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 3401 to 3425 of 4456 results

3401. Oh, You'd Better Watch Out!

Mark 13:32-37

Sermon

King Duncan

It always feels strange beginning Advent in November. But the stores are already decorated for Christmas, so why not? I hope the department stores won’t think we’re trying to spoil their party by injecting a little religion into this busy season of the year. It reminds me of an item that appeared in USA Today last year about this time. Authorities in Bal Harbor, FL outfitted the baby Jesus in their outdoor Nativity Scene with a GPS locator as a protection against thieves. The previous Baby Jesus was stolen ...

3402. It’s Good to Know Who Is Calling

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

When I was a boy, our family used to have a parakeet. The bird's name was "Beauty." Beauty was a bird like most. She spent her life in the cage poking at a mirror and whistling while my mom played classical music. She was quite tame, and we all loved playing with her. One special skill that she acquired, however, was whistling. In fact, she was able to perfectly copy the whistle that my dad used to call our pet dog. It was amazing. You really couldn't tell whether it was my dad or the bird whistling. ...

3403. Doing a New Thing

Isaiah 43:18-25

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

Robert liked new things. He was one of those personalities who sought out new experiences and new approaches to life. He thrived on things different and new. He really couldn't help it. It was just the way he was. He was amazing. He would buy tickets to concerts by musicians he had never heard of, just so he could hear something new. If there was a new restaurant in town, particularly of an ethnic slant he hadn't experienced, he'd go there opening day for lunch. Robert was forever rearranging his apartment ...

3404. Does Easter Make a Difference?

Acts 4:32-35

Sermon

Ron Lavin

A bully in a small town resented the man everyone looked up to as the wisest man in town. He decided to teach the wise man a lesson. He held a chicken behind his back and asked the wise man, "Is this chicken dead or alive?" Of course, if the wise man said, "Dead" the bully would show him a live chicken. If the wise man said, "Alive" the bully would strangle the chicken and show up the wise man by producing a dead chicken. "Well," said the impatient bully, "Is the chicken dead or alive? Let's hear your ...

3405. Power Failures and Power Surges

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Is this a great parable, or what? All of Jesus’ parables are like depth-charges, but this one seems to give off a dazzling display of fireworks when it explodes. The power of Jesus’ parables is that even though they were all set in the first century world, they have perfect twenty-first century pitch, both in terms of resonance and relevance. Granted, today’s parable talks about strange wedding traditions, midnight processions, a late bridegroom, and nearly a dozen dozing bridesmaids, but the whole ...

3406. Who Are You?

Hebrews 12:18-29

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

We are now in the midst of a "shaking of the foundations." What is it that remains when all else is shaken and taken? At the time of this writing, the devastating earthquake in Kobe, Japan, has reminded us all once again just how fragile is our world. As the earth itself slips and slides under our feet, our cities come tumbling down around our ears, and the security of our communities is dashed to pieces. In the past two years, shakes and quakes have hit California hard. Areas in China, the Philippines and ...

3407. Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Now that Luke's rendition of the parable of the "Prodigal Son" has become so well-known and well-loved by the church, it is hard for us to imagine the kind of shock waves this story would have sent through the "large crowds" (Luke 14:25) that were following Jesus and listening to him preach and teach. In fact, as Luke sets the scene for this parable, it seems Jesus may purposely be testing the boiling point of the increasingly disturbed scribes and Pharisees who were keeping a close eye on Jesus' growing ...

3408. Colossians 1:1-14

Colossians 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

While Colossians contains some theological content that seems distinct from Paul's more common themes, there is no compelling reason to dismiss his authorship. Things that make it suspicious to some seem to be a function of the theological and personal issues Paul and Timothy are addressing. Perhaps Timothy had a more collaborative role in the authorship than is generally recognized (v.1). But our exegesis of these passages will assume Paul's overall authorship. In overall literary style, Colossians ...

3409. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul's letter to the Thessalonians was written after he had been forcibly run out of that city by those who took issue with his mission and message. Frustrated at being kept away from direct contact with the new Christians with whom he had been working, Paul's letters had to suffice to keep him in touch. Paul's tender recollections of his work among these Thessalonian "brothers and sisters" may be noted in his repeated use of the idioms translated as "you know" and "you remember" within the text of his ...

