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 2726 to 2750 of 3285 results

2726. The Parable of the Sower

Mark 4:1-20

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... is a word of consolation and encouragement. Finally, to anticipate later passages in Mark, we will see that, even though the disciples are described as having special access to God’s purposes, they too show very dim perception of Jesus’ true significance and little ability to accept what Jesus knows must be his path through rejection and death in the will of God. 4:13–20 In this passage Jesus explains the parable given in 4:1–9, making it clear that the parable concerns the proclamation of the ...

2727. Signs of the End of the Age

Mark 13:1-31

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... Gentiles,” reflects the Jewish perspective upon the world, seen as consisting of Jews and the Nations/Gentiles. 13:11 Say whatever is given you: What is meant is explained in the next clause about the Holy Spirit inspiring the disciples with an ability to speak. Obviously, this means that in the trial situation, the disciples are not to be concerned primarily with defending themselves but rather with proclaiming their faith. This is the only reference in Mark to the Holy Spirit being given to disciples ...

2728. The Crucifixion

Mark 15:21-32

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... Prov. 31:6–7 as the basis of the custom. Wine would, of course, dull the senses somewhat, if taken in a significant quantity, but also there is some evidence that myrrh was known to have narcotic properties and was mixed with wine to enhance its ability to dull intense pain (see Lane, p. 564, for references; and “Myrrh,” IDB, vol. 3, pp. 478–79). Jesus’ refusal of the drink pictures him as choosing to be fully alert during the execution. The reference to the drugged wine may very well be an ...

2729. Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two

Luke 10:1-24

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... –76). (3) Virtually all modern commentators have come to recognize the Central Section as yielding little or no chronology (see Ellis, p. 147: “The Lord is no nearer Jerusalem in 17:11 than in 9:51.”). Since elsewhere the evangelist shows the interest and ability to produce a logical and ordered account (as he in fact claims in his preface, Luke 1:1–4), the question of what order underlies the Central Section becomes acute. We must either conclude that the Central Section has no discernible order or ...

2730. Paul's Longing to Visit Rome

Romans 1:1-17

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... of Pharisee from what he had been. Previously he had been a Pharisee separated from Gentiles; now he is separated for them! Verse 1 is unambiguous about Paul’s self-understanding. He does not fancy himself a religious genius, nor does he trumpet his creative ability. His message is not from himself but from God, and whatever honor is ascribed to Paul must be attributed not to any greatness in him but to a power above him, to God who has radically intersected his life. The preeminence of that encounter ...

2731. God's Wrath Against Mankind

Romans 1:18-32

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... who had never been taught the Mosaic law. These passages have been the subject of confusion, due in part to lack of definition of terms. As it was developed during the Enlightenment of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, “natural religion” meant the ability of unaided human reason to perceive and know God. But Paul is not exactly speaking of unaided human reason. His starting point is not humanity (as epitomized by natural theology), but God who makes himself known through creation. His topic is ...

2732. Abraham Justified by Faith

Romans 4:1-25

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... Since the law cannot impart life (Gal. 3:21), it is therefore subordinate to faith. The promise presupposes God’s gracious will and favor (4:16) and can be received only through faith, not by calculations of merit. A faith which doubts God’s ability to honor his promise constitutes a theft against God’s glory (4:20) and a challenge to his truthfulness (15:8). The promise is more than a favorable disposition of God towards humanity, such as the “benevolence” of Buddhism or “bounty” of the older ...

2733. Peace and Joy

Romans 5:1-11

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... presents the consequences of suffering as a chain reaction: we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. The Greek word for perseverance is a compound of “under” and “remain,” meaning the ability to endure, or staying power. The word for character is found nowhere in Greek literature prior to Paul, and appears to be unique to him. It means the quality of being approved after testing, or character, and hence the ...

