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 476 to 500 of 538 results
Sermon Aid
Clement E. Lewis
Hymn: "Take My Life And Let It Be" Prayer Of Invocation Our Father, we come into your holy presence, with thanksgiving that you have given us life, and the capacity to enjoy it and to live it meaningfully. Continue to nurture our souls, we pray, that we may grow in grace and knowledge, and do your will more perfectly. Grant that we may ever remember that we were made in your image, and should do all possible to retain its sacred design. These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. ...
477. How Could A Love So Right Go Wrong?
Genesis 24:1-67, Genesis 27:41--28:9
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
My sermon topic for today sounds like a question: “How could a love so right go so wrong?” It sounds like a country song, like this one, “I’m miserable without you, it’s almost like having you here.” Then there is my favorite, “If the juke box took tear drops, I could dance all night long.” That one makes me cry every time. How could a love so right go so wrong? The Old Testament story of Isaac and Rebekah starts out so beautifully, but it has a tragic ending. Isaac was a 40-year-old bachelor who implored ...
Sermon Aid
John W. Rilling
Rejoice! There is a beautiful promise in the Bible that they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Saint Paul soars on eagles’ wings in 1 Corinthians 13, he runs very well in Romans 12. But occasionally he plods - and we faint. The author of the second epistle of Peter admits that even for him there are some things in Paul’s letters that are hard to understand. What he might have had in ...
Sermon Aid
John W. Rilling
And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. It is the ghostly hour before dawn. The latest wayfarer has long since sought his belated bed; the earliest riser has not yet stirred abroad. The stars, wheeling in their silent courses, look down upon the holy city, "and all that mighty heart is lying still." But wait! Something yonder, moving among the shadows! As our eyes become accustomed to the gloom we glimpse a second and a third figure ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
In ancient Greece it was customary for peddlers who walked the streets with their wares to cry out, "What do you lack?" The idea was to let people know they were in the vicinity, and also rouse the curiosity of the people. Coming out of their houses they would want to know what the peddler was selling. It might be something they lacked and needed, or simply something they desired. What do you lack? We may have sight and hearing, but what do we lack? Take an honest inventory of yourself. Have you found ...
481. Close the Loopholes
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
It is through life's cracks and loopholes that evil dynamics gain entrance. The church must close these loopholes. Today's epistle reading warns the Ephesian Christians against allowing "room for the devil." A more accessible translation of this text warns against allowing a "loophole for the Devil" (NEB). After all: To worm his way into our lives and minds, the Devil doesn't need much "room" at all a little slit of a loophole will work just fine. Washingtonstate's Puget Sound is a wet, rain-drenched area ...
482. Matthew 2:13-23
Matthew 2:13-23
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
Matthew takes great care in setting the scene for Jesus' birth. The gospel writer skillfully sketches the events immediately after Jesus' arrival. Matthew's focus in both cases is on the proper fulfillment of Scripture, detailing Jesus' identity in light of all the predicted indicators of the Messiah's arrival. In Matthew 2:13-23, the writer presents three separate scenes, each scrupulously designed to "fulfill" the Scripture text referred to by Matthew. Commentators have noted how this unit is also ...
483. Revelation 7:9-17
Revelation 7:9-17
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
The odd images and vivid visions that combine to make up the book of Revelation's three-tiered proclamation of judgments (using seals, trumpets and bowls) have made it a love-hate favorite. Depending upon one's denominational heritage, psychological disposition, and dispensational worldview, the book of Revelation has been used as a window to view the future, a rearview mirror for fatalistic excuses and explanations, or a mirror when immersed in personal turmoil and/or social tribulation. Within the old ...
Sermon
Mike Ripski
Last Sunday we began Advent, our preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ first coming and of our anticipation of his Second Coming. This Advent we’re looking at one of Jesus parables through the lens of Advent. It’s the parable that goes by different names, depending on which of the characters is put in the spotlight: the Elder Son, whom we focused on last Sunday; the Loving Father, whom we’ll focus on next Sunday. And the Younger Son, the Prodigal Son, whom we’ll focus on today. Using the lens of Advent ...
Sermon
King Duncan
WWJD remember when those letters were the rage? There for a while, they were everywhere: bracelets, key rings, and just about anything that can be marked with the logo, WWJD: “What Would Jesus Do?” Later, when the WWJD bracelet rage really started to catch on, people came up with some alternative bracelets: WWPMD for quarterbacks: “What Would Peyton Manning do?” Or WWMSD for homemakers, What would Martha Stewart do? Or DYWFWT for Liberal Arts graduates: “Do You Want Fries with That?” For teens, there was a ...
Understanding Series
J. Gordon Harris
Division of Land East of the Jordan: 13:7–33 The narrative shifts from describing land not yet conquered to dividing land among the tribes. Verse 7 begins with a summary statement about land west and east of the Jordan. The Greek version (LXX) of the passage includes a section of the verse left out of the Hebrew (MT) and not in the NIV. Verse 7 begins (NIV) with the following: and divide it (the west) as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh. The Greek adds, from the Jordan ...
Understanding Series
Cheryl A. Brown
Samson’s First Encounter with a “Foreign Woman”: After the dazzling introduction of this wonder-man in Judges 13, we anticipate seeing him in action. He was grown, the Spirit was stirring him, the Israelites had been in bondage to the Philistines for forty years. Surely it was time for some action. We want to see what he can do, and we know that the stage is set for the performance. That is why Samson’s first moves are so surprising, and frankly, disappointing. We expected a little more than a spoiled brat ...
