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 1926 to 1950 of 3082 results

1926. Water from the Rock

Exodus 17:1-7

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

Quarreling and Water from a Rock: The people continued their journey, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. It sounds like a good beginning. The Lord was their personal guide in the wilderness and they followed. Exodus 17, however, presents two new serious encounters, both rife with conflict. The people quarreled with Moses (vv. 1–7) and were attacked by the Amalekites (vv. 8–16). The internal and external threats provided new opportunities for growth. Their escalated quarrel with Moses ...

1927. The Covenant Confirmed

Exodus 24:1-18

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

The Covenant Is Received and Sealed: Exodus 24 is reminiscent of the beginning of the Sinai journey, where the Lord also was present visibly and conversed with Moses. (See the structural outline of Exodus 19–24 in the introduction to Exodus 19.) The narratives of Exodus 19 and 24 serve as bookends for the law of Exodus 20–23, setting the covenant-giving in the midst of the story of God’s grace and guidance. With the covenant, as in the exodus itself, the people initially followed God’s instruction and ...

1928. Nehemiah Helps the Poor

Nehemiah 5:1-19

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Trouble on the Farm: We seem to move into a different world in this chapter. Gone is the battle zone of chapter 4. In its place is a seemingly unrelated area of social tension, where one would scarcely think that rebuilding the wall was a top priority. The recurring pattern, from chapter 2 onward, of progress on the wall, the response of enemy opposition, and Nehemiah’s counterresponse, is put on hold. The enemy response of 6:1 appears to target the progress of chapter 4, as if chapter 5 did not exist. The ...

1929. Further Opposition to the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 6:1-14

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

Success in Spite of Intimidation: The keyword of this chapter is intimidation. Of the major English versions, only the NJPS is consistent in its fivefold rendering of the same Hebrew verb for intimidation. It occurs regularly at the conclusion of paragraphs, in verses 9, 13–14, 16, and 19. The first main section, consisting of verses 1–14, is divided into two parallel subsections describing different attempts to intimidate, in verses 1–9 and 10–14. Then verses 15–16 record a great reversal of the ...

1930. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

Prescript The prescript, or introductory salutation, of an ancient letter regularly contained three elements: (a) the name of the sender or senders; (b) the name of the recipient or recipients, and (c) a word of greeting or good wishes. Examples abound from letters of the New Testament period, in Greek and in Latin, both literary and nonliterary; earlier examples are the extracts from the official correspondence of the Persian court quoted in the book of Ezra; compare Ezra 7:12, “Artaxerxes, king of kings ...

1931. Thanks for Their Gifts

Philippians 4:10-20

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

Paul’s Sufficiency Paul now comes to one of his main reasons for writing. If this note (4:10–20) was an integral part of the main letter, he has reserved it to the end to give it prominence—his expression of thanks for the gift that Epaphroditus had brought him from the Philippian church. 4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord, meaning “I gave joyful thanks to the Lord” (when I received your gift). Paul is grateful to the Philippian Christians for the gift they have sent, but his rejoicing arises chiefly from ...

1932. Love One Another

1 John 3:11-24

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

Loving One Another Verses 11–18 are unified by the theme of loving one another. Love among the members of the community was first raised in 1 John 2:10 (as love for one’s “brother” or sister) and was the link into this section of the letter in 3:10b. The background to this emphasis on love is the schism which has divided the community (1 John 2:19) and has set former community members against one another. The schismatics have shown a flagrant, Cain-like disregard for their fellow believers. The Elder is ...

1933. Passover

Deuteronomy 16:1-8

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Israel’s Rhythm of Celebration: Three Annual Festivals · The sabbatical themes of rest, remembrance, and concern for the poor are all woven into Deuteronomy’s summary of the three major annual festivals, which take their place in what Braulik called the “holy rhythm” of Israel’s life—sabbath days, seasonal festivals, annual and triennial tithes, sabbatical years (“Die Abfolge,” pp. 259ff.)—thus continuing this section’s link with the fourth commandment: “remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” The ...

