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 1351 to 1375 of 1622 results

Conscience is, in most men, an anticipation of the opinion of others.

Henry Taylor

1352. The Philosophical Approach to Tail Chasing

Illustration

C. L. James

... a dog is happiness, and that happiness is my tail. Therefore I am chasing it; and when I catch it, I shall have happiness." Said the old dog, "My son, I, too, have paid attention to the problems of the universe in my weak way, and I have formed some opinions. I, too, have judged that happiness is a fine thing for a dog, and that happiness is in my tail. But I have noticed that when I chase after it, it keeps running away from me, but when I go about my business, it comes after me."

1353. Men of Integrity

Illustration

John G. Holland

God give us men. The time demands Strong minds, great hearts, True faith and willing hands, Men whom the lust of office does not kill; Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy; Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who have honor; men who will not lie; Men who can stand before a demagogue And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking; Tall men, sun-browned men, who live above the fog In public duty and in private thinking. Note: Josiah Gilbert Holland (July 24, 1819 – ...

1354. The Surrendered Self

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... reply you are proud of the first five minutes, the second five minutes you're not so certain, and the third five minutes you know you're wrong." But before he mailed this letter he sent this reply to the people of the ashram to get their opinion of it. They sent it back with three words written on the margin: "Not sufficiently redemptive." As Jones read those words he was devastated. He knew that he was winning the argument, but losing his man. He knew immediately that the "Christian is not in the business ...

1355. Importance Is Relative

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

George had a friend with an inflated opinion of himself. As a friend should, George decided to help his friend lose this quirk. Subtly, George mentioned that he knew Johnny Carson. The friend said, "Oh, yeah, prove it." In a few minutes they were in front of a large house near the beach. After knocking, out came Johnny ...

1356. They'll Know We Are Christians by Our...

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

Did you know that sometimes there is conflict in a church? It’s true. Churches are made up of people. And people, as we all know, have differing opinions about things. For example, there is evidence that the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the church of Galatia because certain members of their congregation were stirring up trouble. Surely you would think that couldn’t happen in the church that early in Christian history, but it did. There was ...

1357. Setting His Face Toward Jerusalem

Luke 9:51-62

Sermon

King Duncan

I’ve got a question for you this morning, a quick opinion poll. How many of you believe that current technology makes certain tasks easier? For example, how many of you prefer a washing machine to a washboard when doing laundry? How many of you like keeping in touch with family and friends on Facebook or Instagram? But how many of you ...

1358. Can We Really Love Our Enemies

Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

Charles H. Bayer

... control my actions. As I have told people in counseling: It is often easier to act your way into a new set of feelings, than it is to feel your way into a new set of actions. If I am on the outs with someone and I wait until my opinion, my mood or my feelings change, chances are I will wait forever. The only hope of breaking the log-jam is if one of us, namely me, changes how I act. I may not be able to change my attitude unless I first change my behavior. That may be the ...

1359. Planted for a Purpose

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... a couple of the more spectacular of a whole series of tragic and painful events which occur daily, which trouble our hearts and create questions in our minds. Our text this morning tells of some people who approached Jesus and asked his opinion about two incidents which raised the same questions. One apparently took place at the temple in Jerusalem, when Pilate ordered some Galileans killed while they were in the act of making animal sacrifices to God; the blood of those devout worshipers became mingled ...

1360. Trailblazers

Luke 22:63-65, Matthew 27:27-31

Illustration

Source Unknown

Throughout history, trailblazers have been met with ridicule and rejection because their ideas challenged the conventional wisdom. Socrates, who sought to teach his fellow-Athenians the difference between opinion and knowledge, was tried for “corrupting the youth” and condemned to death. Galileo, who demonstrated that the earth revolved around the sun, was convicted of heresy and forced to recant. The French Impressionists’ tradition-shattering paintings were banned from the Louvre. Orville and ...

1361. Holiest Man In Scotland

Illustration

Don Emmitte

... brothers. Both had brilliant minds, though there the resemblance ended. David, the older of the two, was quiet and studious. He spent most of his leisure time at home helping with the family chores. David was a devoted Christian, too much so in the opinion of his younger brother, Robert. Once Robert came home from an evening of partying and found David kneeling in prayer. “I heard you calling my name, Dave” he sneered. “Am I really that bad?” The sensitive David tried to explain. “We’re all ...

1362. One Solitary Life

Illustration

James Allan Francis

... He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself... While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece ...

1363. Get the Garbage Out!

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... and her husband were both there to witness their precious child’s real first word, which was not “Mama” or “Dada,” but “Bob,” the name of the family’s golden retriever. Sylvia Perantinides from Campbell, OH, had the strangest story, in my opinion. Sylvia admits that she nags her forgetful husband all the time to take the garbage out. However, Sylvia and her husband were both surprised one morning when their infant daughter banged her little fist on her high chair and yelled at her father ...

1364. Surprised by Joy

Luke 2:8-14

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... terrorism, or even the ongoing oppression of powerless people all over the world that has kindled our righteous ire. No, the thing that has really got us going is the, so called, “War on Christmas.” Notice, please, that it’s not just a difference of opinion or even a disagreement. It’s not an argument or a debate. It’s a “war.” That pretty much crushes any hope of a civil discussion, a free, open and respectful exchange of ideas and perspectives. No, once you call it a war you’ve determined ...

