Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 4651 to 4675 of 4963 results

4651. Collection and Travel Plans

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

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... a place is ripe to receive the message of Christ. Although Paul describes the situation in Ephesus in this particular passage, his inclusion of this line more than hints that those in Corinth who may come to experience suffering and rejection if they remain faithful to the gospel should not conclude that their faithfulness is wasted or ineffective. In fact, Paul repeatedly uses his experience in Ephesus as an encouraging reminder that suffering can be God’s means of revealing his power (2 Cor. 1:8–11 ...

4652. Message to Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

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J. Scott Duvall

... your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city. Antipas experienced the power of Rome to execute (see v. 12), perhaps because of his refusal to worship the Roman emperor. Because he had remained true to the person and character of Jesus, he is identified as Jesus’s “faithful witness,” the same title used of Jesus himself in 1:5 (see also 3:14). The refusal of the church to “renounce” their faith in Jesus presupposes an atmosphere of ...

4653. Worthy Is the Lamb Who Was Slain

Revelation 5:1-14

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J. Scott Duvall

... grown up under the heavy influence of a futurist eschatology may need to be reminded of all that has already been accomplished through the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Yes, he will consummate his victory over evil at his second coming, and yes, there are real battles remaining to be fought. But the war has been won! Grant Osborne says it well, The great victory over Satan has already occurred: the cross is the central point of history, and the final battle of Armageddon (16:16; 17:14; 19:14–21) is the ...

4654. The Four Horsemen

Revelation 6:1-17

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J. Scott Duvall

... universe is connected with Jesus’s second coming, when he returns in power and glory to redeem his people and judge the wicked. At the end of the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments, the Day of the Lord has arrived. Whether these phenomena are literal or metaphorical remains to be seen, but the unmistakable effects on the hearers would have been terrifying.3 6:15–16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of ...

4655. The Celebration of the Great Multitude in Heaven

Revelation 7:9-17

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J. Scott Duvall

... : we overcome through suffering. Those of us who have grown up in the United States have become accustomed to living as citizens of the world’s greatest superpower. Our military might is second to none; our economic and political systems remain the world standard. We also live in an extremely competitive culture, where our most popular sport imitates (and often supersedes) Christian worship.4These are the kinds of deep cultural commitments confronted by Revelation 7:9–17. The great multitude have ...

4656. The Seventh Trumpet (Third Woe)

Revelation 11:15-19

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J. Scott Duvall

... this world will face opposition and sometimes direct hostility. God’s people were suffering in the first century, and they have continued to suffer. We live as aliens and strangers in a broken world where things are not the way they are supposed to be. While remaining grateful for life as a beautiful gift, we also experience the struggle and the pain. In this passage, we have a glimpse of what God plans to do about it. He will right wrongs, vindicate his people, end suffering, and make all things new. God ...

4657. The Beast from the Sea (Antichrist)

Revelation 13:1b-10

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... the earth (false prophet) comprise the “unholy trinity” (paralleling Father, Son, and Spirit, respectively). This unit describes the beast’s origin, relationship to the dragon, actions against God and his people, and influence on the world. Through it all, God remains in control since the beast operates within the divine limits (“was given” occurs five times in 13:5–7, 14–15). The unit concludes with a prophetic warning to believers, calling them to faithful endurance. Outline iv. The beast ...

4658. The Lamb and the 144,000

Revelation 14:1-5

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Evil remains subtle and can rob us of what God desires if we give ourselves to things that are worthless and wasteful. What sorts of books or magazines do we read or movies do we watch? Does the humor we enjoy honor Christ? Do our words tear down or build up ...

4659. God’s Judgment of Babylon Calls for Celebration

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

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... of Yahweh (Isa. 49:18; 54:5–6; 62:5; Jer. 2:2; Ezek. 16:15–63; Hos. 2:14–23). Negatively, Israel’s unfaithfulness is compared to the adultery of an unfaithful wife (Jer. 3:20; Ezek. 16:15–63; Hos. 2:1–13; 4:12, 15). Yet God remains faithful and plans to restore his bride under the new covenant (e.g., Isa. 62:1–5; Ezek. 16:60–63; Hos. 2:16–20). It makes sense that Jesus portrays himself as the bridegroom (Mark 2:19–20; John 3:29) and the church as the bride of Christ ...

