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 1 to 25 of 3160 results
1. All Sorts of Ways to Murder a Person
Illustration
Maxie Dunnam
Indifference -- is anything more painful and destructive? In his book The Surrender and the Singing, Ray Ashford wrote, “I once watched a man murder a beautiful and intelligent woman. It wasn’t, mind you, a crime of passion in which he took her life with a knife or gun in a single explosive moment of blinding rage. It was, rather, a crime absolutely devoid of passion, a murder within the law and over a long period of time, four-and-a-half decades. It was murder by indifference and neglect.” What a stinging ...
Understanding Series
Gerald H. Wilson
... the “tenants” who farm the land on his behalf. He depicts the land itself as able to cry out in objection to abuses perpetrated by the overlord against the “land” and the farmers. In the end (v. 40) the consequence envisioned for proof of abuse is a sort of retributive tit-for-tat—the destruction of the productive capacity of the land. He who abuses the land will lose all profit from it. 31:38–39 In if my land cries out against me the imperfect verb for “cries out” (tizʿaq) might better be ...
3. Paul of Tarsus
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Drama
Michael L. Sherer
... ’s most ambitious campaign yet, taking him far afield of the local scene. But just when he seemed ready to move in on his intended target, the bundle of energy with the short temper seems to have suffered a crippling setback. Onlookers described it as a sort of epileptic fit. At any rate, the young headline-grabber seems to have gone blind. Chances are, this may put Saul’s career on ice for good. We’ll keep you up to date on that one (chuckles). Now, for the scene in the Roman Empire ... ANTAGONIST ...
Sermon
... travel on the King’s Highway. It isn’t how the journey starts that counts. It’s how it ends that matters. If you don’t know where you’re headed, any road will get you there. On the other hand, you can arrive at God’s reunion by all sorts of roads. Depending on where you begin, any of them can take you there. It doesn’t really matter whether someone’s journey had a rocky start. It’s how it ends that matters. Beware of those who try to tell you that your highway isn’t suitable, because it ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... you imagine me being named Maxwell? That's far too predictable, far too strong. And Maximillian? That's far too grandiose for me. And folks who don't know me, when they see my name in print, often think I'm a female. I suppose they think Maxie is some sort of abbreviation for Maxine. When I was at The Upper Room, I used to get letters all the time addressed Miss Maxie Dunnam. Now that's made a little more probable to strangers when they see Maxie and Jerry Dunnam on a piece of paper, with the Jerry spelled ...
Sermon
George Bass
... we are better than other people in our congregations, or even than those who reside on the streets and in the communities where we live most of the week. My wife and I live in a neighborhood that has two or three neighborhood parties a year; we sort of rotate in hosting these events, except for a couple of families who come but never entertain. I think those families must think that they don’t really belong to the neighborhood, that their welcome is more of a courtesy than a sign of acceptance as members ...
7. Elihu
Job 32:1--37:24
Understanding Series
Gerald H. Wilson
... declares mishpat in Job’s case. Elihu’s claim rings hollow to me, as does his earlier demand that Job speak up in refutation. If God declared Job righteous, that would nullify entirely the case Elihu has developed to this point. Elihu does not expect anything of the sort to be possible, and so he feels safe to invite Job’s response. 33:33 But if not. Elihu clearly expects no response from Job. There is more to come in Elihu’s attack: then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom. Elihu ...
8. The Lord Speaks
Job 38:1--41:34
Understanding Series
Gerald H. Wilson
... . Job has been presumptuous, it seems, and now needs to be put in his place. God’s appearance to Job is therefore a sort of rebuke of Job and of his position throughout the book—a position from which he must ultimately withdraw. I am less than ... over us. The first few verses of chapter 40 are a similar kind of lull in the storm of divine interrogation. They constitute a sort of intermezzo pause in the midst of the torrent of divine words. The pause allows Job, and the reader, an opportunity to catch their ...
