Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2651 to 2675 of 2962 results

2 Corinthians 8:16--9:5

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... –15 Having exhorted the Corinthians to complete the collection (8:1–24), Paul now generalizes his remarks about the collection to apply to Achaia as a whole but still including the Corinthians. This makes sense insofar as 2 Corinthians was obviously designed as a circular letter, addressed “to the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia” (1:1). While most of the letter has focused on Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians in particular, Paul broadens his scope to ...

2652. Boasting

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

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... (cf. Peder Borgen, “Heavenly Ascent in Philo: An Examination of Selected Passages,” in The Pseudepigrapha and Early Biblical Interpretation [ed. James H. Charlesworth and Craig A. Evans; JSPSup 14; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993], pp. 246–68). 12:2 Of course, Jesus’ self-designation as the “Son of Man” is a huge problem in itself. The Coptic Apocalypse of Paul from Nag Hammadi (NHC v, 2), whose Greek original may stem from the second century A.D., provides a gnostic interpretation of 2 Cor. 12:2 ...

2653. Paul's Vision and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

2654. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:1-6, James 4:13-17, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... , never a virtue; it is closely related to boasting in all New Testament contexts, as pride and conceit normally are related. John makes it a characteristic of the world (1 John 2:16). In secular Greek the emptiness of the boast becomes clear, for it designates primarily the person who claims an ability or virtue he or she does not have. See further G. Delling, “Alazon,” TDNT, vol. 1, pp. 226–27; and E. Gutting and C. Brown, “Pride” NIDNTT, vol. 3, pp. 28–32. Boasting is rarely virtuous. One may ...

2655. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:7-12, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

2656. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:13-20, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

2657. Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin

1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 1:5--2:14

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... the special Johannine use of the term ekeinos appears. Ekeinos means “this one,” “that one,” or simply “he.” In 1 John it always refers to Jesus (3:3, 5, 7, 16; 4:17; cf. also John 1:18; 3:30; 7:11) and “was common as a designation in the circle of the author” (Bultmann, Epistles, p. 26). 2:7–8 These verses contain typical Johannine antitheses: new/old and light/darkness. New/old occurs only here and in 2 John 5, and never in the Fourth Gospel. Light/darkness is more frequent, occurring in ...

2658. The Call of Abram

Genesis 12:1-9

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... obtain blessing.” God’s primary way of working among the nations is through Abram’s seed. Thus, to experience God’s blessing, the various peoples must interact with Abram’s offspring. Having selected one family, God in a sense shows favoritism, but his design is not parochial. God was and is working through one family for the benefit of all families. Through Abram’s seed he is achieving his goal in creating the earth, namely, people worshiping only him. That this program is just rests in God’s ...

2659. Abraham Pleads for Sodom

Genesis 18:16-33

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... who are hurting, displaced, or under threat of punishment. To be effectual, such prayer must flow out of genuine concern and pure motives. Furthermore, God demonstrated an openness to be moved by intercessory prayer. God works with humans to achieve his design. Abraham began forcefully with a rhetorical question appealing to God’s justice: Would God sweep away the righteous with the wicked? The premise of this question is that those who live righteously generate moral value that acts as a preservative for ...

2660. Jacob Wrestles with God

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... Canaan he had only his staff, but on his return he possessed so much that they made up two camps. Humbly and devoutly Jacob identified himself as God’s servant. That God was directing such an insignificant person gives evidence that he is accomplishing his design away from the power structures of the great civilizations. Next Jacob simply and frankly asked God to save him from Esau’s power as he mentioned his fear of an attack from his brother. This is the basic pattern of prayer found in Scripture, the ...

2661. A Silver Cup in a Sack

Genesis 44:1-34

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... who had proposed his sale now vigorously defended Benjamin. Additional Note 44:5 In Egypt, counselors used such cups for divination. They would pour a variety of liquids, such as oil or wine, into water standing in the cup and then read the future by the configuration of the resulting designs.

2662. Moses Returns to Egypt

Exodus 4:18-31

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... on “Joseph”: Moses and Aaron brought together “all the elders.” In the Hebrew, he “josephed” or “gathered” them. A more important translation issue in the NIV involves the Israelites—literally, “children of Israel.” While translators often reduce the designation “children of Israel” to “Israelites,” it serves an important function. God was creating a new sociality among a new people by taking them on a journey into the wilderness for worship, for formation as a people in the ...

2663. Family Record of Moses and Aaron

Exodus 6:13-27

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... while God administered mighty deeds. It would not be Moses’ or Aaron’s speech that would convince Pharaoh, nor the participation of the disheartened and silent people. They would be brought out “by their divisions,” an ironical military designation (12:17, 41, 51; 13:18; 18:21). God would do the fighting, and the people would march out in victorious formation. Additional Notes 6:12 “Faltering lips” is, lit., “uncircumcised lips.” This probably means “undisciplined” or “untrained ...

