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 3676 to 3700 of 4942 results

3676. A Lifestyle Appropriate to Sound Doctrine

Titus 3:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

3:1–2 · Responsibilities in state and society: In 1 Timothy 2:2 Paul urges prayer for civil authorities. Now—as at Romans 13:1–7—Paul provides instruction for living under civil authority. The instructions in Romans 13 are simply to submit and be willing to pay taxes. Here the instructions are more active. The Greek term translated “be obedient” (3:1) indicates readiness of persuasion—an attitude of cooperation. In an age when municipal leaders often begged off when asked to help their communities, Paul ...

3677. Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

Philemon 1:8-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

8–22 · Paul’s Appeal: Although Paul is bold enough in Christ to command Philemon to do what he ought (v. 8), he appeals on the basis of love (v. 9). For Paul, the love believers share in Christ bonds them and solidifies Christ’s work of reconciliation on the cross (Col. 1:20–23; 3:11). In other words, this love breaks down social barriers and places all three individuals (Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus) on common ground in Christ. Paul, moreover, in his appeal to Philemon, refers to himself as an “old [or ...

3678. Warning to Pay Attention

Hebrews 2:1-4

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The preceding exposition is now applied (2:1–4) in the first of many exhortatory sections that punctuate the letter and demonstrate its true purpose. The readers had no reservations concerning the legitimacy and severity of the sanctions of the Mosaic law, though it was mediated by angels (cf. Deut. 33:2 in the Septuagint; Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19). How much more, then, ought they to fear the consequences of slighting a revelation communicated immediately by one far greater than angels, attested by ...

3679. True Christian Faith seen In Its Works

James 2:14-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

James has firmly upheld the doing of the word as absolutely essential to valid religion. He has even warned that what we do will be taken into account in the judgment (2:12–13). How, one might ask, does all this square with the crucial role given to faith throughout the New Testament (and by James himself; see 1:6–8)? Is James replacing faith with works? In this passage he answers that question with a decisive no by showing that true Christian faith necessarily and of its very nature produces those works ...

3680. The Dangers of Wealth

James 5:1-6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The “rich people” whom James addresses in this paragraph are clearly the wicked rich. The Old Testament often uses “poor” and “rich” almost as synonyms for the righteous and the wicked, respectively (see Prov. 10:15–16; 14:20; Ps. 37:1–40; and also the intertestamental book 1 Enoch 94–105). Jesus reflected this usage when he blessed the poor and condemned the rich (Luke 6:20, 24). Thus, while the people addressed in this passage are clearly materially wealthy, they are not condemned for their wealth per se ...

3681. Concluding Exhortations

James 5:13-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

5:12 · Oaths: James introduces his final section with a typical literary device: “above all” (cf. 1 Pet. 4:8 and Paul’s use of “finally” in this way). James’s prohibition of oaths is similar in wording and content to Jesus’s prohibition in Matthew 5:34–37. Many think that Jesus and James intended to forbid all oaths; hence some Christians will refuse to take an oath in a court of law, for instance. But it is doubtful that such a situation is envisaged. From the emphasis on telling the truth in both ...

3682. The Question of Sin and the Commandment to Love

1 John 1:5--2:14, 1 John 2:15-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The question of those claiming to be “without sin” is an intriguing one in 1 John. On one hand, it might appear that we have an alien gnostic group claiming perfectionism as a factor of direct access to God without need of the atonement. After all, the first commentary on John was written by Heracleon, a second-century gnostic, and the flesh-denying antichrists of 1 John 4:1–3 might point in that direction. This view has several problems to it, however. (1) The elder also speaks of the impossibility of ...

3683. Let Us Love One Another

2 John 1:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1–3 · Greetings to the Chosen Lady and Her Children: The greeting of this letter compliments the chosen lady and her children, and the elder not only expresses his love for her in the truth but also emphasizes that all who know the truth do so as well (v. 1). He claims the truth “abides in us and will be with us forever” (v. 2 NASB) as a means of supporting his compliment and continues with a blessing reminiscent of Paul’s letters. “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the ...

