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 901 to 925 of 1622 results

901. Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... evidence to suggest that this man from "the crowd" may represent more than just an individual seeking an equitable settlement. The crowd (ochlou) is often referred to throughout the synoptics as though it had a kind of organized energy and agenda. The opinion of "the crowd" matters both to Jesus and to the religious and political authorities who seem intimidated by it. There is some scholarly musing that "the crowd" represents the Zealots, whose hopes and perceptions of the Messiah color their reactions to ...

902. 1 Samuel 16:14-23

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . The scribes are carefully rejecting God, rejecting God's goodness, and rejecting the saving nature of the Holy Spirit by attributing them all to evil. Having squelched the scribes, Jesus now turns to his blood relatives who have sided with popular opinion and judged his behavior, if not evil, at least irrational. With Jesus' rebuke and dismissal of his natural family for their disbelief, his words provide the first century church with a new criterion for full membership in the body of Christ. "Whoever ...

903. 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 ...

904. Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Deuteronomy 18:9-13, 14-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... name of other gods" thus denying the monotheism of Yahweh. Second, and just as guilty, are those prophets who take their own message before the people and pawn off their "stuff" as God's word. God does not choose prophets out of respect for their opinions. Prophets are called to deliver God's word, not their own ideas. Uttering false prophecies of either sort is labeled a capital crime a punishment that no doubt kept the people from being pestered by an endless stream of would-be mouthpieces. Taking up the ...

905. Acts 16:9-15

Acts 16:9-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... third person account articulated in verses 6-9 suddenly shifts to a first person account in verse 10ff. Although the vision and invitation to Macedonia is experienced only by Paul, the decision that this vision was indeed God's definitive "yes" is a consensus opinion. Using the first person, the author of Acts proclaims "we" ... were "... convinced that God had called us...." Likewise the brief travelogue of this mission team's journey to Macedonia is also given in the first person ("We set sail from Troas ...

906. Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Barth, "The Dishonest Steward and His Lord: Reflections on Luke 16:1-13," in From Faith to Faith, ed. Dikran Y. Hadidian [Pittsburgh: Pickwick Press, 1979], 65-73.) The story does not end with the dishonest steward, however, but with his master's revised opinion of him. Incredibly, the rich landowner marvels at his steward's ingenuity and praises him for it (v. 8), a comment which is followed by Jesus' own enigmatic endorsement: We also should "make friends É by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is ...

907. Luke 19:1-10

Luke 19:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The well-known story of Zacchaeus in today's text is so familiar that one might be tempted to give it a quick rereading and move on. The interpreters of this passage, however, are by no means unanimous in their opinion, and a close examination yields several possibilities for sermonic treatment. The setting for this last incident in the travel narrative Luke has been providing is the wealthy Greco-Roman city of Herodian Jericho. This city, nothing like the Old Testament Jericho, was a beautiful ...

908. Learning to Love Ourselves

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

James McCormick

... too highly of yourself. As long as you remember that all good gifts come from God, to celebrate the good things about you will be an occasion of gratitude rather than of pride. Besides, most of us have a long way to go to catch up with the lofty opinion of us revealed in the Bible. The Psalmist wrote: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have created, what is man that You are mindful of him. And yet, You have made him a little less than God, and ...

909. 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a built-in circle of political supporters for those who were rich. This situation is what Paul finds so completely incompatible with the spirit of Christ - a church family split into feuding political factions, with poor members forced to side with the opinions held by their masters or employers. The rampant abuse of such a situation undermined the whole message of the gospel. Indeed the liberating strength and loving power of the gospel itself had apparently been lost to many of the Corinthian Christians ...

910. John 9:1-41

John 9:1-41

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... responses. Some of them are convinced that Jesus is a dangerous fraud. Others are still wavering. Yet even those not willing to declare Jesus "not from God," still conclude that he "is a sinner" (v. 16). Turning once again to their witness for his opinion, the healed man now declares Jesus to be "a prophet" (v. 17). His eyes may have been opened instantly, but his spiritual sight is somewhat slower to focus. The parents of the cured man are now consulted in hopes of finding some physical technicalities ...

911. Romans 14:1-12

Romans 14:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... " whom all stand before in verse 10. While all this textual nit-picking may seem trivial, the Christ-centeredness of Paul's faith is not. Emphasizing Christ's lordship continually and vigorously is what makes Paul so sure that diverse perspectives, opinions and lifestyles are all acceptable within the Christian community. As long as believers have the redemptive lordship and salvific death and resurrection of Christ at the center of their faith, Paul allows for all manner of diversity to remain within the ...

912. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Paul's ability to direct and mold the contours of early Christianity might not have always been so sure. The debate over eating meat previously offered to pagan idols is familiar territory. Yet how many of us would be surprised to find that Paul's opinion in this matter was not readily accepted, that in fact there is evidence to suggest that Paul's words were either forgotten, ignored or misunderstood for several centuries of church life? Paul's argument is far more able and demanding than he is usually ...

913. Mark 9:2-9

Mark 9:2-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... in Mark's gospel, immediately opens his mouth and sticks his foot in it. This, too, is typically Petrine behavior for Mark. There has been much scholarly debate about the role all the disciples play in Mark's gospel. In sum, the reigning opinion is that Mark used every opportunity to show how stupid, awkward and ungainly the disciples were. As their chief spokesman, Peter is usually the most outrageously dense, even when given insights not revealed to the others. Peter's eager suggestion that he, James ...

