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

Showing 2726 to 2750 of 4950 results

2726. Acts 10:44-48

Acts 10:44-48

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... this week's installment the circle is completed with the consummation of the mission to the Gentiles. As usual the Holy Spirit's timing is impeccable. In Acts 10:43 Peter reaches the climax of his speech before the crowd of Gentile believers ... of a faithful community, barriers between these former Jews and former Gentiles disappear. Through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, now all are Christians. Relating the Texts John's epistle takes up the same theme as the text from Acts when it maintains ...

2727. John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... not to be questioned. All this sets the stage for Jesus' encapsulated pronouncement of what it is God has now chosen to do and why. What Martin Luther called "the gospel in miniature," John 3:16, stipulates exactly "how" God has chosen to bridge the chasm between spirit and flesh (vs.6): with the gift of God's Son Jesus Christ. No less astonishing is the motivation behind this act: God's love for the cosmos and every living being in it. Relating the Texts From the First Testament we have the text recording ...

2728. Ephesians 6:10-20

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Paul's analogy is fitting, for it is right that we should wear protective headgear when Christ smashes the power of death in our lives. It is only through Christ's presence on the cross and his absence from the tomb that we enjoy salvation. The Sword of the Spirit is an offensive means at the disposal of all Christians when confronting enemies. The word of God is also compared to a sword in Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is alive and active. It cuts more keenly than any two-edged sword." God's presence ...

2729. Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of the fully cognizant Christ, a point made obvious in verse 9 when Christ affirms “See, I have come to do your will." Christ's obedience is in fact threefold, Hebrews maintains: first, the very act of incarnation, then the willingness of his spirit to become the ultimate sacrifice for sin, followed finally by the actuality of that sacrifice. Previously the sacrificed ones, the animals or even the cereals, had no foreknowledge of their deaths, and certainly had no free will to decide whether they would be ...

2730. Acts 9:1-20

Acts 9:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... longer an outsider persecuting the Church - he is now a true brother in Christ. And while his vision's words did not make the source of Ananias' healing ability clear, Ananias himself knows better than to take credit for such a miracle. The Holy Spirit, Jesus' presence here on earth, is the source of this healing and thus will fill Saul at the moment of Ananias' touch. The entire community at Damascus is apparently as accepting and trusting of Saul as was Ananias. This former enemy is immediately baptized ...

2731. Acts 8:26-40

Acts 8:26-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... fold of the church. Philip's readiness and Peter's reticence are strongly contrasted by these two traditions. The Acts 8:26 account begins in a manner similar to Old Testament stories about Elijah. Just as the venerable prophet often found himself literally "spirited" away to new places and situations according to Yahweh's purposes, so does the evangelist Philip. From Samaria, Philip is told by "an angel of the Lord" the precise path he is now to follow. This heavenly personage not only tells him where ...

2732. Luke 1:39-45 (46-55

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ordained purpose for their pregnancies places them into a new sphere of influence that of the religious-political history of Israel. Elizabeth's final comment to Mary offers both further praise and final reassurance. The angel Gabriel announced both Mary's Spirit-induced pregnancy and the previously barren Elizabeth's surprising condition. But the angelic messenger had not told Mary to "go, run and check this out." While Mary demonstrated her faith by asserting "let it be with me according to your word ...

2733. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Corinthians into some bland homogeneous conglomerate. Today's text begins by establishing the common root out of which all these gifts and graces grow. In 12:12-13, Paul locates all Christians whatever their particularities in a common experience: "... in the one Spirit we were all baptized ..." (v.13). This common experience overrides all else. Even the most basic social separations such as race (Jew or Greek) and status (slave or free) wash away in the waters of this baptism. The "water" image is stressed ...

2734. Luke 8:26-39

Luke 8:26-39

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... he needs. Legion knew immediately of their impending doom, for they beg Jesus not to "order them to go back into the abyss" (v.31). This "abyss" was the designated place of punishment and imprisonment for demons (Revelation 20:1-3). As an unclean spirit it was only natural that Legion request relocation into one of the most familiar unclean symbols swine. The presence of a nearby herd once again reminds us that Jesus is in the midst of Gentile territory. Surprisingly, Jesus grants Legion's request. When the ...

