Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: take action, take steps, take measures, take the initiative, move, make a move, react, do something, proceed, go ahead, behave, function, perform, operate, work, take effect, serve, be efficacious, play, play a part, take part, be an actor, be an actress, be one of the cast, appear, pretend, play-act, sham, fake, feign, put it on, bluff, pose, posture, masquerade, dissemble, dissimulate, deed, action, gesture, feat, exploit, performance, undertaking, maneuver, stunt, operation, venture, effort, enterprise, achievement, accomplishment, law, decree, statute, bill, Act of Parliament, edict, fiat, dictum, dictate, enactment, resolution, ruling, rule, judgement, canon, ordinance, proclamation, command, commandment, mandate, measure, stipulation, direction, requirement, division, section, subsection, portion, part, segment, component, bit, turn, routine, number, item, piece, sketch, skit, playlet, dance, song, pretense, false display, show, front, facade, charade, guise, affectation, appearance

Antonyms: do nothing

Showing 1 to 25 of 161 results

1. Communion Is Repentance

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

... of Christ, our Lord, we do so on bended knee." It is quite fitting and proper that we kneel in the presence of our God. But the posture of the body should only be indicative of the position of the heart. Don't come to the Lord's Altar with pretense - pretending that you have no sin to turn away from, because you do. Don't come pretending that you are worthy of this sacrament, because you're not. Don't let your attitude be of a pretentious nature, but of a repentant nature. When you come to the altar, be ...

2. The Natural Look

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... order to be a grownup in the church or in the world I had to be sucked in, propped up, coiffured, powdered, and adorned, replacing the natural look with the powdered look? At a moment that is meant to invite intimacy with God, I was instead donning layers of adult pretense in order to play adult games. I think that if I had it to do all over again, I would much rather bask in the natural glow of Moses than mimic the made-up machinations of Barbie. If there was such a thing as an Oscar for the best actor ...

3. Affirmation and Alienation

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

... human situation has not changed. Some people know what is right and still do wrong; then try to hide or cover up, seeking someone to blame rather than seeking a blessing from God. There are two things we can do when we stand before God and others stripped of our pretense, our piety, and our false righteousness. One is to try to hide our shame, to try to hide from God. The other is, instead of looking for someone to blame, we can look to Jesus who has come to save us. Jesus is the expression of the God who ...

4. Let Not Thy Will Roar, When Thy Power Can But Whisper

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... ’s a word on which we can reflect for a long time. It is a graphic word designating for me common extremes to which we go in responding to life and seeking to cope. One extreme is to adopt a victim mentality; the other is a pretension to strength and sufficiency. The two stances are portrayed in our Scripture lessons from the Psalms and Proverbs. Look at them. The psalmist’s complaint is forthright. He clearly sees himself the victim and he paints a pitiful picture. Listen. “I am gone like a shadow ...

5. The Crime of Christmas

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

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is that it has more than one, and our protest starts out too simple. Christmas is a complex cultural possession. ... The problem is how to keep clean in the welter of it all - how to distinguish the valuable cultural extension of Christmas from the pretense, the true branch from the tin." The real "crime of Christmas" is "not that it distracts us from Christ, but that, Christ being inextricably involved in Christmas, it debases him. The Incarnation put the mystery of God's presence into our hands. We are ...

6. Humvee Holiness and Humble Holiness

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... ’s just a rundown of the terrors of the last two weeks. Yesterday, the day after “All Hallows Eve,” is known in the liturgical calendar as “All Saints Day.” “All Saints” is a celebration and commemoration of those who were never about pretense, but who devoted their lives to expressing true faithfulness and genuine piety. The church lives, not by the majesty of its beliefs but by the manifestation of its manifold witness through the magnificence of its “communion of saints.” Who are these ...

7. A Call To Community

Acts 16:6-10

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... two granddaughters. This man loved nothing better than to sit in his rocking chair, smoking his pipe. He would rock and look dignified as he read his paper. Invariably, though, his granddaughters would come rushing in with their boundless enthusiasm and energy. He couldn't resist them. All pretenses of formality would be swept away. "Hello, Mr. Mayor," they would cry out, as they hopped up in his lap. The girls would rock and rock on his lap, and "Mr. Mayor" would just beam with pride and joy. Sometimes the ...

8. Two-and-a-Half Cheers For Hypocrites

Matthew 6:1-2, Matthew 6:5-6, Matthew 6:16

Sermon

Thomas Long

... tell this story because of its profound insight into all of us. We are all pretenders, hypocrites. None of us is so worthy as to merit God's favor; our religion is a mask we hide behind. But God is gracious and redemptive in spite of our pretense. Perhaps, then, Jesus reprimands the hypocrites because only a sharply pointed rebuke can poke a hole in the hypocrite's facade, allowing just enough light of the gospel to stream through with the news that every human being longs to hear: that when the applause of ...