2734. Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:1-14

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... not continue offering yourselves to sin, but offer yourselves up once and for all to God.” The reference to parts (of your body) in verse 13 need not be limited to the physical body, for it surely includes in a figurative sense all human talents and abilities. The Christian life pictured in verse 13 is not an idealized watercolor but a bold (albeit simple) sketch of the rigors facing the faithful. The essence of the new life is not a concept or feeling detached from reality, but a trumpet call to active ...

2735. Life Through the Spirit

Romans 8:1-17

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... continuous action. The battle with sin is not a momentary event, no matter how sincere, but a lifetime commitment. The Spirit is not a promise to those who succeed in overcoming sin, but God’s abiding presence in the midst of the flesh or sinful nature. The ability to sustain warfare against sin signals the Spirit’s presence. The Spirit emancipates believers from slavery to sin and joins them in sonship with Christ (vv. 15, 29). 8:14–17 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (v. 14 ...

2736. God's Sovereign Choice

Romans 9:1-29

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... merits nor maintains grace. With regard to election God remains totally free, not to employ arbitrary (or worse, malevolent) designs, but to express mercy. It is, then, God’s freedom and mercy which Paul advocates in these verses. God’s superior power, his ability to execute what he desires, is, of course, everywhere acknowledged. Our fear, however, is that God will use his power arbitrarily and without regard to his subjects, or even against them. Everyone agrees that God is free; but is he just? Here ...

2737. Love

Romans 12:9-21

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... apostygein means to “detest” or “abhor.” Whoever does not hate evil does not love good. Refusing to condemn evil in whatever form it takes (though not the people who do it), or tolerating evil for whatever reason when there is within our power the ability to do something about it, is no longer love. The prayer for social justice in the Book of Common Prayer says that love “makes no peace with oppression.” 12:10–13 Ten poignant examples of agapē comprise this section, all of which are cast ...

2738. Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... Paul uses the verbal form of “self-control” (translated as “control themselves,” meaning “to practice self-control”), he is referring to a Spirit-empowered directing of one’s self. If an unmarried person in Corinth does not have the Spirit-given ability to be chaste, then Paul says that person should marry. Paul is not so much saying “Fight the urge” as he is advising “Recognize the gift or its absence.” Such honesty according to Paul is better than trying to accomplish something ...

2739. The Rights of an Apostle

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... Paul’s freedom, his apostolic experience, and attendant rights, all Paul needed to do was to point to the Corinthian congregation as evidence of God’s work through him. 9:4–5 Having reminded the Corinthians of their experience of his work and of their ability to affirm that he was the Lord’s apostle, Paul next informs the Corinthians that he could make claims as others do. Paul mentions the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas. Paul’s point in using this intriguing list of prominent ...

2740. Warnings from Israel's History

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... eschatological act of salvation.… This comfort is genuine only when “God” does not remain a cipher, but is known through demonstration of his faithfulness. For a limited but deliberate and explicit theological assessment of this verse, see the discussion of Armenian and Calvinist interpretations in D. M. Ciocchi, “Understanding Our Ability to Endure Temptation: A Theological Watershed,” JETS 5 (1992), pp. 463–79.

2741. Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... correct in one way, Conzelmann exaggerates the distinction between Paul’s use of pistis (“faith”) at this point and other occurrences of the same word: “Pistis is here a special gift alongside others, and accordingly not faith, but apparently the ability to perform miracles” (1 Corinthians, p. 209). (4) Gifts of healing, literally “gifts of cures” (see 12:28–30). In naming this manifestation of the Spirit, Paul uses the plural form charismata (“gifts”), which he qualifies with the words ...

2742. Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... speakers should pray for the power to understand what they are saying. The implications of this advice are that it is possible that the one speaking in tongues does not understand what is said and that God may grant the tongue speaker the ability to interpret the otherwise unintelligible but divinely inspired speech. 14:14 Paul backs his advice with a first argument that is essentially negative reasoning: Tongue speaking releases the mind from full control of the self so that the spirit (the spirit of the ...

