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 1451 to 1475 of 3926 results

1451. Love Without Demand

Ruth 1:1-22

Sermon

Sims Robert

... have and thank God for each occasion when you sense that you have truly given without expectation of return. Once you learn to give material things in an anonymous way you can begin to minister to people’s spiritual needs. You can practice encouraging, supporting, listening, caring, accepting and praying for them and believing in them even when they do not believe in themselves. Even spiritual giving can be done anonymously but soon you will learn to do it face-to-face. Every time you give you grow. Every ...

1452. Life Isn’t Fair

Amos 5:18-27

Sermon

Sims Robert

... he not give them the Ten Commandments as an expression of his covenant? Did he not send his prophet Amos to call the people to repentance? The signs of his presence were everywhere. The same signs are here today. They are here when we pray for each other, when we support and encourage each other, when we reach out a hand to the lonely or offer food to the hungry. The signs of God’s presence are with us telling us we do not journey alone. God is fair, more than fair. God goes beyond what is fair to what is ...

1453. When God Has Enough

Zephaniah 1:4-13, Zephaniah 1:14--2:3

Sermon

Sims Robert

... to kill them all. Miraculously, all but an eight-year-old boy survived. The broken nature of our world is profoundly clear. Zephaniah is telling us in the text for today that God will not make peace with a broken world. He will not make peace with evil. Jesus supported the words of Zephaniah by saying, “I came not to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34).” The sword of which he speaks is the sword of the Spirit. What is the sword of the Spirit? It is the Word of God which conveys his grace, power and ...

1454. Crown Him Lord!

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... as a surprise, if not as an outright shock. God's anointed king is dying like a common criminal. To a casual observer on that early Friday afternoon, things were not going all that well for the "king." Though there had been moments of huge crowd support, times when a voice spoke from heaven, and hopes that the kingdom of God was dawning with power at any moment, today's lesson hardly gives that impression. It seems as if some committee chose the lesson because the word "king" is used frequently. How can ...

1455. A Lesson From Prayers Overheard

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" This man is telling the truth, too. He is a sinner! And what's more, he makes no offer either of repentance or of reparation. He cannot offer to repent, for he would have no way to earn a living or support his family. Being the highest bidder, he can hardly drop his rates and still make a profit. If he repents, he must also make reparation of the amount wrongly charged, plus a penalty of one-fifth -- 20 percent! Unlike Zacchaeus, who in his repentance goes beyond the law ...

1456. Captive To The Word Of God

John 8:31-41

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... in Christ's Word" and to be his disciple? Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word; Curb those who by deceit or sword Would wrest the kingdom from your Son And bring to naught all he has done. O Comforter of priceless worth, Send peace and unity on earth; Support us in our final strife, And bring us out of death to life.4 1. Daniel Oliver, The Trial of Luther, Translated by Jon Tonkin, (Saint Louis, Concordia Publishing House, 1971), PP. 1-4. 2. Eric W. Gritsch, Martin - God's Court Jester: Luther in Retrospect ...

1457. Our Living Hope

Luke 20:27-40

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... - given Moses' instruction about Levirate marriage - appears to have no rational answers. For example consider the question: "At the resurrection, whose wife will she be?" For the seven [brothers] had her as wife." They rejected the doctrine because it is nowhere supported in the Pentateuch as they read it. Debating from its implications instead of its merits, they sought to reduce the hope of the resurrection to an absurdity. As the Pharisees had been unable to answer convincingly in the past, they were ...

1458. A Plan For Difficult Times

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

... the temple of Zerubbabel. Despite his well-documented crimes and excesses, he was, nonetheless, a master builder whose skills cannot be denied. He determined that Jerusalem would be the most imposing of all of his work, and to win the loyalty and support of his Jewish subjects, he would rebuild the temple as the grandest of all of Jerusalem's buildings. Building upon and extending beyond the foundations of Solomon and Zerubbabel, he nearly doubled the area of the temple mount, enclosing within the retaining ...

