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 3526 to 3550 of 4653 results

3526. Household of Faith

II Timothy 1:3-7

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... and your mother Eunice and now is also alive in you. I would like for you to think for just a moment about the word sincere faith. It is sincere faith that stands the test of time. The word literally translated is to be unwaxed, non-touched up. To be sincere is to be genuine, real, earnest, honest, heartfelt, natural. The kind of faith that other people need from you and me is authentic spirituality. What your sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews need from you most is an authentic faith. What ...

3527. Embracing an Endless Line of Servants

1 Corinthians 3:5-23

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . We do not live by ghosts and goblins. We live by the saints and the legends. It’s grace that has seen us through the toils and troubles of our days and has empowered us to keep on keeping on. Mr. Holland’s Opus is a touching movie about a high school teacher in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Holland really wants to achieve critical fame as a classical musician, but the pressure of making a living, raising a family, dealing with a deaf son, resisting the temptations of a seductive student, and handling the ...

3528. Getting in S.H.A.P.E. for Ministry

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... ? It’s the people part of that trilogy that I want to talk about today. For the past two years, we have worked diligently casting a vision, building a staff and raising the funds for the future of this great congregation. We believe God is calling us to touch hearts and transform lives for the glory of God and the good of the world. Now we must do one more thing to transform that dream into reality. We must build a team. Let me explain what I mean. Christianity is no spectator sport. You are not invited ...

3529. The Fellowship of Kindred Minds

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... sailed to every known port in the Middle East building a church in every place. Instead of mentioning all of that, Paul says simply, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” The foundation of all fellowship is gratitude. When our hearts and minds are touched by the goodness and mercy of God, we are ready to connect with a community of people. From the first day until now, Paul had been engaged in a partnership for which he was deeply grateful. So he opens this letter with a prayer of thanks. Meister ...

3530. A Very Present Help

Psalm 46:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . Learn the difference between justice and revenge today. We received a call Friday from a friend of ours. Asad came to this country twenty-three years ago as a refugee from Afghanistan. He was a student in Sandy’s elementary classes. We have stayed in touch through the years. When we threw a party a few months ago for Sandy’s retirement, Asad came to say a few words. Today he is a productive, patriotic, wage-earning American citizen. But, Friday he was full of fear. “Dr. Olds,” he said, “Would ...

3531. Why Join a Church?

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... mend a heart. Only God can make us new again.” “And then,” says Bill, “the question became obvious. Why is the Church waiting for somebody else to do its work?” One year ago, we rolled out a new vision for this church under the banner of touching hearts and transforming lives. Let me just say it again today. We are in the disciple-making business, that’s the job we have to do. We believe that persons in Christ are new creations. We believe that children reared in Jesus’ name will never forget ...

3532. Why Am I A United Methodist?

I Timothy 1:12-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... connections to provide, in fact, what the denominations have had all along. Now I need to say to you there is much about our connection I would change if I had the chance. I think it is extremely outdated, woefully inefficient, and way out of touch with the needs of the local church. Certainly at times we have been a lot more interested in preserving our past than embracing God’s future, more concerned about saving our system than proclaiming Jesus Christ. The connection however, is deeply needed: When I ...

3533. Battle Hymn of the Reformation

Luke 8:26-39

Illustration

Brett Blair

... fell him. That hymn, first published in 1529, has been called "the greatest hymn of the greatest man of the greatest period of German history." It has also been dubbed the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation" and with good reason. The Reformation touched off one of the most influential movements in world history. But before this famous Battle Hymn could be written Luther had to battle his personal demons and exorcize them from his own life. Luther felt utterly worthless and incapable of carrying the burdens ...

3534. My Real Problem Is That I Don’t Like Myself

Luke 8:26-39

Illustration

James W. Moore

... are Legion!" He paused and took a deep breath. Then, he leaned forward and said: "To tell you the truth, I think all those problems and troubles are symptoms. My real problem is that I don't like myself… and that taints everything I touch and do." Well, he was probably right. When you are at war with yourself, it smudges and distorts every relationship. On the other hand, when we feel good about ourselves, we are more loving, more patient, more thoughtful, more gracious... toward everyone we see.

3535. Let Go of the Stone

Mark 16:1-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... evil. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? Surely it is God who saves us, let us trust in him and not be afraid. Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. Fear not those who kill the body but cannot touch the soul. There is no fear in love, for perfect love drives out fear. Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, he has risen, just as he said. In every problem, God is there to consult. In every effort ...

3536. How Can This Be?

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... , and blessed in ways I never deserved and can hardly imagine. Children write by the scores “We love you, Dr. Olds, please get well." People from my past write me long letters recounting some wedding, some retreat, or some sermon where their lives were significantly touched by God. You, like the Energizer bunny, keep giving and giving and giving. Sometimes when I finish my daily ritual of reading cards and notes from all of you, I ask myself the question: Why do people have to nearly die in order to be ...

3537. About Whose Business Was He?

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... birth Jesus is presented in the temple for dedication by the old prophet, Simeon, according to Jewish tradition. When Jesus was 12 years old, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem for the annual Passover feast, according to Jewish tradition. What Luke gives us is a touching story about parents who care, a church that listens, and a boy that is growing in his faith. While I am not suggesting we are holy families raising a little Jesus, I do believe we can learn something from this story about the boy, Jesus ...

