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 4951 results

176. The Spirit of...Winter?

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... because God does. (Presents within the family can be "From Santa" or "From Santa and . . .") This was the original ritual of Christmas: giving to the poor, the hungry, the needy and the insignificant, the seemingly unimportant members of the community. This is the spirit of St. Nicholas. (For more see Jeremy Seal, Nicholas: The Epic Journey from Saint to Santa Claus [Bloomsbury USA, 2005].) Yet in today's gospel text we read how even this giving is only the palest imitation of God's ultimate gift. Luke's ...

177. How to Keep Your Head When Others Are Losing Theirs (Fruit of the Spirit: Peace)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Then there is external peace—peace with others. Paul said in Rom. 12:18, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live at peace with all men." But the fruit of the Spirit is internal peace. This is the peace of God. Paul said, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts." (Col. 3:15) Now I want you to understand what peace really is. Peace is an assurance of God's control, which results from obedience to God's ...

178. Try a Little Kindness (Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... had leprosy." Dear friend, in His kindness, God reached down and touched me as a nine-year-old boy when I covered with the leprosy of sin. He swept me up into His arms, laid His hands on me, and blessed me with forgiveness and salvation. In that spirit and in that name, when we meet fellow saints and fallen sinners on the highway of life, try a little kindness. 1. J. B. Flower, Jr. Illustrating Great Words of the Old Testament, p. 107. 2. U. S. A. Today, "Wanted: Good Citizens, Close Communities," 12-16-96 ...

179. Ruining the Christmas Spirit

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

... the loss stand out. All of that leaves little time for Christmas cheer. What we often try to do at Christmas is to hang on as best we can. We fill the holiday with reindeer, snowmen, eggnog, and cookies. We try to fake a little Christmas spirit, but trying to paste on Christmas cheer can just mask the emptiness inside. We try to fill the emptiness with sentimentality. Maybe the lectionary committee knew what it was doing by assigning this text for the first Sunday of Advent. If these unsettling stories from ...

180. The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit

Mark 9:14-32

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... :14–29), a desperate father struggles for the life of his son and the existence of his faith. While Jesus and the three principal apostles, Peter, James, and John, were on the Mount of Transfiguration, a man brought his son who was “possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech” (9:17) to the remaining disciples for healing. The boy’s condition is identified by the parallel story in Matthew 17:15 as epilepsy, a diagnosis that Mark’s further descriptions amply confirm (9:18, 20–22, 26). The ...

181. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 7:1-23

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... : Green THE COMMUNITY GATHERS TO CELEBRATE Pastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers) When you entered the sanctuary door, you passed the entrance exam; so welcome to worship. Are you ready to hear and to respond to the Good News? M: Well, Pastor __________, we are here; God's Spirit will need to energize and encourage us to respond. P: That is the right order. Welcome, and prepare yourself for some things that you will want to hear, and some that you may not. M: We are here to hear. P: To all of you, no ...

182. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 8:27-30

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... spoke to you? What did you see? Which people? Furniture? Cross? Artwork? (silence) 3. How well do you listen to the words, music, hymns, scripture, silences? Were you waiting for someone to do something to you or for you? How much do you allow God's Spirit to speak to you? (silence) Now, would anyone be willing to respond? If not, let them know about you, your thoughts and feelings. Hymn of Adoration "O God of Vision" ACTS OF CONFESSION Introduction to the Act of Confession Return to our journey. What image ...

183. The Season Of The Holy Spirit

Mark 10:35-45

Bulletin Aid

Wayne H. Keller

... the Good News, even though you may not like it? (Pause.) Will you be willing to respond to the Good News, even if God disturbs your comfort level? (Pause.) P: When we listen to God without our preconceived notions of what we hope God will say to us, God's Spirit will surprise us, maybe even scare us. M: What do you mean? P: I mean that God's expectations of us may differ radically from our expectations of how God calls us to obedience. M: What are you saying? P: I am saying that God constantly calls us out ...

