Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2601 to 2625 of 4962 results

2601. The First Coming and Rejection

Zechariah 9:1-8, Zechariah 9:9-13, Zechariah 9:14-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... on the basis of Israel’s covenant relationship with God, ratified by the blood of sacrifice. There is a place of refuge and security to which released prisoners may go, the fortress Zion, secured by God himself. The prisoners of hope are those who, though still in difficulty, hope in God and his promise. God promises to reward them abundantly. In verse 13 Judah and Ephraim are described as God’s weapons—means of defeating his enemies. The victory over Greece points to the Maccabean victories over the ...

2602. God’s Love for His People

Malachi 1:1-5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... sense of urgency (cf. Jer. 20:9). He must proclaim the oracle, because the oracle is the word of Yahweh. In the first disputation, Yahweh assures his people of his love. The structure is symmetric. The cynicism of the people (1:2) is symmetric with the expression of hope in God (1:5). The affirmation of God’s “love” (1:2–3) is symmetric with an affirmation of his “greatness” (1:5). God’s past acts against Edom (1:3) are symmetric with his promise to rid the land of all evil (1:4). The focus of ...

2603. Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

Romans 15:14-22, Romans 15:23-33

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... have believed that the gifts he brought from the Gentile Christians to Jerusalem fulfilled Old Testament promises that the nations would bring their wealth to Zion (Isa. 2:2–3; 45:14; 60:5–17; 61:6; Mic. 4:1–2, 13). He may also have hoped that this demonstration of the Gentiles’ inclusion into the people of God would provoke unbelieving Jews to jealousy and prompt them to come to faith in Jesus the Messiah. Paul anticipates that his visit to Jerusalem will not be easy (15:30–31). He expects fierce ...

2604. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... you are enduring” (1:4). The news of this boasting would have given the Thessalonians much encouragement. Those who suffered dishonor in their town were being honored among the churches. They were tenacious, and their perseverance, or steadfastness, in the face of suffering and temptation flowed out of their firm hope in the coming of the Lord Jesus (1 Thess. 1:3; see Luke 21:19; Rom. 5:3–4; 2 Cor. 1:6; 6:4; Col. 1:11; 1 Tim. 6:11; Titus 2:2; Heb. 12:1; James 1:3–4; Rev. 2:2–3). Perseverance was one ...

2605. Jesus Like Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:11-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... in Hebrews and refers not to some supposed but unmentioned comparative advantage enjoyed by New Testament believers but rather to the blessings of God’s eternal salvation, grasped by faith by the saints of all ages, in comparison with the false and worldly hopes of sinful humanity (7:19, 22; 8:6; 9:3; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24). The superiority of Christ’s priesthood is further confirmed by its enactment through divine oath (7:20–22). Characteristically, the author anticipates the development of ...

2606. Exhortations to Persevere in Christian Faith

Hebrews 10:19-39

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Christ (3:6, 14; 4:14). But such endurance requires the encouragement of others, and that is given and received chiefly in the life of the congregation. That the exhortation is in the first person throughout expresses the author’s personal interest in his readers, his hopes for their restoration, and his solidarity with them in the good fight of faith (cf. Heb. 6:9; on “hearts sprinkled” [10:22] see 9:13–14; Lev. 14:6–7; Ps. 51:7, 10). “Bodies washed” is no doubt a reference to baptism but in ...

2607. Preparation for Action

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the exhortation “be alert and of sober mind” in 4:7 and 5:8). The mind that is girded up, redirected by the Scriptures, will begin to think in a new way. However threatening the present, the fully girded-up mind will set its hope “perfectly” or “fully” on God’s grace. The redirected mind will focus on God’s priority, holiness. At its heart holiness means separateness: God calls us to be different, because he is different. Peter’s readers must not worry about their distinctiveness that ...

2608. You Are a Child of God…Uh-Oh

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... word sin from our vocabulary. It is because without a consciousness of our sin there is no consciousness of our need for salvation. This is an insight we gain from Barbara Brown Taylor. In her book Speaking of Sin, Ms. Taylor names one chapter “Sin is Our Only Hope.” Simply put, she argues that the key to experiencing salvation is to first of all be aware that we need saving. That means we must recognize our sin. When we recognize our sin, the doors open up for God’s grace to flood into our lives. (3 ...

