Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3376 to 3400 of 4944 results

3376. God’s Covenant with Abram

Genesis 15:1-18

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

God’s Covenant with Abram: In this account God appears twice to Abram, each time giving him special promises. The text gives no indication of the length of time between these appearances, although it must have been at least a day. In the first appearance God gives Abram an object lesson at night (v. 5), and in the next there is mention of the sun setting (v. 12). On both occasions Abram receives God’s word like a prophet. In the first he has a vision in which he receives two words, both introduced by a ...

3377. Judgment and Salvation

Isaiah 65:1-16

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Yahweh’s Closing Critique and Vision: In these last two chapters of the book, once more we cannot discern an order or structure. The succession of phrases that look like introductions to prophecies (65:8, 13, 25; 66:1, 5, 12, 22) and the movement between verse and prose suggest that here it is not because a prophet let a stream of consciousness have its way. It is, rather, because a number of separate prophecies have been accumulated at the end of the book. These different prophecies have overlapping ...

3378. The Jewish Leaders as Negative Foil for Jesus’ Followers

Matthew 23:1-39

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: For Matthew, the Jewish leaders are disobedient to the Torah and pursue the honor of their positions, providing a foil to Jesus’ followers, who are to renounce concern for status and live in community as brothers and sisters. Understanding the Text Matthew concludes his narration of confrontation between Jesus and the Jerusalem leaders with a series of judgment warnings upon the Pharisees and teachers of the law (23:1–36). The chapter begins with a call to Jesus’ followers to avoid the motivation ...

3379. Jesus Is God’s Faithful Son in Gethsemane and at His Arrest and Trial

Matthew 26:31-35, Matthew 26:36-46, Matthew 26:47-56, Matthew 26:57-68, Matthew 26:69-75

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Although Jesus predicts and witnesses the disciples’ desertion and prays for God to change his fate, he as the Messiah, the Son of God, proves himself faithful to God’s will even to the point of suffering and death. Understanding the Text Matthew’s passion story continues with Jesus’ prediction of the disciples’ desertion and Peter’s denial (26:31–35), Jesus’ time of prayer in Gethsemane and arrest there (26:36–56), and Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin (26:57–68) followed by Peter’s denial (26: ...

3380. The Holy Spirit and the Blessings of the New Covenant

Romans 8:1-17

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: Second Temple Judaism longed for the return of God’s Spirit, as evidenced in Joel 2:28–29. Paul’s use of the term “Spirit” in chapter 8 signifies that Joel’s prophecy has come true. The chapter is chock-full of covenantal blessings of the Spirit—given to Gentiles, no less, because they have accepted Jesus as the Christ. Understanding the Text Romans 8:1–17 discusses six new-covenant blessings to the believer that proceed from the Spirit: justification (v. 1), obedience (vv. 2–8, 12–13), ...

3381. A Lifestyle of Holiness and Love

Leviticus 19:1-37

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: The basis of biblical ethics is God’s holiness and love. Understanding the Text Leviticus 19:2 emphasizes the theme that gives the laws of holiness (Lev. 17–27) their name: “Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy” (v. 2). Leviticus 19 marks a conceptual center of Leviticus. It is surrounded by chapters with similar themes (Lev. 18; 20) to highlight the centrality of this passage.1 It is hard to see an organizing principle in the disparate laws of this chapter, save that each encourages ...

3382. Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Obedience

Num 15:1-41

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Fellowship with God and defiant sinning are incompatible. Understanding the Text Numbers goes from a narrative about scouts (Num. 13–14) to a seemingly unrelated chapter of laws concerning sacrifices, unintentional sins, Sabbath breaking, and tassels. Why this material is placed here rather than with similar material in Leviticus has mystified interpreters. Numbers 15 does contribute one thing to the previous story. In Numbers 14 Israel is told that the adults will not enter the land (Num. 14:20– ...

3383. “The Span of My Years Is as Nothing before You”

Psalm 39:1-13

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Once the repressed thoughts about our transitory lives are verbalized, valuable lessons about our status as foreigners in this world can be learned. Understanding the Text Psalm 39 is an individual lament, perhaps prompted by sickness, as was Psalm 38, and the suppliant prays that God will remove his “scourge” (39:10) from him so that he not die. This psalm shares resemblances to Psalm 381and anticipates shared ideas with Psalms 40 and 41 (see tables 1 and 2). It also has striking similarities to ...

