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 1601 to 1625 of 2036 results

1601. The Devil's Most Useful Tool

Illustration

Michael P. Green

The devil decided to have a garage sale. On the day of sale, his tools were placed for public inspection, each being marked with its sale price. There were a treacherous lot of implements: hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, lust, lying, pride, and so on. Set apart from the rest was a harmless-looking tool. It was quite worn and yet priced very high. “What is the name of this tool?” asked one of the customers, pointing to it. “That is discouragement,” Satan replied. “Why have you priced it so high ...

1602. Building a Cathedral

Illustration

Michael P. Green

There’s a well-worn story of a man who approached a laborer who was laying bricks and asked him, “What are you doing?” The laborer said, “Can’t you see I’m laying bricks?” The man then walked over to another bricklayer and asked, “What are you doing?” And the workman answered with pride, “I’m building a cathedral.” Both were physically doing the same thing. But the first laborer was occupied with the present task, and the other was concerned with the ultimate goal.

1603. This Too Shall Pass

1 John 2:17

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... on us. He told of an Eastern monarch who gave his counselors an assignment to come up with a truth that would apply to all times and situations. After careful consideration, they returned with this sentence: “And this too shall pass away.” Said Lincoln, “How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the hour of affliction.” Centuries before, John made the same point—that the world passes away, but he who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:17).

1604. We Have No Record of It

Illustration

Michael P. Green

A wealthy English merchant who lived on the European continent was satisfied with nothing but the best. This attitude extended even as far as the cars he owned. His pride and joy was a Rolls-Royce coupe that he had owned for years and that had given great service all that time. One day, while driving down a bumpy road, his car hit a deep pothole, resulting in a broken rear axle. The owner had the car shipped back to ...

1605. The Weaver

Illustration

Michael P. Green

My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me, I cannot choose the colors he worketh steadily. Oft times he weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride Forget he sees the upper and I the underside. The dark threads are as needful in the weaver’s skillful hand As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern he has planned. Not till the loom is silent and the shuttle cease to fly Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

1606. Urim and Thummim

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... where lived an elderly Christian layman who had never been to a Bible school or seminary but had taught himself the Word of God under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. In a very humble way, he had gained a reputation as a man of wise counsel. When the prideful young theologian heard about him, he said, “I’d like to meet that man. I think I could ask him a question or two that he couldn’t answer!” So a meeting was arranged. The first thing the young man said was, “Sir, I hear that you have quite ...

1607. In Pisidian Antioch

Acts 13:13-52

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... God-fearers, that is, interested Gentiles (see note on 6:5). Addressing them separately, Paul called the Jews “Israelites” (see note on 1:16), as befitting the outline of Israel’s history he was about to give. His purpose was in part to appeal to national pride, and so he spoke of their election—God chose “this people of Israel” (v. 17)—and of how God had made them prosper (lit., “had exalted” them, i.e., raised them out of nothing to become great in numbers and strength; cf. Exod. 1:7, 9 ...

1608. Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

Acts 16:11-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... to the Philippians [London: Macmillan, 1868], p. 51), and in both Luke’s account of Paul’s visit to Philippi and Paul’s own letter to the Philippians, we are constantly brought face to face with the political life of Rome, in particular, with the power and pride of Roman citizenship (vv. 21, 37; Phil. 1:27; 3:20). This is not the first colony to have appeared in the narrative, nor will it be the last, but Luke makes a point of noting its status—Philippi, a Roman colony—partly, perhaps, because of ...

1609. Paul in Ephesus

Acts 19:1-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... participating cities (the Asian League) by their representatives, the asiarchs, appointed each year for that purpose. As a member city of the League, Ephesus had been a center of this worship from the outset, and coins and inscriptions show how much the city prided itself on being neōkoros, “Temple Warden,” both of the imperial cult and of Artemis, its own patron goddess. Most of the evidence in this regard relates to the imperial cult, but the title “guardian of the temple of the great Artemis” (v ...

1610. Paul the Roman Citizen

Acts 22:22-29

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... chains, for he still supposed that his prisoner had committed some crime. Additional Notes 22:25 A Roman citizen: Paul was a citizen of both Tarsus (21:39) and Rome. His enjoyment of this dual status was a mark of the imperial period and his evident pride in both a feature of the early part of that period in particular (see note on 21:39). Sherwin-White points out that, at this time, when citizens were still relatively few in the eastern empire, the privilege was valued for the political rights it conferred ...

1611. The Trial Before Felix

Acts 24:1-27

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... trying to make out that Paul was one of the rash of messianic revolutionaries who were appearing at that time (Josephus, War 2.228ff.). The accusation referred chiefly to Paul’s activities elsewhere, but was designed to raise the ire of Felix, who prided himself on keeping order. Tertullus’ ploy was the familiar one of accusing Christians of treason in the hope of involving Rome in what was essentially a religious dispute (cf. 17:7; 18:12ff.; 19:37ff.). Meanwhile, all “questions about their law” (23 ...

1612. Doing Good to All

Galatians 6:1-10

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... ’ lives is both outward and inward; outward toward others, while attending to the development of their own character through careful and honest assessment of their activity. This will ensure that in and of itself the life of each believer is a cause of pride, a source of gratification. The statement if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself may be a truism Paul uses as a warning. If those who clearly have nothing to boast about are self-deceived enough to boast, then ...

1613. Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... issue, one should avoid the extremes in theory and practice that so often characterize adherents of one view or another. Election to salvation does not imply that God, therefore, predestines the rest of humanity to damnation; nor should election lead to spiritual pride among the elect. Election simply affirms that personal faith rests upon the prior work (grace) of God, so that, with respect to salvation, God has taken the initiative to claim a people for himself. An individual is free to choose God only ...

