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 2751 to 2775 of 4456 results

2751. Proper 13

Psalm 17:1-15, Romans 9:1-29, Matthew 14:13-21, Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Genesis 32:22-31 is the account of Jacob's fight with God at the Jabbok River, while Psalm 17:1-9, 15 is a psalm of lament that ends with words of confidence. Genesis 32:22-31 - "A Story of Transformation" Setting. An interpretation of Jacob's struggle with God at the Jabbok River requires that we look briefly at the larger context of the Jacob cycle and return to a topic that was introduced in the opening lesson on the Jacob cycle—namely, the power of names in the shaping of the ...

2752. Changed Lives - Mary Magdalene

John 20:10-18

Sermon

King Duncan

A pastor went to a nursing home to offer communion to the residents. This was not one of those upscale places called a retirement center. This facility was for the poor and its residents were mostly in various stages of dementia. When the pastor arrived she was told by a volunteer, who was wheeling patients into the room, that since it was late afternoon, everyone’s medication seemed to be wearing off. Some would sleep through the service as usual, but for the most part, her little congregation would be on ...

2753. Who Are We, Really?

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

King Duncan

There’s an old story about a small church out in a rural area that needed a pastor to fill in for a time. So they contacted a nearby seminary. The seminary sent a student who had never been outside of the city. When he arrived at the church, the student preacher was shocked to see a hound dog seated on the second row next to the church’s lay leader, a crotchety older man who was known to run off young student pastors. In a heat of righteous indignation the young preacher headed straight toward the dog. He ...

2754. Saving Private Ryan

Acts 1:8

Sermon

James Merritt

Steven Spielberg recently directed a powerful movie entitled, "Saving Private Ryan," which was a box office hit. Though I have not seen the movie, and do not recommend that you see it, because of the foul language, the plot of the story is extremely powerful. A group of soldiers is given the responsibility and assignment of saving one single soldier, by the name of Private Ryan, after his three brothers were killed in the war. Their job was to rescue this one soldier and get him back home to his family. ...

2755. Jesus: The Hope of a Godly Family

Psalm 127:1-2

Sermon

James Merritt

In 1947, fifty years ago, the imminent Harvard sociologist and historian, Karle Zimmerman, wrote a book entitled, Family and Civilization, in which he compared the disintegration of various cultures as the family life declined in those cultures. He discovered eight specific patterns of domestic behavior that signaled the downward spiral of each culture. Marriage loses its sacredness...is frequently broken by divorce. Traditional meaning of the marriage ceremony is lost. Feminist movements abound. Increased ...

2756. Fatal Attraction

Matthew 5:27-30

Sermon

James Merritt

A teacher was working with a grammar lesson and she said to one of her students, "Willie, what is it when I say ‘I love you, you love me, he loves me?'" Willie replied, "That's one of those triangles where somebody gets shot." Well, it used to be a situation where somebody would get shot—with a gun. Today it's a situation that gets shot with a television camera. Television refers to adultery, to sex outside of marriages, 13 times more frequently than it mentions intimacy between a husband and a wife. There ...

2757. On Trusting the Work of God

Mark 4:1-20

Sermon

George Reed

Jesus spoke to the people in parables about the reign of God. He compared it to the plant life that was all around them, to wheat fields and mustard plants. The growth of the reign of God in the world is like a plant that may start out small but can grow and become a magnificent place for shelter. It happens like the farmer who plants the seed but the growth comes when he is not looking. He participates in it but he doesn't know how it actually happens. The growth comes and he participates in and enjoys ...

2758. Wild Beasts

Genesis 9:8-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

As Lent begins let your congregation reflect not just on the private, individual journey to the cross, but on the cosmic, communal nature of God's redeeming activity. This Sunday marks the first Sunday of Lent. Lent is traditionally thought of as a special period of time, once again forty days, set aside for introspection, self-denial, prayer, and study as the events of Passion week and Easter Sunday approach. As Christians we should find ourselves journeying towards the cross, drawing nearer week by week ...

