Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 451 to 475 of 4977 results

451. Jesus Casts Out Impure Spirits

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... Share your joy. The only social media the people in first century Galilee had was person-to-person, but Mark tells us that the word spread all over the region. Here’s a man who teaches with authority and he has power over the demons as well. Quite a resume! Let’s talk a few minutes today about demons or impure spirits. Is there an impure spirit troubling you? Not all impure spirits are supernatural powers that inhabit people’s minds and cause them to foam at the mouth and tear at their clothes. There ...

452. Like a Butterfly

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... 34. Do you remember that day when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments? Moses came down the mountain having been in the presence of God. Quite mysteriously his face shone so much reflecting the glory of God that he had to wear a veil. His face was so radiant the ... talking about you and me. Listen to him. Whoever you are or whatever you’ve done, transformation is possible. Listen to him. Quit living like a caterpillar. Allow him to turn you into a beautiful butterfly. We are not called to remain in the state ...

453. A Fig Tree Sprouts Leaves

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... high tech toys caused her to miss a sign for an important turn. Before long, she was lost--unaware of what to do next. She began to worry. This was an event she did not want to miss. She had been looking forward to this reunion for quite some time. But because she missed that sign, she missed her turn and therefore she missed most of the reunion, getting there after some of her relatives had already left. While she was happy that she got to see the remaining relatives, she was heartbroken that she missed ...

454. The Council at Jerusalem

Acts 15:1-21

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... was one thing to accept the occasional God-fearer into the church, someone already in sympathy with Jewish ways; it was quite another to welcome larger numbers of Gentiles who had no regard for the law and no intention of keeping it. The ... 10. This has led to the suggestion that the recommendations of Acts 15:20 were totally unacceptable to him, but that Luke has told it quite differently on the basis of meager evidence and in the interests of his own point of view. But against his not mentioning the decrees ...

455. Body / Ambassador

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... of the subjugation of enemies: “The Lord says to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’ ” The image is one of world domination (cf. Ps. 2:8; 72:8; Sib. Or. 3:741–762, 785–795), which is quite consistent with Paul’s previous reference to the “judgment seat of Christ” before which all people must appear (2 Cor. 5:10). We may note that, in Jewish tradition, the enthronement of Messiah is associated with the aforementioned “new creation” (cf. 1 En. 45:3 ...

456. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... and their reaction to his tearful letter before he heard back from Titus (cf. 2 Cor. 2:12–13; 7:5–7). In Paul’s own words, “We were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within” (7:5). Paul is evidently still quite concerned about the situation in Corinth, particularly as some members have been led into sin by the intruders. 11:30–33 Paul concludes the tribulation catalogue with a statement emphasizing his stance on boasting (v. 30), an oath formula (v. 31), and a concrete ...

457. The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:15-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... 7; Rom. 6:22; 11:30; 1 Cor. 6:11). Hence Paul reminds them that in their pre-Christian state they were alienated from God, and as such, they were God’s enemies. This enmity manifested itself in an evil manner of life and thought. This stands as quite a contrast to their Christian walk (described in 1:10). 1:22 But a great change has taken place in their lives because God has acted decisively in Christ. Paul picks up the key word reconciliation from the hymn (1:20) and reminds them that God reconciled them ...

458. Instructions on Worship

1 Timothy 2:1-15

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... Introduction), lies with the false teachers. Most likely this is their word, being used by Paul to counteract them (cf. the use of wisdom in 1 Cor. 1–3). It should also be noted that the attitude toward the state reflected in this passage is quite in keeping with Romans 13:1–5. Prayer for such authorities is to be made precisely so that believers, including the elders, may freely live out their faith before “outsiders” (3:7). But such a point is nonetheless a slight digression, brought about by the ...

459. Instructions to Timothy

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... he points these things out to the brothers and sisters. The source of such spiritual nourishment is the truths (lit. “words”) of the faith and of the good teaching. By “words” of the faith Paul clearly means the content of the gospel; but it is not quite so clear whether the good teaching also refers to the gospel, or to the correct use of Scripture (as in 2 Tim. 3:14–16). In either case, this appeal includes a reminder of Timothy’s long association with Paul: the teaching that you have always ...

