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 1076 to 1100 of 4963 results

1076. Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... Mark 1:20), the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 1:1), and the Gentiles (Eph. 3:6). In Ephesians, the Gentiles have been told that God has chosen them to be his children (1:4, 5), appointed them to praise God’s glory (1:12), called them to a wonderful hope (1:18), and incorporated them into the body of Christ for a life of good works (2:10). Now they are admonished to demonstrate their calling and position in Christ by living a worthy ethical life. To live a life is a translation of the Greek peripateō, which means ...

1077. Warning Against Falling Away

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... 3, pp. 1168–70. The emphasis in the original is more on the full assurance (or possibly, fullness) of hope than on the actual experiencing of the things hoped for, although the latter is implied in the words to the very end. On the word for “full assurance ... ,” (plērophoria), see R. Schippers, NIDNTT, vol. 1, p. 735. Similar emphases are evident in the book (for “hope” see 3:6; for “to the end” see 3:14). Lazy translates the same Greek word as “slow” in 5:11, which ...

1078. The Christian and the World

James 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... spirits by serving the world, God’s jealousy is aroused. Woe be to the person who ignores such a threat, as if scripture were so much paper and ink! 4:6 James argues that God is angry with these believers; he is their enemy. Yet James leaves his readers with hope rather than dread: But he gives us more grace. James is aware of God’s judgment upon those who refuse to repent (5:1–6), but he is equally aware of the vast readiness of God to forgive. God’s desire to forgive is a precept upon which his ...

1079. Naomi and Ruth

Ruth 1:1-22

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

... s house after the collapse of her marriage, yet parental gender has nothing to do with the point of the story. So it is here as well. In fact, Boaz later commends Ruth for leaving her mother and father (2:11). Naomi underlines her concern via two hope-filled statements. The first is, May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. Evidently she is impressed with these Moabite women. Out of deep concern for their welfare she pronounces the first of several statements that, taken ...

1080. Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar

Jeremiah 27:1-22

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... sorcerers. This is a laundry list of those who claim to know the future. Scripture permits some of these roles, but some, like the last two, are absolutely prohibited (see Deut. 18:9–13). They are lying to these leaders and leading them astray. The only hope for these five nations is to submit to the yoke of Babylon. 27:12–15 Jeremiah then delivers the above message to Zedekiah, then king of Judah. He too should submit (bow your neck) to Nebuchadnezzar (the king of Babylon). Surrender is the passport to ...

1081. Remember, O Lord, What Has Happened to Us

Lamentations 5:1-22

One Volume

Tremper Longman III

... right to punish them, but prods God to consider whether such an attitude is really the way God wants to go. The last verse of the book even raises the possibility that God has decided to utterly reject Judah because his anger is so great, but the poet hopes against that possibility as he asks God to restore them to the kind of relationship they had in the past (days of old). Of course, the immediate past was a time of rebellion, indeed so was much of the past relationship between God and his people. It is ...

1082. A Crown for Joshua

Zechariah 6:9-15

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... In the New Testament, Jesus the Christ is a descendant of David (Matt. 1:1–17) and a priest “in the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:11–17). The ministry of Zechariah, both the prophet and the book, is to transfer, for the time being, the people’s hopes for the Messiah to the completed temple and its priests. The temple is a sign, a guarantee that fulfillment had only been deferred. 6:14 Finally, the gold and silver crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen to be stored in the temple as ...

1083. Judgment on Israel's Enemies

Zechariah 9:1-8

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... the day of the Lord’s judgment (Isa. 13:8; Jer. 51:29; Joel 2:6). In Isaiah 23:5 it is Egypt that writhes upon hearing the report of Tyre’s fall. Ekron, at the center of the chiasm in this verse, will also writhe, for her hope will wither. The loss of the king of Gaza would be essential preparation for incorporating Philistia into Judah again. The negated verb in the last sentence of verse 5 may indicate a lack of inhabitants (yshb, “sit, dwell”), as in the NIV, Ashkelon will be deserted, or a ...

