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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 1426 to 1450 of 2332 results

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1426. Through the Wilderness

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... :4-6; 14:1-3; 20:1-13). And yet, God, in the face of all of our complaints, our forgetfulness of him, our lack of trust, supplies his faithless people with water to quench their thirst. And that water is not provided from an unnoticed spring or succulent desert plant, but from a rock, because God is Lord over nature’s ways too. He could send ten plagues upon the enslaving Egyptians and roll back the waters of the Reed Sea. So too, as the Lord of all nature and history, he can bring forth drink from stone ...

1427. Can These Bones Live?

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Sermon

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... her homeland, where she will be granted life and a future and a hope anew (cf. Jeremiah 29:10-11). Israel is not “clean cut off,” as she has believed (v. 11). She is not destined simply to wither away and die in a foreign land. God has not deserted her (cf. Isaiah 40:27). Rather, he treasures her as the “apple of his eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10) and loves her and will restore her to a good life. And so there are found in Ezekiel’s prophecies, after God’s judgments, the promises of a loving God for ...

1428. The Lonesome George Church

Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:12-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... mislabeled Petri dish or a contaminated specimen. A unique, astounding discovery can transform our lives. The discovery of a distant relative suddenly transforms an orphaned child into a cherished family member. The discovery of a new source of fresh water turns a desert into fertile farmland. The discovery of a vaccine for polio gave back peace of mind to parents and carefree summers for children, and a future of health for generations. It was just this kind of life-transforming discovery that is described ...

1429. Christmas 2

Psalm 147:1-20, Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Ephesians 1:1-14, John 1:1-18

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... follow God through a new exodus are the weak, and four groups are specifically listed for us: the blind, the lame, pregnant women, and even women in labor. These are the persons that we would probably eliminate as candidates for a risky trip through the desert. Not so in God's new salvation. And furthermore, the prophet tells us that they will make the journey without stumbling. The reason for their miraculous safety is that this remnant is the "first- born" of God's new family. The prophet's incorporation ...

Mt 4:1-11, Rom 5:12-21

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... between Jesus and Israel's past. We recall Moses' experience at Sinai when we read that Jesus fasted "forty days and forty nights"—the time of Moses' stay, without food or drink, on Sinai (Exod. 34:28). Moreover, the Son of God Jesus relives the desert experiences of Israel, but he does not give in to temptation, so that he actually fulfills or redeems Israel's history. The temptations are the testing of the truth and meaning of Jesus' Sonship. The devil challenges, "If you are the Son of God," thus ...

Jn 4:5-42 · Rom 5:1-11 · Ex 17:1-7 · Ps 95

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... really become an enslavement to God, for just as they could not live without Egyptian favor in Egypt, so now they cannot live without divine favor in the wilderness. Their new enslavement becomes all too clear when the water runs out in the midst of the desert. The crisis simply underscores how this first wilderness generation is a people in training. Exodus 17:1-7 raises the question of how the people of God conform to the risks of their new enslavement. They test God with the question: Is God in our midst ...

1432. Proper 19

Exodus 13:17--14:31, Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 14:1--15:13, Exodus 15:1-21

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... allow us to dissect the Paschal mystery into two parts for closer examination. The crossing of the Red Sea is the story of the creation of a nation, and for the next few weeks in the liturgy we will be tracing the history of that nation's formation in the desert. They were not created a perfect people. In baptism we are also a new creation, but we are not a perfect people and are always in the process of growing into our baptisms as we learn what it means to put on Christ. Both the epistle and the Gospel ...

1433. Proper 21

Exodus 17:1-7, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 21:28-32, Philippians 2:1-11, Psalm 78:1-72

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... become an enslavement to God, for just as they could not live without Egyptian favor in Egypt, so now they cannot live without divine favor in the wilderness. Their new enslavement becomes all too clear when the water runs out in the midst of the desert. The crisis simply underscores how this first wilderness generation is a people in training, and Exodus 17:1-7 raises the question of how the people of God will conform to the risks of their new enslavement. In this story Israel tests God with the question ...

