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 1176 to 1200 of 4972 results

1176. Daniel Interprets the Dream

Daniel 2:24-49

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... Or it might go with all three: “Wherever they live, he has placed mankind, and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air in your hands.” 2:40 The Aramaic text has a repetition of the idea of iron breaking things. The NIV leaves both clauses in (for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces), but these two clauses make the verse a little awkward. The ancient translations in Greek, Syriac, and Latin have shorter readings, which might suggest that the MT is corrupt at ...

1177. But, Why?

Titus 3:4-7

Sermon

Scott Bryte & Kimberly Miller van Driel

... neighborhood lights and the door buster sales have all been leading to this. It is a happy day for most of us, a sad day for some of us, a stressful day for many and a big day for us all. Whether it warms your heart, boils your blood, or leaves you cold, Christmas has an impact on you. The entire month of December seems to center around it, and for many businesses, it can make or break the whole fiscal year. As Christian people, we see a little bit more when we look at Christmas. We see past the baking ...

1178. Whose Fault Is It?

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... saw a young boy hanging on a gallows. “Where is God?” he cried. The question of Job is asked in every generation: “Where are you God?” And often, as with Job, the only answer is silence. The promises of scripture become dead fantasies. The Holy Spirit leaves and the heart grows chilly. The newspapers report events that make no sense. Where is God? Where is God when a child dies? Where is God when a mother is snatched from her family? Where is God when nuclear reactors melt down, airplanes crash, and ...

1179. We Live in Hope

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Sermon

Bonnie Bates

... . As the person moves into death, takes perhaps a last gasping breath, or simply ceases to breathe, there is, in the room, a difference. Before machines beep and people are visibly aware, sometimes there is simply a shift in the energy, the soul of the person leaves them, leaves us, and moves on to God. This is a resurrection moment, a moment when death is defeated, not by the body, but by the soul, by the spirit which has gone home. It is a profound moment and a profound experience for a pastor to feel ...

1180. The Three Tenses Of Our Faith

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... had shown faithfulness. They would remember and they would praise God for God's faithfulness. As they did so, their faith was quickened and their worship left them with a greater sense of hopefulness regarding what God might do in their midst. Remembering the past always leaves God's people hopeful about what might come next. A young man spent his junior year of college on an exchange program at a university overseas. It was a time of great change for him. He lived in a new and different culture. The food ...

1181. Allowing God To Do A New Thing

Isaiah 43:14-28

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... a negative, though, when the focus shifts to the method and the practice of ministry in the local church. Too often churches get caught up in trying to do things the way they have always been done. This leaves the Church out of step with the majority of society. Even worse, it leaves many contemporary people to wonder if the Church has anything relevant to say to them. Tragically, when churches get caught in this pattern, they put more emphasis on preserving traditions of the past than they do reaching new ...

1182. In Pursuit Of The Promise

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... 's Purpose The third thing we discover in this text is God's purpose for the Church. In the last verse of this passage, as the disciples are looking heavenward, two angels appear to them. In essence, they say to the disciples, "You have seen Jesus leave earth. You will see him return in the same manner." The disciples have witnessed Jesus' ascension and they have been assured by two angels that Jesus will return. The challenge for Jesus' followers, then, is "What shall we do in the meantime?" Just what is ...

1183. Holy Wisdom From On High!

Proverbs 8:1-36

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... resurrection and the salvation he offers to the world." But, I realized as I continued to think about it, I simply could not leave out the Holy Spirit, for he is the indwelling God who quickens, instructs, and empowers the Christian. But all of this was far ... do the work, and you do the worrying,' and I haven't had a worry since!" God, in his love and wisdom has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, so that we can at least have enough wisdom to trust that his wisdom is working on our behalf. II. God The ...

1184. Unusual, To Say The Least!

Amos 7:1-9, Amos 7:10-17

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... , I am sorry to say, in danger of hell-fire and damnation, to a certain extent." But Amos was no fence-straddler, he came speaking a "thus saith the Lord," and was soon out of favor with his hearers. And they decided he had to go! Amaziah invited him to leave, to go back go Judah and tell his message to them. Preaching of God's displeasure with our sins and of his impending judgments upon our lives of disobedience is no more popular today than it was a long time ago. If Amos' oracles are to mean anything to ...

