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 151 to 175 of 693 results

151. The Truth Will Make You Free

Sermon

Phyllis Faaborg Wolk

... the words. With the confirmation promises made, the gift of holy communion celebrated, the prayers prayed and the promises of God shared in word and deed, the worship service was complete. The confirmation students recessed out of the sanctuary and formed a reception line where they were greeted by a joyful congregation. The feeling of freedom washed through Chris' body. The butterflies' flutter disappeared. His hands were no longer damp with sweat. He felt that a heavy load had somehow been lifted off his ...

152. Epiphany 5

Matthew 5:17-20, Matthew 5:13-16

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... -12) Paul asserts that when he came to the Corinthians he sought to preach nothing but Christ crucified. That is the wisdom that comes from the mystery of God. It is revealed through the spirit of God to the human spirit. It is a gift given to those receptive to hear it. Gospel. (Matthew 5:13-20) The reading from the gospel includes the beatitudes as well as the two brief similes or parables. The parables are the consequence of those who respond to the call of the presence of the kingdom of God and manifest ...

153. Two Sons: A Parable

Matthew 21:28-32, Matthew 21:23-27

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... is unique to Matthew. The brief parable raises three important issues: 1. The significance of repentance that leads to obedience to God's will. The first son changes his mind. His actions are more important than his initial response. 2. The greater receptivity for change among those who are obviously sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes, than among those who are professional religionists. A sense of need is more likely to lead to repentance than a sense of already having arrived. 3. The kingdom is open ...

154. Wicked Tenants

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... vv. 35-36) Prophetic voices often lead to intense opposition because of their challenge to our apathy and comfort. They call us to awaken to needs for change and to undertake tasks that are difficult and may be dangerous. A. Heed Their Voice. Listen receptively. B. Test Their Message. Use the plumbline of scripture to discern the true from the false. C. Tolerate Their Zeal. Do not be too quick to condemn or reject that which challenges the status quo, the conventional wisdom, our own power and privilege. D ...

155. Prepared Or Not?

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... ways in the future cannot be fully anticipated. Therefore it is important to watch and be prepared. The signs of the kingdom's coming into our personal lives or into larger social movements cannot always be perceived in advance to those who are attentive and receptive to them. 5. No Borrowed Oil. The five unprepared maidens wanted the other five to give them some of their oil. They could not do so without running short themselves. One must be careful in pushing details of a parable too hard to fit some ...

156. Professor Of Paradox

Matthew 13:47-52, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 13:31-35

Sermon

Roger G. Talbott

... the passing of the peace at her church and shook hands with a man sitting directly behind her. They were married 18 months later. I know another story: A groom asked a friend to be his best man at his wedding and the best man spent the entire wedding reception with the maid of honor and in a year they were married. Thirty years later the first groom lost his wife and two years later the maid of honor lost her husband. The widower sent the new widow a note of condolence. The widow wrote back her heartfelt ...

157. Shared Bread

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... the first things a couple does when they start dating? This is not a trick question! They go out to dinner. And how do executives from two firms symbolize a merger? They frequently seal the deal with a meal. One of the functions of a wedding reception, with all its food and drink, is to draw the bride and groom's families together. And the solidarity of survivors after a death is symbolized by sharing a meal at the wake. You see, there is something fundamentally human about eating together. In fact, sharing ...

158. Table Manners

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Alex Gondola

... . Jesus was so fascinating that even his enemies would invite him to dinner. Although sometimes, as on this occasion, his enemies were also trying to trip him up. In this chapter, Jesus tells three stories about suppers. I see implications in each story for our reception of the Lord's Supper. One, the Parable of the Great Feast, stresses the importance of attending when invited. A rich man invites lots of people to a feast. In those days, dinner parties were big events. They could go on for a week. No ...

159. Grand Finale

Drama

Karren Boehr

... 's gonna say, "Andrea M. Browning would have graduated today, but because her hair looks like a chicken in a wind storm, we've decided to give her a semester of detentions instead"? Hardly. ANDREA: Okay, okay. (Pauses) Wonder if Mom remembered to take the punch for my reception out of the freezer. Boy, has she been a basket case this week! Just before we left the house this afternoon she fell all apart. Guess that's what I get for being the oldest of the family. (Pauses) I just wish I knew which school I ...

