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 2126 to 2150 of 4950 results

2126. Heresies of the Heart

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... failure in the church today. Heresies of the heart take many forms, some insidious, some blatant, some circular, but all dangerous. Heretical doctrines have never really threatened the soul of the Church or harmed the nature of God. Heretical hearts, however, can suck the spirit of a living Christ out of a congregation and break God's heart on their stony surfaces. Recent studies by New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Newsweek, 16 July 1990, 66) of some of the 800,000 Americans who have heart ...

2127. Stand Together or Fall Apart

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... there is one more model we may turn to for guidance. So obvious that it may be overlooked, the uniquely Christian notion of a triune God, the doctrine of the Trinity itself, serves as an illustration of how we must remain united in community. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit stand together in a unified relationship, untainted by any struggles for superiority. The power and comfort we find in a Godhead which is "three in one" must be reflected in our church communities where we are many united in Christ Jesus.

2128. Be Happy!

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

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 ...

2129. Dare Care

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... so much by trial and error, but by trial and success. The disciples risked ridicule and retribution by proclaiming the gospel message out to that crowd in words they could all easily understand. They took a chance and believed that the authority and power of the Holy Spirit would work through their words. It was a profound risk. But that moment of proclamation brought into being the church as the new creation of God. There is no safety in safety; there is only safety in the risk and dare of a life of faith ...

2130. What Are You Looking For?

John 1:35-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... were looking for the loaves and fishes. When Jesus went off by himself to the mountains and was lost in prayer, his own disciples came and interrupted him, declaring, "Everyone is looking for you!" The disciples were right. Everyone is looking for Jesus, for the living spirit of God in their lives - even if they don't realize it. Collections of ceramic "Jesus junk" won't fill the void; bags of crystals won't answer the need. The answer to Jesus' soul-searching question, "What are you looking for?", can't be ...

2131. Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ” (v.13). God’s blessing of Christ’s saving mission is ultimately accomplished in this world through the activity of the Holy Spirit. The “seal” of the Holy Spirit clearly marks the community of faith. Those who are truly “in Christ” bear this “seal,” this mark, of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives. The central blessing portion (vv.4-10) describes just how disciples “in Christ” will experience this new reality in their lives. Though Paul introduces the idea of predestination ...

2132. Galatians 6:7-18

Galatians 6:7-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... part of Paul's vocabulary, we may assume that this was a common proverb of the first century - yet one highly applicable to this situation. Verse 8's sowing and reaping imagery defines the active role believers take in shaping their own destinies. The Spirit is available to all who seek it. But it is also quite avoidable. Paul states plainly where the ultimate responsibility lies for those whose harvests are stunted and decayed. It is within everyone's own power to determine whether the outcome of their ...

2133. 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Christ. 1 Peter's words are intended to bring a sense of unity between these Christians and the Christ they follow. Suffering is a sign of their imitation of Christ, not a sign of abandonment. In verse 14, the author invokes one of few references to the Holy Spirit an image drawn in part from Isaiah 11:2. The Spirit of God "resting on you" also calls to mind the Hebrews' concept of God's shekinah which attended the wandering Israelites in the wilderness. Once the tabernacles were built, this shekinah or ...

2134. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... 's return and about what they might expect as believers. Paul calms as he cautions. He counsels the Thessalonians not to be "shaken in mind" or "alarmed," but to maintain stability and a trusting state. Paul emphasizes that whatever reports they have received - whether "by spirit or by word or by letter," the message did not come from him. In verses 3-5, Paul provides a swift synopsis of what he has said about the events that will surround the approaching "day of the Lord" and asks the Thessalonians to ...

2135. Genesis 9:8-17

Genesis 9:8-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... with ominous intent. Like human beings these wild beasts of the earth stand somewhere in-between Satan and the ministering angels. They share the wilderness, their home, with Jesus, and apparently they neither intend nor do any harm to him. Indeed, in this Spirit-imposed exile the wild beasts may be seen as Jesus' only creaturely companions. By pairing the wild beasts with the ministering angels, rather than with Satan, we can team both the inhabiters of heaven and of earth with Jesus against the destroying ...

2136. Galatians 6:7-18

Galatians 6:7-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2137. John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of Nicodemus' reply in verse 4 indicates that he is completely confused by either of these double meanings. In verse 5, Jesus tries once again to expand Nicodemus' categories using images that would surely be familiar to a Pharisee, a "leader of the Jews." Jesus' reference to "water and the Spirit," of course, did not carry the same theological weight for Nicodemus as it did for the gospel writer's own Christian community. But it still spoke to the Pharisee's experience and tradition. The outpouring of the ...

2138. Luke 4:1-13

Luke 4:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... both Luke and Matthew, suggesting that the shared source of these two gospel writers held this longer version, which each then adopted and adapted to fit his own gospel form. Luke opens by affirming the coherency between Jesus' experience at his baptism and his journey into the wilderness. The Holy Spirit, which comes upon Jesus at his baptism, now fills Jesus. Its guiding presence continues as it leads him out into the wilderness for a period of fasting and testing. Note that in Luke, the Holy ...

