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 751 to 775 of 1185 results

751. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is forward. His past life, his past “gains,” are wholly lost to him. He is fully focused forward to “what lies ahead.” Seeing that Paul writes this from prison, awaiting a possible death sentence, this view might not seem very uplifting. But Paul sees only one goal, one achievement worth pursuing. That is the “high” or “heavenly” call of God that has come to him in Christ Jesus.

752. If-By-Whiskey Speech

Illustration

While pursuing a story about equivocation in high office, a NY Times journalist was told, "He gave an if-by-whiskey speech." When asked about this curious compound adjective, his source said he thought it was a Florida political expression possibly borrowed from a Minnesota Congressman. That triggered a call to Richard ...

753. Merciful Anger

Matt 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-19

Illustration

James Packer

... the power and love of God brought to bear on him. There were other instances where Jesus showed anger or sternness. He "sternly charged" the leper whom he had healed not to tell anyone about it (Mark 1:43) because he foresaw the problems of being pursued by a huge crowd of thoughtless people who were interested only in seeing miracles and not in his teaching. But the leper disobeyed and so made things very hard for Jesus. Jesus showed anger again when the disciples tried to send away the mothers and their ...

754. Caesar's Ransom

Illustration

Staff

... captors, jokingly telling the pirates on several occasions that he would someday capture and crucify them to a man. The kidnappers were greatly amused, but when the ransom was paid and Caesar was freed, the first thing he did was gather a fleet and pursue the pirates. They were captured and crucified ... to a man! Such was the Romans' attitude toward crucifixion. It was to be reserved for the worst of criminals, a means of showing extreme contempt for the condemned. The suffering and humiliation of a Roman ...

755. Death: The Hell Club

Illustration

Paul Lee Tan

... down, down, down with increasing speed. "Where are you taking me?" The cold voice replied, "To hell!" The echoes of the groans and yells of frantic revelry assaulted their ears. At the entrance to hell, Boyle saw the inmates chasing the same pleasures they had pursued in life. There was a lady he'd known playing her favorite vulgar game. Boyle relaxed, thinking hell must be a pleasurable place after all. When he asked her to rest a moment and show him through the pleasures of hell, she shrieked. "There is ...

756. Unanimously in Disagreement!

Illustration

Charles Swindoll

... said that Walt would occasionally present some unbelievable, extensive dream he was entertaining. Almost without exception, the members of his board would gulp, blink, and stare back at him in disbelief, resisting even the thought of such a thing. But unless every member resisted the idea, Disney usually didn't pursue it. Yes, you read that correctly. The challenge wasn't big enough to merit his time and creative energy unless they were unanimously in disagreement!

757. Historic: The Declaration of Independence

Illustration

Staff

... transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance ...

758. God's Unforced Love

Illustration

Staff

... fact that the very God who loves us is the one who respects our decisions. He loves us, but he does not force his love on us. To force love is to commit assault. He allows us to decide. He loves us, he encourages our response, he woos us, he pursues us, he urges us, but he does not force us, because he respects us.

759. Scratch the Surface

Illustration

J.M. Boice

... Him. Some years ago Donald Grey Barnhouse was counseling a young woman on the sidewalk in front of Tenth Presbyterian Church following an evening service. She said she was a Christian and that she wanted to follow Christ. But she wanted to be famous too. She wanted to pursue a stage career in New York. "After I have made it in the theater, I'll follow Christ completely," she said. Barnhouse took a key out of his pocket and scratched a mark on a postal box standing on the corner. "That is what God will let ...

760. Finish the Lord's Work

Illustration

... steady as a star. Let the world brawl and bubble. You may be assaulted, wrangled, insulted, slandered, wounded, and rejected. You may be chased by foes, abused by them, forsaken by friend, despised and rejected of men, but see to it that with steadfast determination and with unfaltering zeal you pursue that great purpose of your life and the object of your being until at last you can say; "I have finished the work which you, dear God, have given me to do?"

761. Daily Diligence

Illustration

Martin Luther

Let ministers daily pursue their studies with diligence and constantly busy themselves with them. Moreover, let them with care and diligence beware of the infectious poison of this imagined security and conceited overestimation; rather let them steadily keep on reading, teaching, studying, pondering, and meditating. My concern should be that others receive from me ...

762. Number One on the List

Mt 6:31-34

Illustration

Brett Blair

... righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. In fact isn't that the Ivy Lee method itself? Let's call it the Jesus Method: Trust in God; pursue what is Good, and don't worry about tomorrow. And today your needs will be met.

763. Out with the Old Rules

Illustration

Staff

... . "The percentage of evangelical students agreeing with these statements far exceeded the corresponding percentage of the general population," Hunter wrote. "Self-fulfillment is no longer a natural by-product of a life committed to higher ideals, but rather is a goal, pursued rationally and with calculation as an end in itself. The quest for emotional psychological and social maturity, therefore, becomes normative. Self-expression and self-realization compete for self-sacrifice as a guiding life ethic."

764. Lightbulb Jokes

Humor Illustration

... it take to change a light bulb? It takes 12 White House aides to take out that bulb! 1 to twist it out, slowly. 1 to tell it how valued its contribution to light has been. 1 to throw it away. 1 to tell the press that it resigned to pursue other interests. 1 to post the new job offering for interested potential employees. 1 to call the President's brother-in-law in secret and offer him the job. 1 to assure House leaders that the bulb was not made in their district. 1 to meet quietly with various Senators ...

765. Zombie Zone or Beulah Land?

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of human life which is natural and fine until it is elevated to “idol status,” until it becomes a repository for all our hopes and dreams, all our love and trust. Then these human attributes become zombie-making idols, as we single-mindedly worship and pursue them. God did not make us zombies. And Zombie-land is not where God intends men and women to live. Escaping a zombie-land of endless idol worship is the reason Jesus became incarnate, which is another word for becoming fragile and then fractured ...

