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 876 to 900 of 1622 results

876. A Defiant Response to a Dangerous Theology: Does God Desire to Wipe Us Out?

Gn 6:1-8. 9:6-17

Sermon

... a story that says God did wipe everybody out….or almost everybody." The story of the flood is incredibly complex. And, concerning it, we could spend an entire evening in Bible study and never exhaust all the elements of it (or opinions concerning it). But there is general scholarly consensus concerning this much of it. The story probably preserves an ancient historical recollection of severe watery inundation, although not likely in (or involving) Israel. Most floods in that area occurred in the Tigris ...

877. Joseph: Don't Bury Me Here

Genesis 50:22-26; Exodus 13:19-22; Joshua 24:32

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... to put down roots on what was meant to be a spiritual frontier. So we set up camp on the mountaintop of our own spiritual experience. We give it a foundation of our own fundamentals. We insulate it with the fiberglass of our favorite opinions and add on a nice little front porch of theological propositions. We surround it with liturgical latticework of acceptable songs and appropriate ritual. We plant our perennial petunias of pious platitudes on the trusted trellis of tradition. Maybe we even install a hot ...

878. Zechariah II: Thy Prayer is Heard

Luke 1:5-25

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... most of the priests and preachers I know—including the one I know best—it was with a mix of emotions: anticipation, a touch of stage fright, and yes, a bit of ego thrown in; weighted with the concerns of the temple—budgets, staffing, differences of opinion, divorces, deaths; maybe worried more about whether his stole was right than he was about whether his soul was right; full of faith and full of doubt, all at the same time, there to carry out this ancient ritual, repeated daily, but for him perhaps ...

879. Looking Out for Others

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... joyously we have passed through a phase lifting all of us higher. These are times of thanksgiving for what the Holy Spirit has been able to accomplish. Be alert to them because they certainly do happen! To grumble is not a sin in my opinion, unless it becomes an unquenchable thirst that is never satisfied. Sometimes those who are weak need something new and different in their lives virtually on a daily basis. Perhaps the news media has aided and abetted this! 2. Liberty in thought and action is intended ...

880. Parades and Crosses — The Challenge of Ministry

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... acute attack of apoplexy! "To tell you the truth, my son, even though I love the church and our minister, I just don't think preaching and teaching in the church is where the action is. People look to professors and scientists, commentators, doctors, opinion-makers, and best-selling authors for their authority. They think religion is important, but a bit quaint and irrelevant, and a little bit off to the side of life. Preaching and worship and religious processions may seem a little glamorous, but I think ...

881. Are You a Taker or a Giver?

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... of gymnastics and tennis and French lessons. Instead of playing creative games of fantasy, today's little child may be playing a substitute game on his Nintendo screen. "He is," says Franks, "a computer whiz, a little philosopher, and a tiny lawyer, bursting with opinions on the president, on the best museums, the best vacation spots, and the college he thinks he will attend."2 But you will note there is nothing about religious beliefs or spiritual values or the idea of sharing with those in need. A social ...

882. Strength through Diversity

James 2:1-17

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... is one to which we can all can relate, now as well as the apostolic period. Yes, this very scene is happening in our churches today. We often make distinctions, creating separations and divisions based merely on what we observe or the previous opinions we have formed. We do this both with people we know and those we know not. We make decisions and classify some people and groups as acceptable while rejecting others. An ecumenical, inclusive spirit too often loses out to an exclusivist mentality and ...

883. Christ the Righteous Judge

Revelation 20:11-12

Sermon

Shirley Gupton Lynn

... vision, a book was opened, and people were judged "according to their works, as recorded in the books" (20:12). Apparently we are each writing our own book, choosing ourselves what will go in it. Some of us have a hard time with choices. A polltaker asked a woman her opinion on a certain matter. She replied, "I guess you could put me down as undecided, but I'm not real sure." What we need to be sure of is that the choice is ours. Those who want to be saved for eternity will be saved. They will put all their ...

