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 4826 to 4850 of 4946 results

4826. The Strength To Wait

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Erskine White

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:33a) At the height of the Christmas shopping season, a young boy was standing at the bottom of a department store escalator, staring intently at the handrail as it moved along and refusing to take his eyes away. A saleswoman asked, "Are you lost?" "Nope," the boy said, "I'm waiting for my chewing gum to come back." That boy displayed an admirable patience, but most children find it hard to wait for the things they want. And at Christmas ...

4827. Wedding: The Goal of Marriage

Sermon Aid

John M. Braaten

(Name) and (name), what is happening today may not be taking place exactly as you had envisioned. But believe me, your days of reverie are over. Reality is here. Today you become man and wife. What a privilege it is, and what a joy we feel, to share this special and sacred hour with you. Since this is reality and not some romantic fantasy, we must speak to you about life as it is. There's a telling passage in Shaw's play, "Back to Methuselah," which can get us started. Adam and Eve are talking to the ...

4828. The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Children's Sermon

Object: a shepherd's staff or a picture of it Good morning, boys and girls. I brought this long stick to show you. Do you know what it is? (Let them respond.) No, it's not a walking stick. It's called a staff. Shepherds use this. Some of them have a hook, but not all do. Some are just a straight pole or stick about five feet long. Do you know what a shepherd is? (Let them answer.) A shepherd is a person who takes care of sheep. It can be a man or a woman. The shepherd carries this staff for several reasons ...

4829. Lent 5

John 7:45--8:11, Psalm 126:1-6, Isaiah 43:14-28, Philippians 3:1-11, Luke 20:9-19, John 12:1-11

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The Fifth Sunday in Lent floods the mind with memories of when it was the beginning of the two-week celebration of the Passion of our Lord. Passiontide was the third period in the progression from Septuagesima Sunday to Easter, the Resurrection of our Lord. (The three "gesima" Sundays were the first period, the first four and a half weeks of Lent comprised the second part; Passiontide was the third section of Lent; Holy Week was the fourth part; and the Triduum, which originally was Good ...

4830. Proper 26

Psalm 65:1-13, Psalm 145:1-21, Psalm 32:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, Haggai 2:1-9, Exodus 34:1-28, Isaiah 1:1-31, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The "count" of the Sundays in this period of the year tells those initiated in the mysteries of the church year that it is approaching its conclusion. This, the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost, is the last of the Sundays of Pentecost to be used with any frequency over the years; Easter has to occur in March in order for the number of Sundays in Pentecost to surpass 25, including Christ the King Sunday. One might begin Tennyson's In Memoriam on this Sunday - for the church, not the ...

4831. When is Patriotism An Idol?

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

George Johnson

Almost everyone who has been brought up in the church has heard of the "taxes to Caesar" story. "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?" they asked Jesus. Allegiance to the empire and to God is the issue. Jesus' patriotism is being called into question. I want to talk to you about when patriotism becomes an idol. The setting is important. It was toward the end of Jesus' ministry, just before his death. His vision was focused. He was going to Jerusalem. There he would be confronted with life and death issues. ...

4832. How Does One Prepare For The Unknown?

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

George Johnson

What is one of the most foolish things you have ever done? Pay good money for a suit or dress that you never wore? Buy a car that turned out to be a lemon? Invest your savings based on good advice, but end up losing it all? Have an affair that you thought would be brief and secret, but turned out to bring havoc on everything? But who likes to be reminded of one's foolishness? What is one of the wisest things you have ever done? Saying "yes" to the one you married, or "no" to the one you almost married? Was ...

4833. Breakfast on the Beach

John 21:1-14

Sermon

Steven Burt

There is a handful of narratives about Jesus’ appearance after the empty tomb. Several center around the empty tomb itself, like the one in which the angels say Jesus is risen, or the one where Jesus himself appears and says to Mary Magdalene, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” And there’s an appearance to the disciples when he says to doubting Thomas, “Go ahead, stick your hand in my wound and be sure it’s really me.” Another time Jesus walks along the road to Emmaus with two ...

