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

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... 11:1, 16–17). But if the apologetic situation in Corinth requires it (lit., “If it is necessary to boast”), then he will boast in such as way as to reveal his weakness. The long catalogue of Paul’s adversities in 11:23b–29 is meant to illustrate this weakness. As we shall see, Paul is setting his readers up for a surprising insight into the relationship between suffering, weakness, and Paul’s apostleship (see on 12:1–10). 11:31 Paul invokes God as a witness to the veracity of his claim that he ...

27. Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18, James 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... , or a grapevine bear figs? Again the analogy fits. No tree bears two species of fruit. Each produces according to its nature. It is unnatural for a human to try to do what nature does not. Yet perhaps James means something more, for Jesus used a similar illustration (Matt. 7:16–20; Luke 6:43–45; Matt. 12:33–35), but this one dealt with good and bad fruit and judging a plant by its fruit. Is James suggesting that the bad fruit (the cursing) reveals the nature of the person? The third analogy confirms ...

28. Proper 23

Psalm 106:1-48, Philippians 4:2-9, Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon Aid

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

... -5, if not the entire first section of the psalm and v. 47. Psalm 106:1-8, 19-23, 47 can be outlined in the following manner. I. Summons to Praise (vv. 1-3) II. An Introductory Petition for God to Remember the Psalmist (vv. 4-5) III. Historical Illustration of God's Goodness Irael's Disobedience (vv. 6-8, 19-23) A. General introduction (vv. 6-8) B. The golden calf (vv. 19-23) IV. A Concluding Petition for God to Save (v. 47) Significance. Psalm 106 takes the conclusions from the story of Moses mediating for ...

29. The Jewish Leaders as Negative Foil for Jesus’ Followers

Matthew 23:1-39

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... And those who are sent by Jesus to teach and preach will have the same reception that he has had; they will be persecuted and killed (23:34; see 10:16–18). 23:35 from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah. These two phrases illustrate the full historical scope of “the righteous blood that has been shed on earth.” Abel is the first martyr in the Hebrew Bible, and Zechariah is the last (Gen. 4:8; 2 Chron. 24:20–22), with Chronicles being the final book in the ordering of the Hebrew ...

30. The Cost of Discipleship

Luke 14:25-35, Luke 14:15-24

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... group for examples from their own experience of the cost of following Jesus. In a sermon or teaching lesson, you might present examples from church history or more recent missionary accounts of those who have sacrificed all for the sake of the gospel. Illustrating the Text It is possible to lose one’s enthusiasm for the kingdom of God to competing interests and loyalties. Video: The Great Feast, by Tim Andrews. This interesting and amusing video is an animated short that puts the parable into the context ...

31. Freedom from the Law through Christ, Enslavement to the Law through Adam

Romans 7:7-25, Romans 7:1-6

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... union with Adam. This relationship is paradoxical: union with Christ and with Adam both pertain to the Christian (7:13–25 will expound on this). Understanding the Text Romans 6:23 pronounces that the Christian is in union with Christ and therefore free from the law. This is illustrated in 7:1–6. But things are not so simple. Because this age is dominated by Adam’s sin, the law and death remain a present reality (7:7–12). We may outline 7:1–6 as follows: 7:1-4a Law: Bound to the old husband Grace ...

32. Witnesses of the New Covenant

Romans 12:1-8

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day To an admiring bog!5 The diversity of gifts among believers brings unity to the body of Christ. Film: Places in the Heart; It’s a Wonderful Life. These films have wide appeal, and both illustrate beautifully the concept of individuals in communities responding in varied ways to the sadness and tragedy in the lives of their members, each one giving what he or she can to resolve the needs. In Places in the Heart (1984), set in Texas in 1935, a widow ...

33. Paul, Phoebe, Patronage, and Spain

Romans 16:1-27

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... : Nicopolis Titus 3:12 Years 67-68 Location: Rome Here Paul was imprisoned in 67 and martyred in 67/68, before which he wrote 2 Timothy. Luke may have helped Paul to write 2 Timothy (see 2 Tim. 4:11), since the apostle was confined in prison. Illustrating the Text The gospel was and is cross-cultural. Quote: Tom Cruise. Film star Tom Cruise discussed human unity in what he learned while filming The Last Samurai, an ode to Japan’s ancient class of warriors. He said, One of the great things about being an ...