1185. The Mystery

Luke 7:1-10

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... : Right. He must. STAN: That's it. It's in God's hands. DIANE: The healing, medicine, the surgery is all in God's hands. STAN: And even the faith. It's all in God's hands. DIANE: When we pray for healing, we leave it up to Him. STAN: Right. DIANE: Of course that's true. We leave it in His hands. There's really nothing much we can do but pray. STAN: That's a lot, I think. DIANE: Of course it is. It's trusting God's wisdom in the matter. STAN: Well, that's faith, isn't it ...

1186. The Ark -- Found

Luke 9:18-27

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... ark of the New Covenant. HEINRICH: I want the power of God. INDY: He is all-powerful. HEINRICH: I know that now. SOLDIER: I'm getting out of here. (EXITS) JANE: Me, too. I can't stand to hear it. (EXITS WITH OTHERS) INDY: And what about you? Will you leave too? HEINRICH: No. I won't leave you. I want to hear about the Christ, the son of God. INDY: (AS THEY EXIT, WITH HIS ARM AROUND HEINRICH) You see, Jesus is God, alive now, not a relic in a museum.

1187. Alesander The Mediocre

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... heed of learning. Learn how to \nrespect your husband. \nIACATA: Respect is earned, not learned. \nALEXANDER: Then earn it by leaving me to my decisions. \nIACATA: Oh, my most royal husband, does not the royal court need \nhusbanding today? Your nobles are ... . \nALEXANDER: Get out of my sight. Take this sightless \nprognosticator. (CHOREGUS GRABS TALULIAS AND ESCORTS HIM OFF) \nTALULIAS: I will gladly leave, but not because you choose for me \nto. You have no power over me. You have only the power that is \ ...

1188. The Perisitent Noise Of Solemn Assemblies

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... tolerate those who play injured and sick, milking the tender-hearted of their money. Jesus' demand for justice and his understanding of love would not allow that. He calls us all to be responsible selves. And once the victim is well he is expected to leave the sick room to perform responsibly in society, not to live parasitically. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, saw that we all fall victim to weakness and failure, and said, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6 ...

1189. A Tale Of Two Cities

Micah 5:1-4

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... to Bethlehem and we do not know whether we shall find him there."2 This is the challenge for us also. Do we dare to leave behind Jerusalem, the temple, and the palace to journey to Bethlehem, not knowing if we shall find him there? In Jerusalem we are safe. ... I'll do it my way. I made it myself, let them make it themselves ... and the devil take the hindmost. Do we dare to leave that system behind to go to Bethlehem, not knowing if we shall find him there? Trusting only in a promise? Following only a star? In ...

1190. A Tree Well Watered

Jeremiah 16:1--17:18

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... we shall perish in the parched salt land of our self-sufficiency. Those who trust in the Lord stand in stark contrast to this picture. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and does not cease to bear fruit (v. 8). This image of the faithful as a well-watered tree does not suggest that trust in God means a privileged life free from trial. The heat and the ...

1191. When Wisdom Cries Out

Proverbs 8:1-36

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... . Since the people will not seek wisdom, wisdom then, paradoxically, must seek refuge in the minds, hearts, and souls of true seekers and believers. Since the people have virtually ceased their search for those deeper things of God, life and creation, wisdom must leave its portals, abandon its gates, and relinquish its sacred shrines, safe houses, and sacred texts to search for true takers and seekers. Wisdom thus has enough savvy to seek new venues among the people even when the people don't strive to seek ...

1192. They Didn't Have To Do It, But They Did

Genesis 14:1-24

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... come back to lynch him. What was a black man doing stranded on a road in Southern Georgia? Should he stay in the car or leave the car? Twenty minutes later a tow truck pulled alongside his car. A beefy, tobacco chewing, white man in a blue uniform got out of ... by people doing things they didn't really have to do. The supreme sacrifice, however, was made by Christ himself. He didn't have to leave his carpenter's shop in Nazareth, but he did. He didn't have to take his ministry on the road, but he did. He didn ...

