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 1551 to 1575 of 2699 results

1551. Sacred Pleasures

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... star meal with a two-inch-thick wine list. “Guilty Pleasures.” Why do we think we have to feel guilty about our pleasures? Are we secretly convinced that deep down God doesn’t want us to have a good time and enjoy life? Are we under the impression that our Creator couldn’t possibly take pleasure in watching us creatures savor all that creation has to offer us?! But wait. Didn’t God take great pleasure in watching King David leap and dance with joy before the Lord? Didn’t God take pleasure in the ...

1552. An Example of Christ-like Thinking

Matthew 18:21-35

Illustration

Staff

Patti Davis, the daughter of Ronald Reagan said that her dad made a lasting impression on her the day after the assassination attempt of 1982. She says, "The following day my father said he knew his physical healing was directly dependent on his ability to forgive John Hinckley. By showing me that forgiveness is the key to everything, including physical health and healing, he gave me an example of Christ-like thinking."

1553. Pray, Baby, Pray

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... real miracle of this project was not the bringing together of two protons, but the bringing together of eight thousand physicists from eighty-five different countries to build this enormous machine. There is one tiny little glitch in all this good news and impressive scientific advancement. That is the nagging concern held by some researchers that this machine will cause the end of the world — maybe even the end of our galaxy. That could be a real “down-side.” Those who predict this doomsday scenario ...

1554. Fire on One End, Fool on the Other

Matthew 21:23-32

Illustration

Julian Gordy

... the dangers of smoking to a bunch of High School students. He scared them with grim pictures of smokers' lungs and tales of death from lung cancer. The doctor finished his speech by saying, "Remember, fire on one end, fool on the other." The students were all impressed, especially those boys who would sneak out behind the shop building at lunch to light one up. But then a couple of the guys saw the doctor himself lighting up when he got back in his car after the lecture. And his credibility was shot. He was ...

1555. Jesus and the Ferris Wheels

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

King Duncan

... again. Dr. Orr understood about bearing fruit. He was a deeply religious man, but his religion showed primarily by the fruit he bore. (4) This is to say that what Jesus wants most out of us is that we walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Nobody is impressed by a hypocrite, and to a certain extent that is what the Pharisees of Jesus’ time were hypocrites. They bore the face of religion but not its heart. They’re not the first, or the last, to do so, of course. We have many people in churches today who ...

1556. Don’t Turn Down a Sure Chance

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

... courage and determination headed toward those drowning people. He rescued 32 people of them. But let's suppose that when Tom Lee approached some of those folks in the middle of the river, they had responded, "Thanks, but no thanks. Your boat doesn't look too impressive to us. We're going to just keep treading water in hopes that another boat more to our liking will come along." You're thinking - That would have been really dumb. Turning down a sure thing in hopes that something else might come along. That ...

1557. Blazing a Path to Christ

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... group, it is the clergy and those who assist their efforts who are seen to be the pillars of justice and the paragons of hope. The trust and confidence of the people requires a proper response by the church. John the Baptist did not impress people with his appearance, status, or monetary wealth. As a prophet he challenged his listeners with his words and backed them up with consistent actions that blazed a path toward Jesus. He was not cowed by others, even denouncing Herod for his illicit relationship ...

1558. Perceiving the Presence of God

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... friend and said, "Thank you for talking with me. I love you, too."1 The story, "Lily," by Walter Wangerin, Jr., challenges us to look around and perceive the presence of God that is all around us. It also tells us that there is no need to impress God, rather God only asks that we be open in order to find his presence. Today's Gospel Reading and the scriptures in general illustrate this same important theme. The Hebrew Scriptures provide important context to the idea of being open to God's presence with many ...

1559. God Is Amazing

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... Jesus rebuked the wind and water and calm comes upon the sea. Mark reports, "They [the apostles] were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?' " Jesus' teaching was also very impressive to those who heard him. Saint Luke (4:32) reports how the people of Capernaum, "were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority." Similarly Saint Matthew (7:29) reports at the conclusion of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, that "the crowds were ...

1560. Transformation to the Light

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... came into the shop and was attracted to the ring. "This is bigger than my friend's," she thought and bought the ring. The diamond shed another tear at the woman's attitude. Then one day the woman walked into another store to buy things to impress her friends. It was a store where everything had been donated to assist the poor. She wondered why people would donate such nice things. Then she saw a sign on a box which said, "For Christ's poor everywhere." Something possessed her, exactly what is uncertain ...

