Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 276 to 300 of 340 results

Luke 2:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (2:4; cf. Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:4–6). Thus, God in his sovereignty used the decree of Augustus to accomplish his purposes (cf. Isa. 45:1–6). Verse 5 seems to indicate that Mary is now married to Joseph, although the marriage has not yet been consummated. The wrapping of Jesus in strips of cloth (2:7) was the usual way mothers took care of their children (cf. Ezek. 16:4). A second-century tradition places Jesus’s birth in a cave, but there is no compelling evidence for that here. The newborn Jesus was ...

277. Unity and Division in the Early Church: Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 4:32-37, Acts 5:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , and the responsible couple is cast out from the presence of God. If the idealistic picture of the community as provided in 2:42–47 and 4:32–37 points to the dawn of the eschatological reality, this account reminds the readers that the full consummation of this reality has yet to arrive. Within the narrative of Luke, this account that highlights the presence of Satan and the temptation of wealth also points back to the character of Judas in his betrayal of Jesus (Luke 22:1–6). As Jesus was betrayed ...

278. Personal Greetings

Romans 16:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... same time the basis from which they can identify and avoid evil teachings (16:19). He assures them that the influence of Satan in the world in general, and in the activities of troublemakers in particular, will be short-lived because God will soon consummate his victory over the serpent (Gen. 3:15). The benediction in verse 20 prays for a continued experience of what they already have: grace from God, who has given them peace. 16:21–24 · Additional greetings:Final greetings to the Christians in Rome are ...

279. The Example of Paul’s Suffering

Colossians 1:24--2:5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the end of the present age, there will be terrible sufferings for the people of God, referred to as the messianic woes. Paul’s suffering is indicative of the end of the present evil age and the start of the new age in Christ, which will be consummated when Christ returns (Col. 3:4). The suffering is confirmation that Paul is part of the new people of God, and in that light he can rejoice. What does Paul mean when he declares that his sufferings “fill up . . . what is still lacking” in terms of Christ ...

280. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... virtues of “faith,” “love,” and “hope,” which the believers have demonstrated. The authors’ prayers are made in the presence of God: “before our God and Father” (1 Thess. 3:9–10). Although these words often speak of coming before God and Christ in the final consummation of all things (2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 2:19; 3:13), here that hope is a present reality in the prayers of the apostles. In the Greek, these words appear at the end of 1:3, which may imply that the Thessalonians lived out ...

281. Leaders and Rebels

Titus 1:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... sexual relations with a human woman (taking the human form of her husband). The only hope for “eternal life” lies in what the true and living God promised “before the beginning of time” about executing his drama of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. That promise has been fulfilled “at his appointed season” through Jesus Christ’s coming (which Paul discusses at Titus 2:11 and 3:4) and in the “preaching entrusted to me,” says the apostle (1:1–3). Paul greets Titus, “my true ...

282. A Lifestyle in Accord with Sound Doctrine

Titus 2:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (“redeem . . . a people that are his very own” [2:14; see Exod. 19:5]) and God’s promises for a restored Israel (“purify for himself” [1:14; see Ezek. 37:23]). A singular biblical story of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation is being played out in the world’s history. In this paragraph, Paul demonstrates that for him “salvation” is an immensely dense complex of realities. In the first place, Jesus’s coming has educative value, answering Hellenistic culture’s deepest desire for ...

283. Jesus Like Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:11-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Christians today enjoy as a present possession. One does not require a guarantor for what one already has (6:17–20). The new covenant, the rest of God, the promise, even salvation itself are presented in Hebrews as different aspects of the future consummation and the fulfillment of the world to come. The permanence of Christ’s priesthood sets it above the Levitical (7:23–25). Christ’s priesthood does not need to be replaced generation after generation, which lends a continual efficacy to all aspects ...

