Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3876 to 3900 of 3926 results

3876. Taking the Long Way Home

Mark 7:31-37

Sermon

Will Willimon

... campus harassing people.” “They harassed you?” I asked. “Well, they were sitting behind a table handing out literature.” “That’s harassment? I saw the Lutherans at a table in Bryan Center last week, recruiting for their retreat. And Hillel had their support for Israel table awhile back…” “Well, I don’t want them there either. We have the Chapel for that sort of thing. I come here to learn, not to talk about religion.” Her attitude typifies our culture. It is understandable how this ...

3877. God’s Reputation and the Destruction of Jerusalem

Psalm 79:1-13

Teach the Text

Craig C. Broyles

... blood like water all around Jerusalem” (v. 3, cf. v. 10), so God should now pour out his wrath on the nations. (Verses 6–7 are echoed in Jer. 10:25. The preceding verse echoes Ps. 6:1.) The petitions and the motives (i.e., arguments) supporting them move around the relational triangle of God, his people, and the nations. First, the nations are characterized as those who do not acknowledge (lit. “know”) you. But, by referring to the reproach they have hurled at you, O Lord (v. 12), the psalm makes ...

3878.

Psalm 83:1-18

Teach the Text

Craig C. Broyles

... against your people and against those you cherish (vv. 2–3), and they form an alliance against you (v. 5). The poet does not endeavor to draw God into a conflict between human opponents—this dilemma is presented as God’s business already. As evidence supporting the claim of conspiracy, a quotation from these foes is included in the prayer to God: “come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation” (v. 4). At stake is the very existence of the nation. 83:9–15 The next two sections are ...

3879.

Psalm 83:1-18

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

3880.

Psalm 99:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... to human calls, we should probably translate these Hebrew terms as “testimonies/counsels” (Hb. ʿēdôt) and “prescriptions” (Hb. ḥōq). (In both Exod. 19–20 and Deut. 5 the Ten Commandments are clearly presented as divinely initiated.) The inclusion of Samuel supports this emphasis, because he did not receive laws as such, though he did receive specific instructions. Moreover, the kind of answering that Yahweh provides in verse 8 is to show himself to be a forgiving God (cf. Exod. 34:7, where ...

3881.

Psalm 112:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... he does he need not fear? The parallel line and the next verse, in fact, imply the latter. His security and freedom from fear rest not in circumstances but in heartfelt trust: his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure (lit. “supported”). The repeated insistence that he will have no fear implies that he may, in fact, face circumstances that could give cause for fear. Likewise, the assurance that in the end he will look in triumph on his foes implies that “in the meantime” he ...

3882.

Psalm 126:1-6

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... found in the Qere reading of v. 4, noted below), which derives from the Hb. root šbh and thus means “captivity.” This is the reading taken in the main text of the NIV, though the phrase is best translated, “turn our captivity.” A few other MT manuscripts, supported by the LXX, read šebût (also found in the Kethib reading of v. 4, noted below), which probably derives from šûb. Thus the Hb. phrase šûb šebût in v. 1 would be rendered lit. as, “when the LORD turned the turning of Zion,” and ...

3883.

Psalm 127:1-5

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... . It may seem odd that children can be used as “weapons” or arrows to counter one’s enemies in the gate. The gate served as the town’s courtroom (Ruth 4:1, 10–11; Amos 5:12; Prov. 22:22). Sons born in one’s youth could offer one legal support in the face of a lawsuit. But the gate was also simply a gathering place (Prov. 31:31) or marketplace (2 Kgs. 7:1). Thus, in any case of rivalry, children could be presented as evidence that one has, in fact, been blessed by God. This psalm may provide us ...

3884.

Psalm 139:1-24

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... analogy between a dark, hidden place and the mother’s womb (v. 13). 139:18 When I awake (derived from Hb. qyṣ) is awkward at this point of the psalm. We should perhaps read, “were I at an end” (derived perhaps from Hb. qṣṣ, a denominative of qṣ), with the support of a few MT manuscripts.

3885. Can I Get a Witness?

Luke 24:44-53

Sermon

Mary Austin

... actively telling about our faith. Some people have a gift for that, and some people don’t. Some people want to hear and some people don’t. Our truest witness is how we live. It’s not what we say …people forget that. It’s how we spend our money, supporting the things we believe in. The tone of voice we use with strangers, or people who have fewer resources or lower status than we do, in the way we seek honesty and fairness at work, in the way we spend our time, in the way we speak up to call ...

3886. Processing Grief

Lamentations 3:1-66

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the book. One of the poet’s answers to suffering is to affirm God’s goodness. For this reason the afflicted do well to wait even in silence. There is approval for turning over the yoke (responsibility?) to the younger generation (3:27). However, the context supports the view that yoke deals with suffering (cf. 3:1); the lesson of trust in God, when learned early, is orientation for the remainder of one’s life. Verses 28–30 once more picture the afflicted person in order to set the stage for verses ...

3887. Jerusalem’s Humiliation

Lamentations 4:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... people to bizarre actions, and the description may well be literal (2 Kings 6:25–29). 4:11–20 · Jerusalem’s dire plight: The Lord’s anger is the theme of chapter 2. The doctrine of Zion and the temple as invincible had some theological support but was misleading in Judah’s circumstance. As a fortification, Jerusalem was strategically placed, with valleys on three of her sides. Her fall was due to inside weaknesses. The sins of God’s people as a reason for the disaster are noted in each of ...

