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 3401 to 3425 of 4340 results

3401. False Prophets

Micah 2:6-11

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... spirit of Yahweh impatient? Are these things (i.e., judgments) his doings?” Do not his [emending my] words do good to him whose works are upright? The prophet’s opponents who utter these words are blind both to the nature of Yahweh and to the character of their own lives. Like so many in our society, they believe that God will always forgive. After all, they have it written in one of their most ancient creeds that the Lord is “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and ...

3402. Leaders and Prophets Rebuked

Micah 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... in our use of the term. Mišpāṭ was not just conformity to legal norms. Rather, mišpāṭ was God’s order for the covenant community as set forth in the traditions handed down from generation to generation. It was to reflect God’s character and commands and was principally designed to restore to their proper place in the community those who had been wronged. Such “justice” was intended to rescue the endangered, and help the hurt, and secure surcease for those suffering violence. Its aim was not ...

3403. A Call to Return to the Lord

Zechariah 1:1-6

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... kingdoms had come to pass and the Lord had granted the Persian emperor the right to rule the region. (In like fashion the date formula A.D., for anno Domini, “the year of our Lord,” expresses for Christians the “already but not yet” character of the kingdom of God.) The Darius date formula establishes the present perspective from which readers are to understand the book of Zechariah. Darius reigns, but the Lord’s word still comes to, and through, a prophet. Verse 1 continues, the word of the ...

3404. Judgment on Israel's Enemies

Zechariah 9:1-8

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... 19; Zech. 10:11). In this sense, this sentence summarizes verses 5b–6a. The political autonomy of the Philistines would have to be removed before the region could become part of God’s people. “Pride” is also an attitude of heart and mind, a disposition of character that precedes idolatry (Ezek. 7:20), neglect of the poor (Ezek. 16:49), or mockery of the Lord’s people (Zeph. 2:10). This line serves as a pivot in the passage—on the one side is political subjugation and on the other side spiritual ...

3405. The Coming of Zion's King

Zechariah 9:9-13

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... s regent. This messianic announcement reformulates earlier promises and psalms that articulate the royal ideal. The coming king will be righteous, like the king in Isaiah 9:7; 11:4, 5; 32:1. This adjective indicates the legitimacy of his reign as well as the character of his rule in promoting justice among his subjects. Jeremiah 23:5 promises a “righteous Branch” (tsemakh tsaddiq) for David, “a King who will reign wisely / and do what is just and right in the land.” Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12 call the ...

3406. Robbing God

Malachi 3:6-18

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... success of other people that they are right with God, and then deduce God’s standards from their conduct. The audience’s theological argument would destroy the distinction between the righteous and the evildoers. This difference, they think, is not being sustained by God’s character (“All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD,” 2:17), nor by divine power (“even those who challenge God escape,” v. 15). 3:16 At this point the usual format of the speeches in Malachi leads one to expect a ...

3407. No More Tears

Sermon

King Duncan

... Player. “Significantly, it came out in 1938, while the Western nations were passively watching Hitler expand his power. “Toward the end of the novel a psychiatrist is explaining a case of strange behavior to a young man who is one of the central characters. Refusing to face a world as grim as it really is, the psychiatrist says, some sensitive people try to run away from reality. But the facts must be faced, the psychiatrist insists, and one of these is that people are essentially the same fearing ...

3408. A Widow at the End of Her Rope

1 Kings 17:7-24

Sermon

King Duncan

... who reflects their own petty prejudices. Our God is the God of all people everywhere, including people who have never been introduced to the God of Jesus. That’s our job--to let them know who He is. I believe Jesus is the best picture that humanity has of the character of God, and so I believe we ought to do everything we can to help people know the good news that Jesus Christ can set them free. But in the meantime, do not ask me to prejudge any other person of any other nationality or color or faith. God ...

