Sermon and Worship Resources

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Habakkuk 2:2-20, Habakkuk 1:12--2:1

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... down. Babylon will long to discover what to do, but it will find that (unlike Yahweh, before whom Habakkuk stood waiting for a word) these images cannot speak. But the LORD—he is in his holy temple (the word order puts emphasis on the subject). “Temple” is literally “palace”; Habakkuk refers not to the temple/palace in Jerusalem but to Yahweh’s temple/palace in the heavens from which Yahweh exercises sovereignty in the world. What a contrast there is between this God and those so-called gods. Of ...

102. The Man Among Myrtle Trees

Zechariah 1:7-17

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... armed conflict is good, but it is a relative good. It is not the same as the shalom that the Lord’s reign provides (Zech. 9:10). God’s reign of shalom will not be a ceasefire brought about by preventing or suppressing rebellion by oppressed and subject peoples. It is a world of justice, security, and well-being for everyone, from the least to the greatest, under the blessing and authority of the Lord alone. 1:12–15 Darius no doubt welcomed reports that his empire was settled and quiet. He fought for ...

103. Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting

Zechariah 7:1-14

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... to the question about the fast in 7:5–7 (B) and another in 8:18–19 (B′). Both 7:8–10 (C) and 8:16–17 (C′) give summaries of God’s requirements for faithful living. God’s judgment on the Israelite ancestors is the subject of 7:11–14 (D) and 8:14 (D′). This fourfold concentric frame binds together the various sayings in the two chapters and reinforces their logical connection. The whole collection of oracles in Zechariah 7–8 answers the initial question about the fast of the fifth month ...

104. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... 3; charin echō in 2 Tim. 1:3; eulogētos ho theos in 2 Cor. 1:3; Eph. 1:3. The words every time I remember you (Gk. epi pasē tē mneia hymōn) might be rendered “every time you remember me” (if hymōn is subjective, not objective, genitive); cf. Moffatt: “for all your remembrance of me.” P. T. O’Brien thinks it “best to understand the phrase as a reference to the Philippians’ remembrance of Paul by means of their monetary support on several earlier occasions” (Introductory Thanksgivings, p ...

105. Walking in the Light

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

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... 2:9–11; 4:20–21). The last part of v. 5 looks forward, as the NIV punctuates it, to v. 6. This is how we know we are in him. The “how” is defined in the verse which follows. But we should take note that once again the subject is assurance (a confidence in short supply in the Johannine community because of the threat and boasts of the secessionists). How can we know that we are truly in a right relationship with God? This is what the phrase “to be in him” connotes. It means “fellowship … with ...

106. Assured by the Certainties of Faith

1 John 5:13-21

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... , we must ask according to his will. That is the only condition attached to this momentous promise, and it is the general condition of all prayer. “Your will be done” was not only in Jesus’ teaching model of prayer (Matt. 6:9–13), it was a condition to which he subjected himself (Matt. 26:39, 42; John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38–40). In the Gospel of John prayer must be in Jesus’ name (14:13–14; 15:16; 16:21–24, 26), and the praying disciples must abide in Jesus and his words in them (15:7). In 1 ...

107. Going to War

Deuteronomy 20:1-20

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... stumbling block to the other features of Deuteronomy’s rules of war, we can hardly remain unimpressed. Without a Geneva Convention, Deuteronomy advocates humane exemptions from combat; requires prior negotiation; prefers nonviolence; limits the treatment of subject populations; allows for execution of male combatants only; demands humane and dignified treatment of female captives; and insists on ecological restraint. We may even, as in the case of slavery, detect something that seems to undermine war ...

108. Israel's Sin and the Servant's Obedience

Isaiah 50:1-11

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... the notion of Gehenna, but it has not done so yet. Additional Notes 50:1 The air of finality about 49:26 and the change of conversation partners in 50:1 are perhaps what led to the English chapter division here (there is no new chapter in MT). But the subject remains the same for 50:1–3. 50:4–9 See, e.g., J. Calvin, Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (trans. W. Pringle; 4 vols.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1948), vol. 4, pp. 52–60.

