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 926 to 950 of 4957 results

926. A Blessing on the Family Who Fears the Lord

Psalm 128:1-6

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... are lofty (“blessings and prosperity will be yours”) and universal (for “all who fear the LORD”). But for many believers they may not ring true to life. How can the Bible make such claims, we wonder, when genuine believers endure cancer, desertion, and worse within their families? In this psalm, the claims are qualified immediately by the rest of the passage, which consists of a prayer or invocation that these ideals become reality: “May the LORD bless you” (v. 5), just as he “who fears the ...

927. No One Is Righteous before God

Psalm 143:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... of acts of sin (25:7, 18; 32:5; 38:3, 18; 41:4; 65:3; 79:9; 103:10), but only here and in 51:3–5, 130:3–4 is sin noted as part of the general human condition. In fact, such confessions seem to go contrary to claims of righteousness found elsewhere in the Psalter (see esp. 18:20, 24; 35:24; 112:3–9). How far we seem to have moved from the first psalm of the Psalter, which clearly divides humanity into two groups: “the righteous” and “the wicked” (1:5–6)! This verse also seems ...

928. The Parable of the Tenants

Matthew 21:33-46

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... of the crop when the time arrives. Many scholars understand this parable as an allegory reflecting the Christology of the later church. The servants are the prophets, who were killed by Israel when they came on behalf of God. The son is Jesus, who had a rightful claim but received the same treatment from the nation. Now the vineyard (God’s work in the world) is taken from the Jews and turned over to those who will respect its owner and pay him his due. Parables, however, need not in all cases be limited ...

929. The Guard at the Tomb

Matthew 27:62-66

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... that after three days he would come back to life. Therefore it was necessary to set a guard in order to prevent the disciples from stealing the body and claiming that he had been raised from the dead. This last deception (a false rumor that he had risen) would be even worse than the first (his false claim that he was the Messiah and the Son of God). Some have wondered why the disciples forgot the promise of resurrection while the Jewish leaders remembered it. Beare takes the entire paragraph as “one ...

930. Lord of the Sabbath

Mark 2:23-3:6

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... kingdom he confidently announced. Further, of course, by healing on the Sabbath Jesus forced people to make a decision about his works and message; for if he had not been called by God to herald the coming kingdom, if he was not what his Sabbath healings claimed him to be, then he was a Sabbath-breaker. In any case, he could not be written down as simply another harmless religious healer. He prevented that by the way he conducted his healings, making them an issue. Indeed, from one standpoint, all Jesus was ...

931. Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

Mark 10:46-52

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... ’ entrance into Jerusalem is hailed by the crowds with reference to David (11:10). In addition, there is the reference to David’s actions in Jesus’ defense of his disciples in 2:25 (see comments and notes). By contrast, Matthew (1:1) and Luke (2:4) both claim Davidic descent for Jesus, and Matthew in particular uses “Son of David” frequently, indicating that he saw it as an important title for Jesus (9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30; 21:9, 15; 22:42–45). There is some evidence that Solomon, the OT king ...

932. The King Who Exalts Himself

Daniel 11:36-45

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... God or Jesus Christ. The problems with this view are that it does not fit any known history and that there is no indication the author is talking about someone other than Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Furthermore, there is no clue that he jumps to the distant future. Some claim that the beginning of verse 40 (“At the time of the end”) is such a sign, but this is not credible, because he has been talking of the end all along (11:27, 35, 36). Clearly, the writer thought the end was imminent and connected to the ...

933. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

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

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 ...

934. The Glory of the New Covenant

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

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... to behold my Glory” (Schäfer, 346; cf. 673; Sir. 49:8: “It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory, which God showed him upon the chariot of the cherubim [epi harmatos cheroubin]”). Certainly it would have been important to Paul’s defense if he could likewise claim to have been worthy to behold the divine glory (cf. 2 Cor. 2:16b). Additional Notes 3:7–18 According to Exod. 34:29–35 LXX, when Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the two tablets in his hand, he did not know that his face was ...

935. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... ” formula, John 14:14). Without this trust there is a more basic issue to be settled than that of the item asked for: The more basic issue is that of trust. Until one has dealt with this issue, one is in no position to begin praying. This person, claims James, is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. The pre-Christian Jew Sirach had already said, “My son, disobey not the fear of the Lord, and approach it not with a double heart” (1:28), and, “Woe unto the fearful hearts and faint hands, and ...

936. Suffering for Doing Good

1 Peter 3:8-22

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... is not? Peter is no doubt thinking now of outsiders. Then the demand of Christ’s ethic for his followers is still to maintain a positive attitude, despite any adverse reaction. It would be a betrayal of the high moral standard expected by Jesus of those claiming to be his disciples if they repay evil with evil or insult with insult. Certainly evil and insults will come the believers’ way, for such will be part and parcel of the lot Christians are called upon to bear. It was not a new or unexpected turn ...

937. Laban Pursues Jacob

Genesis 31:22-55

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... permission for all of them to leave for Canaan. In Jacob’s mind, Laban’s pattern of behavior had preempted the basis of his claim that he would have given them a joyful send-off. Next, responding to the charge of having stolen his gods, Jacob swore an oath ... and power and the possibility that someone from Jacob’s family would return to Haran with the family gods and make a claim against his own household, as the use of the term “harm” suggests (v. 52). This pact ended the contact between Abraham’ ...

938. Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon

Deut 2:1-23–2:37

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... of 1:19–46. 2:2–8 There are some differences between the account of Israel’s dealings with Edom contained in Deuteronomy and that in Numbers 20:14–21. Deuteronomy uses descendants of Esau rather than Edom, in order to highlight the claim of kinship (cf. Gen. 36). Deuteronomy omits the request of Moses to pass through Edomite territory and its outright rejection by the king of Edom, thus passing over the hostility implied in the Numbers narrative. These differences doubtlessly stem from Deuteronomy ...

939. Idolatry Forbidden

Deuteronomy 4:15-31

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... of or aid to worship, was bound to be inadequate. But the reason for the prohibition should be carefully expressed. Sometimes it is claimed that Israel here affirmed an invisible deity, as against visible idols. Or that the contrast is between God as spiritual and idols ... .; Pss. 50:1–6; 96:11ff. 4:28 A common theme in the OT polemic against idols is the impotence and lifelessness of all other claimed gods. Cf. Lev. 26:30; Pss. 115:4–8; 135:15–18; Isa. 2:8, 20; 17:8; 30:22; 40:18–20; 44:9–20; 46:1f ...

940. Ministers of Baal Killed

2 Kings 10:18-36

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 ...

941. Israel Exiled because of Sin

2 Kings 17:7-23

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 ...

942. Samaria Resettled

2 Kings 17:24-41

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

943. Caleb Son of Hezron

1 Chronicles 2:18-24

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... such a link would have been very valuable. 2:21–24 This subsection jumps back to Hezron, indicating his descendants from a later marriage. This later marriage was to the daughter of Makir the father of Gilead. Scholars agree that this phrase probably voices a territorial claim. According to Numbers 32:39–41 Moses gave Gilead to Makir. Makir is there called a son of Manasseh. Jair, who is presented as a grandson of Hezron here, is also mentioned in Numbers 32:39–41, also as a son of Manasseh. Since we ...

944. Completion and Dedication of the Temple

Ezra 6:13-18

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... that aliens who had been circumcised could celebrate the Passover with Israel, though here no mention is made of circumcision. In this section, which wraps up the second phase of the mission, the language and motifs recall its beginning in 4:1–4. There a claim from other communities to worship the same God as the exiles cut no ice with them, but here individuals who were prepared to make a fresh start and throw in their lot with the exiles were welcomed into the worshiping community. It is not specified ...

945. The Passover

Ezra 6:19-22

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

946. The Completion of the Wall

Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... 6:5 Aide: This is not a reference to Tobiah. Although the NRSV fairly renders “servant,” the Heb. term here implies a lesser rank than that used for Tobiah in 2:10, 19 (NIV “official”). 6:6 The Arabic form for Geshem, “Gashmu,” is used. He evidently confirmed the rumor, claiming solid evidence for it. 6:7 For the prophetic role in king-making, compare 1 Sam. 9–10; 1 Kgs. 11:29–39; 2 Kgs. 9:1–13 and, in recent postexilic times, Hag. 2:21–23; Zech. 6:10–13. There may have been an extreme ...

947. Deliverance of Israel

Isaiah 27:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... land. Like the hot desert wind you have carried us off by the fierce blast of your anger (ruakh), the blast destined for enemies and from which you claimed to protect (11:15; 25:4). Further, ‘fierce’ was the stance you claimed to take against Leviathan, not us (v. 1), and the ‘fierce’ nature of the bondage imposed by Babylon from which you claimed to deliver us (14:3; NIV “cruel” there). You have let people destroy the very means of our worshiping you. The fortified city of Jerusalem is desolate ...

948. Noah and the Robots

Genesis 9:8-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... are. The fear is that these super-smart computers may one day decide that they don’t need humans anymore. This is not merely the plot of a bad science fiction movie. Our children and grandchildren may live in such a world. One well-respected futurist has claimed that such a scenario may be possible as soon as the year 2045. Do the math and see whether you will still be around by then. Many of you will. Normally when we think of intelligent machines, we think of robots. Elon Musk, the brilliant creator of ...

949. Please Pass the Resurrection Biscuits

Luke 24:35-48

Sermon

King Duncan

... to the mindset of that time. God was to be feared, God was to be obeyed, God was to be approached with trembling and awe. To think that God could be more loving than one’s own most loving parent was beyond their understanding. But that’s the outrageous claim of our faith. In trying to deal with the meaning of the cross on which Christ died, the early church came to understand that those nail prints in the hands and feet of the Master should have been in our hands and feet. But God so loved the world ...

950. A Dove Descended

Luke 3:21-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... important is what it says about the grace of God. If you have been baptized it must make a difference in your life. Let that difference begin today. 1. http://www.politifact.com/rhode-island/statements/2012/jan/02/chain-email/chain-e-mail-claims-when-baboons-congregate-its-ca/ 2. Willimon, William H. The Best of Will Willimon: Acting Up in Jesus’ Name, Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition. 3. Ben Helmer, http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/stw/2013/12/31/1-epiphany-a-2014/. 4. http://www.frtommylane.com/homilies ...

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