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 2151 to 2175 of 3926 results

2151. When the Storms Come

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

... his friends. It helps when you are going through a storm to have others there with you. You may not be blessed with a family, but you can build your relationships here in the church so that you will have people who will serve as your support group. Ask someone who has gone through the storm of an illness or the loss of a loved one whether close relationships made a difference. They do. He could have also prepared himself for the storm physically, mentally, spiritually. For example, does your general health ...

2152. To Live Is To Dance

John 10:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... within us. Unaware of other people and other worlds. But most of the basic rhythms of life are rhythms which call for partners and for fellow dancers whose presence and whose response to life evoke creativity in us. Whose common willingness to risk and to dare supports us and encourages us and gives us the inspiration and the strength and the boldness to go on. In the Christian life, we contact our partners and we dance together. Our partners are God’s people, and the place of the dance is the mission and ...

2153. Being Christ

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask, you ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions, unfaithful creatures.” It’s a scathing and stunning word, but it supports Jesus’ beatitude, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” Possessions, position, and power. Not approached with meekness, generate mistrust, severing of relationships, even violence. Meekness generates reconciliation and caring, and meekness is the telling mark of our ...

2154. Living Lightly

Genesis 45:1-28

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... someone to ride a bicycle or to swim? It’s frustrating and most of us are not good teachers. We have forgotten the struggles we had, learning to balance ourselves on the bike, or the fear and floundering we experienced before we finally trusted the water to support us. Living is that way. When we come in contact with some person who is really alive, we sense it immediately don’t we. We see someone who is really alive, they’re vibrant in spirit, they’re spontaneous, and we think it is all so natural ...

2155. Why I Believe In Tithing

Malachi 3:6-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... of those riots that broke out in the mid-60s. We started a literacy training center for the Mexican migrant workers. We organized, funded, and staffed a training center for ministry to young sailors and marines at the nearby military bases. And we began to support foreign missionaries. Inspired by all that, a woman in the congregation who lost her son in Viet Nam wanted to give the insurance money for some sort of Christian work in that war-torn country, and she wanted me to go to Viet Nam and investigate ...

2156. Such A Babe In Such A Place

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . His was a straightforward story of a wasted life. Dominated and devastated by drugs, estrangement from a wonderful family, a great cleavage between him and loving parents, a college dropout after one semester, wandering over the face of the earth, odd jobs to support his habit. Then a dramatic conversion—Christ got through to him directly. Christ confronted and claimed him, the young man responded. His witness is simple. And he didn’t hesitate sharing it. “Christ saved me,” he said. “I’m a new ...

2157. Servants Of The Servant Who Was Lord

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... who is servant, Jesus identifies with human life, so as to establish a redemptive relationship. As servant who is Lord, Jesus calls us to acknowledge his lordship through our own servanthood. Paul introduces this great theological statement of who Jesus is to support his call to the Philippians to look out not only for their own interests, but also for the interest of others. His toughest word was in verse 3 – in lowliness of mind, let each esteem another better than himself - and what stark contradiction ...

2158. What Really Matters The Price Of The High Calling

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... a goal. It was in the critical days of World War II and England faced the need for increased coal production. So Winston Churchill, the prime minister, called a meeting of the labor forces, and especially the labor leaders, to give them facts and enlist their support in that final effort that would enable them to survive. In his inimitable way of using imagination, and I don’t suppose there’s been a more imagination orator in this century than Winston Churchill, he made a powerful speech. He closed his ...

2159. In The Kingdom Now

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... money and success – it’s hell. I don’t know how I’m going to make it. I want another world, Maxie. I don’t want to live like the people in this world, but I’m being pulled into it. It’s impossible to resist. I need your support and your prayers.” As her conversion had been dramatic, her present situation is a vivid witness to the Christian being a resident alien. Now we may not feel the tension as unendurably strong as she felt it, but this tension is still there and it cannot be allayed. We ...

2160. The Power Of Purpose

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... us, relocating is not the key to finding the power of purpose. I know people, and so do you, you may be one of them, who would not toil at their present job another single day if only they could be relieved of the burdens and responsibilities of supporting their family; or if they could find another more meaningful way to do it. For some, going to work is a bitter task; leaving work is like dropping a heavy load off their shoulders. I have great sympathy for such people. I’m sorry that I can’t identify ...

2161. A Confidence for All Seasons

Psalm 27:1-14

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... common fear of death. He likens it to a shadow: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...". There's nothing much to fear in a shadow. The shadow of a dog can't bite. The shadow of a snake can't sting. And when life is supported by a consciousness of God's presence and concern, we're released from the fear of many shadows and get beyond the reach of many seeming evils." (Wallace, pp. 50-51) So remember this. Look at your troubles. See how manageable they would be if you do not allow the ...

2162. The Rest Of The Story

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , a little girl of about six, dressed also in the garments of poverty. When he reached the railing of the altar, he put her down gently. Cronin could tell that there were no movements in her limbs -- that she was paralyzed. The old man, still supporting her, with great patience, encouraged her to kneel, arranging her hands so that she could cling to the altar rail. When he had succeeded in getting her into position, he smiled at her, as though congratulating her on her achievement. Then he knelt beside her ...

2163. Walk In Newness Of Life

Romans 6:1-14

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . But Barnabus sought (Paul) out, brought him to the Apostles, and told them what God had done for Saul. Now you see, Barnabas could easily have settled for being privately symphathetic with Paul; or he might have visited him, privately, or have written him a supporting letter. And, mind you, these would have been lovely things to do, but Barnabas exercised strong goodness. He hunted Saul out, pleaded his case with the Apostles, and gave him a job to do. "The same thing happened a few years later with John ...

