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 976 to 1000 of 4963 results

976. You've Got That Healin' Touch

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... happen to a small percentage of the population? Why else does the same virus cause leukemia in one patient and mononucleosis in another? Why else do some die in an epidemic and others escape? Healing, knitting together fragile bits of our fractured bodies and souls, remains God's most basic on-going creative work in the cosmos. While God continues to intervene as divine physician, God has already provided us with a universal vaccine for our ills in the principle of love and the person of Jesus Christ.

977. The Compleat Christian

Romans 5:1-5

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Who would argue that Paul's commitment to preaching the good news despite being beaten, ridiculed, jailed and shipwrecked was a passive response to adversity? This was courage and perseverance of the highest degree. As he participated in Christ's suffering and remained immersed in the hope of the approaching glory of God, Paul did not swear vendettas and seek revenge against those who abused and rejected him. Christian endurance meant Paul merely preached while in jail, returned to those who rejected him to ...

978. Pit and Rock

Colossians 1:11-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... common than practicing a praise-only piety. It is also fitting that this Sunday before Thanksgiving we all take the time to recall our individual journeys from a place in the "pit and rock" to a life enriched by Christ's redeeming presence. Thanksgiving remains the one holiday that has evaded the heavy hand of consumerism. Apart from making a fortune for turkey moguls, there is not a lot of profit involved in our Thanksgiving customs. Essentially it continues to be a day when people come together and "count ...

979. O Holy Nightmare

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... too poor to return the gesture. We conscientiously determine just how much is appropriate to spend on each person on our Christmas list. We frantically run out at the last minute to get something (anything) to give to the unexpected gift-giver, so that we will remain on equal terms. Finally many of us simply throw off the thin veil of "gifting" altogether and give others what we know they really want...money, so that they may get something for themselves. The terrible truth is that we have made Jesus into a ...

980. Christ the Apple Tree

Isaiah 11:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to give up their green for the winter. Citing John Snow's The Survey of London on 15th century cultural celebrations, Count's book notes that demons fear green, the color and symbol of summer and life. "Winter kills most of summer's train but the greens remain steadfast. Where the greens are, it is not winter. They are the enemies of winter's white death" (64-66). While we have lost the medieval church tradition of celebrating "Adam and Eve Day" on December 24, we yet retain some of its character in our own ...

981. Is Your Christmas Spirit a Controlled Substance?

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... -back” compassion, the true Christmas spirit, I am going to ask you to come forward with your match, light it at the altar candle, kneel and pray at the altar if you are so moved to do so, then blow out your candle while some wood still remains and save this little used matchstick. Put it on your kitchen table, or in your wallet/purse, as a reminder of your commitment this morning to the true “Christmas spirit.” But be warned: the true Christmas spirit is not a controlled substance. It may even take ...

982. The Ultimate Soul Food

John 6:24-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is ubiquitous. Indeed, part of the challenge of Passover preparations is to create completely unleavened bread (matzo) for the celebration. Part of the pre-festival celebration involves a ritual "search" through the house with a feather, to seek out and sweep away any yeast that may remain inside and could contaminate the matzo. Jesus, the Bread of Life, is energized in each one of us by divine yeast by the Spirit of the living God, who sent Christ to be among us, to be for us, to be in us. To benefit fully ...

983. Armageddon Anxiety

John 6:56-69

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of judgment with equanimity. Throughout the Bible, no matter how many particular eschatological scenarios we may pick out, one message remains clear. What the Bible does teach is that history is moving somewhere; that the one who brings justice will ... be our excuse in the year 2001? Will our apocalyptic anxieties cause us to "turn away," as some did in John 6:66? Or will we remain standing with Peter? Will we continue to confess "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to ...

984. Say What?

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... 26,000 feet. The rarefied air of mountaintops is matched by their rarefied occurrences. Peaks in nature and in life don't happen often. Why has God been so grudging and sparing with holy places where the Divine is manifested and divinations confirmed? We don't know. It remains a mystery. There are times when God has nothing to say, when God is silent _ either waiting for us to speak or waiting for us to grow in wisdom. But when God answers by saying nothing, it is still an answer. Matthew 7:6 cautions, "Do ...

985. The Devil's Sermon

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... about a group of cotton farmers who were sitting around a potbelly stove discussing religion. The discussion quickly turned into a debate over the merits of the farmers' respective religions. After much arguing, the group turned to the eldest among them, who had remained silent during the discussion. "Old Gramps, who is right?" they asked. "Which religion is the right one?" "Well," said Old Gramps thoughtfully, "you know there are three ways to get over from here to the cotton gin. You can go right over the ...

986. How to Stay Spiritually Fresh

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... should not be strangers to us. They are our family. We are related to them in the faith. Daily readings soaked in the stories of our tradition will make for a stronger, fuller, richer faith. We can only remain spiritually "fresh" by conscientiously feeding and watering the roots of our faith. Scripture remains a miraculous gift of God because despite its antiquity, its misuse by the church, its abuse by its doubters and its overuse by literalists, it still speaks a fresh word from God to us every day. 2 ...

987. Who Are You?

Hebrews 12:18-29

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... or a child suddenly dies? - What do you do when the nest is suddenly empty? - What do you do when illness or injury incapacitates you? - What do you do when despair chokes you? - What do you do when you are alone and homesick? What is it that remains solid in your life when all its familiar standards are shaken and taken away? When you cross over the border from the United States into Canada by car, a border patrol officer comes to your window, looks into your car and proceeds to ask you some questions ...

