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Showing 626 to 650 of 4964 results

626. 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

... ,— When he beats his bars and would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings— I know why the caged bird sings! A Christian’s hope is in the Spirit, who helps us pray and intercedes for us. Film: The Legend of Bagger Vance. This film (2000) tells the story of a golfer, Rannulph Junuh (played by Matt Damon), who is the best that Savannah, Georgia, has ever seen. He returns from World War I traumatized ...

627. The Priority of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... ” expands this idea further. The point is not gullibility but a constant readiness to trust, and renew trust, because hope remains unquenchable, or without limits. Love, therefore, always “perseveres” (hypomen? [Matt. 24:13; Rom. 12:12; 2 Tim. 2: ... 5). Still, even among these three, love is the greatest. Because love expresses God’s eternal nature, it is everlasting. Faith and hope are foundational elements of Christian experience, but they will not continue into eternity (2 Cor. 5:7; Rom. 8:24).14 ...

628. Message to Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... 9; 7:14; 12:11; 13:7, 10, 15–17; 17:6; 18:24; 20:4–6). Because of the resurrection of Jesus, however, believers have hope beyond the grave. Hope in a future bodily resurrection based upon Christ’s resurrection is one of the primary theological themes of the New Testament (e.g., John 5:24 ... both Lord and Messiah. Illustrating the Text Church history is filled with examples of believers whose hope in eternal life sustained them through terrible trials and even death. History: Letters, by Pliny the Younger ...

629. Eliphaz

Job 4:1-5:27

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... not followed the counsel he has given to others, and he is unwilling to apply the truth he taught to others to his own situation. In essence, Job needs to practice what he preaches. 4:6 Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? In this verse, Eliphaz uses language that must be painful to Job. The Hebrew word for “piety” is the key wisdom term for the fear, or reverence, of Yahweh in Proverbs 1:7; 9:10. The term “blameless” is from the same Hebrew root that is used ...

630. Job Hears the Whispers of God’s Works

Job 26:1--31:40

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... what is happening to him must be attributed to God, even though it seems out of character for God to act this way. This is what makes Job’s situation so painful and perplexing to him. Because Job feels rejected by both humans and God, he can see no hope for the future. If he had only human oppressors, then he could count on God to intervene for him. But because God seems to be in on the attack, there is nowhere else to turn for help. Job therefore feels totally alone in his pain, like a solitary animal ...

631. “In the Lord I Take Refuge”

Psalm 11:1-7

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... oracle of 12:5, which is the opposite of the kind of speech that has become the abysmal norm of human society. As suggested in the “Big Idea,” the sterling silver tongue of God is of one piece with his actions in human society, and he renews hope in a world where the godly have vanished and human speech has become a lie. In the vacuum of truth, the Lord arises to protect his people. Interestingly, it is not to defend his word, or justify its truthfulness—even though this would be appropriate—but it ...

632. “Even When I Am Old and Gray, Do Not Forsake Me, My God”

Psalm 71:1-24

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... the unit on Ps. 72) strengthens the psalmist’s constancy. Crenshaw says it underlies his vow, and he renders it, “But I keep on hoping.”3 71:16 I will come.He does not say where, but we assume he comes to the temple, where he rehearses God’s ... Tim. 4:7). This is the goal for all Christians. In Psalm 71, David makes a vow to the Lord, “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more” (71:14). David understood the need to be committed to the Lord to the very end of his life. A ...

633. Paul Before Agrippa

Acts 25:23--26:32

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... to Jewish traditions (26:4–8). He has led an impeccable life as a faithful Jew since he was a child (26:4), and he belongs to the sect of Pharisees, the “strictest sect of our religion” (26:5). Then he ties the gospel that he preaches to the hope of the twelve tribes of Israel (26:6–8). This claim is important for a number of reasons. First, Paul is claiming that the gospel is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, a point that has been made repeatedly in the Lukan narrative (cf. Luke 2:25 ...

634. Timothy’s Encouraging Report

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?” (3:9). This is the third thanksgiving in the letter (see 1 Thess. 1:2; 2:13). The thanksgiving implies that, though Timothy did his job (3:2) and the Thessalonians continued in faith, love, and hope (3:6, 8), God was the one who produced the believers’ stability in the face of adversity. The way Paul poses the question recalls Psalm 116:12. Here, as in the psalm, thanksgiving to God is regarded as a debt to be paid, yet one impossible to pay in ...

635. Falling Into Faith

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... looked toward the future with a renewed confidence. When we open our lives to God’s gift of faith, the promises of God take on a whole new meaning. The profound statement of faith in Hebrews becomes flesh in us: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Our faith becomes a living out of the expectation that God’s promises will be known by us in the future. Through our thoughts, attitude, and actions, we become the very substance of that for which ...

636. God Has the Last Word

Acts 10:34-43

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... thought twice before wading into the ocean. Williams took two simple notes and struck at the depths of people’s emotions. In fact, I would venture to say that for most of us these two notes translate into two words: (E) NO (F) HOPE! (E) NO (F) HOPE! (E) NO (F) HOPE! (E) NO (F) HOPE! What are the sounds which evoke hopelessness within you? Perhaps it is the sound of a certain song that spurs a haunting memory. Maybe it is the sound of a door slamming shut. Maybe it is the sound of a particular person’s ...

637. I Wonder about The End of the World

Mark 13:32-37

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... world to begin is expressed powerfully in Romans 8:19-25: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves ...

