Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 4426 to 4450 of 4977 results

4426. True and False Discipleship

Luke 6:46-49, Luke 6:43-45, Luke 6:37-42

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... a bad day, can speak out of character. It is also sadly possible to deliberately conceal one’s true character by the way one speaks, so that the test of “fruit” (6:44) may be needed to unmask a deliberately false profession. But it is not easy to keep up such an act consistently, and truth will come out. 6:46 Lord, Lord. The word kyrios may be used simply as a polite form of address: “sir.” But addressed to a Galilean villager, it is a notable mark of respect, and its repetition suggests a ...

4427. Divided Loyalties

Luke 12:1-12, Luke 12:13-21

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... , Perceiving that, alone of all His treasure, Rest in the bottom lay. For if I should (said He) Bestow this jewel also on My creature, He would adore My gifts instead of Me, And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature: So both should losers be. Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness; Let him be rich and weary, that at least, If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to My breast.2

4428. Table Talk

Luke 14:1-14

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... spends years in jail for this, growing embittered, and then manages to escape. His conversion experience is familiar and often told. Nevertheless, Javert pursues him, keeping to the letter of the law, never seeing the human component, never knowing mercy. Humility is a primary component of great character. Television: Keeping Up Appearances. This British television series (1990–95) features Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced pretentiously “Bouquet”). In the absolute antithesis of this ...

4429. The Coming of the Kingdom of God

Luke 17:20-37

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... divide people who until that time have been indistinguishable. 17:37 Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather. This is a proverbial saying (cf. Job 39:30) for which many interpretations have been proposed. In this context it may mean “Keep your eyes peeled” (you can always spot where a carcass is by watching where the vultures congregate). In that case, it would be a call to spiritual alertness, to avoid being caught unawares by the day of the Son of Man. Theological Insights This ...

4430. The Revolutionary Values of the Kingdom of God

Luke 18:31-34, Luke 18:18-30, Luke 18:15-17

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... a conventionally moral person, and there is no reason to doubt the sincerity of the man’s claim to have done so (18:21). But for a more radical perspective on two of them, see Matthew 5:21–30. 18:22 You still lack one thing. Just keeping the accepted rules is not enough. Jesus’s demand goes beyond ethical conformity. The command to sell and give is also something to “do,” but it is so extraordinary and far-reaching that it goes to the heart of the man’s spiritual commitment. It would destroy ...

4431. Use It or Lose It

Luke 19:11-27

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... to what each has shown himself capable of (cf. 16:10–12). The kingdom of God is not a totally egalitarian regime. 19:20 I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. “Banks” in the ancient world were rudimentary and not much trusted. It was better to keep the sum intact than to risk losing even what he had received. The third slave’s failure was due to fear rather than laziness. He knew that he would not be forgiven for losing what had been entrusted to him, and so he played it safe. 19:22 I ...

4432. The Story of Israel and the Story of Gentiles

Romans 1:18-32

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... 7.20; Acts 15:20–21, 29). This Noahic covenant with the world mirrors God’s covenant with Israel and even overlaps with it as natural law overlaps with the Mosaic law. 2. Thus, just as Israel must keep the law of Moses in order to maintain their covenant with God, so must the Gentiles keep the Noahic law (natural law) if they want to remain in sync with God’s covenant with creation. Therefore, both covenants contained stipulations. 3. But, in point of fact, neither Israel nor the nations kept God’s ...

4433. God’s Saving Righteousness and the Restoration of Israel

Romans 3:21-31

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... does not actually match up to the perfect standard of the Old Testament law, and thereby fall short of God’s righteousness as well. So Paul’s point is that God offers justification equitably to all. Therefore all must acknowledge that they do not keep the divine revelation given them and humbly bow before God and by faith accept his offer of forgiveness of sin and justification through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Illustrating the Text God is just and justifier, holy and loving, as seen ...

