Sermon and Worship Resources

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Romans 7:1-6

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... dies, whereas in verse 4 it is the believer (= wife) who dies to the law. Obviously, it is not the law which dies but the believer who dies in Christ, as Paul says in verse 4. Because the analogy does not correspond in every respect to the point it illustrates, it is unwise to press it too far, and it is not necessary to do so, for it is simply an analogy, not an allegory. It is, however, eminently clear in the one respect in which Paul intended it—that death ends obligations. Christians are like the wife ...

2. Illustrations on the Trinity

John 16:12-15; Mt 28:19

Illustration

Brett Blair

... clouds as a sunbeam. When we are sitting in a room and the light shines in and touches us, we are warmed and can feel the light. So, the sun is like the Father, the beam like the Son and the warmth like the Holy Spirit. What each of these illustrations has in common is that they are all analogies, God isn't the tree or the stream or the light but like them. All our language about God can only hint at the reality never grasp or contain God in one image.

3. An Illustration From Marriage

Romans 7:1-6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 17). 7:1–6 · Paul begins with a reference to the legal principle of Jewish law: the law is binding on a person only during the lifetime of that person; once the person has died, he or she is free from the stipulations of the law (7:1). Paul illustrates this principle with the law of marriage. The law binds a married woman to her husband (according to Jewish law, women cannot divorce their husbands). In the case that her husband dies before she does, she is no longer bound to her husband (7:2). On the one ...

4. The Body Illustrates Our Relation to Each Other

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Christ's Church is most effective when it functions like the human body. People: The body is made up of many different parts, and yet all belong to the same body. Pastor: No one part can replace the other part, and no one part is unimportant to the whole body. People: We offer ourselves to be a part of the church he is creating with our many different personalities and abilities. Collect Gracious Father, who has created each of us to be different, and yet to be a part of each other ...

5. Illustrations for Lent Easter Old Testament Texts

Isaiah 42:10-17, Isaiah 42:18-25

Illustration

Jon L. Joyce

1. God destroys as well as preserves [Isaiah 42:14] Luther says that God is to be both loved and feared. The same God of compassion who is eager to show love to those who turn to him is equally determined to root out and destroy evil. Isaiah is warning us not to be lulled to sleep by thinking only of the kindness of God. He who shows patience toward our waywardness will eventually cease to overlook unatoned sin and will destroy. He holds all the power of the universe in his hands to work his ends. Our ...

6. Personal Rights and Christian Testimony

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... is imposed upon me”) to preach the gospel; something else drove them to claim their rights. Paul’s “woe to me” may be his way of translating a Hebrew prophetic exclamation (e.g., Isa. 3:11; 5:11; 6:5; etc.),3 but in the Corinthian situation it probably illustrates the severity of a servant’s disloyalty toward a master. If Paul had been a free man, hired to preach the gospel, or if he had done so as a favor to a friend, he would have had a reward.4 But, as it is, Paul’s relationship to Christ ...

7. Elihu Makes His Appearance

Job 32:1--37:24

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... the drops of water. In 36:26–37:5, Elihu graphically describes God’s power in a thunderstorm (esp. 36:32–33). This storm, as also in Psalm 29, is a visible indication of the greatness of God, which exceeds human understanding (36:26, 29). With this illustration, Elihu begins a transition to Yahweh’s speech out of a storm, which commences in 38:1. 36:31 This is the way he governs the nations. Elihu draws a parallel between how God directs the natural world and how he governs the world of humans. In ...

8. Ingrafted Branches

Romans 11:11-24

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... the root, not in the branches. There is no salvation apart from Jesus the Jew, there is no church which is not an engrafting into and a continuance of God’s work in Israel. There is but one tree, one people of God. Another offshoot of the illustration pertains to the theme of judgment. Consider … the kindness and sternness of God, says Paul (v. 22). Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either (vv. 20–21). The fear to which Paul appeals ...