1084. The Raising of Lazarus

John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... (vv. 28–32). She had remained at home, in mourning, and came out to meet Jesus only when Martha came back to summon her (v. 28). Her first words on seeing Jesus duplicate exactly the words of Martha (v. 32; cf. v. 21), but without the added note of hopefulness (cf. v. 22). The narrator seems to know the same traditions about Mary and Martha that are known to Luke, for he portrays Mary always at Jesus’ feet (v. 32; cf. 12:3; Luke 10:39). But in the present account at least, hers is a secondary role. She ...

1085. Shining as Stars

Philippians 2:12-18

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... of his own life of apostolic service, but he is willing that it should be reckoned not to his credit but to theirs. If so, “nothing is here for tears”; such a prospect causes him to rejoice, as it should them. 2:18 Paul has said earlier that he hopes to be released so as to increase their “progress and joy in the faith” (1:25). But they must rejoice no less if matters turn out otherwise. Whatever the outcome of the trial, honor will be brought to the name of Christ (1:20), and that should give them ...

1086. Jacob’s Children

Genesis 29:31--30:24

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... numerous offspring (12:2–3). Leah named her first son Reuben, meaning “see, a son.” With this name she expressed her joy at God’s having looked on her misery caused by her husband’s not loving her. Since she had given Jacob his firstborn son, Leah hoped that he would love her now. But his attitude did not change. Leah then bore a second son and named him Simeon, “one who hears,” meaning that God had heard that she was not loved. The verb “heard” implies that she had been lamenting to God ...

1087. Riddles and Metaphors

Ezekiel 15:1-8, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ezekiel 17:1-24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... ’s fall is neither a meaningless calamity nor the result of the Lord’s defeat by Babylon’s gods. His message to the community in exile is, “This is our fault; we did this to ourselves.” However, implicitly, this approach contains a glimmer of hope: perhaps, then, things can be made right again! But first Judah must face up to what went wrong. This section opens with an accusation: “Did you not add lewdness to all your other detestable practices?” (v. 43b). The key words in this accusation are ...

1088. 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

... by the living God, changes that whole equation. Poetry: “Death Be Not Proud,” by John Donne. In this triumphant poem, Donne glories in the paradox of death dying. Building toward that joyful declaration, he recognizes that death seems immutable and irresistible. But the great hope from Christ’s resurrection is that in the final day death itself will be swallowed up by life. The final two lines of the poem read, One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die ...

1089. At the Tomb

Luke 24:1-12, Luke 23:50-56

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... still more in their selection and location of meetings with the risen Jesus). But while not all the details fit well together, all four accounts of the women and the angel(s) convey the same sense of surprise, fear, supernatural reassurance, and dawning hope, and of a stretching of the boundaries of normal experience in such a way that it is hardly surprising that the stories they told afterward were not identical. Historical and Cultural Background The bodies of those who were crucified were normally left ...

1090. Exile for National Israel, Restoration for Spiritual Israel

Romans 11:1-10

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... Christians, like Paul himself. And, to the degree that the church as a whole inherited the promises to Israel, it too could be included in the category of remnant (see again Rom. 11:11–24; cf. 1 Pet. 2:5–10; Rev. 7; 14). Indeed, Paul hoped that the conversion of Gentiles to Christ might make his Jewish compatriots jealous so that they might “take back” their Messiah (compare Rom. 11:11–12 with vv. 25–36). In that case, national Israel would become the spiritual remnant for the very first time in ...

1091. The Kindness and Sternness of God

Romans 11:11-24

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... of God (greater), how much more will God regraft the natural branches (Jews) into the tree of the people of God, assuming that they accept Christ (lesser).6 Thus, 11:11–24 issues a serious warning to Gentile Christians: do not look down on Jews. Paul hopes by this warning and his later comments in chapters 14–15 to bring unity to Gentile and Jew in the congregations at Rome. Theological Insights Several truths emerge in Romans 11:11–24. First, God is fair. In the present he shows sternness to the Jews ...

1092. Resurrection and Transformation (Part 1)

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... “enemy” to spoil the tower (knock it down). Now ask your listeners, “Is what just happened a natural part of the tower’s created nature or an attack that interrupts its creator’s will? For the creator’s will to be restored, what needs to happen?” Hopefully, they will say you need to rebuild the tower. Some may even say you need to bind your “enemy” first. (Have some rope and a chair handy, if you want.) In the same way, God has infused eternal life into each believer by his gospel, and ...

