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 1826 to 1850 of 3082 results

1826. Making Sense

John 17:6-19

Sermon

John Jamison

Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with? Everything you read before it makes sense, and everything after it, but that one passage just sits there staring at you, almost defying you to understand why it is there and what it means. We may have that problem with today’s passage from John’s gospel. John is describing the things that happened while Jesus and the disciples were around the table celebrating the Passover seder on the night before he was ...

1827. The Proof is in the Roof

Luke 5:17-26

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…” (Isaiah 61) Prop: Big Box (Bigger the Better) I have here a box. If I were to step inside of it and close it up, not only can’t we see each other, but my life will become very limited and very narrow. And yet, this is the way many of us live our lives today –closed off, ...

1828. Via Maris

Luke 4:14-30, Matthew 4:12-17, Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:23-25

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future, he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy.” Isaiah 9:1-3 In Jesus’ time, trade routes meant a huge deal to people in the ancient world. ...

1829. Now, It's Personal

Matthew 5:21-37

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

Thirty years ago I was serving on the staff of a large church as the minister of Christian Education and Youth Ministry. The Education Commission and the Youth Council were made up, mostly of parents who worked with me on the programs for youth and children — Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, those kinds of things. One year, for Vacation Bible School, we decided to set up a large tent — a really large one under which you could seat 100 or more people — on the parking lot and use it for our opening ...

1830. Welcome, Joe!

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome to worship this morning. I’m glad to see you here. And I’d like to offer a special welcome to all our Joes in the congregation this morning, since March 27 is officially “National Joe Day.” I’m not kidding. I don’t know who decides these things, like National Goof Off Day (March 22) or National Waffle Day (March 25), but March 27 is designated as National Joe Day. It’s a day for celebrating anyone with the name Joe. In fact, the founder of National Joe Day invites all people to change their name to ...

1831. Easter Makes Us One!

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

What Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in 1963 is still true today. He stated, “We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers [and sisters].” Dr. King is still correct. The Trump election made clear our attitudes towards Muslim immigrants. A Detroit News poll conducted over a decade ago (in 2007) is still relevant. It found that nearly half of the local white population preferred to live in an all-white neighborhood. The ...

1832. The Lonely Prophet

1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a

Sermon

King Duncan

One of the great concepts that has come out of the sobriety movement and organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous is the acronym HALT—H. A. L. T. The word, of course, literally means “to stop.” But in sobriety circles, the acronym HALT serves as a reminder to be careful how you react when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. Researchers have found that, for someone with addiction issues, these four states leave you particularly vulnerable to temptation. They suggest that, before you take a drink or pop a ...

1833. Rejoice: Hints Of Heaven Are Here On Earth!

Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Heaven: Have you ever wondered what it’s like? The majority of Americans (72% of us in 2014) believe in heaven, according to a Pew Research poll. Our second lesson from the book of Revelation has some insightful, comforting and refreshing clues. They will shatter our misconceptions as well. What do you think of heaven? It does not seem to be a very exciting or fun place to be, does it? Oh it seems like a nice place. What could be better than to live in the presence of God? But on the whole, it seems like ...

1834. The Inverting Promise

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 · Genesis 25:21-34

Sermon

Will Willimon

We're at the beginning of a new school year. And here, at the beginning, I plan to preach a series of sermons from Genesis, the first Bible book, whose title means "the beginning." Such a series is risky at the beginning. For one thing, if you don't like the first sermon in the series, will you return for more? When I was a child, our preacher announced a series of sermons on The Lord's Prayer. First week his text was "Our." Next week it was "Father." Then "Who Art." On and on. By the fifteenth sermon in ...

1835. “The Words of the Lord Are Flawless, Like Silver Purified in a Crucible”

Psalm 12:1-8

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: In a society where lies and falsehood constitute the “ethical norm,” God’s flawless words reset the standard and are of a seamless piece with God’s character. Understanding the Text Psalm 12 has features of an individual lament (12:1–2), the cause of the lament clearly being the depletion of the righteous and the occupation of society by liars and deceivers. Psalm 12 fills out the picture of the scenario outlined in Psalm 11: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” ...

1836. The Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:2-35

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

From Persia to Greece (11:2-20): Big Idea: Often working behind the scenes, God foresees and oversees the struggles of his people with hostile world forces. Understanding the Text See the unit on 10:1–11:1 for a discussion of the larger context, structure, and comparisons of chapters 10–12. Against this backdrop, 11:2–20 (the extended unit’s second section) divides into two parts: a summary of the transition from Persia to Greece (11:2–4) and a description of key events in the Ptolemaic and Seleucid wars ( ...

1837. Advocating For Whom?

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Sermon

David Coffin

In March of 2019, a New Hampshire lunch cafeteria worker was fired for giving a high school student an $8.00 meal because there was no money left in his account. She saw the student’s lunch account was empty as he went through the line and allowed him to keep his food. She also asked him to have his mother add money to the account. The next day, the mother paid his lunch bill. However, the cafeteria manager who witnessed her act of leniency fired her. This quiet hero might be an advocate for students, as ...

1838. Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring

Haggai 2:20-23

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

December: More than two more months have passed; the day of the final prophecies by Haggai that are recorded, the 24th day of the ninth month (December) is exactly three months from the day when people began the work on the temple, on the 24th day of the sixth month (September, Hag. 1:15). The festival of Hanukkah, commemorating the rededication of the temple after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes, was subsequently set to begin on the day after this, on the 25th day of the ninth month (December), ...

1839. Prophet Without Honor

Mark 6:1-13

Sermon

David Coffin

Imagine a high school student who was struggling with his math homework. His father was in a high-tech machine occupation in which he worked with much complicated math. He sat down at the table to help the student with the math homework. Unfortunately, the father was not a good instructor because he lacked patience in trying to help the student out who was not too savvy with numbers and figures. The child could not relate to his father as an instructor or teacher. He was the dad who worked around the house ...

1840. Baptized in Water

Mark 10:35-45, Psalm 104:1-35

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

For the past month in our gospel readings, Jesus has been making his way to Jerusalem. He has been preparing his disciples for what awaited him there. They have rebuked him, been afraid to ask what he meant, and squabbled over who would have positions of leadership in his movement after he left them. Mixed in with his instruction and preparation to his disciples are stories of Jesus healing people seized with demons, disputing with the Pharisees, and lifting up the needs of children and “little ones,” ...

1841. For Someone Who Spread Good Cheer

2 Corinthians 4:6-11 · Matthew 5:13-16 · Matthew 25:31-46 · Romans 14:7-9

Eulogy

Richard E. Zajac

Saints [Tell of the many ways they brightened someone’s day, tell of how they were the ‘sunshine’ of many a life.] There was a little boy who came to church with his mom. While she was lighting candles and attempting to pray the stations of the cross, he was doing what little kids do in church, he was running around examining just about everything. After a while, she called for him and he didn’t answer. She looked around and saw that he was in the sanctuary looking at the stained-glass windows. The sun was ...

1842. Return To God

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

One Sunday morning, a teenage boy was awakened by his father. He followed his dad through the living room to look out the front window. His dad showed him that their trees were covered with toilet paper. In those days teenagers liked to "tee-pee" each other's houses. That meant wrapping toilet paper around trees and bushes as well as the house. The boy's parents never cared if they got "tee-peed." They just had a standing rule that whichever of their children's friends did it, that would be the one that ...

1843. No Box Seats In The Kingdom

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

William G. Carter

Historically speaking, the church has usually painted a pretty picture of the twelve original disciples of Jesus. All except Judas have been considered saints. Pious people have named churches after them, often referring to the first disciples as the rocks upon which Christ has built his church. Yet anybody who hears the Gospel of Mark's stories about the disciples gets a different picture of who they were and what they wanted. Sure, the disciples walked the road with Jesus. They listened as he taught. ...

1844. When Wisdom Cries Out

Proverbs 8:1-36

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

This text of Proverbs, attributed to Solomon but most probably written by sages, teachers, and bureaucrats of the intellectual elite of Israel and Judah, reflects an urgent cry for wisdom throughout the land. The people are in need of wisdom, and wisdom is in search of people who will practice its virtues and extol forever the higher principles of courage, justice, righteousness, and truth. The absence of wisdom is folly. The beginning of wisdom is the fear and respect of God. Where then is wisdom? Where ...

1845. Play The Fool

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Sermon

Richard Hasler

We all know that freshmen are first-year students in high school or in college. Juniors are in their next to last year, and seniors are in the last year of their course work. But what about sophomores? This term is not as self-evident as the other three. As Edward Hays reminds us, "The name is a combination of two Greek words meaning 'wise fools.' "1 Parents and teachers may identify with such a definition. In this Epiphany season when we are stretching our imagination to fathom the universality of the ...

1846. Proper 5

Luke 7:11-17

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note In an account that both echoes and parallels that of Elijah's miracle in the First Lesson (1 Kings 17:17-24), Luke is apparently drawing attention to Jesus' role as prophet and connecting him to old Testament prophetic tradition. Here as there, however, the point is not merely to raise or reinforce the status of the one in that position, but to show the presence and power of God at work in him and his activity. The response of the people (v. 16), after all, is to glorify God. Liturgical Color ...

1847. Essential Personnel!

Matthew 4:18-22

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

In some parts of the country it doesn't matter, but in many areas the snow which falls during this time of the year can bring things to a decisive halt. Schools close. Events are canceled. Travel becomes tricky. If the conditions become severe enough, the decision may be made that not everybody should try to get to work. Only those who are absolutely necessary should report. For those occasions we have coined an interesting phrase to describe these people upon whom we depend so much. This phrase sends some ...

1848. The Easter Season

Mt 28:1-8 · Mk 16:1-8 · Lk 24:1-10 · Jn 20:1-9

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

The Development Of The Season The resurrection of Jesus Christ is, of course, the focal point of the Christian faith. In the primitive church there was no special day singled out to celebrate the Lord's resurrection. Every Sunday was a mini-celebration of the Lord's victory. Since the resurrection occurred around the same time as the Jewish Passover, early Christians referred to the church's chief festival as the Pasca, the Greek word for the Passover. Jesus became the Passover Lamb who frees us from the ...

1849. Proper 20

Philippians 1:12-30, Jonah 4:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13, Exodus 16:1-36, Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The grace of God. Isaiah 55 calls on the people to turn to God for mercy and forgiveness. The Second Lesson has Paul commending the Philippians to the grace of God from his prison cell. The Gospel parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard teaches us that God rewards us not according to our deserving but according to his generosity. COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 16:2-15 In the hardships of the wilderness, the people complain to Moses. They protest about the lack of food, as they remember the ...

1850. Lent 5

John 12:20-36, Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: The heart of Jesus was broken in death so that he might create within us a new heart. In the First Lesson the new heart is promised. In the Second Lesson, Jesus poured out his heart of suffering to the Father. In the Gospel Jesus promises that he will unite our hearts through the cross (draw all people to himself (v. 32). COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Written after the destruction of the nation by the Babylonians, the prophet promised that God will establish a new covenant with both ...

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