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 1 to 25 of 609 results

1. Cherish the Moment

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... an opportunity, I don’t know what is. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” If the disciples ever had an opportunity to write a postcard to their future self, I think they would have written: Cherish this moment. Cherish this moment when the Messiah, the Savior of the world, offered you the greatest opportunity on earth: “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” And I want you to pay very special attention to this opportunity because ...

2. God's Design for Marriage

Ephesians 5:22-33

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... for tenderly, to regard another person as of enormous value. Jesus said to the infant church, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Dwell in my love." How are we to love God? With heart and mind and soul and strength. That's the language of cherishing. Now, I am very reluctant to say that all wives feel a particular way about anything. I suppose you can find some wives who are exceptions to any rule. I heard a country song the other day on the radio which said, "I met all my wives in a traffic ...

3. The Surrogate

Matthew 1:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... would be there waiting, when he would return home again. It was a sign for her as well, that she belonged to someone special who cherished her overseas, even when she could get no word to him or from him for months at a time. He had a picture of her ... to time to remind him that something beautiful was waiting for him beyond the blood and the smoke, the gunfire and the trenches. She cherished that ring, knowing that it held a hopeful future for the two of them, once the war would be over. It gave her hope ...

4. How to Affair-Proof Your Marriage!

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... No chance with me!" "I've got what I want!" His love for his wife simply jams women's radar. Some experts believe man has a hormonal lack only his wife can provide with respect. And similarly, woman has a hormonal lack only her husband can provide with cherishing. If the spouse does not provide it, a hunger sets in. And according to 1 Corinthians 7:5, Satan will try to provide for it with an affair. This is what you have in the text. David is estranged from Michal, while Bathsheba's husband is absent, away ...

5. I'm Going Fishing

John 21:1-19 · Acts 9:1-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of affection. We are by nature a competitive species. While we value fairness, everyone wants to feel they have been specially chosen. Whether an adopted child, a fiancé, a job candidate, or an award winner, being “chosen” comes with a feeling of value. One feels cherished, appreciated, lauded, seen. Who wouldn’t want that! So, it was a matter of pride for the Jewish people since the dawn of the covenant that they had been especially chosen by God. When God said, “you will be my people, and I will ...

6. Prayers for Family Days

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... too often absent? We turn to you today that we might learn how best we can live with our children in the time allotted to us. How can a love, that often gets buried underneath all the other things we say and do, be expressed to those we so cherish and adore? We need a strong measure of courage to mount up the strength we need to speak from our hearts. If that day never comes, then may we "speak" our love through touches, hugs, presents, and smiles. We bring to you, O God, those broken relationships that now ...

7. Seeking What Matters

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

... manna which comes in daily supply. To that woman at Sychar's well Jesus said, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water I give shall not thirst any more." (John 4:13-14) Treasures and pearls, things to be cherished and desired, as you and I usually see them, are but pale suggestions of the supreme desirability of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is what we need. The Kingdom is for me, for you, for each person of humankind. Jesus once said (Mark 2:27), "The Sabbath ...

8. Transforming Tragedy into Triumph

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

... , and everything was changed. This man experienced the power of the Easter faith in his life. He went home and from then on visited that cemetery only once a year on Memorial Day. Christ had turned his tragedy into triumph. Christ will do the same thing for us. Cherish those memories. Draw closer to Christ. Open your heart to him. Let him give you his peace. 1. Lewis Grizzard, MY DADDY WAS A PISTOL AND I'M A SON OF A GUN (New York: Dell Publishing, 1986), pp. 113-114. 2. Bob Benson, HE SPEAKS SOFTLY (Waco ...

9. Loving The Jesus Way

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... I may have to eat them tomorrow." So, there you have it -- loving the Jesus way. I've said three things. One, to love the Jesus way, we must love enough to keep ourselves in perspective -- and that means we are neither anxious to impress, nor do we cherish inflated ideas of our own importance -- thus we are able to be humble. Two, to love the Jesus way is to love enough to be unselfish and willing to sacrifice--and that brings a willingness to sacrifice our own good and pleasure for the good and meaning and ...

