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 2276 to 2300 of 3926 results

2276. Faith's Curious Dynamic

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... dynamics like that, though we are more apt to identify them as mixed emotions, contradictions, or paradoxes. Any war brings more of them to the fore, but that war especially had yielded a bumper crop of conflicting feelings. For example, many of us who strongly supported our troops weren't convinced we should be fighting this war at all. But think of some other curious dynamics: * When your son first graduates from college, and applies for a good opening in a job some miles away, you may find yourself both ...

2277. Redundant Love

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... redundancy as meaning repetitive, uninspired, not creatively useful. But for engineers and technicians, redundancy is a goal and an expression of grace. Take electronics and information processing: systems must back up one another. Take structural engineering: supports must be designed with safeguards and second layers of strength and resiliency. Redundancy means that safety, stability, flexibility, and endurance are built into a system. Unusual stress on a wall or ceiling is tolerated because redundant ...

2278. Jesus Calls for Treen Christians

Matthew 13:31-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... these seasons of time that come to pass as opportunities for us to grow deeper root systems and find new sources of nourishment and strength. In fact, some trees, like the giant redwoods, develop root systems that intertwine with other trees so that they support one another in their reach for the skies. In some forests, the trees hold each up . . . literally. Roots, flowers, fruit. That's the order of treen life. Strong roots produce beautiful flowers that generate fruit for a hungry world. That's why lives ...

2279. The Purple Church

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... extremes together. That's why it won't be easy doing purple. Just like in the English language there are lots of rhymes in English for red and blue (roses are red; violets are blue ...), there are no rhymes in English for the word purple. There's lots of support for red and blue. But not for purple. Purple will cost you. When Jesus got the purple robe, he also got the crown of thorns. It won't be easy to live the cruciform life in a culture of extremes. Yoga means "yoke." And yoke means union of opposites ...

2280. Are You Willing to Be a Donkey?

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is near, but not being able to see it and so gauge the best path to take. In today's gospel text it's easy to get swept up in the celebration of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem. For once, all the people around Jesus seem to be supportive. For once people appear excited about his presence. For once the crowds are confident in his abilities. To be sure, their shouts indicate that there was still a general misconception about his true identity - he's called variously by the crowds "Son of David," "the one who ...

2281. How to Beat the Devil

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . In their ad whenever an individual confronts a difficult situation, all they have to do is reach over and push a red, over-sized, glowing button that reads, "easy." Got to pick up three kids, make dinner, finish that report at work, and be supportive to your spouse? No problem, just push the big easy button. Need to do a risky surgery never performed before? Hey, just push the big easy button. Faced with the need to balance economic growth and stability with environmental safety and the welfare of ...

2282. Night Vision

2 Peter 1:12-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ." Everyone here this morning has a choice to make. We can watch someone die. Or we can do something. I am proud of this church for choosing to do something in the tsunami relief fund (rattle off some of the ministries that your church is supporting and for which your church is sacrificing. Better yet, get people in the congregation to tell stories of how your church has Night Vision that conflicts with the vision of the world, and the compassion and justice ministries that tie your church together. 1 ...

2283. Boxing Day

Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... 's hatred, despite the worst that humans can do. Matthew isn't afraid to enumerate, even highlight, the out-of-the-box, unpredictable nature of God's presence and actions in the world. Jesus was literally born out-of-the-box. The box of a warm, supportive, extended family surrounding Mary at the birth of her first child . . . that box was nowhere to be found. The box of a comfortable home, bed, and familiar things . . . that box wasn't an option in Bethlehem's makeshift accommodations. The box of a home to ...

2284. Soren's Heart

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ALL of us), the response of faith. At this point in the apostle's life he's in prison. It looks as though he will surely die there soon. Furthermore, the text reports that at Paul's first legal hearing all those who had previously offered their support had now abandoned him - "all deserted me" (verse 16). Yet the witness of the apostle isn't the condemnation of those who left him. The witness of Paul isn't despair at his terminal condition. Rather, the witness of Paul is a confident proclamation: "the Lord ...

2285. Lost and Found

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... family who has a stake in the totality of the flock. We're family. We're the family. The Christian community, the church, is the family that owns the flock in which members sometimes stray. Whom do we send out on search-and-rescue missions? Do we support them by ensuring the continued well-being and gracious care of those who remain in the flock? Can we mount confident and courageous rescue missions? Do we really want that straying, straggling, out-of-step sheep back in the fold? Do you feel the pain of the ...

2286. Stirred, Not Shaken

Hebrews 13:1-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... re merely grinding our teeth and stiffening our upper lip until we can get home to trash those so consistently rub us the wrong way. Among those who are the most powerless, the most voiceless, who will declare to the world whether we've supported and stood beside them in their darkest hours? To those who do serve prisoners of poverty, addictions, ignorance, or helplessness, who will ever be able to testify on their behalf? The Hebrews author especially makes the bonds of sexual fidelity a matter of personal ...

2287. But Wait! There's More!

Luke 20:27-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... during his lifetime--Mr. Eternity. The name reflected the incredible impact this one man had on his fellow countrymen. Stace grew up in desperate circumstances, the son of alcoholics who left him to fend for himself. He rarely went to school, stole to support himself, worked in a variety of criminal businesses, became addicted to alcohol, and lived on the streets. But in 1930, Arthur Stace heard the message of Jesus Christ and turned his life over to his Savior. Inspired by an evangelist’s message on ...

2288. An Uncomfortable Comforter

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of the word comfort today as we traveled from the medieval world to the modern world. "Along the way, 'comfort' also acquired a legal meaning: in the sixteenth century a comforter was someone who aided or abetted a crime. This idea of support was eventually broadened to include people had things that afforded a measure of satisfaction, and 'comfortable' came to mean tolerable or sufficient--one spoke of a bed of comfortable width, although not yet of a comfortable bed. This continues to be the meaning ...

