Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 3201 to 3225 of 3926 results

3201. Witnesses of the New Covenant

Romans 12:1-8

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C. Marvin Pate

... body of Christ (12:3–8); being a witness of Christ to society even if persecuted for doing so (12:9–21); obeying the government (13:1–7); living in the light of the imminent parousia (13:8–14); accepting one’s fellow Christians (14:1–15:13); and supporting evangelism and missions (15:14–33). Thus, 12:1–2 introduces the theme of 12:3–15:33: commit to being witnesses of the new covenant. Romans 12:1–2 is easily outlined: 1. The basis of commitment (12:1a) 2. The act of commitment (12:1b) 3 ...

3202. Being Wronged versus Claiming One’s Right

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

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Preben Vang

... disagreements like a feud over a property line or a severance package) and the kinds of dangers posed by abuse (drunk driving, battery, molestation, drug trafficking, gang violence, and so on), in which you and your leaders will fully support and encourage members who must appeal to civil authorities to prevent harm. It would also benefit you to briefly clarify any of your church’s specific policies regarding pastoral confidentiality when dealing with criminal matters (priest-penitent privilege) and ...

3203. Unity and Community (Part 1)

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

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Preben Vang

... , the Spirit blows where he will, unpredictably, for the purpose and glory of the Father, using humble humans for the Great Commission. Rather than being available to only a few, the Spirit pours out his gifts on all believers without favoritism, equipping each to support the mission of the body of Christ. Bible: Acts 8:9–25. Simon was a pagan magician who made his livelihood by conjuring signs of power. In this passage in Acts, Simon sees the amazing works that are being done by the Holy Spirit through ...

3204. Many Parts, One Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

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Preben Vang

... 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:1). then gifts of healing, of helping. Listing “helping” in the same breath as the gift of healing reveals the breadth of Paul’s thinking and his unwillingness to separate spirituality from ministry. Beyond the general ability to support others in need, Paul likely refers to the role of the patron as the benefactor of the weak.[12] guidance. The Greek word kybern?seis, sometimes translated as “administration” or “leadership,” points to those who are given directive roles.[13] The ...

3205. The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1-3

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J. Scott Duvall

... s Word. Biblical illiteracy is a growing problem in the contemporary church. The ancient practice of listening to the Scriptures, rather than reading them silently to ourselves, may offer a helpful spiritual discipline for the church today. In addition, Revelation supports an added emphasis on the public reading of large sections of text. But listening by itself is not enough. The message must be taken to heart and lived out. Perhaps surprisingly, Revelation has much to say about discipleship. The blessing ...

3206. Message to Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11

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J. Scott Duvall

... . That said, we should also avoid the opposite extreme of thinking that Judaism and Christianity are really the same. There is an increasingly popular view that Christianity is nothing more than a branch of Judaism. The New Testament clearly does not support such a view. As Christians, we should appreciate our religious heritage in Judaism but maintain our clear confession of Jesus of Nazareth as both Lord and Messiah. Illustrating the Text Church history is filled with examples of believers whose hope in ...

3207. Message to Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

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J. Scott Duvall

... the first-century world and today, some places are spiritually darker, more open to Satan’s influence, and more opposed to the gospel than others. People living “where Satan has his throne,” figuratively speaking, need strong support, especially in prayer, in order to endure faithfully. 2. Staying faithful to Jesus is directly related to being a faithful witness. Radical evangelism often involves opposition and sometimes brings persecution. This passage stresses the connection between faithfulness ...

3208. Message to Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22

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J. Scott Duvall

... In the flurry of rebuke that is the message to the Laodicean Christians, it’s easy to miss verse 19, which offers a window into Jesus’s heart. He rebukes and disciplines because he loves. In our culture, love is often portrayed as nothing more than sentimental support of another person. But when people don’t want to hear what is in their long-term best interest, they need someone to speak truth into their life. When people are hurting and broken and aware of their need of God, Jesus speaks kindly and ...

