Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1051 to 1075 of 1230 results

Psalm 58:1-11

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... biblical images should at least awaken us who live in the comfortable West to the Bible’s realism about injustice and how victims feel. This is especially true because they are powerless to execute just retribution themselves. Justice and peace are not mere ideals; utopia is not a mere state of being. Injustice is practiced by “workers of injustice,” and so must be stopped by judgment that falls on human beings. Justice and the God who judges become visible only when there is judgment on the unjust ...

1052. Nebuchadnezzer’s Dream of a Tree

Daniel 4:1-18

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... imagery are common metaphors for kings and kingdoms in the Bible. Daniel 4 and Ezekiel 17 and 31 all have a tree with luxuriant branches where the birds make their nests and beneath whose boughs animals of all kinds find a home. They picture the ideal kingdom (and king) as a beneficent government whose prosperity aids everyone, even other nations. Jesus also uses the figure of the tree to represent the kingdom of God. It starts small, like a mustard seed, but grows into a great tree that provides a place ...

1053. Lord of the Sabbath

Mark 2:23-3:6

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... ’ action cannot be accepted apart from an acceptance of his significance as the divinely assigned vehicle of the kingdom of God and, therefore, as the Lord of the Sabbath. 2:25 David was the great king of ancient Israel, and the one from whom it was expected that a new, ideal king (Messiah) would be descended (seen as foretold in the, OT, e.g., Jer. 22:4; Ezek. 34:23–24; 37:24–25). In Mark 11:6–10 Jesus is hailed as the one who brings the kingdom of David and in 10:46–48 is called “Son of David ...

1054. The Death of Jesus

Mark 15:33-41

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... of the cross, Surely this man was the Son of God! Although it is likely that any such statement uttered by a Roman soldier would have originally meant something like, “This man behaves like a divine hero,” likening Jesus to the ideals of popular Hellenistic religious tradition, Mark guides his readers to interpret the statement as an ironic confession of the true significance of Jesus. The statement is ironic because this Gentile who participated in the execution of Jesus is the only human character ...

1055. Blessings and Woes

Luke 6:17-26

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... . This is seen not only in the sermon’s actual contents, in what it seems to presuppose, but also in the fact that Jesus’ sermon is intended primarily for his apostles and disciples (see vv. 17, 20). This sermon calls for the implementation of those ideals contained in Isa. 61:1–2, the passage which Jesus quoted at the beginning of his Nazareth sermon (Luke 4:16–30). The major thrust of the sermon is found in the four “beatitudes” (or blessings) introduced with the adjective blessed (vv. 20–22 ...

1056. Paul's Plan to Visit Rome

Romans 15:23-33

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... vision from Jerusalem through Illyricum to Spain is suggested by Dunn, Romans 9–16, p. 872. 15:25–29 Dodd’s mention of early Christian communism ought not be confused with Marxism. As an economic theory Marxism is determined by the compulsory ideal of common ownership of capital, whereas the early Christians were motivated by agapē, of which (at least in Jerusalem) the voluntary sharing of property was one expression. On the reason for Paul’s contribution to the saints I am indebted to Achtemeier ...

1057. Hallelujah!

Revelation 19:1-10

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... because of Israel’s faithlessness. Thus, the prophets of God look to the future and even to the Messiah as the time of fulfillment, when Israel will be God’s faithful bride. Behind the prophetic use of this marriage-typology are the ideals of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The experiences of intimacy and mutual support which nurture a good marriage ought also to characterize the relationship between God and God’s people. Such a relationship constitutes the OT promise which has now ...

1058. The Gershonites

Numbers 4:21-28

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... affirming priestly prerogatives. When the community returns from exile in Babylon, there will be an important, holy task for the Levites, but one subordinated to the priests of the line of Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Such negotiations demonstrate that while the ordering of God’s people here may be an ideal one, an element of realism is still part of the portrait.

1059. The Merarites

Numbers 4:29-33

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

1060. The Numbering of the Levite Clans

Numbers 4:34-49

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

1061. The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

Numbers 9:15-23

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... be providing a contrast for the rebellions that are soon to follow in the next major section of the book? The tone of Numbers 1–10 is overwhelmingly positive. The people, ordered as God’s community, are meticulously obedient, but 9:15–23 may idealize in preparation for what we know is to come. Additional Notes 9:1 Some commentators think this chronological note indicates that this section is a secondary insertion in Numbers because the note does not fit with the chronological note in Num. 1:1. A ...

1062. The Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:8-55

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... are, however, some hints at Jubilee and the Sabbatical practice of land use in the OT (Jer. 34:8–22; 2 Chron. 36:21) and more widely in the ancient Near East (Budd, Leviticus, p. 342). While no doubt the instruction is an ideal, it is really more an articulation of a divine agenda that supports families and the community. The principle resists grand accumulation of wealth by individuals and is not a kind of casuistic legislation. Here theology and ethics come together. The instruction appeals to divine ...

1063. David at Gath

1 Samuel 21:10-15

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... the Lord in all circumstances, it refers to someone who had been at a particularly low ebb. 22:1–5 Adullam was a Canaanite city captured by Joshua (Josh. 12:15). It was situated halfway between Gath and Bethlehem, and its nearby caves were ideal for David’s purposes. Whether or not the decision of his parents to stay in Moab indicates that contacts remained with Ruth’s family there, Ruth being Jesse’s grandmother, is speculation. The site of David’s next stronghold cannot be identified. It is ...

1064. David at Adullam and Mizpah

1 Samuel 22:1-5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

1065. David Conquers Jerusalem

2 Samuel 5:6-16

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... with surrounding powers. He was able to have a palace worthy of the name, and he could pay for it and defend it. However, the link between these narratives and the Deuteronomic kingship code that was so positively seen in verse 2 continues more negatively. The ideal king was forbidden to take many wives (Deut. 17:17), but David did exactly that, for national political reasons or as a boost to his own status. We are told that he had many children. 5:17–25 This is the last battle against the Philistines ...

1066. David Defeats the Philistines

2 Samuel 5:17-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

1067. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

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

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... questions and answers that comprise most of the farewell discourse and the summary with which it concludes. If 13:36–14:31 is viewed as a farewell discourse complete in itself, verses 25–31 can be regarded as John’s way of making a transition from the idealism of the discourse to the realism of the Passion narrative. The crisis will come in the person of Satan, the prince of this world (v. 30), and Jesus calls the disciples to join in confronting this their greatest foe (Come now; let us leave, v. 31 ...

1068. The World Hates the Disciples

John 15:18--16:4

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... point, Jesus’ words powerfully reinforce what he had said in 13:17: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Friendship finds its realization in loving service. Friendship and servanthood are not set against each other as contradicting ideals, for the contrast is used solely to highlight the importance of revelation. The unfulfilled promise of 8:32 is at last coming true—though not for those who first heard it—“you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free ...

1069. 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

... large stock of goods to a place they were scarce and attempted to trade at a profit for the rare goods of that land (e.g., Matt. 13:45–46). When all had been sold, one took the foreign goods back to Palestine and sold them at a profit. The ideal was to repeat the cycle until one was able to buy a large estate and become part of the landed gentry, who had the highest social status. See further S. W. Baron, A Social and Religious History of the Jews, vol. 1, pp. 255–59; F. C. Grant, The Economic ...

1070. 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

1071. 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

1072. Wives and Husbands

1 Peter 3:1-7

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... : The association of married life and holiness, here made by Peter quite incidentally, is genuinely Jewish. “As a divine institution, marriage is viewed in a twofold light. First, as the means intended for the propagation of the human race. Secondly, as an ideal state for the promotion of sanctity and purity of life.” I. Epstein, Judaism (London: Epworth Press, 1945), p. 54. Of the past: The unspoken assumption is that the Christian church is a continuation of and heir to the divine revelation in the ...

1073. Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin

1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 1:5--2:14

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase?”) In fact, the author says that it is one of his purposes in writing (cf. 1:3–4) that the community will not sin, that they will completely reject sin as a way of living. The Christian ideal remains not to sin (John 5:24; 8:11; 1 John 3:6). He calls his readers my dear children (lit., “my little children”). The Greek teknia is a diminutive expressing affection (Marshall, Epistles, p. 115). It also implies parental authority and is complemented by the ...

1074. Lot and His Daughters

Genesis 19:30-38

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... nations, which were to be a thorn in Israel’s side for a large part of its history, were related to Israel through Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Deut. 2:9, 19; 23:3; Ps. 83:6). Lot also confirmed in going to the east that he chose to leave the ideals by which Abraham lived. 19:30–31 With his dreams of becoming a citizen of Sodom shattered and with the loss of his wealth (13:5–6), Lot suffered great trauma. He left Zoar and with his two daughters went to live in a cave in the mountains of Moab ...

1075. God's Angel to Prepare the Way

Exodus 23:20-33

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... be effective in bringing panic. The list of people groups is abridged from v. 23. This is common practice in Exodus and carries no special significance. The few represent the whole. Compare 3:8, 17; 13:5, 11; 23:23, 28; 33:2; 34:11. 23:31 The idealized “borders” here are from the desert (the Negev wilderness) to the River (the Euphrates) and the Sea of the Philistines (the Mediterranean) to the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds). The “Red Sea” is taken to mean the Gulf of Aqaba because as a SE limit it stands ...

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