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 3726 to 3750 of 4963 results

3726. Isaiah’s Call

Isaiah 6:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... will destroy human kingdoms and frustrate human plans. When the king of glory establishes his kingdom and extends it from shore to shore, the fullness of his glory will become evident. The seraphim already see the whole earth full of his glory. In an appropriate response to the impact of the vision of God’s holiness, presence, and glory, Isaiah calls out, “Woe to me!” (6:5). The prophet fears for his life, as he is particularly aware of his uncleanness—he represents the sinful nation (6:5–7). In ...

3727. Deliverance of Israel

Isaiah 27:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... develops his vineyard poems (5:1–7) into an eschatological picture (27:2–6). Though the vineyard has been destroyed because of its utter worthlessness, God remains faithful to his people. Because the leaders were responsible for the ruined vineyard (3:14), the Lord himself assumes responsibility for its care. He watches, waters, and protects it. He will make war against anyone (“briers and thorns,” 27:4) who opposes his people. He prevents those conditions he has previously permitted to ruin the ...

3728. Ephraim

Isaiah 28:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... kingdom, the people had become independent and proud. Even as the wind and rain had given economic prosperity to the northern kingdom, God’s judgment, likened to wind and rain, would destroy Ephraim. The freely given covenant blessings did not elicit an appropriate response from Ephraim. The beauty of Ephraim, like a ripe fig, will be enjoyed by foreigners (28:4). In contrast to the self-exalting pride of Ephraim, the Lord will establish his glorious kingdom of justice and strength (28:5–6). The nobles ...

3729. Challenge and Deliverance

Isaiah 36:1-22, Isaiah 37:1-13, Isaiah 37:14-20, Isaiah 37:21-38

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . Several years prior to this (705–702 BC), Hezekiah became sick. His illness and prayer are recorded in chapter 38, while his foolish act of revealing the royal treasures to the Babylonian envoys is found in chapter 39. 36:1–37:38 · The pious response of Hezekiah to the intimidation of the Assyrian field commander is also recorded in 2 Kings 18:13–19:37. Isaiah omits the account of Hezekiah’s submission and payment of tribute (2 Kings 18:14–16). Apparently the canonical emphasis in Isaiah is ...

3730. Unfaithful Leaders and People

Isaiah 56:9--57:13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

56:9–57:2 · Unfaithful Leaders: The leaders are called “watchmen” (56:10; cf. Isa. 52:8; Ezek. 3:17; 33:7). Leaders, whether civil or religious, charged with responsibility for the people of God are likened to “mute” and greedy dogs (56:10–11)—irresponsible in discharging their responsibility for instructing God’s people and greedy for material gain.The struggle between righteousness and wickedness extends even to Zion. The wicked are those who enjoy the benefits of the covenant community ...

3731. A Story of Two Sisters

Jeremiah 3:6-4:4

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (3:19–4:2). Verse 19 is not so much a statement as it is a thought, a dream. For a moment we see inside God’s mind. He schemes how he can give his people the very best, and he has pleasant thoughts of how in response Israel would in love call out “My Father” (cf. 31:9). Imagery moves between marriage and family. The dream is shattered, yet it continues. Hypothetically, we must understand, God envisions a change, as though he hears voices calling to him from out of Israel’s perversion. A dialogue ...

3732. Jeremiah versus the People

Jeremiah 26:1-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... sinister power plays (chap. 29). It has been argued, quite plausibly, that Baruch compiled these vignettes from Jeremiah’s life. Chapter 26 supplies details surrounding the temple sermon recorded in 7:1–15. Here (26:1–6) the focus is on the audience’s response. In 609, Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, who humiliated Judah to vassal status, appointed Jehoiakim king (2 Kings 23:34–35). The public address given early in his reign, likely in 609/8, appeals for general repentance (cf. 25:4–7). Verse 3 appeals ...

3733. Exhorter, Sentry, and Arbiter

Ezekiel 3:16-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... for danger is never far away from any community of faith. Silence on the prophet’s part not only dooms the congregation but also makes the prophet himself culpable. The prophet’s responsibility extends both to the wicked and to the backslidden righteous. In either case the prophet forfeits his life by neglecting his responsibility. This is a private communiqué to the prophet. So crucial is the sentry analogy that it resurfaces in chapter 33. Ezekiel has some input in the eternal destiny of the souls of ...

