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 4076 to 4100 of 4971 results

4076. Eutychus Raised from the Dead at Troas

Acts 20:7-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... as dead (v. 9, not “as if dead”) and alive (v. 12), and the vivid detail of the narrative suggests that it has come from a careful observer (e.g., there were many lamps, v. 8). On this basis, Paul is placed in the front rank of miracle workers with Peter and Jesus ... remained talking with them long after this part of the meeting was finished (v. 11). Meanwhile, Eutychus was left in the care of some of the members until the meeting had ended. He was then taken home. “Thus Paul left,” says Luke, with ...

4077. Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

Acts 20:13-38

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... because he had held nothing back in proclaiming to them the whole will of God (v. 27; cf. Eph. 1:11; 3:4; see disc. on 2:23). His had been an “all round” ministry. 20:28–29 In the same sense the elders, too, should take care to be “clean.” Keep watch over yourselves, Paul urged, for only as leaders remain faithful to God can they expect faithfulness in their congregation. The elders’ position vis à vis the congregation is an interesting one. Clearly, they were part of the people of God, and yet ...

4078. Accusations

2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... write the tearful letter to grieve the Corinthians, although he is aware that it did temporarily grieve them (cf. 7:8–9); rather, he wrote in order to show his love for them (cf. also 6:6; 11:11; 12:15). Paul cared enough to confront them by letter, but he cared too much for them to visit them personally at that time (cf. 1:23; 2:1). Evidently, Paul considers his apostolic presence even more powerful and more potentially injurious to the unrepentant Corinthians than his apostolic letters (cf. 10:11; 12:19 ...

4079. Identification and a Wish for Grace and Peace

Galatians 1:1-10

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... end of the letter (6:17), is not a role that curries favor with people but rather it entails suffering. Paul insists that he is not one to bend his shape in order to gain favor from others, saying that what he has just now said proves that he cares only about the truth. He implies that his former way of being did concern itself with trying to please men but now being a “servant of Christ” makes such a stance impossible. For Paul, serving Christ is about only being for the gospel. As his gospel is not of ...

4080. Paul's Concern for the Galatians

Galatians 4:8-20

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... “happiness,” or “blessing.” It is the word found in the Sermon on the Mount for “blessed.” Paul is appealing to the Galatians’ former attitude of goodwill toward him and to the blessing they experienced through their attachment to him. Their complete acceptance and care of Paul, in which they would even have torn out their eyes and given them to him, was the crucible in which they knew blessing. 4:16 Paul’s next statement rests on the conviction that to oppose him is to oppose the truth and ...

4081. Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... be practiced if there is to be unity within the church. 4:3 Make every effort (Gk. spoudazō, which means “to exert zealous effort,” “to take pains”) to keep the unity. The entire expression underscores the apostle’s concern that his readers to guard carefully the unity that has been given to them. In principle, this unity already exists as something the Spirit gives; now God’s people are admonished to preserve and manifest that unity. Ephesians is the only epistle in the NT that uses the word ...

4082. The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:15-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... Scholars are virtually unanimous in their opinion that verses 15–20 constitute a hymn. Since the existence of hymns in the early church was common (Phil. 2:5–11; Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19), it is not difficult to believe that this is a carefully written poem intended to convey a specific self-contained message about Christ to the readers at Colossae. Paul has already alluded to the work of Christ with respect to deliverance and the forgiveness of sins (1:13, 14). In the hymn he continues to draw attention ...

4083. Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... , such as having canceled and the regulations (tois dogmasin). Although the exact meaning of Paul’s phrases cannot be traced with certainty, it is clear that his main point is to emphasize the decisive and complete way Christ’s death on the cross took care of humankind’s indebtedness to God. The negative aspect of Christ’s work on the cross is the cancellation of the bond of indebtedness; the positive side is Christ’s triumph over the evil powers. Here, on the cross, Christ disarmed the powers and ...

