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 1251 to 1275 of 4942 results

1251. The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Ethics and the Law: Matthew’s Gospel has a didactic purpose. Special emphasis is given to the message of Jesus. One of the distinct features of Matthew’s Gospel is that the teaching of Jesus is collected into five sections. The Sermon on the Mount (chaps. 5–7) is the first of these blocks. The others are Instructions to the Twelve (chap. 10), Parables of the Kingdom (chap. 13), Life in the Christian Community (chap. 18), and Eschatological Judgment (chaps. 23–25). Each block ...

1252. Jesus and Beelzebub

Mark 3:20-30

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

3:20–30 Although this passage is separated from the following passage (3:31–35) in the NIV, the two really must be read together, for we appear to have here the first example of a narrative technique used frequently in Mark: beginning one story and then inserting another before bringing the first to a conclusion. Here, Mark begins telling us about the family of Jesus in 3:21 (see note), interrupts this story by telling us about Jesus’ conflict with certain critics over his exorcisms in 3:22–30, and returns ...

1253. The Temptation of Jesus

Luke 4:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

Although Mark 1:12–13 records that Jesus was tempted, only Matthew (4:1–11) and Luke (4:1–13) provide us with accounts of the three specific temptations (which would suggest that the three temptations were part of the sayings source used by Matthew and Luke). A comparison of these two Gospels reveals that the second and third temptations found in one are in reverse order in the other (i.e., bread, pinnacle, kingdoms in Matthew; bread, kingdoms, pinnacle in Luke). Fitzmyer (pp. 507–8) believes that Matthew ...

1254. The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

This section may be divided roughly into three parts: (1) the question of the teacher concerning eternal life, a question which occasions the “Great Commandment” (vv. 25–29); (2) the Parable of the Good Samaritan (vv. 30–37); and (3) Jesus’ visit with Martha and Mary (vv. 38–42). A theme common to all of these parts is setting proper priorities. To the teacher of the law, Jesus places priority on love for one’s neighbor (vv. 25–37), while in his visit to Martha and Mary (vv. 38–42), Martha learns that ...

1255. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:1-15

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

This section includes the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (vv. 1–8a) and various sayings of Jesus related to the parable or to the topic of money in general (vv. 8b–13). This material is for the most part unique to Luke (although Luke 16:13=Matt. 6:24) and contributes to the Lucan concern over proper use of wealth. 16:1–8a Few of the parables of Jesus have puzzled readers of the Gospel more than the Parable of the Shrewd Manager. The main question has to do with why the rich man would commend his dishonest ...

1256. God's Wrath Against Mankind

Romans 1:18-32

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

Paul now launches into the body of the epistle with an indictment against humanity. He will maintain the charge until 3:21, at which point he will return to righteousness by faith which he introduced in 1:16–17. Romans 1:18–3:20 is a sobering exposé of the dark side of human nature. Throughout the attack Paul labors to demonstrate that there is no distinction between Gentile and Jew in the matter of sin and guilt, a point reasserted in 3:10–12, 3:23, and 11:32. Gentile and Jew are equally guilty before God ...

1257. Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

Letters in the Greco-Roman world had a fairly standard form. They would begin with a salutation, followed by a conventional thanksgiving (often in the form of a prosaic prayer). Next came the body of the letter, often followed by parenesis (concrete directions), and then the closing of the letter. The salutation itself normally contained three parts that first named the sender, then named the recipient, and finally offered a greeting. A typical non-Christian letter from Paul’s day might open as follows: “ ...

1258. Divisions In the Church

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

This first major segment of the body of Paul’s letter forms a coherent reflection on the specific situation in Corinth in relation to and in the light of basic matters of Christian belief. Paul examines and explains the character of the gospel itself, so that the Corinthians are directed to evaluate their situation in the light of the gospel of God’s saving work in Jesus Christ and the implication of God’s work for their lives. Paul argues against understanding the gospel as a kind of mysterious wisdom ...

1259. Wisdom from the Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

These verses form something of an excursus on the wisdom of God and the spiritual discernment of Christians, although the discussion is symmetrically similar to 1:18–25. In these verses, however, Paul seems to be describing reality from God’s point of view. To avoid misunderstanding Paul’s thought in these lines one must recall that he designated his message “the word of the cross.” Paul would tell about the cross, and he would explicate its meaning. Clearly, Paul interprets the saving significance of the ...

