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 4456 results

1801. Proper 8

Luke 9:57-62, Galatians 5:16-26, 2 Kings 2:1-18, Luke 9:51-56

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 Elisha succeeds Elijah as prophet of Israel. Elisha was a faithful and devout disciple of Elijah. So loyal was he that he would not let Elijah out of his sight. Knowing that he was soon going to depart this world, Elijah asked Elisha what he could give him. Wisely Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit. This was granted to Elisha, for when Elisha took Elijah's mantle, he used it to separate the waters of Jordan. The power and authority of Elijah's ...

1802. Good Neighbors

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

King Duncan

During his sermon, a pastor quoted Jesus, "Love your neighbor as yourself." To emphasize the point, he asked three times, with increasing intensity: "Who is my neighbor? Who is my neighbor? Who is my neighbor?!" Each time he asked this, a young boy in the congregation answered quietly: "Mister Rogers! Mister Rogers! Mister Rogers!" (1) Fred Rogers of children's television fame was a good neighbor. But the lawyer's question to Jesus is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. Who is our neighbor? ...

1803. Like A Big Happy Family

1 Peter 3:8-22

Sermon

King Duncan

It was just after Ben Franklin's kite flying days. Some Frenchmen were experimenting with electricity. They wanted to know how fast it moves. The Abbot of a large monastery volunteered his monks for the experiment. The monks had taken a vow of obedience so they had no choice. They lined up a thousand of the monks, each holding the hand of those next to him. Then the electric current was applied to the first man in line, and according to an account of this experiment, every one of those 1,000 monks jumped ...

1804. Welcoming God Into Our Homes

Revelation 21:1-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

A Sunday School teacher asked her students where God lived. After the usual answers of heaven and in my heart, Bobby spoke up and said, “God lives in the bathroom at our house!” “Why the bathroom?” inquired the teacher. “I don’t know,” replied Bobby. “I only know that my Dad gets up every morning and beats on the bathroom door where my sister is taking forever to get ready for school and exclaims, ‘My God, are you still in there?’ God lives in the bathroom at our house.” Where does God live at your house? ...

1805. Death Shall Be No More

John 13:31-35 · Revelation 21:1-6

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

Every once in a while something happens that totally shifts the landscape of our perceptions. Every once in a while something profound takes place that makes all our old discussions and ways of understanding move to a new location. Examples abound in history. Life after Mr. Watt’s steam engine was different forever. The invention of the assembly line catapulted us into an economic world that, for good and ill, shapes our lives even in this moment. Even in the polarized climate in our nation today, we can ...

1806. Prayers for Epiphany

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

Epiphany We wonder, our heavenly Ruler, about the three wise men who brought gifts of frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child, some months or years after his birth. What a presence they must have made in Bethlehem. Did the commonplace appearance of the Holy Family's home cause them to think they might have come to the wrong place? Did they wonder about the plainness of the friends of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus? Perhaps they stepped outside their abode to recheck the position of the guiding star. Did these ...

1807. Proper 9

Genesis 24:1-67, Romans 8:1-17, Romans 7:7-25, Zechariah 9:9-13, Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Freedom from oppression. In the First Lesson (Zechariah 9:9-12), it is freedom from political oppression. In the Second Lesson, it is freedom from our sinful human nature and in the Gospel, we are offered freedom from the oppression of the law and of man-made religious regulations. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 (C) In his old age, Abraham sends his trusted servant back from the land of his origin to secure a wife for his son, Isaac, from his own people. He discovers Rebekah, ...

1808. No Fifth Wheels in God’s Economy

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

ALAN RODDA, currently president of Ridgewood Holding Company in San Jose, California, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who at the time of delivering No Fifth Wheels in God’s Economy was Senior Pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene in Portland, Oregon. His particular tradition is quite explicit in affirming the Bible as the revelation of the divine word and affords the pastor great authority and responsibility as the interpreter of that word. Rodda speaks within this context to his normal Sunday ...

1809. The Uniquely Christian Commandment

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Maundy Thursday is a strange term. One night when daughter, Erin (the one to whom this volume is dedicated), was little, my wife was trying to tell her about Maundy Thursday. Erin said, "Monday Thursday." "No," said Christie, "Maundy Thursday." "Right," responded Erin, "Monday Thursday." Christie gave up. The designation "Maundy Thursday" comes from an ancient Latin anthem traditionally sung at the commemoration of the Last Supper, "Mandatum Novum Do Vobis," which means, "I give you a new commandment," ...

1810. The Knot: Bound

Genesis 2:4-25

Sermon

James Merritt

Do you ever wonder how a pastor determines what he is going to preach on each week—or each year? Sometimes it’s difficult, but other times there is a clear, strong call from God on a specific area of teaching. In this case, the area of marriage has for me been a clear, strong call from God in terms of teaching for this time in the life of our church. The reason is very simple. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear of someone having trouble in their marriage, both in our church and outside our church. It ...

1811. Heaven

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Will Willimon

This summer I received a long email from a student who was in the wilds of Montana. To pass the time, he began reading Augustine's Confessions. He sent me this long list of questions about his reading of Augustine. Why did Augustine appear to be so troubled by sex? Isn't sex good? What was the deal with the stolen pears? Had he not an odd relationship with his mother? I suggested, in my reply, that he not bog down in the details, rather, that he read the Confessions as one might read a love story. ...

1812. The Forgiven and the Forgiving

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

The miracle of Christ is that strange power that enables me to know that I have been forgiven and, therefore, by grace to possess in my own life the strange and wonderful capability of forgiving others. We want justice. No, we don’t! We want mercy. I have done things in my life that I cannot now straighten out. I need mercy. I need forgiveness. I am caught. There is no hope. I have done so much that I cannot un-do. Woe is me. I’ve had it! I can love, and care, and maybe God will love and care for me, so ...

1813. Tevye's Question

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Many of you are familiar with the Broadway musical, Fiddler On The Roof. It is a touching story about a deeply devout middle-aged Jewish man named Tevye and his wife Golde (pronounced Golda). They live in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Their lives are hard, but filled with devotion. A complicating factor in their lives is that they have all daughters. Finding proper matches for their daughters is a major theme in the musical. This is in a community in which marriages are arranged by the ...

1814. It Is Good News!

1 John 4:7-21

Sermon

James McCormick

Recently we observed the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight in an airplane. 100 years ago, when news of the flight began to spread, a disbelieving cynic said, “I don’t believe it. Nobody’s ever going to fly. But if they do, it won’t be anybody from Dayton, Ohio!” We do tend to be skeptical about good news, don’t we, and particularly so when the alleged good news comes from an unlikely source. 100 years ago it was difficult enough to believe that people could fly. But surely, if such a ...

1815. Promises to Keep

Hebrews 8:1-13

Sermon

James McCormick

Do you know the name Tom Dooley? Not the folk song Tom Dooley, but Dr. Tom Dooley? You need to know his story, because Dr. Tom Dooley was a Twentieth Century saint. While serving in the Navy, he saw the physical suffering of the people of Southeast Asia - so much illness and suffering, so few doctors to deal with it. When his tour of duty was over, he resigned his commission and went to Indochina, now Laos, to serve as a medical missionary. There he poured out his life on behalf of the people. He saw ...

1816. Freedom In Christ

Galatians 5:1-15, Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

Paul’s Direct Warning: To Become Circumcised Is to Be Divorced from Christ 5:2 Now Paul turns up the heat with a direct address—Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you. No longer using Scripture, Paul states forthrightly: if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. The options are clearly laid out: either circumcision without Christ or Christ without circumcision. While Paul has referred to the “circumcision group” (2:12) as those who are opposed to the “truth of the gospel” ...

