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 2326 to 2350 of 2699 results

2326. Divisions In the Church

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... Cephas (Simon Peter)? Had he been to Corinth, or had they known him elsewhere and then moved to Corinth themselves? (3) How could Christ come to be one among several with whom the Corinthians identify? Would his name not naturally be more impressive than those of Paul, Apollos, and Cephas? 1:13 The activity of the Corinthians in declaring these diverse identities causes Paul to compose a series of rhetorical questions in this verse that aim at exposing the absurdity, the inappropriateness, and the danger ...

2327. Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... proclamation served as a vehicle for the revelation of the Spirit’s power that formed faith on the foundation of God’s power, so that devoid of crafty rhetoric and content, the gospel (viewed from the perspectives of human values) gave the impression of foolishness (1:21). Additional Notes 2:1 Translations vary regarding this verse because some ancient manuscripts include the words the testimony about God, whereas others read “the mystery of God.” In Gk. the difference is not great, for the word for ...

2328. Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... , this issue was crucial. Baths were public places, and in Greco-Roman settings Jews often suffered ridicule from non-Jews who viewed their religious practice as barbarian. Indeed, some Jews underwent the tedious and painful process of eliminating the physical impression of circumcision in order to avoid stigmatization. In regard to such a controversial matter, Paul says, Don’t bother. Jews could be scandalized even as some Gentiles might be comforted by the advice. 7:19 To emphasize his contention, Paul ...

2329. The Believer's Freedom

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... Paul’s directions are objectionable, but that viewpoint is exactly the one that Paul directs the Corinthian church not to take. 10:31–32 With two sets of imperatives Paul summarizes his position concerning the situation in Corinth, moving beyond the impression that he is concerned merely with foods and patterns of consumption. First, Paul mentions eating and drinking, but his next words supersede both of these activities when he writes, whatever you do. Paul’s perspective on the life of the Corinthian ...

2330. Prologue

Revelation 1:1-3

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... by the word of God (cf. 1 John 1:4; 2:12–14, 21, 26; 5:13). Further, the exhortation to hear these “words of prophecy” suggests the first audience derived an understanding of God’s triumph through Christ from those impressions recovered by listening to Revelation read aloud. While he has seven Christian congregations in mind, there is reason to believe that the seer understood the number seven to carry universal significance. Further, the canonizing church, in recognizing the book’s inspiration ...

2331. To the Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... is greeted by christological confession, indicating those characteristics of the exalted Lord which call that congregation to an appropriate kind of discipleship. The thematic interplay between these opening addresses and John’s commissioning vision, noted above, impresses upon the reader the fundamental importance of the revelation that John has been commissioned to write down. Second, each congregation is then commended by Christ for its faithful attention to the demands of Christian discipleship, with ...

2332. The Scroll and the Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... decrees that announced God’s triumph over evil (cf. Eph. 3:10) and the “official” conclusion of God’s rivalry with the Evil One. Speculation about why there is writing on both sides should be resisted in making this point. What seems to impress John is the thoroughness of the scroll’s decrees. For him, the scroll simply describes in detail the conclusion of salvation’s history that has commenced with the faithful work of the Paschal Lamb. The scroll’s other characteristic is more important in ...

2333. The Angel and the Little Scroll

Revelation 10:1-11

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... even suggest that John hears the seven thunders as the effects of God’s ruling glory, as stipulated in Psalm 29:3–9, thereby invoking his submission before God’s eternal rule (cf. Ps. 29:10–11). From this, we are left with the impression that this interlude has something to do with the triumph of God, which is the essential theme of John’s Revelation. Nothing beyond this very basic speculation should be advanced with confidence. In our view, however, the prohibition not to write down what John ...