1459. Chosen For Good News

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... on his team. It really is a great honor and nice to be chosen. The text for today assures us who serve in the church, and especially us who are searching for a life “joyfilled,” that God has chosen us. If you are hungry for a life of love and supportiveness from each other and one filled with joy, read on. God Chooses Us For Joy. God chooses us for joy. Even when the way is very tough and trying, working toward being a full Christian becomes a joy along the way. While we struggle and worry and work, we ...

1460. Checking The Vital Signs

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... . For the vital sign of response to be real in this congregation, Christianity is not just alive in our checkbooks like we said he would be on Easter morning! Our offerings are more like buying a spray of flowers for the casket at the graveside rather than supporting a live and vital God in our midst. A. J. Gossip said: “You will not stroll into Christ-likeness with your hands in your pockets, shoving open the door with a careless shoulder. This is not a hobby for one’s leisure moments, taken up at ...

1461. When Thomas Doubted

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... and service. I think I would be willing to have a congregation full of Thomases. Think what it would mean if we could get off dead center and commit ourselves fully to the alive Christ here: If we all tithed, we’d triple the income and could support missions and ministry all over the world. If we all witnessed to our faith, we’d grow by leaps and bounds. Hundreds would join at this altar every few weeks for baptisms and confirmations. If we all loved and forgave and served others like we should as ...

1462. Deaths, Our Teacher

Psalm 90:1-17

Eulogy

Allen Puffenberger

... of service in the church school and in the choir. One of the members of our women's society, just this morning, expressed the enduring quality of Eve's spirit. She said, "We'll never forget her. She was truly a pillar of the church, always doing her part and supporting us in ours. It is not a big thing, but I believe I will miss her most when we have our fellowship dinners. She kept us laughing the whole time we washed the dishes!" The psalmist prayed, "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and ...

1463. For a Mother Who Died in Traffic

John 14:1-4

Eulogy

William Luoma

... ; no one else can make that kind of a promise. He invites you and me to trust him completely. Today we thank God for K_ and her faith. We give thanks for all that she has meant to this family, to her husband and her children. She has been a support on the farm, doing chores, feeding the animals, mowing the yard, running errands. Those things don't get your name in Who's Who, but you who have lived with her know who she is and what she has done. Do not be worried and upset ... there are many rooms ...

1464. For One Who Worked With Disturbed Children

2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Eulogy

William Luoma

... very far ahead. The future is always unknown. No one could have foreseen the kind of summons that brought us here for a funeral service for Jackie today. By now, Bob, you know that you do not have to bear this grief alone. Your family and friends offer their support. All of us who find it difficult to know what to say, sincerely want you to know that we care. We care about Jackie, about you, and your son, Bryan. We share your sorrow and keenly feel your loss. I have not known Jackie for as long or nearly ...

1465. For One Who Came to Faith While Dying

John 14:1-4

Eulogy

Palmer L. Gedde

... will say more about that in a few moments. For now, let me assure you who remain that my prayers are with you in both your grief and joy. Let us pray: Loving Lord Jesus, be with all who are gathered here today. In your mercy, comfort. In your strength, support and uphold. By your Holy Spirit, lead us and teach us so that we might know your never-ending love for us in life and in death. Above all, grant us your peace. We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen God has a word for you today, dear friends. It is ...

1466. John Christian Frederick Heyer First American Lutheran Missi

Drama

Thomas A. Renquist

... Esquire, an ardent friend of mission and missionaries, as well as a very exemplary Christian gentleman.” Reader 1: For Heyer, his acceptance by Stokes was persuasive evidence of a divine call. As it turned out, Mr. Stokes was also a very generous financial supporter of the mission. In fact, without Mr. Stokes’ aid, the mission would very likely have failed. Mission work in India was slow and laborious. At the end of his first year, Heyer had baptized only three adults. The primary thrust of the mission ...

1467. Ludwig Nommensen Missionary To The Bataks

Drama

Thomas A. Renquist

... Batak there is a man who talks about his faith; where there are two there is a prayer meeting; where there are three you find a church -- and with four a choir. The little congregation of 20 Bataks in New York City supports this saying.” Bibliography Nellie DeWaard, Pioneer in Sumatra, London: China Inland Mission, 1962. Paul B. Pedersen, Batak Blood and Protestant Soul, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Win. Berdinans, 1970. Ph. Lumban Tobig, The Structure of the Toba-Batak Belief in the High God, Translated ...

