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 176 to 200 of 579 results

176. Blind Beggars All

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Erskine White

... Him will keep us clear and certain when things seem cloudy and confused. It will keep us strong and victorious when our willpower is weak and our spirits feel defeated. Jesus didn't say to Bartimaeus, "Your good intentions" or, "The loudness of your voice" or, "Your perseverance has made you well." No, He didn't say that at all. "Your faith has made you well." How do you live this faith? You keep your eyes set on Jesus and your desires fixed on Him. You keep thinking and praying and believing on Him, come ...

177. The Key To Confident Living

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Erskine White

... I who live, but Christ who lives in me. (Galatians 2:20) Have you ever noticed how some people go through life full of confidence and vigor, no matter what happens to them? When disaster strikes, they survive. When obstacles are placed in their path, they persevere. In the tumult of life's arena they are knocked down but never out, and they always have the internal fortitude to get up and get going again. Have you ever noticed how such people are at their best when things are at their worst? They have ...

178. Proper 24

Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 121:1-8, Exodus 17:8-16, Genesis 32:22-32, Habakkuk 1:1-4, Habakkuk 2:2-20, 2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... Episcopal and Lutheran worship books are identical, except for the longer ending of the Episcopal collect: "Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you revealed your glory among the nations. Preserve the works of your mercy, that your church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord (who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen)". The classic collect for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost ...

179. Can You Dig It?

Genesis 26:1-35

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

... here that opposition to Isaac fell off, not because his enemies got tired, but because each well dug represented a resurgence of familial and communal restoration and values which could not be hindered in the long run. Because of Isaac's perseverance in redigging the wells, he discomfited and exhausted the opposition of his enemies. We as a people must redig the wells of familial reclamation, self-determination, and communal preservation in rebuilding the black family and its future. Finally, Isaac moved on ...

180. Saved By Grace

Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon

Walter Kimbrough

... world needs a spiritual operation so that the sin that is alive and well in the hearts of humankind can be surgically removed. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to, “Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).” Life can only be filled with joy and meaning when sin has been extracted from human experience. A life with Christ is a life free of sin. That’s our challenge, that’s our goal to ...

181. The Temptations Of Christ And Our Temptations

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... not too comforting. For it makes me feel like I have to do something if I have to fight temptation the way Jesus did. It seems as if I must cling to the Word. And, of course, my faith is not as strong as his; I may not have the perseverance and faith that he had. Indeed I surely do not. Thank God, however, that there is a word of gospel in the midst of Jesus' conquest of his temptations. As I suggested earlier, his conquest of temptation points to Jesus' final victory over sin and evil on Easter. And that ...

182. Robert Paul, You Were Right!

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

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... to have in mind the Olympics or some other significant athletic event when he writes the following words: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 Like Daniel ...

183. Just Who Do You Think You Are?

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

Johnny Dean

... That is, we try to interpret the encounter in such a way as to soften the harshness that’s obviously there. I have read and heard several such interpretations of passages like this one. One said that Jesus really cared about the woman, but he was testing her faith and perseverance. Another said that Jesus was just teasing the woman to try to get her mind off her problem for a few minutes. Please! "It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs" is teasing? I don’t think so! Those ...

184. Is He Really Coming?

Sermon

Rolf E. Aaseng

... sure something better awaits us - if we have hope. Blacks in America and South Africa were able to sing "we shall overcome" in the midst of continued oppression because they had a confident hope that justice would eventually win out. Similarly we can persevere in the face of life's difficulties in the assurance that Christ will come to free us from this world's ills and establish everlasting justice. This assurance is uppermost in scriptural discussions of the Second Coming. Peter wrote, "By his great mercy ...

185. "Oh Yeah, Thanks a Lot" -The Grateful Leper

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... . They have not learned that praise is the spiritual life blood of the soul. These are things that I have learned about prayer and praise. I hope that they will be helpful to you in your day and your town. For your own spiritual health, you must learn how to persevere in prayer and praise God at all times. Many people do not know about any of these things. Many do not know this Master who heals us inside and out. Many do not know the power of prayer. Nine out of ten don't know. Won't you help me ...

186. Time and Stewardship

Sermon

Larry Powell

... their intention to go on with the fight - hence, the origin of the terms, "toe the mark," or "come to scratch." if one man failed to "toe the mark," his opponent was declared the winner. To "toe the mark" meant, and still means, to persevere, keep coming back, and present onself for the encounter with an intent for the victory. A great deal of life involves recovery after having been "knocked down" - getting up again and "coming to scratch." Personal failure frequently has a brutal way of sweeping us ...

187. The Secret of Survival

Joshua 5:1-12

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... their faith-relationship with a transcendent God - a God who was behind them and in front of them; but, most of all, above them. This vertical relationship to God gave them the courage to challenge the impossible odds arrayed against them, and it also enabled them to persevere until they had won. The secret of Israel's survival is that their God was not a prisoner in his world. Their God was a living, transcendent God. Because he was the Lord over all other gods, he could use nature and history to serve his ...

188. Counterfeit Faith

Acts 14:8-20

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... still ultimately depends not on our faith - true or counterfeit. Our salvation, and the salvation of all people, depends on God's faith - God's faith in us - a faithfulness that will never surrender or accept defeat. God's faith is a faith that will persevere against all odds and win! In the town of Livingston near Victoria Falls in Africa, there is a museum which holds the memorabilia of the missionary David Livingstone. One of the most prized and popular exhibits is a gold watch and chain worn by Dr ...

