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 851 to 875 of 5000 results

851. Sayings of Agur

Proverbs 30:1-33

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... ; they are from air, land, water, and a delicate human relationship. The mood is close to that of the Song of Songs. 30:20 The NIV wisely separates this conclusion from the previous two verses because it is out of character with them. One may best understand this to be the reflection of a reader who interpreted the examples in verses 18–19 as indicating that no trace is left. Then the idea is applied to the conduct of an adulteress whose symbolic gesture removes traces (of an evil deed) and who claims ...

852. The Call of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... Anathoth is the modern Arabic village of ‘Anata (Y. Nadelman, “The Identification of Anathoth and the Soundings at Khirbet Der es-Sidd,” Israel Exploration Journal 44 [1994]) though other suggestions include nearby Ras el-kharrubeh and Deir es-Sud. 1:2 Some understand the thirteenth year of Josiah to be the date of Jeremiah’s birth rather than the beginning of his formal ministry. The conclusion is reached because there are few oracles able to be dated to Josiah’s reign and there is no clear ...

853. Habakkuk’s Complaint

Habakkuk 1:1-4

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... been doing so, he does not do it here. Perhaps the implication is that it seems pointless. Or perhaps the lack of a plea hints that the protest form of the prophecy is less a means of getting Yahweh to act than it is a means of gaining some understanding. It is a means of working out how to look at what Yahweh is doing, for the benefit of people who will listen to the prophet as much as for the prophet’s own benefit. One might compare this to Abraham’s “prayer” in Genesis 18, which never actually ...

854. A Call to Return to the Lord

Zechariah 1:1-6

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... as those of Daniel and Ezra acknowledge that the loss of land, temple, and monarchy was the result of the nation’s rebellion and sin (Lam. 1:3–8; Dan. 9:7–11; Ezra 9:7; Neh. 9:16–18, 26, 29–30). Thus these prayers teach Israel to understand its identity and history in terms of the story of the failure of the disobedient Israelite kingdoms to realize the Lord’s reign on the earth. Yet the story of Israel’s failure is also the story of God’s mercy, faithfulness, and commitment to justice and ...

855. Judah Unfaithful

Malachi 2:10-16

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... made with Israel at Sinai/Horeb (e.g., Hos. 1–3; Jer. 31:32; Ezek. 16:8, 59, 60, 62; 23). (3) Women were also members of the covenant community (Deut. 31:12; Neh. 8:2). Malachi may have been the first to apply this truth to the understanding of marriage. The Lord’s role as witness to the marriage covenant involved knowing the details of the promises the wife and husband had made to each other; warning them to keep them; and bringing accusations against them when they fail (cf. the role of Solomon in 1 ...

856. The Vision of Obadiah

Obadiah 1:1-21

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... wisdom but for its shameful violation of its covenant of brotherhood with Jacob, the name used here of Judah, verse 10. All will be Yahweh’s work, for it will take place on that day, on the day of the Lord, verse 8. Obadiah here employs the popular and traditional understanding of the day of the Lord as the time when God would exalt the people Israel and destroy all of their enemies. (See the exposition of Amos 5:18–20 and of vv. 12–16 below.) Edom’s Day (1:11-14): 11–14 The NIV translation of the ...

857. The Unbelief of the Jews

John 10:22-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father. The effect of these words is to reiterate the claim of verse 30 that ... the Father. The hearers are not part of this relationship, nor are they invited to be, but Jesus wants them to know and understand that the relationship exists (v. 38). The immediate hearers cannot accept such a claim: Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped ...

858. The Temple’s Furnishings

1 Kings 7:13-51

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... ). The production of these last items brought Hiram’s work for Solomon to completion (Hb. ḵlh, cf. the commentary on 7:1–2). He had made so much that it could not be weighed (v. 47). 7:48–51 Bezalel, son of Uri, had been “full of wisdom and understanding and knowledge” to such an extent that he could work (among other things) in gold, silver, and bronze (Exod. 31:3–4). Silver is not mentioned in relationship to craftmanship in 1 Kings 6–7, and the authors tell us in 10:21 why this is (it was ...

