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 3551 to 3575 of 4943 results

3551. Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise

Romans 11:33-36

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... philosophize and theologians theologize and simple folk wonder, all to no avail. Questions that boggle the mind and strain the brain and lead to endless argument. Useless questions - maybe. Why maybe? Why should there be any doubt? Why concern ourselves with questions which have no satisfactory answers? No sensible person would waste time struggling with the unknowable, the incomprehensible, the unanswerable. At least, no sensible Christian would. There are so many questions that must be answered, for ...

3552. When the Church Is the Church

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... ). One of the greatest tragedies of history and of biblical understanding is that many churchmen and scholars are content to believe that Jesus was praying for spiritual unity only. There is no question that spiritual unity among his followers was a concern for Jesus; but not spiritual unity alone. Throughout his entire earthly ministry, Jesus revealed himself to be an eminently practical man. Jesus knew that his fledgling church could "make disciples of all nations" only if they were together, sharing the ...

3553. One Thing

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... to Paul as wishful regretting. Paul was not unconcerned about the future, but neither did he worry and fret about it. Rather, he took seriously the words of his Lord riot to be anxious about his life, or what he was to eat, drink, or wear. His concern was to seek God’s kingdom now, to know his righteousness and to do that righteousness now (Matthew 6:25-34). Paul knew that Christians had to think about the future and to prepare for it. Eschatology (being ready for the Lord’s return) pulses through his ...

3554. What It Takes to Stay Christian

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... his only Son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." That most familiar of all Bible verses not only illustrates agape-love but also describes its labor. The key word is believe, insofar as the labor of love is concerned Christians receive God’s love when they believe; and the love they receive enables them to stay Christian when they believe enough to put that love in action. Thus, Christians believe, put their love to work by touching other lives with their lives in ...

3555. Genuine Imitations

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... Christians whose words sound forth, whose faith goes forth, and finally, whose deeds show forth. Paul describes how the Christian community in Macedonia and Achaia had been impressed by the Thessalonians’ hospitality and by their deeds of worship and service. "For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath ...

3556. The Only Fact That Really Matters

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... he was looking forward to it. He had a growing concept which he had developed that there was a literal existence after death." The request which President Eisenhower made of Billy Graham, the desire to know more about the why of heaven and the afterlife, concerns the most important fact of human existence, the fact of life beyond the grave. On the day which is recognized among many Christians as "The Festival of Christ the King," it is a troubling fact for many believers, a fact that many want to believe ...

3557. A SERMON-DRAMA FOR EASTER

Drama

Tom Eberle

... s Supper, the Eucharist - meaning literally - the thanksgiving. Again we are mystified. Not only do they engage in the ritual of the Lord’s Supper each Sunday, they understand it to be central to their life as a Christian community. What is their secret concerning this ritual we find to be cumbersome and awkward? Minister: Brothers and sisters, we have waited and prayed for the coming of the morning light of the resurrection. We have baptized the catechumens into the life of Christ. Now we are invited by ...

3558. A LITURGICAL DRAMA FOR PENTECOST

Drama

Tom Eberle

... father - I hadn’t realized I had said anything. Voice 3: Enjoy your stay in Bermuda. You deserve a break. Voice 4: You could take a break, too - why not spend a night on the town with your husband/wife. Affirmation of Faith Parish Concerns The Offering *Doxology The Prayer Minister: Let us pray. Voice 2: Leukemia, multiple sclerosis, heart attack - death. Tornado, earthquake, famine - death. So many things that don’t make sense. So many problems that seem to say no to your presence. And yet your Spirit ...

3559. A LITURGICAL DRAMA FOR ALL SAINTS’

Drama

Tom Eberle

... the total view of life, a great procession of triumph. [The name and date of death of each deceased member is read. Following each name "box" lights a candle in memory of that person and the organist rings a chime.] Affirmation of Faith [Hymn] For All the Saints Parish Concerns Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper Minister: As we partake of the bread and wine today we will pass through the light of these candles. Let that be a sign to us of what it means each time we eat the bread and drink the wine. We are a ...

3560. The Post Launch Slump

2 Cor 8:10-11

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... of supplies were flown in to the Allied zones and the city’s products flown out. The plan made a great deal of sense and was a striking demonstration of what airpower could accomplish, but quite literally the goods would not have been delivered had all concerned reveled in the genius of the plan and never gotten down to flying the planes in and out. Really, it is no different with the programs of the church. Beginnings are fun, but nuts and bolts are important! Grand openings are wonderful, but what good ...

3561. Are You Exercising Your Faith?

Mt 4:1-11 · Phil 3:12 · Gen 32:3

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... energy. We also need to conserve the historical balance of biblical faith lest we fall victim to every wind of doctrine that blows down the religious pike. The point also includes other disciplines. Economics can help give concrete substance to our Christian concern for justice. Sociology can help us in our ministry to corporate structures. Psychology can help us to better understand the people we are called to save. And astronomy can help open our eyes wider to the infinite magnitude of God’s creative ...

3562. Dessert in the Desert

Deut 32:10-12 · Ez 37

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... in a new movement. If we can’t find it in a movement, then surely it will be discovered in a new and promising friendship. In a religious wasteland, meaning is always beyond us. We all experience these symptoms at one point or another, and the concern is presented here not by happenstance but by design. If we listen carefully and look closely, we will begin to hear people telling us of these moods. And even if they don’t tell us, their faces often express what their words belie. What can and should ...

3563. How Fares Your Christian Sight?

Is 6:8-10

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... been so preoccupied with itself that it scarcely took note of the world. Thus it was in the 1960s that we saw the church correct an imbalance and think very seriously about what it meant to be the church in the world. In the wake of that concern, we saw the church begin to creatively address itself to some of the weighty issues with which God’s children have to contend - issues such as poverty, hunger, injustice and ecology. If that period in the church’s life reminded church people of anything, it was ...

