Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 326 to 350 of 1795 results

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sermon

James Merritt

... but he did give up his preferences. There is nothing wrong with having preferences and there is nothing wrong with having difference preferences. There is something wrong when you elevate a preference to a conviction. Style is a preference; substance is a conviction. The style of music that we do in church is a preference. The style of dress that you choose to come to church in is a preference. The fact that our music should honor Christ and speak biblical truth and the fact that dress should be decent, not ...

327. Peter Addresses the Crowd

Acts 2:14-41

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... s words took effect—“this Jesus, whom you crucified” (v. 36). They had crucified the Lord! They begged, therefore, Brothers, what shall we do? and were told, Repent … every one of you—literally, “Change your mind,” but in biblical usage this implies a change in one’s whole style of life (see disc. on 3:19; cf. 8:22; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20)—and be baptized … in the name of Jesus Christ (v. 38). Baptism was the sign of repentance and (on God’s part) of the forgiveness of sins (cf. 5:31; 10 ...

328. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... is according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The NIV marginal reading, “Our God and Lord, Jesus Christ,” is possible in terms of the Greek, where the one definite article governs both “God” and “Lord,” but it is unlikely in terms of Paul’s style. The one article should be seen rather as drawing the two persons of the Godhead together in the grace that has saved us (see disc. on 1 Thess. 1:1 and 5:28, and for the titles Lord and Christ, the note on 1 Thess. 1:1). Additional ...

329. Naomi and Ruth

Ruth 1:1-22

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

Judah’s Famine and Elimelech’s Death: The story of Ruth has a specific historical context, the days when the judges ruled (lit. when the judges judged). The act of repeating a seminal Hebrew root twice (shepot hashopetim), however, immediately implies that Ruth’s opening line attempts to do more than just situate the book historically. Hebrew, like English, repeats words for emphasis (GKC 117p). Ruth, in other words, is very much a story about mishpat (“justice,” from shapat, “to judge, rule”). 1:1 The ...

330. Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

Ezra 7:1-10

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... in the sanctuary of the god Neith, and in Darius’ order that the ancient Egyptian laws be codified (see J. Blenkinsopp, “The Mission of Udjahorresnet and Those of Ezra and Nehemiah,” JBL 106 [1987], pp. 409–21, esp. pp. 410–13). The Persian kings regularly styled themselves king of kings. On the God of heaven, see the additional note on 6:9. 1 Esdras 8:9 and the Syriac version rendered Greetings, which suits the context. The meaning of the Aramaic gemir is uncertain. The best suggestion is that it ...

331. Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 17:1-28

Understanding Series

Roland E. Murphy

... forebears, and vice versa. Each group brings honor, even inspiration, to the other. The presupposition is that both are virtuous and thus properly rewarded (cf. 13:22a; 20:7; Sir. 3:1–16). 17:7 Antithetic; an a fortiori saying about speech. For the style, see 11:31; 26:1. Both arrogant and eloquent (NIV margin) are doubtful; see Additional Notes. The point of the NIV is that there is discord between subject and predicate, whatever the precise nuance may be. 17:8 Synthetic. Charm is, literally, “stone of ...

332. The Unbelief of the Jews

John 10:22-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... . (c) no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. Formally, the two sections have in common the revelatory “I” -style in which the speaker is the Shepherd/Son. As to content, they have three features in common: (a) the mutual knowledge of sheep and shepherd (based in section I on the mutual knowledge of Father and Son), (b) the shepherd’s gift of life to his sheep (based in ...

333. Ezekiel's Call

Ezekiel 1:1-28, Ezekiel 2:1-3:15, Ezekiel 3:16-27

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... addresses Ezekiel again. For the first time in Ezekiel, the expression the word of the LORD came to me introduces a prophetic oracle (in 1:3, the formula reads “the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel”). This expression, a typical feature of Ezekiel’s style, introduces prophetic oracles throughout the book. The Lord commissions Ezekiel as a watchman for the house of Israel (v. 17; see also 33:2, 6–7). The Hebrew term here refers most commonly to a sentinel on a city wall who watches for the approach ...