4660. The Warrior Messiah Conquers the Two Beasts and Their Followers

Revelation 19:1-21

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... of the gospel to all nations (Matt. 24:14). In Revelation, the return of Christ occurs at 19:11–21. From another vantage point, the return of Christ is always imminent (i.e., “I am coming soon” in Rev. 22:7, 12, 20). As a result, believers are called to remain alert and prepared for Christ’s return by doing what he has called them to do (e.g., Matt. 24:42–44; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23; 1 Tim. 6:14; Titus 2:11–14; 1 Pet. 1:13; 2 Pet. 3:11–14; James 5 ...

4661. The Conclusion

Revelation 22:7-21

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J. Scott Duvall

... , the Holy Spirit, spiritual warfare, God’s mission, perseverance, judgment, and most of all Jesus Christ and the new creation. Is there another book of the Christian canon that offers so much and is appropriated so little? Since God has commanded the book to remain open, we might as well listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 2. Revelation calls us to persevering obedience. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). There never has been and never will be an acceptable ...

4662. The Burnt Offering

Leviticus 1:1-17

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... of the worshiper to God. Just as the burnt offering was totally consumed on the altar, so the Christian should express total allegiance to God and his service. But unlike the burnt offering, we are to sacrifice ourselves totally to God while we remain alive. 2. Seek God’s favor. The burnt offering seems to represent an appeal on the part of the worshiper for God’s favor and appeasement. It made God favorably disposed to answer petitions and overlook any unaddressed sin that might prevent him ...

4663. The Fellowship Offering

Leviticus 3:1-17

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... be eaten because they are supposed to be given over to God. On “fat,” see comments at verses 3–5 above. On eating blood, see “Theological Insights” below. This regulation would be “lasting” or “permanent” (ESV) so long as the sacrificial system remains in effect. Theological Insights It appears that in the early days of humankind, people were supposed to be vegetarians (see Gen. 1:29). Permission to eat animals was not given until after the flood: “Everything that lives and moves will be ...

4664. The Sin Offering

Leviticus 4:1--5:13

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... the ones who produced the contamination defiling his abode, but rather to forgive them (Lev. 4:21, 27, 31, 35). The purification offering thus served to teach Israel about the holiness of God. God’s holiness was incompatible with Israel’s impurities. For God to remain in Israel’s midst, human impurities needed purging through the sin offering. The New Testament speaks of both the church and the Christian’s body as God’s sanctuary indwelt by the Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16–17; 6:19; Eph. 2:21–22). As ...

4665. The Priestly Portions of Sacrifices

Lev 6:8–7:38

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... It would have been physically impossible for a priest to eat every offering entirely. 6:27–28 Whatever touches any of the flesh will become holy. Clothing, vessels, and utensils used by the worshiper to process the meat belong to God and remain in the sanctuary. The alternative, “Everyone who touches its flesh must be holy” (NKJV) (see Lev. 6:18 above) is unlikely. Priests are already holy, and the context is about things, not persons. wash . . . broken . . . scoured . . . rinsed. Holy things that ...

4666. The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

Leviticus 8:1-36

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... of coming directly from the altar. Anointing with them is thus a potent symbol of the holiness bestowed upon these priests and their vestments. 8:31–35 the meat . . . the bread . . . seven days. The ordination ritual involving eating the consecrated food and remaining before God at the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days fulfills Exodus 29:30, 35–37. On the number “seven” and holiness, see on verse 11 above. This waiting period allows the priests time to reflect on the gravity of ...

4667. Aaron Begins His Duties

Leviticus 9:1-24

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... that he expects his people to follow. They are promised that if they obey God’s command, they will see God’s glory (Lev. 9:6). Although the specific commands that God gives believers have changed since Old Testament times, obeying God’s commands remains obligatory for Christians. Disciples are to be taught to obey everything that Christ has commanded (Matt. 28:20). Peter refers to Christian moral teaching as “the sacred command” and “the command given by our Lord” (2 Pet. 2:21; 3:2). The book ...

