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 2926 to 2950 of 4770 results

2926. Heresies of the Heart

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... we must address this heart disease and work to eradicate it. In this complex, open-ended, multiple-choice age we rarely dwell on the established doctrinal foundations of our faith. Even less do we seriously entertain the notion of genuinely heretical views undermining the sanctity of those foundations. In its past the Church has been inflamed by "heretical" doctrines that challenged proscribed ways of thinking about God and God's relationship to humanity. Today those who lost the historical battle with the ...

2927. Used Tombstones

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a depository for the granite husks its believers do not need. In order to qualify as the owner of a used tombstone, however, Christians must catch the excitement of a resurrection faith. Peter and the beloved disciple caught on quickly when, after viewing the abandoned tomb, they believed not in human grave robbers, but in God's most miraculous grave robbing activity in all human history. Conversely, Mary Magdalene, when confronted with the same evidence, could only perceive a lost opportunity to mourn at ...

2928. The Bonds of Love

1 John 4:7-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... " when trying to come to that crucial decision - balancing what they have to offer against what the intended has to give. As mature adults it is true that we take into account moral and intellectual values, ethnic and religious heritage, political and social views when making a decision for or against commitment. For most of us this boils down to "like attracts like." However, it is also true that men and women still operate on two very separate tracks. Men are much more influenced by physical appearance ...

2929. In Christ, or in a Jacuzzi Jesus?

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and situations which appeared impassable before suddenly take on different hue. Once we are "in Christ" we are outside the pettiness of our previous self-absorption. "In Christ" we no longer are forced to see relationships and responsibilities from a "human point of view." To be "in Christ" has an ecclesial as well as an individual and eschatological dimension. Romans 12:5 makes explicit the connection between being "in Christ" and being "one body in Christ." We are given a new set of relationships not only ...

2930. The Dawn's Early Light

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... patriotism as "a quality that bound men and women to their homeland without confining philanthropy to a single nation." "Of this patriotism," wrote Wilberforce, "Christianity is the copious source and the surest preservative." William Wilberforce, "A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professional Christians in the Higher and Middle Classes, Contrasted with Real Christianity - London: T. Codell and W. Davies, 1797), 395-396. Perhaps some of Wilberforce's convictions stemmed in part from ...

2931. Love Is for Nothing

John 6:24-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... nothing outside of itself. We love simply for the sake of loving, for nothing else and for no other reason."(97) The act of loving and the relationship of loving is its very own reason. We do not love others, for example, in order to get grace. To take this view would be to import a reason outside of the relationship of loving to justify why we are loving; and if this were the case, then we would not really be loving the other but rather using the other as a stepping-stone to our own grace. To love another ...

2932. No Green Without Red

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... : Harmony Books, 1989) was nominated for many of the world's major literary prizes. In an interview on "Nightwatch," Amis was asked what it was like to have for a father (Kingsley Amis) a famous novelist known for his rather quirky and old-fashioned views about life and women. The son responded that he expected people to "read at red alert" when they approached his writings. He too frequently found himself "reading at red alert" about those issues that he cared deeply about. The church needs more disciples ...

2933. LightWorks

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... doorposts ..." the Shema. Rolled up inside the mezzuzah is a scroll inscribed with Deuteronomy 6:49 and 11:13-21 on one side, and the single words Shaddai (Almighty) lettered on the other. A small window in the mezzuzah allows the word Shaddai to be viewed from the outside. In an observant Jew's home a mezzuzah is hung on the doorway of every room, welcoming and reminding all who enter the home that the Lord's presence is there. A mezzuzah functions somewhat like a display sign on a business, proclaiming ...

2934. Gutsy Joy

Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... I can simply fill it up again." Is the bucket always being emptied or always being filled? It is the old question of "is the glass half-empty or half-full?" poignantly pictured. But does it really make any difference how you see the glass, how you view that bucket? If you are thinking theologically, the answer is a definite "yes." We must choose sides. This sermon, taking its cue from Nehemiah, helps you make that call. Clearly, for the people of God, the glass is half-full. The bucket is being perpetually ...

