Synonyms: replica, copy, representation, mock-up, dummy, imitation, double, duplicate, lookalike, reproduction, prototype, stereotype, archetype, type, version, style, ideal, paragon, perfect example, specimen, perfect specimen, fashion model, supermodel, mannequin, sitter, poser, subject, artist's model, photographic model, design, mark, configuration, variety, kind, sort, original, original design, exclusive, toy, miniature, facsimile, prototypical, prototypal, archetypal, illustrative, perfect, exemplary, classic, flawless, faultless, consummate, impeccable
Antonyms: deficient, imperfect
Showing 1701 to 1725 of 2962 results
1701. Romans 8:1-11
Romans 8:1-11
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... life itself. Note that as Paul moves toward his discussion of the resurrected power of Christ, he must deal with the subject of death. Thus, Paul changes his vocabulary from a focus on "flesh" to "the body" - a more individualized, personalized designation than the generic "flesh." Verse 11 reveals another startling facet of Pauline theology. In this discussion, the Spirit, God and Christ all seem to be interchangeable terms for Paul. The indwelling Spirit is identified alternately as that of the Spirit of ...
1702. Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... were so crucial to Jesus' message. Our "kingdom" texts are from Matthew, whose overwhelming preference is to refer to the "kingdom of heaven" (literally the "kingdom of the heavens") instead of the "kingdom of God" (Luke and Mark's favorite designation). The two terms are essentially synonymous, however, and actually reveal more about the individual Gospel writers than Jesus' intentions. The "kingdom of heaven" phrase preferred by Matthew is a far more Jewish term. Scholars suggest that Matthew's use of ...
1703. Romans 10:5-15
Romans 10:5-15
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... these brothers and sisters in some way. Chapter 10, then, is a discussion of Paul's understanding of "righteousness," of sola fide in terms most familiar to his Jewish kinfolk. He employs both pentateuchal and prophetic writings to aid him in his designated task - witnessing to his "stiff-necked" friends. In verses 5-15, Paul proclaims the new relationship between the law and righteousness since the coming of Jesus. In verse 5, Paul summons no less than Moses himself to make the connection between believing ...
1704. Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28
Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... are indisputably, theologically correct. The thoughtless, self-absorbed disciples gave no consideration to maintaining the salvific integrity of Jesus' messianic mission. They were not thinking of how their mission to Israel was the necessary first stage in God's whole design for human salvation - a plan that included Gentiles, but not at this moment. Jesus, on the other hand, understood the whole path of his ministry as a journey leading towards human salvation. But biblical tradition ordained that to save ...
1705. Matthew 16:13-20
Matthew 16:13-20
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... from the distractions and confusions of Jerusalem. Jesus there confronts his "students" with, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" "Son of Man" appears regularly as Jesus' favorite term for himself. Obviously the disciples are familiar with this self-designation. They do not hesitate to answer with a series of possibilities. But, like the Son of Man title itself, all the identities offered are pulled from Israel's established, traditional past. The people Jesus has preached to, healed, fed and taught ...
1706. Matthew 22:15-22
Matthew 22:15-22
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... his questioners be concerned with nothing less than a right understanding of God's authority. Jesus gladly returns the things that are the emperor's back to him but he also demands that all that is God's be returned to God. Outsmarted, outclassed and out of ideas, the Pharisees' designated henchmen simply slink away, stunned into speechlessness.
1707. Matthew 23:1-12
Matthew 23:1-12
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... on that identity as completely unique to the "heavenly Father." Obviously, then, bestowing that title on any disciple, no matter how respected, would be highly inappropriate, if not blasphemous. Finally, Jesus even rejects the seemingly innocuous designation given in verse 10 variously interpreted as "master," "teacher," "leader" or "instructor." This third restriction makes clear that all members of the community of faithful are to be treated with complete equality. The only leadership this community ...