766. Risk Takers

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... instance, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20) clashes with the worldly value of pride and personal independence. "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled" (Luke 6:21a) clashes with pursuing personal needs. These two beatitudes can stand alone, but they are also connected to one and other. Those who only look to their own needs, overlook those who have needs. Their material possessions and financial security cause them to think they have no need ...

767. Simple Enough?

John 13:31-35

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... the Emancipation Proclamation, and England and France were unable to recognize the Confederacy. And yet — McClelland, still believing in the numerical superiority of the force he had just defeated (in reality the Confederates were always outnumbered) did not pursue the defeated Army of Northern Virginia. Many experts think he could have ended the war by following up his advantage. The Confederates were able to limp across the Potomac River to safety, infuriating the president and leading eventually to ...

768. Where Would You Go to Meet Jesus?

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

... sheep" or "lost coins." I had not been inside a church for years except for visits home or, when Don would pay me to play the upright bass, in folk masses. He never gave up on any of my friends or me. Up until his untimely death he kept pursuing the lost, the ones, he would say, Jesus would have gone after. Here's what my friend wrote about him: Father Don would consistently divert folks driving him home from teaching Tuesday morning Bible study to what appeared to be the absolutely worst bar in one of the ...

769. They Are Biting

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... spat out a mess of bait. He said again, "You have to keep the worms warm!" Our text is the source of that "fisher of men" designation we learned to sing about in Sunday school. It too is a "fish story" of sorts. It starts out with Jesus being pursued by the curious crowd, folks who have heard about this amazing young man: his healing miracles, casting out demons. What does he have to say? So they press close, as the text says, "listening to the word of God" (Luke 5:1). Too close, actually. Closer and closer ...

770. Life In the Valley

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... doubt. Here come those who have drunk deeply from the cup of sorrow and pain. Give them the hand of sympathy. Here come those who are weighed down under an unseen burden. Give them the hand of strength. Here come those who are pursued by some dangerous temptation. Give them the hand of fortitude. Here are those who have needs for physical sustenance. Give them the hand of generosity. "Preach the gospel that Christ preached," McCartney says, "the gospel of the hand!"[2] Mountaintop experiences are wonderful ...

771. Going For the Gold

Philippians 3:4-14

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... good Christians. They would never have bothered to join in the first place if that did not matter. But from years and years of conversations with members, I get the impression that the reason so many of our folks do not bother with pursuing Christian excellence is the memory of unsatisfactory experiences in that quest in the past: boring classes, unprepared teachers, unfriendly classmates. Things were not as good as they could and should have been, so ever since, good people have not bothered. That is sad ...

772. Prayers For the President

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... tax breaks for the wealthiest among us and no health insurance for millions of poor American children. And one political party or the other cannot be blamed for that, because both are guilty. So, can we agree to pray that our leaders prioritize and pursue these justice issues? Fine. Just remember, prayer is not a laborsaving device. If we pray that prayer, we are committing ourselves to support our leaders in that pursuit, to encourage them in that direction, and to call them to account when they drift away ...

773. A New Point of View

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... it is possible to live their lives differently because of what God has already done for them and to them in Christ. They don't have to be always keeping score, counting up trespasses, measuring accomplishments, both theirs and others, as they shamelessly pursue their own success. They no longer need to tear up their congregation with one backroom deal, one secret meeting, one slanderous conversation after another. All of that is no longer necessary. They no longer have to build themselves up at the expense ...

774. Worthy of Your Call

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... leaders in America with write ups in Newsweek, Time, and People magazines. VeggieTales was an incredible, nearly overnight success story headed up a guy who, as he describes himself, was kicked out of Bible college after three semesters for failing chapel. He left school to pursue his God-sized dream. This was a man of faith who wanted to make a deep impact for the kingdom, not just sell videos and retire early in southern Florida. He caught the attention of Disney who surrounded him with a staff of over ...

775. Face to Face

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... distinguishable facial expressions have been identified, and that is probably just a start on the human face. The 18th century German satirist Georg Lichtenberg called the human face “the most entertaining surface on earth.” How could we possibly resist pursuing and endlessly perusing an online site called “Facebook?” We recognize friends — and enemies — by their face. Bank robbers wear masks to hide their faces, knowing full well that, no matter how clear the pictures of their bodies might be ...

Showing results

Showing 751 to 775 of 1185 results

751. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

752. If-By-Whiskey Speech

Illustration

753. Merciful Anger

Matt 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-19

Illustration

James Packer

754. Caesar's Ransom

Illustration

Staff

755. Death: The Hell Club

Illustration

Paul Lee Tan

756. Unanimously in Disagreement!

Illustration

Charles Swindoll

757. Historic: The Declaration of Independence

Illustration

Staff

758. God's Unforced Love

Illustration

Staff

759. Scratch the Surface

Illustration

J.M. Boice

760. Finish the Lord's Work

Illustration

761. Daily Diligence

Illustration

Martin Luther

762. Number One on the List

Mt 6:31-34

Illustration

Brett Blair

763. Out with the Old Rules

Illustration

Staff

764. Lightbulb Jokes

Humor Illustration

765. Zombie Zone or Beulah Land?

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

766. Risk Takers

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

767. Simple Enough?

John 13:31-35

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

768. Where Would You Go to Meet Jesus?

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

769. They Are Biting

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

David E. Leininger

770. Life In the Valley

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

David E. Leininger

771. Going For the Gold

Philippians 3:4-14

Sermon

David E. Leininger

772. Prayers For the President

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

David E. Leininger

773. A New Point of View

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

774. Worthy of Your Call

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

775. Face to Face

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

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