Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 1201 to 1225 of 2844 results

1201. The Spirit and the Glory of the Age to Come and the New Covenant

Romans 8:28-39, Romans 8:18-27

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: Paul showcases another blessing from the Spirit of the new covenant: glory. More particularly, the Spirit is a sign of the glory of the age to come and the new covenant. And yet, that glory occurs in the midst of this age and suffering. Understanding the Text 1. Suffering/glory (8:18) 2. Three groanings (8:19–27) a. Creation groans (hope for the revelation of the children of God) (8:19–22) b. Believers groan (firstfruits of the Spirit / by hope we were saved) (8:23–25) c. The Spirit groans (the ...

1202. Personal Rights and Christian Testimony

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Personal rights must be put aside when they hinder an effective witness to unbelievers, or if they endanger the faith of immature believers. Even theological arguments that disclose certain behaviors as immaterial to the Christian faith become irrelevant in light of the greater assignment to imitate Christ. Understanding the Text The transition from chapter 8 seems quite abrupt. Is Paul taking a ninety-degree turn from a question about participation in Corinthian parties (eating meat) to his ...

1203. The First Four Trumpet Judgments

Revelation 8:6--9:21, Revelation 8:1-5

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: God responds to the prayers of his people by pouring out the first four trumpet judgments on an unbelieving world. Understanding the Text We see three sets of judgments in Revelation: seals, trumpets, and bowls. In both the seal and the trumpet judgments, we find a 4 + 2 + 1 pattern with an interlude coming before the last element: Pattern…Judgments…Revelation Text 4…Seals 1-4…6:1-8 2…Seals 5-6…6:9-17 --…Interlude…7:1-17 1…Seal 7…8:1 4…Trumpets 1-4…8:2-12 2…Trumpets 5-6 (Woes 1-2)…8:13—9:21 --… ...

1204. Ingratitude and Judgment

Num 11:1-35

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Ingratitude toward God can lead to forfeiture of blessings. Understanding the Text After nearly a year at Mount Sinai, Israel resumes its march toward the promised land (Num. 10:11; cf. Exod. 19:1–2). It is an auspicious start. Everyone lines up as God has commanded through Moses (Num. 10:13–28) and as directed by the blasts of silver trumpets (Num. 10:1–10). God himself guides the Israelites in the fire cloud and with the ark (Num. 10:34–36). But after three days’ journey from Sinai (Num. 10:33 ...

1205. Fighting Wars and Keeping a Promise: David Establishes an Ideal of Kingship

2 Sam 8:1–10:19

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord blesses his chosen servants when they rely on his protection and seek to reflect his character in their dealings with others. Understanding the Text The narrator’s positive portrayal of King David continues in these chapters. Once David became king over all Israel, he conquered the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem and then turned the tables on the Philistines. He brought the ark to Jerusalem and intended to build a house (temple) for it. But then the Lord surprised David by announcing ...

1206. “May the Net They Hid Entangle Them”

Psalm 35:1-28

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Rather than taking vengeance for injustice into our own hands, we can pray that its perpetrators will become victims of their own contrivances. Understanding the Text Psalm 35, the first of the imprecatory psalms, deals with the issue of divine justice in a bare-bones way. In one sense, it is an individual lament (Craigie), but in its total effect, it is more a prayer for deliverance (Wilson). The form critics, seeking the cultural context for such prayers, are inclined to view the psalm as a ...

1207. “Your Love Is Better Than Life”

Psalm 63:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Even in the “dry and parched land” of our problems, God’s love is still better than life. Understanding the Text Psalm 63 is an individual lament,1 which Kraus puts into his subcategory of “the prayer song of the persecuted and the accused,”2 for which the psalm certainly qualifies in view of “those who want to kill” him (63:9). It also contains elements of thanksgiving (63:3–7) and confidence (63:8–10),3 which is not unusual for lament psalms. The psalmist, in a “parched land where there is no ...

1208. Learning from the Sins of the Past

Deut 1:9-46

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Moses goes on: prior to God’s supplying the law on Sinai, Moses’s father-in-law, Jethro, advised Moses to decentralize the legal process so that he would have assistance from appointed leaders and judges. Otherwise, the burden of this people would be too heavy for him to carry alone (1:9, 12; cf. Exod. 18:13–26). This advice he followed with God’s approval. Now, having left Horeb, as Israel was poised to enter the Amorite territory from the south they proposed that spies first be sent out to reconnoiter ...

1209. The Coming of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

4:13–18 · In this section the apostles respond to the second inquiry of the Thessalonian believers. They were ignorant about the destiny of believers who had died before the Lord’s advent. Verse 13 implies that between the time Paul left and Timothy’s visit some members of the church had passed away. The believers’ grief prompts Paul to orient them theologically and encourage them to comfort one another (4:18). This section picks up many of the themes found in ancient letters of consolation, such as the ...

1210. Here's Mud In Your Eye

John 9:1-41

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

"Just the facts, ma'am!" That phrase, often attributed to Sergeant Joe Friday of Dragnet fame, even though it did not originate with him, goes straight to the point. Now here is another "just the facts personality": Julius Caesar was admired for his ability to make uncluttered summations of his great achievements. In a few words Caesar could lay bare the story of his accomplishments. Perhaps none of his statements is any better known than that famous terse tricolon that has followed Caesar since his quick ...

