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 2051 to 2075 of 4681 results

2051. Sovereignty: God’s Domain

Zephaniah 1:4-13

Sermon

... us does not mean we are free from becoming apostate. There are gods all about us that vie for our allegiance. In the Gospel of John, the Lord says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (15:5) Apostasy rears its ugly head when this relationship is severed. If we become and remain apostates, he lays before us the results: "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and ...

2052. The Coming of the Lord

Luke 21:5-38

Drama

... all relevant to the action, nor are their ages. #1 is somewhat vain and pompous about being told the news first, but is also a bit giddy at the thought of it all. #2 is a bit dense and slow-witted, but excited and expectant. #3 has a bearing of absolute certitude, knows what is right and will not be swayed. The Angel is somewhat condescending and annoyed at having to deal with these people, especially since the number is more than was planned for. At the end, the Angel is very wise and not at all surprised ...

2053. Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Daniel 2:24-49, Daniel 2:1-23

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... the Bible says, war is hell." I didn't have the heart to tell the old man that he was quoting General William T. Sherman. Here is another statement that lots of folks think is in the Bible: "God won't let more be put on you than you can bear." Folks, that is not in the book; nor is it true. Life presents us with lots of situations that we can't figure out or handle in our own strength. Right there, between a rock and a hard place, we have to turn to God, just as Daniel did. Here ...

2054. Don't Let the Parade Pass You By

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... for God’s glory. IV. Pray Continually Here is the fourth and final prescription for peace: pray continually. Do you remember the inspired words from Joseph Scriven’s beloved hymn, "What a friend"? "O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." Luke gives us this marvelous introduction to one of Jesus’ parables about prayer: "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." (Luke ...

2055. Do You Believe In Easter?

Luke 24:1-12

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... weekend or in the hospital facing surgery. Sometimes he meets us in the middle of our grief over someone we desperately want to meet again in heaven. So it was for the great actress, Helen Hayes. Her nineteen-year-old daughter died of polio. She wondered how she would bear the loss. She said that her key to survival was the assurance God gave her of a life after death. She said, "I always feel, even when I’m tired or feeling my years, Ah, I’ll be seeing Mary again." (4) The fourth and final step in ...

2056. All The More Reason To Give Thanks

Psalm 100:1-5

Sermon

Brett Blair

... the city of New York. A national collective “Oh no, not again!” could be heard through out the country. As the tragedy unfolded we learned this was an accident and the cruel coincidence of timing and location—in New York of all places—was just too much to bear. In my life there are few events, which have kept me emotionally effected beyond a few days. September 11th is one of them. We have all been on the verge weeping for two months. If you are in the stores this week look at the cover of Newsweek ...

2057. A Fool’s Tools

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

... has not occurred. Walter Johnson could send rocks whistling down a railroad track, but it took friends, acquaintances, and scouts to help him discover that he was well-equipped to handle major league pitching. In my particular setting as a college professor I bear heavy responsibilities to help young people discover their tools. And no matter who we are - men, women, children - a measure of discovery responsibility is ours. Even children at play know and can honestly respond to what a given child does well ...

2058. Revival at Corinth

Acts 18:1-17

Sermon Aid

CSS

... Suetonius says that the reason for the expulsion of the Jews was that disorders had been stirred up by "Chrestus." It is quite possible that this is a misspelling of "Christus" and that the disorders at Rome had been caused by friction between Jews and Christians. Bearing this out is the fact that Paul made no effort to convert Aquila and Priscilla, which leads us to believe that while in Rome they had already been committed to faith in Christ. Paul teamed up with Aquila and his wife, for they were all ...

2059. Paul’s Midnight Ride

Acts 22:30--23:11

Sermon Aid

... troubled sleep that night, the vision of the Lord came to him as it had come before. The Lord was present with him in the prison and was saying, "Take courage ... take heart ... be of good cheer ... for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome." Now it dawned on Paul that it was God’s will that he should be a Roman prisoner, for this was the Lord’s way of using the Romans themselves to bring the gospel to Rome and to the Romans. The vision strengthened Paul’s ...

2060. Shipwrecked on Malta

Acts 27:1-12, Acts 27:13-26, Acts 27:27-44

Sermon Aid

CSS

... came forward to address the crew and the soldiers. He knew it was God’s will that he was on this ship. He knew also that it was God’s will that he should not perish at sea, for the vision at Caesarea had told him that he was to bear witness at Rome. Now he had a new vision and deemed it his responsibility to encourage the others by sharing it with them. He could tell them that God’s plan would not be frustrated by the winds of the sea. At the same time, it was only human for ...

2061. The Wolf and The Lamb Inside Us (Sermon Series 1)

Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... to us know we haven’t forgotten their failures; maybe forgiven, but not forgotten. There is a cobra within us that lies in wait for people who are different from us, so that we can catch them fulfilling our prejudices about them. There is a bear within us that gives other people only one chance to disappoint us; and if they do, we reject them forever. Each of us could offer similar testimony. But you say, “Wait a minute, Preacher. Look at all the beautiful capabilities of human beings. We rebuilt ...

2062. The Beholders -- A Dramatic Monologue

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20

Drama

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... her little boy, she asked silently. I was afraid I knew. I had a dream the night after we visited the child. I saw a crossroad, one road familiar and well-traveled, the other beautiful but unknown and very crooked. As I stood trying to get my bearings and choose a route, a tall, muscular man appeared. He stood in the intersection, one arm raised as if to show me the way. He was gesturing toward the unfamiliar road. It was then that I noticed that his fist was clenched. I became curious; he seemed determined ...

