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 2251 to 2275 of 4456 results

2251. The Three Bs

Luke 3:1-22, Psalm 29

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

Barbara Brown Taylor tells a story about her grandmother Lucy. Lucy would often get strange looks from others. She had lost both her legs to diabetes and had wooden stumps where limbs should be. Her weak eyes demanded that she wear dark glasses and most of the time she dressed like a bomber pilot. But to her granddaughters, Lucy was wonderful. Whenever Barbara would visit her grandmother, grace would abound. In the closet would be wrapped packages — enough for a surprise each day of the visit. The meals ...

2252. God’s Absurd Answer

Luke 6:27-38

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

In a stunning biblical slap in the face, our gospel reading for this morning also served as the lectionary text ten days after 9/11 — ten days after Ground Zero became a devastating reality in our nation’s history. Love our enemies? Offer forgiveness? God, you have to be kidding! That first week after 9/11 — after the terror struck — after our world changed forever — I kept reading about other ministers who were preaching about forgiveness. “How can they do that?” I asked myself. You see, I simply was not ...

2253. The Sweet Fragrance of Brokenness

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Prop: A mortar and pestle. Assorted spices (such as cinnamon sticks, cedar, aloe, pomegranate seeds, saffron). Pine nuts, garlic, basil, salt and olive oil (the ingredients for pesto). Rose petals. A rosary (you can find a true rosary online). Anointing oil (such as spikenard). Candles and/or incense (frankincense and/or myrrh). [You may want to have scents/fragrances in the sanctuary for your service, ie incense and candles. If desired, you may have roses on the altar and/or an olive tree standing nearby ...

2254. Soul Food

Luke 9:10-17, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, John 6:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“I am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:35) Prop: a puppy or kitten; recipe for barley flat bread I have with me a little friend today [allow for the oohs and aahs]. Who would like to come and pet him? I know last Sunday was World Animal Sunday. But every Sunday should be World Animal Sunday, our pets are such an important part of our families. [No rushing, give people time … especially children to come up front or walk about the congregation with him….allowing people to see him and touch him. Consider letting ...

2255. A Message To You from God

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

Bill called his parents to wish them a happy New Year, and his dad answered the phone. “Well, Dad, what’s your New Year’s resolution?” Bill asked him. “To make your mother as happy as I can all year,” Dad answered. When mom got on the phone, Bill said, “What’s your resolution, Mom?” She answered, “To see that your dad keeps his New Year’s resolution.” (1) Welcome on this first Sunday of a New Year. Our topic for today is communication—an important topic in the family, in the workplace, even in the church, ...

2256. It Helps If You Laugh

John 15:9-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Here it is, "Mother's Day," a day to celebrate the women who raised us and the women who are raising our children. On this Mother's Day I want to make a confession: "I HAD THE MEANEST MOTHER IN THE WHOLE WORLD" That's right. I had the meanest Mother in the world. While all the other kids ate candy or cookies for breakfast, I had to eat healthy stuff like cereal, eggs or pancakes. When they got cokes and chips for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. And to top it off, I had to eat supper with the family. My ...

2257. If It Helps You Laugh

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

2258. All Mine To Give!

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

Do you ever get tired of giving? Have you ever seriously considered dropping out of the ranks of tithers? I have. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by those computer generated appeal letters that come into my office, three or four a day, from ministries in urgent need. Then a man raising his support calls and wants to drop by for an hour to solicit financial backing. After him follows a brother in dire straits who wants an extra 500 dollars for unexpected ministry expenses. Driving across town one sees a ...

2259. Reflections On the Sacred Head

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

Note: This sermon is more effective if the following three things are done. First, print the words to the hymn "O Sacred Head" in the bulletin for the day so that people can follow along and meditate upon them. Second, have a choir or a solo voice, or a combination of the two, sing the phrases as they come in the sermon. And third, use plenty of pauses and times for meditation throughout the sermon. A deliberate delivery is needed. As we gather on this Good Friday, it is appropriate for us to focus on the ...

