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 801 to 825 of 3926 results

801. Ecological Politics

Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... pummeled by gales that sneaked in from every direction without pattern. He bobbled and turned to beat back his enemy. It was then that his feet slid. The water became slippery, with pockets and holes that no longer supported his footfalls. He felt himself tipping and twisting, and groped the air for non-existent supports. The deep knew his name and was laying claim to his body heel upward. "Lord, save me!" he cried in panic. And Jesus took his hand. Jesus took his hand and the footing was firm. Jesus took ...

802. All Who Share This Hope

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Chris Ewing

... of saints, the family of faith? Blessed are you, says Jesus, who go ahead being meek, merciful, and peacemakers in a world where such efforts are doomed to failure and their doers to mistreatment. None of us is such a saint that we can keep doing that without support. We need the communion of saints to remind us that we are blessed when we live as if the love of God were the most important and the most reliable reality in life. We need the community, and the community needs us. With each other's help, we ...

803. The Holy Way

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon

Tony Everett

... . Our knees have grown feeble. Our hearts have become so fearful (Isaiah 35:3-4) that a way out seems truly impossible. Where are those scary, wilderness spaces deep inside your souls? Where are those spaces in which your hands weaken, your knees won't support you anymore, and your courage just surrenders? What traps you in the prison of doubt and broken dreams? What blinds your eyes from seeing God's presence or stops your ears from hearing God's promise? What closes your mouth from proclaiming the joy of ...

804. Show Me What’s Real

Exodus 33:12-23

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... cried my eyes out," she remembered of that night. The program was interrupted with a breaking news bulletin. There were pictures of Mississippi police turning dogs and fire hoses on Civil Rights protestors. Eleanor knew that this was her moment of truth. She began supporting the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as riots burned parts of her hometown of Detroit in 1967. She quickly learned that hunger was merely a symptom of a much larger problem. "You end racism," she claimed, "by making sure people enter ...

805. The World According to Paul

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... can! Paul is perhaps the most significant of all the individuals who helped shape and form the Christian faith. Paul's understanding of faith has had a dominant impact on what Christians believe throughout the centuries. His efforts at building believers into communities for nurture and support have become the model for today's church. God has chosen us. Not because of anything we do right or well but out of an everlasting love. God's unconditional love for us does not depend on what we do or don't do, say ...

806. Step Into The Vision

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... in defense of the public school system. And I'm afraid I'd have to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, as many of you would do, too, because of your affiliation with the public school system in Joshua and other places. So, if I'm so supportive of the Public School system, why should we start a school? What I'd really like to see, is a preschool. One that went at least through kindergarten and possibly first grade. The purpose of this school would be to prepare children (our own and those less fortunate ...

807. Can You Be Popular and Serve Jesus?

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... we adults need to give ourselves the same admonition. If we are in a group where persons of other persuasions are being demeaned, take a stand. If we are living beyond our means in order to impress our neighbors even to the point that we are not able to support God’s work in the world or give to the needy we need to radically evaluate our values. In the battle between the culture and Christ, choose Christ! This is All Saints’ Day. What is a saint? In my book it is a person who lives according to God ...

808. Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the truth about his divine conception by the Holy Spirit. Matthew’s second chapter is devoted to the “where” tracing the “where” of this new Messiah’s early earthly life. At every stage of his infancy narrative, Matthew cites scriptural texts as supportive evidence of the divinely ordained nature and ordered experiences encountered by the baby born to be Messiah. After the magi are warned in a dream to avoid returning to Herod, Matthew reveals that Joseph received his own warning in a dream. As ...

809. Life as a Piece of Music

Matthew 3:13-17

Illustration

Mark Radecke

... in the same direction provides the sustenuto, the sustained voice, the continuo line. It gives body and substance to the piece. By itself, it could become tedious or dull. But when the sustained voice undergirds and supports the staccato notes, when life in the microwave world is sustained and supported by God's gift of a long baptismal obedience in the same direction, then life is a magnificent fugue beautiful, rich, multi-textured, varied; surprising yet graceful and grace-filled. Such a life is beautiful ...

810. Miss Donna

John 1:29-42

Illustration

James W. Moore

... zoo, the museum, the Galleria. A few months ago, Donna's husband died in his sleep. Little John came to the funeral to support his friend Miss Donna in her grief. At the reception in the Hines Baker Room after the memorial service, John stood beside ... husband suddenly died. That man from Chicago says to Donna every time he comes, "I am what I am today because of the love and support you gave me 38 years ago." He says, "Ms. Donna, you were the first person in my life who believed in me." And today little ...

811. What Kind of Pillar Are You?

Matthew 5:13-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ve got to put his words and images in the context of the culture of his day. So here we go . . . Anyone who has ever had a class on Greek and Roman culture has had to recall and recognize the three distinctive types of architectural columns used to support the stately monuments, temples, and public buildings that adorned their world. Let’s see how well you remember your columns…anyone? I’ll give a hint: Doric is one. There you go. The three are the Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian. These three styles of ...

812. Like

Romans 5:12-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... with a “like list” at first. Our culture doesn’t normally do “like.” This is one of the great things about Facebook. There is seldom a day goes by that I am not asked to speak out against something, or take a stand against something, or support a cause that attacks something. But Facebook is against against. It only has a “like” tab. You can’t dislike something, only like it. But the rest of this culture had not said “No” to negativity like Facebook has. All you have to do is listen to ...

