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 3626 to 3650 of 4963 results

3626. Parables of the Kingdom

Mark 4:1-20

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Grant R. Osborne

... involves understanding at both the mental and spiritual levels, for Jesus has proclaimed these truths to the crowds and leaders, but both groups have failed to grasp and accept them. The divine passive “has been given” emphasizes divine election. Human responsibility has been stressed in the parable of receptivity in 4:3–8; now God’s sovereign choice of the “insiders” (the disciples and followers) over the “outsiders” (the crowds and leaders) as recipients of the kingdom mysteries is central ...

3627. The Authority of Jesus over Nature and the Cosmic Powers

Mark 5:1-20, Mark 4:35-41

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Grant R. Osborne

... a stand against Adolf Hitler. Niemöller first met Hitler in 1933, and later he shared with his wife what he learned from that experience: “I discovered that Herr Hitler is a terribly frightened man.” Fear and the related need to be in control (in response to the fear) “releases the tyrant within.”9 Faith, the antidote to fear Human Experience: Have you ever watched a loving parent teach a toddler to swim? Often the parent stands in the water, inviting the toddler to jump in. The child stands at the ...

3628. The Rejection of Jesus in His Own Hometown

Mark 6:1-6

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Grant R. Osborne

... you live according to God’s design (being a light to the world) in word and deed, then the evil that is hidden in the darkness around you will be brought to light. This will make the people around you uncomfortable, and their response will be either to take responsibility for their evil deeds or to push the light (you) away through rejection. Are you willing to pay the emotional and relational price to be faithful to God as you seek to be God’s light in the world? Game over Popular Culture: Sporting ...

3629. The Exorcism of a Child Develops a Humble Model for Faith

Mark 9:14-32

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Grant R. Osborne

... their lives. 2. Mustard-seed faith is of enormous value. The power of God at work in our lives is not dependent on the amount of faith that we have (the dangerous error of the “prosperity” gospel). God is sovereign, not us, and he is in charge. The father’s response in verse 22 is the key for us all. We will never have enough faith; we must depend entirely on God and Christ. We exercise our faith in humility, simply trusting that God can act in and through us. It is God who acts; it is we who trust ...

3630. A Call to Servanthood and Suffering

Mark 10:46-52, Mark 10:35-45, Mark 10:32-34

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Grant R. Osborne

... depicts him as the archetypal seeker who aggressively throws himself at Jesus. The more the crowd rebukes him, the louder he shouts. 10:51 Rabbi, I want to see. When Bartimaeus comes, Jesus knows his desire but still wants him to vocalize his needs. The man’s response “demonstrates enough faith to transform him from a blind man begging along the way (10:46; see 4:4, 15) to a person who sees and follows Jesus on the way (10:52).”8 10:52 he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road ...

3631. Praying in Faith

Mark 11:20-25 (26)

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Grant R. Osborne

... the land as well as his judgment upon a faithless people. 11:22 Have faith in God. It is commonly thought that this was not originally a part of this section and was added by Mark. However, the sayings of verses 22–26 constitute a valid response to Peter’s statement in verse 21, and Jesus builds on the authority behind his actions and invites the disciples to participate in that authority by faith. It makes perfect sense here. Prayer enables us to tap into the same power source that was behind Jesus ...

3632. The Roman Trial

Mark 15:16-20, Mark 15:1-15

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Grant R. Osborne

... . We do not know what the “many” accusations were, but probably they included the destruction of the temple and blasphemy as well as being a political threat to Rome (v. 2). 15:5 Pilate was amazed. Since Roman trials centered on the prisoner’s responses, Pilate is quite astonished at Jesus’s silence, which, as in 14:61, reenacted Isaiah 53:7, where the Suffering Servant refused to “open his mouth.” The amazement may echo LXX Isaiah 52:15, saying that “many nations will be amazed.” 15:6 ...

3633. Testing in the Wilderness

Luke 4:1-13

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R.T. France

... they were formed into a nation under God. In Deuteronomy 6–8 Moses reminded Israel of the lessons that they had learned during that period, and it is from those chapters that all three of Jesus’s responses in 4:4, 8, 12 are drawn. Deuteronomy 8:2–5, the source of the first of those responses, describes Israel as God’s “son,” “tested” and learning to depend on his Father through the discipline of deprivation in the wilderness. This is the background for Jesus’s own testing as the Son of God ...

