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 2001 to 2025 of 3285 results

2001. 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... status except that of a slave, albeit a slave of Christ, is the heart of Paul’s identity. In weakness Paul finds the greatest strength of the gospel, the salvation that is offered by Christ. It is Paul’s freedom, Paul’s weakness, Paul’s enslavement, that gives him the ability to, “become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.”

2002. Mother Church

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... . For 50 days the risen Jesus has been appearing to believers. Now he has ascended to the Father. On Pentecost evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence included the sound of a mighty wind, tongues of fire dancing over the believers’ heads, and the ability to communicate across language barriers. Some said these persons were drunk. Peter responded that it was too early in the day – they’d not had enough time to get drunk. Peter saw these strange happenings through the lens of the prophet Joel had seen ...

2003. Seeing the Light

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... ’s largely due to the Christmas carol. They’ve been called Wise Men, though their wisdom was akin to that of the daily horoscope, which you can find in The Tennessean next to the comics. Their “wisdom,” their status as learned men, comes from their presumed ability to interpret the stars in the heavens, which were presumed to dictate life on earth. Tell them your sign and they would tell you what you should or should not do today. And I’ve got some swamp land in Florida I want to sell you. These ...

2004. Your Money or Your Life?

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... world, because it has become just like the world. Those of us who have entrusted our life to Christ give it away out of love. As did the martyr Stephen. We make our offering out of a different motivation. We give because we love and we trace our ability to love to the One who first loved us. True life, abundant life, eternal life, kingdom of God life, we believe, comes as a gift from a gracious God – not from our bank account or investment portfolio or what our assets are worth. Churches spend a lot of ...

2005. The Road to Holiness

Mark 1:9-13

Illustration

Brian Stoffregen

... have it, please?" the seeker asked. "Growth." The seeker was thrilled. "How does one grow?" "Two words." "What are they, pray tell?" "Wrong choices." I believe that this is God's purpose in times of testing, to help us grow and to show us that we have the faith and ability to stand up to the testing so that we will trust God in difficult times to strengthen our faith and Christian character. At the same time, Satan has his own purpose to turn those being tested away from God to "tempt" them to sin.

2006. A Good Cleaning

John 2:13-22

Illustration

Keith Wagner

... mention an all out assault to clean house. The faith community at that time was so wrapped up in rules and ritual the fresh revelation of God could not get through. It was impossible for them to "see" because they were blinded by obstacles that hindered their ability. In this story we get an image of Jesus as a one-man wrecking crew, swinging a sledgehammer. There is no way to make improvements in an old house without making a mess. There is plaster dust, dirt, nails and smelly carpet. It is hard work. It ...

2007. Easter 2

Acts 4:32-37, 1 John 1:5--2:14, John 20:19-23, John 20:24-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... through the preaching of the Word which is the sole means of grace whether the Word is received by preaching, teaching or administering the sacraments. 3. Need (v. 35). Each person in the apostolic church received material necessities not according to one's ability nor intelligence nor hours worked nor position. It was a classless society in which there were no rich nor poor, no hungry nor overfed. Each received according to one's need, not according to one's desires nor requests. What each received in ...

2008. The Work of the Students

Lk 24:36-49

Illustration

King Duncan

... 's school. We are not masters. We simply fill in the sketches he has already begun. When we have done all we can, he provides finishing touches to produce a masterpiece. To understand our role in such a way relieves us of the burden of being sufficient in our own abilities to do what he has called us to do. We are his students, his servants, his apprentices. He is the Master.

2009. Proper 7

2 Corinthians 6:3-13, 1 Samuel 17:1-58, Mark 4:35-41

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... could make nature behave? Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 1. Just a boy (v. 33). When David offered to fight Goliath, King Saul discouraged him from going because he was "just a boy." It is the problem of underestimating a person's ability. David was only a boy, but he had something the army did not have: faith in God and courage. With these assets, giants of evil can be conquered. 2. I cannot walk with these (v. 39). King Saul wanted to equip David for the fight with Goliath by putting ...

