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Showing 176 to 200 of 538 results

176. Where do You Live?

Romans 14:1-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the second complaint?" asked the pastor. "Well," said the man, "I don't like the hymns that the choir director picks. I wish you'd would tell her to pick more of the old ones." Obviously the man was not aware of the mixed message. He wanted the pastor to refrain from telling leaders people how to do their jobs, but he wanted the pastor to tell the choir director which songs to sing. People are amazing aren't we? (2) For the first 18 years of my life, I used my stepfather's last name even though I wasn't ...

177. The Struggle for Freedom

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... the gospel, then he shouldn't eat it." Is that hypocrisy? No, that's common sense. As an adult, you may choose to drink a glass of wine but if there are youth present at a party who might take your behavior the wrong way, you simply refrain from drinking that night. There are some activities that are inappropriate with mixed company. That's not hypocrisy. That's limiting your freedom for the sake of the other person, particularly the "weaker brethren" as Paul called them. This is a big deal for Paul. We are ...

178. Romans 14:1-12

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... disagreement each group falls into an improper attitude towards the other. The meat eaters must avoid the temptation to “despise” or “belittle” (“exouthenein”) those who abstain. Their faith is not in some way superior to those who voluntarily refrain from meat. Likewise the vegetarians are not to “pass judgment upon” (“krinein”) the meat eaters. The vegetarian is not to claim any moral high ground over the meat eaters. Rather, Paul reminds both parties of their commonality — “God ...

179. Damascus and Israel

Isaiah 17:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the remnant. The verb for their conversion is not the usual verb (“to repent” / “to return”) but rather it is “to look.” The people must recognize that Yahweh is “their Maker” and “the Holy One of Israel” (17:7). Therefore, they must refrain from looking to their illegitimate altars as the source of deliverance. The fall of Israel results in exile so that the countryside will be characterized by depopulation (17:9–11). The reason for the judgment is given in verse 10. The people have ...

180. What to Give Up for Lent

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... That must be where the idea of giving up something for Lent originated. We are to identify obstacles and temptation in our lives that have become stumbling blocks in our Christian walk. Then we are to eliminate them or, at the very least, refrain from them during Lent.” Bill, always ready to demonstrate his technological savvy, chimed in. “Did you know there are actually websites that make suggestions for what to give up during Lent? I wrote down some ideas. Give up favorite foods like cake, ice cream ...

181. Love And Boundaries

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

William G. Carter

... of them downright racist. The sad truth is the commentary reveals more about the commentators than it does about those who are observed. During one awkward trip, I began to wonder why an outspoken tourist had not stayed home, especially if he could not refrain from putting down the people of that land and their living conditions. The uncomfortable truth is that he had never really left home. He brought “home” with him, with all of its biases and boundaries. Get the picture: here stood Jesus the Jew on ...

182. What Did You Say?

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

... of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Grant that we shall remember that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a picture of silver. Enable us so that we may always refrain from saying anything that we might regret later, or embarrass ourselves, others, or you, Lord. Amen. Scriptures: (NRSV) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7 ...

183. You Are A Name!

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... taken in vain at a rate of almost every other sentence. In the days of Watergate the nation was stunned and shocked when they read the transcripts of President Nixon with repeated blanks and the explanation, "Expletive Deleted." A Christian will have no part of this and will refrain from any use of God's name except for prayer and worship. God's name is to be used with a sense of awe and respect and with a holy reverence. Because the name and nature are one, we can understand, too, the power of God's name ...

184. Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Holy Spirit's activity through Mary that results in the conception of the messianic child. Joseph's obedience to the angelic messenger's command is complete. Without hesitation, he takes Mary for his wife. As further evidence of his righteousness, he refrains from having sexual relations with her. She remains the embodiment of the virgin Israel. Matthew's text does not necessarily offer evidence one way or another here about the Catholic doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity. The gospel writer is focused ...

185. Arad Destroyed

Numbers 21:1-3

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... assaulted them at Rephidim soon after Moses brought water from a rock there (Exodus 17). The Israelites have withdrawn from the Edomites’ show of force (20:20) because they are relatives (cf. Deut. 2:4–5). But there is no reason to refrain from retaliating against unprovoked Canaanite aggression. So the Israelites vow to devote (Hebrew root hrm, of irrevocable dedication to God; cf. Lev. 27:28–29) the towns of this king to the Lord for total destruction, and their holy war is successful with ...

186. Divorce

Matthew 19:1-12

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... to his teaching on divorce and remarriage in verses 3–9. Not everyone is able to accept his strict position on the subject, but only those to whom it [the ability to accept] has been given. It is not a question of whether or not a person should refrain from marriage for the sake of evangelism or because the end of all things is not far off. The issue has to do with true disciples who have had to divorce their wives for immorality and “out of obedience to Christ’s law concerning divorce they do not ...

187. I'm No Chicken Thief

Humor

There is a story of a minister in a small town who was having trouble with his collections. So, one Sunday he announced from the pulpit: "Before we pass the collection plate, I would like to request that the person who stole the chickens from Brother Smith's henhouse please refrain from giving any money to the Lord. The Lord doesn't want money from a thief." The collection plate was passed around, and for the first time in many months, everybody put something in.

188. Epiphany 7

Luke 6:27-36, Psalm 37:1-40

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret, it leads only to evil. For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place ...