1817. Proper 12

1 Kings 3:1-15, Matthew 13:47-52, Matthew 13:44-46, Genesis 29:15-30

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Genesis 29:15-28 (C) Jacob's uncle, Laban, tricks him into working fourteen years to marry Rachel. Jacob arrived at Haran and met Rachel, a daughter of Laban, at a watering place for sheep. Because of his love for Rachel, he offered to work seven years without wages for the hand of Rachel. On the wedding night Jacob learned he was tricked. Upon a promise to work another seven years, Jacob took Rachel for his second wife. Lesson 1: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 (RC); 1 Kings 3:5-12 (E) Solomon asks ...

1818. What Will We Do When He Is Gone?

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

John Dickinson understood the importance of being attentive to details. As an elected leader of his local congregation John insisted every decision of the church board follow proper procedure. As the in-house attorney for a small insurance company in a mid-western city, he paid close attention to every word in every corporate contract and insurance policy. John believed that there was a right and a wrong way to do everything. Consequently, he insisted that everything be done “decently and in good order.” ...

1819. Proper 25

Exodus 22:16-31, Leviticus 19:1-37, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Matthew 22:34-46, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; 2:1-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Loving God and the neighbor. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Moses goes to the top of Mount Nebo in the land of Moab, where God shows him the promised land. Then he dies and God himself buries him. Joshua inherits the spirit of Moses and the mantel of leadership. He will bring the people into the fulfillment of God's promise. The Deuteronomist summarizes the life of Moses by commenting that there has never since been such a prophet who knew God face to face. Old Testament: Exodus 22:21 ...

1820. Adoption Into God's Family

1 Peter 3:8-22

Sermon

Mark J. Molldrem

Any parent who has adopted a child knows the joy of bringing a new member into the family. There is joy in the heart of our Heavenly Father when someone is baptized into his family. Baptism is like adoption. There are many children orphaned from the love of a family. Teenage pregnancies, unwanted children, unfit parents who abuse or desert their children, even unexpected death: These tragedies leave many children orphaned from the love of a family. Thank God there are people who want to be parents and for ...

1821. A Faith That Burns

Luke 12:49-53

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

"Conflict" is a dirty word in most churches. As Christians, we seek to avoid it at all costs and do so in the name of Christian love. We call it, "seeking the peace, unity and purity" of the church. And then Jesus comes along and says, "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34)," or as Luke has it, "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!" The words send us scurrying for explanations to reduce their caustic effect. But who is this whose words intrude ...

1822. To Bethlehem and Beyond

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Leonard Mann

The Christian gospel began at Bethlehem one star-kissed night when a baby was born, and angels sang, and shepherds came - when the heavenly Father was so loving the world that he was giving his Son. To most of us the outward signals of the Bethlehem Event are rather well known. We know how shepherds received from heavenly messengers the announcement of the birth of Jesus, and how they said, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened." We know how, having made their journey there, those ...

1823. No Holding Back

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Familiar words. "Heart...soul...mind...strength...your neighbor as yourself." We learned them as the GREAT COMMANDMENT. All others pale in their light. We agree, of course. "Love the Lord your God with all your HEART." Not the blood-pumping heart, the "heart" that, from ancient times has been considered the seat of our emotions. Two weeks ago I had the privilege of preaching for our neighbors at the Church of God of Prophecy - it was an exciting service of worship because those Pentecostals really do get ...

1824. When Extravagance Is Beautiful, and When It Is Not

John 12:1-8

Sermon

James W. Moore

You probably heard about this – it was in all the papers; it was in radio and television news reports; it was a “hot topic” on the call-in-talk shows. A minister in North Carolina had members of his church voted out of the church because they had voted for a Presidential Candidate different from the one he voted for and supported. In October last year (2004) he preached a sermon in which he told the congregation who he was supporting for President of the United States… and he said that if any of them were ...

1825. Faithquest: Directions For The Journey Of Life

1 John 3:16-24

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Alice Steinbach in an issue of the Baltimore Sun writes: "It begins one night in early September. While watching TV, you decide to pop some corn, so you go into your kitchen to dig out the old popcorn machine. It's nowhere to be found. Then, a week or so later, you feel a chill in the air and decide it's time to get out the portable space heater. But after an hour or two of searching, you turn up nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Over the next two weeks, you search for and fail to find such items as your hair ...

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