109. “Cast Your Cares on the Lord and He Will Sustain You”

Psalm 55:1-23

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... verses 19–23. It seems very likely, however, as A. A. Anderson asserts, that the emotional stress of this author, persecuted by his enemies and betrayed by his friend, can account for the emotional swings.2The following outline reflects the mood swings as well as the subject shifts. 1. Invocation (55:1–3) 2. Lament/complaint (55:4–8) 3. Petition and review (55:9–15) a. Petition against the enemy (55:9a; the wicked [pl.]) b. Description of the evil city (55:9b–11) c. Review of betrayal (55:12–14 ...

110. The Trial of Jesus

Mark 15:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... was required in Jerusalem, where he resided in Herod’s palace, which is the probable site of the hearing of Jesus. Although Pilate was the longest-ruling Roman governor of Judea, his tenure ended in banishment. He was repeatedly challenged by his Jewish subjects, and his insensitivity and inflexibility in dealing with their confrontations led to his eventual exile under the emperor Caligula. Pilate asks Jesus the same question asked by the high priest in 14:61: “Are you the king of the Jews?” (15:2 ...

111. The Resurrection of the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . Or perhaps they refer to some who converted and were baptized in order to be reunited with their dead Christian loved ones. In any event, Paul does not recommend the practice but only states that it takes place. Paul’s own life is the subject of the next question. For if there is no resurrection, then to repeatedly “endanger” one’s life on behalf of the gospel is foolish (15:30). Why expend the effort that brings him unnecessarily closer to death every day? And what possible benefit could ...

112. God's Wrath Against Mankind

Romans 1:18-32

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... one is guilty of all the sins Paul accuses humanity of in these verses. Even Stalin was kind to his daughter and Goebbels to his dogs, we are told. Is not Paul’s assessment of human nature excessively bleak and unfair? Every age has its forbidden subjects. For the Victorians it was sex, for the modern West it is sin. One of the ironies of the twentieth century is that it has experienced greater evil than perhaps any previous century, and yet it has no category for sin. The nineteenth century taught that ...

113. God's Sovereign Choice

Romans 9:1-29

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... is, then, God’s freedom and mercy which Paul advocates in these verses. God’s superior power, his ability to execute what he desires, is, of course, everywhere acknowledged. Our fear, however, is that God will use his power arbitrarily and without regard to his subjects, or even against them. Everyone agrees that God is free; but is he just? Here, as elsewhere in Romans 9–11, Paul takes a surprising tack, for he does not defend God’s justice but champions his mercy. A God determined by justice would ...

114. Submission to the Authorities

Romans 13:1-7

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... for submission to powers which in the main oppose Christ (8:37–39; Gal. 4:8–11; Col. 2:15). Moreover, the designation of governing authorities is quite similar to nomenclature for rulers in 1 Timothy 2:2 and 1 Peter 2:13. Above all, the subject here is not supernatural powers (that would belong at the end of ch. 8), but civil authorities and taxation (vv. 6ff.). Full discussions are given in Gaugler, Der Römerbrief, vol. 2, pp. 275–79; and Dunn, Romans 9–16, p. 760. Similar to Marxsen, Schlatter ...

115. The Resurrection of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... that verbal voice in the tradition that Paul recalls may originally have indicated that God showed Christ to those who saw him. This arrangement is what Paul reports in Gal. 1:15–16, and the logic of such revelation fits well with the report of Christ’s being subjected to God at the end (1 Cor. 15:24–28). Much has been made of Paul’s failure to refer to the appearance of the resurrected Jesus to the women at the tomb. E. L. Allen (“The Lost Kerygma,” NTS 3 [1957], pp. 349–53), however, raises ...

116. The Resurrection of the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... . Paul signals the future quality of these reflections by using a series of verbs in the subjunctive mood in vv. 24, 25, 27, 28: somewhat lit. “he shall abolish” (v. 24), “he shall put” (v. 25), “he shall say” (v. 27), “all things shall be subjected,” and “God may/shall be” (v. 28). 15:25 The temporal qualifier until (Gk. achri hou) that occurs here is the same temporal designation that was used in 11:26 in reference to the period of time “until” the resurrected Christ may come. The ...