160. Finding Faith In Unlikely People

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you" (Matthew 11:21-24). The outsiders were more receptive to the truth than the insiders. Consequently Jesus prayed, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea Father, for such was thy gracious will" (Matthew 11:25-26). A ...

161. A House of Prayer

Illustration

John R. Brokhoff

... hearing the voice of God. We come out of a dirty world with the dirt of sin clinging to us. Before we can be presentable to a holy God we need spiritual cleansing. Thus, in prayer we confess our sins and plead for his mercy. The fourth room is labelled "Reception of God's grace." We have confessed our sins and begged for mercy. What is God's response? It is grace in terms of pardon and acceptance. At this time in our prayers we remember his promises to be with us always, to forgive us, and to bless us with ...

162. Lent 4

Luke 15:11-32, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2, Isaiah 12:1-6, Joshua 5:1-12, Luke 15:1-7

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... , friends, music, and dancing. It was a festive time. Does the church have such a party when new members are received? Are we glad when a person is baptized or are we irritated that it adds five minutes to the length of the service? Does your congregation have a reception for the class of new members received into the church? Bother to go to the new member and say how glad you are to have him in church? Maybe you don't have an opportunity to have a party for new members, because you do not receive any. You ...

163. Pentecost As A Festival

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. 2. Pentecost marks the completion of Christ's redemptive work and the fulfillment of his promise to send the Spirit. 3. On Pentecost the church celebrates its birthday. 4. It is a traditional day for the reception of new members, particularly youth by baptism or confirmation. 5. Holy communion may be celebrated on this festival day. 6. Pentecost initiates the second half of the church year. The first half began with Advent and closed with Ascension. Pentecost begins the ...

164. Proper 25

Luke 18:9-14, Joel 2:18-27, Joel 2:28-32, 2 Timothy 3:10--4:8, 2 Timothy 4:9-18

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 28). God gives his spirit to whomever he wills. To receive the Spirit is not an act of the human will. Simon of Acts learned that the Spirit was not for sale. All we can do to get the Spirit is to be always in a state of preparedness and receptivity. 3. All (v. 28). The Spirit shows no partiality. "All" will receive the Spirit regardless of age, sex, or occupation. This means that every person can preach. Can we stand that much preaching or is this just a dream? Epistle: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 1. Sacrificed ...

165. Proper 26

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, Habakkuk 2:2-20, Habakkuk 1:1-4, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... of man came to seek ..." For salvation to become a fact, both parties need to seek. Zacchaeus was open to Jesus, eager to see and know him. Jesus was eager to save a soul. If we would be found of Christ, we need to be curious, open, eager, and receptive to him. 3. Salvation (v. 9). Jesus said that "salvation" came to Zacchaeus and his family. What does "salvation" mean? On the one hand, it means Christ has come into a person or family by a sheer act of grace. It is acceptance on God's part for Jesus' sake ...

166. The More I Understand, The Less I Know

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Johnny Dean

... WHY it works! Late one night, a leader of the synagogue, a learned man, came to visit Jesus. His name was Nicodemus. And he said, "Teacher, we’ve seen you do some pretty impresive things, like turning ice water into Mogen David at that wedding reception. You really ought to be careful about doing things like that. The local wine-makers union registered a complaint about you, and they’re a pretty influential group. Now, I think I understand most of what you’ve been saying in public. But what I want ...

167. Epiphany 9

Luke 7:1-10, Galatians 1:1-10, Psalm 96:1-13, 1 Kings 8:22-61

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... God. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of truth, Christ the truth, Spirit of truth, forgive us if we treat casually the written word handed down to us by the apostles and translators in the church. You have communicated with us in every generation seeking to widen our reception of the larger truth. We can sometimes overvalue our own ideas and not test them with the ideals of Jesus in word and deed. Pardon our passions for novelty and what is pleasant but not true; through Jesus Christ who is our way, our truth, our ...

