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 4601 to 4625 of 5000 results

4601. By Right Paths

Psalm 23:3

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Rev. Dicky Love tells the story of an overworked mother of three active young boys who was playing in the yard with her boys one afternoon when her neighbor came by to borrow a cup of sugar. One of her boys aimed his play pistol at his mother and yelled, "Bang! You're dead!" Mom acted the part perfectly. She took the shot, groaned, "You got me." Then she spun and fell to the ground. When she fell to the ground, she didn't get up. Her neighbor waited for her to get up. But Mom didn't get up, so the ...

4602. Thanks, But No Thanks

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

There's an old "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip in which Calvin is talking to his stuffed tiger Hobbes (whom he imagines to be real and his best friend). He says: "People are so self-centered." Then he adds philosophically, "The world would be a better place if people would stop thinking about themselves and focus on others for a change." Hobbes sort of rolls his eyes and thinks aloud, "Gee, I wonder who that might apply to." Calvin answers, "Me!. Everyone should focus on me!" (1) Bill Watterson's cartoon ...

4603. He Leadeth Me

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

There was a story being circulated back in the days when President Carter was in the White House. He was meeting with the Prime Minister of Israel about the negotiation of a peace in the Middle East. Since both were religious men and worshiped the same God they thought it would be a good idea to consult God on the matters that were before them. Carter offered to use his private phone to do it, pay the charges. So they placed the call, talked to God for five minutes. When the call was completed Carter asked ...

4604. Called To Freedom

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

One Sunday morning at a Texas prison, a group of inmates were being led to the Catholic and Protestant chapels. One prisoner didn't enter either chapel but kept on walking toward the main gate. A guard caught up with him and asked, "And just where do you think you're going?" The prisoner replied, "I was told I could go to the church of my choice, and it's in Denver!" Aren't we all just like that inmate? We all want our freedom and we don't want anyone to take it away from us. This week we'll be celebrating ...

4605. See What Love . . .

1 John 3:1-7

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Hearken back to a time in life less stressful. To childhood. A simpler time. Not necessarily a better time, but a simpler time when we weren't in charge and the biggest worry we had was whether or not we were going to get a shot when we went to the doctor's office or whether the teacher was going to give a pop quiz. Think back to that uncluttered time in your life, when 25 cents, 50 cents, a dollar or even five dollars seemed like a great allowance and gave you more money than you could spend in a week. It ...

4606. The Dawn of Forever

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

There's an old story about a Sunday School teacher who had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb. And how they sealed the tomb with a huge stone. When she finished with that portion of the story, she wanted to share the excitement of the resurrection, and the surprise of Easter morning. So, she asked: "And what do you think Jesus' first words were when He came bursting out of that tomb alive?" A hand shot up in the back of the classroom. The arm of a ...

4607. There Will Be Singing

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

Our theme for this third Sunday in Advent is music. “When the Messiah comes there will be singing.” I think most of us love the music of Christmas. Of course, I realize that not all of us are musicians. A man and his wife were browsing in a crafts store one day when the man noticed a display of country-style musical instruments. After looking over the flutes, dulcimers and recorders, he picked up a shiny, one-stringed instrument he took to be a mouth harp. He put it to his lips and, much to the amusement ...

4608. Christmas Drama

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Amy C. Schifrin

Two readers are needed: one male and one female. The text can be expressively read with one person at the pulpit and one at the lectern or with both seated on high stools in the chancel area. No special costuming is required. Each scene may be separated by a verse of the hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Scene One Mary: Joseph, are we there yet? Joseph: No, Mary, Bethlehem is hours away. I could walk faster but this old donkey has its own pace. Mary: Did you ever think our lives would be like this? I mean ...

4609. Being a Christian “Survivor”

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Survivor — after all these years on television, you are familiar with the concept — castaway contestants on an isolated beach in search of adventure and a $1-million grand prize — sort of Gilligan's Island meets Regis Philbin. They compete in twisted survival games, jungle obstacles, swimming relays, and larva eating. Even more harrowing, they gather for a "tribal council" at the end of every episode, and after, "the tribe has spoken," one more contestant is booted off the island. The last person to ...