1934. Going to War

Deuteronomy 20:1-20

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Policies and Limits in the Conduct of War: This chapter does not pretend to be a manual for military operations and it is hermeneutically futile to read it or criticize it as if it were. Rather, as in the law of the king (which is no manual for government administration either), it is concerned with fundamental principles, principles that must govern Israelites at war as in any sphere of life. The two most basic covenantal principles of Israel’s life under God were: love for Yahweh (6:5) and love for one’s ...

1935. Salvation for Others

Isaiah 56:1-8

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Back in Palestine: Yahweh’s Vision for an Open Community: We have come to another transition point in Isaiah, and to the opening of its last major section, traditionally known as Third Isaiah. The work of the Ambassador and the Poet give way to the work of the Preacher, whose account of being anointed for this task comes in the central chapter in 61:1. So far chapters 1–33 have focused on Yahweh’s dealings with Judah during the latter part of the monarchy. They have challenged Judah about the religious and ...

1936. The Actions of the Triune Godhead Prove Jesus’s Divine Office

Mark 1:9-15

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Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: Jesus is anointed for his messianic office and confirmed as Son of God by his Father’s own announcement; then he proves his office by defeating Satan in the wilderness. Understanding the Text Jesus has been heralded as the Messiah by prophetic witness (1:2–3) and by the announcement of the wilderness prophet (1:4–8). Now authoritative proof is given with his messianic anointing via his baptism. In a trinitarian act the Spirit descends on him, and the Father announces him as the beloved Son (1:9– ...

1937. Jesus and Women

Luke 7:36--8:3

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: Jesus’s work of salvation extends to people shunned or ignored by Jewish society; women play an unusually large part in his mission. Understanding the Text After the characterization of Jesus as a bon viveur and a friend of the disreputable (7:34), we now find him at a dinner party and befriending a disreputable woman. Two themes from earlier in the Gospel reemerge in this story: Jesus’s openness to and welcome by unrespectable members of society (5:27–32) and his claim to forgive sins (5:17–26 ...

1938. John’s Introductory Vision The Risen and Glorified Christ

Revelation 1:9-20

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: John is commissioned to write to the seven churches a vision given to him by the risen and glorified Christ, the one who has conquered death and now rules over and cares for his church. Understanding the Text Following a majestic description of the Triune God in the prologue (1:1–8), we transition to John’s real-time situation on the island of Patmos on the Lord’s Day. There is no passage in all the New Testament that exalts Jesus more than John’s vision of the risen and glorified Christ ...

1939. God’s Judgment of Babylon Calls for Celebration

Revelation 19:1-10, Revelation 18:1-24

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: God’s people are called to rejoice over his judgment of the evil city and his vindication of the saints. Understanding the Text We now enter the final stage of Babylon’s destruction (17:1–19:5). The laments of Babylon’s codependents in 18:9–19 are contrasted with the rejoicing of the righteous in 18:20–19:5. God’s people are urged to celebrate God’s judgment of the “great city” (18:20). This command is followed by the announcement of Babylon’s certain destruction (18:21), which focuses upon what ...

1940. The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

Leviticus 8:1-36

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Ordination to ministry conveys dignity to a vital profession. Understanding the Text The description of the various kinds of sacrifices in Leviticus 1–7 assumes the existence of the Aaronic priesthood as anticipated in Exodus 29. But these sacrifices cannot be performed until the priesthood is actually established. Leviticus 8–10 concerns the establishing of the Aaronic priesthood. Leviticus 8 describes the ordination of the Aaronic priests, as God commanded Moses in Exodus 29 and 40. Leviticus 9 ...

1941. A Lifestyle of Holiness and Love

Leviticus 19:1-37

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: The basis of biblical ethics is God’s holiness and love. Understanding the Text Leviticus 19:2 emphasizes the theme that gives the laws of holiness (Lev. 17–27) their name: “Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy” (v. 2). Leviticus 19 marks a conceptual center of Leviticus. It is surrounded by chapters with similar themes (Lev. 18; 20) to highlight the centrality of this passage.1 It is hard to see an organizing principle in the disparate laws of this chapter, save that each encourages ...

1942. Korah’s Rebellion

Numbers 16:1-50

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Envy and pride lead to rebellion and destruction. Understanding the Text Israel’s record in the desert since leaving Sinai had been abysmal. The people had complained about hardships, the lack of meat, and the monotony of manna (Num. 11:1–6). Moses’s own sister and brother had challenged his leadership role (Num. 12:1–2). And worst of all, Israel had been condemned by its unbelief to wander in the wilderness for forty years (Num. 14:1–10, 33). This chapter introduces a new problem: the Levite ...

