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 3651 to 3675 of 4942 results

3651. Life through the Spirit

Romans 8:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

After Paul has described the tragic and hopeless situation of human beings who live in opposition to God and his holy law, he now turns to a description of the life of Christian believers who are ruled by the Spirit of life, who helps them live according to the will of God. In 8:1–4 Paul explains his exclamation of thanksgiving in 7:25, elaborating what he has said in 7:6. Believers who have been incorporated into Christ and who have thus been freed from the control of the law, which leads to death, are ...

3652. Ingrafted Branches

Romans 11:11-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Paul asks whether Israel’s failure to believe in the gospel of Jesus the Messiah means that Jews have fallen from their state of election (11:11a, reformulating 11:1). In 11:11b–15 he explains why he rejects the conclusion that Israel’s failure is permanent. Two arguments are important. First, Israel’s disobedience has resulted in the salvation of the Gentiles (11:11). In Paul’s ministry, the rejection of the gospel by local Jews often resulted in his turning to Gentiles, among whom a greater number of ...

3653. Submission to the Authorities

Romans 13:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Paul turns to exhortations regarding behavior toward the ruling civic authorities. This is the next logical step after the directions for behavior toward fellow believers (12:9–13) and the directions for behavior toward unbelievers (12:14–21), including those who persecute Christians. Paul gives three commands (13:1, 5, 7). (1) Believers must be “subject” to official government authorities; in other words, believers obey the edicts, rules, and regulations issued by government officials. (2) Believers are ...

3654. Expel the Immoral Brother!

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Up to this point in the letter, Paul has dealt with a report about different allegiances resulting from a search for wisdom that has involved a considerable manifestation of pride. But Paul has also heard that Corinthian pride has expressed itself in an even more damaging way. It is actually reported that there is “sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans.” Clarification of the general term “sexual immorality” immediately follows: “A man has his father’s wife.” The ...

3655. Sexual Immorality

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Having made clear again the reality of standards for Christian conduct, Paul now goes on to deal with the rationalizations that have led some of the Corinthians to standards of their own: “Everything is permissible for me” (6:12). Reasoning from the same axiomatic truths that Paul reiterates in verse 11, some at Corinth have concluded that their Christian faith gives them complete freedom to set their own standards according to their individual sense of propriety. Paul does not disagree in principle, but ...

3656. Questions about Food, Idolatry, and Freedom

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Paul introduces a second major topic with the words, “Now about food sacrificed to idols” (8:1). Under this topical heading, as in the previous chapter, Paul treats several different though related questions. Here they concern the propriety of Christians in their own homes eating food that may have previously passed before an idol (8:4–6; 10:23–26); of Christians eating such food in the home of an unbeliever (8:7–9; 10:27–29); and of Christians accepting an invitation to dine in a pagan temple (8:10–12; 10 ...

3657. Warnings from Israel’s History

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The people of Israel had made similar presumptions as those who together had been under the cloud and had passed through the sea (10:1; Exod. 13:17–14:31). Indeed, their experience suggests to Paul that all Israel underwent a baptism into Moses analogous to Christian baptism into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27). Furthermore, they all ate “spiritual food” and drank “spiritual drink” (10:3–4; see also Exod. 16:1–17:7; Num. 20:1–13), experiences corresponding even more closely to the Christian (John 4:10; 7: ...

3658. Paul’s Reflection on His Ministry

2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2:12–13 · The motive for Paul’s movement from Troas to Macedonia:In this, the final segment of Paul’s explanation of his recent conduct, he seeks to acquaint the church with events in his ministry from the time of his last letter until the present moment of composition. In all probability Paul’s “painful” letter had been dispatched to Corinth with Titus from Ephesus. But from there, before receiving a reply, Paul departed to Troas. Despite the open door for the gospel of Christ that presented itself to ...

3659. The Cost of Paul’s Ministry

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

And so, transformed “through God’s mercy,” Paul has been given the ministry of bearing the message that transforms its recipients. Because he has been sent from God, his proclamation can embrace neither “deception” nor the distortion of anything that God has said in the past (4:2). Thus, where the message remains obscure, one may be sure that such obscurity is not a result of the proclamation but a result of the work of the enemy, the god of this age (cf. John 12:31), who has blinded the minds of those who ...

