Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 851 to 875 of 1089 results

851. “You Are Not a God Who Is Pleased with Wickedness”

Psalm 5:1-12

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... s love (cf. 1 John 3:1). The third perspective is the picture of evil and evildoers. The six terms of 5:4–6 that crescendo into the shedding of blood and character assassination (“bloodthirsty,” “deceitful”) utilize the primary colors on the literary artist’s palette and describe evil mainly in terms of harmful human relationships. When Paul sets forth his claim that all human beings, gentile and Jew alike, are under the power of sin, he quotes Psalm 5:9, among other passages, to demonstrate his ...

852. “Blessed Is the One Whose Transgressions Are Forgiven”

Psalm 32:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... Chronicles 30:22, where this participle describes skilled Levitical service in worship (“And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the Lord,” ESV), and suggests that the word has something to do with skillful and artistic style.[7] Perhaps this is the best our understanding can do. 32:1 Blessed is the one. The word “blessed” (’ashre) begins the whole Psalter (see the comments on Ps. 1:1). This is the person who is favored by God’s forgiveness ...

853. “I Confess My Iniquity; I Am Troubled by My Sin”

Psalm 38:1-22

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... writes, Think of yourself as a sculptor shaping and molding the lives of your young ones. With each child, you may be working with a different medium. You could be endeavoring to form one youngster who appears to be as hard as marble. As an artist, you might use a chisel, hammer, even water, while sculpting your masterpiece. You may have another child who is more pliable, like clay. Even then, as a potter, you might use fire, a knife, and your bare hands.19 Whelchel then provides creative discipline ideas ...

854. “Human Help Is Worthless”

Psalm 60:1-12

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... s parceling out the land, an enactment of his promise to give the land to Israel, a dress rehearsal of the event. Joshua’s allotment of the land was done on God’s behalf. This picture is found nowhere else in the Bible but is the psalmist’s artistic creation of God, as it were, standing in the land of Canaan, saying, “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem.” That is, he is, metaphorically speaking, running his finger over the map as he says, “Here’s Shechem—I am giving it to you, Israel. And ...

855. Serendipity

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... Why do you write dog here with a little ‘d’?” “Because I’m writing of a little dog,” said Anderson. Is it any wonder that he has thrilled children for generations! If we will cultivate this kind of wide-eyed wonder of the child, the poet and the artist, God’s kingdom will surprise us with its treasures. God’s kingdom comes to us not when we try harder, but when we look closer—when we, like Moses at the site of the burning bush, “turn aside to see”—when we give life our attention. I ...

856. Are You a Pillar or a Pillow?

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... mansion hangs a portrait of the famous Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. The portrait was evidently given to a friend, for across one corner of it is a message written in Stuart’s handwriting: “Yours to count on, J.E.B. Stuart.” If we had some artist paint portraits of each of our members, at the bottom of some of those portraits would be written these same words, “Yours to count on.” To those of you in this special fellowship, I offer you my heartfelt thanks. Way back in the book of Numbers we ...

857. A Celebration of Hope

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

... a deep depression which she eventually overcame through a strong Christian faith. The change from darkness to light in Joni’s life was astounding. As many of you know, Joni now leads an active life. In spite of her disability, she is a successful commercial artist, a bestselling author, and the host of her own radio ministry. Joni Eareckson Tada is a person of deep maturity and wisdom who has inspired millions with her Christian witness. How does she do it in spite of her physical limitations? In one of ...

858. The Nazarite and Priestly Blessing

Num 6:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 15), although they are not called Nazirites. Jesus was not a Nazirite (Hebrew nazir; cf. Matt. 11:19), although linguistic confusion with his identity as a Nazarene (someone from Nazareth, derived from the Semitic root nsr rather than nzr) has inspired centuries of artists to give him the long hair of a Nazirite. Nevertheless, his life of dedication to a special mission of deliverance ended, like Samson’s, with the sacrifice of his life (Judges 16; Matthew 27). But this end is also a new beginning because ...

