Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 3926 to 3950 of 4490 results

3926. The Return of the King Brings Turmoil in the Kingdom

2 Sam 19:9–20:26

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The consequences of sin can be persistent, even when the Lord’s repentant servants do their best to promote unity and the Lord’s faithful covenantal promise is fulfilled. Understanding the Text The previous episode ended with David’s mourning the death of Absalom as if he were not grateful for what his men had accomplished on his behalf. Joab warned him that he was jeopardizing the loyalty of the troops, who had risked their lives for him. David presented himself to his loyal followers, and they ...

3927. The “Nine Lives” of David

1 Samuel 19:1-24

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Whether by divine providence or direct intervention, God is capable of protecting his chosen servants from those who seek to destroy them. Understanding the Text In chapter 18 Saul used different methods to try to kill David on three separate occasions (18:10–11, 17, 25). The pattern continues in chapter 19: (1) Saul orders Jonathan to kill David (19:1), (2) he again throws a spear at David (19:10; cf. 18:10–11), (3) he orders his henchmen to arrest David and bring him to the royal palace for ...

3928. Saul on the Rampage

1 Samuel 22:6-23

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: God regards as enemies those who oppose his chosen servants. Understanding the Text In this next episode the focus briefly shifts from David to Saul, and we see the tragic aftermath of David’s visit to Ahimelek (21:1–9). Saul accuses the priests of being traitors and murders them and their families. Only one, Abiathar, escapes. He goes to David, who welcomes him and promises him protection. The contrast between Saul and David cannot be sharper. While Saul is murdering the Lord’s priests, David is ...

3929. Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

Job 6:1–7:21

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

Job’s Frustration with His Friends Big Idea: Job’s adversity shapes how he views God, his friends, and himself. Understanding the Text After Eliphaz’s first speech in Job 4–5, Job responds in chapters 6 and 7. In chapter 6, Job indirectly refers in a few places to what Eliphaz has said, but he does not actually refute him point by point. Job’s speech, rather, is an emotional outburst in which he defends himself and attacks his friends. Job is clearly frustrated with his painful situation (6:1–13) and with ...

3930. “Taste and See That the Lord Is Good”

Psalm 34:1-22

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Having experienced God’s goodness, we invite others to “taste and see that the Lord is good” and thus experience the assuagement of their fears. Understanding the Text In addition to being an alphabetic acrostic,[1] Psalm 34 shares at least three other features with Psalm 25, another acrostic: (1) the waw (the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet) is missing from both poems; (2) each closes with a supernumerary verse beginning with the Hebrew letter pe; and (3) the same verb begins each of these ...

3931. Nebuchadnezzar’s Judgment and Repentance

Daniel 4:28-37

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Big Idea: The sovereignty of God over heaven and earth is demonstrated in the judgment of sin and the restoration of those who genuinely repent. Understanding the Text See the unit on 4:1–18 for a discussion of the larger context, structure, and comparisons of this literary unit. Against this backdrop, 4:28–37 concludes this narrative, and brief statements of time (“twelve months” [4:29] and “at the end of that time” [4:34]) identify its two parts: God’s punishment of Nebuchadnezzar (4:28–33; with ...

3932. Gabriel Brings an Answer to Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:20-27

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Big Idea: Despite the prayers of a faithful servant, the persistent sin of God’s people can bring serious consequences before their punishment is completed. Understanding the Text See the unit on 9:1–6 for a discussion of the larger context, structure, and comparisons of this chapter. Against this backdrop, 9:20–27 is the appearance vision proper. It can be divided into three parts: Gabriel’s arrival to answer Daniel’s prayer (9:20–23), the announcement of “seventy ‘sevens’” (9:24), and an explanation of ...

3933. If You Are Looking for a Savior...

Matthew 11:2-11

Sermon

James L. Killen

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me." As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you ...

