Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 2476 to 2500 of 2815 results

2476. Ezekiel's Call

Ezekiel 1:1-28, Ezekiel 2:1-3:15, Ezekiel 3:16-27

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... oracles of judgment convey the inevitability of Jerusalem’s destruction. Third, in Ezekiel’s second vision of the Glory (chs. 8–11), Ezekiel watches as God withdraws the divine presence from Jerusalem. Fourth, the prophet makes clear in a variety of parables, sign-acts, and oracles that the present generation and their leaders are responsible for the tragedy that has befallen them and their city (chs. 12–19). Part five (chs. 20–24) is a miscellaneous collection of material describing Jerusalem’s ...

2477. Signs, Sayings, and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 12:1-28, Ezekiel 13:1-23, Ezekiel 14:1-11, Ezekiel 14:12-23

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... as a whole, 14:12–23) makes clear that no one can foist off the responsibility for Jerusalem’s devastation onto these leaders. All are accountable. The second part, Ezekiel 15–17, is a formally distinctive section consisting of parables, riddles, and extended metaphors. Here, too, the Lord pronounces specific judgments against Jerusalem’s leadership (particularly the royal house, see 17:1–24) but, ultimately, all Jerusalem (vividly and disturbingly personified as a prostitute in Ezek. 16) is held ...

2478. Personal Accountability

Ezekiel 18:1-32, Ezekiel 19:1-14

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... :9–10; see also Lev. 23:22; Deut. 24:19; Ruth 2:1–23; Matt. 12:1–8//Mark 3:23–28//Luke 6:1–5). The poor are not to be bereft of their most basic needs (see, e.g., Deut. 15:7–11). Christian readers will remember Jesus’ parable of the last judgment, which blesses those who have fed the hungry and clothed the naked—and casts out those who have not (Matt. 25:35–36, 42–43). For Jesus as for Ezekiel, righteousness in the social arena comes down to regard for “the least of these” (Matt. 25 ...

2479. Miscellaneous Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 21:1-32, Ezekiel 22:1-31

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... powerfully expresses the divine judgment coming upon Judah, which will leave no one untouched. Every face from south to north will be scorched by it (v. 47; compare 5:4 and 15:5, 7). But Ezekiel’s audience responds, “Isn’t he just telling parables?” (v. 49). This statement could mean that they think the prophet’s message is merely a metaphor, not to be taken too seriously (compare 12:21–28, where the people dismiss the prophet’s visions as inconsequential, or as referring to the distant future ...

2480. Two Adulterous Sisters

Ezekiel 23:1-49

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... them. In fact, this graphic depiction of immorality and unfaithfulness is the story of his audience. The story of the sisters’ sin and their fate compels Ezekiel’s audience to identify with the shameless sisters. Like David reacting to Nathan’s parable (2 Sam. 12:1–15), by condemning the wanton, shameless sisters the exiles in fact condemn themselves (and their beloved city). 23:5–10 First, though, we see the sin and punishment of Oholah. Samaria prostitutes herself to the Assyrians—warriors ...

2481. Egypt

Ezekiel 29:1-21, Ezekiel 30:1-26, Ezekiel 31:1-18, Ezekiel 32:1-32

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... at least two months before the last date Ezekiel gave, in the first Tyre oracle (26:1). However, as we concluded that an editor probably added that date we cannot, nor should we, make much of this discontinuity. Prior to that, the last dated oracle was the parable of the cooking pot (24:1–14), dated to “the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day” (see the discussion of this date as well)—that is, the day that the siege of Jerusalem began. Jerusalem fell in the eleventh year, ninth day, and ...

2482. Ezekiel a Watchman

Ezekiel 33:1-20, Ezekiel 33:21-33

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... understandable, perhaps, given his creative, poetic oracles, bizarre sign-acts, and striking visions. Unfortunately, the prophet’s popularity does not translate into the success of his proclamation, for “they hear your words but do not put them into practice” (v. 32; compare the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matt. 7:24–27; see also Jas. 1:22). But the power of God’s word through Ezekiel cannot be ignored: “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a ...

