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Showing 26 to 50 of 127 results

26. The Sin Offering

Leviticus 4:1--5:13

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... ” is more apt than the traditional “sin offering.” 5:4 if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath. A third occasion requiring a sin offering is the case of a rash oath. An oath is a formal commitment in God’s name to do something or to abstain from something, usually involving some sort of ritual performance. A rash oath is one in which a person promises “as the Lord lives” to do something that either he or she cannot do, or upon reflection ought not to do, or simply forgets or chooses not to ...

27. Failure to Enter the Land

Num 13:1–14:9

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... love,” Moses is beseeching God to act in love and mercy in view of his covenant relationship with Israel despite its sin. In Exodus 34:6, after Israel has made the golden calf, “God’s love takes the shape of mercy and grace, of abstaining from anger and of being ready to forgive the thousands (i.e., numerous) of generations without any limit, although the punishment restricted to four generations would not fail to come.”3 In the incident of the golden calf, God had forgiven Israel’s sin—that is ...

28. East Of Eden

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... we expect more from heroes. "We expect television evangelists to avoid motels that rent rooms by the hour." "We expect national politicians to forego happy hours at saloons and to avoid shady book deals. "We expect Presidents of the United States to abstain from condoning burglary. "And we expect baseball players, managers, club owners, and everyone else directly involved in the game to have sense enough not to bet on the national pastime... "The fan himself can bet the grocery money on today's game without ...

29. Holiness of Priests

Lev 21:1–23:2

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... :5–6 Priests must not shave their heads . . . the edges of their beards or cut their bodies. These pagan mourning rites (LXX adds “for the dead” [cf. Deut. 14:1]) are discouraged for all Israelites (see Lev. 19:27–28), but abstaining from them is especially important for priests in God’s sanctuary. Joy, rather than mourning, is usually more appropriate to being in God’s presence (cf. Deut. 12:12), and pagan-style rites are doubly inappropriate. Self-inflicted blemishes would make priests unfit ...

30. The First Council

Acts 15:1-21

Sermon Aid

CSS

... his decision will be accepted, as indeed it was. The conditions James attached to his ruling made good common sense. He set only four general rules or restrictions for Gentiles who sought admission into the Christian community. The first was that they abstain from eating food which had been offered to idols, since this was abhorrent to Jews and would conflict with the Christian ritual of eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ. Second, they were to avoid unchastity. This was extremely important ...

31. Israel Unrepentant

Hosea 6:1--7:16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... God’s aid once again. Such fasts of repentance are held in Israel whenever there is a calamity of any sort—defeat by enemies, pestilence among the population, plagues of locusts, drought, famine, and so forth. Summoned by the priests, the people abstain from food and drink and all normal activity, and gather at the sanctuary to offer sacrifices, to mourn their sinfulness, and to cry for God’s help. Often they prostrate themselves in the dust, strike their breasts, rend their clothes, sprinkle ashes on ...

32. On Taking Candy from a Stranger

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... to obedience to God’s Law? In her junior year of high school, Pastor Barbara Brown Taylor dated a standout basketball player named David. David could have been the star of his high school basketball team. But because David was Jewish, he abstained from playing on Friday nights. Why? The Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday. He felt that playing basketball was a violation of Sabbath law. Since so many high school basketball games are on Friday nights, this was a real sacrifice. After the Friday ...

33. The Agreement of the People

Neh 9:38–10:39

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... ’s opposition to local intermarriage with women from Ashdod in 13:23. This text interprets the old law in a way that is relevant to a contemporary threat to the community. The second clause in verse 31 relates to observing the Sabbath by abstaining from work. But what did the word “work” in the old laws mean? Here again we find a more comprehensive definition. The law had long been interpreted as a prohibition against selling on the Sabbath (Amos 8:5). Now the commandment was extended to prohibit ...

34. David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-27, 12:1-31

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... presence, but instead of going down to his house he spends the night with the palace guards. You see, as one commentator has it, "Uriah belonged to the John McCain school of war: as long as his fellow soldiers were out in the field, he himself would abstain from the pleasures of civilian life, including relations with the Missus"(6) (which, as we all know, is exactly what David was wanting him to do to make the cover-up work). For that matter, Uriah is not just objecting to having it better than his buddies ...

35. Living for God

1 Peter 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... sōphronein means to have a sober attitude, to keep one’s head—it can contrast being demon-possessed (Mark 5:15) or being out of one’s mind (2 Cor. 5:13), or overproud, too high-minded (Rom. 12:3). Self-controlled, from nēphein, to abstain from wine; metaphorically, to be calm, circumspect. The verb is also used in 1:13 and 5:8. 4:8 Deeply (ektenē): “Stretched out,” in today’s jargon, “going all out,” like a sportsman or a race car driver. The corresponding adverb occurs in 1:22, again in ...

