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 76 to 100 of 4938 results

76. Make A Choice

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

Robert Beringer

Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday as it is now called in some churches is certainly one of the greatest festivals of the Christian Year. However, for many years, I wondered just what this day really does signify in terms of the everyday life of a Christian. Is it simply a reminder that fickle human beings can shout ''Hosanna'' one day, and then a few days later, those same people cry, ''Crucify him''? Certainly that is a part of the Holy Week story. But then it struck me that Palm/Passion Sunday's real purpose ...

77. More Beyond

Acts 16:16-34

Sermon

Charley Reeb

Centuries ago, Portugal adopted a national motto. The motto read: “No More Beyond.” It was an appropriate statement since Portugal, at the time, was the end of the world. But later some adventurous persons sailed beyond Portugal and discovered a whole new world. So the question arose: “What do we do with our national motto?” After much debate, one person simply scratched out a word, and the new motto became: “More Beyond.” Whenever life tumbles in upon us, it is easy to have a “No more beyond” attitude. ...

78. Broadway

Matthew 7:13-14

Sermon

Robert Beringer

Many of our large cities across America have a street which is called "Broadway." Broadway in New York is the center of the theater district; Broadway in San Francisco is the center of the tenderloin; and Philadelphia has its "Broad Street" in center city. But I wonder how many people realize where that term, "Broadway," came from? Many might be very surprised that it came originally from the lips of Jesus Christ. For it was Jesus who put "Broadway" in contrast to the narrow roads that were familiar to the ...

79. To Be Perfectly One

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Allan J. Weenink

One of the most meaningful experiences of my life took place in the Philippines. In the remote village of Lubuagan, high in the mountain provinces of northern Luzon, is a small mission school of some 250 students. The school and its sister church are on the main highway to Manila, which at this point is a narrow, treacherous dirt road, built on a mountain ledge. This little town literally clings to the mountains. It is half surrounded by graded rice terraces which give the impression of a thousand ...

80. Many Parts, One Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: In a fashion parallel to the physical body, which God created with a plurality of parts with different functions, God grants a multiplicity of spiritual gifts in order for the Christ community to function as the incarnate body of Christ. Understanding the Text After giving a theological basis for unity in diversity, Paul now turns to a most memorable explication that stands out in a special way in the Corinthian situation. The multiplicity of spiritual gifts is designed to enable Christ’s members ...

81. Two for the Price of One

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

No one would accuse me of being a baseball fan. I am a World Series fan. My time investment in the game is compressed into about eight or ten days when the national championship is determined by seven games. I’m always happy when it’s played out to the most dramatic possible end - one team winning four, the other, three. But there are other baseball times when my attention is caught by the drama of some record in the making. Such was my interest in Willie Mays, that phenomenal hitter who caused all America ...

82. Rock Turning

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

Douglass M. Bailey

There is a school run by Catholic nuns in Cleveland, Ohio. I don't know the name of their Order, but they have committed their lives to working in the Catholic schools in Cleveland's inner city. Day after day after day, they focus their faith and energy on the education of inner-city youngsters, youngsters whose lives are at risk in so many areas. One day, out of nowhere, a wonderful gift was given to these nuns. The gift was to pay for the entire Order to go on a vacation. Vans were supplied, and all the ...

83. How Does One Follow Jesus During The Threat Of War?

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

George Johnson

It has been difficult for me to decide what sermon I should preach today. I had planned to preach on the lectionary text in Acts which is assigned for this Sunday. That story of Peter and Cornelius has been occupying my thoughts for several days, and I had a pretty good idea of how the sermon would be developed. But the present historical crisis has been capturing the attention of us all. My sense of call as a pastor has urged me to set aside the sermon on Peter and Cornelius and speak about following ...

