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 4976 results

2101. Living in Gratitude

Philippians 4:4-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... are two, it's all about you. ‘Hold me, feed me, change me, rock me, walk me, and do it right now!' Children have their ways of keeping adults in line. Any alteration is a battle of the wills. What is cute for a two-year-old is repulsive in a twenty-year old and ... that abides through the tides of time. Do you have a grateful heart? III. GRATITUDE IS A WAY OF LIVING So Paul says, “Keep on doing the things you have learned and received." Gratitude is a way of life. Jesus was our earthly model of gratitude. ...

2102. A Thousand Points of Light

Isaiah 60:1-3; 18-22

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... issue of AIDS in other countries and just fold our hands in despair. But we are not the people of despair; we are the people of hope and it makes a difference to this one. In the meantime, we, the people of Brentwood United Methodist Church, must keep trying to make a difference, one starfish at a time. In Perovo, Russia, where we have contributed over $350,000 to our sister church so a little struggling congregation can have a place that they can call a church. Does this solve all the problems of Russia ...

2103. Dancing with the Saints

Colossians 1:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... our children once again: 1. There's within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet and low: Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still, in all of life's ebb and flow. Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go. 2. All my life was wrecked by sin and strife, discord filled my heart with pain; Jesus swept across the broken strings, stirred the slumbering chords again. (Refrain) 3. Though sometimes he leads through waters deep, trials fall across the way ...

2104. Mulliganeers, All

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to include that Lego ornament, that toothpick-sized armament. Sorry, but sometimes “zero tolerance” makes “zero sense.” At least zero common sense. A “zero tolerance” policy is what the synagogue leader was advocating in today’s gospel lesson. Charged with keeping the reading and reflection of the Torah on the straight and narrow, this officious official couldn’t see beyond the letter of the law, beyond the jot and tittle of his title. No “work” on the Sabbath meant strict adherence to ...

2105. A Shepherd's Story

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

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... ? So far, I haven't noticed much difference in the details of my life. I still have to work day and night to make ends meet. I'm still at the bottom of the social ladder. Still, somehow that experience helps me know that I matter to God. That keeps me going. Besides that, I wonder what this experience means for you. That angel talked about peace for all people. That means you, too. One more thing, though, before I head out. I'm just a shepherd, but the angels came to me. Maybe you could show people like ...

2106. Behind Closed Doors

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Lee Griess

... on the door, Jesus didn't knock. He just came in. He loved these men too much to wait for them to open the door for him. As the old saying says, "Love laughs at our locks." He loved them with an undying love and no lock could keep him out. Boldly, persistently, powerfully, the risen Savior came back into their lives. Now, think with me for a moment about what could have happened in those next few minutes. Jesus could have coldly surveyed this frightened bunch and could have begun a sarcastic review of their ...

2107. With a Firm Foundation, Application Is Second Nature

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

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... the building's strength? Not the windows, walls, not even the columns and beams get the credit. No matter how strong these parts of a building are, they are not sufficient without the firm foundation. That is why these parts of the building are not what keeps things intact. That is sort of the status that your and my activities and practices have with regard to maintaining ourselves in life. No matter how many grand things you do, no matter how well you apply the teachings of Jesus, no matter how firm your ...

2108. Sick People Like Us Will Always Need The (Divine) Doctor

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... calling Matthew, the tax collector (Matthew 9:9). Of course, most of us have our hang-ups with taxes. But in the eastern part of the Roman Empire in Jesus' day tax collectors were notorious for overcharging the taxed, often with harassment, and keeping the difference between what was actually owed and what was collected, for themselves. In short, they were regarded by many who lived in the Roman Empire as robbers, as crooks. Another problem was that such tax collectors violated Jewish tradition, because not ...