2609. A Jiffy for Eternity

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... message is "when I receive from you what I want, my love may well dissipate like the morning fog." Or human love may be motivated by hope of mutuality and say, "I love you so long as you love me back." God's love is a world apart from either of those loves ... says, "I love you simply because I love you." The truth is that we possess nothing and control nothing that God needs. Nor can we ever hope to extend to God a mutual brotherly love. The only thing we need to do to know God's love is receive it. This jiffy ...

2610. Son of a Daddy

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... we are, many of us, still prisoners, trapped by whatever it is that keeps us from absolute surrender to Jesus. Like Barabbas, we may hide but we will not get out of this world alive. Listen to me, son or daughter of a father, my only hope and your only hope, the only hope of any Barabbas is to realize that another, the sinless Son of the Father, has died in the place of the sinful sons and daughters of all this world's fathers. Having realized this, let us not escape. Instead, let us come clean with Jesus ...

2611. Which Parade Are You In?

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... one shouted “Hosanna!” as Pilate rode his imposing steed horse into Jerusalem leading a regiment of his most trusted soldiers, hoping to strike fear into the resentful onlookers. And if things did get out of hand Pilate had several battalions of Rome ... a choice we make more often than we think in the way we treat those we come into contact with each day. I hope we will choose Jesus. I hope that we will choose him by opening our own hearts and praying, “Lord, give me the ability to love others as much as ...

2612. One Heaven of a Party

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... , thoughts of luscious food that would nourish their bodies, and thoughts of living life without fear or famine. They had waited so long for that moment when they would be able to say good-bye to the same old manna and enter the Promised Land. So with high hopes and delightful dreams they went forward, anticipating how Moses was going to complete the sentence: “Is he going to tell us to throw a party? Is he going to tell us to gather all the food and wine and eat and drink until our heart’s content? Don ...

2613. A Light In the Darkness

John 1:1-6, 19-28

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... John 1:3-5). Do you know what these powerful words from the gospel of John mean right now? They mean when the world is at its worst, the church needs to be at her best! Where are the devastated people flocking to? The church! What other institution can offer hope, light, love, strength, and faith in the midst of tragedy? What other institution can do what the church can do? We are the light! It is in the midst of tragedies like this that we must re-learn the lesson that we don’t draw people to Christ by ...

2614. Defeating Discouragement

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... . If you are discouraged today, the worst thing you can do is to try to overcome by sheer will power. The best thing you can do is what Isaiah directs us to do: “Wait for the Lord.” Now, this is not a passive, lazy waiting. This is a hopeful waiting, a purposeful waiting. It is a waiting that knows in God’s good time God will provide God’s good answer. This is a waiting that holds on for God’s response. Some call it faith. Unfortunately, faith is misunderstood. So many people see faith as simply a ...

2615. Pop Verses!: Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... just stuffs itself with Bible study and never goes out to burn those spiritual calories by serving. You will HAVE when you DO. You want fulfillment? Give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. You want joy? Join us in serving the homeless at Pinellas Hope. You want meaning? Talk to another person about your relationship with Christ. You want purpose? Tell God you will do anything for him and watch your life transform. You will be so busy and so alive you won’t care anymore about getting everything you want ...

2616. Paying What's Due

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

David G. Rogne

... He called out, "Do you think you'll make it, soldier?" The weary soldier responded, "I guess I'll make it, but I hope to God I never have to show my loyalty to another country." Loyalty can often require us to make great sacrifices. Even those ... takes an oath, Meg, he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water. And if he opens his fingers then, he needn't hope to find himself again... If we lived in a state where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us good, and greed would make us saintly ...

