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 4935 results

4851. Isaac and Abimelech

Genesis 26:1-35

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Isaac Settles in the Negev: Genesis preserves only a few of the traditions about Isaac. The episodes in which Isaac is the main actor cluster primarily in this chapter, which opens by identifying him as the true heir of the promises to Abraham (vv. 3–5). These accounts picture Isaac as following in the footsteps of Abraham. Both face famine in the land (26:1–6 // 12:10); during the famine both go to live in a foreign setting and identify their wives as sisters for self-protection (26:7–11 // 12:10–20); ...

4852. Jesus Is Anointed and Celebrates the Passover with His Disciples

Matthew 26:1-5, Matthew 26:6-13, Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 26:17-30

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Matthew contrasts the Jewish leaders and Judas, who conspire against Jesus, and even the disciples, who continue to lack understanding about Jesus’ impending death, with an unnamed woman who anoints Jesus for his burial, pointing toward his missional death to bring covenant renewal through the forgiveness of sins. Understanding the Text Chapters 26–28 narrate the passion and resurrection of Jesus. After Jesus predicts his coming death again (26:2; also 16:21; 17:22–23; 20:17–19), Matthew narrates ...

4853. Jesus Is God’s Faithful Son in Gethsemane and at His Arrest and Trial

Matthew 26:31-35, Matthew 26:36-46, Matthew 26:47-56, Matthew 26:57-68, Matthew 26:69-75

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Although Jesus predicts and witnesses the disciples’ desertion and prays for God to change his fate, he as the Messiah, the Son of God, proves himself faithful to God’s will even to the point of suffering and death. Understanding the Text Matthew’s passion story continues with Jesus’ prediction of the disciples’ desertion and Peter’s denial (26:31–35), Jesus’ time of prayer in Gethsemane and arrest there (26:36–56), and Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin (26:57–68) followed by Peter’s denial (26: ...

4854. The Actions of the Triune Godhead Prove Jesus’s Divine Office

Mark 1:9-15

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: Jesus is anointed for his messianic office and confirmed as Son of God by his Father’s own announcement; then he proves his office by defeating Satan in the wilderness. Understanding the Text Jesus has been heralded as the Messiah by prophetic witness (1:2–3) and by the announcement of the wilderness prophet (1:4–8). Now authoritative proof is given with his messianic anointing via his baptism. In a trinitarian act the Spirit descends on him, and the Father announces him as the beloved Son (1:9– ...

4855. The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Luke 2:41-52

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: Already in his childhood Jesus is aware both of a special relation with God as his Father and of a special calling. Understanding the Text With this unique glimpse into the period of Jesus’s adolescence, Luke bridges the thirty-year interval between Jesus’s infancy and the beginning of his public ministry. His special relationship with God that is revealed in this story begins to fill out the promises associated with his birth. Mary and Joseph remain central to the story, as Jesus is still in ...

4856. Affluence and the Afterlife

Luke 16:19-31

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: Material wealth can go with spiritual poverty; in the end it is spiritual wealth that matters. Understanding the Text There has been no change of audience since 16:14: Jesus is still speaking primarily to the Pharisees. (He will return to teaching the disciples in 17:1.) Luke has characterized the Pharisees as lovers of money (16:14), so this parable is a warning to the affluent. It is thus the culmination of a theme, already set out in the blessings and woes of 6:20–26, that has run strongly ...

4857. Victory and Serpents

Num 21:1-9

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God helps his people overcome enemies and their own mistakes. Understanding the Text Most of the narratives up until now in Numbers are of a negative tone, filled with rebellion and sin and death. These events include the rebellion and sin of the leaders Moses and Aaron (Num. 20:2–13) and the deaths of Miriam and Aaron (Num. 21:1, 22–29). But as the old generation disappears, the tone of the narratives becomes increasingly positive. Numbers 21:1–9 shows progress, regress, and progress. The people ...

