Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: effortlessness, no difficulty, no trouble, no bother, facility, facileness, simplicity, naturalness, casualness, informality, unceremoniousness, lack of reserve, lack of constraint, relaxedness, amiability, affability, peace, peacefulness, calmness, tranquillity, composure, serenity, repose, restfulness, quiet, contentment, security, comfort, affluence, wealth, prosperity, prosperousness, luxury, opulence, plenty, sufficiency, relieve, alleviate, mitigate, assuage, allay, soothe, soften, palliate, ameliorate, mollify, moderate, tone down, blunt, dull, deaden, numb, take the edge off, abate, subside, die down, die away, die out, drop off, let up, slacken off, diminish, lessen, grow less, tail off, peter out, taper off, wane, ebb, relent, weaken, become weaker, come to an end, calm, pacify, bring comfort to, give solace to, solace, console, facilitate, make easy, make easier, expedite, speed up, assist, help, aid, advance, further, forward, smooth the way for, clear the way for, simplify, guide, manoeuvre, inch, edge, steer, slide, slip, squeeze

Antonyms: difficulty, formality, stiffness, trouble, disturbance, hardship, aggravate, worsen, hinder, discomfort, agony, anguish, misery, suffering, unrest, fear, torment, disquiet, uneasiness, pang, pain, distress, exertion, ache, smart, worry

Showing 1 to 25 of 706 results

1. The Ease of Stress

Illustration

Maxie Dunnam

... If that is true of animals, how much more true is it of us human beings? We are constantly under stress -- especially as we are exposed to the public. We need to take time -- time to rest our bodies, time to let our minds slow down, time to give some ease to our souls, time to reflect and pray, time to worship, time to join ourselves in quality relationships with those who love us, in order that their love might calm our spirits and restore our souls. We need time to be with God and with those we love -- in ...

2. Job's Second Reply to Zophar

Job 21:1-34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless” (8:14). This is not the momentary “joy of the godless” that “lasts but a moment” as Zophar claimed (20:5). This is a lifetime of comfortable ease and a swift, easy departure. Job’s own life could not present a greater contrast. 21:14–15 In these verses Job describes the inward disposition of the wicked in their own words. The report as direct quote, they say, removes any doubt as to the ...

3. We Fools

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Will Willimon

... lives our creations, Unable to rest easy in God's good creation, to see our lives as God's good creation, we have much to do. (''I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and fill new ones. I will say to my soul, take ease... '') We did a survey here on your attitudes toward worship. Your least favorite act of worship? The Offering. (Get ready, It's corning in a few moments like it or not.) Why do we not like the Offering? Is it only intrusion into our Sunday meditation, unwarranted interruption of ...

4. How to Escape Being Possessed By Our Possessions

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... problem pressed, who were compelled to ask, ‘What shall I do, because stark poverty has come to be our guest?’ Deliberately this man proposed to spend the rest of his days on the pleasure of his body: “Soul, thou has much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” He was heedless of his comrades of earth, even as he was heedless of God.” (4) You see, when we don’t include God in our planning, we grow blind to the world around us. We also grow blind to God and our ...

5. I Love You — If You Know What I Mean

1 John 3:16-24

Sermon

John B. Jamison

... world what it means to do the right thing. The woman who has just buried her child comes to the church to try and find some easing of the pain that is tearing her life apart. The church smiles at her and says, “God loves you so much that he is just ... small piece of hope. When any of those are missing, we suffer. I don’t need to agree with their suffering, I just need to help ease it. I just need to share God’s love with them and give them the opportunity to look at the world differently than they do ...

6. Proper 10

Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 1:1-14, Amos 7:10-17, Psalm 82:1-8

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... -30 -- An encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. An encounter with the rich young ruler about obeying commandments: Mark 10:17-31 Luke 18:18-30 Use of oil for anointing: Psalm 23:5 -- Anointing the head with oil. Isaiah 1:6 -- Oil used to ease pain of a wound. CONTENT Content of the Pericope A lawyer interrupts Jesus with a question about what must be done to inherit eternal life. Jesus counters with a question to the lawyer about what he reads in the law. The lawyer answers with the combination of ...

7. The Promise Of The Spirit

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... record of the unending march of God's purpose through history. God calls us to be Spirit-led and to follow God. The work of the Spirit is to prod, move and inspire men and women to be active participants in the kingdom of God. God drives Abraham from the ease and comfort of Haran declaring, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you ..." (Genesis 12:1-2). The disciples left the comforts of home and ...

