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 2376 to 2400 of 5000 results

2376. Which Mask Will You Wear?

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... we all play the hypocrite. Certainly I’m conscious of that. Every time I talk about taking up the cross and following Christ, I am confronted with the question of how much my faith costs me and whether I am giving my all to serve the Master. You understand that. It’s true of you as well. The critics are right. The church is full of hypocrites. The more conscious you are of Christ’s call, the more you are aware of how inadequate your own witness is. In an interview in the magazine The Door, famed ...

2377. What Is a Friend?

Illustration

C. Raymond Beran

... not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities, and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the ...

2378. Jingle Bells at a Funeral

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... us that all of life should be a joyous celebration. Because the Lord of life has come into our world, every day should be a time of joy. That says to me that we should even be able to sing “Jingle Bells” at a funeral if we understand the Gospel rightly. I Thessalonians 5, verse 16, only contains two words . . . making it one of the shortest verses in the Bible, but what a perfect verse for the third Sunday in Advent. The words of this short verse are, “Rejoice always.” That’s clear enough, isn ...

2379. A Man's Thoughts on Marriage

Humor Illustration

... until he gets a wife. A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little. To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all. Married men live longer than single men, but married men are a lot more willing to die. Any married man should forget his mistakes, there's no use in two people remembering the same thing ...

2380. The Handiwork of God

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... . For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” St. Paul’s words say three things to me. First of all, they say we were created for greatness. Now it’s important for you to understand what I mean by greatness. Greatness in God’s eyes is different from what the world means by greatness. Dr. Mark D. Roberts tells one of the most moving stories I’ve heard in quite a while. He tells about a phone call he received about bedtime one ...

2381. How Can I Keep From Singing?

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... mirror, and as I went about my growing up, I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child's game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of light. But light ‑‑ truth, understanding, knowledge ‑‑ is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it. "I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not ...

2382. God’s Two Hands

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... with Jesus. They were as close to him as anyone could get. They traveled with Jesus. They listened to his every word. They played with Jesus and laughed with Jesus and cried with Jesus. How could they have failed so miserably to grasp who he was, and to understand the truth? When they shivered from first-hand experiences of the depth of his power, and felt the divine presence of his touch, how couldn’t they have known? And learned to trust and obey? One reason why you can trust the Bible is that it always ...

2383. Zombie Zone or Beulah Land?

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... can’t even wish were dead because it already is . . . zombies! Wait a minute, you say. I didn’t come to church to hear about zombies. Well, you not only need to hear about them if you are to understand the mission field God has put us in. But you need to hear about them if you are to understand our text for this morning, a text about “aliens and strangers.” In case you didn’t know, zombies are re-animated dead people. When I was a kid the first zombies came about through voodoo spells. But now it ...

2384. Where Is Your Pebble?

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... people at St. Andrew tied a knot in it for me and helped me hold on.” (4) That’s good—“they tied a knot in it for me and helped me hold on.” The work of the church is important work. Indeed, it is critical work. If you do not understand that, you cannot appreciate the words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus. Paul is in prison. He knows his time is limited. And so he writes to the church at Ephesus with a real sense of urgency about the meaning of the gospel and about their mission ...

2385. Enough Foolishness!

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

King Duncan

... our lives. It is partially in our behalf that St. Paul writes to the church at Ephesus, “Be very careful . . . how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving ...

2386. Love Walked Across the Field

Luke 4:14-21

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... . - 1 John 4:7-10 "God is love." When John defined God as love, he was not just describing a characteristic or an attribute of God. If he were, he would have said, "God is a loving person." He didn't say that. Through prayer and faith, we come to understand just what he says: "God is love!" That is, God's very life empowers us to love. God is love, a love revealed in Jesus. God is not some Buddha sitting in cosmic space, gazing upon his navel, for love is not static. Love is not a warm, fuzzy feeling ...

2387. Believing Thomas

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... than ever, disconnected from the world. John wants us placed firmly in the world. This is what is real. Jesus is at the intersection. In the gospel of John, believing in Jesus means you get it. It's not just seeing, it's not just intellectual assent, it's understanding what you see to the core of your being. It means you are ready at last to change everything about your life because you get it. When Jesus tells Thomas he must move from unbelief to belief he's hoping he'll get it. This story takes place ...

2388. How Much of an Honor?

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... . One of the things that makes Jesus the ideal shepherd is that he is portrayed as one of the sheep, the Lamb of God in the gospel of John, the Lamb bearing the marks of slaughter in Revelation. As the Word was made flesh that dwelt among us, he understands our infirmity. He is one of us. That's why Jesus can say that his sheep know the shepherd because in this case the shepherd is a sheep. This is especially hopeful when the shepherd leads the sheep beyond the still waters, the stagnant waters, filled with ...

2389. But I Really Like the Best Seat in the House!

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

... . I said, "Well, Ed, I'm still setting up the chairs." And he grinned and said, "Keep it up." Albert Schweitzer once said, "The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve." I'm only just beginning to understand that. But then I've always been a slow learner when it comes to some of this discipleship stuff. How about you? So Jesus says to us, when you throw a party don't be so quick to invite family and friends and relatives and your rich neighbors ...

