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 576 to 600 of 5000 results

576. Riddles and Metaphors

Ezekiel 15:1-8, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ezekiel 17:1-24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... 32; Jer. 6:9). What makes Ezekiel’s riddle so startling, then, is that it does not have to do with fruit at all. Instead, the Lord asks, “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine better than that of a branch on any of the trees in the forest?” ... vine is not better; in fact it is worthless—nothing can be made from it, not even clothes pegs for a wall (v. 3)! The Lord thus turns the metaphor of Israel as a vine inside out. Even at its best, Israel, like a vine, is weak and unreliable. Israel, however, is ...

577. At Mount Sinai

Exodus 19:1-25

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... was permitted to touch anyone who did touch the mountain, even to kill them. Stones and arrows were to be used so that this kind of theological death would not be transferred physically to anyone else. The people were asked to wait in the camp until the Lord sounded the horn. The “ram’s horn” (yobel, v. 13) and “trumpet” (shopar, vv. 16, 19) 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 ...

578. Manna and Quail

Exodus 16:1-36

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... not happy when some of them failed to follow the second part of the three-part directions (v. 4). However, some of them paid no attention to Moses. When they kept it until morning it was full of maggots and began to smell. In this way the Lord built in a natural consequence for inattention to instruction. It is too strong to call this disobedience, since the text does not. Disobedience will come later at Sinai (32:7–10). The so-called “test” and point of the text here is to see if they could follow ...

579. Signs, Sayings, and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 12:1-28, Ezekiel 13:1-23, Ezekiel 14:1-11, Ezekiel 14:12-23

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... Ezekiel, the point is clear: if you insist on speaking when you should be silent, God will indeed give you a word, but it will be a false one, for which you will be held accountable (compare the warning Jas. 3:1 gives to teachers). To speak on the Lord’s behalf is an awesome responsibility, which we are never to take for granted. At its end, this oracle returns to the point of God’s purging judgments. God’s desire is to reclaim and restore Israel, to the end that “They will be my people, and I will ...

580. Samuel Confronts the People

1 Samuel 12:1-25

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... a sin of fear, that when I have spun My last thread, I shall perish on the shore; But swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore; And having done that, Thou hast done; I fear no more. The Lord is faithful to his people even when they go astray. Literature: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis. One episode in Lewis’s (1898–1963) familiar children’s tale (1950), which is also completely delightful for adults, is memorable as an instance of God ...

581. Egypt

Ezekiel 29:1-21, Ezekiel 30:1-26, Ezekiel 31:1-18, Ezekiel 32:1-32

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... the sword within her (v. 6). The utter desolation and ruin of Egypt will demonstrate God’s supremacy: “they will know that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed” (v. 8). Verse 9 is prose rather than poetry and also departs from ... Kgs. 8:42//2 Chr. 6:32; Ps. 136:12). The arm of Pharaoh, by contrast, is not a symbol of strength but of weakness. The Lord says, “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up for healing or put in a ...

582. The New Stone Tablets

Exodus 34:1-28

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... of Sinai would be a written legacy. The rewriting of the commands on the tablets of stone is a consistent theme of this chapter, appearing at the beginning, middle, and end (vv. 1–4, 27–29, 32, 34; see comment on the written tablets at 24:12–18). The Lord promised to write the words in verse 1. The “he” in verse 28 is not any more specific in Hebrew than it is in English, but it seems to refer to Moses. Tradition has Moses writing “these words” of the book of the covenant given in verses 10 ...

583. Ezekiel's Call

Ezekiel 1:1-28, Ezekiel 2:1-3:15, Ezekiel 3:16-27

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... wisdom (Prov. 16:23–24; 24:13–14) as being sweet like honey. Perhaps here as well, the point is that Ezekiel finds joy in obeying God’s word (compare Jer. 15:16). Even when the message is bitter, it is sweet to be in communion with the Lord. Now God again commissions Ezekiel: “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them” (v. 4). In many ways, this second divine speech parallels the first. Once more, God warns Ezekiel he is going to a rebellious house (v. 9) and commands ...

