Synonyms: renounce, relinquish, dispense with, forswear, disclaim, disown, disavow, discard, wash one's hands of, give up, stop, cease, drop, forgo, desist from, have done with, abjure, abstain from, discontinue, break off, refrain from, set/lay aside, desert, leave, leave high and dry, turn one's back on, cast aside, break (up) with, vacate, quit, evacuate, withdraw from, surrender, cede, yield, indulge in, give way to, give oneself up to, yield to, lose oneself to/in, uninhibitedness, recklessness, lack of restraint, lack of inhibition, unruliness, wildness, impulsiveness, impetuosity, immoderation, wantonness
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 201 to 225 of 4977 results
Sermon
John Jamison
... the river, knowing that once he stepped forward there would be no way to ever go back, did he quietly pray: “My Father, if it is possible, couldn’t I just go back home now?” Have you ever been in that kind of situation? It might not have been quite this dramatic, with the stakes so high, but can you recall a time when you were faced with one of those decisions that was sure to change things in your life? Maybe it was a career change or a relationship change. Maybe it was the struggle to take a visible ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... in that small North Carolina town, a miracle of love. It all sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it? A little bit of food stretches into a great deal of food. Today’s lesson takes place near the Sea of Galilee. As seas go, the Sea of Galilee is quite small, only 13 miles long and, at its widest, 8 miles across. To have some quiet time for himself and his disciples, Jesus had crossed over to the other side of that body of water. But, as we noted last week, the people followed Jesus in great crowds. They ...
203. Grounds for Blessing
Matthew 13:1-23, Luke 8:1-15, Mark 4:1-20
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... are seeds from the black mustard plant that grows still today in Israel. [Note to pastors: you can buy these black mustard seeds online at the Jerusalem store or you can use any mustard seeds that you can find in your store.] The seeds of the black mustard are quite tiny as you see. This particular mustard, which is used in culinary recipes, is called the sinapis (brassica) nigra. It can grow to be 12-15 feet tall. As we noticed in our study last week, Jesus uses a lot of farming metaphors. It’s as if the ...
204. Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... echo of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus and a foreshadowing of his own death and resurrection to come. The story is a harsh one, and Jesus is boldly accusatory of the Jerusalem elite. But it’s a story we still need to hear today. It’s quite possible that some of those priests in Jerusalem thought they were doing “enough.” They thought that following the “law” would take care of their access to reward. But Jesus says differently. It is our hearts that God most wants to see warmed to others. Charles ...
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... a new one was instituted. That brief “nowhere” time …that was liminal space. Not political? Think of something more familiar. Adolescence –that strange time we’ve all experienced (or may still experience), in which we leave childhood behind, but haven’t yet quite entered adulthood. We’re not a child. We’re not an adult. We’re a teen…..or tween. Developmentally….that’s liminal space. It’s strange. It’s uncomfortable. It’s a time of change, and a time of journey toward somewhere ...
206. The Family
Genesis 37:1-36
Sermon
Will Willimon
... to put a few others into long robes with full sleeves. I know what it is to wear the long robe with full sleeves. Mine fits quite well. Oh, but unlike Joseph, my robe is not a sign of patriarchal favoritism. No, I worked for this long robe. I earned it. If I ... a dream, a dream that is ''added on'' to the normal, humdrum course of an ordinary family's life. Things might have gone quite uneventfully if it had not been for the added nuisance of a little brother and his arrogant, pushy, Martin Luther King ''I have ...
Sermon
Mark Ellingsen
... God, is future-oriented. He can change and does change (see Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:14). He is always creating new good. He will not quit that habit in heaven or at the end of time. The Hebrew God does change. What is perfect can change! Let’s now return to our ... of time, we’ll all have the task of serving God in worship, or praising him and his Son. The book of Revelation makes it quite clear. Heaven is not a static and dull place. We’ll all be busy in heaven. We’ll all be busy here on earth when ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... and there were, not just one baby brother, but two baby brothers. Twins! Bobby's dad looked down at him and said, "Now, aren't you glad you prayed?" Young Bobby hesitated a little and then looked up at his dad and answered, "Yes, but aren't you glad I quit when I did?" So often when we pray aren't we trying to change something, whether it be the natural processes of nature or the results of some deed or misdeed that we have performed? Or perhaps we may pray for somebody that we wish God would change. I read ...
