Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 26 to 50 of 326 results

26. Who Needs A Doctor?

Luke 5:27-32

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... we shouldn't be too quick to answer. It's a question for reflection more than to answer. Has a person been genuinely converted if he or she does not, as a result of that experience, have a desire that others be converted also? Not only was Levi celebrating the fact that he was converted, he was using that occasion to bring people together in order that they might meet Jesus also. Just think about it. How deep is your desire for others to experience what you have experienced in Jesus Christ? If that desire ...

27. The Birth of Moses

Exodus 2:1-10

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... salvation story—a son who would be the savior of the world is born, laid in a rough bassinet by a lowly mother, and survives the senseless murder of children by a violent king. Exodus 2:1 tells us that a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman. At this point God has not yet established the Levites as a “religious” tribe. Exodus 6:14–27 again emphasizes Moses’ Levitical lineage. The narrative moves directly to the announcement that the Levite woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son ...

28. The Census of the Twelve Tribes

Num 1:1–2:54

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... would have been impossible for Moses to meet in the desert with a population of sixty thousand, much less six hundred thousand. 1:46 603,550. This number is used in Exodus 38:26 to estimate the total of the half shekel of silver temple tax levied on Israel. Such a tax is demanded whenever Israel takes a census (Exod. 30:12–16). 1:47–54 The ancestral tribe of the Levites . . . was not counted along with the others. Levites are to serve the tabernacle. Being a soldier is incompatible with the duties ...

29. Priesthood Confirmed and Its Mediation Duties Specified

Num 17:1–8:7

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... ) has not been chosen by God to serve the tabernacle as priests. 17:10 as a sign to the rebellious. Aaron’s rod in the tabernacle, like the censers of the 250 used to overlay the altar (Num. 16:38), symbolizes that only Aaronites of the tribe of Levi can serve as priests. 17:12 We will die! . . . we are all lost! The destruction of the 250 and the camps of Dathan and Abiram lead the Israelites to realize that they lack sufficient holiness to serve in the tabernacle, so they panic and swing to the ...

30. God Promises Deliverance

Exodus 5:22--6:12

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... ’s son Merari and his clans were responsible for the tent frames, bases, ropes, and pegs. They camped on the north side. Aaron and his sons and Moses (Kohath’s grandsons) camped on the east. A few of Levi’s descendants are memorable for their arrogance before the Lord. Aaron’s cousin Korah and others rose against Aaron’s privilege as high priest and were swallowed by the earth with 250 men and their families (Num. 16). Two of Aaron’s four sons with Elisheba, Nadab and Abihu, offered ...

31. Division of the Land East of the Jordan

Joshua 13:8-33

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... Bashan. Ammon is the eastern border. An interesting note here is that the tribal forces “did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day” (13:13). A footnote about the tribe of Levi interrupts the narrative about dividing the eastern territory. Moses did not parcel out land to the Levites, for they received “offerings made by fire to the LORD, . . . as he promised them” (13:14). Priests must work as impartial worship leaders, and they can ...

32. Dinah and the Shechemites

Genesis 34:1-31

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... to Jacob’s sons (vv. 11–12), and Jacob’s sons offer a detailed counterproposal (vv. 13–17). Hamor and Shechem move the local assembly to enter into agreement with Jacob’s family (vv. 20–23). A sharp exchange between Jacob and his sons Simeon and Levi over the devastation of Shechem brings the narrative to a close (vv. 30–31). The is passage recounts Shechem's rape of Dinah (34:1–7); Hamor and Jacob negotiate (34:8–17); the citizens of Shechem decide to make a covenant with Jacob’s family ...

33. Epilogue to the Law of the Temple: River, Land, City

Ezekiel 47:1-12, Ezekiel 47:13-23, Ezekiel 48:1-29, Ezekiel 48:30-35

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... people. It may at first seem that the provision for two portions for Joseph (v. 13) violates this principle of equity. However, Joseph was the father of Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:1–22), the two major northern tribes. Since there is no inheritance for Levi (the priests and the Levites being housed in the sacred preserve surrounding the temple), the two Joseph tribes fill out the twelve. Ezekiel 48:4 describes the inheritance of Manasseh, and 48:5 that of Ephraim. In all of this, the text affirms, the ...

