Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4351 to 4375 of 4963 results

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in a time of great moral crisis (a modern paraphrase of Dante's thoughts).

Dante

4352. In Through The Back Door

Illustration

Michael P. Green

In discussing the conversion of Jews, C. S. Lewis once said, “In a sense, the converted Jew is the only normal human being in the world.” He continued, “Everyone else is, from one point of view, a special case dealt with under emergency conditions.” That is a way of stating the truth about Gentile conversion. God opened a “back door” and let us in as emergency cases. There are a lot of us, but we remain “grafted-in branches.”

4353. Jonah Proof

Jonah 1:17

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... deck. The sailors were startled by something in it which gave spasmodic signs of life, and inside was found the missing sailor doubled up and unconscious. He was laid on the deck and treated to a bath of sea water which soon revived him.… He remained two weeks a raving lunatic.… At the end of the third week he had entirely recovered from the shock and resumed his duties. Bartley affirms that he would probably have lived inside his house of flesh until he starved, for he lost his senses through fright ...

4354. Triumph of Laws

Rom 8:2

Illustration

Michael P. Green

A law is a set pattern of how things happen; it is a rule. The law of gravity deems that a heavy slab of concrete will remain where it is placed. Thus sidewalks stay in place. But we all have seen a sidewalk that is heaved up and twisted because once a small acorn fell between the slabs of the sidewalk and now has grown into a massive oak tree whose roots are powerful enough to move ...

I would rather lie in the silent grave, remembered by both friends and enemies as one who remained true to his faith and who never faltered in what he believed to be his duty, than to still live, old and aged, lacking the confidence of both factions.

George Norris

4356. Feeling, Faith and Fact

Illustration

Michael P. Green

Three men were walking on a wall, Feeling, Faith, and Fact. When Feeling got an awful fall, Then Faith was taken back. So close was Faith to Feeling, That he stumbled and fell too. But Fact remained and pulled Faith back, And Faith brought Feeling too.

4357. New Life vs. Tweaks

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... be depressed and miserable. Now he’s miserable and depressed.” No matter how much a man tries to reform himself, he can never achieve the newness of life that God wants him to have in Christ. Although a man can make changes in his life, even positive changes, he still remains the same person and often goes from one kind of problem to another.

4358. Essential To Our Nature

Genesis 2:4-25, Genesis 3:1-24

Illustration

Abraham Kuyper

... leaving only a mass of mildew and decay. What was the cause? Merely the loss of the sun’s light and heat. But that was enough, for those belong to the nature of the plant, and are essential to its life and beauty. Deprived of them, it remains not what it is; its nature loses its soundness, and this causes decay, mildew, and poisonous gases, which soon destroy it. “So of human nature: in Paradise, Adam was like the blooming plant, flourishing in the warmth and brightness of the Lord’s presence. By sin ...

4359. The Eye Needs the Finger

Illustration

Michael P. Green

When a speck of dust blows into an eye, instinctively the eye is rubbed with a finger. There is no debate with the finger about whether to help the eye. Later, after pulling down the lid, causing the eye to water, the speck is washed out. In a short time the eye is back to normal. But without the hand, including its specially functioning fingers, the irritant would have remained. Each member in the body of Christ is equally important. We all need each other.

4360. The Unbreakable Bridge

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... St. Louis and California. Before it was open for commercial use, the construction engineer wanted to test its strength. He loaded a train with extra cars and equipment to double its normal payload. The train was driven out to the middle of the bridge, where it was to remain for an entire day. One worker complained, “Are you trying to break this bridge?” “No,” said the engineer. “I’m trying to prove that the bridge is unbreakable.” So, too, does temptation prove our strength under pressure.

4361. Why Was It Built?

Illustration

Michael P. Green

Traditions are often an attempt to either protect us from something that can harm us or keep us in the place where we are most likely to do well. Not all traditions are so characterized, and some are nothing more than outmoded responses to situations that no longer exist. Nevertheless, this old saying remains true: “Never tear down a fence until you find out why it was built.”

4362. Affecting the Curve

Illustration

Michael P. Green

You are driving down the highway when you encounter a sign that reads, “Dangerous Curve Ahead.” Immediately you are confronted with making a choice. One, you can observe the warning and slow down. Two, you can ignore the warning and maintain your rate of speed. Or, three, you can defy the warning and speed up. Whatever response you exercise, you will not change the truth of the sign. The curve remains dangerous, regardless of whether you acknowledge the fact or not.

4363. Arrived Safely Home

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... , often under adverse conditions. During World War II, the situation became so critical that he took the advice to send his wife and eight children to England for safety. His sister and her three children were also evacuated on the same ship. Barker remained behind to conclude some mission matters. The Sunday after Barker’s loved ones had left, he stood before the congregation and said, “I’ve just received word that all my family have arrived safely home.” He then proceeded with the service as usual ...

4364. Worthy of Worship

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... up and started for the doors. Sensing that they were disappointed because he was substituting for his brother, Thomas raised his hand for silence and announced, “All those who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may withdraw from the church; all who came to worship God may remain.” The example of godly leaders is helpful, but only the Savior is worthy of our worship and devotion.