9. Tears And Ointment

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Larry Powell

... of them hatefully snapped at her; "Who do you think you are anyway, so high and mighty all of a sudden? You're nothing but an ugly old woman!" To which the woman (like the woman of our text) made no apology, explanation, excuse, nor pretense. She only smiled confidently and replied, "Yes, but isn't it wonderful that God can love an ugly, old woman like me?" There is no substitute for the confidence produced by faith. There was ointment. It was precious. There were tears. They were precious, too. Mingling ...

10. Giving Your All

Mark 12:35-40

Sermon

Erskine White

... in the temple, but they are still the same scribes Jesus knew. They may not wear long, luxurious robes today, but they wear custom-fitted suits and solid gold watches. They may not devour widows' houses, but they devour their Social Security checks. They may not make a pretense of long prayers in the public square, but they do it in front of the camera, to show off their piety and their closeness to God. Jesus wasn't impressed with the scribes of His day and I'm sure He isn't impressed with the scribes of ...

11. The Grace of Disillusionment

Matthew 26:69-75

Sermon

Robert Bachelder

... . Karl Menninger writes that a suffering conscience can bring about an experience of repentance which leads to a higher level of life. This certainly was true for Peter. Peter’s disillusionment with himself in the hour of crisis demolished all his vain pretensions. Then, like the publican, he could only cry out with agonized sincerity: Have mercy on me, a sinner. In humility he could begin to recognize his utter dependence upon God. His eyes were opened to see the God whose grace and judgment had ...

12. Herod Antipas

Luke 13:31-35

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

... love you; but I shall obey God rather than you, and while I have life and strength I shall never cease from the practice and teaching of philosophy." Socrates drank the hemlock and died in regal dignity. Herod Antipas represents much of the modern world: sham and pretense. "The first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible," sniffed Oscar Wilde. "What the second duty is, no one has yet discovered."2 We think semblance is all that really counts. We judge by size of the automobile or value of the mink ...

13. Someone Greater Than a Prophet

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... by fire. And it can mean suffering, the fiery trials and persecutions and ordeals which many experience. Let us consider the greatness of the Jesus who purifies by fire, who cleanses the soul of its dross by his incisive critique of our pride and pretensions. Let us envision the divine Son, who knowing firsthand what the Heavenly Father's will is, challenges all our flickering loyalties and fading allegiances to his bigger cause. But let us also behold a Christ who burns through many of the popular images ...

14. Hypocrites

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

Brett Blair

... tell this story because of its profound insight into all of us. We are all pretenders, hypocrites. None of us is so worthy as to merit God's favor; our religion is a mask we hide behind. But God is gracious and redemptive in spite of our pretense. Perhaps, then, Jesus reprimands the hypocrites because a sharply pointed rebuke can poke a hole in the hypocrite's facade, allowing just enough light of the gospel to stream through with the news that every human being longs to hear: that when the applause of the ...

15. Why Jesus Likes Sinners

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... with some justification. But listen to the prayer of the tax collector. Standing far off, he would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." I can almost see him, can't you? No illusions. No pretense. He knows what he is and what he has done. He is so ashamed that he cannot even look toward heaven. His prayer is an honest one. "Be merciful to me, a sinner." Jesus said the tax collector went back to his house justified, but the Pharisee did not ...

16. Pretenders

Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

King Duncan

... when Christians begin their diet." Ash Wednesday is about more than giving up chocolate for Lent. It is about examining ourselves in the light of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. And the central question which we ask ourselves this night is, Which is it: Pretense or Performance? It's fun to watch little children play pretend. It's wonderful to live in the world of their imagination. Across the Internet came a gross, but hilarious story of a mother who was trying to pack for vacation. Her 3-year-old daughter ...

17. Proclaimers Of The Gospel

Philippians 1:12-30

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... . What was that passion? There it is in verse 12. ‘I am made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment and am much more bold to speak the word without fear.’ ‘So, what then matters - only this – that in every way, whether by pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed.’ Verses 12 and 18. Paul knew something that you and I need to know, and in this whole section, especially in that 18th verse, Paul laid down, perhaps inadvertently, three great principles. We can proclaim the gospel anywhere ...

18. As Real As It Gets

Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... to three men who said they wanted to follow, but gave reasons why they couldn't do it then. Let's look at these three men and their excuses. I. A Victim of Impulsiveness The first fellow was a victim of impulsiveness. No one ever followed Jesus under false pretense. He made it clear that the demands were tough. Let's read verses 57 and 58 again: As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have ...

