Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 851 to 875 of 4957 results

851. The Impending Departure I

John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14, John 14:15-31

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... also in me, v. 1; cf. vv. 10–11). Thomas’ acknowledgment that we don’t know where you are going (v. 5) corresponds to Jesus’ claim in 8:14 that his questioners do not know “where I come from or where I am going.” Philip’s request in verse 8 to ... 10:16; and 12:32. 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. The main thrust of the context is carried by Jesus’ claim that he is the way; the other two self-designations are corollaries of this (cf. NEB: “I am the way; I am the truth and I am ...

852. Assured by the Certainties of Faith

1 John 5:13-21

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... faith’s object, and assure the readers of having eternal life through faith in his name. Against the dark backdrop of the denial of Jesus (2:22–23; 4:2–3; 2 John 7), of schism within the community (1 John 2:19; 2 John 7–11), and of claims to superior spirituality by these secessionist false teachers (1:6, 8, 10; 2:4, 6, 9; 4:10a, 20a), the Elder has written to assure his readers (that you may know) of their abiding spiritual inheritance: they have eternal life. They have it now (3:14; cf. John 5 ...

853. Abraham and Abimelech

Genesis 20:1-18

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... of promise to the Negev (12:9). Although the text gives no reason for this move, by traveling through the land of promise Abraham laid claim to it for his seed. For a short time he lived between Kadesh, an oasis, and Shur, an Egyptian fortress (25:18). Turning north, he ... to be one who was willing to listen to God. So Abraham had misjudged the character of this ruler. Next, Abraham claimed on technical grounds that he had not lied, because Sarah was his sister through a common father. Since the intent of ...

854. The Command to Leave Horeb

Deuteronomy 1:1-8

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... prophets (cf. 18:17f.). The relationship between the words of Moses and the words of God in Deuteronomy is sometimes so close that they merge imperceptibly, making exegetical separation quite difficult. “To claim . . . that the Bible nowhere claims to be the ‘Word of God’ is to fail to hear a central claim of Deuteronomy” (D. Christensen, Deuteronomy, p. 9). He was also to expound the law (cf. Deut. 27:8 and Hab. 2:2). Deuteronomy is thus “preached law”—that is, law explained with prophetic ...

855. Worshipping Other Gods

Deuteronomy 13:1-18

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... no longer feel the passion of the psalmist that God should deal with evil and evildoers and vindicate God’s own moral order in the world. We respond to idolatrous, blasphemous evil not with a curse, but a shrug, and then have the gall to claim morally higher ground than ancient Israel. Similarly, if we can no longer identify with the scale of priorities and values that undergird Deuteronomy 13, it is manifestly not because we have acquired a greater appreciation of the value of human life, but because we ...

856. A Wise Ruling

1 Kings 3:16-28

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... and her own discovery in the morning that this dead child had been exchanged for her own living one. The respondent answers this charge with a flat denial. Impasse. What is the king to do? 3:23–28 The resolution of the story is well-known. Faced with claim and counter claim, Solomon gives instructions that the child be cut in two. The true mother is willing to give her child up alive to another rather than see him die; the other woman is happy to have death deprive the first of her son, as it did her. The ...

857. Ahab's Family Killed

2 Kings 10:1-17

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... is right in the eyes of the LORD (Hb. yāšār, “right”; cf. the additional notes to vv. 3 and 15 for Jehu’s own claims in this regard). Apart from 2 Kings 10:30, the authors of Kings use yāšār positively only when speaking of David (1 Kgs. 15:5 ... the LORD’s side, who is in the right?” The leading men of Samaria (who do not side with one of Ahab’s “sons,” claiming him to be “right,” v. 3) and Jehonadab (on his way to meet Jehu, rather than to visit the apostate royal families) are on ...

858. Hoshea Last King of Israel

2 Kings 17:1-6

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... God of whom the remainder of Kings knows, on the other hand, is the LORD of all peoples and all history. This God does sometimes use lions as emissaries (1 Kgs. 13:24ff.; 20:35–36) but is not confined to a single territory. As the only God, the LORD claims exclusive worship. It is impossible that the authors who have told us all this should now be telling us that a broad pantheon of gods is acceptable—that this new use of the high places, with its new priesthood (vv. 29, 32; cf. 1 Kgs. 13:33), is any ...

859. Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

Isaiah 44:24--45:25

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... action is in keeping with what prophets such as Isaiah have said. True, Yahweh’s agent ought to be one who acknowledges Yahweh, and the idea is that Cyrus has the chance to do so. The community may or may not find such answers satisfactory, but in the end, Yahweh claims the power to make decisions about how to run the world whether Jacob-Israel likes them or not. In the NT we find that Paul follows the same form of argument: I will offer you some arguments, but in the end God is God (Rom. 9:20–21). In ...

860. The Future Glory of Zion

Isaiah 54:1-17

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... , and Yahweh is anticipating those questions. So in the section as a whole, Yahweh has both given the impression of having behaved in the manner of a patriarchal husband and also made clear that this self-description does not do justice to all that Yahweh claims to be. In the light of her experience, Ms Zion perhaps looked at Yahweh as a “typical” patriarchal husband. Yahweh does not then behave like the average husband or wife in the aftermath of a marriage breakup, putting all the blame back onto the ...

861. Signs and Oracles of Judgment

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

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... and treats it no differently than the surrounding nations). Still, not everyone will fall prey to divine vengeance: “I will spare some, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the lands and nations” (v. 8). Some scholars claim that later editors added this message of preservation (e.g., Cooke, Ezekiel, p. 70; Blenkinsopp, Ezekiel, p. 42). However, it fits perfectly well in its context as the interpretation of the “few strands of hair” of 5:4, and as an explication of ...

862. Jesus as True King of Israel

Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 2:13-18, Matthew 2:1-12

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... would have provided a contrast to King Herod. While kings should be expected to pay homage to the Messiah (see Ps. 72:10–11), Matthew instead portrays royal servants (and Gentiles, at that) doing so.4These Gentile worshipers provide a stark contrast to Herod, who claims an intention to worship Jesus but plots his demise instead. 2:2 king of the Jews. When the magi ask for information about “the one who has been born king of the Jews,” Matthew portrays Herod’s response as one of agitation over this ...

863. Sermon on the Mount: Jesus Teaches on the Torah

Matthew 5:17-48

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... and loyalty (see 5:43–48; 9:13; 12:7; 22:34–40; 23:23).1 I have come . . . to fulfill them. Jesus challenges the notion that he abolishes the Torah, an action that he denounces for his followers in 5:18–19. Instead, he claims to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Matthew defines this claim first by showing Jesus to be the consummate interpreter of the Torah (5:17–48). Second, Matthew will narrate that Jesus himself honors and obeys the Torah (e.g., 8:4; 12:7; 15:1–20; 19:3–9, 16–19; 22:34–40 ...

864. Through His Faithful Death, Jesus as Messiah Redefined Brings Life

Matthew 27:27-31, Matthew 27:32-44, Matthew 27:45-56, Matthew 27:57-61, Matthew 27:62-66

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; . . . my enemies . . . put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst” (Ps. 69:19, 21 [see Matt. 27:48]). 27:37 this is jesus, the king of the jews. The accusation placed over the cross is Jesus’ claim to be king of the Jews. Matthew’s readers know that although the Romans consider this a false charge (for them, only Caesar is king of the Jews), Jesus is the true and rightful Jewish king, the Messiah. 27:38 Two rebels were crucified with him. These ...

865. Realizing the True Nature of Jesus the Christ

Mark 8:27-30

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... to be Christian really believe about Jesus? Some would say that Jesus was simply a great philosopher who presented a new way of loving people. Others would say that he was merely a great teacher who was effective in instructing people. Still others would claim that he is simply a life-insurance policy to be pulled out at the moment of death. Some believe that Jesus had great ideas but was powerless to deal with the problem of evil. Mikhail Gorbachev saw Jesus as “the first socialist.” Adolf Hitler saw ...

866. The Resurrection of Jesus and the Promise of Victory

Mark 16:1-20

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... scandal. Later he used that experience to illuminate the evidence for the resurrection, pointing to the number of Watergate insiders who quickly abandoned the cover-up to save themselves. This stands in stark contrast to the apostles, who went to their deaths claiming that they had seen the resurrected Jesus. Colson concludes, “Men will give their lives for something they believe to be true—they will never give their lives for something they know to be false.”4 The problem of fear in proclaiming the ...

