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 1676 to 1700 of 2552 results

1676. This Little Light of Mine

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... and bad, that light continues to shine. Our grandparents saw its glow in the darkest hours of the depression. Our soldiers saw its glow even on distant battlefields. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. Now that the election’s over I guess it’s safe for me to mention the name John McCain. Senator McCain once wrote a story for Reader’s Digest. It was about the time he spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Any of you who know his story know he was cruelly mistreated in ...

1677. Beware: Hypocrites on Premises

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

David T. Ball

... like the reason that they almost always give is that they can't stand all the hypocrites. I don't take this personally -- they aren't saying that all churchgoers are hypocrites -- just that there are usually too many hypocrites for their liking. I guess their reaction is understandable. Who would want to go to a church filled with people who don't practice what they preach? That would, at the very least, be disconcerting. Maybe they've been frustrated by the discrepancy between friendly relations on Sunday ...

1678. A Clock or a Compass?

Mark 1:9-15

Sermon

David T. Ball

Do you all have your compasses with you? What? You don’t have compasses? Well, I guess neither do I. How about your watch? Okay! A much better response that time. I have my watch, too — but don’t get your hopes up that I’m planning to keep a closer eye on how long my sermons are taking! I really just wanted to make a point ...

1679. Unacceptable

Mark 8:31-38

Sermon

David T. Ball

... what is that supposed to mean? How can it be the truth that I will lose my life if I try to save it, but I will save it if I lose it? Absolute truth. Don’t we as Christians believe that there is such a thing? I guess so, but doesn’t asserting the existence of absolute truth entail another belief, held equally strongly, that truth can be spelled out and stated, clearly, in a straightforward manner? Jesus keeps lobbing paradoxes our way, statements that whether they’re true or not seem anything but ...

1680. No More Camping Out

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... 's thinning collection. While bugging my folks, it all seemed quite normal to me. After all, it was my life, and I was having a good time. But finally, I landed. And today with a wonderful family and a great ministry, I feel blessed beyond description. I guess it was time. In our scripture reading today we hear about another landing. In this case, it's the people of Israel. Talk about wandering around a bit! These people had been there and back again. I remember as a young boy in church school seeing what ...

1681. It’s Good to Know Who Is Calling

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... dog skidded to a halt right in front of the table that hosted the birdcage. He looked up, cocked one ear, and it was as though you could see the light going on — albeit a little slowly. That was the last time that dog got fooled by that bird. I guess it's important to know who it is that's calling you. Otherwise, things could get a little sticky. For that very reason, I have to admit that I like this new thing on the telephone that shows you what number is calling you. With all the ridiculous sales calls ...

1682. What Part of “You Shall Not” Don’t You Understand?

Exodus 20:1-17

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... the land. Increasingly, people seem to be succumbing to the enemy. Many today say, "Nothing is absolute, not God, not the Bible, not the Ten Commandments." The only absolute for many people today seems to be the statement, "There are no absolutes." Guess again. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are biblical correctives for a society that too easily has been overcome by the ethical relativists who have invaded and permeated our institutions and popular culture with a soul-degrading downgrade in ethics ...

1683. The Best Looking of the Bunch

Matthew 23:1-12

Illustration

A few years back there was a poll on the Internet that asked this question, "Which one member of your family is the best looking?" You want to guess how respondents answered? The top rated answer in the poll was, "Me." A majority of the respondents listed themselves as the best-looking member of their family. That corresponds with another public opinion poll which asked people which member of their family was the smartest. Once again, "Myself" or "Me" ...

1684. Ten Best Things to Say if You Get Caught Sleeping

Matthew 25:1-13

Illustration

... are the ten best things to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk: 10. They told me at the blood bank this might happen. 9. This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in that time management course you sent me to. 8. Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-Out. You probably got here just in time! 7. I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm. 6. I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance. 5. I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise ...

1685. Stepping Out on Faith

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... young man remarked, “Funny. I’ve seen hundreds of ’em jump like that especially when there are dogs all around and they can’t come down to the ground. A lot of them miss, but I’ve never seen any get hurt in trying.” Then he chuckled and added, “I guess they’ve got to risk it if they don’t want to spend their whole life in one tree.” The young man thought to himself, squirrels take chances. Do I have less nerve than a squirrel? He made up his mind in that moment to take the risk he had ...

1686. Making a Difference

Matthew 25:14-30

Illustration

... star fish were washed ashore last night. What possible difference do you think that you are going to make. The old man took another step picked up a star fish, and with all his might hurled it into the ocean, then turned to the jogger and said: "Well, son, I guess I made a difference in that one's life."

1687. Somebody Should Have Helped

Matthew 25:14-30

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

... about one fact that surprised and saddened her. She said, "This happened in broad daylight, about 3:30 in the afternoon. My car was the first one at the traffic light. There were probably 20 cars in two lanes behind me. Not one person did anything to help." You can guess what went through the minds of those other drivers: It could be a domestic dispute; he could have a gun. He could be on drugs. I'm in a hurry and I sure don't need to go picking a fight. Where are the police when you need them? But ...

1688. An Exquisite Attitude of Gratitude

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Chaconne,” from Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D Minor. Bell calls this a “spiritually powerful piece, emotionally powerful, structurally perfect.” By the way, “Chaconne” is also considered one of the most difficult violin solos ever written. Can you guess what happened? Did busy commuters suddenly stop in their tracks, mesmerized by this master violinist, and drift towards the magical music? Not so much. For the first three minutes of Bell’s “concert” no one passing by acknowledged anything. Not ...