184. His Spirit Is With Us

John 19:30

Children's Sermon

... Good Friday as a sad day. But today I want to think of why it's called Good Friday. What happened on Good Friday? (Let them respond.) That's right, that was the day Jesus died. Our verse for today says, "Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." That's another way of saying Jesus died. Dying isn't a very happy thing to think about. (Hold up the baby picture.) What kind of a picture is this? (Let them respond.) This is a baby picture. Babies are happy things to think about. This is a very young ...

185. Baptized in the Spirit

Mark 1:8

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... to listen to Jesus and follow what he said. John knew that he was only making a beginning. I brought along something to help us understand what John was talking about when he said that he baptized with only water but that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. I brought with me a doll baby. Lots of little girls hope that they will get such a pretty baby for Christmas. This baby helps little girls and boys to understand how important babies are and how wonderful they are to hold and love. If you take good ...

186. Gifts of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

... : We know from the Scriptures of the Lord God who called to Abraham. Leader: And we hear from the written Word of how God led Moses out of Egypt. People: The Gospels tell us of the Christ, come to save all who will believe, Leader: And of Holy Spirit, who empowers all who will serve Christ. All: Blessed be the name of the Lord! Collect O God, You walked with and sustained the saints throughout history. We ask You today to bless us with Your Holy Gifts of ministry and number us among Your servants this day ...

187. Conflict and Hope: One in the Spirit

Philippians 1:12-30

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... it and another thing really to act on it. Paul says to the Philippians and us that we are not to be "frightened in anything by our opponents." And finally, perhaps most important, is that the conflict is marked by a basic unity. We are to be "of one spirit, one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel...." It is, therefore, a conflict that brings us together, and not a conflict that separates us. It is a conflict which makes us aware that we are members one of another, that we have need for ...

188. Baptized in the Spirit

Luke 3:1-20

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

... another kind of baptism, and that baptism would only come from Jesus. Jesus is like the big hammer that your father uses in his shop. When John baptized, he told people that he used only water, but when Jesus came, he brought with him special power called the Spirit of God. The baptism of Jesus is the real baptism, just like your father's hammer is the real hammer. God used John the Baptist in the right way. John prepared people, taught people to get ready for Jesus. Your hammer teaches you how to use tools ...

189. Father, Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Philip Ware

... man was innocent," or as another translation renders it, "Certainly this was a good man." (Luke 23:47) Luke says the commanding officer of the assassination squad "praised God" after hearing Jesus say, just before he died, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Did this mean the soldier had found salvation? Did it mean that Jesus had fulfilled Isaiah's somber prediction about the fate of the Son of Man, for whom suffering Israel waited so passionately? Did it mean that death squad would never again ...

190. The Promise Of The Holy Spirit

John 14:15-31

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

... passes understanding that we may cease to worry or to be upset or afraid. Amen. Prayer Of Confession Lord, we do love you, but we confess we have not always kept your commandments. By your mercy, grant us forgiveness, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, enable us always to show forth our love for you and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen. Offertory Prayer Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Father, too, accept these gifts as an expression of our gratitude, and enlighten those who will decide ...

191. The First Fruits of the Spirit

2 Peter 1:1-11

Illustration

Jane Shepherd

Do we have the first fruits of the Spirit? Can someone coming into our door to visit for the first time recognize these traits in us? Love: do we love each other, and do we love those who are ... seven times seventy? Self-Control: This is one of the hardest, and may include all of the others. This requires an inner discipline only manageable with the grace of God's Spirit to sustain us in our trials. Do we constantly pray for help in this area, and constantly call on God to help us? If not, we should.