3538. The Kingdom for Which We Long

Matthew 13:31-35, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:47-52

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... not to notice, politely hiding behind newspapers and magazines. There was, however, a little kid playing with his toys in a chair beside his mother. When the toddler saw the lady crying, he slid down from his chair, laid down his toys, walked over to the lady and, touching her on the knee, said, “It’s all right, it’s all right, everything is going to be all right.” The lady smiled. The hope of people of faith is that it’s going to be all right even when it seems to be all wrong. The kingdom ...

3539. The Bread We Daily Need

Luke 11:1-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... of bread—will it be white, wheat, rye, rolls, biscuits, or buns. Bread—most of us have more to worry about than bread. We take that for granted, day after day. My fellow Kentuckian, Wendell Berry, says we industrial eaters have lost touch with the reverence of eating. And then he said this. “In the first place, we consume food that has been processed, dyed, breaded, sauced, gravied, ground, pulped, strained, blended, petrified, and sanitized beyond resemblance to any part of creation that ever lived ...

3540. Marching Forward by Faith!

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... ." I was worried and I was anxious and I asked, “Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. When I would say, “I'm scared," He would lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away. They are extra baggage—too much weight." So ...

3541. Stepping Into the Stream

Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” “Surely it is God who saves us, let us trust in him and not be afraid.” “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all.” “Fear not those who kill the body but cannot touch the soul.” “It is I, do not be afraid.” Could you use that word from the Lord today? Fears and doubts too often bind us. One night during a storm a mother was tucking her small son in bed. Just as she was about to turn off the light, the ...

3542. Believe

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... something else. The Lord appears in a dream. Thinking outside the box means thinking beyond the parameters of human consciousness and experience, to see beyond the norm, to be visionary, to activate our spiritual resources. We exist inside the box, but we are in touch with the Creator of the universe who made the box. With God, all things are possible. Joseph refused to be boxed in with conventional ways of dealing with problems. This carpenter, who made his living cutting boards, knew it is easier to cut a ...

3543. Does Christmas Make Any Difference?

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . The birth of Christ sets in motion new birth for us. We can be born anew. We can begin again. We can become what we are created to be, fully loved children of God, empowered to love one another as God loves us. We call it transformation—touching hearts, transforming lives. Spiritual transformation is the process, sudden or gradual, by which we come to life at our deepest selves and discover the power to shape our lives in the image of Christ. I received a letter from a kid I had in Confirmation 25 years ...

3544. The Greatest Story Ever Told

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... he is not a pig, but a son. He still has a home even though he is away for a while. This realization becomes the basis for his choice to live and not to die. When we are tempted to wallow in our low lostness we will be wise to touch base with our original goodness, to choose life and come home. What can we do about a loving God who welcomes his children home? We can accept His grace; we can respond to it and rejoice in it; experience it and live it to its absolute fullest. In John Grisham ...

3545. When You Are Up And Out

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... pure, righteous. He is starting to live up to this name. We live by the name Christian. When are we going to become what we call ourselves? We cast a vision a couple of years ago of Brentwood United Methodist Church as a place where hearts are touched and lives are transformed. We are trying to become what we perceive ourselves to be. Transformation implies a new being, a new creative energy flowing from the center which acts with creative power in a person’s life. Paul writes in II Corinthians 5:17 and ...

3546. Where Is He?

Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... became ill. Some things never change. As I entered this trial I prayed for some new revelation. I wanted some new insight that might revolutionize my life. To date I have experienced no such epiphany. I only have the message to be faithful, you have touched the bottom and the bottom is sound. Nothing is changed but everything is different. When you know the bottom is sound, and death has no fear, you are free to live every moment as an eternal instant. Nothing is changed but everything is different. Should ...

3547. The Calling of Our Baptism

Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 28:18-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... not this become a place where miracles happen? Could not this become a place where the moving of the Spirit was so powerful that when persons walked in the door they could feel the spirit of God among us. Let people’s lives be transformed and touched and healed and saved in varieties of ways. Jesus calls us to unconditional love. That is our business; that is our calling. Early Christians knew how to love one another. If we could create a community where it was outstanding because people truly loved one ...

3548. What Is the Future of United Methodism?

John 2:12-22

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... and to which I have given my heart, my soul, and my deepest devotion. I am honored and deeply grateful to be a United Methodist pastor. Every week I get to do what I most enjoy doing—connect to people, preach the gospel, observe hearts being touched and lives being transformed. Often Sandy and I say to one another, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Over the years I have never aligned myself with any political action group in our denomination. I am not a member of the confessing movement and ...

3549. The Door of Service

Luke 22:7-38

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . Serving the table is more Christ like than sitting at the table. II. SERVANTHOOD IS A NEW WAY OF FEELING “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care." John Maxwell says effective leaders know that you have to first touch people's hearts before you ask them for a hand. Servant leaders know they develop credibility with people when they connect with them and show them that they genuinely want to help. To lead yourself, use your head; to lead others, use your heart. It was ...

3550. Welcoming God Into Our Homes

Revelation 21:1-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . I. WHERE GOD LIVES, LOVE ABIDES. Jim Moore tells the story about being present when a middle-age son flew home to visit his elderly, dying mother in the hospital. He walked over to the bedside of his aged mother, leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Then touched by that tender moment of seeing her so weak and vulnerable he said, “Mom, you have been such a good mother to me and I want you to know that I love you.” Through her tears she replied, “Son, that’s the first time you’ve ever told me ...

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