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 1126 to 1150 of 1259 results

1126. Face the Music

Hebrews 9:27-28

Sermon

James Merritt

When I returned from my vacation, I found this letter in my files. It was dated July 13, 2000. Dear James, Thank you for your thoughtful message. Your warm words of encouragement are deeply appreciated. The people of Georgia have afforded me a great honor, and I am grateful for the privilege to serve them. Sincerely, Paul D. Coverdell United States Senator P. S. Thanks so much for your prayers. They are needed and appreciated. That letter was dated on Thursday. Senator Coverdell complained of a terrible ...

1127. The True Feng Shui Life

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Our world has been shaped by one image. It may be the most powerful image to come out of the 20th century. If you were asked about the most important image of the 20th century, what would you pick? Here is my pick . . . [if you use screens]. The one picture that did the most to transform our perception of this world was that look-back at Earth from the tiny port-hole window in the first Apollo mission to the moon. Dangling in the bleak blackness of space was this beautiful blue-ball planet — with swirling ...

1128. What a Serve!

Acts 6:1-7

Sermon

John E. Harnish

It didn't last long, really, the disciples' first attempt at communal living—selling everything they had, bringing it together for distribution, so that no one claimed anything as their own, but everyone had enough. Just two chapters later, what happens? The Hellenists—that is, the Greek Christians—complain because their widows aren't getting as much aid as the Hebrew Christian widows. Maybe it was greed or racial prejudice on the part of the Hebrews. Maybe it was grabbing on the part of the Hellenists. ...

1129. From the Tomb

John 20:1-18

Sermon

John E. Harnish

None other than my good friend David Crumm reported on the front page of Friday's Free Press: "Christians Reach Beyond Easter Uproar to Find Hope." He writes: "Easter, Christianity's cornerstone, is at hand and nearly 200 million Americans say they plan to go to church. But the central meaning of the holiday is more hotly debated than at any other time in American history." David refers to The Da Vinci Code (and by the way, he will be with us the night of our Da Vinci Code theater party), the buzz about ...

1130. Out of Solitude

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

John E. Harnish

"HELP!!! I'VE LOST MY FOCUS!" That's the title of an article in the January Time Magazine with the subtitle: "E-mail and cell phones help us multitask, but they also drive us to distraction." The authors begin: "Spend a few hours with Hollywood producer Jennifer Klein and you might want to pop a valium. Or slip her one. From the moment she rises at 7:00 a.m., she's a fidgety, demanding, chattering whirling dervish of a task juggler. Motto: never do just two things at once if you can possibly do four or ...

1131. Spell My Name With An “H”

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22:23-24

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! All: For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard me when I cried to him. (Psalm 22:23-24) Collect A bulb was planted before the cold of winter. It has been sheltered and nurtured beneath fallen leaves and snow banks. The Son is among us, warming our hearts. Promises were given. Now it bursts into ...

1132. God Chooses The Poor

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26, Psalm 146:1-10

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! All: I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. One: Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. All: When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. One: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, All: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith ...

1133. Weaving the Spirit’s Trail

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

In the arid southwest, two Native America tribes established themselves with their distinctive cultures and lifestyles: Pueblos and Navajos. The Pueblo’s were settled cliff-dwellers. The Navajo were essentially nomadic. Yet both tribes, both cultures, became known for their intricate and beautiful weaving traditions. Originally native cotton and grasses were the primary components of these blankets. But after the Spaniards introduced the long-fibered, silky-fleeced “churro” sheep with its exquisite wool, ...

1134. The Parable of the Choices

Matthew 21:28-31

Sermon

Shirley Gupton Lynn

In 1897 Remington Arms Company chose not to buy a patented "writing machine." The Underwood Company bought it instead and has sold millions of typewriters since. Remington Arms made a bad choice. In the 1950's Sam Phillips made a record for a young man who wandered into his Memphis studio. The fledgling singer wanted to record his voice for his mother. In 1955 Sam Phillips chose to sell his exclusive recording contract with Elvis Presley to RCA for $35,000. Bad choice. Former President Nixon chose to ...

