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 251 to 275 of 5000 results

251. Walking in the Light

1 John 1:5--2:14, 1 John 2:15-17

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... of human nature and patently not true in their particular case. To be self-deceived means that the truth is not in us, i.e., in our hearts or inmost being. If it were, we would recognize and admit our condition, stay in the light, and be forgiven. “Our self-understanding is false” (Kysar, I, II, III John, p. 39). 1:9 If the opponents’ attitude and belief are wrong (vv. 6 and 8), the right approach to sin is to keep on walking in the light (v. 7) and to be honest about one’s sins (v. 9). If we ...

252. Obedience Commanded

Deuteronomy 4:1-14

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... the phenomenon of Israel as a society, with all the social, economic, legal, political, and religious dimensions of the Torah. And that social system will lead them to the conclusion that Israel as a people qualify as a great nation, regarded as wise and understanding. That is as far as the nations may be expected to go in their external observation. And even thus far it is a remarkable expectation, given the situation of those addressed in the text—an as yet landless people, descendants of refugee slaves ...

253. Love the Lord Your God

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... absence of an explicit “is” in the Hb.). In the first half of the declaration, the Hebrew word “our God” is a qualifier, functioning like a relative clause: “Yahweh, who is our God, this Yahweh is one.” But what does this mean? An exegetical understanding would be that the second two Hebrew words mean “Yahweh is one,” rather than “Yahweh alone.” The uniqueness and incomparability of Yahweh are a major affirmation of the context, as we have already seen (Deut. 3:24; 4:35, 39; cf. 32:39 ...

254. Riddles and Metaphors

Ezekiel 15:1-8, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ezekiel 17:1-24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... Sodom cannot repent, and nothing is said of Jerusalem repenting, either. Rather, God restores them and Jerusalem alike so that you [Jerusalem] may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them [Sodom and Samaria] comfort (v. 54). To understand this odd statement, we must turn to the new covenant that verses 59–63 affirm. 16:59–63 The final movement of this chapter opens with the messenger formula (v. 59) and closes with the recognition formula (v. 62) and the oracular formula (v ...

255. Prologue to the Law of the Temple: The Lord Comes Home

Ezekiel 40:1--43:12

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... followed the LXX in reading “south” where the MT has “east.” Here, it is not clear how an error could have occurred; the words for east and south are not that similar. On the other hand, the shift from east to south for symmetry’s sake is readily understandable. With the NJPS, one should stay with the MT here—the chamber for the Zadokite priests is part of the east gate complex, though its door faces north. 40:46 These are the sons of Zadok, who are the only Levites who may draw near to the LORD ...

256. Sabbath Controversies with the Pharisees

Matthew 12:1-14

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... of mercy. In Psalms the writers cry out for God to show mercy again and again, on the assumption that God is a God of mercy. Indeed, God’s “great mercy” is emphasized in, for example, Psalms 25 and 69. Sharing some examples could help people understand the continuity between Old and New Testaments on this issue. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good ...

257. Realizing the True Nature of Jesus the Christ

Mark 8:27-30

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... central themes of this passage and the next are Christology (8:27–33) and discipleship (8:34–9:1). This passage picks up the Christology of 1:1 and the truth of Jesus as the Messiah and then defines his messianic work in terms of the Suffering Servant. Understanding the Text We are at the turning point (called the “watershed” by many) in Mark’s Gospel. The first part (8:27–30) sums up the first half of the Gospel and addresses the identity of Jesus. The second part (8:31–33) sets the scene for ...

258. Jesus Proclaims Judgment on the Temple and the Nation

Mark 13:1-31

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... the end of the book, it is not with easy answers but with a clear and humbling revelation of his unimaginable knowledge and power. Job is left with a repentant acknowledgment: “I know you can do all things. . . . Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (42:2–3). There will come times, as in the suffering that Jesus describes in Mark 13, when it will seem as if life is completely out of control. We must be particularly careful in these circumstances to judge ...