10. Why Am I A United Methodist?

I Timothy 1:12-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... person of one of your former pastors. I take great comfort in knowing that we are connected around the world. We cannot do everything, but we are doing something. I cherish our partnership with the church in Perovo, Russia. We need to finish that project. I cherish our connection with Puebla, Mexico that you have heard about today. I cherish our connection with Hobson in Nashville, and 61st Avenue and other places where we try to build that partnership again. You see, no longer can we live in isolation in ...

11. The Good Husband

Isaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of the plants used in that ritual, and the rooted and powerful cedars. There is the God of “Before Noah,” and God of “After Noah.” Same God. But the God of “After Noah” made a promise –never again to destroy what He has created, always to cherish those who worship Him, not to destroy those who don’t, but to find another way to bring them into the fold. The promise to God’s people is bigger than just land, but the Lord, as Head of Husbandry, Householder, and Bridegroom Redeemer is one who ...

12. All In

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... ], let’s say Jack here is married to Karen over here. [You don’t need to use an actual couple.] Okay. If Jack vows to love, cherish, and honor Karen, he’s not going to only do it halfway, right? And Karen, she’s not going to only love Jack half the time ... worse. [Ok Jack and Karen..you’re off the hook now.] Well, that’s also how it works with God. When God loves and cherishes us humans, God doesn’t do it only halfway. God’s all in! And God doesn’t say, “Look, you’re totally not pulling ...

13. A Little Bit of Honey

Matthew 10:40-42

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... in the world that we build today in our own backyards. Like the eco-system that is our earthly home, our spiritual home must likewise be filled with unlikely people whose stories we need to learn and whose lives we need to cherish. In these, we find often our greatest gifts and our most cherished rewards. Go forth and multiply the good news of the gospel! Offer living water and Jesus’ gift of life to all you see.Not merely to those you know. But to those honey-filled people who may look gruff around the ...

14. The Intersection Of The Cross

Matthew 5:31-32

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... in their vows: "I take you for better or worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until in death we part. This is my promise to you." God intends the "come what may" unconditional nature of marriage to be ... , we hear what he is saying to us: "I take you for better or worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health, to love and cherish. You are mine, come what may. And as I have death behind me, not even death or all its fearsome force can part us. Because I live, ...

15. Prayers for the Sundays After Easter

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... wanting to say "hello." Such a simple act. Such an uplifting moment. Such a wondrous gift. How deeply touched we are, when we consider that our Master wants us to call him "friend." What a honor it is to be given such an intimate place in his life. We will cherish this love all the days of our lives and in all the tomorrows of your heaven. To Christ be all honor and glory. Amen. O God, our Creator, we thank you for life -- the gift you have given each one of us. Help us to experience and give ourselves to ...

16. In The Beginning

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Drama

Jerry Eckert

... to live on their own and some tame so that they could live with God's next creatures. "I like it!" God said. "Now let's make some helpers to protect and cherish all the creatures I have made." But remembering His own loneliness, God made two kinds of helpers that would be able to live together and reproduce and love and protect and cherish His Creation. God made men and women. "It's all yours," God said. "Enjoy, appreciate, celebrate, anticipate, care for it all. Even though it is made of the stuff of chaos ...

17. Where's The Treasure?

Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Thomas Long

... Now, where in the world do you leave a treasure like that? More fragile than silver, in a way, and yet infinitely more valuable. A treasure able to be squandered, dismissed, rationalized, even crucified. Where do you leave a treasure like that so that it will be preserved, cherished, and allowed to grow? That's what Luke wants to tell us. Luke wants to tell us the story of where God decided to leave the treasure, and this is the way he begins: "In the days of Herod, king of Judea ... " (Luke 1:5), almost as ...

