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 3201 to 3225 of 5000 results

3201. God's Battleship

John 17:6-19

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Several years ago, there was a convention of clergy gathered at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta under the auspices of the Promise Keepers organization.[1] Between 40,000 and 50,000 preachers were in attendance. (What's that you say? An awful lot of hot air in one place?) For what it is worth, I disagree with some of the Promise Keepers' positions, but two of their basic emphases I wholeheartedly applaud — one is an end to racial division in our society (and especially in the church); the other is an end to ...

3202. God Can Turn Your Trash Cans into Treasure Chests

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Southeast Asia is hot. The economies of its countries are sizzling, especially Viet Nam and Indonesia, with the highest growth rates of almost anywhere on the planet. Investors and tourists from all over the world are flooding both countries. Of course, Bali, Indonesia, is where everyone wants to go. But if I could go anywhere in Southeast Asia, it would be the island of Sumatra. Why Sumatra? Because this island is the archipelago of 17,000 islands known as “Indonesia” is where the “manna” of that country ...

3203. They Are Biting

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Two guys go on a fishing trip. They rent all the equipment: the reels, the rods, the wading suits, the rowboat, the car, and even a cabin in the woods. They spend a fortune. The first day they go fishing they don't catch a thing. The same thing happens on the second day and on the third day. It goes on like this until finally, on the last day of their vacation, one of the men finally catches a fish. As they drive home, they are both really depressed. One turns to the other and says, "Do you realize that ...

3204. Proper 27

Job 19:23-27a, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21, Haggai 1:15b–2:9, Luke 20:27-40, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

Call To Worship Leader: I’m glad we’re here. In our hemisphere, winter is settling in and we know that there is only a double-digit count until Christmas Day. People: It’s true — the days come and go; the years pass quickly. Holidays take flight almost before the sun goes down. Leader: All the while, we say our prayers and sing our songs; we hope for better tomorrows and restful nights. People: The year is coming to an end. Another calendar will lead us to Epiphany, Lent, and Easter. Leader: Each week we ...

3205. Help From Habakkuk?

Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4

Sermon

R. Kevin Mohr

It can be really depressing to listen to the news anymore. It doesn't matter which network you watch, everywhere you turn it's the same old bad news: natural and manmade disasters, the continuing conflicts in the Middle East and in Iraq and Afghanistan, medical miscues, entertainers gone wild and self-destructive, sports heroes disappointing us. Then there's a federal government that often seems to be, at best, incompetent or, at worst, corrupt. What makes it even more depressing is that at least 51% of ...

3206. What Really Matters

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

King Duncan

A joke appeared on the Internet recently that many of you women can relate to. A man was praying, “Oh Lord, please have mercy on me, I work so very hard, meanwhile my wife stays at home. I would give anything if you would grant me one wish. Please, switch me into my wife. She’s got it easy at home and I want to teach her a lesson about how tough a man’s life is!” As God was listening he felt sorry for this poor soul and granted his wish. So . . . the next morning this man wakes up at dawn . . . as a woman ...

3207. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

As always, there are two types of people in the world. There are those who like surprises, and there are those who hate surprises. Those who don’t like surprises believe they have their lives all figured out and under their control. They are confident in what they expect, and where they are going. Those who love surprises look at life differently. They expect the unexpected. They live with purpose, but not necessarily with a plan. Jesus loves surprises. The parables Jesus tells, especially in Luke’s gospel ...

3208. The Bridge at Sychar

John 4:1-26

Sermon

David O. Bales

A great deal of the Bible is quite understandable by itself. To grasp much of the Bible we don’t need tons of background, familiarity with ancient languages, or an advanced degree in archaeology. Then we approach other passages where we need the collective wisdom from the church’s scholars to open up the fuller meaning. We’re at such a place today. John chapter 4 speaks much louder of God’s grace when we review some background information. First, the history between the Jews and Samaritans was vicious, ...