19. They Lied and They Died

Acts 5:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... lesson. If you will take care of your character, you can let God take care of your reputation. I have learned another lesson. When character is more important than reputation, purity will be more important than popularity. b. Their Method Was Pretense The root of their sin was pride; but the fruit of their sin was pretense. You see, the sin was not in the giving; the sin was in the lying. When they sold this property, they didn't have to give all of the money, they didn't have to give part of the money ...

20. A Guide for Growth

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... not open enough to allow other people into our worlds, to challenge us, o call us into question, to identify our phoniness, to tear way our masks, and cut through our pretensions. “We make ourselves a place apart Behind light words that ease and flaunt, But O, the agitated heart Til someone really finds us out.” (Robert Frost, Pretensions) We need human relationships in which we know and are known. Lacking such relationships we play games of hide-and-seek with one another. If you don’t believe that ...

21. Do Not Forget Your Servant

1 Samuel 1:4-20

Sermon

Robert A. Hausman

... but unlike the popular abuse of this language, it is cautious in its vision. It says, do not be alarmed. The end is still to come. This is only the beginning of the birth pangs. It is about God's ultimate judgment over all human pretense. Empire, with all its pretense and brutality, lacks permanence. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. All will be thrown down in the end. In the midst of this human failure, the gospel calls us to trust in a God who is faithful to God's promises. Our ...

22. Sin

Romans 7:15--8:13

Sermon

Will Willimon

... when you no longer need to wear a mask, or put on an act of being someone better than you really are. You are free because someone else has loved you, as you. It is an infinite relief to at last be rid of all those pretensions and illusions which have made one restless and unhappy for so much of lives. So Paul said, not only that he couldn't understand himself -- this war within him, this battle between his will and his actions -- but also his momentous, liberating discovery that, ''There is therefore ...

23. Depart from Me

Luke 5:1-11 · Isaiah 6:1-8

Sermon

Will Willimon

... for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'' Here, under these great arches, in singing a great hymn, our defenses crumble. Our pretensions become as nothing; and we recoil from the gaze of the One who is so good, so just, so holy that we fall to ... enough to accept my advanced social ideas? Will I get an all-electric parsonage?'' The words thundered forth, obliterating my pitiful pretension: Never forget, the ones you were lucky enough to serve are ones for whom He died. And I said, ''Depart from ...

24. A Maturing Faith

Acts 16:16-40

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... was announcing that Paul's group was promoting the way of salvation. Actually, though, this woman was being used to achieve financial gain by her owners. Haven't we seen that in the church today? People too often carry the banner of Christ under false pretenses. It is not difficult to turn on the television these days and find a televangelist who purports to being committed to spreading the gospel. Then you learn later that it's really all about money. They live in million dollar homes and drive Cadillacs ...

25. When Self-esteem Gets Out Of Hand

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

... reason to feel miserable about himself, for he was a tax collector with all the disreputable baggage that weighed down the position. But he looked at himself honestly and made no excuses for his numerous misdeeds. He prayed briefly, earnestly, sincerely. He made no pretense of giving thanks. He had no list of good deeds that might cause God to look favorably upon him. Nor did he recite a long litany of specific misdeeds which he had committed. One sentence was his prayer, but that one sentence showed more ...

Showing results

Antonyms: do nothing

Showing 1 to 25 of 161 results

1. Communion Is Repentance

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

2. The Natural Look

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

3. Affirmation and Alienation

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

4. Let Not Thy Will Roar, When Thy Power Can But Whisper

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

5. The Crime of Christmas

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

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

6. Humvee Holiness and Humble Holiness

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

7. A Call To Community

Acts 16:6-10

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

8. Two-and-a-Half Cheers For Hypocrites

Matthew 6:1-2, Matthew 6:5-6, Matthew 6:16

Sermon

Thomas Long

9. Tears And Ointment

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Larry Powell

10. Giving Your All

Mark 12:35-40

Sermon

Erskine White

11. The Grace of Disillusionment

Matthew 26:69-75

Sermon

Robert Bachelder

12. Herod Antipas

Luke 13:31-35

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

13. Someone Greater Than a Prophet

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

14. Hypocrites

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

Brett Blair

... tell this story because of its profound insight into all of us. We are all pretenders, hypocrites. None of us is so worthy as to merit God's favor; our religion is a mask we hide behind. But God is gracious and redemptive in spite of our pretense. Perhaps, then, Jesus reprimands the hypocrites because a sharply pointed rebuke can poke a hole in the hypocrite's facade, allowing just enough light of the gospel to stream through with the news that every human being longs to hear: that when the applause of the ...

15. Why Jesus Likes Sinners

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

King Duncan

16. Pretenders

Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

King Duncan

17. Proclaimers Of The Gospel

Philippians 1:12-30

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam