Synonyms: renounce, relinquish, dispense with, forswear, disclaim, disown, disavow, discard, wash one's hands of, give up, stop, cease, drop, forgo, desist from, have done with, abjure, abstain from, discontinue, break off, refrain from, set/lay aside, desert, leave, leave high and dry, turn one's back on, cast aside, break (up) with, vacate, quit, evacuate, withdraw from, surrender, cede, yield, indulge in, give way to, give oneself up to, yield to, lose oneself to/in, uninhibitedness, recklessness, lack of restraint, lack of inhibition, unruliness, wildness, impulsiveness, impetuosity, immoderation, wantonness
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 1051 to 1075 of 1858 results
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... distinguishes all dogs from their wolf ancestors. Wolves howl, yip, even “sing.” But only domesticated canines bark. From big deep woofs and annoying endless yapping, barks are the universal trait of “dogness.” Barking is what distinguishes dogs from their wild ancestors. So why do dogs bark? Ethnologists theorize that it is because of their chosen partnership with human beings that dog’s took up barking. Barking is their attempt to communicate with people. The unique relationship between dogs and ...
1052. Proper 15
John 6:25-59, 1 Kings 2:1-12, 1 Kings 3:1-15, Ephesians 4:17--5:21
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
... of being drunk with wine. Paul directs that his people should not get drunk with alcoholic beverages. Rather, we are to be drunk with the Spirit, not with spirits! To be drunk is to be saturated with the drink to the point that you carouse wildly. Christians are to be so full of the Spirit that they are to be happy, excited, uplifted in that they celebrate God's goodness with whole-hearted singing. 4. Everything (v. 20) We are to give thanks for "everything." Everything? That includes sorrow, hardship ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... rod” was a cudgel worn to ward off aggressors and knock out invaders. The “rod” became an extension of the shepherd’s arm. It enforced conformity with the shepherd’s wishes. It sometimes was even thrown to deliver a fatal blow to the skull of a wild animal or robber. But the Psalmist said “thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” There was a comfort that came with the rod. That’s the comfort of rulership: the shepherd let everyone know who’s in charge. But there was another comfort that ...
1054. The Doorkeeper
John 10:11-18
Illustration
Staff
... , would come to him, and he would lead his flock out to pasture. When they were away from the sheepfold, the shepherd would stay out all night with his flock, finding some kind of shelter in the pasture area, and he himself would act as the door, so that no wild animal could get by him.
1055. Calling the Sheep
John 10:1-21
Illustration
David J. Risendal
... . Every night, the sheep are led into a protected area - a "sheepfold." Sometimes, there are three or four or five flocks gathered by a number of shepherds into the same area. The shepherds take shifts staying up throughout the night, making sure that wolves or other wild animals aren't able to make their way into the protected area. In the morning, one might wonder if there is any hope of separating one flock from another. But it's a simple matter. Each shepherd calls the sheep and the sheep hear their ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... do on his daily commute? How did he spend his time commuting? He became a keen observer of the countryside. *He noted the way the fields grew and changed throughout the cycle of the seasons. *He followed the flights of the birds, the movements of the wild animals, the shepherding of the sheep. *He watched the wind blow and felt the coolness of the winter rains and the scorching heat of the summer sun. We know this because when Jesus taught, when he preached his parables and stories, he almost always reaches ...
1057. Mark 4:35-41
Mark 4:35-41
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... thunderstorm. The plane and most of those who perished in it remain lost, swallowed up by the depths of the sea. Little wonder that among humanity’s earliest creation stories almost all describe the primordial world as a place of untamed water, whipped up by wild winds — a place of chaos. Only a deity can control those chaotic forces, only God can bring order and beat back those primordial powers. In Genesis God’s first creative actions are all to establish a new order and structure upon the dark void ...
1058. Calming of the Tempest - Sermon Starter
Mark 4:35-41
Illustration
Brett Blair
... that pose the gravest danger. It is the terrible corruption that can exist within us which can overwhelm us. The furious storm outside may be overwhelming but what is going on inside can pose the greater threat to our lives. Our only hope lies in conquering that wild enemy. Unfortunately storms that rage within us cannot be cured by ourselves. It takes the power of God's love, as revealed in Jesus Christ. He is our only hope of stilling the tempest that can harm our souls and cripple our lives. That's what ...
1059. Proper 6
1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, Psalm 20:1-9, Mark 4:26-29, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Bulletin Aid
B. David Hostetter
... you who are ours in life and death. Remind the nations of their common humanity, that they are not self-created, but that all life comes from you, and that we are accountable to you for what we do with our time on earth. Save us from blind hatred and wild vengeance that so often injure and kill the most innocent. God of all times and places, we praise you for all your servants who, having been faithful to you on earth, now live with you in heaven. Keep us in communion with them until we meet with all your ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... atmosphere changes. If they’re worn out, they’ll break their necks to get that rebound. Our kids will go above everybody to get the ball to Scotty.’ “On his fourth try, Harmon sunk a three pointer. Fans on both sides of the gym cheered wildly. The scoreboard said Leslie 89, Witts Springs 58, but everybody left a winner, especially Scotty’s teammates.” (3) What does it mean to live like children of God? Doesn’t it mean living as a family, God’s family? Besides living holy and blameless lives ...
1061. If It Meant Losing Our Heads
Mark 6:14-29
Illustration
Scott Hoezee
... liked to listen to John. What do we make of that? Did he like to listen to John in the way a man might enjoy watching a trained monkey or the antics of a pet dog? Was John the Baptist a kind of court jester for Herod—someone whose wild-eyed, red-faced, veins-popping-out-of-his-neck preaching helped to pass the hours on lazy palace afternoons? Or did he like to listen to John because something about John's bracing honesty and impassioned words about the kingdom of God were getting through to Herod? It's ...