1434. Dry Bones And Live Hope

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Bulletin Aid

Charles Curley

... increase. We have grown weary in the struggle for justice and peace, and our future seems to us dry as dust. Come, Lord, and summon from within us deep wellsprings of thanks and praise. May your life-giving spirit wash over us like streams in the desert, granting us forgiveness and calling us to live with you. In the name of Jesus Christ, who raises us with Lazarus, from death to life. Amen. Assurance Of Forgiveness "I have done it, says the Lord." Your sins are forgiven, live in Christ. Amen. (Based on ...

1435. No Grave Deep Enough

John 20:1-23

Illustration

James W. Moore

Several years ago, The Saturday Evening Post ran a cartoon showing a man about to be rescued after he had spent a long time ship-wrecked on a tiny deserted island. The sailor in charge of the rescue team stepped onto the beach and handed the man a stack of newspapers. "Compliments of the Captain," the sailor said. "He would like you to glance at the headlines to see if you'd still like to be rescued!" Sometimes the headlines ...

1436. The Lost and Found Elder Brother

Luke 15:25-32

Sermon

James W. Moore

... smarter than most of the adults I know.” Mikki in her child-like way had simply, but profoundly, put her finger on the good news of our faith. God is love. God is our Friend. God cares about each one of us. God is on our side. God will never desert us. We may run away from Him or turn away from Him, but God will always be there for us… because… (as Mikki put it so well)… God is love! That is what the first part of the Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us… that God is always - Anxious ...

1437. Rise Above It

John 21:15-19

Sermon

James W. Moore

... , don’t we! The problems of the world weigh heavily upon us and tempt us to give up. Some years ago, The Saturday Evening Post (9/87) once ran a cartoon showing a man about to be rescued after he had spent a long time ship-wrecked on a tiny deserted island in the South Pacific. The sailor in charge of the rescue team stepped onto the beach and handed the man a stack of newspapers. “Compliments of the captain,” he said. “He would like you to glance at the headlines to see if you’d still like to be ...

1438. That's What Jesus Does for Me

Psalm 139:7-12

Sermon

James W. Moore

... Remember back then that they thought the world was flat… and if you got to that totally remote place in the sea you would drop off the face of the earth. We all know about the “dropping off place,” don’t we? When we feel rejected or deserted or ridiculed, when our hearts are broken and our hopes are dashed, that’s when we know first-hand the pain of “the dropping off place.” Do you remember Father Lawrence Jenco? Father Jenco was the priest who spent many long horrible months (18 months) as a ...

1439. There's an Elephant in the Room and Her Name Is Katrina

Exodus 14:10-15

Sermon

James W. Moore

... People are still trying to do that aren’t they? People are still trying to run away from their problems, and hide behind their “escapism crutches.” But, you can’t really hide from trouble. The Israelites certainly couldn’t hide thousands of people in the desert that day. During the War Between the States… at the Battle of Shiloh… a Union soldier from Ohio was wounded, shot in the arm. His captain saw that he was injured and barked out an order: “Gimmie your gun, Private, and get to the rear ...

1440. Christmas Gifts That Always Fit

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

James W. Moore

... years ago, a small town called Hope, Alaska was destroyed by a flood. No lives were lost, but there was tremendous property damage. One of the bishops of the church went there to see how he might help. When he arrived, he found the devastated town completely deserted. However, someone had placed a small sign in the center of what had once been the main street of the little town. The sign said: “The Community of Hope Has Moved to Higher Ground.” This is what the miracle of Christmas does for us. It moves ...

1441. Christ Never Gives Up

Luke 24:13-35

Illustration

King Duncan

There is a story of a British soldier in the First World War who lost heart for the battle and deserted. Trying to reach the coast for a boat to England that night, he ended up wandering in the pitch black night, hopelessly lost. In the darkness, he came across what he thought was a signpost. It was so dark that he began to climb the post so that he could ...

