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 276 to 300 of 439 results

276. The Ultimate Soul Food

John 6:24-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , were intended to make the hungering crowd search their spirits for their true motives and desires. Likewise, when we feel filled-up with power or contentments we should search our own spirits to make certain we are feasting on what God provides, not on what our own egos or selfish desires have cooked up. "Trust." If we are filling up on the Bread of Life, we should be able to trust in the Spirit's presence and power in our lives. It is that trust that allows us to take what appears to others as "risks ...

277. The World's Fittest Human

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... training. They are one. This is a culture that takes as much delight in putting professional athletes up on pedestals as it does in watching these icons topple off their lofty perches usually as a result of some combination of overindulgent lifestyles and overactive egos. In this respect, Tiger Woods also seems to be different from many others, at least so far. He is soft-spoken and polite, he was an excellent student, and he enjoys a close relationship with his parents, whom he obviously loves and respects ...

278. Stand Against or Walk Alongside?

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to be the Christ, in fact, he had first to empty himself. But it was not just an incarnate Christ emptied of divinity who strode the roads all over Israel. Jesus was also free from the loads all of us carry strapped to our backs - the weights of ego, of self-importance, of insecurity, of bigotry, of fear, of distrust. From a psychological standpoint, Jesus would have made a great frequent flyer. Unlike the rest of us, he never had any baggage he needed to check. Before we set out on a journey, we are sure ...

279. Anywhere Goes

Romans 14:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... They expressed hope that it was this message, as well as the music, that brought out their fans. These "rockers" also candidly admitted that the traditional rock scene was based on the often- outrageous personalities of a band's members. "It's an ego-center business," one rocker confessed. Avoiding the traps and lures of personal stardom rated high on everyone's list of concerns. But each and every one of those interviewed stressed that it was not personal popularity and success that their bands were after ...

280. The Lord Needs You

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of supernatural power. No, even more remarkable than all these occurrences is an overwhelming, indeed daunting, realization that all of Scripture reveals "The Lord needs you!" The Lord needs you? The Lord needs me? It's a pretty intimidating proposition. Anyone whose ego is only a little less inflated than a basketball feels the incredulous assumptions behind such a statement. What does a statement like "the Lord needs you" really mean? 1. The Lord: The Lord needs you? What for? The God who created the ...

281. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... for them. Jesus introduces a triune directive for his disciples - to deny themselves, to take up the cross, to follow him. The first requirement is to deny the grasping, inward-facing self, the "me-first" syndrome. Getting straight with ourselves, reigning in our ego and our urge for self-preservation, are the necessary first steps before approaching the cross. The self must shrink so that the soul can stretch. With the soul expanded we then gain the divine strength to hoist our own personal crosses. Still ...

282. Romans 12:1-8

Romans 12:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... In verse 1, Paul calls these Roman Christians "to present" themselves to God a purposive use of traditional Old Testament sacrificial language that calls for placing all of oneself on the altar as a proper offering to God. There is no room for a self-important ego in such an act. The presentation of the self as a sacrifice involves the totality of the individual mind and body, will and spirit. Indeed, to make such an offering involves a decisive act of one's own will a positive involvement in becoming part ...

283. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

284. John 10:11-18

John 10:11-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , consoling image of Jesus as the "good shepherd" as described in this week's gospel text was among the most problematic and polemical for first-century believers. John's gospel is sometimes known as the "I Am" gospel for a reason (for the "I am" [ego eimi] statements see 6:35, 51; 8:12, 24, 58; 10:7, 9; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1, 5). The straightforwardness and forcefulness of these "I am" declarations reveal glimpses of Jesus that are clearly intended to suggest his divinity. These self-disclosures stress ...

285. Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... gospel, unlike Matthew's and Luke's, now reveals that Jesus responds to this unthinking exuberance not with anger or ridicule, but with love: "Jesus, looking at him, loved him"(v.21). It is out of love, not out of some decision to squelch an ego or make an example, that Jesus reveals what is lacking in this seeker's life. Out of genuine compassion, Jesus swiftly identifies the one obstacle blocking this man's relationship with God, an overweening attachment to what can only be called "stuff." Jesus' command ...

286. A Powerful Sacrament

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... . He said on one occasion, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist . . .” (Mt. 11:11). One reason John had such an impact on people may have been his humility. He was not on an ego trip. He was genuine. He was real. And he wasn’t interested in advancing his own agenda. In fact, Mark tells us that his message wasn’t about himself at all, but about the coming Messiah: “After me,” said John, “will come one more powerful than I, the ...

287. John 11:1-45

John 11:1-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... reveals itself. Lazarus' death opened the door for Jesus and Martha to discuss the nature of eternal life. Martha's conviction that Lazarus will eventually rise "on the last day" gives Jesus the opportunity to reveal that he is that day of resurrection (the ego eimi statement of verse 25). Martha's faith is sure as she confesses Jesus as "Messiah, the Son of God" (v.27). Martha trusts Jesus' word. Mary needs to have Jesus' words put into actions. The bustling, bristling Martha lodges in Jesus' mind. But ...

288. 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... explain to the Corinthians why he chose to live and work as he did. Paul wanted to provide a personal example of the gospel at work in real life, in his life, in the real world. Throughout today’s text Paul focuses on himself, the apostolic “ego”/”I.” Yet this is far from self-centeredness. Paul insists that he and all his service is carried out because he is a “slave of Christ.” Instead of claiming his identity as a free man, Paul willingly takes on the identity of a “slave,” and refuses ...