2390. Washed Clean

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... year — Jesus' baptism. Jesus had no sin to be washed away, but he was baptized anyway. There is an old Russian Orthodox belief that any two babies baptized in the same church, on the same day, are as brother or sister. Perhaps that is the way we should understand Jesus' baptism. He does not need it for himself, but he does it to share our humanity, to be our brother. Now let's get on with our work. There is indeed something about getting washed clean that gives a new start and an impetus to get on with ...

2391. Life After Life

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... be infinitely better than this one. And we have the promise that the God who controls it all loves us more than we could ever imagine, so much that he would let his own Son die so that we might live. Knowing all that, we do not have to understand. We will have life after life! My wife spent some of her high school years at Northfield in Massachusetts. Northfield is a school that was founded by one of the most famous evangelists of the last century, Dwight L. Moody. In fact, his grave is on the campus. I ...

2392. Lent 2

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 27:1-14, Luke 13:31-35, Philippians 3:17--4:1

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... for contemporary seekers, this story alerts us to the wisdom in past heroes, to the human desire to be connected with that wisdom and support, and to the momentary mystery that points to the path that is ours to follow. And we don’t have to understand it! To walk in the footsteps of Christ is sufficient for our own transformations. Contemporary Affirmation (Unison) The Holy comes to us in many different ways. God continues to create in and around us, leading us to food for our souls and our bodies. We ...

2393. All Is Different Now

Mark 9:38-50

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to “speak evil” about him. Jesus then goes on to make the proverbial declaration, “Whoever is not against us is for us” (v.40). While John was anxious to establish an “us” vs. “them” exclusiveness, Jesus welcomes all who use his name, even if their understanding is limited. This is a good thing for John since at this point in the gospel it is clear that the Twelve are as much in the dark about the true nature of Jesus and the role of discipleship as any unknown exorcist. Jesus’ inclusivity ...

2394. Proper 4

1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39, Psalm 96:1-13, Luke 7:1-10, Galatians 1:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and planets move about space. Our silence is full of sighs and hmmms as we consider how our time is spent. Sing to us of new ways to think; sing of sustainable lifestyles so we can banish poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Let us listen carefully and understand. Loving Spirit — we know so many people who need care, so we pray for them. We name them in the quiet places of our minds: (pause for silent prayers) Thank you for being present with us. Amen. Benediction We’ve considered the scriptures we’ve ...

2395. Blind Ambition

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

King Duncan

... nature a push. “Giving birth a few days early is worth it to me and my husband,” she said before the birth. “It will mean a lot in school if my child has the necessary skills and maturity of other children his age.” (1) We can understand that. We live in a competitive world. That’s the nature of our society. They’re not playing football games all over our nation every weekend this fall just for the exercise. Winning is important to us. Pride is important to us. Prestige. Two archaeologists, a ...

2396. Made for Joy

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... on a restaurant where people were lined up to get hot food. He reports that in this dark situation there was this one place with all this light and joy and music and laughter and excitement. He went over to the assistant manager and said, “Mister, I don’t understand. It’s dark everywhere. The airport is right over there and it’s dark. My hotel is right over yonder and it’s dark too. Everything is dark, and yet you are lit up like a Christmas tree. How can this be?” The manager said, “It’s ...

2397. Responsibility Comes with Privilege

Acts 8:4-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... . The story of the king and his four daughters demonstrates that privilege and responsibility come together; they cannot be separated. Each of the women received the same privilege, the honor of ruling their father's kingdom. The first three did not understand the responsibility that came with the privilege. The youngest, however, after contemplating the significance of her father’s gift, realized the need to be responsible. Thus, she was the one chosen to succeed her father. Today we close the Christmas ...

2398. Meal of Death

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... powerful associated with that table. There is something about this table that reminds us of an altar. In fact, even though it looks like a table, we still call it an altar. Perhaps if we knew why it is an altar rather than a table, we would better understand what we are participating in when we gather around it. If we knew its origin, then we would know why it is an altar. As an experiment sometime, when you are at home sitting at the kitchen table with one of your children, ask this question: "Where does ...

2399. But…!

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... . The name "Easter" comes from a name used by the ancient nature religions to refer to the season of Spring. As a result, our society finds it easy to celebrate this day with eggs and bunnies and flowers, all those symbols of new life that everyone can understand. It doesn't matter if you are an orthodox Christian or a tree-hugging Wiccan, you get the picture. I heard a commercial in which a child asks his mother if the Easter Bunny comes down the chimney just like Santa Claus bringing gifts. And he wanted ...

2400. But When God ...

Galatians 1:11-24

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... able to share our experiences of faith together and learn from one another. But what we do have in common with the apostle is that God is also at work in our lives, to give us a new way of seeing and a new way of living. Paul came to understand Jesus in a new way, he understood the church in a new way, he was able to redefine success in a new way, he saw people in a new way — not divided between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, men and women, but as one new humanity in Jesus Christ ...

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