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 501 to 525 of 4944 results

501. If You Just Hold Up Your Head

Luke 18:1-8

Illustration

Staff

In a Peanut's cartoon Lucy encourages Charlie Brown: "Look at it this way, Charlie Brown," she consoles. "These are your bitter days. These are the days of your hardship and struggle ..." The next frame goes on: "... but if you just hold your head up high and keep on fighting, you'll triumph!" "Gee, do you really think so, Lucy?" Charlie asks. As she walks away Lucy says: "Frankly, no!" Hope is like that. We speak of it more often than we believe in it. Hope is not a strong word for us. It has more to do ...

502. Do It Yourself Mix-up

Illustration

Staff

A "Do it yourself" catalog firm received the following letter from one of its customers: "I built a birdhouse according to your stupid plans, and not only is it much too big, it keeps blowing out of the tree. Signed, Unhappy. The firm replied: "Dear Unhappy, We're sorry about the mix-up. We accidentally sent you a sailboat blueprint. But if you think you are unhappy, you should read the letter from the guy who came in last in the yacht club regatta."

503. Poem: Up-Hill

Eulogy

Christina Georgina Rossetti

Does the road wind up-hill all the way? Yes, to the very end. Will the day's journey take the whole long day? From morn to night my friend. But is there for the night a resting-place? A roof for when the slow dark hours begin. May not the darkness hide it from my face? You cannot miss that inn. Shall I meet other wayfarers at night? Those who have gone before. Then must I knock, or call when just in sight? They will not keep you standing at that door. Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak? Of labour, ...

504. Eliphaz Turns Up His Criticism of Job

Job 15:1-35

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

Big Idea: Eliphaz insists that Job is a sinner who deserves God’s punishment. Understanding the Text Job 15 contains Eliphaz’s second speech to Job, and it is evident that civil discussion between them has broken down considerably. In fact, in the second cycle (Job 15–21) the dialogue between Job and his friends becomes more strained, abusive, and insulting as the friends focus almost completely on the divine punishment due to wicked people like Job. In chapter 15, Eliphaz is not as courteous as when he ...

505. Setting Up the Lamps

Num 8:1-26

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Lamps and Levites: Emphasis on the tabernacle continues in this narrative flashback section (7:1–10:10). The community prepares to depart in a kind of promise and fulfillment motif. The concluding note of chapter 7 on the Most Holy Place leads to a comment on the lamps in the sanctuary. 8:1–4 Further revelation comes through Moses to Aaron concerning the lamps and lampstand. These verses refer to the instructions in Exodus 25:31–40 and 37:17–24. The seven lamps are to be set up so they will light the area ...

506. Night and Light

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

A friend of mine had rewritten a familiar proverb and used it ominously. “Just remember,” he said, “things always look the darkest before the lights go out completely.” There was something of that threatening anticipation which always washed over us on this darkening night. We join Jesus and his disciples as dusk falls. They did not know it yet, but within hours the blackness would become very bleak. Jesus would be arrested, they would be scattered, and even Peter would deny and reject his relationship ...

507. The Captain's Voice

Luke 24:44-53

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

I was walking through a building on a college campus when I spied a student lounging in an overstuffed chair, feet propped against a wall, reading a book that I had written. “That’s my book!” I said too loudly and suddenly, amazed to find someone eyeballing my words. With a start, she glared at me as if I were crazy. “This is mine!” she said. “I just bought it at the bookstore.” I apologized, and then explained to her that I was the author of the volume she held. She was amazed and my ego was stroked, and ...

508. Wedding: Building A Marriage (for a couple fixing up a house)

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

Listen to these words from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 13 (NRSV): Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends... When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became ...

509. Holy Believing

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Donald Macleod

"Truly, truly, Isay to you, he who believes has eternal life." (v. 47) No one wants to die. Yet, who among us would like to live forever? This is our paradox. This is our dilemma. To die means the end of what we are and have; it signifies also the cessation of whatever yet we had hoped to be. But wouldn't living forever be equally undesireable? For it holds out endlessness and sameness, like Shakespeare's "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow ..." Such would not be much even of a respite from sheer ...

510. Promises To Keep

Mark 6:14-29

Children's Sermon

SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL AND AT HOME Teachers or Parents: This lesson fells about someone (King Herod) who made a promise that he should not have made. In front of a large audience of friends, the king promised his daughter anything she wanted. At her mother's request, the girl asked Herod to kill John the Baptist. Reluctantly Herod granted the request. King Herod was forced to live with the consequence of a promise he made. Tell your children this story. Explain that when ...

511. Wrap It Up

Titus 3:4-5

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: several rolls of Christmas wrapping paper Good morning (or evening), boys and girls. Look at all this wrapping paper! Have any of you helped wrap any Christmas presents this year? (Wait for show of hands.) What do we wrap presents for? (Let them respond.) We wrap presents to hide what is in them, don't we? We want whoever opens the present to be surprised when they see what is in it. If we bought some special jewelry or a tie for mom or dad for Christmas we wouldn't just put it out for them to see ...

512. When Is It Tolerable to Be Intolerant?

Mark 9:38-50

Sermon

Donald Macleod

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be ...

513. Hos We Use Our Tongues

1 Peter 3:10

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A shoe tongue and a wagon tongue. Good morning, boys and girls. This is the last Sunday in June and we wonder where the days have gone. Have you ever noticed how the same word is used for different things? For instance, the word "hair" can be something that grows on your head, or it can be a rabbit (hare.) And the word "sea" can be an ocean or the way to look at something (see). I brought along a couple of things that are called by the same name but are not alike. [Bring out the wagon and shoe.] ...