2483. Transition to Jesus’ Public Ministry

Matthew 4:12-17

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... –9:38) d. Jesus’ second discourse: the Mission Discourse (10:1–11:1) 2. Jesus’ rejection by Israel’s leaders and his withdrawal from conflict to ministry (11:2–16:20) a. Rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by Jewish leaders (11:2–12:50) b. Jesus’ third discourse: the Parables Discourse (13:1–53) c. Continued conflict and emerging identity (13:54–16:20)

2484. Sermon on the Mount: Praying, Not Judging

Matthew 7:7-12, Matthew 7:1-6

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... , these two pairs indicate two, not four, referents.) That which is sacred in Matthew might be connected to the kingdom of God, which has been the centerpiece of Jesus’ preaching (4:17). This possible referent fits well with the image of a pearl in a parable in chapter 13, which provides a comparison for the kingdom (13:45–46). Yet Jesus speaks here of “your pearls,” making it less likely that he is referring to the kingdom (which belongs to God first and foremost). So another, more likely option is ...

2485. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 10:1-42

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... is clarified in Matthew’s subsequent narrative. In chapter 18 the mikroi are those of lower status and those most vulnerable who are to be cared for by the church (18:6–14). The word elachistos, the superlative form of mikros, is used in the parable of the sheep and the goats to identify those with whom Jesus closely aligns himself: “the least of these” (25:40, 45).4 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples. The formulaic “After Jesus had finished [+ verb]” occurs at the ...

2486. Jesus as God’s Wisdom Is a Hidden Reality

Matthew 11:20-24, Matthew 11:25-30

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... In Jesus’ prayer to the Father (11:25–27) the twin motifs of revelation and hiddenness come to the fore. Matthew will highlight these themes across this section of his Gospel (11:1–16:20) and will particularly focus on them in the Parables Discourse (13:1–53). Given the hiddenness of the kingdom (its “not yet” quality), revelation and corresponding faith are needed in order to receive the word of the kingdom. Jesus’ prayer also signals the reversals of the kingdom: those who respond favorably ...

2487. Jesus as the Isaianic Servant of the Lord

Matthew 12:15-21

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... their trail. A hard wind blew their topographical map away. Soon, all they could do was hunker down in their tent and hope for a rescue. When rescue finally came, the men were fifteen pounds lighter and ready for home.4Like the wandering sheep in Jesus’ parable (Matt. 18:12–14), Israel had strayed from God, and they had been sent into exile for their idolatry, scattered among the nations (see 2 Kings 24). Jesus came to lead the mission to bring them, and all people, back to God. Nature: The human heart ...

2488. Pharisees Reject the Divine Origin of Jesus’ Power

Matthew 12:22-37, Matthew 12:38-45, Matthew 12:46-50

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... with the other discourses (e.g., 5:1–7:29; 10:1–11:1), Matthew carefully arranges material leading up to and surrounding these teaching units. In this case, stories involving members of Jesus’ family form an inclusio around the Parables Discourse (12:46; 13:55–56). Matthew uses these references to Jesus’ family to highlight issues of loyalty. 12:47 Someone told him. This verse, although missing in some Greek manuscripts, seems necessary, since otherwise Jesus answers (apokrinomai [12:48]) not ...

2489. Herod and Hometown Misunderstand Jesus’ Identity

Matthew 13:53-58, Matthew 14:1-12

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... 13:55 mother’s name Mary . . . brothers . . . sisters. Mention of Jesus’ family parallels 12:46–50, where Jesus’ mother and brothers come looking for him. In this way, these sections (12:46–50; 13:54–58) provide an inclusio for the Parables Discourse. 13:57 And they took offense at him. Matthew draws upon the motif of “stumbling” (skandalizo, commonly rendered as “take offense”) here to indicate the negative response of Jesus’ hometown to his ministry (see also 11:6 [see comments ...

2490. Jesus Is the Example of Service for His Followers

Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 20:20-28

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... be great is itself to be eliminated, since even the most subtle desire for greatness for oneself corrupts genuine service.”3 20:27 whoever wants to be first must be your slave. “First” and “last” language has been used to frame the parable of the workers to indicate the reversal (and more particularly, equalization) of status in the kingdom. Here Jesus picks up this motif again to highlight the same point: his disciples should renounce status concerns and embrace service and care for others. 20 ...

2491. Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a Peaceable and Humble King

Matthew 20:29-34, Matthew 21:1-11

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... entry into Jerusalem with his action in the temple in 21:12–17, both of which are messianic actions (see 21:12). Later in the chapter a citation from Psalm 118:22–23 will be used by Jesus to explain the rejection of the son in the parable of the tenants—that is, his own rejection (21:42). 21:11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” The Galilean crowds that have accompanied Jesus into Jerusalem answer the people of the city who ask about the identity of this ...

