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 1026 to 1050 of 5000 results

1026. The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

Leviticus 8:1-36

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Ordination of the Priests: The next portion of Leviticus is primarily a historical narrative of the ordination of the priests and the inauguration of the priestly cult of ancient Israel. These chapters pick up the story from the book of Exodus where God gives instructions for building the tabernacle and for ordaining the priests connected to the place of worship. The tabernacle is completed and accepted as a proper place of worship in Exodus 40:34–38. The ordination of the priests to offer sacrifice in ...

1027. The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 6:1-23

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

The Ark Comes to Jerusalem: 6:1–5 The story begins at Baalah of Judah, where the ark had been kept since its recovery from the Philistines twenty years before. To take a party of thirty thousand men for a ceremonial duty sounds excessive, and the accuracy of the text has been seriously questioned. It is possible that the “thousand” refers to a military grouping (cf. additional note on 1 Sam. 4:10). However, Baalah, although Judean territory, was still within the range of Philistine influence. Thus, by ...

1028. Job's First Test

Job 1:6-22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

In the Presence of Yahweh: 1:6 Having established the character of Job on the basis of social reputation (1:1), evidence of divine blessing (1:2–3), and demonstrable piety (1:4–5), the narrative takes a darker turn to reveal hidden circumstances affecting Job. One day is not just any day or a day selected at random, but actually the day in Hebrew. It probably indicates a particular day set in advance for a formal gathering when, unknown to Job or any other human, a meeting takes place in which the children ...

1029. The Ark Returned to Israel

1 Samuel 6:1-7:1

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Sending the Ark Back: 6:1–12 It was apparent to the Philistines that the disasters befalling them were related to their possession of the ark, but it took seven months before they decided the way to handle this crisis was to send the ark back. To do that could be seen as a politically significant admission of weakness and could be interpreted by the Israelites as an invitation to attack; the Philistines’ reluctance is unsurprising. It was vital to conduct the transaction in the least damaging way possible ...

1030. Jesus Prays for His Disciples

John 17:6-19

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

Just as in verses 1–3, the Son’s work of “glorifying” the Father is defined as revealing or making the Father known, but in this case the revealing is to the specific group of disciples gathered to hear Jesus’ last instructions. The phrase those whom you gave me focuses on this limited group in contrast to all those you have given him (out of all people) in verse 2. Such phrases as they have obeyed (v. 6), now they know (v. 7), they accepted, they knew, they believed (v. 8) are Jesus’ testimony to the ...

1031. We've Got a Friend in High Places

1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28, Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

King Duncan

It was one of those events that you can never forget witnessing. A skyscraper was going up. Hundreds of people paused daily to glance up at it. One day they watched as a giant metal beam was raised to be placed high on the enormous steel skeleton of the skyscraper. And then something terrifying occurred. As the girder came near, a workman leaned out from the sixteenth floor to seize it. The spectators gasped as he lost his balance and fell. Fortunately, he was able to clutch the end of the giant beam that ...

1032. In the Light of His Glory

Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

Dr. Les Parrott in his book Shoulda Coulda Woulda tells an old legend about three men. Each man carried two sacks--one sack tied in front of his neck and the other sack resting on his back. When the first man was asked what was in his sacks, he said, “In the sack on my back are all the good things friends and family have done for me. That way they’re hidden from view. In the front sack are all the bad things that have happened to me and all the mistakes I’ve made. Every now and then I stop, open the front ...

1033. Lost in the Wonder of God

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Visuals: Mountain scenes “Jesus wept” . . . over Jerusalem, not just over the Temple. Place matters. We've made non-places of our neighborhoods and "places" of our temples. I am a product of a “place,” a “place” called mountain culture. More specifically, my “place” is the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia, and the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York. That means I grew up with grits and gravy, pinto beans and stewed tomatoes, biscuits and apple butter. We ate supper, not dinner. And we said ...

1034. A Man Under Authority / A Centurion's Faith, An Elder's Love

Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Let it be done for you according to your faith.” Props: Centurion helmet or any military helmet and stick Hope pulls you forward. Faith pushes you forward. Love keeps you moving forward. A story recently made the news whereby a visitor from Israel to the US had a serious heart condition, and needed a heart transplant immediately or he would die. He was older than the recommended age for surgery, and had multiple other medical conditions that made any surgery problematic. Only two specialists in the world ...

1035. Surely, Surely

Luke 1:1-4, Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.” (Isaiah 14:24) Prop: let dove fly through church (if you dare) OR celebrate an event, such as a baptism, or an ordination, or a blessing for mission Today, as we prepare to celebrate the baptism of __________, I invite all of you children to come forward to witness this great event, as all of you too in the congregation bear witness to this momentous occasion. [You can opt to do the baptism ...

1036. Knitted Together from the Womb

Exodus 2:1-10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Il a l’air si paisible, endormi dans son couffin.” (He looks so peaceful sleeping in his bassinet.) We all start life grieving death. Or better put…We all go through life grieving the inevitability of death. And fearing when it will arrive. Maybe this is what leaves us so averse to risk. And yet, the people who are most risk-averse are what we might call the emotionally and spiritually “walking dead.” For risk is the fodder of relationships, of beginnings, of growth, and of life. Think about it. We take ...

1037. Victorious, Victims

Luke 6:20-36

Sermon

Will Willimon

"Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh." Imagine a sermon which begins, "Blessed are you poor. Blessed are you that hunger. Oh how lucky are you who weep. How fortunate are those of you whom people hate, exclude, revile. Leap for joy those of you who have cancer. How lucky are you unemployed. How blessed are those going through marital crises." The congregation does a double-take. What? Blessed? Lucky? Those who are hungry? Unemployed? Sick? What is this? Thus begins Jesus' Sermon on the Mount ...