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... voice. Both in Greek and Old Testament Hebrew traditions, "beloved" might just as easily be rendered as "only." The two descriptions are virtually interchangeable in the Old Testament. Indeed, the singular preciousness of the "only" Son might be a more revealing designation than the "beloved" Son reference. Jesus is not God's favorite Son, he is God's only son, unique and without comparison in all the universe. The traditional but rather stuffy NRSV translation concludes the voice's comments about Jesus by ...
1709. John 10:11-18
John 10:11-18
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... Jesus' sacrifice is just as much for these "other sheep" as for those already in the fold. The debate over exactly whom John cast here as thieves, bandits, hired hands and wolves has been considerable but pointless, as is the speculation over who John would gladly designate as sheep from other folds. The point of this text is to speak positively of a wider mission for the church, as the other sheep are depicted as anxious to "listen" to Jesus' voice (v.16). The unification of all his sheep into one flock ...
1710. Mark 10:2-16
Mark 10:2-16
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... Jesus moves beyond the Jordan as he approaches his final entry into Jerusalem. But although he has moved into new territory, Jesus continues to confront the same establishment adversaries and to battle the same obstinate ignorance of his disciples. The issue specifically designed to "test" him now is the question posed by the authorities about the legality of divorce. Supposedly, the formulation of this issue was intended to put Jesus on the spot before two different groups _ the body of religious authority ...
1711. Revelation 1:4b-8
Revelation 1:4b-8
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... " with an early and eloquent trinitarian reference. Instead of any simple "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" listing, this writer recalls the mysterious and powerful language of Exodus 3:14 to name God. The "I am who I am" identity of the divine is reclaimed by John's designation of God as the one "who is and who was and who is to come." It is a title that suggests a constant but not always comprehensible presence of God. The "seven spirits" surrounding God's throne is another use of the perfect number seven to ...
1712. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... to return to the Thessalonian community. In verse 10, he reveals that he is caught up in praying "night and day" for a return visit. The earnestness of this praying is expressed in verse 10 with an uncommon but unquestionably Pauline adverb, a term designed to express maximum emphasis. Other translations have suggested Paul prayed with "all our heart" or "our hearts exposed" or even "a pin in our insides." But the reason for Paul's longing for a "face to face" visit with the faithful comes as somewhat ...
1713. Mark 1:14-20
Mark 1:14-20
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... all the more significant when he does provide particulars of time and place. In the opening words of today’s gospel text Mark begins the story of Jesus’ active ministry by noting both a specific time and a specific place. The “time” is designated not by a date, but by a watershed event-—“after John was arrested.” Betrayed and imprisoned, John the Baptist’s time of “preparation” for the “one who is more powerful” had come to an end. Only after that preparation time has formally ended ...
1714. God's Workmanship
Ephesians 2:1-10
Sermon
King Duncan
... their way up through the snow to frame a series of waterfalls. “It looks as though it has been professionally landscaped,” E. K. Harley gasped. “It was,” his friend replied. Then he gestured up toward the top of the peaks and added, “The same guy designed the whole thing.” (3) Author Philip Yancey tells of coming across a scene of beauty just a few miles outside Anchorage, Alaska. He noticed a number of cars pulled off the highway. Against the slate‑gray sky, the water of an ocean inlet had a ...
Sermon
Mike Ripski
... been appointed to Hendersonville First UMC. Julie had just begun college and Michael was entering his junior year of high school. The Southern Baptist Convention had recently met for its annual meeting at which it approved a boycott of Disney due to the theme parks’ designation of “Gay Days.” You may remember the controversy. Michael wrote a Letter to the Editor in which he asked why the church throughout its history has felt the need to have various groups to beat up on. I feared that, if Michael’s ...
Sermon
Mike Ripski
... with the wild beasts that would cause us to run away, give up, or fight with those who disagree with us. Jesus faced the wild beasts and committed himself, as the Apostle Paul put, to a more excellent way. Pray for those who will meet tomorrow night to design a proposal for the future worship life of this church. May we resist the wild beasts and their tyranny of fight or flight. May we seek the more excellent way of Jesus and follow it. “…and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels came and ...
