Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 326 to 350 of 797 results

Colossians 1:15-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... understanding of the person and work of Christ against the false teachings that they have been receiving. They were in danger of falling away from the truth of the gospel to man-made traditions. Paul wants them to remember to follow the gospel as they learned it from Epaphras: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught” (2:6, 7). The primary purpose of the hymn is to establish the superiority ...

327. Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... additional notes will show, there is a wide variety of scholarly opinion as to the meaning of these concepts in the NT (Col. 2:8, 20; Gal. 4:3). The term stoicheion indicates something basic or rudimentary, such as the fundamental principles of learning (the ABCs), or the elements from which the world was created (earth, air, fire, and water). These principles may have been elevated to the level of spirits or angels in the Hellenistic world. Stoicheion also designates the heavenly bodies that in some cases ...

328. Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... to the principle of self-support (cf. 1 Cor. 9:6), which, in his case, meant making tents or, more generally, working in leather (see R. F. Hock, The Social Context of Paul’s Ministry: Tent Making and Apostleship [Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980], p. 21). Rabbis were expected to learn and practice a trade (cf. Pirqe ’Abot 2.2), and Paul must have been glad of this in later life as he worked to support his ministry (cf. Acts 20:34; 1 Cor. 4:12; 9:3–19; 2 Cor. 11:7ff.; 2 Thess. 3:8). During his time ...

329. The Man of Lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

We come now to the heart of the letter, where Paul attempts to put right some wrong ideas about the Parousia (see Introduction). How Paul learned about the problem we are not told. In 3:11 he speaks of having heard a report that some in the church were idle. If this report were more recent than the one brought by Timothy, it might have included the issues dealt with in this section (see Introduction on ...

330. Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

1 Timothy 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... Paul, Timothy, the church (implied in the in Ephesus), and the false teachers. Although it is not certain whether Paul had recently been in Ephesus, that seems to be implied by his urging Timothy to stay there, while he himself went into Macedonia. Later we learn (3:14) that he had hoped to go to Ephesus soon; however, in case of delay (which indeed happened, given the evidence of 2 Timothy), Paul wanted his younger colleague to “have in writing” the reason for his being there. The beginnings of the ...

331. Overseers and Deacons

1 Timothy 3:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... heed to what Paul has written because it alone has been entrusted with the truth (v. 15), truth that is illustrated by an early Christian hymn. 3:14–15 The grammar of the opening sentence is a little rough, but the meaning is clear. Here we learn that Paul had been intending all along to come to Timothy (and therefore the church) soon. In fact the NIV has almost certainly caught the probably concessive force of the Greek participle “hoping,” that is, even though I hope to come to you soon, in case ...

332. Instructions to Timothy

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... command and teach these things (v. 11). On the contrary, not only are they not to look down on him because he is young, but they are to “look up” to him. He is to set (lit., “become”) an example for the believers. That the people of God are to learn Christian ethics by modeling after the apostolic example is a thoroughgoing, and crucial, Pauline concept (see 1 Thess. 1:6; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9; 1 Cor. 4:6; 11:1; Phil. 3:17; cf. 2 Tim. 1:13). The virtues Timothy is to model for them are those that ...

333. Godlessness in the Last Days

2 Timothy 3:1-9

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... Timothy (see note). But that is not a necessary inference, and Paul does not pursue such a point. He pursues the point that the guilt of their sins and their having all kinds of evil desires has made them religious dilettantes, women who are always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Thus the false teachers and these women feed on one another. The women are given “religious training”—of the worst kind, destined to feed their curiosity but not bring them to the freedom of the gospel—and ...

334. Personal Instructions and Greetings

Titus 3:12-15

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... . Having mentioned their names and Titus’ need to assist them, Paul is also reminded of their destination and is thus prompted to give the Cretan believers themselves a final parting word: Our people too (there is an untranslated kai, “also, too,” in the text) must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good (cf. v. 8). The infinitive phrase, to devote themselves to doing what is good, is an exact repetition from verse 8. This is the recurring theme of the entire letter (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8 ...

335. Warning Against Falling Away

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... the argument concerning Jesus as high priest according to the order of Melchizedek as too difficult for his readers in their present condition. It must be from some previous encounter or some report about them that he concludes they are slow to learn (lit., “sluggish in hearing”). Their slowness in development is an exasperation to the author. The lapse of time, and perhaps something about the readers’ background, suggests that whereas they ought to be teachers, yet they need to be taught again the ...

336. Melchizedek the Priest

Hebrews 7:1-10, Hebrews 7:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... That the author of Hebrews can express the discontinuity as sharply as he does, however, is surprising, given his readership. The word change (metathesis) means more than a slight modification (the same word occurs in 11:5 and 12:27, where it connotes removal). As we learn from v. 18 and 8:7, 13, what is meant is essentially an abrogation of the law, paradoxically by its fulfillment in Christ—to whom it pointed all along. Thus, for our author, as for Paul, the significance of Christ and his work cannot be ...

337. The Legitimacy and Superiority of Christ’s Priesthood

Hebrews 7:11-28, Hebrews 7:1-10

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

338. A Call to Persevere

Hebrews 10:19-39

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... author again turns to exhortation. But now he bases his encouragement on the past successes of the readers during the most trying of circumstances. In this description of their history we obtain the letter’s most explicit information concerning the addressees. We learn that they endured persecution in the past and came through it victoriously. Now they apparently face difficult times again, to the extent that (as we have previously noted) they are tempted to abandon their Christian faith (cf. 2:1–3; 3 ...

339. Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... . 25:31–46). Therefore it is the unified witness of the Gospels that Jesus followed standard Jewish teaching and taught that God would show mercy only to those obeying him and doing likewise. James’ use of this saying shows that he had learned Jesus’ tradition carefully, for it becomes his clinching argument. Even if the logical and biblical arguments have not convinced the reader that justice and love demand that the poor be treated honorably, then the Christian must still honor the poor person out ...

340. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... the phrase who spoke in the name of the Lord, he both excludes false prophets and focuses on the true prophets’ crucial characteristic: They confessed true faith in God by word and deed. There is no need to cite them by name, for Jewish Christians had learned the stories. The prophets are to be looked at as an example of patience in the face of suffering. Their crucial virtue was the ability to endure, whatever the trials. Whether an Amos commanded not to speak (Amos 7) or an Elijah pursued by Jezebel (1 ...

341. Living for God

1 Peter 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... , no pilgrim in Jerusalem ever wanted for hospitality without charge. Nearby Bethphage and Bethany were renowned for their generosity in this respect. The rabbis declared that hospitality involved even greater merit than early morning attendance at an academy of learning—praise indeed from such a source. Understandably, the rabbis also taught that to entertain a sage and to send him away with presents was as meritorious as offering the daily sacrifices (b. Ber. 10b). See Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish ...

342. Aaron to Speak for Moses

Exodus 6:28--7:7

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.” (10:2) The struggle to know the Lord was not over for Israel after the exit from Egypt. In the wilderness they also needed to learn to trust the Lord, this newly revealed redeemer (16:6, 8, 12; 29:46; 31:13). 7:1–7 After the genealogy of Exodus 6, these verses reintroduce the action of the plagues that are about to commence. The Lord told Moses, “I have made you like God to Pharaoh ...

343. The Passover

Exodus 12:1-30

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... with the Passover celebration on the fourteenth of Abib/Nissan. All the people of the community of Israel were to slaughter the animals at twilight, thereby preparing their meal and the blood of the animal just in time for the night of the tenth plague. We learn later that they applied the blood with hyssop branches to the doorframes (v. 22; see comment on the use and meaning of the blood at vv. 13, 22–23). The imperative phrase Eat it in haste sums up the specific instructions for eating the meal. Many ...

344. Crossing the Sea

Exodus 13:17--14:31

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... of God’s bid for their freedom. Now, close to that freedom, they were not prepared to deal with the dangers of the plan the Lord had laid. The risks of serving the Lord and the dangers of transformation were a necessary part of the process of learning to trust and fear God (v. 31). Moses’ leadership was evident in his patience as he spoke an oracle of salvation for God. He did not defend himself against the accusations and sarcasm. He spoke rather to their fear and uncertainty. The plan had not yet been ...

345. Jethro Visits Moses

Exodus 18:1-27

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... people will go home satisfied” (shalom, “in peace,” “contented”). Additional Notes 18:1 Several theories have attempted to explain the nature of Jethro’s priesthood: Jethro was the originator of belief in Yahweh (Kenite theory); alternatively, Jethro and Moses both learned Yahwism from the Kenites. See Durham’s summaries of four speculative theories (Durham, Exodus, p. 241). 18:5 In the narrative context, near the mountain of God refers to Rephidim. In 17:6 they were close to the “rock at ...

346. The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... honor parents who were no longer an economic asset in the family. While later applications (by adults) have focused this command on preadult children, the original context was a covenant with the adult children in the community (Deut. 27:20). Young children learned (or not) to honor their parents through the honor (lit., “weight”) they saw adults give to their elders. This commandment mentions both mother and father (mother first in Lev. 19:3), in contrast to the Akkadian Code of Hammurabi (1750 B.C ...

347. Ai Destroyed

Joshua 8:1-29

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... a heap and defeat becomes victory. The heap at Ai celebrates the victory of the Lord and the folly of opposing God. The Bible describes the comparatively insignificant battle at Ai in more detail that the one at Jericho. This is because the lessons learned at the ruin named Ai are more important than the collapse of the walls at Jericho. Defeat at Ai teaches the perils of coveting and disobeying the commands of God. One should never underestimate the enemy, and ever-present danger demands a total dedication ...

348. The Gibconite Deception

Joshua 9:1-27

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... to appear wherever appropriate. No one location can claim to possess God. In any case, the Gibeonites continue to serve God and the people as woodcutters and water carriers to the time when the story is retold and becomes Scripture. The humility of the Gibeonites points out that they have learned their lesson and now deserve a place in the people of God.

349. Allotment for Ephriam and Manasseh

Joshua 16:1--17:18

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... are so many, they should use their strength and numbers to prepare land for cities and agriculture by clearing their heavily forested areas. They also could overcome the Perizzites and Raphaites who live in the forests (17:15). Unfortunately, the people have learned little from their failure to enter the land forty years earlier. They continue to want a convenient allotment that is easy to settle. Driving out enemies and clearing forests do not fit their plans or gifts. Numerous parallels between the tribal ...

350. Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites

Judges 1:1-36

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... and Joshua, and now the mantle has fallen, as it were, upon Judah. But despite this favored status, Judah was not strong enough to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots. The Philistines’ ability to work in iron, which they learned from the Hittites, gave them a strategic advantage over other peoples of the region who had not yet developed this technology and thus had to rely on inferior weapons. This, the first directly negative statement in the book, previews the major theme of ...

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