8. The Healing Of Simon Peter's Mother-In-Law

Mark 1:29-34

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

... like the trusted physician whom we give the power to take one look at a problem and know immediately what to do. The disciples did not have to waste your energy with words or long explanations. Jesus: One dimension of the silence is our familial ease together. It is similar to the comfortable silences between a long-married couple. To reach that level of communication requires the work and practice of trusting. Beyond that, as we become adept at listening with our whole self, we can learn much about another ...

9. The Road To Nazareth

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... than it is for a rich man to get in a camel's eye." But no one was very uptight around Jesus. He put them at ease where they were and because of that he was able to call out the best from them. Where are you right now? A teacher asked her ... the place where I am right now." Wherever you are right now Jesus is the one who comes to you and he can put your life at ease. He will make himself a part of your struggle. He will say the right thing - the healing word, the hopeful word, the forgiving word, the helpful ...

10. Mary's Complaint

Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:46-56

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... something kept her from it. She had heard from the angel that she was "favored," and she believed it. She knew enough about what being CHOSEN meant simply by looking at her nation's history. The Jews were God's CHOSEN people...but chosen for what? A life of ease? A life without pain? A life with no problems? Hardly. This "chosen people" of hers had been chosen for service; it was to be a nation who would minister to the needs of a world lost in the darkness without the light of the God of heaven. She knew ...

11. The Benefits Of Trusting Christ

Romans 10:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... a construction worker in Lehighton, Pennsylvania who cut off his hand with a power saw while working in a basement. The pain quickly became so great that he shot a dozen nails in his skull with a pneumatic nail gun in order to try and ease the pain from his other injury. Commenting on this tragic incident Pastor Sabin says, "In life we at times go through some intensely painful experiences: death of someone close, dealing with a broken past, relationship pain, etc. We at times do equally foolish things to ...

12. Poem: In Memoriam

Eulogy

Alfred Lord Tennyson

... -driven, And love in which my hound has part, Can hang no weight upon my heart In its assumptions up to heaven; And I am so much more than these, As thou, perchance, art more than I, And yet I spare them sympathy, And I would set their pains at ease. So mayst thou watch me where I weep, As, unto vaster motions bound, The circuits of thine orbit round A higher height, a deeper deep. LXIV Dost thou look back on what hath been, As some divinely gifted man, Whose life in low estate began And on a simple village ...

13. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... display of respect and honor for his venerable wisdom. Additional Notes 29:6 The translation cream assumes an emendation of the Heb. from behemah, “with heat/rage,” to bekhemah, “with curds.” The two words sound nearly identical. Longing for Community Respect The easing of Job’s way that verse 6 describes can be either a sign of divine blessing or an outpouring of public honor and respect. In verses 7–17, however, it becomes increasingly clear that Job is focused on public acknowledgement of his ...

14. Mary's Complaint

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... kept her from it. She had heard from the angel that she was “favored,” and she believed it. She knew enough about what being chosen meant simply by looking at her nation’s history. The Jews were God’s chosen people... but chosen for what? A life of ease? A life without pain? A life with no problems? Hardly. This “chosen people” of hers had been chosen for service; it was to be a nation who would minister to the needs of a world lost in the darkness without the light of the God of heaven. She ...

15. The Rich Fool

Luke 12:13-21

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... : I was just thinking upon my situation. I have more fruits than my barns can hold. I was about to say that I could take my ease now. SOUL: You think you got it made, huh? MAN: If I perceive thy verbiage correctly, yes, I think I do. SOUL: Well, let's kick ... yes. Let us talk, er, kick it. SOUL: So? MAN: Ah, yes. Soul Man, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry. SOUL: Whooee! Party hardy! MAN: Yes. I agree. A time of celebration. SOUL: Man, you all right. You know ...

16. Close Quarters With A King

Jeremiah 23:1-8

Sermon

Thomas G. Rogers

... particular, "If you're looking for a king who can take care of you, it sure looks like this is someone who could do the job." As Susan looked up at the figure she took a very deep breath. She began to feel a slight easing of her depression and stress -- an easing of her "neediness." She thought to herself, "Yes, it's true. In Christ we have a king who will meet all our needs." Standing before the mosaic each of the visitors felt as if there were an overwhelming power emanating from this king. Coupled with ...

