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 2201 to 2225 of 3082 results

2201. Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The sayings and the parable found in this week's gospel text evidently come from Luke's own personal "L" source for they appear in none of the other gospels. There are similar stories found in the Gospel of Thomas though there they are lacking in some of the unique Lukan literary flourishes and theological touches. The dialogue in verses 13 and 14 has been the subject of considerable debate among biblical scholars. There are some, most notably Rudolf Bultmann, who have contended that because this exchange ...

2202. Luke 4:1-13

Luke 4:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Today's gospel text is a remarkably detailed tour of temptations given Jesus by an articulate, Torah-toting, Scripture-quoting devil. Mark's short form of this confrontation is elongated and elaborated by 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 ...

2203. Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

2204. Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The parable of the prodigal son is perhaps the best-known and best-loved of all Jesus' parables. It is also best at generating seemingly infinite numbers of interpretations, understandings and themes. Start with the way we usually refer to the Luke 15:11-32 text: "The Prodigal Son." True, the behavior of the younger son plays a central role in this parable. But others have noted that an equally precise title for this tale might be "The Waiting Father," or "Joy and Repentance," or even "The Parable of the ...

2205. Colossians 1:1-14

Colossians 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

While Colossians contains some theological content that seems distinct from Paul's more common themes, there is no compelling reason to dismiss his authorship. Things that make it suspicious to some seem to be a function of the theological and personal issues Paul and Timothy are addressing. Perhaps Timothy had a more collaborative role in the authorship than is generally recognized (v.1). But our exegesis of these passages will assume Paul's overall authorship. In overall literary style, Colossians ...

2206. Acts 17:22-31

Acts 17:22-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul's presence in Athens puts him at the heart of pagan intellectualism. There at the home of Plato, where highbrow philosophical debate is common marketplace chatter, Paul is but one voice among a host of competing ideologies. Two of the more popular philosophical schools of thought there are Epicureanism and Stoicism, whose devotees held very different views of the world. Aware of his audience's preferences and prejudices, Paul begins his address at the Areopagus by praising his hearers for their ...

2207. Isaiah 9:2-7

Isaiah 9:2-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The text read from Isaiah today delivers an inspiring promise of hope to a dispirited people. This poem was probably composed at the beginning of a series of disastrous political and military moves that took Judah from one precarious position to another. About 733 B.C. the northern tribes were invaded and any remnant of a northern kingdom was destroyed. With a sense of horror and foreboding, the southern kingdom of Judah watched as borders were breached and identities consumed. It is in response to this ...

2208. God Loses, So We Can Win

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Mike Ripski

In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, when the work of defining his mission is done, we read these words: “And the angels came and waited on him, ministered to him, blessed him.” During my time away, the angels came and blessed me. I thank you for the time and I thank Regina. You’ve experienced the Holy Spirit working in and through her as she’s lead worship, preached, and pastored you. On his way out after a worship service, Bob Bunn, one of our Lay Leaders, said to Regina, “Tell ...

2209. Proper 20

Mark 9:33-37, Mark 9:14-32, James 4:1-12, James 3:1-12, Proverbs 31:10-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Proverbs 31:10-31 In this epilogue in Proverbs, a godly woman is described. It is a picture far from the view that in Old Testament times, a woman was a nobody, a man's property without privileges and rights. She is a wife and mother who fears the Lord. Her husband and children praise her and call her blessed. Epistle: James 3:13 4:3, 7-8a In this lesson, James distinguishes between the types of wisdom. Earthly wisdom is characterized by ambition, rivalry and selfishness. This ...

2210. Proper 22

Job 1:1-5, Job 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-14, Hebrews 2:5-18, Mark 10:1-12, Mark 10:13-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Job 1:1; 2:1-10 This is the first of four selections from the book of Job, one of the "Writings." Job is one of three books of wisdom, written probably in the sixth century B.C. Today's pericope is a part of the Prologue (1:1 2:13). Twice God describes Job as a "blameless and upright man who fears God." He suffered the loss of his 10 children and all of his animals. Yet, he did not blame God. Then he was afflicted with sores all over his body. Still Job did not sin with his lips. ...

2211. When You're Overwhelmed

John 6:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

I heard about a man recently in Minnesota who clearly needs to choose another profession. His name is Rafiq Abdul Mortland. Mortland had committed a string of robberies, and fortunately for him, he was eventually caught. I say fortunately, because during his crime spree, Mortland received the nickname, “The Rolaids Robber.” The reason he received this nickname was that, while he was robbing their store, he repeatedly asked store clerks for antacid tablets. Mortland needed the antacid because of the stress ...

2212. The King and I

Isaiah 6:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

I read about a man who was on a television game show called "The One Million Dollar Question." The host said to him, "Bob, you haven't had a wrong answer all week on the "The one million dollar" question. You are one of the best players we've ever seen. Now you've chosen American History as the category for your final question. Are you ready?" He said, "I sure am." He said, "Okay, for the $1 million prize, you have a two-part question, and as you know you can answer either part first. Which part would you ...

2213. Don’t Be a Hypocrite

Matthew 6:1-4

Sermon

James Merritt

There are very few people who never, ever get angry about anything. Even if you are the most mild mannered of mild mannered people, you have a hot-button that if someone just knows where it is and knows how to push it, they can really make your blood boil. What one thing makes you the angriest? Maybe, it is when somebody cuts you off on the freeway. Maybe, it is when your brother or sister borrows some of your clothes and doesn't tell you about it. Maybe, it is when your favorite college football team ...