4610. Fred and Barney

John 10:11-18

Sermon

John Smylie

I grew up in the suburbs, in a community outside of lower Manhattan. There were no sheep in our neighborhood. In fact, there were no farms. In southern New Jersey, there were farms that grew wonderful corn and tomatoes. In fact some might be amused to know that the slogan on New Jersey's license plate has been, "The Garden State." It is amusing, because so many of us who live in this fine country have only had the experience of New Jersey that can be found along the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State ...

4611. You Are in Good Hands with God

Isaiah 40:21-31

Sermon

Richard Gribble

The SS seemed more preoccupied and more disturbed than normal. The idea of executing a young boy in front of hundreds of spectators was no light matter. The commandant of the camp read the verdict. All eyes were on the child. He was extremely pale, almost calm, and he bit his lip. The gallows threw its shadow over him. This time, the Lagerkapo refused to be the executioner. Three SS soldiers replaced him. The three victims were seated next to each other on chairs. A single noose was placed around each man' ...

4612. How Do You Know the Good Guys from the Bad Guys?

Luke 16:1-13

Sermon

I'm going to dispense with the niceties and cut to the chase. Everywhere I turned this week commentators on this gospel told me that it is the most difficult of all the parables of Jesus. They told me how it has caused incredible problems for the church for 2,000 years now. Some said that the problems were caused because folks didn't understand what he was trying to say. I read so many of these that I got a class-A case of writer's block. I became stuck worrying that I'd come in here this morning with a ...

4613. Demons, Pigs, and the Economy

Luke 8:26-39

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Garasenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. — Luke 8:37 In polite society we have not wanted to talk much of demons and the demonic. In our liberal, educated culture, we believe that sin was due mostly to ignorance and that evil could be eradicated by education. In our psychologically enlightened times we have avoided the more ancient religious and mythological language of devils ...

4614. A Time of Transition

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

You probably have not noticed that sometimes pastors are very strange people. Oh! You have noticed. Anyway, I heard about a pastor who stopped in at a convenience store where he selected an item that cost 50 cents. When he got to the cashier, however, he discovered he didn’t have any money with him. So, he thought he would have a little fun with the cashier. “I could invite you to hear me preach as payment for this item,” he said to her, “but I’m afraid I don’t have any fifty-cent sermons.” “Perhaps,” ...

4615. What To Say When You Roll Out Of Bed

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

William G. Carter

Several years ago, a radio station ran a contest. Disc jockeys invited their listeners to tune in their clock radios. "Just for fun," they said, "when you wake up to the sound of FM-106, call and tell us the first words you spoke when you rolled out of bed. If you're the third caller, you'll win $106." It didn't take long for the contest to grow in enthusiasm. The first morning, a buoyant disc jockey said, "Caller number three, what did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?" A groggy voice said ...

4616. What Will It Take to Make You Happy?

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

King Duncan

“Who do you think is happier?” asks Marc Reklau in his book Destination Happiness, “people who [have] won the lottery or people who [have become] paralyzed after an accident?” You may be surprised at the answer. “Yes, the lottery winners were very happy, but not for very long,” Reklau continues. “After six months they went back to their previous levels of happiness.” On the other hand, “the accident victims were sad, but surprisingly after six months, they [also] went back to their previous levels of ...

4617. Time to Pick a Side

Luke 12:49-53

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever noticed how many warning signs you pass by in the average day? Signs like “Do Not Enter,” “School Crossing,” “Caution: Wet Floor.” There’s a hilarious warning circulating on the Internet (author unknown). It goes like this: WARNING: Do Not Shampoo Your Hair In The Shower! It’s so good to finally get a health warning that is useful. It involves the shampoo when it runs down your body while you shower with it. Shampoo Warning! I don’t know WHY I didn’t figure this out sooner! I use shampoo in ...