460. Doing What is Good

Titus 3:1-11

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... eschatological goal of salvation. By an act of sheer grace, Christ justified us. This, as always in Paul, is also a metaphor, expressing the forensic (legal), positional aspect of salvation. Some have argued that the usage here, because it lacks “by faith,” is not quite Pauline. But such a view both misses Paul’s emphasis elsewhere (he uses “by faith” to contrast “by works of Law,” but he always means “by grace through faith” as in Eph. 2:8–9) and overlooks 1 Corinthians 6:11 (with its ...

461. The Sin and Doom of Godless Men

Jude 1:1-16

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... no claim upon them; they have no desire to serve and no sense of responsibility. Their one value is pleasure and their one dynamic is desire” (Barclay, p. 198). Furthermore, they boast about themselves, engaging in bombastic speech in an effort to impress. They are quite prepared to flatter others if they think they can wheedle something out of them to their own advantage. The false teachers both bluster and fawn. Additional Notes 14 Enoch is also mentioned in the NT in Luke 3:37 (as an ancestor of Jesus ...

462. Saul Takes His Life

1 Chronicles 10:1-14

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... name Benjamin, which means “son of the right hand.” This was an allusion to the Benjaminites’ military reputation, the prime example of which occurs in Judges 3–4, where Ehud, a left-handed Benjaminite, killed Eglon, the Moabite king. It is thus quite significant when the Chronicler indicates (in his own material) that these valiant warriors from Saul’s men joined forces with David. In 1 Chronicles 13:3 the Chronicler offers his account of the bringing of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. In ...

463. David Becomes King over Israel

1 Chronicles 11:1-3

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... ) comments on Jerusalem parenthetically: Jerusalem, that is, Jebus. This is one of only three places in the Old Testament where the name Jebus occurs (the others are Josh. 18:28 and Judg. 19:10). The connection with Jebus and the Jebusite land is quite significant. First Chronicles 21 indicates that the temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Although the argument will be presented more fully below in the discussion of 1 Chronicles 21, I note here that the explication of Jebus might ...

464. No More Tears

Sermon

King Duncan

... hide its message from the early church’s enemies or is Revelation a literal description of the last days of humanity’s journey on earth? We’ll let the scholars battle that out. One day we’ll know for certain. But the imagery is quite extraordinary and quite beautiful as well. John has a vision in which he sees a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation and every tribe and many peoples and languages. They are standing before the throne, clothed in white robes with palm branches in ...

465. The First Two Days: John the Baptist’s Message

John 1:19-28, John 1:29-34

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... in the opposite direction. Also the titles given to Jesus in this chapter are, as a rule, not duplicated, and Son of God does appear later in 1:49. Yet the manuscript evidence for Son of God is very strong. That the copyists of the most ancient manuscripts were quite willing to let an unusual or unfamiliar title for Christ stand if they judged it authentic is shown by the well-attested “God the Only One” in v. 18 and “Holy One of God” in 6:69. Here Son of God is probably what the author wrote, but ...

466. Timothy and Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:19-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... the outcome of a trial. It is best to infer that Timothy had joined Paul in Rome and was again available to be sent here or there as Paul’s messenger. 2:20 When Paul says about Timothy that I have no one else like him he uses a word quite similar to that which he used in verse 2 when he urged his readers to be “one in soul.” Here is a man who is “one in spirit” or “equal in soul” with Paul himself. Paul found Timothy to be an entirely congenial and sympathetic colleague, but here he thinks ...

467. Solomon's Throne Established

1 Kings 2:13-46

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... to him as their king (a massive exaggeration, so far as we can tell from ch. 1). Now the kingdom has gone, as a result of divine providence, to Solomon. All he asks for now is Abishag. The significance of this request is not clear. Is it quite innocent, or does it represent a calculated attempt to revive Adonijah’s claim to the throne? Second Samuel 16:20–22 might suggest that sexual liaison with the king’s concubines amounted to such a claim and even if Abishag was not strictly a concubine, she was ...

