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Showing 301 to 325 of 2331 results

301. John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Mark 1:1-8

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... is seen in some church circles. 1:5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem: Mark of course probably does not mean that everyone from these areas went! 1:6 John’s dress and diet seem to reflect the strict life of a desert monk. From other references (Matt. 11:7–8, 16–19) we get the impression that John lived by strong ascetic standards, perhaps modeled somewhat after the Nazirite vow described on the OT, involving abstinence from wine among other rules (see Num. 6:2–21; Judg. 13 ...

302. John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Luke 3:1-20

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... time, just as he did in the infancy narratives of John (1:5) and Jesus (2:1–2). (For details regarding these authorities see notes below.) The second half of v. 2 brings John back into the story: The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert (see 1:80). The expression is reminiscent of the calls that God extended to the OT prophets (Isa. 38:4; Jer. 13:3) and is actually borrowed from the LXX version of Jer. 1:1–2 (“the word of God came to Jeremiah son of Hilkiah”). From this we may ...

303. Exploring Canaan

Numbers 13:1-25

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... on it or not? The spies are to return with a report and, if possible, some of the fruit of the land. The last phrase in verse 20 places the excursion in the summer months. The spies then carry out their reconnaissance for forty days. The expedition is from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, that is, from the southern region of Canaan, to a place in the far north—the full extent of the land the people will eventually live in as a kingdom. The expedition journeyed up from the south to Hebron, home of the ...

304. Job's Reply to Eliphaz

Job 6:1–7:21

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... objectionable has more to do with the sick person’s queasy stomach than with the food itself. If Job’s suffering were removed, he suggests, he might be more agreeable to the medicine offered. 6:15–17 For use of the image of water flowing (or not flowing!) in these desert streams as a metaphor of divine blessing or judgment, see Isa. 32:2; 35:6; 43:19, 20; 44:3; Joel 1:20; Nah. 1:4; 1 Kgs. 17; Pss. 74:15; 78:16, 20; 126:4. 6:27 The fatherless (yatom) orphans are among those classes of defenseless ...

305. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... a hut made by a watchman collapsed quickly into decay when no longer needed. Similarly the home of Job’s eldest son offered little protection to Job’s children, as it collapsed on their heads when struck by a strong wind from the desert (1:18–19). He lies down . . . he opens his eyes. This image emphasizes the unexpected rapidity with which the wicked’s prosperity disappears. Like an investor caught napping when the stock market tanks, overnight he goes from being wealthy to being impoverished; all ...

306. A Confession of Sin from Israel’s History: Mercy for the Generations of the Exodus and the Exile

Psalm 106:1-48

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 3) At Horeb they . . . worshiped an idol, and God would destroy them—had not Moses . . . stood in the breach (vv. 19–23; cf. Exod. 32–34). (4) They did not believe his promise regarding the pleasant land, so he swore . . . he would make them fall in the desert (vv. 24–27; cf. Num. 13–14). (5) They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and a plague broke out among them until Phinehas . . . intervened (vv. 28–31; cf. Num. 25). (6) By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to ...

307. The People Rebel

Numbers 14:1-45

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... Egyptian slavery with fondness. Despite the reminder in 13:2 that God is giving Canaan to the people, here, out of fear of violent death, they forget the promises of divine provision and conclude that they would have been better off dying in Egypt or the desert. Now their wives and children will be taken as plunder. They even speak of choosing a new leader and returning to Egypt (vv. 3–4). This response leads Moses and Aaron to fall on their faces, and causes Joshua and Caleb, the spies who commended ...

308. Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away

Genesis 21:8-21

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... Early the next morning Abraham acted on Sarah’s demand in light of God’s instructions. Compassionately he took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. Then, entrusting the boy to her, Abraham sent them off. Hagar wandered about in the desert of Beersheba, apparently lacking direction. After the water in the skin had been consumed, she put the boy under a bush for some protection from the burning sun. She then went a little way—as far as one could shoot an arrow—and sat down. In agony ...

309. David Conquers Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 11:4-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... of David, form the outer circle of this narrative. Included in this circle then are subsections describing the support that David gathered at Hebron (11:10–47 and 12:23–37), at Ziklag (12:1–7 and 12:19–22), and at the stronghold in the desert (12:8–15 and 12:16–18). However, there are also some good arguments why different delimitations can be made. In my division of the subsections I take as the point of departure the different place names or geographical locations that feature in these verses ...

310. David's Mighty Men

1 Chronicles 11:10-47

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

311. Warriors Join David

1 Chronicles 12:1-22

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

312. Others Join David at Hebron

1 Chronicles 12:23-40

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

313. The Natural Look

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... of pious pastoring that we clung to in seminary, what we all had discovered was reality. What ministry is really about is whiny, needy pastors serving whiny, needy people and in the wilderness of all this humanness there can be the impetuous urge to desert the desert. That is why the young pastor’s seminar was created. After an intense few days of discussion, worship, and study sessions, the leaders invited us to share one final exercise. Each of us sat in the middle of the group, and for ten minutes ...

