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 3001 to 3025 of 3314 results

3001. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Luke 9:10-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The apostles return from their mission, withdrawing with Jesus to the area around Bethsaida for some rest; however, the multitudes learn of Jesus’s destination and follow him. The feeding of the five thousand (9:10–17) is probably an object lesson for the disciples. They do not have the resources to ...

3002. Six Woes

Luke 11:37-54

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the tombs of the prophets, the lawyers show their sympathy with those who killed them. They wanted to keep them in the grave! The lawyers’ sympathy with those who killed the prophets of old is clear because they will kill the prophets and apostles who are now God’s spokesmen (11:49–51). (3) Last, the interpretation of Scripture practiced by the lawyers blocks ordinary people from receiving knowledge about God and prevents them from entering the kingdom (11:52). After such a blistering attack it is ...

3003. The Passover Meal

John 13:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , which may be right but is now complicated by some important ancient manuscripts omitting the key phrase “except for his feet” (13:10 ESV). Second, impurities speak of Judas (13:10–11). The metaphor of cleansing and impurity shifts from Peter to the larger group of apostles at the end of 13:10 (the final “you” in 13:10 is plural). Not only is Peter partially clean, but so are the disciples (13:11) since Judas Iscariot is among them. This will be developed at length in verses 21–30. Third, foot ...

3004. The Crucifixion

John 19:17-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 39:27), and it may suggest some priestly symbolism for Jesus (which is a common New Testament thought; see Heb. 4:14; Rev. 1:13); but this interpretation must remain uncertain. The presence of women at the cross is striking (19:25–27). Unlike the apostles, who fled, the women would have been safe from incrimination because of ancient oriental chivalry giving them a protected status. We see that John attends as well but for one purpose: Jesus’s first word from the cross makes provision for his mother’s ...

3005. The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... with the Holy Spirit” (1:5). The “other tongues” (2:4) that they speak in are probably foreign languages intelligible to residents of different parts of the Roman world (cf. 2:8), although some in the audience do mistakenly assume that these apostles “had too much wine” (2:13). While it is theoretically possible that this is a miracle of listening, this is not an aspect that Luke emphasizes. Moreover, a comparable phrase in the Old Testament also points to intelligible foreign languages (Isa. 28 ...

3006. Peter Addresses the Crowd

Acts 2:14-41

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

When the crowd accuses the apostles of drunkenness (2:13), Peter stands and addresses the crowd (2:14–40). This is the first of the major speeches in Acts, and these speeches provide critical commentary on the significance of the events that Luke is recording. In this speech, Peter first refutes the charges of drunkenness by ...

3007. The Fellowship of the Believers

Acts 2:42-47

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... location of this community at the end of time as they experience the renewed presence of God in this new era. The basis of this unity does not lie in an unrealistic vision of social harmony or a perverse sense of economic utility, but in the “apostles’ teaching” (2:42) that points to the power of the work of Jesus Christ. Moreover, this practice is not to be universally imposed, as some believers still own personal property (cf. 4:37), and the perfect unity of the Christian community is a reality that ...

3008. Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

Acts 3:11-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... that the healing is not accomplished by their “power or godliness” (3:12); instead, it is Jesus who is working through them. It is the mighty acts of the risen Lord that are recorded in this narrative, not accounts of the mighty deeds of the apostles. Within this speech alone, Jesus is called “his [God’s] servant” (3:13, 26), “the Holy and Righteous One” (3:14), “the author of life” (3:15), “Messiah” (3:18, 20), “the Lord” (3:19), and “prophet” (3:22). The unique role of the ...

3009. Unity and Division in the Early Church: Ananias and Sapphira

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

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... pave the way for the narrative that follows (5:1–11). First, the phrase “one in heart and mind” (4:32) emphasizes the unity of the early Christians, but this unity will soon be broken by those within the community. Second, the focus on the “apostles” (4:35) as the leaders of this community also prepares for the exercise of their authority in the next episode. Third, the honest offering of money by Barnabas (4:37) also sets up a contrast with the deception of Ananias and Sapphira. While the early ...

3010. Unity and Division in the Early Church: Appointing the Seven

Acts 6:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... with a summary statement: “So the word of God spread” (6:7). Being the first of three similar summary statements that focus on the powerful word of God (cf. 12:24; 19:20), this statement concludes the first part of Acts, as the apostles minister in and around the Jerusalem area. This statement should be literally translated, “So the word of God grew.” Despite the disagreement among the believers, the word of God continues to grow and become strong. The active role this powerful word plays in ...

3011. Ministries of Philip

Acts 8:4-8

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Samaria (cf. Isa. 11:13). By evoking the ancient city of Samaria, Luke is pointing to the significance of Philip’s ministry in the reconciliation of the two parts of the divided kingdom. This emphasis on reconciliation explains the reason why the Jerusalem apostles send a delegate out to Samaria when they hear that the people there have accepted the word of God (8:14). The climactic manifestation of the reunification of Judea and Samaria appears when the people in Samaria “received the Holy Spirit” as ...

3012. Simon the Sorcerer

Acts 8:9-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (8:12) and by Simon himself (8:13) shows that “the name of Jesus Christ” is superior to other claims to divinity. After his apparent conversion, Simon continues his attempts to gain possession of the divine power by offering money to the apostles (8:18–19). The expression “full of bitterness” (literally “gall of bitterness,” 8:23) evokes the anti-idol language of Deuteronomy 29:18, and “captive to sin” alludes to Isaiah 58:6, a verse that has already appeared in the narrative (Luke ...