34. “In the Lord I Take Refuge”

Psalm 11:1-7

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... toward those who mistreat us can disfigure our face. We ought to review Jesus’s instruction to love our enemies and pray for them (Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:27–28), for only the unfailing love of God can change the disfigurement our sins have caused. (See the first illustration in the unit on Ps. 7.) The fourth face of faith’s persona is trust in God (13:5–6). The suppliant’s trust in the Lord is most likely both the cause and the result of his triumph. The teacher/preacher might observe that out of the ...

35. Bildad

Job 8:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... doing what is right. The combination of the Hebrew words in parallelism and the concepts they have in mind is at the very core of God’s nature, extolled throughout the Psalms (72:2; 89:15; 97:2) and among the prophets (Hos. 2:19; Amos 5:24). To illustrate the point that God does what is right, Bildad throws Job’s children at him. When they “sinned against [God], he gave them over to the penalty of their sin” (8:4). Like Eliphaz (5:8, 17–26), Bildad calls on Job to supplicate the Almighty (8:5) and ...

36. Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... as Paul will explain, there are fewer potential complications with prophecy than with tongues; so prophecy is preferable. One might think at this juncture that Paul has made himself clear, but he is not finished. He will now undertake a series of arguments that illustrate and support his contention. Moreover, he will do so in two segments of discussion: verses 6–12 and verses 13–19. Additional Notes 14:1 Follow the way of love (Gk. Diōkete tēn agapēn; lit. “you [pl.] pursue love”). Having said ...

37. The TV Audience

Sermon

Michael Rogness

... clearly! Most of us preachers, however, are accustomed to preach by exposition, that is, we explain concepts and ideas. The television audience, however, understands ideas when they are not only explained but presented with language rich in visual imagery. That's why examples and illustrations are so important. They make the abstract concrete. From the words the mind pictures what's going on. When you listen to a radio drama or read a book, by the end of it you have created in your mind a vision of what ...

38. Epiphany 5

Psalm 112:1-10, Isaiah 58:1-14, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 5:17-20

Sermon Aid

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

... 12-13), and then, Paul becomes more universal in this orientation when reflecting on "the unspiritual one" versus "the spiritual one" (vv. 14-16). Significance. Paul's exposition of his apostolic message and ministry begins in vv. 1-2 with personal remarks, which illustrate his argument by referring to the continuity between the form or style of his ministry and the content or substance of the gospel (vv. 1-2). For information, the RSV translation "the testimony of God" is altered to "the mystery of God" in ...

39. Lent 3

Jn 4:5-42 · Rom 5:1-11 · Ex 17:1-7 · Ps 95

Sermon Aid

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

... be doubted. The first two strophes are hymnic calls to worship God, which explore the power of God as creator and savior as the reason for praising God. The setting of this call to praise is within the worshiping community. The motifs within these two strophes illustrate how closely they are tied together. The call to praise in the first strophe uses the language of salvation, "let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation." The reasons for celebrating the salvific power of God in vv. 3-5 have to ...

40. 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

... the anointing of God, while Psalm 23 outlines the unique security that God offers each of us. 1 Samuel 16:1-13 - "The Risk of Anointing" Setting. I Samuel 16:1-13 is about the anointing of David. An overview of the larger context of I Samuel will illustrate how this story plays an important transitional role in the larger account of Saul and David and how David's anointing puts him on a risk-filled journey. In I Samuel 8, Saul is anointed to be the first leader of Israel, and for eight chapters, the reader ...

41. Just the Right Touch

Mark 5:25-34

Sermon

James Merritt

... . In the third miracle a little girl has died, the beat has left her heart, the breath has left her lungs; but Jesus goes to the home and puts breath back into the lungs, recharges that heart, and raises the girl from the dead. The first miracle illustrates that Jesus has authority over demons; the second that He has authority over disease; the third that He has authority over death. The first miracle tells us that Jesus is the Savior of men; the second tells us He is the Savior of women; the third tells ...

