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 526 to 550 of 4339 results

526. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... “who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.” Without this faculty of discrimination one could not develop “a sense of what is vital” (Moffatt). It is the effect, not of a logical process of moral philosophy, but of growing insight into the character and will of God. It is important in view of the day of Christ, the day of review and reward for his people (cf. v. 6), that they should be pure and blameless. They cannot be so on that day unless they lead pure and blameless ...

527. Timothy and Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:19-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... be “one in soul.” Here is a man who is “one in spirit” or “equal in soul” with Paul himself. Paul found Timothy to be an entirely congenial and sympathetic colleague, but here he thinks of one particular aspect of Timothy’s character that strikes a responsive chord in himself: Timothy shares Paul’s feelings in that he takes a genuine interest in the Philippian Christians’ welfare. Paul has encouraged them to look out for “the interests of others”; these words of his will be reinforced ...

528. Exhortations

Philippians 4:2-9

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... into practice, then their conduct will be the outward expression of the habits of mind inculcated in verse 8. Thus the God of peace will be with them. He is the God of peace; it is not only that he gives us peace; peace belongs to his very character. He is “the author of peace and lover of concord”: dissension and strife are “acts of the sinful nature” (Gal. 5:20). To have the God of peace himself is even better than having the peace of God (v. 7). “The God of peace” is a recurring designation ...

529. God’s Love and Ours

1 John 4:7-21, 1 John 5:1-12

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... in Jesus Christ and to love one another (3:23). There is also a certain circularity in the Johannine thinking about love and obedience (cf. 2 John 5–6). Those who truly love their comrades in the community will evidence this by a morally consistent and Christ-like character, one of the signs of which is love. 5:3 In v. 3 the author gives a reason for connecting loving God and keeping God’s commands, as he did in v. 2. He argues that love for God is expressed in obedience; that is how it is demonstrated ...

530. The Covenant of Circumcision

Genesis 17:1-27

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... directions. As the sign of the covenant it was a reminder that God was to relate to the one circumcised as a member of this covenant and to bless him with numerous children. That the sign was for God is borne out by the unilateral character of this covenant (ch. 15). Circumcision also functioned as a sign for all Israelites. It identified them as members together in covenant with God. In this regard it had moral force, reminding the Israelites that God gave the rite of circumcision with the exhortation to ...

531. Abraham Tested

Genesis 22:1-19

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... (Exod. 15:22–26; 16:4; 20:18–20; Deut. 8:12–16; 13:1–3; Judg. 2:21–22; 3:1–4). God’s test of Hezekiah is another reference to an individual being examined (2 Chron. 32:31). God examines people not only to discover their true character but also to develop in them certain desirable qualities. On this occasion God called Abraham, speaking his name a single time. This style contrasts with the times God repeated a name to get a person’s attention (e.g., v. 11; Exod. 3:4, the call of Moses; 1 ...

532. Driving Out the Nations

Deuteronomy 7:1-26

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... and spelled out in more colorful detail in verses 13–15 and 17–24, with verse 16 summarizing the “outside” themes again. But at the center of the chapter, as the basis for Israel’s elect status and blessings, stands the description of the action and character of Yahweh (vv. 7–10), which is the bedrock on which all the rest stands. The concentric arrangement can be portrayed as follows: A Destruction of Canaanites and their gods: Israel to be holy (7:1–6) B God’s love for the forefathers (7:7 ...

533. Riddles and Metaphors

Ezekiel 15:1-8, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ezekiel 17:1-24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... Lev. 18:17; 19:29; and twice in 20:14), where it refers to abominable sexual practices. In context, the meaning is clear: it is not enough that Jerusalem should be an adulteress; she has also become a prostitute! A proverb makes clear the radical character of Jerusalem’s sin: Like mother, like daughter (v. 44). This is the only proverb Ezekiel cites favorably (compare 12:22, 27; and esp. 18:2–3). Please note: Ezekiel’s point is not that Jerusalem can blame its sin on its antecedents. Rather, Jerusalem ...