84. Our Helper

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

Robert Beringer

There is an imaginary story in which the angel Gabriel asks the Risen Christ what is his plan for carrying the message of God's love to all the world. Jesus explains that he has asked Peter, Mary, John and Thomas and some others to carry that message wherever they go. As others hear and respond, they will carry the same message until the whole world knows of God's amazing love for sinners. Gabriel listens rather skeptically, and then asks Jesus, "But, Lord, what happens if Peter goes back to fishing, or ...

85. God's Number One!

Mark 1:14-15

Children's Sermon

Object: a cardboard disc on a string necklace. On one side: "I'm number one." On the reverse: "God's number one." (As the children gather, wear the necklace with the "I'm number one" side showing.) Good morning, boys and girls. How do you like my necklace? I decided I should tell everybody how much I like myself. Is that okay? (Let them respond.) It really is important for us to like ourselves, isn't it? Yes, it really is. But what is the problem if we spend too much time thinking about that? That's right ...

86. Love without Limits

John 13:31-38

Sermon

John K. Bergland

The eloquent preacher Tom Long tells the story of a small church-related college that held an annual event called Christian Emphasis Week. It was the task of the Christian club on campus to invite a speaker who would come and lead a college revival. This particular year they invited a preacher who had come highly recommended. They were told of his dynamism and his unique way of communicating the gospel. The first night of the revival the chapel was filled with the faithful. There were no "animal house" ...

87. Turned On

1 Corinthians 1:17

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: An extension cord and a small lamp. Lesson: Grace, love, friendship, Divine power, light. As the children gather I set a lamp on the floor and begin untangling an extension cord which I have previously determined is long enough to reach from the chancel steps to the outlet in the front of the sanctuary. Then I welcome the children and ask, "What do I need to do to get this lamp to work?" "Plug it in," several children assert as one voice. "Okay, then ... Let's see, we need a power source ..." I ...

88. When Heartbreak Turns to Heartburn

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

Here again we find Luke the physician at his best. Although not one of the original twelve, in his own exquisite and unique way this doctor-disciple of Jesus gives us details with clarity indicating that he is close to Jesus and the disciples and can speak with the authority of an eyewitness to the things he tells us. In his opening phrase in the passage, Luke tells us that "two of them were going to a village called Emmaus." Just a few verses earlier in verse 10 of this chapter, Luke indicates that the ...

89. How to Turn the Ballot into a Blessing Box

Proverbs 29:2

Sermon

James Merritt

William Paterson, one of the signers of the United States Constitution, and a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, said that juries should always be reminded of the text I'm preaching on today: "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan." (v.2) I would go on to add that not only should juries be reminded of it, but also judges, lawyers, doctors, ministers, teachers; in fact, the entire nation should remember it. There is a crisis in America, I ...

90. Turning Pity-Parties into Praise-Parties

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

After World War II the world entered a grey combat zone known as the “Cold War.” The two most powerful nations on earth, the US and the USSR, stood face to face, toe to toe, and seriously considered nuking each other. Thousands of nuclear warheads were armed and aimed by both nations, targeting each other’s homelands, in a strategy known by the acronym MAD: Mutual Assured Destruction. President Truman even had to fire General Douglas MacArthur because of his insistence that we use nuclear weapons against ...

91. Jesus Turns to His New Family

Mark 3:31-35, Mark 3:20-30

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: Opposition to Jesus takes a new turn as his family thinks that he is insane and the religious leaders accuse him of being demon possessed. Jesus’s response is twofold: he cannot be under the control of Satan because he has already bound Satan, and his true family consists of those who have joined him in the household of God. Understanding the Text Jesus’s ministry to sinners and his call to several outcasts to be among the Twelve will now get him in trouble with the authorities. This is the first ...

92. Biography Of A Changed Person

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Robert Beringer

There are many people who outwardly seem to have their lives all together. They have plenty of money, lots of friends, a good deal of power, and they seem at least on the surface of things to be enjoying the "good life." But inwardly, many of these same people feel lost and alone and empty. What they desperately need is to find a turning point in their lives that will fill that emptiness in their soul. Bill Smith (not his real name) was the pastor of a large and thriving congregation. Everybody loved Bill ...

