Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 126 to 150 of 189 results

2 Kings 18:17-37

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... the LORD, who brings or withholds fertility, creating springs (not digging wells) and drying up rivers (Ps. 36:8–9; Jer. 2:13; 17:13; 51:36; Ezek. 31; Hos. 13:15). 19:28 My hook . . . my bit: The metaphor may reflect actual Assyrian practice, if their own pictographic representations of conquest are to be taken as referring literally to the past. The LORD will lead the Assyrian, like an animal, back to his own land (cf. Ps. 32:9; Prov. 26:3; Ezek. 19:1–9). 19:35 The angel of the LORD: There is a play on ...

127. Ezekiel's Call

Ezekiel 1:1-28, Ezekiel 2:1-3:15, Ezekiel 3:16-27

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... still, four faces: one like a man, one like a lion, one like an ox, and one like an eagle (v. 10). The Christian reader will be at once reminded of the four living creatures in Revelation 4:7, and of the famous symbolic representation of the four Gospels. Clearly Ezekiel’s powerful vision influenced these images. In turn, images of part-human, part-animal heavenly beings from ancient Near Eastern art influenced Ezekiel. Still, such images cannot quite express or contain the reality of the vision. The ...

128. The Glory Departs

Ezekiel 8:1-18, Ezekiel 9:1-11, Ezekiel 10:1-22, Ezekiel 11:1-15, Ezekiel 11:16-25

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... of chapters 1–3, and should therefore describe a later event (Allen, “Structure,” p. 152). But this approach requires too literal a reading of Ezekiel’s visionary imagery. As we will see, the vision of the abominations in chapter 8 is not a literal representation of the state of affairs in the Jerusalem temple in Ezekiel’s time, or indeed in any time. Rather, it is a condensation of all of Jerusalem’s abominations, throughout the 390 “years of their sin” (4:5). Ezekiel does not witness the ...

129. Prologue to the Law of the Temple: The Lord Comes Home

Ezekiel 40:1--43:12

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... 40–48 as well. The same elements that supported an eschatological interpretation (the absence of a command to build, the setting atop a glorified Zion) also support another possibility for interpretation. In the ancient world people regarded the earthly temple as a representation of the real, heavenly temple—such was apparently the case in Israel as well. So, in Exod. 25:8–9, Moses is shown the original heavenly pattern (Heb. tabnit; see the discussion of 28:12 and 43:10), which the earthly tabernacle ...

130. The Jewish Leaders as Negative Foil for Jesus’ Followers

Matthew 23:1-39

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... stems from the place of authority or access that the Jewish leaders occupy (see discussion above on 23:2). As they read and express the Mosaic law, what they communicate should be obeyed. Yet Matthew has made it clear that some of their teachings are not accurate representations of the Torah (e.g., 16:5–12; also 5:21–48; 12:1–12; 23:23). It is Jesus himself who exemplifies right teaching of the law. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. This indictment of the ...

131. Jesus Is Anointed and Celebrates the Passover with His Disciples

Matthew 26:1-5, Matthew 26:6-13, Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 26:17-30

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... the forgiveness of sins” (26:28). To be released from sin is to be released from death, and since Jesus died in a representative capacity for Israel, and hence for the whole human race, and hence for the whole cosmos (that is how the chain of representation works), his death under the weight of sin results immediately in release for all those held captive by its guilt and power. . . . Forgiveness of sins in turn (just as in Isaiah 54–55) means new creation, since the anti-creation force of sin has been ...

132. Use It or Lose It

Luke 19:11-27

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... was successful: they remained “ethnarch” and “tetrarch” of their respective territories. An official Jewish delegation had followed Archelaus to Rome, requesting his deposition, and it was in response to them that the title “king” was refused. Similar representations from his subjects eventually led to his deposition in AD 6. As usual, the NIV’s “servants” represents the Greek for “slaves.” Slaves in a rich household, while remaining the “property” of their masters, might be given ...

133. Worship and Humility

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... in mind with this phrase. It is possible he deliberately plays on the dual application of the expression. Those who lack concern for the church (Christ’s body [10:16]), which they show by the way they break the bread and drink the cup (the representation of Christ’s body [11:27]), will face judgment. 11:30 weak and sick . . . fallen asleep. Paul’s direct linking of weakness, illness, and death to a manipulation of the Lord’s Supper seems crass to most modern readers. However, his aim is not to ...

