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 2101 to 2125 of 4957 results

2101. Proper 17

Psalm 81:1-16, Hebrews 13:1-25, Jeremiah 2:1-3:5, Luke 14:1-14

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... possible? A person should not always be a victim because of a lack of assertiveness. When is it appropriate for persons to insist on their rights as opposed to deferring to others? When is it proper and in the interest of others' rights to claim them for oneself? Nineteenth century revivalistic preaching sometimes tried to bring conversion by calling sinners a worm in comparison to the glory and majesty of God. Is that "worm's eye" view of self healthy? Is it only of some validity when persons compare ...

2102. Proper 18

Psalm 139:1-24, Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Luke 14:25-35

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... . Family Values. "Family values" has become a political slogan. It is used as a shibboleth to determine whether a person is correct on a variety of issues. People on both sides of issues, such as abortion, planned parenthood, single parenthood, and welfare, claim they are for family values. What really serves family values is not a simple or easy thing to determine. Jesus puts family as of lesser value than Christian discipleship. That confronts people with hard choices. Is it fair for missionaries to raise ...

2103. Proper 22

Luke 17:1-10, 2 Timothy 1:1-2:13, Lamentations 1:1-22, Psalm 137:1-9

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... her people." A $40,000 bounty was placed on her head but she was never captured and none of the slaves she led were ever lost. During the Civil War she went to South Carolina, where she served as a cook, nurse, scout, and spy with the Union forces. She claimed to be sustained by her faith in God. 4. Doing What Is to Be Done. It is said that man works from sun to sun, but woman's work is never done. Jesus suggests that the Christian's work is also never done when things remain that they ought to ...

2104. God's Most Unmistakable Message

John 20:1-9

Sermon

Don M. Aycock

... new spirit of religion instead of its stern moral obligations. So the Pharisees, out of their loyalty to God, sought to put an end to the country bumpkin who preached what he practiced -- unhampered love. This is not just ancient history. Religion claims to be dealing with eternal and unchangeable truth. It has always looked unkingly on challenges and changes from anyone, especially one such as Jesus seemed to them -- a rabblerouser and troublemaker. The present church is not immune to such thinking. We are ...

2105. The Tiger At The Edge

John 21:1-14

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

... about the church, "Well, there were a great many people who worked together: Mary and Priscilla and Martin Luther and Martin Luther King, Jr., and John and Sister Teresa, and you know what they did? ..."1 Don't forget who you are! We are the ones named and claimed in the baptismal waters. We are Christ's people. People of the resurrection. People who fish for a living among one another. People who have a story to share and a faith to proclaim. That's who we are. The voice from the water's edge called them ...

2106. Easter Joy

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

... call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." Jesus deals with us on the most intimate terms possible. He claims to have cemented his relationship with us when he laid down his life for us. But that also put everything into a new perspective for us. By that we got in on the divine plan and scheme of things. In Christ we learned what really makes the world ...

2107. Thankful Living

Joel 2:18-27

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... is to disrespect not only the gift but the giver. When we take it upon ourselves to obliterate what God has wrought it is like spitting in the face of God. There is a Jewish folk tale regarding two men fighting over a piece of land. Each claimed ownership. To resolve their differences, they agreed to put the case before a rabbi. The rabbi listened but could not come to a decision. Finally, he said, "Since I cannot decide to whom this land belongs, let us ask the land." He put his ear to the ground ...

2108. Through The Eye Of The Needle

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... the disciples wondered if it would ever be possible for anyone to do what Jesus demanded, then Jesus had them just where he wanted them. What is impossible for us, for the rich young ruler, for the astonished disciples is possible for God! In fact, that is precisely the claim that Jesus was making for himself. That is what he came into this world to do: to accomplish the impossible, to do what only God can do, to pull us along with all the camels in the world through the eye of a needle. No human being that ...

2109. When The Fat Lady Sings

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... death will continue forever. What now remains hidden, what now is believed by faith and not by sight, will one day, on the Last Day, be revealed to all. Then it will be clear to all, even to those who have chosen not to believe, that Jesus was who he claimed to be. Then it will be clear to all in the heavens above and on the earth below that Jesus was right. God is gracious and merciful. God can be trusted. God will keep his promises to those who have trusted him. On that day not only will our lives ...

2110. No Freudian Slip!

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... to admit: our lack of faith in God. The lectionary editors who chose this passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount decided to leave out verse 24. I think that was a big mistake. Verse 24 sets the context for Jesus' comments on worry. In verse 24 Jesus makes a claim about what is really going on in our hearts and minds when we worry about what we will eat or what we will wear. "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise ...

2111. Miracle Five: Healing A Withered Hand

Mark 3:1-6

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

... means and of our time. This is the Christian spirit that is responsible for the development of hospitals, homes for the poor, places to care for children without parents, and a host of other charitable organizations. A high priority in the life of a Christian is the claim of human need. The Hand Of Christ The scriptures often relate how Jesus used his hands to heal. He placed his hands on people who were sick and they were healed. He touched the dead and they came back to life. He touched the eyes of the ...

2112. Miracles Seven and Eight: Healing An Issue Of Blood & Healing The Rulers Daughter

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

... , or is our existence a continuing one beyond the grave? Christ brought many blessings through his teachings and life on earth, but the greatest gift which he offers is that of eternal life. He creates and strengthens our belief in eternity. During his ministry he claimed to have power over death, and on three occasions he proved it. This miracle, performed on the daughter of Jairus, is one of them. It verifies the statement of Christ, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he ...

