Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 126 to 150 of 164 results

126. Taking Time to Celebrate God’s Goodness

Deut 26:1-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... tithe then declare that they are not ritually unclean nor have they entered into any pagan rituals such as “mourning” (cf. Hos. 9:4) or offered anything to the dead. Now that the heart of the covenant law has been heard, in its broad principles and its exemplary specifics (5:1–25:15), a fresh commitment to the covenant on the plains of Moab is appropriate (26:16–19), as took place following the reading of the book of the covenant at Sinai (Exod. 24:7). No formal ceremony is mentioned, but the words ...

127. Widows and Their Worries: Back to Bethlehem

Ruth 1:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... in March to April confirms the correctness of what Naomi heard in the fields of Moab (1:6). But the women’s successful trip is not the sole concern of the chapter. With the conversation between Naomi and Ruth exhibiting mutual resolve and powerful confessions, the author is establishing the exemplary characters of these women. Furthermore, the grim atmosphere is beginning to turn to a more hopeful tone for Naomi, reflecting a hope that becomes more fully developed in what follows.

128. Charging the Assembly

1 Chron 29:1-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (29:23) and military (29:24) is explicitly linked to a divine act in 29:25. The account of David’s reign concludes in 29:26–30 with a summary note, emphasizing that he ruled over a unified Israel (“all Israel”) and experienced exemplary blessing (long life, wealth, honor). The final verses recount various resources used by the Chronicler for his account, all linked to prophetic figures who served during the life of David. Such resources bolster the authenticity of this account to the Chronicler’s ...

129. Recognize that Bad Days Can Bring about Good

Ecclesiastes 7:1--8:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of the adulteress and Lady Folly in Proverbs 2:16–19; 5:3–6; 7:5–23; and 9:13–18, but it certainly does not refer to all women (cf. Eccles. 9:9). 2. In this world, things just do not “add up” (7:27–28a). Exemplary human beings (Hebrew adam, not ish, “male”), for example, in their righteousness and wisdom, are extremely rare, only one in a thousand. Qoheleth’s reported failure to find the woman he was seeking (7:28b) sounds rather misogynistic, but it is not necessarily normative or ...

130. Individual Responsibility

Ezekiel 18:1-32

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , sexual, and sociomoral sins. Verses 10–13 deal with the second generation, the son. Unlike his father, he is a renegade. He defiantly breaks the laws of the Lord. In such a case, the son will not be able to ride on the coattails of his exemplary father. Instead, he will be put to death for his transgressions. A discussion of the third generation (18:14–17) is absolutely necessary. This section deals with the sinner’s son (in line with the proverb of 18:3). Just as his son rejected (for the wrong ...

131. The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... same combination of worship and wavering from the disciples). Matthew implicitly reintroduces the disciples’ “little faith” at his story’s end (with “doubt” and “little faith” as synonyms in 14:31). Fortunately, Jesus’s mission does not depend on an exemplary response by the disciples but on Jesus’s ongoing presence with them (28:20). Matthew 28:18–20, often called the Great Commission, evokes Daniel’s vision of a vindicated Son of Man enthroned beside the Ancient of Days and given ...

132. Jesus Questioned about Fasting

Mark 2:18-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

That Jesus’s disciples do not follow the examples of the disciples of John the Baptizer and the disciples of the Pharisees, both of whom were considered morally and ritually exemplary, is a further cause of offense to his contemporaries (2:18–22). The Pharisees, a lay movement that came into existence during the Maccabean revolt (168–146 BC), staunchly resisted the accommodation of Jewish life to prevailing Greco-Roman ideals. Pharisees, who constituted perhaps only 1 percent of the Jewish ...

133. Fulfillment of the Twelve

Acts 1:12-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... only does Peter cite these verses to justify the election of an apostle to replace Judas, but he is also affirming a wider theological principle. This becomes a significant theological introduction to Acts: the enemies of this word will not deter its progression. The fate of Judas then becomes an exemplary event that points to the fate of all those who oppose the plan of God (cf. Matt. 27:1–10).

134. Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar

Acts 3:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... in the history of the church. The healing of “a man who was lame from birth” (3:2) reminds Luke’s readers of Jesus’s healing of a “paralyzed man” (Luke 5:17–26) at the beginning of his Galilean ministry. This points to the exemplary nature of the period of the church as it demonstrates the continuity between the ministries of Jesus and that of the apostles. Nevertheless, Luke makes it clear that Jesus is superior to the apostles because they are performing this miracle “in the name of Jesus ...

135. Joy at Believers’ Walking in the Truth

3 John 1:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... in the world. It is also in this later Gospel material that the juxtaposition of Peter and the beloved disciple occurs, highlighting Peter’s affirmation of Jesus’s sole authority (John 6:68–69) and the beloved disciple’s intimacy with the Lord as exemplary for Christian leadership (John 13:23; 21:20–24). The later material in the Gospel and the rhetorical thrust of 3 John both correct the institutionalizing tendencies of Diotrephes and his kin. The risen Christ’s leadership in the church may be ...

136. The Biggest Prayer Ever Prayed Under Heaven

John 17:1-11

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... Hebrew priesthood was no shallow office. The Bible names at least three necessary foundational parts for priesthood. First, priesthood calls for inward cleansing. Not only is the priestly office of divine institution, the priest has a personal, divine obligation to live an exemplary life. "Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God... one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God" (Hebrews 5:1, 4). At the beginning of his earthly ...

