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 2826 to 2850 of 3082 results

2826. A Family Celebration - Maundy Thursday

John 13:18-30

Sermon

King Duncan

There are many differences in the body of Christ about how the Lord’s Supper should be served, and even what it means. For example, Priscilla Larson’s brother‑in‑law serves as a pastor in a denomination that does not use wine in their service, but substitutes the “pure, unfermented juice of the vine.” And, of course, being a Protestant denomination, they do not believe that the wine and the bread actually become the body and blood in the holy sacrament. One day Priscilla Larson’s brother‑in‑law responded ...

2827. I'll Never Forget That Night

John 13:1-17

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

Years ago, a band called Lobo sang about an international memorable event. Describing the impoverished plights of a boy from Chicago’s racial ghetto and a girl living among India’s “Untouchables,” the singers went on to shake their heads in wonder that both, on a “July afternoon,” along with the entire population of planet earth, heard and saw Neil Armstrong “walk upon the moon.” Some incidents are so unusual or catastrophic or fraught with meaning that they cannot be forgotten, and all who were alive ...

2828. Jesus Casts Out Impure Spirits

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

Today we’re going to talk about casting out demons or, as Mark calls them in today’s lesson, impure spirits. It’s not a subject that we talk about very much in church anymore, even though it figures prominently in the New Testament. Maybe at the end of today’s service I will perform an exorcism and cast out a demon . . . or not. Perhaps you have someone in mind that you think could profit from such an exorcism. But enough about members of Congress . . . Some of you will remember a movie that caused quite a ...

2829. Everything Must Go: “Abandon Ship!”

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Sermon

James Merritt

In America, it is called a dollar. In England, it is called a pound. In Europe, it is called a euro. In Israel, it is called a shekel. In China, it is called a yen. Different countries call it different things, but we all know it is money. It is everywhere. Money has been around forever. Interestingly, we didn’t start using paper money until the mid-1600’s, before that it was gold, silver, and bronze. Before that it was a unit of weight like barley or bread. By itself money really is nothing. It is just ...

2830. It's Not Rocket Science

John 8:31-41

Sermon

James Merritt

I believe the single most important person who has ever lived or will ever live is Jesus Christ. I believe the most important book that ever has been written or ever will be written is the Bible. I believe those two things are true, because of two other things I believe are true. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and I believe the Bible is the Word of God. Those two things are important because what we really know of the Son of God is found in the Word of God Therefore, the two most important beliefs of my ...

2831. The World's Largest Covered Dish Lunch

John 6:1-15

Sermon

The Rev. Paul Brunner tells a wonderful story about a young man named Jeff. Jeff learned one Sunday morning that his church was holding a picnic that afternoon. He hurried home from church to pack his lunch and get to the picnic grounds. But, lo and behold, when he opened the refrigerator door, he discovered only a single piece of dried up bologna and two stale pieces of bread (one of them a heel). And to make things worse, there was barely enough mustard to color his knuckles when he tried to scrape the ...

2832. No Longer Strangers

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

King Duncan

I want to draw your attention to the 19th verse of today’s lesson from Ephesians. We read, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household . . .” “No longer foreigners and strangers.” Reflect on those words for just a moment. I have heard it said that a child is born untrusting. Perhaps that is why life begins with a cry. The infant is apart from its mother for the first time. It has become a separate human being. But also ...

2833. King Jesus

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

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

One morning in 1872, David Livingstone wrote this in his diary: "March 19, my birthday. My Jesus, my king, my life, my all, I again dedicate my whole self to thee. Accept me, and grant, O gracious Father, that ere the year is gone I may finish my work. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen." Just one year later, servants came to check on their master's delay. They found him on his knees in prayer. He was dead. Livingstone's testimony is powerful on many levels, but the one that is most striking is his claim upon ...

2834. Solomon Asks for Wisdom

2 Chronicles 1:1-17

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Solomon, the Man of Peace and Rest: The reign of Solomon is the focus of 2 Chronicles 1–9. The Chronicler has already prepared the reader to expect that the next chapters contain the climax of the royal history that culminates in the accession of Solomon and his building of the temple in Jerusalem. Solomon is explicitly called “a man of peace and rest” in 1 Chronicles 22:8–10, and Yahweh promises to give David’s son “rest from all his enemies on every side.” It therefore comes as no surprise that 2 ...