1260. Apostles of Christ

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

God as the Only Real Judge The thought and logic of this passage are clear, although in Greek much of Paul’s language is awkward. Any translation struggles to render Paul’s statements in a sensible and reliable way. These verses begin by informing the Corinthians how they are to regard Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and all other early Christian workers. They are merely servants and stewards who are called to serve Christ as agents of the proclamation of the mysteries of God’s grace. A single quality must ...

1261. The Beast out of the Sea

Revelation 13:1b-10

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

John’s vision of the two beasts provides a fuller commentary on the meaning of the preceding hymn in terms of both the dragon’s earthly activities and the situation of the messianic community. Having been foiled in his efforts to deny Jesus his messianic vocation, and having been exiled from heaven to earth where he can no longer influence the decisions of the Cosmocrater, the dragon turns his malicious attention to God’s people on earth. He is naturally upset over his recent demotion, and his response is ...

1262. The Lamb and the 144,000

Revelation 14:1-5

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

The trinity of evil ones has now been introduced as the enemy of the saints on earth (12:13–13:18). They are given the authority to overcome them (13:7) and to seduce the rest of the world into worshiping the Evil One rather than God (13:16–17). Chapter 13 concludes with a resounding note of secularism’s triumph: the worldwide kingdom of the Evil One is firmly established within human history. This remains the current status of the battle between God and the Evil One on earth. Ironically, even as Christ’s ...

1263. Korah, Dathan and Abiram

Numbers 16:1-50

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

More Rebellions: While chapter 15 provides a brief respite from the narratives of rebellion in the wilderness, chapter 16 takes up that theme again with vigor. It also brings the Levites back into the picture. Like the story of the spies in chapters 13 and 14 (see note on 13:1–14:45), chapter 16 is a narrative with a complicated literary history. Within the book of Numbers, the narrative serves the broader purpose of recounting the people’s ongoing rebellion. The story takes several turns and requires ...

1264. Water from the Rock

Numbers 20:1-13

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Water and Death: This concluding chapter of the middle section of the book suggests that the camp is ready to move again, but the events in chapter 20 delay any progress, and the loss of the exodus generation becomes more pressing with the deaths of two of its leaders. This chapter accounts for the exclusion of Moses and Aaron from the land. The movement of the wilderness generation is slow and painful, and frequently interrupted by trouble. 20:1 The chapter begins with a chronological and geographical ...

1265. Abner Goes Over to David

2 Samuel 3:6-21

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

The Murders of Abner and Ish-Bosheth: 3:6–11 Although Ish-Bosheth was titular head of the northern tribes and Abner seemingly made no attempt to change that, real power centered around Abner. The fate of the country lay in his hands, and verse 6 implies that he took action to ensure that this remained the case. It is not surprising that Ish-Bosheth, who seems to have left all the decision making to his general (3:8–17), felt threatened by Abner (v. 11). Whether or not Abner had a relationship with Saul’s ...

1266. Job's Reply to Eliphaz

Job 6:1–7:21

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

Impatience Justified: The first chapter of Job’s response to Eliphaz divides into three parts. Initially (vv. 1–13), he defends the sense of growing impatience with his circumstance that Eliphaz has attacked (4:1–6). Job then turns to a counterattack on the fickleness of some friendship (vv. 14–23). He concludes chapter 6 with a pointed demand to know where sin resides within him that is commensurate with the punishment he bears (vv. 24–30). 6:1–4 Job’s impetuous words are the consequence of unbearable ...

1267. Bildad

Job 8:1-22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

Does God Pervert Justice?: 8:1–2 The second friend, Bildad, begins without the slightest indication of compassion for Job’s suffering. He immediately condemns Job’s speech, calling it a blustering wind. His goal from the first is to defend the traditional wisdom understanding of retribution. Unlike Eliphaz before him, Bildad seems willing to acknowledge Job’s essential righteousness and encourages patience in waiting for God’s ultimate vindication. 8:3 Bildad’s counterattack proper begins with parallel ...

