Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 301 to 325 of 340 results

Revelation 8:6--9:21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... God; both are sent to carry out divinely ordained tasks—one which concerns God’s judgment upon evil and the other God’s redemption from evil, and one which comes at the beginning of the last days and the other at its consummation. Caird is no doubt correct to understand that this angelic star is responsible for those human institutions—social, political, economic and religious—which promote evil and destroy creation and creature alike. Thus, while the believing community dwells on the margins of ...

302. The Woman and the Dragon

Revelation 12:1--13:1a

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... here about the testimony of Christian martyrs. John does not view the history of God’s people as divided into discrete dispensations; rather, the faithful remnant of Israel and now of the church form an unbroken testimony to God’s reign from creation to consummation. In this sense, the saints of old bear collective witness to a pattern of life which ultimately overcomes the evils of a fallen world (cf. Heb. 11). John sounds a realistic, perhaps even an ominous note in the final stanza. While the heavens ...

303. Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

Revelation 15:1-8

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... the smoke that filled the temple. From his reading of the OT prophets, John recognizes its twofold significance. First, smoke symbolizes the shekinah glory of God (cf. Ezek. 44:4)—the demonstration of God’s power to rule which is fully disclosed at the consummation of history (cf. Rev. 21). The presence of smoke is yet another visionary cue that the bowl-plagues mark the concluding chapter in the story of God’s wrath (cf. 15:1). This point is underscored in John’s second observation concerning the ...

304. The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1-27

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... the future of salvation’s history, and specifically about the ultimate import of Christ’s return. In this sense, the new order does not refer to a “brand new” reality; neither does Christ’s parousia mark the end of human history. Rather it consummates the renewal of the old order. In making everything new, God removes all that interferes with the formation of a covenantal relationship with the believing community (cf. Heb. 8:6–13). We may now understand the cryptic reference to the passing of ...

305. Job's Reply to Bildad

Job 9:1–10:22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... of God’s creation. By doing so we exercise an inalienable right built into the very fabric of our beings by the creator God who made us. By doing so we come to understand that this world as it currently exists cannot provide our spiritual hope and consummation. By doing so we align ourselves ultimately with the will and purpose of God, who intends for us and his cosmos so much more than this world we now know could ever hope to offer or contain. This is, of course, why there must be “a new heaven ...

306. Elihu

Job 32:1--37:24

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... the dictum of Proverb 26:5: “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” “Do not say,” Elihu contends, let God refute him, not man. To leave Job’s refutation up to God is to admit defeat. The consummate apologist, Elihu must defend the faith and set Job straight or see his own worldview crumble. Elihu claims to bring new insight to the discourse. Job has not had to respond to Elihu before now, not . . . against me, so Job’s previous victory over the friends cannot ...

307. Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Maranatha,” p. 779), the daily bread being the messianic banquet and the temptation a reference to the time of severe persecution at the end of the age (cf. Matt. 24:22). It is better to take the first three petitions as bearing upon the future consummation and the next four as related to God’s action in our lives at the present time (cf. Beare, p. 175). Whatever the primary focus, however, each petition has implications for both the present and the future. In form, the Lord’s Prayer opens very much ...

308. The Healing of Two Demon-possessed Men

Matthew 8:28-34

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... (near the lake?) may have entered the manuscript tradition as a correction posed by Origen (Metzger, TCGNT, pp. 23–24). 8:29 Before the appointed time: According to 1 Enoch, evil spirits proceeding from the giants “afflict, oppress, destroy, attack, do battle, and work destruction … until the day of the consummation, the great judgment” (15:11–16:1).

309. Nocturnal Praise

Psalm 134:1-3

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... a decisive wordplay. As worshipers are commanded to “bless the LORD” (vv. 1–2), so he is in turn invoked, May the LORD . . . bless you (v. 3). Relationship with Yahweh is a mutual one: we bless him; he blesses us. Verse 3 contains what is a consummate irony for all and a stumbling block for many, especially in a pluralistic age. Yahweh is the Maker of heaven and earth—he is universal. Yet his source of blessing is from Zion—it is particular and contingent (cf. 128:5). What makes this particular ...

310. Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... depleted, and of disease epidemics, we need to remember that God is still on his throne. He may not intervene as often as we like in human history, but we know that nothing happens without his allowing it, and we know he is bringing this world to its consummation according to his plan, in his time. We need to trust that just as God provided for Daniel and his friends, keeping them healthy with their simple vegetarian diet, God will take care of us. God may not place us in a palace, but Jesus promises that ...

311. The Great Multitude in White Robes

Revelation 7:9-17

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... where never again will they thirst, because the Lamb will lead them to springs of living water (cf. 22:1–2). God will spread his tent over them, so that the sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. And in that future day of consummation, eschatological Israel will realize the slain Lamb’s work that transformed them into priests to serve God (cf. 5:10)—to serve him day and night in his temple. On that future day, the worship of God will not take place in an actual building—a literal ...

312. The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:1-14

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... “last days,” and signify that all is in accord with the divine program of salvation. Further, the ever-shortening periods of time—from seven years (11:2–3) to a single hour (11:13)—create the impression of a quickening pace toward the consummation of history. The preface to the vision of the two witnesses has the image of Ezekiel’s eschatological temple as its background (Ezek. 40–48). In the biblical vision, an angel commissions Ezekiel to “pay attention” as a man used a measuring rod ...

313. The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

Revelation 16:1-21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... the suddenness (like being surprised by a thief) and the surety of God’s eventual victory over the forces of evil. His pastoral concern utilizes dramatic images to evoke the impression that there is an urgent need to repent and glorify God before the consummation of salvation’s history. Additional Notes 16:4–6 Morris notes another side in the irony of the blood. This plague well suits the crime of those who were so quick to shed the martyrs’ blood; they now have only their blood to drink ...

314. Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

1 Samuel 29:1-11

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... spite of the doubts of his comrades, he is not afraid that David might turn on him. But he is aware that the others are so wary that if David does not remove himself quickly he and his men might be harmed. David reveals himself as a consummate actor, with no compunction about deceiving the one who had protected and supported him. His air of injured innocence masks the delight he must have felt at being so easily able to extricate himself from what might have been a disastrous situation. His protest that he ...

315. The End Times

Daniel 12:1-13

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... of the text, which involves a textual emendation: replacing “knowledge” with “evil” (see the Additional Note on 12:4). If this reading is correct, then the seer talking with Daniel is predicting a decline in society as things move toward the consummation of all things: “many will go here and there and evil will increase.” It is difficult to choose among these interpretations, but the first is most compelling because it recognizes the allusion to Amos, which in turn accounts for the connection ...

316. Life Through the Son

John 5:16-30, John 5:1-15

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... it will be a cause for amazement (vv. 20, 28) because God will accomplish these “greater works” through his Son, who is also Son of Man (v. 27). But if the God of creation is still at work in Jesus (v. 17), his power to bring consummation is already at work in Jesus (vv. 24, 25). In such miracles as the healing at Bethesda the long-expected resurrection to life comes to realization in advance. The “greater works” are yet future, but Jesus’ emphasis (indicated by the twice-repeated I tell you the ...

317. The Disciples' Grief Will Turn to Joy

John 16:17-33, John 16:5-16

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... of gladness, after the disciples have seen Jesus again. These statements, especially the invitation, ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete (v. 24b), are appropriate to the time of the church’s mission but inappropriate to the time of consummation, after Jesus’ Second Coming. They are commands that the author and his readers would naturally understand as directed to them, in their own time and situation (cf. 14:13–14; 15:7, 16). The completion of their joy corresponds to what Jesus ...

318. Sowing Generously

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... formula to mark the citation as such, it is possible to tell from the distinctive style of the statement that Paul is citing Isaiah 55:10 (cf. D.-A. Koch). Isaiah 55:1–13 is a hymn of joy and triumph that celebrates the approaching consummation of Israel’s restoration. God’s promise about Israel’s restoration will be fulfilled as surely as the rain from heaven that falls upon the earth causes germination and ultimately provides seed to the sower and bread to the eater (vv. 10–11). More than ...

319. Aaron's Staff Becomes a Snake

Exodus 7:8-13

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... to both Moses and Aaron, who formed a united front representing Yahweh. Pharaoh would ask them to “Perform a miracle.” The request could also be paraphrased, “Show me your credentials in a wondrous act.” They respond to this request in consummate fashion. In this first sign, Aaron’s staff becomes a fearsome reptile. Translations usually miss God’s improvisation and the highly symbolic significance of this text. (The NIV unfortunately has “snake.”) The word is not the same one used to refer ...

320. The Gathering at Cana

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... fulfillment of scripture. The “covenant” of Jewish marriage echoes the covenant between God and God’s virgin bride, Israel. Whereas in the past, Israel has come upon difficult times, has fallen out of favor with God, now the time has come to consummate the relationship. It’s a time of celebration and festivities when the Lord’s promise to Israel will be fulfilled. The “marriage” is fulfilled in the person of Jesus. He is the bridegroom of the spiritual kingdom. Jesus uses the opportune setting ...

321. Grounds for Blessing

Matthew 13:1-23, Luke 8:1-15, Mark 4:1-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... spoke of a covenant between God and God’s people, it was a covenant in which there was a union between God and them that was not a legal agreement, but a relational agreement. It was like a marriage covenant, in which the marriage was consummated, and in which the seed of God’s Word would be planted within God’s people, and would henceforth be passed down through generations as fruit-bearing, and re-seeding –what we might call generational evangelism! The images then of the “seed and ground” and ...

322. Liminal Space

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... journey with. In our scripture for today, we see Mary and Joseph in a kind of “liminal space.” They are journeying from Mary’s home in Nazareth, where they had become betrothed, to Joseph’s family home in Bethlehem, where their marriage will eventually be consummated. But theirs is a strange journey. Mary is already pregnant. And as we know, pregnancy too is liminal space. And this isn’t any ordinary pregnancy. But this is a pregnancy by the Holy Spirit, told to Mary in a visit. Told to Joseph in ...

323. The Funeral Crasher

John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14, John 14:15-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... kingdom, inheriting what was prepared for us. The hidden metaphor here of Bridegroom is also inherent, as in the Jewish tradition, the bridegroom goes during the betrothal to prepare / build / construct a new house for him and his bride. When the wedding is consummated, they will live in this new home together. And the bride will leave her family and travel with the groom to his household, where he has prepared a place for her. The dwelling places here are unlimited, for Jesus promises all those who follow ...

324. Over the River and Through the Woods

Luke 2:1-7, Psalm 121:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it’s more likely she was only 3, perhaps nearly 4 months pregnant when she and Joseph made the journey. When they arrived, they would have celebrated their wedding (although we learn from the scriptures that Joseph didn’t consummate the union until after the birth of Jesus), and they would have moved most likely into the lower level of Joseph’s parents’ home (where also the animals were brought in during the night) to stay until Joseph could build them a proper home ...

325. Song of Promise

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... : “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Image Exegesis: The Sacrificial and Joyful Heart is the Faithful Heart Much in the scriptures is written in song. The scriptures are a book of hope and of testimony to the love ...

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