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 1701 to 1725 of 4963 results

1701. The Demons Within

Luke 8:26-39

Sermon

Alexander H. Wales

... that many in our society prize and encourage. Things are often more important than people, more important than faith. As the scripture passage reminds us, the demons are legion. They enslave the individual, destroy the valuable, and release the very worst in us. The only way we can hope to cope with them is to come face to face with one who can drive the demons out and make us willing to sit at his feet, clothed and in our right minds. And when that happens we need also to be aware of the fact that many ...

1702. Our Defense In A Stone-littered World

Acts 7:54--8:1a

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... in the sky / And called on him to save.Like him, with pardon on his tongue / In midst of mortal pain,He prayed for those who did the wrong / Who follows in his train? A glorious band, the chosen few, / On whom the Spirit came, Twelve valient saints; their hope they knew / And mocked the cross and flame. They met the tyrant's brandished steel, / The lion's gory mane; They bowed their necks the death to feel / Who follows in their train? (from "The Son Of God Goes Forth To War") Our modern world has had its ...

1703. Close Quarters With A King

Jeremiah 23:1-8

Sermon

Thomas G. Rogers

... " (vv. 5-6). The words rumble in the ears of the people of Israel. The promise of such a king crescendos in the hearts and hope of the people for many years. Finally it comes to a tremendous climax on a day we now call Christmas. Jesus the Christ, the Anointed ... is a bit of embarrassment or incredulity for us in this truth. When we have said that this Jesus is all the fulfillment of the ancient hope of Jeremiah's day for a just and true king, then we must look at him again. And when we look again we know that ...

1704. Whispers From A Dream

Daniel 7:1-14, Daniel 7:15-28

Sermon

Thomas G. Rogers

... Jew to Jew. Out of the depth of her despair Tishra remembered the words that had been whispered into her ear. The prophet's dream was a dream about the evil Antiochus, the king who had robbed them of so much. He had even robbed them of hope and a meaning for their lives. The dream openly acknowledged all the horrendous evil that the people had suffered and continued to suffer under this "madman." Then came this promise: "But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom ...

1705. The Pastor Who Created A Monster

Haggai 1:1-15, Haggai 2:1-9

Sermon

Thomas G. Rogers

... That was some sermon you preached on Sunday! It really got me to thinking. You were talking about the temple in Jerusalem being a pile of rubble. Well, that reminded me of my business that collapsed last year. Suddenly before I knew it, all my work and plans and hopes and dreams were destroyed. It was all just a pile of rubble. The logical goal in front of me, of course, was to start over and rebuild the whole thing. But, so far, I haven't done much about it. I realize now that I have been standing around ...

1706. What Is God Doing In Our Bad Times?

Joel 2:18-27, Joel 2:28-32

Sermon

Thomas G. Rogers

... muffled sobs. Ted continued, "Frank, I know you are always reading the Bible and all that. I thought maybe I could talk to you. I hope it's okay for me to be calling you like this, Frank, I just don't know what's happening. Why would God let ... Frank had been to his Bible study that evening. He asked Frank, "What did you study about tonight?" Then, he added with a hopeful tone, "Was it anything that applies to me?" Frank said, "Our church group has been studying the Old Testament prophets. This evening ...

1707. Accepting The Call

1 Peter 3:8-22

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... guidance on how to do that job. He says, "Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence." We've all met people who want to give us advice, who just drive us ... experiences, not lording it over others, but speaking from our weaknesses as well as our strengths. We prepare ourselves to speak of the "hope that is in us." We prepare ourselves to speak out of the very depths of our own life's pains to the hearts ...

1708. A Ransom Paid

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... waiting for them. The dead did not stay dead. The one who came to pay the ransom was himself raised from the dead. "Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God." Our faith and hope were given to us by Jesus the Christ, but he intended that our gratitude should go to God. The point of the sacrifice was to show us how much God loves us, not how much God demands of us, nor that God is bloodthirsty, and needed ...

1709. Signed, Sealed And Delivered

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... possible, but available right now, right here, in this place, at this table, in this cup, in this bread. God is here. We have seen, and we know for certainty. For Paul, and those at his table, there was another year of waiting to look forward to, a distant hope that Messiah might come to save the people from their enslavement to Rome. For the disciples, there was a night of terror, a day of horror, and a day of despair to follow the drinking from this cup. But what a glorious revelation at the end of all ...

1710. Living In A Special Time

Psalm 118:24

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

... all of us. You will never be in church again on the last Sunday in July (or whatever Sunday it is) at your present age. Hopefully, you will be in church again next year on this Sunday, but by then you will be a year older. So, the lesson I want ... make this a special day for you. I decided to share with you ... (Use whatever is appropriate: balloon, candy, homemade cookie, etc.). I hope you will enjoy this little treat and that it will help to make your day happy. Possible Times To Use This Illustration In ...

1711. Living In A Special Time

Psalm 118:24

Children's Sermon

Kenneth Mortonson

1712. A Missing Piece

1 Corinthians 12:14

Children's Sermon

Teresa L. Major

... have an important place here; you are very special to us and when you are missing, we are not complete. What is this in my pocket? (Pull out the missing piece and put it in the appropriate place.) There, that's much better. All the pieces are in place. I hope you like it here at Sunday School and church, and I hope to see you in your place every week because things just are not the same without you! You will be in my prayers this week and I ...

1713. The Best Presents

Matthew 1:21

Children's Sermon

Teresa L. Major

... , dolls, tea sets, video games, stereos, new clothes, all kinds of stuff to play with! Santa gifts are great, but what about the gifts that Jesus gives? What kinds of gifts does Jesus give us? (Children respond. Direct their answers, if necessary.) Jesus gives us hope, peace, love, strength, rest, joy, and all the things that really matter in life. Jesus can give us what we need to live a happy life. What happens to the Santa gifts after we play with them for a while? (Children respond.) The batteries wear ...