1268. Zophar

Job 11:1-20

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

11:1 The last of Job’s three friends makes his debut with rather breathtaking harshness. Zophar rejects Job’s claim to righteousness and even undermines his integrity by classifying Job’s claims as idle mockery which cannot go uncontested. The key to Zophar’s viewpoint is found in 11:6, where he clearly states that Job’s suffering is the result of his sin and is even less severe than deserved. While Zophar does hold out hope for Job, it has little to do with a confrontation with God. Such a collision would ...

1269. The Lord’s King and Rebellious Peoples

Psalm 2:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Like Psalm 1, but unlike almost every other psalm of Book I (Pss. 1–41), this one has no superscription. Psalm 1 opens with a blessing and Psalm 2 closes with a blessing, which may indicate that this pair is meant to be read together as an introduction to the final collection of the Psalter. If so, they appear to establish twin guides for reading it: we are to meditate on this “torah” (“instruction”) of the Psalms collection and so discover the enduring “blessing” of “the righteous,” and we are to take ...

1270. Delivering the Helpless from Social Oppression: Part II

Psalm 10:1-18

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

For an introduction to Psalm 10 see the introductory comments on Psalm 9. 10:1–11 At this point the psalm makes a sudden turn to lament: Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? So dramatic is the shift we might think this was a separate psalm, except that it contains so many echoes from Psalm 9 (where the Hb. text uses the same word I have modified the NIV’s translation accordingly): Psalm 9 /Psalm 10 The LORD is . . . a stronghold in times of trouble (9:9) / Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble (10:1 ...

1271. God’s Goodness Redefined: The Nearness of God

Psalm 73:1-28

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

This psalm is a favorite for many because it rings so true to our feelings and experience. Many of us have felt disappointed in God. When we feel life has treated us unfairly, we often betray our belief in the sovereignty of God by blaming and abandoning him! The psalm confesses what we are afraid to admit, and so helps us to be honest before God about life’s temptations and our readiness to sell out. The psalm’s first half is largely negative (vv. 1–14) and the second half largely positive (vv. 15–28). ...

1272. From the Darkness of the Grave

Psalm 88:1-18

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

From the Darkness of the Grave 88:1–18 Premature death is the subject of this prayer psalm of the individual. Like other psalms of sickness (Pss. 38; 41), it complains of social alienation (vv. 8, 18). As a psalm of the individual, the primary tradition on which it is based is that Yahweh should answer with deliverance when called upon, as summarized in the opening address, the God who saves me. Though the distress is extreme and prolonged—all day long the terrors of death surround me (vv. 16–17)—it has ...

1273. Impending Judgment on the Oppressive Wicked and Interim Promises for the Righteous

Psalm 94:1-23

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Impending Judgment on the Oppressive Wicked and Interim Promises for the Righteous This corporate prayer psalm reflects life between promise and fulfillment. Here, God’s people live in the midst of, not away from, danger. Although there are no explicit liturgical references, the movement of the psalm makes best sense as a liturgy. Some scholars consider this psalm a mixed type because it combines a corporate prayer (vv. 1–7), wisdom traditions (vv. 8–13), and individual testimony, which appears to derive ...

1274. A Prayer for the Afflicted and for the Ruins of Zion

Psalm 102:1-28

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

A Prayer for the Afflicted and for the Ruins of Zion A distinctive feature of this psalm is its blending of prayer and praise. Its structure makes clear the central issue. Juxtaposed are “my days,” which are cut short (vv. 23–24), and Yahweh’s years, which go on through all generations (v. 24). The speaker’s days are a leitmotif appearing at key turning points: twice in the introductory petitions (“in the day of my distress” and “in the day I call,” v. 2, though not evident in the NIV), in the verses ...

1275. A Festival Procession for Giving Thanks

Psalm 118:1-29

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

A Festival Procession for Giving Thanks This psalm uniquely combines corporate hymnic praise (vv. 1–4, 22–24, 29), individual thanksgiving (vv. 5–18, 21, 28; which includes a victory song [vv. 14–16]), a petition (v. 25), and a processional liturgy of entering the temple gates and processing to the altar (vv. 19–20, 26–27). It alternates between referring to Yahweh in the third person and addressing him in the second person, and between hymnic sections, spoken by “we,” and thanksgiving sections, spoken by ...

Showing results