Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 401 to 425 of 793 results

1 Sam 11:1-15

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord alone is his people’s Savior and source of security. Understanding the Text In chapter 10 we read of how the Lord gave Israel a king yet placed limitations on him (v. 25). However, not everyone was pleased with this arrangement or with the Lord’s choice of a king (v. 27). Indeed, hesitant Saul appeared to be an unlikely candidate for the job; his apparent qualifications were only superficial. The chapter ends in tension. Would Saul be an effective leader and deliver Israel from their ...

402. Saul Dilutes a Victory

1 Sam 14:24-52

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: A preoccupation with one’s own honor can dilute divine blessing. Understanding the Text The preceding account ended with the Lord’s giving Israel a great victory, despite Saul’s hesitant actions. In this next story we see Saul continue to retard the action rather than advance it. This account highlights one of Saul’s major weaknesses and leadership flaws—one that has already emerged in earlier accounts and will prove fatal in the next chapter. Saul is preoccupied, perhaps even obsessed, with ...

403. “I Love You, Lord, My Strength”

Psalm 18:1-50

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: In David’s life, as in ours, God shows himself to be powerful in deliverance and intimate in grace. Understanding the Text Psalm 18 is generally classified as a royal psalm because it is attributed to King David and deals with his political and military victories. It has the features of an individual psalm of thanksgiving, including the report of the crisis, which has passed (18:4–19), and the vow to give thanks to the Lord (18:49).1 Perhaps in the history of Psalms usage it functiond as an ...

404. Widows and Their Worries: Back to Bethlehem

Ruth 1:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Setting: Famine and Family Tragedy (1:1–5) · The grim opening of this story grips the reader on three counts. First, it is neither a prosperous nor a fruitful time in the nation’s life (1:1). Second, and not unrelated, the people of Israel face famine (1:1). The fact that a famine prevails in Bethlehem, in Judah’s “house of bread,” together with the religious crisis dominating the landscape indicates an unpleasant visitation by the Lord on the land. The Lord promised famine as one among many of his acts of ...

405. The Lord Protects and Rescues Jonah

Jonah 2:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:17–2:1 · The Lord’s provision of the fish:The Lord provides (literally “appoints”) a “huge fish” or sea creature to swallow Jonah, in which Jonah remains alive for three days and nights (1:17). In the New Testament, Matthew (12:39–40) draws an analogy between the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the imprisonment of Jonah. Matthew identifies Jonah’s salvation by a providentially provided creature as a miraculous sign that typifies God’s provision of Christ as a means of salvation and depicts his ...

406. Preparation for Ministry

Mark 1:1-8

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The first verse of Mark summarizes the content of the Gospel and functions as its de facto title. The opening word, “Beginning,” recalls the opening word of Genesis (so too the book of Hosea and Gospel of John), implying that in the gospel of Jesus Christ a new creation is at hand. “Beginning” should probably be understood not as the first of several things in a sequence but rather first in terms of “source” or “essence.” Mark’s Gospel thus intends to set forth the essence of God’s redemptive work in Jesus ...

407. Clean and Unclean

Mark 7:1-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Jesus’s confrontation with the Pharisees and scribes over the question of uncleanness marks the end of his ministry in Galilee, which began in 1:14. Henceforth in Mark, Jesus will reappear in Galilee only intermittently, in 8:11 and 9:33. The Pharisees and scribes, last seen in chapter 3, come from Jerusalem, which throughout Mark is seen as the primary center of opposition to Jesus. The issue of ritual purity was the dominant trait of Pharisaism, and not surprisingly it is the issue at stake in 7:1–23, ...

408. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Luke 9:10-17

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

Luke’s account of the feeding of the 5,000 is based on the Marcan account (Mark 6:30–44) and is the only miracle found in all four Gospels (Matt. 14:13–21; John 6:1–15). Luke omits, however, Mark’s feeding of the 4,000 (Mark 8:1–10 and see Matt. 15:32–39). Such an omission is due to (1) Luke’s avoidance of repetition and to (2) the fact that the evangelist has omitted a large section of Mark (6:45–8:26, sometimes called Luke’s “Big Omission”) in which the second feeding story occurs (see note below). Verse ...

