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 2176 to 2200 of 4456 results

2176. The Things Close to Your Heart

Mark 13:1-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

If you’ve ever had your wallet or purse stolen you know that the worst “loss” is not the cash (who has it!) or the credit cards (you just cancel them). The worst loss is all those personal, “heart” things you keep close to you. *Your ancient Social Security card that you got at age 15. *Photos of parents, kids, and siblings that are faded and creased from being carted about for years. *Those little “oddments” that remind you of who you are and where you come from — a broken piece of jewelry, a note giving ...

2177. The Temple of Doom and the Bridegroom

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

If you’ve ever had your wallet or purse stolen you know that the worst “loss” is not the cash (who has it!) or the credit cards (you just cancel them). The worst loss is all those personal, “heart” things you keep close to you. Your ancient Social Security card that you got at age 15. Photos of parents, kids, and siblings that are faded and creased from being carted about for years. Those little “oddments” that remind you of who you are and where you come from — a broken piece of jewelry, a note giving ...

2178. Re-thinking Our Mission

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

A science fiction story is told about a planet which earth was attempting to colonize. This was a harsh planet with terrible weather and hostile inhabitants. Earth’s best men and women were gathered into teams and sent to do the job. Expedition after expedition came home broken, each one having failed. Finally a new manager was charged with the responsibility of making the colonization work. But something surprising happened. This new executive did not look for the strongest and most qualified people he ...

2179. Thanksgivings to Remember

Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Sermon

Argile Smith

Joan sat on the sofa reflecting on the Thanksgiving Day holiday that she and her children had enjoyed together. Her children and their spouses seemed to enjoy the meal she had prepared, and she couldn’t have been happier in the kitchen with them stirring around in the living room and helping out in the kitchen. Most of all, she delighted in having all of her family at home and at her dinner table one more time. Even though her grandchildren seemed to be a little fidgety at times, she was grateful they sat ...

2180. Soiled Faith and Watered-Down Churches

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Some of us are born with green thumbs — able to water and plant barren landscapes into lush gardens. Some of us are born with gangrene thumbs — unable even to grow a “Chia Pet.” Some people are born with the ability to take things apart and put things back together. They are handy-dandy, fixer-uppers from the get go. But in the most shallow part of the wading area of that “fixer-upper” gene pool, there are those of us who should never be allowed to handle hammers, screwdrivers, or saws. There are those ( ...

2181. Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

Acts 7:1-53

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

More than most, this speech of Stephen has been subject to that skepticism that is inclined to regard all the speeches of Acts as Luke’s own composition. There is no denying that Luke’s hand may be seen in them all in their literary style and vocabulary. But there is about each of them a distinctiveness that not only fits each to its context, but in some cases, at least, to the speaker’s own writings elsewhere (see, e.g., disc. on 5:30, 13:39; 15:13ff.; 20:17–38). To attribute this entirely to Luke’s art ...

2182. In Pisidian Antioch

Acts 13:13-52

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

The missionaries cross to Asia Minor, where Paul’s first recorded sermon is preached in Antioch. The speech is given at length, so that on other occasions Luke needed only to say that Paul “proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues” (13:5; 14:1; etc.) without feeling obliged to give the content of the preaching each time. And like the speech, the response was also a paradigm, with some Jews believing but many rejecting the gospel. It is possible to see in the pattern of ministry outlined in this ...

2183. The Year of Canceling Debts

Deuteronomy 15:1-11

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Release of Debts and Slaves: Those who see the order of the Decalogue reflected in the structure of the laws in Deuteronomy 12–26 relate the whole section from 14:28 to 16:17 to the fourth (sabbath) commandment. The sabbath commandment focused on the needs especially of the dependent sections of the population (5:14) and was motivated by God’s redemptive action on behalf of Israel when they were oppressed slaves (5:15). Chapter 15 is saturated with the same social concern and the same motivation. It is the ...

2184. Jesus Is the Example of Service for His Followers

Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 20:20-28

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Jesus’ disciples are exhorted to renounce their concern for status, following the example of Jesus himself, who willingly suffers and dies to ransom people. Understanding the Text This passage narrates a final teaching opportunity for Jesus’ disciples before arriving in Jerusalem (20:29–21:11). The passage begins with a third passion prediction by Jesus (20:17–19; cf. 16:21; 17:22–23) and ends with the first explicit purpose statement that Jesus provides for his coming death: to be “a ransom for ...