3934. Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

1 Samuel 29:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

As the battle draws near, David and his men are lined up on the Philistine side (29:1–11). They are “at the rear with Achish,” an indication of the esteem in which Achish holds David (not necessarily that David wants to stay out of the battle if possible). However, in light of the success that David has previously had in fighting against the Philistines, the other Philistine commanders are nervous about his presence. They are concerned that he might rejoin the Israelite side during the battle and be ...

3935. The Turning Point

2 Samuel 11:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

At a time when David and his people seem to be thriving, the king commits adultery and murder. Although David repents and the Lord forgives his sin, this whole episode marks a major turning point in David’s rule. From this point on David faces serious challenges from his own family and fellow Israelites and in the process nearly loses the throne. Like Samson before him, David is guilty of sexual immorality, with all its consequences. While committing adultery is bad enough, David compounds the problem by ...

3936. The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The servant of the Lord will share the throne with God himself, as he will be “lifted up and highly exalted” (52:13–15). He will succeed in his mission, for which reason he is described as acting “wisely” (52:13). He does what is right and pleases God. The Lord will raise him up to glory. The nations who marvel at his appearance, because the servant was greatly humiliated in his suffering, will witness his glory. The kings and nations were amazed when they heard about the suffering servant, and so are the ...

3937. Examining Public Worship

Jeremiah 7:1-29, Jeremiah 7:30--8:3

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The basic mode of poetry in 2:1–10:25 is interrupted by a prose sermon. The sermon, a sharp attack on moral deviations and misguided doctrinal views about the temple, stirs up a vehement response, as we learn from a parallel account in Jeremiah 26:1–15. Attack on venerated tradition is risky business (cf. Acts 7). The sermon, on worship, leads to some instructions designed to correct misguided worship (7:16–26) and to halt bizarre worship (7:27–8:3). It is a prelude to further talk about siege (8–10). ...

3938. Proof of Deceitful Ways

Hosea 11:12--12:14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

God’s Lawsuit because Israel Is Deceitful (11:12–14:9): In the final section of this long covenant lawsuit against Israel, the nation is accused of deceitfully lying about her love for God. The people claim to be committed to God, but in reality there is no truthfulness in these words. They do not do what they say they will do (11:12–12:2). This is not just a minor issue of a few people who on rare occasions become unfaithful to their commitments to live as the holy people of God. Instead, many people in ...

3939. Concluding Exhortations

Hebrews 13:1-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In what amounts to a postscript to his sermon, the author takes care to specify particular ways in which this true and living faith expresses and evidences itself. As elsewhere in the Bible, the believer is not left to work out the ethical implications of faith in Christ; the particular obedience required is carefully defined. Pride of place goes to brotherly love (13:1–3), a costly virtue by which these believers have already distinguished themselves, especially in regard to prisoners (Heb. 6:10; 10:33–34 ...

3940. Being Too Generous

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

Kristin Borsgard Wee

Dan and I always enjoyed the summer days at the lake cabin in Minnesota. It's a noisy and happy time with grandchildren running around in wet bathing suits, adults scooping ice cream like crazy, playing our favorite game Double Cross, and swatting mosquitoes. Late in the evening we would start telling stories. Sometimes we laugh until we cry. At some point in the storytelling, our oldest child usually says to her siblings, "You don't know how lucky you were. Our parents were so strict with me I couldn't ...

3941. Rat Poison

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Kristin Borsgard Wee

When our son started kindergarten, I held my breath. I knew he would be a handful. Things were going along pretty well until the day he pulled the fire alarm, which he did during lunch hour. The whole school was in chaos. I got a vivid description from the principal. I felt awful. I'll always be grateful to the teacher who said that my son was not a bad kid and I shouldn't let the principal convince me any differently. But not so from my son's teacher. She had nothing good to say about him. But then, she ...

3942. Clean and Unclean

Mark 7:1-23

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

7:1–13 Although the NIV presents 7:1–13 as a separate unit, it is important to note that the discussion about Jewish traditional ideas of “clean” and “unclean,” begun in 7:1–13, continues in 7:14–23. Moreover, this topic sets the stage for the episode in 7:24–30, where Jesus deals with a gentile woman’s request for his ministry. The preceding summary passage (6:53–56) is thus a transitional point, and in chapter 7 we should recognize the beginning of a new section in Mark’s narrative. The Pharisees (last ...