189. Encouraged in Faithfulness

Hebrews 12:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... with them in determination to be just as faithful. Collect Eternal God our Father, whose church triumphant is made up of generations of faithful Christians who victoriously faced difficulties, discouragement, and persecution: Encourage us by their witness, that we may run with perseverance the race you have set before us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Prayer of Confession We are your church, O God, but we are still affected by our human characteristics and frailties. Forgive us for taking our eyes off Jesus ...

190. Parable of Staples and Stability

Hebrews 11:1-40

Illustration

... when they find a common faith the diversities of life do not destroy their stability. We may all expect to come into contact regularly with forces that would divide and destroy us, but in the strength of love, which religion provides, we find mercy to forgive, patience to persevere and faith to follow in the footsteps of our Saviour. Without sound religious influence society would crumble and safety would disappear. We may not need a stapling machine, but we all need the stable force of Christian faith.

191. Let the Journey Begin

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... a hidden journey to those with whom we share the journey. But that is as it should be. All hinges upon the Father's knowing us and our knowing the Father. With our souls secured by Christ, and with faces lit with hope and a holy joy we: . . . run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

192. Authority Through Servanthood

Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... has nothing to do with genuine, God-given authority. Immediate arrival at prestigious and statusloaded places bypasses all the things that really count. These are first and foremost, a clear sense of serving. It means capacities, competence, responsibility, perseverance, moral strength, and devotion to the truth whatever the consequences. Authoritarianism eats up all one’s energies in keeping others at bay, defensive maneuvers to insure one’s own power, hostility to others who appear as threats, and ...

193. Proper 14

Lk 12:32-48 · Gen 15:1-6 · Jer 18:1-11 · Heb 11:1-3, 8-19

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... and guides us on the pilgrimage. C. Faith in the trip's destination - vv. 10, 16. The goal of a Christian is heaven, the city of God, a heavenly country. Faith makes us believe in our final destination, keeps our eyes on it as life's goal, and helps us persevere in attaining the goal. 4. A Proud God. 11:16b "Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God." Need: We know that people can be ashamed of God. A Lenten hymn asks, "Ashamed of Jesus?" Turn it around: could God ever be ashamed of his people? He ...

194. Responsive Reading for Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1-13

Bulletin Aid

... against the gates of hell. Assistant: We are aware that many times, and at any time, we could fall away from you, O God. People: The fact that we believe is a miracle; that we try to live our faith is an evidence of your power; that we persevere in our belief is your marvelous doing. Assistant: We are conscious that every generation might be the last one to be your church, O God. People: The fact that corruption, envy, malice, pride, greed, and so many more sins have not destroyed your church is a miracle ...

195. Invincible Harvest

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

... God's splendor. We are to announce that coming in trust and with all patience. We are to do this in spite of all evidence to the contrary and against all desires to rush it or to force its appearance. We are called upon simply to announce ... to trust ... to persevere. 1. Interesting data in this regard can be found in Journal of Communication, Winter 1985/Volume 35, Number 1.

196. Promise or Threat?

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon

... song of the Gospel. Take heart amidst the sorrow and sadness of this world and behold the light of God’s promise to come and transform life. In these troubled times, troubled as much or more than have been any times, it takes a full measure of faith to persevere in work and prayer and hope for those qualities of life which reveal God’s Kingdom. But the Kingdom belongs to those who endure when the signs of the times seem to say that faith is futile and hope is foolish. The promise is ours that though the ...

197. The Starting Line

Hebrews 12:1-13

Illustration

... quite appropriate for the occasion. You've seen races run: the runners line up, and someone fires a gun or says, "On your mark, get set, go!" In Hebrews 12:1-2, we read: "Let us lay aside all the weights, and the sins which beset us, and run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus..." Here this morning we start out on a new week of living. Here in worship we square off with life once again, pause to catch our breath and start over. So we do indeed welcome you to the starting line ...

198. Lent 2

Genesis 12:1-8, Psalm 105:1-45, Matthew 17:1-13, John 3:1-21; 4:5-42, Romans 4:1-25

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... Psalm 105:4-11 - The exhortation of the psalmist, "Search for the Lord and his strength, continually seek his face," suggests that penitents need to be reminded early in Lent that keeping it is a long and arduous task which calls for spiritual strength and perseverance. After reminding people of "the marvels he has done," verse 8 points out the reason that they may have confidence in God; "He has always been mindful of his covenant." By elaborating on how God has kept his covenant with Israel "for a thou ...

199. Wednesday in Holy Week

Hebrews 12:1-13

Bulletin Aid

... to lose heart and grow weak in the race of faith, to let the world and the concerns of everyday life overtake and defeat us, and to allow the message of the cross that salvation comes by struggle and suffering to fade from our minds. Forgive us our lack of perseverance and endurance, O God, and bestow upon us the strength of your Holy Spirit, which alone can bear us to an eternal victory and everlasting prize. In the name of the crucified Christ we pray. Amen

200. If You Are A Disciple of Jesus Christ

Luke 6:17-26, Luke 6:12-16

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... vast multitude of saints who have touched our lives on behalf of Christ, declared, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Heb. 12:01) Here is a third implication of Christian discipleship: You Are Called To Be Christ-Extenders. St. Paul expressed it this way: "All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us ...

Showing results