134. Many Parts, One Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... , switching his language from Spirit to body, keeps the readers’ focus on God. His language moves from Spirit to Christ, not to church. To Paul, the church is not simply an organization finding its unity in a common challenge or charge; it is a living representation of the incarnate Christ. Paul talks about union, not just common purpose or similar persuasion. Individual body parts have life only in connection to the rest of the body. 12:13 all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body. The primary ...

135. The Ark Does Some Damage

1 Samuel 5:1-12

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... a profound difference between the two: nothing can really capture the full sensory dimension of being at that place, feeling the air, tasting the food, taking in the color, sitting in the physical landscape. The same is true of a photograph of a person one loves: it is simply a representation, not the actual person one cares about or wants to be with. So it is with the Lord: his spiritual essence cannot be equated with a mere physical token of his presence.

136. “Human Help Is Worthless”

Psalm 60:1-12

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... is an allusion to Yahweh’s choice of Israel as his people. Mesopotamian military standards had the deity’s symbol on them.6Israel also carried banners into battle (Isa. 13:2–3; 31:9), but they probably bore no symbol of Yahweh, since such representations were forbidden (Exod. 20:4). The Hebrew noun “bow” (qeshet) is here represented by the Aramaic noun (qoshet). Aramaisms are very common in the Psalms. 60:5 help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.The Hebrew verb that ...

137. “Even When I Am Old and Gray, Do Not Forsake Me, My God”

Psalm 71:1-24

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... I am old” (71:9a), “when I am old and gray” (71:18a). See also Psalm 37:25. 71:10–11 my enemies speak against me.Their opposition seems to focus on the speaker’s advancing years and declining strength. Their words, or the speaker’s representation of their words, and their strategy to deal with the suppliant’s problem as they perceive it are given in verse 11. 71:13 May my accusers . . . be covered with scorn and disgrace.The root of the word “accusers” is the same as the word satan ...

138. Instructions for Passover

Exodus 12:1-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... bitterness of slavery and unleavened bread the purifying from the leaven of sin. Yeast affects the entire loaf of bread; so also the pollution of sin ranges much farther than its original starting point. Fermentation also leads ultimately to decay and death, a compelling representation of the results of sin. Jesus identifies the “yeast of the Pharisees” as hypocrisy (Luke 12:1), and Paul uses the figure to address the need to deal in a radical way with sin in the Corinthian congregation (1 Cor. 5:6–8 ...

139. Ten Commandments and the People’s Response

Exodus 20:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... down to them, or serving them, could refer both to images of Yahweh and to those of rival deities. Because the latter possibility was already addressed with the first commandment, this one primarily forbids any attempt to make a visible representation of God himself that would domesticate and trivialize his awesome majesty. Nevertheless the prohibition also applies to any of the elements of nature that so easily become objects of worship, especially those closely associated with the presence of God. The ...

140. The Radiant Face of Moses

Exodus 34:29-35

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... face before the rest of the Israelites (34:29–35). The expression translated “his face was radiant” in the NIV is not used this way elsewhere in the Old Testament. It is related to the word for “horn” and prompted earlier translations and representations to depict Moses with horns. Doubtless, however, these were rays of light. The glory of the Lord thus moves from the mountain to Moses and finally to the tabernacle. This veil has both positive and negative implications for the people. On the one ...

141. Dealing with Potential Covenant Violation

Joshua 22:1-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... that the Transjordanian tribes must have considered their land defiled. Others have suggested that, with the altar and the Tent of Meeting located in the west, the land in the east may have been considered defiled since it did not have any visible representation of the Lord’s presence. To the delegation’s accusation, the Transjordanian tribes make a detailed response (22:21–29). Invoking the Lord as a witness and inviting both the Lord and the western tribes to take action against them if they have ...

142. Psalm 11

Psalm 11:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... and the wicked and executes a very different judgment on the two groups (11:4–7). The two judgments anticipated in verses 6 and 7 may depict eternal judgment (suffering the fire of hell or enjoying the face of God in heaven—cf. 11:4), or they may be metaphoric representations of God’s censure of unbelievers and gracious reward of believers on earth.