4365. Solomon Builds the Temple

2 Chronicles 3:1-17

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... , but some accept that it might have been sometime in the tenth or ninth century B.C. The parenthetical information in 2 Chronicles 3:3 is therefore another indication that this text originated at a time when the new standard was already in use. It remains interesting, however, that the Deuteronomistic version in 1 Kings 6:2 did not feel the need to specify this information. The NIV specifies in a footnote that, according to the accepted measurement of about 18 inches (or 0.45 meters) for one old-standard ...

4366. Solomon's Other Activities

2 Chronicles 8:1-18

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... not clear, however, whether it was her status as an Egyptian foreigner or her status as a woman that determined this move. Although the first option seems most plausible within a context where the wife’s ethnic background is explicitly mentioned, it remains doubtful, since the Chronicler is known to have a fairly inclusive attitude toward foreigners. 8:12–15 Whereas 1 Kings 9:25 very concisely mentions the offerings brought by Solomon to the altar in the temple, the Chronicler adds elaborate material on ...

4367. Athaliah and Joash

2 Chron 22:10–23:21

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... , probably with a wife other than Athaliah) little Joash, Ahaziah’s son, was saved and eventually became king of Judah. As the sole male survivor of the house of David, he was carrying the hope that Yahweh’s eternal promise to David would remain valid. Athaliah’s queenship is narrated very briefly in both 2 Chronicles 22:10–12 and 2 Kings 11:1–3. The normal formulas announcing and concluding a king’s reign are absent from both narratives. Although we know from ancient Near Eastern parallels ...

4368. Ahaz King of Judah

2 Chronicles 28:1-27

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... version mention that “the people” still sacrificed on the high places. Now it is the king committing this sin! The second reason for our surprise is the inclusion of this remark by the Chronicler, whereas he had omitted all previous references to the remaining high places. This shows the Chronicler’s deep disdain for King Ahaz. 28:5a and 28:23 The Chronicler ignores the alliance of Aram-Damascus and Israel and the so-called Syro-Ephraimite war against Judah (2 Kgs. 16:5). Instead, he splits ...

4369. Amon King of Judah

2 Chronicles 33:21-25

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... certainly has an Egyptian ring to it (cf. Tut-Ank-Amun), it seems strange that a king of any nation would name his son after a captured city. Given our meager information about these kings, any attempt to explain this name remains speculation. 33:25 The sociopolitical identity of the people of the land is uncertain. The term may designate a wealthy social class (e.g., free landowners), (collectively) free people or citizens, people from provincial towns (versus residents of Jerusalem), lower-class ordinary ...

4370. Josiah's Reforms

2 Chronicles 34:1-13

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... Davidic kingship in the Deuteronomistic description in 2 Kings 22–23. There he represents the antithesis of Manasseh, who is seen as the nadir of Judahite history in the Deuteronomistic construction. The Chronicler altered the portrayal of Manasseh significantly. The question remains whether the Chronicler did the same for Josiah. Four temporal markers determine the progress and focus of the narrative. It starts in the eighth year when King Josiah began to seek the Lord (2 Chron. 34:3a), progresses to the ...

4371. The Fellowship of the Believers

Acts 2:42-47

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... Free 12.86; Hypothetica 11.10–13; 1QS 6) and maintained a communal purse administered by “stewards” (Josephus, Antiquities 18.18–22; cf. 1QS 6.19–20; see disc. on Acts 4:34). But whereas this was a rule with the Essenes, with the Christians it remained an individual and voluntary matter. Thus in 12:12ff. we find Mary still with her house and servants, while Barnabas’ gift of the price of a field in 4:37 may have been mentioned as especially noteworthy. 2:47 Enjoying the favor of all the people ...

4372. Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

Acts 7:1-53

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... suggests that Stephen has telescoped the two accounts, as he did in the story of Abraham’s call in verse 2 (Book, p. 149, n. 39). That this has produced difficulties may point to an author other than Luke, and that he has allowed these difficulties to remain may tell us something about Luke’s editorial policy. 7:17–19 During the years that the Israelites spent in Egypt two things were happening that, in human terms, paved the way for the Exodus and the fulfillment of God’s promise (cf. v. 7): first ...

4373. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Acts 9:19b-31

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... in 2 Corinthians 11:32f. he gives further details of his time in Damascus. Putting all this together, it seems likely that after his initial stay in Damascus Paul went to Arabia, which probably means Nabatea (see notes on 2:9ff.). He may have remained there for anything up to two or three years (the Jews reckoned inclusively, so that the “three years” of Galatians need refer to little more than one complete year), preaching possibly, but thinking through what he believed in the light of his conversion ...

4374. Cornelius Calls for Peter

Acts 10:1-8

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... something exceptional, certainly not a precedent by which to establish a rule, much less an incentive to actively seek other Gentiles to bring into the church. And Luke himself understood this. His history shows that he was well aware that the question of Gentile eligibility remained a disputed one for many more years to come (see disc. on 15:1, 5 and 21:20ff.). Nevertheless, by the time of the Jerusalem council, the case of Cornelius (if we can accept Luke’s own account) was recognized as a precedent by ...

4375. Peter’s Vision

Acts 10:9-23a

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... (see disc. on 2:12), but just then the men sent by Cornelius arrived at the house. The exclamation “Look!” (not represented in NIV) signals that Luke saw this as providential (v. 17; see disc. on 1:10). Being aware of the sensibilities of the Jews, they remained outside the gate that led from the road through the front part of the house to the inner court, and from here they inquired after Peter (v. 18). With this, the vision began to be explained. The Spirit brought it home to Peter that his dream and ...

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