Sermon
... you, I have a burden on my neck. I’ll need to keep track of the IOUs I’ve tallied against you. I’ll have to hope you make good on what you should be repaying me. But if I can start to love you unconditionally, without regard to any sort of repayment, but with reckless, for-the-joy-of-it love, then I can be released from all that. Then the miracles can start to happen, because I can love without selecting likely targets of my love with an eye to maximum possible return. I can afford to take greater ...
10. Surprise! Surprise!
Matthew 25:31-46
Sermon
Michael L. Sherer
... set up. I think he’s been circulating all night, unbeknownst to any of us, listening to everything we say, so he can find out what we’re really like, and what we really think of him." Somebody else said, "Good Lord, do you think so? I’ve said all sorts of things already that I wouldn’t want him hearing." Someone else chimed in, "Let me tell you something spooky. I was just down in the ladies’ room. That woman who came as a withered hag was in there. I was dying to see who was hidden behind the ...
Sermon
Raymond Gibson
... love is love with its eyes open as well as its heart, tough-minded love as well as tender-hearted love, love which never gives up on the object of its affections, love which sees through the ugliness of sin to the beauty of the sinner. It is the sort of love with which Jesus greeted Judas as he was betrayed with a kiss, asking, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" (Matthew 26:50 KJV). It is the kind of love which Jesus had in his eyes when Peter denied Christ for the third time and the Scripture records that ...
12. King of Atlanta
Romans 8:28-39
Drama
Michael L. Sherer
... that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. ANTAGONIST: I’d think all that hobnobbing with world leaders would go to your head. What was to keep King from becoming a dictator of some sort? PROTAGONIST: A lot of people must have thought he would. He was more popular than the president of the United States for a while. Until he spoke out against the war in Vietnam. ANTAGONIST: What a blunder that was. No wonder people thought he was a Communist ...
Sermon
Donald B. Strobe
... at the death of their teachers and spiritual leaders. It was a very common usage, and the word "orphan" conjures up all sorts of images. We think of Little Orphan Annie who, of course, one day met her "Daddy Warbucks." We think of Oliver in ... kept right on selling books about it, evidently undaunted. As we get nearer to the millennial year of 2000, I imagine that all sorts of predictions will pop up. The interesting sidelight here is that most New Testament scholars tell us that our Lord was born around ...
Sermon
Donald B. Strobe
... become that miracle. What if that is what prayer is all about? If prayer is a blank check, then evidently St. Paul didn’t get one of them. In his second Letter to the Church at Corinth he complains that he had prayed to be relieved of some sort of ailment not once, but three times...all to no avail. Nobody is sure what Paul’s problem was. John Calvin thought it was the temptation to doubt. Luther felt that it was the opposition of his enemies. The Roman Catholic Church over the years has identified it ...
Sermon
Jeff Wedge
... and you will be given eternal life, God's love, and other things. Sometimes the promises are more specific, as when our good behavior is promised a reward of a good life, increased wealth, or the admiration of others. All in all, it sounds very much like the sort of thing most parents use with their children on occasion. If you sit quietly, I'll stop and get you some ice cream, or a hamburger, or a special toy, or whatever. Paul does none of this. Most emphatically, he promises no rewards for our living up ...
16. A Burden or a Song
Matthew 5:43-48
Sermon
James McCormick
... ! Now let me share with you what makes the difference - what makes the difference between religion as a burden and religion as a joy. Part of it has to do with the seriousness of our commitment. A lukewarm, half-hearted Christianity will never be satisfying. “Sort of” Christianity lays on the obligation, but denies the blessing. No, you’ve got to be serious about your faith if you’re going to move from God, the enemy, to God, the friend. But, as important as serious intent is, it is not the ...
Understanding Series
Larry W. Hurtado
... , 231), a town on the western shore of Lake Galilee associated with Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2–3). (On the site, “Magdala,” see IDBSup, p. 561.) 8:11 Began to question: The term used here means that the Pharisees were disputing with Jesus, no doubt about the sort of issues that have already been mentioned as points of conflict between them (cf., e.g., 2:6–12, 16–17, 18–22, 23–28; 7:1–23). The demand for a sign therefore arises in the context of a strong disagreement about the will of God. In ...
