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 301 to 325 of 4944 results

301. The Sin and Doom of Godless Men

Jude 1:1-16

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... in vv. 16 and 18 (“they follow their own evil/ungodly desires”). Cain is also mentioned in Heb. 11:4, where he is contrasted with his brother Abel who held nothing back from God. In 1 John 3:12, he is mentioned again; this time it concerns the murderous hostility of the wicked against the godly. Irenaeus (Against Heresies 1.31.1) mentions a second-century Gnostic sect who called themselves Cainites (cf. Epiphanius (Panarion 38.1.1–3). They regarded the God of the OT as responsible for the evil in the ...

302. The Lord Commands Joshua

Joshua 1:1-18

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... of gratitude to God for their land (Num. 32:6–32). Joshua tells them that their families can remain east of the Jordan, but the warriors must fight for the west bank until all the tribes have rest. In his speech, Joshua echoes Moses’ concern for unity (Num. 32). Human nature tends to look after itself and forget about community responsibilities, an attitude that is summarized in the contemporary saying “Not in My Back Yard” (NIMBY). The point of this saying is that citizens favor what they can gain ...

303. Naomi and Ruth

Ruth 1:1-22

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

... :12), followed by the blessings of the Bethlehem council (4:11) and the Bethlehem women (4:14). 1:9 Naomi’s second wish is for Yahweh to grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband. Here we come to the core of her concern. Naomi wants her widowed daughters-in-law to find “rest” (menukhah). Her feelings about this are so strong, she repeats them again in 3:1, “My daughter, should I not try to find a home (‘rest,’ manoakh) for you?” One need look only at the story of the ...

304. Nehemiah's Final Reforms

Nehemiah 13:1-31

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... , noted above, is amplified here by introductory material to give the background of the problem. This introduction also explains Nehemiah’s enforced absence from Judah—the reason he had not been able to stop it from happening. Like the final reform measure in verse 28, it concerns a political enemy who had featured in the earlier stories of opposition to the wall project in chapters 2, 4, and 6. In the context of the memoirs, the idea of one so hostile to the work of God occupying a room in the temple ...

305. Restoration of Israel

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... other patriarchs, Isaac and Jacob. 30:4–11 A second oracle initially reverts to lament and judgment but then turns at the end again to hope. It too is introduced by the double introduction identifying it as a divine oracle (These are the words the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah and This is what the LORD says). The second phrase introduces a number of the oracles in chapters 30–31 (see 30:12, 18; 31:2, 7, 15, 16, 23 [with expansion on the divine name]). Toward the end of these oracles the reader ...

306. Habakkuk’s Prayer

Habakkuk 3:1-19

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... to Psalm 7. Scholars have thought that this heading, along with the similar footnote with which the chapter closes (v. 19b), indicate that this is a poem by Habakkuk that came to be used in worship although it was originally part of the prophetic book. The notes concerning its use in worship then came to be part of the prophetic text, just as the headings about using psalms came to be part of the Psalms’ text. It is indeed a plausible idea that such a poem could be abstracted from the prophecy in order to ...

307. Timothy and Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:19-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... Philippi when the gospel was first preached and the church first planted there. 2:21 Even among the Christians with whom Paul was in touch at the time of writing, there were too many who put their own interests before those of others, or were more concerned about their own interests than about those of Jesus Christ. There were some indeed in Rome at the time who were preaching the gospel “in love” (1:16), but of all those who were available to Paul as messengers none was so free from self-centeredness ...

308. Walking in the Light

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

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... has written so far, about forgiveness and the purifying death of Jesus (1:7, 9), is not a license to sin. Just because sin is an inevitable reality and forgiveness is available does not mean that the believer should take a lenient attitude toward it. (Paul faced the same concern in Romans 6:1: “Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase?”) In fact, the author says that it is one of his purposes in writing (cf. 1:3–4) that the community will not sin, that they will completely reject sin as a way of ...

