Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 376 to 400 of 3852 results

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... 11:16 This verse summarizes and looks back to the discussion from 11:2–15. Paul has been discussing the local congregation in Corinth, and now he places that group in the context of the entire church, a connection and identity he established explicitly and originally at 1:2. Recognizing the difficulty of this verse and the section to which it is related, J. C. G. Greig (“Women’s Hats—1 Corinthians 11:1–16,” ExpT 69 [1958], pp. 156–57) suggests the following paraphrase of this verse, “However ...

377. One Body, Many Parts

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... to being baptized by one Spirit into one body. Nevertheless, this expansion of the basic image of the body makes it clear that the power of the Spirit is at work, so that one sees that God creates the unity of the body despite the original complexity or even seeming incompatibility of the constituent parts. Ethnicity (Jews or Greeks) and social class (slave or free) are superseded and even consolidated by the power of the Spirit at work among humanity. In Christ, as a body, believers may come from one group ...

378. Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... a tongue speaker spoke “in the Spirit of God,” so that the unintelligibility of the speaking was because of the divine origin of the language. A final decision for this question of translation is impossible and not crucial for grasping the basic sense ... the observations and directions that Paul issues in vv. 24–25. In citing Isaiah, however, Paul does work small changes, paraphrasing the original text. The liberties Paul seems to take with the text of the OT are apparently the result of his applying the ...

379. Orderly Worship

1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... as the church(es) of God or Christ and as the church(es) of a region or city. Thus, divine proprietorship and geographical setting are the normal ways of identifying Pauline congregations. The peculiarity of the statement in verse 33b complicates decisions about the origin and purpose of both these particular words and other statements made in connection with this phrase. No ready solution for the full range of problems is at hand, so verse 33b remains a problem in its own right. 14:34–35 These two verses ...

380. The Resurrection of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... the LXX refers to God’s appearance with the passive form of “to see” = “to be seen,” where it seems clear that God appeared. Yet, Paul’s use of the passive form and the possible preservation of that verbal voice in the tradition that Paul recalls may originally have indicated that God showed Christ to those who saw him. This arrangement is what Paul reports in Gal. 1:15–16, and the logic of such revelation fits well with the report of Christ’s being subjected to God at the end (1 Cor. 15:24 ...

381. The Birth of Samuel

1 Samuel 1:1-20

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... 21). 1:4–5 It would be possible to translate the Hb. as “one portion,” but the “only one portion” of some versions is misleading. The NIV’s double portion conveys the sense. The actual phrase is “portion of the face or nose” (Hb. ʾappāyim), perhaps originating from the custom of bowing down before those who deserved special respect (H. W. Hertzberg, I and II Samuel, [OTL; London: SCM, 1964], p. 24). 1:11 Hannah’s vow that if she is given a son he will be a Nazirite (Num. 6) dedicated to ...

382. Abner Goes Over to David

2 Samuel 3:6-21

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... still had feelings for Michal, and it is hard to see this as anything other than a political move. Her return as part of the royal entourage would give the supporters of Saul’s family a focus for allegiance to the new regime without betraying their original loyalties. David was aware of the benefit of such moves and maybe felt that personal wishes had to be subordinated to the national good. Ish-Bosheth, as head of Saul’s family, gave orders that Michal should be returned to David. Ish-Bosheth’s role ...

383. Job's Reply to Bildad

Job 9:1–10:22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... against him. When God forgot Israel, it was as if it had ceased to be his people (Jer. 23:39; Lam. 5:20; Pss. 13:1; 4:24). Job calls God to “remember” his involvement in creating Job in order to call God back from judgment to his original care. It is not clear whether Job expects this restoration of God’s care to take place, or whether his intention is simply to mark the contradiction in clearest terms. In the literary context, however, it is the contradiction that is most important for the reader to ...

384. Job's Third Reply to Eliphaz

Job 23:1--24:25

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... into a meeting. There is only one mi yitten at the beginning of this verse, but it seems to govern both halves of the verse. See the discussion on 14:4 in §47 with regard to mi yitten. This difficulty in locating God may indicate an exilic origin for the book of Job. Most often God’s dwelling is associated with the temple, or the heavenly abode that is linked for humans to the temple. With the temple destroyed, or at least far removed from the Diaspora community, the exiles might well lament, if only ...

385. Job's Final Concession

Job 42:1-6

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... ’s new appreciation of God does not constitute complete understanding. What God is about in the world is too wonderful for any human to know, even by direct experience. 42:4 You said . Once again the italics (added) indicate that this phrase is not in the original Hebrew but is interpretively supplied to suggest this is a quote from God, parallel to that just above in verse 3a. Listen now, and I will speak. The problem is that nowhere in the book does God speak these words to Job. When God confronts Job ...

386. The Would-Be Pilgrim Who Thirsts for God: Part I

Psalm 42:1-11

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... the normal Hb. consonant lāmed, “l,” before penê. We should note, however, that the Psalms elsewhere do, in fact, use the image of “seeing God” as a metaphor for worshiping him at the temple (11:7; 17:15). In other words, this phrase when it was originally coined did not claim an actual, unveiled, face-to-face encounter with God. 42:8 By day the LORD directs his love: It is not clear how we should render the tense of the Hb. imperfect verb here (yeṣawwê; NIV puts it in the present tense) nor ...