189. Satan Goes to Church

Job 1:1-5, Job 1:6-22

Drama

Dr. Raymond Bailey

... we finally get all of you to assist us in our endeavors -- our "work. "Sometimes the most "spiritual," the super-religious, the super-pious are the most helpful of all to our cause. They work hard for your God. They try so hard to be good -- to refrain from sin. Sometimes I even lay off these "do-gooders" for a while. Let them become "respectable," admired by hordes of other "do-gooders" as heroes of the faith. But, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. When they do fall, then it discourages many other ...

190. Get Ready

Sermon

Rolf E. Aaseng

... last minute cramming for our "finals," we are to be prepared at all times. Whether Christ comes tomorrow or after thousands of years we are to use whatever time remains in continuing to do whatever work he has called us to do. Obviously this means we refrain from evil. Jesus warned, "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap" (Luke 21:34). Peter wrote, "Since all these things are to be ...

191. The Passion Narrative

Luke 22:14-23:56

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... ask for God's help to change our direction in life, that we may become committed followers of our Lord. Collect Eternal God, whose Son came victoriously to redeem your children: Conquer our lives with your forgiving love expressed in your Son, that we may refrain from our rejection of him, and witness to his controlling love in our lives. In his name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Our Father, your Son is King for all persons of all times. But people of every generation withdrew from his Kingdom because ...

192. Consecration Our Loses and Our Gains

Psalm 37:1-40

Bulletin Aid

... goods which come from his hand. Leader: Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and then all your needs shall be supplied. Congregation: We seek his mercy, his love, the glory of his abiding presence that will never forsake us. Leader: When things go wrong refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil. Congregation: Give us patience in the face of adversity. Give us the strength to continue to trust whatever happens. Give us the faith to say with Job, "Though he slay me ...

193. Song of a Stargazer

Psalm 8:1-9

Sermon

Gordon Pratt Baker

... is a nature lover who has spent many hours drinking in the beauty of God’s handiwork. The stars hold special fascination for him with their witness to the Lord’s majesty and might; and, like many another poet across the centuries, he cannot refrain from singing of their twinkling host. Two things stand out regarding this singer in the night. In the first place, he is one of Palestine’s profoundest thinkers; for his song is the overflow of long and serious contemplation. And second, since he makes no ...

194. The Sheep And The Goats

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

Brett Blair

... and you gave me no water, I was in prison and you never came to see me, I was without clothes and you never gave me any. We think of divine judgment as opposite of this. We think that the thing that will get us into heaven is by refraining from certain sins. Conversely we think sin will send us to hell. A religious person is one who does not smoke, does not drink, does not curse. That misses the point, my friends. There are many in church who are fine, decent respectable people who are not doing anything ...

195. Prayer Advocate

James 5:13-20

Bulletin Aid

Dallas A. Brauninger

... who suffers. We come in trust to God, who hears us when we care enough to intercede. We come in wonder to God, whose ways of healing far surpass our understanding. Amen. Prayer of Confession When we need an advocate in prayer, O God, let us not refrain from asking. Help us understand that by taking others into our confidence, we show not weakness but strength. Keep us ready for change so we might fully participate in the mystery of praying for each other. In the spirit of Jesus the Christ. Amen. Hymns "It's ...

196. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of the Spirit heard in their community. Disciples are implored to examine everything, to use their own spiritual discernment (see 1 Corinthians 12:10) as a guide. Any activity or words that are deemed evil are to be rejected. The community is to abstain or refrain from any questionable utterances made by members. This week's text includes the first two verses from Paul's final prayer and closing comments to the community (5:23-28). This final portion of Paul's letter starts the same way as did the closing ...

197. John 1:6-8, 19-28

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... in John the Baptist's life, he does not take this moment of inquiry about his baptismal practices in a positive sense. Instead, John the Baptist downplays his baptizing activity by contrasting it with the arrival of "one whom you do not know" (v. 26). The Baptist himself refrains from voicing the messianic title at this point. But he clearly alludes to the greatness of this one who is yet to come. John equates his own status before this one to come as that of a slave even less than a slave. It is one of the ...

198. Christmas Eve & Day

Psalm 96:1-13, Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-7, Titus 2:11-14

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

... your grace. O Holy Spirit, breathe your life into us now, that we may sing with joy at the birth of God’s Son. The Great Doxology All: Suggested Hymn — Joy To The World (Sing as the angels do in the presence of the Lord.) Presider, refrain from lifting the elements at the Words of Institution, but now lift them high during the Doxology. Post-Communion Prayer/Sharing Of The Christ-Light Leader: The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night ...

199. Wake Up Call

Romans 13:8-14

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... not always seem to be the case, we believe that with Jesus the best is always yet to come. On this first Sunday of Advent the apostle Paul encourages us to “know what time it is.” It is time for us to focus on Jesus, refraining from all other distractions commonly associated with Christmas. “Now is the moment for you to wake from sleep,” he writes to believers who might have been going through the motions without realizing the importance of the day. The people had better wake up and pay attention ...

200. Feast of Trumpets (II)

Numbers 29:1-6

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... little clue. The gradual decline leads to the important number seven. See Davies, Numbers, p. 314. 29:35 Assembly is a different term from sacred assembly used earlier in the section. Budd translates “closing assembly” (Numbers, p. 318). The root word of the term suggests restraining or abstaining. Refraining from work is prescribed; fasting and other restraints may also have been involved. The final assembly could be a time of rejoicing. 29:39 On the fellowship offering, see Lev. 3:1–17; 7:11–21.

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