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 4947 results

276. Paul's Longing to Visit Rome

Romans 1:1-17

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... his grace to me was not without effect” (1 Cor. 15:9–10). The consciousness of being God’s chosen instrument is further established by set apart. Paul’s election was understood not as a general truism (e.g., that all people are loved by God), nor in a sense of national pride (e.g., that most peoples consider their nations to play a unique role in history). Like every Jew, Paul knew that God had chosen men and women in the history of Israel to do his particular will (e.g., Jer. 1:4–5). Set apart ...

277. The Resurrection Body

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... the resurrection of the dead and the end. Finally, verse 58 issues a concluding exhortation that extends from the full range of eschatological teaching that Paul offered in chapter 15. 15:50 Verse 50 introduces a new idea or line into the reflection. In a sense, the concern is the same as that named explicitly in verse 35a. Now, however, as Paul re-presents the issue, quite naturally, from Paul’s statement that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, one would ask, “Then how? How are the dead ...

278. The Writing on the Wall

Daniel 5:1-31

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... The root tʿm means “taste” here, but it has a wide range of meaning. It occurs in 2:14; 3:12; and 6:14 with the sense of “discretion.” Elsewhere in Daniel, tʿm means “decree.” In 6:2 (6:3 MT) it means “account” or “report.” In 3:10, 29; 4:6 ... . The second phrase does not fit and is most likely not original. The NRSV rightly omits it. The NIV tries to make sense of it by moving it up to the first occurrence: “King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—.” But it ...

279. Daniel in the Den of Lions

Daniel 6:1-28

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... the law, sins of the parents were visited on the descendants to the third and fourth generation (Exod. 34:7). There was a sense of corporate guilt in early Israel, which is illustrated by the stoning of Achan and his family after he took illicit spoil from ... possibility of loss to the king. 6:5 The word dat, law, is a Persian loanword. It is used in 2:9, 13, and 15 in the sense of “penalty” or “decree.” In 6:8, 12, and 15 (6:9, 13, and 16 MT), it refers to the “law” of the Medes and Persians (a ...

280. Daniel’s Vision of a Man

Daniel 10:1--11:1

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... was detained there) is difficult to translate. It really means “I remained there,” or “I was left there,” but that hardly makes sense, because the angel who is speaking did not stay behind. On the contrary, he escaped and went to Daniel. It was Michael who ... now,” left untranslated in the NIV. This word is problematic because it usually means “henceforth,” which does not make sense here since Daniel will not be without strength from this point forward. Maybe we should take it to mean “just now ...

281. The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:1-14

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... promises (11:13), John moves the reader along a mythical path that finds its reality in every age. Such conflict characterizes the church’s ongoing pilgrimage to the promised land. (4) Finally, the very movement of this second part of the interlude is controlled by a profound sense of time. It is something like an inverted hour-glass, so that the first act is played out over a period of seven years (11:2–3), followed by a much shorter second act of three and a half days (11:9, 11), and climaxed by an ...

282. The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

Revelation 16:1-21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... them. The second and third bowls of wrath are poured out to destroy the sources of water and so of human life (Exod. 7:17–21). According to the trumpet judgments, only one third of the water was destroyed; now, the devastation is total. The sense John conveys is one of intensified urgency, even of a fatalism that the world’s rejection of Christ has made its salvation a real impossibility. The blood, which has polluted the waters, carries an ironical meaning: on the one hand, Christ’s blood purchases a ...

283. The End Times

Daniel 12:1-13

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... of 1,150 (8:14). Using a 30-day lunar calendar yields 1,260, which is close to the second figure of 1,290 days (12:11). A solar calendar of 365 days produces 1,278 days, which is even closer to 1,290. For an attempt to make sense of all three numbers, see Goldingay, Daniel, pp. 309–10. In 1895, H. Gunkel was the first to propose that these numbers are attempts to predict the end (see H. Gunkel, Creation and Chaos in the Primeval Era and the Eschaton: Religio-Historical Study of Genesis 1 and Revelation ...