1093. Barren No More

1 Sam 1:1-20–2:11

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... by declaring, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judg. 21:25). First Samuel is a fitting sequel to Judges. Samuel reverses the downward leadership trend depicted in Judges and eventually anoints David as king, giving the nation hope that the situation lamented at the end of Judges will be rectified. The book begins with an account of Samuel’s birth. The key figure in the story is an oppressed, childless woman named Hannah. That this woman is suffering and oppressed comes ...

1094. “I Waited Patiently for the Lord; He Turned to Me and Heard My Cry”

Psalm 40:1-17

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... order of lament followed by thanksgiving, Psalms 9–10 pose a similar challenge to this order and show that the order is not sacrosanct.3 A thematic editorial principle definitely plays a role in the order of the Psalms. In the present case, the theme of “waiting,” or “hoping,” occurs in Psalms 37:7, 34; 38:15; 39:7 and was likely a factor in the placement of Psalm 40 here in the collection, especially in view of the fact that this is the initial theme of the psalm (40:1).4 The last five verses of ...

1095. “Zeal for Your House Consumes Me”

Psalm 69:1-36

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... One of David’s concerns is that he, because of his own behavior and example, might not bring disgrace on those who hope in God (69:6). This mark of theological integrity is an attribute that ought to create great respect for the psalmist, regardless ... kingdom of God. With the suppliant, in fact, it becomes a personal matter. He prays that his behavior will not bring shame on those who hope in God and seek him. Indeed, his passion for the temple (69:9a) is nothing less than a passion for God and for his ...

1096. Spiritual Warfare and Jewish Suffering

Daniel 8:1-14

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... Daniel’s narratives in which God establishes and removes kings and kingdoms as he pleases, and shine this light into the darkness of this vision, and into our world today. Remind your listeners that, as citizens of God’s kingdom, we have a bright and enduring hope because the mortal from heaven (cf. 7:13–14) has come to receive the eternal kingdom of God and has won the battle necessary to secure it. 2. God is with us. God’s people must remember that he shares our struggle against evil. Recognizing ...

1097. A Lesson Learned from a Snake

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... taken place in his own heart, he wanted to resolve the contrast he saw between Christ’s life and his own and thus he sought to make restitution for his sin. That is important to us. Many of us want to be half converted. We want to see Christ as hope but not as holiness. We want to be set free from guilt--without changing--so we still wear the chains of slavery. We are still tangled in a prison of cellophane. We see now what Jesus saw in Zacchaeus. We also see what Zacchaeus surely saw in Jesus. What did ...

1098. Dr. Jekyll Meet Jesus

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... ourselves from the power of sin at work in our lives. Positive thinking won’t do it. Personal discipline will not do it. Christ is our only hope. This is to say that we are set free from the power of sin when we accept God’s gift of grace which comes to us through ... we haven’t been able to create a strategy for coping with these self-destructive forces that have us in their grip. Our only hope is to turn to Christ. Only his grace will give us what we need to make a new start. Maybe a simple story will ...

1099. The Biggest Prayer Ever Prayed Under Heaven

John 17:1-11

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... ). From Bethlehem to calvary, the Lord's ministry on earth has a singular emphasis. He reveals what God is like to people. Before Jesus, the best representation the people have is through the message of their religious leaders. It is harsh and judgmental and is essentially lacking in hope. Jesus brings a new vision of what God is like. John in the opening of his gospel says, "No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known" (John 1:18). The upward ...

1100. Dead Hearts and New Beginnings

John 3:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... , in all good intention, make a statement of faith, as this pastor did, that comes across as far too glib because the person we are seeking to reassure knows that we have never been where he or she is. Still, the Gospel word is always a word of hope. God never forsakes His own. Even in the direst of circumstances there is the possibility of a new beginning. David A. Redding tells in one of his books about Orville Kelly--a man who was informed years ago that he was suffering from terminal cancer. He and his ...

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