2334. The Rider on the White Horse

Revelation 19:11-21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... , which links “sword” and “side” together. On this basis, he suggests that the third name is actually the messianic sword which conquers God’s foes (Revelation, p. 225). 19:20 The NIV translates the opening kai as an adversative, but, rather than as a conjunction, “and.” This decision undergirds the impression that the eschatological war is a bloodless coup: Christ’s blood is the only blood shed, and by his blood God has already defeated God’s evil foes who are prepared “to make war.”

2335. The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1-27

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... of the Holy City symbolizes a new order of human existence. Because it comes down out of heaven from God to earth, the reader assumes the realization of God’s promised salvation will be historical and public rather than spiritual and private. Further, the impression one receives from what John sees (21:1–2) and hears (21:3–4) is that the history of human existence under the new order is characterized both by the absence of evil and its various effects (e.g., secularism, injustice, suffering, death ...

2336. The Burnt Offering

Leviticus 1:1-17

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... and thrown on the ash heap to remove any uncleanness from the sacrifice. The bird is small enough that it is not cut up but torn by the wings. The tearing enables the offering to burn better and perhaps increases its apparent size, giving the impression of a more substantial gift. The paragraph ends with the same conclusion as in verses 9 and 13. The whole burnt offering provides a possibility for putting back “at one” the covenant and for reconciling the cosmic relationship which was broken by sin and ...

2337. Reward for Obedience

Leviticus 26:1-13

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... Holiness Code. The two particular stipulations on idols and Sabbaths are foundational to the commitments of the community and determine the future as laid out in the rest of the chapter. Idols gave a fixed point of contact with the deity and thus the impression that one could control and manipulate God. Idols also indicate disloyalty to the LORD your God. The Sabbath was a day of rest for humans and animals, and a day for worship at the sanctuary. These injunctions are basic to shaping life for a community ...

2338. The Lord Calls Samuel

1 Samuel 3:1–4:1

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Samuel’s Calling: The calling of Samuel follows the revoking of the calling of Eli’s family. This reinforces the impression that whatever other successors there may be (Zadok, Jesus Christ), the writers intend Samuel to be viewed as in some sense a replacement for Eli’s sons. Eli is pictured in this chapter and earlier (2:18–21) as graciously mentoring the gifted young Samuel, grooming him for a task ...

2339. The Philistines Capture the Ark

1 Samuel 4:2-11

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... and difficult concepts relating to God and his work in the world and yet misunderstand or ignore some simple and obvious truths. The ark was fetched, Hophni and Phinehas accompanying it. Both the Israelite and the Philistine camps were impressed by the advent of such an important sacred symbol onto the battlefield. But the battle recommenced, the Israelites perhaps complacent, the Philistines desperate. In spite of the presence of the ark or perhaps because of their misunderstanding of the implications ...

2340. Samuel Anoints Saul

1 Sam 9:1–10:8

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... , that the grandiose introduction in verse 2 is inserted into an earlier account to serve as an introduction to Saul the king at the point when he is first mentioned. The presentation both of the significance of Saul’s tribe and lineage and of his impressive character seems at odds with the picture that initially emerges of an indecisive and unconfident young man with what he sees as an insignificant background (v. 21). 9:1–10 It is hard to explain why the writers devote so much space to the apparently ...

2341. Jonathan Eats Honey

1 Samuel 14:24-48

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... their having seen the angel was bound to lead to death (Judg. 11; 13). Whether or not the authors intended that reminder, this passage challenges readers to consider whether cursing or oath taking are appropriate ways to discover God’s plans. The writers leave no impression that God has no plans, is incapable of making those plans known, or cannot ensure that they be carried out. Rather, God alone will decide what is sinful and will deal with sinners. Any action carried out in response to a curse or an ...

2342. David Among the Philistines

1 Samuel 27:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... Gath was on the eastern side of Philistia, close to Judean territory but well south of Saul’s base at Gibeah. 27:3 The presence of whole families would indicate to Achish that this was meant to be a long-term visit and confirm the impression that the group had burned their bridges as far as Israel was concerned. It was a common occurrence for discontented groups from one tribe to hire themselves out as mercenaries to other groups, although joining in fights against their own tribes would be rarer—which ...