284. Exhortations to Persevere in Christian Faith

Hebrews 10:19-39

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . 32:15; Ps. 78:9–55). The living faith that alone obtains the eternal inheritance expresses itself in a tenacity in the face of all manner of worldly opposition and temptation and the long waiting made necessary by the futurity of the consummation. The citation of Habakkuk 2:3–4 in Hebrews 10:37–38 derives from the Septuagint, which has interpreted the original “it” (the revelation of divine judgment) as “he” (a personal deliverer), an interpretation that is ratified by the author of Hebrews ...

285. Faith Defined and Exemplified

Hebrews 11:1-40

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... not some dissimilarity but rather the correspondence between the circumstances of believers before and after the incarnation. The object of Abraham’s hope lay beyond the grave, and it is no different today. Verse 40 then means simply that the consummation was delayed, the ancients had to wait patiently for it, because God intended many more to share in his salvation (“planned”; literally “foreseen,” in the sense of election and predestination). In the same way, believers today must wait until the ...

286. The Seven Seals: Where is God When His People Suffer?

Revelation 6:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of victory to reward their endurance and affirm their priestly roles (cf. Lev. 16:32). When the Lamb opens the sixth seal (6:12–17), the scene shifts from the perennial problems of human history to the cosmic events that signal the final consummation of God’s kingdom. A great earthquake, the sun turning dark as sackcloth, the moon becoming like blood, the stars falling from the sky, the sky splitting apart, and every mountain being thrown from its place (6:12–14) are examples of figurative language ...

287. 8:2–5

Revelation 8:6--9:21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... both are released by fallen angelic beings (9:1–2, 14–15); both have tails that inflict injury (though the locusts cannot kill, while the demonic horses can); and both function as agents of judgment against idolatry (9:20). Also, the sixth trumpet vision consummates the process of inner spiritual decay described by the fifth. What began as moral corruption and material excess in the fifth trumpet culminates in the sixth, with the wages of sin leading to actual death (cf. Rom. 3:23). The fire, smoke, and ...

288. Mount Zion Descending

Revelation 14:1-5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... and heavenly Jerusalem (cf. Heb. 12:22–23) that descends on the earth in glorious splendor (3:12; 21:2). The 144,000 (as in Rev. 7:4) represent the entire people of God in both Testaments. They are not modern Israel. The kingdom that is consummated from Mount Zion is eschatological and transcendent. The new song is sung not on earth but from heaven (14:3) and by all God’s angelic courtiers (cf. 5:9). The song celebrates the redemptive sacrifice of the slain Lamb and his rightful coronation as part of ...

289. The Guards Mock Jesus

Luke 22:63-65

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... before the Jewish Sanhedrin (cf. Mark 14:55–65). Luke says nothing about an evening interrogation (see Mark 14:53–55), but only describes the daytime proceedings (vv. 66–71; cf. Mark 15:1), thus simplifying the whole account. The Lucan order reflects consummate irony. As soon as Jesus’ prophecy that Peter will deny him is fulfilled (v. 61), the guards blindfold Jesus, strike him, and ask him to prophesy to determine who has hit him. A dramatic contrast also exists between the cowardly Peter, who ...

290. Israel's Unbelief

Romans 9:30--10:21

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... persons. The gospel is always and everywhere “incarnational,” i.e., it is God’s word communicated through persons. Where the gospel is not personal, it is not the gospel. The incarnation of Jesus Christ was, of course, the perfect and consummate example of God’s revelation of himself in history. Apostles, prophets, and witnesses of all sorts are not simply individuals who have had “religious experiences” or who have “studied theology,” but individuals who by God’s gracious will have been ...

291. The Remnant of Israel

Romans 11:1-10

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... the remnant had been preserved by grace, it became a pledge of God’s continuing favor towards Israel as a whole. The remnant of grace, in other words, affirms that Israel was called into existence by grace (9:8–11) and awaits a future consummation of grace (11:28–32). 11:7–10 Paul now repeats and amplifies the thought of 9:31 (“Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it”). A portion of Israel, the elect or “remnant” of Jewish Christians, has attained righteousness (see ...

