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 1476 to 1500 of 2332 results

1476. An 800 Year Grudge

Matthew 18:21-35

Illustration

King Duncan

Many years ago, Colonel Jeff O'Leary served as part of the UN peacekeeping forces in the Sinai Peninsula region. While there, he encountered a number of Bedouin people, a nomadic people who travel this desert region. One afternoon, Colonel O'Leary had tea with a group of Bedouin men. Colonel O'Leary couldn't help but notice that his host kept staring at a man who was tending his camels. The host pointed out the man and hissed at Colonel O'Leary, "Do you see ...

1477. Proclaiming Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... in the faith and being fruitful in spreading the light to others. The temptation is not to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love but to tell our story in an effort to secure status. Recall our Lord's temptations in the desert. Pastors - in particular - are vulnerable. A human personality, rich in goodness, has a natural attraction. It is a little like the layperson who talks about wanting to go and hear so and so preach. That sounds so innocent and complimentary, until we note the preacher ...

1478. Birthpangs of the New Age

Romans 8:22-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... in the faith and being fruitful in spreading the light to others. The temptation is not to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love but to tell our story in an effort to secure status. Recall our Lord's temptations in the desert. Pastors — in particular — are vulnerable. A human personality, rich in goodness, has a natural attraction. It is a little like the layperson who talks about wanting to go and hear so and so preach. That sounds so innocent and complimentary, until we note the preacher ...

1479. Let God Do the Rest

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... happy that he had his bread and fish. He wanted to share with an old man to his side and a woman who was carrying her baby. What about all the others, he thought? There were so many of them and surely they did not anticipate being in such a deserted place where there was no place to buy food. It was a long way to the closest village. The boy felt badly, but he was only a youth; what could he do? Then one of the man's disciples came to him saying that the man had asked for the ...

1480. God’s Wisdom or the World?

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... all things are possible" (Matthew 19:23b-24, 26b). Clearly Jesus is telling his disciples that they must choose God and not the world. Lastly, Jesus himself was given the challenge of choosing the world or God. After his baptism, he chose to go to the desert to prepare himself for his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-15; Luke 4:1-13). There Satan tempted him with the three great challenges that have always faced humanity: power, wealth, and prestige. In each case Jesus rejected the world, saying ...

1481. The Unshakable Foundation

Hebrews 7:23-28

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... our lives and dreams on the shifting sands of what we can possess, or what we can make of ourselves. John's story is not unique, nor is it new. Trade the hurricane winds of North Carolina for the sand storms of the Middle Eastern desert and you might well be telling the story of the ancient Hebrews. Exchange the mortgage payment for empirical taxes and we might easily be speaking of the early Christian converts. Whether the plague be the devouring locust consuming the year's grain harvest, or a catastrophic ...

1482. Where Is Love?

Hebrews 9:1-28

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... and symbolically in the tabernacle (and later the Jerusalem temple). Although the exact details and specifications have been lost in antiquity, enough remains in the Old Testament for a good artistic rendering. In the days when Moses and the Hebrews traveled the desert the tabernacle served as a kind of divine "mobile home" in which the holy and transcendent God could travel with the chosen people, a "visual parable" to use Eugene Peterson's phrase, showing that "people just can't walk in on God ...

1483. Our Ultimate Destination

Revelation 21:1-6a

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... for those going westward. From the time God blessed humanity to "go forth, be fruitful, and multiply" men and women have sought out new territory in which to live out our human hopes and dreams. We have climbed mountains, crossed rivers, traversed deserts, sailed oceans, and trekked through the heavens. We have fought weather, wild animals, and hostile enemies, and we have buried comrades along the path. Many have turned back to safer havens and countless others preferred to never venture forth at all. Not ...

1484. Sacred Pleasures

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... time. Good-time Jesus comes “eating and drinking.” Good-time Jesus has a favorite hang out: the beach. Whenever he could, good-time Jesus made for the seaside — to preach, to teach, to heal, to picnic and eat with friends. Jesus only made for the desert, for the hard-bitten wilderness, when he was driven there by demons, or by the harangue of crowds. When Jesus was relaxing with the disciples, enjoying fellowship with friends, he was usually by the water. There can be no doubt that the waterfront gave ...

1485. Forgiveness Written in Stone

Matthew 18:21-35

Illustration

Brett Blair & Stephen Felker

A story is told of two friends who were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand, "Today my best friends slapped me in the face." They kept on walking until they ...

1486. Advent 2, Epiphany 4

Isaiah 40:1-31, Luke 1:26-38

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth ...

1487. Every One of God’s Promises Is A “Yes”

Isaiah 43:18-19, 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19) Collect In your sign, Lord, we shall conquer as you establish your peace. Your sign is the cross. We are as ready with Jesus to turn the world upside down, loving our enemies, doing well to our enemies, doing good for those who hate us, blessing ...

1488. Saving Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

George Bernanos, in a book titled Diary of a Country Priest, describes the ministry of a humble and unsuccessful country pastor. Most of the time the pastor is inept. The bored villagers he serves ignore him, his church all but deserts him. There is one wealthy parishioner who is particularly harsh on the poor minister. In part this is because of her personal bitterness toward God. However, as this woman draws near death, the priest somehow manages to break through the barriers and helps this woman to ...

1489. If the House Is Messy, Clean It Up

Illustration

Daniel B. Clendenin

... Norris writes, "'My messy house' says it all; with more honesty than most adults could have mustered, the boy made a metaphor for himself that admitted the depth of his rage and also gave him a way out. If that boy had been a novice in a fourth century monastic desert, his elders might have told him that he was well on the way toward repentance, not such a monster after all, but only human. If the house is messy, they might have said, why not clean it up, why not make it into a place where God might wish to ...