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
The setting changes briefly in 18:1 as new characters are introduced who will play significant roles in the continued unfolding of the story. But first, the shortened version of the refrain appears again in 18:1a, perhaps to highlight the fact that the events to be narrated will again illustrate the anarchy that results from the Lord not being honored as king. The inability of the Danites to take possession of their allotted land has already been disclosed in Joshua 19:47 and Judges 1:34. What the tribe ...
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
In escorting the shepherd to her mother’s home the maiden accomplishes two goals: she gains approval from her mother and the brothers of the shepherd, and she fulfills her dream of consummating their vows in the place where she was “schooled” by her mother in the art of romance and lovemaking. “Spiced wine” and mandrake apples were renowned aphrodisiacs in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The phrase “nectar of my pomegranates” (8:2) has distinctly erotic connotations, the woman’s breasts being identified with ...
Understanding Series
Craig A. Evans
15:11–32 The section reaches its climax in the Parable of the Lost (or Prodigal) Son. This time it is not a lost sheep or coin but a lost son. Unlike the lost sheep and the lost coin, which were not responsible in any way for being lost, the lost son is lost because of his own wayward actions. If anyone deserved what he got, it would have to be this ungrateful, selfish, and wasteful young man. Jesus graphically portrays the ingratitude, sin, and degradation of this person. He requests his share of the ...
Understanding Series
W.H. Bellinger, Jr.
Additional Offerings and Instructions: Most commentators find it odd for a chapter of Priestly legislation to follow four chapters of narrative about murmurings in the wilderness. Olson argues persuasively that there is purpose for the placement of the chapter. He maintains that it relates in important ways to chapters 11–14 on the one hand and to chapter 16 on the other. Also, in contrast to a number of other commentators, he understands chapter 15 to exhibit an internal coherence (Numbers, pp. 90–101). ...
Understanding Series
James K. Bruckner
34:29–35 The Israelites received the final part of their forgiveness in the unexpected gift of Moses’ radiant face. It brought the glory of God back into Israel’s midst in a human countenance. It was a visible sign of the Lord’s forgiveness, presence, and restored communication with Israel through Moses. The accompanying sign of restoration God gave upon Moses’ return from Mount Sinai was the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands (see comment on 31:18). In contrast to his previous descent after forty ...
Understanding Series
Christopher J. H. Wright
A Grumbling rebellion: 1:24–46 With the return of the spies and the good report of some of them (the bad report of the others is suspended until v. 28), the original command Go up and take possession of the land (v. 21) has been reinforced by the encouragement, it is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us. This makes the people’s next response all the more surprising and shocking: But you were unwilling to go up (v. 26). The rest of the section is presented as an ever intensifying resistance to all ...
Sermon
J. Howard Olds
Sooner or later it is bound to happen. A child will pop the question, a friend will want to know, some life circumstance will demand an answer to this existential question: WHAT IS GOD LIKE? Inquiring minds want to know. Our Muslim friends would likely answer GOD IS ONE—with that we can agree. God is one. Our Jewish friends might reply GOD IS HOLY—and with that we can, likewise, agree for God is holy. Centuries ago the Apostle John answered the question this way “God is love!” That’s what I want us to ...
495. Praying the Lectionary: Easter
Mark 16:1-8 or John 20:1-18 · 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 · Isaiah 25:6-9 or Acts 10:34-43 · Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Bulletin Aid
Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson
P: All-powerful and ever-living God: We celebrate this festival day with joy and thanksgiving. You have won a marvelous victory over the powers of evil, sin and death! Alleluia! We rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus our Lord and Savior! This is the day that the Lord has made: C: We shall rejoice and be glad in it! (An alternative congregational response may be to sing the refrain of an Easter song, such as “Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks” after each intercession.) P: All-powerful and ever-living God: ...
Bulletin Aid
RobertT D. Ingram
Greeting Leader: Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Congregation: Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world. Leader: Jesus also said to Martha that if she believed she would see the glory of God. Congregation: Lord, we believe. Let God's glory be seen here today. Prayer God who creates, nurtures and ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
This morning we are going to be talking about a story that is so familiar to you that when I read to you the first line, most of you will immediately recognize it. The first line reads: And there was a father who had two sons. Immediately we recognize it as the parable of the Prodigal Son. Is there anything new that we can squeeze out of this familiar story? You remember the story as Jesus told it. There was a certain landowner who had two sons. As these boys grew up they began to show the difference in ...
498. 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
As the Israelites struggled to establish themselves and their faith in the midst of the Promised Land, it was difficult for them to keep a clear distinction between developing Yahwistic monotheism and the animistic polytheism of the Canaanite's Ba'alism. The Hebrews' assertion that there was only one true God meant that Yahweh was a mobile God. Yahweh could come and get the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, travel with them through the wilderness, and guide them into a new land. Ba'al worship was based on belief ...
499. The Lifesaver App
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
As children we all had to study for and take “vocabulary tests” — learning a new list of words, their spelling and definitions, every week. As we continued on in school, read more books and studied more subjects, our vocabulary naturally expanded. Then to get into college, we took SATs (Scholastic Aptitude Tests), some of the most important of which are called “Vocab Tests.” Building up our word bank is a never completed project. Best-selling author Bill O’Reilly even has a vocab test every night on his #1 ...
500. Obey the King
Ecclesiastes 8:2-17
Understanding Series
Elizabeth Huwiler
Where Is Wisdom?: A complex segment closes the section (8:1–17). Here the value of wisdom is considered in the context of people’s power over one another and the apparent lack of retribution. As usual, Qohelet concludes with a combination of positive and negative refrains. The commendation of pleasure (8:15) is muted by the preceding “this too is meaningless” (8:14) and the following “no one can comprehend” (8:17).The reader’s response to this section is likely to be complex and perhaps even contradictory ...
Showing results