Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1051 to 1075 of 4972 results

1051. Abram and Lot Separate

Genesis 13:1-18

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... offspring to Abram (vv. 14–17), and Abram’s settling near Mamre (v. 18). 13:1–4 Abram went up from Egypt with Sarai and Lot to the area south of Canaan called the Negev. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. Leaving the Negev, Abram traveled north through the hill country, eventually arriving at the place between Bethel and Ai where he had earlier pitched his tent and built an altar. This time Abram called on Yahweh’s name. There is no report that Abram performed an act ...

1052. Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

Genesis 28:10-22

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... Canaan for twenty years. As the years passed, this promise surely grew in importance, keeping alive Jacob’s hope that someday he would leave Laban’s household to return to his homeland. God asserted that he would not leave Jacob until he had completely fulfilled what he had promised. While the “until” clause seems to suggest that at some time God might leave Jacob, it is a rhetorical device, an understatement, affirming to Jacob the certainty of God’s presence in all circumstances throughout his ...

1053. Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Genesis 39:1-23

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... in this episode is “hand” (yad). It captures the trust Joseph inspires and plays a key role in his fall. Potiphar places all things in Joseph’s “hand” (vv. 3, 4, 6, 8, 22, 23). But in the incident with Potiphar’s wife Joseph flees her grasp, leaving his cloak in her “hand” (vv. 12, 13). Her hand holds the evidence that leads to his being cast into prison. This episode depicts Joseph’s rise in Potiphar’s house (vv. 1–6), his resistance to the advances of Potiphar’s wife (vv. 7–20 ...

1054. Elijah and Obadiah

1 Kings 18:1-15

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... Sidonian home. There he has contributed in a small way to the war that the LORD is now waging upon the worship of Baal, while leaving the drought to do most of the damage. The time has now come for his reappearance on the main stage—for the great battle ... rising from the sea. Though small, it is enough to assure Elijah that the drought is over (cf. Luke 12:54), and after warning Ahab to leave or get wet, he races him to Jezreel in the power of the LORD. As we might expect, in view of the story so far, he ...

1055. Athaliah and Joash

2 Kings 11:1-21

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... third of you coming for Sabbath duty (that is, those who guard the palace), and the third at the Sur Gate, and the third at the gate behind the guards, you shall guard the house massāḥ.” This last word is admittedly difficult, but that is no reason for leaving it out entirely. The root nsḥ, “to tear down, away,” from which it probably derives, is always found in contexts where divine judgment of the wicked is in view (Deut. 28:63; Prov. 2:22; 15:25; Ps. 52:5), and in Prov. 15:25 it is explicitly ...

1056. Distress and Help

Isaiah 33:1-24

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... fertile field”), Carmel and desert (cf. Arabah here) in 32:15–16, forest in 29:17 and 32:15 (cf. Sharon here). The trees dropping their leaves or fruit recalls 32:10. As a whole, verse 9 thus repeats 32:9–14 and restates the need for 32:15–16. 33:10–12 Yahweh ... give birth to wind/breath. They are burned like the cities in 1:7, as if to lime rather than merely to remove dross and leave pure metal (1:25), burned like the thorn-bushes of 32:13 that have now been cut down for burning. 33:13–16 In 32: ...

1057. Jesus Inaugurates the Disciple Band and Conquers the Unclean Spirits

Mark 1:14-20, Mark 1:21-28

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... out of him! Exorcisms in the ancient world were long, drawn-out affairs, as the exorcist would chant formula after formula to expel the demon. Here it is the opposite; the impure spirit prattles on, but Jesus just utters only a few words: “Shut up and leave him!” (five words in Greek). The battle is over before it even begins. The word of power overwhelms the dark forces, and they must slink away in utter defeat. The reaction is violent but over in an instant. With a final gesture of torment, the demon ...

1058. The Authority of Jesus over Sickness and Death

Mark 5:21-43

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... touching her will be unclean for an entire day. In Ezekiel 36:17 Israel’s unholy conduct was likened to “a woman’s monthly uncleanness” in its defiling aura. This was exacerbated by the belief that blood was the basis of life, so menstruation symbolized life leaving the body. She had lost all her possessions searching for a cure, and now she was a pariah, a virtual leper, to everyone around her. We cannot imagine the horror that this sad woman’s life had become. 5:28 If I just touch his clothes ...

1059. A Call to Servanthood and Suffering

Mark 10:46-52, Mark 10:35-45, Mark 10:32-34

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... enough faith to transform him from a blind man begging along the way (10:46; see 4:4, 15) to a person who sees and follows Jesus on the way (10:52).”8 10:52 he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Bartimaeus leaves the “roadside” and follows Jesus on the “road/way.” Discipleship is the main thrust here. Bartimaeus’s being “saved” (s?z? [NIV: “healed”]) involves both physical healing (3:4; 5:23, 28; 6:56) and spiritual healing (8:35; 10:26; 13:13).9The combination of ...

1060. Prophetic Actions—The Temple Condemned and the Fig Tree Cursed

Mark 11:12-19

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... intercalation (as in 3:20–35; 5:21–43) with the cursing (vv. 12–14, 19–21) framing the judgment on the temple (vv. 15–18). Thereby they interpret each other. Interpretive Insights 11:12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany. Mark ties the clearing incident to the triumphal entry both chronologically and geographically. Note all the temporal markers: “it was already late” (v. 11), “the next day” (v. 12), “on reaching Jerusalem” (v. 15), “when evening came” (v. 19), “in ...

1061. The Baby Messiah Recognized

Luke 2:21-40

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... 1 Sam. 1:28), was actually dedicated to God’s service rather than “redeemed” for normal life. But although Jesus was welcomed into the temple by Simeon, he, unlike Samuel (e.g., 1 Sam. 2:11, 18), did not remain in service there; so probably Luke simply leaves the regular payment to be assumed. 2:25 Simeon. Luke tells us little about him, though the fact that he “blessed” the family may suggest that he was a priest, and most readers assume from the opening of his song that he was an old man. His ...

1062. Freedom from the Law through Christ, Enslavement to the Law through Adam

Romans 7:7-25, Romans 7:1-6

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... version of a PBS film based on the story was released on DVD in 2004. Hymn Text: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” by Robert Robinson. Robinson (1735–90) writes, with what could be read as muted desperation, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love.” In light of that reality, he cries, “Here’s my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for the courts above.” “Wretched Man That I Am”: Battle of the Two Ages within the Christian Big Idea: Paul shares how the battle of ...

1063. The Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses and Blessings: Replacing Law with Faith

Romans 9:30--10:21

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... because of faith righteousness (10:19–21) We may conveniently divide 9:30–10:21 into five sections: 9:30–10:4; 10:5; 10:6–8; 10:9–13; 10:14–21. I will cover the first two of these sections in this unit, leaving 10:6–21 for the next unit. Historical and Cultural Background Two key pieces of background information illuminate Romans 9:30–10:5. I simply list them here (for fuller discussion, see the “Additional Insights” section): (1) the Deuteronomic tradition; (2) Paul’s mention of ...

1064. The Aaronic Blessing

Numbers 6:22-27

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation” (Exod. 34:6–7). On the gracious side, he is slow to get angry and forgives sins of all kinds and degrees. And yet he remains holy: “He does not leave the guilty unpunished.” The strict requirements of the law show God’s holiness. But there is a tension between God’s holiness and God’s grace. It is God’s gracious character that allows him to forgive and forgo sending calamity when people repent (2 Chron ...

1065. Ingratitude and Judgment

Num 11:1-35

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... s plan for their lives. They complain, God tells them, “because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you” (v. 20). Many Israelites no longer believe that God has a better life in store for them in Canaan. Therefore, they wail, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” (v. 20). It is their doubts about God that fuel their complaints. Even the great Moses is subject to doubts (vv. 21–23), as are we. Third, ingratitude can lead to forfeiture of blessings (vv. 1–2, 20, 33–34). Israel’s unbelief brings ...

1066. Failure to Enter the Land

Num 13:1–14:9

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... repeatedly since departing from Egypt (v. 22). God in his mercy has limited the punishment, but God’s patience has now run out. This is the last straw. God forgives them (v. 20) in that he will not annihilate them. But since God “does not leave the guilty unpunished” (v. 18), the Israelites will not enter the promised land until after they have wandered in the wilderness for forty years. God’s promises are delayed and forfeited by a whole generation of Israelites. Even when some in part repent and ...

1067. Condemned to Wilderness Wandering

Numbers 14:1-45

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

1068. Immorality and Apostasy

Numbers 25:1-18

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... only had no intention of losing weight, but also insisted on eating a double cheeseburger, French fries, a jelly doughnut, and a milkshake right in front of the group. It would be totally inappropriate and disruptive. The offender probably would be asked to leave. Zimri was guilty of something similar in flagrantly and openly flouting the moral standards of God. Had he been allowed to do so unchecked, it would have undermined the discipline of all Israel. The church, like Weight Watchers, seeks to encourage ...

1069. The Second Census

Numbers 26:1-65

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... are said to be sons of Bela, whereas they are listed in Genesis 46:21 alongside Bela as sons of Benjamin. “Son” can mean grandson. Genesis 46:21 lists sons and grandsons without distinction. The 45,600 indicates that Benjamin has increased by 10,200 after leaving Egypt. 26:42–43 Dan . . . 64,400. Shuham appears as Hushim in Genesis 46:23. Dan is omitted in 1 Chronicles 1–8. The 64,400 shows an increase of 1,700, making Dan the second-largest tribe. 26:44–47 Asher . . . 53,400. See Genesis ...

1070. David on the Run

1 Sam 21:1–22:5

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... Lord has demonstrated his ability to protect David. But human emotions can be fickle, and in this next episode David’s faith wavers. Yet the Lord reminds David of his destiny and his past success, ironically using the lips of the Philistines to do so (21:11). David leaves the land of Judah, but to his credit, his humiliating experience in Gath reminds him to wait on God’s guidance (22:3). Through a prophetic message from Gad, God calls him back to his own land to face up to his destiny (22:5). David has ...

1071. David Flees to Gath—Again

1 Samuel 27:1-12

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... s actions are probably to be understood in a negative light. One could certainly blame Saul for what happens (cf. 26:19), but the Lord has protected David and reminds him of his destiny time and time again (cf. 1 Sam. 23–26). Yet his faith wavers, and he leaves the land he is destined to rule. He resorts to deceit, as he has done before (cf. 1 Sam. 21–22), rather than seeking the Lord’s will (as he did in 1 Sam. 23). While he cleverly avoids needing to attack his own people and (unwittingly?) fights ...

1072. Eliphaz

Job 4:1-5:27

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... :10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Some of the appropriate words are as follows: Be still, my soul—the Lord is on thy side! Bear patiently the cross of grief and pain; Leave to thy God to order and provide— In ev’ry change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul—thy best, thy heav’nly Friend Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end. Eliphaz Thinks He Knows the Answer Big Idea: Eliphaz knows much truth about God, but he ...

1073. Bildad Has the Answer (He Thinks!)

Job 8:1-22

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... retribution theology for exceptions, such as the good who die young, the wicked who get away with murder, or a blameless person like Job who experiences adversity. 8:21–22 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter. At the end of his first speech, Bildad leaves the door open for hope for Job, but only if he will repent of his sin (cf. 8:5–7). Suggesting that Job’s situation can be redeemed, Bildad paints a hopeful picture of what Job’s life restored to God’s blessing would look like. Theological ...

1074. Bildad Again Beats the Retribution Drum

Job 18:1-21

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... , echoes many of the points made by Eliphaz in his second speech, in Job 15. As a theoretical thinker, Bildad views Job’s situation as a generic case study of retribution, not as the unique, personal tragedy that it is. Bildad’s rigid thinking, therefore, leaves him little room to encourage Job. Bildad begins with a strong retort against Job (18:1–4), rejecting as nonsense what Job has said. The major portion of Bildad’s speech (18:5–21) is a lecture; he contends that the world functions as a ...

1075. Zophar’s Final Words for Job

Job 20:1-29

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... what is evil. The cravings that drive people to do what is wrong will cause them to eat what will eventually destroy them, just as a fish in consuming the bait also swallows the hook that brings its demise. By the end of Zophar’s speech, he leaves no room for Job to expect anything but God’s judgment. In Zophar’s mind, Job stands guilty and condemned, without any other possible result. Zophar does not plead with Job to repent, as the other friends have done, but rather he paints a picture of certain ...

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