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 387 results

301. Expel the Immoral Brother!

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... God, itself, and the man who was in error. The only hope in this hopeless situation is the drastic action of returning the man to the context of the world, where God alone is his hope—not the church and not the man’s own sensibilities. The church’s failure to correct the man, not merely the man’s wickedness or Paul’s vindictiveness, necessitated this seemingly harsh course of action. Additional Notes Points of continuity between chs. 4 and 5 were noted in my introduction to ch. 5. Nevertheless ...

302. One Body, Many Parts

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... one and the same Spirit … gives them to each one, just as he determines.” Having made the point about the necessity of diversity in the body, Paul declares the differences to be God’s will and work. At this point, Paul argues for the sensible necessity and divine purposefulness of diversity. 12:20–26 Paul’s perspective shifts in these verses, refocusing on his principal theme of unity. As important as the recognition of diversity is for the life of the church, Paul still wants to emphasize the ...

303. The Resurrection of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... afterlife. Given the specific contents of Paul’s comments, the situation—as complicated as it has been understood to have been—seems simple. Some of the Corinthians believe that there is life after death without a resurrection of the dead. The simplest, most sensible solution to understanding what some of the Corinthians were saying is to see them affirming a continuation of life after death through the survival of the spirit of the persons who have died, but not through an act of new creation by God ...

304. The Collection for God's People

1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... of this verse. The Gk. phrases, however, are loosely sequential and may be understood to say, “whomever you approve through letter, these I will send”; some translations understand and render Paul’s words in this way. Both translations are possible, sensible, and equally defensible. Orr and Walther (I Corinthians, p. 355) offer the more literal and ambiguous translation, “those whom you approve by letter I shall send off,” which may be the best solution. Orr and Walther (pp. 355–56) explain ...

305. David Spares Saul's Life

1 Samuel 24:1-22

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... ; Saul is still my lord the king. David, knowing the nature of Saul’s jealousy and perhaps pandering to Saul’s vanity, postulates that he must have been persuaded by convincing slanderers that David poses a threat. The implication is that Saul was far too sensible to come to this decision unaided. David has also suffered from unwise advisers who have tried to persuade him that Saul should be killed. But unlike Saul, David has refused to listen to them. Cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe, which a ...

306. David, Nabal, Abigail

1 Samuel 25:1-44

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... . The contribution to David’s supplies may have been theoretically voluntary, but no contribution was unacceptable. Also, Nabal’s aggressive support for Saul perhaps meant he was liable to bring danger to them while they remained in that area. David, following sensible tactics of not leaving his base camp unguarded, went down to sort Nabal out. 25:14–31 The characterization may be exaggerated, but the picture is vivid and realistic. The farm workers who had heard Nabal’s tirade could envisage the ...

307. Bildad's Second Speech to Job

Job 18:1-21

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... for Job’s immediate silence and submission! Bildad’s assessment of Job is not just that he is unreasonable, but that he lacks the basic perceptive ability that is the hallmark of wisdom. Continuing in the jussive mood, he demands that Job be sensible, “perceive,” or “understand” (the meaning of the Heb. verb byn) before they continue the discussion. This explains Job’s refusal to capitulate to the friends’ arguments as no failing in the friends, but a lack of intellect on the part of Job ...

308. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

Matthew 13:44-46

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... a store of money (or valuables) hidden in a field. In ancient times people often hid money and articles of value in the ground (cf. the “one-talent man” in Matt. 25:25): without banks, and in view of frequent invasions by enemy forces, this was a sensible thing to do. Many caches were lost or forgotten and are even today being dug up in Palestine. The man in question appears to have been a farm laborer, undoubtedly poor. He was working (probably plowing) in a field that belonged to someone else when he ...

309. The Withering of the Wicked and the Flourishing of the Righteous

Psalm 92:1-15

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... is confirmed by certain parallels with Psalm 75. It too alternates between “I” (v. 9) and “we” (v. 1), and celebrates God’s judgment of “the wicked” (vv. 2–8) and God’s exaltation of “the horns of the righteous” (v. 10). It may offend our modern sensibilities that such destruction should be seen as an expression of God’s love and faithfulness (v. 2) and as a cause for joy (v. 4) for God’s people. But it must be seen within the wider context of God’s judgment in the Psalms. The ...

310. The Day and Hour Unknown

Matthew 24:36-51

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Who then is the faithful and wise servant? The paragraph that follows is directed to those appointed to positions of leadership in the church (those responsible to “manage [the] household staff” and “issue … rations at the proper time,” NEB). The wise (or sensible) servant is the one who, when the master returns, will be found to be faithfully carrying out his or her responsibilities. The master will reward such a servant by placing him over the entire estate. The servant who is wicked is the one ...

311. Daniel’s Vision of a Man

Daniel 10:1--11:1

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... stretch also, so it is probably best to emend the Hebrew text along the lines of the Greek. Repointing notarti (niph. “I was left”) to hotarti (hiph. “I caused to be left”) and adding the direct object ʾoto (“him”) yields the more sensible rendering “I left him.” Rather than the king of Persia, the Hebrew actually has malkey paras, “the kings of Persia,” but this is problematic. It seems unlikely that the apocalyptist would also use “kings” to refer to the demons when he previously ...

312. The Burial of Jesus

Mark 15:42-47

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... may have complied with the request because he felt that Jesus’ crucifixion had probably put an effective end to any revolutionary tendencies among his followers or because he simply did not want a disturbance that might have resulted from failing to honor Jewish sensibilities about burying the dead. Joseph makes his only appearance in Mark, and the description of him is very brief. He is said to have been a prominent member of the Council (v. 43), but it is not absolutely clear whether the council in ...

313. Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad

1 Kings 20:13-34

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... do as he is told (cf. 1 Kgs. 18:19–20, 41–42, 44–45), Ahab sends out his forces to make a preemptive strike (vv. 15–17). The plan benefits from Ben-Hadad’s drunkeness (vv. 12, 16) and apparent inability to utter coherent or sensible instructions (v. 18). It is a tricky enterprise, when an army is approaching with hostile intent, to take people alive. While attempting to put this impractical plan into practice, the Arameans in the front line are struck down. The remainder flee (vv. 19–21), along ...

314. A Prophet Condemns Ahab

1 Kings 20:35-43

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

315. Those Guilty of Intermarriage

Ezra 10:18-44

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... that it should be regarded as a negative factor here. Doubtless these men advocated a liberal stand and condemned Ezra’s harsh and innovative measure as too extreme, perhaps citing other OT texts that permitted intermarriage. Following the assembly’s sensible proposals, the matter was not resolved but was delegated to a commission. Ezra set up this commission, which consisted of family heads representing the various clans. Their names were originally recorded but have been dropped, as in 5:10 and ...

316. Woes and Judgments

Isaiah 5:8-30

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... Judah (see 10:12). While this task is clearly alien to Yahweh’s ultimate nature and purpose, it will be done if necessary as a means to that purpose’s fulfillment. It is not just wanton destructiveness or fickleness. It is all part of a sensible plan (28:29, NIV “counsel”). Yahweh’s positive plan for Israel stands (46:10, NIV “purpose”). Thus Yahweh does not need anyone to offer advice on planning (40:13, NIV “counselor”), and is even able to use foreign generals in this connection (46:11 ...

317. The Cup of the Lord's Wrath

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... other people who will now stagger and fall. To put it another way, this passage correlates to chapter 47. Ms Babylon’s fall terminates Ms Zion’s subjection. The promise recalls the ending of Psalm 137. It would suit our post-Enlightenment liberal sensibilities if the passage did not suggest that one people’s humiliation was the necessary correlate of another’s restoration, but this expectation was true to events. On the other hand, the prophet will soon go on to envision an entirely different way of ...

318. When You're Rejected

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

King Duncan

... try out for parts on the popular television shows The Virginian and Bonanza (anyone remember those two vintage shows?). Nicholson asked for Littman’s help. Littman turned him down. He tried to discourage Nicholson by telling him that he thought directing was a sensible job, and that writing was an accomplishment, but acting [in his estimation] was a lifetime of rejection. Littman told Nicholson he wouldn’t be a party to such lunacy. Nicholson said, “If you don’t represent me, I am going to go with ...

319. A Time to Get Angry

John 2:13-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... him following the duel brought an end to his political career. Aaron Burr is an instance of a gifted and able man who permitted hatred and anger to get the best of him. Later he confessed that it would have been wiser for him had he taken the sensible view that the world was big enough for both Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. What a tragic waste of human life. But it happens all the time. I saw some statistics that revealed that, over a seven-year period, road rage alone resulted in 12,610 injuries and ...

320. Family Ties and Good-byes

Mark 3:31-35

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... was headed for serious trouble. Why didn't he see it? He was taking unnecessary and dangerous risks. Why would he do that? His family thought there was only one explanation. Jesus was somehow just not himself. He must be saved from self-destruction. No sensible and sane man would have opposed the powers of the Orthodox religious leaders of the day. Jesus opposed them. He was having a head-on collision with them. His family went to the house where Jesus was teaching, seeking to stop the disaster which was ...

321. Searching for Happiness

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... said that John Morley once traveled from England to Canada to address the graduating class of a university. He began his speech by saying, “I have traveled 4,000 miles to tell you that there is a difference between right and wrong.” Of course there is. And every sensible person knows it’s true. If it is in any way hurtful to you or someone else, it is wrong. If it keeps you from fulfilling your potential as a follower of Jesus Christ, keep your distance. If it causes you to feel ashamed as you look in ...

322. A Word to the Wealthy

Mark 10:17-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... that we love because of our chase of the almighty dollar? Are we using the resources that God has given us wisely? Are we generous with those who are not as fortunate as we are? Are we laying up treasure in heaven as well as on earth? These are sensible questions we need to ask regardless of our income. Why is this all so important? It is because money has a way of distancing us from God. It is an unusual person who can balance possession of great wealth with the call to follow Jesus. A man named Richard ...

323. In the Light of His Glory

Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... of the comic strips, Charlie Brown, once decided that it was. Lucy is saying to him, “Life is a mystery Charlie Brown . . . Do you know the answer?” Charlie Brown answers, “Be kind. Don’t smoke. Be prompt. Smile a lot. Eat sensibly. Avoid cavities and mark your ballot carefully . . . Avoid too much sun. Send overseas packages early. Love all creatures above and below. Insure your belongings and try to keep the ball low . . .” Before he can get out another platitude, Lucy interrupts: “Hold ...

324. If I Had My Life to Live Over

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... fewer things seriously; I would take more chances; I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers; I would eat more ice cream and less beans; I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who lives sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to do nothing else, just moments, one after the other instead of living so many years ...

325. Seven Ways to Give

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

1. The Careless Way: To give something to every cause that is presented, without inquiring into its merits. 2. The Impulsive Way: To give from impulse, as much and as often as love and pity and sensibility prompt. 3. The Lazy Way: To make a special offer to earn money for worthy projects by fairs, bazaars, etc. 4. The Self-Denying Way: To save the cost of luxuries and apply them to purposes of religion and charity. This may lead to asceticism and self-complacence. 5. The ...

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