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 1801 to 1825 of 2669 results

1801. Believe

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... story of Jesus’ birth, it’s all about Joseph. Joseph struggles. Joseph dreams. Joseph obeys. Would there be a Christmas story today without the loyal, devout, compassionate Joseph doing his part? You can ponder that, but of this I am certain that Joseph found some deep beliefs that I need in my life to carry me through the days of my living. I. I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS CLOSER THAN WE THINK. “And they will call him Immanuel—which means God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). Several years ago, artist Bette ...

1802. The Church As Family

Matthew 12:46-50

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... was less clear. Because of this Sunday mealtime ritual, no one had to tell me what it meant to be part of the family. No one had to explain to me that I belonged or that I was loved. I never needed formal instruction in orthodox belief or behavior. I learned all that at my Grandmother’s dinner table. At the table we were initiated, nurtured, and claimed into the family. There we participated in common memory, fellowship and identity. There at the table we found our place, our name, our story. The Church ...

1803. The Dynamics of Being a Dad

Ephesians 6:1-4, Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... in jail?” By contrast, I think of Ron Reagan standing in a California sunset saying goodbye to his father—a president who confessed his faith in Christ at age 12 and continued to live in that hope for a lifetime, a man who never hesitated to share his belief in God’s unerring plan and without using religion for political advantage, managed to introduce his own son to Jesus Christ. The best way to be honored is to live honorably. That applies to us all. When we miss the mark, the next best thing we can ...

1804. The Lord's Unanswered Prayer

John 17:20-23

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... , I gave them. So they'll be as unified and together as we are—I in them and you in me." If that sounds like Greek, that's what it is. Jews, Muslims, and Christians are all monotheistic religions. We believe in one God. When Jews express their belief they say, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one," and the first commandment of the Judeo-Christian tradition is “You shall have no other god's before me." Jews are monotheistic. When Muslims express their faith they say, “Truly our God is ...

1805. What Can Christians Learn from Hindus?

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... but the wise call it by many names." “So you do believe in one God?" I ask again. He replies, “Well, maybe so, or maybe not. Come let me show you the images that inhabit our temple." Our Understanding of God Westerners who embrace a pluralistic belief that all paths are equally valid routes to God are attracted to Hinduism. There are about 837 million Hindus in the world, about a million of them in the United States. In a world where religions compete and even fight with one another, there is something ...

1806. David: The Problem of Family

2 Samuel 18:28-33

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... up that makes Bill Clinton look saintly by comparison, David has Uriah killed in battle. Many of David's problems were his own darn fault. Robert Burney says dysfunctional families are the product of an emotionally dishonest, shame-based patriarchal society based on beliefs that do not support loving yourself and others. Whatever the diagnosis, David had problems with his kids. His son, Amnon, rapes his half-sister, Tamar. Absalom leads a civil war against his father. That's the little excerpt we read today ...

1807. From Greed to Generosity

Mark 10:17-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... a check in the mail tomorrow. Why not have your mansion here below as well as up above. Religion is about faith, not fiction. It's not about getting what you and I want, it's about doing what God wants. Greed sneaks its way right into our belief system. The only antidote I know for greed is generosity. B. AN INVITATION TO GENEROSITY Transformation starts with a desire for something more. Verse 17: As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what ...

1808. The Power to Be Saved

Acts 4:5-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... . Has that happened to you? Do you know what that is like—to have some wonderful religious experience somewhere and then have to work it out in the nitty-gritty and routines? John Wesley lived and preached the doctrine of Christian Assurance. He based his belief on Romans 8:16. “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." Assurance is an inward consciousness of God's acceptance that brings peace and calm to our lives. Assurance is not a feeling; it's a faith that ...

1809. Be Silent

Luke 1:11-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... how's it going to happen. Sometimes things are so unexpected, so out of this world, so good that “we just don't know what to say." Have you ever felt that way? The greatest temptation is to start explaining, questioning. Since Zechariah was struggling with his own belief, God decided it would be better for him to be thought a fool than to have him speak up and remove all doubt. So Zechariah “stop your babbling about how, when, why, are you sure, I don't understand." Go home and be quiet. You can't even ...

