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 1651 to 1675 of 4972 results

1651. Be Reconciled — To Christ and Others

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... ashamed of myself." Tears began to roll down the cheeks of the drunk; a spasm of despair rippled through his body. As I stood there in my well-groomed innocence, with my make-this-world-safe-for-democracy attitude, I felt dirtier than the drunk. The train arrived at my stop and as the doors opened I heard the old man say, "My my, that is a difficult set of circumstances. Sit down here and tell me all about it." I turned my head for one last look. The drunk was sprawled on the seat with his head in the old ...

1652. All Is New in Christ

John 11:4-6, Philippians 3:4-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... short and, looking to the right of the rock formation, he spied a lion. Instinct kicked in and Androclus ran, praying all the while that the animal had eaten recently. Hearing no sound of pursuit, he slowed down and the stopped. Looking back, he saw the lion had not pursued him. Its only movement was to roll its head looking at him with a rather mournful countenance. Slowly Androclus retraced his steps. The lion was in pain. He spoke softly to the lion, stroking his mane and back, and looking for ...

1653. Jesus Brings Hope

Revelation 1:4-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... sky the mass began. A small plane happened to fly close to the building. The pilot observed the scene, and remembering from his history lessons, realized what was happening. He radioed the IGW headquarters; the master was informed. "The mass must be stopped; it must be stopped," he cried. Planes were sent, bombs were dropped, gunfire was applied, but the mass continued. Then the words were spoken, "This is my body, given for you." With that, a crack of thunder was heard and a streak of lightning flashed ...

1654. The Prodigal Father

Romans 8:14-17

Sermon

John Jamison

... . Oh, but there is just one other little piece of the definition Paul knew. That comes at the end of our story. As the noise and protest of the crowd grew, the dad and son began to move forward, planning to go back home and rebuild their lives. Nothing could stop them now. Except for that other brother; the older son. You remember him. He was the one holding the whip. He also knew the law, and the noise of the crowd was much louder in his ears than the beating of his heart for father and brother was in his ...

1655. The Dream

Galatians 1:1-10

Sermon

John Jamison

... his shoes again. The pastor felt something stirring inside. If it had been a movie, the orchestra would have started playing something really soft and slow, but with definite suspense. Fred continued. "My son was riding home from work last night on his motorcycle. He had stopped by to visit at his sister's house and was taking a different way home than usual. He was coming up Route 17, you know, about where the grocery store is? Well, according to the police report, there was a car coming the other way on ...

1656. Claiming Our New Life in Christ

Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19)

Sermon

Clayton A. Lord

... . I think the reason that so many people in Paul's day, and in our own, get confused about the Christian life is that they have stopped studying God's Word. If you do not know what the Bible says about God then you can be easily misled. We need to be in ... they have to say? It is natural to want to be with the one you love and know all about them. So it is with Christ. When you stop wanting to know all there is to know, you better watch out. It is a sign that the embers of love are beginning to burn out. Paul ...

1657. Don’t Hope…Decide

Mk 10:1-12

Illustration

King Duncan

... , married twelve of those," the man replied, as he gazed into his wife's face. "Well then, how long have you been away?" The man turned around and said, "Two whole days!" Hargrove was stunned. "I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!" The man stopped smiling and said, "Don't hope, friend . . . decide!" And that's it, isn't it? For most of us it comes down to a decision. "Till death us do part." It doesn't happen in every relationship, but that is still the ideal that Jesus gives us.

1658. Looking for an EZ Pass

Mark 10:35-45

Illustration

David Beckett

... zooms on through. It automatically deducts your appropriate toll tax. This computerized collection system then sends a monthly statement to your home with tallies of times and places for your records. EZ-Pass is like a debit card for your car, only quicker. No more stopping at the tollgate, the narrow gate. Jesus says, I am the narrow gate. There's no quick way in. There's no shortcut. If he wasn't the Christ himself already, he'd be the perfect patron saint of tollgates. Sometimes it seems that everybody ...