4858. Balak to Hire Balaam

Numbers 22:1-20

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God protects his people from those determined to harm them. Understanding the Text In Numbers 21 the Israelites move out of the desert to the western edge of Canaan. They have passed around Edom and gone through Moab into territory north of Moab claimed by Amorites Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, whom they defeat. Though Israel has passed by Moab without attacking, Balak king of Moab feels vulnerable. Moreover, Sihon’s territory now occupied by Israel has previously been occupied by ...

4859. Zophar Rejects Job’s Complaints

Job 11:1-20

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

Big Idea: Zophar dismisses Job’s complaints as illogical. Understanding the Text In their first responses to Job, Eliphaz appeals to experience and personal revelation (Job 4–5), Bildad adduces traditional teaching (Job 8), and Zophar applies strict deductive logic to evaluate Job’s situation (Job 11). Zophar seems to be the most curt and insensitive of the three friends in speaking to Job. By taking the retribution principle to its logical conclusion, Zophar insists that suffering necessarily proceeds ...

4860. Everything is Ephemeral

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:1 · Title: The book begins with a title that attributes these “sayings” to “Qoheleth.” Deuteronomy 1:1; Nehemiah 1:1; Proverbs 30:1; 31:1; Jeremiah 1:1; and Amos 1:1 introduce their books similarly as containing the words of a specific individual, without necessarily claiming thereby that this person wrote or edited the present canonical book. Although often left untranslated as the proper name Qoheleth, this word is more likely a professional title, literally “the Assembler” of the people. The same ...

4861. John Prepares the Way

Matthew 3:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

3:1–4:16 Review · Matthew moves from narrating the infancy stories to two preparatory events for the ministry of Jesus—his baptism and temptation. Both narratives are set in the wilderness (“desert”), tying Jesus’s preparation for his ministry to the identity of the people of Israel as they prepared to enter the land promised to them. Both stories are also marked by the Spirit, signaling that the time of eschatological promise has begun. John the Baptist is introduced in Matthew 3 as the forerunner who ...

4862. Eternity: The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

21:1–8 · The new genesis: In Isaiah 64:17–19, God uses the language of a new heaven and a new earth to assure the Jewish exiles in the Babylonian captivity that he will bring them home to the land of their ancestral birth. He promises to restore the city of Jerusalem, rebuild the ruined temple, and reestablish Israel as a sovereign nation. Creation language and Israel’s restoration as the people of God are combined in Isaiah’s prophecy to give a message of hope to the exiles. Likewise, the text of ...

4863. The Parable of the Sower

Mark 4:1-20

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

4:1–9 This passage begins a longer section dealing with the parables that runs through 4:34. Careful reading shows, however, that the passage is not only about parables but also about the necessity for the Twelve to understand the parables and their difficulty in doing so. Note that this parable is given an explanation in 4:13–20, something not done for most of the parables in the Gospels. Though Mark says (4:34) that Jesus explained other parables to the disciples, this one is the only parable for which ...

4864. Samaritan Opposition

Luke 9:51-56

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

In 9:51 Luke begins his account of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (9:51–19:27), which is sometimes called the “Travel Narrative” or simply the “Central Section.” Luke breaks away from his Marcan source in this section until 18:15 (see Introduction, pp. 3–5 and commentary on 10:1–24 below). During this section the reader is reminded of Jesus’ journey by references to the verb “to go” (9:51–53, 56–57; 10:38; 13:31, 33; 17:11; 19:28) and the noun “road” or “way” (9:57; 10:4). We shall examine 9:51–62, which is ...

4865. The Priests Begin their Ministry

Leviticus 9:1-24

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Inauguration of Sacrificial Worship: This central historical narrative continues the account of the Aaronic priests’ ministry, especially their first offering of sacrifice in the tabernacle cult. On the eighth day, after the proper ordination rites, the priests assume their duties. 9:1–7 As is generally characteristic of Leviticus, the text begins with preparation for the upcoming major event. These first verses introduce the details of these first sacrifices. Burnt, grain, fellowship, and sin ...