3209. Living “I Don’t Know” While “In the Know”

Matthew 21:23-27

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

In every elementary school class, in every high school and college course, in every job, in every church, in every denomination, on every floor of every building, there seems to be a resident “know-it-all.” You know the type. As much as we despised and resented those resident know-it-alls, we love the current universal know-it-all. It’s name is . . . . . Google. But even in a world where the phrase “Google It!” has become every parent’s answer to every question we can’t answer, we still have that ...

3210. An Announcement from a Stable

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

An elementary teacher and her class were studying Christmas customs from around the world. It was an ideal opportunity, she explains, to share the Christmas story. She shared with her class how Mary and Joseph had gone to Bethlehem to pay taxes. It was time for the baby Jesus to be born and they needed somewhere to spend the night. She told her students that when Mary and Joseph went to the inn, there were no empty rooms. She compared the inn to a modern-day hotel or motel. She was leading up to the stable ...

3211. Like a Butterfly

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

This is that day in the church year when we celebrate Christ’s transfiguration. Here’s something for you to think about. Did you know that the Greek word translated as “transfiguration” is the word “metamor-phothe,” from which we get the word “metamorphosis”? I’ll bet I could invite one of our children up here and he or she could tell us about metamorphosis. A dictionary defines metamorphosis as “a transformation, a complete change of appearance and form.” The best example we have of metamorphosis is the ...

3212. Day of Disaster

Jeremiah 16:1--17:18

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

Don’t Marry, Don’t Mourn, and Don’t Celebrate (16:1-13): This unit, which is related to the one that follows at the end of the chapter, presents three prohibitions in the light of the judgment that is coming and which itself is the result of the people’s sin. These prohibitions lead to behaviors on Jeremiah’s part that are resonant with prophetic significance and therefore should be considered a prophetic sign-act that incarnates the words he is speaking. These prohibitions seem to be directed to Jeremiah ...

3213. Israel Demands a King

1 Samuel 8:1-22

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Even when the Lord regards his people’s lack of faith as a rejection of his authority, he warns them of the negative consequences of their rebellion. Understanding the Text Israel demands to have a king like the nations that live around them. They complain about the injustice of Samuel’s sons (1 Sam. 8:4–5), but the underlying reason for their demand is their desire to have a military leader who will ensure national security (v. 20). The request is surprising because the Lord has demonstrated his ...

3214. No Longer Orphans

John 14:15-21

Sermon

King Duncan

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Hayner was the president of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Dr. Hayner told a beautiful story about a young teacher he met several years ago in Uganda by the name of Christine Nakalema. Christine grew up in a rural village in Bokeka. When she was five years old and her sister Harriet was seven and her little brother was four, their parents both died within three months of each other of AIDS. The three siblings lived for nearly two years on their own. They had no parents, ...

3215. What Does the Kingdom of God Have to Do With Anything Today?

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Ron Lavin

It started with a question in the form of a statement. It ended with the most memorable words in the Bible. In between, there were many mysteries, not the least of which was the declarative statement by Jesus about rebirth and the kingdom of God. I'm talking about the story of the nocturnal meeting of Nicodemus, the member of the Jewish supreme court, with Jesus, who according to John's gospel was the dynamic and unpredictable messianic ruler of the universe, the word of God become flesh and blood who came ...

3216. Speaking from the Heart

Luke 6:43-45

Sermon

King Duncan

It’s confession time. “Uh-oh,” you’re thinking. “What am I suppose to confess?” By a show of hands, how many of you have a junk drawer at home--a place that has become a repository for things you can’t find somewhere else to keep? What’s in your junk drawer? When you open it up, are you surprised by what ends up in there? The average American home has too much stuff in it, and we don’t know what to do with all of it. We cram things in closets. Under beds. In our junk drawer. We may even rent a warehouse to ...

3217. The Museum of Failed Products

Genesis 9:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

There are many unusual tourist attractions in the U.S., but recently I heard of one that sounds both fascinating and depressing at the same time. There is a museum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I understand, that has as its unofficial name, “The Museum of Failed Products.” Ponder that name for a few moments, “The Museum of Failed Products.” The museum looks like a standard supermarket inside. However, all the items on the shelves are products that were taken off the market because nobody bought them. I wonder ...

