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 26 to 50 of 439 results

26. Life’s Purpose Is Often Hidden!

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... . Children are created from the satisfaction of their parents' lust. People are edified by books and other media creations brought about by the ego and quest for fame of their creators. Life-giving food is given to us by those who farm and sell it in order ... if it is for the family's good, the community's good, or the church's good, is just play. We are just indulging our sinful egos with it. So fess up about that. That is what "brave sinning" is. And then the pressure to succeed will be off. God and the ...

27. John 4:5-42

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of her own private life has apparently triggered that association in her mind. Jesus’ answer seemed to be an affirmation to the woman. It is the first of many “ego eimi” or “I am” declarations found in John’s gospel. Since Exodus 3:14 “ego eimi” has indicated the very presence of God. Jesus’ assertion to the woman that “ego eimi” challenges the Samaritan woman to recognize as Messiah the one who brings God’s presence “in spirit and truth” to the people, not just as someone who ...

28. The Fred Factor

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Sermon

Scott Suskovic

... The love of money was the root of all kinds of evil" (6:10). Why? Because it will never be enough. It will become your god. But I don't think that Fred became a postal carrier for the money. What else motivates a Fred? Is it his ego? Is Fred like the actress who says, "Mr. Deville, I'm ready for my close up"? Or the professional who really likes that title of doctor, judge, pastor, or vice president of marketing and sales. I remember once hearing an interview with Madonna during her younger, more expressive ...

29. The Servant Leader

John 13:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... to stand on the group’s right side. That way, his name always appeared first in the newspaper caption. That’s a pretty slick trick if you want to make certain people know who you are. When you are in a position of leadership, it’s easy to let your ego take over. Maybe that is why the Lord gave some of us spouses to keep us humble. The story is told of the head of a large company who with his wife was waiting in line to get his driver’s license renewed. He was frustrated at how long it ...

30. Extreme Humility

John 13:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... him who he was sent by.” The Prince then requested that his spiritual advisor be called. “I need to know why this has happened,” he demanded. Eventually, the Prince died with the arrow still in his body. (3) The Prince thought he was in control of his universe. His ego was so strong he thought there was no way he could die, and he was offended that any of his subjects would even try to take his life. But he was wrong--as anyone is wrong who thinks he or she is invincible. He was as wrong as anyone is ...

31. The Man Born Blind

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

... of these who speak in tongues become addicted because it is the only thing that they have going for them. And sometimes they make a big deal out of how much the Spirit gives them. And they can go on an ego trip. New Christians may come in looking for a place to feel important and so they buy into the ego trip. Do you follow me? Daughter: They can't make it at school or work so they try to become big in the church? Rabbi: The Church should always have room for strugglers, but the elders say the Spirit gives ...

32. When Saints Go Marching Forth

1 Samuel 15:1-35

Sermon

Arthur H. Kolsti

... of your congregation." "Actually no," replied my colleague. "When he speaks up in church meetings, he says all the right things in all the wrong ways." The point here is that being in the right does not make us righteous. There are subtle ways that our egos can subvert our servanthood. Our reading suggests that God was sorry he made Saul king and repented of the choice. That seems to suggest that God can make mistakes. The writers of 1 Samuel may have had a special interest in investing the king with Divine ...

33. Acquaintances Or Friends?

2 Samuel 16:15--17:29

Sermon

Arthur H. Kolsti

... , and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt." What a way to recognize another as one's alter ego, a trusted friend, a soul mate! And what unparalleled generosity, for this action invests David with heirship to the throne. The guilelessness of ... he had nothing to gain. This is not a calculated action, for David is a potential rival for the throne of Israel. No ego is involved as in the failed relationship of Saul and Samuel. No jealousy is present as in the stormy love/hate relationship that ...

34. The Man Born Blind

John 9:1-12

Drama

Jerry Eckert

35. Proper 24

Job 38:1–41:34, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Mark 10:35-45, Hebrews 5:1-10

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... enhancing favors. Servant leadership (vv. 42-45). Jesus laid out for his disciples a new paradigm for leadership. They were not to follow the model imposed by the world, where leaders delighted to subject others to their authority in order to inflate their own ego. Jesus laid out a prototype of leadership in the kingdom that emphasized service rather than position and power. "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (v. 43). SERMON POSSIBILITIES Lesson 1: Job 38:1-7 (34-41) Sermon Title: Who's ...

36. The Needle’s Eye

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

Thomas Peterson

... to be fully alive, vital, filled with spirit. Such a person can stimulate life in others. Sprinkled, with just enough of self and ego, a zesty sparkle manifests itself wherever the person comes to be known. Once more, a not-so-subtle lesson: the salt in us ... served at our own pleasure, never counting the expense to others. Only my self do I bring to the Cross, my self-will and selfishness, ego and vanity, my subtle ways of keeping on with my desires. At the Cross I make a gift of myself to God. Then at last ...

37. Every Person’s Great Possessions

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Thomas Peterson

... When I’m infirm, God, then…. After I’ve had all the earned fun, deserved advantages, and merited successes I’ll be ready to follow. At that point selling my possessions will not bother me, for they will be of no further value to me, anyway. Yet the human ego does not stop simply because we arrive at such times of our lives. Jesus’ call comes to us: Sell all and come, follow me. But “all” is more than we can bear. We are compelled to pin it down. Somehow we have to put the stamp of self on our ...

38. The Vine And The Branches

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

... central in everything. As we go out into the community to tell the good news to others, it must not be to feed our own ego or to get church members for our “fine church.” Rather, Christ must be central; we go and witness because we love him who loves us ... good fruit, it probably is an indication that we aren’t joined to Christ. Perhaps our vine and source of life are tradition, habit, ego, love of money, prestige, power or any of the many vines that want us for a branch. Over and over we are asked to ...