17. The Oil For Squeaking People

Genesis 18:1-15

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... there is a darker side of human nature that hates laughter. Some people believe laughter sinful. Many humorless church folks claim it is frivolous. I contend, however, laughter is a gift our Lord Jesus Christ understood and practiced. Jesus, like Sarah, knew laughter can help ease us through an otherwise tight problem. Jesus frequently used humor to make a point or to lessen tension. When the Master spoke of such things as "a camel passing through the eye of a needle" or the need to "take the log out of ...

18. Going Ahead Anyway

Matthew 2:1-12, Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon

William B. Kincaid, III

... that to happen. Some good things may come from it, but there's no good reason beforehand for a tornado to destroy lives and property and dreams. Jerry Falwell has said that AIDS is God's punishment on this country for frequent abortions and widespread homosexuality. It eases people's fears when we can explain AIDS in that manner, but it also raises a lot of questions. Is that the way God relates to us? And if so, what sins have we committed to account for all the other illnesses and diseases that plague us ...

19. Letting Go

Ephesians 4:26b, 31-32

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... to do to be sure Lucy doesn't get hurt?" I ask. "Let go slowly," one child answers. "Yes, I must let go, slowly and gently, easing off on the tension we have created between us. Now, suppose that instead of a rubber band, there was the tension of anger between us. ... to cause my anger. I would need to speak kind, gentle words to her, to let her know I had let go of my anger, to ease the tension. "When Saint Paul wrote to the folks in a place called Ephesus, one of the things he said in his letter was, 'Don' ...

20. Bread for the Party (Bread of Life I)

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Charles R. Leary

... one. “What can I do about that?” we ask. Let’s take a look. Have you considered: listening for one hour to someone grieving, even when you have nothing wise to say? Easing a dying friend’s struggle for acceptance? Helping a teenager come to grips with a problem? Giving a sense of value to a lonely senior citizen? Easing the loneliness of a recently widowed neighbor? Making a stranger feel welcome and at home? Adding food for the local food pantry to your weekly shopping list? Sending a percentage of ...

21. Epiphany 8

Hosea 2:2-23, Mark 2:18-22, 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... Testament: Hosea 2:14-20 1. Sermon Title: Love, Sex And God. Sermon Angle: Most of us are comfortable when the words "love" and "sex" are used together. We are also at ease when the words "love" and "God" are used in sync. However, if we associate the words "sex" and "God" we may get a little on edge, just as we become ill at ease in dealing with our parents' sexuality. In Hosea's day the Canaanite Baal worship made a close association of human sexuality and the worship of God. The sexual act was also an ...

22. A Farewell Gift

John 14:15-31

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... down with it. Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, those in need, and tells us that we have been commissioned to carry out a mission of mercy in his name. You see, God's farewell gift was definitely not intended to promote the life of relaxation, or ease, or of peace as the world offers it. But Christ accompanies us into the conflict. He speaks of sin, and then forgives us. He speaks of love, and then gives us the ministry of reconciliation. He speaks of weakness, and then calls us to share the burdens of ...

23. The Greatest Wonder Of All!

John 14:5-14

Sermon

John M. Braaten

... what the apostles needed to jar them out of their ethnic, parochial concept of what God had commissioned them to do. It became unmistakably clear that their mission field was nothing less than the world. And God brought about that historymaking event with characteristic ease, but in such a giddy way, that the disciples were thought to be drunk! However, greater wonders await us! On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit only set the stage. The initial thrust of the gospel into the world had been accomplished ...

24. Death Following Lung Cancer

Psalm 55:1-23

Eulogy

Alan Bacon Bond

... care at home, a miracle in and of itself! It was necessary to administer morphine in increasingly large doses to ease the pain. Hallucinations and disorientation were the results, but Barbara was able to rise to moments of lucid awareness each time ... and easy talk with visitors. In the week that followed she received just one more injection of morphine, not for pain, but to ease heart fibrillation. She had no other signs of pain or withdrawal symptoms during that time. With a clear head at 1:55 a. ...

25. Woe to the Contented

Amos 6:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... the comforts we enjoy. Collect Eternal God, who gives faith to your children for the purpose of making us whole: Guard us against the subtle temptation of feeling secure in a comfortable life of ease, that we may not contribute to a decay of our faith by trusting in the false security of luxury and ease. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer of Confession We have worked hard for a comfortable life, Father, but our misdirected energies have not strengthened our faith. Forgive us for laying our faith ...

Showing results