2109. If Your Sense of Purpose Ever Becomes a Burden, Remember Your Value

Matthew 10:40-42

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... that that is because we have missed how valuable you and I are to God. We have not heard Jesus' exhortations here, not heard the call to live according to the divine purpose in the broader context of these exhortations and call. Let's do that now. Keep in mind that today's gospel lesson that we have been considering is part of Jesus' instruction to and commissioning of the disciples. Just a little before today's gospel lesson begins, in verses 29-31, Jesus reminds the disciples and us that God the Father is ...

2110. Hunger and Politics

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... . We consume and devour until we are fed up with life, so to speak, and still we want more. You are hungry, and you are what you eat. The cravings of your soul will not be stilled. A meal will reset the alarm of your biological clock. Food will keep your hungry body going. Potato chips and a soda will stop the munchies for a while. But what are you feeding your soul? Augustine reflected on the spiritual character of our race. "Man is one of your creatures, Lord," he said, "and his instinct is to praise you ...

2111. A Career in The Kingdom

Matthew 21:23-32

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... for the grace of deliverance. That is the meaning of Jesus' harsh words to those who challenge his authority. They will never know who they are until they first begin with confessions like these: Woe is me! Too long I have wasted my time in building an empire I cannot keep! Too long I have spent my hours in the cult of self-worship, dressing to kill and twisting the lives of others to do my bidding! Too long I have wandered in search of myself, only to find that I don't really exist! Too long I have lived ...

2112. In Whose Likeness?

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Chris Ewing

... s values. Those coins are no longer in use, except for making offerings in the temple. With Roman rule came Roman money — except in the temple. Roman coins were not suitable there, because of their idolatrous image and inscription. So there were moneychangers in the temple, to keep the Roman coins outside and to provide holy Jewish coinage for the treasury. But we're not in the temple right now. We're on the street. And out here, for day-to-day use, and certainly for paying the tax, what you need is Roman ...

2113. Masks

Matthew 23:1-12

Sermon

Chris Ewing

... , you know, and not just on Halloween. We put on the brave smiling mask when our hearts are breaking. We put on a gruff mask to keep people at a distance. We put on a wild and crazy mask to get attention or to avoid responsibility. We put on an "expert" mask to ... hide as much as we reveal. When the face we present to life is just a mask, it narrows our vision and stifles our breathing, and it keeps others from seeing and knowing us as we are. So it's a relief to us and to others when we take it off. Did you ...

2114. Eat and Run

Exodus 12:1-14

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... is delayed in coming" (Luke 12:45), and consequently neglect his duties. But scripture warns us again and again that his coming will be sudden and unexpected (see Matthew 24:44; Mark 13:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). And so we are exhorted to "be ready" (Luke 12:40), "keep awake" (Matthew 25:13), and "be alert" (Luke 21:36). The ancient Israelites were told, on the night of Passover, to eat the bread of haste, to dine with coat on and staff in hand, and to eat quickly, for they needed to be ready to leave. You ...

2115. Fido’s Dilemma

Romans 6:1-11

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... guilt of a week that did not go well. But we remember our baptism. We remember its promise. We are going to dare God to keep it. We test that promise every week by getting it off our chest, by acknowledging those sins, as terrible and dastardly as they are, and ... us. We have already died and risen with Christ. We are certain of our baptism. We know who we are. We may have wanted to keep it under our paw or firmly clenched in our jaws, but now the promise of that half pound USDA prime cut choice ground sirloin ...

2116. How Beautiful the Feet

Romans 10:5-15

Sermon

Larry Lange

... was suddenly a step or two from death's door. The doctors put Judy on a ventilator, had to feed her intravenously, and had to put her into a coma because in her delirium, she had constantly attempted to rip out the breathing tube and the IVs that were keeping her alive. There was very little anyone could do for several weeks, except wait - wait for the medications to work. Judy's husband's job kept him away from her bedside, except for a few hours each day. Judy's daughter was only able to stay while her ...