39. Save Us From the World-Savers

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Carl Jech

... , prophetic survivor of Nazi death camps, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. If ever there was a man whose message might save the world, he is one of them. Yet he is incredibly humble. A San Francisco Chronicle editorial said of him: "There is no visible ego in the man ... he does not profess to have all the answers ... he dwells not on our actions of the past but our responsibility for the future ... he has become an advocate for life, peace and human dignity." God save us from self-appointed world-savers ...

40. Proper 7

Genesis 28:10-22

Sermon

... as his physical exertions, Jacob slept. As he slept, he dreamed. In his dream, he recognized God had spoken to him. Perhaps, for the first time in his life, Jacob was forced to recognize the existence of a Will which was greater than his own ego. It seemed to Jacob, in his dream, the huge slabs of limestone lying all over the ground suddenly came together and built themselves into a gigantic stairway, reaching from the spot where he lay to the starry heights above him. And on that staircase, angels came ...

41. Studying under the Greatest Teacher

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

Gary W. Houston

... that the love of God is discovered and experienced to the degree that we empty ourselves of all that may impede a total surrender in trusting love to God. May I submit that the main obstacle to our spiritual growth is the fact that we identify with our egos instead of with God living in our hearts? Jesus has said: "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father who is in heaven." I ...

42. Searching for Peace

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

... , or correctness of view - whatever that is - but rather faithful people. It is not too far from the mark to say that today some people want peace at any cost. We run from conflict. We want unanimous agreement in our committees even if it means letting an ego maniac run things. We seem, at times, to be more afraid of what people think than concerned with what God desires. Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned fear of God? You and I do not need peace if it means complacency and stagnation. Rather let us ...

43. Faithful People in a Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3:1-30

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... would dare do anything about it. In fact, he warned that if any nation tried to stop him, there would be "the mother of all battles." Thankfully, it turned out to be not even the daughter of all battles. Saddam Hussein’s enlarged ego affected his judgment, costing the Iraqi people severely. It is interesting that Saddam often refers to himself as a modern successor to King Nebuchadnezzer of ancient Babylon. Saddam in his delusions of grandeur still talks about building a kingdom as great and as extensive ...

44. From Beast to Believer

Daniel 4:28-37, Daniel 4:19-27, Daniel 4:1-18

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... was changed and fundamentally saved. When we get to heaven, we will meet Neb personally. We can even get his autograph. Let me mention four life-lessons that Neb’s awesome story teaches us. First, the Human Ego Must Surrender before Christ Can Rule. Neb had to live like an animal for seven years before his ego would finally run up a white flag. The essence of sin is wanting to be managing director of your own life rather than letting God be in charge. The most significant question you can ask yourself is ...

45. Christian The King

Ezekiel 34:1-31

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... drug in order to get a high or an illusion of greatness. For about thirty minutes they feel smart, better, and great. One explained, "You’re king for a moment or even two. And you can be that again and again." Another user says, "Cocaine is ego food. It feeds the ego like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life." A third drug addict claims, "I wanted to feel like a kingpin, the life of the party. You get to feeling you are bulletproof." Still another drug user reports, "The cocaine high is the way you would ...

46. Manufactured Christianity: Jesus Sells, Jesus Sells!

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... having a raffle on the bus and the child with the lucky ticket got a five-speed bicycle. The list of examples could continue for pages, for every church, like every Christian, at a certain point in its existence, faces the temptation to jump off the ego mountain and fall down and worship Satan in an effort to receive the tangible rewards he offers. But are gimmicks the methodology of the Christian faith? Are results, in terms of numbers, the essence of the Christian faith? If yes, why do the Scriptures so ...

47. The Win-Win Philosophy of Life

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... say, "That typing is driving me nuts; you’ve got to quit." Or, "You’ve got to move." I could avoid a direct encounter, get on an ego trip and try to make an issue out of my own problem. I could call the deacons together and say, "We’ve really got a problem at ... as not to crush the egg. In our personal crises, we would do well to pretend that there is a fragile egg between our egos and the other person. If we drive our anger, our worry, and our power very carefully, we will get both better mileage and ...

48. The Beauty of a Childlike Faith

Matthew 18:1-9

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... is usually trying to fill a void created by a lack of loving affirmation. By way of contrast, we adults often have ego problems. Either we are genuinely big-headed and self-centered or often we are trying to cover our inferiority complexes with a layer ... of cockiness. The junior senator from South Carolina, Ernest F. Hollings, has such an oversized ego that he himself makes jokes about it. He claims he once failed a lie detector test when he said, "In my humble ...

49. Adultery, Cure and Prevention

Proverbs 7:1-27, John 8:1-11

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... our spouses, and to ourselves to be great lovers. But the unmet need in a marriage might not be sexual. It could be an ego need. King Solomon was quite perceptive in Proverbs 7 when he described how a wayward, licentious wife lures a young man into adultery. It ... He couldn't resist her flattery." Perhaps the worst failing among married people is that they don't take care of each other's ego needs. There is much talk about the mid-life crisis and escapades of middle-aged men. Often such men wonder if they are ...

50. The Heart of The Gospel

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Alton F. Wedel

... our trespasses and raised for our justification." Because Christ lost his case, he won the world. And God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. That changes our perspectives, doesn’t it? The intensity with which we try to win our case, our ego trips and quest for greatness, our aversion to criticism and our passion for applause, using Jesus as a pad against the shocks of life, or a ladder for successful living, or as a way of satisfying our own personal need - all these are perspectives that ...

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