314. Like a Fort

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... and water stored there were life supporting. The strength of the fortification became the strength of its occupants. When Lawrence defended it, it defended him. As one relying on the garrison, he was the object of its protection. Its strength was his. Old desert dwellers living around there have cold me that Sir Lawrence felt confident and secure within its walls. He had on occasion to depend on the fort; it provided his need. He learned to trust it; his experience proved its worth. Like chat fort, "The ...

315. The Death of John the Baptist

Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29, Luke 9:1-9

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... . The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. Mark’s Witness to the Death of John the Baptist King Herod heard of [the things Jesus was doing, including healing and casting out demons], for Jesus name had become known. Some were saying, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead; and ...

316. Holy Quail!

Exodus 16:1-36, Numbers 11:4-35

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... journey, when they started to moan and kvetch about how hungry they were becoming. They had reached the land of Sin (Tzin, which means land of thorns), so you can tell by the name, that it wasn’t a very fertile or pleasant place. Pretty much a desert. It was hot. They were tired. And they were starting to reminisce about their lives back in Egypt –where they at least had great food to eat, they thought. So, God satisfied their bodies and hearts with a gift of something called Manna! Now in the Exodus ...

317. Over the River and Through the Woods

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

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... covenant place, where God promises new life, a safe resting place, and new hope. Moses must lead the people of Israel across desert and sea in a 40-year pilgrimage –40 years people! And you think it takes you long to come to Jesus! –in ... and risks. The road can be twisty, the days can go long. We must sometimes scale what feels like endless mountains or wander dry and desolate deserts and dark nights of the soul. But when we cross that final stream and feel the living water on our lips, we know the time is ...

318. Faith is a River That Flows

Genesis 19:1-29

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... The few things she could call her own. Gone. Here she is fleeing with her husband, who had been literally forced out of town, and all she’s got is that they will head toward the next town, and start again. Hey, even Hagar gets an oasis in her desert! But Edith here, all she’s got is that she knows she needs to move forward. With her husband. Guided by the hand of God. Who wouldn’t be feeling like Edith at this point? She’s scared witless. She’s mourning. She’s grieving. She’s traumatized. She ...

319. Deliverance

Isaiah 49:8-26, Isaiah 44:24--45:25, Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 13:17--14:31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the ...

320. The Crack in the Wall

Joshua 2:1-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... BCE. People all over the world were convinced that the best way to live was to shut others out, and shut themselves in. In this way, they would feel protected, insured, secured, safe. But the story of Jericho tells us this is a fallacy, a mirage in the desert, an illusion. In an ironic twist, the way we can be safest is to open ourselves to the mystery, the unknown territories, the unknown people, the uncertain waves of the future, while in God’s hands. The best way to survive into the future is to take a ...

321. A Cure for Complainers

Exodus 16:1-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... man replies: “It was good as usual, but I see you are back to giving only one slice of bread!” I have a feeling that nothing the manager could have done would have satisfied this customer. Our lesson for today from the book of Exodus begins like this: “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this ...

322. Here

Luke 2:1-20

Sermon

Will Willimon

... , it's easier to pull the trigger, isn't it? Perhaps that's why our leaders speak in generalities of violation of international law, the rules of civilization, naked aggression rather than particularities, specificities. President Johnson damaged public support for another war, not in a desert, but in a jungle, when LBJ said, "War is sending one mother's son to kill some other mother's son." Of course, if that mother's son from Baghdad is a Muslim, be doesn't know Luke 2, doesn't know it's Christmas ...

323. Missional Discontinuity

Mark 6:30-44, Mark 6:45-56

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... Jesus all that had happened to them but there were so many people with so many needs coming to them for help that they did not have time to even eat their lunch, much less talk about what happened last week. So Jesus bid them “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” But their escape plan didn’t work. People saw them crossing the lake in their boat and ran around the shore to be there before the boat arrived. When Jesus came ashore, he saw that these people were “like sheep ...

324. When the Way Is Hard

Matthew 26:14-27:66

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... Christ reigns at the right hand of power. Our God is the God of resurrection, and resurrection will break out even at the darkest and most unexpected times. If you’re facing down injustice, if you’ve been betrayed by someone close to you, if you feel deserted by your friends, know that Jesus has been there too, and is with you now. Hang on to hope. Be steadfast in your testimony. Even when the way is hard - especially when the way is hard - look for signs of resurrection to break out around you. If ...

325. Forgiven

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... new life. And as we are forgiven, we in turn are called to forgive others. That’s how God celebrated Easter — by forgiving people who didn’t deserve it, forgiving us even though we don’t deserve it. That’s how Jesus celebrated Easter, by forgiving those who deserted and denied him, by calling them my brothers and going to meet them. You may or may not have a chosen a word for this year. But what if we were to make “forgiven” our word for Easter? What if we were to celebrate Easter by forgiving ...

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