2063. God's Best Gift In The Worst Times (Sermon Series No. 2)

Micah 5:1-4

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... and war. James Moore, pastor at the Houston Texas St Luke’s UMC, tells a story about a young man whose wife had died, leaving him with a small son. Back home from the cemetery, they went to bed early because there was nothing else he could bear to do. As he lay there in the darkness--grief-stricken and heartbroken, the little boy broke the stillness from his little bed with a disturbing question, “Daddy, where is mommy?” The father got up and brought the little boy to bed with him, but the child ...

2064. For He Shall Save His People

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Staff

... not want to be helped. A great rescue mission has been launched on our behalf. Blood has been shed. And the power of God is available to us if we will admit our weakness and need. The question now is: do we really want to be saved? And you shall bear a son and call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.

2065. The Blessing Of Bondage

Genesis 2:4-25, Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... may be, the truth is that nothing works to make us secure when we break God’s laws. When we reject him, separation and death result. Christ Is God’s Salvation for Us With the realization of their disobedience upon their consciences, Adam and Eve could not bear to face God. So, as we often do, they hid from him. But the confrontation must come sooner or later, and it did for this pair. The goodness and mercy of God is shown when he (the betrayed) takes pity upon their shame and clothes them with animal ...

2066. Midnight Turned Into High Noon

Isaiah 42:10-17, Isaiah 42:18-25

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... so devoid of light. Do you think that for a moment, you, his child, could ever have a problem that God, in his own good time, could not sweep out of the way? And if your difficulty must remain, he will certainly lead you over it or help you bear it. A visitor to the chapel at the Lutheran Seminary in Guntur, India, noticed the unusual height of the altar. He had never seen an altar that was shoulderhigh. The guide explained: "Haven’t you noticed that along the roads of India, ever so often there are great ...

2067. "Hold Your Horses!"

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... but if God is God, then he’s in charge of the schedule! Amid all of life’s surging activity, we simply must take time to wait!" "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:31) "Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to thy God to order and provide; In ev’ry change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best thy heav’nly Friend Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end." In the business of life and in trusting in ...

2068. Religion at a Minimum

Matthew 7:15-23, Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

... to their problem will be found in an encounter with Jesus Christ such as the one experienced by Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax collector (Luke 19:1-10). What took place during that meeting and the conversation which ensued produced some astounding results. First, the holiness and bearing of Jesus must have shaken Zacchaeus severely and deeply convicted him of his sin. It must have made him realize the enormity of his transgression, for he said to the Lord, "... the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I ...

2069. Sinners Anonymous

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

... , which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. (Ephesians 5:3-4) Or imagine a clergyman being as plain-spoken about sin as Paul was to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 5:11ff. ... I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber - not even to eat with such a one. (If that individual is not consciously seeking spiritual guidance, help, deliverance and rescue from the problem he or ...

2070. Listening or Hearing?

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

... ’s Word taking root and springing up in our lives. Not a sterile pathway, not a stony plateau, not a thorn-covered thicket, but a well-cultivated garden, open to the rainfall of God’s forgiveness and nourished by the nutrients of the Divine Word, is the one that will bear fruit unto eternal life! Amen.

2071. Heart To Heart

Ezekiel 18:1-32

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... he wanted the pendulum fixed because it no longer swung. The clock man said that he needed the whole clock in order to make the pendulum swing. But the customer explained, "There is nothing wrong with the clock; it is just the pendulum that won’t swing." It simply bears out Jesus’ claim that a person is what his/her heart is. If you and I are to change our lives from sin to holiness, it will depend upon a change of heart. This was the experience of King Saul. The prophet, Samuel, said to him, "Then the ...

2072. Two Bodies for Two Worlds

Isaiah 26:1-21

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... , we must have a physical body. This is the meaning and purpose of the Incarnation. Christ as a spiritual being existed from eternity and visited our earth in 4 B.C. To do so, he needed a physical body. God arranged for it by asking Mary to bear a baby who would be his Son. The Gospel of John puts it this way: "The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us ..." Incarnation literally means "in flesh." The spiritual Christ was enfleshed in the person of Jesus. This taking on of flesh was indispensible to ...

2073. Out of the Darkness

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Robert Bachelder

... s vision as it has been revealed in Christ. I want to speak of it in the context of two issues which press upon our consciences: capital punishment and the nuclear freeze. These are related issues and they are as much religious as political matters. They bear materially upon God’s creation. Please undertand that I do not speak ex cathedra; I shall try not to dogmatize like some infallible know-it-all. I do think that faithful Christians will examine all public issues in the light of Christ’s gospel; but ...

2074. Victim or Visionary

John 19:28-37

Sermon

Robert Bachelder

... and emboldens us to take up our own cross. No longer are we victims. Now we are agents of God’s redemptive mission. As Auden reminds us in "Memorial": Our grief is not Greek: As we bury our dead We know without knowing there is reason for what we bear, That our hurt is not a desertion, that we are to pity Neither ourselves nor our city;’ ... We are not to despair. No, we are not to despair because life is ever lord over death. This is the ultimate reality of our world. Not wishful thinking, mind you ...

2075. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Romans 13:1-7

Sermon

Carroll Gunkel

... the Word, that is, Roman Catholics, or Lutherans, or Calvinists or whatever, was truly irrelevant. What was important, Bonhoeffer felt, was that the Word was preached; and as it was faithfully, honestly and forthrightly expounded, God would bless it and it would bear fruit.1 The Word, the Gospel, was more important than the preacher or the sect sponsoring the preacher. Therein lives a message which ought to be heard by every minister of the gospel. Preachers are merely the messengers; they are by no ...

Showing results