3410. God’s Tattoos

Isaiah 49:8-26

Sermon

Mike Ripski

I. The Power of Memory A book of conversations with World War II bomber pilots was recently published. One of the conversations is with one of our own, Bob Elliott. While we were playing together in the Edward Barksdale Golf Tournament, Rodney Gilbert told me about a friend of his, another bomber pilot who was shot down and wounded. The pilot spent time in a German hospital being treated for his wounds. Then he was sent to a prison camp. Go figure. The Germans provide medical attention to save a man’s life ...

3411. Thin Spaces

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

Mike Ripski

A few Sundays ago I observed that in the Celtic Christian tradition there is an appreciation for what are called, “Thin Spaces” – those times when heaven and earth intersect. Those occasions when extraordinary and ordinary merge. When John Wesley had the experience of having his “heart strangely warmed” – that’s an example of a “Thin Space.” Jesus took three of the disciples, Peter, James, and John up on the mountain. There they saw Jesus transfigured before their blinded eyes. They saw Moses and Elijah ...

3412. Why We Do What We Do

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

Mike Ripski

A troubled 19-year old, estranged from family and having bounced around for years in foster homes and group homes, dumped by a girlfriend, and a day earlier having been fired from his job, goes into Omaha’s Westroads Mall with an assault rifle and guns down holiday shoppers and employees. Then kills himself. In a suicide note he writes that he will no longer be a burden to anyone. And that he would be famous. (“Thoughts on Solitude,” by Wendy M. Wright, in Weavings, XXIII:6, p.9) No longer be a burden to ...

3413. All Saints' Sunday

Revelation 21:1-27, Isaiah 25:1-12, John 11:38-44, John 11:17-37

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 25:6-9 We have here the eschatological feast of God. It is to be held on Mount Zion. The banquet is for all people. Not only will God provide a banquet but he will destroy humanity's worst enemy, death. Tears will be wiped away and God will remove disgrace from the peoples of the earth. All of this is God's work of salvation. Epistle: Revelation 21:1-6a John is given a vision of the new earth and heaven. The present earth and heaven will pass away. The new earth and heaven ...

3414. Proper 13

2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, John 6:25-59, Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a The deed was done. Uriah was killed in battle and Bathsheba with David's unborn child moves into David's palace. So what? It appeared to be a perfect crime. No one asked questions and no one protested. The catch was, "The thing that David had done displeased the Lord." (2 Samuel 11:27) Now God steps into the story by sending Nathan by use of a story to bring David to a realization of his sin: "You are the man." David confesses and hears the penalty: death of ...

3415. Proper 22

Job 2:1-10, Psalm 26:1-12, Mark 10:2-16, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 26 First Lesson—The writer introduces this epic poem of the testing of Job’s faith by the adversary of God. Job 1:1 2:1-10 Second Lesson—The writer to the Hebrews declares the divine purpose in sending Jesus among us to raise us to the glorious dignity of the children of God. Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 Gospel—Jesus confirms that the original purpose of creation was that marriage is sacred and that divorce is one form of adultery. Mark 10:2-16 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord ...

3416. Pentecost

Psalm 104:1-35, Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 15:26-27; 16:4-15, Acts 2:1-21

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 104:24-34, 35b First Lesson—The Spirit of God bridges language barriers to begin the creation of one church for Jesus Christ. Acts 2:1-21 [OR] The visual parable that Ezekiel experiences is a sign of the resurrection of the people of God. Ezekiel 37:1-14 Second Lesson—Paul places the new life of the people of God in the context of cosmic reconstruction. Romans 8:22-27 [OR] Acts 2:1-21 Gospel—Jesus prepares the disciples for further teaching by the Spirit and ongoing guidance in the ...

3417. Second Sunday in Lent

Philippians 3:12-4:1, Genesis 15:1-18, Psalm 27:1-14, Luke 9:28-36, Luke 13:31-35

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 27 First Lesson—Strange signs accompany the promise of God to Abraham concerning the magnitude of his and Sarah’s posterity. Genesis 15:1-12, 17, 18 Second Lesson—Paul advocates the full appreciation of dual citizenship in earth and heaven and warns against the deadliness of gluttony. Philippians 3:17-4:1 Gospel—Jesus has friends even among the party which strongly criticizes him, through whom Jesus sends a satirical message to King Herod. Luke 13:31-35 [OR] Luke tells the story of ...