3409. An Army Officer Deeply Concerned

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... : “Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.” In this story, it wasn’t the centurion who was the good person facing hard times, but his servant. However, can’t we surmise that the servant was a person of character as well? That’s why the centurion valued him so much. And so, when the servant became gravely ill, this caring man, a Roman centurion, sought to find help for him. He heard that Jesus could help his servant and so, even though he wasn’t Jewish, he ...

3410. Living In Spite House

Matthew 18:21-35

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

Object: A Doctor Seuss book Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like Dr. Seuss? I understand that one of the most prominent characters in Dr. Seuss books is the "Grinch." Can anyone tell me about the Grinch? (Let someone describe the Grinch.) I understand that the Grinch is a creature who cannot stand the sight of anyone enjoying himself. In fact if the Grinch sees someone enjoying himself it gets so angry it ...

3411. Jesus' First Disciples

John 1:35-42, John 1:43-51

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... overcomes such prejudices against Christianity and believes in Jesus. Nathanael, Jesus declares, is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false (v. 47). Jesus shows here, even more clearly than in his renaming of Simon, a supernatural insight into people’s character (cf. 2:25). He is apparently referring to the patriarch Jacob, who practiced deception until he met God in the person of an angel and had his name changed to “Israel” (Gen. 32:28). Nathanael is an Israelite worthy of that name. Jesus ...

3412. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

John 3:1-21

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... above” (cf 3:31). The rebirth of which Jesus speaks is in fact a birth from God (1:13) or from the realm of the Spirit, and in that sense “from above,” but Nicodemus’ answer focuses simply on the fact that it is a second birth. Its divine character remains to be spelled out in vv. 5–8. 3:5 Water and the Spirit: It is impossible to tell grammatically whether water and Spirit are two distinct elements or one. The fact that both are governed by a single preposition in Greek suggests that they are one ...

3413. The Healing at the Pool

John 5:1-15, John 5:16-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... who “finds” the man nearby in the temple area and speaks to him (v. 14a). The initiative throughout belongs to Jesus. His identity, his goings and comings, are known only to those to whom he discloses himself (cf. 9:35–37). Yet he knows the character and circumstances of the man he has just healed. Echoing the synoptic story of the paralytic, in which healing and the forgiveness of sins are virtually equated (Mark 2:5–11), Jesus warns the man to stop sinning or something worse may happen to you ...

3414. Testimonies About Jesus

John 5:31-47

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... ) to particular Jewish messianic claimants (e.g., Simon Bar Cochba, the leader of the last Jewish revolt against Rome about A.D. 135). Jesus is instead referring to anyone who might come promoting himself and who wants “praise from men” (v. 41). Because the character of such a person would correspond so closely to their own (v. 44) the authorities would quickly give him the allegiance they withheld from Jesus. 5:44 Praise that comes from the only God: lit., “the glory that is from the only God” (in ...

3415. The Last Day of the Feast

John 7:45--8:11, John 8:12-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... in verses 33–34. The guards can only carry their bafflement back to the religious authorities who sent them. From verse 47 at least through 8:20, the Pharisees move center stage. Jesus will confront them directly, but first their attitudes and their character will be demonstrated. It is probably to be assumed that they speak for the chief priests as well as themselves. They are intensely conscious of their own status, in contrast to that of the crowd, which knows nothing of the law—there is ...

3416. The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

John 9:13-34

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... is told realistically and with humor. Unlike the sick man of chapter 5, he has personality, a ready wit, and strong convictions. Unlike Nicodemus, he leaves no doubt about what he thinks of Jesus. He is surely one of the most memorable characters in all of the Gospels. His quick, ironic answers (vv. 27, 30), as well as his serious testimony on Jesus’ behalf (vv. 31–33), irritated his questioners and pierced their pretensions. In response (ignoring his cure), they simply reverted to the popular notion ...

3417. The Shepherd and His Flock

John 10:1-21

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... is of a shepherd who lays down his life in defense of his sheep by fighting off the attacking wolf. Verses 11–13 are an extended metaphor, actually a self-contained story matching the figure of speech in verses 1–5. At the very least they provide a double character sketch (i.e., of the shepherd and of the hired man), but more than that, they give a real picture of a wolf attacking a flock of sheep, with the hired man running away to save his own life. The key to the interpretation of the story is given ...

