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 4551 to 4575 of 5000 results

4551. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-41

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to “speak evil” about him. Jesus then goes on to make the proverbial declaration, “Whoever is not against us is for us” (v.40). While John was anxious to establish an “us” vs. “them” exclusiveness, Jesus welcomes all who use his name, even if their understanding is limited. This is a good thing for John since at this point in the gospel it is clear that the Twelve are as much in the dark about the true nature of Jesus and the role of discipleship as any unknown exorcist. Jesus’ inclusivity ...

4552. The Golf Shot That Destroyed an Airforce

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

King Duncan

... , the entire fighter defense force of the Benin nation, were completely destroyed. So an errant golf ball flew into a flying bird which landed on a pilot who lost control of his plane and thereby destroyed the Air Force of an African nation. (3) Do you understand that life sometimes works that way particularly when it comes to harboring sin in our life? Those simple vices like greed and envy and lust and sloth and anger can very quickly get out of hand. And sometimes the consequences of a sinful action are ...

4553. Proper 9

2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30:1-12; 66:1-20, Isaiah 60:10-14, Luke 10:1-24, Galatians 6:1-16

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and we can rejoice. People: Together we also recognize the not-so-good things in our lives. Together we know that we are not alone on this journey through time. Leader: We need one another. People: We can see what God is doing but we rarely understand so we need to talk about our perceptions and our feelings. We want to hear the stories of scripture and consider how they speak to us. We want our relationships here to nurture us Monday through Saturday. Leader: Those are high expectations! People: We are not ...

4554. Proper 14

Psalm 33:12-22, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Luke 12:32-40, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... . We pray for this whole planet and its health. Work wisdom in us so that we problem-solve for the earth’s harmony and the universe’s welfare. Let the seasons come and go to bless all creatures. Creating Spirit — we think of our ancestors whose understanding of the Bible was quite literal and their faith was not dependent upon logic or scientific data. As we learn more about how the intricate systems of the human body and the universe work, help us integrate what we learn with what we experience as ...

4555. Proper 20

Psalm 79:1-9, Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, Luke 16:1-15, 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... us. Leader: What do you think about the man called Jesus of Nazareth? People: We know that Jesus of Nazareth incarnated divine wisdom as he lived, healed, and taught at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea 2,000 years ago. Leader: How do you understand Holy Spirit? People: We experience Holy Spirit coaxing us into relationship with the Holy One; we trust that the Spirit finds us when we are wandering among the culture’s idols seeking satisfying days and nights. We are inspired by the Holy Spirit to be ...

4556. Serving the King of Kings

John 18:28-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... the ruler of the kings of the earth.” This is that day in the church year we celebrate Christ’s reign in human life. There is none to whom Christ can be compared. Oh, there have been attempts to elevate human figures to Christ’s stature. I understand that there is now a First Church of Jesus Christ, Elvis. I’m not making this up, though surely the whole effort is tongue-in-cheek. The catchphrase of this particular church is, “For unto you is born this day in the city of Memphis a Presley, which ...

4557. Open the Window, Aunt Minnie, Here It Comes!

Jeremiah 33:1-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... of promoting this season of the year than houses of worship. That’s a pattern I would like to break. And so on this first Sunday in the Advent season, I want to shout with great enthusiasm, “Open the window, Aunt Minnie, here comes Advent!” Children understand that kind of excitement. Just wait until Christmas gets a little closer. Some of them are already making list of things they want Santa to bring them. Pastor John Jewell tells about a young boy a few years ago who at one of their Christmas Eve ...

4558. Proper 24

Genesis 32:22-32, Psalm 119:97-104, Jeremiah 31-27-34, Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and comfort from them. People: Thanks be to God for divine wisdom! Prayer Of Thanksgiving Gracious God — your word is light for our paths; your presence gives us strength for each day. Thank you. We open our minds to your voice this hour; speak so we can understand and live in ways to honor you. With our whole selves, we are alert for your guidance. Amen. Call To Confession Every now and then, we find ourselves wrestling with God, like Jacob did at the River Jabbok. In these next few minutes, we make time ...