1561. It’s About God

John 3:14-21

Sermon

David T. Ball

I don’t know how many foreign films you’ve seen — subtitled in English, so that you hear the foreign language and read the dialogue at the same time. I’ve seen a few, and for the most part I’ve been impressed by how well the English subtitles seem to flow. They must have translators who are pretty good at expressing in English what is being said in another language. But sometimes the subtitles seem stilted, using a phrase in a way that’s not quite right. And sometimes the way things ...

1562. Where Are You From?

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

David T. Ball

... be taken down. For five days, he had refused. On the sixth day, he lost his patience and threatened to kill all of them if they did not leave him alone. Their response surprised him. They fell down before him, in homage, and he was so impressed that he relented and ordered the standards to be taken down. The second time the emperor had actually intervened on the Jews' behalf. Pilate had put up some golden shields in his palace in honor of the emperor. The local Herodian princes, this time, came and ...

1563. Great Expectations

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... together on a sea of our common experience, learning and growing as one people who expect that life will challenge what we believe we know. Imagine, if you can, how such an openness could impact our world. Rather than spending time defending our impressions and expectations, we could spend that energy exploring new ideas brought by the life experiences of those around us. Rather than insisting that the rivers of Damascus are better than the Jordan, rather than insisting that our nation is better than others ...

1564. The Passion of the Servant Leader

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... wear. For I wear a mask. I wear a thousand masks, masks I'm afraid to take off, and none of them is me. Pretending is an art that's second nature with me, but don't be fooled, for God's sake, don't be fooled. I give the impression that I'm secure, that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well as without, that confidence is my name and coolness my game, That the water's calm and I am in command and that I need no one, But don't believe me. My surface may ...

1565. It’s All about Jesus

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... that all people, Gentiles as well as Jews, could become disciples of Jesus. That was a revolutionary thought since Peter was a Jew and Jews of that time looked down on Gentiles as heathens who were beyond the reach of salvation. When a Gentile was impressed by Jewish monotheism and morality, and desired to become a Jew by faith, he was circumcised and became what was called a “God-fearer.” Cornelius was a God-fearer. “He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously ...

1566. Lord of All!

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... that all people, Gentiles as well as Jews, could become disciples of Jesus. That was a revolutionary thought since Peter was a Jew and Jews of that time looked down on Gentiles as heathens who were beyond the reach of salvation. When a Gentile was impressed by Jewish monotheism and morality, and desired to become a Jew by faith, he was circumcised and became what was called a "God-fearer." Cornelius was a God-fearer. "He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously ...

1567. Does Easter Make a Difference?

Acts 4:32-35

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... leads the way. Sharing With The Needy Because of the peace, power, and purpose they experienced, the early Christians made certain "there was not a needy person among them" (Acts 4:34). The compassion of the early Christians toward the needy really made an impression on many outsiders who had never seen selfless service put into action like that shown by the believers in the resurrection. Compassion for the needy was part of the way of life the people called followers of "The Way." The early Christians show ...

1568. Risking Relationships That Redeem

Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... not clean up their own fields, vineyards, or orchards so that widows, orphans, and resident aliens would be able to find enough to eat. Ruth and Naomi arrive in Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest, so Ruth begins gleaning immediately. Her work ethic impresses others in the field as she goes about the backbreaking chore of picking up all the barley that has been spilled onto the ground. Is it a coincidence that she chooses Boaz's land? Aware of Ruth's predicament, Boaz reaches out to her, making ...

1569. Having the Last Word

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... secret for the time being." Samuel feels disheartened about this turn of events, but knows that God is right. King Saul is not going to change his ways. God directs Samuel to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem. Jesse introduces seven fine, strong sons. Samuel is impressed with each son, and figures God will have a tough choice here. These sons had already won their share of purple hearts and medals of honor for prowess in battle. But, there is still another younger son, a shepherd who is out tending Jesse's ...

1570. Tasting the Gruel of Love

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... them. God is probably not asking you to go to Africa or Asia to show your love. But God may be asking you to go next door. Or down the street. Or to a different part of the city. Christ cared enough to come into our world. Even more impressively, Christ cared for the undeserving. That’s you and me. Many people today only want to help people who they deem worthy of such help. “They made choices just like I did,” these well-meaning people complain. “I’m not obligated to care for people who refuse to ...