Sermon
Mike Ripski
... those who are imperfect. They believe that fun is for lazy bums, that if it feels good it must be sinful. They believe that play should wait until all work is finished. Of course, an Elder Son always sees more work to do. They believe that the world is designed to be fair, that people get what they deserve, and that God’s job is to see to it. Elder sons feel they can run the world better than anyone else, including God. Elder sons often are lonely people, because no one is good enough to be their friend ...
1718. Theology 101
Psalm 111:1-10
Sermon
Mike Ripski
... door of the monastery. A Monk answers. The man is taken before a gathering of all the Monks. This is what he said, “In my quest to find what makes that beautiful sound, I traveled the earth and have found the answer to what you asked for. By design, the world is in a state of perpetual change. Only God knows what you ask. All we can do is know ourselves and that requires that we are honest and reflective and willing to strip away all self-deception. The Monks reply, “Congratulations. You are now a Monk ...
1719. Christ Is Willing to Heal
Luke 4:18
Illustration
... San Quentin Prison. After his third year on death row something happened. One day he was getting ready to spend time exercising when the guard said, "You're going to miss Mother Teresa. She's coming today to see you guys." Yea, sure, he said, "one more of those designs they have on us." A little later he heard more commotion about it and thought it might be true. Another guard said, "Don't go into your cells and lock up. Mother Teresa stayed to see you guys." So Michael jogged up to the front in gym shorts ...
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... will define his mission. Jesus uses the verb “dei,” “it is necessary,” to emphasize the divinely mandated nature of the progression of events he articulates. The “suffering,” “rejection,” and death he describes are not failures. They are fulfillments of God’s design. Jesus refers to himself here, and in the other two passion narratives in Mark (9:31; 10:33-34), as “the Son of Man” or “the Human Being.” While the title is one Jesus frequently used to discuss himself in the third ...
1721. Easter 3
Luke 24:36-49, 1 John 2:28--3:10, Acts 3:11-26
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
... touch. He is so real that he eats. The risen Jesus is not a phantom, a ghost, nor a figment of the imagination. He is as real as you are. He is real because he has a body which is both physical and spiritual. Both are real. This sermon is designed to assure people that the risen Lord is more than a matter of faith. Faith is based on fact. Outline: Because the risen Lord is real – a. We can know him v. 35. b. We can contact him v. 39. c. We can communicate with him vv. 36-38. 2 ...
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... Jesus received at the hands of his captors focus less on physical abuse and more on the ridicule, taunting, and rejection of Jesus. One of the most brutal, intentionally life-shortening pre-crucifixion rites was the “flogging” prisoners received. Flogging was designed to flay flesh and inflict enough internal and external physical damage that the prisoner’s time on the cross might be shortened. But Mark barely notes this torturous event (v. 15). What Mark does linger over is the soldiers’ cruel ...
1723. Proper 26
Mark 12:28-34, Hebrews 9:11-28, Ruth 1:1-22
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
... the non-important. The question was a sincere one; thus Jesus without hesitation answered it. This is the only recorded time when a scribe agreed with Jesus and Jesus agreed with him. So well did Jesus answer questions that no one dared to ask another, for their questions were designed to trap him. 2. All (v. 30). It is all or nothing. We are for Christ or against him. We are commanded to love God with "all" that is in us. It is not only an "all" for one part of our beings, but the whole person: body, mind ...
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... finally sacrifice his own life to save the lives of all his sheep. And he does all this out of obedience. The good shepherd does what he does because he has “received this command from my Father,” The unfathomable oneness between Father and Son brings unswerving obedience to the divine design for salvation.
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... the Lord, there is a very odd directive. Verse seven states that “it was built of undressed stone from the quarry; no hammers or ax or any iron tool was heard in the House during its building” (1 Kings 6:7). This unusual instruction seems to designate that only whole stones were to be used in the Temple—-they were shaped at the quarry, transported, and then once placed in the Temple they received no other shaping work. One Mishnah text comments that “Iron was created to shorten man’s days, and the ...
Showing results