988. John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of the Christian message. Jesus corrects Nicodemus' blatant misunderstanding of the Greek another, which can be interpreted as "from above," "again," or "anew." After making it clear that this rebirth is from "above," Jesus reminds the religious establishment how distant they remain from God. Verses 6-8 show with glaring, galling clarity how wide the chasm is between God (born of the Spirit) and human beings (born of the flesh). Emphasizing the distance between the Spirit and the flesh gives greater impact ...

989. Mark 6:30-44

Mark 6:30-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... has created. Bathsheba's pregnancy requires that he take quick action. But David's own moral turpitude is only deepened by Uriah's steadfast piety. By refusing to enjoy the comforts of his home and the love of his wife while his battalion remains in the field, Uriah perfectly demonstrates the selfless dedication to a code of honor which David has so badly betrayed. Twice David tempts Uriah to sleep with his wife; twice Uriah resists temptation (once even while he is drunk). In desperation David completely ...

990. Mark 13:24-32

Mark 13:24-32

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the royal court with comeliness and cleverness - a fate that meant living out his life in the midst of strangers and false gods. Time and again Daniel and his fellow Jews faced the wrath of the ruler they served, even death itself, as they struggled to remain faithful to their God. Daniel braved two death sentences (one at the hands of the king's men if he wrongly told and interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's first dream, and the second at the jaws of lions for continuing to worship God when King Darius had decreed ...

991. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... will all participate in Moses' face-to-face relationship with God. Special prophetic knowledge will no longer be necessary, as the mind of God will be open to us all. In vivid contrast to all those spiritual gifts whose time is limited, Paul ticks off a triad of gifts that remain: faith, hope and love. Paul has already pronounced faith without love as "nothing" (v. 2). Hope ushers in the eschaton, but once these days have arrived, hope turns into fulfillment. Thus love ...

992. Psalm 23

Psalm 23:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... knowledge that we are never alone, never deserted, even in the "depths" of this valley, instills a peace of mind and heart that is unexpected on such a dark and frightening journey. Notice: The enemies of life are not blotted out; the "valley of the shadow of death" remains a destination for all of us. But it is not our final destiny. Thus the "Lord's house" (v.6) does not need to be thought of as the temple. Instead it represents the epitome of the guest-host experience. Dwelling in the house of the Lord ...

993. 2 Kings 5:1-15ab

2 Kings 5:1-15ab

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is out of the mouth of this lowliest, anonymous member of Naaman's household that the solution to Naaman's greatest personal anguish comes. Despite her own position as a helpless, nameless captive, the Israelite girl's faith in her God and God's prophets remains unshaken. With confidence and compassion she boldly suggests that if her new master were to stand before the Lord's prophet, even as he now stands before the authority of the king of Aram, he would surely be cured. Naaman's first surprising action ...

994. Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-19

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... heart's desire was fulfilled. Their faith led them to the heavenly city - not the earthly Jerusalem, a conclusion that clarifies the author's intentions in verse 10. Because of the abiding faithfulness of those desiring to dwell in this heavenly homeland, God remains devoted to these sojourners. The final portion of this week's epistle lesson breaks off midway in this chapter's last section. Verses 17-22 continue to follow the lineage of faith from Abraham to Isaac through Jacob and Joseph. Verses 17-19 ...

995. Philemon 1:1-20

Philemon 1:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Onesimus now hold in common through their adoption into Christ. But Paul does not go on to recommend that Philemon take any specific course of action. Unlike the next section of his letter (vv.17-20), Paul's intentions here in verses 15-16 remain ambiguous. Paul does spell out exactly what he wants Philemon to do and how it should be accomplished in verses 17 and 18. He wants Philemon to welcome Onesimus back without hesitation, without punishment. To allow the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus to ...

996. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... influenced by the kind of 'soil' they find themselves cast upon. Pushing the allegory at this point might result in a listener's determining that little more than sheer luck good soil or bad determines the future of a seed. One term that does remain consistent throughout the 'explanation' is the author's use of the term 'understand.' In verse 19 and again in verse 23, those who 'understand' refers to those who acknowledge God's rule and power over all. This is a traditional Hebrew concept of 'understanding ...

997. Matthew 18:15-20

Matthew 18:15-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... church body and thus it must be confronted and dealt with. It was believed that letting any form of sinful behavior continue unabated seriously compromised the health of the Body of Christ. Verse 17 presents an interesting quandary which essentially remains unanswered by Matthew's text. On one hand, it straightforwardly commands the church to separate itself from those who refuse to seek repentance. The "Gentile" and "tax collector" both represent those who are "unclean," those with whom an observant Jew ...

998. Romans 14:1-12

Romans 14:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , "We do not live to ourselves." All believers, whatever their stance, are accountable to God alone for their actions. Each must act according to the will of God as he or she genuinely understands it. In life, or in death, our relationship to God remains constant. So should our commitments. Paul stresses that the ongoing power of our life-and-death relationship before Christ, the only true judge, was in fact the "end" of Christ's mission itself. All of humanity living and dead are under Christ's authority ...

999. Philippians 4:1-9

Philippians 4:1-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... "which surpasses all understanding" can enter into every fiber of a believer's being. This "peace" Paul promises does not come about through the absence of strife or hardship. Paul's own predicament clearly points that out. The peace God bestows on those who remain intimately connected to the divine through a state of constant prayer is a condition of confident well-being. It is, in fact, no less than the state of salvation feeling the "click" that comes with being in a right relationship with God. This is ...

1000. Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... special significance. Immediately following this declaration, the text notes that "no one knows his burial place to this day" (v.6). Unlike the elaborate tombs of the pharaohs or the sites of ancestor worship maintained by local tribes, Moses' final resting spot remained unmarked and unremembered. This is not to say Moses himself was unmourned. Verse 8 declares that all of Israel wept for Moses for 30 days. Still, this mourning is not extensive. Moses receives only the same official period of mourning as ...

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