4434. Freedom from the Law through Christ, Enslavement to the Law through Adam

Romans 7:7-25, Romans 7:1-6

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... to the law of sin,” a poignant description of Paul’s contemporary experience. The second interpretation is also contradicted by the sustained usage of the present tense in 7:14–25, not to mention Paul’s positive assessment elsewhere of his preconversion ability to keep the law (Gal. 1:14; Phil. 3:6b). That leaves us with the first view. The only substantial disagreement that can be voiced against this understanding of the passage is that it seems to paint too negative a picture of the Christian life ...

4435. The Spirit and the Glory of the Age to Come and the New Covenant

Romans 8:28-39, Romans 8:18-27

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... the human body but also for the nonhuman creation, for both will participate in the new creation. Third, the Holy Spirit intercedes for believers even when they do not know what God’s will is. Fourth, God’s saving action on behalf of his people will keep them secure for all eternity. Teaching the Text A good way to preach or teach Romans 8:18–30 is to use the outline that I suggested (see “The Text in Context” section above). The suffering/glory motif is the key to interpreting the three groanings ...

4436. “Weak and Strong” Should Get Along

Romans 14:1--15:13

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... be helpful to pull together in advance the argumentation of these verses, taking into consideration the “Historical and Cultural Background” section. I do so by making three statements. First, it is clear that Jesus and now Paul throw out the dietary laws as a means of keeping and staying in the covenant. Rather, the kingdom of God has dawned and, with it, the new covenant, which is entered into by faith in Christ alone. In terms of 14:13–23, it may be said, then, that believers strong in faith are in ...

4437. Paul, Phoebe, Patronage, and Spain

Romans 16:1-27

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... rather than face the authorities. That congregation was sincerely wrong, being deceived by a false teacher. The second point of the lesson would be to encourage listeners to be true to the gospel. As Paul put it, we should fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). The result for Paul, and for all believers who are faithful to sound biblical doctrine, is a crown of righteousness at the Lord’s return (2 Tim. 4:8). When I think of modern faithful preachers of the gospel, the ...

4438. Being Wronged versus Claiming One’s Right

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... rights is such a common modern theme that Paul’s emphasis on giving them up (being wronged and defrauded) almost seems naive, if not foolish. Yet that is the response Scripture calls for. 3. Should a church or a Christian denomination hide their crime by keeping it “in-house”? Is it biblical to claim that a country’s legal authorities should stay away from any and all church issues? The answer from 1 Corinthians 6 is clearly no! A case in point could be the issue of pedophilia that continues to ...

4439. Personal Rights and Christian Testimony

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... it seems Paul argues in favor of a somewhat duplicitous approach to evangelism. When among Jews (“those under the law”), he keeps the law; when among Gentiles (“those not having the law”), he feels free to break the law. Part of the difficulty ... 2:12). The Christian life is a process of being re-formed into the image of Christ. The active exercise of Christian life and faith keeps a person fit for the race and will result in a crown of victory that will be fully revealed at the second coming of ...

4440. Trust versus Self-Reliance

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... connective gar (“therefore,” “for this reason”; NIV: “for”) identifies what follows as the explanation for why Paul keeps himself under control (9:27). When Paul uses the Hebrew Scriptures’ grand salvation narrative not only as the guiding ... could be a great opportunity to celebrate the sacraments. Human Experience: There are certain rituals we do to remember relationships and keep memories alive. For example, we place flowers on a grave, watch family movies of loved ones who are far away, or ...

4441. Worship and Proper Attire

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions. The best way of understanding this praise, which seems overly lavish in light of the preceding, is as an argumentative platform for what follows: “Since you remember everything I taught8and keep the traditions that I handed to you, I want you to know . . .” The “traditions” likely refers to the stories about and teachings of Jesus (cf. 11:23–26; 15:1–7). 11:3 I want you to realize. In line with Paul’s usual ...