2492. The Resurrected Jesus Is Vindicated by God and Given All Authority

Matthew 28:1-10, Matthew 28:11-15, Matthew 28:16-20

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... the world. But all this is true only because the one who proclaimed God’s blessings on his followers, the one who announced God’s woes on those who went their own ways, and the one who spoke God’s kingdom-message in parables, is now the risen Lord.9 Jesus, as universal king and Lord, promises his presence to his followers and is worthy of their worship. Quote: Richard Fox provides an interesting, alternate perspective on the commonplace question “What would Jesus do?” Evangelical Protestants like ...

2493. Jesus as Lord and as Archcriminal

Mark 2:23-3:6, Mark 2:18-22

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... is central, and Jesus certainly is referring to his coming violent death (“on that day” = his crucifixion). The later church took this literally and fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays. 2:21 a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. The two parables of 2:21–22 state the same thing through separate pictures: placing something new in something old. The message is the incompatibility of the new covenant with the old covenant. The old garment has already shrunk and is inflexible. The new patch sewed ...

2494. Spiritual Hypocrisy—Living by the Rules, Not by the Heart

Mark 7:1-23

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... God. 7:18 Are you so dull? The disciples join the crowds in their failure to comprehend Jesus’s teaching (as in 6:52; 8:17, 21) and ask him (in a “house,” the place for questions in Mark [cf. 3:20; 9:28]) about the “parable” (see 4:11) or analogy that he has given in verse 15. So he clarifies the point further and provides a further example. He has asked the crowd to “understand” (synete [v. 14]), and now he charges the disciples with “dullness” or “failure to understand” (asynetoi ...

2495. Realizing the True Nature of Jesus the Christ

Mark 8:27-30

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... all along have been wrestling with Jesus’s true identity and were quite confused. They had seen example after example of his authority, both in word and deed. Jesus had promised to reveal to them the mysteries of God (4:11a) and had told them parables about the kingdom that he was inaugurating (chap. 4). Still, they obviously understood very little of it and have called him only “teacher” (4:38). So Jesus’s purpose at this juncture is to clarify and draw out the implications of what they have seen ...

2496. Family in the New Kingdom Community

Mark 10:13-16, Mark 10:1-12

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... guidance without questioning and with simple obedience. In fact, they copy the actions of their parents. 10:16 he took the children in his arms. The people simply wanted a blessing. Jesus did much more, and these actions are in a sense a prophetic acted parable (like Jeremiah or Ezekiel)4 to depict God blessing his children. Putting his arms around them is very parental. The laying on of hands often is used in healing and commissioning for imparting power and authority (cf. 1:41; 5:23, 41; 6:5; 7 ...

2497. Possessions and Choice in the New Kingdom Community

Mark 10:17-31

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... idea that the human sadness he feels is nothing compared to what he will face when he dies and stands before God without any hope for “eternal life.” 10:23 How hard it is. Once more Jesus privately explains the meaning of an event or parable to his disciples.1This is “the moral of the story.” The man wants to “enter eternal life” but instead becomes an example of the great “difficulty” of doing so. He undoubtedly accepts the basic Jewish belief (still held today) that riches are a sign of ...

2498. Praying in Faith

Mark 11:20-25 (26)

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... demands a new set of relationships with those around us, especially those who are also part of the messianic community. Since we have been forgiven so many sins, how can we not forgive someone who commits a single sin against us (note especially the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matt. 18:21–35)? Those who have experienced the undeserved mercy of God in Christ must naturally be willing to extend a similar mercy to others. Thus Christ demands that we who have been forgiven so much express a similar ...

2499. Jesus Defines Himself as Lord in Contrast to the Leaders of Israel

Mark 12:41-44, Mark 12:35-40

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... the approval of friends, neighbors, employers, spouses, parents, children, teachers, and so on, you are simply living for God. How would your life be different if your single-minded focus was glorifying the Lord in your life? Worship as an act of the heart Parable: There once was a rich man who gave his wife expensive and wonderful gifts. She never lacked for any material possession, as her husband provided all she ever wanted—except his time, energy, and focus. In order to gain and maintain his riches ...

2500. The Arrest of Jesus

Mark 14:43-52

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... usually ignore the emotional suffering caused by the betrayal of Judas and the desertion of his closest friends. Share from a personal story of betrayal to help people identify with the emotional pain and anguish and better empathize with the suffering of Jesus. A better way? Parable: A man left his village one morning to take a journey to a lake where he would gather food for his family. To follow the path to the lake would require a ten-mile journey down the side of one mountain, across a valley, and then ...

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