Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 501 to 525 of 662 results

Colossians 3:1-17

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... Rom. 2:4; 11:22; Eph. 2:7), humility (Phil. 2:5–11), meekness (2 Cor. 10:1), and long-suffering (Rom. 2:4; 9:22) of God and Jesus. The application of these virtues to the Christian would follow naturally from the call to imitation, union, or likeness with Christ. Believers are to act toward one another as God and Jesus act toward them. Fourth, these virtues are social in nature, that is, they describe attitudes and actions that are important for healthy personal relationships. As the Christian has emptied ...

502. Final Instructions

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... . 13:11; Eph. 4:3; Col. 3:15; 2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 12:14) going back to the instruction given by Jesus himself (Mark 9:50; cf. Ps. 34:14), for it goes to the heart of what we as Christians are called to be and to do: “Be imitators of God … and live a life of love” (Eph. 5:1f.). 5:14–15 Again, it is important to note that the instruction contained in these verses is general, addressed to the whole church and not simply to the leaders, although it obviously applies to them in particular. The introductory ...

503. Paul's Charge to Timothy

1 Timothy 6:11-21

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... benediction: Grace be with you. This final plural you is certain evidence that Paul intended the letter to be read aloud in the church(es). Some see the lack of greetings as evidence against Pauline authorship but then must argue that the author outdid himself in imitating Paul in 2 Timothy and Titus. One can only guess at the reasons for this lack. A similar thing happens in Galatians, where in the “signature” (6:11–18) he takes one last swipe at the opponents (vv. 11–15), but prays for peace on ...

504. The Blood of Christ

Hebrews 9:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... “and goats” after calves. It is difficult to decide whether these words were at some time omitted by a copyist (either accidentally or, perhaps, intentionally in order to harmonize the text with Exod. 24:5) or whether they were added, perhaps in imitation of v. 12. Probably the words are original, but the possibility remains that the shorter reading was later expanded by a copyist. Because of the uncertainty the United Bible Societies put the words in brackets. See Metzger, TCGNT, pp. 668f. Water was ...

505. Favoritism Forbidden

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

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... class (plural), a group outside the church. At this point the author shifts to the word “rich” (plousios, cf. 2:2), for he is not referring to a wealthy individual in the church but to an oppressing class that the church as a group is imitating. When the Old Testament speaks of “oppression,” e.g., Ezek. 22:7, 29; Heb. 1:4; Zech. 7:10, it rarely calls the oppressor “the rich” but normally uses the term “the violent.” However, it is clear that the oppressors are invariably wealthy and powerful ...

506. At Mount Sinai

Exodus 19:1-25

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... ) are synonymous (see Lev. 25:9–10). The horn was their signal to approach the boundary at the foot of the mountain (vv. 16–17). “Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain.” Later the shofar was used in worship to imitate the sound of the Lord (2 Sam. 6:15; Ps. 47:5). At Sinai, God was the one who gave this signal. 19:16–19 On the morning of the third day the Lord came down to meet the people. Earthquake and dense smoke accompanied the sound and light to ...

507. Achan's Sin

Joshua 7:1-26

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... the land. Western religion looks for someone to blame or seeks some reason to explain a loss. Eastern laments describe the loss and its consequences as God’s problem and hope that God will be moved to resolve the situation. With this lament, Joshua imitates the intercessory role of Moses (Num. 14:13–14). However, the lament itself sounds more like the grumbling of Israel in the wilderness than the intercessory prayer of Moses (Num. 14:11–12, 20–25; Hawk, Every Promise Fulfilled, pp. 76–77). God ...

508. Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites

Judges 1:1-36

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... ideas held about God. Too many people, unfortunately even Christians, have used OT Scriptures to justify all sorts of horrible attitudes and acts against others. Just because events occurred in certain OT texts does not mean that they are to be imitated today. 1:27–28 But Manasseh did not drive . . . them out completely: Boling (Judges, p. 60) points out that the city-states not conquered by Manasseh were all strategic centers that controlled “important commercial and military traffic.” Furthermore ...

