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 876 to 900 of 4943 results

876. All Saints' Day

Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Matthew 5:1-12

Bulletin Aid

... shall be like him! People: That is our hope, and it motivates us to keep ourselves pure for our Lord. Collect Almighty God, whose love is without end to those who call you Father: Help us to live like Jesus as much as we possibly can; that we may continue in your love even into eternity where we shall be like Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession We are your children because of your great love, Father. And we look forward to the glories of eternity. But we struggle with our attempts to be ...

877. Epiphany 3

Isaiah 9:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Matthew 4:12-17, Matthew 4:18-22

Bulletin Aid

... generations, sharing the light of God's love. People: We have joy in our hearts because Christ's ministry has reached us. May our joy overflow and convey his love to others in our world. Collect Most merciful Father, whose Servant Son began a ministry which continues through your church today: Use us as servants of your Son, ministering to our world on his behalf, that your salvation may become known to our world. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession We praise you O God, for your Son ...

878. No Appeal

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

... matter of urgency. The grapes need harvesting right now, not tomorrow. Everyone who hears gets a chance to work. If the owner had stopped hiring with the early morning crew, the fruit would have rotted. So he persisted in adding to the work force. Even today God continues to work in the same amazing way. There are people who have heard God's call very early in life and spend all their years in faithful service. They are valuable and needed. But there are also people who, for one reason or another, hear and ...

879. The Dimensions of the Decalogue

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

... of God and people, we are as close to perfection as we are going to get. Those who claim to be God’s people and live as servants of God in his everlasting kingdom, need to recognize the spiritual dimension of their lives that needs daily and continual cultivation to reach any acceptable level of maturity. The godly life is so much more than living by a set of rules, even when they are God’s; it is recognizing and responding to a relationship with God himself. A "deepening," as Romano Guardini put it, of ...

880. At Table With The Lord

Drama

... !" And then I realized what I had done. I saw the hurt in his eyes, and I was ashamed. I fell on my knees and continued speaking in a whisper, "But I know, that even now, whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Narrator: Martha, whoever believes in me ... As Peter, I can be like a Rock, but too often I am Simon, and more like sand. And yet, you understand, Jesus, and somehow you continue to love me. Stay with me, Lord, and let me always be a fisher of men for your kingdom. Help me to respect and obey your ...

881. Epiphany 3

Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:12-17, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Psalm 27:1-14, Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon Aid

... Sunday's second reading begins where last Sunday's lesson left off, and that next Sunday's text skips from the twentieth verse of 1 Corinthians (the end of today's reading) to 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. This same pattern of reading lessons continuously, or semi-continuously, from 1 and 2 Corinthians applies to Years A, B, and C. This is related to the Roman Catholic usage of naming these Sundays Ordinary Time. The Prayer of the Day (LBW) This prayer highlights the "ministry motif" in the preaching and teaching ...

882. Easter 6

Psalm 66:1-20, Acts 17:16-34, 1 Peter 3:8-22, John 14:15-31

Sermon Aid

... in the introduction to his speech/sermon, which he began, inductively, by talking about his observation that they were very religious people and, second, by telling them that he wanted to inform them about the "unknown God" to whom they had dedicated an altar. Paul continues on common ground, mentioning that the God who has created all things does not dwell in buildings made by human hands, nor is he dependent upon human beings for anything. He tells the Athenians that he is a God of grace, who freely gives ...

883. The Ascension of Our Lord

Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53

Sermon Aid

... to wait for the coming of the Spirit before they began their mission. After the brief lesson, Luke tells us that he took them out to Bethany, blessed them, and then was taken up into heaven. The disciples then returned to Jerusalem "with great joy" and "were continually in the Temple blessing God." SERMON SUGGESTION A sermon on the First Lesson, Acts 1:1-11, and the Gospel, Luke 24:44-53 - "A Final Fare-well." (See, also, "The Final Farewell" in The Tree, the Tomb, and the Trumpet, C.S.S., 1984) The church ...

