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 401 to 425 of 562 results

401. Squeezed Dry

Humor Illustration

... spectators. Undaunted however, the man stepped onto the stage and took from the athlete what appeared to be nothing more than a shriveled up piece of rind. Then bracing himself, he slowly and firmly compressed his right hand. Every eye was on him, and the atmosphere was electric! A moment or two elapsed, and then, to everyone's amazement - and not least the athlete - a drop of orange juice formed and dripped to the floor. As the cheers subsided, the athlete beckoned the man to come forward, asked his name ...

402. John 2:13-22

John 2:12-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... outside the Temple proper — the property specifically set aside for Gentiles, those not wholly converted but deemed “God-fearers,” to gather and pray. It was into this courtyard that Jesus entered and found himself in a kind of “Black Friday” atmosphere. There was a crowded crush of buyers and sellers haggling and haranguing about the costs of creatures and coinage. Jesus’ response is both physical and verbal. He makes a “whip of cords,” or more accurately, of “rushes,” and “drove them ...

403. No Cleansing, No Refreshment

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

404. John 20:19 31

John 20:19-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... been singled out by John in 11:16 and 4:5, is absent from the locked room when Jesus makes his appearance. When Thomas returns he becomes the first missionizing moment for this new Christbody community. Despite the Holy-Spirit-charged atmosphere within that room, despite the wondrous witness of all present testifying that “We have seen the Lord,” a key member of the body remains unconvinced. He expresses his incredulity with rude and graphic forcefulness. The verb “ballein” is stronger than simply ...

405. Touched

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

406. 1 John 3:16-24

1 John 3:11-24

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... compassion for others because of God’s love, the author gives those who remain a daily course of action they can follow. But clearly the accusations and doubts of those who departed from the community still hang heavy in the air, affecting the spiritual atmosphere in which the faithful live every day. In these verses 1 John continues to offer assurance to those remaining in the community. He affirms that offering this active form of love is a sure sign of being “from the truth” or “belonging to the ...

407. Candidates for God’s Candid Camera

1 John 3:11-24

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

408. When You Are Wrongly Criticized

Mark 3:20-30

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... did not quarrel as loudly and viciously as different groups of Christians quarreled with each other. Think some of our “in your face” journalists are bad these days at throwing dirt? In 1844 when the Methodists met in General Conference someone said that the atmosphere was so tense that he could get 500 signatures to hang a famous Methodist preacher in Albany, New York in a short period of time. Someone bet him $500.00 he couldn’t, and the challenge was accepted. A petition was circulated, and within ...

409. The Awesome Power of a Mustard Seed (Father's Day)

Mark 4:30-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... people ask, what great thing can I do for God? I can’t be an overseas missionary. I don’t have the resources to do much to feed the hungry. But every one of us can provide the proper environment for our children and our youth to grow in an atmosphere of love, support and spiritual guidance. Our children are the mustard seeds that God has provided us. We are to love them, nurture them and help them be all God intended them to be. “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we ...

410. Aroma of Christ Church

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... The aroma around the Temple in Jerusalem must have been like being a Grill-Masters cook-off in Memphis. The sweet smell of roasted richness coupled with the belief in its aromatic road to redemption, made for a heady atmosphere. Daily sacrifices, quarterly commitments, yearly sacrifices — all were offered to stay on the “good side” of God. Can you imagine expensive and exhaustive the tradition of temple sacrifices had become? Jesus’ sacrifice shut down the slaughterhouse. Jesus sacrifice — his ...

411. Enough Foolishness!

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

King Duncan

... his head would have been sitting on his chest. Yet at his funeral, when people eulogized William Wilberforce, what they talked about over and over again was his joy. One man said, “He was always a most cheerful Christian; no gloomy atmosphere of melancholy moroseness surrounded him; his sun appeared to be always shining.” Wilberforce himself believed that joy was an “injunction strongly enforced in the New Testament.” (5) The happiest people on this earth are people who are filled with the Spirit ...

412. Risk Takers

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... ever, understand it to be a compilation of many teachings of Jesus. Even though there are differences between the two gospel recordings, one thing is sure — Jesus' words were revolutionary. They exploded like bombshells in an already charged atmosphere, upsetting the accepted standards taught by the religious leaders of that time, exposing fake piety by focusing on true humility. Jesus' popularity was rising. His teachings had been confirmed with miracles such as healings and deliverance from demons ...

413. Prayers For the President

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... Does anyone have a problem with that? I hope not — after all, God says I don't want to hear your worship, I'm not listening to your prayers, unless you do this. You might figure this would be a no-brainer, but in the political atmosphere of our day, it has run into difficulty. Why? Simply because the impoverished underclass has no political clout. It was Mark Hanna, the nineteenth-century Ohio political boss and US Senator, who said, "There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money ...