514. Jesus' Treasure Chest

Ephesians 3:16

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A treasure chest with the word Christ marked on it. Good morning, boys and girls. Isn't this a beautiful day? There really is something special about Sunday and it is good that we keep it that way. I want to take you on a very special trip this morning because I found in my office a special map marked with a special sign. [XR should be written on it.] If we follow this map we may find a treasure at the place marked on the map. How many want to follow me to see what we can find? I wonder what kind ...

515. Cut Down Lifted Up

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Once upon a time in the heart of a certain kingdom, lay a beautiful garden. Of all the dwellers of the garden, the most beautiful and beloved to the master of the garden was a splendid and noble Bamboo. Year after year, Bamboo grew yet more beautiful and gracious. He was conscious of his master's love, yet he was modest and in all things gentle. Often when Wind came to revel in the garden, Bamboo would throw aside his dignity. He would dance and sway merrily, tossing and leaping and bowing in joyous ...

516. The Power Of God Helps Us Keep The Faith

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship If you have ever felt that God has forgotten you, and left you to face life's problems alone; if you have ever tried to carry out God's will for your life, but did not feel adequate to the task; then welcome to this time of worship. May each of us experience a renewal of our faith, a reminder of God's constant love and presence, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Collect Eternal God, you know our needs and concerns. We know that you stand ready to hear our prayers whenever we turn to you. We ...

517. Time to Clean Up

Psalm 148:1-14, Isaiah 64:1-9

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship Like dry tinder, we wait for God's spark. O, God's people, pray and prepare for renewal. Collect You are the potter, God of craft and design. We are the clay. Mold us into your people as we prepare for the coming of the king. Amen. Prayer Of Confession We confess, our Father, that we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Call to mind that we are your people. ...

518. How Much Is That Preacher?

Illustration

Jean Shaw

How Much Is That Preacher? Good morning, madam. May I help you? Yes, please, I'd like to buy a minister. For yourself or your church? Oh, for my church, of course. I'm already married. Uh, yes. Did you have a particular model in mind? I've got a description from the Candidate Committee right here. We want a man about 30, well educated, with some experience. Good preacher and teacher. Balanced personality. Serious, but with a sense of humor. Efficient, but not rigid. Good health. Able to identify with all ...

519. Keep You Mouth Shut

Illustration

Staff

Kondraty Ryleyev was sentenced to be hanged for his part in an unsuccessful uprising against the Russian czar Nicholas I in December 1825. But the rope broke and Ryleyev, bruised and battered, fell to the ground, got up, and said, "In Russia they do not know how to do anything properly, not even how to make a rope." An accident of this sort usually resulted in a pardon, so a messenger was sent to the czar to know his pleasure. Nicholas asked, "What did he say?" "Sire, he said that in Russia they do not ...

520. The Check-up

Humor Illustration

A woman accompanied her husband to the doctor's office for a checkup. Afterwards, the doctor took the wife aside and said, "Unless you do the following things, your husband will surely die." The good doctor then said, "Here's what you need to do. Every morning make sure he gets a good healthy breakfast. Have him come home for lunch each day so you can feed him a well-balanced meal. Make sure you feed him a good, hot dinner every night and don't overburden him with any household chores. Also, keep the house ...

521. Keeping the Sabbath Holy

Jeremiah 17:19-27

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

Observe the Sabbath: God now directs Jeremiah to issue a challenge concerning the Sabbath. To many modern readers, Sabbath observance may seem almost trivial in relationship to the other charges God through Jeremiah levels at Judah: murder, child sacrifice, idolatry. However, the Sabbath was considered the sign of the Mosaic covenant (Exod. 31:13, 17). In a sense it was the pinnacle of the law during the Old Testament period. It was established at creation (Gen. 2:1–3) and mandated as the fourth ...

522. Keep Digging

Illustration

Robert V. Ozment

One day, in the midst of writing a book, Dr. A.J. Cronin convinced himself that he was a failure. He told himself that his efforts were wasted, that even the thought that he could write anything worth reading was sheer futility. He took his manuscript and cast it into a trash barrel. Later, while walking, he came upon Angus, an old farmer who approved of Cronin’s work as an author. Angus was digging in a bog, trying to rescue it from the swamp. When Cronin told him that he had given up the idea of writing ...

523. Prayers for the Sundays After Easter

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

Our Creator, how we enjoy the arrival of spring. Lush green grass rises in our lawns decorating our streets with home to home carpeting. Bird songs, silent in winter, now fill the air with enchanting melodies. The brown loam of our gardens and fields warms in preparation for the coming seeds and plants. The brilliant colors of jonquils, tulips, and hyacinths edge our flower beds and ring our trees. Who are we that you lavish upon us such splendor? The air warms as the sun dispatches the winds of winter. ...

524. Do you need a Pharisectomy?

Matthew 9:27-34, Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 12:15-21, Matthew 12:22-37, Matthew 12:38-45, Matthew 12:46-50

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed, and they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the Lord has become a reproach to them they have no delight in it.” (Jeremiah 6:10) Props: Coffee and rolls Every home gets to set their own rules. Some are strange. Some are stringent. Some are strident. Some are just plain goofy. Ever been in a home with a white carpet? I bet you were required to take off your shoes before entering. Ever been in a home with all the ...

525. Staying Alive All Your Ministry Life: Will You Finish Well?

Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

There are some experiences or encounters that are so solidly lodged in our memory they continue to invade our consciousness – to haunt us – to help us or to hinder our Christian walk, to call and challenge us to be more than we are. John Birkbeck is a person around whom for me a whole cluster of memories is gathered – memories that invade my immediate awareness now and then. John was a Scot Presbyterian preacher. During a part of my tenure as the World Editor of The Upper Room, he was the editor of the ...

Showing results