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 301 to 325 of 513 results

301. The Ladder from Our House

Genesis 28:10-19a

Sermon

Stan Purdum

... can be had is if God himself offers it. There is nothing we mortals can do to establish this link. There are some points where we can identify with Jacob's story. In the first place, Jacob was in exile from his home. Now we may not feel too much sympathy for him since his exile was the result of his own wrongdoing. Still, some of us know what it is like to be cut off from people we love or to know that some of our actions have troubled or even ended certain relationships. We ought to note, however, that ...

302. Small-Minded Christians in a Big World

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Sermon

John N. Brittain

... on Mount Carmel, he was threatened with death by the wicked Queen Jezebel and fled for his life. Alone on Mount Horeb, he complained to God that he was the only faithful person left in Israel — he might as well curl up and die. The Lord responded not with sympathy but by telling Elijah to stop feeling sorry for himself and to get moving. Then, almost as a footnote, we read God's words: "I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him" (1 ...

303. Rock Bottom

1 Peter 3:13-22

Sermon

David O. Bales

... just as hard to understand and to explain what has happened in Christ. During Peter's time with the earthly Jesus, he did a poor job of understanding his master. If we falter or flounder as we struggle with Peter's writing, we can assume that he has sympathy for us. He's struggled, too. Basically, Peter is trying lots of different ways to help us see how Jesus relates to the Old Testament and to our lives. Peter tells us that Jesus, having been "put to death in the flesh," was "made alive in the spirit ...

304. How's Your Serve?

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... hand, and offering gentle words of hope. The dying man said nothing. As dawn approached, the patient died. The young man gently placed on the bed the lifeless hand he had been holding. Then he went to notify the nurse. The nurse began to offer words of sympathy to the young man, but he interrupted her. "Who was that man?" he asked. The puzzled nurse replied, "I thought he was your father." "No," the young man replied. "I never saw him before in my life." Horrified, the nurse asked, "Then why didn't you say ...

305. Carrying Your Sins

John 1:29-34

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

... told his congregation about a vision he had the night before. In the vision he was climbing up the hill to the church. Suddenly he heard steps behind him. He turned and saw a man carrying a very heavy load on his back, climbing that hill. He was full of sympathy for this man and spoke kindly to him. Then he noticed that the man's hands were scarred. Suddenly he realized that this was Jesus. He said to him, "Lord, are you carrying the world's sins up the hill?" "No," said the Lord Jesus, "not the world's ...

306. A Christian Conception of Justice

Matthew 5:38-42

Illustration

Woodrow Wilson

... field of action of the highest and purest standards of justice and of right dealing.... By justice the lawyer generally means the prompt, fair, and open application of impartial rules; but we call ours a Christian civilization, and a Christian conception of justice must be much higher. It must include sympathy and helpfulness and a willingness to forego self-interest in order to promote the welfare, happiness, and contentment of others and of the community as a whole.

307. Like

Romans 5:12-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... by partisanship and pitted with accusations. Everyone, regardless of political affiliation, behaved badly. Because that is what we have been programmed to do. Never offer anything nice when you can offer something nasty. Never support when you can undermine. Never extend sympathy when outrage might gain some points. Never celebrate goodness when badness can be hoisted high and calibrated. Let us give up that “against” attitude for Lent. Let us celebrate Lent as a season of “like.” There is plenty in ...

308. Disintegration and Reintegration

Mark 14:1-15:47

Sermon

John Smylie

... death on the hardwood of a Roman cross on a Jewish hillside. Looking deeply in this passage we will find a few glimmers of hope for our humanness. "Peter does, after all, risk himself to be in Caiaphas' house. Pilate does have the grace to show sympathy, even if he lacks integrity. Judas at least faces the friend he has betrayed. The Roman centurion discerns a glory underneath the filth and grime of the prisoner. But we have to dig deep for these redeeming glimpses of our nature."1 We are invited to bring ...

309. Watching for a

Mark 13:1-31

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... can welcome him properly. Haven’t seen him for a year. Oh, dear ... Husband: (interrupts) You’re feeling quiet frustrated, aren’t you? Mother: Yes, yes, of course. Husband: Do you want my advice? Mother: No, no, no advice — just a listening ear — and some sympathy — well, okay, I am a bit curious. What is your advice? Husband: Stay home — quit running around. He’ll call you. You can’t watch three places at once. Mother: Oh, I guess you’re right. I’ll go home and wait for his call. That ...

310. Jesus Brings New Life

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... 's direction, members of Solidarity boldly and fearlessly participated in numerous strikes, marches, and other nonviolent resistance actions seeking justice. The government attempted to destroy the union when it was clear that national and international sympathy for the movement was increasing. In December 1981, General Wojciech Jaruzelski, First Secretary of the Communist Party in Poland, ordered a massive military operation and imposed martial law. Solidarity leaders were arrested and the organization ...

311. Merciful Anger

Matt 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-19

Illustration

James Packer

... who cannot be angry, cannot be merciful." The person who cannot be angry at things which thwart God's purposes and God's love toward people is living too far away from his fellow men ever to feel anything positive towards them. Finally, at Lazarus' grave Jesus showed not just sympathy and deep distress for the mourners (John 11:33-35), but also a sense of angry outrage at the monstrosity of death in God's world. This is the meaning of "deeply moved" in John 11:38.