2759. John 11:1-45

John 11:1-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The raising of Lazarus is a remarkable story, and not only because of the event it records; the Johannine author's ability at weaving this lengthy story together is a wonder in itself. The story works on so many levels at once that any reader can look forward to exploring this text again and again in search of buried treasure. John perches the story of Lazarus' resurrection at the pinnacle of Jesus' miracles or signs. The first 12 chapters of John's gospel are referred to as the "Book of Signs." Within ...

2760. Excellence in Giving

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

In today’s lesson Paul talks about “excellence in giving.” It’s tough to talk about giving when the country is going through uncertain times. I don’t know how you felt as you watched the stock market meltdown last fall. For some people it was a very helpless feeling. Some of you watched the money in your retirement accounts slowly disappear. One guy said he took a kind of Zen attitude towards it all. He started off with $50,000 Zen he had $40,000, Zen he had $30,000, Zen he had... Another man said his ...

2761. Easter 4

Psalm 23:1-6, John 10:11-18, Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 23:1 First Lesson—Peter in his preaching identifies Jesus, raised from the dead, as the rejected stone recovered to be the cornerstone of the church. Acts 4:5-12 Second Lesson—John writes of love made real in truth and in action. 1 John 3:16-24 Gospel—Jesus identifies himself as a good shepherd who gives his life for the salvation of his flock. John 10:11-18 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Approach God ...

2762. Easter 4

Psalm 23:1-6, John 10:1-10, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:13-25

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 23 First Lesson - Mutual sharing, as well as a common faith, is an essential factor in the growth of the infant church. Acts 2:42-47 Second Lesson - Peter advises Christians that they can have God's approval for patience like that of Jesus when suffering unjustly. 1 Peter 2:19-25 Gospel - The shepherding of Jesus Christ is sincere caring and not hypocritical religious professionalism. John 10:1-10 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: ...

2763. Proper 22

Matthew 21:33-46, Psalm 19:1-14, Exodus 20:1-21, Philippians 3:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 19:1-14 First Lesson - Here are recorded ten great commandments to govern our relationship with God and our neighbors. Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Second Lesson - Paul finds his new life as a Christian to be much more valuable than his previous life and career. Philippians 3:4b-14 Gospel - In this parable Jesus sets his whole mission in death and resurrection as a conundrum for his opposition to ponder. Matthew 21:33-46 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ...

2764. Easter 2

Psalm 16:1-11, John 20:19-31, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 16 First Lesson - Peter calls Israel by his bold preaching to believe the apostolic witness of the resurrection of Jesus. Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Second Lesson - Even those who were not first-person witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus can love the one unseen and have salvation through their faith. 1 Peter 1:3-9 Gospel - Thomas and all doubters are invited to believe in the Risen Christ. John 20:19-31 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: ...

2765. Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8, Matthew 5:21-37, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter--Psalms 119:1-8 First Lesson--The choice to obey or not to obey is the choice ultimately to live or to die. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 [OR] The wise man seeks to define the line of responsibility between the human will and the will of God. Sirach 15:15-20 Second Lesson--Cooperation, not divisiveness, is a sign of maturity. 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Gospel--Jesus, the law, and the prophets expect respect not only in outward conformance to the tradition but in reconciliation of differences with others. ...

2766. Get Real

John 15:1-11, 16

Sermon

James Merritt

Her name is Deborah Ricketts. If you ever go to the movies, you will often see her handiwork though you will never see her. She is never listed in the credits, although she ought to get credit for a lot of what you see in the movies. What is her job? She is an independent researcher for the film industry. For anyone who wants their movie to be truly authentic, not fake, the movie to be accurate and the facts to be reliable, all you have to do is send your script and a sizeable check to this former ...