3943. Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

Mark 8:1-13

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

8:1–10 This is the second feeding account in Mark (cf. 6:30–44). The repetition of the same sort of miracle in so compressed a narrative as Mark and the similarities of the two accounts have provoked a great deal of scholarly study. Since our objective here is to try to understand what Mark intended by including these two accounts in his Gospel, we shall not discuss the various suggestions about the oral or written sources that Mark may have used for these stories. Mark 8:14–21 makes it evident that Mark ...

3944. On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

The account of the appearance of the risen Christ to the two persons on the road to Emmaus (see note below) is unique to Luke. Several features in this account reflect Lucan themes: (1) The appearance takes place while the two persons were going along a road (24:13–15). This detail recalls the Central Section (9:51–19:27) in which Jesus taught while traveling along the road to Jerusalem. The idea of teaching and traveling might anticipate the traveling ministries of the apostles in the Book of Acts. (2) ...

3945. Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

Paul returns here to the topics he dealt with in 8:1–13. There he touched on two related items, eating meat from idol sacrifices and participating in pagan cultic banquets. At this point, however, Paul reverses the order of his discussion and takes up the Christians’ eating at the table in a pagan idol’s temple in 10:14–22 before returning to the issue of eating idol meat per se in 10:23–11:1. In the present verses Paul elaborates and makes even more explicit application of his warning to the Corinthians. ...

3946. The Collection for God's People

1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

Paul almost certainly is responding to a pair of inquiries at this point, since the words now about (vv. 1, 12) identify topics that were brought to Paul’s attention by the letter or the delegates from Corinth. Paul discusses the collection he was assembling. He states some guidelines that the Corinthians may follow, and the principles inherent in his directions provide theological insight into Christian life. In turn, Paul mentions his future travel plans to inform the Corinthians of his situation and ...

3947. The Trumpets

Revelation 8:6--9:21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

8:6 The significance of the seven trumpets has been variously appraised (Beasley-Murray, Revelation, pp. 152–56). According to John’s Bible (OT), Israel’s liturgical trumpets were sounded for a variety of reasons. They were used to convene the worshiping community (Num. 10:3), to begin pilgrimages (Num. 10:5), to call warriors for war (Num. 10:9), to celebrate the sacred feasts (Num. 10:10), to install new kings (1 Kings 1:34), and to summon Israel to repentance and renewal (Jer. 4:5). Seven trumpets were ...

3948. The Angel and the Little Scroll

Revelation 10:1-11

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

The role played by the interlude in each of the three visions of divine wrath is the same: to cause the readers to assess their present crisis in terms of the future realization of God’s past triumph in Christ. In this sense, the crisis confronting unbelieving humanity is a theological one. Their vision is blinded by the “official” propaganda of the surrounding world order; thus, their life is anchored not by faith in a sovereign God but rather by a false confidence in the idols of the anti-Christian world ...

3949. The Nazirite

Numbers 6:1-21

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Vows and Blessings: Purity and holiness and God’s presence with the people continue to underscore the text. Chapter 6 begins with a description of the Nazirites, a group that exemplifies a special holiness by way of a vow and so is a symbol of Israel’s holiness. The chapter concludes with God’s blessing upon the people. All of these rites fall under the supervision of the priests. 6:1–8 The first part of the Nazirite vow (vv. 1–4) is to abstain from wine and other fermented drink. The description of the ...

3950. David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

David and Bathsheba: The mopping-up operation to complete the siege of the Syrian capital Rabbah is described in 11:1, but the completion is not recorded until 12:26–31. In between is the story of David’s involvement in adultery, betrayal, and murder. 11:1 The writers make it clear that David’s presence in Jerusalem at this time was unusual. The fighting season has begun, but at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab. That is, he did not go himself, and the verse stresses that while the army ...

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