1038. Places That Have a Memory

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

Do you believe places have a memory? I know that seems like a strange question this morning. Don’t worry, I drank my coffee. I’m firing on all cylinders. But are there places in your life that evoke such strong memories that when you go back to them, you can almost see and feel and smell past experiences there? Or have you ever stood in a place and felt the stories emanating from its walls? I feel that way inside this church building sometimes. I think back to all the people who prayed here, who wept here ...

1039. The Fork in the Path

Matthew 10:24-39

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Your mission, if you choose to accept it…..” Everyone knows this famous line from the show “Mission Impossible.” In the show, Phelps receives his challenge mission via some kind of device. After he’s heard it, the device explodes or evaporates or otherwise disappears. From there, he must either accept the mission and go forward into his next adventure. Or he can apparently decline. The choice is inferred in that opening sentence. In the show, however, he never declines. If he did, we would have no show ...

1040. A Meditation for Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

King Duncan

Every once in a while a whimsical story makes our newspapers ” a story with no real significance except for what it reveals about the human family. Last year on Ash Wednesday the Associated Press carried a story about a woman in Olney, England named Dawn Gallyot who defied snow and a biting wind to beat seven other women to the finish line in the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race. In her first race, the 38-year-old school administrator made the 415-yard dash with a frying pan and a pancake from a pub in ...

1041. Living A Triumphant Life

Joshua 5:1-12

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

Most people today are driven to succeed. That may not be a problem unto itself. The problem comes in how we define success. If we pursue success as defined by secular culture, the focus will be on money and prestige. Those objectives as the key focus of life will leave us spiritually poor, though. G.K. Chesterton's words are insightful here. He said, "To be clever enough to get all that money one must be stupid enough to want it."1 The truly triumphant life can only be discovered in the pursuit of God's ...

1042. People With Power To Forgive

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

Jesus began his earthly ministry preaching, teaching, healing and forgiving sins. And now at the end of his earthly ministry in his post-resurrection appearance to his disciples, Jesus is passing on to his disciples the ministry of preaching, teaching, healing and forgiving sins. Through the gift of the Holy spirit they are to be empowered to continue the work he inaugurated. We often overlook in the gospels the connection between forgiveness and healing -- healing that is both physical and spiritual. ...

1043. Love Your Enemies--It Will Drive Them Crazy

Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

It takes a steady hand to carry a full glass of water. It takes an even steadier heart to carry forgiveness to one who holds you in opposition. In the Old Testament I like the story of Joseph, particularly its outcome. Joseph is the favored one. The older brothers say, "Dad always liked you best." In this case it was true. The brothers go out and fake Joseph's death. They bring back some bloodied clothes and say to their father, "He is dead." In actuality they have sold him into slavery in Egypt. Time ...

1044. Let Me Explain: A Sermon By Judas Iscariot

Matthew 26:1-5

Sermon

Don M. Aycock

For 2,000 years my name has been slandered by people who really don't understand me, especially by some preachers. But your kind pastor said that you were an understanding congregation. I've come here today to tell you about myself and about the reasons I did what I did. You will give me a fair hearing, won't you? My name is Judas Iscariot. Let me begin by telling you a little about my background. As you know I am a Jew. You have probably read some things about my ancestors: Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, ...

1045. A Promise Is Given

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

It took me a long time to figure out what it was about that gospel text just read that bothered me. I read and re-read the last two chapters in Luke until it finally hit me. I want to lead you to that same revelation, so let's do a review of the events in Jesus' life, or should I say death. Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried. Let us begin there. And there can be no mistake about that fact. The Roman garrison whose business it was to do such things was very efficient. They knew when a person was dead. ...

1046. Taking The Good With The Bad

Job 1:1-5

Sermon

John A. Stroman

Once upon a time in the land of Uz there was a man whose name was Job. He was a man of sterling character who always sought to do the right thing. Above all he had respect for God and hated evil with a passion. His family consisted of seven sons and three daughters. God had blessed Job not only with a large family but he possessed seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and numerous servants who cared for his enormous amount of livestoc_esermonsk. He ...

1047. With All The Saints

Isaiah 25:1-12

Sermon

John A. Stroman

Isaiah 25 is a remarkable passage for All Saints' Sunday. It begins with an outburst of praise for what God has done and for what God will do. An unidentified city -- strong, oppressive and hostile -- will be destroyed and never rebuilt. Amid the destruction God protects and cares for the poor and the needy. Once this evil city and its ruthless inhabitants have been destroyed and vanish, another city will rise on Mount Zion where God will invite all people to a magnificent feast. God will wipe away all ...

1048. You Can Be Less Worried

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

It occurred to me to title this segment of the series "You Can Be Worry Free," but I realized no one would believe it. The truth is, I don't believe it, either. To desire a life that is "worry free" is in all likelihood to dream the impossible dream. Between 20 and 30 percent of all Americans will live today under significant stress. Thirteen million will worry intensely for at least 90 minutes. It may be about our marriages, children, jobs, mortgages, health, grades, friends or a host of other issues. ...

1049. 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 ...

1050. Feast Days During Lent

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Reflections:Feast Days During Lent February 22 Ä Chair Of Peter1 Peter 5:1-4Matthew 16:13-19 The Example Of Love Human beings have the ability to learn in many ways. Through the educational system we spend a great deal of time learning through books and other written sources. Knowledge that others have gained is shared with us through the media of the written word. Knowledge is also gained through listening. We are a highly oral society these days. We listen to the radio, to tapes and to television. Much ...

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