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 1151 to 1175 of 1622 results

1151. Pet Rocks and the Big Reveal

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

King Duncan

... his pastor’s hand. “Give them the palms!” And Bouman distributed the branches among those waiting. “Bless them,” Edgar demanded. And so Bouman blessed the palm branches. Then Edgar placed Bouman’s hand on each forehead and pronounced a benediction. (4) In my opinion, that’s a beautiful picture of Christ’s coming kingdom. Here’s what Palm Sunday says to us--nobody will be left out of God’s kingdom regardless of the challenges they’ve faced in this life. See your king, God says to us ...

1152. The Best Translation

Illustration

Michael P. Green

The story is told of four ministers discussing the pros and cons of various Bible translations and paraphrases. Eventually each stated which version, in his opinion, is the best. The first minister said he used the King James because the Old English style is beautiful and produces the most reverent picture of the Holy Scriptures. The second said he preferred the New American Standard Bible because he felt it comes nearer to the original Greek and ...

1153. Polls Don't Count

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... : “I wonder how far Moses would have gone if he’d taken a poll in Egypt? What would Jesus Christ have preached if he’d taken a poll in Israel? Where would the Reformation have gone if Martin Luther had taken a poll? It isn’t the polls or public opinion of the moment that counts. It is right and wrong and leadership—men with fortitude, honesty, and a belief in the right—that makes epochs in the history of the world.”

1154. The Grip of Strong Currents

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... ? The explanation is that the icebergs, with eight-ninths of their bulk under the water surface, were caught in the grip of strong currents that moved them in a certain direction, no matter which way the winds raged. In the Christian life, no matter how strongly the winds of passing opinion blow in opposition, the believer who has a depth of living in the currents of God’s grace should move toward righteousness.

1155. Important Words

Illustration

Michael P. Green

The six most important words: “I admit I made a mistake.” The five most important words: “You did a good job.” The four most important words: “What is your opinion?” The three most important words: “If you please.” The two most important words: “Thank you.” The most important word: “We” The least important word: “I”

1156. Solomon Asks for Wisdom

2 Chronicles 1:1-17

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... of it can also be found in 2 Chron. 9:25–28, a section describing the end of Solomon’s reign. This correlates better with the original position of the source text in the Solomon narrative. Some commentators are therefore of the opinion that one of these occurrences is secondary. McKenzie rightly indicates, however, that “the repetition may also be viewed as a structuring device—a bracket or framework for the account of Solomon, whose wealth and international prestige—both gifts from God—allowed ...

1157. Solomon Builds the Temple

2 Chronicles 3:1-17

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... the source in 1 Kings 7:15–22, with a minor difference in the height measurement of the pillars (eighteen cubits in the Deuteronomistic version, and thirty-five here in Chronicles). It is not clear what the function of the pillars was, but McKenzie is of the opinion that “the fact that they are named suggests that they may have had a liturgical or theological purpose that has been lost to us” (1–2 Chronicles, pp. 239–40). 4:1–10 The next ten verses, which are loosely paralleled in 1 Kings 7:23 ...

1158. Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

Acts 1:12-26

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... element here is the eschatological motive for the sending. The authority of the apostles was confirmed by their “signs” (2 Cor. 12:12), but it was not something arbitrary or automatic that made them infallible. Paul was conscious of a distinction between his own opinion and the authoritative word of the Lord. The conflict between Peter and Paul (Gal. 2:11ff.) shows that even an apostle could act contrary to his convictions (Gal. 2:7–9; Acts 15:7ff.). The authority embodied in the apostles was one to ...

1159. Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

Acts 4:1-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... who presided, with both Sadducees and Pharisees represented, the latter among the scribes, the former by the priests and the elders. The Sadducees were in the majority, but were often compelled for fear of the people to accede to Pharisaic opinion (Josephus, Antiquities 18.16–17; cf. Acts 5:34ff.), for the Pharisees, despite their own exclusiveness, were remarkably popular (see Jeremias, Jerusalem, p. 266). If this verse does not describe a full meeting of the Sanhedrin, which may have been difficult ...

1160. The Return to Antioch in Syria

Acts 14:21-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... :23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders: Though the verb meant originally “to elect by show of hands,” it appears as though the choice, humanly speaking, was with the apostles. But cf. Titus 1:5ff. where perhaps the same procedure is used but at least the opinion of the congregation seems to be taken into account (cf. also 1:23ff.; 6:13). 14:27 They gathered the church together: For a discussion of the physical limitations imposed upon the Christians because they had to use private homes (cf. 8:3; 12:12 ...

1161. Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

Acts 15:36-41

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... to have the approval now of the other apostles and the elders of the church in Jerusalem must have been as encouraging for them as for their converts. A “second missionary journey” was therefore proposed. But they were destined not to make it together. A difference of opinion between them led to each going his separate way. Barnabas went to Cyprus, and we hear no more of him in Acts. Paul remains the focus of attention as he returns to Galatia and then embarks on a new enterprise. 15:36 Some time later ...

1162. In Corinth

Acts 18:1-17

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... had been issued not long before Paul came to Corinth (at the earliest, in the late 40s). The whole question is fraught with uncertainties, and there is certainly no compelling reason to doubt Luke’s accuracy on this point. (For a different opinion, see J. Murphy-O’Connor, St. Paul’s Corinth, pp. 129ff.) As for the circumstances that gave rise to the edict, Suetonius describes them as follows: “because the Jews of Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them ...