42. How to Lower Your Temper (-ature)

Proverbs 16:32

Sermon

James Merritt

... . If we spend time with angry and rebellious people, we will inevitably become angry and rebellious. (Dad, this is a strong reason why you need to be actively involved and in charge of the types of relationships your children establish.) A wonderful story illustrates perfectly the truth that we need to convey to our kids about anger. There was a certain man who purchased a newspaper at a newspaper stand. He greeted the newsman very courteously, but in return he received very gruff and discourteous service ...

43. An Unforgettable Baptism

Luke 3:21-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... ’s humility and his divinity. And we are reminded of who we are. We are his body at work in the world today, reminding the world that it is loved. We are the children of God, and that is how we are called to live. 1. http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-davon-huss-humor-baptism-6468.asp. 2. John Michael Talbot. Cited in Rodney L. Cooper, Holman New Testament Commentary, Mark: 2 (Kindle Edition). 3. Anthony T. Evans, Tony Evans’ Book Of ...

44. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Ephesians 1:15-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... midst through the Holy Spirit. Although it is common to think of resurrection and exaltation as two separate events, it is helpful to consider them as two different ways of expressing the same theological truth, namely, the triumph of God over the forces of death. Paul illustrates God’s power by stating that it was manifested when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world (cf. also Acts 2:32, 33; Rom. 8:11; Phil. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16). Christ’s post-resurrection ...

45. Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... that if he had ever heard Paul’s teaching (as he might not have before A.D. 49), he had only heard it in the form of second- or third-hand slogans, which had taken on a meaning that Paul would have rejected. The three critical terms discussed illustrate this point. The first is the Greek ergon, which in James means what he does (charity, kindness, virtue), whereas in Paul it is always joined to the word “law” (nomos) and always means ritual acts, except in Gal. 5:19 and 6:4 where it is used positively ...

46. Jesus, Not Jewish Leaders, Interprets the Torah Rightly

Matthew 15:1-20

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... about the Torah itself (see 23:16–22). The basic charge is leveled again at 15:6. 15:4 Honor your father and mother. Jesus draws on the fifth commandment (Exod. 20:12) and a related prohibition against cursing one’s parents (Exod. 21:17) to illustrate the irony of elevating a human tradition meant to keep one from disobeying the Torah above the very commandments themselves. 15:5 devoted to God. This phrase renders the Greek doron, which is used to translate the Hebrew term qorban (e.g., Lev. 2:1 ...

47. Priorities

Luke 12:35-48, Luke 12:22-34

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... our last section are developed here: God’s fatherly care, the absolute priority of serving God over all other concerns, and especially the tension between material concern and true discipleship—12:22–31 is a sort of commentary on 12:15 and the parable that illustrates it. This last theme of “God and mammon” will be picked up again especially in chapter 16. It reaches an uncomfortably radical climax in the demand to sell one’s possessions here in 12:33, a demand that will be issued again in 18:22 ...

48. Adam, the Law, and the Curse of the Covenant

Romans 5:12-21

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... with the sentiment here in 5:12–14 (cf. 1 Cor. 15:21–22). 2. The ancient Hebrew phenomenon known as “corporate personality” may well be in play here. Corporate personality is the idea that one person’s actions represent the many. Joshua 7:1–26 illustrates this in the way it attributes Achan’s sin to all of Israel (hence its defeat at the battle of Ai) and in the way that Achan’s whole family was punished with him. Here Achan, like Adam, committed actions considered to be the actions of ...

49. The Spirit and the Glory of the Age to Come and the New Covenant

Romans 8:28-39, Romans 8:18-27

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... 1906) was the first African American to gain national recognition as a poet. Maya Angelou (b. 1928), a contemporary African American writer, titled her autobiography with a line from this poem, “I know why the caged bird sings.” The whole poem could be used as an illustration, but the last stanza is particularly apt in describing suffering in the Christian life. I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,— When he beats his bars and would be free; It is not a ...

50. Israel and the Present Curses and the Past Blessings of the Covenant

Romans 9:1-29

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... 24-26 Not Chosen: Jews Chosen: Gentiles (and believing Jews) 9:27-29 Not Chosen: national Israel Chosen: remnant 9:10–13 Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time . . . “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Verses 10–13 provide a second illustration of God’s principle of election in the Old Testament: he chose Jacob to be the recipient of the covenant over against Esau. Three points sharpen God’s principle of election here. First, Jacob and Esau came from the same parents, Rebekah and ...

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