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Showing 3901 to 3925 of 4914 results

3901. Keys That Unlock Miracles

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

H. L. Mencken was for a long time the editor of the American Mercury magazine. One day he startled his employees by suddenly shouting, “It’s coming in the doors!” Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at their boss. “It’s up to the bottom of the desk!” Mencken continued, “It’s up to the seats of our chairs.” “What are you talking about?” asked one of his confused colleagues. “It’s all around us. Now, it’s to the top of our desks,” shouted Mencken as he jumped to the top of his desk. “What do you ...

3902. Nothing to Hide

Psalm 32:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

Jerry White, in his book Honesty Morality & Conscience tells two memorable stories. The first is from author Mark Twain. Twain says that when he was a boy, he was walking along a street and happened to spy a cart full of watermelons. He was fond of watermelon, so he sneaked quietly up to the cart and snatched one of the melons. Holding it in his arms he then ran into a nearby alley and sank his teeth into it. No sooner had he done so, however, when a strange feeling came over him. Without a moment’s ...

3903. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

Address and Greeting 1:1–2 The wording resembles the first letter’s address (see comment there) except for the addition of “our” in the phrase, in God our Father. This clarifies that God is being presented, not as the Father of Jesus but as the Father of his people and, specifically, of the church of the Thessalonians. The greeting also parallels the first letter’s (again, see the comment there), but it is expanded by the addition of from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, which becomes Paul’s ...

3904. The Plague of Locusts

Exodus 10:21-29

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

God Hardens Pharaoh’s Heart: Locusts and Darkness: The Lord begins actively to harden Pharaoh’s heart late in the plague cycles, and more frequently in the last three plagues. God’s hardening functions alongside the choices Pharaoh himself made to “self-harden” his heart. The Hebrew has two different words, both generally translated “hardened,” that the narrative uses interchangeably (without pattern). Khazaq refers to physical or political strengthening, as in “making tough” or uncompassionate. Kabed ...

3905. Woe to Nineveh

Nahum 3:1-19

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Yahweh Confronts the Bloody City: Chapters 1 and 2 only hinted at the reasons for Yahweh’s anger, but the opening and close of chapter 3 are more concrete. Here Yahweh speaks all through the chapter. Yahweh confronts the city because it is responsible for the deaths of so many people as a result of its desire to accumulate wealth, which has led it into empire-building and war-making. Its apparent strength will not save it. 3:1–4 Woe is an over-translation; the Hebrew hoy resembles English “Oh,” which we ...

3906. Jehoahaz King of Judah

2 Kings 23:31-35

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The End of Judah: Josiah, like Ahab, humbled himself before the LORD, and judgment, as in Ahab’s case, did not fall during Josiah’s reign. The implication of the analogy is that we may expect it to fall during the reign of Josiah’s son (cf. 1 Kgs. 21:28–29). This is exactly what we find now, as the story of Kings comes to its end. It is not, however, the first of Josiah’s sons to sit on his throne (Jehoahaz) who experiences the full force of God’s wrath (cf. 1 Kgs. 22:51–2 Kgs. 1:18), or even the second, ...

3907. Mary’s Song—the Magnificat

Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: God has chosen the insignificant Mary for great honor. This is an example of how he overturns human values and conventions. Understanding the Text In our first two sections of Luke’s text the angel Gabriel has announced two births to mothers who should not have been expecting a baby (one too old, the other not yet married). Before the births of John and Jesus are narrated, the two families are brought together, and we have in this domestic scene an opportunity to reflect on the significance of ...

3908. Message to Thyatira

Revelation 2:18-29

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Jesus commends his church for trusting and loving God, for serving people, and for persevering in faith, but he warns of judgment for those who go along with false teaching that promotes idolatry and immorality. Understanding the Text The message to the church in Thyatira is the fourth (and longest) in the series of messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2–3. The setting and themes here are very similar to those of Pergamum: Christ is portrayed as Judge, and the church is commended for ...

3909. Jonathan’s Faith Ignites a Victory

1 Sam 13:16–14:23

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Faith in the Lord’s great power can be the catalyst for his saving intervention. Understanding the Text After announcing the demise of Saul’s dynasty, Samuel departs, leaving Saul alone with a mere six hundred troops to face the Philistine army (1 Sam. 13:15). The situation appears to be bleak, especially when the narrator informs us that the Israelite troops are ill equipped for battle due to a Philistine monopoly on iron (vv. 19–22). But sometimes crisis is the seedbed for heroism. Saul’s son ...

3910. “In the Lord I Take Refuge”

Psalm 11:1-7

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: When our theological foundations are threatened, our fears are disabled by remembering God’s just and majestic character. Understanding the Text Psalm 11 is an individual lament. The lament is quite brief (11:1b) and obviously grows out of the immediate threat of danger that David faced (11:2), which itself grows out of the nature of the wicked “who love violence” (11:5). It is that bigger problem that shakes the foundations of faith and life (11:3), until Yahweh’s vision from his heavenly throne ...