1365. New Year's Resolutions

Illustration

Stephen Shapiro

In 2008, author, innovation consultant, and speaker Stephen Shapiro, with the help of Opinion Corporation of Princeton, New Jersey, offered the following interesting statistics concerning New Year’s resolutions: Forty-five percent of Americans usually set New Year’s Resolutions; seventeen percent infrequently set resolutions; thirty-eight percent never set resolutions Eight percent are always successful in achieving their resolutions; nineteen percent achieve their ...

1366. Syrophoenician Lives Matter!

Mark 7:24-30, Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Image Exegesis: God’s Bountiful Breadbasket In my humble opinion, you can’t understand most of what Jesus was saying and doing in the gospels without looking at the stories of the Hebrew scriptures. Not only does Jesus reference these stories and prophecies, but the images and characters have significant meaning, many ...

1367. The Great Dinner

Luke 14:1-14, Luke 14:15-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose ...

1368. The Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... I have this idea: You could be a police officer,' " recalls Clemmons, speaking with his friend Karl Lindholm during a visit with StoryCorps. Clemmons says he didn't like the idea much at first. "I grew up in the ghetto. I did not have a positive opinion of police officers. Policemen were siccing police dogs and water hoses on people," he says. "And I really had a hard time putting myself in that role. So I was not excited about being Officer Clemmons at all." Still, Clemmons came around to it eventually and ...

1369. Turmoil Brewing, Herod Stewing, Prophecy, and Porridge

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... cornerstone, and they become stones in His spiritual Temple. They are blessed by the Holy Spirit and broken to be remade. For those who reject Him, he becomes a stumbling stone, for those who cannot free themselves of their “set in their ways” opinions, mindsets, and conditions. Will you be broken or will you be crushed? Those are the only two options, with brokenness being the chosen route. For out of brokenness comes beauty. Out of our weakness comes God’s greatest strength and glory. The “sign ...

1370. Oh That Cookie Jar Goodness!

Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... , and Jesus says it best, “why do you ask what is good?…..only One (Jesus…God) is good. Trust in God. Follow Me. Put your focus on Jesus. Give up what is most dear to you. Is it your money that keeps you distant from others? Or your opinions that you feel are better or more right than others? Or is it your politics that keep you from hugging your neighbor? Or is it your stubborn independence that keeps you detached from prayer, and from worship, and from opening your heart to God’s people –all of ...

1371. Peter the Petulant

Mark 14:1-11, Mark 14:12-26, Mark 14:27-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... Jesus was the cornerstone. Peter was meant to be the first to build upon his mission. But while Jesus named him “peter” (cephas or petros), sometimes his name seems more suited to “petere” –the word for petulant! For Peter certainly voiced his own opinions, perhaps more than anyone else. Yet Jesus saw in him the strength and passion to carry on his mantle –if only Peter could truly take responsibility for the mission. “You don’t understand this now…..you will later” Jesus said about that ...

1372. Sweet Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of society’s most giving and loving people, while others turn out to be society’s psychopaths and abusers at worst, neurotics or addicts in the milder cases? Is it luck? Intellect? Optimism? Is there really such a thing as a “bad seed”? The opinions are a dime a dozen. Some may be right; some wrong. Or maybe there is no simple answer. Our scripture for today offers us another explanation –identity. More specifically, an identity rooted in God as manifested in Jesus. Like the scripture’s equation ...

1373. God Has Not Forgotten You

Jeremiah 29:1-23

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... faith in the living Christ, who asks us to persevere in our prayers, despite our circumstances, or our past, or our worries, or our hesitancies. We have forgotten to let the Holy Spirit be our guide, and to trust in Jesus more than our own thoughts, plans, and opinions. We have forgotten that our mission in the world is not for us to determine, but for God to determine for us. We have forgotten that all God’s children who don’t look like us, don’t talk like us, don’t dress like us, don’t speak ...

1374. Shepherd Dreams

Jeremiah 23:1-8, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 80:1-19, Psalm 23:1-6, John 10:22-42, John 10:1-21

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... you. And then get engaged with it head on. Engage the world on my behalf, says Jesus. This is the mission of the shepherd. And we need to hear this, don’t we? God doesn’t say, take on the world on behalf of our “own” mission, our own opinions, our own agendas, our own pet projects! But Jesus asks us to be on HIS mission with Him, beside Him, following Him, loving Him, and supporting Him. “Get behind me!” Jesus barks to Peter, when Peter thinks he’s got a better way. We never have a better way ...

1375. Turf Fights and Rewrites: That's What Stiff-Necked People Are Made Of

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... so that we might stop and struggle with ourselves and with God, and hopefully choose the right way. Following Jesus is seldom an easy, “ok I’ll do it” kind of repentance, but a hard, slow, struggle with our inclinations and our guilt and anger and opinions and ideas. We are, as God says, “stiff-necked” –as stiff-necked and unyielding as the Babel tower perhaps! And yet God could topple it. And God can topple us. Sometimes, we must tear down the rotting walls of a building, before we can build it ...

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