4559. Not So With You

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . Do we know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus? Do we have an identity as Christians? What is your identity? At the very core of your being, who are you? It’s a core question, since every corporation and every institution that understands these digital times is reinventing itself around “Who we are” and away from “What we sell” or “What we offer.” In today’s gospel text Jesus is giving his followers a new identity, an identity as his disciples. But despite all he has revealed about ...

4560. A Nun at Hooters

Humor Illustration

... the nun. So the bartender showed the nun to the back of the restaurant. After a few minutes, she came back out, and the whole place stopped just long enough to give the nun a loud round of applause. She went to the bartender and said, 'Sir, I don't understand. Why did they applaud for me just because I went to the restroom?' 'Well, now they know you're one of us,' said the bartender. 'Would you like a drink?' 'No thank you, but, I still don't ...

4561. God's Gift

Jeremiah 33:1-26

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... God ‘wills and expresses and establishes what corresponds to his own worth.’ "3 We need a God who is fair. He will be impartial, non-discriminatory, non-biased, just, and reasonable. All people will be judged with his open-mindedness. We need a God who understands justice. He will deal with us impartially on culture, race, sex, social or financial status, age, or any other label humans like to use. We need a God who tells us the honest truth. God stands as the ultimate truth even if our age does not ...

4562. Finding Redemption in the Midst of Judgment

Malachi 2:17--3:5

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... Their God hadn’t come to his temple in all his majesty and glory as they expected. * Their exalted kingdom still wasn’t exalted. * Their trust in God’s covenant love now wavered (Malachi 1:2). * Their understanding of God’s justice sank like a rock (Malachi 2:17; 3:14-15). Malachi understands their frustration and discouragement, but he certainly condemns their sin. The people lay at the feet of God the charge that he is unjust because he has failed to come in judgment of the Gentiles and has failed ...

4563. Rejoicing Brings Peace

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... seek will be ours. The author of the book of Proverbs was correct when he wrote: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight” (Proverbs 3:5). Paul says that the peace of God, which surpasses all our understanding, will guard our hearts and minds. This peace is certainly a reality we all seek — to feel at peace and know that God will guard our hearts and minds to the attainment of this goal. Scripture and tradition have provided Jesus with numerous titles, each of ...

4564. Rejoicing Brings Peace

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... compassionate one who seeks out the lost, even going so far as to leave 99 perfectly good sheep to fend for themselves while he searches for us, the one who is lost. When Jesus describes himself as "the way, the truth, and the life," he helps us understand that he is the guide to all that we need, all that will sustain us. Jesus' description of himself as the vine and we as the branches, expressing our need to always remain connected to him, brings us both consolation and challenge. It is a challenge for ...

4565. Strength through Diversity

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... may not make a scene as did the woman, but in our minds and actions we are as closed as she was toward the black man. Such attitudes stunt our growth. Sometimes we are fortunate, like the woman, to be shocked or even embarrassed into understanding the problematic reality of our attitude. However, too often we do not learn and thus we continue down the path that leads nowhere. We miss out on many opportunities of life. The destructive force of a world without diversity has, unfortunately, been repeated too ...

4566. Don’t Compromise Your Beliefs

Galatians 1:1-10

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... by us or even one we have used ourselves, can also be illustrated by a little story. Fred Everybody, Thomas Somebody, Peter Anybody, and Joe Nobody were neighbors, but not the type that most would want to know. They were odd people and difficult to understand. The way they lived their lives was a shame. These men all went to the same church, but most people would not have wanted them as parishioners. Everybody went fishing on Sundays or stayed home and chatted with his friends. Anybody wanted to worship ...

