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 1201 to 1225 of 1679 results

1201. Reach For The Light

Isaiah 60:1-22

Sermon

Tony Everett

What's the first thing you do when you awaken from a scary dream? Exactly! Most of us reach for the light. Our rational minds tell us that it was nothing but a dream. It wasn't real. However, our bodies aren't convinced. We want to put our pillows over our heads and bury ourselves beneath all the blankets. But, it won't work. Our hearts are pumping and thumping. Arteries are stretched to the limit by blood racing to our feet and hands. Lungs strain to take in as much oxygen as possible. Adrenal glands work ...

1202. Named And Claimed

Isaiah 43:1-13

Sermon

Tony Everett

Have you ever watched children choosing up sides for a game? It seems as if certain children always get chosen first: the taller, stronger, more athletic, more intelligent, more popular. As more names are called and teams are formed, inevitably there is a small huddle of children standing off to the side trying to pretend that it doesn't matter. But it does. It matters and it hurts. These children can't help but overhear the scornful laughter and humiliating names aimed in their direction. Remember that ...

1203. God Remembers

1 Samuel 1:1-20

Sermon

John A. Stroman

On these opening pages of 1 Samuel we are introduced to a family drama. Here is the story of Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Immediately, we encounter the tension in this family which is a result of Hannah's barrenness. Hannah's husband loves her and treats her with kindness. When they traveled to Shiloh on the day of sacrifice, Elkanah would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to her sons and daughters, but he would give a double portion to Hannah, and the text tells us he did this ...

1204. The Burdens Of The Past

Haggai 2:1-9, Haggai 1:1-15

Sermon

Robert P. Hines

Recently a young man who participates in Civil War reenactments was giving a talk about his hobby. He shared with the group how a soldier in that war carried his own food supply with him. A bag of food weighed about seven pounds. The rifle he carried weighed ten pounds. The blanket and backpack weighed another forty pounds. This means the typical soldier in the Civil War carried over fifty pounds of material and weaponry with him all the time. Carrying that much weight must have been a heavy burden that ...

1205. Awake, Christ Is Coming

Romans 13:8-14

Sermon

Richard Hasler

Erma Bombeck, in her book titled When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home, observes: "You can always tell when vacationers are going or coming. Travelers who are at the beginning of a trip laugh and tell jokes. Their clothes match ... Those returning are impatient. Every plane they board is like the last one out of Baghdad and they are going to be on it." Erma's scintillating wit reminds us that there is a right time for action in all walks of life. Farmers know a right time exists for ...

1206. The Hope Of Peace

Romans 5:1-11

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

Today's epistle lesson shows us Paul's legal training. Throughout his letters to the early Christians, Paul uses the language of the court system to talk about our relationship to God, from seeing Jesus acting as our attorney to this statement -- that we have been justified: that is, acquitted or pronounced innocent. It is not the same word as "virtuous" nor "innocent as a child." It means that, having been put on trial, we are acquitted; we are free to leave the courtroom and return home. The courtroom ...

1207. Sowers Of The Seed

Psalm 119:1-176, Romans 8:1-17, Genesis 25:19-34, Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

This parable is titled "The Sower." That puts the emphasis on the person who preaches or teaches the word. Yet the parable does not do much in the way of describing the characteristics of the sower. In this particular instance one would suppose that Jesus implies that he is the sower. If we choose to emphasize this aspect of the parable, then we might concentrate on the question of how the contemporary sower corresponds to Jesus as the one who proclaims the message. We might also call this parable "The ...

1208. Service And Reward

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

Social status may be determined by many factors. Some of these may be given by birth, genetics, or for reasons other than the achievement of the person. These include such things as color of skin and eyes, kind of hair, height, body build, gender, national origin, family's social position, inherited wealth, and age. Other factors may be determined by achievements through a person's efforts. These include such factors as level of education, employment, development of skills, hard work, wise investment, or ...