4668. Uncleanness Due to Childbirth

Leviticus 12:1-8

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... dedicated to God (cf. Deut. 26:14). She must also avoid approaching the sanctuary. On the eighth day “the boy” (lit., “the flesh of his foreskin”) is to be circumcised. Mary carried this out for the baby Jesus (Luke 2:21). The woman remains unclean to a somewhat lesser degree an additional thirty-three days. If she has borne a girl, the mother’s uncleanness doubles to eighty days: two weeks of maximum uncleanness and sixty-six days of lesser uncleanness. The reason for the numbers “seven” and ...

4669. Diagnosing “Leprosy”

Lev 13:1-59

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... Hebrew word tsara‘at. The traditional rendering “leprosy” (NIVmg) is derived from the early Greek translation, the Septuagint, which renders the Hebrew with lepra, which has to do with being “scaly, scabby, rough.” A person with this disease remains permanently unclean and must live apart from others outside the camp unless healed (Lev. 13:46). Since the consequences of being identified with “leprosy” are severe, it is essential that the priest follow elaborate procedures to assure a correct ...

4670. Holy Days and Festivals

Le 22:17–23:22

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... is marked as special by trumpets (vv. 23–25). In Tishri is the solemn Day of Atonement (vv. 26–32; see Lev. 16), a day of fasting and confession of sin, reminding Israel that only through atoning sacrifice can God purge its impurities and remain in its midst. Analogous to this for Christians is the reminder that their atonement was possible only through the sacrifice of Christ. Tabernacles (vv. 33–43) was an agricultural festival celebrating the end of the harvest season (v. 39) and a remembrance of ...

4671. Lamps, Cakes, and the Blasphemer

Lev 24:1-23

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... seems probable, since only unleavened bread could last for a week without spoiling. 24:10–23 These verses narrate a specific incident of a man who commits blasphemy. 24:10 Egyptian father. Why no mention of the Egyptian father’s name? Did the father remain in Egypt? Had he died? Mention of the man’s checkered heritage indicates that he is of suspect character religiously. 24:11 blasphemed the Name. Compare Exodus 20:7. The offense is not that the man said the name “Yahweh,” but that he ...

4672. Sabbath Year and Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:8-55, Leviticus 25:1-7

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... Israel was to divide lands equally, with the land formally belonging to God, not people. Direct application of these rules, formulated for a rural society, to modern urban settings seems impractical. It became increasingly so for Israel itself. Nonetheless, the goal of Jubilee remains a good one. Having an underclass permanently trapped in poverty is unhealthy for any society. It is good to give those at the bottom of the economic ladder a path out of poverty. Exactly how to effect this change is a matter ...

4673. The Choice: Obedience or Punishment

Lev 26:1-46

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... while defending or hiding in the temple precincts (2 Chron. 36:17; cf. Lev. 26:30b). Thousands are deported to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11–12; Jer. 52:27–31), where no doubt they cower in fear and suffer further atrocities (cf. Lev. 26:36–39). Those who remain in the land are so devastated by war, famine, and disease that the land becomes desolate (Jer. 44:22; cf. Lev. 26:32–33). God gives the land seventy years of involuntarily Sabbath rest (2 Chron. 36:21; cf. Lev. 26:34–35), making up for Israel’s ...

4674. The Census of the Twelve Tribes

Num 1:1–2:54

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... of hyperbole now lost to us.6Some suggest reducing the numbers by a factor of ten to get the real number (note that all of them end in zero).7That would reduce the population to something more reasonable. A fully satisfactory solution to this problem remains to be found. Teaching the Text 1. God’s place among his people must be protected. Israel literally camps around God. The tribes surround the tabernacle or tent of meeting to protect and cherish it. Clearly, it is the most valuable of all the ...

4675. Impurity, Repentance, and Jealousy

Num 5:1-31

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... . 5:3) and ritual cleansing (see Lev. 11–15). Confession, restitution, and sacrifice can provide cleansing from wrongdoing and/or sacrilege (Num. 5:5–9). Though God is holy, he provides for the cleansing from impurities of various sorts so that God’s people can remain in his presence. God himself is so pure that he cannot look tolerantly upon evil (Hab. 1:13). He demands pure offerings (Mal. 1:11). What could help keep Israelites pure? It requires fear of God and heeding God’s word (Pss. 19:9; 119 ...

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