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 4426 to 4450 of 4988 results

4426. Six Nails of the Cross III: The Nail of Envy

Matthew 27:11-26

Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... companions while traveling between cities. As they talked he noticed that one of the men was filled with greed, while the other felt only envy for the other. The saint told the men as they came to a fork in the road that he wanted to give them a gift before leaving them. He told both that he would grant one wish between the two of them and that whoever asked first would have his wish granted completely and the other would receive a double portion of the same. The greedy man knew what he wanted, but could ...

4427. Laughing in Church

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Carl Jech

... he knew there would be a lot of laughing and crying. Now above all, of course, in this series of sermons on The Surprising Symbols of Easter I am using the phrase "Laughing In Church" as a symbol, a symbol for the joyful life that God gives us as a gift of grace. To have a real sense of humor does not mean that we are always laughing. It does mean that we need never lose our ability to laugh. To have a profound sense of humor is to know that the "bottom line" for the Christian is not grim but ...

4428. Monologues: Disciples Redeemed

John 20:10-18, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Drama

Raymond I. Keffer

... surrendered all to Jesus. I, like the others, was unsure what plans God had for me following the ascension of Jesus. I became fully aware of these plans after Pentecost. The Holy Spirit filled me with the desire to tell others of the love of Jesus and the gift of life He offered them. Jesus taught us that He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one reached the Father except through Him. "I had to share this message among the lost souls of the world. My witnessing took me throughout the known ...

4429. Winning Isn't the Only Thing ... It's Irrelevant

Luke 13:31-35

Sermon

Carl Jech

... the other. As Christians we are not called to sell people on the claims of Christ, are not commissioned to create a narrow in-group that divides the world into "us and them." Recently, a representative of Christian charismatics suggested that it would be a great gift for the 2000th birthday of Jesus if we would strive to make half the world Christian by the turn of the century. I seriously wonder if such a numbers-conscious "wave of evangelism" would be in keeping with the spirit of Jesus. It would be more ...

4430. Jesus, Mary, Gustav Mahler, Brother Martin, and the Magi

Luke 20:9-19

Sermon

Carl Jech

... tradition must remain in dialogue with a changing world. Pinchas Peli is a modern rabbi-turned-teacher who likes to say "I don't come to preach - I come just to think along with you." In his book, Torah Today, published in 1987, he displays his special gift for blending tradition with new ideas and insights. He says that people who see no reason to be in touch with their religious traditions are like people who say "I've listened to enough concerts, I've read enough books, I quit." Then he adds: "There are ...

4431. Will the Real Jesus Christ Arise?

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Carl Jech

... raising up our own notions of who Jesus really is or are we honestly listening to history and the Scriptures as they speak to us of this person named Jesus and his association with the title of Christ? Not long before his untimely death, the gifted theologian and bishop, Kent Knutson, introduced one of his books with these words: "This is a book about Jesus Christ. It is rather presumptuous to write such a book. Suitable books are already available. The one by John in the New Testament, for example ... [But ...

4432. Colorizing Jesus

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Carl Jech

... for Asians, an Indian Jesus for Indians, and the like. Furthermore, to say that Jesus is a unique symbol for the grace of God does not take away from the fact that Buddhism also emphasizes grace. (Zen, "Pure Land" and Amida Buddhism in particular understand salvation as a gift that is given, not earned.) To say that Jesus is a unique channel of God's grace is simply to say that Jesus is as close as one can come to the embodiment of God's grace! Jesus is the strongest possible symbol for that "grace which ...

4433. The Real Jesus is Channeling Grace

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Carl Jech

... or theological dialogue, a great many people have latched onto the Golden Rule as the ultimate expression of their faith. It is provocative and inspiring to discover the remarkable universality of this ethical principle. In Hinduism it is stated like this: "Those gifted with intelligence should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated." The Shinto version is: "The suffering of others is my suffering; the good of others is my good." In Buddhism it is: "A person can minister to friends and ...

4434. A Covenant Sealed By a Sacrifice

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... college. Most of our experience with sacrifice is associated with suffering and the giving up of something that we cherish and desire for ourselves. Sacrifice is conceived of as a loss incurred without an expected return. However, in the Bible, sacrifice is associated with a gift gladly given. It is an offering which creates a special communion and an in-dissolvable union with our God. In the Bible, sacrifice is a means of releasing life in order that a greater life may be given to us. The focus is not on ...

4435. Praise God For Adversity

Isaiah 43:14-28

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... people who freely and willingly praise him. They will praise him not just for his good and mighty works; rather, they will praise him for himself and for himself alone. God is a good God, and all that he gives to us is intended to be a good gift. It is we who make evil out of good. It is we who pervert love into lust, plenty into poverty, differences into intolerance, and progress into oppression. It is we who make society into a seething caldron of crime, corruption, and combating forces. It is we who take ...

4436. A Holy Hunger

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... living relationship with our God is now possible. It is a new covenant of love. It is not a new "rule" embedded in the law. It is an inner obedience rather than an outward observance. It is an act of forgiveness, rather, than an act of judgment. It is a gift of life, rather, than the wages of sin. It is grace - pure undeserved grace! Therefore, let us rejoice as we come to this table, eat this bread, and drink this wine. It is the body of the living Lord. It is the life-giving blood of a new covenant. It ...

4437. God is About to Strike

Acts 9:1-19a

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... of salvation. God writes, directs, produces, and stars in the drama of conversion. It was God who knocked Paul from his horse to the ground. It was God who blinded Paul with the judgmental word of the Law. It was God who restored Paul's sight with the gift of the Gospel. It was God who forgave, and blessed, and commissioned Paul. And, God is determined to do the same thing to you and to me. God will strike us, again and again, with his Word, until that Word makes contact and becomes active in our lives ...