36. Proper 19

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... confidently into the future. Epistle: Romans 14:1-12 1. Sermon Title: An Affair Of The Heart. Sermon Angle: The church of Paul's day was already beset by contention stemming from disparate spiritual practices. Some held certain days to be holy; others did not. Some abstained from certain foods to honor God; others did not. The apostle does not take sides. He seems to suggest that there are many ways to serve and worship the Lord. He counsels to be convinced in your own mind (v. 5). That what you're doing is ...

37. Lent 4

Jn 9:1-41 · Eph 5:8-14 · Ps 23 · 1 Sam 16:1-13

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... free. A life in Christ is altered, not perfected, but different from before its rebirth in Christ. As we stand in the Christian present, thinking about our lives before Christ, we can hear the author's admonitions to pursue God's good desires, to abstain from what is not in keeping with God's revealed love—even giving ourselves to oppose it. We live in Christ as Christians simply because Christ has claimed us in love. All of the reflection above can be illustrated in relation to the particular situations ...

38. Imitation and Role Modeling

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... life. To Paul, the litmus test for being a Christian is not simply a matter of adherence to statements about salvation through Christ. Paul’s issue in Corinth is that some claim a truth about their freedom (no law requires them to abstain from certain foods) while disregarding their responsibility to Christ’s community. Paul’s corrective is a call to imitate Christ. In fact, Paul’s whole theological endeavor is to let Christ’s life evidence Christ’s teaching and to use that (rather than ...

39. Condemned to Wilderness Wandering

Numbers 14:1-45

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... love,” Moses is beseeching God to act in love and mercy in view of his covenant relationship with Israel despite its sin. In Exodus 34:6, after Israel has made the golden calf, “God’s love takes the shape of mercy and grace, of abstaining from anger and of being ready to forgive the thousands (i.e., numerous) of generations without any limit, although the punishment restricted to four generations would not fail to come.”3In the incident of the golden calf, God had forgiven Israel’s sin—that is ...

40. Lent 3

Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Psalm 63:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... is to be cut down. By inference it is the unproductive person who will perish. It is not just those who do great evil who are subject to punishment. It is also the persons who do not produce good fruit. It is not enough just to abstain from great evil acts. It is necessary to act fruitfully to escape judgment. Homily Hints 1. When Disaster Strikes. (vv. 1-5) Questions arise when people are victims of disaster. How does the Christian address such events? A. No Guilt as a Cause. People wonder if the victims ...

41. Separating Defilement from Sanctuary and Community

Leviticus 16:1-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of his sanctuary through sacrifice represents this vindication. While the high priest is doing this for the people, those who have been loyal thus far are to reaffirm their loyalty to God by practicing self-denial (e.g., through fasting) and abstaining from work (16:29, 31) in order to receive the benefit of moral cleansing (16:30). Vindication of their Judge simultaneously vindicates the forgiveness that he has granted them. Those who fail to show loyalty in these ways are “cut off” or destroyed ...

42. Don't Just Stand There! - Get Involved!

Luke 3:1-20, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Dr. John Thompson Peters

... boldness and conviction. To do this we must absolutely understand the real nature of Christianity." Too often Christianity is thought of as a little bit of morality. Some men think that as long as they don't lie, don't drink, and abstain from many of life's pleasures, they are good Christians. But such a view of Christianity is totally inadequate. If this is all, wherein does Christianity transcend the pagan philosophies? There is an urgent need to draw the distinction between mere morality and Christianity ...

43. A Man Who Was a Lion-Tamer

Daniel 6:1-28

Sermon

R. Blaine Detrick

... and mockery ... realizing that he was risking the anger of the king ... realizing that he was jeopardizing his whole future and possibly even his life ... still Daniel said, "I will be faithful to my God. I will not defile myself. I will abstain from food and wine which, for me, is forbidden" (Daniel 1). The Temptation to be Insincere Daniel became a very capable interpreter of visions and dreams. God gave him this particular ability. In one case, Daniel not only interpreted a dream, but he interpreted ...

44. The Gift Of Sleep

Psalm 127:1-5

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... is a gift.) We do not achieve sleep, we receive it. The Latin root for the word "sleep" is _labi_, which means "to glide or slide". Oh, we play some small part in composing ourselves for sleep. We may refuse to drink coffee after 7 p.m. (and abstain from eating too heavy a meal). In a pinch, we might even be found taking a pill to induce sleep. Frequently we count sheep, or try to paint on the insides of our eyelids scenes of restful beauty. But essentially sleep is of God. It's not something we achieve ...

