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 3001 to 3025 of 4947 results

3001. Instruction for Temple Entry

Psalm 15:1-5

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... emet). It does not mean “the truth” as though it were an abstract entity (the Hb. text has no “the,” as in the NIV); rather it means being “true to the relationship.” In many respects, the translation “fidelity” is closer to the sense of the Hebrew. According to the contrast in verse 4a, one demonstrates loyalty to Yahweh by the company one keeps: he honors “fearers of Yahweh” (lit.) but “a rejected one . . . is despised” (lit.). It will become evident in other psalms connected with ...

3002. My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Psalm 22:1-31

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... vv. 27–31). 22:1 From saving me: The NIV follows the MT’s mîšûʿātî, but we should probably read, miššawʿātî, “from my cry for help,” which suits the parallelism and train of thought better. 22:16 They have pierced: It is difficult to make sense of the MT’s “like a lion (Hb. kāʾarî) my hands and feet.” Two MT MSS read kārû, “they have dug,” perhaps figuratively for “pierced.” This is supported by the LXX’s ōruxan (Gk. 21:17). 22:29 All the rich of the earth will feast ...

3003. To Be Spared from the Lord’s Judgment on the Wicked

Psalm 28:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... v. 6) Yahweh, he in turn is invoked to “bless your inheritance” (v. 9). As Yahweh is “my strength” (v. 7), so he is the strength of his people (v. 8). 28:1–2 Faced with the issue of entering or not entering the temple, we can now make sense of the opening petition. The issue of life and death may be explained not with reference to the supposed circumstances of a particular liturgist (e.g., sickness) but with reference to the imagery of the temple itself. To have access to it is to have access to ...

3004. My God as Refuge from Social Alienation

Psalm 31:1-24

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... public performance of this psalm is also evidenced in the closing exhortation to all his saints (cf. 27:14; 55:22). Similar imperatives (esp. 30:4–5) and hymnic praise (116:5–6, 15) are found in other thanksgivings. (Such imperatives make little sense if a congregation is not actually present. Otherwise, a confession of trust would do.) The commands to love the LORD and be strong and take heart imply that the faithful are to maintain patience and not reject Yahweh because of immediate trials from the ...

3005. Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... and held in honor. God’s name stands for his character as revealed in history. To hallow God’s name is to treat with high and holy regard the person of God himself. This petition is followed by an urgent request that God will establish in a full and final sense his rule on earth. Although the kingdom came in the life and ministry of Jesus, it awaits the second advent to be complete and final (cf. 1 Cor. 15:28). We live now in those days between the beginning of the age to come and the end of the age ...

3006. Deceived Deceivers, and the Feasting Followers of the Lord

Psalm 36:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 10 and 52:5; 36:10–11 // 26:9 and 28:3). Thus, Psalm 36 was probably written for all worshipers participating in the regular liturgy, not for lone individuals in a particular crisis. In light of the temple entry liturgy, we can make sense of the development of Psalm 36. In an oracle, delivered by a temple prophet, Yahweh describes to the congregation the character of the wicked (vv. 1–4). In response to this oracle, the congregation next hears (perhaps through a choir) praise addressed to him describing ...

3007. Cultivating Faithfulness Until the Flourishing Wicked Wither

Psalm 37:1-40

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... the NIV’s rendering of the MT (which may reflect haplography), we should probably read, “wrongdoers will be exterminated forever,” as suggested by LXX (see BHS). 37:35 Flourishing like a green tree in its native soil: The second colon makes little sense in the MT, a literal rendering of which is, “pouring himself out [or ‘showing himself naked’!] like a luxuriant native.” We should probably follow LXX: “raising himself up like the cedars of Lebanon.” 37:36 He soon passed away: The versions ...

3008. The Narrow and Wide Gates

Matthew 7:13-14

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

7:13–14 In one sense the Golden Rule represents the high point of the sermon. The four paragraphs that follow contrast the two ways (vv. 13–14), the two kinds of fruit (vv. 15–20), the two kinds of followers (vv ... demands of loyalty. The easy way will turn out hard (it ends in destruction), whereas the hard way will lead to eternal joy (life). Amazed: ekplēssō means (lit.) “to be struck out of one’s senses.” The imperfect tense pictures Jesus’ hearers as spellbound as he finishes his address.