284. Praise to God for a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:1-12

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... deon, lit. “if it is necessary”), meaning “since it has to be.” The future is in God’s hands, not in ours. 1:7 That your faith … may be proved genuine (hina to dokimion hymōn tēs pisteōs): lit. “that the proving of your faith.” The sense of to dokimion is generally that by means of which something is tried, or in which it is tested (“crucible,” Prov. 27:21 LXX). Romans 5:2–5 has a similar thought, while James 1:2–3 is a verbal parallel. But James emphasizes “the testing of your ...

285. Faces of Failure: Judas Iscariot

Matthew 26-27 (selections)

Sermon

Don Tuttle

... , so to speak. If that was his motive, why did he run to the chief priests and elders with his regret? It would have made more sense to pick up the fallen flag and rally the disciples and crowd to rise in defense of Jesus. But he didn’t do that. Now there ... didn’t expect him to be killed and didn’t want his blood or anyone else’s on his hands. And it even makes sense of his suicide. Without hope, he simply gives up. What our reading suggests is that Judas betrayed Jesus because he lost hope in Jesus ...

286. Cloak of Power

Psalm 5:1-12

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... you might don it to begin… or you can shorten the sermon by beginning with Harry Potter.] The cloak, you see, was a symbol that God was with them, even when they were “up a creek without a paddle,” or “in deep water without an oxygen tank.” In a sense, God’s “breath” was in that cloak. And the words that the prophets spoke were God’s words. All the prophets had to do was “show up!” God would do the rest. But showing up was a big deal. Showing up could be a very scary thing. Showing up ...

287. Trust in Me

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... for a mission. Sometimes, we don’t have a specific message from God, or a clarity about what that mission is, but we have a sense of God’s presence. Other times, like the case with Joseph, there’s a dilemma in our lives, and God gives us a message, ... those messages in every circumstance, and we can’t be sure if it is that we are not listening, or if our intuitive sense is imperfectly tuned. Perhaps God’s voice comes especially in moments that make a difference to a huge amount of people, as we see ...

288. The First Songs of Christmas

Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:46-56

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... loudspeakers, in our worship, our hearts leap a little for joy. Let’s face it. Carols instill joy in our hearts, hope, and a sense of wonder. For at least one season of the year, we believe that the world can be beautiful, and despite many things we ... , or a broken promise, or a change of plan, a wrench thrown in your very orderly life that seemed once to make a lot more sense, but now seems more like a broken platter splattered on the floor of your heart. And that very wise person in your life, your mother ...

289. Finding Your Dream Job

Matthew 4:12-23

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... greater and more awesome than the normal, physical world. (4) When Jesus called to these first men, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people,” he is offering to them--and to us today--a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, a story that makes sense of the world, and an experience of transcendence. He is challenging us to choose a more abundant life. In her book Leaving Church, priest and author Barbara Brown Taylor tells of an insight she received from a friend of hers named ...

290. The Seventy “Sevens”

Daniel 9:20-27

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... , Daniel, p. 246). In response, one could argue that the author of the book chose a stock prayer in more classical Hebrew and inserted it here. If such is the case, then while he did not compose the prayer, it is still “original” in the sense that it was not added by a later redactor but was part of the first edition (Collins, Daniel, p. 347). Next, one might expect a petition for illumination, since the angel brings a new explanation of the seventy years. Yet surprisingly, we find a penitential prayer ...

291. Dancing in the Wind

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... is not the same as having mountaintop moments of happiness, taking vacations, or inserting more “down time” in your day. It doesn’t mean “not working.” Joy is not all about play. Joy is a frame of mind, or more accurately, a frame of spirit, in which you feel a sense of joy no matter where you are or what you are doing. When you live out of a place of joy from the depths of your spirit, you feel joy in your work, you feel joy in your time with others, you feel joy in your challenges. You even can ...

292. Remember

John 14:23-29

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... as a means of “re-connection.” This is why memories and memory sharing is encouraged in the wake of memorial services, as well as in the continuing lives of people who love. For some, keeping those kinds of memorial connections with loved ones can give them a sense that their loved one remains present in their lives, not in the way that person was before, but in a new and comforting way in the present and future. How can we keep our connections with loved ones fresh and vital, and yet still move on in ...