468. Solomon Asks for Wisdom

1 Kings 3:1-15

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... and upright in heart (3:6)—that is why Solomon sits on the throne (3:6). Not for the first time, however, what Solomon has to say is undermined for the reader who knows the story, by aspects of the way in which he says it. It is, of course, quite true that David’s basic orientation was towards God. Both the narrator of Kings (e.g., in 3:2) and God himself (e.g., in 3:14) will often confirm this, portraying David as a model against which other kings can be measured. Yet it is equally clear from both ...

469. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication

1 Kings 8:22-61

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... . The if of verse 6 cannot in reality be anything other than a when (8:46). Obedience will inevitably give way to apostasy. If this is truly the basis of God’s dealings with Israel, there can be no other outcome but tears. A dark cloud now looms quite visibly over the Solomonic empire, for all the glory of 1 Kings 3–8. The temple is no sooner built than we hear of its inevitable end; the empire is no sooner created than we hear of its inevitable destruction. Additional Notes 8:33 Defeated by an enemy ...

470. Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab

1 Kings 22:1-28

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... Arameans already and that Micaiah is well-known for his negativity in relation to Ahab, it is perhaps not surprising that Ahab (and devout Jehoshaphat, v. 29) should side with the 400 (cf. v. 27, until I return safely). It is a perfectly rational choice. What is not quite so rational is Ahab’s decision to enter the battle in disguise (v. 30). If Micaiah has truly been lying, what is the danger? And if he has been telling the truth, Ahab will die whatever he does. So what is the point of the disguise? 22 ...

471. Moab Revolts

2 Kings 3:1-27

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... seek help, like his father before him, from his southern neighbor Jehoshaphat. The Judean’s initial response we recognize from 1 Kings 22:4: I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses (v. 7). Immediately, then, we are quite deliberately reminded of the earlier story and invited to make comparisons. This being so, we can hardly fail to notice that whereas, earlier, Jehoshaphat was very concerned to discover “the counsel of the LORD” before going off to war (22:5), he now moves ...

472. An Axhead Floats

2 Kings 6:1-7

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... of 2 Kings 8–10. Second Kings 6:8–23 shows Elisha fully drawn into the politics of the region, yet always in control of events, as he mediates God’s power in the midst of war. God’s purposes are working out, even if Ahab’s house has not quite met its end. Lest we forget that Elisha’s ministry embraced the humble as well as the great, and so that we have a sense of the time that passed between 5:27 and 6:8, a short story about an iron tool is first interposed. “God saves” individual ...

473. The Lord's Devastation of the Earth

Isaiah 24:1-23

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... of such heavenly powers, as is reflected in the practice of astrology (cf. 40:26); perhaps the sun and moon are or feel guilty by association (v. 23). As with resistance on earth, Yahweh may be relaxed about powers that resist in heaven for quite a while, but in due course will “visit” them (see on 10:1–4). Revelation 20 sees this imprisonment coming about through Jesus’ victory won on the cross, pending the moment of final “visitation.” Although Yahweh does not reign in heaven or on earth ...

474. The Glory Departs

Ezekiel 8:1-18, Ezekiel 9:1-11, Ezekiel 10:1-22, Ezekiel 11:1-15, Ezekiel 11:16-25

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... the city is full of injustice” (v. 9; see 8:17). The Lord further reminds Ezekiel of the elders’ belief that ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see’ (v. 9; see 8:12). As Paul Joyce observes, “It is made quite clear in Ezekiel 9 that Israel’s punishment is absolutely deserved” (Joyce, Divine Initiative, p. 62). That no one in Jerusalem meets even the minimal standards of righteousness set forth in verse 4 must seem incredible to a contemporary reader. Particularly, we are likely ...

475. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 10:1-42

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... of the scope of the discourse’s audience to include more explicitly Matthew’s readers. Reviewing the entire Mission Discourse, Jesus’ quite specific instructions in 10:5–15 (e.g., do not go to the Gentiles; take no bag for the journey) keep ... ). While not all disciples of Jesus will be pressed to that extreme, it is instructive to note that, according to church tradition, quite a number of the twelve apostles (the specific story audience of chap. 10) died as martyrs because of their allegiance to Jesus ...

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