2214. The World Is Not Enough

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

James Merritt

We are all familiar with the television show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Well USA Today recently said the answer is: "Everybody." In an article entitled, "Everyone wants a shot at being a millionaire," I found out that we are a country drowning in millionaires.[1] The estimate is there are now close to 15 million Americans with assets of $1 million or more[2]; while just ten years ago there were fewer than half that number. Billionaires are multiplying even faster. In 1983 Forbes counted 13 American ...

2215. Bethlehem: Where Extremes Meet

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

Gary L. Carver

Every year at this particular season, I am amazed all over again at the impact that the old, old story of Christmas has on people. In light of how "fad-conscious" we tend to be in this country, it is a wonder to me that we have not grown weary of this ancient story and the figures of the babe and the manger and the shepherds and all the rest. After 2,000 years of exhaustive repetition, why do you suppose the events of Bethlehem still lay hold of our depths and continue to intrigue us? Is this simply the ...

2216. Building a Victorious Life

Luke 6:39-49

Sermon

Gary L. Carver

J. Wallace Hamilton in his book, What About Tomorrow? tells the story of a wealthy builder who called his top assistant and said, "I am going away for ten months. While I am gone, I want you to oversee the building of my home. I am going to be retiring in a few years. I have these wonderful plans and an excellent lot by the lake and I want you to oversee the building of our home." As he left, the assistant said to himself, "He lives in luxury and has done very little for me. When he retires, what will I ...

2217. Mary Magdalene’s Day

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

Mary Magdalene may very well be the most enigmatic and controversial figure in the resurrection story. In a way the holy scriptures give us just enough information to excite our curiosity in regard to her personal relationship with the man she adored, Jesus of Nazareth. We still wonder what kind of person she was. Fiction writers have had a field day, especially in recent years. Was she really married to Jesus and did they have children? Did they establish a bloodline that is with us today? Such inquiries ...

2218. A Breadbasket Full of Goodies

John 6:25-35

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

In this the sixth chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus begins to withdraw to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. He has fed the 5,000, and he has walked on water. The press of the crowds had become all consuming and he needs some solitude to prepare himself for what lay ahead. Considering that the crowds that followed him more than likely knew of the feeding of the 5,000, and some may even have heard of the miraculous walking on water, it is difficult to explain why in these verses, they would doubt anything ...

2219. Jailhouse Rock

Acts 16:16-34

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

Do you remember the old folk tune that went something like this? (sing or recite) The bear went over the mountain. The bear went over the mountain. The bear went over the mountain — To see what he could see. And all that he could see, and all that he could see, Was the other side of the mountain, the other side of the mountain The other side of the mountain was all that he could see! Maybe the only thing you can see from a high place is the other side of that high place, but still, the view can be worth it ...

2220. The Undoing of Babel

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Stan Purdum

Several years ago, my wife and I took a vacation where we drove to Mexico City in an old Volkswagen van. Neither of us speak Spanish, but along the primary route down and in Mexico City itself, we had no trouble communicating because many people there spoke English. After spending a few days in that city, we decided to make our exit from Mexico by driving up a highway along the west coast of the country. That route provided us many attractive views of the Pacific Ocean and, as we got farther north, the ...

2221. Song of the Vineyard

Isaiah 5:1-7

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

Some of the best prophetic voices of any culture are its troubadours. Historically, the term refers to traveling musicians who once strolled the streets and pubs of medieval Europe singing love songs in exchange for food and lodging. Today they travel by jet or private coach filling auditoriums with screaming fans and recording "greatest hits" albums. Regardless of the time or language, music has an almost supernatural power to affect the human soul and even change the course of the human community. It ...

2222. “Unto Us A Child Is Born... Next, On Omar”

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

Characters (in order of appearance) Jacob Omar Looseandfree Applause Child (nonspeaking) Shepherd 1 Shepherd 2 Shepherd 3 Lead Angel 2nd Angel Angel Choir Audience Member 1 Wise Man 1 Wise Man 2 Wise Man 3 Servant (nonspeaking) Mary Joseph Audience Member 2 Audience Member 3 Stage Manager Stagehands (nonspeaking) Props Four chairs Handheld microphones (real or fake) Sign with “Applause” written on it Bells Three pillows Baby doll Notes Another one of our “intentional anachronism plays,” “Unto Us A Child Is ...

2223. The Power of Purpose

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Paul had laid down the flail of the persecutor and took up the torch of the evangel on the Damascus Road. There he began the course of a great adventure, an adventure that sent him trudging through the then-known world – through the deserts and over the mountains, through blinding blizzard and blistering sun, traveling in peril of his own life, shipwrecked, beaten by the Romans, stoned by the Jew. Yet, throwing back his great cloak to show the scars of his beatings there saying, I bear in my body the marks ...

2224. Joshua People Study

Joshua 1:7-8, Psalm 119:10-18

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Years ago I heard the story of a Pastor who was preaching and casting the vision for the future of their congregation. He told them, "With God's help we can see the day when this church will go from crawling to walking." And the people responded, "Let the church walk, Pastor, let the church walk." He continued, "And when the church begins to walk, next the church can begin to run." And the people shouted, "Let the church run, Pastor, let the church run!" Fired up, he continued, "And finally the church can ...

2225. A Stone’s Throw From: The Party

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

There's an old story about a skeptic who continually harassed the local pastor. His one delight in life seemed to be making the pastor appear inadequate intellectually. The pastor bore those challenges to his theology and faith with great restraint. One day the skeptic was heckling the pastor about his views on miracles. "Give me one concrete example of a miracle," the skeptic taunted. "One concrete example." This pastor hauled off and kicked the skeptic in the shin as hard as he could. The skeptic couldn' ...

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