813. When to Take the Shirt off Your Back

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... re-learn how to bare our souls. On Palm Sunday, we need to shift the “stuff” off our backs so we can be freed up to notice the miracles unfolding before our eyes. On Palm Sunday, we need to slough off cynicism and lend our bare backs to support others. On Palm Sunday, we need to strip away our judgments of others and instead be enveloped by the unity of our humanity. On Palm Sunday, we need to expose the smallness of our vision and instead embrace the goodness and presence of God’s amazing grace. On ...

814. In Our Own Language

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... . Those who come here from other lands have the same difficulty with our language. A Latin American minister was touring the U.S. in an effort to boost financial support for missionaries and ministries in his home country. At a church luncheon, he was telling the guests about his home country, his family, and the important work being supported there. As he concluded, he said, “And I have a charming and understanding wife but, alas, no children.” After a pause, he said, haltingly, “You see, my wife is ...

815. God's Day Off

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... on a quiet sunny afternoon and meditate, but many others would not. The borough council has even appointed a stalwart guardian who assumes a fiercesome demeanor, especially to little boys who disregard the notices; and as a resident, I would support the appointment of this friend, and I would support the maintenance of the fences and the signs. You see, I want the park preserved.[3] Sunday is our little park ... our place apart in the noisy din of a hectic week ... a little oasis in the desert of a workaday ...

816. Welcoming Jesus

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... — should we use masculine, feminine, both, neither? We were arguing about sexuality — if folks are homosexual, should they be included in the church? We were arguing about whether to support the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches. We were arguing about buying a new hymnal. We were arguing about how much money to pay to support the mission of the church around the world when we have so many needs here at home. Or, with the disciples, we might just admit that our arguments are ...

817. When Did This Start? — Part 1

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Robert J. Elder

... , we all managed to get in. If you've ever been to anything like this, you know that the audience for a show being recorded live fulfills what is mainly a supportive role for the program. Nothing in the program is really aimed at the live audience, many of whom can only see the show with difficulty because of all the cameras and the support staff wandering around just off camera. Many wind up watching it in progress mainly on the monitors, which isn't all that different from watching it at home, except the ...

818. Tough Talk for Tentative Disciples

John 6:56-69

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... followers, one of whom is Judas, the traitor, lying in wait for an opportunity to betray (see v. 70). This is hardly a textbook example for today's church-growth experts, some of whom would likely recommend damage control and intensive strategies to shore up support. Jesus, however, gives the remaining disciples an opportunity to walk away: " ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve" (v. 67). But wait, this is more than an invitation to walk away. It is a call to commitment. Tough ...

819. The Fred Factor

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... It will never be enough. Some time ago, Terrell Owens of the Philadelphia Eagles was in a huge battle with the owner of the team because he felt that his 8.1 million dollar contract wasn't enough. He needs 10.5 because, he says, he has a family to support (or was that a small town?). Whenever they say it's not about the money, it's always about the money. Rockefeller was once asked, "How much is enough?" He said, "When I get a little more." Now, be clear here. Money isn't the problem. Working for money isn ...

820. Becoming Like Jesus

1 John 3:1-7

Sermon

Nancy Kraft

... that we might become a select group of people who are better than the rest of the world, because we know that's not the case. We are every bit as sinful as people are outside the church, maybe even more so. What we are dedicated to, and what we support one another in pursuing, is the process of becoming more than what we are. We're not defined by artificial labels like Christian. We're defined by whose we are. We're defined by Christ. Our lifelong calling is to become more and more like him until the day ...

821. The Home Court Advantage

Romans 12:9-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ” than “defensive” it was the visiting team, the Georgetown Hoyas, who ultimately had to beat a hasty retreat. The Hoya’s Coach Thompson wisely acknowledged that whatever else was going on during that melee, his team was lacking one crucial bit of support the home court advantage. Tobias Moskowitz and Jon Wertheim are co-authors of a new book, Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won (Crown: 2011). In their research these authors found a clear “home court ...

822. Oops! I Did It Again

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... is our mission. This is our responsibility.” Jesus told us to go out and makes disciples of all people. This pastor received such opposition to the whole idea of reaching out to all people that he put The Great Commission to a vote in his church! Do we support it or not? That sounds a little comical to us voting on Jesus’ direct command to his church to go out and make disciples of all people. It sounds like Simon Peter admonishing Jesus in our lesson for the day, but that’s what they did. And guess ...

823. Make a 119 Call

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Hong Zhu, another May Davis employee who stood frozen in fear, into joining them down the stairs. On the 53rd floor, their group passed a stranger, a very heavy man named Victor, whose legs were injured and seemed unable to support him. Mr. Ramos and Mr. Zhu stopped. They helped Victor to his feet and supported him as he slowly made his way down the stairs. On the 36th floor Victor gave up, ‘I can’t move my legs anymore,’ he said. A fireman rushing by told them to leave Victor and get out. Mr. Zhu ...

824. Cheering for the Underdog

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

King Duncan

... has a terminal illness. In one group of thirty people which was studied, no marriages remained intact longer than two years. (3) Talk about kicking you while you’re down. Life can sometimes be very cruel. People we love and depend on for support can sometimes be very cruel. There are times when all of us are underdogs. Few of us will go through our lives unscathed by disappointment and sometimes outright despair. It may be marital discord, it may be professional failure, it may be physical impairment ...

825. Two Futures

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... string is jerked, the yo-yo flies upward) Will I be afraid of dark places and scary challenges? Will I do well in school? Will I keep the faith that I was taught? Will people listen to me, give me the guidance I want and need? Will the big people support me? Mostly, though, I need what my pastor calls unconditional love, whatever that is I wonder what it’s going to be like? (moves out of the way, but still visible) Person 1: Kid looks like me. Ugh. (glances over at the child) Person 2: Bobby looks like me ...

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