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 326 to 350 of 439 results

326. Leaders Worthy of Imitation

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... his call to be an apostle to the Gentiles, and he does not present a sugarcoated gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:3). He proclaims that salvation comes by faith alone through the grace of God. Pastors and church leaders have always needed a healthy dose of ego strength if they are to survive in ministry. They face opposition from within the church as frequently as from outside. Paul defends himself, Silas, and Timothy, his mission team against the criticism that they are just part of the usual "in-it-for-the-money ...

327. The Evangelist Has a Shady Past

John 4:1-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... of Sinclair Lewis’ Elmer Gantry, or of Jimmy Swaggart or Jim Bakker or some other well-known modern evangelist with a blemished past. Modern TV evangelism is more like show business than it is about church. As such it often draws personalities with enormous egos who may start out with good intentions, but sometimes falter along the way. And it is not always sex that is their weakness as some of you might think. Some of our best known religious figures have been snared by another deadly temptress greed ...

328. John 9:1-41

John 9:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... this divine activity (“we must work”). Yet Jesus is clearly the one whose presence will make this “work” possible. He is the “sent” one and he reiterates his statement from 8:12 “I am the light of the world” — although without the expressed “ego eimi” in this instance. Being this light, revealing this light, will be the focus of all that follows. The scene now shifts to Jesus and the blind man. According to John’s telling there is no conversation between Jesus and the blind man prior ...

329. Two Wolves

Mt 13:24-30, 36-43

Illustration

Brett Blair

... on inside me," he said to the boy. 'It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego. The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too." The grandson thought about it for a ...

330. Spiritual Gifts: God’s Gift of Fulfillment

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... developed through practice much like fanning a flame into a roaring blaze. I had a guitar teacher once who was excellent at the guitar. He would spend five hours a day practicing. I neither had the talent, the time, nor the commitment to play that well. After one rather ego-deflating lesson, I asked my teacher if playing the guitar was a God-given gift or did you have to practice five hours a day to get good? I loved his answer. He said, "I think it is a God-given gift ... to be able to practice five hours ...

331. Epiphany: All about You!

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... longer have to mess with malls, people, clerks, post offices, grocery stores — I can shop online. Because after all, I am the person of the year. From Facebook to Blogs to YouTube, it's all about me. Really, when did we get to the point of this overinflated ego to think that my face, my thoughts, my videos, my pictures are so interesting, so unique, that you should really check out my website? When did we get to the point that we feel so indisposable that we can interrupt a lunch with a friend to talk to ...

332. The Vision of God

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Sermon

Gibson “Nibs” Stroupe

... that it has at least three levels of meaning for him — and for us. Paul understands first that the origin of his thorn is God. It is a way to keep him humble, as a shield to protect Paul from some of the detrimental effects of his powerful ego. Paul senses that his suffering from this thorn ultimately comes from God (even if it is administered by Satan), and that it is for his own discipline. We must be careful here not to develop too strong a connection that all of human suffering and woe come from ...

333. Jesus Would Do What?

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... of lasting value? Christian thinkers have always rated Pride, or hubris, to be the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins, and the source of the other sins. Why? Because pride leads invariably not only to the swelling of one’s own ego, but also the loathing of others. Dictators rule from pride; leaders lead from humility. Annette Simmons in her book The Story Factor tells a wonderful story about a young executive named Skip. “Skip looked into the sea of suspicious stockholders,” she writes ...

334. Save Us from Our Sinful Pride

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... no accident that the images typically associated with pride have to do with height: the proud are said to look down their noses at others, are said to always be riding their high horse, are said to have a lofty opinion of themselves and a soaring ego. The pharisees saw themselves that way. High above everyone elses pay-grade. God knew them best and approved their status, so they thought. Note: Don Rickles used to tell the same story about him and Frank Sinatra, where Rickles is trying to impress a lady he ...

335. Danger: A Fair Warning

Illustration

In 1969, in Pass Christian, Mississippi, a group of people were preparing to have a "hurricane party" in the face of a storm named Camille. Were they ignorant of the dangers? Could they have been overconfident? Did they let their egos and pride influence their decision? We'll never know. What we do know is that the wind was howling outside the posh Richelieu Apartments when Police Chief Jerry Peralta pulled up sometime after dark. Facing the Beach less than 250 feet from the surf, the apartments were ...

336. Giving Guidelines

Illustration

Paul Borthwick

... by the workers in the orphanage to anyone, except to God in prayer. No debts would ever be incurred. No money contributed for a specific purpose would ever be used for another purpose. All accounts would be audited annually by professional auditors. No ego-pandering by publication of donor's names, with the amount of their gifts, would be allowed; each donor would be thanked privately. No "names" of prominent or titled persons would be sought for the board or to advertise the institution. The success of ...

