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 76 to 100 of 108 results

76. Develop Leaders—Humbly

Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . Shed the filthy rags of selfishness, pride, lust, and greed, and let your soul be clothed in Christ, who makes all things new. II. SPIRITUAL LEADERS FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGIVES. In Verse 13 we read, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Just a few weeks ago, Charles Carl Roberts IV walked into the West Nickel Mines School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and killed five Amish girls and wounded several others. The blood was ...

77. Self Restraint

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Matt Ridley

... his turn comes, takes as much water as he needs from the distributory canal and wastes none. He is discouraged from cheating watering out of turn merely by the watchful eyes of his neighbors above and below him on the canal. If they have a grievance, they can take it to the Tribunal de las Aguas, which meets on Thursday mornings outside the Apostles' door of the Cathedral of Valencia. Records dating back to the 1400s suggest that cheating is rare. The huerta of Valencia is a profitable region, growing at ...

78. Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , bloody and bizarre rule. The next scriptural footnote Matthew provides is by all accounts an unusual choice. The slaughter of the innocents, Matthew insists, “fulfilled” the proclamations made by Jeremiah in 31:15. Jeremiah’s text describes Rachael’s grievances from her gravesite at Ramah for the exiled “children” of Israel as they were deported to Babylon. While no one suggestion seems to definitively explain Matthew’s use of this text here, perhaps the simplest connection is a geographic ...

79. The Final Dong

Illustration

Staff

... the rope, the bell keeps on swinging. First ding, then dong. Slower and slower until there's a final dong and it stops. I believe the same thing is true of forgiveness. When we forgive, we take our hand off the rope. But if we've been tugging at our grievances for a long time, we mustn't be surprised if the old angry thoughts keep coming for a while. They're just the ding-dongs of the old bell slowing down." "And so it proved to be. There were a few more midnight reverberations, a couple of dings when the ...

80. The Ways of the World

Illustration

Dave Roper

... them. But more importantly, worldliness is simply pride and selfishness in disguises. It's being resentful when someone snubs us or patronizes us or shows off. It means smarting under every slight, challenging every word spoken against us, cringing when another is preferred before us. Worldliness is harboring grudges, nursing grievance, and wallowing in self-pity. These are the ways in which we are most like the world.

81. The Christian's Royal Jelly

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... concern was to encourage others in continuing their walk with the risen Christ. When is the last time you offered an unscripted word of encouragement to a friend, a co-worker, your spouse, your child, your parent? When did you last apply some royal honey to a grievance or a wound? When criticism lashes out at you, red in tooth and claw, did you keep it red, but red in forgiveness and compassion and royal jelly? When was the last time you shared the special sauce of Jesus Christ, and affirmed to someone that ...

82. Poem: Sonnet 30

Eulogy

William Shakespeare

... old woes new wail my dear time’s waste; Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow, For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night, And weep afresh love’s long since cancelled woe, And moan th’expense of many a vanished sight; Then can I grieve at grievances foregone, And heavily from woe to woe tell o’er The sad account of fore -bemoaned moan, Which I new pay as if not paid before. But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored and sorrows end.

Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back; in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.

Frederick Buechner

84. The Treaty of Beersheba

Genesis 21:22-34

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... an important well in a way that increases his reputation. It is possible that two distinct episodes have been woven together. It is also possible that Abimelech’s initiation of a covenant provides Abraham the opportunity to settle successfully a standing grievance. The recurrence of the number seven is evidence that the present narrative is a single account. Abraham gives seven ewes; Beersheba is the well of “seven”; the names of Abraham and Abimelech occur seven times (Sarna, Genesis, p. 148). 21:22 ...

85. Lost and Found

Luke 15:1-7, Luke 15:8-10, Luke 15:11-32

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... feast, he publicly snubs his father, and by speaking of “this son of yours” he refuses to acknowledge that he belongs to the same family as his brother. He represents a self-centered negativity that submerges the good news under his own sense of personal grievance. His father’s “favoritism” leaves him full of self-pity: he has been nothing but a slave, and an unrewarded one at that. 15:31–32 “My son,” the father said. Rather than stand on his dignity, the father has left the house (15:28 ...

86. David Listens to the Voice of Wisdom

1 Samuel 25:1-44

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... the account of David and Nabal. As in the case of Saul (see 24:15), David decides to leave his vindication in God’s hands rather than seeking his own justice. Because David listens to Abigail’s wise advice and waits for God to resolve his grievances against Nabal, the Lord does indeed vindicate him when he judges Nabal (25:39) and then gives Nabal’s wife to David. Like the incident recorded in chapter 24, this episode encourages the exilic readers of the story, for it is another reminder that God does ...

87. “The King Rejoices in Your Strength, Lord”

Psalm 21:1-13

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... to the generations yet unborn (22:31), who will enjoy the fruits of divine blessing. The poem consists of three parts, the first two (vv. 1–11 and 12–21) focused on the complaint, and the third a celebration of victory (vv. 22–31). Part 1 presents two grievances of the psalmist (vv. 1–2, 6–8), as does also part 2 (vv. 12–15 and 16–18), with part 3 celebrating victory (vv. 22–31). 1. The complaints (vv. 1–11) a. Complaint: against God (vv. 1–2) b. Reasons for trusting God (vv. 3–5 ...