3384. Gabriel Brings an Answer to Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:20-27

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Big Idea: Despite the prayers of a faithful servant, the persistent sin of God’s people can bring serious consequences before their punishment is completed. Understanding the Text See the unit on 9:1–6 for a discussion of the larger context, structure, and comparisons of this chapter. Against this backdrop, 9:20–27 is the appearance vision proper. It can be divided into three parts: Gabriel’s arrival to answer Daniel’s prayer (9:20–23), the announcement of “seventy ‘sevens’” (9:24), and an explanation of ...

3385. A Warning Against Hypocrisy

Matthew 23:1-39

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Hypocrisy Denounced: The last of Matthew’s five major discourses begins with chapter 23 and runs through chapter 25 (see the standard closing formula at 26:1). It differs from the others somewhat in that there is a break and change of scene between chapters 23 and 24. The first section (chap. 23) is directed to a wider audience (cf. vv. 1, 13, 37); in the second (chaps. 24–25) Jesus speaks to his disciples in private. The material in chapter 23 has been compiled by Matthew on the basis of topical relevance ...

3386. Life Through the Spirit

Romans 8:1-17

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

In sublime contrast to the questions which have beset the argument since chapter 6 (6:1, 15; 7:1, 7, 13ff.), chapter 8 begins with a thunderous proclamation, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Especially in 7:7–25, Paul’s blow-by-blow account of indwelling sin reminded one of a ringside announcer reporting a losing struggle. But the long and doleful report is now interrupted with ecstatic news. The contest has been decisively reversed. Sin and law may have been the ...

3387. Love, for the Day Is Near

Romans 13:8-14

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

Love is the Sum of the Law Paul now returns expressly to the theme of love which dominates chapters 12–13, although more noticeably at some points (12:9–21; 13:8–10) than others (12:1–8; 13:1–7, 11–14). The idea of owing taxes (Gk. opheilē) in verse 7 reminds him that there is one debt (Gk. opheilō, v. 8) which can never be paid. The debt of love always remains outstanding. It is the only mortgage which can never be burned. In returning to the personal ethics of agapē in verses 8–10 Paul recalls that good ...

3388. The Glory of the New Covenant

2 Corinthians 3:7-17; 4:1-6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

In contrast to the death that the law brings because of the people’s inability to obey, Paul affirms that the Spirit gives life. According to Ezekiel, the life-giving Spirit is the central feature of the prophetic expectation of the restoration from exile. After the people have been punished and purged and brought again through the wilderness in a “new exodus,” they will be given a new Spirit that will reanimate the nation dead in its trespasses and sins (cf. Ezek. 11:19; 18:31; 36:26). The Vision of the ...

3389. Haman's Rage Against Mordecai

Esther 5:9-14

Understanding Series

Timothy S. Laniak

The Jewish Response II: Esther’s Plan for Haman: As we have seen, banquets (feasting/drinking) occur at pivotal moments in the book of Esther and they regularly mask deeper realities. Vashti was deposed as a result of her insubordination during the public banquets of chapter 1. Esther is crowned as Vashti’s replacement during a banquet in chapter 2, but her identity is kept secret throughout (2:18–20). Haman dined with the king in a sinister, private banquet after making the king an (unknowing) accomplice ...

3390. Our Strange, Strong Peace

John 14:15-31

Sermon

David & Marian Plant

Reflecting on her experiences with the Holy Spirit, pastor and educator Marian Plant once wrote, “There are times when the last thing I need in my life is the activity of the Holy Spirit. That “presence” of God which has a way of seeping into the psyche and unsettling one’s accepted ways of carrying on life. That manifestation of the Holy which alights on one with the innocence of a summer firefly, but whose motive is to transform the unsuspecting believer into something akin to a fiery dragon on behalf of ...

