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 51 to 75 of 4943 results
51. All In: The Winning Hand
1 Corinthians 9:1-27
Sermon
James Merritt
... t know Christ. In fact, the very first message of this series taught us that when you go all in for Christ you take self completely out of the picture. Remember our theme verse: “He said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23, ESV) Going all-in means you deny yourself, you die to yourself and you devote yourself completely to Christ. When Jesus Christ died on the cross He went all in, but He didn’t go all in for Himself ...
Sermon
John Jamison
... a major power and smashing all opposition is not the goal. Instead, seeing that the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, and the hopeless hope-filled; all make it possible for the last to become first. In other words, we need to redefine success. Taking up their crosses was not some kind of a theological or philosophical concept for these guys. As they have traveled around the countryside over the past three years, the image of carrying a cross had been burned into their psyche. Crucifixion was a popular tool ...
Drama
Michael L. Sherer
... , and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings." Or words similar to that. ANTAGONIST: That’s what our baptism is all about? PROTAGONIST: That’s right. Looks like we’re in the same boat Luther was. LECTOR: If any person would be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me. As the drama participants leave the chancel, the congregation sings the hymn, "Lift High the Cross."
54. The Taught Can
Mark 8:31--9:1
Sermon
George W. Hoyer
... don't need James to make us feel guilty. We can do that for ourselves. But can we do more than that? What was the first thing Jesus said we must do if we wish to be followers? "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Deny your self ... when we repent and believe the good news that already means we are denying ourselves. Do any of you claim that God owes you eternal living? Or do any of you claim that you can sin in order that grace may abound ...
55. Boasting
2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Understanding Series
James M. Scott
... for boasting is nothing in comparison with knowing Christ and sharing in his sufferings, so that he may participate in Christ’s resurrection (cf. Phil. 3:5–11). Paul boasts in his weakness so that (hina) Christ’s power might rest on him. The verb actually denotes “take up one’s abode, dwell” and may well recall that the presence of God dwelled in the tabernacle and the temple (cf. Exod. 25:8; Ezek. 37:27; 2 Cor. 6:16). If so, the verb ties our passage back to 2 Corinthians 5:1, where Paul refers ...
56. Boasting
2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Understanding Series
James M. Scott
... for boasting is nothing in comparison with knowing Christ and sharing in his sufferings, so that he may participate in Christ’s resurrection (cf. Phil. 3:5–11). Paul boasts in his weakness so that (hina) Christ’s power might rest on him. The verb actually denotes “take up one’s abode, dwell” and may well recall that the presence of God dwelled in the tabernacle and the temple (cf. Exod. 25:8; Ezek. 37:27; 2 Cor. 6:16). If so, the verb ties our passage back to 2 Corinthians 5:1, where Paul refers ...
Bulletin Aid
Rolland R. Reece
... , a family member, or a complete stranger we come across a word, a phrase, a lyric, a line of poetry, a forgotten Bible verse that convinces us that the indelible mark of guilt can be erased after all. Then our hearts beat faster and hope takes up residence in our souls. Sometimes, God, life brings us a shattering and devastating experience that only a week before we couldn't have imagined. Therefore we come to you as children in great need of your compassion and protection. We are grateful, O God, that ...
Understanding Series
Norman Hillyer
... believers. The verb “to call” (kalein) is regularly used in four main senses. 1. It means to call a person or a place by name, as in Luke 10:39 (“a sister called Mary”) or Luke 7:11 (“a town called Nain”). 2. It means to call someone to take up a task or responsibility. Paul is “called to be an apostle” (Rom. 1:1). Certain servants are “called” to take charge in their master’s absence (Luke 19:13). 3. It is used to summon someone to a law court to give an account of his actions (Acts 4 ...
Sermon
Louis H. Valbracht
... had any lingering doubts about that, they were quickly dispelled, as He continued: "All things written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished." Notice, not "endured." This is not a martyr, with bowed head, going to his doom - this is a man taking up a mission! Accomplish! He shall be delivered to the pagans. He shall be mocked and maltreated and spitted upon, and they shall flog Him and put Him to death. And what was the response? It’s given in three ways in the account: they didn ...
Sermon
Wayne Brouwer
... moment over to voices and times from the past. Let them tell us what to do. Let's try to relive the good old days. "The democracy of the dead." But life is a journey, says Jesus. "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." That means traditions alone cannot keep our faith strong. It means that life and society and the church will always be changing. It can be frightening to us. How often I have had conversations with people who wished to turn back the clock ...
Sermon
John R. Brokhoff
... friends. The discipline on the cross road of life is maintaining this first-love of Christ in the midst of a hostile environment. A Road of Hardship The cross road of life, in the second place, is a road of hardship. In our text Jesus says, "He who does not take up his cross ..." The Christian way of life is the cross way. If it is a cross, why would it not be a road of hardship? The cross of Jesus is rough and tough. It means nails and a thrust of the spear. The cross calls for a sense of forsakenness ...
62. Warnings and Exhortations for Jerusalem and Judah
Zephaniah 1:1-3, Zephaniah 1:4-13, Zephaniah 1:14--2:3
Understanding Series
John Goldingay
... will be plundered and their houses demolished by invaders. It will be a fulfillment of the kind of warning issued in Deuteronomy 28:30, 39. 1:14–18 The NIV appropriately starts a new section, though the argument again continues without a break. Verse 14 begins by taking up the declaration from verse 7 but adds that Yahweh’s day will be great, then repeats that it is near and further adds that it is coming quickly (as people in Isa. 5:19 in effect encouraged it to do). The succeeding verses simply go on ...
63. Moving Day
John 14:23-29
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
... when it does occur, you may believe. In the very first verse, Jesus says: "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." God wants to move in with you. Jesus wants to take up residence in your home and in your life. God wants to be a permanent part of your family. God wants to establish a new address and a new set of keys. There are three key things we need to be doing to help make that happen: Preparing, Welcoming and Honoring ...
64. Paul of Tarsus
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Drama
Michael L. Sherer
... a year for a trial which never came. He was reported to have been calm when the soldier drew his sword. A bystander reported Paul traced a cross-sign on his chest just as the sword was starting to swing. LECTOR: If any person would be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me. As the drama participants leave the chancel, the congregation sings the hymn, "Lift High the Cross."
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... discipline. It is a challenge to would-be Christians. Anyone who has read the gospels know that Jesus’ call is to a “narrow way.” He couldn’t have made it clearer. Then Jesus told his disciples, “if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it or what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they ...
66. Egypt
Ezekiel 29:1-21, Ezekiel 30:1-26, Ezekiel 31:1-18, Ezekiel 32:1-32
Understanding Series
Steven Tuell
... responsibility for Egypt’s destruction to Nebuchadnezzar (v. 10). The divine word formula (v. 1) introduces the lament, and it opens with the command “Son of man, prophesy” (v. 2; compare the laments against Tyre and its king, which open with the command to “take up a lament” [27:2; 28:12]), and concludes with the recognition formula (v. 19). The lament has four parts, each of which opens with the messenger formula: 30:2–5, 6–9, 10–12, and 13–19. Numerous parallels with Isaiah’s oracles ...
67. Taking Charge
Joshua 5:1-12
Sermon
King Duncan
... . On the surface it seems to bear no resemblance to Luke's story about the Prodigal boy. The people of Israel have been wandering in the wilderness. During the time they have been in the wilderness, God has been feeding them with manna from heaven. Our story takes up when they have finally entered the promised land. Here is what the writer of Joshua says at that critical point in Israel's history: "The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate ...
68. Follow Me!
Matthew 16:21-28
Sermon
James McCormick
... right back at the beginning, aren’t we? We have just taken God off the throne and put ourselves back on. When we refuse to take up the cross of obedience, we are also refusing to deny ourselves first place. I’m in charge! To give up control is not easy. ... world. And it’s the best hope of your life and mine. “If any want to be my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” That’s what he said! Last spring, when some of us renewed our baptisms at the Jordan River in ...
69. Oops! I Did It Again
Matthew 16:21-28
Sermon
King Duncan
... I am important to Jesus and that he loves me.” With that he started crying again, happy and unashamed. When his sobs subsided, he earnestly burst out, “You know, boy, kindness can make you cry.” (7) Well, kindness can make you cry. But that is part of what taking up the cross of Jesus is all about. We love as he loved. We don’t try to repeal the Great Commandment or the Great Commission. We try to live them out. Oh, we backslide sometimes, just as Peter did, but by God’s grace we pick ourselves up ...
Understanding Series
Gordon D. Fee
... keep safe what has been entrusted to him. Thus, do not be ashamed of me. Examples of those who have deserted Paul (v. 15) and of one who was not ashamed of him (vv. 16–18) follow this first appeal. The second part of the appeal (2:1–13) takes up especially the theme of Timothy’s need for steadfastness as he takes his own part in the suffering. 1:6 As noted in the discussion on v. 5, Paul moves directly from the thanksgiving to the main concern of the letter. The for this reason refers to the genuine ...
Drama
Esther R. Russ
... so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. If any of you want to follow me, then take up your cross and follow me. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Narrator: As the three years of Jesus’ ministry drew to a close, untrue stories of blasphemy and insurrection threatened the Master’s survival. Jesus, knowing ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... on our world simply because we no longer stand for anything of consequence. We are afraid of rocking the boat. We are afraid of offending our neighbor. We are afraid others will criticize us. What do we think Jesus meant when he said that his followers must deny themselves and take up a cross and follow him? Do we think that he meant to rush out to the jewelry store and buy a little trinket to wear around our neck and be sure not to miss Sunday school three weeks in a row? He meant so much more than that. A ...
73. Thankless Jobs
John 10:1-21
Sermon
King Duncan
... statue of Mary with the baby Jesus. And she said softly, "Here. These are yours." (8) Christ set the example. He is the Good Shepherd. He watches over his sheep. He knows each of us by name. He even lay his life in our behalf. Now he calls us to take up the often thankless job of laying down our lives for others ” with no other reward than this. Someday to hear his voice say: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Are you up to it? Do you have what it takes to give your life in service to this ...
Sermon
Larry Powell
... . If not with our own, with someone else's. And it is not uncommon that their stress should become our own. This is the way we are made - made to feel, and it is unavoidable that things will affect our feelings. Stress is the risk we assume when we take up the business of being human. A great many things come upon us over which we have little or no control. Things which are, in one way or another, "done to us." Dealing with these is a delicate matter. On the other hand, there are a great many things which ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... ); setting a meal before a guest (Ps. 23:5); or even presenting a legal brief in court (Job 13:18). In other words, David had a plan to his prayer. He had an order to his quiet time. That word can also mean "to draw up for battle or to take up positions." When you have your quiet time with God, you are presenting yourself for duty, ready to take orders for the day; to find out what it is that God wants you to do. That's why you must take time for that quiet time so that you can talk ...
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