2113. Miracle Ten: Healing A Blind Beggar

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

... come into our lives and meet our needs, but we should initiate the opportunity. Instead of ignoring the passing Christ, we can call out to him and then respond to his invitation. With his presence and power we can do the good works which define those who claim to be people of faith. We can call the attention of others to the Christ who stands waiting to forgive their sins, to console, to inspire. Persistence In Our Requests Of God When Bartimaeus learned that Christ was passing by and called out to him for ...

2114. Will The Real Messiah Please Stand Up?

Isaiah 61:1-11

Sermon

William L. Self

In the early days of television a popular game show, To Tell the Truth, held the attention of the American audience. A panel of interesting and colorful experts was in place, along with an engaging host. They were presented with three contestants, each claiming to be a famous person or a person who had accomplished an unusual feat. The identity of the real person was known only to the host. After a period of questioning by the panel when the panel and everyone else had been given a chance to vote for their ...

2115. Seven Habits Of Highly Effective Christians

2 Kings 5:1-27

Sermon

William L. Self

... Syria to Israel to seek healing from the man of God named Elisha. Here we have the touchstone by which we may test the supremacy of our faith. It alone is able to purge our souls from the leprosy of sin. Only the religion that can do that can claim the final allegiance of the human heart. Naaman heard the prescription of Elisha, but he was indignant and felt that another river ought to do just as well. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the rivers of Israel? May I not wash in ...

2116. The Giver Becomes The Receiver

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... . Johnson used to contend that one of the bizarre facts of life is this one. The more religious people become, the less patient and comfortable they become with the mystery and freedom of God. Those who consider themselves very religious tend to point their finger at us and claim God is this or God is that. The freedom of God is the heart of all religion. You'd think the closer you got to God the more overwhelmed you would be by the awesomeness and indescribable nature of God. You'd think the closer you got ...

2117. Light In The Land Of Shadows

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... , and new spiritual adventures. Christ's government is not through an old, old story but through an "ever-expanding peaceful government that will never end." The prophecy from Isaiah touches us, then, at both the personal and collective levels as we respond to its claims. While our homes are filled with lighted Christmas trees and toys, we still look for the light to come into our lives. All too often, like Vallentin's clown, we look for the key in the center-stage phenomena of power politics and powerful ...

2118. Point Of Origin

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... of human development which often translate into practical consequences. The way we theorize about our origin and purpose often shapes the way we treat others. If we view human beings solely as highly-developed animals, we can find much to back up our claim. Certainly a biological or anthropological perspective has the weight of research behind it. We humans, indeed, still share 98 percent of our genes with chimps. We are indebted to Homo erectus as our Homo sapien ancestor. Perhaps a magic twist in 0.1 ...

2119. Held In His Arms

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

Sermon

Paul W. Kummer

... son dead those paintings would be sold at auction. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would hope to claim, "I have the greatest collection." The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with ...

2120. Till Death Do Us -- Unite

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Paul W. Kummer

... any good. Her only son died. She was alone. That is, until Jesus crashed their funeral procession and told the boy to get up off the funeral bier -- and he ran to give his mother a hug! Two sisters couldn't believe that this miracle-working friend, who claimed to be God, had delayed coming to them when their brother was sick. But now it was too late. He'd been in the rock-hewn tomb three days. Who could help them now? Smelly, decomposing, hidden-in-the-earth problems didn't phase Jesus -- and Lazarus lived ...

2121. Open Grave, Open Hearts

Acts 4:32-37

Sermon

Paul W. Kummer

... , I was going to say, 'I wish I could be a brother like that.' You see, sir, I have a brother who is crippled and I'd like to do a lot of things for him." Our text says, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." Jesus is alive! Christ is risen! The grave is open; so also are our hearts and hands! A sermon on giving at Easter time? I thought that was an emphasis for fall. Why not now? Giving ...

2122. Seeds And The Kingdom

Mark 4:30-34, Mark 4:26-29

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... that God will produce the harvest even when we cannot see far enough to see all the outcomes. 4. Speaking the Word. (vv. 26, 33-34) A. The Seed Must be Scattered. The word needs to be proclaimed. People need to be confronted with God's claims and promises of grace. B. Speaking to the People. The level of the message needs to be where the people are. C. Explaining Everything. As people are ready to receive and understand, Christians should move beyond the simple gospel to the understanding of all things ...

2123. Our Defense In A Stone-littered World

Acts 7:54--8:1a

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... of just what he would do should a bear or mountain lion appear from the woods. (Whether or not they knew that neither lion nor bear had been seen within many miles of there for over 150 years, I wasn't sure.) In the very midst of their claims of fearlessness and daring, a large blacksnake crossed the towpath. You know, of course, what happened next. It took some doing to round them up again; you wouldn't think they could run that fast. I'm not making fun of them. Children everywhere do precisely the same ...

2124. Our Champion Rides Into Battle

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

... world little understands, our Lord attacks the powers of darkness, leading the final charge with no troops following after. It is one of those battles in which the observers need to watch for the dust to clear and the casualties to be counted before victory can be claimed. By Friday of this week the enemies of God and grace will assume their triumph, but the sunrise of Easter dawn will reveal our victorious Lord. This Lord is our Warrior King. He calls us to be his witnesses, to share in his victory and to ...

2125. "But Some Doubted"

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

... when things aren't going well. Since we have no dissonance from another, previous relationship with Jesus, we have the privilege of acceptance of his special nature. Assuming we have any revelation of God, our revelation is the one that comes from knowing the claim that Jesus rose from the dead, and knowing this before we know much else about him. It is this sort of revelation that Paul also has known. He saw Jesus, not visually, but "with the eyes of the heart." His experience was mystical, but powerful ...

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