1810. The Loving Friend

John 4:1-15

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... is Robert Frost. Of all his writings, my favorite is “Mending Wall." It's the story of two New England farmers who go out each spring to mend the rock fences that have fallen down over the winter. They do it every spring, under the belief that “good fences make good neighbors." But this particular spring, one farmer is beginning to question that long held assumption. As they work their respective sides of the fence, wearing their fingers raw with the rocks, he begins to reason. “He is all pine and ...

1811. Loving Our Enemies, Christian or Crazy?

Matthew 5:43-47

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... width of neighborliness. What Jews struggle to understand and Eastern religions long to believe, Jesus commanded. The pinnacle of all Christian values lies here. Was Jesus an impractical idealist or practical realist? Well, you can decide. But never forget that Jesus dared to live his beliefs. If I long in any way to follow this value of Jesus, there are some questions that come to mind about this high and lofty ideal of life. I would like to discuss some of them with you today. I. Who Are Our Enemies? For ...

1812. Hot Air or the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... control of people, the world would know. If the Holy Spirit got hold of this church, God knows what might happen. It's not the latest gimmick, it's not the latest idea, it's the power of God through the Holy Spirit that moves people to belief. I suspect when we start speaking to the real spiritual needs of people, that people will listen. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is communication. III. WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE ARE CONVERSIONS. Those who accepted the message were baptized, and ...

1813. Fanning the Flames of Family

Ephesians 5:8-10

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... grow up into Christ." Sociologist George Barna regularly studies the religious habits of Americans these days. Some of his findings are revealing. Eighty-five percent of parents of children under thirteen believe they have primary responsibility for teaching their children about religious beliefs and spiritual matters. But very few have a plan for the spiritual development for their children, do not consider it a priority, and have little or no training in how to nurture a child's faith. Two-thirds of these ...

1814. You Do Have a Prayer - Sermon Opener

Luke 11:1-13

Illustration

James W. Moore

Some years ago, when Leonard Griffith was pastor of the famous City Temple in London, he wrote a fascinating book entitled Barriers to Christian Belief. In that book he dealt with some problems that have over the years been real obstacles and stumbling blocks for people in their faith pilgrimage… specific problems that hinder people, that burden people, that disturb people… and keep them away from the Christian faith. One of the barriers he listed ...

1815. Leaping Where You Cannot Look

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... not last long. But no one has challenged his deep faith or his commitment to seeking to serve God as best as he is able. Wasn’t he afraid during those days when he challenged his government? Walesa himself answered that question like this: “Deep religious belief . . . eliminates fear.” (1) Please do not misunderstand. Walesa is not a perfect man. He is simply a man of faith. He simply sought to serve God. Abraham was not a perfect man. Go back and read his story in the early pages of the Bible. But ...

1816. A Revolution in Seven Verses

Luke 13:10-17

Illustration

Mickey Anders

... with equal standing before God. 5. He heals on the Sabbath, the holy day. In doing this he demonstrates God's compassion for people over ceremony, and reclaims the Sabbath for the celebration of God's liberal goodness. 6. Last, and not least, he challenges the ancient belief that her illness is a direct punishment from God for sin. He asserts that she is ill, not because God willed it, but because there is evil in the world. (In other words, bad things happen to good people.) And Jesus did all this in a few ...

1817. A God Who Suffers with Us

John 9:1-41

Sermon

Lee Griess

... of God would do that? Why would the disciples think that way? And yet as shocking as it sounds, many people view God in precisely those terms. The ancient Jews dealt with illness and suffering much differently than we do. In fact, it was common belief that illness and especially physical deformity were evidence of sinfulness and so upon seeing the blind man, the disciples naturally asked, "Who brought this suffering upon him? Was it something his parents had done that caused God to do this? Or did the man ...

