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 1676 to 1700 of 4957 results

1676. Monster Rehab

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... becoming a disciples only one requirement Jesus demanded: “Follow me.” Not lead. Follow. Not “go into all the world and make leaders” but “go into all the world and make disciples.” Not be ostentatious and in charge, but be humble and a servant. Not claim a title and take a tone, but accept the one teacher, one father, one Messiah, as the one and only authority. Jesus did not collect resumes or sift out from a list those who were the most gifted at handling people or dealing with administrative ...

1677. Wholesome Image

Humor Illustration

... on his weekly television broadcast. Pat Boone is best known for his wholesome, boyish image and his trademark white shoes. As he was introducing Boone, Schuller remarked that sometimes Boone wanted to rebel against the squeaky-clean image that he had developed. Schuller claimed that every once in a while Boone, using an alias, would check into a motel, close the drapes, get into the closet, and put on some black shoes. The next time Pat Boone sang for Schuller's congregation, he was prepared with a ...

1678. The Absurdity of the the Resurrection

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Thomas Long

... Had war broken out somewhere? Had the local bank failed over the weekend? Had a cure for cancer been discovered? As he drew close enough to focus on the headline, he was startled to read the words, "Tidwell Claims Jesus Christ Rose From The Dead." A red flush crept up Tidwell's neck. Yes, of course, he had claimed in yesterday's sermon that Christ rose from the dead, but golly, was that headline news? What would the neighbors think? I mean, you're supposed to say that on Easter, aren't you, that Christ rose ...

1679. Hebrews 1:1-4

Hebrews 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the active force in creation (Proverbs 8:22-31). In John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16 and here in Hebrews, it is the Son whose presence is that through which God’s creative force flows out and becomes the universe. The third quality the Son claims is that he is the “reflection of God’s glory.” “Reflection” (“apaugasma”) is another term used to describe God’s Wisdom (Wisdom 7:26) and describes a unique radiance shining from a source of light. As used here by the Hebrews’ author it is unclear ...

1680. No Time for a Sermon

Hebrews 1:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1681. Prophesy Your Way Forward

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... was truly revealed, at this infant moment it was recognized and realized in a gift fit for a high priest. Myrrh held the hint of “gathering gloom,” the sticky sadness of genuine suffering and death that would be necessary for this “king” to triumph and claim his kingdom. We don’t all have the “magical” insight of these “magi.” But in small but significant ways, all of us can and do “prophesy our way forward.” We pay this month’s electric bill because we know we need the lights to be ...

1682. Responsible Living

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... said the sergeant, “the barrack’s too chaotic with all the guys.” “You could go to the library,” Peck suggested. No, the library’s too far away was the response. Confronted with the fact that the library was no farther away than the bar the sergeant claimed he wasn’t really that much of a reader after all. The doctor suggested fishing, which the sergeant liked, but said he wasn’t available in the day and Okinawa didn’t have night fishing. Peck came back with an offer to put the sergeant in ...

1683. How Odd of God

Acts 3:11-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... and small properties in or about the building. And get this the key to the church is owned by a Muslim family. While there, this pastor saw a ladder resting on the church’s ledge. The story goes that in 1860, a member of one of the factions claiming rights to the church noticed a broken window pane. The members of this faction put a ladder up in order to fix the window, but before they could do so, another faction pointed out that the window belonged to them. So since the broken window pane belonged to ...

1684. Don’t Be Childish, Do Be Child-like

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... or teacher. “Abba, Father” described the unique intimacy grounded in Jesus’ own Sonship. For us to be able to utter that same address of “Abba, Father” is a clear sign that through the presence of the Holy Spirit we too have a unique claim to kinship with God. We are well and truly “adopted” children — “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (v.17). This is not some “childish” relationship, but a “child-like” attachment and devotion to God. The “child-like” devotion we are ...

1685. Mark 6:14-29

Mark 6:14-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... order for John’s beheading. The parallel to Pilate’s bowing to the shouts of the crowd to crucify Jesus is evident. Likewise, not unlike crucifixion, beheading was a form of execution designed to dishonor and belittle the reputation of the one being executed. Finally, even as Jesus’ body was claimed by Joseph of Arimethea, John’s disciples claim his corpse and “lay it in a tomb.”

1686. Hit Me with Your Best Shot

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... of the world turned out to be a mirage. Nor is this all ancient history — what is to be said about the current state of fear that drives some to think that it is okay to torture and destroy civil rights in order to preserve civil rights? What claim have we to being called a people of faith if we act faithlessly? In response to Satan, Jesus echoes two passages from Deuteronomy: The Lord your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear. — Deuteronomy 6:13 You shall fear ...

