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 526 to 550 of 4943 results

526. Life: From the Inside Out

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... Satan, not the forces of God. "For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things," (v. 33) is the way Jesus put it. Then Jesus presses his case to a larger group nearby: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For ... those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it" (Mark 8:35). There we have the paradox. If you try really hard to find your life, you are going to lose it in the process ...

527. Matthew 14:13-21

Matthew 14:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... contingent represented a would-be military gathering. Might the crowd have been attempting to draft Jesus into a role of military leadership? According to this interpretation, Jesus’ “retreat” prompted this group to seek him out and encourage him to take up a more traditional messianic identity. While dissent and discontent may have been particularly high in the aftermath of John the Baptist’s execution, there is no real evidence for this kind of textual extrapolation. What is emphasized by this ...

528. Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Deuteronomy 18:9-13, 14-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... they have had far too much exposure to divine directives. Since the people cannot bear to hear God face to face and since Moses' days of life are coming to an end, they are now promised a continuing gift of prophets. They should never be tempted to take up the magical ways of other nations because the Lord will always "raise up for them a prophet . . . from among their own people" (v.18). These mouthpieces of the Lord will be Israel's ongoing connection to God's will and warnings. "Raising up prophets" is ...

529. Living the Vision

Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

... wicked nation and still call for the worship of good people? It is the enemy that has defied God, again and again. What could possibly be the logic in using one wicked nation to punish another less wicked nation? It is at this point that Habakkuk describes himself as taking up a position of waiting. Like us, he will wait on the Lord. The Bible does not tell us in what form he expected to find an answer. Would it be a vision? Would God speak with him as with Moses? He does not say. But, Habakkuk is confident ...

530. You Can't Stay on the Mountain Forever

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the crossroads of human need. (suggested by Don Shelby, “Ecstasy, Agony and Baloney”). This Jesus who led his 3 disciples down from the mountain into the valley and involved himself with the masses is the one who said, “If anyone would be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me.” He’s the one who declared, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord - in a moment of ecstasy and inspiration - not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom but those who live out the will ...

531. The Prayer of a Thief

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

King Duncan

Not everybody who takes up a life of crime is all that smart. Sometimes movies or television glorify criminals. They make them appear sophisticated, even cool. Most criminals do not fall in that category. Like the guy who walked into a little corner store in England with a shotgun and demanded all the cash from ...

532. Prison Theology: Bait and Bail

Philippians 1:12-30

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

In a world more inclined to take up the sword than take up the cross, let’s begin today with a recognition of the power of the cross, the most recognizable symbol of Christianity. When you think of Islam you think of a crescent, even though technically Islam does not have a symbol – the crescent is the symbol of Pakistan. But still, when ...

533. Walking in the Light

1 John 1:5--2:14, 1 John 2:15-17

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... . The issue in vv. 3–5 is knowing God/Christ. The word know is used four times in these three verses. First, the Elder states the general principle by which Christians are assured that they truly know God/Christ (v. 3); then he takes up the opponents’ false claim (v. 4) and refutes it (v. 5; Barker, “1 John,” p. 315). “Knowledge” was an important concern to the gnosticlike secessionists. The very name “gnostic” means “one who knows” (from gnōsis). This knowledge was special; it conveyed ...

534. Peter's Confession of Christ

Luke 9:18-27

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... link between Jesus’ passion pronouncement in vv. 21–22 and his teaching in vv. 23–26 on the suffering involved in being his follower. (It is also omitted because Luke wishes to present Peter and the other apostles in the best light possible.) Following Jesus means taking up one’s cross and being willing to lose one’s life for Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah, a Messiah who must suffer and die, and a Messiah whose followers must also be willing to suffer and even to die. All of these ideas are part of ...

535. Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:1-14

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... of the quotation, “The one who is righteous by faith.” But being right with God is not the end of the matter. Chapter 6 evinces that righteousness is a commencement, not a commemoration; reveille, not taps. In chapters 6–7 Paul takes up the relationship of faith to the new life which it inaugurates, and thus broaches the final topic of the Habakkuk quotation (which he will further explore in chs. 12–15), “will live.” He shifts, theologically speaking, to “sanctification” (NIV holiness), a ...

536. Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin

1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 1:5--2:14

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

537. The Most Important Thing

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

King Duncan

... from his work. Because there was no more work to be done? No. Because rest is essential for health and peace and restoration. Rest is essential for joy. At some point, if we want to live the life God made us for, we have to lay down our burdens to take up the rest that God offers us. Author Bronnie Ware wrote a book, The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying, based on her years of work in palliative care, and the book’s message is vitally important for those of us who are dragged down by the demands on our lives ...

538. The Power of One Passion and One Prayer

Acts 1:6-14

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... read about in our Bible passage this morning. They prayed and waited for God to change them. They joined together with one passion and one prayer. They were determined not to stop until God poured out His Holy Spirit on them. They committed themselves to taking up God’s purposes as their sole priority for the rest of their lives. These folks were never going to be the same again. And because of their passion and their prayers and their commitment, they spread the message of Jesus Christ almost to the ends ...