2767. Be Reconciled — To Christ and Others

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Sermon

Richard Gribble

The train clanked and rattled down the tracks one lazy summer afternoon as I traveled from Kyoto to Tokyo. My car was relatively empty — a few housewives with children in tow and a few older folks going to or returning from shopping. At one station the doors opened and suddenly the quiet of the afternoon was shattered by a man who began to bellow violence and incomprehensible curses. The man was big, drunk, and filthy. As he yelled, he swung at a woman carrying a baby. The blow sent the woman into the lap ...

2768. A Little Town of Great Renown

Micah 5:2-5a

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

The name Johann Sebastian Bach has been familiar in church music circles for many years. Bach inscribed all his compositions with the phrase, "To God Alone the Glory." Professor Peter Schickele of the fictitious University of Southern North Dakota discovered an obscure relative, P.D.Q. Bach, known as the most bent twig on the Bach family tree. The name Bach had always been associated with fine music until P.D.Q. appeared on the scene. This fabled genius, P.D.Q. Bach, was referred to as "the worst musician ...

2769. A Crib, A Cross, And A Cave

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

True story. A United Methodist pastor was asked to conduct a a graveside service for a member of his church. The only problem was, the cemetery was more than an hour and a half away from the church. The pastor wasn't feeling well so he decided to ride with the Funeral Director in the Coach. By the time they arrived at the cemetery, the flu had invaded completely and he said he felt like the Chinese Army was having a pogo stick Derby on his head and stomach. Feverish and sick, he made it through the service ...

2770. First Class Freedom

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Freedom. Freedom is the last word spoken by Mel Gibson in the epic movie Braveheart. It is also the first word spoken when he voiced the character, Rocky, in the claymation movie "Chicken run." I've always liked the irony and humor of that, even though I'm not sure anyone else ever noticed. Freedom, it's what we celebrated with parades and fireworks yesterday. Freedom, it's what makes this Nation so unique. In a sense, it's what brings us here today. Our freedom of religion allows us to gather and worship ...

2771. The Challenge Of Generosity

Malachi 3:10, Luke 6:36-38

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I want to read a little book to you by one of my favorite children's authors, Judith Viorst. I have enjoyed her stories and the adventures of Alexander and his brothers. This is another one of those and it's entitled: Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday. (Read the Book out loud) Alexander needs to change doesn't he? He needs a better understanding and stewardship of money. A lot of us are like Alexander. We know the old saying "Money talks" is true because ours keeps saying "Good-bye." So what is it ...

2772. The Gift Unwrapped

Luke 2:1-20

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

There was a Dad who decided that Christmas was going to be different this year. Dad called a family conference and challenged his family to get more into the true meaning of Christmas and not buy into the commercialism. He asked them be more mindful of their time together and to limit their spending on gifts for each other and friends. He talked about getting along and establishing a loving atmosphere in their home. Like a High School Coach just before the big game, Dad brought the speech to a crescendo ...

2773. In You and Through You

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

In the book, How To Find Out Who You Are, Nelson Price reports that 15 prominent college professors took this challenge: "If all the books on the art of moving human beings into action were condensed into one brief statement, what would that statement be?" The result of their deliberations were four statements: What the mind attends to, it considers; What the mind does not attend it to, it dismisses. What the mind attends to continually, it believes. What the mind believes, it eventually does. If you ...

2774. God's Whatever

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

"Whatever!" It's a mantra of today's world. Behind that one word, that neck thing they do, the rolling of the eyes and the tone of voice what's really being said by many people is: "Do what you want, it’s not like you're going to listen to me anyway, or if you do, what are the chances you'll understand what I'm saying? Whatever!" There's a lack of hope and a I could care less attitude. I don't know where it comes from. I'm not sure the professionals even know. But we're living in a "Whatever" society. And ...

2775. Getting Real

Genesis 22:1-14

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Sometime back there was a brief news report about a youth director of a local church who was fired because he had duct taped one of the unruly boys to the wall of the gym and left him there. The pictures you see are of kids and adults who consented to being duct taped to the wall not for punishment purposes but as fund raisers. The Darwin awards came out this week and the winner was James Elliot. When his 38-calibre revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach, California, ...

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