3888. Where's God?

John 16:12-15

Sermon

David Coffin

... text. The main point is to enter the kingdom of God, one has to be born of water and spirit. Most Christian traditional beliefs are that baptism is necessary on the Christian journey. Some practice infant baptism for the entire family with biblical support from Matthew 28:16-20 (the great commission) and Acts 16 (the jailor and his whole family are baptized). Other faith traditions hold to a baptism event only after one has confessed Jesus as Savior and Lord. They can point to many conversion experiences ...

3889. Zion's New Name

Isaiah 62:1-12

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... after 539 B.C. The subsequent return of further groups such as those who came with Ezra, as well as the continuing existence of Babylonian Jewry, not as deportees or exiles but as people who were content to have settled in a foreign land, support this view. The promises of the Preacher match those of Zechariah 2, which still look for the return of the people and the restoration of the city. Additional Notes 62:5 Your sons is banayik (literally, “your children”), but this makes poor sense. “Your ...

3890. Daniel Interprets the Dream of a Tree

Daniel 4:19-27

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... to dreams and visions underscore how unusual and other-worldly those experiences are. In them conflicting realities collide, leaving their recipients physically overwhelmed and emotionally drained. Since the dream portends evil for the king, Daniel softens the blow and politely supports his master by wishing it on his foes: “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!” (4:19). Verses 20–21 repeat the dream in slightly different words from those in verses ...

3891. Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring

Haggai 2:20-23

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... thus here approaches the international political agenda of Zechariah, and of other prophets. Whereas verse 7 referred to “all nations” without implying any concern with their interrelationship and made one think simply of a worldwide recognition of Yahweh expressed in their support for the temple restoration (cf. Isa. 2:2; 66:18; Jer. 3:17), verse 22 refers to the overthrowing of royal thrones and the power of the foreign kingdoms, which parallels the way other prophets use the expression “the nations ...

3892. The King’s Overseers

1 Chronicles 27:25-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... groups (Ephraim, half Manasseh, half Manasseh), to bring the total number to thirteen. By placing this list of tribal leaders at the end of his list of material in chapters 23–27, the Chronicler is foreshadowing their appearance in chapters 28–29 to pledge their support for Solomon and his temple project (cf. 28:1; 29:6). In a short note in 27:23–24 following the lists of army and tribal leaders, the Chronicler reveals that David’s sin in 1 Chronicles 21 was not related to breaking the prohibition ...

3893. Officers of the Tribes

1 Chronicles 27:16-24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

3894. Building Trust

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

David Coffin

... materials. There is indeed an entire publishing industry who has dedicated itself of multiple printed editions of various recovery materials. Reading and listening is no replacement for human interaction by attending either a 12-step recovery group, faith-based support group or simply having a handful of trusted friends who are good at respecting confidentiality. In such “hands on” experiences, the family member will discover that they no longer have to be terrorized by the addiction. They did not ...

3895. New Life Goes On

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

David Coffin

... of God in Mark was to simply have faith in Jesus and trust God for new life. Where is the kingdom of God in Mark’s gospel? It can be among the religious establishment people of the time such as Jairus, his household, and the community who supported him. The kingdom was also among the outsiders such as the nameless woman who was healed simply, for having faith in Jesus’ power from God. Jairus’ daughter could grow up, get married, and have a family of her own. Nobody told them they had to quit the ...

3896. “POW!”

Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20

Sermon

John B. Jamison

... but it would have been an intelligence-gathering mission rather than an act of worship. They most certainly would have told people about what they had heard and seen, but you wonder how they would have spun it to make it say what they wanted it to say to support their positions. They would have been heard for sure, but the chances are good that what God had actually done is not what would have been heard. But look at what the shepherds did. They heard the news and were humble about it. They made the trip to ...

3897. Lord To Whom Shall We Go?

John 6:56-69

Sermon

David Coffin

... he had been a scholarship college recipient and champion college athlete winner of multiple trophies — he had never experienced this kind of rejection in his entire life. This began a long two-year court trauma with fights over custody and child support. It entailed expensive court fees, legal costs, bitter words spoken on both sides, along with weekend conflicts over visitation privileges with their daughter. Many days were spent with his close friends as he told the same sad story many times. However ...

3898. Life in the Future

Philippians 1:3-11

Sermon

Scott Bryte & Kimberly Miller van Driel

... world, is not a solo project. God could have stopped at Adam. God could have created just the one person and called it a day, but that is not what happened. God didn’t just create a person. God created people. God created people to support each other, to care for each other and to love each other. God called, gathered, and enlightened the Christian church on earth. In hundreds of countries, through thousands of languages, across tens of thousands of denominations, God has formed the one church, the one ...

3899. Did Jesus Say What I Think He Said?

Mark 7:24-37 · James 2:1-9 · Isaiah 35:5-6 · Psalm 146

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

... daughter’s restoration. We get the happy ending, the woman’s daughter’s demon was expelled from her body, so maybe we should just leave this scene alone and write it off as Jesus not being at his best because he was weary. Such a reading certainly supports the “fully human” side of his identity. It may be that Jesus was defeated in this war of words. The woman— we never learn her name — out-bantered a guy who bantered pretty well. The Big Guy recognized he had been beaten and as a concession ...

3900. Text Message in the Desert

Matthew 2:13-23

Illustration

Angela Akers

... . And she picked up her feet and ran again. God was with her. All she had to do was keep moving forward. Beth and her teammates successfully finished the race. As they headed back into San Diego from the desert, all their phones began pinging them constantly with messages of support from their family and friends back home. But only one message had gotten through when they were in the desert--the message reminding them of the promise of God’s love.

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