1163. Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

Acts 20:13-38

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... (cf. 1:17, 25; 6:4; 21:19; Rom. 11:13; 2 Cor. 4:1; for grace, see disc. on 13:43). 20:25 Paul was sure that the Ephesians would not see him again (cf. v. 38). It should be understood, however, that this was no more than an opinion based on human probabilities, for the Spirit had only warned of “prison and hardships” (v. 23). As it happened, they probably did see him again (2 Tim. 4:20). But in any case, the care of the church in Ephesus was no longer chiefly his, but the elders’, and so ...

1164. Paul the Roman Citizen

Acts 22:22-29

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... what they had heard. So they took up again their cry, “Away with him,” reinforced now by the phrase “from the earth” (NIV Rid the earth of him). He’s not fit to live, they declared (v. 22)—the imperfect tense implies that this had been so in their opinion for a very long time. Their rage was given expression by their throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air (cf. 2 Sam. 16:13; Job 2:12; Rev. 18:19) and shouting (v. 23). In the latter word we have another reminder of the story of ...

1165. Paul Before Agrippa

Acts 25:23--26:32

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... hopes of promotion would dream of short-circuiting the appeal to Caesar unless he had specific authority to do so.… To have acquitted him despite the appeal would have been to offend both the emperor and the province” (Sherwin-White, p. 65). However, Agrippa’s opinion of the case must have been noted in the report sent to Rome and may in some part account for the treatment accorded Paul on his arrival (28:16). Additional Notes 25:26 To His Majesty, lit., “to the lord,” a title refused by Augustus ...

1166. Arrival at Rome

Acts 28:11-16

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... Taverns (Tres Tabernae). The former of these two staging places lay about forty-three miles from Rome. Horace claimed that travelers covered the distance from the capital to Forum Appii in one day, though he himself preferred to take two. He had no high opinion of the town, describing it as “crammed with boatmen and stingy tavern keepers” (Satires 1.5.3–6). The town formed the northern terminus of a canal that ran through the Pontine Marshes to Feronia, and the boatmen of whom Horace complained were ...

1167. Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

Acts 28:17-31

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... 28:18 The reference in this verse is to the judicial inquiries conducted by Felix and Festus, which had failed to substantiate the charges against Paul. But nowhere has it been said until now that the governors had wanted to release him. But when Agrippa expressed the opinion that Paul “could have been set free” (26:32), Festus might have agreed, as he might at least be assumed to have done, whether he actually said so or not. 28:19 It is not recorded that the Jews had expressly opposed the governor’s ...

1168. Paul’s Second Visit to the Jerusalem Church

Galatians 2:1-10

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... to be circumcised, the Jerusalem church clearly does not consider circumcision intrinsic to faith in Christ. From this it follows that those who are troubling the Galatians by telling them that faith in Christ requires following the law are out of sync with the opinion of the leaders in Jerusalem. Paul explicitly includes the Galatians in his telling of this story when he says that the freedom that he protected at that meeting in Jerusalem was freedom that the Galatians and he now have in Christ Jesus. Paul ...

1169. Freedom In Christ

Galatians 5:1-15, Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... . Selfish ambition is a difficult word to translate but bears the sense of self-seeking, strife, and contentiousness. Dissensions refer to divisiveness in a group (cf. Rom. 16:17); and factions (cf. 1 Cor. 11:19) to groups who hold to their opinions aggressively and divisively. 5:21 The list continues by identifying envy, which is similar to “jealousy” and carries the sense of malice. Drunkenness can also be read as “drinking bouts” (cf. Rom. 13:13). In connection with orgies the word suggests the ...

1170. Life by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

1171. The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:15-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

The Hymn to Christ Scholars are virtually unanimous in their opinion that verses 15–20 constitute a hymn. Since the existence of hymns in the early church was common (Phil. 2:5–11; Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19), it is not difficult to believe that this is a carefully written poem intended to convey a specific self-contained message about ...

1172. Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... ” (RSV), “elementary principles of the world” (NASB), or “ruling spirits of the universe” (GNB). In Heb. 5:12, the NEB translates the phrase as “the ABC of God’s oracles.” As the additional notes will show, there is a wide variety of scholarly opinion as to the meaning of these concepts in the NT (Col. 2:8, 20; Gal. 4:3). The term stoicheion indicates something basic or rudimentary, such as the fundamental principles of learning (the ABCs), or the elements from which the world was created ...

1173. The Lord's Grace to Paul

1 Timothy 1:12-20

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... false teachers clearly in view. Additional Notes 1:18–19a The this of this instruction points forward in this sentence to Timothy’s “waging the good warfare” (RSV). Nonetheless, it also refers back to the charge given earlier. There is a difference of opinion as to whether the word proagousas means once made (NIV; cf. GNB), or “pointed to you” (RSV), or “first pointed you out to me” (NEB). But the NIV is the far most likely, both because the prefix pro is almost always a temporal reference ...

1174. Encouragement to Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... warning attached to a call for endurance in the face of suffering and hardship. Line 4: If we are faithless, he will remain faithful (cf. Rom. 3:3). This line is full of surprises, and it is also the one for which sharp differences of opinion exist regarding its interpretation. Some see it as a negative, corresponding to line 3. If we are faithless (i.e., if we commit apostasy), God must be faithful to himself and mete out judgment. Although such an understanding is possible, it seems highly improbable that ...

1175. Paul’s Request for Onesimus

Philemon 1:8-25

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... punishment at their discretion. Second, Paul wants to avoid any impression of legislating the decision that he wishes Philemon would make. Even if he has the authority to do so, he realizes that “a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” Thus Paul will suggest a course of action and appeal to Philemon’s Christian standards but leave the ultimate choice to the slave owner. 8–9 Therefore (dio) links the introductory matters of verses 4–7 with the request that follows. On ...

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