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 4851 to 4875 of 4944 results

4851. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... form and content of Paul's version, which we read Christ into, would actually be quite acceptable to any learned Greek or Jewish scholar of Paul's day. Yet we know Paul was addressing a Christian community. He forges a strong link to the concerns of this Corinthian church in verse one by beginning with the gift of tongues. Paul's reference to the speech of "mortals and angels" refers specifically to that special communication we call "glossolalia." He now maligns this spiritual gift if it is not accompanied ...

4852. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... standing-by-steadfastness that leads Paul to identify this rock with Christ. Without the life-giving water the peripatetic stone provided to the Israelites, they would have died in the desert. Its persistent presence assured them of God's continued concern for their welfare. No matter where they wandered, the source of life was with them. Having established the intimate and uniquely protective relationship between God and the Israelites, Paul knocks home his ultimate point to the Corinthians. Despite all ...

4853. Luke 19:28-40

Luke 19:28-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of "on earth." In the final verses in this week's text, Luke interjects his favorite nemeses into this triumphal scene. From out of the watching crowd some Pharisees complain to Jesus about his disciples' exuberant behavior. Whether these Pharisees are concerned for Jesus' safety (a highly unlikely event in Luke's gospel), or simply trying to protect their own political necks is not at issue. Regardless of its motivation, their criticism evokes from Jesus the revelation that events have progressed so far ...

4854. John 20:1-18

John 20:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... may propose that a scribal error in transcription has occurred. Indeed in the Syro-Sinaitic palimpsest text it matter-of-factly "corrects" this text to read that Mary "recognized him," instead of "turned toward him." (See T. Baarda, "'She Recognized Him': Concerning the Origin of a Peculiar Textual Variation in John 20,16 sys," Text and Testimony Essays in New Testament and Apocryphal Literature [Kampen: Uitgeversmaatschappij J. H. Kok, 1988] 34-35). But the third explanation for this extra "turning" in v ...

4855. John 17:20-26

John 17:20-26

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Not surprisingly the slave girl's owners take exception to his action, although they take pains to cite everything except the obvious economic reasons they have for getting Paul and Silas in trouble. First they act the part of proper citizens concerned for the welfare of the larger community when they complain that these missionaries are "disturbing the city." Then they divorce Paul and Silas from the mainstream by carefully isolating and identifying them as "Jews," setting up an outsider/insider dichotomy ...

4856. 2 Timothy 1:1-14

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... example. Perhaps Paul is also subtly emphasizing a kind of legitimizing authority for Christianity as a faith that, like Judaism, creates a "people." Paul then shifts his focus over to the issue of Timothy's own personal gifts. Verses 6-7 address Paul's concern that Timothy "rekindle" those gifts that he received from Paul's own hands - most likely at his ordination by Paul into a specially designated ministry. Paul's message to Timothy is that he is as responsible for the maintenance of his own generation ...

4857. Ephesians 1:11-23

Ephesians 1:11-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and sympathies of the people. Here in Ephesians, then, we find an unhesitating proclamation of the preeminence of the Christian God's power. The Greek term used for power in verse 19 - dunamis - is one used repeatedly in all the papyri from this region concerned with magic. Thus the ensuing discussion of power, stressing how infinitely more powerful God is than all the other pagan deities, is presented using terms known and familiar to the common people. Verse 20 brings God's power down to earth and puts it ...

4858. Colossians 1:11-20

Colossians 1:11-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is first among all created things, but rather that Christ is pre-eminent over the rest of creation and testifies to the special relationship that exists between God and Christ. Verse 18 narrows the focus of this cosmic Christ into a more predictably Pauline concern by looking at Christ in relationship to the church, as Christ the Redeemer. But verses 19-20 once more expand the role of Christ to the whole of creation "whether on earth or in heaven." Paul's surprising universal hymn of praise and thanksgiving ...

4859. Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Deuteronomy 18:9-13, 14-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... called to their positions. Becoming a prophet is not a position one can learn or an office one can earn. In fact, true prophets are noted for disclaiming their worthiness. Their "chosenness" surprises them as well as others. Second, prophets need not be concerned about "coming up" with a pertinent message for the people. God promises "I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet" (v.18). This pledge suggests that the messages future prophets may be called to proclaim will not necessarily be cheerful ...

4860. John 6:1-21

John 6:1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ' ministry the feeding of the 5,000 and the walk on water. But here these events come across with a uniquely Johannine flavor the familiar words and images from the synoptic texts are subtly colored and shaded by John in ways that reveal his particular concerns. Of course, John is faithful to the tradition in his narrative, but he uses these two stories to communicate some new thoughts to his readers. John sets the scene for miracle #1 with the familiar geographical location on the other side of the Sea of ...

4861. Ephesians 5:15-20

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... who walk worthy of the calling (4:1). Although this letter doesn't focus on any particular problematic group or any disruptive practices that existed within that Christian community, the environment in which these believers lived was enough to cause concern. As a thriving city on the crossroads of the cultural superhighway of its day, Ephesus drew people from all over. It felt itself to be urbane and sophisticated. Its easy accessibility made it a center for various cultural and religious activities ...

4862. Mark 12:28-34

Mark 12:28-34

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... will issue in genuine love of neighbor. Note that the second half of Jesus' dual commandment meets us where we stand as self-absorbed sinners. To "love your neighbor as yourself" means extending to one's neighbor the same self-centered love and concern we all harbor. Historically, the "neighbor" referred to in Leviticus 19:18 specifically meant "the sons of your own people." But Jesus had expanded the definition of "neighbor" far beyond those borders (see Luke 10:25-37), erasing national and ethnic self ...