2735. 2 Timothy 1:1-14

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... his second Roman imprisonment, Paul became convinced that this time there would be no escape, no reprieve from the judgment of his pagan captors. Convinced that this prison term would end with his death, Paul's writing in 2 Timothy reveals that his spirit has remained firm. His faith in the eternal nature of the life he had gained "in Christ" was unshaken by all his suffering. In this second letter to Timothy there is, however, an emotional urgency evident, a heartfelt appeal present that testifies to ...

2736. Romans 1:1-7

Romans 1:1-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Son of God, but rather Jesus in his fleshly (sarx) humiliation and weakness vis-á-vis Jesus raised in power and glory. The Son of Man, born of David's lineage in Bethlehem is powerfully revealed as the Son of God through the Holy Spirit at his resurrection. Paul thus provides in these brief comments (vv.3b-4) a soteriological matrix that spans the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of "Jesus Christ our Lord" (v.4). Admittedly, the language is theologically difficult because in these comments one can ...

2737. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Instead he blurts out a confession of faith that must have stood as a faith expression for the entire Johannine community: "My Lord and my God." Verses 30-31 closed out John's Gospel at one point in this book's history. If the gift of the Holy Spirit (vv.22-23) did not have a clear Christological intent, John now makes the message of Jesus' messiahship the resounding final chord in his book. The doubts of the hesitant have been played out for everyone to see in the story of Thomas. Now what should be the ...

2738. Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Christ's suffering for our sake expressed. Instead, this text focuses on God's sovereignty. Everything has been accomplished according to God's good plan. God is the one who saves Jesus Christ is the one God acts through in order to effect this salvation. The Holy Spirit's presence is the final evidence that salvation has been accomplished. Christ's role while crucial to God's plan is not the author's primary focus here. This writer is not as concerned with how salvation has come to be but from whom it has ...

2739. John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... every pearl Jesus drops is immediately rooted into the mud. Having failed to grasp lesson number one in verse 3, Jesus now offers lesson number two in verses 5-8. Picking up on Nicodemus' own reference to literal birth, Jesus offers the images of "water and Spirit" to help clarify his meaning. For the gospel writer's audience both in the first century and today Jesus' words clearly seem to be a reference to baptism. But they must have been familiar to Nicodemus on another level if they were to be a helpful ...

2740. Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... touch. Her healing is finalized by the restorative words Jesus speaks to her. Jesus proclaims this woman a "daughter" of Israel once again no longer to be judged an unclean outcast. In addition to wellness in body, she is to enjoy a wellness in her spirit. Jesus blesses her and enjoins her to "go in peace" a peace that includes physical health and a full, healthy relationship with her God and her people. But even as this healing is successfully completed, Jesus is challenged by what appears to be a failure ...

2741. Revelation 1:4b-8

Revelation 1:4b-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the "seven churches" suggests that he intended all the churches of this region as the recipients of his message. John next follows the standard Pauline opening, offering "grace" and "peace" with an early and eloquent trinitarian reference. Instead of any simple "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" listing, this writer recalls the mysterious and powerful language of Exodus 3:14 to name God. The "I am who I am" identity of the divine is reclaimed by John's designation of God as the one "who is and who was and who is ...

2742. Learning to Listen

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... the power to change your life. In today’s reading from John 14, we hear Jesus tell his disciples that he’s not going to leave them desolate, when he dies. When he dies and returns to the Father, he’ll send them the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Counselor, the Advocate. An Advocate in Jesus’ day was one who spoke on your behalf in court. They represented you. We’ve usually understood the Advocate who Jesus sends as our Advocate, the one who speaks on our behalf. Now Jesus does tell ...