534. Personal Accountability

Ezekiel 18:1-32, Ezekiel 19:1-14

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things (v. 14). Once more, Ezekiel describes the deeds of this son with reference to the catalogue of righteousness in verses 5–9: in character, he is like his grandfather, and the inverse of his father (vv. 14–18). Once more, Ezekiel does not follow the list slavishly but shifts the order slightly: He withholds his hand from sin precedes the statements about interest in verse 17 (compare v. 7; see ...

535. The Law of the Temple

Ezekiel 43:13-27, Ezekiel 44:1-31, Ezekiel 45:1-12, Ezekiel 45:13--46:24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... use of ʾariʾel in the Moabite Stone inscription (l. 12) makes clear that it is an ancient term for an altar hearth. In Isaiah 29:1–2, 7, where the term appears five times, the designation of Jerusalem as ʾariʾel comes both from the city’s character, as the site of the pilgrim feasts with their sacrifices, and from its lofty location, as a stronghold atop Zion (see Isa. 29:1). But the positive designation of Jerusalem as an altar hearth in Isaiah 29:1 sets the stage for a message of judgment: as the ...

536. Herod and Hometown Misunderstand Jesus’ Identity

Matthew 13:53-58, Matthew 14:1-12

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... of faith of the people in his hometown, since they cannot see beyond his family context to imagine him in the exalted role implied by his miraculous actions. 13:58 because of their lack of faith. Jesus’ hometown is one of two character groups (the other being the Jewish leaders [12:1–45]) that are portrayed as being “without faith” (apistia) in Jesus and his authority. Whereas the disciples are characterized by “little faith” (oligopistia, oligopistos [e.g., 14:31]), a number of seekers from ...

537. Jesus Transfigured as a Foreshadowing of Future Glory

Matthew 17:1-13

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... of “Listen to him!” (cf. Deut. 18:15). This echo signifies Jesus as the prophet like Moses who would come to teach Israel. The command to listen also fits the focus on discipleship in 16:21–20:28, since the disciples are the primary narrative characters who interact with Jesus and receive his many teachings on discipleship in this section of Matthew. As already noted (see comments on 3:17; 12:18), there is a likely textual allusion to Isaiah 42:1 here and in the baptism scene. Matthew has drawn on ...

538. “Love Your Enemies”

Luke 6:27-38

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... who give and forgive. Humans may not repay or even appreciate the disciple’s love and generosity, but God will not be in debt to anyone. Underlying specific ethical instructions is the fundamental principle expressed in 6:35–36: disciples should reflect the character of the God they serve. Discipleship is a process of growing into the family likeness. However, this is to be achieved not merely by adopting a new set of behavioral rules but also by absorbing God’s own values and attitudes. This means ...

539. True and False Discipleship

Luke 6:46-49, Luke 6:43-45, Luke 6:37-42

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... between outward appearance and inward reality. Disciples must be on their guard against those who claim to be true teachers but will only lead others into their own errors. Both deeds and words may be used to test the reality of personal profession: one’s true character is made evident in the fruit that one bears. But these verses also bring the challenge nearer to home. There are those who appear to others (and even to themselves?) to be true disciples but who do not come up to the mark. They call Jesus ...

540. The Failure of Israel’s Leadership

Luke 11:37-54

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... of religion to quiet a dull conscience. He prefers form to substance. Hypocrisy takes this even further and finally lies—the inevitable end of emphasizing only form. Together, these two may get many people’s attention, seducing them while their inner life and character are in decay. They are self-deceived, and they have taken the shortcut to holiness, over the wall instead of by the narrow gate. Christian cannot help replying, “I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working of your ...

541. God and Mammon

Luke 16:16-18, Luke 16:1-15

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... a good passage to turn to when discussing the role of John the Baptist (see, e.g., 7:18–35). The parable of the manager is a puzzle to many. Is Jesus really approving dishonesty? Why does he introduce and apparently commend such a disreputable character? These questions raise the issue of what parables are intended to achieve: they are not necessarily models for imitation (though of course some are [see 10:37]). So what is it about the manager’s self-interested action that Jesus commends and calls us to ...

542. Two Parables about Prayer

Luke 18:9-14, Luke 18:1-8

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... for the coming of the Son of Man, which has been the subject of the preceding section and will return in 18:8b. 18:2 who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. The judge in the story represents God, but this initial description makes it clear that his character is not to be seen as a reflection of what God is like. Rather, he is shown as a selfish scoundrel in order to set up the “how much more” argument of 18:6–7. If even a man like this can be prevailed on, how much more so will ...