45. Proper 19

Exodus 13:17--14:31, Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 14:1--15:13, Exodus 15:1-21

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

... Christians were bothered by the association of the meat with the "false gods"; some were not. For those who cared, the only safe option was to avoid meat altogether. "Weak in faith" in Romans most likely names those whose religious scruples led them to abstain from meat. Notice in the context of our lesson that Paul does not call those who ate meat "strong in faith"; rather, he reserves that phrase until 15:1. Also, notice that the issues addressed in I Corinthians and Romans are different! In I Corinthians ...

46. When I Am Tempted

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... because He had been lead by the Spirit of God to fast and He was simply obeying the will of His Father. One of the greatest ways that young people are tempted today is physically. For example, the Bible is very, very plain that we are to abstain from sexual relations before marriage and after marriage we are to limit all sexual activity to the person that we are married to. Yet, as we know, co-habitation, living together out of wedlock, and casual sex is at an all-time high in this country. I am convinced ...

47. Jerusalem Council and the Identity of Gentile Believers

Acts 15:1-21, Acts 15:22-35

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... eschatological era that his death and resurrection introduce is one that fulfills God’s promises to David. James concludes his speech with a recommendation that Gentiles should observe a minimal set of requirements as they participate in the people of God: “Abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood” (15:20). The exact nature and meaning of these prohibitions is a subject of intense debate. Some have considered this to be a selection ...

48. Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany

Sermon

Russell F. Anderson

... if it means that sin emanates from the center of our being. In the same way, righteousness can not be wholly judged outwardly; true righteousness emanates from the core of our being. Jesus taught that we must be transformed from within. Thus, to abstain from killing does not absolve one from murder. Murder springs from malignant attitudes that must be replaced with the Beatitudes. "You have heard that it was said ... but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment ...

49. Lessons for Lent 3

John 2:12-25

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... free agents, at liberty to contract with the highest bidder. Not so, by virtue of the Lord's acts of creation and redemption; we belong with the Lord's team eternally. Coveting underlies all the commandments. The Ten Commandments end with the commandments to abstain from coveting the neighbor's house, spouse, servants and so forth. But they also begin with the command not to covet the neighbor's gods (no other gods before him, no graven images). We are not to covet the authority that belongs to our parents ...

50. Any Given Sunday

Acts 2:41-47

Sermon

James Merritt

... you would like to go or where you would like to help your neighbor or relative get to in their own level of commitment. We find all of these levels in the Book of Acts- Chapter 2. They are all right here before us. I. The Community Abstains From The Church Jesus Christ had predicted before He died that He would build His church. The church is actually born in the first chapter of the Book of Acts. When all the disciples who believed in Jesus and His resurrection were gathered together and the Holy Spirit ...

Showing results

Showing 26 to 50 of 127 results

26. The Sin Offering

Leviticus 4:1--5:13

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

27. Failure to Enter the Land

Num 13:1–14:9

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

28. East Of Eden

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

29. Holiness of Priests

Lev 21:1–23:2

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

30. The First Council

Acts 15:1-21

Sermon Aid

CSS

31. Israel Unrepentant

Hosea 6:1--7:16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

32. On Taking Candy from a Stranger

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

King Duncan

33. The Agreement of the People

Neh 9:38–10:39

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

34. David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-27, 12:1-31

Sermon

David E. Leininger

35. Living for God

1 Peter 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

36. Proper 19

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

37. Lent 4

Jn 9:1-41 · Eph 5:8-14 · Ps 23 · 1 Sam 16:1-13

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

38. Imitation and Role Modeling

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

39. Condemned to Wilderness Wandering

Numbers 14:1-45

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... love,” Moses is beseeching God to act in love and mercy in view of his covenant relationship with Israel despite its sin. In Exodus 34:6, after Israel has made the golden calf, “God’s love takes the shape of mercy and grace, of abstaining from anger and of being ready to forgive the thousands (i.e., numerous) of generations without any limit, although the punishment restricted to four generations would not fail to come.”3In the incident of the golden calf, God had forgiven Israel’s sin—that is ...

40. Lent 3

Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Psalm 63:1-11, Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

41. Separating Defilement from Sanctuary and Community

Leviticus 16:1-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

42. Don't Just Stand There! - Get Involved!

Luke 3:1-20, Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Dr. John Thompson Peters