4442. The Priority of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... Christians to rejoice when status, honor, and blessings are poured on others. 13:5 It does not dishonor others . . . keeps no record of wrongs. Continuing this list of contrasts between Christ-inspired and sophist-inspired behavior, Paul extends his ... The passive paroxynetai speaks to a sharpened sense of touchiness, of allowing oneself to become irritated without substantial cause.[9] Love “keeps no record of wrongs”; it rejects the very notion of retribution.[10] 13:6 Love does not delight in evil ...

4443. Collection and Travel Plans

1 Corinthians 16:5-18, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... signal that Paul associates the treasure they lay aside on Sunday with the treasure they lay up in heaven by doing so. They are not requested to give a set amount or percentage, as if it were a “temple tax” (Matt. 17:24–27), but to give “in keeping with [their] income.”[3] 16:3 I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve. Already in 4:19 Paul has mentioned his plans to return to Corinth, a visit they seem to be expecting before they receive this letter. To make sure no one could ...

4444. Message to Sardis

Revelation 3:1-6

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... s perspective, their works are unfinished or incomplete. They desperately need to “remember” (command 3) what they have received and heard, namely, the truth of the faith taught by Jesus and passed down by his apostles. But they must do more than recall; they must also keep/obey/live out these truths (command 4), which will surely involve repentance (command 5). But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief. Jesus then warns that he will come to them in judgment if they refuse to change their ways ...

4445. The Four Horsemen

Revelation 6:1-17

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... should never be content with injustice or become satisfied with something less than what God has promised, we will probably have to wait. And should we have to wait beyond our lifetime, it will be worth it. Even death cannot change God’s commitment to keep his word. To read more about waiting in faith, see Hebrews 11. 3. We can persevere in faithfulness because we know that one day God will judge evil and vindicate his people. The martyrs’ cry, “How long, Sovereign Lord,” is a prayer that has been ...

4446. John Called to Prophesy Again

Revelation 10:1-11

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... in Revelation (e.g., 4:5; 6:1; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18), and here “the seven thunders” are likely yet another series of divine judgments. John hears and understands the message of the seven thunders, but a heavenly voice tells him to seal what they say (i.e., keep it secret) and not write it down (cf. a similar command to Daniel in Dan. 8:26; 12:4, 9, and the contrasting commands to John in Rev. 1:19; 22:10). We can only speculate about why John was told to seal up the thunderous message. The most convincing ...

4447. The Seventh Trumpet (Third Woe)

Revelation 11:15-19

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... 21:2–7, 22–27). The ark came to symbolize God’s covenant faithfulness throughout the entire story of salvation (Heb. 8:1–9:28). Surprisingly, the ark can now be seen by everyone rather than just by the high priest once a year. God will keep his promises, destroy his enemies, and bring his people into his presence, thus fulfilling the original purposes of creation (Gen. 1–2). The storm theophany occurs at the end of the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments and designates the final judgment of God (8:5 ...

4448. The Beast from the Sea (Antichrist)

Revelation 13:1b-10

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... part of Revelation 13 confronts us with how we live out our faith in a difficult place. 1. Satanic authority uses power selfishly in order to deceive people for the purpose of coercing worship. Throughout Revelation Satan imitates or parodies God.6This is in keeping with the devil’s character as one who always distorts and perverts what is good for selfish purposes. Because people were created to worship, the great question in life is, which power will they worship: God or Satan? Christ or the beast? The ...

4449. Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

Revelation 15:1-8

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... the completion of God’s wrath. As with the seals (5:1–2) and the trumpets (8:2), the bowl judgments are also introduced with a heavenly scene, showing that these earthly disasters have been “determined by God’s sovereign vindication of his saints.”3 In keeping with the new exodus motif, people respond to these judgments in a manner similar to Pharaoh: they refuse to repent and curse God instead (16:9, 11, 21). 15:2–3a And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing ...

4450. God’s Judgment of Babylon Calls for Celebration

Revelation 19:1-10, Revelation 18:1-24

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... bring justice. One day God will answer. It’s reminiscent of Jesus’s conclusion to the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1–8: “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” In the meantime, believers who are persecuted and oppressed continue to trust and pray and endure, knowing that ...

Showing results