1211. Mary: The Handmaiden of the Lord

Luke 1:38-45

Sermon

Charley Reeb

This morning I want to tell you how to get blessed by God. We all want God to bless us. This morning I am going to tell how to get that done. How many of you want to be blessed by God? Me too! Now when I say blessed I am not talking about the prosperity, name and claim it gospel that’s popular. I am not talking about saying a prayer and having a million dollars in cash show up in a briefcase at your doorstep. When I say bless I am talking about God showing up in your life in a way that transforms you. I am ...

1212. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Mark 6:30-44

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

6:30–44 From early times the feeding accounts have understandably attracted great attention, and continuing scholarly effort is made to try to understand them more fully. There are two feeding accounts in Mark—here, and at 8:1–10, where four thousand are fed—and also two accounts in Matthew (14:13–21; 15:32–39). Luke (9:10–17) and John (6:1–15) each report only the feeding of the five thousand. Much modern scholarly study has been devoted to the sources of the feeding accounts and other complex historical ...

1213. The Burnt Offering

Leviticus 1:1-17

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Manual of Sacrifice: We have noted the logical structure of the book of Leviticus. Since sacrifice is first offered at the tabernacle in chapter 8, instruction for offering sacrifice (chs. 1–7) precedes that act. These seven chapters comprise the first major section of the book, and they are aptly titled “The Manual of Sacrifice.” These chapters were probably composed over a period of time. The rituals described no doubt date back into the history of ancient Israel. It may well be that the instructions ...

1214. Moab Seduces Israel

Numbers 25:1-18

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Apostasy at Shittim: The next episode in Numbers is part of something of a pattern in these early biblical books. The Balaam episode has witnessed God’s firm resolve to bless Israel as the people are poised to enter Canaan. The camp is large and experiencing military success; God is with them. In some ways Israel’s position here is analogous to that in the first part of the spy narrative in Numbers 13–14. Israelites are ready to take the land, but again they are faithless. They appear to be ready to ...

1215. Feast of Trumpets (II)

Numbers 29:1-6

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Offerings and Festivals: The structure of daily and special worship becomes the subject for chapters 28–29. The book of Numbers began with the organization of life as God’s people, emphasizing the spatial dimension as they journeyed (the divine presence at the center, then priests and Levites, and then the people). Soon, when the people enter the land, this spatial organization will be less relevant. So in these chapters, the Priestly tradents are instructing the people to order life liturgically around ...

1216. Day of Atonement (III)

Numbers 29:7-11

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

1217. Feast of Tabernacles (II)

Numbers 29:12-40

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

1218. Feast of Tabernacles

Leviticus 23:33-44

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Festival Calendar: Worship and the tabernacle were located at the center of ancient Israel’s life. Chapter 23 articulates the calendar of special worship events. Exodus 23:14–17 and 34:17–26 prefigure this more detailed description, and Numbers 28–29 and Deuteronomy 16:1–17 also treat the issues. No doubt the historical development of this calendar is long and complex. Certainly early agricultural festivals underlie the festivals described in this chapter, as do practices from the Jerusalem temple. ...

1219. Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified

John 19:1-16, John 18:28-40

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

The sentencing of Jesus to death takes place within the framework of a series of exchanges between the Roman governor Pilate and the Jewish religious authorities. The time is from early morning (18:28) to noon (19:14) of the day after Jesus’ arrest. The structure of the narrative is determined by the fact that the Jewish authorities, for reasons of ritual purity, would not go inside the palace that served as Pilate’s headquarters (v. 28). Contact with the dwelling of a Gentile—even a temporary dwelling, ...

1220. Wives and Husbands

1 Peter 3:1-7

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

To Wives 3:1 Peter’s linking phrase in the same way occurs again in verse 7, as he turns to speak to husbands. So the expression is not to be taken as being too significant in itself: in verse 7 there is no question of husbands being admonished to be submissive to their wives. Neither is Peter implying that wives are to be submissive in the way expected of the slaves he has just been addressing (2:18), for the husband/wife relationship is on a different plane. Each wife is instructed to be submissive to ...

1221. The Plague of Blood

Exodus 7:14-24

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

7:14–25 First Blood. The account of the first plague begins with the notice that Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding. The Hebrew word here is kabed, meaning a “fat” heart or “heavy and sluggish” heart. In this context it could be paraphrased “self-fulfilled” or “self-satisfied.” The word describes Pharaoh’s “hard heart” in 7:14; 8:14, 28; 9:7, 34; 10:1; 14:4, 17. The synonym used elsewhere for “hard heart” is khazaq, which means “tough” or “strong.” Pharaoh will not change much in the conflict that follows. He ...

1222. The Song of Moses

Deuteronomy 31:30--32:47

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

A Song for the Future: At the beginning of Chapter 31, we move finally to the “outer frame” of the book, composed of chapters 1–3 and 31–34. The links between the two sections are very clear, and they could be read together continuously. The common theme, especially at the “join” (cf. 3:21–28), is the commissioning of Joshua to lead the Israelites into the land, in view of the fact that Moses would not do so but would die outside it. However, whereas chapters 1–3 focus primarily on the past, chapters 31–34 ...

1223. Elijah Taken Up to Heaven

2 Kings 2:1-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Elijah Gives Way to Elisha: Elijah’s days have been numbered ever since 1 Kings 19:15–18. The end of the war with Baal-worship will not come about, we know from that passage, until Elisha has succeeded his mentor and Hazael and Jehu have appeared on the scene. We are now to hear of the first of these events, as the prophetic mantle passes from Elijah to Elisha. As Elijah has called fire down from heaven in chapter 1, so in chapter 2 he will be lifted in fire up to heaven, and Elisha will be authenticated ...

1224. Healing of the Water

2 Kings 2:19-22

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1225. Elisha is Jeered

2 Kings 2:23-25

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

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