3218. The Eleventh Commandment

John 13:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

In his book The Wounded Warrior, Dr. Steve Stephens tells the tragic story of former National football star Pat Tillman. Some of you may recall Tillman’s fate. Pat Tillman thought his dreams had come true. He had a multi-million dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals football team, for whom he played starting safety. Everything was lining up just right for young Pat. Then came 9-11. On September 11, 2001, you’ll remember that 19 al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide ...

3219. Perks for Following Jesus

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

King Duncan

What would you say are the best employee perks in your workplace? Some places offer “casual Fridays,” where the dress code is less formal. For most workplaces, that’s as cutting-edge as they get when it comes to employee perks. But other business owners go out of their way to offer unique benefits to attract and retain employees. Patagonia, the outdoor equipment company, encourages their employees to get outside on their lunch break and go surfing. They even offer a companywide weather report each day ...

3220. Entertaining Tips for Christians

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Alex Gondola

Imagine this situation, if you will: a husband comes home from work on a Friday night, say the Friday of Labor Day weekend. And as he drives into the driveway, he sees that there is a rented tent in the back yard. Under the tent are tables and chairs for about forty people. A bandstand and dance floor are assembled in one corner of the tent. Paper lanterns are hanging all around. Now mind you, none of this was there when the husband left for work that morning! Seeing all these preparations and having them ...

3221. Envy - Where Is The Grass Greener?

Gn 4:1-26, Mt 20:1-16, Philip 4:10-20

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

I have a friend by the name of Robert who has always enjoyed playing jokes, especially at the expense of others. One day Robert was expecting a visit from his childhood friend Larry, whom he hadn't seen in over ten years. In their teens Robert and Larry had a friendly rivalry going between them. So Robert came up with this idea of trying to impress Larry that he had become extremely wealthy. There was a very exclusive neighborhood in town with many magnificent homes which would be ideal for this scheme. ...

3222. Satan Goes to Church

Job 1:1-5, Job 1:6-22

Drama

Dr. Raymond Bailey

THEME: Satan is not a gruesome Halloween figure. Rather, he is remarkably attractive, very much like us, and frequently not only fools, but also uses us for his own devious purpose. SETTING FOR THE SERMON MONOLOGUE: The lectionary called for a sermon on Job. The book of Job invites us to explore the problem of evil. People are fascinated by evil. Why not? It's in them. It's in their environment. Some watch horror shows about him. He seems like a Halloween figure. The Biblical Satan is not always so ...

3223. Jesus the Hope of the World

Drama

Curt M. Joseph

Characters: Thomas - apostle of Jesus; skeptical and cynical; tries hard to hide his fear. Peter - apostle of Jesus; strong personality. John - apostle of Jesus; compassionate and caring. Mary Magdalene - disciple of Jesus; strong and faithful. The play begins with only Thomas onstage. He has a small sack, large enough to contain an extra robe, etc. He is packing the sack. He looks around. Thomas: Now, let me see, am I missing anything? (He looks into the bag.) Robe, sandals, money sack. Yes, it looks like ...

3224. The Dilemma (A Drama about Tithing)

Mark 10:17-31

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes: The original everyman in church, trying to figure out what in the world tithing is all about. Pretty funny stuff if you ask me... I like to do pre-recorded voice over (V.O.) in some dramas. It's really effective because it allows us to hear what someone is really thinking. So, just record the actor speaking into a mic, add some reverb to it so it sounds like it's hollow and you're good to go. Cast: Dave: A normal guy at church Mark: An offering collector Props: Chairs Pre-recorded V.O. ...

3225. His Trial

Luke 22:66--23:25

Sermon

Brett Blair

On Friday of Holy Week the streets were filled with people. It was not an ordinary market day crowd. It was religious tradition that brought these people together. It was the festival of the Passover and Jews from far and near had migrated to the holy city of Jerusalem. It was this same religious fervor that created a certain tense atmosphere in the city. Jesus, the Nazarene carpenter, the one whom some called Messiah, had been placed under arrest by the Roman authorities due to pressure from the Jewish ...

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