3209. The First Four Trumpet Judgments

Revelation 8:6--9:21, Revelation 8:1-5

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J. Scott Duvall

... star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—the name of the star is Wormwood. While some take the star to refer to a fallen angel, the context doesn’t seem to support this conclusion. This judgment consists of a blazing star falling from the sky into the fresh water supply, a star named for its effect. The “wormwood” (apsinthos) shrub produced a bitter, dark green oil that was used to kill intestinal worms.5Consequently, the term “wormwood ...

3210. The Woman, the Son, and the Dragon

Revelation 12:1--13:1a

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J. Scott Duvall

... you move through the text, substitute “me” and “my” in the appropriate places, claiming the promises of protection. As the week proceeds, you can also use the language of this prayer to intercede for loved ones, for your pastor, and for missionaries your church supports. We live between the decisive battle and the end of a great war. History: World War II. The present eschatological period between Christ’s two comings is often compared to two decisive events in World War II—D day and [VE-day]. D ...

3211. Proclamations of Judgment and Reward

Revelation 14:6-13

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J. Scott Duvall

... endured in trust and obedience (Matt. 4:1–11). We are called to do the same. What do we need in order to endure? A mind-set that celebrates the “little-by-little” nature of growth. A heavenly perspective. A community that provides examples, support, and forgiveness. Personal habits that foster long-term character transformation. The Christian life is more like a marathon than a sprint. To endure is to overcome; to persevere is to win. If there is one focal point in this call to endure, it’s ...

3212. The Vision of the Great Prostitute

Revelation 17:1-18

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J. Scott Duvall

... the seeds of their own destruction, and ultimately the whole edifice will come tumbling down.”7 2. People need to take inventory of how invested they are in any ungodly power structures and renew their cries for divine justice. Sometimes we support worldly systems unwittingly through our financial commitments. This text calls us to become more informed about how our economic choices affect people around the world. Are we promoting injustice by how we use our money? Are we promoting injustice through our ...

3213. The Warrior Messiah Conquers the Two Beasts and Their Followers

Revelation 19:1-21

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J. Scott Duvall

... the Lion. He comes to destroy his enemies and establish his universal reign. Mounce warns, “Any view of God that eliminates judgment and his hatred of sin in the interest of an emasculated doctrine of sentimental affection finds no support in the strong and virile realism of the Apocalypse.”6 3. Opposing Christ will have catastrophic results. From the perspective of Christ’s enemies, this passage spells disaster: defeat, destruction, death, judgment, and eternal punishment. God will defeat his ...

3214. The Temporary Imprisonment of Satan

Revelation 20:1-7

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J. Scott Duvall

... imprisonment: seized, bound, threw, locked, sealed. Here, the text itself points to a complete and total binding of Satan at the end of the age (premillennialism) rather than to a mere curtailing of his activities during the present age (amillennialism). This conclusion is also supported by the absence of deception (see 20:3b), an evil tactic consistently linked to Satan in Revelation. While the first coming of Christ certainly dealt a death blow to Satan and his empire to be sure (e.g., John 12:31; Col. 2 ...

3215. The Final Judgment

Revelation 20:11-15

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J. Scott Duvall

... s eternal judgment. While the very last part of Revelation speaks about all the wonderful things God has in store for his people, this text provides a sobering reminder of the punishment awaiting those who rebel against God. While some would like to find support for the doctrine of annihilation in Revelation (i.e., the belief that the wicked will be destroyed and cease to exist once thrown into the fiery lake), the book seems to teach the eternal conscious punishment of the wicked. In Revelation 14:9–11 ...

3216. Vows, Redemption, and Tithes

Leviticus 27:1-34

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... item’s value plus one-fifth. Something similar might well have been considered in this case. Church Life: Consider reading the vows that new members make when received into your church. After this reading, the question could be asked about how seriously the members take their church membership vows to support God’s church with gifts, talents, and service.

3217. The Nazirite Vow

Numbers 6:1-21

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... wine at her table (Prov. 9:2), and Jesus both drank and served wine (Matt. 11:19; John 2:1–12). All this is a reminder that we must allow all of Scripture to contribute to our theology on a given subject, and not just latch on to ideas that support our predilections. Teaching the Text Nazirite vows are no longer taken, but still, like Nazirites, we can dedicate ourselves to God in special ways. And if we do that because of some act of grace in our lives by God, then we will be acting in the spirit of the ...