1193. Lord, Send The Wind

Jeremiah 4:5-31

Sermon

James McLemore

... in order to move people past their old bad habits, and past their old repetitive sins, and past their old wicked ways, God has to shake up some mountains. God has to empty some places that used to be full. God has to take away some blessings and leave a barren land. Sometimes God has to send the Wind. Our society, like Jeremiah's society, seems to be locked into old habits. The rich get richer, and the poor keep getting poorer. Immorality is rampant. Lust, sex, and violence have become fixed in the core of ...

1194. Advent 1

Luke 21:5-38, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Jeremiah 33:1-26, Psalm 25:1-22

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27. Similar warnings about the coming of "that day" of judgment are found in the Old Testament in the following passages: Isaiah 13:9-16 and Joel 2:10, 30-31. Fig Tree Allusions: Genesis 3:7 - Adam and Eve sew fig leaves together for covering. Song of Solomon - The fig tree bears fruit and gives a fragrance. Isaiah 28:4 - A warning to Ephraim that the people will be like the first ripe figs of summer which are quickly consumed. John 1:48 - Nathaniel is observed sitting under a fig ...

1195. Lent 3

Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Psalm 63:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... the transient nature of the leaders of Ephraim. Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14 -- The curse of the fig tree that promised fruit but had none. Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33 -- Jesus uses the sign of a fig tree putting forth leaves to urge his followers to read more spiritual signs. John 1:48 -- Nathaniel is called while sitting under a fig tree. James 3:12 -- A fig tree only produces one kind of fruit. So the character of a person produces only one fruit. Revelation 6:13 -- The image of a ...

1196. Lent 4

Psalm 32:1-11, Joshua 5:1-12, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Luke 15:1-7

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... for independence and pleasure proved to be an illusion. The reality was that he could be fully free and alive when he enjoyed the love and favor of his father. Who knows, perhaps the attitude of his older brother toward him may have led him to leave home. The older brother probably was not an easy person to live with. The older son also rebelled against the love of the father. When he was invited to join the feast of celebration, he refused. The rebellion which was seething inside him exploded against his ...

1197. Proper 13

Luke 11:1-13, Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-17, Psalm 107:1-43

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... of trust in the love and power of God to control the future. We try to take it in our own hands and then eventually find ourselves as powerless as the unwise farmer. Homily Hints 1. What Inheritance? (v. 13) What kind of a family inheritance will you leave? A. A Proper Regard for Material Things B. A Proper Regard for People Values C. A Proper Regard for Spiritual Values 2. All Kinds of Greed. (v. 15) Are people in danger of the temptation to more than one kind of greed? A. Greed for Money -- the obvious ...

1198. Proper 17

Psalm 81:1-16, Hebrews 13:1-25, Jeremiah 2:1-3:5, Luke 14:1-14

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... that is appropriate to the kind of meeting held. Is it thoughtlessness, false humility, or laziness that causes people to plunk themselves down at the beginning of a row of chairs or a pew? It makes later comers crawl over them to get to a seat. It also often leaves an empty space in the middle of the sanctuary, again having the speaker address an empty space. Sometimes it is appropriate for persons to sit at the end of a row. They may need to get out easily to do something needed in the course of a service ...

1199. Proper 25

Psalm 65:1-13, Luke 18:9-14, Joel 2:28-32, 2 Timothy 4:9-18, 2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... done and left undone or of what he did that fell short of what he expected and wanted to happen. Only grace allows persons to feel justified. It is the awareness that God accepts and loves them as they are, with all their blemishes and failures, that leaves them justified. God's love is a gift, not payment earned by merit. 4. Where Do You Stand? Jesus constantly reached out to the people who were in distress. He did not hesitate to mingle with or even to have physical contact with people who were frequently ...

1200. Bowing Before The Mystery

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... in what facts you can stuff in your head, all the presuppositions about what is or is not possible, and hear an angel's song. And if that angel tells you to go to some Bethlehem to see the great thing which the Lord has accomplished, leave whatever you have to leave, and go. And when you arrive at that stable, bow low, see what God has done, feel the mystery of the universe laid out before you, and know that the most important things in life cannot be measured, catalogued or carbon dated. I know not how ...

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