867. Negative Responses to Jesus

Luke 11:33-36, Luke 11:29-32, Luke 11:14-28

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... Testament is familiar with the idea of miraculous events to authenticate prophetic utterances (e.g., Exod. 4:1–9; 1 Kings 18:36–39; Isa. 7:10–14; 38:7–8), though such signs alone are no guarantee (see Deut. 13:1–3). Such “signs” continued to be claimed by “prophets” in Jesus’s day (see, e.g., Josephus, Ant. 20.97, 168, 170). But in view of all the miracles already recorded in Luke’s Gospel, it is not obvious what more they wanted (as Jesus will point out in 12:54–56), and the demand ...

868. The Story of Abraham versus the Story of Israel

Romans 4:1-25

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... not to impose on them Jewish culture. Illustrating the Text Many religions say Abraham is their father, but only Christians are his true seed. News Story: Ann Holmes Redding, ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1984, made a profession of faith in Islam in 2006, and she claims to be both a Christian and a Muslim. Because of her decision, she was deposed as a priest in 2009. She says, “I look through Jesus and I see Allah.” How might this compare or contrast with Romans 4:9–17a? No physical ceremony can ...

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

Romans 5:12-21

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... of the same name by Sister Helen Prejean. It tells the story of the relationship that she developed with Matthew Poncelet, a prisoner on death row for rape and murder. The nun works to effect a stay of execution (which is denied) for the prisoner, who claims to be innocent, though he is arrogant and racist. In a dramatic moment toward the end of the film, set in the final hours before his execution, Helen Prejean pleads with this hardened sinner to admit his guilt, to choose between death and life, to say ...

870. New Dominion as a Blessing of the New Covenant: Dead to Sin

Romans 6:1-14

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... are fascinating in terms of comparing the Essenes’[1] practice of baptism with that of the New Testament church, especially since both communities claimed to be already participating in the new covenant (see CD 6.19; 19.33–34; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; 2 ... hand, the Christian’s union with Christ is not to be interpreted literally, such as when some theologians in the past claimed that the believer is absorbed into Christ, which produces a light, ethereal form of existence. But, on the other hand, ...

871. Paul, Phoebe, Patronage, and Spain

Romans 16:1-27

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... a wave of the plague struck her hometown in 1374, most people fled, but she and her followers stayed to care for the sick and bury the dead. She was said to work tirelessly day and night, healing all those whom the physicians considered hopeless; some even claimed that she raised the dead. Later she sought to root out corruption from the church, even writing to the pope to exhort him to return to Rome from France and address problems: “Respond to the Holy Spirit, who is calling you! I tell you: Come! Come ...

872. Introduction and “Hello”

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... . It is not a lofty, transcendent term, or a mere synonym for eternal salvation, but a practical expression of who you entrust your life to for survival. In the context of the Greco-Roman world, it was even a radical political statement. Caesar’s claim to be Lord, and the populace’s acceptance of him as such, flowed from a quite practical consideration. He was their ultimate patron, to whom they should give their ultimate allegiance. After all, he was the one who gave all citizens the necessary peace ...

873. Leadership and Servanthood

1 Corinthians 4:1-21, 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... . When the church’s agenda, and its measurement for success, is set by the world, churches and Christians have gone awry. It proves they are more interested in the praise of other humans than in the praise of God. 3. It is one thing to claim to be a servant; it is quite another to actually be one. As Paul teaches here, true servanthood springs from a person’s mental attitude. Physical ability enables everyone to do acts of service. True servants, however, do not just do service; they recognize their ...

874. Many Parts, One Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... needs different parts, the Spirit gifts everyone differently to fully equip Christ’s body (12:19–20). 12:21–26 the head cannot say. Paul’s surprising introduction of “head” (12:21) as a simple parallel to other appendages and organs proves his point. Even if some should claim to be head of the body, they do not have priority over the feet.[4] In Christ’s body, over which Christ alone is head (cf. Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18; 2:10, 19), the weaker parts are indispensable. God has put ...

875. Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Growth

1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... (meiz?n [14:5]) significance for the body.[4] For tongues to be usable as a communal gift, the Spirit must also give the ability to translate the tongue into intelligible language (14:13). The finesse of Paul’s rhetoric allows him to simultaneously dismiss the claims of those who considered themselves spiritually superior because of their tongue speaking and to promote a keen awareness of the importance of the Spirit’s gifts for Christ’s body (cf. 1 Thess. 5:19; Eph. 4:29–30). 14:6 if I come to ...

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