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Showing 4751 to 4775 of 5000 results

4751. Exodus 17:1-7

Exodus 17:1-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

It is sometimes difficult to understand how demanding and ungrateful the Israelites behaved the moment they escaped from their Egyptian masters. It is as if all the plagues God had sent down upon the land never happened, culminating in the terrifying night of the "Passover;" as if generations of torturous slavery had not finally been left behind; as if God had not used Moses and Aaron again and again to show the divine favor for this band of people. The recurring attitude among the Israelites seems to be ...

4752. 1 Samuel 16:1-13

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The books of Samuel record some of the most dramatic developments and transitions in the history of Israel. A transitional figure himself, Samuel combines the solid role of judge with the fluid role of seer, eventually growing into arguably the first of the true prophetic figures. The events Samuel finds himself in the midst of are as changeable as his own character. In the face of Israel's greatest threat - the Philistine army - Samuel oversees the establishment of Israel's greatest experiment - the ...

4753. 1 Peter 2:19-25

1 Peter 2:19-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The epistle reading this week is part of the author's comments on the appropriate Christian "take" on the traditional household codes of attitudes and behaviors. In the established and accepted hierarchical culture of first-century Asia Minor, relationships were dictated by a strict "pecking order" both in the household and in the marketplace. The Gentile Christian converts 1 Peter addresses here were used to reacting and behaving in ways that were the accepted norm within this cultural milieu. In 2:18-3:7 ...

4754. Matthew 10:40-42

Matthew 10:40-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's gospel text closes out Matthew's chapter-long missionary discourse. In 10:1, Jesus gives the Twelve their marching orders, and the similarity between the mission of the Twelve and Jesus' own mission is striking. Both healing and preaching are key parts of their repertoire. But the news is not all good, for Jesus reveals to the faithful that they will face along the way hardship and persecution from many sources, even from their own families. The final verses of this mission-instruction chapter ...

4755. Matthew 16:21-28

Matthew 16:21-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

One mark of the Synoptic Gospels is how they carefully divide Jesus' ministry into two definite stages. Matthew and Luke follow Mark's lead by having Jesus remain in the region of Galilee, preaching, teaching and healing for the first half of their gospels. Only after Jesus makes his explicit passion prediction does his one and only journey toward Jerusalem begin. Our gospel text today offers Matthew's version of that crucial "hinge" moment when Jesus reveals to his disciples the shocking nature of the ...

4756. Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The judgment scene depicted in today's gospel text is one of several crowded into Jesus' final discourse series. In 23:29-39, the "scribes and Pharisees" are denounced for their rejection of the Messiah and their ultimate punishment (a hell sentence) foretold. This judgment text is followed by the examples of the faithful and unfaithful servants (24:45-51) and the parable of the talents (25:14-30). In both cases, those who break faith with their "trusts" are punished when the master returns to judge their ...

4757. Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The code of Deuteronomy, a painstaking listing of statutes and ordinances given by God to Moses, begins in chapter 12 and formally concludes here in chapter 26 where, in 26:1, the entire nature and identity of a whole people is abruptly changed _ they "have come into the land." The first fruits offering called for is thus nothing less than the people's gracious recognition of their transformation from homeless, anonymous wanderers to a people of the land. The first fruits offerings _ like all the statutes ...

4758. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Although scholars have generally considered Philippians as one of the books composed during Paul's Roman captivity, there is reason to suggest that it may have been penned later, sometime after the Corinthian correspondence. Considered as a later work, Philippians reflects Paul's matured thought and doctrine, with this week's text certainly revealing the depth of Paul's theological wisdom. In Philippians 3:4, Paul begins by recounting his past religious life. He may have been responding to some arguments ...

4759. Galatians 2:15-21

Galatians 2:15-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul's letter to the Galatians, while highly personal and emotional, yet also offers some of the clearest and most powerful expressions of theology the apostle ever wrote. The text read for today's epistle lesson starts a new section in the letter. It is concerned with the theological fallout created by the actions of Peter and the others in Antioch. Paul has already told the Galatians how he confronted Peter and openly voiced his displeasure with what he called their "cowardly" or "insincere" behavior. ...

4760. Luke 10:25-37

Luke 10:25-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The good news: Among even the most biblically impaired, the term "Good Samaritan" carries a full load of moral meaning. The bad news: Our assumed familiarity with this story's plot and players in many ways has tamed the radical message of Jesus' parable. Choosing a Samaritan as the "good guy" is surprising, not only to the confident lawyer questioning Jesus; it also shocks his own disciples. Only a few pages back, Luke's gospel records how some Samaritans themselves had treated the prospect of a visit by ...

4761. Hebrews 12:18-29

Hebrews 12:18-29

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This week's epistle text focuses on the final section of the homileticist's long exhortation to his community. The central concern of the writer throughout Hebrews is that Christians realize how their membership in the new covenant gives them special privileges as well as special responsibilities. The fierceness with which this writer demands Christian fidelity to the new covenant suggests that there may have been some backsliding or at least some questionable behavior manifesting itself in the community ...

4762. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

There is considerable debate surrounding this week's gospel text - the rich man and Lazarus. Scholars point out this story's similarity to other Egyptian and Jewish stories. A well-known Egyptian "version" is that of Si-Osiris, the son of Setme Chamois. A young boy, who also happens to be a very wise, reincarnated soul, proves to his father that a shocking reversal of fortunes may await him in the afterlife. Having the distinct advantage of supernatural powers, Si-Osiris is able to take his father on a " ...

