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 1401 to 1425 of 2275 results

1401. 1 Samuel 16:1-13

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... those graced with physical beauty were assumed to hold a special place in the divine favor. Eliab was most pleasing to look upon; a tall, striking hunk of manhood whose very bearing suggested kingship. But the Lord dismisses Eliab and pointedly rejects those very qualities Samuel targeted as "good." Using a whole different set of standards, God proclaims to Samuel: "The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (v.7). While Samuel appears to heed ...

1402. Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... challenging concept that often leaves scholars arguing long into the night. To keep this hymn focused on the mission of the divine Christ, and not the human Jesus, this notion of "emptying" must somehow be accomplished without sacrificing the authentic and enduring quality of divinity this Christ possessed. Perhaps as good an explanation as any here may be that in the act of self-emptying, the divine was able to "enter into the world by becoming man without becoming unlike himself" (Donato Oliari, O.S ...

1403. Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . But one more commandment is still added. This final commandment once again requires explanatory sidebars. The command not to "covet" seeks once again to measure and judge what is in the human heart. Desire is not necessarily a discernable quality or an obvious act. The commandment itself gives specific examples of what should not be coveted but finally concludes with "or anything that belongs to your neighbor." The indefinite term "neighbor" enables this commandment to extend across the entire human ...

1404. Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 25:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Literature 93:427). This is why the "wise" maidens cannot share their "oil" with the "foolish." Each individual must build up his or her own store of good deeds. Each must live a life in obedience to Christ's teachings. These are qualities that cannot be "transferred" from one to another. Without being in this prepared state a state of obedient faithfulness to Christ's words all the anticipatory watchfulness is without result. When the bridegroom does finally arrive, he will not recognize those whose ...

1405. 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... letter. Paul wishes for both "grace" and "peace" to a highly contentious church. Few other congregations could be more in need of this "grace and peace" and the presence of the "Lord Jesus Christ." Together these constitute the gift of salvation. The gratuitous quality of this grace is underlined by Paul in verse 4. God's grace was made available to the Corinthians "has been given you" (and all Christians) "in Christ Jesus." By using the passive voice here, Paul's words reinforce how completely unearned is ...

1406. Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Isaiah 61:10—62:3

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of righteousness" (v.10), complete a process begun in the first of the songs of the Anointed One. Actions that had previously been ascribed to the Lord (59:16-17) are now completely transferred as raiment to the Anointed One himself. These qualities each point in a different direction: "Salvation" is directed toward the people while "righteousness" is extended toward God. The text's reference to the bridegroom and bride suggest this Anointed One may also have a covenanting function. But the most obvious ...

1407. John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Biblical scholars long have taken delight in subjecting John 21 to special scrutiny. The most obvious issue at hand is the awkward "added on" quality of this chapter. John 20:30-31 appears succinctly and solidly to close the book on this author's gospel story. Yet here, with only the barest attempt at some form of connectedness, comes an entirely new unit, with several new points to make and fresh information to share. Not ...

1408. John 13:31-35

John 13:31-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the Holy Spirit and the ascension of Jesus to his place at God's right hand. Verse 33 introduces the meaning and consequences of this "now" and "not yet" aspect of Jesus' glorification. The immediate meaning of Jesus' glorification takes on ominous qualities for the disciples when Jesus announces, "I am with you only a little longer." Not only does Jesus stun his disciples with this revelation, but he continues by equating their response to his disappearance with behavior exhibited by those who had declared ...

1409. Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the reality of living at the dawning time of God's kingdom must be assured. The kingdom will itself be made up of those who participate in its gifts of grace and forgiveness gifts which must be extended to all. The almost-but-not-yet quality of the coming kingdom is a signal to the disciples that there may yet be moments of "testing," or "temptation," before them. The kingdom will not come into its fullness without encountering the hostility of the world and the opposition of Satan. Even though experiencing ...

1410. Philemon 1-21

Philemon 1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Philemon and early church martyr Ignatius' letter to the Ephesians, Knox postulated that Ignatius was revealing that the current bishop of Ephesus, whose name was also Onesimus, was the selfsame Onesimus Paul had sent back to Philemon. The wonderful symmetry and "happy ending" quality to Knox's hypothesis found it favor in both scholarly and popular circles. But when we force ourselves to examine just what we have before us in the text, a rather different view of this letter can come into focus. This letter ...

1411. Matthew 3:1-12

Matthew 3:1-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... John the Baptist greets them with a particularly insulting invective, "You brood of vipers." The snake, of course, was vilified in Jewish tradition for being the most sneaky, cunning and deceitfully clever of animals. Obviously, it is these snake-like qualities that the Baptist sees in the Pharisees and Sadducees and their transparent request for baptism. John the Baptist's words accuse these religious leaders of both cowardice and hypocritical action. They are cowardly because they seek out John's baptism ...

1412. 1 Samuel 3:1-10

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... created through God's call. If Samuel finds the answer to his personal question of identity ("Who am I?") in his vision and vocation, then Paul is attempting to help the Corinthian church discover their identity ("Who are we?") by defining the qualities a faithful community should possess. Jesus was not a solo performer. This week's gospel text highlights the fact that Jesus' first course of action upon entering into his active ministry was to begin gathering a community of faithful, the disciples, around ...

1413. 1 John 4:7-12

1 John 4:7-12

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... John continues this knowledge by experience line of argument in verse 8, he concludes that separation from love means separation from God. Characteristic of John's concern with defining God, he now reveals "God is love." Love is not just one of God's many qualities, it is God's essence. Furthermore, God's love has now become manifest in another aspect of God's essence - God's Son Jesus Christ. John has now articulated an original connection between knowledge and love. If human beings are to live up to their ...