334. The Law of the Temple

Ezekiel 43:13-27, Ezekiel 44:1-31, Ezekiel 45:1-12, Ezekiel 45:13--46:24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... that the MT is circumlocutious and confused (the NRSV follows the LXX here, as do, e.g., Cooke, Ezekiel, pp. 498–99; Wevers, Ezekiel, p. 225; Eichrodt, Ezekiel, p. 567; Zimmerli, Ezekiel 2, p. 474; Hals, Ezekiel, p. 324). However, Ezekiel’s style, and the style of his editors, is often difficult. The reading found in the MT is meaningful, yielding a measure of sixty shekels to the mina. The Elephantine Papyri (specifically AP 15, which deals with the bride price in this Egyptian Jewish colony) assume a ...

335. True and False Discipleship

Luke 6:46-49, Luke 6:43-45, Luke 6:37-42

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... up in his heart. A different image—treasure brought out from a storehouse—develops the same idea. What is true of behavior (6:43–44) is equally true of speech. What one says reveals the real person inside. Again the whole of a person’s “speech style” is in view. Anyone, perhaps having a bad day, can speak out of character. It is also sadly possible to deliberately conceal one’s true character by the way one speaks, so that the test of “fruit” (6:44) may be needed to unmask a deliberately ...

336. The Story of Israel Now and Later

Romans 2:1-16

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... rejected Jesus as Messiah in Romans 2:1–3:20 at three places: 2:1–11; 2:17–24; 3:1–8. Those occasions can be summarized in chart form, as shown in table 1. It is interesting, by way of contrast, that Paul does not use the diatribe style when dealing with the subject of the sinful status of Gentiles in 1:19–32, here in 2:12–16, and in 2:25–29, presumably because his arguments therein would not precipitate any protest from Gentiles. That is, what Paul says about the lost condition of Gentiles in ...

337. Paul Reinterprets the Story of Israel

Romans 2:17-29

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... in the last unit (2:17–24), and now we turn in 2:25–29 to Paul’s unusual criticism of circumcision. Since Gentiles come more clearly into view in 2:25–29, we should not be surprised that Paul no longer uses the diatribe style of argumentation. He uses that style when addressing his main debating partner, the unbelieving Jew. Thus, Paul’s diatribe will resume in 3:1–8 against that target group. The best way to outline 2:25–29 is to put in chart form the running contrasts that Paul makes therein ...

338. Nabuchadnezzar’s Dream and Daniel's Interpretation

Daniel 2:1-23, Daniel 2:24-49

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... :5–35,” in the unit on 11:2–20). Antiochus’s desecration of the temple sparked the Jewish revolts (164–104 BC) that led to a reestablished Judean kingdom (104–64 BC). The strong linking of chapters 7 and 8 (historical markers, literary style, and descriptions of the last, oppressive kingdom) make Daniel 8 the earliest commentary on the four kingdoms of chapters 2 and 7. Also, the writer’s truncated interpretations of the second and third kingdoms (Babylon in 2:39; Media in 7:17) are consistent ...

339. Abraham Justified by Faith

Romans 4:1-25

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... before the law was given. Once the primacy of faith is established, the position of the law is clarified. The law is subsequent to faith and is rightly understood only in light of faith, as Paul stated in 3:31. 4:1 Resuming the rhetorical style now familiar to readers of Romans, Paul adduces Abraham as conclusive evidence that righteousness comes by faith and not by works. Verse 1 is awkward in Greek and has been altered somewhat in the NIV. A literal translation might read, “What therefore shall we say ...

340. The Believer's Freedom

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... to bring the larger section of 8:1–11:1 to a consummated conclusion by again declaring the goal of Christian life to be the glory of God in all that believers do. Paul sought to make matters conclusive by referring to his own attitude, aim, and style of ministry. Here he calls specifically for the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ. Paul presents himself as a model for the church, because what he models in his lifestyle is the way, will, and work of Christ. According to Paul, the lordship of ...

