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 1751 to 1775 of 2332 results

1751. Breaking Loose

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... a sense of her own identity. Christ came, St. Paul tells us, and he sent his Holy Spirit to us, to help us know who we are: we are God’s adopted children. When Steve Jobs died last year much was made out of the fact that he had been deserted as a child and then adopted. One of the reasons it was suggested that he accomplished so much was that his adoptive parents emphasized to him that the fact of his adoption made him a special child. He was so special that they chose him out of all the rest ...

1752. Toss Your Cap Over the Wall

Mark 3:20-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... his Mormon guide. The young man told him that his grandmother had come to Salt Lake City in the early days when the Mormons had first come to Utah. Apparently she had traveled all the way from Omaha on foot, pushing a handcart. Can you imagine that? Across deserts and mountains she pushed a handcart. But the people of her faith were waiting at the end of her journey. Her cap was over the wall. Doesn’t it make your blood run faster, to know that there are people who have charted a heroic course for their ...

1753. Size Is Less Important Than Spirit

Mark 4:26-34

Illustration

Merritt W. Ednie

... , and yards in diameter, and told him to chop it down. Within minutes the tree had been felled. The amazed foreman asked him where he'd learned to chop trees so powerfully. The little fellow replied, "When I worked in the Sahara forest." "You mean, the Sahara desert." "That was after I got there," said the small lumberjack. The point of the story is that size is less important than spirit, or intelligence, or courage a point made when King David was selected at a young age: "Do not look on his appearance or ...

1754. Beneath the Three Trees

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Kristin Borsgard Wee

There is a marvelous miracle described in Willa Cather's book, Death Comes for the Archbishop. In the story, Father Junipero and his friend, Father Andrea, set out on a journey through a Mexican desert with bread and water for one day. On the second day, they are beginning to lose heart when, near sunset, they see in the distance three very tall cottonwood trees. They rush toward the trees and see a little house. An old Mexican comes out of the house, greets them ...

1755. Walls, Walls, Everywhere Walls

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... that humans ever fully obeyed. But scripture is clear we had one set of parents. You are my brother and my sister, but so is the man working long hours in a factory in China and so is the tired woman in the Sudan carrying her starving child across the desert, as well as the teenager in Pakistan seething at what he perceives as an unjust world. We need to be reminded of that from time to time, and where will that happen if not in church? We are all one family, the family of God. The only hope this world ...

1756. The Ashes of Our Lives

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... confirming his words with miracles of healing. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place." But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish - unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples ...

1757. Checked the Ditch Lately?

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... are only seventeen miles apart. Jerusalem is the city set on a hill nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, whereas Jericho, at 840 feet below sea level, is the lowest city on planet earth. Both cities are safe places: Jerusalem, the Holy City, and Jericho, a desert oasis. To get from one city to the other is to travel a crooked and dangerous road. As this certain man travels, robbers leap out from the rocks and attack him. The robbers strip him, beat him, and leave him half dead in the ditch. Some of us ...

1758. Washed Clean

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... , "Time heals all wounds," and, in this case, that is certainly true. Time also brings perspective. Gerald Ford's instinct to forgive and move on was absolutely correct, just as he was right to offer clemency to Vietnam-era draft evaders and deserters. Polls show that the majority of Americans agree. In 2001, President Ford was given the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for making that incredibly difficult, and costly, decision. In his acceptance speech, he said he was "profoundly grateful" for the ...

1759. The Business Of The Church

Galatians 1:1-12

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... , and he did not mince words. He begins with the traditional salutation that we find in any other letters of the day, but then, instead of kind words or a brief prayer for his recipients, he lashes out: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — which is really no gospel at all." The key word is "grace," which, for Paul, should not be understood as something God gives, but rather the way that God establishes ...

1760. The Church Should Go To Hell!

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... period in the church year that calls us to a time of rigorous self-examination and introspection as we prepare ourselves for our encounter with Calvary. The gospel lesson for the first Sunday in Lent each year tells the story of Christ's temptation in the desert. In our text from Luke, three are highlighted. They are each strong, and each of them is based on truth (which is a wonderful reminder about how the truth can be used for evil purposes). Each one is a metaphor for the temptations that face Christ ...

1761. Choosing a God

1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... prostitutes. Now that was worship! No wonder the people did not want to have to choose. Then the practicality of the choice began to sink in. Even if Baal could give life, there was not much he could do to keep it going without rain. After all, this was desert country, and the presence or absence of water was a critical question under any circumstance. Since it was the word of Elijah that had started the drought in the first place, it made sense to listen to what he had to say. And so they did, as they ...

1762. The Locust Years

Joel 2:23-32

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... grain harvest was gone. There was no food for the livestock so they starved to death. There was famine in the land. To make it worse, the plague came in the midst of a drought - no rain. The trees and bushes the locusts had killed caught fire in the hot desert sun and there was no water to put the fires out. In the midst of all this, Joel came to the steps of the temple and thundered out, "This is no accident!" He made it plain that what was happening was the judgment of God upon a rebellious people. It ...

1763. Dinner With Jesus

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... home. My mind was still reeling at the fact that this famous stranger had invited me to dinner, even if it was at my house. We made our way through the open courtyard and came into the house, leaving the heat of the crowd and the midday desert sun behind us. My wife and servants had already heard we were coming because word went around Jericho like wildfire that Jesus was coming home with that rotten little Zacchaeus. But at a moment like that, I didn't care what people thought ... rotten ... little ... it ...

