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 1251 to 1275 of 4977 results

1251. The Lord Speaks

Job 38:1--41:34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... , is that God has done so. Do you count the months . . . know the time . . . ? A protective herdsman is constantly aware of the condition of his flock. He knows when they conceive and is able to project when they will give birth. My cattleman brother-in-law keeps careful records on the breeding of his cows so he can be prepared to assist when the time of delivery comes. God is claiming to be such a protective herdsman, unlike Job, watching over the flocks and herds of wild animals beyond human knowledge and ...

1252. Instruction for Temple Entry

Psalm 15:1-5

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... pillars of the earth) and the imagery of the ancient Near East. On the cosmic mountain lies the temple of the divine king who has vanquished all chaotic forces. (This background is made more explicit in Ps. 24, another entrance liturgy.) Additional Notes 15:4 Who keeps his oath even when it hurts: The NIV translation is difficult to support. Instead of the MT’s “he swears to do evil” (Hb. lehāraʿ), we should probably follow the LXX and Syriac and read, “he swears to the/his neighbor and does not ...

1253. A Tale of Two Oaths: David’s for the Lord’s Dwelling and the Lord’s for David’s Dynasty in Zion

Psalm 132:1-18

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... find him a dwelling (v. 2) on Zion (v. 13), so the LORD swore an oath to David to found for him a dynasty (v. 11). We should note, however, that in this version of the dynastic oracle, the Davidic covenant is clearly conditional: if your sons keep my covenant . . . , then their sons will sit . . . (contrast 89:30–37). This psalm contains the sole explicit reference to the ark in the Psalms. It is not identified with Yahweh himself but is closely associated with him, as the phrase you and the ark of your ...

1254. Accusations

2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... mediator like Moses, i.e., one who mediates the revelation of the fragrance of the knowledge of God, Paul now substantiates (hoti, For) what he has said in verse 14 by identifying himself as the fragrance (aroma) of Christ, which brings either life or death. In keeping with the identification of the God and Christ who share the merkabah, the two fragrances are one and the same. Paul’s knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6) is life-giving knowledge. Like Moses, Paul sets before ...

1255. Paul's Vision and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... to be conceited because of his merkabah experience can be compared to that of the Teacher of Righteousness in the Qumran community, who boasted of his ascent to heaven (cf. 4Q427 f7.1.8–17; 4Q471 f6.4; 4Q491 f 11.1.14, 18). To keep Paul from becoming conceited because of his revelatory experience, a thorn in my flesh was given to him (i.e., by God). In other words, the formal cause of Paul’s weakness, which the opponents so vehemently decry, is none other than his extraordinary apostolic revelations ...

1256. Faith or Observance of the Law

Galatians 3:1-14, Galatians 3:15-25

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... a standard member of a well-to-do household. Pedagogues were the guardians in charge of educating and directing the ethical conduct of the sons of the household. Paul equates the law’s function with that of guardianship. The metaphor suggests that as a guardian keeps watch over a child until the child reaches maturity, so the law guarded humanity until the coming of Christ. In the following verses Paul will appeal to the idea of inheritance (3:29–4:7), which is the flipside of the idea of guardianship ...

1257. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... , one can hardly have confidence in such a person. Such a one is not just undecided but, in fact, unstable. Now, indeed, he or she may “trust” in God and be part of the church, but with a heart filled with doubt, this person is emotionally keeping options open and other lines of support clear. There is a basic instability within that will eventually become evident in behavior. You cannot trust such a person, for he or she is like Aesop’s crow, trying to walk down two paths at once. The implied call ...

1258. The Fall of Man

Genesis 3:1-24

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... respective penalties pronounced on the woman and the man for their disobedience. Some data, however, illustrate the qualities and abilities distinctive to each gender. The man has the task of producing food to support his family. God put the man in the garden to till and keep it (2:15), referred to working the soil (3:17–19), and sent the man from the garden with the task of tilling the ground (3:23). The woman complements the man by bearing children. The nature of her punishment (3:16) and the name Eve ...

1259. Something is About to Happen!

John 1:1-14

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... the teacher was taken aback by the sudden rush of interest in his response. But he pushed on, “I’ll tell you what keeps me coming back to church. It’s strange, I know, but I get the feeling here at church, like nowhere else, that something ... Answer You see, we can only stay afloat in life for so long. At some time, the tides of life roll and roar, and we cannot keep our lives above rough waters. Life will take us into the depths, and when that happens the deep in us calls out for some great deep answer. ...

1260. Broken Promises

Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

King Duncan

... were there for her when she needed them, including some people who never made that promise, but there were others who were so eager during the wake to offer help but never called or visited. (2) Does that sound possible--that somebody could make a promise like that and not keep it? Does that cause anyone just a twinge of guilt? My guess it does. It is so easy to glibly say, “Oh, yes, I’ll pray for you,” and never pray. Or to say, “I’ll be by to check on you,” and never go by. “The road paved ...

1261. Zeal!

John 2:13-22

Sermon

John Jamison

... a few crates of doves, several bushel of grain, not to mention a couple of sheep or oxen? You not only needed to keep the animals from wandering off and getting injured from the hours of walking on the rocky paths, but you needed to bring ... they looked nice, fat, and healthy when you finally got them through the crowds, up the steps, and into the temple. You needed to keep them clean as well. It’s not surprising that most travelers thought it was best to not bring their sacrificial animals with them, but ...

1262. In the Light of His Glory

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

Sermon

King Duncan

... the front sack are all the good things that have happened to me,” he said. “I like to see them, so quite often I take them out to show them off to people and reminisce.” “But what about the sack in the back?” he was asked. He answered, “I keep all my mistakes, all my regrets in there and carry them all the time. Sure they’re heavy. They slow me down, but you know, for some reason I can’t put them down.” When the third man was asked about his sacks, he answered in a slightly different way ...