2935. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... toward oneself - and subjective toward all others." Coulda, woulda, shoulda thinking has gone overboard the other direction. Subjectivity towards the self is replaced by hypercritical, impossibly perfectionist standards that guarantee our inability to measure up. 0thers, meanwhile, are viewed as problem-free and successful in each and every way that we are not. Coulda, woulda, shoulda thinkers have taken to the extreme the words of a church bulletin board sign: "Make peace with one's neighbors; make ...

2936. Healing in His Wings

Acts 14:8-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... for healing. More often than not, it was this tendency that got Jesus in trouble with the authorities and even with his own disciples. Eating and drinking with tax collectors, preaching and walking among the street rabble were generally viewed as demeaning and worthless activities. When Jesus spent time with Zacchaeus, he was criticized roundly for such "wasteful" behavior. Entering fully into a healing relationship does not therefore insulate us from other hurts. We should be prepared for gossip, criticism ...

2937. A Go-Ahead God

Mark 16:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... first!" situations. If we had lots of brothers and sisters to contend with, of course, sibling rank usually determined which "me" actually got to be "first." "Me first" was a screech we learned to utter when ice cream was brought out, the pony rides came into view, someone was being chosen to sit up front, or it was time to tell a story. We screamed "me first" because we wanted the best selection, the biggest piece, the rarest color, and because we wanted to be the focus of attention, center-stage, the envy ...

2938. I Love You, Man... And I Don't Want Your Beer

John 15:9-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... religious person are rarely of someone declaring with great sincerity, "I love you, man!" Instead, the most prevalent image is of a narrow-minded, self-righteous soul proclaiming, "I judge you, man!" or "I condemn you, man!" How tragically different is that vision from the view presented by Jesus in today's gospel text. Caught up in itemizing our brother's faults or our sister's sins, the church has become best known as a "toe-the-line" community. Instead of being defined by love, we have become defined by ...

2939. Written in Red

1 John 5:9-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... across the TV screen. The "news" has become so grisly and graphic both in words and in pictures that many communities have clamored for and received from their local stations specially toned-down "family-rated" versions of the news that are deemed acceptable for viewing by young children. We are a society saturated in blood. In the movies and on the news, in our sports and on the screen, blood sells. After a hiatus of many years, where the only books with blood in their titles were books about vampires ...

2940. Armageddon Anxiety

John 6:56-69

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the light of new insight, productivity and peace. Hillel Schwartz, in his handbook Century's End: An Orientation Manual Toward the Year 2000 (New York: Doubleday, 1990), suggests we take the "h" out of the "threat" people perceive in the year 2000 and instead view living in these times as a "treat." Schwartz counsels us all to move through a progression of end-time emotions moving from our fear of the '90s to pondering the 00, and finally to great expectations of the 01. Indeed, the pattern established ...

2941. How Do You Sell A Vacuum Cleaner?

Mark 7:31-37

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , Part II." A woman stands next to the vacuum cleaner. She is a bit nervous as she stands near it. Then a friend walks up. Steve: Hey, what's up? How are ya? Shirley: (she is startled and leaps in front of the vacuum to block his view of it) Uh, fine ... yeah ... great, fine. Steve: (he notices her "blocking") Hey, that's cool. How's English LIT 212 treating ya? Shirley: (still blocking) English 212? Well, it's, um, you know – Steve: Watcha got there? Shirley: (she blocks as he swirls, bobs and weaves ...

2942. A 24-7-365 God

Hebrews 7:23-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... serious stargazing for a whole generation of readers and wonderers. He taught our children that, in his words, "If you wish to make an apple pie truly from scratch, you must first invent the universe." But despite the cosmic scope of his views and helpful impact of his inquiries, Sagan was an old-fashioned "show-me" scientist. He refused to concede any points or accept any propositions unless they could be "proved" according to the established Newtonian rules of modern scientific inquiry. It was this ...