4084. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians' Faith

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... Father in such a way. How can the Thessalonian church be ‘in’ the Lord Jesus Christ if he is no more than a first century Jew?” (Morris, Themes, p. 31). The description of God as Father adds the dimension of love to the thought of God’s care for the church, while the title Lord bears further witness to Paul’s estimate of Jesus. The use of this title comes out of the early church’s belief in the resurrection of Jesus, which, more than anything else, convinced them that God had made him both Lord ...

4085. The Lord's Grace to Paul

1 Timothy 1:12-20

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... contrast to two who failed. 1:18–19a Reverting to the vocative of familiarity (lit., “child Timothy”), Paul renews this “command,” first given in verse 3. Here Paul gives it to him, a Greek word which has to do with entrusting something into someone else’s care (see esp. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:12, 14; 2:2). To reinforce the giving of the charge, Paul reminds Timothy of his calling. It is not Paul, finally, who has left Timothy “in charge,” but the Holy Spirit. This instruction is in keeping with the ...

4086. Encouragement to Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... verses 9–10. Just as the gospel announces a salvation that God in grace initiated and effected, and through which he rendered death ineffective, so also the same God can be trusted to guard … for the End the life that has been entrusted to his care. 1:13–14 In these final two verses Paul returns to the direct appeal to Timothy, but now with some slightly different nuances. The entreaty from verses 6–12 has been very personal and directly related to Paul’s present circumstances and his and Timothy ...

4087. Paul's Charge to Timothy

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... “exhort” (or “urge,” not encourage; see disc. on 1 Tim. 2:1; 5:1; 6:2) them all. He is to do these final three tasks with great patience and careful instruction. Patience is required because of what will be said next—not all will give heed to him. Nonetheless he must always patiently hold forth the truth (i.e., teach with … careful instruction). 4:3–4 This sentence begins with an explanatory for and gives the reasons for the nature of the charge in verse 2: “Proclaim the message; stay by it ...

4088. Paul’s Request for Onesimus

Philemon 1:8-25

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... outstanding debts and penalties of a slave to be assumed or paid for by a new owner. Paul, although he is not the new owner, is willing to repay Philemon for any losses—charge it to me. 19 Paul reaffirms his intention by stating that he will take care of the outstanding debt. The effect of his personal signature is to “seal” what is like a promissory note—an I.O.U.—and to legally bind him to his newly assumed debt. But having done this, Paul effectively negates the force of it by a gentle reminder ...

4089. Warning to Pay Attention

Hebrews 2:1-4

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... his readers to its practical significance and to the appropriate response. He writes indeed as an accomplished theologian but also as a preacher with distinct pastoral concerns. 2:1 If the Son is the one of incomparable splendor, then the readers must pay more careful attention to the message of salvation they have heard, lest they drift away. There were pressures working upon them to cause them to compromise the truth of the gospel. See 10:29; 12:25. Our author’s argument is that a proper assessment of ...

4090. An Exhortation Inspired by the Exodus

Hebrews 3:7-19

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... rather than to the length of God’s anger, as it stands in both Hebrew OT and LXX (cf. Ps. 95:10). Yet in v. 17 the forty years does refer to God’s anger, so that the author regards both statements as true. The LXX is a careful translation of the Hebrew; the only significant change is the translation of the names Meribah (“contention”: as you did in the rebellion) and Massah (during the time of testing). The initial if should not be taken to imply uncertainty as to whether or not his voice is heard ...

4091. God Disciplines His Sons

Hebrews 12:1-13, Hebrews 12:14-29

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... , in the sense of “God’s kingdom,” is in the quotation of Ps. 45:6 in 1:8. Our author, if he is not dependent upon the Gospel tradition, may have drawn the term from a passage like Dan. 7:27. The present participle receiving suggests a careful balance between present and future eschatology. We are in the process of receiving the kingdom now; we will receive it finally in the future. The verb for worship is latreuō, used earlier in describing the service of the levitical priests (e.g., 8:5; 9:9; 10:2 ...