341. The Lord Speaks

Job 38:1--41:34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... has just ended (or was interrupted). The use of this new formula would only be necessary if the Elihu speeches—regardless of their origin—already stood sandwiched between the final speech of Job (chs. 27–31) and God’s response (chs. 38–41). This particular style of formula, which includes the object, appears only in the theophany section (38:1; 40:1, 3; 42:1) and in the conversations between God and the Satan in chapters 1 and 2 of the prose prologue. There, however, only the Satan is said to ...

342. The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3:1-30

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... historian, he may not have been aware of this historical fact. In this case, modern scholars should not fault him, as the purpose of an apocalyptic author was not to write history as such but to write imaginative literature dealing with the coming of God’s kingdom. The style of the book features repetition, so verse 3 repeats the list of officials from verse 2. The herald addresses peoples, nations and men of every language (3:4; see also 3:7 [“all the peoples”] and 3:29; 4:1; 5:19; 6:25; 7:14). A ...

343. King Artaxerxes' Letter to Ezra

Ezra 7:11-28

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

344. Learning to Walk in the Dark

Matthew 26:14-16

Sermon

David & Marian Plant

... like they are groping in the dark. They are groping for the reasons their efforts to grow fail. They are groping for strategies that will work. They are groping for avenues of revenue. They are groping for a worship style, a music style, an advertising style that will attract new members without aggravating the current members. Groping for webpage and social media presence, though quite a few members may not use it much themselves. Mostly, the congregations and often their pastors grope for a way forward ...

345. God Gives the Pharisees the Finger!

John 7:25-44, John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... another, how we know what we like and what we don’t. It’s how we determine what is real and not real in our lives. We look at a pair of shoes and judge whether we like them or not. We go to get a haircut and judge which style we would look best in. We make judgments as to whether or not to take an umbrella outside, because it might rain. Or whether to put on a coat, so we don’t get chilled. Judgments are part of life in the human realm. But…. There’s a time when ...

346. Let 'Er Rip

Mark 13:1-31, Mark 13:32-37, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... know it, a movement is spiraling out of control –a contagion is born! One kid who forgot the Dracula sneeze (lift up your forearm and sneeze into it) can start an epidemic. Gladwell gives the example of Hush Puppies. Hush Puppies had gone out of style. Until one day, someone began wearing them ‘cause they found them in a closet. Then someone thought the look was cool and started wearing them too. After a while, the trend grew, and a phenomenon was born, and Hush Puppies became “cool” again! Tipping ...

347. Caring for the Vineyard We Did Not Plant

Matthew 20:1-16, Joshua 24:1-27

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... in order to turn a “house” into a “home” based on the identity of its owner and the uniqueness of its neighborhood. That’s where true creativity, insight, and a sense of purpose and goal is all important. You need to know who you are and what your style is in order to create it out of someone else’s original design. This is our challenge in the Church today. Today’s mission fields are vineyards we did not plant. More than that, today’s culture is a vineyard we do not know! To be in mission ...

348. Trust Your Intuition

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... three days. This is said today to be a prominent strain of theology before Jesus’ day in Jewish thought. The tablet was found near the Dead Sea. The author of the prophecy is ascribed to the angel Gabriel. And its contents have a style similar to the prophetic style of Ezra and Baruch. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text The Resurrection of the Son and the Promise of Resurrection for All (1 Corinthians 15) Minor Text The Honoring of All Saints The Raising Up of a New Prophet Like Moses (Deuteronomy ...

349. True Colors

John 14:15-31, Psalm 66:1-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... who attend church, sit on committees, or teach a class, but if anyone asks them about their faith in a secular setting, suddenly, they’ve become entirely mute. Or how many people do you know who change churches simply due to the personality of the pastor or the style of the music? How many people do you know who attend church when they like a decision that is made, but flee quickly when things don’t go their way? How many people do you know who say they love Jesus but are embarrassed to mention His name ...

350. An Unbreakable Christmas

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... to the line “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” One child, the loudest singer in the group, belted out, “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners dressed in style!” (1) Maybe you are the type of person who wants a picture-perfect Christmas—God and sinners dressed in style. On the other hand, a woman named Cecille Hansen tells of driving her young daughter through their neighborhood to look one Christmas at all the decorated houses. They came to one house where the ...

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