3911. “When I Awake, I Will Be Satisfied with Seeing Your Likeness”

Psalm 17:1-15

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: When we encounter false accusations, through faith we hope to awake in the wonder of God’s likeness, which is true reality. Understanding the Text Some scholars identify Psalm 17 as a prayer of innocence, based particularly on 17:3–5.[1] Others, in view of 17:1–2 and 6–9, consider it an individual lament. While the categories of form criticism are helpful, the psalmists were not working with those categories as such, and they were sometimes inclined to mix genres. Obviously the psalmist is ...

3912. “Your Love Is Better Than Life”

Psalm 63:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Even in the “dry and parched land” of our problems, God’s love is still better than life. Understanding the Text Psalm 63 is an individual lament,1 which Kraus puts into his subcategory of “the prayer song of the persecuted and the accused,”2 for which the psalm certainly qualifies in view of “those who want to kill” him (63:9). It also contains elements of thanksgiving (63:3–7) and confidence (63:8–10),3 which is not unusual for lament psalms. The psalmist, in a “parched land where there is no ...

3913. The Plague of Darkness

Exodus 10:1-20

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

3914. Jehoiakim King of Judah

2 Kings 23:36--24:7

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

3915. Jehoiachin King of Judah

2 Kings 24:8-17

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

3916. Zedekiah King of Judah

2 Kings 24:18-20a

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

3917. The Fall of Jerusalem

2 Kings 24:20b--25:26

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

3918. All in the Family

Acts 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

In his book God, Help Us! R. J. Chandler tells a wonderful story of a church that celebrated Pentecost Sunday in a unique way. They had the young children process down the aisle while carrying large cardboard flames to symbolize the Holy Spirit. However, as in most children’s programs, not everything went smoothly. One little boy became upset when he realized he had forgotten his flame. Not having a piece of cardboard to carry, he ran up and down the aisle flapping his arms, then stopped and announced for ...

3919. A Bridge Between Two Worlds

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

If you ever read stories or watch movies about spies and espionage, then you know that spies live in constant tension of being found out. Because spies are hiding their true identity and purpose, even the tiniest false move could blow their cover and put them in danger. That kind of premise guarantees that a spy story or movie will be filled with tension and excitement. One of the most famous true spies of modern times was a Spanish man by the name of Juan Pujol Garcia. At the start of World War II, Garcia ...

3920. Lazarus Rising

John 11:1-16, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44, John 11:45-57, John 12:1-11, John 12:12-19

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Come out of the ark!” (Genesis 8:16) I saw a movie awhile back, “The Nice Guys.” Anyone see it? It stuck with me, because it was so disturbing. The plot went like this. A young girl is trying to assist in making a secret film that will uncover a criminal plot to allow an auto industry to sell an illegal converter that will damage and desecrate the environment. The girl is located by detectives, who were hired by her mother to find her missing daughter. While the detectives assume it’s a mere missing ...

3921. Christ and the Magic Cloak

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Sermon

Lori Wagner

[Prop: Jewish Tallit with Tzitzit] The fashion industry has captivated people, both men and women, for centuries. If you look back in your history books, you’ll be amazed at some of the beautiful and stunning costumes that people wore in times past. In fact, in many museums, fashion has become a popular display –Medieval gowns, Knight’s armor, Viking attire, Victorian splendor. We marvel at the handicrafts that people were able to assemble even so many years ago! Today, we continue to adore fashion. We ...

3922. The Hidden City

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Caspar David Friedrich: Wanderer in a Sea of Fog The artist Caspar David Friedrich is known for his ethereal, spiritual, otherworldly-looking paintings. In order to grasp the meaning of his art, one needs to contemplate the visuals, noting the colors, shades, objects, and the location of the figure, among other noticeable details. For example, the painting above, called “Wanderer in a Sea of Fog,” lacks clarity. The fog, in the title and in the painting, obscures vision with misty white. The man appears to ...

3923. The Great Reveal

Luke 2:22-40

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Amazed! That’s how Mary felt when Simeon offered his strange and wonderful blessing upon Jesus at the parents’ presentation of their first-born son in the Jerusalem Temple. It’s funny really, isn’t it? Up until this point, Mary had experienced an angel prophecy, a Holy Spirit visitation, a star following them and shining over their birthing place, and the arrival of praising and singing shepherds. And yet when Simeon proclaims the messianic heritage of her child, Jesus, Mary is still amazed! Likewise, ...

3924. The Art of Restoration

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Have you ever seen an archaeologist uncovering an artifact or a set of bones? It’s a painstaking business. They can’t just dig right in or they could risk harming the remains in the process. Instead, the archaeologist uses light, gentle brushes, blowing off the excess dust, sweeping away debris, until the artifact reveals itself. Then they celebrate the find! Although classified in universities as a science, archaeology, like most restorative processes, many would say, is also an art. Likewise, the study ...

3925. Is This Any Way for a King to Behave?

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 · Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

Will Willimon

King David is in a magnanimous mood. In today's first lesson, King David offers to build God a huge, marvelous temple in which to live. Is King David embarrassed? He has such a fine house of cedar, but the Almighty God of Israel has had for years to content himself with mere tents and mobile tabernacles. Is that any way for a King to treat his divine benefactor? So King David announces a royal building progran1 in which a huge temple shall be built in Jerusalem. Surely God will be flattered. After all, a ...

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