2343. David Flees

2 Samuel 15:13-37

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... David, and become a loyal part of his army. Ittai’s reply to David suggests that he had become a convert to Yahwism. 15:23 That the whole countryside wept aloud may reflect a bitter mourning at the thought of the onset of civil war. However, the impression is that it reflected deep sorrow at what had happened to David. 15:24 Abiathar, who had been with David since his previous days in exile, probably led the Jerusalem priests until he was deposed by Solomon (1 Kgs. 2:27). However, Zadok seems to have had ...

2344. David's Song of Praise

2 Samuel 22:1-51

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... heading speaks of deliverance from Saul and from all of David’s enemies, implying that it was not written as a response to any individual incident. It sums up and explains all of the king’s military career and also gives an overriding impression of a personal relationship with God. The psalm includes a significant number of military metaphors; at this point David views himself as primarily a soldier and speaks with a soldier’s vocabulary. The focus moves between David’s situation and the reality of ...

2345. The Last Words of David

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... program for the future of the dynasty.” It anticipates the story that will unfold throughout the two books of Kings. It establishes David as the paradigm of the good king, a standard often invoked in 1 and 2 Kings. It provides a better final impression of a great man than the rather more vengeful charge to Solomon recorded in 1 Kings 2. The oracle consists of three points. Statements pointing out the effects of righteous and unrighteous rule enclose an expression of David’s hope for the future. The one ...

2346. Job's Second Reply to Eliphaz

Job 16:1-17:16

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... by the ridicule of his opponents from pursuing his quest for vindication. 17:10 Like a confident boxer taunting his opponent to take his best shot, Job calls his detractors to try again their best arguments against him. Assured that their arguments can only fail to impress or persuade, he returns their ridicule with biting words: I will not find a wise man among you. Additional Notes 17:8 Many commentators eliminate vv. 8–10 as out of place or an intrusion. 17:10 The use of the Heb. verb bwʾ, “enter ...

2347. Bildad's Second Speech to Job

Job 18:1-21

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... him without questioning. Job, on the other hand, has a very different understanding about how to respond to his ongoing experience of God. Additional Notes 18:11 The verb puts (NIV “dog [step]”) can also have the meaning “chase,” leaving the impression of a breathless race for one’s life! 18:13 Some commentators suggest emending Heb. badde, “parts of,” to bidway, “by disease.” This also necessitates reading the verb “eats” as a passive form “is eaten.” See the comments in Hartley ...

2348. Eliphaz's Third Speech to Job

Job 22:1-30

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... from Job’s most recent discourse in chapter 21 (particularly vv. 14–18). The segment begins with a description of the elevated loftiness of God who is in the heights of heaven. He sits among the highest stars, whose visible presence in the night sky impresses upon earth-bound humans the moral and spatial distance that separates them from their God (Ps. 8). From this vantage point, Eliphaz suggests, God is able to survey the whole earth and is thus privy to all the acts of humankind. Nothing they do ...

2349. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... . Humans are equally diligent in their pursuit of these commodities into the depths, regardless of the danger and effort required. 28:1–2 There is a mine for silver. Having just returned from a visit to a Welsh slate mine, I am newly impressed by the effort and courage required by those who spend significant segments of their lives underground, lighted only by candles, working in poor air, breathing in dust, and laboring intensely in restricted spaces far below the surface of the earth in order to bring ...

2350. The Lord Speaks

Job 38:1--41:34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... the owner. People wore these seals on cords around their necks so that they were readily available when they needed to sign necessary legal documents. Seal patterns were carved in reverse so that, when pressed into the damp clay and rolled, they produced an impression in the proper order. 38:15 The wicked are denied their light. Shaken from the earth like crumbs or dirt, the wicked are no longer able to experience the light of “morning” and “dawn.” The breaking of the upraised arm of the wicked ...

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