1659. Shoots of Tomorrow

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... to climb, and he loved to eat its delicious apples. The boy enjoyed swinging from the tree's branches, and discovered a shady resting place beneath those same branches on hot summer days. As the boy became a teenager, he visited the tree less frequently. He did stop by once to carve his initials, and those of his girlfriend, on the apple tree's trunk, framing them with a heart. As the boy matured and his interests changed, he found that he needed some spending money. So, he picked the tree's luscious apples ...

1660. Who?

Acts 5:27-32

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... it is said that "when he died the glory of the Torah ended." However, for most Christians his fame rests only upon his oft-quoted remark in the book of Acts. At the time, the apostles were warned by religious authorities that they were to stop teaching about Jesus, or face dire consequences. Perhaps this command came because the authorities feared that the disciples of Jesus would draw the ire of the Roman authorities who would interpret their plan to turn the world upside down as open rebellion against the ...

1661. What Are You Looking At?

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... who leave under difficult circumstances, and at which time we're not always sure what to say or do. We never really replace those who leave us, whether for good reason or bad. But we are expected to continue. Losing a key member is not an excuse to stop discipling. It is an invitation for us all to try even harder. After the ascension, Jesus is no longer accessible in the same way as during his earthly ministry, but Luke tells us Jesus is very present. This ascension into heaven shapes the way we look at ...

1662. Tales of the Spiritually Stupid

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 18-22

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... of a few "stupid church behaviors" ourselves — like when we invest our life's time and energy in the things of earth rather than the people of God, or when we care more about the church building than the ministry that happens there, or when we stop focusing on our relationship with Jesus only to be sidetracked by our doubts or fears or personal agendas. "My people are foolish," we could well hear God say about us today. "They have no understanding." How sad it is — the pain and the heartache caused by ...

1663. Miracles? No Problem!

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... in heaven. (to the little ones) Nice and loud, just like we rehearsed it. All Angels: Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth, good will toward men. (Mary mimes applause that Gabriel acknowledges with a slight bow. 3rd Angel also goes to take a bow, but stops when Gabriel gives a stern look. Angels exit stage right.) Shepherd 2: A Savior? In Bethlehem, of all places. Let’s go. Shepherd 3: But, we want to go, too. And, someone has to watch the sheep. 2nd Angel: I’ll do it. Shepherd 3: Well, I guess ...

1664. If We Do It, It Will Work

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... How do we get them to Bethlehem? (Messenger walks across the front of the stage with a large decree [paper]. Stops center stage.) Messenger: The great Caesar Augustus declares that all people must return to their hometown to be counted and ... someone like that, how are we going to prove that the Son of God has come? Michael: How will we get them to follow you and to stop the bad stuff they’re doing? God: I have my reasons. Let’s just say, this message has to come from the ground up. (Shepherds enter from ...

1665. The Power of Purpose

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , happy to be at work; but little by little they discovered that the roads they were building went nowhere. There was no real destination. They ran out into the dreary bogs and stopped. As the truth gradually dawned on them, that they had been put to work by the government simply as an excuse for feeding them, the men grew listless and stopped singing. And the author made this perceptive comment, the roads to nowhere are difficult to build. For a man to work well and sing, there must be an end in view. We ...

1666. Braveheart

John 20:24-29

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... ." I think that describes Thomas. It was his love for Jesus that filled him with courage. When Jesus started back to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead, the other disciples warned Jesus that the Jews there would just try to kill him again. Thomas jumped in and stopped the objection by saying, "Then let's go die with him." Those aren't the words of one who doubted Jesus or was filled with fear. Those words took courage, courage born of love and commitment. B. After the U.S.S. Pueblo was captured in 1968 by ...