884. Proper 17 & Pentecost 15

Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:1-8, Exodus 19:1-25, Jeremiah 14:1--15:21, Jeremiah 20:7-18, Psalm 114:1-8, Psalm 63:1-11

Sermon Aid

... God's concern and even his ability to come to our aid, and we test him. God assured Moses -and us, in Jesus - that he will attend the summit; he is always present. 3. God trusts again - That's what sacred history, before and after Jesus' ministry, continues to tell us. His presence in his Word makes a positive summit meeting possible - at Sinai, for Israel - and at Golgotha, for us. Romans 12:1-2 (R); 12:1-8 (E, L); 12:1-13 (C) - "The Christian 's Offering." 1. The Christian life-style - sacrifice. Paul ...

885. Proper 18 & Pentecost 16

Ezekiel 33:1-20, Psalm 119:1-176, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 115:1-18, Exodus 19:1-25, Romans 13:1-7, Romans 13:8-14, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 18:15-20

Bulletin Aid

... In your love and by your power help us in our confusion and, in spite of our weakness, make us firm in faith; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." The old collect spoke more specifically of cleansing and defending the church, because "it cannot continue in safety without thy succor....," and asked God to "preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness...." It could have been assigned to Reformation Day; the new prayer better accommodates this Sunday's readings. The Psalm for the Day - Psalm 119:33-40 (E ...

886. Proper 24 & Pentecost 22

Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Ruth 1:1-22, Psalm 96:1-13, Isaiah 44:24--45:25

Sermon Aid

... in and through Jesus Christ ("in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations"). A little play on two words - "preserve" and "persevere" - highlights the two-part petition of the prayer ("preserve the works of your mercy," and the second part continues, "that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your name...."). The prayer does speak, rather directly, to the heart of the Gospel for the Day, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and ...

887. Proper 27 & Pentecost 25

Psalm 50:1-23, Psalm 43:1-5, Psalm 63:1-11, Amos 5:18-27, Hosea 11:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11, Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Aid

... of Israel keeps that Covenant, despite their infidelity and sinfulness. God's Covenant is forever. 2. Repent - God's unfailing love for his people is one of the great mysteries of the faith. Instead of destroying his children and giving it up as a bad job, God continues to love them as his own. 3. Respond - the cross of Christ is God's announcement to the world that he has reaffirmed and renewed his Covenant with his people. 4. Remember - repent - and respond to the love of the Lord our God in Christ Jesus ...

888. Christ The King

Ezekiel 34:1-31, Matthew 25:31-46, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon Aid

... , the Good Shepherd, who will be responsible for the sheep forever. 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 (R); 15:20-28 (E, L, C) - "The Unending Reign." 1. Jesus' reign has indeed begun - it began with his resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God. 2. It will continue until all of his enemies are converted and reconciled to him. 3. Christ will return and raise the dead and grant eternal life to the dead and the living. 4. He will rule the earth as God wants it to be ruled, and God will be God to everyone ...

889. Thanksgiving Day

Deuteronomy 8:1-20, Philippians 4:2-9, Philippians 4:10-20, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, Luke 17:11-19

Sermon Aid

... of faith. They have learned to trust the Lord their God for all that they need to live now and in eternity. 2. People of God pray to God. They raise their supplications to the Lord - with thanksgiving - because they know what God has already done, and will continue to do, for them. They are thankful for all of his gifts to them. 3. People of God live in peace. They are sustained by their God-given faith and know the "peace of God, which passes all understanding," beèause they have hope in the Lord. 4 ...

890. Battle Cries

2 Samuel 1:17-27

Sermon

Michael Mills

... praying and worshiping him with others. It hurts us to do this, but it also heals us. We are not alone in grief. All of us have worn stripes of suffering in God’s army. All of us are wounded warriors in life’s battles. David continued to work. He did not sit in his goats’ hair tent and pluck his harp all week. He had an enemy to defeat. A nation to bind together and an empire to secure. Work can help us when grief raps his cold hand on our door. All nature mourned when ...

891. Proper 20

Philemon 1:8-25

Bulletin Aid

... of martyrdom, which he not only does not fear, but seems to welcome. His only hesitation stems from his suspicion that he may be more useful alive for those dependent on his guidance, and thus he resolves to continue "in the flesh." But in either case, alive or "departed," Paul is certain that he will continue to be "in Christ." Call to Worship (based on Psalm 106) Leader: May God remember us and show us favor! People: MAY GOD HELP US AND DELIVER US! Leader: May God show us the prosperity of a chosen ...