4763. 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul's powerful, highly personal letter to Timothy continues in 3:10 with appeals for his disciple's enduring loyalty. A considerable portion of 2 Timothy is devoted to railing against the wickedness and deceitfulness of "impostors" - false teachers abusing Scripture and using it for selfish gain. After dealing with these deceivers, Paul turns his attention again to Timothy. To highlight the disparity between the unbecoming conduct of "impostors" and what Paul expects Timothy to embody, verses 10 and 14 ...

4764. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

The fallout from the rampant rumors about an already present Parousia manifests itself in many ways in the Thessalonian church. Having addressed the panic and fear that had assaulted some Christians who were convinced by the rumors, Paul now turns to another related result - idleness. Paul had mentioned people who were idle or disorderly (an adverbial form of the same root) in his first letter to the Thessalonians (4:11-12; 5:14). Apparently the problem persisted. This is such an important issue to Paul ...

4765. Jeremiah 23:1-6

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Jeremiah preached his message to Judah from 626 until about 589-587 B.C. He spent his lifetime criticizing the rulers who were slowly selling out his country and his people to the powers of the Babylonian Empire. Jeremiah himself experienced a period of forced exile at the hands of some of his own panicked neighbors. It's no wonder that Jeremiah had little regard for the monarchs under whom Judah had suffered for the last 50 years. Immediately preceding this week's Old Testament text, in Jeremiah 22:11-23 ...

4766. Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The final Advent season gospel reading for this year tells the Matthean account of Jesus' conception and birth. Matthew's birth narrative is far less popular to read at Christmastime than Luke's literary masterpiece. Luke's text focuses on Mary, the obedient virgin, who willingly submits to God's plans and never questions all that is required of her. Matthew's description of Jesus' conception and birth focuses instead on Joseph. In many ways, Matthew's version is the more expected interpretation, for it is ...

4767. Mark 6:30-44

Mark 6:30-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Of all Jesus' miracles, only this feeding of the 5000 is recorded in all four gospels. Obviously this story, and the complementary feeding of the 4000 (found in two gospels), were favorites of the early church. Perhaps part of the reason for their popularity is that the feeding miracles communicate on so many different levels. If we focus on Jesus we see the image of a compassionate good shepherd. Shift our gaze to the disciples and the text becomes yet another example of their failure to understand Jesus ...

4768. 2 Samuel 18:24-33

2 Samuel 18:24-33

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Absalom's revolt against his king and father left David in a tragic no-win situation. Despite his earlier order that the army "deal gently" with Absalom, there was little hope that nothing except Absalom's death would squelch this civil war and restore national security. The responsibility of David the King and the love of David the father were hopelessly at cross-purpose. There was no middle ground in which to take refuge. This week's text finds the soldiers who had successfully destroyed the greatest ...

4769. 2 Samuel 23:1-7

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

2 Samuel 23:1-7 is identified as "the last words of David." What kind of message is David compelled to leave as he confronts his mortality? As a warrior and king he must have been tempted to speak some final words recalling his greatness, his unique role in the history of Israel, his military prowess. Indeed there is recorded in 1 Kings 2:1-9 another "last words of David" passage. Here David briefly acknowledges Solomon's right to rule but leaves a posthumous list of kingly orders to be carried out, ...

4770. Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Jesus' teachings from Mark are part of a longer section beginning in chapter 11 that confronts and challenges the "organized religions" of his time. One by one Jesus engages in debate, discourse, and sometimes diatribe against the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Scribes, the Herodians, and Temple religion in general. His overarching indictment of the religious-political-economic establishment is summed up when he accuses the leaders of having transformed the Temple into a "den of robbers." (11:7) This whole ...

4771. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Paul's vigor and vision was intimately tied to his life-altering Damascus road experience. All his letters to the fledgling churches, struggling to understand their new Christian identity, were composed within sight of Paul's own conversion story. So it is that while this week's epistle text speaks explicitly of resurrection, we must keep in mind the miracle of conversion sealed by baptism that Paul has already experienced. Paul begins to discuss the mystery of the resurrection by adopting a diatribe style ...

4772. John 20:19-31 [Genesis 2:5-24]

John 20:19-31 [Genesis 2:5-24]

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

God has planted throughout the Scriptures time-released fireworks. At various periods in the church's history these bombs go off under their texts, exploding for all to see, inviting people of that era to "look at me" and take seriously the Word of God coming alive specially for them right before their eyes. Two books of the Bible exploding under us, and wanting to explode within us (that's what preaching basically is), are the books of John and Genesis. Why John? First, it stands apart from the other ...

4773. Psalm 23

Psalm 23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The Lord is a Shepherd - watching, tending, worrying, caring for each and every sheep in the flock. And for good reason. Sheep are notoriously stupid, defenseless and foolish creatures. It is only through the vigilance of the shepherd that safety is assured. When the psalmist declares God the Shepherd, the psalmist declares reliance on God, in total confidence and trust, for preserving his well-being. The psalmist carries this image forward in order to emphasize that this Shepherd-God is interested in far ...

4774. 1 Timothy 1:12-17

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The so-called "pastoral epistles" have experienced a varied life in biblical scholarship. They have been present in the acknowledged canonical books ever since it was first established (c. A.D. 170) - with the notable exception of Marcion's quixotic selections. They "fell from grace" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when critical textual analysis began to develop. Despite the long canonical tenure of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, the authenticity of their Pauline authorship came under close scrutiny ...

4775. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The Lukan parable of the rich man and Lazarus is a particularly graphic story with an outcome we find uncomfortably harsh and stark. But before reading Luke 16:19-31, it is insightful to look back to verses 14-15. Jesus was a master at tailoring the thrust of his teachings to the specific audience he was addressing. This story is no exception. Verse 14 clearly defines those who are listening as "the Pharisees, who were lovers of money...." Jesus' metaphors are amazingly vivid and bold. On the one hand ...

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