3634. Jesus’s Manifesto

Luke 4:14-30

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R.T. France

... for prisoners” (4:18) noted by Isaiah pointing ahead to Jesus’s exorcisms, where he is setting people free from the power of Satan? The rapid swing of the crowd from approval to murderous rejection invites us to consider what factors determine our response to the word of God. Are there lessons here for all of us in our listening and responding, and also for teachers and pastors in how they present the message? In what circumstances is it right, and even necessary, to provoke hostility by challenging ...

3635. Sabbath in Capernaum

Luke 4:38-44, Luke 4:31-37

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R.T. France

... Jesus must already have gained some reputation in his adopted home. 4:33 a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out. As usual in an exorcism account, the words are attributed not to the “host” whose voice is used but rather to the possessing demon, and Jesus’s response will be specifically to the demon. 4:34 Have you come to destroy us? The plural “us” is not likely to indicate that this is a case of multiple possession (as in 8:2, 30; 11:26), since the demon will go on to use the singular “I ...

3636. True and False Discipleship

Luke 6:46-49, Luke 6:43-45, Luke 6:37-42

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R.T. France

... ’s use of a parable (6:39), and the rest of this chapter will consist of little else. Parables are more than explanatory asides. They come with a message of their own that often is left unexplained, so that the hearer has the responsibility of working out what Jesus is getting at. Sometimes the meaning seems obvious, or is determined by the context, but often the imagery used allows a variety of applications, so that different hearers may hear different messages and challenges. Some may respond in one ...

3637. A Sick Woman and a Dead Girl

Luke 8:40-56

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R.T. France

... to faith? Similarly, the story of Jairus’s daughter may be approached through Jairus’s own experience: his approach to a known healer; his frustration at the delay caused by the other woman; his despair at the message from home; Jesus’s unexpected response; the small group allowed in the room; Jesus’s enigmatic words about death and sleep (what would he have thought Jesus meant?); the banal instruction to give her something to eat; his reaction to the demand for silence. Describe the challenges to ...

3638. Divided Loyalties

Luke 12:1-12, Luke 12:13-21

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R.T. France

... to slander the Son of Man? The point is probably that Jesus, in his “incognito” as the Son of Man, might not immediately be recognized for who he is. The Holy Spirit, by contrast, is the one who works in people’s hearts to call forth a response. To “blaspheme” him is ultimately and finally to reject God’s call and offer of forgiveness. 12:12 the Holy Spirit will teach you . . . what you should say. For a very similar promise, see 21:12–15. This is not an excuse for lazy preachers; it is ...

3639. The Cost of Discipleship

Luke 14:25-35, Luke 14:15-24

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R.T. France

... salvation depend on our continued faithfulness? Part of the answer here may be found in considering the historical context discussed above. In light of Luke’s narrative strategy, the parable may be seen to relate especially to Israel’s corporate response, rather than to the question of individual salvation. This is about Jewish rejection and Gentile reception of the gospel. The sayings that follow, then, encourage Jesus’s hearers to consider the cost before responding. Though salvation is a free gift ...

3640. Lost and Found

Luke 15:1-7, Luke 15:8-10, Luke 15:11-32

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R.T. France

... Jesus in the Gospel, even though we have noted a degree of (guarded?) openness to Jesus on the part of some Pharisees (7:36; 11:37; 13:31; 14:1). Here, as usual, they are concerned with following the rules of purity, for which they themselves were responsible, rather than with helping people. For the same group set over against tax collectors, see also 5:29–30; 7:29–30. 15:4 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep. This would be quite a large flock, indicating a relatively prosperous owner. A hundred ...

3641. Lessons in Discipleship

Luke 17:11-19, Luke 17:1-10

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R.T. France

... repentance and his forgiveness (3:3; 5:32; 13:3–5; 15:7, 10; 24:47; and note especially the parable of the lost son [15:11–32]), but here we see also the ethical implications, in that we are equally obliged to forgive each other in response to repentance, to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (6:36). 2. Faith and miracle. Jesus’s dismissal of the request to “increase” faith disallows the notion that we can contribute (by the quantity of our faith) to what is God’s work, not ours ...