2617. Mary: The Handmaiden of the Lord

Luke 1:38-45

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... about God showing up in your life in a way that transforms you. I am talking about God showing up to bring you peace, hope, love, joy and wholeness. I am talking about God showing up and filling that hole in your life. I know sometimes many of us ... , get out of God’s way and let God work in our lives. What has God promised us? In this advent season God has promised us joy, hope, love and peace. God has promised to punch holes in our darkness with his light. God will move in your life if you let him. So how ...

2618. Signs of the End of the Age

Mark 13:1-31

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... the end. Beyond the dark days ahead of them, the disciples are to see the shining appearance of the Son of Man in glory, triumphant with his followers, though they are not told how far beyond chronologically. So, Mark’s readers are reminded of the sure hope described in verses 24–27; they too must work and wait with assurance, but with no knowledge of the chronological period involved. 13:28–31 On the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives in ancient times, the fig trees were a prominent and well-known ...

2619. The Coming of the Kingdom of God

Luke 17:20-37

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, it is clear that their conception of the kingdom does not correlate well with what has already been stated above. Undoubtedly underlying their question was the popular belief about the kingdom, i.e., the hope for a political redeemer through whom God would bless and exalt Israel above the nations. Jesus’ immediate answer implies that he does not share this view (as could already be gathered by the statements mentioned above). The kingdom of God does not come ...

2620. On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... allude to the promise of the great prophet who would be like Moses (see Acts 3:22; 7:35–37; Tannehill, p. 280). 24:21 the one who was going to redeem Israel: That is, that Jesus would liberate Israel from Roman domination. The disciples’ hope probably paralleled the hope of fellow Israelites. Various OT passages express the same sentiment: Isa. 41:14; 43:14; 44:22–24; 1 Macc. 4:11; cf. also Acts 1:6. 24:27 Moses and all the Prophets … all the Scriptures: These parts of the Bible comprise the first ...

2621. Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:1-14

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... person is failing, the inner person is being renewed within us (2 Cor. 4:16). We are handed over to doubts, troubles, and death, but we are not annihilated. In the midst of “birth pangs” (Mark 13:8; 2 Cor. 4:7ff.; Gal. 4:19) we are born to faith, hope, and life eternal in God. 6:8–11 The focus now shifts to Christ as the pioneer of the Christian experience. Paul endeavors to show that what is true of Christ is equally true for believers. Thus, if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live ...

2622. Struggling with Sin

Romans 7:7-25

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... if I still do evil? When one discovers not only a power at work within oneself against one’s best desires, but also a powerlessness to combat it, then one must look for help beyond oneself. Paul is not in the market for a self-help program. He is not hoping for a lucky break or turning over a new leaf. He is a drowning man crying out for rescue! The word for wretched, talaipōros, means that the situation is critical and beyond his power to change it. If salvation is to come it must come from a who, not ...

2623. God's Sovereign Choice

Romans 9:1-29

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... to the Jewish response to the gospel: only a few would respond, as was foretold in Scripture (SO 9:6). The present believing remnant, however, is not the last chapter. Paul’s continuing burden for the Jews (9:1–5; 10:1–3; 11:25–29) develops into the hope that the remnant is but an interlude in the divine drama, after which greater Israel will embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ and be joined to the church (ch. 11). Additional Notes 9:14–18 The Targum on Exodus 33:19 is quoted from Str-B, vol. 3, p ...

2624. Living Sacrifices

Romans 12:1-8

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... which saves is a faith which can and must be lived, and only the faith which is lived is a faith which saves. The righteousness which comes to us in Christ must become rooted within us in the Spirit. If by justification we were born to a “living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3), then in sanctification we must become a “living sacrifice” (12:1). Being and becoming—these are but renditions of the idea already broached in chapter 6 that our old self has been crucified with Christ so that we may live to God (6:5 ...

2625. Expel the Immoral Brother!

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... failure to do God’s work. Second, the church has to live up to its responsibilities. Third, the man who was hand[ed] over to Satan is put back in the context of the world, where the church can no longer fail him and where his only real hope is the saving power of God at work in Jesus Christ. As cruel as Paul’s advice may seem, he probably views this action as a final effort to save both the man and the church from hopeless corruption. Fee summarizes the issues succinctly with these observations, “What ...

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