1263. The Greatest Sin

Luke 13:6-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... pretty nice guy. But being a nice guy or a nice lady isn’t nearly as important as making your life count for something. And how do you make your life count? By using what you have for God’s glory and making the world a better place. I could keep going on with this theme right through lunch and beyond. [I can see that some of you are worried I’m going to do just that.] For example, remember the story of the rich young ruler who turned back rather than giving up his wealth and following Jesus. By his ...

1264. The Awesome Power of FUD

John 21:1-19

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... ; understand that the last shall be first; if offended, turn the other cheek. These things do not seem reasonable, but like putting the net on the other side of the boat, they work. Trust God. Trust the teachings of the faith. Step out in faith and keep on keeping on. C: Remember that tomorrow is coming. The apostles fished all night and didn’t catch a thing. Then came the dawn and everything changed. What a wonderful reminder that life comes to us in daily segments. Today may be the absolute worst day of ...

1265. On Welcoming the Imperfect

John 10:22-30

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... he was referring to the icy attitude of those Pharisees who approached Jesus. Those were the first-century religion police. They always had an agenda. One bent close enough to Jesus that the master caught a whiff of moldy breath and rudely asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me”… “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow ...

1266. Sitting Shiva Behind Closed Doors

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... later), Jesus appears again in that same room when Thomas is there. While they are all there for a week in that house, they keep the doors locked for fear of the Jewish authorities. Again, the question arises. Why are they there? If they were afraid, would they not ... the truth that may be right in front of us. In fact, you could say that doubt is a snare that binds us to a reality that keeps us in a cage. Jesus is the one who comes to release us from the ties that bind us. You see, the ones bound in this story ...

1267. The Surrogate

Matthew 1:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... for this world a future worth living. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Matthew 1:1-17 and 3 (a genealogy and signs of the Messiah) Minor Text Genesis 38: The Story of Tamar Joshua 1-6: The Story of Rahab The Story of Ruth Numbers 9: All shall keep the Passover, one Passover for resident and native 2 Samuel 11-12: The Story of Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah) and King David Psalm 47 Psalm 51 Psalm 67 Psalm 100 Psalm 117 Isaiah 54, 55, 56 (a covenant for all people) Zephaniah 3:8-13 (the Gathering of all ...

1268. What Kind of Sheep Are You?

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20, Ezekiel 34:1-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... , the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for ...

1269. Little Ones

Luke 18:15-17, Matthew 19:13-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... those might as well have a millstone tied to their neck and be thrown into the depths of the sea. Those who would harm a child, mislead a child, trip up a child, ruin a child’s faith in life and in God, take away the innocence of a child, keep a child from Jesus, are better off dead, says Jesus. Wow! That’s a powerful statement. And one we need to hear! Children are our greatest asset. They not only insure our future. They insure our way into the kingdom of heaven. Because they know the way! If you don ...

1270. Slow Burn

Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... out of the bowl up front a handful of salt. Hold it tightly in your hands and receive the blessing of God’s power and protection. Keep it with you as you go out into the world today to remind you that YOU are the light that lets everyone around you know ... Waters of Jericho with Salt (2 Kings 2:19-22) In David’s Song, the Lord Appears as a Fiery Furnace (2 Samuel 22) Psalm 16: I Keep My Eyes Only on the Lord Psalm 25: My Eyes Are Ever on the Lord Psalm 49: Those with Wealth Do Not Endure Psalm 73: The ...

1271. Are You a Lemming or a Lassie?

Luke 12:13-21, Luke 12:22-34, Luke 12:35-48, Luke 12:49-53, Luke 12:54-59

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... moves and breathes, to guide them back onto the right roads that lead to God, blessings, and peace. You have been chosen. You have been taught. Of you much will be expected. Of you much will be asked. Come now to the altar. Receive a scrap of material. You can keep it somewhere safe. You can tie it around your neck. You can do with it whatever you wish. But this scarf is to remind you that when you leave this place, you are on a mission for Jesus in the world, to gather, to proclaim, to serve, to save. Of ...

1272. Liminal Space

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... , and you never fall down. It doesn’t mean when you doubt that you are discarding God, or God’s journey for you and your life. Having faith is a journey with rocks, and stones, and potholes, and mountains, and especially swamps. But a journey in which you keep on going, because that journey is changing you, and you know that the God of surprises is doing something awesome in your life and in the lives of others. You may not know how or what it’s all about. You may not know what surprises God has ...

1273. Oh That Cookie Jar Goodness!

Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept ...

1274. Joey and Nicky at Skull Mountain

Mark 15:42-47

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... in the process. Jesus was going down. No doubt about it. Time to save his own skin. Look out for himself! Surely they’d only arrest Jesus. Keep him quiet for a while. Maybe then he’d see reason. Maybe then Jesus would calm down. Be sensible. Do what had to be done. Not this ... who surreptitiously hung out in the High Priest Ananus’ courtyard trying to listen in. He followed from a distance, careful to keep out of view. But when he saw Jesus had been set for crucifixion, in horror, he ran to tell the ...

1275. The Catch

John 21:1-14, John 21:15-25, Acts 10:1-8, Acts 10:9-23a, Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... will do. But I’m guessing that not many of us are commercial fishermen and women today! So, I ask you today, what is YOUR metaphor? What source metaphor has God spoken into your life to steer you back on course? To remind you what’s truly important? To keep you on Jesus’ mission? For those who are married, your metaphor may be a ring –that never-ending circle that binds you both together and at the same time binds you to God. For those of you who wear a cross, perhaps when you touch it, it reminds ...

Showing results