18. The Nearness Of A Faraway God

Isaiah 40:12-18

Sermon

Erskine White

... would mean something to you. Her visit would be a special event and you would prepare for it eagerly. You would find that because her world is so distant and different from yours, you don't know her as intimately as you should know a sister, but you cherish every minute you spend with her because she lives so far away. But if your sister lives just down the street, her visits would be more routine. You would still love her and enjoy seeing her, but what would be so special about being with that sister? This ...

19. Wedding: Marriage as Gift-giving

Sermon Aid

John M. Braaten

... of assumptions, needs, and demands. It is to say to our beloved, "I have room for you as you are, as you want to become - not as I think you should be. Come, you will experience space and safety with me. I will receive and cherish you, just as I wish to be received and cherished." To receive each other as gift means to daily honor the freedom, and not the ownership, of the gift. A gift is always freely given, always something received that we have not earned. It can never be paid for. You are gift to each ...

20. Six Nails of the Cross I: The Nail of Pride

Mark 12:35-40

Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... with specific reference to the scribes. These were among Israel's finest. They were the epitome of a good example, and mothers cherished the hope that their sons would be like them. But Jesus said that men who despise manual labor, who court recognition with ... , a change of heart that allows God to work beneath the skin surface and rid us of our false egos. Which of us cherishes the name hypocrite, or likes being the professionally religious? Not one of us. Yet with mallet or hammer in hand, we put the ...

21. God Speaks through his Son

Hebrews 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... whose birth we now celebrate: Speak your message anew for our day; that we may hear clearly your word of love, forgiveness, and restoration which comes to each generation in the birth of your Son. In his name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Our most cherished communication, Father, is that which we receive in Christ Jesus, your Son. But we confess we do not listen too closely, much less heed what we do hear. Forgive us for our apparent desire to be deaf to your message revealed in Jesus. As we celebrate ...

22. Believing is Seeing

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Alton F. Wedel

... by the will of God was told, "I will. Be clean." And to this dying thief, another modern, came the promise, "Today you shall be with me in paradise." Astonishing! Astonishing as grace! What was it Jesus said to you? To me? When he enfolds that cherished little lamb of yours within the bosom of his Kingdom at the font of Baptism, "Your sins are forgiven." When he reaches out for us around his table, "Your sins are forgiven." When he speaks the word of promise to our guilt-stressed hearts, "Your sins ...

23. Managing Our Memories

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Leonard W. Mann

... is excellent, worthy of praise, think about these things." Let your mind dwell on them, keep them up front in your thought, make them a part of your growing, ongoing self. Be selective in the thoughts to which you allocate space in your mind. Savor and cherish what is a benediction to you. Give large mind-space to what adds to the quality of your life, to what lifts you and boosts you along. In other words, arrange your memories in the order of their usefulness in achieving the higher aspirations and deeper ...

24. An Unhappy Homecoming

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... and Myths Here is the second truth: In order for Jesus to heal us, He must first expose our sins, prejudices, and myths. That process is not pleasant. It made the folks in Nazareth fighting mad. In order for Jesus to heal them, he had to challenge some of their cherished myths and prejudices. When I was a boy of 7 or 8, I was running through a neighbor’s yard one day and stepped on a sling blade. Today’s children don’t know what a sling blade is, but it was an ancient grass-cutting instrument. My foot ...

25. Christ Shall Return

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... . Some people think as follows: if I have saved all these years to purchase a retirement place at Destin, Florida, looking out over the ocean, backing up to a golf course, surely God wouldn't spoil all that by returning before I retire! Sadly, many of us cherish our plans more than God's plans. Well then, if Christ is going to return, a legitimate question is "WHY HAS THE RETURN OF CHRIST BEEN DELAYED?" Peter gives two answers to that question in our text. First, God doesn't compute time as we do. Peter ...

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