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 3126 to 3150 of 4988 results

3126. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 3:5

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... well as what would happen to all Christians at that time. Paul's focus on this second consideration begins with verses 13-15 as he assures the Thessalonians of their "salvation through sanctification by the Spirit." As Paul gives thanks for this incredible gift, note his distinction between "God" - the Father - and "the Lord" - the apostle's customary term for Jesus Christ. Yet while Paul identifies Jesus as the one who holds the Thessalonians in love ("beloved by the Lord"), he maintains that it is God the ...

3127. 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... it would be, Paul points out, if the foot declared itself free from the body just because it was not a hand - or the ear denied its connectedness because it was not an eye (12:14-16). Although in chapter 12, Paul is speaking of spiritual gifts, his words are dependent upon an already existing unity within the body of the Christian community itself. Whether working as a baptizer or a teacher or a cook - all are full and equal members of the body of Christ. More than that, all this diversity is necessary ...

3128. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... relationship, "no one might boast in the presence of God." Yet it is these very ones who do indeed stand in God's presence. Only those who accept the gift of the Cross, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, are those who "get it" and enjoy "righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (v.30). Clearly these eternal gifts - not the momentary insights of some human perception or the social points gained by claiming membership in some popular leader's clique - are the results of celebrating the "foolishness ...

3129. Romans 8:26-39

Romans 8:26-39

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . In verse 26, Paul begins by confessing the congenital "weaknesses" of all humanity our inability to pray or to communicate directly with God because of the gulf that has separated creation from the Creator since that first "fall" from grace. Now, through the gift of the Spirit, Paul shows how God has established a sort of long-distance, direct-access line to the Divine. Once again, humanity can be in intimate, immediate contact with God through the Spirit's intercession. Some translations work verse 26 to ...

3130. Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2:1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... as the birth of Jesus himself. This first outpouring of the Holy Spirit is also, like Jesus' miraculous birth, an unrepeatable phenomenon. Unlike all future manifestations of the Holy Spirit, this first arrival is not made possible by preaching the Word. This first gift of the Holy Spirit is unmediated by anyone. It descends directly, miraculously, from the Divine to the disciples. While the Holy Spirit is initially given to only these few, the form it takes makes it evident that it is an event of universal ...

3131. Galatians 3:23-29

Galatians 3:23-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... addition, Paul noted with a certain acerbity and asperity that there was this small matter of the 430 years between the time Abraham was deemed "righteous" before God and God's gift of the law to Moses (see Galatians 3:6). Because of that hiatus, Paul argued, there was a long interval when Abraham and his descendants were declared "righteous" without the law ... ." The promise of righteousness which God granted to Abraham and his offspring is fulfilled. All those in Christ may lay claim to God's promised gift.

3132. Hebrews 12:18-29

Hebrews 12:18-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that there may have been some backsliding or at least some questionable behavior manifesting itself in the community the writer addresses. It is clear that, according to the author, there is no second repentance, no second chance, for one who first accepts, then rejects, the gifts of the new covenant Christ offers. In Hebrews 12:14-17 the author uses Esau as a prime example of eternal loss when one's birthright is rejected. In 12:18-24, the author carefully outlines just what kind of promised life and joy ...

3133. Luke 15:1-10

Luke 15:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Luke's addition focuses on the recovered one in order to make yet another point. Repentance is not a work, an action taken by those who are "lost." Repentance only becomes possible as a result of being found by God. Thus, it is truly a divine gift. The gift of repentance makes it possible for the one who is found to express joy, not just among the friends and neighbors of shepherds and housewives, but in "the presence of the angels of God" (v.10). The parable of the "lost coin" exactly parallels that of ...

3134. John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 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 Isaiah's call to be a prophet for ...

3135. 2 Samuel 7:1-17

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... was from Saul and his offspring. Relating the Texts The power of particularity and place become evident in the pericope from this week's gospel text. Mark 6:1-6 tells of the incident in Jesus' hometown where his message is rejected and his messianic gifts are ineffectual. Mark reveals this biographical moment in Jesus' life primarily to record his words in verse 4: "Prophets arc not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." While Luke and Matthew also make a ...

3136. John 6:24-35

John 6:24-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... successfully finish the work he has been given. The work required of human beings is the work of faith. As Jesus makes clear in verse 29 all humanity needs to do is believe in him as the one sent by God. This simple act of faith yields the gift of life for all who "work" it Peter F. Ellis, The Genius of John (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1984), 122. But the crowd is not satisfied. Despite the fact that a scant twenty-four hours has passed since Jesus miraculously fed the whole lot of them with ...

3137. 2 Samuel 18:24-33

2 Samuel 18:24-33

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... perhaps the most difficult behavior for the Ephesians, and all generations of humanity since, is Paul's admonition to not be "foolish," and to "understand the will of God." The ability to avoid human foolishness is only possible through a gift of wisdom a gift which Paul would stress is available through Jesus Christ. Paul's second directive to the Ephesians in this text urges them to fill their lives with something of substance in preparation for the "evil days" lurking on the horizon. Temporary escapes ...

3138. 2 Samuel 23:1-7

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 55). Translated in verse 22 as "endures," this "abiding" relationship emphasizes the ability of Christ to dwell fully in the life of believers through the Eucharistic act. The amazement of his listeners must have deepened when Jesus then proclaimed that the gift of life eternal would be freely given to those who participated in this strange new rite of eating and drinking. Jesus continues to astound his listeners with yet another shocking revelation. His words in verse 61 might just as easily be translated ...