3660. Our Heavenly Dwelling

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Paul begins by restating his confidence (built on the experience of Christ) in the reality of the resurrection (5:1; cf. 4:14; 1 Cor. 15:4, 12–20). Then, taking his teaching one step beyond its formulation in 1 Corinthians 15:35–53, Paul attempts to explain more fully how our earthly tent will be transformed like that of our Lord into “an eternal house in heaven” (5:1; cf. John 2:19–22) to become “our heavenly dwelling” (5:4). The transformation will take place when our bodies receive a new “clothing” (5:2 ...

3661. An Appeal for Full Allegiance to Apostolic Authority

2 Corinthians 10:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

There is a perceptible change in the tone of Paul’s letter beginning at this point and continuing until its end. But the degree of difference, and the reasons for it, are much less clear. In any event, some continuity with the previous context is afforded by the repetition of a formal appeal (10:1–6); in this case, the appeal concerns apostolic authority. The appeal is sounded in the midst of apparent doubt among some at Corinth about Paul’s ability to exercise apostolic authority in a clear and compelling ...

3662. Introduction and No Other Gospel

Galatians 1:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:1–5 · Salutation:The apostle Paul followed the normal Greek letter-writing form in composing his letters. The normal form was characterized by an introduction that cited the name of the author and those addressed. This would normally be followed by a greeting varying in length and usually determined by the degree of warmth felt between the author and the recipients. We notice here, contrary to his other letters, that Paul gives only the briefest of greetings (1:3). His style is proper and a bit curt and ...

3663. Paul Called by God

Galatians 1:11-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:11–2:21 Review · Paul and the Nature of His Apostleship:Apparently part of the process used to sway the Galatians from Paul’s influence was to cast doubt on his credentials as an apostle (or at least as one “above” the authority of the agitators or the leaders they claimed to represent). The opponents of Paul seemed to claim for themselves a direct line of authority to someone, or some group, associated with the church in Jerusalem. While we have no way of evaluating the possibility that a countermission ...

3664. Treatise: The Efficacy of Grace over Law

Galatians 3:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

3:1–5 · The argument from experience: The transition from a recitation of Paul’s past activities to present circumstances seems abrupt, but actually it punctuates the incredible final assertion of chapter 2, which was the logical conclusion of the opponents’ “gospel”: “Christ died for nothing” (2:21). Paul refers to them as “You foolish Galatians!” (3:1), since the very idea of being attracted to a viewpoint that had as its ultimate result the utter rejection of the necessity of Christ’s death must be ...

3665. Life by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

As a counterbalance to the possibility of expressing one’s “sinful nature” or “flesh” (5:13) through freedom, Paul asserts that living “by the Spirit” (5:16) will characterize true freedom. The contrast of flesh (Greek sarx) and Spirit (Greek pneuma) is found throughout the Pauline Epistles, as well as other parts of the New Testament. Rather than pointing to two different parts of the same individual, the terminology relates to an orientation that motivates the course of life a person will take. These two ...

3666. The Mystery of God’s Will and God’s Threefold Blessing

Ephesians 1:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:1–2 · Opening and Greetings: The author identifies himself by name and calling and greets his readers in the manner typical in the Pauline Epistles, but without the usual companions. Whether the addressees live specifically in Ephesus is unclear. Re-creating the Human Family: What God Has Done (1:3–3:21) 1:3–14 · This opening section, setting the agenda for the rest of the letter, is itself opened in verses 3–6. God, who in Jesus Christ originated the solution to the dilemma of our sin, is praised ( ...

3667. Therefore Walk in Unity

Ephesians 4:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

4:1–6:20 Review · Re-creating the Human Family: What God Is Doing: The “imperative” second half of the letter is structured around five occurrences of some form of the phrase “therefore walk” (4:1, 17; 5:1–2, 7–8, 15). Each of the five presupposes the “indicative” first half of the letter (“therefore”) and specifies walking in a particular way. All five may relate individually to chapters 1–3, or perhaps the first is unpacked by the following four. 4:1–16Re-creating the Human Family: What God Is Doing On ...