2185. Mission and Rejection in Galilee

Mark 6:14-29, Mark 6:7-13

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: All followers of Jesus are called to mission. Yet when the kingdom news of the gospel is presented, there is both authority from God and inevitable opposition to it when people reject the good news, sometimes even costing the lives of those sent to speak for God. Understanding the Text This begins the fourth section of the Galilean ministry in Mark (after 1:16–3:6; 3:7–35; 4:1–6:30) and constitutes the third sandwiching episode thus far (after 3:20–35; 5:21–43). The sending of the Twelve (6:7–13 ...

2186. Jesus Proclaims Judgment on the Temple and the Nation

Mark 13:1-31

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: God’s judgment will soon fall on the temple and the land and bring devastation. However, God’s people must not be carried away by false teaching and false rumors but rather should endure patiently in the midst of the persecution. Understanding the Text The extensive discourse of chapter 13, known as the Olivet Discourse, develops the basic theme in passion week thus far: the fruitlessness (fig tree) and guilt (clearing of the temple) of the Jewish leadership, leading to the curse upon the nation ...

2187. Dealing with Potential Covenant Violation

Joshua 22:1-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

22:1–24:28 Review · Staying in the Land:The final three chapters of the book, consisting of an account of a potential conflict (22:1–34) and two speeches (23:1–24:33), each with its unique setting, do not immediately appear to constitute a natural literary unit. But these episodes do share a common concern. While the near conflict is triggered by a potential covenant violation that threatens to jeopardize the welfare of the entire community, Joshua’s two speeches also warn of the destructive potential of ...

2188. Samuel Anoints David

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Introducing David: The focus again moves, this time from Saul to David. Saul remains in the picture up to 2 Samuel 1, and his influence is felt after that in the ongoing tensions between the north and the south in Israel. But from this point Saul is a secondary character. Samuel, who had resigned his commission as national leader (ch. 12), is recalled to anoint David. Samuel’s return underlines the portrayal of Saul’s reign as being a pause before the genuine new age arose in Israel with David’s ...

2189. Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 14:1-33

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Absalom – In Geshur and Jerusalem: 14:1 Although his reason for wanting Absalom back in Israel is obscure, Joab plays the key role in the account of Absalom’s return. Again, the writers’ awareness of people, their characters, and their motivations is remarkable. Both Joab and Absalom are portrayed with a great deal of insight. It is possible that Joab had tried before to obtain a pardon for Absalom, as David’s comment in verse 19 could indicate. That would then explain the circuitous route that Joab used ...

2190. David In Saul's Service

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

2191. Absalom's Conspiracy

2 Samuel 15:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

2192. Jacob Flees to Laban

Genesis 27:41--28:9

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Esau’s plans of deadly vengeance: Rebekah devises a plan to save Jacob from Esau’s wrath (27:41–28:5); and Esau marries an Ishmaelite woman (28:6–9). There are only two actors in each scene. In the first four scenes the actors rotate in this pattern: Isaac-Esau, Rebekah-Jacob, Isaac-Jacob, and Isaac-Esau. The fifth act, in which the conflict is resolved, has three scenes and the actors are Rebekah-Jacob, Rebekah-Isaac, and Isaac-Jacob. Because of the deep rift in the family Esau never meets with Jacob or ...

2193. Some Things I've Learned Since I Knew It All

Mark 4:26-34

Sermon

Ron Lavin

Have you ever suffered from "sophomoritis"? It's not a physical disease, like arthritis. It's a spiritual disease many college sophomores get when they get filled up with knowledge, come home on a vacation, and act like they know more than the folks around whom they grew up, especially their parents and younger siblings. That happened to a young man named Adam. He was studying to be an engineer at the University of Illinois in Urbana. On Christmas break, he got quite caught up with himself and started ...