409. Warnings and Encouragements

Luke 12:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

Luke 12 may be divided into 11 brief units, all of which provide lessons for the disciples: (1) a warning against hypocrisy (vv. 1–3); (2) a saying concerning whom to fear (vv. 4–7); (3) confessing Jesus (vv. 8–12); (4) the Parable of the Rich Fool (vv. 13–21); (5) sayings on the need to trust God (vv. 22–31); (6) a saying concerning riches (vv. 32–34); (7) an exhortation to watch and wait (vv. 35–40); (8) the Parable of the Faithful Servant (vv. 41–48); (9) a saying on family division (vv. 49–53); (10) a ...

410. Divisions In the Church

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

This first major segment of the body of Paul’s letter forms a coherent reflection on the specific situation in Corinth in relation to and in the light of basic matters of Christian belief. Paul examines and explains the character of the gospel itself, so that the Corinthians are directed to evaluate their situation in the light of the gospel of God’s saving work in Jesus Christ and the implication of God’s work for their lives. Paul argues against understanding the gospel as a kind of mysterious wisdom ...

411. The Resurrection of the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

Controversy in Corinth These verses move from the foundational issues to a controversy in the Corinthian church, and the verses articulate a tough-minded logic that proves the error of the position taken by some of the Corinthians. The problem was that some of the Corinthians said there is no resurrection of the dead. The statement as Paul reports it could mean that they said there is no resurrection at all, or they advocated “immortality” (survival of the spirit) rather than “resurrection” (new creation ...

412. Samuel Anoints Saul

1 Sam 9:1–10:8

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

The Anointing of Saul: With chapter 9 the focus moves from Samuel, although he still has a significant role to play, to Saul. In verse 3 Saul, in spite of his imposing physical presence and his good family background, enters the picture as a rather insignificant young man looking for lost donkeys. God’s concern for and use of the powerless can be seen again here. It may be, therefore, that the grandiose introduction in verse 2 is inserted into an earlier account to serve as an introduction to Saul the king ...

413. Job's Second Reply to Zophar

Job 21:1-34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

The Inexplicable Prosperity of the Wicked In chapter 21, Job responds to Zophar’s accusations by thoroughly deconstructing the foundation on which they rest. Zophar has claimed that the wicked perish both in an ultimate sense and in their relentless quest for that which does not satisfy—the gnawing greed that consumes the wicked from the inside out. Job assesses Zophar’s claims as so much “nonsense” and “falsehood” (v. 34) when held up to the mirror of real life as Job both knows and describes it. Far from ...

414. The Davidic King Promised Dominion over Enemies

Psalm 110:1-7

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Psalm 110 is a royal psalm composed originally for the preexilic Davidic kings and was later applied to the Messiah, as the many NT citations make evident (the NT cites this psalm more than any other OT passage). Like Psalm 2, it refers to Yahweh’s installation of the king on Zion and to his promise of military dominion over enemies. Both of these psalms may have been sung at the king’s enthronement (implied by “sit at my right hand”) or annually “in the spring, at the time when kings go off to war” (2 Sam ...

415. Jesus At the Temple

Luke 19:45-48

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

19:45–46 Luke’s account of the cleansing of the temple is briefest of the Gospel accounts (see note below). Luke’s account is briefest because he has omitted the various details regarding those who were selling and changing money (see Matt. 21:12; Mark 11:15; John 2:14–16). Also omitted in Luke is the cursing of the fig tree (see Mark 11:12–14), as well as a few other less noteworthy details. The point of Jesus’ action is twofold: (1) Positively, Jesus purges the temple in order to prepare it as a place ...

416. Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

Luke 22:66--23:25

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

22:66–71 Unlike Mark 14:55–64, the Lucan version of Jesus’ trial before the council (or “Sanhedrin”) says nothing of the accusation brought by the two false witnesses who claimed that Jesus had threatened to destroy the temple (but see Acts 6:13–14). According to the Lucan account, Jesus is asked directly if he is the Christ (see 2:11; 3:15). He responds by saying that as Son of Man (see note on 5:24) he will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God (see note below). From this answer members of the ...

417. Life Through the Son

John 5:16-30, John 5:1-15

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

At this point the narrator’s interest in Jesus’ itinerary begins to wane. The events of chapters 5, 6, and 7 are introduced by the vague connective phrase, meta tauta (some time later, 5:1; “some time after this,” 6:1; “after this,” 7:1). The transition from chapter 4 to chapter 5 is a natural one in that a person appropriately goes to Jerusalem from Galilee for a feast of the Jews (v. 1), but the transition between chapters 5 and 6 is more awkward. Jesus is assumed to be still in Jerusalem at the end of ...