4834. Chosen For Good News

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

Jesus had just told the disciples that “he is the vine and they are the branches.” To disciples Jesus is speaking. The very people he chose to be with him those three years of his ministry are the ones who hear these words. While they are wondering how they got into this mess, our Lord assures them they didn’t choose him, he chose them! “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete (v. 11).” So the disciples have the assurance that they have not chosen God ...

4835. Don’t Be Alarmed

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

In the Des Moines Register was a story titled, “Man, Believed Killed by Log, Sits on It.” “It happened in Hamburg, Wisconsin. William Bartelt, 71, of Hamburg, was recovering in a Wausau hospital Saturday after friends gave him up for dead after a log struck him on the head. Bartelt was hit by a limb cut down by his hired hand at his central Wisconsin farm, officials said. The limb knocked him out and the hired hand, Gerhardt Stueber, determined that Bartelt was not breathing and called relatives to the ...

4836. A House! a House! and a House!

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Donald Zelle

To live at the time of a building boom is exciting! House plans are spread out on the coffee table like an evening paper. Mealtimes are interspersed with comments on a new idea. Caterpillars, cement trucks, carpenters, and utility people make their noisy way to and from the building sites. At every new hole in the ground or downtown construction site, people ask, "What's going up here?" King David lived at such a time. To build was in his blood. The text before us gives three distinct ideas about building ...

4837. Holding Fast

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate the necessity of continually believing the gospel. Props: A rope. Lesson: How many of you are swimmers? (response) Good. Some of you can swim, and some of you will learn how one day. It's good to be in the water and to have fun when it is hot outside, isn't it? But sometimes we can get into trouble when we are swimming, can't we? If we get a gulp of water or a cramp, we can begin to sink in the water, and that's not good, is it? (response) Hold up the rope. What is this? ( ...

4838. Life From Water: The Ark

Genesis 6:11-22

Sermon

Steve Swanson

Water is the very stuff of life. When God created the heavens and the earth, he put water right at the very heart of his system. More than seventy percent of our amazing world is covered with water and that water is teeming with life. It's true that beef, pork, and poultry are important to our diets as well as to our economy, but whenever some farmer gets a"big" head and begins to think that these are the only sources of non-vegetable protein, he or she should be reminded that ninety percent of this planet ...

4839. Choices

Drama

J. B. Quisenberry

Prelude Opening Skit (The setting is a modern living room with the Father working at a small table to the right and two children playing on the floor center stage. The choir enters singing a traditional Christmas Hymn and wearing hats and scarves to suggest outer wear. They proceed toward the left side of the altar area. A door bell rings, and the oldest child crosses down left and pantomimes opening a door.) Oldest Child: Look! Christmas carolers! (The other child runs to door.) Dad, come quick! There are ...

4840. Christmas Eve at the Candy Cane Inn

Drama

Edward Long

Drama 2 Cast of Characters NARRATOR: Sets scenes and takes care of transitions. EFFECTS TECHNICIAN: In charge of recorded or live effects. THE APPLE FAMILY: Family stranded by a snowstorm at the Candy Cane Inn; Mr. Apple has been out of work and Mrs. Apple has been ill. HENRY APPLE: An unemployed engineer in his late 30's; normally a confident, happy person, he is in a bad way at this Christmas Eve. FREDA APPLE: A quiet, tense woman who attempts to keep the family functioning in a difficult time for them. ...

4841. The Empty Tomb

Matthew 28:2-6

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A picture of an empty tomb Good morning, boys and girls. Today is Easter Sunday, a very special day. I will tell you why it is special, but first, do you remember where we left off with our story of Jesus last week? It was a Friday night, just before the Jewish Sabbath, when Joseph of Arimathea and a friend named Nicodemus wrapped the dead body of Jesus in linen and some spices and buried Him in the tomb. It was a terrible day, that Friday, for all of the followers of Jesus. They could hardly ...