3734. Resurrection and Reunification

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ezekiel 37:15-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... an evasive reply. Ezekiel was fairly certain that the answer to the question was no but was reluctant to be that blunt about it. Others have suggested that his answer suggests: “Lord, you know perfectly well, so why ask me?” A third suggestion is that Ezekiel’s response is a sign of wonder and trust: “Lord, I may not have the answer to this question, but I trust you, and I know that you know.” In these fourteen verses the Hebrew word ruah occurs no fewer than ten times. In verse 1 the word refers ...

3735. Enterings and Exitings

Ezekiel 44:1-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of what Ezekiel/God speaks here. In the future, these laity will be replaced by Levites. They will slaughter the people’s sacrifices, something that the laity themselves are supposed to do (Leviticus 1–4). It may be that, in transferring the responsibility for ritual sacrifice to the Levites, God is in effect punishing the people by barring them from the inner gates, where the sacrifice takes place. Although the Levites are to fulfill certain functions, they are not to serve as priests. The priesthood ...

3736. Daniel’s Prayer and Vision of the Seventy Weeks

Daniel 9:1-19, Daniel 9:20-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the sin of Israel but trusts the Lord to be faithful to his promises.Suddenly, the angel Gabriel appears to him in a vision. He was sent to explain God’s plan as soon as Daniel had begun to pray (9:23)! This speedy response is an expression of God’s special love for Daniel. Building on the seventy-years motif, the angel reveals that the Lord has decreed “seventy ‘sevens’ ” (9:24, perhaps seventy seven-year time periods according to some interpreters). The exact identification of this phrase ...

3737. Punishment of War

Hosea 5:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... for this terrible situation in Israel (5:1–7). They have allowed evil things to continue; in fact, they themselves are partially responsible for ensnaring the people at the pagan worship sites of Mizpah and Tabor, failing to stop the sacred prostitution going on at various temples, and refusing to acknowledge the true God as the only one worthy of worship. Because of their arrogant attitudes, a perverse spirit of prostitution controls the ...

3738. Hope: God Loves You

Hosea 11:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim (Gen. 19:1–38; Deut. 29:23), but it is much more difficult to do something like this to the covenant people he loves so much. In many ways it is impossible to compare God’s feelings to the emotional response of humans, but on the other hand, these kinds of human analogies are the only way God can explain to human beings his tender love for his people. God’s heart is overcome with compassion for his people. Although God will discipline his children, he will not ...

3739. The Lord’s Call for Judah’s Repentance

Joel 2:12-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... people, he does not exact the full measure of his judgment on them. Joel argues on the basis of the Lord’s character that the Lord may recognize true repentance and mitigate his wrath against Judah. If God is all-knowing, there is no human response he does not already anticipate, while God’s immutability—or the fact that he does not change—means that God does not “change his mind” on the basis of human decision. Thus, when Joel suggests that the Lord will “relent,” he is using human language ...

3740. The Lord’s Conquest of the Enemy Restores Productivity to the Land

Joel 2:18-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... over the evil nations. 2:18–27 · The jealousy of God provokes his desire for vengeance against the nations who have tormented his people. Deuteronomy describes the Lord’s jealousy as his demand for exclusivity among the Israelites, depicting his wrathful response to the infidelity manifested in idolatry (Deut. 32:16, 21). God’s jealousy and protectiveness toward his people are incited in battle toward their adversaries (Isa. 42:13; 59:17; Zech. 1:14). The Hebrew term for “to be jealous” (qana ...

3741. Call for a Return to the Lord

Zechariah 1:1-6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the grand climax in which God’s immutable purpose for Israel and the world, centered in his Messiah, is brought to a successful conclusion. Yet this brief introduction is a solemn reminder that the enjoyment of God’s blessing is dependent on one’s personal response to God. There are three major points: (1) their forefathers failed to respond to God’s word—thus the tragedy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile. (2) God’s purpose as declared in his word is unchanging. It has been, and will ...

3742. The Eight Night Visions

Zechariah 1:7-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... victory. It is not until the eighth vision (6:1–8), however, that the horses go forth to battle. Here they do reconnaissance work. The report brought back (1:11) is that the whole world is at rest and in peace. The angel of the Lord’s response indicates that this is a situation in which the Gentile nations are prospering while God’s people (possibly represented by the myrtle trees in a ravine or low place, 1:8) are struggling under the dominion of foreign powers. The temple has not yet been rebuilt ...