418. Jesus Appears to Thomas

John 20:24-31

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

20:24-29 In John, the unbelief of the disciples as a group is not mentioned explicitly, only their fear of the Jewish authorities. The unbelief is attributed instead to one disciple, Thomas, in particular (vv. 24–25). The appearance to him in verses 26–29 is really an extension of the appearance to the gathered disciples in verses 19–23, even though it takes place a week later. Verses 24–25 link the two incidents together, so that in effect what is said to the disciples in verses 19–23 is said to Thomas as ...

419. Hearts / Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

7:2–4 Here, Paul resumes his train of thought from 6:13, that the Corinthians should open wide their hearts to him just as he has done to them. This incidently shows that 6:14–7:1 must be integral to the present context, for otherwise 7:2 would sound redundant coming directly after 6:13. The intervening exhortation in 6:14–7:1 explains how they are to open their heart. As was shown above, 6:14–7:1 exhorts the Corinthians to put into practice the implications of the new covenant for their sanctification, ...

420. Titus Sent to Corinth

2 Corinthians 8:16--9:5

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

8:16–24 Having exhorted the Corinthians to complete the collection that they had begun (8:7–15), Paul recommends the emissaries he will send to take it to Jerusalem (8:16–24; cf. 1 Cor. 16:3–4, where Paul’s original plan was different). In doing so, Paul takes up where he left off in verse 6, with the sending of Titus. Paul wants to send Titus back to Corinth with two companions in order to bring the collection to a fitting conclusion. Paul did not need letters of recommendation to or from the Corinthians ...

421. Abraham Pleads for Sodom

Genesis 18:16-33

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

18:16–17 This is the beginning of the second major section of this chapter (vv. 16–33). Having accomplished their primary purpose in visiting Abraham and Sarah, the three messengers set out on their journey. The reference to their looking down toward Sodom introduces the subject of this section. Continuing to be hospitable, Abraham walked along with them for a while to see them on their way. Yahweh then spoke. Whether he spoke to himself or to the messengers is not clear. Yahweh wondered if he should ...

422. Jacob Wrestles with God

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Jacob’s Enigmatic Wrestling Match: Before Jacob’s wrestling match (vv. 24–30), he has a vision of angels at Mahanaim (vv. 1–2). On the surface this brief report seems to be disjunctive. Nevertheless, several terms tie these two passages into the flow of the Jacob narrative. Jacob meets the angels or messengers of God (mal’ake ’elohim), and he sends “messengers” (mal’akim) to meet Esau. There is a play on “camp” (makhaneh; 32:2, 8, 10, 21) and “gift” (minkhah; 32:13, 20; 33:8, 10). Two terms for grace ...

423. Passover Restrictions

Exodus 12:43-51

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

12:43–51 These verses return to the concerns of perpetually keeping the Passover. They mirror “C” in the chiastic structure above, the “First Passover instruction” (vv. 21–27) as C′, the “Perpetual Passover ordinance.” Here the Lord speaks to Moses and gives seven additional statutes designed to preserve the original purpose of the celebration: to form a community around the historical deliverance of God’s people. These verses are sometimes treated as an appendix but, besides adding regulations to ...

424. The Branch from Jesse

Isaiah 11:1-16

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

The Felling of Assyria and the Growth of a Branch: As 7:1–8:10 comprised two parallel sequences, so does 10:5–11:16. The immediately preceding section has come to a worrying end, but there now follows an unexpectedly encouraging reversal. Yahweh has been using Assyria to punish Judah, but Assyria’s own woe, or moment of punishment, is coming—as is Judah’s moment of restoration, the restoring of a remnant. We have been told that Yahweh’s anger is still unsated, but then we discover that it is being ...

425. Lord of the Sabbath

Luke 5:33-39, Luke 6:1-11, Luke 7:18-35

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“If you call the Sabbath a delight then you will find your joy in the Lord.” --Isaiah 58:13-14 “Happy is he who is aware of the mysteries of his Lord.” --Abraham Joshua Heschel Visuals: Have Hubbel Space Images scrolling on screen during your sermon / Psalm 92 may be spoken with a musical background or sung You may also opt during or after your sermon to have people sing the psalm (you can find tunes with words on youtube) https://youtu.be/1I_X2bxfAq8 (This version by James Block is particular beautiful.) ...

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