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 3451 to 3475 of 5000 results

3451. Paul's Longing to Visit Rome

Romans 1:1-17

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... ” (Exod. 19:5), uniquely set apart by God and hence singularly committed to God. Similarly, God’s claim on Paul is total; Paul’s loyalty to God is final. James Dunn (Romans 1–8, p. 8) suggests that Paul employs doulos with specific reference to the Servant of the Lord hymns in Isaiah (42:1–4; 49:1–6; 50:4–11a; 52:13–53:12). The second hymn declares, “You are my servant” (Isa. 49:3), and adds, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of ...

3452. Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... varieties of activities (working) and there is one God. Paul almost creates a chant with the repetitive quality of his language, which literally says: There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different kinds of service and the same Lord; and there are different kinds of working but the same God who works everything in all. Paul’s point is driven home through declarations about the reality of God and the gifts, service, and work that manifest God’s own rich, complex, diverse ...

3453. To the Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... ’s testing of those who claim to be apostles but are not expresses the submission of true disciples to their Lord. The exact identity and teaching of these false and wicked apostles is unclear and remains contested. In 2:6 and ... John employs an OT (LXX) idiom for faithfulness, He who has an ear, let him hear, echoing the demand of the Shema, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4), which also means to “be careful to obey so that it may go well with you” (Deut. 6:3; cf. James ...

3454. The True God of Agricultural Blessing

Psalm 4:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... The parallel line may point to the worship of other gods, which is the obvious interpretation of the NIV translators (“false gods”). Verse 5 may imply that the troublesome men do offer sacrifices but not right ones, and that they do trust but not in the Lord. (The particular expression used in the Hb. text, bṭḥ ʾel instead of the more frequent bṭḥ be, places special emphasis on the object of the trusting. See 31:6; Jer. 7:4; Zeph. 3:2.) It makes sense that the book of Psalms should reflect this ...

3455. Intercession for the King Before Battle

Psalm 20:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... to be consistent with the other Hb. jussives, the cohortative of v. 5a should also be rendered as a wish, “May we shout for joy”), where the king is addressed directly (you) in the form of a wish where Yahweh is the subject of the action (May the LORD answer you . . . ). Special significance is attached to the name of God (vv. 1, 5, 7), probably because Yahweh’s name was a key rallying point for Israel’s army (e.g., 1 Sam. 17:45; Pss. 44:5; 118:10–12). Explicit references to the sanctuary on Zion ...

3456. A Victory Procession and Instruction for Temple Entry

Psalm 24:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... as a static state but is portrayed as a dynamic victory. The ancient Near Eastern motif of divine kingship also helps us to make sense of the divine roles in verses 7–10. Because he had vanquished the seas (v. 2), “Yahweh of (the military) hosts” (NIV “the LORD Almighty,” v. 10), “a warrior (Hb. gibbôr) mighty in battle” (v. 8), is now the King of glory (vv. 7–10) over all the world (v. 1). These verses alert us to the fact that creation order is not a given, rather Yahweh must continue to ...

3457. Cultivating Faithfulness Until the Flourishing Wicked Wither

Psalm 37:1-40

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... curb emotions that motivate social revolution is that evil men will be cut off, and in a little while, the wicked will be no more (vv. 9, 10) The end is assured. The only question is the means one will pursue. It is those who hope in the LORD and the meek that will inherit the land (vv. 9, 11), not those who oust the wicked themselves. In the future, they will “take great delight (Hb. ʿng) in the abundant well-being/peace” (v. 11), but in the meantime they are commanded, Delight yourself (Hb. ʿng) in ...

3458. A Prayer for the Afflicted and for the Ruins of Zion

Psalm 102:1-28

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... behalf are to rebuild Zion and appear in his glory (v. 16), where his praise will in turn be declared (v. 21). In turn, the news and praise of this divine act will reverberate to the nations, who will fear the name of the LORD (v. 15) and assemble to worship the LORD (v. 22). This praise serves as praise to Yahweh and his name in its own right, and as a promise that assures the speaker and the people. In addition, it serves as a motivation supporting the prayer. The connective for (Hb. kî) supplies reasons ...

3459. The Creator and His Providential Ordering of Creation

Psalm 104:1-35

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... the Egyptian “Hymn to Aton” (written in the mid-fourteenth century; see ANET, pp. 369–71). It therefore demonstrates in the language of the ancient culture that Yahweh is the true divine King over creation. 104:1–4 The opening section introduces the LORD as the divine King (esp. clothed with splendor and majesty), who appears as God of the skies (on this language of theophany, i.e., a divine appearance, see under “Tradition of Divine Kingship” in the Introduction). Like the sun, he wraps himself ...

3460. A Festival Procession for Giving Thanks

Psalm 118:1-29

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... in Matt. 21:9) and grant us success, might seem out of place during the course of a hymn and thanksgiving (though note 33:22), but they need not indicate a special need or circumstance. Rather, they may simply signal the worshipers’ continued dependence on the Lord. The blessing on the entrants (Blessed is he who comes [or “enters”], and we bless you [pl.]) and the echo of the Aaronic blessing in the phrase, he has made his light shine upon us (Num. 6:25), indicate verses 26–27 are sung by a priest ...

3461. Nocturnal Praise

Psalm 134:1-3

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 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 mountain significant is, of course, the house of the Lord, which resides on it. This reality is the raison d’être for pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the psalms of ascents. It is one of the fundamentals of OT theology: Yahweh is the creator of all, but he makes himself known in historical relationships that ...