293. When Self-esteem Gets Out Of Hand

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

J. Will Ormond

... the direction of God's dwelling place, but stood with downcast eyes. He beat upon his chest as a sign of remorse. He was one of those people whose self-esteem was out of hand in a far different direction than that of the Pharisee. This man's sense of self-worth had hit rock bottom. He had good reason to feel miserable about himself, for he was a tax collector with all the disreputable baggage that weighed down the position. But he looked at himself honestly and made no excuses for his numerous misdeeds. He ...

294. Crackpots

Jeremiah 2:1-3:5

Sermon

Richard L. Sheffield

... through the prophet Jeremiah. The word "crackpot" is an informal or colloquial word which literally means: cracked pot, a pot with a crack in it; with "pot" being an archaic expression for "head." So a "crackpot" is one with a "cracked pot," a crack in the head through which common sense has run out. It's really not a very nice word. It's usually applied by us to people who are more in need of our sympathy and care and our support than a "label," but it's an apt word for today so long as we apply it to ...

295. God Made My Day

Psalm 118:1-29

Sermon

Carl B. Rife

... is this affirmation on a bumper sticker that some people have placed on their cars, "God Made My Day." And what I would like us to do this morning is to try to understand this phrase and to see in what sense can we affirm that God made our day. We can say that God made our day in the sense that God creates all days. That is a faith perspective and that faith perspective leads to a way of approaching life. If we really believe at the very core of our being that God is the creator and the Lord of ...

296. The Essence of Spirituality

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... that so much is really wrong. Rather it is just that not nearly enough is right. We have experienced so much and still feel a deep sense of emptiness. The old Peggy Lee song sums it so well: "Is that all there is?" Does life not have more to offer than to be ... that as we all take this spiritual journey from birth to death we are that keenly aware of our God's presence --as if we sense our wavelike nature as life rises out of the vast ocean of God's presence, moves across the water of time, only to fall back ...

297. Epiphany 3

Mt 4:12-23 · 1 Cor 1:10-18 · Is 9:1-4 · Amos 3:1-8 · Ps 27 · Ps 139

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... Living in a black hole. When the prophet points to those living in the land of ''deep darkness'' (v. 2), I think of a black hole. In one sense, a black hole might be a grave and a grave can consist of more than a hole in the ground. A grave can be a rut; I ... and those who sat in the region and the shadow of darkness who have seen a great light. Matthew's image conveys more of a sense of the darkness of prison. People don't so much walk in prison or live there; they merely sit on their perches like birds in ...

298. Repentance: A New Relationship

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

... to us in the deepest part of our being. There is the true meaning of Ash Wednesday. When our faith becomes more than an intellectual acceptance of a set of religious teachings, more than the embracing of a set of moral principles which make so much sense to be sure -- all of which are important -- and becomes an inner realization of the unfailing and undying love of a God who never gives up on us, transformation takes place. When I realize that Jesus died, not just for "the world" or "all humanity," but ...

299. A Moment Of Decision

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... they are convinced that there is more to life. At this later period they have had the call to the ordained ministry. They have discovered an all-consuming purpose for their lives. They all express amazement that it took so long for them to discover such a deep sense of fulfillment for their lives. This reminds all of us to pray and be patient. The Lord has not given up on us. Baptized Into Jesus' Ministry What does the baptism of Jesus mean for us today? Simply, it means that the way we live in the world ...

300. The Unclean Spirit

Mark 1:21-28

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

... what you mean? Man: I did not want to claim those words as mine. Asker: You did not ask Jesus to heal you. Man: I did in a way because the words came out of my mouth. Sometimes our actions speak for us. They do not keep silent. In that sense I asked for help. However, I was helpless to say, "Jesus, something has gone wrong inside me. It feels as if it were controlling me at its whim." Healed now, I feel like an entirely different person. Now I have hope. Interviewing The Unclean Spirit Asker: Bear with me ...

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