3684. The Letter to Ephesus.

Revelation 2:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

2:1–3:22 Review · The seven churches before the divine judge: In Revelation 2–3, Christ lays bare the true spiritual condition of John’s seven churches. In a dramatic reversal of the Old Testament expectations concerning Daniel’s Son of Man, the Son does not put God’s enemies on trial (as he does in Dan. 7:10–12, 26–27) but rather God’s people (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 12:5–11). Some historicist and futurist interpreters have tried to link the seven churches with successive periods of church history (e.g., ...

3685. The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Smyrna was a large port city known for its architectural achievements and aesthetic appeal. Its coins read: “Smyrna, first in Asia . . . for its beauty and splendor.” Smyrna was known for its magnificent buildings and numerous temples (including one to the imperial cult). When viewed from a distance, Smyrna looked like a crown resting on the summit of a hill (Aelius Aristides, Orations 21.437; 22.443). In the sixth century BC, the city had been destroyed by the king of Lydia but was later rebuilt to its ...

3686. The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Pergamum was situated on a plateau some one thousand feet above the Caicus River valley and stood prominently in the expanse of the Mysian hills. The city was known for its great libraries, parchment materials, large theater, and many shrines (including the ones to Zeus, Athena, Asclepius, Hygeia, and Apollo). The temple of the Sebastoi (Greek for “the venerated ones,” referring to Augustus Caesar and his successors) in Pergamum was the first imperial temple erected in Asia Minor (29 BC). Of the three ...

3687. The Letter to Thyatira

Revelation 2:18-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Thyatira, unlike the other cities of Asia Minor, lay on almost level ground and was bordered by rising hills. Its landscape and location made the city vulnerable to constant invasion, but its exporting business prospered because of the various roads that ran through the city and connected it to the Greek East. The first Christian convert in Macedonia—Lydia, a merchant of purple linens—was originally from Thyatira (Acts 16:14–15). Thyatira’s guild of dyers was prominent, along with its clothiers, linen ...

3688. The Letter to Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The city of Laodicea, compared with Hierapolis and Colossae, was the most prominent of the three cities in the Lycus River valley. A trade route that connected Laodicea with Ephesus, along with lesser roads north to Hierapolis and east to Colossae, allowed for a prosperous exporting business. The city was a central hub between the three regions of Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria. Laodicea’s textile industry was known for a fine, dark wool. The city was also a banking center, exchanging Roman coinage, gold, and ...

3689. Praise the Slain Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

As though the second movement in a symphony, the celebration in the eschatological temple of God continues, with a reading of a scroll. Typically, in a Jewish synagogue liturgy, the seals on a Torah scroll are broken so that God’s Word may be read to the whole congregation. However, this scroll in the right hand of the enthroned Creator cannot be opened or read (5:1). Even a being as powerful as the angel with the great voice must ask, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (5:2). The ...

3690. The Great Multitude in White Robes

Revelation 7:9-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

When the 144,000 appear again, they stand as a countless multitude whose diversity is evident, since individual persons can still be distinguished by nation, tribe, culture, and language and yet all are perfectly united in their litany to the Lord (7:9–10). This picture of the church triumphant provides hope for today’s divided congregation. Here the people of God are one voice, dressed in white priestly robes (Rev. 6:11), holding palm branches (a symbol of homage to a king during his coronation; cf. Mark ...

3691. The Harvest of the Earth

Revelation 14:14-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

14:14–16 · Grain harvest of the righteous: When Christ appears again as the one like the Son of Man (14:14; cf. 1:12–20; Dan. 7:13–14), he comes as a victor (symbolized by the golden laurel; cf. 1 Cor. 9:24–27), as a divine figure (symbolized by the cloud theophany; cf. Exod. 24:15–18), and as a judge for the eschatological harvest (symbolized by the sickle; cf. Joel 3:13). Jesus promised that he would return to gather the elect as a farmer reaps a grain harvest (Matt. 13:36–43; Mark 13:26–27). The command ...

3692. Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

Revelation 15:1-8

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

15:1–4 · Song of the new exodus: The celestial opera that began with two great signs in heaven—the cosmic woman (12:1) and the red dragon (12:3)—ends here with a third great sign: seven angels with seven plagues (15:1). The seven angels represent the churches in Asia Minor (1:20), and they also symbolize the church universal, whose prayers and witness play a key role in unveiling God’s judgments on the world (8:2, 6). Those who have conquered the beast with their faithful suffering are about to sing the ...