638. Playing One Hand

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon

Tom Garrison

... was simply not built to function at such a level, and we either come to terms with this or else. I remember vividly when a church leader approached me several years ago after worship as I was lamenting that the sermon had not really come off as I had hoped it would. He responded by saying: "You are at your best in the pulpit about ten percent of the time, about ten percent of the time you are at your worst, and the other eighty percent falls somewhere in between. Your problem is that you want every sermon ...

639. Hearts / Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... has gone so far as to warn the church members that the outcome of their current course could spell spiritual disaster for them (cf. 2 Cor. 6:1). However, Paul wants to end his defense on a positive note, with plenty of hope for the future. As he states in 1:7, his hope for the Corinthians is “firm” or “sure.” Also in 1:15 and 2:3 (cf. 13:14!), Paul expresses confidence in the church (even in “all” the members!). He furthermore states that the Corinthians reveal that they are a letter authored by ...

640. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:1-6, James 4:13-17, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... to plan with God. Each plan is evaluated by his standards and goals; each plan is laid before God in prayer with adequate time spent in listening for God’s ideas. In such a case the “if God wills” is a prayerful belief that God does will, not a pious hope God won’t interfere. Plans made with careful prayer and aimed at God’s goals need not be insecure. 4:16 These people, however, are far from prayerful planning: As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. The key term is boast, for it ...

641. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:7-12, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

642. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:13-20, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

643. Chaos and Solitude

Mark 6:30-44, 53-56

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... wind and waves obey him?' " (Mark 4:31). No one was like him, before or since. There was a powerful aura around him. People sensed it and saw it. When Jesus spoke, people heard truth spoken with authority. People were attracted to Jesus' message of love, hope, and compassion. He not only taught that we should love God above everything else and our neighbors as ourselves; Jesus lived what he taught. You could warm your hands at the love he showed to the woman with an issue of blood, Jairus' daughter (Mark 5 ...

644. But What of Lazarus?

John 11:1-16, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44

Sermon

David & Marian Plant

... die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” And then he asked, “Do you believe this?” “I am the resurrection and the life.” So much contained in so few words: I, the one you call Jesus, am that for which you wait and hope. “I, the one sent from above, the one sent from God, I am the resurrection and the life. From the eternal one I come. From the Creator, from the life-giver I come. Those who believe in me will live not only a physical life but an eternal life as ...

645. Soul Food

Luke 9:10-17, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, John 6:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... into our midst today! Does your soul hunger for the love of God today? Are you ready to prepare for God’s “soul food?” I have here today a very special recipe. It’s is a recipe for Barley Flat Bread. I share it with all of you today in hopes it will remind you that only in God will your soul find its nourishment. Not by bread alone can you live, but by the “Word” of God. [Hand out the recipe …or have it in their bulletins.] 1 t active dry yeast (the zeal for sharing Jesus’ message) ¼ c warm ...

646. Praise God! Selah!

Luke 1:67-80, Luke 1:57-66, Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:1-4

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... good out of it. The question is, can we find that something good? Can we trust God enough to allow God to work God’s good through our bad? Can we truly believe that God has the power to do anything, even turn dust into divinity? Do we put our hope and trust in Jesus? We are quick to complain, quick to criticize, quick to moan and groan when things don’t go our way. We are especially quick to blame God, negate God, ignore God, refuse to glorify God when things aren’t wine and roses. This is the lesson ...

647. Masks Off!

John 7:25-45 and 8:11-59

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... of fruit. In return for the cake, the beggar would promise to pray for those in the household who had departed from this life. “A soul cake, a soul cake, have mercy on all Christian souls for a soul cake.” That was the lyric chanted by those who hoped to gain a beggar’s meal. Later the request became the sing-song English folk song with which I began the sermon, as the holiday began to merge with fun and merriment and medieval dramas acted out the fate of “costumed” souls.* As it is, this is the ...

648. The Sound of Joy

Genesis 17:1-27, Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 18:16-33, Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Image Exegesis: Good News, Mission, Hope, and Joy Author-ized for mission (to commission)…means to give authority and power to accomplish a mission in someone’s name. To be ... sadness, or grief, or unrealistic or fake happiness. It means that no matter what happens, we as Christians are born of a hope and knowledge that God can and will create joy from sorrow, will bring something good out of every tragedy. Another key ...

649. The Promise of Dreams

Genesis 37:1-11, Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... deep sleep. It’s faith in a deep funk. Yet, even from within the depths of sleepers and funkers, God calls out to us in dreams. God called to Adam, to Abraham, to Gideon, to Joseph, all from the “deep” of a holy sleep, to deliver a message of hope and healing. Awaken Church! Awaken to God’s prophetic message for you. Awaken to your mission of love in the world. Dreamers, awaken! God is calling you to be God dreamers. God is calling you to love the world as God so loved the world that God sent Jesus ...

650. Emergency!

Genesis 11:1-9

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the House of Jacob. We are not to build our own “house” in which to keep God in or shut ourselves in or keep God out or keep God’s people out. We are to be the “household of God,” to be God’s people wherever God’s ladder of hope is needed in the world in any place or time. Jacob’s stone/rock/pillar reminds too of Jesus’ proclamation that He is the new Temple. That the old Temple will be destroyed (much like the tower of Babel), but that He is the spiritual Temple of which we are ...

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