387. Applause for the Ascending King of All the Earth

Psalm 47:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... unique characteristic of the psalms of Yahweh’s kingship (also in 96:4; 99:3). Historical evidence is also adduced: he subdued nations under us. This could refer either to conquests under Joshua and the judges or to David’s victories surrounding the ark’s original ascent (2 Sam. 5; 8). Our inheritance (the LXX and the Peshitta read “his”) and the pride of Jacob refer to the land of Israel. Thus, the reason for the conquest as stated in this psalm lies in Yahweh’s “choice” (he chose) of which ...

388. The Penitential Psalm

Psalm 51:1-19

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... is confessing something specific to its composer’s circumstances, that is, that he was born out of wedlock (v. 5b reads lit., “in sin my mother conceived me”). It would also be putting too much on this single verse to read into it a doctrine of original sin. The Psalms and the OT in general speak less in terms of “being” (ontology) than in terms of experience and history (existence). Verse 5 must also be seen as part of this doxology of judgment. The point is to contrast God, the just judge (v. 4 ...

389. The Heavenly Blessing of Harmonious Fellowship

Psalm 133:1-3

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... which is on the head, running down on Aaron’s beard. This reference is reminiscent of Aaron’s anointing—performed by pouring oil on his head—whereby he was consecrated as Israel’s high priest (Exod. 29:7; 30:22–33; Lev. 8:12). Divine origin is finally made explicit for “the” blessing, which the LORD bestows. For the oft-dry land of Israel dew was life-giving (cf. Hos. 14:5, where Yahweh likens himself to “dew” that gives life). Hermon is the highest mountain of the eastern Mediterranean ...

390. Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:1-19

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... be desolated v. 27 vv. 17, 18 ntk, “to pour out” v. 27 v. 11 tkhnh/tkhnwn, “supplication” vv. 3, 20, 23 vv. 17, 18 This shows that the prayer is now an integral part of the chapter. It is not clear whether that is because the prayer is original or because the redactor who added it was careful to choose words for the prayer that linked it to the surrounding material. 9:9–10 Although vv. 4b–19 constitute a prayer, directed to God, the author shifts to the third person (note the him and he) in vv ...

391. The Appointing of the Twelve Apostles

Mark 3:13-19

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... note the giving of the law and the covenant to Israel under Moses (Exod. 19:1–25; 20:18–20). This setting in Mark may be intended to signify that the choice of the Twelve is a new event in the sacred history of redemption, like the original constitution of Israel as God’s chosen nation. The Luke 6:12 parallel describes Jesus praying in the hills before this choice of the Twelve, and this is intended to make it clear that the choice is part of the divine plan for Jesus’ ministry. For other examples ...

392. Whose Son is the Christ?

Mark 12:35-40

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... not treat Ps. 110 as a messianic prediction, but this evidence is all much later than the OT writings, and this passage in Mark could be seen as evidence that the Psalm was understood messianically in Jesus’ time; or this interpretation of Ps. 110 may have been original. Sit at my right hand: The invitation is to sit at the right side of God’s throne. In ancient royal courts, the right side of the king’s throne was reserved for the person chosen to act with executive power for the king. The invitation ...

393. Hannah Dedicates Samuel

1 Samuel 1:21-28

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

394. Joab Murders Abner

2 Samuel 3:22-39

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

395. Ish-Bosheth Murdered

2 Samuel 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

396. Nathan Rebukes David

2 Samuel 12:1-31

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... lessons about the horrific nature of sin, responsibility, and the need for and the possibility of repentance and forgiveness. The heading of Ps. 51 states that it was written after Nathan’s visit and, although the headings of the psalms are not part of the original text, there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of their claims in this instance. 12:8 It was common practice for a new ruler to take over the wives of the previous ruler as a sign of supremacy and control. Although this was not permitted ...

397. Be Holy

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... the same charge against Jews (Acts 3:17). 1:15 As he who called you is holy (ton kalesanta hymas hagion): The verb kalein, to call, is used several more times by Peter (2:9, 21; 3:9; 5:10; 2 Pet. 1:3), all stemming from God’s original summons to be a pilgrim (1:1; see also commentary on 2:9). The phrase here can be rendered “as it is the Holy One [a frequent divine title in the OT] who called you.” Basically, the meaning of “holy” is “separate,” but with the emphasis positively on separation ...

398. Moses Returns to Egypt

Exodus 4:18-31

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... fulfillment. The NT calls attention to this parallel between the promise and the first fulfillment when it calls Jesus the “only begotten” of the Father. 4:24 One ambiguity concerns who exactly was attacked. Moses is italicized in the NIV text, since the original only has “him.” The text could be referring to Moses’ son. A second ambiguity is whether touching Moses is a sign that he was not circumcised and needed this vicarious sign. None of these ambiguities change the central point of the Lord ...

399. Rebellion Against the Lord

Deuteronomy 1:26-46

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... God’s patience and led to judgment. The seriousness of God’s reaction to such a litany of rebellion is seen in the fact that the same expression is used for God’s declared intent in judgment (vv. 34–36) as for the original promise of blessing: the LORD . . . solemnly swore. This particular generation had finally excluded itself from the enjoyment of the covenanted blessing of the promise to Abraham. The covenant as such was not revoked, but this generation would not see its fulfillment. Their eyes ...

400. Moses Forbidden to Cross the Jordan

Deuteronomy 3:21-29

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... he had been making a persistent request), he didn’t stop reminding the Israelites of it: because of you the LORD was angry with me! The exclusion of Moses from entering the promised land figures so largely here, and was probably as much a surprise to the original readers as it is to us, that it invites some theological reflection. When one puts together all the passages that bear on Moses’ exclusion, they offer us at least two perspectives. On the one hand, our text here and the two closest to it in ...

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