1135. A Small Act of Kindness

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

King Duncan

Let me suggest that you try something that never gets old or stale or unsatisfying. Do something for somebody truly in need. Let me tell you about a man named Floyd. According to the standards of the world Floyd was nobody. Floyd traveled around the country looking for work at harvest time. Floyd had no home and no place to go. A couple invited him into their home and gave him a home-cooked dinner. Floyd said very little as they ate. The wife, Nancy, offered to wash his clothes for him but Floyd declined ...

1136. Break Free From the Scrooge Syndrome

Mark 1:1-8

Illustration

Gregory Knox Jones

Each year, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, a great number of people find delight in the marvelous story written by Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol. There is something in the story that lures us back to it year after year; we never seem to grow tired of hearing its message. The main character in the story is a surly old man named Scrooge, who lives a miserly existence. He sees no benefit in being generous with the poor, or even providing a living wage to dedicated workers. He clutches onto his ...

1137. Seeing the Elephant/Hearing the Owl

2 Samuel 18:24-33

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Today, as it has always, the church confronts problems that appear to dwarf both it and its abilities. In the face of issues as massive as war, global warming, the AIDS epidemic and economic recession, Christians face challenges to their personal faith so great that a kind of spiritual paralysis can set in. How can the church get people moving again and buoy up their belief that their individual attitudes and actions do make a difference? "How to Plan for 1995," a feature article in Fortune Magazine ( ...

1138. The Widow's Might

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

How do you measure life? In worldly weights and measures like dollars and cents, or using spiritual scales of love, service and friendship? In our local supermarket, there are several different candy counters. A big display of all the old favorites greets you just as you turn your cart into the first aisle. At the opposite end of the store is half a wall of bulk candy big packages for big families or big sweet tooths. There are racks of typical "movie candies" at the video rental desk. Finally, there is ...

1139. What Are You Looking For?

John 1:35-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

In a world where spirituality has become a consumer item, we must confess Jesus as Lord. Why are you sitting here in church this morning? What possibly possessed you to climb out of your warm bed on a dim, cold and quiet Sunday morning and come to church ... again?! Christmas is over, remember? The tree is down, the ornaments put away, even the pine needles have pretty much worked themselves out of the carpet by now. There is no big liturgical holiday scheduled for this Sunday. And yet there you sit. I see ...

1140. Easter Dreams

Luke 24:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

In a world of Good Friday nightmares, it is time for Easter Dreams. After the completion of Disney World, someone remarked, "Isn't it too bad that Walt Disney didn't live to see this!" Mike Vance, creative director of Disney Studios replied, "He did see it that's why it's here." (Ministry Advantage, July/August 1994, 3). Everything in life that we use or hold, eat or watch, wear, sit in or listen to in other words, everything that is a creation of human ingenuity started out as a dream. Before anything can ...

1141. Are You Better at Wearing or Bearing Crosses?

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

How would you describe a color to someone who had been blind since birth? [This would make a great moment to walk down into the congregation and turn your “audience” into “participants,” or you can continue on probing the question yourself.] What can you say about “blue” or “red” or “green” to someone who has no concept of color, of bright, light, or dark? Well, you would almost have to use examples from the sense the blind person did have - touch, scent, sound, taste. Blue is “cold” compared to a “hot” ...

1142. Thin Spaces

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

Mike Ripski

A few Sundays ago I observed that in the Celtic Christian tradition there is an appreciation for what are called, “Thin Spaces” – those times when heaven and earth intersect. Those occasions when extraordinary and ordinary merge. When John Wesley had the experience of having his “heart strangely warmed” – that’s an example of a “Thin Space.” Jesus took three of the disciples, Peter, James, and John up on the mountain. There they saw Jesus transfigured before their blinded eyes. They saw Moses and Elijah ...