18. One Tough Master?
Matthew 25:14-28
Sermon
Will Willimon
... safe and sound. Tell me what a good little boy I've been." Did he say, Reaping where he did not sow? What did they think the master was doing when he threw that 100 pounds of silver at them? Is he unjustified in expecting some harvest for that sort of sowing? What do you think of this master? The Dean was about to go away on Sabbatical. So he calls in the department chairs together. To one the dean gave five departments, to another two departments, and to another one. Then the dean went to study flora in ...
Sermon
Maurice A. Fetty
... . But there are various ways of using his spirit. One way is to draw it in like a huge balloon or blimp and then just sort of float around. Initially we can take in a rather huge volume, but otherwise our intake volume is quite limited. We can be full of ... ! Do they mean that in Jesus they have discovered all the truth of the world and universe, that Jesus is some sort of highly compressed, miniaturized computer from which answers to all questions issue forth? Surely not that. No, Christians mean, it seems ...
20. Details
Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 10:1-42
Sermon
Marc Kolden
... In our impatience we may want to keep reading quickly through chapter 10 to see what happens. But nothing much happens! Instead, the focus is on Jesus' lengthy instructions and we never do hear what happened to the twelve disciples. Worse than that, it is difficult to see what sort of a word of God this is for us. We need to slow down and look at the details. "When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them" (9:36). We know that word: "compassion." It's used a lot these days. But in the New Testament ...
Sermon
Marc Kolden
... us. "Those who are well have no need of a doctor, but those who are sick." At one level this is simply common sense. Jesus is saying that he came to minister to those in need. Yes, but, we think, "That's very dangerous. It opens the door to all sorts of arguments about who Jesus came for." Jesus knew that at the level of common sense, his statement could be debated. So he turned to scripture: "Go and learn what this means," he said, and the quoted a Bible verse (from Hosea 6:6), where God says, "I desire ...
22. Proper 14 & Pentecost 12
1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 29:1-11, Psalm 106:1-48, Romans 9:1-29, Matthew 14:22-36, Exodus 13:17--14:31, Jonah 2:1-10, Psalm 85:1-13
Sermon Aid
... -31 - "A Ghost, A Wizard, or A Savior?" Ray Bradbury, in The Stories of Ray Bradbury, tells a tale ("Invisible Boy") about a lonely old woman and a young boy, Charlie, whom she wants to have as her own son. She is a witch, a magician, and a sorcerer of sorts. Once, when his parents were out of town, he went to visit her; she decided to keep him for her own, saying to him, "My son, you are my son, for all eternity!" Charlie ran off, locked himself in an abandoned cabin and wouldn't come out. She tried her ...
23. Let Yes Be Yes!
Matthew 15:21-28
Sermon
... s a leap we have to take before we can even consider taking someone like that seriously. When I was growing up, it was the fashion for a Lutheran Protestant to eschew Roman Catholicism. I remember seeing Bishop Fulton Sheen on television. He seemed to be a kindly sort, and what he said had a ring of sincerity about it. "God love you!" he would say when he concluded every broadcast. But I knew that I dared not take him seriously. My conditioning had taught me that. So, I never really gave Bishop Sheen a real ...
Sermon
George Bass
... to cure all kinds of illnesses and disabilities and restore people to health and wholeness. He saw Jesus reveal himself as the Son of God in various ways and in all kinds of situations, and he was witness to amazing responses of faith in all sorts of people. Bartholomew was given an extravagant promise by Jesus Christ - "you shall see greater things than these" - and that’s exactly the way it was. But there was more to Jesus’ promise than what he implied about the dimensions of his own ministry; Jesus ...
25. The Strength of Poverty
1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5
Sermon
Hubert Beck
... over the persecutor. That is a powerful hand to play, and it is, if you have followed this carefully, the hand of Christ! For is this not the story of the cross? How much people pushed on him - Pilate, Caiaphas, Herod, Annas - all threatened him with all sorts of things. But when life itself was no longer claimed by Jesus as so precious that he must cling to it, but was entrusted to the Father, none of these people had the slightest bit of power over him. Suddenly he was the victor in the struggle. Their ...
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