543. The Story of Abraham versus the Story of Israel

Romans 4:1-25

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... , “Great is the love.”5 There is no sin that God cannot forgive through Christ. Film: The Silence of the Lambs; No Country for Old Men; The Dark Knight. It seems useful, in the interest of freshness, to illustrate this point by describing the lead characters in these well-known films (or others like them) and then ask the audience if they think that Christ could forgive a cannibal (The Silence of the Lambs [1991]), a psychopathic killer (No Country for Old Men [2007]), a human being relentlessly bent on ...

544. Church Divisions and Confusion of Allegiance

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... the problem of grouping people. O’Connor was more concerned with pride than anything else. Her short stories, which appear bizarre to some readers, insightfully examine our need to be important and to make ourselves gods in our own worlds. In “Revelation,” her main character, Ruby Turpin, walks into a doctor’s office in the South and thinks how she could improve the office and even the people. She begins to size up the occupants of the waiting room by the color of their skin or the clothes they are ...

545. Unity of Life and Faith

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... must constantly ask questions about how their actions align with the model given by Christ, not just in questions of sexual immorality, but in all questions of human relationships. Faith, again, is the human response of loyalty to the character and teaching of Christ. 3. The countercultural nature of Paul’s teaching flows from his unwillingness to separate Christian thinking and Christian lifestyle. To Paul, theology shapes Christian lifestyle. Our modern “quickly, tell me how” attitude has allowed us ...

546. The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1-3

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... goes” (Rev. 14:4). Illustrating the Text Jesus lies at the center of God’s plan for human history. Contrasting Concept: If we don’t recognize the main character, a story will not make sense. Pick a popular movie or book and consider what might happen if the reader believed a secondary character was the hero. For example, if someone believed the main character of Star Wars was C3PO, she would constantly wonder, “Why don’t they give this droid more lines?” We must live each day as though it were ...

547. John’s Introductory Vision The Risen and Glorified Christ

Revelation 1:9-20

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... worship setting of the vision and John’s commission to write. The vision proper comes in 1:12–16, using words drawn largely from Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah to describe Jesus’s power and glory. While individual images certainly depict aspects of Christ’s character (e.g., blazing eyes = penetrating vision), the entire vision has the force of a “verbal icon” since it is meant to be seen as a whole.1Finally, 1:17–20 presents John’s reaction to the vision, Jesus’s reassurance of John, and an ...

548. The Vision of the Great Prostitute

Revelation 17:1-18

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... 1–19:5 should be seen as expanding the final bowl judgments of Revelation 16. In 17:1–6, John is first invited to witness the judgment on Babylon (17:1–2), before being given the vision itself (17:3–6), complete with a description of her immoral character and wicked agenda. In the rest of the chapter, the angel interprets the meaning of the vision (17:7–18). Outline 11. The destruction of Babylon the Great (17:1–19:5) a. The vision of the great prostitute and the scarlet beast (17:1–6) i. John ...

549. God’s Judgment of Babylon Calls for Celebration

Revelation 19:1-10, Revelation 18:1-24

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” In the meantime, believers who are persecuted and oppressed continue to trust and pray and endure, knowing that God will one day vindicate his suffering people because he is true and just in character. We can rest assured that wicked tyrants will be brought to justice. Illustrating the Text We rejoice when God judges evil, not when people suffer. Drama: Perhaps you’ve experienced it yourself. An amazing piece of theater has played itself out. A tragic ...

550. Lamps, Cakes, and the Blasphemer

Lev 24:1-23

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... a specific incident of a man who commits blasphemy. 24:10 Egyptian father. Why no mention of the Egyptian father’s name? Did the father remain in Egypt? Had he died? Mention of the man’s checkered heritage indicates that he is of suspect character religiously. 24:11 blasphemed the Name. Compare Exodus 20:7. The offense is not that the man said the name “Yahweh,” but that he slandered Yahweh. a curse. Perhaps this “curse” involved saying something like, “May Re [or some other Egyptian god ...

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