2835. Josiah's Reforms

2 Chronicles 34:1-13

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Josiah and His Reforms: The narrative about this new child king (reminiscent of another child king, Joash, who saved the Davidic dynasty from being destroyed by northern influence) has constantly fascinated Bible scholars. It is a common view that King Josiah, who reigned over Judah in approximately 641/640–610/609 B.C., is idealized as the zenith of Davidic kingship in the Deuteronomistic description in 2 Kings 22–23. There he represents the antithesis of Manasseh, who is seen as the nadir of Judahite ...

2836. Saul’s Conversion

Acts 9:1-19a

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

As far as Luke was concerned, the conversion of Paul was the single most important result of the “Stephen affair.” Its importance is borne out by his threefold repetition of the story here, in 22:5–16, and in 26:12–18. Luke’s authority must have been Paul himself. The three accounts differ in detail, and it is not easy to say to what extent this was due to Paul—or to Luke—though we may be reasonably certain that some, at least, of the variations were Paul’s as he adapted the later accounts to his different ...

2837. Paul Transferred to Caesarea

Acts 23:23-35

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

23:23–24 No sooner had his nephew departed than preparations were made to remove Paul to Caesarea under armed guard. They were to leave that night about the “third hour” (nine o’clock), and the guard would comprise two hundred soldiers [with their centurions], seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen (v. 23). This would represent about half the garrison and is regarded by some as a far larger force than was warranted. Luke is accused of exaggeration. All of this gives added interest to the interpretation ...

2838. The Trial Before Festus

Acts 25:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

25:1a Very little is known of Porcius Festus. Josephus contrasts him favorably with both his predecessor, Felix, and his successor, Albinus, stating that he acted promptly to rid the country of robbers and sicarii (Antiquities 20.182f.; War 2.271–276). He seems to have been disposed to govern the country well, but found himself unable to remedy the ill effects of Felix’s rule. Ehrhardt calls him “the one honourable governor Rome ever sent to Judea” (p. 117). As far as Paul was concerned, though Festus bore ...

2839. Paul's Hardships

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

Having exhorted the Corinthians to recognize his God-given ministry of reconciliation (5:16–6:2), Paul continues the discussion of his ministry in 6:3–13 by declaring that he is completely innocent of any aspersions that have been cast on his ministry. Paul claims that, in word and deed, he commends himself as a genuine apostle who is motivated by sincere love. 6:3 The new section opens quite defensively. Paul knows that his ministry has come under fire because of his alleged inconsistency and double- ...

2840. Life by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

5:16 Paul directs his readers to live by the Spirit. The Greek word translated “live” (peripateite) is literally “walk.” Paul uses this word elsewhere when speaking of living the new life in Christ (Rom. 6:4), a life that is conducted by means of the Spirit (Rom. 8:4). The word suggests continuance, progress, and daily attention. Paul commands his readers to avoid gratifying the desires of the sinful nature by means not of law observance but of living by the Spirit. The Greek for “sinful nature” is ...

2841. Paul’s Request for Onesimus

Philemon 1:8-25

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

Now that Paul has sufficiently commended Philemon for his exemplary Christian life, he moves to the heart of his request regarding Onesimus. In one way, Paul gives the impression that he is “shadow boxing,” that is, skirting around the real issue and not confronting Philemon directly. But Paul’s strategy is determined by two factors: First, he needs to move very carefully and weigh every word. After all, a request to reinstate a runaway slave was quite unusual in the first century. According to Roman law, ...

2842. Jesus Greater Than Moses

Hebrews 3:1-6

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

Having established the superiority of Christ to the angels and having sustained the point by a lengthy discussion of the significance of the incarnation, the author now turns to the superiority of Jesus to Moses, and by implication the superiority of Jesus to the law. Given the commitments of Jewish readers—for whom Moses and the law are of central importance—the argument is astonishingly bold, and the conclusions to which it eventually leads in chapter 8 are not easy ones, even for Christian Jews. Again ...

