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 521 results

1. Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

... had blessed the bats and given them power, and now the team couldn't lose. The following day, the San Antonio team proceeded to beat Dallas by scoring twenty runs on 37 hits. They ended the season as league champions. True story. It was said ... day. I saw two men jump off the back of the truck, throw several bags of trash in the truck from my front drive, then proceed on. I thought, how unpleasant my neighborhood would soon become if there weren't people who were willing to do that job. They make this ...

2. The Set Face And The Turned Head

Luke 9:51-56, Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

Larry Powell

... cars at a stop sign. The car immediately in front of me was occupied by a middle-aged lady. The car in front of her was a red convertible occupied by two teenagers. Although there was no other traffic in sight, the convertible did not proceed. The occupants were leisurely adjusting the tape player, smoothing their hair, and carrying on a conversation as if they were on private property instead of a public street. After a while, the lady in the middle car, apparently thinking the youngsters were not aware ...

3. Tongue-tied By Three Zeros

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Sermon

Siegfried S. Johnson

... there be three persons, of one substance, power and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son." Say what? "Neither begotten nor proceeding?" "Eternally begotten?" "Eternally proceeding?" Is this talk confusing to you? It is to me. I know, lay folk tend to hear such talk and think, "Well, I don't understand it, but there ...

4. Behold the Blood of the Covenant

Exodus 24:1-18

Sermon

Larry Powell

... The Teacher says to you, where is the guest room where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." (Luke 22:10-12) Finding things to be just as he had said, they proceeded to prepare the Passover. When evening came, they sat at the table. So far as the disciples were concerned, they had gathered as they had done since childhood, to partake of a traditional Passover meal. The ritual was always the same. The meal would begin with the ...

5. Man Of Sorrows

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Larry Powell

... questions as to whether Isaiah was speaking of an actual person, or of Israel as a whole, or of one yet to come. We consign those arguments to the scholars whose devotion to research leads them to search out those kinds of things. We shall proceed, rather, under the assumption that our text parallels the gospels in general and the crucifixion in particular. It is Friday of the last week. The wheel of history grinds unsteadily toward the event which shall forever divide the calendar into B.C. and A.D ...

6. A Fresh Start

Joel 2:28-32, Joel 2:18-27

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... sinners, evil persons, fools, and weaklings in order to make them righteous, good, wise, and strong. Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good.”2 God’s love makes stubborn people, like those of us at the end of our rope, repent. Joel proceeded next to account all the great things that this loving God would do for the people of Judah. It is not unlike what he plans to do for you and me and for our society. He said, in the Name of the Lord, that the army of the north ...

7. When You’re Free (In Christ), Sacrifice Is No Burden!

Matthew 10:24-39

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... you and me. I need that comfort. You need it too, right? That word of comfort sets us free. Start there. Nothing else about our purpose, about living as a Christian, makes much sense, if you forget this word of comfort and the freedom it affords. Jesus proceeded with another word like that. In verses 29-31, he reminds the disciples and us that God the Father is in control of all things, even in control of where sparrows fly. But Jesus adds if God watches the sparrows that closely, he will certainly do the ...

8. The Power of the Wilderness

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... cocoon of metamorphosis, when you are in the “wild,” cocooned from the world, set apart to be alone with God, you are in a cocoon of change. We always emerge from “wild places” a changed human being. [Take your preferred prop in hand –and proceed demonstrating “friction”] [Exp 1: Take a match and light it.] I’m going to take a moment and show you something. As I’m striking this match, this little piece of cardboard coated with phosphorus comes in contact with the potassium chlorate on the ...

9. Hear, Hear

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

Paul W. Kummer

... classroom. The professor shouted, "You fool! If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, ... at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall. The young man who had stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room and share his faith in Jesus for the next half-hour. All the students stayed and listened ...

10. Table Manners

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... had taken too long. The King upbraided the man and fired him on the spot. Having done that, he turned to the Bishop for Communion. But the Bishop refused to proceed. He saw that the King was still angry. Realizing the Bishop was right, the King called for his servant, apologized, and restored the man's job. Only then could Communion proceed. Part of good table manners is extending graciousness to the other guests. As we have been forgiven and welcomed by God, let us forgive and welcome each other. The ...

11. Adoption Into God's Family

1 Peter 3:8-22

Sermon

Mark J. Molldrem

... gave up the glory of the Father, so that he might fully identify with the very people he wished to bring into his family. He became like us, so that we might know and understand the very Father who desires us all to be his children. Like any adoption proceedings, there is a cost to be paid. In our courts, there are human factors to be dealt with and money helps cover the debts. But between the heart of God and the hearts of men, women, and children there are spiritual factors to be dealt with. Here, silver ...

12. Are You Convinced?

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Larry Powell

... , a wrecking-ball or bulldozer will level it to the ground without benefit of a ribbon cutting, speeches, or assembled guests. When a marriage is dissolved, it usually is not a graceful thing to behold and rather than the community being involved in its proceedings, the community usually makes an effort to stay as far removed from it as possible. There are so many terminations and finalities about which we seem to do so very little. And then, there is the final termination - death. Even with the best of ...

13. Receive The Holy Spirit

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Larry Powell

... mornings, but there is at least one and when a new member or a new Christian is invited to the narthex to be welcomed, there is the real possibility that it could turn into an invitation to be "ignored." Please do not suggest that I proceed to chastise, shame, or even try to charm the congregation into a more congenial spirit. In the first place, I no longer pastor that congregation. In the second place, that "modus operandi" was attempted until it wore exceedingly thin. What is the invitation extended to ...

14. Just Speak The Word

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

Larry Powell

... says that all she really remembers is the way he concealed his remarks, "Ruth, there is still the leap of faith." These words, removed from that particular conversation, perhaps do not light up the darkness for you or me, but they did for her. She then proceeded to take the blind leap of faith and, according to her own testimony, has known peace in her soul ever since. Dr. Clark had spoken the healing word! Healing words - words which change circumstances, were very much a part of our Lord's ministry. We ...

15. Tears And Ointment

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Larry Powell

... her reputation, she made no excuses. Filled with emotion, she made no pretense. As a matter of fact, there is no record that she ever said anything. Confident in faith, and taking no notice of anyone or anything except the one she had come to praise, she proceeded. Faith produces confidence. Someone has told about a woman who became a Christian late in life. The deep lines in her face and dark places beneath her eyes reflected the kind of life she had lived. But, like the thief on the cross and the laborers ...

16. Led By The Shepherd

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... situations it is perhaps time to ask Jesus to lead you. And as soon as you do that, as soon as you start asking what course of action might best please God, then forget yourself. Forget yourself, and let Jesus lead the way. It is not a bad way to proceed; what do you think? The next time that you have a decision to make, maybe you ought to stop, just stop for a second, and ask yourself what God wants - really let Jesus lead. The promise of today's gospel lesson is that, to the degree that you let Jesus ...

17. How To Hear A Sermon

Micah 1:1-7

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... dressed and obviously spaced out on drugs stumbled down the middle aisle. He came to the chancel area and stopped. Everyone was filled with anxiety and suspense. What would he do? Finally, he sat down on the floor just to the right of the pulpit. The minister proceeded as if nothing had happened, but everyone still felt uneasy. Then, an elderly, well-dressed man got up from his pew and made his way down the aisle toward the young man. He carried with him a walking cane. Some people thought he might try to ...

18. The Best Offense Is A Good Defense

Zephaniah 3:1-20

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... summer. She went to the local nursing home where she was asked to read to a Mr. Johnson. She went to his room and introduced herself. She asked him how he was. His reply was “I’m all right so far.” She wondered what he meant by that expression. He proceeded to tell her a story. “I’m like the man who falls out of a window at the top of a 30-story building. Each floor he goes by, people lean out and say, ‘How are you?’ And the man replies, ‘I’m all right so far.’ ” Siegel tells his ...

19. The Upside-down Kingdom of God

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Johnny Dean

... to step two, which is the assumption that we just need more information, that something is missing that would make everything clear and understandable. So we seek more knowledge. And if THAT doesn’t work, if we STILL don’t understand and cannot accept it, we proceed to step three, which is we will either dismiss it as nonsense not worthy of our time and energy, or we will try to destroy it. It’s foolishness, a crutch for weak people to lean on. The one constant in all three phases is that our way ...

20. Time and Stewardship

Sermon

Larry Powell

... the way to the hilltop where I was piling brush. About the middle of the morning, I heard voices coming up the hill. There was no car in sight, and I not only wondered who they were, but how they got there. I turned to greet two smiling faces who proceeded to present me with copies of "Awake!" and "The Watchtower." They made their witness and found their way back down the hill. They had walked at least two and a half miles on a cold winter's day in the name of their religion. I admire that, and although I ...

21. Separation of God and State?

Isaiah 44:24--45:25

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understandings?" At the close of his address, he made a motion that hereafter prayers should be offered at each meeting before they proceeded with business. This is putting God above the nation. A Chosen People Because God is over the nations, he chooses a nation at various times to carry out a mission for him. In our text we find that God chose King Cyrus of Persia to be his ...

22. A Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

George Bass

... as a Lutheran pastor, and also because I thought my actions might be misinterpreted by my hosts. If I presented myself for a blessing, it might have seemed that I was simply patronizing my hosts. And so I stayed in my place and watched the proceedings and admired the spontaneous flow of humility and love expressed in that action. And later I realized that the "reception interlude of blessing," as I have called it, shows up our lack of humility as we Christians try to deal with one another in the hope ...

23. Chapter IX

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Frank H. Seilhamer

... usually met at a city’s gate, from its inception it was understood to have a significance that went beyond legal proceedings. Like all of the other Commandments, this one has a universal application. In its broader sense it is a call for ... , where I was laying at the time, I was able to watch him working in the kitchen. He got down two glasses, opened the bottle and proceeded to do his work. He poured out some pop, set the bottle aside (it was still about a quarter full), and lifted the two glasses to ...

24. The Peace Of Christ In A Chaotic World

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Brett Blair

... , if we should make straight the crooked, chase away demons, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, and, what is even a far greater work, if we should raise the dead after four days, write that this would not be perfect joy. After proceeding a few steps farther, and still bitterly cold, he cried out again with a loud voice: O Brother Leo, thou little lamb of God! if we monks could speak with the tongues of angels; if we could explain the course of the stars; if we knew the virtues ...

25. Christ The King

Colossians 1:15-23

Sermon

King Duncan

... for Antarctica on the very day that England declared war on Germany in World War I. At their first port of call, Shackleton wired back that he and his party were prepared to abandon their expedition. Shackleton received a one-word reply from his government: "Proceed." The cable was signed by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill. There are times when you and I are tempted to give up the fight against the forces of evil and injustice in this world, but word comes from our Commander-in-Chief ...

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