2743. Love that Kneels

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... practice during Advent. The church in its wisdom knows that it is precisely what we don’t like to do that we need to do. It knows that, if we impatiently rush to the manger, we won’t see God in the baby lying in it. Waiting gives the Holy Spirit time to remove the darkness in us so we can see. Eight days after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took him to the temple for his dedication. When they arrived there was a man there named Simeon. He’d been waiting on God’s Messiah, who would bring salvation ...

2744. No More Static Cling!

John 20:10-18

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... from Lazarus’ cave tomb. Then he called him by name, “Lazarus, come out!” Jesus instructed those who were present to unbind him of the burial cloths. What better way to see what we are called to do when we follow Jesus’ lead and are inspired by his Spirit. We who have been raised from our own cave tombs now join Jesus in rolling away the stones of others, biding them to come out into life that is abundant and eternal, unbinding them and setting them free. The good news of Easter is that there is no ...

2745. Easter 3

Luke 24:36-49, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Acts 3:11-26

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... be refreshed. It is like the refreshment of a cold drink on a hot day or like a shower after a hard day's work. To be forgiven brings new life to us. The burden of guilt is dropped. There is a renewed sense of God's acceptance and the Spirit is increased. Here are hope and comfort for sin-wearied people. 4. Blotted (v. 19). Here is a wonderful word concerning the fate of your sins. For Jesus' sake, God blots out our sins when we return in repentance. It is as though Jesus were a cosmic blotter which God ...

2746. Epiphany 2

John 1:43-51, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, 1 Samuel 3:1--4:1

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 's sexual perversion – a. Consider your body as a member of Christ's body v. 15. b. Reverence your body as a temple of the Spirit v. 19. c. Glorify God in your body v. 20. 2. Is your body your private business? (6:12-20). Need: Your body is you ... for the Lord." (v. 13) Outline: The body was meant for – a. Morality vv. 13, 18. b. Oneness with Christ v. 15. c. A temple of the Spirit v. 19. d. Glorifying God v. 20. WORSHIP RESOURCES Psalm Of The Day: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 "I praise you, for I am fearfully and ...

2747. Proper 10

Mark 6:14-29, Psalm 24:1-10, 2 Samuel 6:1-23, Ephesians 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... for us in the completion of your grand design in Jesus Christ. Amen PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND COMMEMORATION Almighty God, in Jesus Christ, you taught us to pray, and promised that what we ask in his name will be given us. Guide us by your Holy Spirit, that our prayers may serve your will and show your steadfast love; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Creator God, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Order unruly powers, deal with injustice ...

2748. Proper 16

1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43, Psalm 84:1-12, John 6:56-69, Ephesians 6:10-20

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... to speak the truth as we see it with love and not arrogance. May our own peace of mind and trust in your providence be an example for those who are confused, depressed, or anxious. Great Physician, heal our illnesses and disease of body, mind, and spirit. No earthly sanctuary, even the most magnificent, can match the eternal sanctuary that your Son is preparing for us in order to be close to and with you, Eternal Parent. We rejoice in the security of those you have already taken to yourself and pray that ...

2749. Proper 21

Esther 7:1-10, Esther 9:20-22, Psalm 124:1-8, Mark 9:38-50, James 5:13-20

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... . People: We will hallow the sacred name in this sanctuary and wherever we go. INVOCATION We are your servants, O God, come to receive our instructions from you as revealed in your written word and exampled in the life of Jesus, your Son. Let your Spirit empower us in our worship and in our daily service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen PRAYER OF CONFESSION Most powerful Judge, you hear the outcry of the powerless who are defrauded by the rich. You know without our telling you that we have frequently ...

2750. Proper 23

Job 23:19, 16-17, Psalm 22:1-31, Mark 10:17-31, Hebrews 4:12-16

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... . Give us patience in the face of opposition and ridicule, and strong faith in the face of doubters. As Christ intercedes for us before your throne, we intercede also for the sinners among whom we live as well as for ourselves. May your Living Word, the Spirit, both convict us of sin and convince us of your forgiving and renewing grace. Amazing it is! Renew our strength day by day and give healing and health to those absent from us because of illness or accident. May the Christ grant healing to our bodies ...

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