1943. Balak to Hire Balaam

Numbers 22:1-20

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God protects his people from those determined to harm them. Understanding the Text In Numbers 21 the Israelites move out of the desert to the western edge of Canaan. They have passed around Edom and gone through Moab into territory north of Moab claimed by Amorites Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, whom they defeat. Though Israel has passed by Moab without attacking, Balak king of Moab feels vulnerable. Moreover, Sihon’s territory now occupied by Israel has previously been occupied by ...

1944. The Ark Finds a Resting Place

2 Samuel 6:1-23

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord’s willingness to dwell among his people is cause to celebrate, but he expects his people to respect his holiness. Understanding the Text When Samuel was young and Eli was old, the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant (1 Sam. 4). The ark wreaked havoc in Philistine territory: the image of Dagon in the Ashdod temple ended up decapitated, and the Philistines’ cities were devastated by a plague (1 Sam. 5). The Philistines sent the ark back to Israelite territory, but when it arrived ...

1945. Blood Vengeance in Gibeah

2 Samuel 21:1-14

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Sin sometimes has devastating consequences: God’s justice must be satisfied. Understanding the Text The Structure and Function of 2 Samuel 21-24: These final chapters of 2 Samuel are an epilogue. They are arranged in a mirror structure, in which the elements in the second half of the literary unit thematically correspond to those of the first half, but in reverse order, creating a mirror effect:1 A Saul’s sin and its atonement: David as royal judge (21:1–14) B The mighty deeds of David’s men (21: ...

1946. The Lord Is My Rock

2 Samuel 22:1-51

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord protects his chosen servants from those who oppose them and enables them to accomplish the tasks he has commissioned them to do. Understanding the Text This lengthy thanksgiving song, in which David praises the Lord for delivering him from death and for empowering him in battle, encapsulates the most important theological themes that emerge from the preceding narrative of David’s career. (For fuller discussion, see above: “Additional Insights: The Structure and Function of 2 Samuel 21–24 ...

1947. Ruling in the Fear of the Lord

2 Samuel 23:1-7

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord expects his chosen servants to promote righteousness and to find hope in his faithful promises. Understanding the Text This poem is titled “the last words of David” (v. 1). It begins with a divine oracle that the Lord’s Spirit has spoken through David (vv. 2–4). This is followed by David’s response, which reflects on God’s covenantal commitment to him (vv. 5–7). The reference to David as the Lord’s “anointed” (v. 1) links this poem with the one that immediately precedes it (cf. 2 Sam. 22 ...

1948. David Flees to Gath—Again

1 Samuel 27:1-12

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: When faith wavers, the Lord’s chosen servants sometimes compromise their identity and resort to desperate measures that place them in a precarious position. Understanding the Text Convinced that Saul will never really abandon his quest to kill him, David, for the second time in the story, seeks asylum with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath (cf. 1 Sam. 21:9–15). On the first occasion David was alone, got cold feet, and left in fear. But on this second occasion, he has his own private army with ...

1949. “I Love You, Lord, My Strength”

Psalm 18:1-50

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C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: In David’s life, as in ours, God shows himself to be powerful in deliverance and intimate in grace. Understanding the Text Psalm 18 is generally classified as a royal psalm because it is attributed to King David and deals with his political and military victories. It has the features of an individual psalm of thanksgiving, including the report of the crisis, which has passed (18:4–19), and the vow to give thanks to the Lord (18:49).1 Perhaps in the history of Psalms usage it functiond as an ...

1950. “I Waited Patiently for the Lord; He Turned to Me and Heard My Cry”

Psalm 40:1-17

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C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Waiting on the Lord through trouble and opposition opens our hearts to doing God’s will. Understanding the Text Psalm 40 is an individual psalm of thanksgiving, which is typically composed of the report of a crisis (40:12) and the celebration of deliverance (40:1–3), and these elements do not necessarily occur in that order.1Some commentators insist that this psalm is a combination of two independent psalms, an individual psalm of thanksgiving (40:1–10) and an individual lament (40:11–17). In ...

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