192. The Greatest Ability Is Dependability (Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness)

Galatians 5:22

Sermon

James Merritt

... Faithful and True." Wise King Solomon asked a great question in Prov. 20:6, "Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?" God is looking for faithful men and faithful women. We are told that the fruit of the Spirit is "faithfulness." To understand what faithfulness is, and what faithfulness does, Jesus told a parable to illustrate the fruit of faithfulness. It is found in Matt. 25. We call it the parable of the talents, and it tells us three great truths about God and His ...

193. Heart, Soul, Mind, Spirit

Mark 12:28-34

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... raging flame. One: Soul. The Bible says All: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. One: Mind. The Bible says All: God is not a human being, that he should ... with compassion the needs of this world. God of soul, we look within to discover burning brightly the gift of your Spirit inspiring and directing our lives. God of mind, your logic confounds the wisdom of this world, and we choose your way. God ...

194. The Regenerating Work of the Spirit

John 3:1-21; Acts 2:1-41

Illustration

Phil Newton

... faithfully preaching the gospel when he was twenty-five, identified eleven evidences of the regenerating work of the Spirit. I will adapt these for our attention [edits in brackets]. The understanding is renewed…a light from on high ... . The affections of the soul are changed. The conscience is changed…now, when the soul feels the regenerating influences of the Holy Spirit, what a tender sense fills the renewed conscience! For what small things it will smite, rebuke and check the sinner! How strongly ...

195. Where the Spirit Moves

John 3:1-17

Illustration

Donald B. Strobe

... use the wind to take you where you want to go for a time, but it can shift directions without warning. Sailing makes you aware of your dependency. That's Jesus' message in John, Chapter Three. You cannot capture the grace of God, you can only receive it. God's Spirit moves where He wills, and the birth from above is just that: from above. It is the work of God's ...

196. Born of the Spirit Not the Process

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Leonard Sweet

... expressing his needs and petitioning his desires. There were established channels by which to petition the Lord for healing or forgiveness - why didn't Bartimaeus submit to them? The crowd, like so many of us, preferred to put its trust in the Process instead of in the Spirit. But Jesus did not say to Nicodemus, "You must be born of the Process." In fact it is only when we free ourselves from the deep ruts that "following the process" has carved into our lives that we become able to trust in and follow the ...

197. The Right Spirit

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Philip W. McLarty

... to play baseball again next year for the Yankees, and would you believe it, they're gonna pay me besides!" That's the spirit of gainful employment, doing what you love to do and do well and getting paid for it besides. If the workers who'd worked ... wouldn't have resented those who only got to work one hour. When you're in the right vocation and you've got the right spirit, then the longer you work, the better. God's justice arises out of a gracious invitation to use your innate gifts and abilities to the glory ...

198. A Spirit of Unity

Illustration

Staff

... . Then they came together. Francis Schaeffer, who told of the incident, asked a friend who was there, "What did you do then?" "We were just one," he replied. As they confessed their hostility and bitterness to God and yielded to His control, the Holy Spirit created a spirit of unity among them. Love filled their hearts and dissolved their hatred. When love prevails among believers, especially in times of strong disagreement, it presents to the world an indisputable mark of a true follower of Jesus Christ.

199. A Prodigal Son Comes Home in Body, but Not in Spirit

2 Sam 14:1–15:12

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... 12, 1983.7 Students and faculty alike were offended, but it also won him some approval and then great acclaim when picked up as a national news story. Often called mean-spirited, it nevertheless underlines the principle above: encouraging leniency when rigor is appropriate actually encourages laziness in the spirit and attitude of students. In the powerful speech, Neusner contends that the faculty has no reason to “take pride” in the graduating class because they did not prepare the students for the ...

200. The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit

Luke 9:37-45

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... (8:40–42), while the fact his afflicted son is his only child reminds us of the widow of Nain (7:11–17). According to the description, the boy was an epileptic, although the cause of the condition is attributed to a spirit (v. 39) and, later, an evil spirit (v. 42; lit. “demon”). The curious feature of this incident is the inability of his disciples to drive it out. Since Peter, James, and John were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, the reference, at least in the Lucan context, would ...

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