2117. The Armor of Light

Romans 13:8-14

Drama

Larry Lange

... see the cross in those people in our church who can and do give up hours and hours of their time to serve in a hundred different ways in our church and community. Those are examples of the cross, Harry. Those are examples of love. Harry: So the cross keeps happening? Margaret: Yes, Harry. Harry: Well, that can't be a good thing! Too much of that kind of stuff and the church will be done for! Margaret: Actually Harry, too little of that kind of stuff and the church is done for. The disciples also thought the ...

2118. Legacies of Power

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... visible in Christ can set the guilty free. Apart from proclaiming the magnificent power of God, there is no hope for keeping human arrogance and folly within bounds to save the foolish world or reckless individuals from self-destruction.1 The gospel of ... things, a rugby match. God used that match to help heal a nation.2 Where do you find the power to hang in there, to keep on keeping on in this world? Where do we find the power to continue believing that ultimately God's kingdom will come and God's will, as ...

2119. Something Special To Share

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Children's Sermon

Marti Kramer Suddarth

... , “Hey! Don’t share your germs, please!” When we cough or sneeze, we cover our mouths so we don’t share our germs. If we spread germs, we spread sickness, and we don’t want to make anyone else sick. You aren’t being selfish if you try to keep your germs to yourself. Speaking of getting sick, we don’t share medicine, either. When you get sick enough to see a doctor, the doctor tries to find out exactly what’s making you sick. He or she considers things like what you have, how old you are, how ...

2120. Peace and Quiet

1 Timothy 2:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is “twitterpated,” but what we are in love with is ourselves, our lives, our every movement and tracking every tiny tendril of thought. Isn’t that why we “tweet” every moment, no matter how trivial and insignificant? Isn’t that why we keep every contact, no matter how remote, in intimate communication with everything going on in our everyday existence? With all life’s siren calls and enticements striking it rich, becoming famous, making a name for yourself – a disciple of Jesus looks forward ...

2121. What Should We Do?

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... the back yard, “Gracie just swallowed a nickel and coughed up two dimes. Hurry! Tell me what to do!" The father shouted back, "Keep feeding her nickels. We can use the money." (1) The world around us constantly tells us we're not worth very much. Big ... heard a pin drop. This year we need to persist. We need to remember the One who started this whole Christmas thing. We need to keep Him and His purpose, both in the world and in our lives, in our every thought, every deed, every purchase, and every word. If we ...

2122. The Ministry Of Do WOP

James 1:17-27

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James calls us to "be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." For ... said, "Nothing, Joe. I just want to hold onto the ball as long as I can!" (4) In the Kingdom of God the only thing we get to keep is what we give away. And we're called to freely give away the Grace and Forgiveness of God. When we are "doers of the word, and not ...

2123. License to Steal

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a humanity-wide neediness that could never be covered over or wished away by the works of human hands. That “neediness,” that dependence, was defined by the most basic, essential condition of the human spirit “sinfulness.” Sinfulness is the huge gaping hole we all keep falling into as we try to stride into an imagined Shangri-la of solitary self-reliance. The cross is the only footbridge that can get us across that chasm into the true Promised Land. Golgotha was a place of infamy. And this was when ...

2124. Adopted! Thank God!

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... disappeared every Wednesday evening about 7:00 and didn’t reappear for two hours. Every Sunday morning the dog likewise disappeared for a couple of hours. One Sunday the man’s curiosity was so aroused that he decided to follow and see where the dog went. Hurrying to keep up, the man followed the dog to the little church where this woman had worshipped so faithfully. He watched as the dog took its seat on the aisle while the service went on. At the close of the service, the dog went to the altar and took ...

2125. You Are God's Temple

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... Forrest replies, “I may be an idiot, but at least I’m not stupid.” (1) How do you feel about yourself? Abraham Lincoln knew that he was homely in his appearance, but that did not keep him from becoming our greatest president. Forrest Gump understood his limitations, but that did not keep him from seeing things other people missed. How do you feel about yourself? A few years back, The Rev. Jesse Jackson energized many young people, particularly many African-American young people with his chant, “I ...

Showing results