292. Ingrafted Branches

Romans 11:11-24

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... The idea of verse 15—that the eventual Jewish acceptance of Christ will be life from the dead—is a matter of some debate. One possibility is to regard life from the dead eschatologically, i.e., when all Israel is saved (11:26), then the final consummation and the resurrection of the dead will be at hand. Another possibility is to take the phrase metaphorically (so John 5:24; Luke 15:32) as a reference to salvation: when Jews accept Christ, then their restoration to the purpose of God will transfer them ...

293. Love

Romans 12:9-21

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... demonstrated his love by sending his Son to die for sinners (5:8). Rather, heaping burning coals on his head intends to bring shame on wrongdoers so that they will repent of their evil. In this way evil will be overcome with good (v. 21). Verse 21 consummates everything Paul has said of agapē. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Agapē corresponds to God’s nature (1 John 4:16) and his way of acting toward enemies (5:10). Since Christians are being transformed by God’s will (12:2 ...

294. Love, for the Day Is Near

Romans 13:8-14

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... . The admonition of 12:2 not to be conformed to this age is here completed in the transformation of life by the age to come. The model of the resurrected Jesus is even now the pattern for Christians. The teaching of the final consummation of salvation is no outmoded appendage to Christianity. It is, in fact, the eschatological perspective of the gospel which prevents Christianity from being reduced to a philosophy or moral code. The expectation of the return of Christ preserves the central truth of the ...

295. The Believer's Freedom

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... might work through him for the salvific benefit of others, because he understood that God acted through his (Christlike) selflessness and saved others in the operation. 11:1 In 10:31 Paul began to bring the larger section of 8:1–11:1 to a consummated conclusion by again declaring the goal of Christian life to be the glory of God in all that believers do. Paul sought to make matters conclusive by referring to his own attitude, aim, and style of ministry. Here he calls specifically for the Corinthians to ...

296. Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... that Paul is referring to Spirit-inspired, mindful speech such as prophecy (see 14:14–15). The Effect of Intelligibility Paul advances the discussion of the value and liability of the practice of tongues, marshaling a consistent case for the Corinthians to cultivate and consummate the gift of prophecy in the life of the church. The language and concerns in verses 20–25 are reminiscent of those in 2:6 and 3:1. Readers of the letter and expert interpreters alike find this portion of chapter 14 difficult ...

297. The Resurrection of the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... The NIV translation moves to paraphrase in agreement with the interpretation of the vast majority of scholars who understand the Gk. words to telos to refer to the end, as in THE END. Normally, to telos refers to “the end” in the sense of a consummation or completion of an ongoing process. The readers of this text should recognize that the language of this passage is deliberate and revealing in Gk. Paul signals the future quality of these reflections by using a series of verbs in the subjunctive mood in ...

298. Greetings and Doxology

Revelation 1:4-8

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... claim (cf. Rev. 4). In addition to this tacit claim for God’s sovereign rule over history, John’s title suggests that God is involved within history in a purposeful way so that God, who is to come, awaits eschatological Israel at the consummation of the age. John also bears greetings from the seven spirits. If the number seven symbolizes completeness or wholeness, then John does not have seven discrete spirits, or seven gifts (or some other manifestation) of the Holy Spirit, in mind. Rather, especially ...

299. The Throne in Heaven

Revelation 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... human life from sinful bondage, transforming life from old creaturehood into a new creation. That is, God promises in a good creation the same kind of existence that has already been realized in Christ and in the ongoing history of the redeemed community. In the consummation of that sacred history, God’s exalted Christ ushers God’s people back into the garden—not Eden, but the paradise of a new Jerusalem. The Bible’s story, from the first garden to the last, reminds its readers that the God who gave ...

300. The Seals

Revelation 6:1-17

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... of the created order (Rev. 4:7). The very structures of human existence have been so corrupted by rebellion that calamity and death are inevitable on earth, and the apocalypse of God’s salvation from heaven is necessary. Therefore, when the eternal age is finally consummated at Christ’s return, it is envisioned by John as a new creation, as a new city, as a new people, as a new sociopolitical order, which is formed out of the ashes of the old order (Babylon) into a new order (new Jerusalem) over ...

Showing results