2664. Passover Restrictions

Exodus 12:43-51

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... of perpetually keeping the Passover. They mirror “C” in the chiastic structure above, the “First Passover instruction” (vv. 21–27) as C′, the “Perpetual Passover ordinance.” Here the Lord speaks to Moses and gives seven additional statutes designed to preserve the original purpose of the celebration: to form a community around the historical deliverance of God’s people. These verses are sometimes treated as an appendix but, besides adding regulations to perpetual Passover keeping (vv. 24 ...

2665. The Sabbath

Exodus 31:1-11

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... creating; the indwelling Spirit; creative human ability; conferred holiness; rest; life protected and ordered by God’s law; and holy time and space (Gen. 2:1–2; Lev. 19:30). 31:1–11 The Lord chose Bezalel and Oholiab to make artistic designs . . . and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. This text is important for understanding the relationship that the Creator seeks with creative and skilled people. The Lord created a beautiful and good world. God called people, gifted them, and filled them with ...

2666. Bezalel and Oholiab (II)

Exodus 35:30--36:7

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... was filled . . . . with the Spirit of God. God filled both Bezalel and Oholiab . . . with skill, ability and knowledge. God also gave them the ability to teach others. The last verse of the chapter refers to the others, who were taught. They, too, were filled with skill as master craftsmen and designers, in order to do all the work. The following verses also mention the skill of the men and women: verses 3, 6; 35:10, 25–26, 31, 35; see also 26:1, 31; 28:3, 6, 8 15; 29:5; 36:1–4, 8, 35; 39:3, 5, 8. (See ...

2667. The Glory of the Lord

Exodus 40:1-33

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... s glory (13:21–22; 14:19–24; 16:7–10; 24:16–18; 33:9–10, 22; 34:5; see the detailed comments on the glory of the Lord at 16:7). Building this home together best expressed the reconciliation between the people and the Lord. God designed it and directed the construction through Moses. The people made and gave everything. The long detail and labor of Exodus 35–40 are best explained as a fitting response to the betrayal and rift of the golden calf. By building the tabernacle they participated in the ...

2668. Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon

Deut 2:1-23–2:37

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... described. His initiation and direction of Israel’s movements are repeatedly mentioned, and even the parenthetical footnotes of the chapter (2:10–12, 20–23) attribute previous national migrations and conquests to Yahweh’s sovereignty. Secondly, it seems designed to explain why some nations along Israel’s route remained unmolested while others were conquered and dispossessed. The claims of brotherhood (an important ethical motivation later in the book) protected Edom (2:4, 8; cf. 23:7a). Moab ...

2669. Defeat of Og King of Bashan

Deuteronomy 3:1-11

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

2670. Division of the Land

Deuteronomy 3:12-20

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

2671. Idolatry Forbidden

Deuteronomy 4:15-31

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... 20 gives the double reason for the prohibition on Israel bowing down to any created thing: their experience of redemption out of Egypt, and the exclusive covenant relationship to Yahweh as the people of his inheritance. This last phrase, less common than the frequent designation of the land as Israel’s inheritance, points to the strong filial nature of the relationship between God and Israel in Deuteronomy. Only a few times is the actual phraseology of sonship used (1:31; 8:5; 14:1; 32:6), but inheritance ...

2672. Jair

Judges 10:3-5

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

Minor Judges: Framing the Jephthah story are accounts of several minor judges, beginning with Tola and Jair and ending with Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (Judg. 12:8–15). These, along with Shamgar (Judg. 3:31), are commonly designated as minor judges, because their stories are condensed into a few brief lines. In most cases, all we know about the judge is his tribal affiliation, his geographical location, and how many years he led Israel; sometimes we learn about his economic situation. But, strikingly, the ...

2673. The Dedication of the Temple

1 Kings 8:62-66

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... v. 27). Being utterly transcendent, God cannot be “placed” at all; all human language about dwelling must be qualified constantly, so that attempts to describe do not in fact minimize. One consequence of divine transcendence, of course, is that people do not have to be in one designated place in order to pray. As God’s eyes are open toward the temple rather than in it (v. 29), it is sufficient for people to pray toward the temple rather than be physically in it (vv. 29–30; cf. John 4:21–24). 8:31 ...

2674. The Lord Appears to Solomon

1 Kings 9:1-9

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

2675. The Lord Appears to Elijah

1 Kings 19:9-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... :2–13; Luke 1:11–17; cf. the OT development of the Elijah theme in Mal. 4:5 and the NT uncertainty about identity in Matt. 16:13–16; 27:45–49; Mark 6:14–16; 8:27–30; 15:33–36; Luke 9:7–9, 18–20). John himself designates Jesus as his “successor” in such passages as Matt. 3:1–17; John 1:19–34 (where he denies being Elijah, v. 21); and the name Jesus means, of course, “the LORD saves,” as Elisha means “God saves.” 19:20 Let me kiss my father and mother: Hb. nšq ...

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