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 501 to 525 of 3285 results

501. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 3:5

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and brought by Timothy to the Thessalonian church when he came to check up on them. Since Paul was under the impression that the Thessalonians were being persecuted (an assumption proved wrong in 1 Thessalonians 3:6), and since he worried about their ability to endure, it is reasonable to expect Paul to send such a community written words of comfort and faith. Wanamaker claims that by seeing 2 Thessalonian as the earlier of the two letters, the two distinctive tones of the correspondence make sense. Thus ...

502. John 11:1-45

John 11:1-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and sophisticated Christological confession in John's entire gospel. Martha is already an example of faith when she runs out from her house of mourning to meet Jesus as he journeys toward them. Her initial confession of faith is in Jesus's healing abilities (v. 21). Yet she intimates that she may be ready to believe even more is possible (v. 22). When Jesus promises "Your brother will rise again," Martha reveals her solid knowledge of traditional Jewish doctrine. She knows that Jesus speaks the truth, for ...

503. Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:22-33

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... water, wind and waves that are all around him. Peter's own fears and doubts begin to pull him down, and he starts to sink. Characteristically, Peter exhibits both foolishness and faith when he responds by crying out, "Lord save me." He doesn't have faith in the ability of Jesus to work through him, but Peter does still reach out only to his Lord for help in his time of doubt. Jesus swiftly catches Peter by the hand but also chastises him. Peter's scolding is a message to all the disciples to all those who ...

504. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... in this list are hardly the dramatic favorites of the Corinthian church. The "utterance of knowledge" he refers to here means knowledge or insight into the meaning and message of the Cross. The "wise speech" or "utterance of wisdom" is the related ability to communicate that message and insight. Instead of some flamboyant expression of a divine charism, Paul has essentially described the community-building work of teaching and preaching. We should specify that the kind of "faith" Paul refers to in verse 9 ...

505. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of the Thessalonian Christians. Paul has reminded his readers of both the bad and the good that await them, and he now urges them to "stand firm" before it all. Paul emphasizes the firmness of this stand they must take and links it to their ability to "hold fast" to the "traditions" or "teachings" that they have received. The potentially fragile nature of that upon which this grip is placed is clear - for "traditions" must be passed down from one generation to the next with great care in order to ensure ...

506. 2 Samuel 18:24-33

2 Samuel 18:24-33

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... prepared for the challenges they are about to face. From this week's text perhaps the most difficult behavior for the Ephesians, and all generations of humanity since, is Paul's admonition to not be "foolish," and to "understand the will of God." The ability to avoid human foolishness is only possible through a gift of wisdom a gift which Paul would stress is available through Jesus Christ. Paul's second directive to the Ephesians in this text urges them to fill their lives with something of substance in ...

507. Acts 9:1-20

Acts 9:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... enemy of his people as "Brother Saul" - demonstrating with his words his trust in the Lord's transformative abilities. Saul is no longer an outsider persecuting the Church - he is now a true brother in Christ. And while his vision's words did not make the ... source of Ananias' healing ability clear, Ananias himself knows better than to take credit for such a miracle. The Holy Spirit, Jesus' presence here on earth, is ...

508. Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1-5

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... trying of integrity which stands up and comes out true, is the positive outcome of meeting these challenges head-on. Lest we begin to think that we are wholly responsible for creating and maintaining this quality of virtuous character, remember that the ability to suffer and endure is still a divinely given gift, dependent upon grace. We cannot "build" our own Christian character through dint of good works and better intentions. We are able only to open ourselves to a more complete (compleat) understanding ...

509. John 15:9-17

John 15:9-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... friendship is further emphasized by Jesus' declaration in verse 16 that "You did not choose me but I chose you." Discipleship comes about by divine choice, not by the human merits and actions. The prescribed outcome of this choice is the disciples' ability now to go out and "bear fruit," bear abiding fruit. The love, the friendship, that comes from Christ is tangibly manifested in the disciples' lives. Verse 16 concludes that as friends of Jesus, the disciples have access to virtually unlimited power. They ...

510. Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that reserves that appellation for God alone. Jesus' disclaimer also serves to shift the focus of this conversation away from the actions and attitudes of the human players in this scene. The man who kneels at his feet is obviously focused on human abilities ("what must I do") and capabilities (being a "good" teacher). Jesus redirects the focus of the man's quest by declaring the goodness of God and the righteousness of the commandments. The commandments Jesus lists are from the Decalogue's so-called ...

511. Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... both to extend love and to receive love are marks of true discipleship and the reciprocating glue that helps hold the church together. It was the early church's ability to practice mutual love in the midst of a hostile pagan environment that prompted Tertullian's oft-cited observation, "See how these Christians love one another." The author's second directive is for an attitude of perpetual "hospitality to strangers" (v.2). Again this command is understood within the fold ...

512. Isaiah 11:1-10

Isaiah 11:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... righteousness and "decide with equity for the meek of the earth" (v.4). "Counsel and might" are references not to the counsel a king might give, because a king does not give counsel but receives it and makes decisions. His gift is the gift of planning, the ability to develop battle strategy if necessary. His "might" is "power" (NIV), for he will "strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked" (v.4b). The coming ruler will also be filled with the "spirit ...

513. Romans 8:1-11

Romans 8:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , is a law internalized, written on the heart (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34) and undefiled by the "law of sin and death" that had previously frustrated all who tried to fulfill it. The law, "weakened by the flesh" (v.3), had depended on the sin-saturated (dis)abilities of humans to bring it to life in the world. As such, its presence in this world was necessarily corrupted by the frailties of those incarnating it. To remedy this situation, Paul boldly states in verse 3 that God sent his own Son "in the likeness of ...

514. Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... simply confess their intended loyalty once more, and Joshua now makes "statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem" (v.25). Perhaps Joshua realized that while he can be a leader and example for his people, he cannot be their conscience or their nursemaid. In the end, both the people's ability to serve only the Lord and Joshua's ability to trust their words are matters of faith.

515. Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-41

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , the disciples' response is recorded by Mark. They are "filled with great awe" though not, we need to notice, with faith. It is ironic that Jesus' power over the wind and sea seems to make more of an impression on the disciples than does his ability to cast out unclean spirits. But according to Jewish tradition, the powers Jesus has just displayed put him in a whole other category of being. Jesus has decisively demonstrated his absolute and divine powers. He is certainly more than a sage or shaman. The ...

516. Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Jesus is challenged by what appears to be a failure. Messengers arrive from Jairus' house with the tragic news of his daughter's death. Those who might have believed Jesus could have cured her illness now dismiss his usefulness assuming that his healing abilities were surely limited by death. Jesus' response to these naysayers is to urge Jairus to "only believe." The public nature of this next healing is curtailed somewhat by Jesus. First he selects out only Peter, James and John to accompany him to Jairus ...

517. John 6:35, 41-51

John 6:35, 41-51

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ' divine origins are only admissible on the grounds of faith, there is no reason to set them up for debate. The assertion in verse 44 also relies on faith. Jesus stipulates that even those who have faith in him do so because they have received that ability to have faith as a gift from God. This is a tension drawn out by John's text again and again. Humans have a responsibility to seek faithfulness. But even that seeking process is made possible only by an initial gift of faithfulness from God. Rejecting ...

518. Epiphany 6

2 Kings 5:1-27, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Mark 1:40-45

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... cure for spiritual leprosy. Outline: How to come clean to God – a. Realize the need for cleansing "a leper" v. 40. b. Desire to be clean "beseeching ... kneeling" v. 40. c. Accept the cleansing "be clean" v. 41. 1. Jesus' willingness to cleanse based on pity v. 41. 2. Jesus' ability to cleanse v. 42. 2. You will or you can't? (1:40). Need: The leper is a wise man. He knows the difference between being able to and being willing to help a person in need. He is willing or he is not able, or he is able and ...

519. Epiphany 8

Mark 2:18-22, 2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6, Psalm 103:1-22, Hosea 2:2-23

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 2. b. Your life may be a letter of recommendation of Christ v. 3. 2. Having self-confidence (3:4-6). Need: A common need is self-confidence. We have trouble believing in ourselves and our abilities. Consequently, we often fail in what we try to do. Paul's opponents looked at their abilities and letters of recommendation for their sufficiency and competence. However, Paul found the source of his competence in God who made him adequate for every opportunity and challenge. When we lack self-confidence, we need ...

520. 2 Corinthians 7:3-15

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Paul’s “collection” and the legally established rates required according the Jewish temple tax. The amount given here is determined not by some exterior authority, but rather is a “heart-rate,” an amount determined by the individual’s own ability to give and the convictions of their heart. It is the generosity of spirit, not the plumpness of the pocketbook, which determines the “acceptability” of the gift. Paul counsels the Corinthians that it is the “willingness,” or the “desire ...

521. Proper 17

Psalm 45:1-17, Song of Songs 2:1-17, Mark 7:1-23, James 1:17-27

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... to all who practice the arts of reconciliation: the domestic and social and racial and economic and political peacemakers. Increase the numbers of philanthropists who share the fruits of their prosperity with the disadvantaged and find places of service for those of limited abilities as well as the very gifted. May the church give leadership in not only doing good, but also in saying what is good so that the gospel is not despised as worthless. Save us from preaching what we will not practice, unlike the ...

522. When You're Overwhelmed

John 6:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... Jesus asked Philip how they were going to feed all these people to test him, for Jesus already had in mind what he was going to do. God has a plan. Do you really believe God is unaware of your need? Do you believe that God has the ability to meet your needs? Then relax. God will provide. There’s power in trusting God. The same God who multiplied the fishes and the loaves that day long ago can give you the resources you need to meet your obligations. Sometimes we have to go through some painful situations ...

523. One Year to Live

Jeremiah 28:10-17

Sermon

James Merritt

... in His church. God wants to use you for His church and God wants to use you with His church. God has given you gifts and abilities He wants you to use in His service. One of the excuses that people give so often for not serving God is that they just don' ... the idea of making right in wise decisions. When you read God's word and get it into your heart, God gives you the supernatural ability to make right and wise decisions and ensure success in what you do. When you get God's word into your heart, it will ...

524. Here I Am To Worship

John 4:24

Sermon

James Merritt

... together demonstrate our affection for each other. In that same way, we are to do that as our worship. III. Worship Is Deploying My Abilities For God You see love is more than words. It is also work. Love is more than just an attitude, it is action. One ... we are going to be doing. We are going to be directing our attention to God, demonstrating our affection for God, and deploying our abilities for God. One last thought – the best worship in the world is no worship at all if it is the worship of the wrong ...

525. God Where Are You? - The Problem of Evil

Genesis 3:1-6, Judges 6:13

Sermon

James Merritt

... choose to love Him or choose not to; to choose to follow Him or choose not to; to choose to believe in Him or choose not to; but with that freedom of choice comes the possibility of evil. To be free, you have not only the ability to choose good, but also the ability to choose evil. That doesn't make God responsible for evil; it makes us responsible. He created the fact of freedom. We perform the acts of freedom. He made evil possible. We make evil actual. [[4]] In that sense, God is pro-choice. The only way ...

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