2260. You Can Be Beautiful

Hosea 14:1-9

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

Following a morning as guest preacher at a large suburban church, I was approached by a member whom I had spotted during the second morning service. He had been sitting on the very front pew. A large man, he left hardly any room for other persons on the short pew near the chancel. He was not poorly dressed but did present a generally disheveled look, as if appearance were at the bottom of his list of personal priorities. All smiles, he approached me with a hug and the following greeting: "Hey brother! All ...

2261. Easter Day

John 20:10-18, John 20:1-9, Colossians 3:1-17, Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 10:34-43 Peter testifies to the Lord's resurrection to the household of Cornelius, the Roman centurion who feared God. These two men are brought together by their visions. Through this encounter, God reveals to Peter that the Gentiles are also heirs to salvation. In his sermon, Peter covers the fundamentals of the gospel, Christ's death and resurrection. Peter testifies as an eye witness, who ate and drank with Christ after he rose from the dead, that Jesus is the one ordained by ...

2262. The Condition Of Mercy

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Donald Dotterer

Let us pray: Our Father and our God, on this day we give you thanks for all the blessings of our lives. In these moments, may we learn something about what it is for which we need to be most thankful. Lord, in these moments may we experience your mercy and your grace. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. A social psychologist by the name of David Myers has written a book titled The Pursuit of Happiness. The book has 59 pages of references and a 43-page bibliography. This large number of citations clearly ...

2263. A Voice Out Of The Cloud

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

James Garrett

Today we celebrate the Transfiguration Of Our Lord. We will soon begin the Lenten Journey. Often Lent is abused. It has in certain times and places become a period of empty abstinence from tidbits of affluence, and the enjoyment of gloom of self-denial. This is not the purpose of Lent. These 40 days should be a period of engagement with God, of repentance and prayer and a renewal of our baptismal vows. Lent looks towards God’s act in the cross and the resurrection. Lent is the opportunity to move within ...

2264. The Rich Young Ruler

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Brett Blair

The rich young ruler falls into that unique category of Bible characters that have been maligned by generations of commentators. We might compare him to the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son. It seems like both of these young men have always gotten bad press and therefore a bad reputation. We have been impressed with the f ct that the rich young ruler was seemingly so near to the Kingdom, but alas his love of money kept him out. We see him as a moral coward, a man who lacked commitment. And ...

2265. Giving

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

Brett Blair

Robert Fulghum, who wrote All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, says that he placed alongside the mirror in his bathroom a picture of a woman who is not his wife. That's risky business! Every morning as he stood there shaving, he looked at the picture of that woman. The picture? The picture is of a small humped-over woman wearing sandals and a blue eastern robe and head dress (sari). She is surrounded by important-looking people in tuxedos, evening gowns, and the regalia of royalty. It is ...

2266. You Have to Work At It

John 21:15-25

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: The effort involved in loving God and one another. Props: None. This sermon may need some adaptation if you have a large sanctuary; however, the sermon is designed to create commotion within the congregation and the closer to which this is allowed the better the effect. Especially if the reading of John 21:1-19 or 15-19 immediately follows. Lesson: [When the children are settled:] I have a question for you this morning, "Do you love your mom and dad?" (response) Get as many children to ...

2267. Incalculable Riches by Bishop Roy C. Nichols

Ephesians 3:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Mann

In Ephesians, Chapter 3 and verse 8, Paul says, "To me, least of all the saints, is given the grace to preach the unsearchable riches of the gospel of Jesus Christ." One of our modern translations renders the text thus: "the incalculable riches." I like that better, because it expresses the vastness of the gospel, rather than its "mystery." Paul was sharing this testimony with the members of the churches of the city of Ephesus. They knew him well; for he had first preached in their midst and nurtured them ...

