Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 1551 to 1575 of 4963 results

1551. Testimonies About Jesus

John 5:31-47

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... testifies on his behalf. Though he mentions John the Baptist in passing, he makes it clear that John is not this witness (v. 36). John’s testimony to the Jewish authorities (cf. 1:19–28) had its own value, and Jesus reminds them of it in the hope that they still might believe it and be saved. Yet it is only a human testimony (vv. 33–34). Jesus has in mind someone far greater than John, and a testimony far more decisive. Clearly, another who testifies is the Father (v. 37). Jesus’ works are mentioned ...

1552. Pressing on Toward the Goal

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... on: Gk. diōkō; “I pursue,” “I follow on.” To take hold of that for which …: Gk. ei kai katalabō, “if indeed I may lay hold of …”; the use of ei (“if”) to introduce a clause of purpose is similar to that in v. 11, “in hope that …” (Gk. ei pōs). The antecedent of for which is not expressed in the original, and is probably something like “the purpose,” in keeping with eph’ hō, “with a view to which.” Christ Jesus took hold of me: Gk. katelēmphthēn hypo Christou Iēsou ...

1553. Solomon's Adversaries

1 Kings 11:14-25

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... has been meted out to David is not, it turns out, eternal punishment. Though it appears that God has treated Solomon very much like Saul (in spite of 2 Sam. 7:15), in reality he is merely handing down fatherly discipline (2 Sam. 7:14). Here is a glimmer of hope to hold on to as the story that follows unfolds. Law does indeed appear to prevail in the last Judean king’s loss of his throne at the end of Kings. But law is not in the end more powerful than grace, and grace, 11:39 implies, does not function ...

1554. Jehoahaz King of Judah

2 Kings 23:31-35

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... yet necessarily lost after all; the destruction of the family of the “last king of Judah” does not mean that there is no member of the house of David left. As the prayer of Solomon in 1 Kings 8:22–53 looks beyond the disaster of exile, grounding its hope for the restoration of Israel to the land in God’s gracious and unconditional election of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (cf. also 1 Kgs. 18:36–37; 2 Kgs. 13:23; 14:27); as it refuses to accept that God’s words about the rejection of people, city and ...

1555. 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

... in his home, in the presence of the elders of Judah (v. 1). Most likely, these leaders of the exiles had come to Ezekiel to seek a word from the Lord. They are not disappointed—though the word they receive is certainly not the word for which they had hoped. 8:2–6 Ezekiel’s vision begins, once again, with the hand of the Sovereign LORD lifting the prophet out of ordinary reality into the visionary realm. Indeed, this time, Ezekiel says, the Lord’s hand took me by the hair of my head (v. 3). In his ...

1556. Signs, Sayings, and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 12:1-28, Ezekiel 13:1-23, Ezekiel 14:1-11, Ezekiel 14:12-23

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... is clear. If even the presence of all three of these paragons of righteousness could not save a land from the consequences of unfaithfulness to the Lord, then wicked Jerusalem, in which there is not one person righteous (see the commentary on 9:6), has no hope at all. Any whom God saves from the destruction, God will preserve not because of their righteousness, but because of the Lord’s forbearance, and as witnesses to the justice of Jerusalem’s fall (see 6:8–10). Additional Notes 12:6 I have made you ...

1557. Personal Accountability

Ezekiel 18:1-32, Ezekiel 19:1-14

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... , are due neither to the whim of a capricious God nor to the actions of sinful ancestors. We are responsible, the prophet insists; our actions, and the actions of our leaders, have brought us to this pass. Contained within that judgment, however, are grounds for hope: if faithlessness has brought us to the point of death, could faithfulness restore us to life? Ezekiel affirms that this is so. Indeed, he says, this is God’s fervent desire: “Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in ...