584. Gideon

Judges 6:1-40

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... am the least in my family (v. 15). Gideon again looks like Moses, hustling to come up with any excuse to avoid getting involved (Exod. 3:11–4:11). The irony is, however, that the Israelites were in need of another exodus—right in the promised land. The Lord’s answer to Gideon is almost verbatim what he had said to Moses: I will be with you (’ehyeh; Exod. 3:12). And, as implied in the story of Moses, despite this assurance, Gideon requested a sign (v. 17; Exod. 3:12), in this case, the acceptance of ...

585. The Plague of Locusts

Exodus 10:21-29

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... serve Yahweh formula, “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” This is the final statement of the main reason for the exodus (as in 5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). God would not ask Pharaoh again. The complications resulting from the Lord’s active role in hardening Pharaoh’s heart began to appear in his erratic behavior and conversation. With the threat of locusts on the horizon, his officials convinced Pharaoh to let the people go (v. 7). He said they could go (v. 8) and then used the ...

586. The Plague of Darkness

Exodus 10:1-20

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

587. The Song of Moses and Miriam

Exodus 15:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (Ps. 77:16, 19–20; see also Ps. 114:1–7) These songs of victory over the chaos of nature and history make the point that the fear of the ancient Near East does not hold sway. The Lord’s victory over the pharaoh was also a victory over the symbols of chaos in the ancient Near East. The prophet Isaiah draws once again on these themes in preaching to the people in exile in Babylon. Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster ...

588. The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... 25:1–7; 26:2; Num. 15:32–36; Deut. 15:1–18). Jesus offered a radical interpretation of the Sabbath rest command when he declared that it was “made for man” (Mark 2:23–3:5; Matt. 12:1–13; Luke 6:1–10; see also John 9). The Lord healed on the Sabbath, giving rest and respite from disease, rather than following a strict observance of the gift as a law. The preacher in Hebrews 4:1–11 further broadened the hope of rest in God. 20:12 The fifth commandment is, “Honor your father and your mother ...

589. Disobedience and Defeat

Judges 2:6-3:6

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... on their part but as the gravest offense they could commit against him, on a par with the sin of worshiping the golden calf (Exod. 32). He demanded exclusive worship (Deut. 6:13–15) or none at all. The result of this turning away from the Lord was that he, in anger, turned away from them. He no longer protected them from their enemies (vv. 14–15a) but worked against them rather than in their behalf. Their punishment suited the sin; they had worshiped Baal in order to ensure economic security, and their ...

590. The Glory of the New Covenant

2 Corinthians 3:7-17; 4:1-6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... is arguing here from the perspective that the exile and curse of the law are brought to an end in Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 3:14). Whether Lord (kyrios) refers here to God (cf. 1 Thess. 1:9) or Christ seems superfluous, since as we have seen (cf. on 2:14), God and Christ work ... n) of God’s Son (v. 29; cf. Phil. 3:21), who is the “image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4; cf. Ps. 8:5–7). The Lord’s glory (hē doxa kyriou) occurs frequently in the LXX with reference to the glory of Yahweh (cf. Exod. 16:7, 10; 24:16, 17; 40: ...

591. An Unholy History

Ezekiel 20:1-29, Ezekiel 20:30-49

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... :13; and compare 15:8; 17:20; 18:24; 39:26). Specifically, the ancestors worshipped idols—not occasionally, but habitually, and at every opportunity (at any high hill or any leafy tree, v. 28; see also 6:13). The interpretation of verse 29 turns on a pun in Hebrew: the Lord asks, What is this high place (Heb. bamah, the term for a place of idol worship; see, e.g., Lev. 26:30; Num. 33:52; 2 Kgs. 18:4) you go to? (Heb. baʾim). The place of pilgrimage for Ezekiel’s audience would of course have been Zion ...

592. Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

1 Samuel 15:1-35

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... When used of human beings’ “establishing” God’s word or covenant, the expression means obeying the word that God has commanded (see Deut. 27:26; 2 Kings 23:3, 24; Jer. 34:18). Samuel was angry, and he cried out. The content and purpose of Samuel’s cry to the Lord are not stated, nor is the object of his anger. Elsewhere the verb “cry out” (za‘aq) describes a cry of distress or pain (1 Sam. 12:8, 10). In 1 Samuel 7:8–9 it is used of Samuel’s intercessory cry on behalf of Israel (note esp ...

593. The Bridge

John 1:1-18, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:8-20, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 1:26-38, Genesis 3:1-24

Drama

H. J. Hizer

... Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one the Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at the saying and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And ... here! I have an announcement to make! I AM GOING TO DO A NEW THING! All: Great, swell, etc. etc. Four: Oh, uh -- uh -- Lord, there isn't much firmament left over from the last thing you did. Five: This won't require firmament -- just hard work -- suffering -- and ...

594. The Gospel According to Christ’s Enemies

John 11:1-16

Sermon

Richard Hoefler

... because "his hour had not yet come." In the light of this, the delay of Jesus could certainly be interpreted as a matter of timing. He Delayed to Pray Gossip points out that Jesus had to make absolutely sure what God’s will was in this situation. Gossip writes, "Our Lord’s instinct was to hurry to his friend’s relief even though it meant death to himself. But he had a whole world to save. Its last hope lay in him. If he were rash or premature, that hope would go out. Was it God’s will he should die ...

595. Jephthah

Jud 10:6–11:40

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... in the battle; he uses it as a foil for dealing with Jephthah’s vow, to which he devotes seven out of nine verses. Jephthah’s victory over the Ammonites was decisive (vv. 32–33). That, plus the fact that the same verb appears in the statement that the LORD gave them into his hands as in the vow, leads us to look for an impending fulfillment of the vow. The stage is set for the next scene, which we approach with anticipation, wanting to see how it turns out. Who or what will come out of Jephthah’s ...

596. Signs and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 4:1-5:17, Ezekiel 6:1-14, Ezekiel 7:1-27

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... 4:4–8 The second sign is more complex. Three interlocked interpretive problems complicate this passage: the translation of the Hebrew word ʿawon, the referent of the terms house of Israel (vv. 4–5) and house of Judah (v. 6), and the meaning of the 390 and 40 days. The Lord tells Ezekiel, I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their ʿawon (v. 5). The Hebrew ʿawon can refer either to a sin (e.g., Exod. 20:5), or to its penalty (e.g., Gen. 4:13), but it is difficult to tell what the ...

597. Body / Ambassador

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... those who take pride in what is seen (lit., “in the face” [NRSV: “outward appearance”]) rather than in what is in the heart. This is the first reference to Paul’s opponents in Corinth since 2:17 and 3:1. The allusion is to 1 Samuel 16:7, where the Lord says to Samuel: “Look neither at his face nor at the outward appearance of his stature, for I have rejected him with contempt. For God sees not as a man looks: Man looks at the face, but God looks at the heart” (cf. Ps.-Philo 59:2; b. Sanh. 106b ...

598. Fleeced

Judges 6:1-40, John 20:24-31

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... find him. When God came to send him out on a mission, Gideon asked God to show him a sign so he would know the Lord would be with him in everything he would do. And God did. Gideon placed sheep’s fleece –like this one here—in the center of ... really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast ...

599. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... of the pit (Isa. 14:12, 15; cf. L.A.E. 12–16; 2 En. 29:4–5). Those who try to usurp Paul’s apostolic authority and ministry will meet a similar fate, a fate that Korah and his followers met when they sought equality with Moses, the Lord’s servant, and tried to usurp his authority (Num. 16:31–33). Paul warns ominously that his opponents’ end will be what their actions deserve. In light of the allusions of the text, there can be little doubt that he means the opponents’ demise. 11:16–21a Paul ...

600. Boasting

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

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

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