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 176 to 200 of 693 results

176. The Poor In Spirit

Sermon

John A. Terry

... , God singles out the ones who feel like losers, and showers grace upon them. Christ came to lift up the lowly, to claim them as God's beloved children and to transform them into God's faithful servants. The poor in spirit have a teachable spirit. They are receptive people who know they need God's help and are ready to receive the help God gives. They know their own insufficiency. Some refer to this as humility. It is humility like the humus, like the earth, the down-to-earth folks who know who they are and ...

177. Any FAX, Or E-Mail From God Today?

1 Samuel 2:12-26

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... tolerance and love is a "voice" against intolerance and hate. God has spoken once and for all. We who have ears to hear, need to hear. That never-ending message shivers its way from first century Israel to twentieth century America. It still seeks receptive ears and hearts to recognize it as a messianic word to a world in trouble. So be it. 1. For exegetical background and additional preaching themes, see Walter Brueggeman, Charles B. Cousar, Beverly R. Garenta, and James D. Newsome, Texts for Preaching: A ...

178. Jesus: The Only Way To God?

Acts 4:1-22

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

... meet his son. The old man waved off the carefully prepared apology. He immediately embraced the boy, then ordered an impromptu holiday, gave the kid a ring and shoes as symbols of sonship, and invited everyone to a homecoming party. What a remarkable and totally surprising reception for that boy! In modern times, an author wrote a story guessing what happened in the days to follow. In it, the boy happened to walk by his dad's room one day and seeing an envelope with his name on it, opened the letter (which ...

179. A Taste Of Life

Mark 14:12-26

Sermon

William G. Carter

... . A middle-aged woman tells how she first joined a Lutheran church as a teenager on Maundy Thursday. "I had to sit through a lot of boring classes with our minister," she said. "After enduring weeks of strict instruction, we approached the night of our membership reception. We wore dark clothing and sat in the front pew. The minister preached a sermon about how horrible it would be for us to betray Jesus. Then he called us forward, and we joined the church. It was a gloomy conclusion to a dreary class. Not ...

180. The Poor In Spirit

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

John A. Terry

181. Calming the Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... of this faith/fear polarity in the course of Mark's Gospel. Mark seems to pose these realities as the basic alternatives of hearing in response to the work/word of the Sower. The kingdom of God draws near when the word falls on good (receptive) soil. Mary Ann Tolbert says that, Mark 4:1-34 supplies the audience with the fundamental typology of hearing-response that organizes the entire plot of the Gospel ... While Mark 4:1-34 reflects this theological vision in the symbolic or parabolic categories of nature ...

182. AUGUST 14-20

John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... to recommit themselves. This is a way to call upon these people to eat and drink Jesus Christ. Those who accept this invitation can join in a prayer led by the pastor. Another way to do this would be to combine an altar call with the reception of holy communion. Just announce that to receive communion is to receive Christ. This is what is happening anyway. Using altar call language just makes this connection clearer to some people. DRAMA AND MOVEMENT There are medleys of songs. Why not a medley of meals ...

183. October 2-8

Mark 10:1-12

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

... - Choir Men Verse 15 - Choir Women Verse 16 - Reader 2 Responses to the Word Offer couples an opportunity to renew their marriage vows. Announce this well in advance, because some will want to invite friends and family. Follow the worship service with a reception for the couples. Challenge the congregation to begin a new outreach ministry to the children living in the vicinity around the church. Put an insert in the worship bulletin, and ask the worshipers to mark this to indicate how they will help with ...

184. Bread of the Eucharist (Bread of Life IV)

John 6:25-59

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

... get hungry, you either sit down for a meal or go out for a snack. Your stomach begins thanking you for what you have ingested. We celebrate with food and drink. It would be hard to imagine celebrating a toddler’s birthday, a wedding reception, a graduation, promotion or retirement party, or cheering the home team, without food. In this context bread suggests much more than what is prepared in the kitchen. Bread suggests togetherness, care and love, hopes and dreams, fun and adventure. Let’s say some new ...

185. Tying Up A Strong Man

Mark 3:20-30, 1 Samuel 8:1-22, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, Mark 3:31-35, Psalm 138:1-8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... "those of his" which could be friends, family, his disciples or any associates. 3. "Gone Out of His Mind." (v. 21) This is a euphemism for being crazy. Were his friends or family concerned that he was in such a euphoric state over the reception he was receiving that he would exhaust himself? Or was it that his fanaticism was an embarrassment to them? The motives are not given. As usual, Mark only describes their actions. 4. "The Scribes ... from Jerusalem." (v. 22) This appears to be an official delegation ...

186. The Day Of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21 · Jn 15:26-27; 16:4-15; 20:19-23 · Eze 37:1-14 · 1 Cor 12:4-13 · Ps 104

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... seriously, so that we might take God's gracious offer of pardon seriously. Learning by degree (vv. 12-13). The Lord shares that he has much more to teach them but they are not now ready for it. The day would come when they would be ready and receptive; then the Spirit would lead them into all the truth. Truth begins with the basic elements and then builds increasingly complex concepts. You can't teach algebra to the five-year-old who hasn't learned the basics of math. Spiritual truth must also be learned by ...

187. Advent 4

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... v. 28) That was the message with which the angel greeted Virgin Mary. Mary certainly was favored beyond all other mortals. Was she favored because of her moral purity? That was an issue but that alone doesn't explain it. Did the Lord sense that Mary would be receptive to his grace and so he favored her? Mary certainly was that sort of person but this still doesn't cut to the heart of the matter. The prime reason for Mary's favored status was the sovereign grace of God. The Lord doesn't favor people because ...

