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 1901 to 1925 of 3082 results

1901. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

There is considerable debate surrounding this week's gospel text - the rich man and Lazarus. Scholars point out this story's similarity to other Egyptian and Jewish stories. A well-known Egyptian "version" is that of Si-Osiris, the son of Setme Chamois. A young boy, who also happens to be a very wise, reincarnated soul, proves to his father that a shocking reversal of fortunes may await him in the afterlife. Having the distinct advantage of supernatural powers, Si-Osiris is able to take his father on a " ...

1902. Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The gospel text from Mark this week includes two separate pericopes that are interwoven in a typically Markan manner. This technique, known as "intercalation," is found throughout Mark's gospel. As many as nine of these insertions have been tallied, including 3:19b-35; 4:1-20; 5:21-43; 6:7-29; 11:12-19; 14:1-11; 14:17-31; 14:53-72; 15:40-16:8. Scholars do not fully agree on Mark's motive behind his method. The Markan practice of beginning one story, breaking off from it to introduce a second complete and ...

1903. Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

With very few exceptions (e.g., 12:28-34), Jesus generally had a prickly relationship with "scribes" in Mark (see 3:22-30; 7:1-5; 11:18, 27f.; 12:12). Thus it is not too surprising to find Jesus using scribes as glass-case exhibits of ignorant behaviors and arrogant attitudes. Jesus begins by attacking the popular style of scribal dress, a fairly easy target. A successful first-century scribe wore a long linen robe with a long white mantle decorated with beautiful long fringes. White robes identified the ...

1904. Revelation 7:9-17

Revelation 7:9-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The odd images and vivid visions that combine to make up the book of Revelation's three-tiered proclamation of judgments (using seals, trumpets and bowls) have made it a love-hate favorite. Depending upon one's denominational heritage, psychological disposition, and dispensational worldview, the book of Revelation has been used as a window to view the future, a rearview mirror for fatalistic excuses and explanations, or a mirror when immersed in personal turmoil and/or social tribulation. Within the old ...

1905. Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This text contains on the face of it one of the most difficult and embarrassing sayings in Scripture, offering an exegetical conundrum which challenges even the ablest of interpreters: "Make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes" (v. 9). The fourth-century Roman emperor Julian the Apostate and others cited this text in an attempt to discredit Christianity as a religion of scoundrels. Marxist interpreters have seen in this ...

1906. Easter 6

Acts 10:23b-48, 1 John 4:1-6, John 15:1-17, 1 John 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 10:44-48 These verses constitute the conclusion of a Roman centurion's request to hear the gospel, Peter's converting vision and a gospel sermon. The result was the reception of the Spirit manifested by glossalalia in praising God and baptism. It marked a new dimension for the church, from Jew to Gentile, from sectarianism to universalism. Through this experience the kingdom was opened to all humans and for the first time Gentiles received the Spirit and were baptized into Christ. ...

1907. When the Bills Come Due

1 Timothy 6:6-10

Sermon

James Merritt

Our Extreme Home Makeover is going according to plan, but there is one little matter we have not yet discussed. How are we going to finance the project? When the bills come due, can we finance this project without going into bankruptcy? The answer to that question is very easy. It all depends on whether or not we have managed our money properly. That is exactly what we are going to be talking about today - managing money. How many of you feel like the former pro golfer from Georgia, Doug Sanders, who said ...

1908. A Voice in the Wilderness

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

King Duncan

I want to give you a memory test. How many of you remember these chilling words? “This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. The broadcasters of your area in voluntary cooperation with the FCC and federal, state and local authorities have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to tune to one of the broadcast stations in your area.” It’s been ten years since the Emergency Broadcast System broadcast ...

1909. The Word that Changed the World

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome on this first Sunday of the New Year. I won’t ask you to raise your hand if you are still keeping the resolutions you made 2 days ago. Andy Simmons, the Senior Editor for Readers Digest says that he keeps all of his New Year’s resolutions, every single one. How does he do it? Quite simple, really. After years of introspection he says he has developed a healthy understanding of what he can and cannot do. Therefore, he keeps his resolutions realistic. For example, a few years ago he resolved to gain ...

