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 3501 to 3525 of 4942 results

3501. “The Lord Is Great!”

Psalm 70:1-5

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: The message of this psalm, applied to the waiting community in exile, is that “the Lord is great!” proclaimed as a word of hope and deliverance not yet realized, even as they pray, “Come quickly, Lord.” Understanding the Text Psalm 70 is a duplicate of Psalm 40:13–17, with minor variations (see the unit on Ps. 40), and has features of a psalm of lament. Psalms 69 and 70 have common linguistic links (see table 1). It is quite possible that Psalm 69 was written with Psalm 40:13–17 in view in order ...

3502. Unnoticed at Your Own Party

Isaiah 35:1-10, Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10

Sermon

King Duncan

W.E. Sangster once told about being invited to a party held to celebrate a wedding. He arrived late and knew nobody there except the friend who invited him. He subsequently played the role of a mere spectator to the evening’s festivities. Everyone, he noted, seemed to be in high spirits. They danced and shouted and sang and laughed and played games and indulged in all sorts of entertainment. They flung streamers across the hall, pranced around in paper caps, had much to eat and drink and generally seemed ...

3503. The Fall

Genesis 3:1-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

There are only four chapters in the Bible where Satan is not implicitly present in the world, the first two and the last two. The Bible begins and ends with him out of existence. But between Genesis 3 and Revelation 20 he is a factor to be reckoned with. The Hebrew word for “serpent” may be connected either with an adjective/noun meaning “bronze” (suggesting something that is shiny), or with a verb meaning “to practice divination.” Two things are said about the serpent (3:1–7). First, a word about his ...

3504. Cain and Abel

Genesis 4:1-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Cain and Abel, Adam’s sons, are born after the fall (4:1–16). Eve connects Cain’s birth with the verb “to bring forth.” In Hebrew this verb (qanah) sounds like “Cain” (qayin). Eve has been allowed to share in the creative work of God. Unlike Cain’s, Eve does not explain Abel’s name. “Abel” is the word “vanity” appearing in Ecclesiastes 1:2—“Abel of Abels, all is Abel”—unless “Abel” is to be connected with a cuneiform word meaning “son.” Traditionally understood, his name reflects the transitory nature of ...

3505. Abram Rescues Lot

Genesis 14:1-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Four powerful kings from the east head an assault against five minor Palestinian kings (14:1–13). It is impossible to identify the four kings with certainty. Amraphel means “the mouth of god has spoken,” and he is the king of Shinar (i.e., Babylonia). Arioch matches the name Arriyuk and is a good Hurrian name. Kedorlaomer means “servant of Lagamar” (an Elamite god). Tidal is the Hebrew equivalent of the Hittite regnal name Tudhalia, borne by several Hittite kings. These four kings engage the five petty ...

3506. The Covenant of Circumcision

Genesis 17:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Nothing of real significance happens in Abram’s life between the ages of eighty-six (16:16) and ninety-nine (17:1), indicating that Abram at times lived for over a decade with no recorded revelation from God. God now appears to him as El-Shaddai (see NIV note for 17:1), meaning either “God Almighty” or “God of the Mountain.” God’s self-identification is followed by a moral imperative: “walk before me faithfully and be blameless” (17:1). We observed in chapter 15 that all of the obligations of the covenant ...

3507. Abraham’s Test

Genesis 22:1-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Sometime later God tests Abraham. It is not clear how much later, but Isaac is old enough to carry wood for a fire and carry on an intelligent conversation with his father. For the first time the verb (but not the idea) “test” occurs in the Bible. As early as chapter 12 God tested Abraham when he told him to leave Ur with his family, and Abraham went out not knowing “where he was going” (Heb. 11:8). As a matter of fact, Abraham’s life begins and ends, as far as divine speech goes, with two imperatives: “ ...

3508. Tenth Plague and Departure of Israel

Exodus 12:31-42

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Lord passes through the land, striking down all the firstborn in Egypt, both human and animal. The firstborn of Pharaoh would have been considered divine; traditionally the god Amun visited the mother of the pharaoh-to-be. Utterly humiliated, Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron in the night, orders them out, and seeks their blessing. Pharaoh first calls the people Israelites at this point (12:31), giving recognition to them as a national entity. The Israelites ask for silver, gold, and clothing from ...