312. Antagonist: Antagonists in the Church

Illustration

Kenneth C Haugk

... Functional feedback channels Job descriptions Broad base of responsibility Discipline that works Anticipatory socialization let people know plans United front within leadership Relating To Dormant Antagonists: Act professionally Keep your distance Be accurate, don't guess, estimate Avoid excessive positive reinforcement Tighten the reins Don't seek sympathy from others Don't form a committee to look into accusations, this only appears to give credibility to their charges Don't call for a vote of confidence

313. God Makes No Mistakes

Illustration

... . A short time after the tragedy, Bruce's father wrote this letter to the administration, faculty, student body, and the corps of cadets: "I would like to take this opportunity to express the appreciation of my family for the great outpouring of concern and sympathy from Texas A & M University and the college community over the loss of our son Bruce. We were deeply touched by the tribute paid to him in the battalion. We were particularly pleased to note that his Christian witness did not go unnoticed during ...

314. The Testimony of a Good Conscience

1 Tim 1:19

Illustration

C.F.H. Henry

... facing toward God, my conscience will always introduce God's perfect law and indicate what I should do. The point is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I walk without offense. I should be living in such perfect sympathy with God's Son that in every circumstance the spirit of my mind is renewed. The one thing that keeps the conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When there is any debate, quit. There is no debate possible when ...

315. Your New Location

Illustration

A bank in Binghamton, New York, had some flowers sent to a competitor who had recently moved into a new building. There was a mix up at the flower shop, and the card sent with the arrangement read, "With our deepest sympathy." The florist, who was greatly embarrassed, apologized. But he was even more embarrassed when he realized that the card intended for the bank was attached to a floral arrangement sent to a funeral home in honor of a deceased person. That card read, "Congratulations on your new location ...

316. A Winning Definition

Illustration

A British publication once offered a prize for the best definition of a friend. Among the thousands of answers received were the following: "One who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is inviolable." "One who understands our silence." "A volume of sympathy bound in cloth." "A watch that beats true for all time and never runs down." The winning definition read: "A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out." Another source gives this version and source: A friend is the ...

317. Twice the Wish

Illustration

Thomas Lindberg

... a long and healthy life? You can, but his life will be longer and healthier. What is your desire?" The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!" One sign of jealousy is when it's easier to show sympathy and "weep with those who weep" than it is to exhibit joy and "rejoice with those who rejoice."

318. Purchased Property

Illustration

James Packer

... practical help possible. The essence of Christian service is loyalty to the king expressing itself in care for his servants (Matthew 25: 31-46). Only the Holy Spirit can create in us the kind of love toward our Savior that will overflow in imaginative sympathy and practical helpfulness towards his people. Unless the spirit is training us in love, we are not fit persons to go to college or a training class to learn the know-how or particular branches of Christian work. Gifted leaders who are self-centered ...

319. What God Hath Promised

Illustration

God hath not promise Skies ever blue, Flower-strewn pathways always for you. God hath not promised Sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, Peace without pain. But He hath promised Strength from above, Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

320. Victorious, but Not Unscarred

John 20:24-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... you go to lunch or read the paper? Actually most tax people are honorable public servants, as are most employees of our federal and state governments. Most of us receive many benefits from our system of government though sometimes we can all feel a little sympathy for the businessman who, while on his deathbed, called a friend. He said, “Joe, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated.” “And what,” his friend asked, “do you want me to do with your ashes?” The ...

321. No Pleasing Some People

John 12:1-8

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... the conservative media as justification for denying aid to many who desperately need it. The depiction of black faces supposedly engaged in fraud is designed to instill fear in those elements of a white population who want justification for their lack of sympathy. Fortunately most Christians, even while practicing some measure of discernment in their stewardship, are more likely to err on the side of charity than sensibility. If you want to know the truth, sometimes it is the people who have the least ...

322. The Trouble With Stables

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... service hearing the preacher talk about life and hope and resurrection... but they are not really listening. Both are thinking the same thing: "Where did we go wrong?" Who knows? Finally, the funeral is over. The people who came by the house to offer their sympathy and condolences are gone. All that is left is a kitchen full of uneaten food ... and two people full of unanswered questions. They have gone to bed now and lie quietly thinking that this will be a miserable Christmas. The house is dark — just a ...

323. Life In the Valley

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... those who are lonely. Give them the hand of friendship. Here come those who are doubting. Give them the hand of a good will that they cannot doubt. Here come those who have drunk deeply from the cup of sorrow and pain. Give them the hand of sympathy. Here come those who are weighed down under an unseen burden. Give them the hand of strength. Here come those who are pursued by some dangerous temptation. Give them the hand of fortitude. Here are those who have needs for physical sustenance. Give them the hand ...

324. Catholic Horses

Humor Illustration

... Priest was. Confronting Him, he demanded, 'Father! What happened? All day long you blessed horses and they all won. Then in the last race, the horse you blessed lost by a mile. Now, thanks to you I've lost every cent of my savings!'. The Priest nodded wisely and with sympathy. 'Son,' he said, 'that's the problem with you Protestants, you can't tell the difference between a simple blessing and last rites.'

325. In the Service

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... line: “Make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in service to all mankind.” Perhaps with the old slogan in A room-service waiter at a Marriott hotel learned that the sister of a guest had just died. The waiter, named Charles, bought a sympathy card, had hotel staff members sign it, and gave it to the distraught guest with a piece of hot apple pie. “Mr. Marriott,” the guest later wrote to the president of Marriott Hotels, “I’ll never meet you. And I don’t need to meet you. Because ...

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