1571. The Young Seminarian

Matthew 23:1-12

Illustration

Peter J. Blackburn

... remarked to the other, "If he'd come in like he went out, he would have gone out like he came in." Jesus calls us to a real trust in God and to humble service in his church and world. The temptation is ever before us to exalt ourselves - to impress others, to make a name for ourselves. That was not how Jesus came, nor was it why he came.

1572. Second Coming

Matt 25:1-13; Rev 22

Illustration

R. Geoffrey Brown

... upon the earth and the other upon the heaven, declaring in the name of him who lives forever and ever that time shall be no longer. Bound with a chain, Satan is thrown into the bottomless pit at last. The great white throne glows in the sunlight. Most impressive of all is the great, white horse. Upon the horse sits a still greater rider with the armies of heaven behind him. He comes to set everything straight at last for everyone of us who has hoped in him, and for everyone who has been subjected to the ...

1573. The Long Reach of an Act of Kindness

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

... as four jobs in addition to full-time studies. It was all physically and emotionally wearing. He worked for a summer as a porter on a train and happened to meet a man early in the morning who couldn't sleep and wanted to talk. This man was impressed by a black porter working to earn money for college and tipped him the unimaginable sum of five dollars. By the end of the summer Mr. Haley had to decide whether to convert his summer earnings into a mule and begin to sharecrop, or to stretch to complete his ...

1574. How to Be a Pilgrim

Luke 17:11-19; John 6:25-35

Illustration

Alex Gondola

The Pilgrims had the courage to act on their commitments, no matter what. Do we? Sociologist Robert Bellah, author of Habits of the Heart, is impressed by the power of religion. He once said, "We should not underestimate the significance of the small group of people who have a new vision of a just and gentle world. The quality of a culture may be changed when two percent of its people have a new vision (and ...

1575. Put Your Hands on the Plow

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

... the climate that it has surrounded us with. During the Second World War there was a young boy in a small town who had to go to the drugstore for his mother. As he arrived at the drugstore, he saw a poster on the front window that made a great impression upon him. It was the picture of an American soldier dressed in full battle uniform lying flat on his face, dead in the sands of a South Pacific island. He was lying there with the ocean cradling his body, and at the bottom of the poster was this question ...

Showing results

Showing 1551 to 1575 of 2699 results

1551. Sacred Pleasures

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1552. An Example of Christ-like Thinking

Matthew 18:21-35

Illustration

Staff

1553. Pray, Baby, Pray

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

1554. Fire on One End, Fool on the Other

Matthew 21:23-32

Illustration

Julian Gordy

1555. Jesus and the Ferris Wheels

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

King Duncan

1556. Don’t Turn Down a Sure Chance

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

1557. Blazing a Path to Christ

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

1558. Perceiving the Presence of God

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Richard Gribble

1559. God Is Amazing

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Richard Gribble

1560. Transformation to the Light

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

1561. It’s About God

John 3:14-21

Sermon

David T. Ball

1562. Where Are You From?

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

David T. Ball

1563. Great Expectations

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

1564. The Passion of the Servant Leader

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sermon

Ron Lavin

1565. It’s All about Jesus

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Ron Lavin

1566. Lord of All!

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... that all people, Gentiles as well as Jews, could become disciples of Jesus. That was a revolutionary thought since Peter was a Jew and Jews of that time looked down on Gentiles as heathens who were beyond the reach of salvation. When a Gentile was impressed by Jewish monotheism and morality, and desired to become a Jew by faith, he was circumcised and became what was called a "God-fearer." Cornelius was a God-fearer. "He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously ...

1567. Does Easter Make a Difference?

Acts 4:32-35

Sermon

Ron Lavin

1568. Risking Relationships That Redeem

Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

1569. Having the Last Word

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

1570. Tasting the Gruel of Love

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

King Duncan

1571. The Young Seminarian

Matthew 23:1-12

Illustration

Peter J. Blackburn

1572. Second Coming

Matt 25:1-13; Rev 22

Illustration

R. Geoffrey Brown

1573. The Long Reach of an Act of Kindness

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

1574. How to Be a Pilgrim

Luke 17:11-19; John 6:25-35

Illustration

Alex Gondola

1575. Put Your Hands on the Plow

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Eric Ritz

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