414. Epiphany 3

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19:1-14, Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... /speaker might consider asking how a well-functioning Body of Christ will interact with nature, with the city, and with government. The first six verses of the lectionary psalm might lead the way into ecological issues: clean skies, fresh air, planet atmosphere, and awareness of nature at different places: North Pole, South Pole, Australia, desert, wet lands, and so on. Verses 7-14 suggest that good government honors justice more than profit, happiness more than wealth, and fairness more than personal power ...

415. Heaven on Earth

Revelation 21:1-6

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... was going to prep school in Milwaukee, the students loved to walk past a nearby factory from which often emanated some simply wonderful smells. The factory made a product whose name seemed to perfectly fit the heavenly aromas that would occasionally fill the atmosphere of the neighborhood. The factory made Ambrosia Chocolate! For a chocolate lover like myself, there could be no better name for such a delectable food. You see, in ancient Greek mythology ambrosia was the name of the food of the gods! But how ...

416. The Radiant Life

Exodus 34:29-35

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... a tawdry, gimmicky, religious meeting. He says that the minutes painfully ticked by ever so slowly. He said that he even fell asleep in his chair as the speaker drawled on for what seemed forever. According to him the organizers created a freakish, carnival-like atmosphere similar to a midway sideshow with a "barker-like" man hawking religious souvenirs with Brother Love's zeal. I couldn't help but wonder, Would they be a bit embarrassed if they learned Jesus had sat on the front row? He then says that when ...

417. That’s Why We Call It Good

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... Finally, some centuries after the time of Isaiah's prophecy, we come to the event that the prophet foresaw. The setting is a skull-like hill outside of Jerusalem. The occasion is the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a grim scene: dark and turbulent. The atmosphere is vile, as crowds gawk and conspirators mock. There is bleeding, suffering, and suffocating: all of it unjust and undeserved. The one hanging on the center cross was, indeed, "despised and rejected" and "held of no account" (v. 3). It is the death of ...

418. A Tale Of Two Peters

Acts 5:27-32

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... out, "I don't know him!" It had been a long and trying night, you recall. It had begun with such festivity and good cheer. Jesus and his disciples were sitting down at table to enjoy and celebrate the Passover meal together. But the atmosphere of that supper became quite unsettling as Jesus spoke. He talked about his broken body and his shed blood. He talked about one of his close associates betraying him. He also spoke very specifically about Peter denying him. What could it all mean? Then they went ...

419. John 12:1-8

John 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... .” Jesus’ presence had not just beat back death. It had transformed life bringing an unexpected richness and sweetness. But even into this fragrant environment John wafts a whiff of what is to come. John identifies Judas as a sour note within this atmosphere of sweetness. As in 6:71 John specifically identifies Judas as “Iscariot” and as “the one who was about to betray him” (v.4). Judas objects to Mary’s anointing of Jesus on what appears to be humanitarian grounds. The costly nard could ...

420. Be a Bethany

John 12:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

421. Blessed Are Those Who Believe

John 20:19-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... streaking through a dark winter night with its tail sky-writing in our behalf, “I love you, God.” Of course, if that happened, immediately a group of cynics would get together and explain to us that it was just a freak product of certain atmospheric conditions. But why doesn’t God do something spectacular like that to let us know He’s there? We can sympathize with British philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell who was once asked what he would say if after death he found himself confronted by ...

422. The Best Gift of All

Titus 2:1-15

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

... required a trip down memory lane into Christmas past. He arranged a last minute flight home to London. His parents met him at the airport and welcomed him home. That day he walked to the town center like he used to, remembering the festive decorations and atmosphere of his youth. “I wanted to jump up and down stomping my feet and clapping my hands,” he says. It had been a long night of travel, he had not slept a wink, and admits to being “breathless with excitement because I couldn’t allow myself ...

423. Going Home

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Sermon

Argile Smith

... one of God’s choice servants, and we were lucky to have him as our leader. They never could get over the way Moses seemed to talk with God like friends carry on a conversation with each other. They could never remember a time when Moses didn’t change the atmosphere of a room when he entered it.” All of us will go home one day. Through Jesus Christ, we can look forward to it, and we can rest in the assurance of God’s presence when our time comes to leave here and go there. After we’re gone, the ...

424. The Healing Power of Faith

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... You may never walk upon the moon, but you will walk more confidently and gladly upon the earth.” And that’s true. That is what true faith healing is all about. It is not about a circus tent with sawdust on the floor and a carnival-like atmosphere where pitiable people are called upon to come on stage to experience a mystical experience. Healing faith is about holding on and trusting God and waiting for God’s salvation. And one thing more: It is about developing a sense of gratitude along the way. You ...

425. Keep Watching, Keep Warning, Keep Chasing

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the most important “signs” you can keep your eyes peeled for is that little funnel cloud that appears in the corner of the TV screen. If the funnel cloud is yellow it means there is in effect a tornado “watch.” A storm “watch” means that the atmospheric conditions are right and ripe for a tornado to form. A yellow funnel cloud “watch” means it is time to go on “high alert,” to be prepared, to keep vigilant, because the chance of a big, scary storm heading your way is high. If the funnel ...

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