884. A Promise Fulfilled: A Gift Given

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... those that are frayed. It may be with a family member, a friend down the street, or a colleague at work. What a wonderful gift for the baby Jesus to know we had made a significant effort to right a relationship gone wrong. Renewing our attitudes and opinions that are inconsistent with our Christian lives would be another great gift to consider. All of us hold hurts and grudges that sour us on individuals and groups. Can we do our best to wipe the slate clean and begin anew? Maybe we can consider modifying ...

885. Setting All the Idols Down

Hosea 2:14-20

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... up their witness, and now refers to a psychological malady. Have you heard anyone accused of having a "martyr complex"? Similarly, preaching has taken on a negative connotation in secular circles. Preaching is now the equivalent of nagging or offering an unwelcome opinion. "Quit preaching at me!" The concept and meaning of idolatry has met with a similar fate. For we who inhabit the Judeo-Christian tradition, idolatry refers to a painful historic tendency for our ancestors and ourselves to pursue other gods ...

886. The Best Looking of the Bunch

Matthew 23:1-12

Illustration

... member of your family is the best looking?" You want to guess how respondents answered? The top rated answer in the poll was, "Me." A majority of the respondents listed themselves as the best-looking member of their family. That corresponds with another public opinion poll which asked people which member of their family was the smartest. Once again, "Myself" or "Me" were the highest ranked answers. But when asked which family member was most likely to tell a lie, "Myself" or "Me" only ranked ninth out of ...

887. The Importance of Words

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

... people are aimed when they leave the church, the effect can be beyond all calculation." What people think determines everything. Lincoln said: With the public sentiment nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed. Consequently, he who moulds public opinion goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. (Sweazey, op. cit., p. 9) Physicians and farmers labor to keep people alive. Preachers labor to make their lives worth living. And that is infinitely worth doing. Joseph Conrad said ...

888. Revitalizing the Lo-cal Church

Acts 1:12-26

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... " in some churches, it is fitting that we reflect together on The Power Called Prayer. The importance of staying Prayed Up is something we all first learned at our mothers' and fathers' knees. John Wesley learned from his mother Susannah not to have a good opinion of anyone who did not spend at least four hours a day in prayer. "God does nothing save in answer to prayer," Wesley wrote. In this sermon we shall explore what theologians mean when they say Lex Orandi Lex Credendi, or "the rule of prayer ...

889. The Dawn's Early Light

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Sunday?" This week would be a good time to confront the challenge of "patriotism," and its role in the life of the family of God. Patriotism seems to be an emotion which rides on a tide of fashion sometimes the currents of public opinion find it praiseworthy and virtuous, then sometimes quite abruptly the irresistible pull of events shifts our field of vision and patriotism appears suspect, shallow, or at the very least quaintly old-fashioned. Regardless of its momentary appeal, none of us can escape from ...

890. The Compleat Christian

Romans 5:1-5

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Questions that pierce our heart penetrate to the very roots of our reasons for hopefulness. Putting our hands to work in service to our faith entails suffering. Placing one stubborn foot in front of another, continuing on despite obstacles and opinions, takes endurance. In such a theology compleat Christians can act out their faith without confusing the gift of grace with the works of the individual. Yet the contemporary church remains coltishly skittish about incorporating "virtues" into any discussion of ...

891. A.Y.O.R. (At Your Own Risk)

Hebrews 12:1-2, 12-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... discerns that another ancillary to increased choice is political alienation. Waldman's observation is important for it suggests that alienation comes from our sense of social fragmentation. We have grown used to being identified as so many sub-groups, consumer markets, minority opinions and economic divisions, that we can no longer envision ourselves as part of a whole - not a whole city, county, state or nation - nor a whole person or a whole human race. We choose our own identity but consequently lose our ...

892. Prophets or Professionals?

Deuteronomy 18:14-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... hour, it is usually a good idea to just ignore it. Chances are pretty good these days that the caller on the other end is someone trying to sell you life insurance on your credit card, solicit a donation for some charity fund, or poll your opinion on some topic you really don't care to discuss with a stranger. These telephone solicitors have so perfected their techniques into an art form over the last few years, however, that once you answer the phone it is virtually impossible to escape their clutches. The ...