1614. Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 2:17--3:5

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... you are our glory (doxa) and joy. Kauchēsis (2:19) indicates the activity, doxa the grounds of his glorying in the Thessalonians. As we might say, “They did him credit.” (For a similar use of doxa, cf. 1 Cor. 11:7; 2 Cor. 8:23). The Thessalonians are his pride; they are also his joy. This is why he sends Timothy to them. 3:1–3 The chapter division interrupts the connection between 2:20 (or rather 2:17–20) and 3:1–3, the latter verses expressing the outcome of the former. Our text has we sent. The ...

1615. Timothy’s Encouraging Report

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... we pray. 3:9 Paul’s immediate response to the news from Thessalonica is to ask, “How can we thank God enough?” Timothy’s report confirmed that the work had been well done, much had been achieved, and this might easily have become for Paul a source of pride. But he knew that, whatever he and his colleagues had done, it was God who had opened the hearts (see disc. on 3:2). It is to God, therefore, that thanks must be returned. The Greek reads literally, “What thanks can we pay back to God?” where ...

1616. Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves

1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... only later.” What is not said throughout this section, of course, is what sins are involved. But the close proximity of the final indictment of the false teachers in 6:3–10 makes one wonder whether the hidden sins might not have been their pride, unhealthy desire to argue, jealousy (6:4), and especially, their avarice (6:5–10). In typically Pauline style, however, the word of caution in verse 24 needs its positive counterbalance. The same thing that is true about some people’s sins is also true of ...

1617. Paul's Charge to Timothy

1 Timothy 6:11-21

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... perils of the wealthy: not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain. The word for arrogant is a compound of two words that mean “to think, or cherish, exalted thoughts” (KJV, “high-minded”; cf. Rom. 11:20; 12:16). Arrogance, or pride, is the deadly sin of all people, but it seems to be the special curse of the rich. Not only that, but they tend to put altogether too much confidence in what is so uncertain. The uncertainty of wealth is underscored in the Proverbs (23:4–5 ...

1618. Godlessness in the Last Days

2 Timothy 3:1-9

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... 1:29–31, the list especially reflects the prevailing evils of pagan society. At the same time, Paul is indicting the false teachers, both by characterizing their existence as in keeping with these evils and by implying that they themselves fit many of the items in the list (pride, arrogance, greed, lack of love, slander, etc.). The list itself doesn’t seem to have any clear design to it, such as one finds in 1 Timothy 1:9–10. Some items seem to be in pairs, but that is not evident for all. It begins ...

1619. Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... that no deliberate transgression of God’s teachings is unimportant. 2:11 James illustrates his point using two well-known laws (Exod. 20:13–14; Deut. 5:17–18). For he, that is, God, gave both laws. Thus though a Mafia hit man, for example, may pride himself on his marital fidelity while he murders, this does not excuse him in any way before God. He is still simply a lawbreaker. The choice of the two laws may also be significant. Although it is less likely that adultery is referring to their adultery ...

1620. Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-12, James 3:13-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... rivalry”; the same term can have a positive meaning of “zealous” elsewhere in scripture (e.g., 1 Kings 19:10), and surely the person so characterized is persuaded this is the case. But in reality it is a rigidity arising from personal pride. Bitter is an adjective describing the envy, and is not the loving and firm zeal of someone intoxicated by God but a “zeal” deeply tinged with bitterness. Whatever lofty motives are proclaimed, the very harshness in the tone and the cynicism displayed toward ...

1621. The Christian and the World

James 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... God’s authority, for as Paul states, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own Master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Rom. 14:4). Therefore, behind the critical spirit lies a pride that rather than humbly looking to its own need of grace usurps the role of God and sets itself up as the judge of others as if, like God’s, their judgment mattered. Additional Notes 4:1 Some scholars believe the fights and quarrels are Jewish revolutionary ...

1622. Living for God

1 Peter 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... attending their labors is due to the effectiveness of divine resources rather than to any innate abilities, then they will see that the praise is addressed to the one to whom it is due, to God. The employment of gifts in service is not to promote any pride in human achievement (1 Cor. 4:7), but to further God’s glory through Jesus Christ. Peter brings the thought back yet again to his Lord, who is at the heart of every Christian life and whose glory is the object of all Christian work. The sounding ...

1623. To Elders and Young Men

1 Peter 5:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... power to deliver can still be relied upon, says Peter, provided there is trust on the believer’s part. A drowning man must submit to the one who comes to his aid. If he struggles in his own strength to try to save himself—in effect in the pride of self-sufficiency—he is likely to defeat the best efforts of his would-be rescuer, who in the end may even have to disable him before getting him to safety. Trust in divine deliverance will be rewarded in due time, not necessarily with the immediacy that one ...

1624. Final Greetings

1 Peter 5:12-14

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... . 9:5), but means church (a feminine noun in Greek), as in 2 John 1, 13. Babylon is a coded reference to Rome in the book of Revelation (Rev. 14:8, and five other verses), where other aspects of the OT city on the Euphrates are in view—its pride and godlessness—a character now taken on by Rome in the eyes of both Jews and Christians by the late first century. Chosen together echoes the description of Peter’s readers, as indeed of all Christians, as “chosen” (1:2; 2:9), i.e., by God. Mark is John ...

1625. The Song of Moses and Miriam

Exodus 15:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. The descriptive narrative (vv. 9–10) tells how the enemy boasted in six ways (a triad of parallels). We hear the Egyptian’s pride as they boasted of pursuing, overtaking, dividing, gorging, and drawing their swords and destroying. The boast, I will draw (riq) my sword, literally means, “I will clear the field of battle with my sword” by killing everyone. The narrative closes with the enemy ...

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