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 4876 to 4900 of 4944 results

4876. Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Also missing from both accounts is the doxological material (no doubt based on 1 Chronicles 29:11-13) found in some manuscripts as well as in the KJV, but omitted in the NRSV and NIV (Matthew 6:10,13). The next section of the prayer addresses the earthly concerns which Christians face. In the first of three petitions, the disciples are to ask the "Father" for their "daily bread" (v.3). Just as their forebears lived by the bread which came to them daily in the desert (Exodus 16:4), so now they must rely on ...

4877. Hosea 11:1-11

Hosea 11:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... disobedient child that gives chapter 11 its poignant power. This week's text opens with words probably made most familiar to us by their use in Matthew 2:15. The gospel writer could have found no other prophetic text that could communicate parental concern quite so touchingly. Although Matthew's gospel uses Hosea's words to explain Jesus' personal history, the prophet's proclamation in 11:1 is quite clearly a reference to the nation-building exodus event in the life of Israel. Scholars identify the divine ...

4878. Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... man, perhaps highly respected in his community. There is no mention that anyone thinks badly of him. Even his greed seems harmless. He is simply a man who loves possessions. These are the things he lived for and which gave meaning to his life. The overriding concern is how to build bigger barns wherein to store his wealth: "What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?" (v.17). The acquisition of so much material fortune understandably gave the man a strong sense of security. His tone is self ...

4879. Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... celebrate the recovery even as the "angels of God" rejoice over the sinner who enters the kingdom (15:10). The Prodigal Son returns and is received into the welcoming arms of his father, to great rejoicing (15:20-24). In our text, the steward's overarching concern is for his future well-being, which he attempts to secure using ethically impermissible means. And finally, in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (which can be neatly juxtaposed with the Rich Man and the Unjust Steward), it is the rich man who ...

4880. 2 Timothy 1:1-14

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's epistle lesson comes from the so-called "pastoral epistles" (1,2 Timothy, Titus), which combine both the personal and theological concerns of Paul with tremendous poignancy and power. The message read in 2 Timothy today vibrates between two distinct poles: the unwavering strength and commitment of the apostle's faith, and the emotional appeals of a man who realizes his time on Earth is swiftly drawing to a close. During his ...

4881. Luke 18:1-8

Luke 18:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... " agreed. God will hear those "who cry to him day and night" and will not "delay long in helping them" (v. 7). Indeed, "he will quickly grant justice to them" (v. 8a). Jesus' final words, inserted here by Luke, reflect the author's growing concern for the post-Resurrection ecclessial community living with the fervent expectation of the Parousia: "when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (v. 8b). This question, together with Luke's opening comment that the parable was taught to encourage the ...

4882. Isaiah 11:1-10

Isaiah 11:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , an almah ("young woman" [NRSV], "virgin" [NIV]) "is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel" (7:14). Before this child knows the difference between good and evil, the two powers about which Ahaz is fretting will no longer be a concern (7:16). The Assyrian armies, which are now brought down upon Judah as a tool of judgment, do in fact, destroy both Damascus and Samaria, i.e., the northern kingdom of Israel and Syria (ca. 722 B.C.). In this crisis, Yahweh continues to offer assurances ...

4883. Matthew 3:1-12

Matthew 3:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , scratchy "camel's hair" held together by nothing more elaborate than an old "leather belt around his waist" (v.4). First-century Jewish readers would easily recognize that John looks like the prophet Elijah (Zechariah 13:4; 2 Kings 1:8). John's concern for his own basic needs was so insignificant that he was content to subsist on whatever he could lay his hands on in that open country - like "locusts and wild honey" (v.4). Unlike the "politically correct" questions with which the religious authorities ...

4884. Romans 1:1-7

Romans 1:1-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ) is connected to the promise made "beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures" (v.2), of which the Isaianic passages proclaiming the release of the exiles are the most prominent (see Isaiah 40:9, 52:7 and 61:1). Indeed, the good news, or "gospel concerning [God's] Son" (v.3) is that Jesus, of Davidic lineage in terms of his human life, "was declared to be Son of God with power" in terms of his divine life because of his "resurrection from the dead" (v.4). This declaration is made "through ...

4885. Weakness into Strength

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

James McCormick

... it? “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Think about those whom the Church has called Saints. Do you think they were good and strong? Of course they were. But they never knew it. Read their writings and you will discover that they were very concerned about their sin and their weakness. They became great because they were very much aware of their need. “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Do you know the story of Sidney Lanier, the poet? Too early in his life, he discovered that he had tuberculosis ...

4886. A New Way of Living

Mark 1:4-11

Illustration

Sarah Jo Sarchet

... you really want to be baptized because everyone else is?" His freckles winked up at her and he replied, "No. I want to be baptized because it means I belong to God." She was touched by his understanding. "Well, then," she said, "How about this Sunday?" His smile turned to concern and he asked, "Do I have to be baptized in front of all those people in the church? Can't I just have a friend baptize me in the river?" She asked where he came up with that idea. "Well, Jesus was baptized by his cousin John in a ...

4887. John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... been distinct movement away from "wind" to the almost exclusivity of "spirit." One explanation for its translation here is rooted in the Protestant Reformation. Rejecting the official Catholic translation at that time, the Reformers chose "wind" over "spirit" because of their concern that the preached word does not enter into this roving pneuma Jesus describes - a serious mistake for Word-oriented Calvinists. Yet Jesus seems to have no such qualms, since the whole point of his message here appears to be the ...

4888. John 4:5-42

John 4:5-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is being offered her. It is not until Jesus stuns her with knowledge of her personal life in intimate and embarrassing detail that she begins to realize that the conversation is about spiritual life. Acknowledging Jesus as a "prophet," she remains quite concerned about the cultural chasm separating Samaritans and Jews (v.20). With the conversation now moved onto the right track, Jesus seeks to broaden this woman's horizons once again - this time beyond the particularities of people and place. In verses 23 ...

