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 4476 to 4500 of 4952 results

4476. Use It or Lose It

Luke 19:11-27

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R.T. France

... . This is the same issue that the Pharisees raised in 17:20 (see comments there). Jesus’s determined approach to the capital seems to have led some to assume a political objective. We are not told who “the people” (the Greek text has simply “they”) were who thought this; in view of Jesus’s clear statements (as recently as 18:31–33) of what was to happen, his disciples at least ought not to have had such ideas, but Luke has twice noted their failure to grasp what Jesus meant (9:45; 18:34). In ...

4477. The Gospel of God in Christ through Paul

Romans 1:1-17

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C. Marvin Pate

... a wall near the Palatine Hill in Rome, close to the Circus Maximus. It depicts a humanlike figure attached to a cross and having the head of a donkey. The date for this inscription is most likely the beginning of the third century. The inscription is thought by most scholars to be a mocking description of a Christian. Justin Martyr, a Christian apologist, summarized the view of Christ by the people of the time. They considered it a joke that a crucified man would be made equal to the eternal creator God. A ...

4478. Paul Reinterprets the Story of Israel

Romans 2:17-29

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C. Marvin Pate

... is also potent irony in 2:24, as there is throughout 2:17–29, which strongly supports my reading of these verses. With that in mind, we look here at six instances of irony in 2:17–29 that combine to give the impression that Paul thought that Israel was still in exile precisely because they tried to keep the Torah: 1. Although Jews boasted in the law, they were no better than Gentiles, since the Jews hypocritically/ironically sinned against that very law (2:17–24). 2. Consequently, the “Jew,” whose ...

4479. Israel and the Present Curses and the Past Blessings of the Covenant

Romans 9:1-29

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C. Marvin Pate

... :9; Hos. 1:10; cf. Wis. 9:7; Jub. 1.24–25). The “divine glory” (doxa) recalls the glorious presence of God with Israel in the tabernacle and in the temple (Exod. 16:10; 24:25–27; 40:34–35; Lev. 9:23; Num. 14:10). Paul may also have thought of the promise that Israel would be the glory among the nations in the end time (Isa. 35:2; 40:5; 59:19; 60:1–3; 66:18–19).4“The covenants” (diath?kai) refers especially to God’s covenant with Israel (Exod. 19:5–6), reaffirmed in Deuteronomy 29 ...

4480. The Mystery and Mercy of God

Romans 11:25-32

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C. Marvin Pate

... of Israel’s conversion to Jesus as the Messiah. The catch is that the nations will first come to Christ, and then Israel’s restoration to God will occur via their trust in Jesus. God’s ways are not our ways, nor are his thoughts our thoughts; so a divine twist in the story of salvation should not be surprising to the people of God. The delineation reflects that mystery, as we saw above: presently Jews as a group have rejected their Messiah. This allows for the current conversion of the Gentiles ...

4481. The New-Covenant Ethic of Love

Romans 12:9-21

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C. Marvin Pate

... in esteem” (Hom. Rom. 22).6 12:16 Live in harmony . . . Do not be conceited. Verse 16a returns to participles to express commands: living in harmony and not being proud.7Humility and harmony go hand in hand, while pride and conceit breed division. With these thoughts, Paul may be broaching the subject of unity among Jews and Gentiles in the Roman congregations (see Rom. 14–15). One way to diffuse pride is to associate with less fortunate people (12:16b).8This is what Jesus was noted for, and so too ...

4482. Personal Rights and Christian Testimony

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

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Preben Vang

... converted sinner in the ways of grace in God’s kingdom, the script would be a little different: “Child, you have the right to remain silent from now on about your rights. You gave them all up when Christ bought you with his blood, and you forfeited any claim you thought you had on your person, your possessions, and your life. You are not your own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death, to him. If the Lord of the universe gave up all of his rights for a sinner like you, let’s have no more ...

4483. Imitation and Role Modeling

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

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Preben Vang

... and stand firm. But how do we fare when the seemingly minor, everyday denials come up? We deny him thousands of times in the little things—the white lie told, the salacious rumor savored, the objectionable material not objected to, the kind word we thought too troublesome to utter to a person too difficult to approach. All of these things are everyday opportunities for martyrdom in which we fail to die to ourselves and live to Christ. It is the little things that get us. Be discerning about the causes ...