2139. Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

2140. Isaiah 11:1-10

Isaiah 11:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , the ability to develop battle strategy if necessary. His "might" is "power" (NIV), for he will "strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked" (v.4b). The coming ruler will also be filled with the "spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD" (v.2). He not only knows the will of God, but as a function of his fear, i.e., awe, reverence, intends to follow it. Each of these pairs is coupled with a parallel comment describing the action the spiritual ...

2141. Acts 1:6-14

Acts 1:6-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... - with a testimony and conviction that will extend even "to the ends of the earth" (v.8). One of the remarkable things about the story of Christ's Ascension is the speed with which Luke reports the event occurred. As soon as Jesus announces the gift of Spirit - empowerment to his disciples, before they even have a chance to respond (which surely they would do given half a moment) Jesus is "lifted up." Events continue to pile on top of one another, for even "while he was going" the two "men in white robes ...

2142. 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... up the body of Christ. Paul's preaching had earned him plenty of trouble (as detailed in verses 8-11), but it has also brought him to the attention of many more people than normal for a mere "preacher." If Paul's suffering and the Corinthian spirit are combining to build up Christ within the faithful, this new unity will reach its fruition when all stand together in the presence of the Lord. Paul knits himself into the fabric of this community by emphasizing how unified they will be by all the conflicts ...

2143. Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-41

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... by Mark. They are "filled with great awe" though not, we need to notice, with faith. It is ironic that Jesus' power over the wind and sea seems to make more of an impression on the disciples than does his ability to cast out unclean spirits. But according to Jewish tradition, the powers Jesus has just displayed put him in a whole other category of being. Jesus has decisively demonstrated his absolute and divine powers. He is certainly more than a sage or shaman. The disciples' redundant question, "Who then ...

2144. A Very Different Top 10 List

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... declared to be “the Holy One of God,” left no room for the unholy attitude and actions of that demon. Have you ever noticed that the demonic spirits Jesus encountered always identified themselves in the plural? The unclean spirit in the synagogue asked Jesus “Have you come to destroy us?” The brokenness of the human spirit is not one, clean, single break. Our brokenness is a fracturing into hundreds of splinters. The demons that inhabit us are rightly named “Legion.” When we invite Jesus into ...

2145. The Heart of the Matter

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... be speaking a literal truth. Our emotions, our feelings, can affect our overall well being, including the state of our heart. Which brings us to our text for the day. The Psalmist writes, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me . . .” The Psalmist isn’t praying that God will give him a heart transplant. Not literally, at least. When the Bible speaks of the heart, it is usually not referring to a physical organ that pumps blood around our body. Rather it is speaking ...

2146. Jesus Radical Prescription

Matthew 5:21-26

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... us a sense of control. It serves a useful purpose for us. But it also keeps the old world alive and well and obstructs God’s dream of a new world. Jesus then gives two example of how life is lived in God’s new world, where the Holy Spirit inspires how God’s children view and treat each other. This is Jesus’ radical prescription for life in God’s new world. “Radical” means “at the roots.” Jesus wants to cut off anger at its roots, so any growth from it will wither and die. It will not grow ...

2147. You Must Start Over!

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... life to you. She labored to deliver you. She fed you. Comforted you. Protected you. It was all gift. All grace.” We don’t control our birth. We don’t applaud the newborn, “Way to go! Look way you did!” The same is true for those born of the Spirit. It is like breath. At the end of the day, we don’t brag, “I took a thousand breaths today. Where’s my reward?” Our breathing carries us along. And the wind: No one says, “You can thank me for that cool breeze.” The best things in life are ...

2148. Easter 7

Acts 1:12-26, 1 John 5:1-12, John 17:6-19

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... campaigner. He did not have a PR man to direct his election. Church leaders are not to be elected to office on the basis of heritage, personality or popularity. The one to be installed in office must be Christ's choice. But the choice is made known through the Spirit-led and praying people of the church. Epistle: 1 John 5:9-13 1. Witness (v. 9). A witness gives a testimony of what was seen and/or heard. The question humanity faces, who is Jesus? Is he really God's Son? the Christ? To get the answer, we ...

2149. Epiphany 7

Isaiah 43:14-28, Mark 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... certain implications of that fact. Outline: If only God can forgive – a. All sins are committed against God. b. When we forgive, the Spirit of God in us does it. c. Jesus is the Son of God with the authority of God to forgive. Old Testament: Isaiah ... passage gives a yes answer. Outline: Yes, God is faithful v. 18. a. Yes, God's promises are fulfilled v. 20. b. Yes, God's Spirit is a guarantee of your salvation v. 22. WORSHIP RESOURCES Psalm Of The Day: Psalm 41 "Heal me, for I have sinned." (v. 4); Psalm ...

2150. Proper 14

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Psalm 130:1-8, John 6:25, 41-51, Ephesians 4:25–5:2

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... son of Joseph, very Son of God, so teach us your way of self-giving that we may give ourselves in the service of others as you have given yourself for the life of the world. Amen PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING God of meadow and wilderness, Christ of human experience, Spirit of renewal and rest, we are thankful for the angel you send to minister to us. When we are depressed and ready to die, you send someone with a word of encouragement, or a gift of food or flowers, or an invitation that leads to a change of scene ...

Showing results