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 4751 to 4775 of 4935 results
Children's Sermon
Wesley T. Runk
Object: A bag of many nails. Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever wondered how many nails it takes to build a house? (Let them answer.) How many nails do you think it took to build your house? (Let them answer.) Let's say you ordered ten thousand nails to build your house. Do you think that ten thousand would be enough? (Let them answer.) That is a lot of nails. But suppose you needed more to finish the house. Would you order more nails, or just quit building your house? (Let them answer.) You would ...
4752. The Easy Yoke
Matthew 11:25-30
Eulogy
Richard F. Bansemer
Death after long illness The meditation text is Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Sometimes it seems as though these words of Jesus haven't been read by the church of the twentieth century. Many have added so much to the "easy yoke" of Christ, and to the "light burden" of Christ. It seems ...
Children's Sermon
Brett Blair
Exegetical Aim: To teach how worship fits into our lives. Key verses: 19-24. Props: Hammer and a piece of wood, Pillow, Football (or any kind of playing toy). Lesson: I have a guessing game for you this morning. I have four things for you to guess. Show the hammer. What is this? (response) OK. Begin to work on the piece of wood, the floor or the railing. (hammering, working) That's right. Can you name some other kinds of work? (response) What kind of work does your Dad do? (response) What kind of work does ...
Sermon
Carl Hoefler
Praise fills the pages of the Bible and dominates our hymnals; but, it is often difficult to find it in us as Christians. Praise is not easy to define. Most Bible dictionaries include it under the general classification of prayer, and it is frequently associated with the act of thanksgiving. In our First Lesson today, the author of Second Isaiah presents praise as the only response that a faithful people can make; because there is nothing else that God requires or desires. God is about to do a great deed. ...
Sermon
I grew up in California on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Even as a child I loved the water. I did not, however, often get a chance to play in it. "Come home straight from school," my mother said every morning. This was because my route took me right past the beach. "If you go to the beach today," she would say on Saturdays, "leave your swimming suit at home." Even when she was with me at the ocean she would allow only my feet to get wet. "Be careful of the undertow," she would warn. "if you fall down, you ...
Sermon
Today the glow of Christmas festivity and family gatherings warm and permeate our lives. Still the thrill of carols about the birth of Jesus tickles our imaginations and excites our hearts. The holiday cheer surrounds us and envelops us in glad thoughts of a baby born, whose life is pure gift to us, to put back together all that has been ripped apart. We have, once again, heard the old, old story of God's faithful and steadfast love for us. And who can resist a warm, cuddly baby? Yet we know deep in our ...
Sermon
Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me." (TEV) In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Martin Luther was reared by very strict Catholic parents. They rightly believed that the devil was real and constantly present. They believed that God was to be feared and respected. So anytime young Martin or any ...
4758. Easter 4
John 10:1-21
Sermon Aid
Liturgical Color: White Gospel: John 10:1-10 Theme: Life is short, but wide - The life abundant. Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration One pastor began this way: "It's still Easter; the Lord still is risen, and is alive among us. Do you recognize him, serve him, share him? If so, great; if not, it's not too late." Follow with this litany between pastor and ministers: Pastor: The Lord is risen! Ministers: Hurray! What wonderful things God has done for us and with us and through us! Pastor: Yes. We have ...
4759. Good News for Exiles
Psalm 137:1-9, 2 Chronicles 36:15-23, Ephesians 2:1-10
Sermon
God’s Covenant is a Gospel Covenant. You’ve heard those words before. But what do they mean? We will approach this through the back door. There are certain things in life that you can only understand by way of contrast. You cannot know what spring is, until you’ve experienced a tough winter. You don’t really appreciate a Porsche until you’ve spent five hours in a Maverick. You cannot revel in community until you’ve languished in loneliness. That’s how it is with Gospel. You cannot know what Gospel is ...
4760. CHEEK-TURNING POWER
Illustration
John H. Krahn
How many of us are in the process of developing ulcers? How many of us are carrying resentments? How much damage is being done internally because we will not forgive someone who hurt us deeply? How much of our daily life is being colored grey by an angry mind quarreling in fantasy bouts with an adversary, an ex-husband, an ex-wife, a relative, a neighbor, a fellow worker, or even a fellow parishioner? Who are suffering from high blood pressure or even heart problems because they have not forgiven ...
Children's Sermon
Wesley T. Runk
Object: Sticks, twigs, or pencils and a string Good morning, boys and girls. Have you noticed how much earlier morning comes every day now or how the night seems to go away sooner every day? That's the way God planned it when he made part of the day light and the night dark. The day that has the most darkness is December 22, and every day up until June 22 gets lighter and lighter and after June 22, it gets dark earlier until December 22 again. God divided the days so that they would be just right. God made ...
Children's Sermon
Wesley T. Runk
Object: Scotch tape; a piece of colored paper that can be torn easily Good morning, boys and girls, and a happy middle of July. It sure is strange how the days pass so quickly and there are so many things to do before school starts again. Makes us wonder if we’ll get them all done. Most of the time we have fun, although every once in a while I hear noises that make me think boys and girls aren’t having such a good time. When I hear screaming and yelling and name-calling, I think that something else is ...
4763. FARMER
Jer. 14:4; 2 Tim. 2:6; James 5:7
Illustration
Stephen Stewart
Jeremiah 14:4 - "Because of the ground which is dismayed, since there is no rain in the land, the farmers are ashamed, they cover their heads." 2 Timothy 2:6 - "It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops." James 5:7 - "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain." Palestine was one of the world’s earliest agricultural centers ...