3668. Paul’s Ambition and Joy Is the Gospel of Christ

Philippians 1:12-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In this section, Paul addresses the anxiety of the Philippians on his behalf. He knows that they care for him, as evidenced by their aid and the message sent through Epaphroditus (2:25). Paul also knows that his imprisonment is distressing to them and that they consider it a detriment to the advancement of the gospel. Paul desires to dispel their worries and correct their wrong thinking about what constitutes the true proclamation of the gospel. 1:12–18a · The condition and mission of the gospel:First and ...

3669. Follow the Example of Paul As He Follows the Example of Christ

Philippians 3:12-4:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

3:12–14 · Paul continues to stress the purpose toward which his whole life is oriented. One of the most striking aspects of this account of Paul’s life is that Paul sees “knowing Christ Jesus” (3:8) not only as something in which he already participates but also as a goal he continues to pursue. This double sense of purpose, Christ as both motivation and goal, is explained in these verses: Christ has grasped Paul, so Paul presses on to grasp Christ, the goal of his life. Paul is fully aware that he has not ...

3670. Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2:8–15 · Christ is over every power and authority:The identity of this “philosophy” has been discussed extensively above, where I suggested that it encouraged Gentiles to take up the law in addition to their faith in Christ for full attainment of the Christian life. Paul warns the Colossians of this potential threat by using a rare verb, translated as “take captive,” found only here in the New Testament (though Paul uses a similar term in 2 Cor. 11:8). The dangerous teaching, which has yet to infect the ...

3671. Request for Prayer and the Second Prayer

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

3:1–15 · The final instructions: At the beginning of the final part of the letter, the apostles request prayer (3:1–2). Their concern is not simply for their personal needs but for the mission of the church. This and the following wish prayer (3:5) and intervening material (3:3–4) form the transition to the section of the letter containing Paul’s principal exhortations (3:6–15). The exhortation in 3:1 is the same as in 1 Thessalonians 5:25, but here with more specifics about the needs of the apostles. Paul ...

3672. The Third Prayer and Final Greetings

2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The letter closes with a prayer for the church: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way” (3:16a). The peace they pray for from the Lord of peace (John 14:27; Rom. 15:33; Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:23) is not an inward emotion but a social virtue that defines how they are to live together in community (2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Thess. 5:13) and how they are to live in relation to the unbelievers around them (Rom. 12:18; 1 Cor. 7:15; Heb. 12:14). This blessing flows from the ...

3673. Paul’s Charge to Timothy

1 Timothy 6:11-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

6:11–16 · What makes Timothy wealthy:As far back as the Letter to the Philippians, Paul expressed his trust in Timothy’s ability to model Christian truth (2:19–24). Certainly Paul is worried about whether Timothy will have the boldness to fight the powerful—some in social status, some in eloquence—opponents in Ephesus. Nonetheless, Paul’s instructions to Timothy about the life he is to lead indicate his confidence that in Timothy’s character, the Ephesian church will find an antidote to the greed and power ...

3674. Thanksgiving and Appeal

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:1–2 · Salutation: The apostle discerns that Timothy needs fortification beyond the words of 1 Timothy. The distinctive terms of this second greeting provide further strengthening for Paul’s protégé. Paul’s own call is by “the will of God” himself, and his call, like Timothy’s, serves the “promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.” In addition, here Paul calls Timothy “my dear son” (literally “my beloved son”). Timothy is thus reminded, first, that he ministers under an authority that he ought not to ...

3675. A Lifestyle in Accord with Sound Doctrine

Titus 2:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2:1–10 · Relationships among believers: Paul indicates that, if the false teachers deny God by their actions (1:16), the faithful teacher must see to the confirming of God’s character in the lives of Christ’s followers—that is what he means by “what is in accord with sound doctrine” (2:1). The antidote for the sickness of soul Paul just diagnosed in Cretan culture and in the false teachers lies in the gospel’s power to reshape human lives. God’s character is visible where Christ creates people marked by “ ...

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