88. “They Will Proclaim the Works of God and Ponder What He Has Done”

Psalm 64:1-10

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... and his many conflicts, especially with Absalom, since words were so important in that conflict (2 Sam. 15:1–6). Interpretive Insights 64:1 I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. The act of complaining is a grievance expressed in words. See 1 Samuel 1:16, where the word for “complaint” is translated as “anguish.” The word “threat” (pahad) means “fear” (a terrifying fear) and may refer to the enemies’ secret plotting.4 64:2 from the conspiracy of the ...

89. Solomon's Officials and Governors

1 Kings 4:1-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ’s council). Almost hidden at the end of the list is Adoniram, in charge of the forced labor (cf. 2 Sam. 20:24, a policy started under David). The term “forced labor” ominously appeared in Exodus 1:11 and will become a central grievance that precipitates the division of the kingdom in chapter 12. In terms of genre, scholars draw attention to similar lists of offices from Egyptian and Assyrian kings, a further indication that Solomon’s court is modeled on the surrounding nations. The next itemization ...

90. Thanks-Giving Is Good for Everyone

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

David G. Rogne

... favor, doctor," the patient might complain. Whereupon, borrowing from scripture, the wise old doctor would reply: "Seek and you will find." Six weeks later, more often than not, the patient would return with quite a new outlook, freed of a sense of grievance against life, and convinced that people had suddenly become more kind and friendly. In the scripture we read, Jesus brings about the healing of ten persons suffering from leprosy. Nine continued on their way; only one came back to express his gratitude ...

91. David Returns to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 19:9-43

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Return to Jerusalem: 19:8b–15 After any civil war feelings and tensions take time to settle. Bitter enemies do not become friends in a moment. Even if they had been stirred up more than was necessary, Absalom’s followers had felt genuine grievances against David. Nevertheless, after Absalom’s death people recognized that there had been many good times under David and felt a growing desire to restore the old regime (vv. 9–10). David, with a glimmer of his old diplomatic skills, used the rivalry ...

92. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... the complaining servants. Perhaps he envisions himself in the role of judge with the power to determine the outcome of the case and the consequences for the parties. If so, he refuses to exploit the power inherent in the circumstance. Clearly the grievance against me (rib) is a legal complaint brought in court, not the informal grumbling of employees. Similarly, by his signed affidavit Job has elevated his complaint against God from grumbling to a formal legal suit demanding response. The question now is ...

93. Murder

Matthew 5:21-26

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... human behavior in general. Now for some positive advice: If you are offering your gift (v. 23) at the altar and remember a brother who has a just claim against you, go immediately and be reconciled. Then you can return and worship God. Settling a grievance with a fellow Christian takes precedence over ritual activity. The Mishnah taught that, unless an offense against a neighbor is taken care of, not even the Day of Atonement will avail (m. Yoma 8.9). Breaches within the fellowship are serious. 5:25–26 ...

94. The End Times

Daniel 12:1-13

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... theodicy. We have only to look at the writings of Ecclesiastes to see that in the absence of resurrection truth, life seems empty and vain. If in this life the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper (Eccl. 8:14), and there is no hope for redress of grievances in the next life (Eccl. 3:9–13; 9:1–6), “everything is meaningless” (Eccl. 1:2). The apocalyptist was sure that God would invade history to put a stop to the decimation of his people. But what about the people who had already been murdered for ...

95. Laban Pursues Jacob

Genesis 31:22-55

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... Jacob, asserting, All you see is mine. Despite this claim, Laban had lost legally. He could not prove that Jacob had stolen his gods, and Jacob had given a good defense for departing so secretively from his house. Laban, therefore, responded by proposing that their grievances be settled by making a covenant. His patronizing attitude is galling, as he failed to recognize Jacob’s role in the increase of his own flocks or his own obligations to Jacob, either as his servant or as his son-in-law. Then Laban ...

96. How Angry Are You?

Luke 4:21-30

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... anger is self-centered and fear-focused, it tends to destroy the self and irreparably tear the fabric of community. Frederick Buechner puts it this way: Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past... is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself.[1] Yes, selfish anger is sinful anger. Fortunately, scripture gives us some clues as to how our anger can be disciplined and embraced in ...

This is the true joy in life: being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. The being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

George Bernard Shaw

98. The Sweet Fragrance of Brokenness

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... Jesus ends the encounter by saying to her, “You sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you.” At that, others at the table begin to mumble at Jesus’ taking it upon himself once again to forgive sins. This is the beginning of an accumulation of grievances that many Pharisees have with Jesus. Most people believe that in the scriptures when a woman is called a “sinner,” it means, she was a prostitute. But there is no reason in particular to believe that. Whether she owned the expensive perfume from a ...

99. The Catch

John 21:1-14, John 21:15-25, Acts 10:1-8, Acts 10:9-23a, Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:5-14) When Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons touched those who were sick, they were instantly healed ...

100. All the Pretty Horses

Luke 12:13-21, Luke 12:1-12, 1 Kings 3:16-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... can store up our ghosts from the past. We can store up guilt. We can store up envy. We can store up jealousy. And we can store up shame. All of these separate us not only from others, but from our relationship with God. We all build silos of emotional grievances and silt that can clog us up emotionally and stop up connections between us and those we love. The only way to free that kind of blockage of the heart and impacted trust is an infusion of love that can purge all our stoppages. The good news is that ...

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