859. The Life You've Always Wanted

Acts 5:27-32

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... your zeal and enthusiasm? Do you need to fan into flame the gift of God that is in you? Are you sitting on the sideline [or are you immersed in ministry]? Now is the time to take action!”[10] There is a poignant story about the great artist Leonardo da Vinci. One day, he was in his studio finishing a magnificent painting. As he gazed over what was soon to be another masterpiece, he called a student over, handed him the paintbrush and said, “Here, you finish it.” The student protested, “What do you ...

860. The Joy of Christmas

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... our lives passing by holy events and we don’t even notice. We rush through life and are unaware of where Christ is in our midst. We walk right by situations where God is active and working. We just don’t see it. The great landscape artist Joseph Turner was known for painting very vivid landscapes. They were filled with color and imagery. They looked alive. One time an art critic approached Turner and said, “Your paintings are so vivid, but I have never seen landscapes look like that.” Turner replied ...

861. Mission Possible!

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... with judgment in their eyes. Quite often those who loudly profess to follow Christ don’t behave like Christ. Shane Claiborne, a wonderful new Christian writer and thinker, talks about walking into downtown Philadelphia with some friends and watching the magicians, performers, and artists perform on the streets. They came across this preacher who was standing on a box screaming into a microphone. Beside him was a coffin with a fake dead body inside. He talked about how everyone was going to die and go to ...

862. No One Is Righteous

Romans 3:9-20

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... Barth’s words: “The whole course of history pronounces this indictment against Itself.… If all the great outstanding figures in history, whose judgements are worthy of serious consideration, if all the prophets, Psalmists, philosophers, Fathers of the Church, Reformers, poets, artists, were asked their opinion, would one of them assert that men were good, or even capable of good? Is the doctrine of original sin merely one doctrine among many? Is it not rather, according to its fundamental meaning, THE ...

863. Peace and Joy

Romans 5:1-11

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... still sinners and enemies. Here is no bloodless essay on “the idea of the good.” Paul speaks of an enactment, a manifestation, a demonstration of divine love in the death of Christ for sinners that has transformed history itself. The German artist Matthias Grünewald (1460[?]–1528) captured something of Paul’s sense in his “Crucifixion.” Dwarfing the mortals who surround him, including John the Baptist who points to him with outstretched finger, Jesus hangs heavy in human agony on the cross as ...

864. David's Song of Praise

2 Samuel 22:1-51

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

A Psalm of Thanksgiving: 22:1 David was a noted poet and musician, and it was important to include an example of his artistic skills in any record of his life. There are, as Gordon points out (1 and 2 Samuel: A Commentary, p. 309), marked similarities in theme between this psalm and Hannah’s song (1 Sam. 2). One reason for including this psalm may be to provide a parallel to that song ...

865. Elihu

Job 32:1--37:24

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... the declarations of Job and that they have given up any attempt to do so. Their silence paves the way for Elihu’s entrance. As a result of these factors, there is a sort of logic to the present state of the text—a logic that seems artistically appropriate. I read the text as it is, then, as purposeful and resist the temptation to arrange the text to suit my personal understanding of what the text should mean. Now that the friends’ speeches have ceased and Job has made his final, extended plea for a ...

866. The Lord Speaks

Job 38:1--41:34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... pleasure in both the power (strength) and aesthetics (flowing mane) of the horse—he has made the creation beautiful as well as useful. Thus humans are not only to use the resources of the earth (see Gen. 1:26), but to appreciate and preserve its artistic wonders. Since they did not make any aspect of the creation, humans ought to follow the pattern of protective care and enjoyment modeled by the creator in his loving response to the world. Do you make him leap? While most translators render the Hebrew ...

867. Jesus Calms the Storm

Matthew 8:23-27

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Gundry holds that the storm posed no threat to the disciples, but, in correspondence with Matthew 28:2, it was a sign of Jesus’ majesty (p. 155). Interpretations of this sort have made the prior decision that the evangelist is a literary artist rather than a reliable narrator. The imperfect ekatheuden (was sleeping) and the emphatic pronoun autos contrast Jesus with the terrified disciples. They wake him up with the cry, Lord, save us! “We are going down” (Williams). Jesus first chides them for their ...