34. A Blind Beggar and a Rich Scoundrel

Luke 19:1-10, Luke 18:35-43

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... tree of the maple family for which “sycamore” is normally used. 19:5 I must stay at your house today. For Jesus to invite himself to stay in the house of such a man was an even more blatant social outrage than his acceptance of Levi’s hospitality in 5:29–30 and also a slight to the more worthy citizens who might have welcomed him. For Jesus, the work of “salvation” took precedence over social protocol, and he recognized in this powerful but despised man someone “lost” needing to be found ...

35. The Twelve Apostles

Luke 6:12-16

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Acts 1:13 (6) Bartholomew: Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13 (7) Matthew: Matt. 10:3; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13 (8) Levi: Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27 (9) Thomas: Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; John 11:16; Acts 1:13 (10) James, son of Alphaeus: ... , the betrayer: Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16; John 12:6; Acts 1:16 (16) Nathanael: John 1:45 Since it is likely that “Levi” and “Matthew” are one and the same (cf. Matt. 9:9 and Mark 2:14 and see commentary on 5:27–32 above) and that “Simon the ...

36. The Appointing of the Twelve Apostles

Mark 3:13-19

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... in Mark or Matthew. Of course, there are speculations about these being the same man, but we cannot be sure. The Matthew of 3:18 is described in Matt. 10:3 as a tax collector and seems to be presented there as the Matthew of Matt. 9:9, called Levi in Mark 2:14! Is this again a case of a man with two names? Some of the other names are interesting for what they mean. Bartholomew means “son of Talmai” in Aramaic (cf. Mark 10:46, “Bartimaeus son of Timaeus”). Many have identified him with the Nathaniel ...

37. The Second Meal

Sermon

Robert F. Scott

... confessing their sin, asking his forgiveness, responding to his love. The good news of Jesus was the same for the outcast and for the social leader for the open sinner and for those who seemed upright; God's passionate love and rich forgiveness -- Jesus' love for Levi, and Levi's response of love by making a feast -- Jesus' love for Simon the Pharisee -- and will Simon return that love? This much was plain at the house of Simon the Pharisee, and true in this room today: when the Lord is at his table, it is ...

38. Jesus And The Disciples

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

... The first day, the Rabbi worked to get them all acquainted with each other. They all gave their names, where they were from, and how old they were. They were asked to tell their favorite story from Genesis. James and John disappeared right in the middle of Levi's telling the creation story. Mary found them in the Moses chair next to the Scroll cabinet. The little girl from Magdala, Mary is also her name, was right there with her favorite story, about the snake in the garden of Eden. Some of the others were ...

39. Jesus And The Disciples

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Jerry Eckert

40. Everything Except God

Amos 5:1-17

Sermon

Richard Hasler

... they were retired and on more limited incomes. The community became divided over the issue. The Session of our congregation, consisting of the pastor and the elders, finally came to grips with the issue. Eventually, we set forth our own statement backing the proposed levy because we felt it was best for our youth and indirectly for the well-being of the whole community. This was not a carefree public statement to make to our congregation or to the community. As a young congregation we still had a fragile ...

41. The Vulnerable Christ

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

... and the God of peace grant you your petition." Her prayers were answered, her husband "knew her"; the Lord remembered her, and in due time she bore a son and called him Samuel. As soon as he was weaned, she took him up to the temple and presented him to Levi with the words: "I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord." After that she saw him yearly at the time of the Fall sacrifice. Now here is a parallel between Hannah and Samuel and Mary and Jesus, including the recognition ...

42. Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26

Matthew 9:9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the nature of his job, and for the fact that he would be forced to deal extensively with non-Jewish individuals and culture. In fact, Jesus’ call to Matthew comes when he is most ritually grubby — inside the hated tax booth, up to his elbows in levied lucre. Yet Matthew, like the fishermen, immediately drops what he is doing, rises to his feet, and walks out of his job. Every other time Matthew had exited that tax booth, he left behind the mantle of authority and influence that clothed his manhood with ...

43. Lost, But Not the TV Show!

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... , defined Christ’s mission in the world. Jesus came to save that which is lost. That is the heart of the Gospel. Earlier in Luke’s Gospel Jesus sees a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained ...

