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 3176 to 3200 of 4456 results

3176. The First Disciples

Luke 5:1-11

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: Being a disciple of Jesus means recognizing our own unworthiness before a sovereign God, having a willingness to leave all to follow him, and recruiting others for the task of discipleship (“fishing for people”). Understanding the Text Luke’s account has hitherto depicted Jesus acting alone, though the unexplained mention of Simon in 4:38 has hinted that others are already associated with him. Now Luke fills in the background to that mention by telling of the recruitment of the first and closest ...

3177. The Messiah and His Glory

Luke 9:28-36, Luke 9:18-27

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: Jesus, at last recognized as the Messiah, speaks of his own rejection and death but then is revealed in glory. Understanding the Text This is the climax to the christological theme that has been developing through the first part of the Gospel: the question “Who is this?” now receives two definitive answers, one from the human witness Peter (“God’s Messiah”), the other from God himself (“my Son”). Here too is the answer to John the Baptist’s question in 7:19. But Peter’s acclamation leads, to the ...

3178. Table Talk

Luke 14:1-14

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: The kingdom of God reverses our conventional ideas of who really matters. Understanding the Text This is the third time Luke has depicted Jesus as an invited guest at a Pharisee’s table (see also 7:36–50; 11:37–54), and on each occasion Jesus makes things uncomfortable, challenging the social conventions and the moral values of his hosts and fellow guests. In this case, the meal setting continues into 14:15–24, in which Jesus will use the motif of a special meal as the basis for a parable about ...

3179. Leadership and Servanthood

1 Corinthians 4:1-21, 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Christian leaders must remember they are mere servants who are expected to be trustworthy and eager to enhance the mission and message of their master. Understanding the Text First Corinthians 3:16 and 17 function as a bridge connecting two sides of the same argument. Still addressing the secular nature of the church’s behavior, Paul concludes his exhortation to use superior building materials with a reminder that the Corinthians are building God’s holy temple. This reminder becomes the launching ...

3180. The Horrific End of Nadab and Abihu

Leviticus 10:1-20

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: We must respect the holiness of God. Understanding the Text In Leviticus 8–9 the priests have been ordained and sacrificial worship has been initiated with “Aaron and his sons [doing] everything the Lord commanded through Moses” (Lev. 8:36; see also 8:9, 13, 17, 21, 36; 9:10, 21). God shows his pleasure by sending fire to consume the offering on the altar while the people shout for joy (Lev. 9:24). Everything has gone beautifully. But in Leviticus 10 the opposite takes place. Nadab and Abihu ...

3181. Setting Forth with God

Numbers 10:11-36

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God leads and protects his people. Understanding the Text Numbers 10:11–22:1 forms a new major unit in the book of Numbers that describes the journey from Sinai to the plains of Jordan. In Numbers 1:1–10:10 Israel had prepared for resuming its march toward the promised land. The tribal camps have been counted, and their positions around the tabernacle designated. The duties of the priests and Levites have been delineated. Gifts for the dedication of the tabernacle have been received, and silver ...

3182. Nabuchadnezzar’s Dream and Daniel's Interpretation

Daniel 2:1-23, Daniel 2:24-49

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Nebuchadnezzar Is Troubled by a Dream (2:1-16): Big Idea: God sometimes allows mere mortals, however powerful, to discover the bankruptcy of their belief systems before revealing himself through his messenger. Understanding the Text Daniel 2:1–49 is woven into the book’s overall literary structure in two ways. First, it advances the narrative of chapters 1–6, in which the first four focus on Nebuchadnezzar (chaps. 1–2 with historical markers and 3–4 without) and the last two show the transition from ...

3183. The Writing on the Wall

Daniel 5:1-31

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

The Handwriting on the Wall (5:1-9): Big Idea: Sacrilege against God can lead to a divine confrontation that worldly wealth, power, and wisdom cannot adequately address. Understanding the Text Daniel 5:1–31 is woven into the book’s overall literary structure in two ways. First, it advances the narrative of chapters 1–6, in which the first four focus on Nebuchadnezzar (chaps. 1–2 with historical markers and 3–4 without) and the last two show the transition from Belshazzar of Babylon to Darius the Mede ( ...