3418. Advent 3

Isaiah 12:1-6, Zephaniah 3:1-20, Luke 3:7-18, Philippians 4:2-9

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Old Testament—Isaiah 12:2-6 First Lesson—The coming king is forecast as strong against oppressors but a savior of the disadvantaged and the outcast. Zephaniah 3:14-20 Second Lesson—Paul urges rejoicing since the best is yet to be. Philippians 4:4-7 Gospel—John the Baptist is like a broom sweeping clean the way of the Lord’s coming. Luke 3:7-18 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Express gratitude to God, invoking God by ...

3419. Proper 7

Matthew 10:1-42, Psalm 86:1-17, Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1-14

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 86:1-10, 16-17 First Lesson - That human rejection does not mean divine rejection is illustrated by the story of Hagar and her son. Genesis 21:8-21 Second Lesson - Paul writes of our baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Romans 6:1-11 Gospel - Jesus instructs the disciples of their place in the scheme of things, the limits of their dignity but also its promise. Matthew 10:24-39 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: ...

3420. Proper 8

Genesis 22:1-19, Psalm 13:1-6, Matthew 10:1-42, Romans 6:12-13

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter--Psalms 13 First Lesson--The near sacrifice of Isaac is a test of Abraham's faith in the face of the death of his only heir. Genesis 22:1-14 Second Lesson--The dominion of sin is to be overturned by our willingness to be tools in God's hands to do what is right. Romans 6:12-23 Gospel--Jesus promises rewards for the smallest service to one of his prophets. Matthew 10:40-42 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Rejoice ...

3421. Third Sunday in Advent

Psalm 145:5-10 or Luke 1:47-55, Isaiah 35:1-10, Matthew 11:1-19, James 5:7-12

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:47-55 First Lesson—God's People will be gathered with great joy from times of grief and uncertainty. Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 Second Lesson—As the farmer must patiently wait for passing seasons so the sufferer must be patient in anticipation of final relief. James 5:7-10 Gospel—Jesus reassures John the Baptist that truly Messianic ministry is happening and pays high tribute to John's role in the tradition of Elijah the prophet. Matthew 11:2-11 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The ...

3422. Don’t Be a Hypocrite

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

James Merritt

There are very few people who never, ever get angry about anything. Even if you are the most mild mannered of mild mannered people, you have a hot-button that if someone just knows where it is and knows how to push it, they can really make your blood boil. What one thing makes you the angriest? Maybe, it is when somebody cuts you off on the freeway. Maybe, it is when your brother or sister borrows some of your clothes and doesn't tell you about it. Maybe, it is when your favorite college football team ...

3423. Houston We Have a Problem

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

"Houston, we have a problem." They are the most famous words ever uttered in the history of space travel. One single sentence, five small words, but they signal what could have been the greatest disaster in the history of NASA. It was April 13, 1970; astronauts Jim Lovell, John Swigert, and Fred Haise were in the lunar module - Apollo 13. They were two hundred thousand miles from Earth, 5/6th of the way to the moon, 55 hours into their flight when disaster struck. A mysterious explosion rocked the ship and ...

3424. The Dark Side Revealed

Numbers 32:23

Sermon

James Merritt

The dark side - all you have to do is to simply say those words and in this day and age an image comes to your mind of a creature in all black, who breathes heavily through a mask - called Darth Vader. Star Wars – a classic battle between good and evil, has now filled the Hollywood screens and home theatres for 30 years. Teresa and I were newlyweds when it first hit the screens in 1977, and to this day, this saga is still one of the best sellers of all times. The final movie, Revenge of the Sith, released ...

3425. Mourning Our Fallen Tormentors

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Sermon

Stan Purdum

Michael Dirda is the senior editor of The Washington Post Book World, as well as a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for literary criticism. In 2003, he published an autobiographical account of his early years, telling about growing up in Lorain, Ohio. While there is much that he appreciated about his home, he also tells that his years there were colored somewhat darkly by his father, who was a cranky, difficult man. Apparently the man was not physically abusive, but neither was he easy to be around. Unhappy ...

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