1818. Hope to Carry On

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Lee Griess

... city in Romania, which has a "burying ground" that is called "The Merry Cemetery." The crosses that serve as tombstones are decorated with carvings, paintings in bright colors, and even amusing epitaphs. They express, of course, the Christian belief in the resurrection. However, the former Communist government which wrote the travel folders describing this cemetery and its unique tombstones, until recently, described that Christian hope expressed on the tombstones as merely "the expression of a certain ...

1819. Sick People Like Us Will Always Need The (Divine) Doctor

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

... 1. For more details on tax collectors in the Roman Empire, see Eduard Schweizer, The Good News According to Mark, trans. Donald H. Madvig (Richmond, Virginia: John Knox Press, 1970), p. 65. 2. New York Times magazine, 7 May 2000; Barna Research Online, "Beliefs: Salvation" 2005, at www.barna.org. 3. Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002), pp. 179 ff. 4. John Calvin, Commentary On a Harmony of The Evangelists, Mathew, Mark, and Luke (1555 ...

1820. Hunger and Politics

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... far away from the town that shaped him, and mostly at odds with his family. There was good reason for his mother to chide and nag and scold, for my friend had lost his faith, and his parents were worried. But the more they pushed the certainty of their beliefs on him, the more he chafed and backed away. He could no longer live in the simplicity of their dogma, even if it gave them shelter and safety. So now he wandered in the wilderness of academia, hoping in each class to find a glorious utopia or a grand ...

1821. Testing, Testing

Matthew 22:34-46

Sermon

Chris Ewing

... ? To fully develop the capacities God gave me to use in this world, or to sacrifice my desires to the needs of others? As a Christian am I primarily supposed to care for and be kind to others, or am I primarily supposed to stand up for my beliefs and the Lordship of Jesus Christ? How does this religion I've inherited work? Test ... test.... And you know what? Jesus doesn't condemn the Pharisees for asking the question. In fact, he seems to welcome the debate, because after he answers this question he turns ...

1822. Ready for God’s Reign

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Chris Ewing

... concerned with respecting the earth and its ecosystems, and with reducing the size of my ecological footprint: by leaving the car at home when possible, by turning down my thermostat a few degrees, by minimizing my use of harmful chemicals, and so on. My belief in God as creator has some practical implications! Similarly, if I believe that God demands justice in all human dealings, then I will not be content to seek bargains on my clothes or demand the cheapest possible food, because to do so is to demand ...

1823. From “Uh-oh” To “Ah-hah!” — An Axe, A Stump, And A Shoot

Isaiah 11:1-10

Sermon

Tony Everett

... God's glorious vision of promise to a people trapped in the midst of a frightening, terrible mess. Political corruption and moral depravity were common. Religious leadership was weak, and business was conducted dishonestly. Pride and arrogance characterized a false belief that God would protect the people no matter how flagrantly they sinned against God. Elders and government dignitaries wrote laws to oppress the poor and needy (Isaiah 10:1-2). Prophets taught lies. The people were left in confusion (Isaiah ...

1824. Why Did You Bring Us Out of Egypt?

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... . They, like us, are imperfect people in search of a perfect wonder. You see, stepping into the waters of trust and openness does not in any way ensure that we will be unmolested in this life. It is a lot like faith. In fact, it involves faith. Our belief in God and our trust in God's word through Jesus Christ doesn't constitute an insurance policy against the vagaries of this life. I believe in God. I love the teachings of Jesus. When my mother was diagnosed with leukemia, my faith did not halt her illness ...

1825. Converting to Christianity

Acts 2:14, 36-41

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

... a finger? We have pretty much abandoned the idea that we are all sinful as well, and in its place we tried to plant the pop-psychological notion that we're all in good shape. No judgment, no real boundaries, and finally, no real clarity about belief. When conservative folk in the church charge liberals with shallow theology, friends, they have a point. Now, before the mob attacks, let me say that there is good reason to withhold judgment concerning others. I think it was Jesus who told us to take the log ...

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