1558. Jesus as the Isaianic Servant of the Lord

Matthew 12:15-21

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

... most important values (23:23). Also, if dikaiosyn?in the beatitudes is best rendered “justice” (see 5:6), then God’s coming reign as typified by the arrival of justice headlines the Sermon on the Mount. 12:21 In his name the nations will put their hope. Although Matthew focuses Jesus’ ministry on Israel (10:5–6; 15:24), he also consistently points ahead to the promise of Gentile inclusion (e.g., 1:3–6; 4:15; 8:10–11; 28:19). Isaiah 42:1–4 provides him another opportunity to do so, with ...

1559. 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

... for God’s continued saving work. We can preach with confidence that it is God’s pattern to save and redeem; salvation does not begin with Jesus, though it most certainly culminates in him. And by emphasizing the connection between the Lord’s Supper and the Jewish hopes for God’s new exodus, we tap a deep vein within the Scriptures about God’s commitment to restoration and the newness of salvation available then and now for God’s people; as we read in Isaiah 43:16–19, This is what the Lord says ...

1560. The Exorcism of a Child Develops a Humble Model for Faith

Mark 9:14-32

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Grant R. Osborne

... can” = “if you have the power” [dynamai]) to do anything either. His lack of faith is understandable. Yet Jesus is nearly his last hope, so all he can do is beg for compassion and for Jesus to try. 9:23 “If you can”? Jesus repeats the father’ ... life decisions will reveal our doubts and what we ultimately believe. The power of faith Bible: In Hebrews 6:19 the author likens hope in the promises of God to an “anchor for the soul,” keeping us “firm and secure.” Boaters will tell you about ...

1561. The Necessity of Vigilance in Light of the Parousia

Mark 13:32-37

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Grant R. Osborne

... 3. There will be both joy and judgment for believers at the parousia. The primary teaching regarding Christ’s return is one of hope, since we live in “hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2), in the certain knowledge that Christ died as our firstfruits, guaranteeing our own final ... we are going to the dentist in a few days, suddenly start brushing and flossing our neglected teeth and gums, hoping that we will somehow trick the dentist into thinking that we have been faithfully taking care of them. But the ...

1562. Two Parables about Prayer

Luke 18:9-14, Luke 18:1-8

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? This sentence does not link directly to the parable, and the reintroduction of the hope of the coming of the Son of Man (see 12:40; 17:22–37) shifts the focus from present discipleship into the future. Perhaps ... your sight.1 Autobiography: Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, a Broken Mother’s Search for Hope, by Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan. Christopher Yuan, now an adjunct faculty member at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, lived for years ...

1563. Adam, the Law, and the Curse of the Covenant

Romans 5:12-21

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C. Marvin Pate

... who believe in him. This has led to the blessing of the life of the new covenant that overflows to the new humanity in Christ. Robert Jewett has shown that Paul’s terms for the beneficence of God mentioned in 5:15 (“grace,” “gift,” “overflowed”) draw on the Jewish hope for the age to come because it would restore lost paradise (Isa. 25:6–8; 27:6; 65:17–25; Ezek. 47:9–12; Amos 9:13; 4 Ezra 8.52). For Paul, the Messiah has indeed come and created a new humanity and a new paradise.3Moreover ...

1564. The Holy Spirit and the Blessings of the New Covenant

Romans 8:1-17

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C. Marvin Pate

... –34; Ezek. 26:26–28) associated the new covenant with obedience from the heart accomplished by the Spirit. Verse 4 declares hope to be a present reality: Christians by the indwelling Spirit obey the just requirement (dikai?ma) of the law. A comparison ... raise Christians from the dead. For Paul, Jesus’ resurrection began the true restoration of Israel, one that includes Gentiles and the future hope of the resurrection body. 8:12–13 if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will ...

1565. The New-Covenant Ethic of Love

Romans 12:9-21

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C. Marvin Pate

... view of this is that Christians’ loving actions will create in their persecutors burning shame and remorse. Verse 21 seems to confirm this interpretation: showing love overcomes evil with good—the good actions of the believer, but also the good response (hopefully) of the enemy in terms of repentance. Moreover, 12:21 returns us to 12:9: love consists in doing good and avoiding evil. This is the new-covenant ethic of love. Theological Insights Several theological insights greet the reader of Romans ...