309. David’s Charge to Solomon

1 Kings 2:1-12

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... David’s implicitly critical words as signalling his desire that Amasa should disappear? He had, after all, built a career on having people killed for David’s benefit, whether at his express command or not (2 Sam. 18:14–15), and there is certainly no mention of any Davidic concern over Amasa’s death before we reach 1 Kings 2:5. All in all, then, it is difficult to believe that blood-guilt is the real reason why loyal Joab is now, at this late date, to be done away with. Why, then, is he to be killed ...

310. A Prophecy Against Gog

Ezekiel 38:1-39:29

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... or rather, a grim parody of a feast; see 39:17–20). A procession celebrating the Lord’s victory (39:25–29) leads to the liturgy’s climax: the building of the temple (chs. 40–48; though I argue that Ezekiel’s final vision was not originally concerned with temple-building). Even if an editor added the Gog material later, it was well integrated into the book by the first century, as the Ezek. fragment from Masada and the use of chs. 38–39 in Rev. 20:7–10 demonstrate. In any case, the influence ...

311. The Failure of Israel’s Leadership

Luke 11:37-54

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... certainty to their profession of faith; a number more were “Hopers,” “who believed themselves on the verge of conversion.” A smaller group, which included Dickinson, was “without hope” and could not claim faith in Christ. They, of course, were Lyon’s greatest concern.2 Whatever the case, Dickinson remained ambivalent spiritually for the rest of her life. In one poem she wrote about church, Some keep the Sabbath going to church; I keep it staying at home, With a bobolink for a chorister, And an ...

312. A Lifestyle of Holiness and Love

Leviticus 19:1-37

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... amusing because the deaf person cannot hear it. The cruel joke of putting a stumbling block in front of the blind denies the dignity of another human being. 19:15 do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great. Given the law’s concern for the poor, it is surprising that here it warns against being partial in their favor (cf. Exod. 23:3). God’s justice requires that application of the law in court be blind to social standing. 19:16 Do not . . . slander. Like lies (v. 11c), slander ...

313. Yahweh Speaks as the Master Teacher

Job 38:1--41:34

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... not be tamed by them. From the human perspective, this is a rich energy source going for naught, but that is how the aurochs functioned within Yahweh’s world. Once again, Job has to realize that life as Yahweh has designed it does not revolve around human concerns, so humans like Job are not in a position to speak definitively about how Yahweh must govern his world. 39:13–18 she cares not that her labor was in vain. Yahweh’s description of the ostrich in 39:13–18 reveals a bird that seems so ...

314. Jesus’s Fourth Discourse—The Community Discourse

Matthew 18:1-9

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... kingdom (18:1). This is a status question—an understandable one in the context of ancient conventions that clearly spell out honor and status levels based on birth, family, title, wealth, and relationship with others. As their daily conventions revolve around attention to status concerns, the disciples assume that the inauguration of God’s reign will set up a new set of status criteria. They are hopeful that they will rank higher in God’s status system than in that of the Greco-Roman world (cf. 20:20 ...

315. Divorce

Mark 10:1-12

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... the view that the law of Moses was the perfect and final reflection of the will of God, asserting that it was adapted to fallen and stubborn human nature. By his citation of the creation accounts, Jesus implies that the original, Edenic will of God concerning marriage is both superior to the law of Moses and continues to be the proper guideline by which marriage should be conducted. This point about the law of Moses being used to justify conduct contrary to the will of God is similar to Jesus’ argument ...

316. The Coming of the Kingdom of God

Luke 17:20-37

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... to Acts 1:6–7, the kingdom has not yet come in its fulness but is still awaited. What brings about the kingdom in its fulness will be the return of Jesus, the Son of Man (Acts 1:11). It is with this return that vv. 22–37 are concerned. This section may be divided roughly into three parts: (1) the delay of the Son of Man (vv. 22–25), (2) the suddenness and unexpectedness of the return of the Son of Man (vv. 26–30), and (3) instructions in vigilance (vv. 31–37). Fitzmyer (p. 1167) summarizes the ...

317. Israel's Unbelief

Romans 9:30--10:21

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... law (v. 5), and the righteousness that is by faith (v. 6). The irony of righteousness by law, noted Bengel, is that one “does not find in the law what he seeks; and he does not seek, what he might find in the Gospel” (Gnomon, vol. 3, p. 140). Concerning righteousness by law (see 2 Apoc. Bar. 67:6) Paul says, “The man who does these things will live by them” (v. 5; quoted from Lev. 18:5). In Leviticus the injunction meant that once the Israelites entered the Promised Land they were to live by God’s ...

318. The Weak and the Strong

Romans 14:1--15:13

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... �do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food”). The whole section falls into three parts, each initiated by “therefore” (in Greek). The first shows how the principle of freedom in service of others affects weaker believers (vv. 13–15); the second concerns its effect on others in general (vv. 16–18); and the last shows how it builds up the church (vv. 19–23). 14:13 The opening line, Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another, summarizes the train of thought in 14:1–12. The ...

319. Wisdom from the Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... ’] glory before time began” (2:7). Paul writes that among Christians of developed religious sensibilities he was able to explicate in fuller detail the significance of the saving power of the cross of Christ. In referring to this age, Paul sounds an eschatological note concerning God’s transformation of the ages (see 10:11) through the cross of Christ. The effect of God’s work is that the rulers of this age are now coming to nothing. Paul is thinking of God’s eschatological judgment, but it is not ...

320. Jesus Is Coming

Revelation 22:7-21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... ’s past, present, and future in the person of the Lord Jesus. Thus, for the interpreter to reify John’s purpose into a doctrine of imminence is to lose much of its rhetorical power; the prophet is a pastor, not a systematic theologian! He is not concerned, at least in any formal or academic way, to calculate the timing of Christ’s parousia. Rather he is interested to motivate his audience to respond to Christ immediately and properly in the light of his soon and sudden return. In this sense, then, the ...

321. Clean and Unclean Animals

Leviticus 11:1-47

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... of idolatrous worship in that day. There is some evidence to support this view about some of the animals, but it clearly does not account for much of the textual information. A more popular rationale could be called the hygienic one. Health concerns account for the distinctions between clean and unclean. Certain animals were dirty and thus prohibited because they could cause sickness; some were scavengers or animals the meat of which would spoil. This view could explain some of the textual data but does ...

322. The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 6:1-23

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... her, in claiming and then reclaiming her, to bolster his status. If the only thing Michal gained when she was taken from Paltiel was the somewhat dubious privilege of her status and dignity as the king’s wife, it is not surprising that she was concerned that David’s uncontrolled dancing might cause him, and therefore her, to lose all that she had left (v. 20). 6:18 David’s actions are sometimes seen as indicating an early tradition of priest-king, perhaps linked to the Melchizedek tradition (Ps. 110:4 ...

323. Past and Future Deliverances and Present Trust and Obedience

Psalm 40:1-17

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... suggestive that the speaker serves as a spokesperson for the “us”: “were I to speak and tell of . . . the things you planned for us . . . they would be too many to declare.” The praise that the “I” recites includes not merely what concerns him but also what concerns the congregation. It is therefore possible that the entire psalm was performed on behalf of a congregation, not merely on the speaker’s own behalf. In other words, the “I” of the psalm may be a representative. What would be the ...

324. The Penitential Psalm

Psalm 51:1-19

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... ). Upon closer inspection, however, we discover that only Psalms 32, 51, and 130 give concerted attention to sin and forgiveness as their chief issue. (Psalms 6 and 102 make no explicit mention of sin. Most of the verses of Ps. 38 concern sickness and enemies and those of Ps. 143 concern being near death and under enemy attack.) Only Psalm 51 gives sin exclusive attention apart from other distresses such as sickness (implied in 32:3–4) and the judgment of the exile (see on Ps. 130). In other psalms, the ...

325. Whose Son is the Christ?

Mark 12:35-40

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... for profit from the animal vendors whom the high priest allowed to operate for a fee in the temple area (11:17). Near the close of the section, the scribes are criticized for their pride and concern for making money. In Jesus’ time, the scribes appear to have been forbidden to ask for pay for their expertise in the law and had to support themselves or be supported through the generosity of others. Their great learning obtained for them great respect among the Jews, and as all ...

Showing results