1689. Pop Quiz: Advent

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Matthew T. Phillips

... day wouldn't be a surprise. Jamie figured out there was no way for the teacher to give a surprise pop quiz, so he spent his weekend playing with his friends, going to church and youth, and watching Monty Python movies. Anyone want to guess what happened? The teacher gave the quiz on Wednesday morning, Jamie was surprised, and he failed. Did I tell this story just to embarrass Jamie? Certainly not. We read Jesus' prophecy about his second coming, especially the part about the present generation not passing ...

1690. John the Stall Cleaner

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... knows the meaning of that phrase, “mucking out.” It is every bit as nasty as it sounds, the nastiness only less or more depending upon how long it has been since the last “muck out.” Considering the hygiene habits in the first century I’ m guessing the muck out accomplished before Mary and Joseph moved into their stall, aka birthing center, was on the high side of horrible. But prep time, cleaning out time, is necessary if we are going open up space, transform space, re-envision space in our lives ...

1691. Yellow Wind

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... our "doom or gloom" mood and encourage a teeth-gritted endurance of life because any day now those we consider the "bad guys" will "get theirs. " We are so bogged down in creepy creatures getting the sequence of disasters correct and playing "Guess which beast this is?" that we have forgotten the primary purpose of apocalyptic literature was to provide a message of hope. Instead of this hope for the future, however, there seems to be a prevalent epidemic of "timesickness" - the widespread insecurity about ...

1692. Waiting - Sermon Starter

John 1:1-18

Illustration

Brett Blair

... back to the rat race. We haven't got time to sit down and read a book anymore. Perhaps it is a sign of the times that we have condensed versions of the Bible. In kitchens all over America there are gadgets to get the meal prepared quickly. I would guess Mr. Coffee started it all. Simply spoon in the coffee and pour water. The coffee is made before you can even find a cup. When we become sick we want to be made well now, not later. Medicine, doctors, pastoral care and love are often rejected if they are not ...

1693. Advent: Time to Listen

Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

Illustration

... thought they had heard a part of what he'd said, whispered back the part they'd heard - or what they remembered from a prior reading of Auden, triggered (in that moment) by what they thought they'd heard. While others, not quite hearing - and not quite knowing - guessed at what he was saying. And pretty soon, the whispers drowned out the poet. Which, if you ask me, is what sometimes happens in our churches, else why would there be so much interest in the word of God, yet so little clarity about the word of ...

1694. Five Steps to Takeoff

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... their mission and choose to accept it. 5. The final gesture the airboss makes sends the waiting plane and pilot off into the sky. This gesture is the grandest of the lot. For now that everything is ready for takeoff, the airboss must do one more thing. Can you guess what it is? Get out of the way! The airboss takes a giant step to the side, then makes a grand forward-pointing gesture with his whole arm. The airboss points the pilot off the flight deck, into the direction of the carrier's mission. It is the ...

1695. Parable Power

Mark 4:26-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... punch line that left yesterday's lunch crowd holding their sides and wiping their eyes, leave today's prayer breakfast yawning as they sip their coffee. We've come up with some standard comebacks to cover ourselves and explain these freakish occurrences: "I guess you just had to be there." "It loses something in translation." "You just don't get it." But the fact is, storytelling of any sort, amusing anecdotes or tragic tales, is an unrepeatable art form. The variety of people listening, the inflections in ...

1696. Take an Ember Day

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... find 70 million hard-core insomniacs pacing their floors. That doesn't even begin to count those of us who spend a night or so every week mentally catching up on our office work, confronting annoying coworkers, solving the problem of global warming, second-guessing the motives behind adolescent behavior, and figuring out how to make a month's salary pay two months' worth of bills. Sometimes falling asleep is a challenge we're just not up to. Look at all the products consumer culture has developed to aid ...

1697. What Are You Looking For?

John 1:35-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and orthodoxy. They were looking for a fight. - As his miracles increased, there were the crowds of hangers-on, just there for the show. They were looking for entertainment. - As his wisdom spread, there were seekers like the rich young ruler who tried to second-guess his meanings. They were looking for an easy way into heaven. - As his fame circulated, and his famine-quenching powers became the talk of the town, there were lots of people with needs and wants who followed in his wake. They were looking for ...

1698. Tremendous Trifles

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... because one of the boys decided to videotape their festivities so they could enjoy them again and again. Once they were arrested, friends and family shook their heads in disbelief. These weren't kids who were usually in trouble they were "good kids." Guess what. These are not "good kids." These are children we have raised, all of us, in a cultural hothouse with an atmosphere that is "commandment-free" or at least "commandment-optional." And the reluctance of our churches to proclaim from the rooftops these ...

1699. Tabloid Testaments?

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... about whether the newfound popularity of angels should be proudly claimed by the church or left to the New Age faddists? Consider checking out the issue that reveals "Baby Born With Angel's Wings" (of course, there were photographs). By now you've probably guessed that the Weekly World News is one of those checkout counter tabloid newspapers. But did you know that what is even more amazing than the incredible headlines is the fact that the WWN has a weekly circulation of between 750,000 and one million ...

1700. Luke 2:22-40

Luke 2:21-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... baby boom,” you remember how every classroom was overflowing with kids. But teachers didn’t have to memorize fifty new names for every class, because certain names were so popular there would always be at least two or three in every room. If a teacher guessed Steve, Dave, Mike, or Jeff for a boy or Kathy, Pam, Lisa, or Cheryl for a girl, chances were good that the teacher would be right. One name never present in those classrooms was “Jesus.” Although Latino culture is comfortable with re-using the ...

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