1764. Advent 1

Psalm 25:1-10, Jeremiah 33;14-16, Luke 21:25-36, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... goodness and grace, mercy and hospitality. Leader: In every generation, leaders emerge who love the Holy One and promote righteousness and beauty. People: When events of living seem overwhelming, we are glad for the reminder that God is near and will not desert us during political upheaval, natural disasters, and family disputes. Leader: We are expecting God to come among us in new ways; we are expecting to birth holiness right here! People: Ring the bells! Clap your hands! Our hearts rejoice. Leader: Make ...

1765. Advent 3

Isaiah 12:2-6, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Luke 3:1-20, Philippians 4:4-7

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

1766. Rich Man, Poor Man

James 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... the poor. Scripture is clear: our closeness to God is reflected in how we treat those less fortunate than ourselves. This is true in both the Old and the New Testaments. There is an ancient legend among the Jews that while the Israelites were wandering in the desert, they decided to ask God to dinner. Their leader, Moses, explained that God is not a physical being and so He does not eat. But when Moses went up on the mountain to talk with God, God said to him that He would accept the Israelites’ dinner ...

1767. Easter 2

Psalm 118:14-29, Psalm 150:1-6, John 20:19-31, Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4-8

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... . Intercessory Prayers God of Rabbits and People — thank you for the breath of life, for spring and its beauty, for children and adults, for pets and wild animals. Thank you for the showers that refresh the land. We are aware that some nations are set in desert places and food is nonexistent. People and animals are dying and we don’t know what to do. Give us wisdom, compassion, and generous hearts so we might share what is available in our neighborhoods. God of Eggs and People — we marvel at the way ...

1768. Did You Come Here to Die?

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... is your Savior is only the day you begin the journey of faith. At that moment begins the process of remaking you in Christ’s image. Steve Brown tells the story about a British soldier during World War I who lost heart for the battle and in fear decided to desert and run away. As he left the field and headed for what he thought was the coast so he could catch a boat back to England the skies turned very dark. It was so dark that he became hopelessly lost. In the darkness he came across what he thought was ...

1769. Easter 5

Psalm 148:1-14, John 13:31-35, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... ways. Where we are grieving, fill the pain of loss with new awareness of how to be lively again. Where we are scarred, soften us so we can trust life in new ways. God of Wanderers — look at this world and see your creatures wandering in deserts without sufficient food for body and soul. Speak to individuals who are serving evil and terror. Reveal the goodness of this world and the rewards that come when humans care for one another. We pray for peace through the world, in people’s psyches, in national ...

1770. Epiphany 3

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19:1-14, Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... interact with nature, with the city, and with government. The first six verses of the lectionary psalm might lead the way into ecological issues: clean skies, fresh air, planet atmosphere, and awareness of nature at different places: North Pole, South Pole, Australia, desert, wet lands, and so on. Verses 7-14 suggest that good government honors justice more than profit, happiness more than wealth, and fairness more than personal power. Verses 12 and 13 speak of needing one another as well as self-reflection ...

1771. A Dramatic Rendering Of 1 Kings 19:1-15

1 Kings 19:1-8

Drama

Julia Ross Strope

... , Elijah? Elijah: I’m trying to do what you asked. I’m loyal to you. But the people are not. I’m the only prophet they haven’t killed. I’m afraid they’ll kill me. God’s Voice: Elijah, I am with you. When morning comes, return to the desert area near the city. I will be with you. (Elijah packs up the props and exits by the aisle where the servant/friend is waiting. Together they exit the sanctuary. A bell tolls the hour.)

1772. What Kids Hear When We Teach Them the Faith

Mark 10:13-16

Illustration

Erskine White

... mother asked him what he had learned in class. "We learned about Moses and the Pharaoh," the boy said. "Oh, that's nice," his mother said, "will you tell me about it?" OK, the boy said. You see, Pharaoh's army was chasing Moses and the Israelites all over the desert. It looked real bad. In fact, the Israelites ran right up to the edge of this big sea and it looked like they were trapped for sure. Pharaoh's army was coming at them and Moses knew he had to do something. So, he got on his walkie-talkie and ...

1773. Proper 13

Psalm 107:1-9, 43, Hosea 11:1-11, Luke 12:13-21, Colossians 3:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... or television or computer games. We want to receive your healing and your radiance. Reveal to us whatever blocks your flow to us; we want to let it go. Let us tune in to your rhythms so we are aware of a myriad ways to enjoy living. Desert Spirit — brighten our interior landscapes; let us be colorful like the Grand Canyon; let us find images that open us to adventure with Great Mystery. Flow in and out of us to a world choking on obsolete symbols and perceptions of another era. Lift our faith from ...

1774. Proper 17

Psalm 81:1, 10-16, Jeremiah 2:4-13, Luke 14:1-14, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... leaving little for God and family. People: We know the biblical prophets accused the ancient Hebrews of exchanging their God-concept for the goods and values of other cultures. Leader: Even though they were provided water and food through the desert years, Bible stories tell us that the people neglected their relationship with the giver of finest wheat and honey! People: This weekend, we determine again to honor the Giver of Life by doing creative, meaningful work, maintaining empowering relationships, and ...

1775. The Truth about Warren Buffet's Secretary

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

King Duncan

The election is now behind us. I guess it’s safe for me to talk about Warren Buffet’s secretary. In case you’ve been on a deserted island somewhere cut off from all media, Warren Buffet, one of the richest men on earth and a prominent Democrat, caused quite a stir sometime back when he said that his secretary pays a higher percentage of her salary in taxes than he pays. That is because wages are taxed ...

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