3642. The Trials of Peter and of Jesus

Luke 22:66--23:25, Luke 22:63-65, Luke 22:54-62

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R.T. France

... a whole. 22:67 If you are the Messiah, . . . tell us. The single question that forms the climax of the trial as recorded by Matthew and Mark (“Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”) is divided into two in Luke’s version, resulting in an elusive dual response from Jesus. Neither answer is a straightforward yes, but both at least imply it, while avoiding giving them a firm legal handle to use against him. 22:67–68 If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer ...

3643. The Faithfulness of God and the Covenantal Curses on Israel

Romans 3:1-8

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... exile and under divine judgment. On that reading, the question of the advantage of being a Jew with the law as the stipulation of the covenant and circumcision as the sign of the covenant as opposed to being a Gentile makes perfect sense. But Paul’s response to such a protest is surprising, for the reader rather would have expected the apostle to answer, “There is no advantage in being a Jew!” Instead, Paul answers that there most definitely is an advantage to being a Jew and not a Gentile: Jews are ...

3644. God’s Saving Righteousness and the Restoration of Israel

Romans 3:21-31

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C. Marvin Pate

... 24): Based on the faith of the individual vs Based on the law of Moses Rooted in God’s grace vs. Rooted in an individual’s works Unconditional (God promised to keep his covenant with Abraham regardless of human response) vs. Conditional (Israel’s response determined whether the nation would experience the covenant blessings) Interpretive Insights 3:27–28 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law [nomos]? The law that requires works? No, because of the law [nomos] that requires ...

3645. The New-Covenant Ethic of Love

Romans 12:9-21

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C. Marvin Pate

... evil with good. Paul here focuses on how Christians are to respond to those who persecute them. He begins by cautioning Christians not to repay evil for evil (cf. Matt. 5:38–39, 44–45; Luke 6:29, 35). Not exacting revenge is an honorable response even in the eyes of the world. Verse 18 adds a realistic note encouraging believers to be at peace with others whenever they can (“if it is possible”). This leaves open the possibility that believers cannot be at peace with their enemies all the time ...

3646. “Weak and Strong” Should Get Along

Romans 14:1--15:13

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... the title of this unit—“Strong and Weak Christians: The New and the Old Covenants”—could serve as the title of the lesson or sermon on this passage. We might also compare the strong in faith today with those who feel comfortable with the responsible use of alcoholic beverages, or who feel free to wear to church whatever they want, or who prefer seeker-friendly worship. But when worshiping with believers who feel uncomfortable with the preceding matters, the strong may need to forgo having a glass of ...

3647. Being Wronged versus Claiming One’s Right

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

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Preben Vang

... vindicated or to settle a matter in order to create peace and unity? Claiming personal rights is such a common modern theme that Paul’s emphasis on giving them up (being wronged and defrauded) almost seems naive, if not foolish. Yet that is the response Scripture calls for. 3. Should a church or a Christian denomination hide their crime by keeping it “in-house”? Is it biblical to claim that a country’s legal authorities should stay away from any and all church issues? The answer from 1 Corinthians ...

3648. Personal Rights and Christian Testimony

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

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Preben Vang

... , he is more than willing to give up any rights for the greater purpose of leading new people into the Christ community and of strengthening the faith of those who are already there (9:22–23). After all, just as they are, he is ultimately responsible to God—of whom they are clients through Christ (9:24–27). Interpretive Insights 9:13–14 those who serve in the temple . . . In the same way, the Lord has commanded. Almost as if he has just thought of another argument, Paul adds two more examples ...

3649. Imitation and Role Modeling

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

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Preben Vang

... not be done; if it is legal or permissible, there is a chance it still should not be done. The scale to weigh this on is community edification. Does it contribute to or hinder the strengthening/edification of Christ’s community? Paul’s response to the claim of legality proves exceedingly instructive for Christian thinking. Rather than agreeing to a set of Christian laws to be applied indiscriminately, he places two statements before his audience that force them to think in terms of imitation: Does the ...

3650. Worship and Humility

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

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Preben Vang

... it an abomination that some in the Christ community go hungry while others live a gluttonous lifestyle. Paul’s word about eating and drinking without consideration of the body speaks directly to the responsibility of the privileged for the nonprivileged. As followers of Christ, the privileged could not turn their responsibility into a mere theoretical principle and reduce it to a handout of their leftovers. Paul’s call goes to the core of what it means to be community—when one member suffers, every ...

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