2164. A Fragrant Offering

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , she endured. Love hangs tough because it wills the well - being and the wholeness of the person loved. Love hangs tough because it will not settle for deception or pretense. Because love hangs tough, sometimes it has to do the painful thing. It may have to cut off financial support to a son or daughter to bring that son or daughter to a place of maturity. It may have to hang tough to the point of leaving a daughter in jail for a week to hopefully bring her to her senses. That happened with a couple in our ...

2165. The Future You Hope For

Jeremiah 29:1-23

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... they began to work together. This minister wrote a number of his friends a letter, a portion of which said: "Dorothy and I are on a new pilgrimage together. We are more attentive to each other than before, more committed to the pursuit of caring, and more supportive of the need for private personal time ...our time together is much better quality time than ever before!" And then he added, "It amazes me what we mortals must go through to get our carburetors cleaned out so that we can be more fully human. It ...

2166. God Shaves With A Borrowed Razor

Isaiah 7:1-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... observations about the Ethiopian Orthodox Church which illustrates the fact that God shaves with a borrowed razor. That church is an Independent Orthodox Church which has existed at least since 325 A.D. The interesting thing is that up until 1974, it was supported entirely by contributions from the government, or funds derived from land owned by the church. In 1974, the Communist government took away all that land, and there was no more government contributions, so the church had to make it on its own. What ...

2167. God Is Like A Mother

Isaiah 66:1-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... , he recognized the pattern. At last it came to him. These were the strings of his mother's apron. She had cut them off for him. "It's all right, parents, to be protective of your children. The proverbial apron strings may provide the security, guidance and support a child needs -- but only for a season. The day comes when the strings must be cut. Someone has said it well: Our task as parents is not _only_ to provide roots but also wings." (p. 64 of Perceptions) So, God is like a mother -- like a mother ...

2168. Don't Mess With Mr. In-between

James 1:1-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... her face, but she looked at the people around her, and began to stagger." Speaking very slowly and softly, Harold continued to tell Maud, tears welling in his eyes: "She put one hand to her forehead. With the other hand she reached out as if groping for support. Two men rushed to her side and then with a long, slow sigh, she collapsed in their arms." Harold stopped for a long pause:..."I decided then," he said solemnly, "I enjoyed being dead." Maud said nothing for a moment. Then she spoke quietly. "Yes, I ...

2169. Swift To Hear -- Slow To Speak

James 1:19-27

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... we mean and mean what we say. Only our actions prove we mean what we say. That's why I am always puzzled by persons in the church who agree to serve on Committees but never show up for a meeting. Those who tell you that they are going to support and attend an event, but are conspicuous by their absence -- those who make a pledge year after year but never honor it. Someone said rightly that it is easier to believe than to be. Which means it is always easier to talk about Jesus than it is to follow Him ...

2170. Pack Up Your Troubles

James 4:13-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... what I did with my life. He wanted me to be a doctor. I felt he never loved me like he loved my sister. But a few days before his death, for the first time since I finished college, he told me he loved me. We could have been such support for one another." When that fellow told me that, I remembered a powerful story in Robert Veninga's book, A Gift of Hope. One day, Veninga was in the hospital visiting a nurse who, for 21 years, had been working exclusively with terminally ill patients. "Robert asked her if ...

2171. Prepare The Way Of The Lord

Isaiah 40:1-31

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Eleanor Roosevelt kept a crushing schedule of appointments with good organizations, human and civil rights organizations and all sorts of charities. You remember that she got a reputation in her latter years for being a "do-gooder". She spent all of her time giving support to organizations that she felt were doing good for human kind. Even when she was old and physically frail, she kept doing it. There is a story about her coming to a meeting that was on her schedule. She was worn out, completely exhausted ...

2172. The Art Of Borrowing And Lending A Donkey

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... he been invited to some renowned pulpit, he would not have accepted. Within the limitations of his particular gifts, he aimed nevertheless at excellence, reminding himself that "the wayside pool reflects the fleeting clouds as exactly as does the mighty ocean." (quoted by Donald Shelby, "Supporting Roles We Are Given", January 21, 1990). When we hear the call, the Lord has need of it, it doesn't matter who we are and what we have. If we respond to that call, we become agents of love and peace and goodness ...

2173. He Comes As He Came

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... expect me to talk about. Bu listen. The war in the Persian Gulf brought it to a head again. The enemy that we fought had received weapons and military technology from us. And, as you know, there is an investigation and debate going on now concerning how we supported Hussein even up to a few months before the war. Mike Royko has put it in perspective in his column on March 12 (1991). He titled his article, "To Arms Makers, War Was Good Advertising". Listen to a part of his article: "In winning the Iraq war ...

2174. Who Needs A Doctor?

Luke 5:27-32

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... afternoon. We went to a surprise birthday party for Pauline Hord. She's now 84 years old. The party was given by Second Chance Ministry, an inspiring and effective ministry in which Pauline and other members of our congregation are involved, and which our church supports financially. I was invited to the party while I was on Study Leave. I returned from Study Leave on Saturday evening and went to my office to do last minute preparation for Sunday morning. A note from my secretary reminded me of the party ...

2175. Who Loves More?

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... on the side of sinners? And the Church is not the Church unless our ministry reflects that. I had an experience at my Annual Conference a couple of years ago that took me aback. I had written all the ministers of the Conference, urging them to support a petition taking what I think is the moral high ground on sexuality issues, which would be coming before the General Conference. A retired preacher was expressing his appreciation for my strong stand, but then he threw me a curve. He started talking about a ...

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