892. Epiphany 3

1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Isaiah 9:1-7, Psalm 27:1-14, Matthew 4:12-17

Bulletin Aid

... not in us. (my translation) (Follow with a few moments of silence.) Follow this with a prayer of confession. For example, if you have the Diary of Jonathan Edwards, you may want to use the entry for Saturday, January 12, 1723. (Follow with silent meditation.) Continue with a statement, as for example: "It is easy to pray the prayer, hear the words; it is difficult to believe the truth, to accept our acceptance. The promise of God, however, is the greatest gift ever given to us." Invite the people to respond ...

893. Proper 8

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon Aid

... so we will be the church in mission. Pastor: Let us celebrate life in Christ! Ministers: Let's do! Amen! Be it so! You may want to continue with this prayer: Praise be to you, Lord. Invade us with the power of your love and create in us a love for you and one another ... myself and others so we may grow in the faith, and as the church." (Touchstone Book, Published by Simon & Schuster, NY.) Continue with this litany: Pastor: The word of Christ is Good News. Ministers: Our humanness has been received. We can be ...

894. Proper 14

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon Aid

... are disappointed; sometimes we disappoint. We break trust. It's okay to begin again. In Christ, however, we never shall be disappointed. Stewardship Challenge Suggestion: for the Stewardship of Trust: Some people leave the church when their trust has been broken; some (most) continue to stay, because they recognize that all of us break trust with God, with each other, over and over. We have the choice, as Peter did, to trust, or not to trust. Charge to the Congregation Consider this: Build around this idea ...

895. A Glory Revealed in Liberty

John 8:31-41

Sermon

... descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, ‘You will be made free’!" They answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-36 (RSV) This short passage of Scripture used to elude me. Being trained in the Reformation tradition, I was used to the ideas of guilt and forgiveness ...

896. Respect: Lesson for Victorious Living

Ruth 4:1-12

Sermon

... by respect. It is a precious ointment lending a fragrance before, during, and after all deliberations. There is a triple dose of truth which provides shining passageways in the quest for Christian unity. These three principles are alive and must be acknowledged and continually taught along the way. Past Reverenced "The custom in former times" is the beginning of conveying to us the past is not just the past and better forgotten. The Lord of the universal church could be caustic about the abuses of his ...

897. Salvation: Authentic and Powerful

Amos 5:18-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... the conservatives are becoming liberals and the liberals are becoming conservatives. While this may be an inadequate way of expressing what is occurring, there is enough accuracy in it to tell us the Holy Spirit will not be bound by categories. Christian unity continues to learn from Judaism about justice and righteousness. In Gates of Prayer: The New Union Prayerbook, we read, "Kindle in us a passion for righteousness. Grant us the vision to see that only justice can endure, and that only in being just to ...

898. Paul’s Midnight Ride

Acts 22:30--23:11

Sermon Aid

... , we can imagine the Roman tribune flinging up his hands in disgust. These Jews were always quarreling and brawling! One word led to another. As the session developed into a shouting match, Paul concluded that nothing helpful to him was likely to result from a continuation of the meeting. He cried out that he was being put on trial because he was a "Pharisee and a son of Pharisees," and that the whole dispute was over his belief in the resurrection of the dead. Those were fighting words that stirred up ...

899. Separation of God and State?

Isaiah 44:24--45:25

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... the Bible, canceling the Ten Commandments and taking away all civil and religious liberties. During World War II, we remember those persecuted by the state: Jews, religious leaders like Martin Niemoeller, Hans Lilje, Bishop Berggrav, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Today Russian Pentecostals continue to find refuge in the American Embassy in Moscow. Indeed, God is superior to the state because he is the creator of the universe. This is his world and his people are gathered in nations. God is over all and controls ...

900. Isaiah’s Interruption

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Richard F. Bansemer

... to know that God has been here." That is enough evidence to cancel the mountain pass theory. If one would watch a road under construction on the top of a mountain, he might be sorely pressed to see much evidence of God in the process! Our passage continues with a second voice. "A voice says, ‘Cry!’ " Apparently that means to cry out or shout, and Isaiah is so bewildered and perplexed he dares to ask the elementary question: What? What did you say? Cry out what? Now we come to the tough part and some ...

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