4484. Last Encouragement and Final Greeting

1 Corinthians 16:19-24, 1 Corinthians 16:5-18

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Preben Vang

... for their spiritual welfare. let that person be cursed! Paul’s curse follows his covenantal understanding. Curses fall on those who do not love the Lord, while blessings come to those who do (Deut. 28; cf. Jude 14–15). The undercurrent of Paul’s thought is that love for the Lord creates obedience, which in turn brings blessings (2:9; 8:3). Loyal and faithful clients could expect blessing from a good patron, whereas those who lacked such loyalty would be cursed. the grace of the Lord Jesus. Paul ...

4485. The Woman, the Son, and the Dragon

Revelation 12:1--13:1a

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J. Scott Duvall

... resources and energy trying to make it happen. But this passage reminds us that we should expect opposition and spiritual struggles as a normal part of our faith journey, precisely because we have an unseen enemy who has declared war on us. The thought of a real spiritual enemy who wants to harm us is completely foreign to some believers. What could be more deceiving than such a practical denial of Satan’s existence and work? Revelation 12 offers an exceptional opportunity to reorient our expectations in ...

4486. The Temporary Imprisonment of Satan

Revelation 20:1-7

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J. Scott Duvall

... sail by the isle of the Sirens, Odysseus has his men stuff their ears with wax and tie him to the mast. This way, he will be able to hear their song, yet not be able to go to them. (Hint: They make it out alive.) How many Christians have thought they could flirt with a specific sin, as Odysseus does, and not be drawn in? Often, when the enemy comes, it will be not with growls and fangs but with pretty songs. We must be prepared to be tempted and take countermeasures. But even more than that, we should ...

4487. The Final Judgment

Revelation 20:11-15

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J. Scott Duvall

... This will be the fate of real people, people we know. The words of Chan and Sprinkle bring home the point: What causes my heart to ache right now as I’m writing this is that my life shows little evidence that I actually believe this. Every time my thoughts wander to the future of unbelievers, I quickly brush them aside so they don’t ruin my day. But there is a reality here that I can’t ignore. Even as the conversations of people around me fill my ears, the truth of Scripture penetrates my heart with ...

4488. Lamps, Cakes, and the Blasphemer

Lev 24:1-23

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... never curse or slander Israel’s God. The New Testament also speaks of blasphemy. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is identified as an unforgivable sin (Mark 3:29). Jesus is falsely accused of blasphemy. When Jesus claims to do what only God can do, forgive sin, he is thought to be blaspheming (Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21). When Jesus claims to be equal with God, some Jews want to stone him for blasphemy (John 10:33). And Caiaphas condemns Jesus to death when Jesus claims to be the “one like a son of man” of ...

4489. Vows, Redemption, and Tithes

Leviticus 27:1-34

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... was spared. The result was a simply beautiful facility. When it was completed, and after ownership was transferred to the church, a problem arose with zoning that did not allow the facility to be used right away. At that point, the couple had second thoughts. They wondered if they might have the property back for their grandchildren. This created a great dilemma among the elders. How should they respond? It did not occur to me at that time, but Leviticus 27 would have been an appropriate passage to consider ...

4490. Through Moab into the Transjordan

Num 21:10-35

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... can be a powerful tool for processing challenging circumstances. In particular, we can experience a new depth of insight and intimacy with God when we take time to journal our prayers. The act of writing our thoughts down forces us to slow our pace, reflect a little more, and move from vague thoughts or repetitive words into coherent communication. In the midst of a challenging season of life, take time to journal your prayers. In particular, make an effort to reflect on at least one “reason for gratitude ...

4491. Balaam’s First Three Oracles

Num 23:1–24:14

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... 5). “The eastern mountains” is alternatively “the ancient hills” or “the hills of Qedem.”3 Qedem (“East”) is a region of Syria mentioned in the ancient Egyptian Story of Sinuhe.4 denounce. The Hebrew word za‘am connotes seething anger. Angry words were thought to make the sorcery more effective. 23:10 the dust . . . a fourth. “The dust” means that they are innumerable (Gen. 13:16; 28:14). “A fourth” could refer to three tribes and a clan of Levites (cf. layout of the camp in Num ...