1910. LOST? Finding Meaning

Genesis 1:1-5, John 1:1-5

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I heard a comedian the other day ask: "What if the Hokey Pokey IS what's it all about." Someone saw this sign on a subway wall: "Life is one contradiction after another." Underneath it someone else had scribbled: "No it's not." And on a bulletin board someone found this cryptic message: "This life is a test. It is only a test. Had it been an actual life You would have received Further instructions on Where to go and what to do!" In Douglas Adams Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a hyper-intelligent race ...

1911. Sons of God

Galatians 3:26--4:7

Sermon

King Duncan

On Mother’s day we listed nine things a mother will never say. Today on this Father’s Day we list “Ten Things Dad Will Never Say.” See how your Dad would do: 10. Well, how about that! I’m lost. Looks like we’ll have to stop and ask for directions. 9. You know, pumpkin. Now that you’re thirteen, you’ll be ready for unchaperoned car dates. Won’t that be fun? 8. I noticed that all your friends have a certain negative attitude. I like that! 7. Here’s a credit card and the keys to my new car. Go crazy! 6. What ...

1912. Climbing the Right Ladder

Genesis 28:10-19a

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

How do you define success? I would like to talk about that today. Robert Raines says, “Success is a moving target. Every time I make my mark, somebody paints the wall,” go the lyrics of a country song. Oliver Wendell Holmes at age 90 said, “The secret to my success is that at an early age, I discovered I was not God.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To leave the world a bit better, to know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived, that is to have succeeded.” We catch up with our Old Testament ...

1913. Sisters

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

King Duncan

I want to begin with a song. Don’t worry. I’m not going to sing. Perhaps I should say, I want to begin with a song title. I’m not going to ask you how many of you remember the song. It might say something about your age. The song is titled simply, “Sisters.” It’s a classic Irving Berlin tune much beloved by previous generations. It begins by describing how devoted two sisters are to one another. But its famous refrain goes like this: “Lord, help the mister who comes between me and my sister and Lord help ...

1914. Sneak Preview

Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

How much do we miss when we don't really look? Edgar Allan Poe explores that question in his short story, The Purloined Letter. As the story begins, two men are sitting in an apartment in Paris smoking their pipes and enjoying each other's company. They are not much for conversation; they go for an hour at a time without saying anything. One of the two men is the brilliant detective, Auguste Dupin, who had earlier solved the Rue Morgue murders. A police inspector drops by. Clearly agitated and anxious he ...

1915. A Change of Mind

Exodus 32:1-14

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

While it has been suggested that idle hands are the playthings of the devil — the same may be true of our minds. Without a clear sense of who we are and whose we are, we have the tendency to wander into some barren wilderness. Sometimes our slip is gradual, we do one small thing that is questionable and before we realize it we are in deep trouble. There are other times when it is obvious that we have strayed in a big way, and whether we like it or not, there are consequences to our actions. Without a clear ...

1916. The Call of God

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

Jeremiah had a task, a vision, and a promise from God. The prophet Jeremiah had a call from God to preach his word to a people needing to hear from God. His call has been duplicated multiple times over the centuries. Moses, Samuel, Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel could point to a precise moment in their journey when God called them to be prophets ... ones who announced God's actions and words. Preaching, announcing God's presence, word, direction comes first from a person who has a passion for what matters in ...

1917. Good Hearts

Romans 5:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” That was the thunderous directive declared by the “Wizard of Oz” to Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion. Dorothy’s tiny terrier Toto had pulled back the curtain that kept the true identity of “The Wizard” a secret. Instead of being “Oz, the Great and Powerful,” the “wizard” was revealed by the pup to be an ordinary man, a con artist, practicing the art of smoke and mirrors to impress the people with his faked naked powers. Oz may have been a charlatan, ...