3418. The Raising of Lazarus

John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... God has now come), the translation is open to the misunderstanding that he was to come but did not. The intent of the construction (a present participle in Greek) is not to fix the time of the Messiah’s coming (as between present and future) but to define his character as a Coming One (i.e., one who invades this world and transforms it). A better translation might be the “Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.” 11:28 Aside: The need for privacy is shown by vv. 19 and 31. Because Martha wants ...

3419. Pilate and the Condemnation of Jesus

John 18:28-40, John 19:1-16

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... solemnity here that was not present before. Realizing that the Jewish authorities have forced him to accede to their demands, Pilate takes his revenge. By sitting in the judge’s seat, he gives to the announcement Here is your king a ceremonial and quasi-official character. The ultimate insult he can hurl at the Jews is that this truly is their king, the one they deserve and the only one they will ever have. His insult finds its mark, for it draws from them in angry response the ultimate blasphemy of ...

3420. Crucified, Dead, and Buried

John 19:17-27, John 19:28-37, John 19:38-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... as Pilate was concerned, the granting of permission to Joseph of Arimathea to take charge of Jesus’ body was simply an extension of the permission he had already given to the Jews to remove the three bodies from Golgotha (v. 31). Joseph of Arimathea is a new character in the story but is mentioned in every Gospel and identified in Mark and Luke as a member of the Jewish ruling Council. It is not surprising that he appears here in the company of Nicodemus (v. 39), introduced in chapter 3 as “a member of ...

3421. The Third Appearance

John 21:1-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... dispersion in the world was to be the occasion for their mission to the world (17:9–19) and for the gathering of “the scattered children of God” into one (11:52; 17:20–23). This background in the sayings of Jesus highlights the metaphorical character of verses 1–14. Two things are being described simultaneously: the efforts of the disciples to fill their net with fish and their efforts to complete their mission of making God known in the world by proclaiming the message Jesus gave them. In the ...

3422. Shining as Stars

Philippians 2:12-18

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... is not they, but their pagan neighbors, who can be described as a crooked and depraved generation. It is for the Philippian Christians to set the surrounding world a better example, by showing themselves blameless and pure, children of God, reflecting their Father’s character, people against whose way of life no finger of reproach can be pointed. It was this that Jesus had in mind for his disciples when he called them “the salt of the earth” and urged them, by their openhanded goodness, to become true ...

3423. No Confidence in the Flesh

Philippians 3:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... gnōsis Christou lēsou as a distinctive mark of the Christian” when it is conceded, almost in the same breath, that the content of vv. 8–11 “is very different from Gnosticism” since “Paul is not describing individual experiences but the character of Christian existence in general” (R. Bultmann, TDNT, vol. 1, pp. 710, 711, s.v. “ginōskō, “gnōsis,” etc.). It might be, as W. Schmithals says, that Paul here “sets the true knowledge of Jesus Christ in opposition to the ‘contradictions ...

3424. Pressing on Toward the Goal

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... . 3:19 The destiny of such people, says Paul, is destruction; those who follow their bad example are likely to share their fate. Their god is their stomach; compare Romans 16:18, where the Roman Christians are warned against undesirable characters who “are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites” (“appetites” there renders the same noun, Gk. koilia, as stomach renders here). The rendering stomach is perhaps less apt than “appetites,” because the latter indicates that gluttony is not ...

3425. Let Us Love One Another

2 John 1:1-13

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... the term antichrist in any literature. The term is used only in 1–2 John as a description of the Elder’s opponents and nowhere else in the NT (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3). The reference is to a figure of the end times, an apocalyptic character, like Paul’s “man of lawlessness” in 2 Thess. 2:3–9, who opposes Christ (hence antichrist; the prefix anti may also mean “instead of” or “substitute”) and his coming reign. The Elder sees in these false teachers a harbinger of the end of this age (cf. 1 ...

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