4492. Selfishness of the Transjordan Tribes Corrected

Numbers 32:1-42

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... was a Carmelite monk who as part of his religious devotion trained his mind to be ever aware of the fact that God is present.12He established God’s presence not only by thinking high notions about God, which naturally pushes out trivial and foolish thoughts, but also by continually conversing with God. God’s presence is not limited to time in churches. It can happen at all times. For Lawrence, daily menial chores such as buying supplies or working in the kitchen were done with the awareness that it was ...

4493. Reviewing the Past

Numbers 33:1-56

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... oriented psalms, the book of Lamentations, and the autobiographical sections of Ezra and Nehemiah. Whitney goes on to argue that journaling helps us understand and evaluate ourselves (cf. Rom. 12:3), meditate on the Lord and his word (cf. Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:1–3), express thoughts and feelings to the Lord (cf. Ps. 62:8), remember the works of the Lord (Ps. 77:11–12) and record our spiritual heritage (cf. Deut. 6:4–7), and monitor goals and priorities (cf. Phil. 3:12–16). Each of us has a travelogue of ...

4494. David Runs for His Life—Again

2 Samuel 15:13-37

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... level of fire in our obedience.5 Literature: Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. This enduring work (1599–1601) is Shakespeare’s (1564–1616) longest play and one of the most influential and most discussed English tragedies. The play shows the consequences of not taking action thoughtfully and wisely. While the play is variously interpreted, it seems clear that Hamlet, terribly disturbed by the murder of his father and his mother’s quick marriage to the murderer, his uncle, does not make decisions or act ...

4495. The Lord Is My Rock

2 Samuel 22:1-51

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... AT). The point is that God sometimes uses deception to thwart the purposes of those who are morally and ethically corrupt. The word translated “devious” (‘iqqesh) refers to those who are morally “twisted,” or perverse. The Proverbs frequently use the term of evil men and their words, thoughts, and actions (Prov. 2:15; 8:8; 11:20; 17:20; 19:1; 22:5; 28:6). Their actions are the antithesis of just and upright behavior (8:8; 11:20; 19:1; 28:6). As one reflects on David’s career, one can detect the ...

4496. The Ark Heads Home

1 Samuel 6:1-7:1

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... ” (Rev. 14:7). Illustrating the Text Disrespect and respect for God are visible in specific ways in our lives and others’ lives. Quote: The Trivialization of God, by Donald McCullough. McCullough argues that the way we worship matters greatly in forming our attitude toward God; we must be thoughtful about how we present ourselves before him. He writes, We dare not leave things we value most to vagaries of whim. . . . The choice, therefore, is not between structured or unstructured worship, but between ...

4497. Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

1 Samuel 15:1-35

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... . The fire of holiness, as it burns against unholiness, first purges. The grace of God’s commitment not to be separate includes the judgment of God’s opposition against all that creates the separation. Judgment is not a popular notion today—especially the thought of God’s judgment. We prefer to imagine a deity who happily lets bygones be bygones, who winks at failures and pats us on the back to build our self-esteem. But according to Scripture, “God is love.” And love devoid of judgment ...

4498. Séance in Endor: Bad News from Beyond the Grave

1 Samuel 28:1-25

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... will of God to answer, or he may think that the days when God answered prayer, if He ever did, are over. So the Israelites seem to have thought . . . that the Lord’s hand was shortened that it could not save, and that His ear had become heavy that it could no longer hear. . . . Many and ... the Washington Times that Hitler misjudged Winston Churchill and British courage. Hirohito and his admirals confidently thought they could defeat the United States by surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. And Saddam Hussein ...

4499. Adversity of a Righteous Man

Job 1:1-22

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Daniel J. Estes

... , it would be difficult to read the rest of the book as a coherent story with a beginning, development, and resolution. Historical and Cultural Background The ancient Near Eastern religions outside of Israel were polytheistic, and most of these systems of thought pictured a divine council that made major decisions affecting humans.1Job 1 depicts a gathering of beings who are called “the sons of God,” and this entourage includes a figure called the satan, a Hebrew term that refers to an adversary ...

4500. Job Shatters the Silence

Job 3:1-26

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Daniel J. Estes

... strong emotions and incisive questions like this fit into the life of faith? Viewed within the largercontext of the book of Job and the entire Bible, Job 3 raises some key theological and practical themes. Overall, this chapter pictures Job as bringing his most troubling thoughts and deepest pains to words, so that he can seek to understand his adversity in the light of his commitment to God. Job does not deny or dilute the pain that he feels but rather expresses it honestly. In this chapter, Job does not ...

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