337. Feeling Important

Illustration

Sometime, when you're feeling important, Sometime, when your ego's in bloom; Sometime, when you take it for granted You're the best qualified man in the room; Sometime, when you feel that you're going Would leave an unfillable hole, Just follow this simple instruction And see how it humbles the soul. Take a bucket and fill it ...

338. Employee's Seven Deadly Sins

Illustration

... were discovered, making a total of "seven deadly sins" that can cause you to lose your job. They are listed below in decreasing order of irritation value. Irresponsibility, goofing-off and doing personal business on company time. Arrogance, ego problems and excessive aggressiveness. Bosses dislike those who spend more time talking about their achievements than in getting the job done. Absenteeism and lateness. Not following company policy. Failure to follow the rules makes management feel an employee ...

339. Better Angels of Our Nature

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... gnosis that is not available to all the other member of their community. That gnosis puts them in some sort of a superior position. Paul pounces on that “puffed up” spirit. Instead of congratulating them on their insights, the apostle pulls the plug on their inflated egos. In its place he offers that which is available equally to all — love. It is love, not unique knowledge, that “builds up.” It is in loving God that disciples know and are known by God. Knowledge of God and being known by God is a ...

340. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

341. Were You There?

John 19:17-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... , although he was always alone. He never got into therapy, even though he wore blue tights and a cape beneath his regular clothes.” (2) Superman didn’t know what it was to be weak. But Superman was a fictional character. Clark Kent, his alter ego, fooled people sometimes into thinking he was a normal man, but his vulnerability was just an act. Underneath was the man of steel. Real people, on the other hand, try to be Superman on the outside showing no vulnerability, but underneath they are really just ...

342. James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

James 3:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The blare of political rhetoric continues to crescendo as our next wave of would-be leaders toot their own horns ever longer and louder. When the candidates come together in their debates, you can brace yourself for the noise of clashing egos to be worse than the deafening decibels bleated out by those annoying plastic “vuvuzalas” at the World cup soccer matches. Of course, this is hardly surprising — since what politicians run for is the opportunity to be “large and in charge.” In this week’s ...

343. The Problem with ‘Hail Mary’ Moments

James 3:13-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... COMMENTARY The blare of political rhetoric continues to crescendo as our next wave of would-be leaders toot their own horns ever longer and louder. When the candidates come together in their debates, you can brace yourself for the noise of clashing egos to be worse than the deafening decibels bleated out by those annoying plastic “vuvuzalas” at the World cup soccer matches. Of course, this is hardly surprising — since what politicians run for is the opportunity to be “large and in charge.” In this ...

344. The Word Alone

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... do otherwise. God help me." It wasn't a matter of being stubborn. It wasn't an issue of having a grand vision of a Reformation. It wasn't the goal of having a church named after him. This was not movement fueled by an out-of-control ego. It's about believing and trusting God's word — not a part of it — not selected sections that are to my advantage. It's about not dismissing those parts that make you squirm — the whole ball of wax — the entire package. It's about trusting and believing that God ...

345. Endurance

2 Corinthians 11:24-27, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... endured. Before he died, he left us with three keys to his endurance. Fight The Good Fight It wasn't just any fight. It was the good fight. It was a fight worth fighting. There are a lot of things we fight for, most of it is for pride and ego and greed. Those are not good fights. What is? I'm thinking about an alcoholic I know who struggles each day wanting a drink but has not taken one for the past nineteen years — he fights the good fight. I'm thinking about the lawyer in our church who adopted ...

346. Mark 13:1-8

Mark 13:1-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to every place ad every age. What Jesus DOES specify is that those things are yet to come and what his faithful followers can prepare themselves for is to not fall for false, know-it-all leadership. The proclamation of “I am he” is a declaration of “ego eimi,” the declaration made by God affirming God’s own identity (Exodus 3:14, Deuteronomy 32:39, Isaiah 41:4, 43:10) and Jesus’ own identifier in Mark 6:50. God needs no other passport than “I am.” It is not the physical damage of temple ...

347. The Things Close to Your Heart

Mark 13:1-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

348. The Temple of Doom and the Bridegroom

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

349. The Place of Prayer

Acts 16:16-34

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... , when you drove by the sign, you would see the current outdoor temperature, and you would read that it is "another perfect day for grilling." It struck me as a rather bold gesture on a billboard located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Perhaps in Orlando or Phoenix or San Diego you could make such a static, year round claim that it's another perfect day for grilling. But to have a built-in thermometer that draws attention to just what kind of day it is — and it might be a very cold one in Green Bay — and ...

350. At Points of Dispair

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a

Sermon

Stephen P. McCutchan

... that we find our God. It is not in the earthquakes of dispute that we find our God. It is not in the hot fire of debate that we find our God. Churches and individuals, as they probe the depths of their souls, find in the silence, when all the egos are put aside and we are really listening, that God is not through with us yet. For Elijah it was to anoint kings and ordain prophets to move the world forward according to God's agenda. We were meant for God like a deer longs for flowing streams. Our soul ...

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