3139. Ephesians 6:10-20

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... salvation," and the "sword f the Spirit." Paul had already made the crucial nature of faith in the life of the believer clear in Ephesians 2:8 ". . . by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God." The shielding effect of this faith is certainly not to deflect from the faithful any and all human hurts. Note that Paul makes the onslaughts of "the evil one" doubly destructive. Not just arrows, but "flaming arrows" rain down. Flames can spread the destructive ...

3140. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... humanity and emphasize our dependency on the divine. Whatever gains we may feel we have made in this life, the old truism remains that "you can't take it with you." The value of our life was established before we were born. It is a gift we receive with our first breath, a gift we can never repay. Following Jesus or not is left up to us. But Jesus pulls no punches when he describes the fate of those who dismiss his invitation. Verse 38 is one of the church's "sentences of holy law," designed to demonstrate ...

3141. James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... admits that only God controls the distribution of wisdom. No power on earth can usurp God's dominion over wisdom. Only by recognizing our complete dependence upon God for the dissemination of wisdom can humans finally possess a tiny measure of this precious gift. In truth (verse 28), the only real wisdom that humans are capable of cultivating is a healthy "fear of the Lord" by "departing from evil." The disciples in this week's gospel text dramatically demonstrate a profound inability to grasp this Jobean ...

3142. Hebrews 4:1-3; 9-13

Hebrews 4:1-3; 9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and harassing as a hangover, awaiting those who fail to respond in faith. Those who respond faithfully to God's promise will find the gift of rest making them fully alive to life. The author quotes Psalm 95:11 to reveal the glorious nature of this Sevening, heightening the ... the eventual Sevening we will experience when we "cease from our labors as God did from his." With this profound gift awaiting us it is little wonder that the author urges Christians not to miss out through unbelief. In verse 11 he ...

3143. Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... upon her by Elizabeth in both 1:42 and 45 when she rejoices that "all generations will call me blessed." Elizabeth’s theme of praising God is continued by Mary as she thanks the God who has glorified her through this divine act. The unmerited nature of this gift, the divine "favor," is recited in verse 48, an echoing refrain to the angel’s words to Mary in verse 30. Her status as a servant of the Lord, proclaimed in verse 38, is also reiterated as her identity in verse 48. In its second half, Mary's ...

3144. Acts 14:8-18

Acts 14:8-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... these early Christian missionaries, Paul and Barnabas come to Lystra in Lycaonia. There, in a scene reminiscent of Luke 5:18-26, Acts 3:1-10 and Acts 9:32-35, Paul encounters a man crippled since birth. Luke accords Paul the gift of healing powers, but also a remarkable gift of perception. The man neither beseeches Paul for help nor makes any confession of faith - but Paul "looking at him intently and seeing he had the faith to be healed" immediately commands him to stand. With his words the man is healed ...

3145. John 17:20-26

John 17:20-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... make it known" to the world through his crucifixion, death and resurrection. Thus Jesus' prayer gives the church identity - as one with the Father and the Son; a mission - to proclaim the love of the Father and the Son; and the means - through the gift of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that mission. Relating the Texts After enjoying a quick and quiet success with Lydia, Paul and Silas get immediately embroiled in a great controversy at Philippi (vv.16-18). A slave girl, who through spirit possession could ...

3146. Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... seems to seep throughout the first few verses of today's text. The Pauline writer speaks confidently of how God "chose us in Christ" (v.4) and "destined us for adoption ... according to ... his will" (v.5) as is "freely bestowed on us" (v.6) the gift of grace. But we must be careful not to read church history back into this language. Nowhere in Ephesians is the notion of "election" used to suggest that some will be saved and others damned. The glory of divine election is seen as an opportunity for ...

3147. Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is yet a future event for the "ages to come." The holy vehicle which will hydraulically lift the church to this glorified state and elevated place is God's grace. The future "triumph" of believers is entirely the result of a freely offered gift, a gift which to us is that of "immeasurable riches." The proclamation of verse 8, "by grace you have been saved through faith," has been condensed and catechized down through church history to become one of the most famous remarks of the Reformation: Sola gratia ...

3148. James 1:17-27

James 1:17-27

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... his imagery of "the Father of lights" (v.17). James testifies to the sustaining, unwavering nature of a God whose love remains constant, a love which no human suffering can obscure. In verses 17-18, James reminds readers that all good gifts come from God, beginning with the gift of birth-life itself and including our life-birth "by the word of truth." Our life from God is more than physical creation (birth-life); we receive regenerative birth (life-birth) from "the word of truth." We are the first fruits ...

3149. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Paul's profession of faith with a blanket repudiation of Jewish life and faith. Far from declaring Judaism worthless, Paul is testifying that all he had previously counted as gain even the gift of the Law as received by his ancestors has become as nothing when compared with knowing Christ. His righteousness now comes from God as a gift through faith. Judaism is not junk that can be tossed away. On the contrary, counting something of such great value as loss shows how much more valuable is being with and in ...

3150. Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... " he, too, is reborn. His sight is restored at the healing touch of Ananias, and his soul is revitalized by the gift of the Holy Spirit (v.17). Pastors Respond The material in Homiletics is intended to jump-start your own application of ... out to that glory, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Then, with faith and humility, we must ask God for the most precious of all gifts, the ability to see our risen Savior. Let me open my eyes to the glorious light and love and power of Christ. We don't talk ...

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