137. The Jews and the Law

Romans 2:17-29

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... No later than the Maccabean period (second century B.C.) “Jew” had become a name of honor (although not always in the mouths of Gentiles) for the individual who confessed the one true God in an alien, polytheistic environment. For the rabbis Mordecai became the exemplary Jew who refused to forsake the God of Israel for the idolatry of Haman (Esther 3:5). Paul’s kinsfolk accepted the designation of Jew with pride as a name that fused a national faith and a strong loyalty to Torah. A second strength is ...

138. Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... -revelatory declaration. Thus, the reader should not take Paul’s example at this point in reference to himself with utter literalness. Paul can and does use references to himself in an illustrative fashion that does little more than set up an idealized or exemplary figure. The reference here is not concerned with Paul’s own practice except as it illustrates a general truth that he is attempting to teach the Corinthians. 14:15 The reference to praying and singing is the result of Paul’s concern with ...

139. The Throne in Heaven

Revelation 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... on behalf of God’s people. Further, the number twenty-four, a derivative of twelve, symbolizes the people of God, whom the elders represent in heaven by their praises to God (Boring, Revelation, p. 105). In that the heavenly liturgy is exemplary, these heavenly doxologies actually belong on the lips of the worshiping community on earth. As to their particular identity, our suggestion begins with Jesus’ “last will and testament” given at the Last Supper (cf. Luke 22:28–30). Jesus promises to ...

140. The Passover

Numbers 9:1-14

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... in obeying the divine guidance by way of the cloud, day or night, for one day or many days. They would camp or journey for short periods of time or for long periods of time, depending on whether the cloud moved or stayed. Their obedience was exemplary. This section indicates that the beginning of the journey is at hand, and the Priestly tradents echo the tradition of the cloud from Exodus. When the people came out of Egypt, after the first Passover, a pillar of cloud, and fire at night, went before them ...

141. The Quieted Soul

Psalm 131:1-3

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... our own devising. The combination of personal confession and public admonishment is attested in other psalms (e.g., 62:1–2, 5–7 and 8, 10). The psalm’s overall purpose is to teach and encourage the people of God, by means of an exemplary confession, to give less attention to human efforts and more to God’s ordering of affairs. The opening “I” verses, while personal confessions, encourage the listeners to curb ambition and to find contentment and rest. Ambition is a matter of one’s heart, eyes ...

142. The Helper of Those Who Cannot Help Themselves

Psalm 146:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... 2 Praise the LORD is actually the familiar Hebrew phrase, hallelujah. After this call to praise to the congregation (which in Hb. is plural), a single voice steps forth to declare his intention to praise God. This is probably a liturgist acting as an exemplary worshiper. This proclamation of praise is similar to what we see in thanksgiving psalms, but instead of offering thanks for a singular, recent deliverance (cf. 30:1a), it expresses the intention of a lifetime of praise (cf. 30:12b), as long as I live ...

143. Daniel in the Den of Lions

Daniel 6:1-28

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... accounts; they are not meant to be exhaustive, telling us what everyone did in that time. Furthermore, they are didactic, written in order to teach the Jewish people how to behave in a foreign, and sometimes hostile, environment. So they focus on exemplary individuals to make the stories more realistic and concrete. Chapter 3 focuses on Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, while chapter 6 focuses on Daniel. In both chapter 3 and chapter 6, the heroes are faithful to God, willing even to die if necessary ...

144. The Widow's Offering

Mark 12:41-44

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... exemplifies the complete devotion spoken about in 12:28–34, where it is hinted that commitment to God is not to be measured in the impressiveness of the sacrificial gift one is able to offer (v. 33). The elevation of this simple woman to such an exemplary place captures the essence of Jesus’ words that in God’s judgment “many who are … last [will be] first” (10:31). In short, it is easy to see that Mark intended this passage as an embodiment of several of the themes of Jesus’ teaching and ...

145. The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

Numbers 9:15-23

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

146. Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18, James 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... by how they lived (Matt. 7:15–23). James is applying his master’s teaching. Lifestyle was absolutely critical for the early church. Elders were primarily examples (1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:10–11), secondarily teachers: Their qualifications stress their exemplary lives and only mention their teaching ability as one item among many (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1). Lifestyle was an important witness as well (1 Pet. 2:12; 3:2, 16), for if it did not succeed in converting, it at least removed the excuses from ...

147. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:1-6, James 4:13-17, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... —and that is exactly the problem James has with these plans: There is absolutely nothing about their desires for the future, their use of money, or their way of doing business that is any different from the rest of the world. Their worship may be exemplary, their personal morality, impeccable; but when it comes to business they think entirely on a worldly plane. 4:14 In contrast to the secure rationality of their plans stands the insecurity of life: Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. In ...

148. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:7-12, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

149. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:13-20, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

150. Asa King of Judah

1 Kings 15:9-24

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... mother (cf. the additional note on 15:10) who had made a repulsive object of uncertain character for Asherah (v. 13) He did not remove (Hb. swr) the high places and focus his reformed worship only on the temple in Jerusalem, but otherwise he was exemplary in his religious policy. He reminds us of Solomon in his earlier period, unwisely failing to intervene to end worship at the local sanctuaries (3:2–3), yet faithful enough to bring into the temple of the LORD the silver and gold and the articles ...

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