2268. The Deeper Meanings of The Christian Faith by Dr. Bryant M. Kirkland

Romans 8:18-27

Sermon

Leonard Mann

I would like to talk with you about the meaning of Christianity. I took seriously the assignment that was given to me. I studied about Paul’s sermon at Mars Hill where he stood up in the great place of debate and spoke so eloquently that the people said, "Tell us what is the meaning of this Jesus and the resurrection that you proclaim." I have tried to work out this message mindful of what I imagine are your thoughts, my own thoughts, and the troubled thoughts that are characteristic in this modern period ...

2269. Parents, Tend Those Lambs!

John 21:15-25

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

Two children, a four-year-old and a six-year-old, gave their mother a houseplant for Mother's Day. They had used their own money, and she was thrilled. The older child said with a sad face, "There was a bouquet at the flower shop that we wanted to give you, but it was too expensive. It had a ribbon on it that said, 'Rest in peace."' A parent, particularly a mother, gets little chance to rest in peace this side of heaven. Parenting is intensive leadership, 24 hours per day. The Bible describes parental ...

2270. Carrying Worshipers out on Stretchers

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

William Willimon tells about a church in a town he was visiting years ago. According to the newspaper, the church was having an all-day meeting of the church’s “medical auxiliary.” Willimon figured this was a meeting of church folks who occasionally volunteered at the local hospital. He was wrong. A friend of his, someone who knew more about the church and its denomination than he did, told him that this was not the case. He said “the medical auxiliary consists of those persons who handle the stretchers, ...

2271. Merry XMas

John 1:1-18

Sermon

David E. Leininger

This is a glorious time of year. I am looking forward to the cantata next week, the candlelight communion service on Christmas Eve, and of course, the Joy Gift Pageant tonight. One never knows what to expect at Christmas pageants. I read recently(1) of a heated discussion between some pleading grown-ups and a particularly adamant five-year-old. She would wear her new dress or she would not appear in the pageant. First, the Director begged her, "Please put on the costume. The people want to see you as MARY ...

2272. Sister Act

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Eric Ritz

The headline on the cover of a Sports Illustrated sometime back read: "Sportswoman of the Year." One of the pictures on the cover showed Mary Decker pressing the tape as she defeated by inches the Soviet champion, Zamira Zaitseva, in a 1500 meter world championship race. The article went on to describe Decker's phenomenal performances in San Diego, Los Angeles, Gateshead (England), Stockholm, Paris, and Oslo. One comment was made about Mary Decker by the writer of the article that is relevant to our ...

2273. Hungry For Bread

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

King Duncan

"I am thankful," says an unknown author, "for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive . . ." Then he adds, "And for the person behind me in church who sings off-key because it means that I can hear." (1) There is somebody who knows how to be thankful. This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. It is a day when we will celebrate our bounty as a nation, and we will express our thanks to the One who is the source of all that we have. Maybe we will even give some thought to ...

2274. "Head" Lines

Ephesians 1:1-14

Sermon

King Duncan

How many of us pick up the newspaper each morning and scan the headlines before we start reading the morning news? Not every story is of equal interest to everyone. For example, a headline about a tax hike or a bomb scare is more likely to catch my attention than is a headline about school marching bands or knitting clubs. You have your own criteria for judging which stories merit your time. But occasionally, a headline will catch our attention because it seems to have more than one meaning. Sometimes the ...

2275. The Ninth Commandment: Liar, Liar

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

From the Internet came a very interesting tidbit that is taking place in southern Florida. It seems that on Interstate 95 someone is placing ads about the Ten Commandments right next to or right alongside ads for the state lottery. The billboards have the following in large print: "WHAT PART OF THOU SHALT NOT . . . DON''T YOU UNDERSTAND" and it was signed "GOD." Commuters on a certain part of the roadway face this warning, "KEEP USING MY NAME IN VAIN AND I WILL MAKE THE RUSH HOUR EVEN LONGER, signed GOD." ...

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