1918. The Light Has Come

Ephesians 3:1-13

Sermon

Timothy J. Smith

As the Magi scanned the heavens they noticed a star brighter than all the others in the night sky. It caught their attention enough to warrant further investigation. They felt as though the star had a message for them. They would follow the star to see where it would lead them. Their journey would cover hundreds of miles as well as a considerable amount of time before they would meet the Christ Child. The star of Bethlehem announced the birth of the Son of God to the world. The Magi were the first ...

1919. The Knot: Tied

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

James Merritt

There are two topics a pastor can talk about that are guaranteed to generate emails, letters, phone calls, discussion, and debate. Those topics are money and marriage. I knew that this series we are doing on marriage would generate a lot of interest, reveal a lot of anguish, and strike a lot of nerves. There is an old joke about marriage that goes like this: “Marriage is like a deck of cards. In the beginning all you need is two hearts and a diamond. At the end you wish you had a club and a spade!” ...

1920. How to Hug

Romans 13:8-14

Sermon

King Duncan

The world has changed so much that even certain jokes don’t work anymore. For example, there is a time-honored story of a man who was in love with love that is, romantic love. He bought every book he could find on the subject. One day he was in a book store when he spied a book titled How to Hug. He didn’t have time to thumb through it and find out what it was about, but from its title, he knew he had to have it. He paid for it quickly and took it proudly out of the store. It wasn’t until he got home that ...

1921. Can Two Become One?

Matthew 19:1-12

Sermon

James Merritt

I recently came across a fascinating article called “The Top 10 Inventions That Changed The World.” Whenever I come across lists like these it is always fun to see how many of these I can guess. I am going to put 10 blanks up on the screen, beginning with number 10. Here are the top inventions in order from 10-to-1: 10. The Plow 9. The Wheel 8. The Printing Press 7. The Refrigerator 6. Communications (Telephone, TV, etc) 5. The Steam Engine 4. The Automobile 3. The Light Bulb 2. The Computer 1. The ...

1922. Jehoshaphat King of Judah

2 Chronicles 17:1-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Jehoshaphat: Judged by the length of text that he dedicates to King Jehoshaphat of Judah (17:1–21:1), the Chronicler certainly considered this king of great importance for his historiographical reconstruction. Not only is this one of the longest royal accounts in Chronicles (together with those of Hezekiah and Josiah), but it also contains the most substantial portion of the Chronicler’s own material. Apart from 18:1–34 and 20:31–21:1, which make use of source materials in 1 Kings 22:1–35 and 22:41–50, ...

1923. The Choosing of the Seven

Acts 6:1-7

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

This chapter and the next, which are largely an account of the “acts of Stephen,” serve a twofold purpose. First, they complete Luke’s picture of the early church while it was still for the most part confined to Jerusalem, noting certain problems that arose in connection with the common fund and how they were resolved. Second, they set the scene for the later chapters that tell of the church’s expansion beyond Jerusalem. This they do in two ways: first, by tracing the course of events that forced many ...

1924. Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

Christ and the Salvation of Believers Chapter 1 of Ephesians is dominated by the theme of praise and thanksgiving. In verses 3–14 the apostle utilizes a redemptive eulogy to praise God for all the spiritual blessings that he has bestowed upon the believer. These blessings are mediated through the Son and are confirmed in the believer through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. The use of baptismal themes suggests that the hymn may have been connected with the celebration of baptism in the early church. ...

1925. Rules for Holy Living

Colossians 3:1-17

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

The Ethical Dimensions of the Christian Life Chapter three begins what normally is called the “ethical section” of the epistle. This follows a general trend in Paul’s epistles in which he first deals with the theological issues and then builds his ethics upon that foundation (cf. Rom. 12:1ff.; Gal. 5:1ff.; Eph. 4:1ff.; Phil. 4:1ff.). It is quite common to discuss this characteristic as the indicative and the imperative of Paul’s theology. Basically, it is the “you are” and the “you ought” of the Christian ...

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