539. Converts Or Disciples?

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

William G. Carter

... any intention to grow the church in numbers is a greater concern to grow the church in depth. A disciple is a student of Jesus. Disciples have a relationship that is growing, and learning, and serving. There is something more at work in them than merely taking up space in a pew. They work hard to understand what the gospel is all about. They struggle to bring those Christian insights to bear on the places where they work and the ways they spend their time and money. And it’s a lifelong process. In ...

540. The S & L That Didn't Fail!

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... his name. Look with me, at what our never-failing S & L has done: Our Sovereign Lord Becomes A Servant God the Father introduces God the Son as his "servant." It is almost incomprehensible that the Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, would condescend to take up his abode with us. He will leave the high habitation of heaven to descend to the low living of earth. In heaven he is seated in honor, glory, majesty, power and might; adored and worshiped by angels and archangels. On earth, which is but his ...

541. Have You Talked to Jesus Lately?

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Johnny Dean

... here when there’s a ton of work waiting for you? Have you lost your mind, too?" As if he could read my mind, the young stranger took a step toward me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and said, "Look, I know you’re busy, and I won’t take up any more of your time. I just wanted to stop by and say thanks. Keep up the good work. Bye, for now." Then he turned and walked away, back across the church yard to the busy street. I don’t know why, but I stood there and watched him until ...

542. The Impartiality of God

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Hubert Beck

... be well to speak of the need for a Savior to save us from ourselves. That kind of talk is compatible with the story we have before us in the Second Lesson for the day. It is, unfortunately, only a very small portion of a story that takes up the entire chapter from which these five verses are taken and is deemed important enough to rehearse yet again in capsule form in the following chapter. Quite apparently the story is seen as a turning point in the history of the early church. We need to briefly remember ...

543. The Maybe Moment

2 Samuel 11:1-15

Sermon

Stan Purdum

... six feet in diameter.2 Even there, however, there would likely be some temptation in one's spirit. You see, David's sin began not when he happened to see Bathsheba, but when he ignored the alarm that sounded inside him and allowed the idea that occurred to him to take up residency in his head. As far as resisting temptation goes, that is a key moment, a point at which it is easier to say no than it is likely to be later. It is the "maybe moment," the point in time at which going down the wrong path is still ...

544. Weary in Well Doing

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Donna Schaper

... help" so much as "How can I help?" We may need practice. We may have just the flickering of light within us and on our path. We may need help. We may need to find out whether we are spiritually depressed. We may need to get over something that is taking up all the space, like a virus, on our hard drive. We may need to rest. We may be too tired to be lit. We may need to just say out loud, "I am weary." The destination is what matters. It is the panting, the urgency, the truly wanting to be ...

545. Putting Ourselves in the Picture

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... provide further scriptural foundation for our sermon today, we look now at the second lesson. This lesson from Mark’s Gospel, and we’re all familiar with that stern call to discipleship that Jesus gave us there, if any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow. For whoever will save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake and the gospels, the same will find it. And that’s pretty dramatic too, isn’t it? And it’s rather clear; but the ...

546. A Stone’s Throw From: Heaven

Matthew 16:13-25

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." [24] Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [25] For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. I. Context Let me put this whole situation in context, it will help us understand some of the deeper ...

547. The Challenge Of Generosity

Malachi 3:10, Luke 6:36-38

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the eighteen cents gravely and watched the youngsters trudge out of the store. (3) That was a Special Gift given out of generosity and love. Conclusion One day at Church, as the ushers came down the aisle to take up the offering, Susie asked her mom what was happening. "They're taking up the offering and when they get here you can put your nickel in the offering plate," her mother answered. Anxiously, Susie replied, "But this nickel is for Jesus." Mom explained how, by putting her nickel in the plate ...

548. Resurrection and Transformation (Part 1)

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... (“corruptible,” “decomposing”; NIV: “perishable”); what is raised is aphtharsia (“not subject to decay,” “imperishable”). Aging, ailments, and the struggles of flesh and blood will become unknown. sown in dishonor . . . raised in glory. The second pair takes up the issue of honor and shame. What is sown in atimia (“dishonor” or “shame”) will be raised in doxa (“high reputation,” “fame,” “glory,” “honor”). The issue of honor and shame was of major importance to ...

549. One More Year

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... stuffing down of resentment and continued. “You know this cannot continue, don’t you Mr. Rhodes?” Yes, that had occurred to me. “You are occupying a space in this institution, which means someone else did not get accepted. Why should we allow you to take up space without you performing in ways that we know you can?” I said nothing, but my flushed, embarrassed face spoke volumes. She sighed and said, “Well, it took you some weeks to get into this spot. I suppose we can give you the same amount ...

550. True Worship

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

Will Willimon

... me, to love me and that God had given him that gift. He wrote to ask my forgiveness, even though I had not known, until that letter, that I had anything to be forgiven for or for which to forgive him. He asked to be my friend, to take up our relationship again. And I, realizing how much I must have hurt him, even unintentionally (unintentional hurts hurt as bad as intentional ones), realizing how deeply I had offended him, how much anger and pain had to be overcome in his soul for him to forgive me, I ...

Showing results