859. Elijah Flees to Horeb

1 Kings 19:1-8

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... whisper. Elijah needs to remember the past, but he also needs to realize that there is more to the LORD than fire. 19:13–18 It is not immediately clear to us why it is important for Elijah to realize this, and there is no evidence that Elijah himself understands. Indeed, even the attempt to jog his memory appears to fail. For when he is asked a second time the question of verse 9 (What are you doing here, Elijah?, v. 13), his answer is exactly the same as before (vv. 10, 14). The entire point of the ...

860. Jehu Anointed King of Israel

2 Kings 9:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... (two or three eunuchs—a common condition of officials of royal courts in the ancient Near East; cf. the “official” in 2 Kgs. 8:6). She is thrown down onto the plot of ground beneath (v. 36)—the most natural reading of the phrase is to understand it as Naboth’s land by the royal palace (1 Kgs. 21:1)—and trampled underfoot by Jehu’s chariot horses (v. 33). Unmindful of prophecy (cf. 2 Kgs. 9:10), or perhaps simply aware of the stereotypical nature of much prophetic utterance (cf. 1 Kgs ...

861. Woe to David’s City

Isaiah 29:1-24

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... communication is again at work. Isaiah has caught our attention. What does he mean? It is the last meaning, hearth, that especially counts. It suggests a grim parable for Yahweh’s intentions. The ongoing cycle of worship makes the altar of key significance to understanding the city, but the city is then inclined to think that this round of worship somehow protects it. But one recalls 1:11–15. Yahweh intends that the whole city should become an altar hearth. It is as if the sacrificial fire consumes the ...

862. Failing the Test and Spiritual Failure—Hardness of Heart

Mark 6:45-56

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... 28 = 16:7). Illustrating the Text Where do you turn in the storms of life? Quote: The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck. Peck begins his classic book with these words: “Life is difficult. . . . Once we truly know that life is difficult—once we truly understand and accept it—then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”7All of us will face challenges in life. When you do, where do you turn? Who will provide answers, solutions, or ...

863. Spiritual Hypocrisy—Living by the Rules, Not by the Heart

Mark 7:1-23

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... passage about spiritual hypocrisy Jesus teaches that God’s people must live their lives not by how they appear externally to others but how they really are within. It is not external codes of conduct but the inner life of the heart that really matters. Understanding the Text The theme of failure continues from 6:45–53, as the disciples’ hardened hearts (6:52) link them to the Pharisees (3:5; 10:5) in their inability to comprehend the reality of Jesus and the kingdom (see “The Text in Context” on ...

864. The Christian Shema: Loving God and Neighbor

Mark 12:28-34

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... . Several have noted the contrast between the rich young man in 10:17–22, who likewise centered on the commandments but failed to enter the kingdom because of his possessions, and this scribe, who is “not far from the kingdom.” Jesus means that because of his understanding and recognition of Jesus, this scribe is on the verge of becoming part of the kingdom community. Yet we are not told if the man took the final step; we do not know if this led to repentance and belief (1:15). Probably Mark wants his ...

865. The Birth of John

Luke 1:67-80, Luke 1:57-66

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... :4, 11), since Old Testament prophecy had declared that the messianic king was to be a “son of David.” 1:73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham. God’s covenant with Abraham (and the oath by which it was confirmed) was the essential basis of Israel’s self-understanding as the special people of God. The oath focused on Abraham’s descendants and on the possession of the land of Canaan (Gen. 22:16–18; Ps. 105:8–11), but the latter involved protection from their enemies. Zechariah here ...

866. The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Luke 2:41-52

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... my Father” is in striking contrast to Mary’s phrase “your father and I” in 2:48. The adolescent Jesus is already aware, as surely his parents should have been, that he is God’s Son rather than only theirs. 2:50 They did not understand. Given the clear indications that Mary and Joseph had received from Gabriel, from the angels, and from Simeon, this seems incongruous, especially in the light of the fact that Mary had “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (2:19). But ...

867. Hearing and Responding

Luke 8:19-21, Luke 8:16-18, Luke 8:1-15

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... grasp “the secrets of the kingdom of God” is given only to some, can the others be blamed for their failure to grasp it? Does Jesus’s teaching in parables then merely confirm some in their unbelief, since they do not have the capacity to understand the parables and respond to them? The parable of the sower, however, is not designed to answer these questions. It sets out the fact of unbelief and of inadequate response, but it neither explains its origin (except perhaps briefly in the reference to the ...