168. The Spreading Word

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

Marc Kolden

... was a great harvest. Then Jesus ends very abruptly: "Let anyone with ears listen!" Most of us have heard this story before and we know that the seed is the Christian message, the word of God, the gospel. And we know that the seed, the word, gets a different reception from different people: it just bounces off some; it just goes in one ear and out the other with others but doesn't take root; and with still others the word gets choked by all the other things in life in which they are caught up. Yet for some ...

169. Pride: The Deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

R. Curtis Fussell

... them to count others better than themselves because our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, even though he was equal with God in his very being, emptied himself for others, so we could have life. That's the model then -- not to be high and mighty, but to be open and receptive, to be empty so as to allow others to come in, rather than so full of yourself that there's no room for anyone else. A city boy visited his cousin who lived on a farm in the country for the first time. The city boy had never seen wheat ...

170. How Unexpected Can Christmas Be?

Matthew 24:36-51

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... or child. Even in church, we are led to believe if we light a few candles and bring out the greenery we are somehow ready for Christmas. Well, we may be ready for Christmas, or at least what Christmas has become, but that is not the same thing as being receptive to the presence of God living at the center of our lives. But hear this: Outlandish ads and outlet malls do not determine the time or the content or the nature of what is at the heart of this celebration. It is not Christmas until God says it is ...

171. In The Flesh

John 1:1-18

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... that so many churches are experiencing is baffling since we live in a time when there is a desperate need for community. People are less and less concerned about what church name a congregation has, and more and more concerned with finding a supportive, receptive, loving congregation that will welcome and take care of them. There is a lot of debate about various issues, but people who are hurting aren't looking for position statements. They are looking for the Word that gives life and comfort and hope, and ...

172. Bloody Doorposts

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

... to me."1 What would it take? What would it take really to convince a husband that his wife had forgiven him of unfaithfulness? Just a statement? "Hey, it's okay." No, of course not! What it would take to be convinced of her forgiveness is an act that exhibits reception and forgiveness. Perhaps a reaching out of her hand to hold his hand. Perhaps even a command from her, such as, "Come in here and dry the dishes," would be a way to let him know that his place in the home is restored. Some kind of action is ...

173. Epiphany 7

Mt 5:38-48 · 1 Cor 3:10-11, 16-23 · Lev 19:1-2, 9-18 · Ps 119:33-40 · Ps 71 · Ps 62

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... but of maturity or completion. We know that such maturity will never be completely attained this side of eternity. So, are Jesus' teachings above the higher righteousness meant to drive us to despair concerning our spiritual condition so that we might be receptive to his grace? Certainly, "you must be perfect" does not mean that we must attain spiritual maturity before we are accepted by God. You have probably seen the bumper sticker: "Christians are not perfect, just forgiven." How true. Yet, it is this ...

174. Maundy Thursday

Lk 22:14-30 · Jn 13:1-17, 31b-35 · 1 Cor 11:17-32 · Ex 12:1-14 · Ps 116

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... Lord's Supper to instill a spirit of awe and sacredness in the hearts of the rowdy Corinthians. It is this rendition of the Words of Institution that is employed by most churches in their liturgies. Paul concludes by warning against an undiscerning and irreverent reception of the Lord's Supper. Gospel: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 John has no account of the institution of the Lord's Supper. Instead, he recounts another act of Christ's self-giving love, the washing of his disciples' feet, which takes place at the ...

175. Passion Sunday

Mt 26:14–27:66 · Phil 2:5-11 · Is 45:21-25; 50:4-9 · Ps 31

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... In Lent. The suggestion has been that our Lord's Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem be observed right at the beginning of the service, with the Palm Sunday Gospel read from the back of the church, just prior to the procession. Some congregations have confirmation, reception of new members, and other events. On top of that, even the shortened version of the gospel is quite lengthy. Very little time is left for the sermon. The preacher is confronted with the choice of giving an overview of the Lord's passion ...

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