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 4826 to 4850 of 4944 results

4826. John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the gospel may appear a bit thin at times, it nevertheless maintains a coherent narrative. The four stories within the chapter can also be understood as part of a continuous theme that holds chapter 21 together. Just as chapters 1-20 of John's gospel are concerned with eyewitness events and experiences of Jesus' earthly ministry, chapter 21 offers a glimpse of what the world of the post-resurrection church will be like. Verses 1-8 and 9-14 make up the first two units of chapter 21. It is rather startling to ...

4827. John 13:31-35

John 13:31-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... as to "why") between 13:31-14:31 and 16:4-33, others delight in dissecting these chapters into ever more minuscule and ultimately meaningless sub-categories in an attempt to hold onto some coherent form for the whole discourse. Thankfully, today we are concerned only with the most introductory portion of this lengthy and difficult text. Yet, even at its very outset, there is debate about the intended function of these first verses. Some view verses 31-38 as the concluding comments on the previous scene (13 ...

4828. Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1-5

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of Abraham, cited in 4:1-22, surely remains dominant in the minds of Paul's audience as they continue to read about the role endurance, character and hope play in the lives of the faithful. But in 5:1-11, Paul becomes primarily concerned with demonstrating how all the spiritual gifts are in fact contained within that one gift that overwhelms all else "justification by faith." Through the gracious gift of Jesus Christ, we now are able to stand in a right relationship with God the gift that backgrounds ...

4829. Galatians 2:15-21

Galatians 2:15-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to the Galatians, while highly personal and emotional, yet also offers some of the clearest and most powerful expressions of theology the apostle ever wrote. The text read for today's epistle lesson starts a new section in the letter. It is concerned with the theological fallout created by the actions of Peter and the others in Antioch. Paul has already told the Galatians how he confronted Peter and openly voiced his displeasure with what he called their "cowardly" or "insincere" behavior. But Paul now ...

4830. Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that this reference to "the law" should be understood as Paul's continued commitment to the "second table" of the Mosaic covenant and the ethical/relational precepts spelled out there. Others claim Paul is stressing the difference between the Judaizer's concern with doing the law and his own urgings that Christians fulfill the law. All these attempts to explain Paul's reference here to "law" immediately after he proclaims Christian freedom is perhaps best understood by noting the particular example Paul ...

4831. Hebrews 12:18-29

Hebrews 12:18-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's epistle text focuses on the final section of the homileticist's long exhortation to his community. The central concern of the writer throughout Hebrews is that Christians realize how their membership in the new covenant gives them special privileges as well as special responsibilities. The fierceness with which this writer demands Christian fidelity to the new covenant suggests that there may have been some backsliding or at least some ...

4832. Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Luke made such a labored point of putting Samaria on the geographical map in this pericope. The Samaritan identity of this man suggests two very different observations about this text. First, because he is outside the faith of traditional Judaism, the Samaritan's concern to return and give proper worship now reminds readers of another healing of a non-Jewish leper. In 2 Kings 5, the mighty warrior Naaman, who is also a leper, receives a miraculous healing from his disease under the instruction and guidance ...

4833. Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... startling, but (at first glance) straightforward parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. There is, of course, considerable debate over whether all of this parable contains the exact words of Jesus. For example, verses 10-13 seem to reflect both genuine concerns of Jesus and accurate Lukan theology; in the opening and closing verses of this parable, the gospel writer clearly is setting the table. In order to delineate this parable in the genre of an "example" story, Luke takes care to set the stage ...

4834. Isaiah 35:1-10

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to describe the relationship between Yahweh and the divinely redeemed people of Israel, the prophet willy-nilly emphasizes the distinctly familial relationship between God and Israel. Yahweh is Israel's next of kin, and thus is obligated to her. The personal concern of Yahweh for his chosen kin, Israel, is the impetus behind all of the creative, redemptive action undertaken in this poem. The stress throughout this work of Second Isaiah is not on Yahweh redemption (the work performed) but rather on Yahweh ...

4835. Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... obedient virgin, who willingly submits to God's plans and never questions all that is required of her. Matthew's description of Jesus' conception and birth focuses instead on Joseph. In many ways, Matthew's version is the more expected interpretation, for it is concerned with technicalities and issues of precise legality. It is Joseph's name and reputation that are on the line here, and it is only through Joseph's active obedience to the divine messages he receives that both his reputation and that of the ...

4836. 1 Samuel 3:1-10

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... calling him, and instructing Samuel on how to respond correctly the next time he hears God's call. Even though his own vision is now weak, even though he has fallen short in his own responsibility as a prophet for God (the ensuing message Samuel receives concerns the disgrace Eli's sons have brought upon their roles as servants of God), God still uses Eli as necessary midwife to Samuel's birth as a new seer for the Lord. Relating the Texts Responding to God's call, whether experienced as a blinding epiphany ...

4837. Isaiah 50:4-9a

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and vulnerability before the world. This week's Epistle text provides the key to how we may escape from this self-attachment and full participation in servanthood leadership. The second chapter of Philippians begins by counseling that the correct Christian attitude elevates concern and love for others over self. The text read this week (verse 5-11) then spells out the way this attitude can be cultivated. The so-called "Philippians hymn" could easily serve as your only text for the message of servanthood ...

4838. John 20:1-18

John 20:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Father, the same God. Relating the Texts In Paul's letter to the Corinthians we have some of the first written records of Jesus' resurrection as told for the Church community. In a day before creeds and canonized texts, there was great concern over the various traditions that circulated about Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. Paul's experience of the risen Christ shaped his spirit so profoundly that it is little wonder the apostle's writings helped establish the fledgling Christian fellowships as true ...