3009. The Would-Be Pilgrim Who Thirsts for God: Part I

Psalm 42:1-11

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... is not merely a spiritual encounter through prayer but an encounter of worshiping God at the temple. The question, When can I go and meet with God?, points to a pilgrimage and a “face-to-face” encounter at the house of God (see the Additional Notes). This sense of longing is engendered by the memory (I remember) of shouts of joy and thanksgiving at the house of God. (The Hb. verb used for go, ʿbr, is a term used to denote making a pilgrimage. Cf. Amos 5:5.) Instead of the normal practice of pouring ...

3010. Zion’s Divine Defender

Psalm 48:1-14

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... earth. On the other, it is Mount Zion and the villages of Judah in particular that are glad because of your judgments (a verse identical to 97:8, a psalm of Yahweh’s kingship). As already noted, Psalm 65 also indicates that, while there is a sense that Yahweh “calls forth songs of joy” from “the ends of the earth” (vv. 5–8), it is at Yahweh’s holy temple in Zion that articulate praise, in particular, is offered to him (vv. 1–4). This awareness reflects an aspect of God’s sovereignty that ...

3011. The Wicked Uprooted and the Righteous Flourishing in God’s House

Psalm 52:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... Overall, therefore, within the entrance liturgy this psalm moves us from the judgment of evil to the celebration of God and the benefits of his house. Additional Notes 52:1 You who are a disgrace in the eyes of God: The MT as it stands does not make sense in the second half of this verse: “Why do you boast of evil, O hero, the unfailing love of God (Hb. ḥesed ʾēl) all the day.” It is difficult to explain how the NIV arrived at its rendering. The Syriac suggests reading ʾel-ḥāsîd, “against the ...

3012. Defeat in Battle with Edom

Psalm 60:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... is correct. First, the scope of the oracle is much broader than the psalm’s immediate concern, which is Edom (v. 9). Second, if it were Yahweh’s immediate answer to the preceding petition, the subsequent lament and petition (vv. 9–11) make little sense, because Yahweh would have just made his position clear. Thus, God has spoken (or “God spoke,” Hb. perfect) from his sanctuary probably introduces a quotation of an earlier divine promise, which the psalm now uses as a reminder to God. 60:9–12 The ...

3013. A Pilgrim’s Prayer to Fulfill Vows at God’s House

Psalm 61:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... ’s “taking possession,” an expression that uses the verb form of the word rendered “heritage” in our psalm). Third, seeing this psalm as a prayer for safe pilgrimage to fulfill vows for Yahweh’s grant of a bountiful harvest helps us to make sense of the intercession for the king (vv. 6–7). Like these verses, Psalm 72 consists of intercessory wishes for the king (i.e., “may he . . .”; see the NIV marginal note). It grants us insight into the common belief of the intimate connection between ...

3014. Rest for the Weary

Matthew 11:25-30

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... labor that leads to rest, but following after the one who is as gentle as if humbled—not after a conqueror but after one who appears conquered (p. 273). Although the hoti in verse 29 is usually translated “because,” it is also possible to take it in the sense of “that”—Learn from me that I am gentle and humble in heart (v. 29). This is the lesson that leads to rest of spirit and soul. Although the requirements of the kingdom are great (5:17–20), they appear in a different light when seen as ...

3015. The Vinedresser and the Plundered Vine of Israel

Psalm 80:1-19

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... in verses 7, 19 (cf. v. 14). This refrain establishes the psalm’s structure. The imperative, restore us, contains what may be an intentional ambiguity. It can mean “cause us to (re)turn,” in the sense of repentance (Jer. 31:18; 23:22; Lam. 5:21), and also “restore us,” in the sense of a renovation of fortunes. The latter of course has special reference to a reestablishment of the past glories just intimated. The petition of the parallel line echoes the Aaronic blessing (Num. 6.25): Make your ...

3016. The God of the Thunderstorm and the Proclamation of His Righteousness

Psalm 97:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... kingship and superiority (an issue that surfaces in v. 9) were established when the god of the storm with his arrows of lightning overcame the chaotic and life-threatening god of the seas (see “Tradition of Divine Kingship” in the Introduction). In this sense, the thunderstorm was an expression of establishing “right order.” For Yahweh in particular, “right order” comes center stage and is expressed in nature, as seen here in verse 6, and in human affairs, as seen in verses 10–12 (cf. esp. the ...