868. Rest for the Weary

Matthew 11:25-30

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... . Gundry finds in the structure of these verses an attention to literary detail that leads him to assign the passage to Matthew rather than the spoken word of Jesus (pp. 218–19). Yet sayings often repeated develop a rhythmic quality that can become highly artistic. The yoke that Jesus offers is a way of life characterized by gentleness and humility. It stands over against the “yoke of the law,” which is strict obedience to all the precepts and commandments. Schweizer thinks the yoke is probably to be ...

869. The Sabbath

Exodus 31:1-11

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... ’s creating; the indwelling Spirit; creative human ability; conferred holiness; rest; life protected and ordered by God’s law; and holy time and space (Gen. 2:1–2; Lev. 19:30). 31:1–11 The Lord chose Bezalel and Oholiab to make artistic designs . . . and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. This text is important for understanding the relationship that the Creator seeks with creative and skilled people. The Lord created a beautiful and good world. God called people, gifted them, and filled them ...

870. The Death of Samson

Judges 16:23-31

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

Samson’s Downfall and Death: Few stories in the Hebrew Bible have more recognition factor than the story of Samson and Delilah. It is a gripping, poignant drama brought to life by a gifted artist who has skillfully combined plot and characterization to present a classic story whose elements, if not the whole, have been told and retold in many cultures through all varieties of media, whether story, song, art, or film. But as we turn to this famous story, we must remember that it ...

871. Rebuilding the Temple

Ezra 3:7-13

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... the new temple, stood firmly on the side of the younger generation, looking hopefully toward the future and patiently grateful for only partially satisfying mercies in the present. The final reference to how far the combined volume of noise carried creates an artistic link with the beginning of chapter 4, where we will find trouble lurking. Additional Notes 3:1 For the narrative sequence of vv. 1–6, see Halpern, “Historiographic Commentary,” pp. 97, 127. Continued use of the source left an uneven join ...

872. When You're Rejected

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

King Duncan

... an enormous work of art. Morgan says it was carved from a block of marble eighteen feet high. But perhaps you didn’t know, says Morgan, that Michelangelo wasn’t the first person to attempt to craft a statue from that chunk of marble. An earlier artist named Agostino di Duccio selected that huge block of stone forty years earlier and had begun sculpting a statue of either David or an Old Testament prophet. But di Duccio gave up when he discovered how difficult this was. The piece of marble was quite thin ...

873. Noah and the Robots

Genesis 9:8-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... that humanity is hopeless. But not God. Francis Thompson called God the “Hound of Heaven” who pursues us “down the labyrinthine ways.” Regardless of how far we run away from Him and His love, God remains in pursuit. It’s like a story that artist and pioneer missionary Lilias Trotter once told. Lilias served as a missionary in Muslim North Africa in the nineteenth century. In her writings, she includes a story of a girl named Melha. One day Lilias watched Melha go up to her father who was nearly ...

874. Actors

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Sermon

John Jamison

... look dismal like the hypocrites do” (v. 16). The temple rules said that fasting was done as a sign of suffering, to show how sorrowful you were for your sins. The more sorrowful you look, the more miserable the fasting looks. These guys hired make-up artists to make them look really, really dismal when they were fasting, just like an actor would do. Fasting was a common ritual at the time, so there were plenty of opportunities to spruce yourself up in your best “I’m miserable” outfit and enter the ...

875. Out of Control (Good Friday sermon)

John 18:1-19:42

Sermon

John Jamison

... good breath, he now had to pull with his wrists to straighten himself enough to exhale. Most victims of crucifixion actually died very slowly of asphyxiation, finally becoming too exhausted to exhale. However wonderfully it is represented by the great artistic masters throughout history, crucifixion has nothing beautiful about it whatsoever. The soldiers ended their King’s Game the same way as always, gathering around under the cross to throw the dice again, to determine which of them got to keep anything ...

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