3013. Conversion and Call of Paul

Acts 9:1-19a

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... in Luke 3:4. In Isaiah, this “way” points to the fulfillment of the eschatological salvation. In Acts, this Way-terminology likewise becomes a significant claim, as Luke indicates that this eschatological salvation can be found only in the gospel that these apostles are preaching. It is precisely in situations where Jesus’s disciples are persecuted by the Jewish leadership that one finds the use of this label for the church. In a sense then, this becomes an identity claim, and the polemic against ...

3014. Aeneas and Dorcas

Acts 9:32-43

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

With this section, Luke shifts his attention back to Peter. The brief account of the healing of Aeneas (9:32–35) again points to “Jesus Christ” as the power behind the ministry of the apostles (9:34). The more detailed account of Peter’s raising Dorcas from the dead (9:36–43) brings him to Joppa, the place where he will receive the significant vision concerning the conversion of Gentiles (10:9–23). These two miracles also remind readers of similar acts of healing during ...

3015. Peter Explains His Actions

Acts 11:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ’s call so that he can be saved. While the emphasis on God underscores his sovereignty behind all these events, the focus on Cornelius also points to his active role in the reception of this gift. Third, this report again highlights the role of the Jerusalem apostles. The mere fact that Peter is the agent through which a Gentile can hear the gospel serves to highlight the central role the Jerusalem church plays in this important event (cf. Acts 8:14). The need for Peter to provide a detailed report to the ...

3016. On to Jerusalem

Acts 21:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... signify the beginning of a chain of events. The point is often to show that God is in control even in the midst of apparent chaos. In this context, Luke’s account of Agabus’s prophetic act is to emphasize that God is still in control even though his apostle is suffering at the hands of those who oppose him. Paul’s response also recalls the journey of Jesus to the cross. “I am ready . . . to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (21:13) recalls similar notes in Luke (Luke 9:21; 18:32 ...

3017. Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... their sins—their immersion into Jesus Christ is an immersion into his death. Faith in Christ therefore establishes a union with Jesus the Messiah that causes the believer’s participation in his death (and resurrection, 6:5). If Paul’s readers understood the apostle to refer to baptism, he would want to clarify that the union with Christ does not become a reality through water baptism understood as a purely ceremonial event but through faith in Jesus as the crucified Messiah and Savior (Rom. 1:16–17 ...

3018. Slaves to Righteousness

Romans 6:15-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Jesus Christ, and life in the presence of God. Paul’s thanksgiving (6:17) clarifies that believers do not occupy neutral ground in the battle between sin and righteousness. They were once enslaved to sin (1:18–3:20). Since they accepted the teaching of the apostles—the preaching of the gospel of God—and came to faith in Jesus Christ, they have become obedient to God. It was God himself who caused them to become obedient in their hearts to the gospel. It was God who liberated them from the power of ...

3019. God’s Sovereign Choice

Romans 9:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... totally rejected Israel. There are indeed Jews who are believers, and Jews will continue to find salvation through faith in Jesus Christ in the future (11:1–32). 9:1–5 · Paul’s intercession for Israel:The present unbelief of the Jewish people pains the apostle to the utmost, a fact that Paul underscores with the solemn affirmation that he speaks the truth and that he does not lie (9:1). Paul emphasizes that the Jews’ unbelief grieves him greatly (9:2). The cause for his grief is implied in verse ...

3020. Epistolary Introduction

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (s) of the letter, joined on occasion by a short self-description; the name of the intended recipient(s) of the letter, again joined on occasion by some short descriptive comment; and a word of greeting. In 1 Corinthians the senders are Paul, who describes himself as an apostle sent out by Christ Jesus and by the will of God (see also Rom. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1), and Sosthenes (see Acts 18:17). The letter is addressed to the church at Corinth (that Paul addresses the church as a whole is significant ...

3021. Questions about Marriage, Divorce, and Celibacy

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... a legitimate choice. Conversely, if a man “has control over his own will” but decides not to marry, then this man also is doing the “right thing” and choosing what to Paul is the “better” of the two alternatives (7:37–38). Last comes the apostle’s answer to widows who have asked about marriage. He reminds them that the unique loyalty of the marriage bond, though it is lifelong (with 7:15 as the exception, not the rule), is terminated by death. Accordingly, they are as “free to marry” as ...

3022. Questions about Food, Idolatry, and Freedom

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Paul’s (9:3) in this matter and others (9:4–6) as either too bold in its exercise of Christian and apostolic rights (9:4–12a) or too timid in its restraint (9:12b–27), and in any case inconsistent with what they had come to expect of an apostle (9:1–2). Paul’s reply alternates between instructions and his own example rather than between advice and principles. In 8:1–13, as in 6:12 (and perhaps in 7:1), Paul begins by giving assent to a guideline advanced by some at Corinth, in this case the ...

3023. Questions about the Collection and Paul’s Plans

1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 1 Corinthians 16:5-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ” (16:16). Finally, Paul conveys to the church that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived, and he gladly commends their service in supplying him with the information that has allowed him to respond more fully to the church’s needs. Such men “deserve recognition” for their ministry of keeping the apostle and the church in touch with one another (16:18).

3024. Epistolary Introduction

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... pressure,” despair, the imminence of death, and “deadly peril” (1:5–10), remains unmentioned (perhaps indicating that the Corinthians knew the facts well enough, including the part their own failure to honor Paul and his gospel had played in the apostle’s sufferings). Paul chooses rather to extol the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (1:3), from whom he has received the strength to sustain himself in suffering. Furthermore, precisely because of his experience, which forced him ...

3025. The Cost of Paul’s Ministry

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of his life (for pressure and perplexity continue to be a part of his experience, together with persecution and physical beatings that have come more recently, since the beginning of his ministry). Instead it is a change in the attitude and fortitude of the apostle, which has enabled him to bear suffering and even to triumph in the midst of it. For the power of the treasure is clearly “revealed” through the weakness and frailty of its mortal receptacle (4:10–11). So even while death is at work ...

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