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 4963 results

1176. A Personal History

John 18:1—19:42

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... ; John 18:1—19:42. “We Esteemed Him Not.” For so many of us, the King James Version was the translation of scripture we first heard and where we learned some of the most familiar passages. In the case of Isaiah’s suffering servant passage, I remain tied and drawn to the poetic language of the old King James. One phrase in particular especially moves me: “We esteemed him not.” The New Revised Standard Version renders it, “we held him of no account,” which is fine and speaks the same truth. It ...

1177. Personal History

John 18:1-11

Sermon

David J. Kalas

1178. Let's Take This from the Beginning

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

James Merritt

... to ponies!) I don’t know if carrying a Bible or not contributed to their success, but the one thing the company definitely believed in was the value of a Bible. Though we have gone from ponies to planes and rockets, the value of the Bible remains undiminished, at least in terms of ownership and in terms of what people think of the Bible. According to a recent survey by the American Bible Society more than half of Americans think the Bible has too little influence on the culture they see in moral decline ...

1179. Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

James Merritt

... and books. Because they were made from byblos reeds, books came to be known as “Bibles.” The writings of the Old and New Testament have been considered so sacred and so special that they have been given the unique name of “The Bible.” The question remains, “Why should this book be the Bible? Why should the church accept this book as the Bible? Actually, the question comes down to this – Did the Bible give birth to the church or did the church give birth to the Bible? Our Key Take Away will ...

1180. Chickens with Eyeglasses

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... disability. But here is the amazing thing. Whatever this thorn was, Paul considered it to be a gift. Think about that--a gift! It was a gift that would ensure that Paul would never forget who he was and who God is and would forever help him to remain humble. In Paul’s estimation God gave him this thorn, a constant reminder of his weakness, that he might be continually reminded of his dependence on God. Let me ask you, do you have “a thorn in your flesh?” Do you have a constant irritant that you may ...

1181. No Turning Back

John 6:60-71

Sermon

King Duncan

... that there never had been another like him? But I’ve got to ask us another question: Can’t we see who he is, as well? Researchers tell us that, nationally, every week over 53,000 people leave the church never to return. (3) But even among those who remain, only about twenty per cent are really committed to their faith. Why is that? Is it that there are many casual worshippers who come a few times a year out of mere tradition and not because they really believe that Christ is the Savior of the world? Is ...

1182. No Longer Strangers

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... entire world that is grand enough to be seen from space is a wall. If you wanted to define human nature, a wall might be a good place to start. There is a tendency in humanity to shut others out, there is a desire to remain aloof and separate from others’ predicaments. Unfortunately for the human race, though, such separation always leads to unhappiness because we were made for community, for fellowship, for oneness. We were not created to be strangers from one another. Sometimes even in a church we can ...

1183. A Fig Tree Sprouts Leaves

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... looking forward to this reunion for quite some time. But because she missed that sign, she missed her turn and therefore she missed most of the reunion, getting there after some of her relatives had already left. While she was happy that she got to see the remaining relatives, she was heartbroken that she missed others and the joy of the reunion itself. But she missed a sign. Signs are important. Imagine trying to navigate your way in an area unknown to you without signs or a GPS. Signs keep us aware of our ...

1184. Pride Is a Noxious Weed in the Garden of Life

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... legs now rise from the sand. The stone body worn almost unrecognizable and the broken head nearly buried in the sand. And on the pedestal these words appear: “My name is Ozymandias, King of kings; Look on my works, ye mighty and despair!” Nothing beside remains, Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. Every pride-obsessed ruler who thinks of self as “king of kings” meets a similar fate. Only a few today can name many emperors, kings, and ...

1185. Shall We Waddle or Fly?

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... attend church or watch a game today. We can be thankful for that. One thing I’ve noticed through the years, sportswriters generally have a great sense of humor. When Gatorade inventor Robert Cade died recently at the age of 80, one commentator wrote: “His remains will be cremated, and then the ashes dumped over some football coach’s head.” After the New Year’s Day bowl games, many of you wives would probably have agreed with the late, great Erma Bombeck who said, “If a man watches three football ...

1186. The Word According to Superman

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... There were some things that even God could not change. You certainly can’t blame Abram for his concern. So when God says to Abram, “I am your shield, your very great reward,” Abram responds to God like this: “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” In his infinite wisdom Abram was trying to show God, as far as he could tell, this was the ...

1187. Preparations for Building the Temple

2 Chronicles 2:1-18

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... one taking the initiative in contacting his northern neighbor to support his temple-building project. In this way the focus remains on Solomon as the temple builder. At the beginning of Solomon’s address to Hiram, 1 Kings 5:3–5 ... over from the source texts in 1 Kings. There it is clear, however, that the forced labor was taken from other, Canaanite nations, who had remained in the land. The omission of the word “forced labor” in 1 Chron. 2 can best be explained in terms of the Chronicler’s attempt ...

1188. Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

Acts 1:12-26

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... believer. (For the title the Lord Jesus see notes on 11:20.) 1:23 There were probably many who could have filled the vacancy on these terms, bearing in mind that the Twelve had been chosen from a much wider group, which itself, hardly less than the Twelve, had remained close to Jesus (cf. Mark 3:13f.; Luke 10:1; 1 Cor. 15:6). But most of them may have been in Galilee (see disc. on 9:31). This may be why only two names were considered: Joseph called Barsabbas, meaning either “son of the Sabbath” (he may ...

1189. Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

Acts 4:1-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... ’s case, by implication in John’s) to their being filled with the Holy Spirit. They had become “different people” (cf. 1 Sam. 10:6). To say that they were “filled” does not call into question the permanence of the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost. The Spirit remains with his people, as Luke well understood. But there are moments when they are more aware of his presence (cf. 2:4; 4:31; 13:9; Luke 12:11f.; 21:14f.), and such a moment was this, as the apostles prepared to make an answer for the hope ...