1714. Veiled Glimpses of God's Glory

Exodus 33:12-23

Sermon

Robert S. Crilley

... still debating how best to broach this delicate subject with the Lord: "See, you have said to me, 'Bring up this people'; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me" (Exodus 33:12a). Out in the audience, a few of us lean forward hoping to discern Moses' expression. Is he searching for reassurance, like a scolded child tearfully standing at the doorway of his parents' room? Or is this the echo of a much earlier confession: Who am I that I should go? Are these words punctuated with a weary sigh ...

1715. Thistles Among The Wheat

Genesis 28:10-22, Psalm 139:1-24, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Romans 8:12-25

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... members of his kingdom and are to sow the seed in faithfulness, our vision and our terrain is global in reach. Homily Hints 1. Hope of Harvest. The parable offers an opportunity to consider the evangelism process, whether it is within the church family or as a mission outreach. ... what degree does the church accept members with the final judgment in God's hands? 2. The Kingdom Conquers Evil. People need hope in facing the mixture of good and evil. A. Evils in the World. B. Good in the World. C. God Assures ...

1716. Wicked Tenants

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... death, worse than the death of the physical body. It is to miss the very meaning of life itself. 3. Martyrdom. It is the nature of sin to hate anything which judges it. To try to deny the message of judgment, those who operate by self-interest, hoping thereby to escape the message, will try to destroy the messenger. The true prophet who speaks God's words of warning and judgment threatens people who do not want to hear it. Because prophets deal with issues of ultimate values, the attack against them will be ...

1717. The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... Lesson. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to be faithful while waiting for the Lord's coming. They are to avoid the dangers of laxity in guarding against idle and evil activities. They are to support each other in faith, love and hope of salvation through Christ. The Gospel. (Matthew 25:14-30) The parable is given to make the disciples aware of their accountability even when Jesus would no longer be present. The Psalm. (Psalm 123) This is a psalm sung as pilgrims came up toward the ...

1718. The Promise Of The Spirit

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... in Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones. Pentecost comes with a promise of new life and these dry bones can live again. This is the encouraging and challenging promise of Pentecost. Although there may be few who seem to hold out much hope for the mainline churches, we must not lose sight of the potential of the Holy Spirit to bring new life. It has happened before and it can happen again. The Spirit acknowledges human weakness and paradoxically it glories in that weakness, because it is in weakness ...

1719. For All The People

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... Christ. You are here to celebrate the nativity of your Lord. In the name of the Christ you worship and adore, I bid you welcome. Some are here because they once believed and would like to believe again. You come with the "remembrance of love and peace and shared hopes over many years now gathered into one great longing,"1 a longing to be with God, to become whole; a longing that the emptiness you now know too well might at last be filled. In the name of the Christ you long for, I bid you welcome. Some are ...

1720. Two-and-a-Half Cheers For Hypocrites

Matthew 6:1-2, Matthew 6:5-6, Matthew 6:16

Sermon

Thomas Long

... the local inn, the hungry threesome were treated to a sumptuous meal. When the meal was done, however, the innkeeper approached the "rabbi" and spoke with great sorrow. "Rebbe, you must pray for my son," he said. "He is dying and the doctors have given up hope. But the Holy One, blessed be his name, may respond to your prayers." The counterfeit rabbi looked desperately to his friends for help. They motioned for him to go with the innkeeper to his son's bedside. They had begun this hypocritical ruse, and now ...

1721. Confidence To Spare

Psalm 27:1-6, 13-14

Sermon

Robert G. McCreight

... Psalm 46 (Tune: Azmon, "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing") Come praise the Lord with all our lives, Sing thanks and praise each day.No other one is worth our hope, For God alone can save. How blest are those who hope in you, Creator of all things.You heal the sick, you feed the poor, Your presence justice brings. The blind find sight, the fallen hope, You set the prisoner free.You give the homeless living space, But fell the proud like trees. Your reign, O Lord, will never end. How can we count its days?All ...

1722. Wedding Growing A Marriage (outdoor setting)

Ephesians 3:14-21

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

... power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. Yes, may you come to know his love -- although it can never be fully known -- and so be completely filled with the very nature of God. Your new lawn is coming along nicely. You hoped it would be all filled in by today, but you discovered that growing things just cannot be rushed. It's true of lawns. It's true of trees. It's even true of marriages. It will take time for your marriage to grow strong and beautiful. Lasting love cannot ...

1723. Wedding: On The Right Track (for a long-time relationship)

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

... keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal... When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now ... I know now is only partial; then it will be complete -- as complete as God's knowledge of me. Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love. It is love, then, that you should strive for. Can you believe it, (Bride) ...

1724. U-Turns Permitted

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... begin to turn toward God's desire to bring forgiveness and blessing to the nation if they are willing to abandon their sin. Where there is repentance there is reconciliation, and where there is reconciliation there is hope. The day of the Lord then becomes an opportunity for renewed hope for the nation. Joel instructs the people regarding God's intervention in their lives. Continued sin will reap destruction, but turning away from sin, repentance, fasting, and returning to the Lord will bring about God's ...

1725. Tell Them

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... tell them, tell them that he is not dead -- our Savior lives. Because he lives we have new opportunities every day to tell them of a living Savior sent for sinners like you and me. Tell them that in this Savior is found forgiveness for sin, mercy for injustice, hopes in despair, love in hate, and salvation that leads to eternal life. Tell them that God so loved the world that he sent his Son to die for you and me so that we would experience the pain of death but would receive the gift of eternal life. Tell ...

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