93. One Nation Under God

2 Chronicles 7:14

Sermon

James Merritt

When Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States, he and Nancy had to get used to the Executive Mansion on their own. President Carter had broken with recent tradition and had not given the Reagans a tour of the White House. If you remember, during those days it was a difficult campaign with Carter and Reagan both bitterly fighting out what was to be a runaway election landslide for Reagan. The Carters greeted the Reagans a few days before the Inauguration, and then turned them over to White ...

94. I Bind Unto Myself Today

Job 19:1-29

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world; In the Name of God the Father Almighty who created you; In the Name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you; In the Name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you. May your rest be this day in peace, and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God. (BCP p. 464). This prayer is most appropriate for today, as we just celebrated on Sunday what is known to Christians as Trinity Sunday. Trinity Sunday puts before us the mystery of the one God in three persons -- Father, Son, and ...

95. When You're Dreaming One Thing And Living Another

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

King Duncan

Imagine a computer programming class. A young man and a young woman are facing each other working at computers. The computers, of course, sit back to back. A few minutes into the class, the young woman leaves the room; whereupon the young man reaches between their computers and switches the inputs for the keyboards. The young woman comes back and starts typing. Immediately gets a distressed look on her face. She calls the teacher over and explains that no matter what she types, nothing happens. The teacher ...

96. Life's Four Big 'Ds' and One Bigger 'D'

Galatians 2:11-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Here are the catalogues that came to our house this past week. (Save in a box or basket all the catalogues that arrive at your home for one week, and empty them out in front of the congregation.) Order anything from any catalog and you immediately get on the mailing list for hundreds of others. Depending upon your attitude, these catalogs can either be a delightful escapist fantasy, or a miserable consumeristic experience in "wannabe-ness." Here are some exclusive, high-end catalogs. These are especially ...

97. Reach Beyond The Break

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

The Passion/Palm narratives always remind us of the Suffering Servant. Our text today gives a portrait of the ultimate Servant, one who is willing to give of himself without reserve for the cause of the kingdom. Our text today shows us the image of the Messiah who is called and committed to total service because he knows that whatever the present circumstances God will bring him through. This servanthood is viewed from the perspective of one on a mission from God -- sent from God to be the guide for people ...

98. Easter Turns ONLY into ALSO

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Donald Macleod

Two simple yet rather apt incidents come to mind with regard to today’s text: 1. A story comes from Cincinnati of a little Jewish boy who was told by his rabbi that he must no longer attend athletic classes in the Presbyterian gymnasium and swimming pool. Trying to explain this to the Presbyterian minister, who was much beloved for what he was doing for the boys of the community, the lad choked up and stammered, "Ain’t religion hell?" 2. One hot day in Washington, a little African-American boy was dangling ...

99. Why A Cross?

John 19:17-27

Sermon

Robert Beringer

Why A Cross? Some years ago the motion picture industry did a great service to the cause of Christianity with its epic production of Lew Wallace's Ben Hur. The crucifixion scene in that film is unforgettable, and recreates a truer picture of our Lord's death than almost any other dramatic production I have ever seen. Looking at that movie, you can feel the injustice, the callousness, and the sheer brutality of Calvary. Executioners pound home huge spikes into quivering hands and feet. Rivulets of blood ...

100. Making One's Calling and Election Sure

2 Peter 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

Greeting 1:1 The opening of 2 Peter is along the conventional lines of a NT letter, giving sender, addressees, greeting (see commentary on Jude 1 and Additional Notes on Jude 1–2). The sender identifies himself as Simon Peter. Most Greek MSS of 2 Peter transliterate the sender’s first name as Symeōn, the Hebrew form applied to Simon Peter elsewhere in the NT only in Acts 15:14, in the appropriate Jewish-Christian setting of the Council of Jerusalem. The author further calls himself a servant and apostle of ...

Showing results