4863. John 18:33-38

John 18:33-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... for his non culpability in the whole matter. The most literal reading of Pilate's first retort is "I am not a Jew, am I?" As a public official, a political leader, an important Roman citizen, Pilate has no reason to wallow in the concerns of the bothersome, insignificant Jewish inhabitants of this land. His declaration, however, also serves to free him from appearing to be in alliance with the Jewish authorities who brought Jesus to him. This is a Jewish problem Jews accusing another Jew and thus nothing ...

4864. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... readers of the motifs Paul expressed in chapters 1-3. In this section, Paul had compared the Thessalonian Gentile-Christians with and inserted them into the long tradition of God's people including the Hebrew prophets (1 Thessalonians 2:15). Paul is concerned that the Thessalonians see themselves as part of a continuing apostolic mission especially as they face adversity and suffering because of their faith. Thus, Paul's closing words express his own desire to return to Thessalonia and be with them, while ...

4865. Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:12-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... too closely Paul's two lists of five vices or this list of five virtues with any particular practices occurring within the Colossian church. Selecting the number five is a common ancient literary device, and Paul may well have been more concerned with recording a specific number here than relating them to the Colossian situation. Paul designates the Colossian Christians with Old Testament terms that emphasize their unique relationship with God through their rebirth in Christ they are "chosen ones, holy and ...

4866. Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , Luke does so only to differentiate with indisputable clarity the mission and identity of John from Jesus. Today's gospel text is part of that distinguishing process. While we tend to think of these texts as part of Jesus' baptismal scene, Luke is not so concerned with recording the event of Jesus' baptism. He uses that moment to distinguish clearly John the Baptist the messenger from Jesus the Messiah the Beloved one who has come from God. The issue for Luke is not one of baptism, but of Christology. In ...

4867. Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13)

Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13)

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... popular son, Jotham. (See 2 Chronicles 26 for a summary of Uzziah's accomplishments.) King Uzziah reigned for 52 years and except for being quarantined in the last years of his rule due to a leprous condition, found success in his various endeavors. Concern over the continuance of peace and prosperity following the death of Uzziah created a climate of anxiety throughout Judah. And it was in this context that Isaiah accepted God's challenge for a prophetic spokesman. The six-winged seraphim described in this ...

4868. Philippians 3:17-4:1

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... together in the past they had suffered together for the common faith and therefore the apostle remains convinced that they will continue to work with him and support him. Paul is so buoyed by this conviction that despite his imprisonment, his absence and his concern over the wrong theology being taught by the Judaizers in their midst, he finds it in his heart to exclaim "rejoice" 16 times throughout the course of this letter. Just as the previous pericope concludes with an exhortation to "live up to what we ...

4869. Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the son's personal need for a repentant attitude surely a requirement if he were simply an allegorical Pharisee. Further, the older son is cajoled and challenged by his father, not about his self-righteousness, but about his lack of joy. The father's concern is the radical notion of joyous acceptance of the one who was "dead," who was "lost." The need for watch-dogging, holier-than-thou attitudes is not an explicit focus of Luke's text. The body of this lengthy parable contains numerous fascinating nuances ...

4870. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The text for this week comes from a section in Philippians that many scholars postulate is from a second letter Paul had written to this congregation. Beginning at 3:1b, a different tone and focus color Paul's letter. Concerns over a specific group and their teachings come under Paul's scrutiny. The most common identification of these "dogs" (3:2) is the "Judaizers" those who taught that both adherence to the Law of Moses and a confession of Christ as Lord were necessary for complete entrance into ...

4871. John 20:1-18

John 20:1-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... writes, summoned him and Peter to the tomb. That there were other women who visited the tomb as well is a fact already in evidence (Matthew names two women; Mark identifies three; the Lukan account names three as well as "other women," 24:10). John is specifically concerned with one of the women and her role on this great resurrection morning. She leaves early, while it was yet dark (a Johannine image), and arrives at the tomb only to see that the stone has been "removed from the tomb" (v.1). John, who has ...

4872. John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Bread was nearby. Breakfast was ready! But Jesus suggested that they bring some of the fresh fish which they had just caught. This they did, counting out 153 fish brought in a net which, despite the heavy weight of the fish, was not torn. Speculation concerning the number 153 has been rampant. Jerome connected it to 153 known species of fish and implied that the number was symbolic of the mission of the church to bring people of all nations into the net of salvation. Augustine, who argued that the number ...

4873. Revelation 7:9-17

Revelation 7:9-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Domitian). The past tense translation of the verb, however, is not wholly accurate. The verb "to come" has a more progressive meaning. This entire passage, a momentary hiatus from the horrendous visions revealed by breaking the seven seals, is more concerned with describing how things should be and will be than with events already past. The multitude of white-robed celebrators then should be viewed as representing all faithful Christians who survive the tribulations because of God's loving protection. The ...

4874. John 16:12-15

John 16:12-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... heard and saw of God (cf. 3:32; 8:26, 28, 40; 14:10; 15:15). Against those who use Jesus' previous statement to argue for continuing new revelations through the Spirit, the self-limiting content of this Spirit's message seems to suggest a primary concern with maintaining the strict continuity of the message and the message's source. The Spirit is not bringing a message from some new or unknown source. The Spirit's words, like Jesus' own words, have their beginning in the Father. This common source God's own ...

4875. Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of the natural world, the LORD was lacking in wisdom and so created it to be an agential factor in creation. Arius, in the fourth-century, understandably found in this passage considerable ammunition against Athanasius in the heated discussions concerning the generation of the second person of the Trinity (see Robert C. Gregg and Dennis E. Groh, Early Arianism: A View of Salvation [Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981]). Nevertheless, the context here supports the sense of "created" or "established." Wisdom ...

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