3693. A Light for All Nations

Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

As far as our society is concerned, the Christmas season has long been over. The lights and the tinsel have been put away. For most of us Christmas is only a pleasant memory. In the Church year, however, Christmas begins on December 25 and extends for 12 days. You remember the silly little song that starts off, “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree . . . .” It details an array of gifts that a young woman received from her lover over a period of 12 days. Her true ...

3694. In Remembrance

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Sermon

King Duncan

Albert Einstein, one of the most brilliant men who ever lived, at one time lived in a small frame house in Princeton, New Jersey. One day Einstein was asked for his telephone number. He looked puzzled for a minute, then asked for a phone book (I know. Those of you under 25 are wondering, “What’s a phone book?” Ask one of our older members after the service.) Anyway, I think it is interesting that Albert Einstein, a very smart man, did not even know his own phone number. Was he simply forgetful? Not ...

3695. Transition to Jesus’s Public Ministry

Matthew 4:12-17

One Volume

Jesus’s return to Galilee comes on the heels of news about John’s imprisonment. With John’s preparatory work accomplished, Matthew shows Jesus moving from Nazareth to Capernaum, on the sea (or lake) of Galilee, to begin his public ministry (4:17–16:20; cf. 8:5). Matthew includes another fulfillment quotation in 4:14–16. The connection between Isaiah 9:1–2 and Matthew 4:12 on the plot level focuses on Jesus’s relocation to Capernaum. For his readers, Matthew connects the redemption promised in Isaiah 9—the ...

3696. A Happy Ending

Joshua 5:9-12

Sermon

Charley Reeb

A.A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh, wrote a simple, yet telling poem in his work, Now We Are Six: When I was One, I had just begun. When I was Two, I was nearly new. When I was Three, I was hardly Me. When I was Four, I was not much more. When I was Five, I was just alive. But now I am Six, I’m as clever as ever. So I think I’ll be six now forever and ever.[1] This is a cute poem, but beneath its adorable rhyme lies a very sensitive issue for all of us: resistance to change. The truth is that most ...

3697. I Wonder about God’s Will for My Life

Romans 12:1-2

Sermon

Charley Reeb

We have all seen them. As we drive down the road, there as plain as day. I am not sure who the source is, but they are certainly there—those signs from God on the highway. You know, the pitch black background with a white message from God. I saw one just the other day that read: “We need to talk” -God I got to thinking about those signs and asked myself: Wouldn’t it be nice if God really spoke to us this way? Wouldn’t it be nice if we were ever confused about something, all we would have to do is look at a ...

3698. The Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew 1:1-17

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

The Birth of Jesus: Genealogical records were important to the Jewish people of Jesus’ day. They were maintained by the Sanhedrin and used to ensure purity of descent. Josephus, the famous Jewish historian who served in the court of Rome, began his autobiography by listing his ancestral pedigree. Similarly, Matthew opens his Gospel by tracing the lineage of Jesus. It has often been noted that, from David forward, the Lucan genealogy has forty-one generations traced through Nathan rather than twenty-six ...

3699. The Visit of the Magi

Matthew 2:1-12

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

2:1–2 Luke recounts Joseph and Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in order to comply with census regulations (Joseph was a descendant of David, who was a son of “Jesse of Bethlehem,” 1 Sam. 16:1); Matthew simply states that Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea (there was another Bethlehem within the territory assigned to Zebulun, Josh. 19:15). The name Bethlehem means “house of bread.” It was nestled in a fertile countryside some six miles south of Jerusalem, and its history was long and ...

3700. Giving to the Needy

Matthew 6:1-4

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

6:1 The three most prominent religious obligations of Jewish piety were almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. The first eighteen verses of chapter 6 deal with these acts of religious devotion. In each case there is a wrong way and a right way. The followers of Jesus are to avoid all ostentatious display and to quietly fulfill the obligations in an unobtrusive manner. In carrying out religious duties they are not to make a public display in order to attract attention to themselves. That approach would deprive ...

Showing results