509. The Nations Judged

Joel 3:1-16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... the only one, but the figure of harvesting grain is also used of God’s judgment, and the NIV translation need not be corrected (cf. Rev. 14:15–20). 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes: Commentators have long noted that the sound in the Hb. of this repeated word imitates the hum or roar of a distant assembled army. 3:15 Once again Joel refers to the cosmic darkness that will occur on the day of the Lord (cf. 2:10). Watching the battle scene, the Lord will roar, so that the cosmos will tremble before such wrath ...

510. Coming Down from Above

James 1:17-18

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... bark? Wolves, foxes and other wild relatives of our pet dogs howl, growl, snarl, yelp or whine--but they do not bark. Only dogs that have come into contact with humans bark. There are some people who have studied dogs' barks and they believe dogs are trying to imitate human speech when they bark.* Isn't that fascinating? When your dog barks, it is because he or she wants to talk with you. But dogs are not people. Try as hard as they might, they live in a different world. Dogs live in a different world from ...

511. The Healing at the Pool

John 5:1-15, John 5:16-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... Jesus is not backing down, for his words reiterate the claim of verse 17 that the works he performs are the very works of God (v. 19). His language is like that of a parable; he is like a son apprenticed to a human father, learning by example and imitation (v. 20). His authority is absolute, not in spite of the fact that he does nothing by himself, but because of it. His authority is a derived authority. In all that he does he is subject to his Father and totally dependent on his Father’s power and love ...

512. The Unbelief of the Jews

John 10:22-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... out of my Father’s hand (vv. 28–29) Then: I and the Father are one (v. 30) Jesus and the Father are one because they do the same work and stand in the same relation to the sheep. This is not the same as saying merely that Jesus imitates or obeys the Father. Their oneness is not an ethical oneness, or unity of will. They actually do the same work, that is, the Father accomplishes his work in the world uniquely through Jesus his Son. Jesus’ statement is no less provocative to his audience than was 5:17 ...

513. Jesus Predicts His Death

John 12:20-36

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... separate Jesus from his disciples if, like Mary (cf. vv. 3–8), they serve him (v. 26). Serving Jesus in the new situation to come, however, will be defined not merely by Mary’s example, but by Jesus’ own (cf. 13:1–17). To serve him is to follow or imitate him (v. 26), that is, to be the same kind of servant that he was (cf. 13:13–16). Jesus later puts this teaching in the context of being hated and persecuted by the world (15:18–21). He never tells his disciples to hate the world in return, but ...

514. Jesus’ Love and the World’s Hatred

John 15:1-17

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... love for his servants does not involve telling them his business (except what they need to know to do their jobs), but shared knowledge and insight is an important part of true friendship (v. 15). Friendship is here defined in terms of both revelation and imitation. Almost at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus had said: “Whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves [Gr.: philei] the Son and shows him all he does” (5:19b–20). Now that Jesus has told his disciples everything he has ...

515. Jesus, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple

John 21:15-25

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... commitment but not a specific outcome to one’s life. Everyone who would be a disciple must yield total obedience to the call and command of God, but the call and command is not the same for every person. For Peter, following meant an “imitation of Jesus” as shepherd, ending in a death that would be analogous (though not identical) to his. For the beloved disciple it meant something quite different. Jesus does not tell Peter what that something is, but he implies that the beloved disciple will remain ...

516. Exhortations

Philippians 4:2-9

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... they take on the distinctive nuances associated with the mind of Christ. Such things, then—things that are excellent or praiseworthy—are to be pondered and planned; the results will be beneficial for life and action. 4:9 Once again the note of the imitation of Paul is struck. By teaching and example Paul had shown his converts how to live and act, thus imparting to them the ethical tradition that stemmed from the teaching and example of Jesus. If they put these lessons into practice, then their conduct ...

517. Walking in the Light

1 John 1:5--2:14, 1 John 2:15-17

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... /Christ unbroken by sin (1:8, 10), whereas the believer confesses sin (1:9) and counts on Christ as advocate (NIV, “one who speaks … in our defense” [2:1]) and “atoning sacrifice” (2:2). The Elder insists that the opponents’ claim be tested by a life in imitation of Jesus. You must walk as Jesus did. This test, he is convinced, they cannot pass, because they do not keep God’s commands (2:3–4), as Jesus did. Above all, they do not love as Jesus loved (John 13:34). “The test of our religious ...