2843. Final Greetings

1 Peter 5:12-14

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

And Now, Farewell! 5:12 It was common practice at the time this letter was written for the real author to take over the pen of the amanuensis and add the final words of personal greeting (Gal. 6:11). This may have happened here. Peter says he has written his letter with the help of Silas, an expression that, according to examples in Greek literature, can have several interpretations. Literally, the Greek is simply “through Silas.” That can mean that Silas was the bearer of the letter, or that he was the ...

2844. Consecration of the Priests

Exodus 29:1-46

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Instructions: Aaron’s Consecration, the Altar Consecration, and Daily Sacrifices: “After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests” (28:41). Exodus 29 contains specific instructions for the priestly consecration and ordination ceremony, including three sacrifices and the consecration of the bronze altar. It also includes instructions for the ongoing daily sacrifice of two lambs. Verses 1–9 describe methods for the ...

2845. The Covenant Renewed at Mount Ebal

Joshua 8:30-35

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

Worship at Mount Ebal: 8:30–35 Immediately the scene changes. The action shifts suddenly to the northern highlands, from battle to liturgy, and from death to covenant renewal. Soggin interprets the ceremony at Mount Ebal as a doublet of the renewal ceremony at Shechem (Josh. 24; Soggin, Joshua, pp. 222ff.; LXX inserts this section after 9:2). However, considering the unique roles of both passages in the book, I do not view the ceremonies as doublets. Joshua followed the teachings of Moses by building an ...

2846. Ezra's Prayer about Intermarriage

Ezra 9:1-15

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Ezra’s Challenging Prayer: The mission assigned to Ezra had two parts. While we have seen the first part carried out in chapter 8, the second part remained to be done. In 9:1–10:44, we shall read how the Judean community, complying with Artaxerxes’ decree in 7:14, 25–26, accepted the Torah. Comparison with the latter passage shows that the editor’s presentation of Ezra’s work was highly selective, and that here the issue of intermarriage with the local population was the focus of his concern. To that end ...

2847. Nehemiah’s Prayer

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

The Background to Nehemiah’s Mission: The two missions in Ezra 1–6 and 7–10 were launched by the decree of a Persian king, behind which lay the sovereign will of the God of Israel, disclosed in Scripture and providence. The third and last mission, spread over 1:1–2:8 and summarized in 2:18a, also follows this pattern. The focus on Nehemiah in 1:1–10 corresponds to the description of Ezra’s qualifications by birth and training in Ezra 7:1–7. The narrative here reveals Nehemiah’s strong convictions, which ...

2848. Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem

Nehemiah 2:1-10

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

The Assignment of the Mission: 2:1–3 For some reason, Nehemiah had to wait four months after receiving the bad news about Jerusalem, before his chance came to present his case to the king. Verse 1 describes the procedure for serving the wine: servants brought it into the royal presence and Nehemiah poured it, probably after sampling it to check for poison. Evidently he had hidden his grief while on duty, but this time it showed—perhaps on purpose—and attracted the king’s attention. His concerned question ...

2849. Opposition to the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 4:1-23

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Hurdles to Get Over: This section deals with a cluster of obstacles that had to be overcome. It is closely tied into the pattern of opposition we have already observed. Strictly speaking, verses 1–5 round off chapter 3: progress in wall building was countered by enemy opposition triggered by news of it (heard), which in turn was checked by a response from Nehemiah. Verses 6–9 reproduce this pattern of chess-like moves on a smaller scale. Verses 10–23 loosely continue the theme of overcoming obstacles. The ...

2850. The Agreement of the People

Neh 9:38–10:39

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

A Communal Pledge of Obedience: Before Jerusalem could be repopulated in line with Nehemiah’s plan in 7:4–5, the last part of the program laid down in chapter 1 had to be implemented. The community had started to take the Torah into account in the readings and responses of chapter 8, but they had to go further. Their prayer of repentance in chapter 9 must logically lead to wholehearted obedience to God’s commands. The divine condition for a return to Jerusalem, “if you return to me and obey my commands” (1 ...

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