4438. No Grey Area

Acts 15:1-21

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... knowledgeable people claim that a particular and an exclusive manner of baptism is necessary for salvation. Others claim that a second baptism by the Holy Spirit is an absolute must for "born again" salvation. Others stake salvation on the possession of charismatic gifts, public confessions of faith, penitence, and absolution by the church. The list goes on and on. Such attempts to add such baggage to the doctrine of salvation by Christ, and by Christ alone, causes Saint Peter, in our text for this morning ...

4439. Jail House Joy

Acts 16:16-40

Sermon

Carl Hoefler

... to gain control of the situation and to discredit the effects of the witnessing of Paul and Silas. Paul, however, was able to discern the difference between the words of a demonically-possessed fortune teller and the authentic proclamation of one who had been blessed with a gift of prophecy from the Holy Spirit. So, Paul turned to the deranged girl and, on the spot, performed a miracle of exorcism which drove the demon from her. What Paul did not know, but what he was soon to find out, was that the con-men ...

4440. Grow in Love in Preparation for Advent

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Christian friends, we begin a new year in the Church as we prepare for Christ's advent. People: We thank God for this Advent Season to remind us of the gift of his Son, and his promised return. Pastor: Our thankfulness ought to result in an honest expression of love for one another, that we may be prepared for the advent of our Lord. People: May God cause our love for one another to grow more and more. Collect Almighty God, ...

4441. Love Leads to Knowledge

Philippians 1:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Knowledge is a wonderful gift God gives to us. People: It certainly is. God has blessed us with so much knowledge, even though we claim ignorance at times. Pastor: Our knowledge can increase even more as our love abounds; especially our knowledge of the way God wants us to live. People: May our love grow ...

4442. Staying in the Presence of Christ

Luke 2:41-52

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... to wander too far away from the significance of Christmas assuming that Jesus has come with us. People: May God help us not to take for granted the presence of Jesus in our lives. Collect Our Father in heaven, whose Son is your ever present gift of redemption: Walk with us, even in our waywardness; that you may reveal to us our Christlessness. May the wisdom of Jesus be a growing experience in us, increasing our knowledge and understanding of you. In his name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Dear Lord ...

4443. The Foolishness of God is Wiser than Humans

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... God do not always seem to be appropriate for our life styles; consequently we pay too little attention to God's will. Pastor: But the truth is that God's foolishness is wiser than the ways of humanity. People: We know that is true, especially in the gift of his Son Jesus, whom we will strive to serve. Collect Loving Father, whose plan of salvation is not based on reason or logic, but on your divine love: Release us from our mental hang-ups that prevent us from responding to your redemption in Christ; that ...

4444. Jesus is Anointed with the Holy Spirit

Acts 14:21-28

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: God anointed Jesus with his Holy Spirit, giving him power to do good for those in need. People: That power enabled him to heal people, both of physical illnesses, and of sin's effect on the soul. Pastor: Christ's gift of wholeness is available to all who will receive it. People: God shows no partiality when he offers redemption. Praise God for his universal Savior! Collect Father almighty, who anointed your Son with the Holy Spirit, giving him power over the forces of evil: Release ...

4445. The Truth of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... with Adam and his sinful nature. Now we can identify with Christ, and enjoy eternal life. People: We worship our risen Lord who lives within our hearts! Collect Eternal God, our Father, who has reached down to man in our sinful nature with the gift of eternal life through your Son Jesus, our Lord: Raise us to new life, that, turning from our sinfulness, we may enjoy the blessings of resurrection living, now and forever more. We pray through Christ the Resurrection and the Life. Amen. Prayer of Confession ...

4446. Saul's Conversion

Acts 9:1-19a

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: God's love is so great, that even the worst sinner can become a saint in the church. People: We praise God for his love and forgiveness which transforms sinners into saints! Pastor: That transformation is God's gift to all who will let Jesus intervene in their lives with salvation. People: Thanks be to God whose Son Jesus Christ breaks into our lives with forgiveness! Collect Gracious Father, whose love is powerful enough to break us loose from sin's control: Transform our lives by ...

4447. The Ascension of Jesus

Acts 1:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... Spirit to bear witness to that redemptive love, and the new life which that love creates, that every person in the world may hear the story of Jesus, the Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Eternal God, we praise you for the gift of your Son who lived, died, arose from the grave, and ascended into heaven! Forgive us for the inadequate witness we have given to such a wonderful message of salvation. Loosen our tongues to express our faith with convincing words of hope for the whole human ...

4448. The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... brotherhood you desire for all people. In our Savior's name, we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Forgive us, Lord, for the confusion we have brought on ourselves. We have tried to control life, and only fail in our attempts to play god. Bless us with the gift of your Spirit, uniting us in love and brotherhood, with an honest concern for the welfare of one another. Let us be of one mind and voice as we share with our world the saving message of Jesus, our Lord, through whom we pray. Amen. Hymns “Ancient ...

4449. Wisdom Personified as being Pre-existent

Proverbs 8:1-36

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... us in a life that is a delight to your will. We pray through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Prayer of Confession Evidence of your wisdom is all around us, Father, and we are truly thankful. We know your wisdom is not only a characteristic of yours, but a gift you share with us. Forgive us when we have rejected such wisdom, excusing ourselves because of our lack of intelligence. Give us the conviction to live by your guidelines instead of our lower nature. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Hymns “Holy, Holy, Holy ...

4450. Justification Leads to Reconciliation with God

Romans 5:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... broken fellowship with you. Restore us to your love by granting us faith in your Son who gives us your forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace. May our joy in being restored affect even our attitude towards the trials and tribulations of this life, that our hope may be strengthened by the gift of your Spirit as we rejoice in your love. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen. Hymns “Amazing Grace” “Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know” “O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice” “O How Happy Are They"

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