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 1651 to 1675 of 2669 results

1651. James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... easily and logically the author's emphasis on teachers (3:1ff) and his material on disputes (4:1ff). James is anxious to emphasize the crucial role of those with special gifts of teaching and leading in determining the prevailing beliefs and behaviors of communities. Those in prominent positions shoulder a great responsibility. Whether the community will savor the sweetness of spiritual harmony, fellowship, and peace; or whether the bitterness of acrid divisiveness, suspicion, and Cain-killing spirits will ...

1652. Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46-52

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... lesson in discipleship concludes with the healed Bartimaeus following Jesus "on the way." The Bartimaeus story's transitional nature makes it unique in several respects. Unlike other healing encounters, the focus is on Bartimaeus himself. His physical condition, his belief, his faithfulness and tenacity are all repeated in detail in verses 46-51. The healing miracle itself is mentioned only briefly - almost matter-of-factly - as a part of the concluding sentence to the whole pericope. Even then no mention ...

1653. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... an actual band of nay-sayers and disbelievers, or whether he uses this form to allow a more forceful starting position, is unclear. Whatever the actual situation, the diatribe style enables Paul to pose the most barefaced challenge to a resurrection belief and then refute it with a series of rational arguments (v. 35). This confrontational style shows off Paul's considerable powers of debate, culminating in his brusque rejection of those who would doubt his word. On verse 36 he dismisses them with ...

1654. Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... into this text, coming down from a time when Abram had been established as a tremendous symbol of faithfulness for Israel (see Isaiah 41:8 and 51:2), the kind of faith Abram represented to Israel is made clear by God's response to it. Abram's belief was not a passive, quiescent acceptance of his present state as an aging, childless man. "Believed" may best be understood here as an "active trust" or a "living trust." This is the kind of faith Israel came to value and esteem above all, a faith entwined ...

1655. Ephesians 1:11-23

Ephesians 1:11-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... prayer focuses tightly on the crucial notion and nature of God's power, a theme prevalent throughout this letter. Might it have been a point of debate among the people there? Artemis worship was still a rising influence, even though the other magical beliefs, mystery religions and a host of pagan deities all vied for the souls and sympathies of the people. Here in Ephesians, then, we find an unhesitating proclamation of the preeminence of the Christian God's power. The Greek term used for power in verse ...

1656. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... sins will be "retained") is evident through Jesus' first pronouncement: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (v.21). Jesus' sacrifice was given freely, and humans retain their own freedom to respond to that sacrifice positively or negatively, with belief or with disbelief. The disciples' mission is empowered by the same Spirit and limited by the same freedom that marked Jesus' own mission. In Luke's Pentecost scene (Acts 2:1-21), the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples and immediately transforms ...

1657. Acts 8:26-40

Acts 8:26-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... -based apostles, were the first to spread the gospel out into the Gentile world. As today's reading from Acts testifies, it was Philip, unattached and out on his own, whose on-the-road witnessing brought the first Gentile convert to belief in Jesus Christ. In the eyes of this Hellenistic tradition, the Ethiopian eunuch is the new Christian church's first Gentile member. Furthermore, this Hellenistic tradition presents a unique attitude about the prospect of Christian witnessing in the Gentile world. Philip ...

1658. John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... appearances in John's gospel (7:45-52 and 19:38-42) are surrounded with a haze of ambiguity. Despite the fact that Nicodemus keeps showing up on the scene, he is never fully identified as one of Jesus' disciples, and the extent of his belief is never made fully known. The mystery of Nicodemus is intimated in this first appearance by John's assertion that he "came to Jesus by night." Two opposing arguments have been posted about the significance of this nocturnal visit. Those who find Nicodemus generally ...

1659. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... his hope that he may "restore" or "supply" the insights and guidance that these Gentile Christians might still be "lacking." Chapter 4 takes up this suggestion by moving away from words of thanksgiving and into lessons on the proper behavior, beliefs and eschatological expectations the Thessalonian Christians should manifest. The prayer that closes this first section of the letter can actually be divided into two complete benediction units. Verse 11 stands by itself as one complete "colon" ("a metrical unit ...

1660. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... their lives, they at least were buoyed by the knowledge that Jesus was alive. The report they had heard from Mary Magdalene and the other women had been routinely dismissed as an "idle tale" (Luke 24:11). Their fear of the authorities was grounded in the belief they would be accused of pillaging the tomb and making off with the body. Many scholars believe that the author's primary motivation in noting the closed doors has less to do with Jewish authorities (there is no mention of the Jews in Jesus' second ...

1661. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , a process that gradually weans believers away from the world by filling them ever more completely with the spirit and image of Christ. This is no passive spiritual surgery performed supernaturally on supine believers. Rather, it is a continuous and intentional "belief in the truth," moving believers to the experience of sanctification. It is sanctification that makes possible Paul's ministry of "proclamation of the good news" (v.14). The final reward for Paul and for all who hear and heed this gospel ...

1662. John 1:(1-9) 10-18

John 1:(1-9) 10-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... poetic flight of these words that John came to be symbolized by the eagle. The power of these words has been felt so deeply through the centuries that there emerged the Christian tradition of wearing an amulet containing a tiny copy of the prologue in the belief that it could protect the wearer from all manner of affliction. That John's prologue resonates so well with the ear as well as with the spirit has led many scholars to propose that it is a text best understood as an early Christian hymn, possibly ...