3218. Condemned to Wilderness Wandering

Numbers 14:1-45

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... , the Anakites, the ten scouts had so feared (cf. Josh. 14:6–15). Moses and Aaron (v. 26), along with Aaron’s sons, are also (for now) exempt from this exclusion from entering the land, for no Levite had been among the unfaithful scouts, and Aaron has supported Moses, Joshua, and Caleb against the mob (14:5–6). Moses and Aaron are later excluded from entering the land (see Num. 20:12, 24). Aaron’s son Eleazar, presumably over the age of twenty at this time, is allowed to enter the land (Josh. 24:33 ...

3219. The Red Heifer

Numbers 19:1-22

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... molecules within the stem of a plant actually migrate away from the side of the plant that is facing the light, causing an elongation of those cells, bending the plant toward the light. As Christians, in our own lives and in the things we support with our energy and resources, we should bend toward life. If your context allows, display photographs of plants shaped by phototropism or bring a plant that has grown toward the light, giving it an unusual shape. God wants people to have abundant life. Current ...

3220. Balaam’s Donkey

Numbers 22:21-41

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... go with these princes from Moab on condition that he say/do only what God says. Verse 20b and verse 35a are the same revelation given at the same time at the conclusion of Balaam’s dream in verse 20a. Note the similar wording that supports that this is the same occasion (see the table). Verse 35b brings the flashback to the point of time chronologically where verse 21 has left off so that the story can again advance chronologically. Maimonides (cited by Jacob Milgrom) previously proposed that the donkey ...

3221. The Sacrifices of the Sacred Calendar

Num 28:1–29:40

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... more than the minimum. The Israelites are reminded that they can add freewill offerings to the required offerings (Num. 29:39). Similarly, we can and should make sacrifices beyond those that are expected. We should give a portion of our income to God to support the work of God. But from time to time God may lead us to give special gifts to him that are over and above our regular offerings. We too need to be encouraged to consider making special, voluntary sacrifices to God. Illustrating the Text Christians ...

3222. Keeping Promises

Numbers 30:1-16

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... morally wrong, such as “If you date another man, by God, I’ll kill you.” It can even be wrong to promise to give lots of money to God if it means that you cannot then take care of family members whom you are morally responsible to support (Matt. 15:5–6; cf. 1 Tim. 5:8). We are obligated to keep our promises, but we need to be very careful what we promise. 3. Do not merely reflect but transform your cultural context. This passage largely reflects its patriarchal culture, but nonetheless it seeks to ...

3223. War against Midian

Num 31:1-54

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... God as a way of saying thanks. Christian workers are sometimes compared with soldiers (Phil. 2:25; Philem. 2). Being a soldier involves discipline and sacrifice (2 Tim. 2:3–4), but good Christian soldier-ministers deserve spoils for their fight for Christ—material support from other Christians (1 Cor. 9:6–7). All Christians are like soldiers for Christ, and faithful soldiers can expect to be rewarded by God for fighting the good fight (2 Tim. 4:7–8). The reward that God gave these Israelite soldiers ...

3224. Cities of Refuge

Numbers 35:6-34, Numbers 35:1-5

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... and deters at least some from committing murder. Those who prefer to spare such murderers might do well to consider this talmudic proverb: “Those who are kind to the cruel will end up being cruel to the kind.” Although the Old Testament supports capital punishment for murderers, it allows it only after a trial in a regional court close enough for easy access in which sufficient, convincing evidence is presented before impartial judges (Num. 35:16–21, 24–25, 30), and only after all exculpatory ...

3225. Fighting Wars and Keeping a Promise: David Establishes an Ideal of Kingship

2 Sam 8:1–10:19

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... (Prov. 21:3) and are the foundation of Israelite law (Deut. 16:18–20). Illustrating the Text God blesses those who forsake the world’s strength and rely on his power instead. Missions: Share an example from the life of a missionary the congregation supports or a group from the church that went on a short-term mission trip. Highlight the way in which forsaking and stepping beyond the comfort and security of home allowed God’s power and provision to shine through. Bible: Briefly reference the life of ...

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