3509. Threat of Starvation

Exodus 16:1-36

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

A month later in the Desert of Sin the Israelites’ circumstances are so bleak that they voice their desire to return to Egypt, representing their previous estate in rosy colors complete with pots of meat and all the food they want. Their grumbling against Moses and Aaron prompts a response from the Lord; the Israelites will see manifested in the wilderness the glory and power of God in his benevolent provision. They will have meat in the evening and bread in the morning to meet their daily needs. In this ...

3510. Preparations to Receive the Covenant

Exodus 19:1-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

19:1–24:18 Review · Covenant at Sinai:God’s revelation comes to the people in the wilderness, characteristically a place for purification and for meeting God. The covenant encompasses the whole of Israel’s life. Their community comes into existence at the gracious will of God, and they are expected to exercise appropriate societal and individual responsibilities as his people. Even though there are affinities between the covenant and the Hittite treaty pattern, this relationship between God and the entire ...

3511. Incense Altar, and Half-shekel Contribution

Ex 30:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The altar for incense is to be positioned in front of the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (30:6), although there is some ambiguity regarding which side it was on. Possibly it was a second article in the Most Holy Place (cf. Heb. 9:3–4). When the incense was ignited, the cloud provided protective covering (Lev. 16:13) as the high priest went into the Most Holy Place once a year. In addition, incense is burned regularly every morning and evening (30:7–8). Neither profane incense ...

3512. Moses Intercedes for the People

Exodus 33:7-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

32:30–33:17 Review: Recognizing that the heinous sin still needs to be addressed, Moses continues his role as mediator, declaring his willingness to sacrifice himself (32:30–32). In response, God declares that the Israelites will go forward to the covenant land, but they have forfeited the fullness of God’s presence. Instead, God’s angel will accompany them (32:33–34; cf. 23:20–23). Paradoxically, God’s threat to withdraw his presence is for Israel’s protection. He knows their ongoing rebellion against him ...

3513. The Grain Offering

Leviticus 2:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Leviticus 2 provides instructions for offerings of grain. The Hebrew expression for “grain offering” here is a technical (more narrow) usage (2:3–5); in Genesis 4 the same term refers to the vegetable and animal “offering” or “tribute” of Cain and of Abel (cf. Judg. 3:15, 17–18). Numbers 15 specifies that burnt offerings and “sacrifices” (i.e., sacrifices from which the offerers eat) always require accompanying grain and drink (wine) offerings. Along with the animal portions, these accompaniments complete ...

3514. Consecration of Sanctuary and Priests

Leviticus 8:1-36

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

8:1–10:20 Review · Establishment of Ritual System:Chapters 8–10 describe a one-time event: founding the Israelite ritual system by consecrating and inaugurating its sanctuary and priesthood. Once this is done, regular and cyclical rituals will serve the Lord and maintain his presence at his earthly dwelling place (e.g., Exod. 29:38–46; 30:7–8; Num. 28:1–29:40), and expiatory rituals will restore divine-human relationships when problems resulting from human faultiness arise (e.g., Lev. 4:1–6:7). 8:1-36 · ...

3515. Separating Physical Impurities from Persons

Leviticus 11:1-47

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Impurities and Ritual Remedies (11:1–17:16): Leviticus 11 picks up the themes of eating meat (Lev. 10:12–20) and making category distinctions (Lev. 10:10; cf. Deut. 14:1–29) and addresses general dietary rules to all Israelites. The priests are especially consecrated as the Lord’s house servants, but all Israelites are holy in a wider sense. So they are to emulate the holiness of their God (11:44–45), from whom impurity is to be kept separate (cf. Lev. 7:20–21), by separating themselves from specified ...

3516. Cleansing From Infectious Skin Diseases

Leviticus 14:1-32

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Leviticus 14 outlines ritual purification of persons if they are healed (14:1–32) and of houses if fungus abates (14:33–53). The section on houses includes some diagnostic criteria, but the unit is here because the emphasis is on purification. Houses, like garments, are closely connected with their owners, so the Lord’s concern for the purity of his people extends to them. Skin disease generates such potent impurity that purification requires several stages. Repeated pronouncements that the person is pure ...

3517. Unlawful Sexual Relations

Leviticus 18:1-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

18:1–20:27 Review · Holiness of People:Aspects of sexuality were introduced in chapters 12 and 15, where the focus was on separating remediable physical ritual impurity from the holy sphere centered at the sanctuary. Here the concern is with avoiding moral impurity (18:24, 30), for which there is no ritual remedy. 18:1–30 · Leviticus 18 begins by explaining the purpose of the instructions that follow. God’s laws are good for his people, so by cause and effect, those who keep his laws can live (18:5). This ...

