1-15

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house. Then the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn ...

4643. Advent 1

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

E. Carver McGriff

Psalm Of The Day Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (C); Psalm 80 (E) -- "Lord of hosts, restore us." Psalm 84:8 (RC) -- "Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer." Prayer Of The Day Open our hearts, O God, to the incoming of your Spirit. Sometimes our days are long and we grow tired. Too often, we go for long periods of time with very little attention to your Spirit. Deep within us, though, is a hunger for the richness of that presence. Overcome in us, we ask, our dullness of mind, that we may know your presence and its saving ...

4644. You Meant Evil; God Meant Good

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

"I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt." With this poignant revelation, we come to the primary resolution of the Joseph story; but do we remember the beginning? It all started with a dream! Young Joseph was the favorite son of his father, the son of his old age. He was the one with the luxurious coat from his father. Joseph was too good to be true, the kind brothers can hardly abide. He was also a bit of a snitch. He brought an ill report of his brothers to his father. Then Joseph had a dream ...

4645. Advent 4

Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:46-56, Micah 5:1-4, Hebrews 10:1-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

THE LESSONS Lesson 1: Micah 5:2-5a Out of Bethlehem will come a shepherd king who will be great. Micah was a prophet of the seventh century during the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah. The first three chapters are considered to be the work of Micah, but chapters 4 and 5 are believed to be the work of an unknown author writing during or near the end of the Babylonian exile. In the dark years of the exile, the Jews looked for a restoration of the nation under a Davidic shepherd-king who, like David, would be born ...

4646. Sleepers, Wake!

Matthew 25:1-13

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

Part 2 Homilies Canticle: Benedictus Dominus DeusMusic: Sleepers, Wake! One of the most powerful hymns I have ever experienced is the Advent hymn, "Sleepers, Wake!" It was written and composed by a pastor in Westphalia during an epidemic rage in which over 1,300 of his parishioners took ill and died. As he stood by his flock, watching them collapse to the epidemic one after the other, he wrote "Sleepers, Wake!" It is nothing short of a wake-up call in the face of death: a summons to prepare for our death, ...

4647. What Do You Say To A Burning Bush?

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Steve Burt

The Moses I always pictured is the Charlton Heston Moses, the one who leads his people out of Egypt, who parts the Red Sea, gives commands. But the Moses we hear and see in today's scripture reading is different, not the heroic, bigger-than-life character. He's tending sheep, but to see how he got there we must look back to Exodus 2:11-15. A nutshell summary goes like this. Moses is standing around, observes a fight, and kills an Egyptian. We can't just write that Egyptian off as somebody who doesn't count ...

4648. Proper 4

Genesis 6:1-8:22, Deuteronomy 11:1-32, Matthew 7:21-29, Romans 1:1-17, Romans 3:21-31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: A contrast between the righteousness of obedience and the righteousness of faith. The First Lesson from Deuteronomy presents Moses' instruction to obey God's laws by making them an integral part of their daily lives. The First Lesson, from Genesis, shows how Noah obeyed God by building the Ark. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that everyone who hears his words and does them is like the person who built his house on the rock. In contrast, the person who hears his teachings and does not do them resembles ...

4649. Moses' New Job

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

September 5, 1982 Comment: It was Labor Day weekend and it was also atime when I found myself involved in a bit of aconfrontation with some leaders in my Annual Conference.That led to a strange com-bination. But knowing the story ofMoses and realizing that he undertook the mission to freehis people, I found myself putting together the few bits ofdata about Moses' wife in all that and came up with afictitious correspondence. It was easy to find a reader for the Zipporah partbecause the church had a number ...

4650. The Wisemen

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

January 8, 1984 Comment: This was the first story sermon for adultsthat I wrote and dramatized during worship. I had written anumber of story sermons for children, but the breakthoughcame because an old sermon I had been revising every half-dozen years was not taking shape. I started to write.Usually, I have just outlined sermons and "talked" them tothe congregation. When I got started on this one, I found atext forming with which I decided to stay. There were two major problems that I had with this one. ...

Showing results