4889. John 11:1-45

John 11:1-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of Lazarus' resurrection is beyond the pale of critical scholarship, John's telling of this story is crucially important to the theology of the Johannine community. The rich, tightly woven narrative is heavy, with theological overlay, the most central concern being how believing, reborn Christians are to understand the reality of physical death within their ranks. The dramatic incident in Bethany allows Jesus to confront the specter of human death, especially the death of one he greatly loves, and ...

4890. Matthew 26:14-27:66

Matthew 26:14-27:66

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... 27:25: "Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood." In Matthew 27:6, the priests testify to their own guilt by recognizing the coins at their feet as unclean, impure blood money. They are blatantly hypocritical in their concern for maintaining the purity of the temple treasury while remaining completely cavalier about their injustice, which splattered the blood on the coins in the first place. The unclean money is then appropriately used to purchase an equally ritually unclean place, a ...

4891. Matthew 10:40-42

Matthew 10:40-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... once and for all the power and authority that is to be accorded his disciples. All of the chapter focuses on the missionizing responsibility Jesus bestows upon his disciples. Jesus invites the Twelve to be extensions of his own ministry - showing primary concern for Israel (vv.5-6), healing the sick in body and spirit, and expecting nothing in return for their efforts except perhaps violence and persecution. After painting a fairly bleak and fearful picture of what they may encounter on their journeys ...

4892. Romans 8:1-11

Romans 8:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... in the likeness of human flesh ... to deal with sin." Traditional biblical scholars often tend to get nervous with Paul's language here, and take great care to emphasize that the Son was sent only "in the likeness of sinful flesh." Concerned with maintaining Christ's essential sinlessness, many scholars minimize the point Paul makes. But homoiomati implies more than just some artificial resemblance. University of Dayton scholar Vincent P. Branick forces us to take Paul seriously when he states: The sense of ...

4893. Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... people together, Jesus explains, will be followed by a winnowing period, where evil will be separated from righteousness. Verses 51-52 conclude this heuristic session with Jesus, the careful teacher, asking "Any questions?" By now, the reason for his concern that the disciples "get it right" becomes clear. Jesus calls attention to the special responsibility that weighs upon those who do understand his words. As "scribes ... trained for the kingdom of heaven," it is their responsibility to discern between ...

4894. Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... clamor. The advice of the disciples is not to "send her away" empty-handed, but rather for Jesus to respond quickly to her request so that they can be rid of her embarrassing presence. The disciples are not motivated by love or concern or compassion for this woman and her child. They are solely interested in convenience and expedience. Jesus' words, spoken to the disciples, but certainly directed at the woman as well, sound cold and callous - yet they are indisputably, theologically correct. The thoughtless ...

4895. Matthew 16:13-20

Matthew 16:13-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... dialogue concludes with Jesus warning the entire band of disciples not to reveal his true identity. As verse 21 reports, it is immediately after this that Jesus begins to tell his disciples of his impending death and resurrection. Having introduced these slow students to the truth about himself, Jesus is concerned that they understand what his messiahship means and what tremendous cost it entails before they speak about it to anyone else.

4896. Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The book of Joshua concludes with yet another covenant ceremony - - this one at the ancient shrine of Shechem. But unlike the covenant renewal in which the Israelites had participated earlier (Joshua 8:30-35), Joshua is not concerned with the people hearing and promising to obey every jot and tittle of the Law. Now, near the end of his life of leadership and service, Joshua desires to hear a much more basic commitment from his people. Chapter 24 opens by carefully locating this event at Shechem. The ...

4897. Luke 2:22-40

Luke 2:22-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Samuel and Jesus, Luke next records that a second witness, Anna (also a translation of "Hannah," which was Samuel's mother's name), recognizes the baby's identity. Although her exact words are not reproduced, Anna's presence encapsulates many of Luke's concerns. She is a widow, a woman of unrelenting faithfulness, and chooses to locate her piety in the temple setting. The new, struggling Christian community owed much to women just like this Anna and accorded them much respect and honor. Luke concludes this ...

4898. 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... shenanigans that are described in 1 Samuel 2:12-17. Eli's sons abused and belittled the priestly office, the people who were making sacrifices, and, most of all, the honor of God. Eli's sons had nothing but open contempt for God and ultimate concern for themselves. But as the writer describes the offensive state of affairs at Shiloh, a soft refrain, foreshadowing hope, keeps finding its way into the text. 1 Samuel 2:11, 18, 26 and 3:1 all introduce "the boy Samuel," describing his ongoing presence, his ...

4899. Mark 1:9-15

Mark 1:9-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... just as that Spirit had come "upon" so many of the great Old Testament prophets and leaders. Instead, the Spirit enters Jesus, possessing Jesus completely and filling him with God's own power and authority. The second translation issue in verse 10 concerns Mark's descriptive phrase "like a dove." In this sentence, hos peristeran can either adjectivally modify the Spirit itself (the Spirit ... as though it were a dove descending) or adverbially modify the action (the Spirit, descending like a dove). Luke and ...

4900. John 12:20-33

John 12:20-33

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , is the crucified Jesus. Only after his death will the real fruits come. When Jesus confirms this plan, "Father, glorify your name" (v.28), he is instantly affirmed by the heavenly voice attesting to his forthcoming glorification. And yet, there is still a concern for discipleship here, as Jesus announces that the voice's message was not for his benefit, but was for the benefit of the crowd listening to his words. John's gospel doesn't simply preach the mysterious, paradoxically humiliating message of a ...

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