3017. A Prayer Against Those Who Curse and Accuse

Psalm 109:1-31

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... to how they repay me evil for good.) The this of verse 20 probably denotes the preceding quotation. The But you introducing verse 21 thus marks off a new section, where the speaker turns to petition Yahweh. Sixth, these two voices in the psalm help us make sense of key repetitions. In his prayer of verses 21–31 the speaker makes claims contrary to verses 6–19. While his opponents claim, he . . . hounded to death the poor and the needy (v. 16), so he claims, I am poor and needy (v. 22). As they cursed ...

3018. Peters Confession to Christ

Matthew 16:13-20

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... in his assertion that Matthew wrote the account in Greek, we are no longer “shackled by the need to suppose an Aramaic substratum” (p. 334). In either language the pun is present. Most modern scholars hold that Peter himself is the rock, in the sense that he is the first to identify fully and completely Jesus as Messiah. It is upon this foundation that the church is built. Christ’s church (Gk. ekklēsia) is the new Israel, the New Testament counterpart to the Old Testament congregation of the elect ...

3019. Jesus Predicts His Death

Matthew 16:21-28

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... gain the whole world he or she would still come out the loser if the conquest involved giving up “higher life” (Williams). Nothing is as valuable as life in this ultimate sense. “What could a man offer to buy back his soul once he had lost it?” (Phillips). Though Jesus’ statement is ultimately eschatological, there is a profound sense in which self-interest destroys life here and now. Each decision of life is making us into a certain kind of person, and the opportunity to relive life is not open ...

3020. The Temple Tax

Matthew 17:24-27

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... therefore held by some to be a “bit of folk-tale” (Beare, p. 372). A somewhat similar tale is told of Polycrates, who throws his ring into the sea to satisfy the gods and when he is served fish for dinner gets it back. Others take it in a figurative sense. What Jesus actually means is that Peter should return to fishing for a day and by selling the fish be able to pay the tax. The “miracle” is held to be contrary to the moral principle that God does not do for us what we can do for ourselves. It ...

3021. Sojourning in a Foreign Land Among the Deceitful and Warlike

Psalm 120:1-7

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... dissatisfaction at living in a foreign land. It may be for this reason that Psalm 120 became the introductory psalm of ascent, in the collection that appears to serve pilgrims journeying to the Jerusalem temple. This note of hostile foreigners also helps us make sense of this collection’s repeated wish for a peaceable Zion (122:6–8; 125:5; 128:6). Instead of the NIV’s dwell and live in verse 5, the Hebrew text reads, “sojourn” (gwr) and “lodge” (škn). These verbs therefore served as a subtle ...

3022. The Rich Young Man

Matthew 19:16-30

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... is sufficient to mention at this point that ancient literature need not be pressed into modern categories. The writers of the Gospels, to whatever extent they were aware of or copied from one another (or from some common source), produced their work without any sense of conflict or incongruity. The Gospels should be read with the same openness. The proverbial nature of Jesus’ teaching and the fact that the disciples heard him teach over a period of some years would lead us to expect variations on the same ...

3023. Out of the Depths

Psalm 130:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 1–4) and then in testimony to the congregation (vv. 5–6). Moreover, in verses 7–8, he exhorts them to follow this model. Verse 6 indicates that a night performance of the psalm is particularly appropriate, though it may simply employ an image to convey a sense of longing. As with most psalms, this one does not tie itself down to a particular historical occasion. The clearest allusion to a particular occasion for the psalm lies not in its petition, which is simply for Yahweh to hear (v. 2), but in the ...

3024. Surrendering to God’s Inescapable, All-Searching Presence

Psalm 139:1-24

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... we see the same response to divine omniscience (vv. 1–6) as is evident in Job, namely the desire to be left alone (Job 7:17–21; 14:5–6). God’s scrutiny evokes wonder (v. 6) but also fear. Thoughts of flight need not betray a profound sense of guilt or the fact that the speaker has committed or been accused of a crime. The recognition that we are so scrutinized by another intrinsically makes us want to retreat. We may feel our privacy has been violated or we may fear we will inevitably disappoint the ...

3025. Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... the other three Jews, as there is no mention of them. Daniel 1 brings Daniel together with the other three men, recounting how they were exiled to Babylon and were enrolled in King Nebuchadnezzar’s training program. In this way, the first chapter helps to overcome the sense that these are disparate accounts. Daniel is presented in chapter 1 as a new Joseph. Joseph was taken as a captive to Egypt (Gen. 39:1); Daniel was carried to exile in Babylon (Dan. 1:1–7). Both served in the court of a foreign king ...

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