1667. Living In The Spirit Of Gentleness and Self Control

Galatians 5:22-25, Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... story of being bold. The one I think shows bold faith the most is about 18 year old surfer Bethany Hamilton. In October or 2003, when she was 13 she was attacked by a 14 foot tiger shark. She survived but lost her left are. But it didn't stop her from surfing or from sharing her faith every chance she got. Watch this. [CLIP] Follow Bethany's example. Be Bold. V. Believe A. That brought us to Friday and Believe. Who are we called to Believe and Believe in? Jesus, of course. We are called to simply Believe ...

1668. Is There Room For A Prophet?

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... a new red barrette. Though she was tired, Grandma knew it was important for Susie to take the barrette back to the store, tell manager what she'd done, apologize and then put the item back where she had found it. So, they did just that. Later, they stopped for a few quick groceries and at the checkout, the clerk asked, "Have you kids been good so Santa will come?" Big brother Jason said, "I've been very good, but my sister just robbed a store."(1) Obviously, at four, little Susie didn't fully understand the ...

1669. Joshua People Obey and Serve

Joshua 1:6-8, 24:14-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... involved in this event, were diligent in their obedience to following the proper procedures and drills. My contention is that because that, when it came to a time of testing, they were ready to serve and give everything through that service. They didn't have to stop and think about what was right or wrong, they knew and they did almost instinctually. And that only comes from Faith, Trust and Obedience. Conclusion A. As I look at the life of this church and especially as I look to the future of this church ...

1670. Joshua People: Turning Worlds Upside Down

Joshua 10:12-15, Acts 17:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the Lord; and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon." [13] And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. [14] There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded a human voice; for the Lord fought for Israel. [15] Then ...

1671. LOST? Finding Forgiveness

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... answered, "waa waa waa." To which John replied, "I'm sorry, I can't understand what you're saying." Again the boy said, "waa waa waa." And again John said, "I can't understand you when you're crying. If you don't stop crying, I'm just going to leave." His grandson managed to stop crying long enough to say, "I only got one chance." To which John replied, "I'm sorry, there are no do-overs in Grandpa's house." I just fell out laughing. For some reason, that just tickled my funny bone. Maybe it's because ...

1672. LOST? Pursuing Purpose

1 Peter 2:9-10

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... on, John?" Locke says, "Nothing." Boone says, "You can barely walk, man." Locke replies, "It's the wound from the shrapnel." Still not convinced, Boone says, "That's your right leg, John. Now, what's wrong with your left?" Locke gets annoyed and says: "I'm fine, now stop asking me." And then he falls down. Boone says, "That's it. Let's go back." Locke, still as stubborn as ever says, "I'm fine." "No, you're not," Boone says. "Let me get you back to Jack." (The Doctor) Locke says, "Jack wouldn't know the ...

1673. Saturday: The Week Of The Cross: Lazarus, Come Forth

John 11:1-7, 17-44

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... . And no matter what happens in the coming week, no matter what atrocity is visited upon His Son, God let it be known with a loud shout, loud enough to wake the dead, that God IS in Charge even over sin and death. Nothing and no one will stop God's Will and God's Redemption. The only thing more powerful and provocative would have been Jesus' own death and Resurrection. Of course, they didn't know it yet, but that was just around the corner. You can almost hear Jesus thinking, "You think that was something ...

1674. Nehemiah: The Fix

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... by some enemies who had overthrown Jerusalem and now anybody and everybody could just walk in and do what they wanted with nobody to stop them. It would sort of be like leaving all the doors and windows of your house open and having a big sign in your front ... he was having and how he didn't know how to do this and didn't think he was going to get it done and never stopped to listen, he never would have heard the solution would he? And in order to be filled up with God's never ending love, Nehemiah had ...

1675. A Chance To Be Made Whole

Matthew 9:18-26

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... all the universe that God doesn't have time to care for our petty little lives. Instead, we see Jesus on his way to raise a little girl from the dead. He was in a hurry. The father was frantic, driven and in a hurry. Yet, Jesus paused. He stopped and turned around, when this woman touched him. He had a conversation with her and He healed her. The father probably got impatient, his blood pressure probably went through the roof. But, you know, he was between a rock and a hard place because he really couldn't ...

Showing results