1442. How to Live a Sizzle-When-It-Drizzles Life

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... herd surrounded the calf — horns out. Ultimately the lion and its pride-mates were driven off. And, against all possible odds, against the jaws of alligators and lions, the little calf survived. That is some umbrella: the community of faith who will never desert, never give up, never give you away. Second, you need some boots. When it drizzles, wear your rubber boots. You need something to keep you from slipping, sliding, and sloshing. The John 10:10 life has abundant resources for any rainy season. There ...

1443. What More Can He Give?

Colossians 1:15-23

Sermon

James McCormick

... And, have you ever thought about the exclamation point God places after the crucifixion? If Jesus’ death were not enough to show us His love, God goes one better and sends Jesus back after the resurrection! God sent His Son back to the very ones who had denied Him, deserted Him, crucified Him. Talk about love going the second mile! Think about that and see if you can wrap your mind and heart around such love. I couldn’t have done it. If I had sent my son to some people to tell them how much I care…and ...

1444. Life in the Living Stone Age

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... found for you while she was building a sand castle ¼ as priceless as any diamond. The Bible, having arisen out of the rocky Middle-East, is chock full of stone-stories. The one I always pick up and look at this time of year finds Jesus in the desert, hungry enough to eat a camel, when Satan approaches him: “Why not just turn this stone into a nice loaf of California sourdough?” The safe way to interpret this story is to say that it is strictly about Jesus fighting off the urge to use his divine power ...

1445. Ten Days of Prayer

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... Brown Taylor sought a purpose for her life at a young age. She was a seminary student at Yale. She was by her own admission lonely, afraid, and desperate for some answers. Next door to the divinity school, on the highest hill in town, stood an old deserted Victorian mansion. The sagging porch was overcome with weeds, the slate shingles were crumbling off the roof, and all the doors and windows were boarded up. A metal fire escape ran up one side for a full three stories and ended in a little metal platform ...

2 Timothy 1:5

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

Washington Irving

1447. The Messiah Is Among You

Matthew 10: 24-39

Illustration

William White

There was a famous monastery which had fallen on very hard times. Formerly its many buildings were filled with young monks, and its huge chapel resounded with the singing of the choir. But now it was deserted. People no longer came there to be nourished by prayer. A handful of old monks shuffled through the cloisters and praised God with heavy hearts. On the edge of the monastery woods, an old rabbi had built a tiny hut. He would come there from time to time to fast ...

1448. A New Social Order

Matt 10:24-39

Illustration

Jay M. Terbush

... fourth century, the churches in Rome were feeding an estimated 20,000 poor people each week. The church at that time presented to the world a visible alternative to the prevailing social order. As Georges Florovsky has written in "Empire and Desert: Antinomies of Christian History": Christianity entered human history as a new social order or, rather, a new social dimension. From the very beginning, Christianity was not primarily a "doctrine," but exactly a "community." There was not only a "message" to be ...

1449. Never Underestimate the Power of a Cold Cup of Water - Sermon Starter

Matt 10:40-42

Illustration

Brett Blair

... against a pillar at Heropolis. Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows. Simon died on a cross in Persia (what we now call Iran.) Matthew was first stoned and then beheaded. What sacrifices! And I ask you why? Why did they choose to die this way? Why desert your father and mother, your wife and child, and your home? Why put up with the constant humiliation, and hunger, and persecution, and defeat town after town after town? I'll tell you why, because, in the words of Apostle Paul, they were held captive by ...

1450. A Not So Simple Story of Demons and Pigs

Luke 8:26-39

Sermon

... to Jesus. They concede his dominion. Instead, they bargain for the best deal they can get. "Do not ship us out of the country," they say. For, according to ancient legends, a demon without a body to inhabit must wander the earth, seeking a dwelling place in desert regions, watery bogs or tombs. Spotting the pigs, they say: "Send us into the swine" (which number about 2,000, according to Mark). So Jesus complies and following which the pigs rush down the steep bank and are drowned in the sea. It is here that ...

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