3743. The Honor of God

Malachi 1:6-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of their guilt. They show contempt for God by having no regard for the revealed priestly rules and regulations. His “table” (i.e., the tables on which the sacrifices were slaughtered; cf. Ezek. 40:39–43) is treated with contempt. In response to the twofold disputation (“How have we shown contempt for your name?” and “How have we defiled you?”), Yahweh charges the priests with defiling his altar by presenting offerings not in accordance with the priestly regulations. According to Leviticus 22 ...

3744. Intermarriage and Divorce

Malachi 2:10-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... with marital infidelity and divorce! Even if the people were to cry, bring offerings, and implore him to answer their prayers, he would have no regard for their rituals. The anticipated response to the prophetic judgment is a quick, spirited, indignant “Why?” The question receives a twofold response. First, Malachi removes any pretense to innocence by stating that Yahweh will appear as witness to their faithlessness, which has manifested itself in divorce. The covenant relationship is characterized by ...

3745. Jesus’s Temptation

Matthew 4:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... The final temptation consists of an implicit claim by the devil that all the kingdoms of the world belong to him and that he will give them to Jesus if Jesus will worship him (4:8–9). Matthew shows Jesus drawing from Deuteronomy 6 in his response: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matt. 4:10; Deut. 6:13). This call to exclusive allegiance to Yahweh is the positive side of the prohibition against testing the Lord that Jesus has already cited (Deut. 6:16). Though Israel failed the loyalty ...

3746. The Centurion’s Faith

Matthew 8:5-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ’s part (8:7; 15:23–24), in line with Matthew’s explicit limitation of Jesus’s ministry to Israel (10:5–6; 15:24). At Matthew 8:7, Jesus’s first response to this Gentile is rendered best as a question, “Shall I come and heal him?” (8:7), given the emphatic “I” at the beginning of the clause. The centurion’s response, which recognizes Jesus’s authority delegated to him by God (8:8–9), causes Jesus to be astonished and to commend his great faith (8:10). Matthew’s theme of Gentile ...

3747. The Lord of the Sabbath

Matthew 12:1-14, Matthew 12:15-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Sabbath healing: they plot to kill him (12:14). The conflict between Jesus and Jewish leadership intensifies, and as it does, Jesus withdraws, turning his attention to the Jewish crowds following him (12:15). Matthew will indicate in 14:13 and 15:21 this same response of Jesus’s withdrawing after controversy. In this case, Jesus interacts with the crowds by healing their sick yet warns them not to reveal his identity (cf. 8:4; 9:30; 16:20). Matthew connects both of these actions to a citation from Isaiah ...

3748. Jesus and Beelzebub

Matthew 12:22-37

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... come upon you” (12:28; for the connection of God’s Spirit and final restoration, see Joel 2:28–29). Jesus then claims through a parable that his power over demons proves that he has already bound Satan (12:29), so that it is one’s response to Jesus that is all-important (12:30). The following saying (12:31–32) is difficult to decipher but likely indicates that, although God’s forgiveness is wide (even sins against the Son of Man may be forgiven), the Pharisees’ misattribution of the Spirit’s ...

3749. Clean and Unclean

Matthew 15:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , like these Pharisees, not only are out of alignment with God (15:13) but also are leading others astray (15:14). Peter, as representative of the Twelve (his frequent role in Matthew; cf. 16:16), asks Jesus to explain the parable (15:15). Jesus’s response to his disciples indicates that he expects them to have understood his teaching here (15:16–17). Despite their insider status in relation to Jesus’s teaching in parables (13:11, 18–23, 36–43, 51), they do not fully understand Jesus’s teachings ...

3750. Peter's Confession to Christ

Matthew 16:13-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The climactic moment of Matthew 11:2–16:20 is Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah (16:16). In response to Jesus’s question about his identity as perceived by others, the disciples provide a range of responses (16:13–14; including John the Baptist in line with Herod’s belief at 14:2). Peter speaks on behalf of the disciples, rightly identifying Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (16:16). Although Matthew tells his readers that Jesus is the Messiah from the very ...

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