518. Manasseh King of Judah

2 Kings 21:1-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... . 18:4). It is his grandfather Ahaz who is the new king’s role-model, as he sacrifices his own son in the fire and practices divination (v. 6; cf. 16:3, and possibly 16:15), following the detestable practices of the nations (v. 2; cf. 16:3). Manasseh also imitates the arch-apostate Ahab, by building altars to Baal (v. 3; cf. also the Asherah pole in 1 Kgs. 16:33) and worshiping idols (v. 11; cf. 1 Kgs. 21:26); he emulates Jeroboam and the other Israelite kings who caused Israel to commit sin (v. 16; cf. 1 ...

519. The Song of the Vineyard

Isaiah 5:1-7

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... identified with the man’s desire for vengeance have signed the warrant for vengeance on themselves, like David in his judgment in 2 Samuel 12 (Oswalt, Isaiah 1–39, p. 151). The technique is one Jesus takes up in his parables, as is the vineyard theme. Jesus’ parables will also imitate Isaiah’s technique whereby the prophet then leaves the hearers to work out the implications for themselves.

520. Israel's Sin and the Servant's Obedience

Isaiah 50:1-11

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... take the stance the prophet takes. The center of verse 10 reminds us once again of the descriptions of the community as people in darkness, their lives overwhelmed by calamity. The servant has modeled a response to that experience and challenges the people to imitate it. The very different you of verse 11 are the attackers who have been described in verses 5–9, who are also the attackers of the community as a whole. Presumably they are only rhetorically present. The warning to them is directly intended to ...

521. Two Adulterous Sisters

Ezekiel 23:1-49

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... Lev. 20:2), and so it is the proper penalty here. Otherwise, the allegory is laid aside for a straightforward description of siege and assault. Still, the action against the sisters is intended as a deterrent, that all women may take warning and not imitate you (v. 48). Certainly this is not meant literally. “All women” refers to all other cities and towns, including Tel Abib, where Ezekiel and his community are settled. The sins of Jerusalem must never be repeated. Additional Notes 23:14 Portrayed on a ...

522. God’s Miraculous Provision: Caring for the Needy

Mark 6:30-44

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... works for the best (Rom. 8:28), producing “a harvest of righteousness and peace” (Heb. 12:11). 2. Discipleship is involvement in Christ’s mighty work. This was discussed at the end of the unit on 3:7–19 in terms of Christlikeness; we are to imitate Christ in all we do. In 3:14–15 Jesus did something unprecedented in rabbinic training: he not only taught his disciples but also from the start involved them in his ministry. He gave them authority both to preach and to perform miracles. This is the ...

523. “Love Your Neighbor”

Luke 10:25-37

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... she was still finding a way to show compassion to those in need. Commentary: Preaching the Parables: From Responsible Interpretation to Powerful Proclamation, by Craig L. Blomberg. Blomberg writes, Obviously there is an example here that we are supposed to imitate. . . . But do what likewise? Jesus could hardly expect twenty-first-century Americans to find a donkey, secure some oil and wine, look for every needy person, transport them to the local innkeeper, and pay him with two silver coins. We ...

524. God and Mammon

Luke 16:16-18, Luke 16:1-15

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... of the manager is a puzzle to many. Is Jesus really approving dishonesty? Why does he introduce and apparently commend such a disreputable character? These questions raise the issue of what parables are intended to achieve: they are not necessarily models for imitation (though of course some are [see 10:37]). So what is it about the manager’s self-interested action that Jesus commends and calls us to emulate? While some may be tempted to skip this unusual parable when teaching through Luke’s Gospel ...

525. A Blind Beggar and a Rich Scoundrel

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

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... man, Jesus shows his concern for the lowly and outcast. Christian Fiction: In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?, by Charles Monroe Sheldon. Among the top-selling books of all time, this novel (1897) is set in a small railroad town and has as its premise the imitation of Christ, which in this case means doing instead of just talking. The novel begins when a poor, jobless man shows up at the office of Rev. Henry Maxwell on a Friday to present his need when the pastor is busily composing his Sunday sermon. The ...

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