Sermon
Donald Macleod
How often have we heard this remark: "What can you do for an encore?" Or, "That’s a hard act to follow!" Easter Day is now behind us: we’ve sung the great Alleluias, chanted hymns of victory, and put the blossoms and lilies on a sunny windowsill. But what of it all? Is it now a closed event? Or, more appropriately: Is it just the beginning? Charles Wesley in his Easter hymn sang: "Love’s redeeming work is done." How can we follow that act? Can there be an encore? This is exactly where you and I come in. ...
4765. What Kind of Cross?
Mark 8:31--9:1
Illustration
Larry Powell
Not long ago, a hard-rock singer reknowned for his notorious over indulgence in mind-altering drugs appeared on television to scream, lunge, and gyrate through one of his bestselling songs. Inasmuch as the rather badly garbled words were totally incomprehensible to me, I turned my attention to the bizarre, uninhibited attire of this widely heralded "artist." Not to dwell on the flamboyance of his appearance, I wish only to point out that dangling from an expensive chain around his neck was a large cross. ...
Sermon
Leonard H. Budd
Almost two thousand years ago today The stone upon His grave was rolled away, And in the blinding darkness of the tomb He rose and shattered there the grief and gloom Within the hearts of those who worshiped Him. Although that day and time have now grown dim, One message through the ages has been hurled: His love is hope and light for all the world. And as the dawn of Easter fills the skies We, too, with Him in spirit must arise; For even underneath us in the earth There is a faithful promise of rebirth. ...
4767. Where Do Sins Go?
2 Samuel 12:1-31
Sermon
Edward Chinn
On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The light from that explosion was brighter than 25,000 suns. John Hershey wrote a book about that day. The book, titled Hiroshima, described the permanent shadows which were caused by the blast of that bomb. The heat from that burst of energy indelibly etched the shadows of objects and human beings upon the buildings and the roads of that place. When troops later entered that devastated city, they saw the shadow of a person ...
Drama
Dave Marsh
Director's Notes: This was a drama I did a couple of weeks before Promise Keepers where I was encouraging the congregation to 'Go the distance.' Christianity is not a sprint. It's a long distance race and we need to run to win. The race in this script obviously is a metaphor to our own walk with Christ. At first, it looks so easy and we have so much joy but it's easy to get tired. We need to help and encourage each other to go the distance... Cast: Dave: A part-time runner Robby: A full-time runner Props: ...
4769. Hypocrites
Matthew 6:1-4
Sermon
Brett Blair
It is difficult to find anyone who has a kind word to say about hypocrites. Nobody likes a hypocrite; no one wants to be around one; the last thing one would want to be called is a hypocrite. Hypocrites are, by definition, deceptive, two-faced and treacherous. If discovered, hypocritical politicians are defeated at the polls, hypocritical friends get dropped and hypocritical preachers lose the trusting ears of their congregations. It may well be that our age is particularly tough on hypocrisy. In some ways ...
4770. One Giant Leap
John 1:1-18, Isaiah 51:17--52:12
Sermon
Wayne Brouwer
Do you remember where you were on July 21, 1969? I know that many of you weren't even born! Weren't even a twinkle in your parent's eyes! But for those of you who were around, do you remember where you were in July 21, 1969? Let me give you a hint--maybe the title of the message this morning will trigger a memory. How did the songwriter put it? Young girl in Calcutta Barely 8 years old; The flies that swarm the marketplace Will see she don't grow old. But don't you know she heard it On that July afternoon ...
Sermon
King Duncan
For more than twenty years, the television show Saturday Night Live has been known for its irreverent, sometimes outrageous humor. A recurring segment on Saturday Night Live is called "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handley." The deep thoughts consist of nothing more than touchy-feely psychobabble that sounds pretty good, but actually makes no sense. Here is a sample: "To me, it's a good idea," says Jack Handley, "to always carry two sacks of something when you walk around. That way, if anybody says, "˜Hey, can you ...
4772. Free at Last
Matthew 11:25-30
Children's Sermon
King Duncan
Object: You will need large rubber bands – enough for each child to have one. Also a small treat (toy or piece of candy or book mark) for each child. Lesson: Pair the children up and then put a rubber band around one child's right hand and his/her partners' left hand, "tying" them together. Lay the treats (2 for each pair) that you have on the floor in front of each pair of children. Say: Put the hand that is not tied to your partner behind your back. You may not use it for this activity. Now, I want you ...
Sermon
Cathy A. Ammlung
I was startled by a recent analysis of per capita charitable contributions by state. Massachusetts, with the fourth highest personal income in the country, ranked last in charitable contributions. Mississippi, forty-ninth in income, ranked first in actual dollars contributed. Mississippians gave, on average, about forty percent more to charity than did their Yankee cousins! Converted to percentage of income contributed to charity, the disparity was even greater. Another fact emerged: Wealthy people tend to ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
If I were not preaching through the Gospel of Mark these days, I would have probably chosen another Gospel from which to read the Easter story. All the other Gospels tell a fuller and more complete, even more dramatic, story of the Resurrection. Mark’s announcement of Easter is really understated. In Mark’s Gospel, the big day is Good Friday He builds up to that day for five chapters, beginning with Palm Sunday. I don’t know whether you’ve ever noted it or not, but the events of Holy Week take up one-third ...
Bulletin Aid
H. Burnham Kirkland
Call To Worship Leader: Happy are those whose sins are forgiven. People: The Lord will forgive all our sins when we confess them. Leader: The Lord will teach us the way we should go and advise us. People: We will be glad and rejoice because of what the Lord has done. We will shout for joy. Amen. Collect Almighty God, who led your people out of slavery and guided them as they wandered in the wilderness, we pray that we, too, may be freed from slavery to sin. Lead us as we wander in the wilderness seeking ...
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