9. Job Hears the Whispers of God’s Works

Job 26:1--31:40

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... a better understanding of God and his ways. Thus, Job’s experience of pain in this chapter is an accurate snapshot of what he feels at this point in time, but it must be viewed in the context of the whole story of his experience of trusting God. Illustrating the Text At times we may feel rejected by God and humans and see no hope for the future. Literature: “A Job of the Plains,” by William Humphrey. This short story, published in 1965 and set during the Great Depression, is a modern take on the life ...

10. Windows Of Wonder

Sermon

James Angell

... Trade Tower in New York. It has tall panels of windows, and it is one of the best places - especially around sunset - to see what the Apple looks like from 60 or 70 stories up. "Windows" is also a metaphor in preaching that describes the role illustrations play in making sermons concrete, powerful, and memorable. They let the light in. Through them we are able to see what is happening inside. Who lives there. How the furniture is arranged. Where the kitchen is, the play room, where to sleep when you are ...

11. Wives and Husbands

Ephesians 5:22-33

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... . Through her he extends his life” (Westcott, p. 85). 5:29 By prefacing 5:29 and 30 with After all, the NIV understands these verses as a commentary on 5:28. The love that a husband has for his own body and, consequently, for his wife is illustrated in practical ways: First, he feeds and cares for it. Once a husband has come to think of his wife as his own flesh he will feed (lit., “nourish,” ektrephō and care for (lit., “cherish,” thalpō) her as Christ does with respect to his body, the church ...

12. By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-40

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... the vowels for “bed,” and so it has come to us in our Hebrew Bibles. The physical object leaned upon is of little significance; what matters is the attitude and pose of worship that points to Jacob’s faith. 11:22 Joseph’s faith can be abundantly illustrated from a variety of episodes in his life. Understandably he became much celebrated for the character of his life (e.g., Philo, On Joseph; Testament of Joseph; Josephus, Ant. 2.9ff.; Ps. 105:17ff.; Wisd. of Sol. 10:13f.; 1 Macc. 2:53; Acts 7:9f ...

13. “Weak and Strong” Should Get Along

Romans 14:1--15:13

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... the former and on 5:1–5 for the latter regarding the these two terms). Interpretive Insights 15:1–2 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak. Verses 1–6 have as their theme the unity of the strong and the weak as an illustration of the new covenant. We just noted the influence of the new covenant on 15:1–13 as a whole. Verses 1–2 provide the first step toward the unity of the strong and weak at Rome. The strong are to bear the weaknesses of those who are not strong ...

14. Yahweh Speaks as the Master Teacher

Job 38:1--41:34

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... in Yahweh’s world. He is the greatest of all the men in the East, but compared with the Lord, Job has paltry knowledge and feeble power. As we glimpse the grandeur of God’s world, we too must acknowledge that we are dependent upon him. Illustrating the Text Even the greatest people are feeble when compared to the living God. Film: Reference a popular superhero movie that will be familiar to your listeners. You might want to try a classic hero such as Superman, Spiderman, or Captain America. Take time to ...

15. Proverbs of Solomon

Proberbs 10:1--22:16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Lord” in the chapter (14:2, 26–27). One’s conduct reflects one’s attitude toward God (14:2). Wise behavior is constructive; folly is destructive (14:1, 3; the NIV 1984 emends KJV’s “rod of pride” to “rod to his back”). Verse 4 offers a homey illustration of how one wisely builds a house: without oxen there is less cleanup work to do in the barn, but less harvested grain as well. The focus of 14:5–7 is speech, both in a legal setting (14:5; cf. 12:17) and in general. Mocking fools cannot ...

16. Acres of Diamonds

1 Timothy 6:10

Sermon

Russell Conwell

... is there because he was a representative man and represented two hundred thousand men who went down to death for this nation and many of them as great as General Grant. That is why that beautiful tomb stands on the heights over the Hudson. I remember an incident that will illustrate this, the only one that I can give tonight. I am ashamed of it, but I don't dare leave it out. I close my eyes now; I look back through the years to 1863; I can see my native town in the Berkshire Hills, I can see that cattle ...

17. Words As Images

Sermon

Michael Rogness

... , and so on. That is true, and it needs to be said. But it's abstract. What the sermon needs is an example of a person who had reason to hate somebody, but whose hatred was turned to love through the presence and example of Jesus. That image would illustrate for the listener what is meant with the text. In this television age the preacher should always ask, "This idea or truth which I want to communicate -- what image can I use to fix it in the listener's mind?" The power of imagery in words is nothing new ...