289. Epiphany 5

Isaiah 40:1-31, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Mark 1:29-34, Mark 1:35-39

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . 31. Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 1. "I have to preach!" (9:16). Need: It is more than "I want to preach" or "I am paid to preach;" it is a necessity to preach. I may have to preach to make a living. I may have to satisfy my ego. Paul has a different "have to" in mind. It is divine necessity, an inner compulsion, rooted in his conversion and call, that makes him preach. How does this apply to the laity? Why do they witness and work for Christ in and out of the church? They, too, need to ...

290. Proper 25

Job 42:1-6, Job 42:7-17, Mark 10:46-52, Hebrews 7:11-28

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... life, but, above all, to follow Jesus to Jerusalem. With new eyes, maybe Bartimaeus saw Jesus on the cross. Old Testament: Job 42:1-6 (10-17) 1. I (v. 2). In the six verses of this lection, "I," "me," or "mine" occur 12 times. Does this imply ego-centeredness on Job's part? No, Job is responding to Yahweh's speech to him personally. It is not a case of pride or arrogance, for Job said, "I despise myself." The repetition of "I" indicates that this is a very personal experience in which Job is personally ...

291. Thorns of Grace

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... was the first conductor born and educated in the United States to receive worldwide acclaim. He was also a highly respected composer and pianist. He was truly one of the most successful musicians in American history. So he might be excused for having a massive ego. And in his younger years, he was rather self-centered. But he changed with age. Here is how he summed it up, “The painful process of growing up is simply the constant, ever-widening realization that you are not the center. It’s painful. That ...

292. A New Hope

Jeremiah 18:1-10

Sermon

James Merritt

... . To you clay may be unimportant. It may be unattractive, undesirable, or you may look at it as cheap, but to the potter, clay is more valuable than gold and more precious than diamonds. Don't let the fact that you are called clay in the Bible deflate your ego. If anything, it ought to inflate your self-esteem, because just as clay is valuable to the potter, that is how valuable you are to God. Have you ever thought about the fact that God created the world with His hands, but He created us with His heart ...

293. Your New Home

Joshua 24:14-15

Sermon

James Merritt

... is you are serving some god right now. You are either serving the true God or you are serving a false god. Everybody serves some god. Even the atheist who claims he doesn't believe in God serves some god. It may be the god of self, the god of ego, the god of success, the god of sex, the god of money, or the god of pleasure, but everybody serves some god. I heard about a little boy, named Robert, who was too young to be an usher at a wedding, but he really wanted to participate someway, somehow, so ...

294. No Intimidation

Luke 13:31-35

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... years ago what he was going to do and then he did it. The field of prophecy is an area of study, at least for one veteran pastor, remaining something of an enigma. Who knows the precious people who have been led astray by those on an ego trip contrived by Satan or disastrously, innocently wrong? Intimidation almost always seems to have a part in a sometimes-gross monster, spiritually killing and maiming. When it comes to this field, we are nudged to keep in mind that even Jesus admits only his Father knows ...

295. A Frightening Friday

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... sense of justice motivated him, he did the only thing that made sense at the time. What would you and I have done? Would we have been seriously interested in good politics? Each of us has to answer for himself or herself. It must have been quite an ego trip to have Jesus before him and be able to convict or acquit this amazing fellow. It was an opportunity made in a pagan heaven, filled with idols and self-congratulatory weapons. He had, some would call, God in his presence, the power to destroy or release ...

296. Father, Forgive Them!

Luke 23:33-43

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

... . You see, the forgiveness that Jesus prayed about from the cross is not dependant on priests or others acting as mediators. It has been pronounced by Jesus as free and available to any who seek or ask for it. It does not require you to sacrifice anything other than your ego. Who but a servant and king could offer such a gift? You and I are here today because the prayer that Jesus prayed 2,000 years ago is still being honored by God in heaven. That's why the sun shines on the good and the bad. That's why ...

297. No Box Seats in the Kingdom

Mark 10:35-45

Illustration

William G. Carter

... , W. A. Criswell, who had served that congregation for 46 years and who, despite his announcements to the contrary, showed no signs of retiring. "There wasn't room for both of us," Joel Gregory said. "The whole zoo of human ambition and power and ego is the fabric of some superchurches." A power struggle began, dividing the church into opposing sides. One day in September 1992, Gregory stunned many Southern Baptists by resigning from that prominent pulpit. There was also a divorce to throw into the mix. To ...

298. A Little Town of Great Renown

Micah 5:2-5a

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... who is to come from Bethlehem, King David's hometown. Bethlehem is mentioned several times throughout the life of David. While David is growing up, Bethlehem is dominated by the Philistines and their weapons of iron. Goliath is one giant of a Philistine with an ego to match. David is bringing supplies to his brothers in the service, when he discovers that the Philistine giant is no match for his trusty slingshot and the power of God. It is in Bethlehem that the prophet Samuel first anoints David King of ...

299. A Cloud Of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1-3

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... with God. They lift you onto their shoulders so you get closer to the Kingdom of Heaven. Conclusion It was baseball season in a small Pennsylvania town. If you know anything about Little League baseball, you know it is also a time when little boys' hearts and egos are on the line. A certain ten-year-old boy had ridden the bench most of the season. But in the championship game, his coach finally called him up to bat. The little boy's whole extended family had turned out for this very special game. His ...

300. Joshua People: Turning Worlds Upside Down

Joshua 10:12-15, Acts 17:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... each other. Guys are supposed to be tough. We're supposed to be able to shake it off and keep going. But what happens and to whom do we turn when we suddenly realize that we really can't take Anything; whe we realize that there are blows to our ego and lives that are emotionally, spiritually and sometimes physically crippling? Where do we turn? To whom do we turn? We don't have to be independent. We don't have to do it on our own. The Good News is that God wants to walk along side us through every ...

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