1490. Blue Christmas

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... God,” writes Isaiah. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be ...

1491. This Little Light of Mine

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... . The Gospel of John uses the word “light” no fewer than twenty‑one times in referring to Christ. The function of John the Baptist was to point men to that light which was in Christ. John the Baptist was the voice of one calling in the desert, “Make straight the way for the Lord.” John was a very popular preacher, so popular that he, like Jesus, raised concern among the Pharisees. Who was he and by what authority did he preach and baptize? John assured the Pharisees that he was not the awaited ...

1492. Blazing a Path to Christ

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... way of the Lord. We are asked to do the same for our brothers and sisters. Saint Mark quotes Isaiah, the prophet, in speaking of the life and mission of John the Baptist: "I send my messenger before you to prepare your way: a herald's voice in the desert, crying, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, clear him a straight path.' " John was, as Isaiah had predicted, the man who blazed a path to the Lord for others to follow. The path was to be straight, with every valley filled in, every mountain made low, and ...

1493. A New Day Is Coming

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... over Israel's enemies, Isaiah spoke of a suffering servant who would bring peace and justice. In each case, when the darkness seemed pervasive, God provided the means to find the light. Thus, the scene was set for the appearance of John the Baptist in the desert. Like the great prophets of earlier generations, John was sent to bring God's light to a people in darkness. As Isaiah (9:2) predicted, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who have lived in a land of deep darkness ...

1494. Accepting the Lord Once Again

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... criminal. In custody he was questioned by the chief, or grand inquisitor, of the city, "Why have you come? We don't need you here!" The prisoner made no response. The inquisitor thus continued his harangue. He questioned the prisoner about his time in the desert, at the beginning of his ministry, when he was tempted with the great luxuries of power, wealth, and prestige. "You were a fool," said the inquisitor. "You should have accepted Satan's offer! Why are you so bent on self-destruction? Why did you ...

1495. Transformation to the Light

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... the light to others. Today's Gospel Reading presents Saint Mark's version of the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. As we know, Mark provides no infancy narrative, describing instead the ministry of John the Baptist, the Lord's baptism, and his temptation in the desert. We hear that after John's arrest Jesus appeared preaching the good news, but his message was certainly a challenge as well: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:15 ...

1496. Anywhere But Home

Mark 6:1-13

Sermon

George Reed

... for them to take at the moment, but we have decided this is the best course and we must stick to it. We take Jesus as our example. He didn't run away from home but rather stuck to his itinerary and went on about his ministry. He did not desert his family and friends though they certainly did not understand or approve of what he was doing. He knew who he was and he knew what he had to do and he went about doing it. We will find him back in Nazareth from time to time and we will ...

1497. Doing a New Thing

Isaiah 43:18-25

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... , God has come among us to fulfill the prophecy by offering us a new way of life rooted in love and forgiveness. In Christ Jesus, God comes to make a way in the wilderness, to help the lost and lonely find their way; to cause rivers to flow in the desert, to give succor to God’s children so that they might finally sing God's praise (Isaiah 43:19-21).God has sprung forth in newness right in front of us, offering us a chance to begin anew as we claim the forgiveness that is ours in what happened on ...

1498. Dusting Off Our Gratitude

Joel 2:21-27

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... 's good creation. Let us also honor the labors of those who till the soil, sow the seed, gather the harvest, cultivate vineyards, turn grapes into wine, and bake our bread. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Amen. 1. "The World of the Weevil," [Accessed August 1, 2004]. 2. Desert Locust Information Service at [Accessed August 1, 2004]. 3. Corrupted by influence of vintner, from Old English, Webster's 1913 Dictionary, [Accessed August 1, 2004].

1499. Keeper of the Springs

Proverbs 31:10-31

Sermon

Peter Marshall

... greater need for Keepers of the Springs, or when there were more polluted springs to be cleansed. If the home fails, the country is doomed. The breakdown of homelife and influence will mark the breakdown of the nation. If the Keepers of the Springs desert their posts or are unfaithful to their responsibilities, the future outlook of this country is black, indeed. This generation needs Keepers of the Springs who will be courageous enough to cleanse the springs that have been polluted. It is not an easy task ...

1500. Small Acts of Kindness

Matthew 25:14-30

Illustration

Robert W. Bohl

... a story about a little girl nicknamed Annie who in 1876 was ten years of age. Her actual name was Joanna Sullivan. She was put into a poor house for children...called the Tewkesbury Alms House in Massachusetts. Her mother had died and her father had deserted her. Her aunt and uncle found her too difficult to handle. She had a bad disposition, a violent temper...stemming in part from eyes that were partially blind due to the disease Trachoma, which left her without reading or writing skills. She had been put ...

Showing results

Showing 1476 to 1500 of 2332 results

1476. An 800 Year Grudge

Matthew 18:21-35

Illustration

King Duncan

1477. Proclaiming Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

1478. Birthpangs of the New Age

Romans 8:22-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... in the faith and being fruitful in spreading the light to others. The temptation is not to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love but to tell our story in an effort to secure status. Recall our Lord's temptations in the desert. Pastors — in particular — are vulnerable. A human personality, rich in goodness, has a natural attraction. It is a little like the layperson who talks about wanting to go and hear so and so preach. That sounds so innocent and complimentary, until we note the preacher ...

1479. Let God Do the Rest

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

1480. God’s Wisdom or the World?

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Sermon

Richard Gribble

1481. The Unshakable Foundation

Hebrews 7:23-28

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap