Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: touch, feel, sense of touch, tactile sense, tactility, contact, using one's hands, sensation, sense, suspicion, sneaking suspicion, notion, inkling, hunch, fancy, apprehension, presentiment, premonition, foreboding, love, care, affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, warmness, emotion, sentiment, emotional state, compassion, sympathy, empathy, fellow feeling, understanding, concern, solicitude, solicitousness, tender-heartedness, brotherly love, sensibilities, sensitivities, self-esteem, ego, pride, opinion, belief, view, impression, intuition, instinct, estimation, guess, theory, hypothesis, thought, way of thinking, point of view, atmosphere, ambience, aura, air, mood, climate, character, overtone, undertone, tenor, spirit, quality, flavour, colour, aptitude, knack, flair, bent, talent, gift, skill, art, trick, faculty, ability, propensity, inclination, sensitive, warm, warm-hearted, tender, tender-hearted, caring, soft-hearted, sympathetic, compassionate, empathetic, responsive, receptive, intuitive, thoughtful

Antonyms: bad feeling, acrimony, animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, bitterness, detestation, disgust, dislike, disrelish, enmity, friction, grievances, grudges, hatred, hostility, loathing, malevolence, malice

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2726. The View from Cloud Nine

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... fog![1] But whether fog or clouds, the manifestation of this state of weather taps into our metaphorical imagination, infusing us with a sense of fascination, mystery, and a sense of the supernatural. Watch a suspense movie, a ghost story, or any story with an air of mystery, and you’re likely to find fog, clouds, or storms. There’s nothing like a cloud and fog filled marsh to stimulate our sense of supernatural anticipation. But the movies aren’t the only place we revere the clouds or use their ...

2727. Memento Vivere

John 12:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... us a memory of a time and place. Have you ever had a time when a certain smell of food wafted past your nose, reminding you of home or a dish that your mother used to make? Or perhaps the scent of fresh grass or something familiar in the air can take you back to a significant memory in your life, a wedding, a funeral, a relationship, a trauma. Our senses help us remember. Jesus, in his most difficult moments, will remember this act of devotion and worship, comfort, and love, and I have to imagine that her ...

2728. Glowing Network

John 14:23-29

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... yourself, letting your faith shine for others. Said Ibsen, “There is no way in which you can benefit society more than by coining the metal you have in yourself.” He was right. No Christian can bring anything of true value to his world by putting on airs, by denying the grace of God within, or by keeping the power of the Spirit locked up. Pious hypocrisy is of no benefit to the world. We’re always eager to talk about the worst in society ― corruption, greed, shams, materialism. Are we also eager to ...

2729. Wait for It...

Luke 24:44-53

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the promises that they would deliver to all who would listen in the coming times. Summer is coming! It’s the time, as we’ll celebrate soon at Pentecost, to be outdoors, to grill some BBQ, to celebrate spring, and to revel in the warmth of the balmy air. Can’t you almost smell that charcoal? Taste that brisket? Anyone ever make a great marinade and soak that meat overnight before tossing it onto the grill? The reason it tastes so good is because you took the time to allow it to soak in those spices and ...

2730. Keep On Moving

Luke 9:51-62

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... have time to argue.” “We don’t have room to debate!” They went on to another village to stop for the night. As they were going along that road, someone said to him, I’ll follow you where you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” He warned the man that following him would be no picnic. He now had many enemies, and he knew what would happen when he arrived in Jerusalem. He didn’t say, don’t follow. But he de ...

2731. As a Fire Exists by Burning

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... went well. The kids took a little of everything that was offered. Cornbread, groundhog smothered in onions (it did taste like roasted pulled pork, only a little gamier), roasted potatoes, carrots, and corn on the cob. We all might have eaten more, but the house wasn’t air conditioned and it had to be about 100 degrees in that living room. As it was, we talked, ate, laughed, and thanked Mrs. Davis profusely and the meal went on for more than an hour in the sweltering heat. Then, just as I was starting to ...

2732. For Someone of Distinction

Matthew 5:13-16 · 2 Timothy 4:1-2, 6-8

Eulogy

Richard E. Zajac

... . And when he gave you a hug, you’d feel his heart touching yours. And of course, it goes without saying that there will always be our remembrance of John as an imbiber of fine cognac and fine single malt scotch, but also cheap beer. Never putting on airs, John could dialogue with the janitor as well as the university president and he was loved by all. All in all, John Buerk’s life, in a metaphorical way, followed the script of the movie A Field of Dreams. When John was very young, he heard God tell ...

2733. For Someone Remembered by Many

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 · Matthew 16:13-20 · Mark 14:7-9, 10-12

Eulogy

Richard E. Zajac

This Is Your Life [Tell of whose voices might have been heard and the stories that might have been told, had the deceased been the chosen celebrity.] Those of you sporting a bit more gray than I may well recall the television show This is Your Life. It aired from 1952 to 1961. Its host and producer was a fellow by the name of Ralph Edwards who upon a stage would greet an unsuspecting celebrity who had no idea as to what was about to transpire. Edwards would introduce him or her to the audience and then ...

2734. The Art and Agony of Patience

James 5:7-10

Sermon

Heather Sugden

... out loud, creating the best possible environment for a new baby. Of course, a due date is not a promise. A baby’s due date is an educated guess, made by medical professionals with train-ing and experience. They do not pick a date out of thin air, or with the assistance of a crystal ball. But even medical professionals realize that babies come in their own time. I can remember having a conversation with a woman much wiser than myself during those early days of my first pregnancy. She asked me lots of ...

2735. God Is Like...Bread

Joel 2:23-30 · John 6:25-35

Sermon

Kenneth L. Gibble

... we heard in our Old Testament lesson of the morning. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God (Joel 1:2-6a). The people called Hebrews believed their god was the giver of every good gift and of life itself. The air they breathed, the food they ate ― all of it came from the hand of the Lord. One of their poets put it this way: [Lord,] You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, and wine to ...

2736. Where's the One?

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

... work, knowing that if the answer were easy we wouldn’t find ourselves in the place we are in virtually every city in America. Bad news, ugliness, feeling overwhelmed and beaten up, not good enough, not compassionate enough, not adequate enough, such sentiments seem to be in the air and water these days. For me, it was a dog that almost pushed me over the existential edge. It was a stray dog that threatened to paralyze my hope and make me want to throw up my hands and give up on striving to make the world ...

2737. The Great Divide

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

... got cake on their hands, icing on their lips, and they laughed. They called each other by name and were worn completely out when it was time for bed. Some headed to bunk beds with matching sheets and comforters in color coordinated rooms and some to air mattresses in Sunday school classrooms with tables pushed aside. All were and are beloved by God. The divide didn’t feel so great, the chasm not yet fixed. My daughter hugged the birthday boy’s sister and asked if they could play together again. “Sure ...

2738. The Spirit Blows Where It Will

John 3:1-10

Sermon

Will Willimon

... notepads ready to receive our assignment for the week. “Now this week, church, I want you to work on your sexism, racism, materialism. Come back next Sunday, I'll give you another assignment." I remember growing up in the South, in summer, before the days of air conditioning. How, when chores were done for the day, in the evening, everyone would gather on the porch and rock, and talk in an attempt to escape the heat. And the leaves of the trees would rustle. And the talk would cease. And everyone would ...

2739. Soul Food

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

We have become, for the most part, very visual people. We watch body language, study facial expressions, look at moving pictures and stare at live-action shots in order to absorb what is happening. We would rather see a motion picture than read the book, watch the news than pick up the paper, and turn on television than turn to one another for quality communication. Everywhere you go, it seems that people are trying to take advantage of and make the most of this visual society. Many dentists’ offices are ...

2740. On the Art Of Listening To Sermons

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

I cannot imagine a more difficult place to preach than the setting of this parable-sermon. Although they were not out to get him, this surely must have been one of the toughest audiences Jesus had to face, outside of the religious establishment who were not receptive to much of anything he had to say anyway. The assembling of these people is handled in a rather matter-of-fact way by Matthew in his telling of the story. He says simply that they came to the beach where Jesus had gone to relax for a few ...

2741. It's Performance That Counts

Matthew 7:15-23, Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

Nothing aggravates me more than buying something that does not work when I get it home. Whether it is purchased at a local store or through the latest mail-order catalog, if the item does not live up to its advertised promises, I feel cheated. Most people do not mind spending money on those objects of their desiring, some of them necessary, others frivolous, provided they live up to the expectations which were made on the packaging. At one time or another, I suppose, we are all tricked by the slick ...

2742. Doing Our Homework

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

Whenever the “new” bumps up against the “old” there is bound to be friction. It happens within the community where we live. Someone -- an elected leader or would-be community change agent -- comes along with a new idea, seeing new possibilities for the future, and there is a vocal hesitation. “Why should we change?” the long-time residents complain. “Things are just fine the way they always have been!” The inevitable conflict grows between those who advocate change for a different way of living in the ...

2743. Moving Words

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

On the surface, this reading from Matthew’s gospel is a strange sounding, and somewhat puzzling passage. It is one we could easily dismiss since it is specifically addressed to the original 12 disciples. The text is part of a lengthy chapter detailing the instructions Jesus gives to those 12 prior to that first “missionary” effort. Since this appears to be a private tutoring lesson for Jesus’ small class of first century followers, we excuse ourselves from paying attention to the words. What could they ...

2744. How’s That Again, Jesus?

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

A misguided bird gets loose in the sanctuary and every eye in the congregation drifts toward the ceiling. Never mind that the choir is continuing to sing the anthem they have been working on for weeks just for this special occasion. The lost bird has totally interrupted the proceedings and besides, most would have to admit, its flight was much more entertaining. “I was so afraid that bird was going to land on your head -- but I’m sure the choir understands,” is the comment heard from a number of people at ...

2745. Give Me A Break!

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Larry Goodpaster

Jesus was having one of those days! You know the kind of day when nothing goes exactly the way it was planned. The kind of day when staying in bed seems to be an option that should have been taken the first thing in the morning. The kind of day when the only words spoken to you, or at you, are words of criticism and sarcasm. The kind of day some of us have far too often. That was the kind of day Jesus was having. The picture of that day is painted for us by Matthew in the opening verses of the 11th chapter ...

2746. Chrysostom's Commitment

Matthew 10:1-42

Illustration

Larry Goodpaster

Chrysostom was the patriarch of Constantinople in the fourth century. One of the stories surrounding this faithful witness concerns the occasion when the Roman emperor had him arrested and charged with being a Christian. If Chrysostom did not renounce Christ, then the emperor would have this Christian leader banished from the kingdom. Chrysostom responded to the threat by saying that the emperor could not do so, "because the whole world is my Father's kingdom." "Then," replied the emperor, "I will take ...

2747. A Marching Mission

Matthew 10: 24-39

Illustration

Larry Goodpaster

I played in the high school band before the days of flag corps, rifle drill teams and dance routines. Everything depended on the band and its abilities and talents in playing and marching. Every week we had to learn an entire new set of songs, to go with our new marching formations to be performed at half time of the football games. We all received our instructions early in the week and then practiced them until we got them right. They were not always easy: count time, play the music, step out on the ...

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