2194. Bearing One Another's Burdens

Galatians 6:20

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

In Booker T. Washington's autobiography, Up from Slavery, Mr. Washington recalled a beautiful incident of an older brother's love. He said the shirts worn on his plantation by the slaves were made of a rough, bristly, inexpensive flax fiber. As a young boy, the garment was so abrasive to his tender, sensitive skin that it caused him a great deal of pain and discomfort. His older brother, moved by his brother's suffering, would wear Booker's new shirts, until they were broken in and smoother to the touch. ...

2195. God's Children

Eph 1:5; Matthew 20:1-16; Rom 8:17

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

A Sunday school superintendent had two new boys in her Sunday school. In order to register them she had to ask their ages and birthdays. The bolder of the two said, "We're both seven. My birthday is April 8, 1976, and my brother’s is April 20, 1976." "But that's impossible!" answered the superintendent. "No, it's not," answered the quieter brother. "One of us is adopted." "Which one?" asked the superintendent before she could curb her tongue. The boys looked at each other and smiled, and the bolder one ...

2196. But What of Lazarus?

John 11:1-16, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44

Sermon

David & Marian Plant

There is a cave. It is a tomb. There is a stone. It must be rolled away. And strips of cloth — cloths for burial. There is weeping. There is death. Jesus had come to Bethany. Lazarus was dead. “If you had been here,” Martha said, “If you had been here.” Her understanding of Jesus was such that from the very core of her being she trusted that had he been there, her brother would not have died. Even then she trusted Jesus could still do something, though she had no real notion of what shape that “something” ...

2197. Are Ye Able?

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

Although Christianity was an illegal religion during much of the first three centuries of the faith, there were both times when authorities turned a blind eye to their existence, and other times when persecution was intensified. During the reign of the Emperor Trajan (98-117AD) persecution intensified. In 108 AD, one of those arrested and condemned to be thrown to the wild beasts for the entertainment of the cheering crowds was Ignatius, the overseer of the church at Antioch. Antioch had been a center of ...

2198. The Subject Is Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Steve Molin

Elisabeth Elliot was a missionary. She was a missionary to a tribe called the Aucas in a remote section of Ecuador, and that alone may not be very spectacular. What is amazing however is that in January of 1955, Elisabeth’s husband, Jim, and four other missionaries were mas- sacred by a handful of the Auca tribe. They demolished their airplane, they mutilated their bodies with spears, and scattered the corpses throughout the dense jungle. In November, 1957, Elisabeth Elliot wrote these words as an epilogue ...

2199. MAY 29-JUNE 4

Mark 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Greeting (Put Leader2 and Leader3 together at a microphone that allows them to appear in opposition to Leader1. For example, put them at one side of the chancel and Leader1 at the other side.) Leader 1: This is Sunday, the day of the Lord's resurrection!Cng: Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Leader 2: Yes, this is Sunday, the Christians' sabbath. So, don't nag us with stories of hungry people. Leader 3: And don't pester us with offerings for food pantries; this is our sabbath and we want to rest. Leader 1 ...

2200. Proper 28

Mk 13:1-32 · Heb 10:11-25 · 1 Sam 1:4-20 · Ps 16

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Elkanah and his wives went up to Shiloh annually to offer sacrifice to the Lord. He would give each one a portion of the offering based on the number of children each had. Hannah was barren and the other wife would rub this fact into her face, particularly at the time of their pilgrimage. Being barren was considered a great curse. Hannah became depressed, refusing even to eat. Elkanah was an understanding husband who gently consoled his wife. She decided to take ...

Showing results

Showing 2176 to 2200 of 4456 results

2176. The Things Close to Your Heart

Mark 13:1-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2177. The Temple of Doom and the Bridegroom

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

If you’ve ever had your wallet or purse stolen you know that the worst “loss” is not the cash (who has it!) or the credit cards (you just cancel them). The worst loss is all those personal, “heart” things you keep close to you. Your ancient Social Security card that you got at age 15. Photos of parents, kids, and siblings that are faded and creased from being carted about for years. Those little “oddments” that remind you of who you are and where you come from — a broken piece of jewelry, a note giving ...

2178. Re-thinking Our Mission

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

2179. Thanksgivings to Remember

Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Sermon

Argile Smith

2180. Soiled Faith and Watered-Down Churches

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet