Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 901 to 925 of 1138 results

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

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Preben Vang

... but is quick to underscore how Christian participation should differ markedly from non-Christian participation.13The parallel to our modern situation seems direct. Human desire for personal prominence and the excitement of hobnobbing in socially important circles presents a variety of temptations to downplay the importance of one’s relationship with God. 3. Paul’s unapologetic typological use of key Old Testament texts to explain God’s character more than hints that he did not perceive a disconnect ...

902. Many Parts, One Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

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Preben Vang

... .[5] Leftovers from such use of body language are still found in modern vernacular. They are, for example, used with reference to social hierarchy in expressions like “head of state” or “he is just a foot soldier.” Societal structures consist of a variety of “bodies.” Similarly, the heart continues to work as a metaphor for ideas in expressions like “the heart of the matter” and for emotions, as in “he is all heart.” When a discussion culminates, it is “coming to a head.” The hand ...

903. The Priority of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

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Preben Vang

... only happiness. Rather, our faith is a “be-close” and “persevere-together” experience that promises to give us Jesus, who is more satisfying than we could ever imagine. Spiritual gifts have an expiration date; love does not. Visual: Display a variety of consumer products that have expiration dates and consider what might happen to the product after the expiration date. Have one or two products with no printed expiration date—maybe a rock or stapler. Suggest that even these have an invisible ...

904. The Millennial Reign, Followed by Satan’s Release, Defeat, and Punishment

Revelation 20:1-7, Revelation 20:8-10

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J. Scott Duvall

... the dead” mentioned in 20:5). The release of Satan and the retrieval of wicked humanity parallel one another. The “four corners of the earth” serves here as a figurative expression for the entrances to the underworld.7Gog and Magog, understood in a variety of ways in the Old Testament, here symbolize the wicked people/nations who were killed in the first battle (19:17–21), imprisoned with Satan, brought back from the dead at Satan’s release (20:5), and now further deceived by Satan into fighting ...

905. Grain Offerings

Leviticus 2:1-16

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... and Phoenician-Punic. Leviticus appropriated some customs well known among the surrounding nations in setting up Israel’s sacrificial system, though always in a way compatible with Israel’s unique covenant relationship with Yahweh. Interpretive Insights 2:1–16 There are a variety of ways that a grain offering can be made: raw flour (vv. 1–3), cooked cakes or wafers (vv. 4–10), and crushed natural heads of new grain (vv. 14–16). 2:1–3 When anyone brings a grain offering. The simplest ...

906. Diagnosing “Leprosy”

Lev 13:1-59

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... (or mold) on fabrics and houses (Lev. 13:47–58; 14:34–45). The consensus of biblical scholars (e.g., Wenham, Harrison, Hartley, and Milgrom) is that the term is not limited to modern clinical leprosy (Hansen’s disease) but instead encompasses a variety of skin diseases. There has even been some question about whether Hansen’s disease existed in Old Testament times.3 According to some texts, tsara‘at is “like snow” (Exod. 4:6; Num. 12:10; 2 Kings 5:27), traditionally understood to designate ...

907. The Nazirite Vow

Numbers 6:1-21

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... his or her vow is violated. Corpse contamination defiles for seven days, at the end of which there is purification even for non-Nazirites (see Num. 19:11–12). Also, the Nazirite shaves off defiled hair, a symbol of the vow, and offers three varieties of sacrifice—a sin offering, a burnt offering, a guilt offering—that serve, respectively, to cleanse the sanctuary, appeal to God for favor, and atone for the sacrilege of vow violation. The guilt offering is to be offered whenever holy things have been ...

908. The Aaronic Blessing

Numbers 6:22-27

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Joe M. Sprinkle

... is an indication of God’s attentiveness: looking upon his people (favorably). The opposite is to hide the face as a sign of divine displeasure or ignoring (cf. Pss. 30:7; 44:24; 104:29).2 give you peace. “Peace” (shalom) has a wide variety of senses. Among the many ways that the NIV translates shalom are “well” or “well-being” (Gen. 29:6; Ps. 35:27), “welfare” (Esther 10:3), “good health” (1 Sam. 25:6), “goodwill” (Esther 9:30), “soundness” (Ps. 38:3), “prosperity” (Ps. 72 ...

909. The Lord Is My Rock

2 Samuel 22:1-51

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... in royal annals in which warrior kings associate elements of the storm with their military prowess and exploits.1 The report of the king’s divinely aided victory in battle (vv. 33–46) also has numerous parallels in ancient Near Eastern texts from a variety of chronological periods and geographical locations.2 Interpretive Insights 22:1 and from the hand of Saul. Saul is mentioned separately from David’s enemies. Though Saul treated David as his enemy (1 Sam. 18:29) and regarded him as such (19:17 ...

910. Disrespect Can Be Deadly

1 Sam 2:12-36

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... actions deny his authority over our lives. Now, as then, God will confront those who treat him with disrespect. In the case of Eli and his sons, they lose their lives and their priestly dynasty. In a New Testament or modern context, God’s discipline may take a variety of forms (see, e.g., Acts 5:1–11; 1 Cor. 11:27–32; Heb. 11:15–17, 25), but one thing is certain: it can be unpleasant and even severe. A corollary of this first principle may be stated as follows: the Lord expects total allegiance from ...

911. Meet Israel’s New King

1 Sam 9:1–10:8

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... 8 (vv. 5–6, 9–11, 18–20, 22), indicates that the Lord is not going to give his people what they want after all, despite his apparent decision to do so in chapter 8.4 The term nagid is used elsewhere of leaders in a variety of contexts, including tribal leaders, military officers, religious officials, and palace officials. When used of the leader of the nation in Samuel–Kings, it views the king as one officially chosen and appointed by the Lord to serve as the Lord’s vice-regent over his covenant ...

912. Be Careful What You Ask For

1 Samuel 10:9-27

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... David, not Saul, as God’s chosen king. The negative portrayal of Saul also contributes to the narrator’s goal of presenting David, not Saul, as God’s chosen king. Saul, ostensibly chosen because of his physical attributes, proves unfit to rule for a variety of reasons. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the Lord chooses Saul by using the people’s standard, perhaps to discipline them for their rebellion (see 10:17–19; cf. Hosea 13:10–11) and in the process to demonstrate the limitations ...

913. David on the Run

1 Sam 21:1–22:5

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Even when faith wavers, the Lord confronts his chosen servants with their divinely appointed destiny. Understanding the Text As David left Jonathan, he knew that Saul was now fully committed to murdering him. The king tried to kill him in a variety of ways, but each time David escaped (chaps. 18–19), once through the Lord’s direct intervention (19:23–24). Apparently unaware of Saul’s latest attempts to kill David (19:9–24), Jonathan was confident that his father would not harm David (cf ...

914. Bildad Has the Answer (He Thinks!)

Job 8:1-22

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Daniel J. Estes

... on earth. Bildad’s analogy of the papyrus plant (8:11–12) refers to a plant that grew profusely in the Nile delta in Egypt and also in some parts of the land of Israel (see Exod. 2:3; Isa. 18:2). It was used for a variety of products, including baskets, boats, and writing materials. The papyrus plant can grow up to nearly twenty feet tall, but it requires a constant and ample source of water in order to thrive. Without abundant moisture, the plant quickly withers and dies. Interpretive Insights 8:3 ...

915. Bildad Again Beats the Retribution Drum

Job 18:1-21

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Daniel J. Estes

... upon wicked people. To Bildad, Job is simply another case that can easily be categorized. Bildad uses poetic language to draw a picture of a wicked person who is always just a step away from calamity in a world governed by retribution. Using a variety of terms describing different kinds of traps, Bildad indicates that for the wicked it is only a matter of time until their sin is punished as they deserve. The question is not if they will receive punishment, but only when it will overtake them. Obviously ...

916. Covenant Lord and His Ministers

Ex 5:22–6:27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... change to Israel and restates the covenant promises as given to Abraham and Isaac. Continuity is established with Genesis, and at the same time God’s declaration here changes the identity and future of Israel as his community. Genesis contains a wider variety of divine names, but from this point in Exodus onward, the names El and El Shaddai are used infrequently except in poetic texts. The expression “outstretched arm” (6:6) was used by eighteenth-dynasty pharaohs to express their conquering arm. The ...

917. Ten Commandments and the People’s Response

Exodus 20:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ultimate possessor of all creation, he has given stewardship and ownership of specific aspects of the creation to human beings, and that ownership is not to be violated. Subsequent chapters of Exodus address details regarding judicial procedures for the variety of possible infractions. The penalty for property theft is restitution (Exod. 22:1–4), but if a person is stolen (kidnapped), the penalty is death (Exod. 21:16). Ninth Commandment · The ninth commandment forbids false testimony and has specific ...

918. The Guilt Offering

Lev 7:1-38

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , because it follows payment of reparation to the wronged party. Verses 6–10 specify priestly ownership of reparation-offering meat and summarize priestly agents’ commissions of the other sacrifices (vv. 8–10). Verses 11–36 provide additional instructions for varieties of the “sacrifice” of well-being, which the people are to eat. Anyone who (intentionally) violates the sanctity of a well-being offering by eating its meat while impure incurs divine punishment (7:19–21), in keeping with the ...

919. Discharges Causing Uncleanness

Leviticus 15:1-33

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Leviticus 15 covers a variety of healthy and diseased genital discharges. It treats genital discharges of males and then females in chiastic order moving from abnormal male (15:2–15) to normal male (15:16–18) to normal female (15:18–24) to abnormal female (15:25–30). The transition from male to female is ...

920. Punishments for Sin

Leviticus 20:1-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... so it serves as a fitting conclusion to the section as a whole. By contrast with the apodictic formulations (straightforward statements of principle: “You shall . . .” or “You shall not . . .”) of chapter 18, chapter 20 uses casuistic formulations to emphasize a variety of severe punishments: if a person does (offense), as a result that person will suffer (penalty). Leviticus 18:21 briefly forbids Molek worship, but 20:1–5 places this case up front, adding stoning by the community plus the divine ...

921. Covenant Blessings and Curses

Lev 26:1-46

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... chapter 19 (vv. 3–4, regarding parents, Sabbath, and idolatry), but in reverse order and with revering the Lord’s sanctuary in place of revering one’s mother and father (as in Lev. 19:30). This chiasm frames the intervening chapters, containing a wide variety of laws governing many aspects of life. So when 26:3 refers to keeping God’s laws as the condition for enjoying the covenant blessings, the whole collection of divine statutes is in view. Repetition of two of the Ten Commandments at the outset ...

922. The Fall of Jericho

Joshua 5:13--6:27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... thus able to highlight the exact obedience of both Joshua and the people. Second, by leaving out less critical details in the initial report of the Lord’s instructions and only introducing them subsequently, the author is also able to retain interest by injecting variety into the repetitions. After the activities on the first six days have been reported, 6:15–26 then focuses on the climactic events of the seventh day. As per instructions from the Lord (6:4), the people march around the city seven times ...

923. Samson's Marriage

Judges 14:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... only does Samson violate the food stipulation of his status, he also appears to violate the stipulation against fermented drink. In 14:10, he is said to have “held a feast, as was customary for young men.” In days before there was a variety of beverage choices, wine and fermented drink were commonly served at such feasts. In fact, the Hebrew words for “wine” and “fermented drink” found in the stipulations for Nazirites (Num. 6:3–4) and for Samson (Judg. 13:4, 7, 14) are explicitly associated ...

924. Nehemiah Helps the Poor

Nehemiah 5:1-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... :8). Second, he shows that the wealthy leaders’ actions are hurting the whole community (5:9). He focuses on community interests rather than positions. Third, he proposes a solution that will benefit the whole community (5:10–12). A good leader considers a variety of possibilities before deciding what to do (cf. 5:7). Fourth, Nehemiah bases his solution on principles set forth in God’s law (5:10–13). Fortunately, the nobles and officials voice their agreement and promise to do as Nehemiah asks (5:12 ...

925. Proverbs of Solomon

Proberbs 10:1--22:16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... views Proverbs 1–9 as a basic introduction to proverbial wisdom, then chapters 10–29 serve as the advanced course. Or, to express it differently, the prologue presents and commends wisdom, while the collections that follow illustrate the scope and variety of situations in which wisdom is advantageous (without absolutely guaranteeing success) if employed properly and in a timely manner. Proverbs 1–9 also gives the reader a theological lens through which to read the individual proverbs. Although many of ...

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