1663. John 11:1-45

John 11:1-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... two more days before journeying to Bethany. Why two days? Apparently Lazarus died immediately after the messenger was sent to Jesus, for by the time Jesus reaches the tomb it is the fourth day since Lazarus had died (v.39). There was an old Jewish belief that after death the spirit hovered about for a period of three days before descending to Sheol. By not raising Lazarus until the fourth day, there could be no doubt that Lazarus was both physically and spiritually gone. A stronger argument for this two-day ...

1664. Philippians 1:21-30

Philippians 1:21-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... very shortly all the living will be in Christ's domain. Because of this conviction, Paul can assert that "dying is gain." Still, the particulars of Paul's theological inferences are not completely clear. Some scholars suggest that with this declaration Paul reveals his belief in a kind of "individual parousia" for those who suffer a martyred death. In this view, the "gain" Paul speaks of is assumed to be his own resurrection and consequent ascension to be fully with Christ. But Paul's oft-repeated faith in ...

1665. Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2:1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... experienced the Spirit. The subtle changes in the Joel text as rendered by Peter feature characteristic Lukan ideas. Instead of beginning the Joel reference with "then afterward" (Joel 2:28), Luke makes the time reference "in the last days" (Acts 2:17) emphasizing his own belief that the Holy Spirit was the last gift of God before the Parousia of Christ. Luke also emphasizes the work of the Spirit that God pours out at this time by adding to the original Joel text, in verse 18, "and they shall prophesy." In ...

1666. From Cynicism to Faith

John 1:43-51

Illustration

G. Curtis Jones

... with a Fabian Socialist upbringing, once an atheist, a career journalist, at one time hearty drinker and womanizer, at age seventy-nine surrendered his will to the Lord. This gadfly of British letters, an eloquent peddler of words, gathered up his contradictions and beliefs in November 1982, marched down to a small chapel in Hurst Green, Sussex, and, with his wife, became a member of the Catholic Church. His decision to convert was inspired in part by the life and witness of Mother Teresa. Commenting on the ...

1667. A Very Different Top 10 List

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is a fracturing into hundreds of splinters. The demons that inhabit us are rightly named “Legion.” When we invite Jesus into our lives, into our hearts, there is a lot of “unclean” space that needs to be scoured out. The more bad behaviors and wrong beliefs we can relegate to the “extinct” list, the more room there is for the presence of the holy. [Here is where I recommend you walk down into the congregation and interact with them, asking them what they would like to see go extinct in our ...

1668. Astonishing! - Sermon Starter

Mark 1:21-28

Illustration

Brett Blair

... . Legend has it that in 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten-pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right. I believe that this illustrates perfectly what is going on in the world today. You could show the terrible ravaging effects of AIDS and people will have promiscuous ...

1669. The World's Worst Bargain

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... to the most minute and insignificant parts of His universe, doesn’t it make sense to assume that He applies it also to the masterpiece of His creation the human soul? And everything science has taught me and continues to teach me strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death. Nothing disappears without a trace.” This is more than a material world. We are more than simply material creatures. We have a soul, a soul that, by the grace of God, even survives the grave ...

1670. God Loses, So We Can Win

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... their sons. It’s been said that a father lets his son know he views him as a man, the son doubts he is. Another way to understand the doctrine of Original Sin is to see it as our awareness that something’s missing in us and our belief that we can provide that for ourselves. We are dis-eased. We self-diagnose and self-medicate. It goes something like this: “If only I had…., then I would be content, happy, satisfied, blessed.” Jacob is talking to himself: “If only I had the birthright, I’d be ...

1671. What about Laws and Rules?

Matthew 5:17-20

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... whom he has blessed. He has also gotten the attention of the religious police, depicted by the gospel writers as “the scribes and Pharisees.” They were the fundamentalists of Jesus’ day. They believed that God can be reduced to fundamental laws and beliefs. From their point of view, Jesus is associating with the wrong kinds of people. You’re known by the company you keep. The goal of religion is to get and stay clean, not get dirtied by evil influences. The fundamentalists understood religion to ...

1672. Mark 1:40-45

Mark 1:40-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... stretched out his hand and touched him.” With that touch, according to Levitical law, Jesus himself was now “unclean.” With that touch, Jesus had just joined the ranks of all those who suffered from leprosy. Jesus affirms the leper’s belief that he possessed the divine power to make the “unclean” clean, the “unholy” holy again. Jesus’ declaration “thelo,” which means “I will” or “I choose,” reveal his divine status and his supernatural ability to transcend the unclean state of ...

1673. Living Life from the Outside In

Mark 8:31-38

Illustration

Robert Noblett

Were I to create a short list of people who live from the outside in, it would include people who don't know what their political beliefs are until they've read their favorite political columnist; don't know what books they want to read until Oprah tells them; don't know how to decorate for Christmas until Martha Stewart directs them; don't know what to believe until their denomination tells them; don't know what ...

1674. Destroy the Temple

John 2:13-22

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... obsessed with brick and mortar. Their mention of how long it had taken them to build the temple was a sign that they had lost their way. They no longer had the radical faith of Psalm 69. The psalmist endured insult and injury because of his outrageous belief that the living God actually dwelled in the temple. But some of the Jews in Jesus' day had forgotten. They saw it as their own accomplishment in which they could do whatever they wanted because it was, after all, their place. (I wish that did not sound ...

1675. Looking at the World through the Eyes of God

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Brett Blair

... the light anyway. He erects a cross of death that we might look up and live. He leads us out of the darkness. He loves the world and does not condemn it. He does not condemn you, if you do not fear the light...if you will believe. Faith, Trust, Belief that’s the second thing that God sees as he looks out over the world: There are those who acknowledge the darkness. There ARE those who live by the truth, who have allowed themselves to be exposed by the light. You see that's the difference. There are not ...

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