3462. Jesus Presented in the Temple

Luke 2:21-40

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... last is at hand. The reference to the Holy Spirit (vv. 25, 27) prepares for the proclamation of praise and thanksgiving (i.e., the Nunc Dimittis, vv. 29–32). As a watchman who now feels that his duty has been done (see Fitzmyer, p. 428), Simeon requests that the Lord let his servant go in peace (v. 29). In seeing Jesus he has beheld the salvation (v. 30) that God has prepared in the sight of all people (v. 31; see Isa. 52:10). The reference to the light for revelation to the Gentiles (v. 32; see Isa. 42 ...

3463. Whose Son Is the Christ?

Luke 20:41-47

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... the great patriarch. Jesus’ question would be puzzling to his original hearers, but not to the believing community; they would understand it in the light of the Easter event. How can any descendant of David, even if he is the Messiah, be David’s Lord? He can be his Lord through the resurrection (see Acts 2:36). 20:45–47 The section ends with Jesus’ warning to his disciples to beware the teachers of the law who love to parade their religion but have no compassion for the poor and the defenseless. His ...

3464. The Thousand Years

Revelation 20:1-7

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... 20:7–10). Together, then, these two visions (20:1–10) form two different perspectives of the final stage and status of Satan’s struggle against the vastly more powerful reign of God’s Christ, who is now revealed as the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” When Satan was bound in the Abyss for a thousand years, the eschatological community came to life and reigned with Christ. This was the community of Christ’s disciples (14:1–5), who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and ...

3465. The End Times

Daniel 12:1-13

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... (Ezek. 37). Sometimes Hosea 6:1–2 is cited in support for the doctrine of the resurrection in the OT: “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will ... heavenly being swears by him who lives forever (Dan. 12:7; see also Dan. 4:34; Rev. 10:5–6). People would often swear, “As the LORD lives” (e.g., Judg. 8:19; 1 Sam. 14:39, 45; 19:6; 20:3, 21; 25:26, 34), while God swears, “As I live” (Num. ...

3466. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

John 20:10-18

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... with his disciples as well. From now on they will be his “brothers” and “sisters” (cf. Mark 3:35), united to him by faith and privileged, with him, to call God Father. Mary Magdalene was to bring this good news because she was the first to have seen the Lord (v. 18; cf. v. 25). Step by step, Jesus has disclosed himself to his disciples in a series of incidents arranged to form a chiasm (i.e., a pattern that can be represented a b c b’ a’): a Mary Magdalene looked at the tomb from the outside and ...

3467. Wives and Husbands

1 Peter 3:1-7

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... Sarah in verse 6 has the same sexual implication. The occasion when she is recorded in Scripture as addressing Abraham as “her master” is when she learns that despite their advanced ages, she is to bear him a son. Her submissive response is a laughing “My lord is rather old!” (Gen. 18:12 LXX). Thus both in verse 1 and in verse 5 the meaning of the wife’s submission to her husband concerns the sexual relationship and should not be taken in a more general and oppressive sense. It is noticeable that ...

3468. Aaron's Staff Becomes a Snake

Exodus 7:8-13

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... of Egypt at the sea. The incident was also a practical and somewhat humorous defeat of the magicians. Their staffs of power had disappeared for good. This marks the beginning of the brief competition between the Egyptian magicians and Aaron and the Lord. In 8:18–19 they recognize the difference between their magic and the miraculous intervention of God (see the discussion at 8:18). “Magicians” is usually understood to include both the wise men and their assistants, the sorcerers. At the end of ...

3469. Social Responsibility

Exodus 22:16-31

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... , and wait until sunset before he could be considered “clean.” Additional Notes 22:18–27 The prophet seemed to have these verses in mind in Mal. 3:5. 22:18 Each of the first three laws in this section concern cultic relation to the Lord. Sprinkle identified an alternating pattern of cultic/social justice groups as follows: 22:18–20 cultic; 22:21–27 social justice; 22:28–31 cultic; 23:1–9 social justice; 23:10–19 cultic (Sprinkle, The Book, pp. 163–165). The alternating pattern demonstrates ...

3470. The Breastplate

Exodus 28:15-30

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... attached to his ephod-vest. It represented a twofold burden that Aaron was called upon to bear over his heart (vv. 29–30). Aaron was to enter the Holy Place daily to attend to the lamps (27:20–21). So whenever he enters the presence of the LORD he is to wear the breastpiece with its twelve precious engraved stones and the Urim and Thummim. The first burden that Aaron bore on the breastpiece consisted of the engraved names of the tribes of Israel. The precious stones on the breastpiece, like the two onyx ...

3471. Josiah Renews the Covenant

2 Kings 23:1-30

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... referred to as the book of the covenant, for the purpose of the reading is to prepare for a renewal of the covenant between the LORD and the people, to which Deuteronomy is the supreme witness (cf. Deut. 5:2–3; 29:1–28). A similar covenant-renewal ceremony after a ... the king also stood by the pillar (v. 3; 11:14). The essence of the ceremony is the royal promise to follow the LORD and to keep his commands, regulations and decrees wholeheartedly (cf. Deut. 6:17; 1 Kgs. 2:3). The people then follow suit (v ...

3472. David Conquers Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 11:4-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... The four pieces of information added by the Chronicler in 11:10 are very important for his ideology. Again all Israel was involved here, and they gave his kingship strong support in order to extend it over the whole land so that it could happen as the LORD has promised. One could say that this verse summarizes in a nutshell all the important themes that the Chronicler wanted to advance in his work. In the next verses (11:11–14) the information was taken over from the source text with minor changes to the ...

3473. David's Mighty Men

1 Chronicles 11:10-47

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

3474. Warriors Join David

1 Chronicles 12:1-22

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

3475. Others Join David at Hebron

1 Chronicles 12:23-40

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker