Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 1201 to 1225 of 4942 results

1201. Paul the Apostle of the New Covenant to the Gentiles

Romans 15:14-22

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C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: Here Paul presents himself as the apostle of the new covenant to the Gentiles. Two ideas therefore inform this text. First, Romans 15:14–16:27 corresponds to the document clause of the covenant format. Second, Paul is the eschatological apostle to the Gentiles who offers them membership in the new covenant through faith in Christ. Understanding the Text Many commentators rightly argue that Romans 15:14–16:27 completes the epistolary frame of Romans. Thus, like the conclusions in Paul’s other ...

1202. Imitation and Role Modeling

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

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Preben Vang

Big Idea: Christ followers must aim to become imitators of Christ in all they do. Their testimony to their relationship to Christ trumps their Christian “rights” and leads to a rejection of contexts that hamper this testimony. Understanding the Text After a rather direct warning to the “strong” Christians in Corinth against self-assuredness and the pursuit of personal rights at the expense of the “weak,” Paul now returns to his earlier differentiating argument about the relationship between idol meat and ...

1203. Resurrection and Christian Living

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

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Preben Vang

Big Idea: The resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith; without it, faith cannot stand and Christian living has no motivation. It is the announcement that God has reversed the curse of the fall. Death no longer has any sting. Understanding the Text After solidly grounding the resurrection in the soil of history, Paul moves on to establish its theological significance. His theological argument moves through three stages. He begins by a theological restatement of his Scripture/eyewitness ...

1204. Greeting, Doxology, and Confession

Revelation 1:4-8

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: John’s greeting from the Father, Spirit, and Son results in praise to God and anticipation of Christ’s return, and is a powerful reminder of God’s sovereign control over the universe. Understanding the Text The prologue (1:1–8) continues with a greeting and doxology (1:4–6) followed by a prophetic confession (1:7–8). John’s greeting of grace and peace to the seven churches compares to the kind of greeting we find in Paul’s letters, but John includes a fuller description of the source of the ...

1205. Message to Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Jesus encourages his church to endure suffering faithfully, knowing that he can bring life out of death. Understanding the Text The message to the church in Smyrna is the second in the series of seven messages in Revelation 2–3. Among the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2–3, only Smyrna and Philadelphia receive all praise or encouragement without any blame or accusation related to a sin. Interestingly, the message to Smyrna contains fewer Old Testament allusions than any of the other ...

1206. Message to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-13

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Jesus commends his church for persevering in obedience under trying circumstances and reassures them with the promise of his eternal presence. Understanding the Text The message to the church in Philadelphia is the sixth in the series of messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2–3. To the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia, Jesus offers no rebuke but only praise as they endure rejection for his sake. Although this Philadelphian congregation has “little strength,” it has endured opposition, ...

1207. God on His Throne as the Sovereign Creator

Revelation 4:1-11

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: The heavenly beings worship God as the sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe. Understanding the Text Following John’s introductory vision of the risen and glorified Christ and his messages to the seven churches in 1:9–3:22, the scene shifts from earth to heaven in 4:1. This throne-room vision of Revelation 4–5 anchors the rest of the book. This vision first presents God as the sovereign Creator seated on his throne (4:1–11) before turning to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, as the only one ...

1208. The Harvest of the Earth

Revelation 14:14-20

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: At the end of the age, unbelievers will suffer God’s wrathful judgment. Understanding the Text The harvest of the earth is composed of two visions that continue the judgment theme from 14:6–13: the grain harvest (14:14–16) and the grape harvest (14:17–20). Both units (14:6–13 and 14:14–20) are linked not only by the theme of judgment but also by the mention of seven angels or groups of angels (14:6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18). The central interpretive question, much debated by commentators, is whether ...

1209. The Millennial Reign, Followed by Satan’s Release, Defeat, and Punishment

Revelation 20:1-7, Revelation 20:8-10

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Following the millennial reign, Satan will be released for a final battle only to be defeated for good and eternally condemned. Understanding the Text Following Satan’s imprisonment (20:1–3), believers will reign with Christ over creation (20:4–6). The term “millennium” is a word taken from the Latin for “thousand years” (20:2). The millennial reign both fulfills God’s promise of a messianic kingdom on earth (see “Theological Insights” below) and inaugurates life in the new heaven and new earth ( ...

1210. The Final Judgment

Revelation 20:11-15

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: The unrepentant will face God’s just judgment and will suffer eternal death as a result. Understanding the Text The wicked are judged at the return of Christ (19:21: “the rest were killed”) and are denied resurrection at the beginning of the millennium (20:4–6; a second “resurrection” is deliberately never mentioned). Following the millennium, the wicked are pulled back from the realm of the dead when Satan is also released from his prison (20:8–9). They are duped once again into following the ...

1211. The Burnt Offering

Leviticus 1:1-17

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God is receptive to the petitions of those totally consecrated to him. Understanding the Text Leviticus continues the story of the book of Exodus. Eleven and a half months after the exodus, Israel completes the tabernacle, and the “glory of the Lord” takes up residence there (Exod. 40:1, 17, 34–38). Leviticus instructs Israelites on using that tabernacle for burnt offerings (Lev. 1), grain offerings (Lev. 2), fellowship offerings (Lev. 3), sin offerings (Lev. 4:1–5:13), and guilt offerings (Lev. ...

1212. The Sin Offering

Leviticus 4:1--5:13

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: There needs to be cleansing from sin before God. Understanding the Text The sin offering is the fourth in a series of five offerings found in Leviticus 1:1–6:7. Why are the sin and guilt offerings not treated with the earlier atoning sacrifice, the burnt offering? Probably because unlike the burnt offering, the sin and guilt offerings are obligatory.1The burnt, grain, and fellowship offerings can be offered whenever one feels the need; sin and guilt offerings are mandatory whenever one commits ...

1213. The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

Leviticus 8:1-36

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Ordination to ministry conveys dignity to a vital profession. Understanding the Text The description of the various kinds of sacrifices in Leviticus 1–7 assumes the existence of the Aaronic priesthood as anticipated in Exodus 29. But these sacrifices cannot be performed until the priesthood is actually established. Leviticus 8–10 concerns the establishing of the Aaronic priesthood. Leviticus 8 describes the ordination of the Aaronic priests, as God commanded Moses in Exodus 29 and 40. Leviticus 9 ...

1214. Living by God’s Sexual Standards

Leviticus 18:1-30

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God’s moral and sexual standards bring life. Understanding the Text Leviticus 18 within the laws of holiness (Lev. 17–27) teaches holiness to laypersons in the areas of incest and sexuality. It exhorts the Israelites to live differently than do the Egyptians or the Canaanites (vv. 1–5) in those areas (vv. 6–23) or else be expelled from the land (vv. 24–30). The present chapter overlaps in content with Leviticus 20. In terms of sacred space, Leviticus 18–20 arguably describes things that ...

1215. Holiness of Priests

Lev 21:1–23:2

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Those who lead God’s people in worship must show a special degree of separation to God. Understanding the Text Leviticus 21 is the first of two chapters on the holiness of priests, teaching how, as servants of Yahweh’s holy things, they must maintain a special degree of holiness or else be disqualified from serving the sanctuary. This is thus a continuation of the theme of holiness found in what is commonly referred to as the holiness code (Lev. 17–27). Leviticus 21:1–22:31 is arranged in a ...

1216. Holy Days and Festivals

Le 22:17–23:22

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God uses religious occasions and holidays to teach his people to be holy. Understanding the Text Leviticus 23 continues the theme of holiness in the holiness code (Lev. 17–27) and the broader theme in Leviticus of maintaining an equilibrium between the human and the divine (see the introduction to Leviticus). Leviticus 21–22 deals with holy priests and holy offerings. Now the text moves on to holy days and festivals used by God to instill in Israel a sense of being a holy people in proper ...

1217. The Choice: Obedience or Punishment

Lev 26:1-46

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Obedience and disobedience have profound consequences. Understanding the Text Leviticus 26 is a continuation of Leviticus 25. The two chapters have a common introduction (25:1–2a) and conclusion (26:46), both emphasizing Mount Sinai. Leviticus 26 refers back to Leviticus 25’s instructions to give the land its Sabbath rests (26:34–35, 43). Its command to keep the Sabbath (26:2) naturally follows Leviticus 25’s Sabbath Year theme. But in a broader sense this chapter sums up the entire holiness code ...

1218. The Census of the Twelve Tribes

Num 1:1–2:54

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God fulfills his promises. Understanding the Text Numbers begins with Israel still “in the Desert of Sinai,” where it has received the Ten Commandments (Num. 1:1; cf. Exod. 19:1–2). Numbers continues the story of Exodus and Leviticus. At the end of the book of Exodus, Israel constructs the tabernacle, or “tent of meeting.” The book of Leviticus gives rules for how Israel is to use the tabernacle. Now from that tent at Mount Sinai God gives further instructions. Centuries earlier God had promised ...

1219. The Nazirite Vow

Numbers 6:1-21

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Willingly dedicate oneself to God. Understanding the Text The Nazirite regulations continue the theme of purity from Numbers 5. The Nazirites are laymen and laywomen who in a special way have dedicated themselves to God. Amos lists the Nazirite with the prophet as a special kind of holy person (Amos 2:11–12). These regulations also continue the theme of oaths, for both the woman suspected of adultery and the Nazirite make oaths (Num. 5:15–31; 6:2). Historical and Cultural Background Nazirite ...

1220. Preparations for Worship (Part 2)

Num 8:1-26

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Worship involves a sense of God’s presence and a need for personal purity. Understanding the Text Numbers 7 ends with God’s revelation to Moses from above the ark of the covenant (Num. 7:39); it continues in Numbers 8 with a specific message from God about the golden lampstand and about the consecration of the Levites in preparation for tabernacle service. More generally, both Numbers 7 and Numbers 8 are part of the final preparations necessary to make the tabernacle and its maintenance staff ...

1221. Balaam’s Final Prophecies: The Star and the Scepter

Num 24:15-25

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God and Israel’s coming king will overcome Israel’s enemies. Understanding the Text The prophecies of Numbers 24:14–25 conclude the Balaam cycle (Num. 22–24). Three times Balak king of Moab brings the Mesopotamian diviner Balaam to a mountain height to give Israel the evil eye and curse it. Three times God makes Balaam bless Israel instead. Now Balaam foresees how Israel under its star-and-scepter king (Num. 24:17) will crush Moab and how other enemies of Israel will suffer calamity. As before, ...

1222. Immorality and Apostasy

Numbers 25:1-18

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God’s people must deal with immorality and idolatry. Understanding the Text Numbers 25 moves from the story of the Balaam cycle to Israel’s last act of rebellion in the book of Numbers: its idolatry with Baal of Peor. At first glance, this story seems unrelated to Numbers 22–24, simply picking up where Numbers 21 left off with Israel camped on the plains of Moab after defeating Sihon and Og. But that initial impression is wrong. First, this unit provides a contrast: Balaam and Balak cannot curse ...

1223. Joshua Appointed as Moses’s Successor

Numbers 27:12-23

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God raises up new leaders for his people. Understanding the Text The decision allowing the daughters of Zelophehad to inherit land (Num. 27:1–10) is an appropriate occasion for God to remind Moses that he will not enter the promised land. Moses instead must appoint a successor in leadership. Moses is thus instructed about how he will soon die after viewing the land from atop the Abarim mountain range in Moab, though this foretelling is not immediately fulfilled. Moses still needs to convey the ...

1224. Meet Israel’s New King

1 Sam 9:1–10:8

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Even when his people’s faith falls short of his expectations, the Lord remains faithful and makes provision for their deliverance. Understanding the Text Israel demanded to have a king like the nations that lived around them (1 Sam. 8). They wanted a leader who would ensure national security (8:19–20) through an army and alliances. Despite how they may have viewed this request, the Lord regarded it as a rejection of his authority (8:7): it showed that the people were not willing to demonstrate ...

1225. The Lord Guides, Encourages, and Protects David

1 Samuel 23:1-29

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord guides, encourages, and protects his chosen servants in their darkest hours. Understanding the Text Saul’s intention to destroy David was never clearer than in chapter 22, which tells how Saul murdered the priests of Nob simply because he believed they had conspired with David against him. As the story continues, the tension is high because God told David to return to Judah (22:5), placing him in harm’s way. But chapter 23 shows that the God who places his servant in harm’s way also ...

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