4842. The Dripping of Water

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

John 13:4-5; Matthew 27:15-26 I grew up with Marion Long. We started first grade together and, after eleven years, we graduated from high school together. We went to different colleges, and that severed our relationship. The last time I saw Marion was some years ago at a high school reunion. She now lives in South Carolina. I only know that because her mother recently died and I read the obituary. I mention Marion because I think we all have a tendency to connect particular incidents with people we've ...

4843. Rest

Matthew 11:25-30

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: In Christ there is rest from weariness. Props: A wrist watch. Lesson: How is everyone? (response) We are going to pretend like we are all sleeping. Everyone lay your head down. Let them rest for a few seconds. Ring, ring, ring. Look at your watch. Well, good morning it’s 7:00 and time to get up. Ok, everyone get up. Imitate the motions for them. Let’s Stretch. Everybody stretch. (stretching motion) Make your bed. Everybody make your bed. (response) 7:20 Pick up the room. (response) 7:30 ...

4844. Encounters With Christ II: Jesus and Mary and Martha

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

James W. Moore

Some years ago, The Archbishop of Canterbury was rushing to catch a train in London. In his haste, he accidentally jumped on the wrong passenger car and found himself on a car full of inmates from a mental hospital. They were all dressed in mental hospital clothing. Just as the train pulled out of the station, an orderly came in and began to count the inmates, “1-2-3-4…”… when suddenly he saw this distinguished looking gentleman there wearing a business suit and a clerical collar and he said: “Who are you ...

4845. Encounters With Christ VII (Easter): Jesus & Mary Magdalene

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

James W. Moore

Bill Bryson has written a fascinating book called… The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America. In the book, he tells of traveling to Hannibal, Missouri to visit the boyhood home of the noted author Mark Twain. He described the house as a “trim, white-washed house with green shutters… set incongruously in the middle of downtown.” It costs two dollars to visit Mark Twain’s home and to walk around the site. Bill Bryson said he found the home to be a disappointment. He expressed his disillusionment like ...

4846. Friends

Mark 2:1-12

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To convey the importance of Friendship to our Christian Life. Props: Baseball or any kind of pitching ball (two balls would be best) , Football, and a Jump Rope. Lesson: Good Morning! (response) How was your week? (response) Did you do anything fun? (response) What did you do? I want to do something fun right now. I brought a Baseball with me and I want to play some pitch. Does everyone know how to play pitch? (response) Good! Well, I am going to play right now. Here we go . . Throw the ...

4847. The Last Days

Luke 21:5-38

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: PREACHER and CONGREGATION, three WOMEN and three MEN Length: 7 minutes Seven stools are arranged in a "V" shape leading away from the audience with the PREACHER's stool at the apex. The PREACHER takes his stool first and settles himself self-importantly. The members of the CONGREGATION file in slowly and take the remaining stools. The CONGREGATION will keep their eyes on the PREA CHER throughout their time on stage but their stools should be arranged so that they will not have to turn their faces too ...

4848. What Jesus Saw In Martha

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

James W. Moore

4849. The Lord's People Together

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

"... if two of you agree ... about anything ..." - Matthew 18:19 The inimitable Will Rogers was once asked, "What's wrong with the world?" And he replied, "People!" Of course, the famous humorist was being humorous. Others have been seriously cynical concerning the human race. One said, "The world would be a pretty good place to live if it weren't for the people in it." But when all the cynics have had their say, I will still believe, that in general, we human creatures really have some pretty good things ...

4850. No Little Bit

Luke 19:11-27

Sermon

There comes in the mail a rectangular piece. The envelop already warns, "DO NOT FOLD OR MUTILATE." The card inside has holes. Also an eleven digit number. Also the message, "If there is any question about your account, please be sure to give this number. Do not fold or tear or staple this card. Thank you." If we tender this holey document the proper respect and remit the amount it demands, it will go to an office and glide through a machine and register our eleven digit number as being paid up. The machine ...

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