3564. The Circus and My Faith

Ps 139 · Mt 22:37

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... that is wholly appropriate to the pilgrimage of faith. Declared Jung, I have often made mistakes and have often had to wipe the slate clean of previous knowledge in order to acquire what is most pertinent.3 I am glad our faith is farflung in its concerns, wideranging in its impact. The circus reminded me of this. But there is more. There was a particular person in the circus family who impressed me greatly and that person was the ringmaster. Indeed, he did a masterful job. The shriek of his whistle signaled ...

3565. What Is Your Holy Week Address?

Matthew 27:45-56

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... up residence. They are people’s spiritual addresses. Where, my friend, do you live: with Thursday’s tension, with Friday’s defeat, with Saturday’s lostness, or with Sunday’s triumph? Some choose to take up residence with Thursday’s tension. Our concern is not with the inevitability of tension, but rather with the tragedy of feeling that there is no other option and therefore accepting chronic tension as a lifelong place of residence. I suspect that for many people the problem with tension is ...

3566. Issachar

Genesis 49:1-28

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

... , ideals, and causes which are too small, too easily realized, seldom quicken us spiritually. Our souls have been assigned tasks which are insignificant; our prayers are overly simple; our moral vision is too limited; our social concern is too parochial. SLUMBER TODAY "Issachar divines" slumber today in many comfortable pulpits, libraries, offices, and classrooms. Clerical collars are unsoiled with sweat; nails are elegantly manicured. Diplomatic silence is maintained on controversial issues, and visiting ...

3567. The Witch of Endor

1 Samuel 28:1-25

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

... man also or woman ... that is a wizard ... they shall stone them with stones ..." (20:27) Even the more humane Deuteronomy declared, "There shall not be found among you any one ... that useth divination ..." (18:10) John of Damascus preached on "Concerning Dragons and Witches." In A.D. 799, the Synod of Reisbach denounced witchcraft. The Spanish Inquisition burned witches as the auto-da-fe became an institution. In Europe and colonial America, swift and rigid retribution pursued witches: burnings, crushings ...

3568. Mary of Nazareth

Isaiah 7:1-25

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

... of a Roman execution, she waited. Should any mother be made to suffer this much? Quite incredible How she could recall Word and miracle, Pain and passion! All Through the days she pondered In her heart, and wondered.1 Who can fathom the greatness of God? Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power ... by the resurrection from the dead ... (Romans 1:3-4) Mary experienced Easter. She certainly would have ...

3569. Herod Antipas

Luke 13:31-35

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

... , our friends, our family wear masks, hiding themselves. How many times we wonder who they really are. It would be so good to know someone real, an authentic person. Do such exist? Above all, we are weary of the sham in ourselves. This is the overwhelming concern. We do not permit the deepest longings of our souls to come to the surface because we are afraid of the truth. Not only do we neatly cover our real personhood, we judge others by the external trappings they employ, even when we wish it were ...

3570. Don't Be Afraid of the Future

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... across the sky. His friend, with a questionable sense of humor, said, “Earl, I hope you make it. But if you don’t, tell old John Wesley that we celebrated his birthday party.” Earl Hunt replied, “Frankly, my friend, right now I’m not the least bit concerned about John Wesley; I’m worried about Earl Hunt.” So much in this fast-changing and frightening world scares us. None of us, of any age, has a guarantee of a normal life span. Jesus told the two Marys on the first Easter morning not to be ...

3571. Why Did God Allow That To Happen?

John 9:1-41

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... loves all persons equally. While we understand that rationally, most of us still look for lucky charms that will give us an advantage. You know, there are at least a thousand stories about priests, rabbis, and pastors on golf courses. One of my favorites concerns a Catholic priest who was beating his rabbi friend rather badly. The priest was putting particularly well. The rabbi noticed that the priest crossed himself before each putt. Finally the rabbi said to his friend, "Would it be alright if I make the ...

3572. A Matter of Life and Breath

John 20:19-23

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... is the primary purpose? It is to reconcile people to God, to bring sinners to repentance. Jesus said it was his mission to seek the lost and give his life a ransom. The weakness of today’s church is in the fact that we have been concerned primarily with personal ethics and social action to the neglect of bringing people to God. When the Church fulfills her primary divine purpose, and men and women are thereby rightly related to God, the secondary purposes of the church will be fulfilled. It is therefore ...

3573. Can a Christian Go to Hell?

Matthew 7:15-23

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... comes through the back door. Many people are not worth loving. Many are not loveable. Christians do not love their fellowmen because they are worthy of love. We love people because we first love God and his Christ. We see Christ in those who need our love. While we are concerned about obeying the will of God to love all men, our need is not to go out to love people but first to learn to love God. Our prayer needs to be in the words of a hymn, "More love to thee, O Christ ... more love to thee." There is ...

3574. Sinner to Saint

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... cross. When he came back to them, he found them asleep and asked, "Can you not watch with me one hour?" When your best friend is sweating blood amd making a life-or-death decision, can you really be relaxed enough to sleep if you really are concerned about your friend? Sleep is a method used by Satan to frustrate the work of God. Luther once dreamed that the devil was listening to reports from his agents on the progress they were making against the Kingdom of God. One reported, "A company of Christians was ...

3575. Converting the Converted

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... the job. Suddenly he slapped his hand on the table and snapped, "Damn it, girl! Hurry up with that order! I haven’t got all day!" Isn’t patience one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit? The need for conversion is seen in the areas of social concern that have not yet been touched by the gospel. Take the area of race relations. In Bennett’s book, Before the Mayflower, members of a Presbyterian church in 1767 bought two slave women. They and their descendants were hired out and the money was used to pay the ...

Showing results