4092. Warning Against Refusing God

Hebrews 12:14-29, Hebrews 12:1-13

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

4093. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... .” Some believe this end refers to the coming of Christ, others that the end refers to the results of Christ’s sufferings. In both these cases Lord must mean “Christ.” Most likely, however, in the context of Job, Lord means “God” and the end is how God cared for Job in Job 42. The term full of compassion is found in the New Testament only here. It is an intensive term created by the early church to express God’s compassion (cf. Rom 8:28ff.). The term is stronger than the word used in the Greek ...

4094. Suffering for Being a Christian

1 Peter 4:12-19

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... their faithful Creator, to one who not only brought them into this world in the first place, but was responsible for their second birth, when they were reborn of the Spirit (1:3). They are therefore doubly God’s and can unreservedly depend upon his care and protection. God is faithful. He always keeps his promises to do what he says he will do. For their part, believers are not to droop in a resigned fashion under persecution, but to respond to it positively, however difficult that may be, by continuing ...

4095. The Sin and Doom of Godless Men

Jude 1:1-16

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... ) are perfect participles. The Greek perfect tense speaks of a past complete act having continuing effects. The divine love and keeping power are constantly holding believers with safe arms (Deut. 33:27). As Christians, Jude’s readers not only were the objects of God’s personal care and love in the past, but they still are and always will be. Additional Notes 1 Jude or Judas (the same word in Gk.), was a common name in biblical times. It was borne by: (1) the son of Jacob who became head of the tribe ...

4096. Ai Destroyed

Joshua 8:1-29

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... , God noted that Joshua must not fight according to the recommendations of bungling scouts or casual commanders. An ambush using the “entire army” would correct the mistakes of the earlier fiasco. 8:3–17 The Lord made the point that success requires careful planning. God demanded holiness but also took seriously the threat and planned the operation to accomplish the mission. Five thousand of the thirty thousand men hid in ambush between Bethel and Ai on the west side of Ai. In this encounter, unlike ...

4097. The Sun Stands Still

Joshua 10:1-15

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... the superiority of the tribal forces through a ritual. Third, the tribal forces feel encouraged by the victory, including the execution of kings and exposure of their bodies, as instructed by Deuteronomy (Deut. 21:22). At Makkedah Joshua follows herem guidelines carefully in eliminating hostile forces (10:28). He leaves no survivors and executes the king of Jerusalem as was required for the king of Jericho. As at Jericho, the spoils are devoted completely to God and the forces leave no survivors. Everything ...

4098. The Song of Deborah

Judges 5:1-31

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... . The Song gives us a glimpse into the world of northern Israel prior to the monarchy. We must keep in mind, however, that it gives us only a glimpse, a glimpse that is not always distinct and clear. As poetry, it focuses on a few carefully chosen scenes and presents them not concretely but impressionistically. It speaks in lyric, rhythm, and image. It was surely intended, in the context of Judges, to be read along with the narrative, for it is otherwise quite incomprehensible. This was likely not the case ...

4099. Gideon

Judges 6:1-40

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... was to lead Israel, by example, to a path of listening (sm’), a fundamental Deuteronomic value. But Gideon was also very human. Although he obeyed the Lord’s command, he did it at night, because he was afraid (v. 27). He again resembles Moses, who carefully checked to see that no one was looking before he reached out to help his fellow Israelite (Exod. 2:12). One does not have to be free of healthy realism to be used by God; it is sometimes difficult, however, to distinguish between healthy realism and ...

4100. Samson’s Marriage

Judges 14:1-20

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... 11–17 (also two times in vv. 6 and 9). The Philistines demanded that she coax her husband to tell her the answer. The Hebrew root behind the word “coax” (pth) can also mean to entice or deceive in Deuteronomic literature (see, e.g., Deut. 11:16: “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods”). They backed up their demand with threats to burn her and her father’s household to death (v. 15). With that kind of incentive, the woman pulled out all the stops to get Samson to ...

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