1468. Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian

Drama

Thomas A. Renquist

... , having had his coffin made the previous year. The week before he died he was still strong enough to take a last tour of the orchard at Lambarene. A friend described it as follows: “His last walk was wonderful. Once more he passed through the orchard supported by his cane. He identified every tree he had planted, praised them for their sturdy growth and for their beauty. From the top of the hill he looked over the hospital and was very happy about it.” On his many fund-raising tours of Europe, Albert ...

1469. Our Time Will Come!

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Sermon

Donald Zelle

... to recant his vow. It was the people who kept Jonathan from death. It was when Saul sensed that he lost the confidence of the prophet of God who had anointed him, that he became more and more melancholy. It was when he learned that he lost the support of his people that he became paranoid. Other world leaders have had similar histories, such as Adolf Hitler, and, more recently, Moammar El Gadhafi. But it is not only world leaders who suffer from the desire and exercise of power. It is also the basic sin in ...

1470. Jerusalem: City for All Time

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Sermon

Donald Zelle

... a Moslem Quarter, a Jewish Quarter, a Christian Quarter, and an Armenian Quarter. Those same people, as well as scientists around the world, join archeologists each year in digging into the ruins, uncovering the past. The discoveries and the almost universal interest in the city support what has already been said: Jerusalem is a city for all time. You may not have been there. Maybe you have. You may wish you could go, but you don't need to have been there to appreciate the city. Extreme interest of a place ...

1471. Water Boy

Exodus 2:11-25

Sermon

Justin Tull

... for the overburdened -- do we have it? An eye for injustice -- can we see it? Compassion for the weaker ones -- is it alive within us? Or have we grown cold and indifferent -- satisfied with our own place of privilege? We can respond in many ways. We can support local food banks, housing projects. We can become involved in tutoring projects. And we can keep an eye out at all the train stations and all the watering holes to see that people in need are not forgotten. There are many people in our society who ...

1472. Stairways Of Heaven

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Justin Tull

... feelings, I gained a new sensitivity to the plight of others, a new fervor for prayer and a renewed compassion I hope I will never lose. The second blessing was a most pleasant reward. I received something in my struggle that Jacob was denied: the gift of loving support and encouragement in the midst of my struggle. Jacob was all alone when he met his nocturnal enemy; I had the thoughts and prayers of many. I had cards and phone calls to cheer me and urge my recovery. I am now convinced more than ever of ...

1473. Perfect Strangers

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon

Justin Tull

... me and my family to a foreign land! Being the stranger is no fun at all! Becoming the friend of a stranger is often a delight! As Christians we are called to be “perfect strangers,” people who welcome those who would stand alone without our support. And could it be that we are called to welcome even the stranger who lowers our economy or our standard of living -- even strangers who come in great numbers, even those who heighten our anxiety or fears? Today we live among many strangers. And if you ...

1474. Rag Doll #37

Drama

Edward Long

... was some fish from the creek and cornbread with coffee. That year was the first she could go to Sunday School at the little church and tell the other girls what she got for Christmas. She's in high school now. She's working at a restaurant to support her family, and wants to be a nurse. When she loses confidence she holds me yetand somehow she keeps on ... I'd like to think I help by listening ... But you with all your riches, you probably don't understand ... Be thankful: this night be thankful to God ...

1475. The Banquet

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Robert Salzgeber

... in every aspect of the church's ministry; she was thoroughly positive and encouraging. Mark smiled when Elizabeth demanded specifics. "I don't want generalities, pastor. I want all of the particulars," she crooned. "I want to know why our missionary is not being supported like he should be and what I can do to help," she continued forthrightly. Elizabeth spoke with honesty and candor about the limitations imposed on her by the stroke. She spoke of her life and death. "You know pastor, I feel so fortunate to ...

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