914. Mark 12:28-34

Mark 12:28-34

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... muttering among itself. Whatever the case, this scribe is immediately impressed with Jesus' answers. Consequently, unlike the baiting, belligerent questions posed by the others to test Jesus, this scribe's inquiry seems to arise from a sense of respect for Jesus' opinion and insight. "Which commandment is the first of all?" he asks. The first half of Jesus' reply is hardly astonishing. He quickly asserts that the shema (taken from Deuteronomy 6:4-5), the prayer recited every morning and evening by pious ...

915. John 1:43-51

John 1:43-51

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... just the sheer ordinariness of a small-town pedigree. Whatever it was that prompted Nathanael’s disparaging remark, it is clear that, despite Philip’s enthusiasm, Nathanael is less than impressed. “Nazareth” was nothing to boast about in Nathanael’s opinion. There were no “90210” connotations that came to mind with the locale of Nazareth. Philip does not miss the evangelistic moment: He urges Nathanael to “Come and see” for himself. As Nathanael approaches, Jesus greets him with an unusual ...

916. About Sex

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... That’s the biggest laugh of the century. He wants what’s best for him! He wants a thrill he can brag about at your expense. Love? Who’s kidding who? A guy who loves a girl would sooner cut off his right arm than hurt her. In my opinion, this self‑serving so‑and‑so has proved that he doesn’t love you. The predictable aftermath always finds Don Juan tiring of his sport. That’s when he drops you, picks up his line, and goes casting elsewhere for a bigger, and equally foolish, fish. If he loves ...

917. Etched in Stone

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... , became an instant celebrity when he was removed from the Alabama court because he refused to have a monument of the 10 Commandments removed from the Alabama courthouse. That set off a firestorm of controversy across the land. You may or may not have strong opinions about this controversy. There are many fine people of faith on both sides. It’s interesting, though. I wonder if anyone has ever sued to have the Sermon on the Mount placed in a public building? After all, the Ten Commandments are Jewish, but ...

918. Jesus Is Contagious!

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... we might like to think of ourselves, we all feel compelled to “share” some things. If you liked the recent “24" installment, can you refrain from sharing your enthusiasm? If you liked, or disliked the newest Starbucks drink, can you refrain from sharing your opinion? Some sharing is unintentional, and not just colds and the flu. You share information about yourself whether you like it or not, or whether you want to or not. *The grocery clerk who doesn’t know your name, knows you buy extra soda and ...

919. Jesus' Good News of a New World · Part 2

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... I told Michael what I’d done, he said to me, “Dad, you’ve taught us to think for ourselves and to stand up for what we believe. You didn’t really mean it, did you? My letter had nothing to do with you. It was my letter, expressing my opinion. How could you have done this?” I knew the fragile, sacred bond between a father and his son, had been severed. Michael felt betrayed by me. He was disappointed in me. I called the paper and told them to run Michael’s letter. But the damage had been done. I ...

920. The Big E

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... s a good example of how the glasses we wear affect what we are able to see. If you go to the Bible looking for an explanation for suffering, because your job description for God entails God’s protecting the innocent, you’re going to be disappointed. In my opinion, the most important question we humans ask is not, Why do we suffer? But, Why are we so richly blessed? And, Why do we inflict so much suffering on one another? And, Why don’t we do more to stop the horrific suffering we are aware of? Jesus ...

921. An Unnerving Experience

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... on forgiveness and compassion. Instead he focused his attention on verses such as Exodus 21:16 which reads like this: “Anyone who kidnaps another and either sells him or still has him when he is caught must be put to death.” In Turner’s opinion, the passage justified the murder of slaveholders.” (2) History is replete with examples of people who have abused scripture, who have interpreted it to satisfy their own selfish aims. But a knowledge of the scriptures, both Old Testament and New, gives us a ...

922. Qualities of Love

John 3:1-21, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Illustration

Gregory McGarvey

... how you look. Look at me. I'm handsome like anything and I have- n't got anybody to marry me yet. (Brian, 7) If you want to be loved by somebody who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful. (Anita, 8) 4. Some Opinions about love... Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I have been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me. (Dave, 8) I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding 4th grade hard enough ...

923. Christ The King

2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4-8, John 18:28-40

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... between the two. He is trying to make up his mind by asking Jesus questions. His first question is whether Jesus is a king. This is a political term and thus it is very dangerous. Jesus dodges the question by asking Pilate if this was his or others' opinion. The other question concerns what Jesus has done. Jesus explains that his kingship is not of this world. This is proved by the fact that Jesus is not using force to defend himself. Jesus explains that his mission in the world is to bear witness to the ...

924. Epiphany 3

Jonah 3:1-10, 1 Corinthians 7:1-40, Mark 1:1-8, Mark 1:9-13, Mark 1:14-20

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... unless the gospel is preached? Here we see the crucial importance of preaching, of witnessing and of sending out missionaries. In addition, Jonah is ordered to speak what God tells him. Jonah was not to be trusted with his own message. If Jonah expressed his opinion, the Assyrians would hear nothing about repenting and being saved. Jonah was to give God's message: redemption and release. This is still the case in preaching: It is not the message of the preacher, but the message God gives him to say. When ...

925. Proper 14

Ephesians 4:17--5:21, 2 Samuel 18:1-18, 2 Samuel 18:19--19:8, John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... : Where did Jesus come from? a. From earth human v. 42. b. From heaven divine v. 41. 3. Speak for yourself, Jesus! (6:41-51). Need: The people of Jesus' day created a situation in which Jesus had an opportunity to explain who he was. Many ideas, opinions and reports about him circulated around the land. Today we are no different. All kinds of things are said about Jesus in books, lectures, sermons and conversations. Why not go directly to Jesus and let him tell us who he is? Outline: What Jesus says about ...

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