2289. Thanks Be to God

Deuteronomy 26:1-15

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... , but relative to all other nations, the obstacles and difficulties we face are minor, compared with our brothers and sisters in most lands. The needs of the peoples of the world cry out to us and we must respond. The United States has been generous in its support of other nations, but there is a need to do more. We live in a land of plenty, but despite the plentitude there are some among us who need our assistance today. The response in our local community to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged has ...

2290. For All the Saints

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , less-than-saintly behavior often surrounded these treasured relics. Collectors fought battles over these bits of petrified bone and flesh. Relics have been used to bless wars, cure illnesses, absolve guilt, and most often, bilk people out of money and support. Of course, none of us today would behave so ridiculously and shamelessly. Would we? Is there anyone who isn't a collector of something? We collect everything, from Beanie Babies to Barbies to moon machines. Sotheby's recently auctioned off ...

2291. Generations

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the US population. The 1990 census found thirty-seven million of you. So many of you share characteristics with boomers you are called the pre-boomers. Let's give this generation a hand. Here are the strengths of these two generations: 1. Who's supporting the church today? You are. One study found that 80 cents out of every dollar given to the church is by you, especially older boosters. (Bobby L. Eklund and Terry Austin, Partners with God: Bible Truths About Giving (Nashville: Convention Press, 1994): You ...

2292. Missing the Mark

1 Samuel 8:1-22

Sermon

Charles Allo

... away in college and I was youth pasturing in her home town. To say the least life was crazy for me at that point. I was deeply involved in my youth ministry and the lives of my students. I was in graduate school. And I really did not have much support as my family and close friends were several hours away in other towns. At that moment of my life, I was caught up in the movement of my life. In my head, I was thinking about all of the other situations where I got caught up in a relationship and ...

2293. Straw Polls and Soul Quakes

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... her late forties or early fifties, quite old for that day. The Spirit descended upon betraying cowards like Simon Peter and doubters like Thomas. It descended upon nationalistic Zealots like Simon and good ole boys' like Andrew. The Spirit visited the women who supported Jesus financially. It descended upon the brothers of Jesus who initially didn't believe. The Holy Spirit touched every one of them because every one of them was important. No one was omitted. Every single one of us is important and vital to ...

2294. The Real Winning Attitude

1 Timothy 6:3-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , like today's false teachers of Islam, are trying to expand their gain by gathering followers to their wrong theologies and twisted truths. By gaining followers and influence, the Pauline writer asserts, these opponent teacher greedily hope to enjoy the support – in goods and services – of the Christian community. The author of 1 Timothy characterizes them as so many first century Jim Baker's – in the religion game strictly for their own gain and aggrandizement. A young churchgoing executive was fond ...

2295. Bad or Good?

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Young tells about the time that his daughter announced that she had decided she was going to Uganda to work with Habitat for Humanity. Young said it put him in a real bind. After all, he's a Christian and he had raised her to be a Christian. He supported Habitat for Humanity. But he was also the Ambassador to the United Nations. He knew about Uganda. He knew the danger, the conflicting forces, the risk she was taking. Young says he tried to talk her out of it, but there was no changing her mind. This was ...

2296. Ever Been Robbed?

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , lowlife snake would just take my car, purse, bike, TV, cash, jewelry, computer...whatever. We work hard to make enough money to buy these things. We deserve our stuff. What's more, to what end is our stolen stuff going? The thief probably needs money to support a lifestyle devoted to drugs and alcohol and shiftlessness. And whose money isn't tight? Thievery puts a major crunch in our financial planning and lifestyle. How am I supposed to get to work with no car? I can't afford a new computer right now ...

2297. Who Put It There? (Mother's Day)

1 Peter 5:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a donor could be found. Well, it was tough on the little guy when he started school Many times he came home crying, 'I'm a freak,' when he was subjected to the stares, whispers, and taunts of the other children. He grew up learning to cope with it, supported by the love of his parents. He became an excellent student in school, graduated from high school at the top of his class and entered college to study geology. One day he received a call from his father who told him a donor had been found and that the ...

2298. The Uncloudy Cloud?

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of opportunity and open doors. These are the dreams that, when they dissolve, open us up to bitterness, hopelessness, cynicism, and faithlessness. Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was called the poet laureate of Harlem. He was the first African-American author to support himself solely through his writing. In perhaps his most famous poem, "Dream Deferred," he asks this core question about the black experience in America, "What happens to a dream deferred?" He ends his poem with a veiled warning: What happens to ...

2299. Son-burned, Wind-blown, Earth-Stained

Luke 12:35-48

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... only requirements for travel clothing. Who cares what you look like? Wear long pants with big zippers around the knees that you can zip-off into shorts if the weather heats up; Wear bright, puffy sneakers with everything to keep your feet well supported and slip-free; Wear T-shirts with expensive logos on them to every occasion; Wear multiple layers of the baggiest clothing possible; Spray all your clothing with sticky, water repellent finishes and bug-proofing aerosols; Above all, males never wear a tie ...

2300. The Spiritually Incorrect Spirit

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , "But . . . but . . . but . . . I'm from the weakest clan in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house" (Judges 6:15). God chooses Jephthah, "Jephthah, I want you." And Jephthah says, "BUT I'm the illegitimate son of a prostitute who supports myself as a highwayman. You've got to be kidding" (Judges 11). God chooses Samson, "Samson, I want you." And Samson says, "BUT I'm impulsive, violent, was married for a time to the daughter of the hated Philistines, and visit prostitutes" (Judges 16). God ...

Showing results