1209. When God Is The Problem

Psalm 13:1-6

Sermon

Robert G. McCreight

Introduction During Lent we are focusing our biblical attention almost exclusively on the passages from the psalms, allowing their themes and their spirit to rise up and identify themselves to us. Today we are continuing to gain a greater familiarity with these conversations from the heart. Through song and reading and spoken word the religiosity of the psalmists of old is speaking to us today. A For the first two Sundays in Lent our attention was on what Old Testament professor Walter Brueggeman called ...

1210. A New Command

Sermon

Lee Griess

John 13:1-17, 31b-35 In his book Life Looks Up, Charles Templeton remarks how ironic it is that the course of human history has been affected so positively and negatively by events that have occurred in two small upper rooms. One of them is a drab flat in London's Westside, dirty, curtainless, with stacks of articles on the table and worn manuscripts, aborted attempts wadded up in the trash can. Seated at the table a man labors over a writing, a writing that would overthrow governments, enslave millions of ...

1211. All Things Hidden Will Be Revealed

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: The Need For Unity Amidst Diversity (Based on 1 Corinthians 4:5 and 1 Corinthians 10:17) God admonishes his people to be unified and have no divisions among themselves but be made complete, in the same mind. This hard-hitting drama brings home, in a straightforward manner, the seriousness of division in the body of Christ, the petty nature of most church disagreements today, and the possible ultimate consequences. Setting: The gates of heaven Characters:GATEKEEPER: Either male or female, must have ...

1212. Getting Ready for The Coming Messiah

Mark 1:1-8

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

Liturgical Color: Purple/Blue Theme: Preparing the Way; John Announces the Coming of Jesus. John paved the way for Jesus, who then paved the way for us. Choral Invitation Have the two choirs move toward each other. The chancel choir will move one third of the way toward the rear; and the second choir will move one third of the way to the front. The chancel choir will sing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" with less vigor; and the second choir will sing "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" with more vigor than last ...

1213. Uncovering Cover-Ups

John 15:18--16:4

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

For some it is ancient history. For others it is as fresh as yesterday. I speak of 1972 when the word "cover-up" came into our consciousness in a big way -- the cover-up by then President Richard Nixon regarding the Watergate scandal. Assured of a landslide victory in his election for a second term, Richard Nixon, overborne with anxiety, apparently felt that was not enough. So he authorized the so-called "Watergate Plumbers," headed by G. Gordon Liddy, to break into the Democratic Headquarters in the posh ...

1214. Hope Against Hope

Jeremiah 33:1-26

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

Chaim Potok begins his novel In the Beginning, with these words: All beginnings are hard. I can remember my mother murmuring those words while I lay in bed with a fever. "Children are often sick, darling. That's the way it is with children. All beginnings are hard. You'll be all right soon."1 Whether it is the beginning of life, with all its fragility, the beginning of marriage with all its risk, or the beginning of a new job, with all its challenge, all beginnings are hard. This is true also of a new ...

1215. A Homecoming To Remember

1 Kings 8:22-61

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

In the heart of our nation's capital, in sight of the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, is the Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Holocaust Memorial Museum is unlike any museum you are ever likely to visit, for it presents the history of the 6,000,000 Jews and millions of others who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis during the Second World War. Upon entering the museum, visitors are issued an identity card bearing the name and picture of a Holocaust victim, matching the person's age and gender. The ...

1216. The More I Understand, The Less I Know

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Johnny Dean

This may sound contradictory to you, but the longer I stay in ministry, the less I understand about preaching. In fact, I know less about preaching today than I knew ten years ago. Back then, while I was a seminary student, I could tell you what constituted a good sermon, what was needed to do it right. All I had to do was ask one of my homiletics professors. Today, I’m not so sure they knew all that much. Why does a sermon "work", why does it achieve positive results, when by all rights it ought to fall ...

1217. The Man From Galilee V: The Test Of His Courage

Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

A man and his wife had their vacation interrupted by a terrible toothache. They knew no one in the little town by the interstate highway. But they drove into town and asked for directions to the nearest dentist. They went straight to the dentist's office and told the receptionist they had an emergency situation. They had to see the dentist immediately. The receptionist showed them into a little room, and in a minute the dentist came in. They stood up to greet him, and the wife said, "We are on a trip and ...