4567. A New Point of View

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin. A mess of pottage, a life of shame, A game and he travels on. He's going once, and going twice, He's going and almost gone. But the Master comes and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought By the touch of the Master's hand.2 With this new point of view, we live our lives no longer keeping score, no longer counting their trespasses against them, no longer dividing the world into losers and ...

4568. The Blood of The Lamb and The Voice of The Shepherd

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... to be led. You push cows but you lead sheep and they will not go anywhere that someone else does not go first — namely their shepherd — who goes ahead of them to show them that everything is all right. The implication of this relationship for understanding our relationship to Jesus is obvious. When John calls Jesus our shepherd reigning over the universe from his throne in heaven, he is reminding us that there is no place in this universe that he has not gone before us, including death itself. And look ...

4569. Sing Praise

Colossians 1:15-23

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... like "Jesus Loves Me," or a great hymn of the church like "How Firm A Foundation," the songs we sing can express what we believe. In turn, they also shape our understanding of God, of who we are as human beings, and of the world around us. One of the ancient hymns that expressed the theology of the early church and shaped its understanding is found in the first part of our scripture reading for today. Colossians 1:15-23 is written in regular paragraph form in some English versions of the Bible, but many ...

4570. When God Adds Insult to Injury

Colossians 2:6-15

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... like, "What is justice?" His students would try to answer. Socrates would point out the weakness of their answers by asking another question. The students would refine their answers. Socrates and his students would keep this up until they came to a better understanding of justice. The question behind the heresy in Colossians is the question, "What holds the universe together?" That is not a question we ask very often, but it was a hot topic to Greek philosophers. One answer to the question is that elemental ...

4571. Killing What Is Already Dead

Colossians 3:1-11

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... learn to control our tempers. Anger can ruin marriages and friendships. A parent's anger can leave a child with emotional scars for life. Our bad tempers often go back many years to some damage done to us a long time ago. Sometimes we need help understanding our tempers. Scheduling time with a counselor can be the greatest gift some people can give to their families. Many of the things that can hurt us — our lust, anger, self-destructive ways — can be hard to overcome. That is why this passage talks the ...

4572. God as a Consuming Fire

Hebrews 12:18-29

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... be what we need to hear. Let us take seriously the images of God's judgment in scripture. Let us learn from them. Let us always balance these images with images of God's mercy. In Hebrews, the author passionately describes Jesus as one who became human to understand us, show us the way, and to redeem us. That is a God of love. A woman preparing for the ministry once wrote to her supervising pastor in the candidacy process. She exuberantly exclaimed that she was "head over heels in love with God."1 In our ...

4573. Living in Chains

2 Timothy 2:8-13

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... the crowd eventually believed the rumors concerning Edwards, defrocked him, and kicked him out of town. He remained in exile for eight years until the other pastor, humbled by Edwards' example of mercy, stepped forward, and confessed that it was all a lie. Now what? I understand that I, as a mature Christian, am not to seek revenge. Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. Why am I banned from seeking revenge? Because with my dark, sinful heart, I will never be content on just evening the score with my enemy. I'll ...

4574. No Work, No Food!

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... and a liter of Seven-Up and sent to our rooms until we could become a productive member of society once again! (Okay, that is a bit of an exaggeration but you get the point. Thankfully, they still fed us during bed rest even if we did not work.) I understand a high work ethic. When I read these strong words from Paul in 2 Thessalonians, I contrast it to the parable told by Jesus in Matthew 20:1-15 where day laborers went into the marketplace at dawn and the owners of the vineyards would go and hire as many ...

4575. Rally or Rail?

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Pilate have any real interest in Jesus’ true identity? Or is it simply a restatement of the Sanhedrin’s legal charges? Pilate does have his own agenda. But it is not to explore the genuine nature of Jesus’ identity. Rather, it is to understand the impetus behind the Sanhedrin’s murderous intentions. Jesus is obviously part of some internecine conflict now being played out on Pilate’s turf. Indignant that he has been embroiled in this religious quagmire, Pilate points out “I am not a Jew.” He ...

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