4839. Acts 4:32-35

Acts 4:32-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... for the sake of equality. Rather the gift of great grace creates an actively empathetic community which naturally does all it can to provide for its poorer members. Grace enabled these early Christians to transcend the fixation on self and replace it with concern for the whole community as the highest priority. Relating the Texts The Epistle lesson for this and several following weeks comes from 1 John. Like Acts this pastoral letter seems to be seeking to ease conflicts which have arisen within Christian ...

4840. Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ) must have been with Jesus since his baptism under John until "the day he was taken up from us." Only one who personally witnessed Jesus' life, ministry, and death was eligible to be a witness "to his resurrection." Note that while Luke's concern may have been to ensure that those earliest on the road for Christ were actual eyewitnesses and would keep the miraculous story straight, the criterion articulated here by Peter would exclude Paul from true apostleship. Once the pool of potential apostles has been ...

4841. 1 Samuel 16:14-23

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the scribes' accusation by declaring that "a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand" (vs.24). Evil does not work to eradicate evil. But Jesus is most disturbed by the deeper implication of the scribes' judgment. In verse 28 he articulates this concern through his pronouncement of the "unpardonable sin" - blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Jesus' purpose is not to condemn sensitive souls who fear they may have inadvertently committed this sin at some point in their lives. Jesus rightly perceives that when the ...

4842. John 6:24-35

John 6:24-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Eager to re-direct this conversation in the way they want it to go, the crowd turns back to the topic of tangible, especially edible, gifts that God has provided in the past. If Jesus has any connection to Yahweh, then surely he will continue this concern for their welfare and provide for them as well. It has been suggested that the entirety of this discourse (6:22-58) follows the format of a precise Midrashic homily (See P. Borgen Bread from Heaven [Leiden: Brill, 1965], 59-98.) In that format a biblical ...

4843. Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... quite different in flavor and savor from the rest of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. In fact the whole unit from 4:17-5:20 is often thought to be a post-Pauline insertion into the text. The first three chapters of Ephesians concern themselves with wide-angled lofty theological surmisings on the cosmic nature of Christ. As chapter 4 begins, Paul shifts his theological gaze to the now perpetually incarnated body of Christ - the Church. Because of the universality of Christ's lordship, Paul proclaims a freedom ...

4844. Ephesians 6:10-20

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul's letter to the Ephesians concludes with concern and confidence. He is capable of trusting in the unmatched love and faithfulness of God, while realistically confronting the hazards all Christians must face. Paul was no stranger to dangerous clashes between the new message of freedom in Christ and the established systems of the dominant pagan culture. Ephesus had ...

4845. Genesis 2:18-24

Genesis 2:18-24

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... school. Jesus foils their plan, however, by at once taking charge of the discussion and refusing to acquiesce in their agenda. Whereas the Pharisees ask the hair-splitting question about what is "lawful" or "allowed" (verses 2 and 4, Jesus instead concerns himself with what has been "commanded." Jesus' pronouncement to the Pharisees focuses on God's intention for marriage, not human manipulation of marriage for the sake of divorce. Rather than spend time arguing about the ability to dissolve a relationship ...

4846. Hebrews 4:1-3; 9-13

Hebrews 4:1-3; 9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... yet remains a viable pledge. It did not conclude when the Hebrew people entered into Canaan. It has never been rescinded. But attaining the ability to spiritually rest in God is not some easy, passive spectator's reward. Throughout Hebrews one of the author's repeated concerns is that we might miss or avoid God's purpose for our lives and in so doing fall into apostasy - either by things done or left undone. Verse 1 thus urges believers to watchfully "fear" or "take care" lest we miss our chance to share in ...

4847. Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46-52

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , his belief, his faithfulness and tenacity are all repeated in detail in verses 46-51. The healing miracle itself is mentioned only briefly - almost matter-of-factly - as a part of the concluding sentence to the whole pericope. Even then no mention is made concerning just what Jesus did to give Bartimaeus back his sight. At the close of the story, the focus is once again turned back on Bartimaeus, now the newest disciple, as he follows Jesus into the next phase of his ministry. Bartimaeus' vocabulary helps ...

4848. John 18:33-37

John 18:33-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's gospel lesson comes straight from the climactic center of John's passion narrative. Typically, as John focuses on Jesus' appearance before Pilate, he is less concerned with chronological exactness than the presentation of a particular theological message. In this instance John constructs the confrontation scene between Jesus and the symbol of Roman authority to emphasize Jesus' kingship and his divine qualification for judging the entire world. Pilate and Jesus confront one another beginning in ...

4849. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a solid theological foundation, Paul now feels free to cite some specific examples of spiritual gifts. While he does not explicitly state that his list represents a prioritized ranking, it is hardly coincidental that he leaves that topic of greatest concern to the Corinthians until last. Paul's list begins with rather staid, sober-sounding gifts - "wisdom" and "knowledge" and "faith" - which don't sound very ecstatic at all. His next gifts also sound more like energy than ecstasy - "healing," "miracles ...

4850. Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... activities. Ezra reminded the people of both the responsibilities demanded by God's commandments and the joy and hope sustained by God's promises. Nehemiah's political and practical actions, teamed with Ezra's prophetic words of love and concern, brought spiritual and physical renewal to a discouraged, disheartened people. The eighth chapter of Nehemiah intertwines the words and actions of these two men in a special way. Exegetically, the chapter challenges scholars to find its appropriate "home." Many ...

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