188. A Lady With A Listening Ear · Mary Of Bethany

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Gordon Pratt Baker

... difficulty. For she had long since developed a sensitivity to the needs of others, like Walt Whitman attesting centuries later: I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person. So Mary could listen to Jesus receptively, hearing behind his words the dreams and the disappointments, the concerns and the commitments that pursued his days. As a consequence she could respect his silences, supporting them with her own and thus reverently affording him the reassurance he needed that ...

189. Your Gifts To Each Other

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

Ronald K. Brooks

... love everything about them. I enjoy the counselling with new couples, the wedding rehearsal, the joy and the love that fills a sanctuary during a wedding service. I enjoy the pomp and circumstance of the wedding service, but most of all I think I like the wedding reception best, and one part in particular -- the opening of the wedding gifts. I love watching the faces of this new couple as they unwrap the gifts. Big and small each carries a message of love and hope for the new couple. And I can't think about ...

190. The TV Audience

Sermon

Michael Rogness

... . Noting that "our perceptions and understandings of the world are formed in far more complicated ways than merely by rational observation and judgment," Patricia Wilson-Kastner urges preachers to take into account these new insights. We have become increasingly receptive to the enormous importance of our more intuitive side, to the centrality of the emotions, and to the way we express our awareness in images, pictures, and stories, which are all laden with feelings as well as intellectual assessments ...

191. With Unwavering Trust

Romans 4:1-25

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

... (to the cross) for our offenses, and was raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25) The purpose of orders of worship, rituals of faith and sacrament, processes of religious education and spiritual growth, is to arouse in us a favorable climate for the reception and transmission of the Christian message, and subsequent performance in life. The basic condition for a person to be religious is to assume the reality of God -- then give God an opportunity to prove the man. The promises that God gives us may ...

192. A Larger Design For Living

Matthew 7:24-29

Sermon

Clement E. Lewis

... was its fall!" Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. A Brief Prayer: O God, we desire that our ears, hearts, and minds shall be fully receptive to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Add unto us the ability to think clearly, to reason well, and to make good decisions in life, not only by means of learning, but also by insight and the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Grant unto us that ...

193. Advent 4

Luke 1:26-38

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

Gospel Note Our theme focuses on Mary's immediate, positive response to this special event, receptivity and obedience, which make her a model for human openness to the divine will. Liturgical Color Blue or purple Suggested Hymns Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus From East To West All Praise To You Eternal Lord Joy To The World My Soul Now Magnifies The Lord What Wondrous Love Is ...

194. The Abundant, Apparent Authority Of Jesus

Mark 1:21-28

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... Praise Your Word, O Lord, Is Gentle Dew O God, My Faithful God O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come God Of Our Life, All-Glorious Lord Prayer for Epiphany 4 Lord, we hear the word "authority" and we react! We often resist; we are not receptive. We have reasons for being somewhat cynical. Our experience with those in authority has not always been positive. Those who exercise authority seem to become tainted by it. People reacted to the authority of Jesus too. Some were angry. Others were amazed. He spoke words ...

195. Proper 9

Mark 4:35-41

Bulletin Aid

Dennis Koch

... need the constant guidance of your Holy Spirit. Help us to watch for opportunities to share the hope and power of the good news. Do not allow us to give up when we are frustrated by the lack of response. Help us to remember that you prepare hearts to be receptive. Use us to reach through the unbelief of others. Amen.

196. Proper 15

1 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 111:1-10, Ephesians 4:17--5:21, John 6:25-59, 1 Kings 3:1-15

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... careful how you conduct yourselves: like sensible people, not thoughtlessly. Use the present opportunity to the full, for these are evil days. PRAYER OF THE DAY Whet our appetite, Giver of life, for the bread of life, Jesus Christ, that through our faith in him and our reception of him we may have life eternal, living with him day by day and raised by him on the last day. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Founder of the feast, we give thanks today and every day for daily bread to sustain our bodies and the bread ...

197. Proper 20

Mark 9:30-37

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... that is expressed by the embrace of a child rather than by rubbing shoulders with the powerful so that we may serve in the manner of your servanthood. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving God of wisdom, you are generous in sharing your wisdom with all who are receptive. Loving God, your kindness is exemplified in the humanity of Jesus and his openness to children. Spirit of peace, you can pacify our aggressiveness with our enemies. We are grateful for all that you have done for us in the events of Good Friday, and ...

198. Fleshing Out The Word

Luke 10:1-24

Sermon

Larry Powell

... you have for witness. The Word becomes flesh when it becomes personified in you! The Christian as victorious. Jesus did not send the 70 out to fail. As a matter of fact, he instructed them not to waste much time or emotion on persons who were not receptive to their witness: "But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near ...

199. A Continuing Presence

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Larry Powell

... presence. The Spirit breathes upon our lives in many ways. Several years ago, a gentleman in his late 50s presented himself before a church conference board of ordained ministry as a candidate for the itinerant ministry. Members of the board were receptive to the applicant but, nonetheless, began pointing out the obvious considerations: his age, his limited education, the fact that his previous employment as a produce salesman and insurance agent would not substitute for a formal course of study which he ...

200. Sharing Shalom

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

... merry in the face of death's certainty. Such a conclusion flies in the face of the religious tradition out of which Jesus came, however. His spirituality was one which emphasized celebration and feasting. Clearly Jesus enjoyed a good party. While attending the wedding reception at Cana, he saw to it that there was plenty of good wine for everyone - 180 gallons by John's count! That must have been some party! Later, he was carried away when feeding the multitudes by the sea and, after everyone had eaten ...

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