259. Being Wronged versus Claiming One’s Right

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... honors (1:26–29). 6:5 I say this to shame you. Contrary to 4:14, where Paul did not intend to shame the church members, his purpose here is to do so. Here as in chapter 4, it is a mistake to understand this as a mere corrective remark in the traditional Western understanding (as in “shame on you”; see comments on 4:14). To be publicly shamed is to lose standing; it can be an identity-changing event. When Paul shames the church, he exposes them as being “not worthy” of their standing as Christ ...

260. Job Considers a Legal Dispute with God

Job 9:1–10:22

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... much poverty and suffering growing up, but he gave his life for others. In his poems, he is always honest and sometimes expresses the hiddenness of God in his life. What Job Wants to Tell God Big Idea: Job wants to tell God how he feels wrongfully judged. Understanding the Text Job is continuing the response to Bildad that he began in chapter 9. In chapter 10, Job speaks out of the bitterness of his soul (10:1), and he expresses what he would say to God if given the opportunity (10:2–19). Job, however, is ...

261. “In the Lord I Take Refuge”

Psalm 11:1-7

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... the godly have been obliterated from society, and a purely deceitful way of dealing with others has become the norm. Goldingay says that in their minds they think one thing but intend something else.6 12:3 May the Lord silence. The Midrash on the Psalms understands this in the legal sense of being “cut off” from the community[7] (lit., “may the Lord cut off all the lips of division”). 12:4 By our tongues we will prevail . . . who is lord over us? Clearly the power of speech is in view here ...

262. “For Your Sake We Face Death . . . as Sheep to Be Slaughtered”

Psalm 44:1-26

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... in our children’s best interests when it appears to them that it is for our own sake, not theirs. Similarly, when every other picture of God fails, we have to throw ourselves on God’s unfailing love, for “God is love” (1 John 4:8). When we cannot understand what is happening in our lives, and why, especially when it does not seem to be related to moral failure, as with Israel (44:17–18), we can see a parallel between Israel’s dilemma and ours. We may conclude with Paul’s use of this psalm in ...

263. Daniel's Prayer

Daniel 9:1-19

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... of obedience from his people as inherent to their covenant relationship. Daniel’s Prayer for Israel and Judah (9:7-19): Big Idea: Even when God in his righteousness judges his people’s sin, they may seek God’s mercy for his name’s sake. Understanding the Text See the unit on 9:1–6 for a discussion of the larger context, structure, and comparisons of this chapter. Against this backdrop, 9:7–19 divides into two parts: the remainder of Daniel’s prayer regarding God’s righteousness and Israel ...

264. Eliphaz

Job 4:1–5:27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... s circumstances are part of the human condition. Reciting a proverb (5:2), Eliphaz admonishes Job not to continue to play a role best played by the fool (5:3–5). He continues to draw on his experience in such matters (5:3). Job must understand that suffering is not natural (5:6); indeed, suffering is brought on by humans themselves (5:7). This last verse is the heart of Eliphaz’s consolation here. Job should not feel victimized by outside forces. Something within Job’s human condition is responsible ...

265. The Parable of the Sower

Mark 4:1-20

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... operation of God’s kingdom. The kingdom of God is a secret, not because nothing is said about it, but because the real significance of what is said and done in the name of the kingdom is not perceived by many. The disciples here do not themselves understand fully the meaning of the parables (4:10, 13), yet they are given the secret. Obviously then, this must imply that to be given the secret is roughly the same as being called to follow Jesus and to participate with him in his ministry. Earlier, in 3 ...

266. Abraham Justified by Faith

Romans 4:1-25

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... i.e., I-It) instead of a person-centered relationship (I-Thou). 4:15 For helpful discussions of the phrase law brings wrath, see Schlatter, Gottes Gerechtigkeit, pp. 167–68; and Michel, Der Brief an die Römer, pp. 122–23. For a poetic development of Paul’s understanding of the law, see Milton’s Paradise Lost, 12. 282–302. 4:17 On raising the dead and creation from nothing in the Hebrew tradition, see the following: giving life, Deut. 32:39; Ps. 71:20; Tob. 13:2; Wisd. of Sol. 16:13; Jos. As. 20:7 ...