893. Armageddon Anxiety

John 6:56-69

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... 's odometer prepares to turn over, the increasing outbreaks of Armageddon anxiety demand that people of faith respond with messages of hope like never before. But when there are as many doctrines of "last things" as there are people on this planet with opinions, how can we hope to offer any kind of a coherent voice of hope and wholeness to this world? As stunningly widespread as the polls reveal our apocalyptic anxieties to be, they still reflect that for every naysayer, every doom-and-gloomer, there ...

894. Celebrate Your Critical Mass

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... cautious testing, group analyses, possible side-effects research and insurance ramifications, it would take years to approve and finally circulate such a dramatic vaccine. But in 1953, panic over the approach of yet another hot, polio-ridden summer spurred public opinion ahead of scientific caution. Thousands of school-age children around the country were immediately lined up to participate in test runs of the vaccine. The impatience of the public had reached what scientists call "a critical mass." The call ...

895. Paying Dues to God

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and not allow disputes to degenerate into name-calling or other forms of verbal abuse; 6) speak about others with the same kindness and fairness that they wish others to exercise when speaking about them. The Pharisees and Herodians who challenged Jesus' opinion with the question on taxes are described by the text as being filled with "malice." They did not care about the result their confrontation may have on others watching and listening. The image of God they embodied was not one of justice; rather ...

896. The Cream of the Crop, or The Skimmed Milk of the Earth

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... : "Oh, I don't know if this looks very good. What do you think?" Woe to the man or woman who doesn't know how to respond to that question. All of us know that the questioner isn't the least bit interested in hearing the truth or even our opinion. All s(he) really wants to hear is a compliment. Nobody likes to be tagged a show-off or a braggart. But every one of us desperately craves to be praised and complimented and admired. Most of us resolve that little quandary by resorting to a kind of false humility ...

897. Life's Two Pockets

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... traffic flows along like a river, the boss loves all your ideas at work, you finish early, you discover a $20 bill folded up in the corner of your pocket, dinner is a culinary masterpiece, your spouse is feeling cuddly and your kids actually ask for your opinion. You go to bed after such a day convinced that you are a truly blessed, fine, upstanding human being, worthy of praise. On the other hand ... on the other hand, there are other days, days that dawn in gloom and end in disaster. You spill coffee on ...

898. Entertaining Angels Unaware

John 1:1-18

Illustration

Mark Trotter

... him. His friend was not a member of that church. In fact, he wasn't a member of any church. But periodically, in their conversations about religious matters, this friend would say, "Tom, I'm not a theologian, but it seems to me...," and then he would express his opinion. On this night as they were hosting the shelter, they met the men as they arrived, saw that they had something to eat, hung out with them for a while. Then as the men began to prepare to retire, Tom's friend said, "Tom, you get some sleep. I ...

899. Acts 9:1-20

Acts 9:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... reboards the boat to bring some fish to shore, a strange and awkward action if Peter were already on the beach with Jesus. Furthermore he appears distant, on the edge of the encounter with Jesus and the other disciples. To counter these problems a minority opinion, with which we find much to agree, holds that Simon Peter's leap into the sea was motivated by fear and guilt, instead of eagerness and enthusiasm. Peter had denied Jesus three times in the garden, and now, even after receiving the Holy Spirit, he ...

900. Matthew 21:23-32

Matthew 21:23-32

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... might have thought. Out of fear of the crowd's reaction, they refuse to answer his question either way. Having brazenly stepped up to question Jesus about his authority, these leaders now can only reply sheepishly, "We do not know" as though they had no opinion or had not truly studied the issue thoroughly enough to make a judgment. In Matthew's text, Jesus responds by telling yet another parable the "parable of the two sons." This story is found only in Matthew, who uses it to link together the discussion ...

Showing results