4618. Are You a Super-Fan?

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

Kevin Greene is a former linebacker who played in the National Football League for 15 years. Greene retired after the 1999 NFL season and ranks third among all-time sack leaders, leading the NFL twice in that category. As a result, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Maybe one reason Greene was so successful was the support of his wife, Tara. From 1992 to 1996, while Greene was with the Pittsburgh Steelers we’re told that 30 minutes before kickoff of each home game Greene would seek ...

4619. Song of Joy

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Merry Christmas! [Allow them to answer back!] Praise be the Lord! The child is born! Halleluia! Gloria in excelsis deo! Blessings to you and your family on this very holy day. Today is a day for celebration! Every worship is a time of celebration, but today, we celebrate especially the birth of the Messiah, Christ the Lord. The baby is in the manger, and we are feeling pretty joyful! Amen? Baby Jesus, our boy of joy! How many of you are feeling joyful out there today? [Allow people to answer.] Well we’re ...

4620. Knitted Together from the Womb

Exodus 2:1-10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Il a l’air si paisible, endormi dans son couffin.” (He looks so peaceful sleeping in his bassinet.) We all start life grieving death. Or better put…We all go through life grieving the inevitability of death. And fearing when it will arrive. Maybe this is what leaves us so averse to risk. And yet, the people who are most risk-averse are what we might call the emotionally and spiritually “walking dead.” For risk is the fodder of relationships, of beginnings, of growth, and of life. Think about it. We take ...

4621. Are You Troubled by Demons?

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Most Christians remember Mother Teresa as the true saint she was. That is why I was so startled by an item I read in a book that was published shortly after her death in 1997. According to this source, the Archbishop of Calcutta, Henry Sebastian D’Souza, announced to the world that he had ordered an exorcism performed on Mother Teresa shortly before she died. Think about that! An exorcism on this beautiful person who had given her life to serving God! D’Souza said he thought the Nobel Peace Prize winning ...

4622. The Heartbeat of a Christian

1 John 3:16-24

Sermon

King Duncan

We all know that there are certain physical characteristics that are totally unique to each individual. Your fingerprints, for example, are entirely unique—no one else has fingerprints exactly like yours. The pattern of your iris, the colored part of your eye, is totally unique. So is your DNA. But did you know that your heartbeat is completely unique too? Every person on earth has a different heartbeat pattern, or “cardiac signature.” Your cardiac signature cannot be altered or disguised. So, if someone ...

4623. The Gift

Luke 2:1-20

Sermon

Will Willimon

“A few years ago, someone near and dear gave me a Polo shirt for Christmas, and I said thank you, of course, and put it on, and tried to look pleased, but what I was thinking was, 'Burgundy?' In my experience, burgundy shirts are worn by guys who smoke cigarillos, drive Buick LeSabres, sit in the dark corners of cocktail lounges and place large wages on basketball games. I'm more of a wheat type of person. Wheat or antique blue. But did I turn to the giver and say, 'Sorry, I'm an English major and we don't ...

4624. The First Sign of Civilization

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

King Duncan

I have an important question for you this morning: what is something that is essential for human life, is highly contagious, yet most of us take it for granted? Any ideas? It’s kindness. You might think I’m exaggerating when I say it’s essential for human life and highly contagious, but I believe I can back that up. A student once asked anthropologist Margaret Mead what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a society. What separates an uncivilized collection of people from a true ...

4625. A Pep Talk for a New Year

Matthew 2:13-23

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

I’d like to start this morning by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. I can’t think of a better way to start this New Year than gathering with other believers and worshiping God. Most of us try to go into the New Year with a positive attitude. Sometimes it helps if we get a little encouragement, maybe a “pep talk” to get us in the right mindset. If so, we’re in luck. There is a kindergarten class in Healdsburg, California, that runs their own free hotline which they call “Peptoc,” P-E-P-T-O-C. The ...

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