117. Job’s Reply to Zophar

Job 12:1--14:22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... speak his case before God. The two halves of this verse describe the give and take of courtroom examination and cross-examination. I will answer . . . you reply. Job will respond to God’s questioning, but he is also willing (almost eager, it seems) to subject God to a thorough examination: or let me speak. Ultimately it seems that neither of these scenarios is played out when God finally comes on the scene in chapters 38–42. Job never questions God when he appears and, although God does ask questions ...

118. Eliphaz's Third Speech to Job

Job 22:1-30

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... the same verse. The result is a remarkable visual as well as thematic grouping of these four verses. 22:1–2 The first two rhetorical questions are more general in nature. Eliphaz twice questions how humans can provide benefit to God, employing a different subject for the verb (Heb. skn, “be of use; service; benefit”) each time. At first it is the Hebrew geber, “man; warrior,” who is at issue. The term geber emphasizes the strength of the human being, as opposed to ʾenosh, that most often stresses ...

119. Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... . Daniel makes the same point in his lengthy prayer in chapter 9 (9:4–19). The word translated “delivered” in Daniel 1:2 is from the common Hebrew root meaning “to give.” This verb is used three times in chapter 1 with God as the subject. The Lord gave Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand (1:2). God gave Daniel favor and sympathy before the chief official (1:9). God gave to the four young men knowledge and understanding (1:17). By repeating this theme, the author highlights the fact that God is ...

120. Accusations

2 Corinthians 2:12--3:6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... (cf. 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 4:10–11). Whereas most interpretations of 2 Corinthians 2:14 consider the metaphor of triumphal procession only with respect to Paul, no interpretation so far has examined the metaphor with respect to God as the acting subject. In order to grasp this we will first recall a basic motif of the Roman triumphal procession, with its focus on the triumphant general and his chariot. Then we will investigate how Paul uses this imagery metaphorically in our text. The Roman triumphal ...

121. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... Already in 1 Corinthians 9:14, Paul defended his right as an apostle to receive support from the churches, even as he also explained why he voluntarily relinquished that right (1 Cor. 9:15–17). Earlier in 2 Corinthians, Paul has touched on the subject of peddling the word of God (cf. 2 Cor. 2:17), and he returns to this contentious issue in the subsequent context (cf. 12:13–18). Since Paul has divine authority for his apostleship, he is not concerned with demonstrating his authority by taking advantage ...

122. Praise to God for a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:1-12

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... 1:9; Luke 1:13, 26; Rev. 21:9, 15), even angels are not privy to all the details of God’s salvation plan. Naturally enough, like the OT prophets in their situation, the angels long to know more, for it is clear to them that the subject is of supreme importance in the divine scheme of things. Additional Notes 1:10 Prophets: Selwyn (pp. 262–67) argues that this means Christian prophets (Eph. 3:5; 4:11), but he has not persuaded most commentators. Peter often speaks of the prophets of the OT as messengers ...

123. 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

124. The Cup of the Lord's Wrath

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... images occur elsewhere, but here the focus is on the passing of the poisoned chalice to other people who will now stagger and fall. To put it another way, this passage correlates to chapter 47. Ms Babylon’s fall terminates Ms Zion’s subjection. The promise recalls the ending of Psalm 137. It would suit our post-Enlightenment liberal sensibilities if the passage did not suggest that one people’s humiliation was the necessary correlate of another’s restoration, but this expectation was true to events ...

125. Acres of Diamonds

1 Timothy 6:10

Sermon

Russell Conwell

... his statement concerning such things, and yet that man's fortune was made by consulting his own children in his own house. You don't need to go out of your own house to find out what to invent or what to make. I always talk too long on this subject. I would like to meet the great men who are here tonight. The great men! We don't have any great men in Philadelphia. Great men! You say that they all come from London, or San Francisco, or Rome, or Manayunk, or anywhere else but there -- anywhere else but ...

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