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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 551 to 575 of 4943 results

551. John 15:9-17

John 15:9-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is presented in the aorist form (which seems to suggest a translation of "begin to remain" or "start remaining"). But coupled as it is with the imperative, it primarily serves to make Jesus' command to "love" more emphatic. It is important to note that verse 10 will continue to discuss the results that may be expected by remaining in Jesus' love. Thus, when the disciples are ordered to "abide in my love," Jesus is urging them to stay in his love, not that they must keep loving him. It is the love that flows ...

552. Colossians 1:15-28

Colossians 1:15-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Christ, the hymn makes an even more astounding assertion: that this supreme deity is found at the head of the church itself. Paul's familiar image of the church as the "body of Christ" shifts its focus here to accent Christ as the head of this body, continuing the emphasis on Christ's supremacy and on Christ as the originator of the church. Just as Christ was the "firstborn of all creation" and thus Lord over all the created universe, so Christ the "head of the body, the church" is the "firstborn from the ...

553. Hosea 1:2-10

Hosea 1:2-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 7 is a later addition to Hosea's text by a Judean author for obvious reasons. Although this could have been a message of affirmation about King Uzziah's piety from Hosea himself, it is doubtful that the prophet was concerned to make a statement about Judah's continued faithfulness at this point in the text. Some scholars also find meaning in the aside of verse 8: "When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah." Does this suggest that the Lord allowed a good passage of time to go by before pronouncing the final break with ...

554. John 15:9-17

John 15:9-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... table talk" with his disciples that Jesus has spoken of keeping his commandments. The same phrase is found in 14:15, 21 and 23-24. "Loving Jesus" therefore is not simply a reference to an emotional response, but implies some sort of decisive, continued action on the part of the disciples. The disciples must demonstrate that they love Jesus by keeping his commandments in order to remain recipients of Jesus' love. There is both respect and freedom for the disciples' chosen actions implicit in this design. But ...

555. Mark 4:26-34

Mark 4:26-34

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... "seed," this word Jesus presents, is noted literally in Mark's gospel (3:7,8; 4:1), and it is implied as the model for the gospel's spread and growth in the future. All this growth, while uncontrolled by the sower, is not without some definitive end purpose. Growth continues until the fruit is deemed "ripe," and then it is time for the harvest. Although the sower did not ripen the grains, the harvest is in his hands. The earth brought forth the mature fruit, just as God will cause the growth of the word to ...

556. Baptism Of Our Lord

Mark 1:9-13, Mark 1:1-8, Acts 19:1-22, Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... ." "Created" implies that God created the universe, and in six days all was finished. The alternate reading suggests that there is a continual creation. Astronomers talk about an ever-expanding universe with new stars continually coming into existence. On earth we see God's continuing creation by his replenishing the earth through the harvest of farm and orchard. Year after year his continuing creation results in the providence of the necessaries of life. 2. Waters (v. 2). In the act of creation the Spirit ...

557. Lent 4

Joshua 5:1-12, Psalm 32:1-11, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... our heads in shame, heavenly Parent, when we remember what we have done contrary to your instruction, we come with joy and shining faces, for you put our past behind us and lead us to a new life of freedom and mutual service. We will bless your name continually and tell of your goodness to the humble, who will hear and also be glad. With all who have been freed from bondage we celebrate the Passover of gladness and the joyful feast of the people of God. All praise be given to you, holy Parent, innocent Kin ...

558. Hotline to Heaven

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

James Merritt

... talking to God about Little Red Riding Hood, because all they do is say the same thing over and over and over. You could pretty much sum up most praying in a Baptist church like this: "Father, thank you for your blessings. Please continue to bless us, and if you'll continue to bless us, we'll continue to thank you for your blessings. Amen." Well, Jesus said it is not how much you say to God that causes Him to hear your prayer, but it is how you say, what you say, to God that gets His attention. John Bunyan ...

559. Holy Extravagance

John 12:1-8

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... Lenten season is well on its way to being over and we are summoned to take a close look at its happenings, some were bizarre and yet were expressing strong love and commitment. Who would not want to have been there? Seeing no hands go up, we are urged to continue. We are taught that the presence of Jesus is what really counts. When we get up every morning, that should be our theme song. He walks with us and talks with us in our joys and sorrows all day long. There is a blessed fragrance that fills the air ...

560. Fish and Sheep

John 21:15-25, John 21:1-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... do the same. His greatest gift is found in his undeniable presence, as the crucified and resurrected Lord, in the Holy Communion. While Peter and the others experience a memorable breakfast, the message is clear. He is the one who feeds us. We do not feed him. He will continue being the Christ, regardless of what we do or do not do. In our case, however, it is what he does for us that enables us to live the Christian life. To have fellowship with the Master early in the day has long been a staple for those ...

561. Call to Oneness

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... with majestic authority and demand to be heard until all precious parts of the puzzle fall into place. At times, the Holy Spirit grieves and groans in sorrow. Our stance must always be never, never to give up. The world has been watching a long, long time and it continues to watch. Some of us yearn in nearly perpetual pain for the great day of days. We know it is to be but we do not know the final configuration. We must be patient. The Father and Son are perfectly related in love. This is such a lofty idea ...

562. Triumphing over Obstacles

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... that they need. Saint Paul is telling the Corinthians that as he has overcome many obstacles in life, so, too, must this nascent community of faith. The apostle has used every manifestation of adversity as a tool to grow and gain greater strength, so as to continue toward the goal of building God's kingdom day-by-day in our world. The season of Lent is a time when we use, as Paul also suggests today, the weapons of righteousness to fight God's battles in this world. Traditionally, the Christian community ...