2010. Proper 9

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Mark 6:1-6, Mark 6:7-13, 2 Samuel 5:6-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... a matter who David was but what he did for the whole of Israel. He was a military leader who led Israel to war and to victory. The elders realized they needed a leader who could do something for them. David had a good record and he proved his leadership ability. 3. Covenant (v. 3). The elders of the North felt God had a hand in what they proposed. The Lord told David that he was to be the shepherd-king of his people. In the presence of God, king and people agreed to a covenant in which they recognized their ...

2011. The Comforts of "Thy Rod and Thy Staff": Rulership or Relationship

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Jesus described himself as the “good shepherd,” he promised to care for his “flock” completely, even to the point of laying down his life for the sake of his “sheep.” Jesus’ “sheep” were not identified by color or size or attitude or ability. Jesus’ sheep, those that belonged to the good shepherd, were those whom Jesus “knew” and who “knew” Jesus. Being in relationship with the good shepherd, not being some right size, shape, or color, made the good shepherd and his flock One. As ...

2012. John 10:11-18

John 10:1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... his hearers were used to thinking of growth in terms of the “mighty cedars of Lebanon,” Jesus lifted up grains of wheat and mustard seeds and “flowers of the fields.” Where his hearers were used to being told about God’s ability to help them “mount up like the wings of eagles,” Jesus pointed to the barnyard hen, crows and ravens. As with every familiar image, metaphor, and scriptural prophecy Jesus employed, he remodeled and reinterpreted the standard “shepherd” identity. Jesus’ “good ...

2013. Romans 8:12-17

Romans 8:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... march. But as one reborn in the Spirit, there is still a death decision that must be faced every day namely to “put to death,” or to mortify, the “deeds of the body” on a daily basis. Only those who have received the Spirit have this death-defying ability. Only those baptized by water and of the Spirit are able to “put to death the deeds of the body” day in and day out, through the power and presence of that Spirit. What has happened to make this possible is an essential change in those who have ...

2014. Afraid No More

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... place it on his own. (9) That is what Christ wants to do for us. Trust him. As you sit by the bedside of someone you love, you’re not alone. He is there. When you’re called to deal with the pressures of the workplace and you doubt your ability to cope, there is an Encourager there beside you who wants you to know you matter. Walk with confidence. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The ...

2015. What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?

John 3:1-17

Illustration

Edward F. Markquart

... ' home, rap on his door and say, "Jesus, I need some help. I've got a problem … here… in my heart. It is not quite right." And Jesus will say to you and me, "Come right in. Sit down for a while. Let's talk. And Jesus has this uncanny ability to look deeply into your heart and mine and he says, "You need to be born again, to be born anew, to be born from above, to experience a rebirth of God's love in your heart. You need to be born of the water and the Spirit.

2016. A Life of Trust

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... at one time or another. And they give up. They become bitter. What they do not realize is that trust is something that develops as you confront your difficulties with God’s help. When you confront your fears, you become better able to trust in your own abilities. You learn to trust others. And you discover that there are those loving arms beneath you carrying you in those difficult places where you cannot make it on your own. We walk by faith, not by sight. That’s how we grow into saints fit for heaven ...

2017. Peace in the Face of the Tempes

Mark 4:35-41

Illustration

... daily worship service and sing praises to God. Watching these Moravians, so apparently unperturbed by the howling winds and crashing waves, Wesley realized he was witnessing a truly waterproof faith. From that moment on, John Wesley prayed that God would give him the ability to likewise ride out life's storms with as much confidence. What made those Moravians so peaceful in the face of the tempest? It was the same trait that the disciples so woefully lacked in today's gospel text: an unquenchable trust in ...