2743. Orderly Worship

1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... did write these lines, in light of everything else he communicated in his letters, one would probably be more prudent to assume that Paul is speaking directly to a particularly problematic group of women in a particularly problematic situation that is beyond our ability to comprehend. The situation in Corinth was dire, and Paul takes some extreme measures in this letter (cf. ch. 5). Perhaps he had no other alternative than to give harsh and abnormal directions in an aberrant situation. That we do not know ...

2744. The Resurrection Body

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... than natural or material things. Third, in using the language of spiritual (Gk. pneumatikos) and natural (Gk. psychikos), Paul reintroduces vocabulary used both in the last segment of his discussion (see 15:44) and earlier in the letter in reference to the ability or inability of “spiritual” and “natural” persons to receive “the things that come from the Spirit” (see 2:14). If Paul’s choice of words is indicative of his concerns, part of the problem in Corinth is that some of the Corinthians ...

2745. The Rider on the White Horse

Revelation 19:11-21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... by looking into his eyes which are like blazing fire. He is the coming Son of Man (cf. 1:13–14; 2:18; Matt. 24:26–31, par.), whose justice derives from his vigilant care of his people (cf. Caird, Revelation, p. 241) and from his ability to penetrate the pretense and deceptions of the Evil One (cf. 19:20; 20:8; cf. Beasley-Murray, Revelation, p. 279). Further, he has the status as God’s anointed Messiah and appointed Lord over the cosmos. As symbolic of his singular authority, vividly expressed by ...

2746. The Lord Calls Samuel

1 Samuel 3:1–4:1

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... prophetic word. Eli, equally patient at being disturbed, realizes that something unusual is happening and that God is involved in it. The choice of the child to hear God’s word picks up the earlier emphasis on the power and control of God and his ability to empower the powerless, whether to give a child to a barren woman or to speak through an inexperienced child. Samuel seems unsure that Eli has it right, and although he obediently responds to the fourth call, he does not use the traditional formula that ...

2747. David Among the Philistines

1 Samuel 27:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... will not follow him there (v. 4). Saul may even think that since David has fled the country he has given up any chance to replace Saul on the throne. 27:2–7 David’s entourage moved with him to Gath, where Achish was still in control. The ability David had to stimulate trust and loyalty in his troops is evidenced at this early stage in his career. This voluntary exile must have been seen as a risky venture, but there appear to have been few dissenters. The fact that he had once before deceived Achish ...

2748. David Anointed King over Judah

2 Samuel 2:1-7

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... had the best of the fierce fighting. The most significant incident from the writers’ point of view, however, was the death of a Judean, Joab’s young brother Asahel, who shared Joab’s arrogant confidence. Although he had speed, Asahel had not developed tactical abilities. He decided that he would put an end to the fighting by defeating Abner, and he used his speed to catch up with him. Abner, knowing that to kill Asahel would lead to further trouble, tried to persuade the young Judean to abandon his ...

2749. David Counts the Fighting Men

2 Samuel 24:1-17

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... , although it is possible that theological understanding played some part in Joab’s disquiet. 24:4–10 For once, Joab was overruled. Maybe David’s determination was strengthened by Joab’s opposition and his desire to get the better of Joab overrode his ability to listen to advice. David’s offense against Uriah, when he put himself into Joab’s power, appears to have been the beginning of the mistrust between the two and thus had ongoing serious consequences, just as Nathan had suggested. Such a ...

2750. Bildad

Job 8:1-22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... admit that there might be essential traditions of the faith passed down from the beginning that ought not to be allowed to slip away. But Bildad’s point is not only one about tradition or radical revisionism. He is also talking about the ability of one to speak words of truth that challenge, shake, and ultimately change the treasured traditions of the many. There is strength and comfort in unity, and Diaspora Judaism employed communal solidarity to great effect in resisting the pressures to assimilate to ...

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