2943. The World's Fittest Human

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... even transforming the entirety of a human being. Translating Allen's training regime into a believer's attempt to "train in godliness" is natural and unfolding. 1. Heart Training or Endurance Routines: Remember that in the Hebrew Scriptures the "heart" was not viewed as the location of our emotions (that was usually the bowels). Heart training must focus on building endurance, not mere emotionalism. To be able to love God and love neighbor takes a constant, steady stream of commitment. Mark Allen urges his ...

2944. The Widow's Might

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a temple treasury set up to perpetuate a religious life and cultic style that Jesus declared bankrupt. But what happens if we let the scales fall from our eyes? What happens if we use a set of standards not based on monetary values or worldly success ratings to view this text? We see a devoted woman not afraid to give all she has to God. We hear Jesus proclaim that this widow has made a genuine sacrifice, has given her "whole life" because of her faith. We look ahead to a vision of Jesus hanging on a cross ...

2945. Mazing Grace or Amazing Grace

Isaiah 42:1-9

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... camp survivors. We were sickened - and demanded justice. - After watching peaceful civil rights demonstrations in the '60s broken up by water cannons and police dogs, we were ashamed - and demanded justice. - After the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City, we viewed the carnage and the wreckage and we were terrified - and demanded justice. - After seeing her weep crocodile tears for her "kidnapped" children and then learning Susan Smith herself had drowned her young boys, we were enraged - and demanded ...

2946. Get Real

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... When Samuel sat reviewing that parade of Jesse's sons, he was tempted to use all the old "Get Real" standards in order to pick a new king. But God reminded Samuel that the divine perception of reality differs significantly from our limited human view. When Samuel stopped using just his eyes and relied instead on the spirit of God, he immediately "saw" that the "ruddy," harp- playing, dancing shepherd-son of Jesse offered the spiritual strength and leadership that Israel would need from its next king. It is ...

2947. Sleep Loose

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... daughters are probably better at receiving love than we are. Children receive love graciously and unselfconsciously. For adults, it is more difficult to relax and "sleep loose" in the offer of God's love after we have spent the day keeping our vulnerabilities tightly locked away from view. We can accept that God is love, but it is far more difficult to accept that God is love for us. The joy and bliss of the Holy Spirit is ours. 6. Join the cloud of witnesses Paul invoked the presence of "all the saints" in ...

2948. The Four R's

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... same grains of sand create a particular pattern or design that helps tell the story of our lives. The church, of course, is steeped in ritual. Protestant churches may seem rather less concerned with formalized ritual. And some denominations are taught to view rituals suspiciously, deeming them a superstitious substitution for true faith and genuine piety. But as long as a ritual reaches our hearts and speaks a message to our souls, it enriches the soil necessary for faith. R #3: RELATIONSHIPS The third ...

2949. One Breathwork, Many Bodyworks

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... tribalism work together in our postmodern world. Instead of seeing others as threats to our own heightened sense of tribal protectiveness, we must be like the disciples on Pentecost and wholly enter into the tribal contexts of others. Tribalism of the past has viewed the tribalism of others as a danger an organized threat to our own tribe. Tribalism of the global future must see members of other tribes as worthy of dignity and respect and as capable of offering something positive and significant to our own ...

2950. Freedom in Bondedness

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... its touch-down point, your perspective changes, and the rainbow's end has moved again. In modern psycho-speak, there is a tremendous amount of energy being focused on the whole issue of "self-esteem." Carl Rogers was among the first to popularize this view as he called for the need to "actualize the potential" of one's self through "unconditional self-regard." This psychologically based school of thought has even borrowed the short-form Torah that Paul cites in today's epistle lesson and claims that Jesus ...

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