3184. Security Clearance

1 Kings 2:1-46

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

David himself mentions Solomon’s “wisdom” during his long speech to his heir, the last words of David in the narrative (2:1–12). The speech has two parts, beginning with an injunction to walk in the ways of torah, reminiscent of great speeches of the Former Prophets such as Joshua 1. David also reiterates the divine promise he was given in 2 Samuel 7, but one notices that the language is slightly modified: the promise is unconditional when delivered to David, but here the king stresses that the promise is ...

3185. Edom’s Judgment Pronounced and Reaffirmed

Obadiah 1:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Unlike other prophetic books, Obadiah’s oracle contains no information about the time or place of its origin, nor does it include any autobiographical data about the prophet. The brevity of the superscription matches the brevity of the book, perhaps to focus attention on the message rather than on the prophet himself. The word used to describe Obadiah’s prophecy (“vision”) is a technical term having to do with receiving a revelatory word from God. More than mere human sight, this visionary experience is ...

3186. Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2:1–3:13 Review · The gospel arrives in Thessalonica:Having finished the initial thanksgiving (1:2–10), Paul now begins the body of the letter. The themes of the thanksgiving are now taken up again and elaborated, with 2:1–12 explaining the character of the apostles and their entry while 2:13–16 reminds the church of their reception of the gospel in the midst of great persecution. The following section (2:17–3:13) recalls the story of the apostles’ absence from the church and their continued care and ...

3187. Trials and Temptation

James 1:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:1 · Address and Greeting: Although James could claim to be a brother of the Lord and a leader in the early Jerusalem church, he is content to call himself a “servant.” Indeed, like Moses (Deut. 34:5) and David (Ezek. 37:24) before him, James recognizes that there is no higher honor than being called to serve the living God. James’s readers are also honored to belong to the people of God of the last day—“the twelve tribes.” As I suggested in the introduction, these readers are probably Jewish Christians ...

3188. The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1-13

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

17:1–3 Following Peter’s great messianic confession, Jesus begins to teach his disciples that his messiahship would involve rejection by the religious authorities and lead to death (16:21). To encourage his followers and to provide hope that victory lies beyond defeat, Jesus takes Peter, James and John to a high mountain, where he is transfigured before them. There is no particular reason why this account should be considered “a creation of mythopoetic imagination” that leaves us without “the slightest ...

3189. Israel's Unbelief

Romans 9:30--10:21

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

Righteousness: Gift or Reward? So far Paul has considered the case of Israel from God’s side. God made choices from among Abraham’s descendants to create a peculiar people for himself. The election of Jacob over Esau was independent of human merit or responsibility, since the choice was made when both were still in Rebekah’s womb. If in subsequent generations God hardened Pharaoh and blessed Israel, it was “in order that [his] purpose in election might stand” (9:11), a purpose rooted in mercy and directed ...

3190. Ingrafted Branches

Romans 11:11-24

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

A skeletal outline of the history of salvation can be found in the call to Abraham in Genesis 12:1–3. It ends with the promise that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” The fulfillment of that promise lay conspicuously fallow throughout the OT. Only in Jonah and Second Isaiah is the blessing to the Gentiles again taken up. In Isaiah 49:1–6 the servant is told, “it is too small a thing for you to … restore the tribes of Jacob.… I will make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my ...

3191. Forgiveness for the Sinner

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

2:5–11 In this section, Paul explicitly mentions the person who was chiefly responsible for making his second visit to Corinth so painful and who evoked the writing of the tearful letter (v. 5). Like Moses, Paul wanted to give the rebel(s) a chance to repent before executing great judgment among the people. Since the church had now dealt with this offender, he discusses how the church should forgive him and restore him to fellowship (vv. 6–11). 2:5 The offender is introduced in verse 5 for the first time ...