1687. How Much of an Honor?

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... with blessings. What more do we need? Everyone is not as well off as we are. Those who are suffering injustice have a claim to God's blessings that is stronger than the smug and satisfied. They may be like the sheep mentioned by Jesus in his ... always root for the cowboys. I don't, in sum, enjoying likening the members of the church to sheep.1 Having said all that, if we still claim the status of sheep for the good shepherd, it's good to know we are loved by God for who we are, not for who we imagine ...

1688. James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

James 3:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Of course, this is hardly surprising — since what politicians run for is the opportunity to be “large and in charge.” In this week’s epistle text James offers a very different criteria for the faith community. He declares that those who claim to possess “wisdom” will be identified by something other than their own desires and ambitions. James first offers the ironic question, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” The question is ironic because, as James will reveal, any who would boldly ...

1689. The Problem with ‘Hail Mary’ Moments

James 3:13-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1690. Don’t Compromise Your Beliefs

Galatians 1:1-10

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... as to call his enemies, those preaching another gospel, "accursed." He says he is not trying to please people; if he sought simply to make the message amenable to people, he would not be a servant of Christ. Thus, he reiterates his earlier claims that his message comes directly from Jesus. By implication he suggests it is the Judaizers who have misrepresented the message of Christ. Paul's message to the Galatians, that there is only one gospel and the people must never compromise their faith, has inspired ...

1691. A Peaceful Life in an Unpeaceful World

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... that enables the church to keep going even if the world considers it irrelevant. It is the kind of peace that continues to trust even in the face of setbacks and seeming defeats. It is the kind of peace that transcends disagreements and differences. Let us claim that peace for the church. For our family squabbles and even shouting matches, God offers us peace. For our swirling emotions, God offers us peace. For our anxiety over the troubles of the world, God offers us peace. God does not offer the peace of ...

1692. Mark 13:1-8

Mark 13:1-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... “I am.” It is not the physical damage of temple tumbling, wars, earthquakes, or famines that are the most dangerous challenges facing Jesus’ disciples. Rather the specifically spelled-out threat is that of deception, being led “astray” by pretenders, by those who claim to have all the answers and God’s identity (or at least God’s ear). Mark’s text may reflect more of his audience’s later first century life than the experience of the disciples. The ”wars” were certainly part of Mark ...

1693. The Things Close to Your Heart

Mark 13:1-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

1694. The Temple of Doom and the Bridegroom

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1695. Rally or Rail?

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... “not from this world.” The worldly-wise and world-weary politico Pontius Pilate could not possible comprehend such a claim. The demands, dilemmas, and deferences ordered by this world were all Pilate and all the Pilates of this world could ... uprising or physical threat to Rome’s rule: “My kingdom is not from this world.” Furthermore, Jesus offers proof of that claim by pointing out to Pilate that his “followers” have done nothing. They have offered no resistance to either the Jewish or Roman ...

1696. The Place of Prayer

Acts 16:16-34

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Perhaps in Orlando or Phoenix or San Diego you could make such a static, year round claim that it's another perfect day for grilling. But to have a built-in thermometer that draws attention to just what kind of day it is ... — and it might be a very cold one in Green Bay — and still make the claim that it is a perfect day for grilling. Whether it's 70 degrees, 50 degrees, 30 degrees, 10 degrees, or worse, the article of ...

1697. Not Another Rerun!

Jeremiah 31:27-34

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

... remember their sin no more." God's selective memory loss is the key to God's most important communication with us, as the following story illustrates: A bishop went to visit with a woman of his diocese who claimed to have direct verbal communication with the Lord. After meeting with her, the bishop was still skeptical of her claims. In order to put them to the test, he asked the woman to find out from God what sins the bishop would confess in the next week. Later, the woman came to the bishop to make her ...

1698. A Baby Changes Everything

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Herod the Great was so known for his power-hungry paranoia that he had sons and wives murdered if there were the merest suggestion that a plot to usurp his power was in the works. The fourth century writer Macrobius recorded that the Emperor Augustus had claimed it was safer to be Herod’s sow, than his son. Better a pig in a poke than offspring with ambition. So Herod took immediate, insidious, evil action when he heard about the possibility of new “king of the Jews.” But those who were most connected ...

1699. Pilate's Dilemma

John 18:28-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... Jerusalem read this sign, says Luke, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” If Pilate had only known how those words would haunt him. He was the man who had the innocent Son of God put to death. And this time, it wasn’t because ...

1700. Surprise in a Graveyard

John 20:10-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... hundred trained voices. The “Hallelujah Chorus,” of course, is the triumphant part of Messiah composed by George Frederic Handel after he was stricken with blindness in 1751. Handel claimed he had a vision and that this chorus is that vision set to music. Smith wrote that he could not for an instant doubt Handel’s claim, not after having his soul lifted into paradise by those 500 inspiring voices. The “Hallelujah Chorus,” said Smith, is a magnificent expression of two thoughts: first that Christ ...

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