4866. Duties of Priests and Levites

Numbers 18:1-7

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Duties and Rights of Priests and Levites: Chapter 18 responds to the panic of the people over the danger of holiness in the tabernacle at the center of the camp (17:12–13) and solidifies for the community the duties and rights of the sanctuary establishment. The events of the two preceding chapters have made clear to the people the necessity of the priests’ organization. Apparently the situation of the Priestly tradents also included the need to clarify the roles of priests and Levites. Because this ...

4867. Hannah’s Prayer

1 Samuel 2:1-11

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Hannah’s Song: In bringing her son to the Lord, Hannah also brings her own worship in a prayer-song. It was not unusual to come to the shrine, or later the temple, with particular praise at times of new birth or special celebration. Neither was it unusual for a woman to bring theological reflection in song; the songs of Miriam and Deborah immediately come to mind. Centuries later, Mary picks up Hannah’s song as she rejoices at the thought of her own son. Whether this song was Hannah’s own composition or a ...

4868. Introducing Job

Job 1:1-5

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

1:1 The first chapter serves as a prose prologue to the dialogue sections that form the core of the book. The focus from the very first word is on the main character. Hebrew word order (lit., “a man there was in the land of Uz”) intentionally emphasizes the man, Job. This word order signals that the reader should pay particularly close attention here to the introduction of this man and his circumstances, for he will play an important role in what follows. Because the OT elsewhere associates Uz with Edom, ...

4869. Mercy for the Languishing

Psalm 6:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalms generally are written not out of the particular experiences of their composers but for the various experiences Yahweh’s worshipers may face. Therefore, we should ask not, “Out of what circumstances was this psalm written?” but rather, “For what kind of circumstances is it appropriate?” This prayer psalm of the individual uses language pointing to physical illness: “I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony” (v. 2). It speaks of being near death (v. 5) and of possibly being bedridden (v ...

4870. Offerings for Priests and Levites

Numbers 18:8-32

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

4871. The King Who Exalts Himself

Daniel 11:36-45

Understanding Series

William Nelson

The Final Revelation--The Body: We enter now into the body of the last main revelation of the book of Daniel. There has been some progression in the visions of the book from a more general scope, encompassing larger blocks of history, to a more narrow focus on shorter periods of time. So, for example, Daniel 2 spans four and a half centuries by outlining the four human empires of Babylonia, Media, Persia, and Greece, which are swept away by the fifth—the eternal kingdom of God. Aside from the fact that the ...

4872. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

John 20:10-18

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

Mary’s story resumes after Peter and the beloved disciple went back to their respective lodgings in Jerusalem (cf. 16:32; 19:27). The narrative presupposes that she had followed them from where they had been staying to the tomb, and now she was alone again, outside the tomb crying (v. 11). Finally she looked into the tomb as the beloved disciple had done (cf. v. 5) and saw something that he, as far as we are told, did not see: two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the ...

4873. Forgiveness for the Sinner

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

2:5–11 In this section, Paul explicitly mentions the person who was chiefly responsible for making his second visit to Corinth so painful and who evoked the writing of the tearful letter (v. 5). Like Moses, Paul wanted to give the rebel(s) a chance to repent before executing great judgment among the people. Since the church had now dealt with this offender, he discusses how the church should forgive him and restore him to fellowship (vv. 6–11). 2:5 The offender is introduced in verse 5 for the first time ...

4874. Descendants of Hagar

1 Chronicles 1:29-31

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

Abraham’s Descendants: The previous section ended with Abraham, so this section dwells on Abraham’s descendants. The Chronicler hastens from Adam and Noah to Abraham, narrowing his focus all the time to get to the specific part of the family that he wants to portray, namely, the tribe of Judah (see next section). This section starts with a heading in 1:28, introducing the two sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael. First Chronicles 1:29–31 contains the genealogy of Ishmael, while 1:32–33 presents the ...

4875. Descendants of Keturah

1 Chronicles 1:32-33

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

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