1062. Proper 9
2 Kings 5:1-27, Psalm 30:1-12, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, Galatians 6:1-16
Bulletin Aid
B. David Hostetter
... hallow your name in praise and prayer. You discipline us with strong love but save us with unmeasured grace. Receive our thankful worship through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of justice and mercy, we complain about the harvest of our wild oats, and the sentence that is passed against our crimes. More often than not your mercy is greater than we deserve. We may not be as conspicuous as some in our misdeeds, but however subtle we are, we seek your pardon for greed and exploitation ...
1063. God Is Like a Shepherd
John 10:1-21
Illustration
Frederick Buechner
... to get it well again. He would feed them out of a bottle when they were new-born lambs if for some reason the mother wasn't around or wouldn't 'own' them, as he put it. He always called them in at the end of the day so the wild dogs wouldn't get them. I've seen him wade through snow up to his knees with a bale of hay in each hand to feed them on bitter cold winter evenings, shaking it out and putting it in the manger. I've stood with him in their shed with ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... Well, what happens if I pull both strings at once?" The parrot said, "I fall off my perch you idiot!" Now if you are going to whip the world you're going to have to learn how to handle temptation. You cannot be like the British writer, Oscar Wilde, who said, "I can resist anything except temptation." A recent prayer I came across sums up our problem. It goes like this: Dear Lord, So far today I'm doing alright. I've not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or selfish-indulgent. I've ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... young man, wanting to be a compliant student, stayed there for awhile, but soon he began to spit and sputter, and thrash about trying to get air. All the while Socrates held him under the water. Soon the man began blowing large bubbles and thrashing about as wildly as he possibly could. Finally, Socrates took his hands off the young man who popped to the surface gasping for air, spewing water out of his mouth. He looked at Socrates and said, "Why did you do that?" Socrates looked at him and said, "When you ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... , whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands ...
1067. Friends
1 Samuel 18:1-4
Sermon
James Merritt
... while Jonathan went into the city." (I Samuel 20:41-42, NASB) As God would have it, they did see each other again, only the next time they saw each other, David was on the run from King Saul. He was out in the wilderness being hunted like a wild animal. We read these incredible words, "David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph and Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. Now David became aware that Saul had come ...
1068. A Blast from the Past
Deuteronomy 6:20-25
Sermon
James Merritt
... shrimp. He would walk out to the end of the pier as the sun was going down, and stand there with his bucket of shrimp, and begin to throw the shrimp in the water. Before long dozens of sea gulls would envelop him; their wings fluttering and flapping wildly. Ed would stand there tossing out shrimp to those hungry birds. If you were standing next to him you would hear him say, with a smile under his breath, "Thank you, thank you." After the bucket was empty Ed would just stand there, deep in thought, watching ...
1069. Total Recall
Deuteronomy 6:20-25
Sermon
James Merritt
... shrimp. He would walk out to the end of the pier as the sun was going down, and stand there with his bucket of shrimp, and begin to throw the shrimp in the water. Before long dozens of sea gulls would envelop him; their wings fluttering and flapping wildly. Ed would stand there tossing out shrimp to those hungry birds. If you were standing next to him you would hear him say, with a smile under his breath, "Thank you, thank you." After the bucket was empty Ed would just stand there, deep in thought, watching ...
1070. When I Grow Up
Ephesians 4:15
Sermon
James Merritt
... I see a beautiful girl walk by, my garage door flies open!" Just remember this - every temptation that comes your way is an opportunity to obey God. It is an opportunity to choose His will for your life. We can all relate to what the playwright, Oscar Wilde said, "I can resist anything except temptation." Quite frankly, part of his problem was, he was trying to resist it. Let me give you a tip about temptation that may surprise you. When you are tempted, don't resist it. We are told nowhere in the Bible ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... young man wanting to be a compliant student stayed there for awhile, but soon he began to spit and sputter and thrash about trying to get air, all the while Socrates held him under the water. Soon the man began blowing large bubbles and thrashing about as wildly as he possibly could and finally Socrates took his hands off the young man, who popped to the surface, gasping for air. Spewing water out of his mouth, he looked at Socrates and said, "Master, why did you do that?" Socrates looked at him and said ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place." (Proverbs 27:8, NKJV) Think about it. A man who would leave his wife and family for another woman is no better than a bird who would leave his baby chicks as open prey to the wilds of nature. Adultery is also a spiritual sin. It is a sin against God Himself, because it breaks one of His commandments. There is a story in the Old Testament about a young man named Joseph. He worked for an Egyptian ruler named, Potiphar. Potiphar's wife was attracted ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... are certain varieties within different species. This goes exactly with what the Bible says in the Book of Genesis. "And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth every kind of animal - livestock, small animals and wildlife.' And so it was. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock and small animals each able to reproduce more of its own kind." (Genesis 1:24-25, NLT) The second type of evolution is called "macro-evolution" and this is where the wheels begin to fall off. This is the theory that made Charles ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... take up space, live a few years and die without any impact whatsoever. He wants every one of us to live a life of significance, a life of importance and a life of influence that never ends. Jack London, the famous author who wrote the books, The Call Of The Wild and White Fang, put it better that anybody I've ever read. He said, "I would rather be ashes than dust. I had rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every ...
Sermon
James Merritt
... those days it was called "the way of blood." But it was dangerous for another reason. Bible scholars estimate that there were at least 12,000 thieves in that Judean wilderness surrounding Jerusalem. These gangs and thugs roamed the countryside like packs of wild dogs attacking innocent victims, beating them and robbing them. So here was a man who had been victimized by some thieves, and not only robbed but beaten and left for dead. Now Jesus introduces in his story three characters: the thieves, the priest ...
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