209. The Taught Can
Mark 8:31--9:1
Sermon
George W. Hoyer
... matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Are we aware of what time it is? There is a time to be taught and a time to do. Quite clearly for the disciples this was a time to be taught. Mark relates the call of some of the first disciples early in his book. He ... the appointment of the twelve as apostles and tells of how Jesus sent them out two by two on a mission. But it is quite clear that Jesus regarded these days chiefly as classroom days. All the world's population was to become his pupils, but for the time ...
210. Fire Wood
Luke 12:49-53
Sermon
John G. Lynn
... those times when the fires of love grow frosty and the ice of boredom replaces the fire of passion. The chill of ambivalence often caps over loyalty and devotion. This is part of the human condition. It is quite natural to cool down. It is quite natural to have ice form on our loyalties and friendships. But it is quite beyond nature to have a burning need for the word of God. The prophet Jeremiah had it. To the people of his time, living their cool lies and dreams, Jeremiah called out, "Hear the word of the ...
Sermon
Stephen M. Crotts
... in little ways." The snap is gone. Sex becomes routine. She can't remember a tender time. He can't recall her support. So they quit trying together. Two single men were talking. One remarked, "If I ever get married I want a wife who is an economist in the kitchen ... 14 warns, "Make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires." This is a road block we next crash quite brazenly. Expedite Estrangement. Encounter. Empathy. Enjoyment. And now, expedite. David actually sent for Bathsheba. And she came to his ...
212. Whispers From A Dream
Daniel 7:1-14, Daniel 7:15-28
Sermon
Thomas G. Rogers
... and importance of this dream. In our day and age the word "dreamer" is often used in a rather derogatory sense to describe someone whose head is lost in the clouds -- an idealist out of touch with reality. In the prophet Daniel God's saints experience quite a different kind of dreamer. This "dreamer," this one with "visions in his head," is a true visionary. He is the one who can see beyond appearance to reality. He sees beyond events to ultimate meaning. This dreamer moves God's saints of every age beyond ...
Sermon
Thomas G. Rogers
... . If our hearts and minds are in Christ Jesus, where will that lead us? Just where do we find this Christ Jesus? Well, a good look at scripture's record of Jesus' life shows us that Jesus seemed to take God's revolutionary command in Jeremiah's letter quite seriously. Jesus did not seek out only those who were like him and who liked him. Instead, he also actively sought out those who did not have much love for him. He even reached out to those who were his enemies, those who did him harm. Jesus also reached ...
Sermon
Sandra Hefter Herrma
... children (and half the neighborhood, since "all you do is stay home"). What Peter is saying is, "Take heart. You're not the only one who was ever made fun of for being faithful to your spouse. You're not the only one ostracized because you work up to the quitting bell. You're not the only person who is shocked at what people do to each other. You're not the only one angered by co-workers who take home everything they need for a home office out of what the company supplies for use at work. "But be careful ...
Sermon
Richard Gribble
... well. In fact, Jesus suggests that there is little merit in loving those who will love us in return. We know how difficult it can be to love those who have not the desire nor it seems the ability to love us in return. Unanswered love can be quite draining, but Jesus asks us to try. Jesus in his life initiated a new covenant of love; the law could go only so far. Lent is a time to stretch ourselves, to go beyond where we presently find ourselves. Traditionally this discipline has manifested itself in denial ...
216. Heaven's Wait
Joshua 24:1-27
Sermon
Robert S. Crilley
... 's all. I was just waiting for you.' "I was glad to leave that house when I finally graduated high school. My father and I had a distant, formal relationship, but not much more. Eventually, though, I began to miss what we had once enjoyed -- only I wasn't quite sure how to bridge the gap. Until one day, when I happened to be home for a family reunion, somebody put on the 'Beer Barrel Polka.' As my father walked across the room, I went up to him with outstretched hand and said, 'Daddy, I believe this is our ...