18. Lateral Thinking

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... But they didn't. Jesus said, they pass by the man in the ditch. You would expect the audience at that point to get a little nervous. I mean, priests and Levites were held up as moral examples in that society. If this parable were simply an illustration of the decent thing to do, then these two exemplars of morality would stop and help. They knew the law. The law is in Leviticus. Everybody knew it. You "love your neighbor as yourself." And what's more, "neighbor" was even defined. Your neighbor was a fellow ...

19. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... 11:1, 16–17). But if the apologetic situation in Corinth requires it (lit., “If it is necessary to boast”), then he will boast in such as way as to reveal his weakness. The long catalogue of Paul’s adversities in 11:23b–29 is meant to illustrate this weakness. As we shall see, Paul is setting his readers up for a surprising insight into the relationship between suffering, weakness, and Paul’s apostleship (see on 12:1–10). 11:31 Paul invokes God as a witness to the veracity of his claim that he ...

20. Taming the Tongue

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

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... , or a grapevine bear figs? Again the analogy fits. No tree bears two species of fruit. Each produces according to its nature. It is unnatural for a human to try to do what nature does not. Yet perhaps James means something more, for Jesus used a similar illustration (Matt. 7:16–20; Luke 6:43–45; Matt. 12:33–35), but this one dealt with good and bad fruit and judging a plant by its fruit. Is James suggesting that the bad fruit (the cursing) reveals the nature of the person? The third analogy confirms ...

21. False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 Peter 2:1-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... : they never forget the awesome restraint of that divine presence. Yet these false teachers, whether they realize it or not, also speak in fact “before the Lord,” in the sight and hearing of God, yet think nothing of what that means. Additional Notes 2:4 Of the three illustrations from Genesis which Peter uses in 2:4–8, two are quoted by Jude: the rebellious angels (Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4) and the cities of the plain (Jude 7; 2 Pet. 2:6–8). Jude’s other example, of the Israelites who grumbled in the ...

22. The Story of Israel Now and Later

Romans 2:1-16

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... the only standard that God accepts. But the eminently easier way to be justified before God is to receive by faith the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, who alone fulfilled the law of Moses (see Rom. 10:4). A colleague of mine in teaching tried to illustrate this principle by offering his students enrolled in a course on Romans a choice for their final exam: they could choose either to take the test (a very difficult one!) or to accept as a gift from the professor a grade of “A.” The professor was ...

23. The Story of Abraham versus the Story of Israel

Romans 4:1-25

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... (4:6–8), historical (4:9–12), logical (4:13–17a), and experiential (4:17b–25). Understanding the Text The general context of Romans 4 is that it continues the discussion of 3:27–31: the latter states that justification is by faith, while the former illustrates that principle from the life of Abraham. We may correlate these two passages in this way: 1. Justification is by faith (3:27–28; 4:1–8) 2. Justification by faith is for Jews and Gentiles (3:29–30; 4:9–17) More specifically, Romans 4 ...

24. Marriage, Sexual Intimacy, and Spiritual Devotion

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... a mixed-faith marriage should trust that Christ can bring conversion to the whole household. Personal Stories: If you have a person in your congregation who was converted through the invitation or testimony of a believing spouse, he or she could be an excellent illustration of this topic. Use an interview format to draw out how he or she saw Christ in the other spouse and how that spouse’s adherence to Paul’s instructions worked. Invite him or her to share words of encouragement to any other believers ...

25. The Resurrection Body

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... to render the Gk. anthrōpōn as men rather than as the more natural and neutral and accurate “humans.” 15:40–41 The language of these verses is reminiscent of the material in Gen. 1 LXX. Paul’s introduction of this imagery seems purely illustrative, for he merely extends the argument in progress and does not develop it through the references to heavenly and earthly bodies, sun, moon, and stars. 15:42–44 The initial words of v. 42, houtōs kai, translated So, are a rhetorical signal to indicate ...

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