267. The Trumpets

Revelation 8:6--9:21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... who do not. The key given to the angelic star unlocks the shaft leading down to a bottomless pit, called the Abyss. The location of this pit is important but for theological rather than geographical reasons. According to ancient mythology (no doubt John’s cipher in understanding what he envisioned) the Abyss was located below the earth and was the invisible dwelling place of evil powers, such as Tiamaet and Leviathan, and their agents of evil and death (cf. 1 Enoch 18:12–16; 21:7–10; 108:3–6). It is ...

268. Job's Second Reply to Bildad

Job 19:1-29

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... describe persons who are always distinguished from the intimate members of the family. (See the Sabbath commandment in Exod. 20:10, 12; Deut. 5:14, 16:11, 14.) Although Job is depicted as non-Israelite, the Israelite readers of this book would certainly understand the nuances of these terms in their own social and religious context. 19:16 This kind of servant (Heb. ʿebed) would not be a slave or menial servant, but often “a dependent in a position of trust” (Holladay, Concise Hebrew, p. 262). This ...

269. Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin

1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 1:5--2:14

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

270. Rebirth

John 3:14-21

Sermon

John Jamison

... as if we’re standing against the wall in that room listening to the conversation as Jesus tried to help Nicodemus understand. Over the next few minutes, Jesus explained that he wasn’t talking about another physical birth, but something else, a birth ... be just another way of creating darkness in people’s lives. That’s not what being born again is all about. If we want to understand what Jesus meant when he said that a person needed to be born a second time, all we need to do is look at Nicodemus. ...

271. Some Greeks

John 12:20-33

Sermon

John Jamison

... done everything he could do to prepare but it was now time for the big test. He said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” His ministry had come to its end and the final step was to give up his life to help people understand. That was the only way they would grasp that he was not interested in being ruler of a temple or a country but was really talking about something beyond that. The fact that the Greeks had come to him showed that his message had taken seed and had begun to ...

272. The Art of Impersonation

Matthew 5:21-37

Sermon

King Duncan

Series: Seeing God More Clearly in 2020 Who would you say is your favorite celebrity? Can you imagine walking in his or her shoes for one day? It would probably be challenging. The only people who can come close to understanding what it’s like to walk in their shoes might be celebrity impersonators. Did you know there is a worldwide industry of people who pretend to be famous celebrities? These impersonators usually look like the people they are imitating. They dress like them. They take on the celebrity ...

273. Scandal

Matthew 16:21-28, Matthew 17:14-23, Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 26:1-5

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... him at times, and it takes all he can muster to keep his mind on the mission. He needs to keep focused, keep his faith strong, stay loyal to God no matter what is asked of him, no matter what he has to go through. He needs his disciples to understand, to be strong. And yet, he knows, they are weak. They still don’t get him, even after all of this time. Not really. He shows them in as many ways as he can, raising a child, raising Lazarus, leading them to witness his Transfiguration. He even, as John tells ...

274. The Heartbeat of a Christian

1 John 3:16-24

Sermon

King Duncan

... came out of that experience. A friend of Jimmy’s named Russ came in to find Jeffrey kneeling beside the sofa cleaning up Jimmy’s vomit. With an astonished look on his face, Russ said, “I understand! I understand!” “What Russ?” Jimmy asked weakly. What do you understand? “I understand who Jesus is,” Russ said through tears. “He’s like Jeff!” That night, Jeffrey prayed with Russ as Russ committed his life to following Jesus. In spite of Jeffrey’s resentment, his loving actions brought ...

275. Master Teacher

Matthew 15:10-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... means of their heritage/pedigree and how well they obey your human-made rules rather than the state of their hearts and the strength of their faith in God. Then comes the big statement that Jesus says to the entire crowd in rebuke of this: “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” In other words, Jesus speaks now also of the purity laws governing food. It doesn’t matter what you eat. What goes inside of ...

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