217. Proper 12
Mt 13:31-33, 44-52 · Rom 8:26-39 · Gen 29:15-28 · Ps 105:1-11, 45b
Sermon Aid
William E. Keeney
... Chase. His name was written on it in green paint, but others who examined it thought he would never have written his name that way. (Reported in Art News, 84:19-20, Feb. '85.) 5. Rich but Poor. Robert Polchek won $7.5 million in an Ohio Super Lotto. He quit his $14,000-a-year job. He married his high school sweetheart and built a house on eight acres of land he bought. But friends and strangers hassled him for money. He tried to sell his house, but when people found out he was a lottery winner they wanted ...
218. Two Sons: A Parable
Matthew 21:28-32, Matthew 21:23-27
Sermon Aid
William E. Keeney
... and unexpectedly resigned. The year before he had signed a four-year contract for $28 million. He had over three years yet to go on the contract, which meant he could earn $18 million more just by continuing to play. No one was pressuring him to quit. Sandberg quit because his batting average at .238 had dropped over 50 points from his lifetime average of .289. He also had lost some of his enthusiasm for playing. He said, "I am not the type of person who can be satisfied with anything less than my very ...
219. Seeing The Unseeing
John 9:35-41, John 9:13-34, John 9:1-12
Sermon
David Belgum
... I have heard this dolefully repeated in the hospital with the assumption that this birth defect, this cancer, this curvature of the spine or glaucoma is the punishment for sin, either one's own or that of the parents or grandparents. Oh, it is quite literally true sometimes as when a crack baby suffers from the mother's addiction or some venereal disease results in a serious problem for the offspring. But just because something is sometimes the case does not mean it always is applicable. Jesus said, in ...
Sermon
Alex Gondola
... -seated spiritual hunger. It seems to me, hearing that story told by Bill Hybels about his friend, Angie Garber, that Angie has learned where to find Bread and how to pass it on. It seems to me that her life, largely empty of possessions and honors, is still quite full. Full to the brim. What Jesus offered Angie is what he offers each of us: a Savior Life Diet. He's the Savior who offers us fullness of life through him. Angie took him up on it and found Bread that sustains, Bread she can share. What about ...
Sermon Aid
Wayne H. Keller
... ? Give them time to respond. Offer one of your own. What did you think about your dropping out? What did others think about your decision to quit? Many of Jesus' disciples bombed out on him when the going got tough. When the going got tough, they chose to quit. Maybe some returned later. Make sure that they understand the reason for the disciples' departure. Conclude with a prayer for strength and courage, and for them to know that Jesus never gives up on us. Reading the Gospel Center it around the children ...
222. Advent 3
John 1:1-18, John 1:19-28, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 65:17-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Sermon Aid
E. Carver McGriff
... of self-importance and the deference accorded us clergy in most of our society does little to disarm that inclination. John quite frankly, though, made no claim to undeserved importance. He was honest enough to know who he was and who he was ... to do this. I just can't say 'thanks' for turkey again." Paul meant that I should be grateful for what I do have in life and quit feeling sorry for myself because I have a few problems and could use a little more money. And most of all, be thankful that God cares about ...
Sermon
Timothy J. Smith
... classes one of the boys would ask her about an assignment, at lunch some of the other boys would purposely sit with her. This was not as easy as it sounds, since Margaret was not accustomed to anyone talking with her on a regular basis. At first she did not quite know what to say. The boys kept at it, and after three or four weeks Margaret started to loosen up. One afternoon she even asked one of the boys about an idea for a term paper. The next step in this experiment was for the boys to start dating ...
224. You Can Be Real
Matthew 5:33-37
Sermon
Michael B. Brown
... . He promised never to fall into the same trap again. He begged for a second chance. His wife, however, steadfastly resisted his every effort to reconcile. Finally he asked, "Did you quit loving me? Is that why you won't take me back?" She answered, "No, it's far more serious than that. I didn't quit loving you. I quit trusting you." Out in the real world dishonesty is anything but amusing. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked to the disciples about the importance of integrity and told them that ...
Sermon
Michael B. Brown
... it. You were in heaven. Two of my dearest friends longed and planned for a baby. At last their prayers appeared to find an answer, and she became pregnant. For nine months all went well. A C-section was planned for Monday. On Sunday the baby quit moving. Delivery revealed that the umbilical chord had wrapped around the neck, suffocating the perfectly formed, healthy baby just one day before her delivery. It was all a matter of timing. A day earlier, a week earlier, and she would have been fine. But how ...
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