1414. 2 Samuel 23:1-7

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... David briefly acknowledges Solomon's right to rule but leaves a posthumous list of kingly orders to be carried out, insuring David's influence on the political life of Israel even after his death. Today's passage in 2 Samuel focuses more on the general qualities of leadership, less on the personal legacy of David. The Davidic covenant is still central, but it is tempered by David's own last words describing how a true leader for his country must think and act. The passage begins by declaring David's last ...

1415. Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that Matthew, the gospel most concerned with ecclesiological politics and positionings, does not record this incident. Strict constructionism of all kinds continues to this day to pretend the passage doesn't exist - for its potential implications are not without their frightening qualities. But Jesus' point is clear. In verse 41 he goes on to stress that anyone who performs a service, no matter how small, because of Christ's name becomes a member of the community and shares in its "rewards." Verses 42 ...

1416. Luke 21:25-36

Luke 21:25-36

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... "hearts" against such worldly distractions as "dissipation," "drunkenness," and "worries," as they face this awesome future he has described. The exterior events should not shape the hearts, the interior lives, of the faithful. As he counsels his audience to "alertness," Jesus once again affirms the not-yet quality of the impending Kingdom and his judicatory role as the Son of Man. Verse 36's shift into the future tense leaves even Jesus' generation time to contemplate and prepare for the future Kingdom.

1417. Philippians 4:49

Philippians 4:49

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... for their epieikes, a uniquely Greek term almost impossible to translate. Some versions call it "gentleness," others "magnanimity." The term is a neuter adjective which is related to "eikos" ("reasonableness") and so might also be understood as the quality of "sweet reasonableness." Greek tradition contrasts Paul's term with "strict justice" as its opposite. The term therefore includes within it a generosity of spirit that goes beyond any strict constructionist view of the law. "Gentleness" seeks equity ...

1418. Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . It is this all-pervasive faith that prompts God to "reckon" or perhaps more precisely "count" (the term is a cultic one related to official priestly duties) Abram's attitude as "righteousness." The Hebraic concept of "righteousness" is not so much a personal quality as it is a relational one. Abram conducted and acted out his life through obedience and trust. God accepted Abram's actions as legitimate signs of trust and faith - as true righteousness. It is this active living faith that is "counted" by God ...

1419. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the legitimacy and clarity of their call to ministry, Moses' experience on Mt.Horeb is enviously dramatic and unambiguous. While the format of this week's Old Testament text follows the established guidelines of all the "call narratives," the face-to-face quality of Moses' experience remains unique. Despite the miraculous nature of the vision, Moses does not immediately associate it with the presence of God. It is curiosity more than awe that originally draws Moses to the burning bush. Not until verse 6 is ...

1420. Luke 19:28-40

Luke 19:28-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Paul probably added the final line of v.8f focused on the cross.) Being a "slave," taking "human form," "humbling" himself, being "obedient to the point of death" - these are not the typical characteristics of a majestic, military-style leader. Yet these very qualities are the ones we are called to imitate. Having been brought so low, even down to death itself, Jesus then rises higher than any earthly king could ever dream. Here is Paul's theme of praise and celebration, awe and grandeur. The Philippians ...

1421. Revelation 21:10, 22-27

Revelation 21:10, 22-27

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... become visible, familiar - reassuringly homey. Second, being "at home" means we are in a trustworthy environment that is steadfast and stable. From exile on a remote island "home," the dreaded prison of Patmos, John's apocalypse speaks powerfully of the trustworthy quality of God's word. Having taken readers through his five previous visions, John here focuses on the miraculous fulfillment of God's enduring promises. Third, the curriculum of the "home" is a salvific one involving a process of birth and ...

1422. Luke 9:51-62

Luke 9:51-62

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... answer. If any suspect that gathering a large band of devoted followers was part of the impetus for his journey, Jesus squelches that possibility through surprisingly hard, harsh-sounding, demanding retorts to the requests made of him. Jesus was after quality, not quantity in his disciples. The least confrontative but most confused of the three encounters is the first. Faced with the free gift of an unsolicited but uncomprehending follower, Jesus responds to the volunteer's enthusiasm over apostolic mission ...

1423. Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 3:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... sphere." (Colossians, Philemon [Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982], 161). "Things above" is not therefore simply a spatial reference, but becomes a qualitative characteristic. If the "things that are above" is to be partially understood by seeing it as a new Christlike quality of life, it still has a more specific expression - one which makes clear the "hidden" nature of this yet unrealized new life. Using the 2 Apocalypse of Baruch, a Syriac text of one of the Jewish pseudepigraphal writings that shares much ...

1424. Luke 13:22-30

Luke 13:22-30

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... believers to "strive to enter through the narrow door." Scholar Rod Parrott has suggested that this choice of words seems to move the believer beyond the point of making a decision to try to attain salvation. This striving language therefore "focuses attention on the quality of commitment or behavior: Is it intense and competitive? The issue is not which door one enters, but how aggressively one seeks to enter the chosen door" (Rod Parrott, "Entering the Narrow Door," Matt. 7:13-14/Luke 13:22-24," Forum 5 ...

1425. Colossians 1:11-20

Colossians 1:11-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... these three verses make explicit the reason why praise and joy and thankfulness should define the Christian response to life. Significantly, the prison-bound Paul doesn't sugar-coat this cause for celebration. Remember, he began by counseling endurance and courage, qualities needed when facing hardships or difficulties. Verses 15-20 are sometimes counted among the early Christian hymns. Although not all the forms of meter that define a hymn for today's scholars are present, the lyrical nature of these texts ...

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