143. Examining Public Worship

Jeremiah 7:1-29, Jeremiah 7:30--8:3

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... religion. God’s punishment will be as outlandish as their practice is bizarre. Anticipating that awful death, Jeremiah is commanded to cut his hair and to cry on the bare hilltop, as was customary to mark a calamity. Vandalism in worship exists. Representations of other deities were brought into the temple reserved for the Lord Yahweh. The Valley of Hinnom, also known as Topheth, is immediately south of old Jerusalem. Topheth (“fire pit”) was a worship area (high place) in this valley. Child sacrifice ...

144. Second Message: A Word of Encouragement

Haggai 2:1-9

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... surpassing glory of the temple (2:6–9). It was natural for the people to make comparisons between Solomon’s temple and Zerubbabel’s temple. But from God’s perspective these temples are both his house, singular. These buildings are merely visible representations of the fact that God has seen fit to dwell among his people, whether in the tabernacle, the temple of Solomon or of Zerubbabel, or the millennial temple (Ezekiel 40–44; 47). The second temple, though less splendid than that of Solomon ...

145. The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

Zechariah 8:1-23

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... as physical restoration. The fact that God will dwell in Jerusalem is the supreme blessing, and if God is there, what purpose does fasting serve? The two names given to Jerusalem are more than names. They are now for the first time accurate representations of the new character with which Jerusalem is invested, names that reflect the very presence of God. In the word translated “Truth” (8:3 KJV, NASB) the concept of faithfulness is present as well (cf. NIV “Faithful City”). A related word occurs in ...

146. One Body, Many Parts

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... made up of many parts . . . so it is with Christ” (12:12). (The cult of Asclepius, the god of healing, and his daughter Hygeia was accorded a prominent place in Corinth, and those who sought healing for a part of the body would often leave a representation of it in the Asclepion. Perhaps Paul has this in mind as he reminds his readers that the body is a unit and not simply a collection of various parts.) The point is analogy, not identity. Christ dwells in the church after the resurrection but possesses ...

147. Living to Please God

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , demonstrates that the apostles were opposed to the social and economic dependency that characterized the client-patron relationships, likely due to its social entailments. High-status patrons would have multiple clients who expected food, money, and public representation to protect their rights, while they reciprocated by giving patrons honor by supporting their causes in public assembly, following them through town, and showing up at their homes for the morning greeting. Paul exhorts the church, “Make ...

148. The Son Superior to Angels

Hebrews 1:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... future days prophesied in the Old Testament, or some of those days, or the beginning of them (cf. Heb. 9:26). In verse 3, “radiance” indicates the Son’s sharing of the divine attributes (cf. John 1:14; 2 Cor. 4:6), and “exact representation” indicates the correspondence of his nature with the Father’s (cf. Col. 1:15). “Sustaining all things” refers to his government by which he brings the course of history to its appointed end. “Sat down” signifies the completion of the atonement (10:12 ...

149. The Blood of Christ

Hebrews 9:11-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ” (cf. 10:1) more likely than “the good things that are now already here.” Offering himself once and for all, Christ thus secured eternal redemption for his people (9:12). Redemption, along with propitiation and reconciliation, is a key concept in the Bible for the representation of the character and effect of Christ’s saving work. Redemption is deliverance from some bondage by the payment of a price or ransom (Exod. 6:6; 13:13–15; Lev. 25:25–27, 47–54; Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7). The ...

150. One Like a Son of Man

Revelation 1:9-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , feet as burnished bronze, eyes like torches, and shining faces (as lightning in Dan. 10:6, but brighter in Rev. 1:16, like the sun). Although in Daniel this man might be the archangel Gabriel (see Dan. 8:16; 9:21; 12:6–7), in Revelation he is the representation of God himself. Like the prophets of other call narratives in the Old Testament (Isa. 6:1–10; Ezek. 1:28–2:3; Dan. 8:15–18; 10:4–21), John at first reacts to the divine epiphany with terror (1:17), because no sinner can stand before a ...

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