3192. Broken Promises

Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

King Duncan

That creative writer Father Andrew Greeley tells a story--a parable, really--about two sisters who worked as babysitters in their community. A young couple had recently moved into the neighborhood. They hired the younger of the two sisters to sit with their children. Imagine their surprise when they came home to find their home a complete mess, with their kids looking haggard, and the babysitter half asleep on the couch. The next day, however, the children excitedly told their parents how they had fun with ...

3193. Our Oneness in Christ

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Pastor James Hewett shared the following experience he had while speaking at the Indiana State Prison: Only weeks earlier, Stephen Judy had been electrocuted at Indiana State Prison where I was speaking. An execution always creates a special tension in a prison, and I could sense it that day. It was in the air, in the voices of the guards, in the faces of the men. After my talk, the warden walked us through the maze of cell blocks to that most dreaded of places—an isolated wing where five men awaited their ...

3194. When Mickey Mouse Recognizes You...

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

King Duncan

Some of you of a certain age may remember when Journalist Howard K. Smith was the co-anchor of the ABC Evening News along with Barbara Walters. Anyone remember her? In his post as a network news analyst Smith had the opportunity to interview some of our society’s most fascinating people as well as various Presidents. Yet in spite of having a job that most of us would consider high status, he complained that his children never considered him very “hip,” as [they/we] said in those days. In fact, they seemed ...

3195. Listening 101

John 4:1-26, John 4:27-38, John 4:39-42

Sermon

David & Marian Plant

Somewhere in my life I heard someone say something like, “The challenge with John (the gospel writer) is he is better at theatre than at writing.” The implications of this comment were about passages such as this one about Jesus and the woman of Samaria. Today’s reading is long enough that when read you begin to lose your place. But as drama (theatre) you can remember it well. You remember a woman coming to a well and an encounter with a strange man at a historic landmark of faith. You recognize that this ...

3196. As I Am A Witness

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Lori Wagner

…Watch —and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. (Habakkuk 5) I am he who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me. (John 8:18) Animation: show/roll photos of Hubbel photos on screen; show model of brain; show markings on bone The Hubbel space telescope has been seeking out and examining unknown universes with its multiple lenses for over 25 years now. First launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery ...

I believe that we must reach our brother, never toning down our fundamental oppositions, but meeting him when he asks to be met, with a reason for the faith that is in us, as well as with a loving sympathy for them as brothers.

Dorothy Day

3198. OK Boomer

Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

King Duncan

(Pastor, if you use Youtube clips in your service, you might consider this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYo9QgVqAW8 for this sermon) OK boomers, we’ve got some things we need to talk about today. Of course, we’re not all boomers. I realize that. How many boomers do we have in the congregation today? To qualify as a boomer you had to be born roughly between 1946 and 1965. [That didn’t sound right. I said you had to be born “roughly” between those two dates. You didn’t have to be born “roughly” at ...

3199. Untamed

Mark 1:9-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

The word “tame” in our culture usually connotes or refers to an animal that has been domesticated. But if you look up the definition of the word, you will also find that to “tame” means to subdue, to cultivate, to bring under control, to inhibit, rein in, tone down, to deprive of spirit. The Greek domnanai (to tame) means “to conquer.” The antithesis of this word from which we get the word “adamant,” means to “not conquer” or to be “invincible.” One who is “tamed” is trained to obey other people. One who ...

3200. It's Worth the Wait

Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

There are certain human experiences that are universally annoying, but everyone has to experience them at some time. Like waiting in lines. And in our rushed and privileged society, it seems like we have less and less capacity for waiting. A woman tells of trying to get a table at a very popular and very busy restaurant. She approached the hostess and asked quite brusquely, “Will it be long?” The hostess kept writing in her hostess book, so the woman leaned closer and asked again a little more firmly, “ ...

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