2018. Never Ever Give Up!

Mark 5: 21-43

Illustration

James W. Moore

... he died, Valvano was honored on national television, and to that vast viewing audience, he said this: Today, I fight a different battle. You see, I have trouble walking and I have trouble standing for a long period of time. Cancer has taken away a lot of my physical abilities. Cancer is attacking and destroying my body. But what cancer cannot touch is my mind, my heart and my soul. I have faith in God and hope that things might get better for me. But even if they don't I promise you this. I will never ever ...

2019. Proper 6

1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, Psalm 20:1-9, Mark 4:26-29, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... forgiven. Exhortation Never cease to be confident, that when we leave our home in the body that we will go to live with the Lord. Live now to be acceptable to the Christ in all you do. PRAYER OF THE DAY Public Teacher, private Tutor, increase our ability to receive all that you teach, so that as your disciples we may be able to understand all that you will explain and follow you wherever you lead. Amen PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Sovereign Forester, you cut down the proud tree to leave room for the hidden tree ...

2020. Mark 6: 1-13

Mark 6:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... even those within his own personal “home.” Because of this rejection, Mark records that Jesus “could do no deed of power there.” Instead Jesus could only cure a few sick persons who came to him and had him lay his hands upon them. Jesus’ ability to offer the mighty work of God is limited – limited by our own extreme “unbelief,” and our openness to or rejection of the possibility of God’s presence and power among us and for us. It is directly after this inauspicious moment that Mark’s ...

2021. John the Baptist, Sanctified Indifference, & the King of Pop

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... should be honest and call what we do and who we are "Sermonettes for Christianettes"... short and sweet worship that will not interfere with busy calendars and struggling consciences. John's sanctified indifference was just a warm-up show for Jesus' offensive abilities. John just got in trouble with a lower case political figure. Jesus got the local ruler, the Roman governor, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, until almost everyone took offense at him. And the more people took offense at him, the more sanctified ...

2022. Proper 18

Psalm 139:1-24, Jeremiah 18:1-11, Luke 14:25-35, Philemon 1:1-21

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... , misunderstood, and misinterpreted. Give help to those who are charged with finding ways for us to live together in community. We give thanks for tests that show us personality problems, questionnaires that tell us of our talents, tasks that exercise our abilities, tools that help us work, counselors who understand us, teachers who guide and direct us, and ministers who teach and forgive us in your name. Let your love, O Christ, surround the sick, the troubled, the bereaved, the lonely, the misunderstood ...

2023. Proper 25

Psalm 65:1-13, Joel 2:23-32, Luke 18:9-14, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... to you through Jesus Christ. Make us your prophets, speaking your word of judgment, and evangelists also proclaiming the Good News of salvation to all people who will hear. Sovereign God, overrule the conflict of nations. Grant to the United Nations the ability to bring reconciliation between warring factions. Deliver the world from angry racism that ignores our common origins and antagonisms that ignore our common faults. Save our leaders and our country from iniquity and deceit. Build up in us a love of ...

2024. Second Sunday after the Epiphany

1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-12, Psalm 36:1-12, John 2:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... , but often live at a lower level. We appreciate the fidelity of our friends and spouses, but sometimes betray and abandon them. You give us a variety of gifts to serve you in the church, but much remains undone because we squander the abilities you have given us on less worthy causes. Forgive our erratic service that reflects incomplete obedience, for the sake of your ever-obedient Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Declaration of Pardon Pastor: Friends, hear the Good News! Your God rejoices over you People: as ...

2025. “Bad Form” and Bad Jesus

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... really curse and swear. After all, who says a curse or swear-word needs to be vulgar, or take the name of the Lord in vain? In the not too distant past minding one’s manners could become a full-time job. Language was decidedly less explicit, yet the ability to crush an enemy with a single phrase was honed to a fine point. For example, one of the sharpest cuts a Victorian gentleman could jab at another was to accuse him of being in “bad form.” To be in “bad form” inferred one had bad-breeding, bad ...

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