1143. Proper 5

1 Samuel 8:1-22, Psalm 138:1-8, Mark 3:20-35, 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 138:1 First Lesson—Samuel warns the elders of Israel that there are drawbacks to having a human king. 1 Samuel 8:4-20 (11:14-15) Second Lesson—The apostle Paul speaks of a heavenly kingdom beyond death. 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1 Gospel—The family of God is marked by faith in Jesus and the work he was called to do. Mark 3:20-35 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Let us call upon God most high to fulfill the ...

1144. Easter 5

Psalm 148:1-14, John 13:31-35, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 148 First Lesson—A mysterious vision opens Peter’s heart to include Gentiles in the church. Acts 11:1-18 Second Lesson—John describes a vision of the new heaven and earth: the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:1-6 Gospel—Jesus says that the distinguishing feature of his disciples should be their love for one another. John 13:31-35 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Praise the name of the Eternal One, People: for ...

1145. Penguins in Mission

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

Real life is often funnier than fiction. I want to tell you a true story about a family in Knoxville, TN that decided to take a day-trip to visit the Chattanooga, TN Aquarium. They entered the aquarium and were fascinated by the many displays. However, about midway through their visit the young parents suddenly discovered that their four-year-old son was missing. He had been with them the moment before, but now he was gone. They began to panic, as you might imagine. When they could not find him on their ...

1146. Use It or Lose It

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

James Merritt

(Following video clip of Brewster's millions) That indeed is a great and unique story—having to spend $30 million in 30 days in order to get $300 million. Now can you imagine having to spend $30 million in 30 days? I know most men are sitting there thinking to themselves: For my wife that would be no problem. At first you may think that this is just pure Hollywood. But, quite frankly, that clip is closer to reality than you think. We all have gifts from God that are far more valuable than $30 million or $ ...

1147. Law and Order

Nehemiah 7:73b--8:18

Sermon

James Merritt

I want to show you two pictures. The first picture is of a house [show picture]. The second picture is the family that lives in that house. [show picture]. Which is more valuable? The house or The family Which can make the greatest impact for God? The House or The Family Which is going to last for all eternity? The House or The Family Which is God more interested in building? The House or The Family Now those questions are very important as we come to the eighth chapter of Nehemiah. The people have finally ...

1148. People Skills

Proverbs 12:26

Sermon

James Merritt

He was the first billionaire in the history of the world. At one time, the company he started, Standard Oil Company, controlled and marketed ninety-percent of the oil produced in America. We have today, Exxon, Mobil, Amoco and Chevron, because of this man's vision and ingenuity. For the vast majority of his life, he was by far and away, the richest man in the world. Even today, the name Rockefeller is associated with wealth. John D. Rockefeller, who probably never really knew exactly how much he was worth ...

1149. All Is New in Christ

John 11:4-6, Philippians 3:4-11

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Running as fast as his feet would carry him, Androclus raced into the forest. He hoped he could survive there, finding roots and berries to eat and avoiding all wild animals. He had few other choices; people were always looking for runaway slaves. He wondered, however, how it would be to live in terror of being discovered. Every pine cone that fell onto the mossy surface of the forest made him jump and look around to see if soldiers were in pursuit. He needed shelter. Rain was in the air and it would soon ...

1150. Life's Little Instructions

Mark 10:17-31

Illustration

Billy D. Strayhorn

H. Jackson Brown, the author of "Life's Little Instruction Book" wrote a list of hilarious bits of "Kid Wisdom". When your mother is mad and asks, "Do I look stupid?" it's best not to answer her. You should never laugh at your dad if he's mad or screaming at you. You should never pick on your sister when she has a baseball bat in her hands. It's no fun to stay up all night if your parents don't care. You should not be the first one to fall asleep at a slumber party. You can't hide mashed potatoes in your ...

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