3518. Holiness of Time

Lev 23:3–23:41

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The liturgical calendar in Leviticus 23 lists Israel’s special appointments with the Lord throughout the year, which are to be proclaimed as sacred occasions. Following the initial introduction (23:1–2) is a reminder to keep the seventh-day Sabbath (23:3), which is the foundation of all sacred time. Then a second introduction (23:4) precedes enumeration of annual festivals, thereby setting them apart from the weekly Sabbath. Weekly Sabbath rest is established for all inhabitants of planet Earth by the Lord ...

3519. Holiness of the Promised Land

Lev 25:1-55

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

This chapter continues the theme of Sabbath, which is prominent in chapters 23 and 24, by prescribing rest for the promised land. Analogous to the weekly Sabbath, sabbatical rest for the land is to occur every seventh year (25:1–7; introduced in Exod. 23:10–11). Such a year is a sacred time when the land will revert to its natural state and everyone will live off whatever the land produces by itself. This implies a regular exercise of faith: The Israelites need to depend on their Creator to provide enough ...

3520. Organization of Sanctuary Personnel

Num 3:1–4:49

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Levite tribe (including priests) is not included in the military census because it is responsible for taking care of the Lord’s sanctuary (Num. 1:47–53; 2:33). Nonpriestly Levites are to serve as assistants to the priests. In addition to the regular care and guarding of the sanctuary and its contents, the Levites are responsible for packing up, transporting, and reassembling the tabernacle when the Israelites journey from one place to another. The Levites belonging to the three subdivisions of their ...

3521. Sanctuary Supplies and Service

Num 7:1–8:26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

7:1–89 · Following this reminder of Aaron’s blessing at the time when the ritual system was inaugurated (see Lev. 9:22), Numbers 7 fills in some details regarding establishment of the sanctuary: gifts for the sanctuary presented by chieftains on behalf of their twelve tribes (not including Levi). The gifts belong to two main categories. First is a practical offering of carts and oxen that the Levites will use to transport the sanctuary (7:1–9; cf. chap. 4). Second is a set of offerings for the dedication ...

3522. Rebellion of Korah and Aftermath

Numbers 16:1-50

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Numbers 16 is one of the most harrowing and dramatic chapters in the entire Bible. It reports the ill-fated rebellion of Korah and company (16:1–40) and the subsequent uprising of the Israelite community to protest their “martyrdom” (16:41–50). In the wake of the scouting episode (chaps. 13–14), a large and powerful contingent of leading Israelites blames Moses and Aaron for keeping the Israelites in the wilderness until the adult generation will die. The attack against the Lord’s appointed leaders is two- ...

3523. The Budding of Aaron's Staff

Numbers 17:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

To put a final end to challenges against the priesthood of Aaron and his descendants, God tells Moses to set up a positive test with staffs from the tribal leaders and Aaron, which cannot be viewed as black magic (Num. 17:1–7). By the next day, Aaron’s staff (cf. Exod. 7:9–10, 12, 19; 8:5, 16–17) has miraculously blossomed and already produced ripe almonds (Exod. 25:33–34; 37:19–20), proving that the holy God, the Creator of life, has chosen him to be priest. Moses deposits Aaron’s rod back in the ...

3524. Law of Purification from Corpse Impurity

Numbers 19:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Leviticus and Numbers have repeatedly mentioned the severe physical ritual impurity of corpse contamination (Lev. 21:1–4, 11; Num. 5:2; 6:6–12; 9:6–12), the possibility of purification from it on the seventh day after defilement (Num. 6:9), and the means of cleansing through sprinkling water of purification (Num. 8:7; cf. v. 21). Numbers 19 explains the nature of the water and specifics of the sprinkling. A comprehensive remedy for corpse contamination comes as a relief after all the deaths that have ...

3525. Calendar of Communal Sacrifices

Num 28:1–29:40

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Following the Baal of Peor episode (chap. 25), chapters 28–29 supplement the liturgical calendar of Leviticus 23 and thereby remind the Israelites of their worship obligations to the Lord (cf. chap. 15). Numbers 28–29 specifies public sacrifices (with grain and drink accompaniments) to be offered for all Israel on particular days of the year. The order is the same as in Leviticus 23, moving from smaller to larger time cycles and progressing through the annual festivals from spring to autumn. Leviticus 23 ...

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