563. Standing Tall in the Lord

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... a man. His small beady eyes were not centered in his oversized head. His ears were like cauliflower and his nose was as large as a gourd, with an ugly mole on its tip. His mouth and jaw were locked in a perpetual grimace. As those in the tavern continued to mock the fool, a contentious rival artist hurled a challenge to the great da Vinci. "You are a master," said the man, "can you make in paint a beauty of this ugly fool?" Leonardo could not avoid the challenge, to do so would forever place him in doubt ...

564. What Are You Looking At?

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... go about it anyway! Perhaps that is the greatest reason Jesus ascended into heaven. Had he remained on earth, the disciples would have continued to crowd around him - and who can blame them? If we had access to the risen Lord, physically and in the flesh, wouldn' ... he who we have always trusted and known. There are two mistakes we could make in the wake of the ascension. One is to continue to stare into heaven, to be so focused on the return of Jesus, which is a central element of our faith, that we neglect ...

565. Mary and Joseph: His Obedient Servants

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Word has come to us. Does that sound strange? “Trough God’s action ins ending Jesus, through His life and death, and resurrection, through the work of the Holy Spirit, we know ourselves to be a favored, grace gifted, blessed people, called to share in the continual showing forth of Jesus Christ in our age – to be a part of a kingdom that shall know no end. “I think we have to understand a very important principle of biblical interpretation at this point. There is a sense in which our Lord is dealing ...

566. Journey To The Heart Of Christmas

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... morning, they returned to their flocks and their jobs in the kitchen, and Miriam and her family returned to their travels. Hamid and the Kings continued their journey as well. Hamid: Journal entry number 121. The star continues to move and continues to shine brighter than all the others. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the sky is clear or cloudy. It still shines through. We continue to track it. Some of the servants, and even one of the Kings, have begun to doubt we’ll ever reach our destination. One ...

567. Matthew 6:25-33

Matthew 6:25-34

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and lushness last for but one day before they become simply fodder for the oven’s fire. If such a transitory existence is nevertheless carefully attended to by God, “will he not much more cloth you?” Jesus concludes by defining those who continue to worry as “you of little faith” (v.30). The term “oligopistos,” “little faith,” is a moniker Jesus repeatedly uses to describe his disciples, those very ones who should have had great faith because of their unique exposure to Jesus’ words and ...

568. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Paul offers today in his letter to the Thessalonians. Having been forced to leave that fledgling Christian community before he really wanted to, Paul is genuinely relieved and greatly pleased to hear from Timothy that, against all odds, the new Christians of Thessalonia have continued as a community of faith. This is good news, great news, for Paul to hear. He responds with an over-the-top prayer of praise and thanksgiving for the community’s faithfulness and for God’s graciousness that has made their ...

569. Habits

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Illustration

James Garrett

... of it every day, but it can be broken. There is One who will help you break it, if you desire it. Habits are often practiced without guilt, justified through cleverly devised mental schemes. We have to be continuously converted all the days of our lives, continually to turn to God as children. Life is a continuous conversion. In every setting in which we are put we have to "put on the new person." There are whole areas of our lives which have not yet been brought into subjection, and it can only be done ...

570. Only Jesus

Mark 9:2-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... boy asked his mother, "Marriage makes you have babies, doesn't it, Mom?" The mother reluctantly answered her son, "Well, not exactly. Just because you are married does not mean that you have a baby." The boy continued his inquiry: "Then how do you have babies?" His mother, not very enthusiastic about continuing, answered, "It's kind of hard to explain." The boy paused and thought for a moment. He then moved closer to Mom, looked her right in eye, and carefully said, "You don't really know how it works ...

571. A Chance To Dance

Luke 5:17-25

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . And when they did, they came up all wet. They same thing happens to us when we lose our focus on the faith. When we quit focusing on God through Christ we've danced too close to the edge. And in order NOT to lose that focus we have to continue in Worship, Prayer, Bible Study, fellowship, tithing, all of those things which keep us centered in and focused on the Lord of the Dance. III. Dance With The One Who Brung Ya A. You have to learn the steps, not dance too close to the edge and we're called ...

572. Here I Am, Send Me

Joel 2:28-32, Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... said, "Here I am, send me" just like the teachers, leaders and support people for VBS. We've all heard God's call and said, "Here I am, send me." Our Sunday School teachers have heard God's call and said, "Here I am, send me." And God continues to call and continues to ask the same question of every individual who has given their life to God through Christ. That question is still: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Our response should always be, "Here I am, send me." II. The Vision A. The Apostle ...

573. Seen The Doctor Lately?

Romans 12:9-21

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... our relationship with god through Christ which reminds us over and over again, that no matter what we might have done in life, God continues to love us, unconditionally. Romans 5:8 says, "But God proves God's love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ ... and serve the Lord. There's really only one way in which we can adequately respond to all that God has done for us and continues to do for us through Christ. Someone once said: "A parent's love isn't to be paid back; it can only be passed on." ...

574. The NFL of Grace

Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... he threw a pass. As it often happens, the pass was intercepted by a player on the other team. This opponent rushed toward the Georgia Tech goal line. The entire team had given up the chase - except for the quarterback who had thrown the pass. He had continued to chase his opponent and somehow was able to tackle him. The ball was fumbled and the quarterback recovered the ball. Georgia Tech won the game 7 to 6. After the game, the losing coach said to Coach Dodd, "I will never understand how that quarterback ...

575. To Live Is to Choose

Matthew 7:13-14

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . That could be our nickname couldn’t it? We want to face both ways so we don’t have any face at all. We continue to straddle the fence until we have nothing to offer or nothing to say, or nothing to act upon because we can’t make ... up and talk to him because I’m certain he could tell me a lot more than I have told you about three basic truths. One, continuous indecision is poisonous to the person. Two, decision making is perilous but Three, life is life by the choices we make and to choose Jesus is ...

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