1218. Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12, Isaiah 11:1-16, Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10 This text is related to Isaiah 9:1-6. "The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:3a). In their original context, both passages are believed to be coronation Psalms for God's Anointed One, the king. It is possible that Isaiah composed today's lesson for the coronation of King Hezekiah. Though a king was held to be a direct link between the people and their God, the prophet realized that the righteous rule envisioned in this passage was ...

1219. Ascension

Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53, Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The risen, ascended and exalted Christ. Both Acts 1:1-11 and Luke 24:44-53 relate the story of the Ascension, according to Luke. The account from Ephesians 1 exalts Christ as having all things put under his authority. COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 1:1-11 In introducing his book, Luke notes to Theophilus that he is taking up where he left off with his gospel. The gospel ends with the witness to the resurrected Christ and Acts begins by bringing to a close this 40-day string of appearances. The disciples ...

1220. Good Friday

John 18:1-11, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Genesis 22:1-19, Hosea 6:1--7:16, Hebrews 10:1-18, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, John 19:17-27

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme For Lenten Series: Christ Confronts Death. Theme: The passion and death of our Lord. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13--53:12 This sublime poem of the Suffering Servant lifts up an idea that is featured prominently in Christian theology: suffering, pain and sorrow can be redemptive. Biblical interpreters have traditionally identified the servant in this poem with the nation of Israel. The nation had undergone profound humiliation and disfigurement through their ordeal in Babylon. Yet, the ...

1221. Proper 23

Exodus 32:1-33:6, Isaiah 25:1-12, Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The importance of accepting God's gracious invitation to the feast of life. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 32:1-14 Moses is meeting with the Lord on Mount Horeb and is away from the people for a long time. The people suspect that something perverse has happened to their leader and so they petition Aaron to make gods for them. Taking their jewelry, he fashions a gold calf and proclaims it the object of their worship. Seeing this unfaithfulness, God wants to destroy the people and make a nation from ...

1222. Transfiguration

2 Peter 1:12-21, Daniel 7:1-14, Exodus 24:1-18, Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The transfiguration of Christ was an experience of divine transcendence. The Spirit gifts his children with glimpses of the transcendent Christ and the life to come. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 24:12-18 God instructs Moses to ascend Mount Sinai to receive the law of the Lord. The glory of God appeared to the people on top of the mountain as a consuming fire. Moses enters the mysterious cloud and approaches the fire to receive the divine revelation. Old Testament: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 In the ...

1223. Christmas 1

Galatians 3:26--4:7, Galatians 3:15-25, Colossians 3:1-17, Hebrews 2:5-18, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Isaiah 63:7-9 The prophet recalls the goodness of God when the nation was being born. He harkens back to the covenant God made with his people at Sinai and his guiding them through the wilderness. Though God punishes his people for their sins, he continues to love them, care for them, and guide them. God carries on his gracious work of salvation. Lesson 1: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 God placed parents in authority over their children and those who honor their parents will be blessed by God. ...

1224. Christmas 2

Mt 2:13-23 · Jn 1:1-18 · Eph 1:3-14 · Jer 31:7-14 · Is 61:10--62:3 · Ps 147

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14 God proclaims through his prophet a message of hope, comfort, and national revival. The time of the Babylonian captivity would come to an end and the people would come back to Zion rejoicing. God lavishes comfort on this people, whom he allowed to be punished. Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3 The prophet exalts in the restoration of the nation and the cult, which becomes also his personal salvation. The joy he feels is like that of the bride and the groom, as ...

1225. Evergreen Wreath And Faded Leaf

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon

Harold Warlick

The occasion was a joyous one as the young bride and groom settled into their seats at the head table at the Country Club. Like most wedding rehearsal dinners, the environment was heightened by candles, flowers, special music, expensive clothes, and family and friends who had not seen each other in years. Most likely many would not embrace one another again until the next family wedding or a funeral shivered its way to the forefront. All the proper symbols of hope were present in the room: the greenery, ...

Showing results