44. Body

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... in Jerusalem (e.g., Josephus, Ant. 8.107; Gen. Rab. 54:4; 99:1; Num. Rab. 9:26, 32, 42; 10:24; b. Yoma 44a, 53a, 67b; b. Sukka 5b; b. Soṭa 16a; b. Mak. 12a). Paul evidently knows the heavenly temple through his prior merkabah experience (cf. T. Levi 3:4: the Great Glory dwells in the holy of holies in the third heaven). The fact that he holds open the possibility of an out-of-body experience during his ascent to the third heaven (cf. 2 Cor. 12:2–4) shows how he may have conceived of a ...

45. Hearts

2 Corinthians 6:14--7:1

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... ; 15:33; Ascen. Isa. 1:8–9; 2:4; 3:11, 13; 4:2, 4, 14, 16, 18; 5:1; Sib. Or. 3:63, 73; T. Levi 3:3; 18:12; T. Dan. 5:1, 10–11. The dualistic contrast between the mutually exclusive spheres of Christ and Belial is well illustrated by Levi’s exhortation to his children: “Choose for yourselves light or darkness, the Law of the Lord or the works of Beliar” (T. Levi 19:1; cf. T. Jos. 20:2). Likewise, the Qumran scrolls (cf. 1QS1.17, 23–24; CD 4.13, 15; 5.8) describe an ongoing struggle ...

46. Division of the Land West of the Jordan

Joshua 14:1-5

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... :4). Because of its sacred role, the tribe forfeits territorial rights but does inherit cities in which to live and land for flocks and herds to provide food and clothing. The narrative gives readers information about a place for the tribe of Levi in increments. Suspense continues because readers still do not know the names and locations of the towns. Readers must wait until after land is apportioned to the other tribes (ch. 21). The Lord ensures a future for the spiritual leaders, however, through promises ...

47. Simeon

1 Chronicles 4:24-43

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... , 40; 9:1, 22; 2 Chron. 12:15; 31:16, 17, 18, 19). It refers to the act of enrolling oneself or being enrolled in a genealogy (by means of a census). It is interesting that in Chronicles this verb is never used in connection with the tribes of Judah, Levi, and Benjamin (see P. C. Beentjes, “Identity and Community in the Book of Chronicles: The Role and Meaning of the Verb Jahas,” ZAH 12 [1999], pp. 233–37). The account of David’s census in 1 Chron. 21 comes to mind here, since Joab refused to count ...

48. The Genealogy of Saul the Benjamite

1 Chronicles 8:1-40

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... discussion of the final son of Israel (see 2:1–2), namely, Benjamin. The Chronicler’s genealogical construction emphasizes the lineages of Judah, Levi, and Benjamin. Whereas Judah occupied the initial position and Levi the middle position, Benjamin now closes the genealogical discussion of the sons of Israel. The significance of Judah lies in this being the tribe of King David. Levi is emphasized in order to focus on that tribe’s connection with the cult and the temple. Benjamin, however, is the other ...

49. Caring for the Needy and Commissioning Apostles

Mark 3:7-12, Mark 3:13-19

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... above on 2:14. Two others should be noted. “Thaddaeus” here and in Matthew 10:3 is replaced in Luke 6:16 by the name “Judas son of James.” Most likely these are names for the same person (as in “Simon/Peter,” “Levi/Matthew,” “Saul/Paul”). Simon “the Zealot” is actually “the Cananaean” in the Greek, an Aramaic word meaning “Zealot” (as in Luke 6:15). The Jewish insurrectionist movement began early in the first century, but the participants were not called “the Zealots ...

50. Jesus’s Second Controversy with the Pharisees

Luke 5:27-32, Luke 5:33-39

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Jesus’s second controversy with the Pharisees stems from his call of Levi (5:27–32). Levi is a model of discipleship because he “left everything and followed [Jesus]” (5:27). But Levi is also a tax collector, and tax collectors were despised in Jewish society because they used the tax system to line their own pockets. The Pharisees and the scribes, who emphasized segregation from anything that would make one unclean, are surprised when Jesus goes to a banquet attended by tax ...

Showing results