3391. Chosen and Appointed

John 15:9-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Jesus’ disciples were very different kinds of people. Very different. Let’s just say that the only thing that held them together was Jesus. Other than that, they would have been perpetually at odds and I suspect often were. Otherwise, Jesus would not have had to keep emphasizing the scripture we read today about loving each other! Peter, called “the rock” could be impulsive, forceful, impetuous, and sometimes belligerent. While Jesus would have valued these qualities, as he knew they would be important for ...

3392. Grace Under Pressure

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

I’d like to ask you a question this morning. Who is a good example to you of grace under pressure? I’m talking about someone who can rise to a challenge without panicking or taking shortcuts. How would you rate yourself at handling pressure? We’d all like to think we could pass a sudden test or challenge with ease, but then we read the news story about a woman in Illinois who gave birth in the middle of taking her bar exam and we wonder. Brianna Hill was scheduled to take her bar exam at about the mid- ...

3393. The Best Seat in the House

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

Lori Wagner

We live in a culture that lauds narcissism in the guise of assertiveness. Let me say that again. We live in a culture that lauds narcissism in the guise of assertiveness. Don’t misunderstand. To be assertive can be a very good thing, especially when one needs to be heard. Sometimes, it’s a grave mistake to keep silent when things need to be said. But we can draw a fine line between healthy self-promotion, the kind of assertiveness that helps us look out for ourselves, and our desire to be and have “the ...

3394. Paradise Promise

Luke 23:33-43

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Outside of a well-known town, an old, Victorian house stood on the corner of a busy intersection. It hadn’t always been a busy intersection. When the home was built, it was one of only a few in the area, marked by farmland. A small, dirt road ran nearby but with plenty of space in the yard out front. However, as we all know, times change. As the years went by and macadam streets were built, traffic increased, and the town grew, the road inched closer and closer to the front door of the home, which had long ...

3395. Enemy in Disguise

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Agricultural history can be a fascinating subject to research, especially when you are talking about growing “secret crops.” For centuries, people have attempted to grow and harvest crops that either set them apart as unique or superior or that offer potent properties that can be used either for medicinal or recreational purposes. Saperavi, from vinifera grapes, for example, grown for 6,000 years between the Caspian and Black seas not only brings not only brings special intensity to red blends of wines but ...

3396. Remember...

Deuteronomy 8:7-18

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

Recently a man was released from prison at the age of 65. Why was he released? Because the DNA and the investigators assigned to his case found him innocent of all charges. In prison for something he didn’t do. Sixteen thousand days in jail. What were the first words he spoke when he stepped outside the prison walls? He lifted his hands and he said, “God is so good. God is so good. God is so good.” (1) The Hebrew people had spent forty years wandering in the Sinai desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. ...

3397. The Subject Is Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Steve Molin

Elisabeth Elliot was a missionary. She was a missionary to a tribe called the Aucas in a remote section of Ecuador, and that alone may not be very spectacular. What is amazing however is that in January of 1955, Elisabeth’s husband, Jim, and four other missionaries were mas- sacred by a handful of the Auca tribe. They demolished their airplane, they mutilated their bodies with spears, and scattered the corpses throughout the dense jungle. In November, 1957, Elisabeth Elliot wrote these words as an epilogue ...

3398. Avoiding the “F” Word

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Growing up, we are taught never to use the “F” word. We all know what that means. It’s simply not “nice” language. Not “relational” language. We’re taught that the way we speak matters, that the words we use can either make or break our most important relationships. These kinds of lessons help us to navigate our emotional and relational world. If we want to build bridges instead of burning them down, it helps to use appropriate words, even when we feel angry and bitter. In our western culture, we’re taught ...

3399. House Rules

1 John 5:1-6

Children's Sermon

Various Authors

Object: list of house rules Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you brushed your teeth this morning before coming to church? (Let them answer.) Good, who told you to brush your teeth? (Let them answer.) How many of you wash your hands before eating? (Let them answer.) Very good, your mom or your dad tells you to wash your hands. Who tells you what time to go to bed, say your prayers, and turns out the light? (Let them answer.) Mom and Dad! I have a list of some rules to show you. (Show them the list ...

3400. Wedding: Unity Candle

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

Paul, the Apostle, once wrote a letter to his Christian friends in Corinth about the nature of true love. Hear his words as they are found in 1 Corinthians 13 (TEV): Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal. Eternal love. That is what you will be pledging ...

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