868. Jesus Takes the Initiative

Luke 21:5-38, Luke 21:1-4, Luke 20:41-47

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... to explain for those who claim that 21:25–31 relates to the parousia. Some who hold this view claim that “this generation” refers back to 21:8–24, but not to the return of the Son of Man in 21:25–31. Others understand “this generation” to refer to the last generation before Christ returns, not to the disciples’ generation. Still others take “generation” to mean “ethnicity” and to refer to the Jewish nation as a whole. None of these is a very satisfactory solution. 21:33 my ...

869. The Story of Abraham versus the Story of Israel

Romans 4:1-25

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... . For Abraham, it was faith in God and the promise that he would be the father of many nations. For the Christian, it is faith in God and in the promise that Jesus’ death and resurrection atone for our sins, reckoning us righteous before God. Understanding the Text In Romans 4, Paul puts forth five arguments that Abraham was justified by faith. He has developed the theological (4:1–5), hermeneutical (4:6–8), historical (4:9–12), and logical (4:13–17a) arguments and now moves on to the experiential ...

870. New Dominion as a Blessing of the New Covenant: Dead to Sin

Romans 6:1-14

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... resurrection. Furthermore, in the age to come in heaven, God will showcase the Christian as a trophy of divine grace. While these three tenses are sequential to the human perspective, with God they are simultaneously before him. And it seems that this is the key to understanding our union with Christ. It is in the mind of God that the believer has already been raised to the heavens with Christ and seated on the divine throne with him. Thus, we are permitted to say that Christ is in the Christian on earth by ...

871. The Spirit and the Glory of the Age to Come and the New Covenant

Romans 8:28-39, Romans 8:18-27

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... ages. The Spirit groans on behalf of the believer who suffers in this age. But the Spirit’s groaning is also a sign that the age to come has dawned. Thus, the Spirit intercedes with the Father when the believer is not sure what the will of God is. This understanding, rather than ecstatic speech, is most likely what Paul has in mind in 8:26–27. Access to the throne of God via the guidance of the Spirit assures the Christian that God hears now and will grant the glory of his Son (cf. 8:30). 8:28 in all ...

872. Witnesses of the New Covenant

Romans 12:1-8

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... Christ stem from the ancient Hebrew belief that one person represents many, and many are incorporated in the one (Gen. 12:1–3; compare Gen. 14:17–20 with Heb. 7:4–10; Josh. 7:16–26).11This reciprocal relationship takes one a long way toward understanding the body of Christ, and it is commensurate with the Adamic theory that the first man is the representative of the fallen human race (Rom. 5:12–21). If so, then the church, the corporate body of Christ, is none other than the eschatological Adam (1 ...

873. Christian Success and Christlikeness

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... as a blessing. At best, the phrase “the cross comes before the crown” translates into something like “we must accept that things can be hard before they become good.” To Paul, the Christian message and lifestyle bring a 180-degree correction to secular understandings of success. The cross calls for his willingness to crucify personal desires (1 Cor. 9:19–22) and wait for the crown till Christ calls him home (2 Tim. 4:8). Illustrating the Text The Bible is not a treasure trove of unrelated sayings ...

874. Message to Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... (ius gladii, or the right of the sword). Here Jesus identifies himself as the one who truly holds the power of life and death, far superior to any Roman official. 2:13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Jesus understands the difficulties faced by the Christians residing in Pergamum, the city where Satan lives and has his throne. The “throne” in Revelation represents a center of power and authority, whether belonging to God or to Satan. The leading interpretations of “Satan’s ...

875. The Woman, the Son, and the Dragon

Revelation 12:1--13:1a

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... and apparent defeat, we are more than conquerors. Whether by living or dying, we are bound tight in the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We cannot be beat! The War on Earth Big Idea: God faithfully protects his people against Satan’s ongoing attacks. Understanding the Text The earthly war mentioned in 12:1–6 is now resumed in 12:13–17. The dragon failed to devour the male child and also lost his battle with the archangel Michael, resulting in his being cast down to earth. The wounded and cornered ...

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