1190. The Apostles Persecuted

Acts 5:17-42

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... The Messiah has come in the person of Jesus.” This must have rankled with the Sadducees especially, since this claim for Jesus was always based on the fact of his resurrection, but there was little they could do about it while the Christians remained popular and the Pharisees unwilling to take the Sadducees’ side against them (see disc. on 6:12ff.). Additional Notes 5:21 They called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel: lit., they called together “the council and all the ...

1191. Stephen Seized

Acts 6:8-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... from an early age and may have had no strong personal links with the land of his birth, though obviously some ties with Cilicia did still remain (cf. 9:30; see disc. on 22:3). 6:10–11 Inspired by the Spirit (cf. v. 3), Stephen spoke with such cogency that his ... 24); and here, too, Stephen may have belonged by birth and education (see disc. on 7:9ff.). The literary remains of the Alexandrian Jews testify to intellectual energy, missionary concern, and a profound seriousness about the Scriptures. These traits ...

1192. Simon the Sorcerer

Acts 8:9-25

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... further condemnation of him, and the request for prayer on his behalf does not rule out the possibility that he also prayed for himself. Nor must we allow the later stories of Simon as the arch-heretic to color our interpretation. But for all that, the suspicion remains that he was more concerned to escape punishment than he was to turn to the Lord (cf. 1 Sam. 24:16; 26:21). 8:25 The story ends with a summary statement from which we learn that the apostles gave further instruction to the believers (for the ...

1193. Philip and the Ethiopian

Acts 8:26-40

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... through the desert. It may have been to this that Luke was referring when he added, “This is a desert,” rather than to its disuse. Or it may have been to Gaza itself (the Greek is ambiguous), for the old city had been destroyed and its site remained largely “a desert” (so Strabo described it, Geography 16.2.30; cf. Zeph. 2:4). The new city had been built nearer the sea (it, too, was destroyed, in A.D. 66). Verse 36 perhaps decides that Luke’s note refers to the country through which the road ...

1194. Saul’s Conversion

Acts 9:1-19a

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... house of one Judas in Straight Street (cf. v. 11). Details such as the name of his host and of the street where he lived indicate a source close to the events (cf. 16:15; 17:6f.; 18:2f.; 21:8, 16; also 10:6). 9:9–12 Here Paul remained for three days, neither eating nor drinking—a sign, perhaps, of his contrition or done, perhaps, in anticipation of further revelations (cf. v. 6, and see disc. on 13:2) or perhaps simply because of his state of shock. As he fasted he prayed. As a devout Pharisee Paul must ...

1195. The Return to Antioch in Syria

Acts 14:21-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... met with different groups scattered throughout the city. But the word church is in the singular. There may have been a number of groups meeting separately, but there was only one church. The final note is quite indefinite, but it probably does mean that they remained in Antioch for a long time (v. 28). Additional Notes 14:22 We must go through many hardships: This has sometimes been classed as a we-passage, as though Luke were including himself (see disc. on 16:10). It is better treated, however, as simply ...

1196. Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

Acts 15:36-41

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... 2:11–14 may have occurred at this time, in which Barnabas as well as Peter vacillated on the question of eating with Gentile believers. The matter seems to have been quickly settled (but see Dunn, Unity, p. 254), but the memory of it may have remained to exacerbate this present dispute. So it was that two missionary expeditions instead of one set out from Antioch (cf. Ps. 76:10). The work of visitation was divided between them, with Barnabas going to Cyprus and taking Mark with him. His concern in this ...

1197. Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos

Acts 18:18-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... heard much about “the Way” and no doubt would like to have heard more. But Paul would not stay, promising instead that if God willed he would return (cf. 21:14; James 4:15). Considering their eagerness, there must have been some pressing reason for his not remaining in Ephesus and making the most of this opportunity. He had his vow to complete, of course, but he may also have wished to be in Jerusalem for one of the festivals, perhaps the Passover (cf. 20:16), for which he would have to hurry since it ...

1198. Through Macedonia and Greece

Acts 20:1-6

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... out of the question that the rest of them went by ship directly to Troas, while Paul made the journey alone by land. In any case, the party divided at some point (probably Philippi, if they were traveling together), with the others going on to Troas and Paul remaining to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread at Philippi (i.e., the Passover, v. 6; see disc. on 12:3). He still observed the old ritual, but from 1 Corinthians 5:7f. we can see something of the new content he gave it—the Jewish Passover was ...

1199. Paul Transferred to Caesarea

Acts 23:23-35

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... given by Luke) that the foot soldiers did not go that far, but only as far as was necessary to see the party out of the immediate danger, leaving the others to go on to Antipatris and the next day to Caesarea. But of course the possibility still remains that the whole party was mounted (see disc. on v. 23). 23:33–35 The second leg of the journey, from Antipatris to Caesarea, was a distance of about twenty-five miles through open, mainly Gentile, country (the Plain of Sharon; see disc. on 8:40 and 9 ...

1200. Arrival at Rome

Acts 28:11-16

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... As Bengel long ago remarked, “The victory of the word of God: Paul at Rome, the climax of the Gospel, the conclusion of Acts.” Verse 15 is little more than an addendum, mentioning some details of the short journey by land to the capital. Indeed, all the remaining verses of the book may be regarded in this light, as simply rounding off the statement of verse 14 by showing how the gospel was preached in Rome as it had been at first “in Jerusalem,” then “in all Judea and Samaria” and in all of the ...

Showing results