1566. Unity of Life and Faith

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... bodily life. The human being is one unit, all of which will face judgment and redemption. 6:14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Christ’s bodily resurrection forms the foundation for Christian hope and the Christian teaching on discipleship. The resurrection of Christ is not unrelated to the daily experience of the Christ follower. Rather, Christ’s resurrection introduced a new eschatological reality to the sphere of history that opened the door for humans to ...

1567. The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1-3

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J. Scott Duvall

... opening chapter of Revelation with what we see in Revelation 2–3. Much of what the seven churches of Asia Minor once faced, we too now face, whether it be the seductive pull of a secular culture or strong opposition from that same culture. The foundation of our hope lies not in our own circumstances but in God’s faithfulness to speak and act in Christ, including the promise to one day make all things new. It’s important to remind believers that the vision was given not just to John but to all God’s ...

1568. The Coming Judgment Calls for the Saints to Leave Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... reaching consequences. Or, more generally, one might give time to helping people see how easy it can be to put our hope in earthly treasures, especially when such pursuits are endorsed by both our culture and our churches. 2. Do you prefer ... the futility of predicting the future (4:13–17). We are better off doing the right thing now than accruing treasure for the future, hoping for time to make up lost ground in doing good later on. We should seek to honor trade that is fair. Quote: Involvement: Social and ...

1569. Making a Successful Future

Numbers 34:1-29

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... before they take root. Failure to root out the causes of sins will result in those sins being a barb in our eye and a thorn in our side, as the Canaanites proved to be for Israel when Israel failed to eradicate them. 2. Future success builds on hope of inheritance. God motivates the Israelites to take the land by reminding them that he has given it to them (Num. 33:53). Laying out the boundaries of the land for the Israelites (Num. 34:1–15) makes God’s promise more concrete than it has been previously ...

1570. The Lord Decides to Build David a House

2 Samuel 7:18-29, 2 Samuel 7:1-17

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... king does wrong, the Lord will discipline him, as a father does a son, but he will not revoke his promise.11The promise has important implications for Israel; it assures the nation of a glorious future (2 Sam. 7:10, 24). This hope persists into the exilic and postexilic periods (see “Additional Insights” at the end of this unit), giving the exiles reason to be encouraged and optimistic about their future. The Davidic Covenant: Standing in tension with the unconditional promise of a lasting Davidic ...

1571. Israel Demands a King

1 Samuel 8:1-22

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... go back to your own town. Rather than acceding to the people’s request as instructed by the Lord, Samuel dismisses them. Perhaps the people assume he will summon them once he has found a king (see 10:17).7 But then again, Samuel does delay, perhaps hoping the Lord will change his mind.8 Earlier intercessors reason with the Lord in an effort to change his mind (Gen. 18:23–33; Exod. 32:9–14); Samuel speaks no words, but his refusal to carry out the Lord’s instructions, at least immediately, may have ...

1572. Bildad Again Beats the Retribution Drum

Job 18:1-21

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Daniel J. Estes

... by God. What Bildad presents as though it were an unchangeable law is a far cry from what the prologue indicates about Yahweh’s active governance of his world. For godly people in pain, the providential care of the Lord is the ground for confident hope even when all seems hopeless. God’s continual superintendence of the world is a far cry from Bildad’s position that relegates God to the corners of life, when in fact he works all things according to his plan, although that plan is often inscrutable ...

1573. “Lord, Our Lord, How Majestic Is Your Name in All the Earth!”

Psalm 9:1-20

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C. Hassell Bullock

... messianic nuance is not incorporated into the original psalms but came subsequently to be associated with them somewhere in the history of interpretation.3While that is certainly a valid way to view the messianism of the Psalms, it seems to me that the strong prophetic hope, also reflected in the Psalter, took shape in those years when the people began to idealize David, perhaps as early as the eighth century prophetic movement (see Isa. 9:6–7; Amos 9:11–12) and long before the exile. Thus some of the ...

1574. “The Span of My Years Is as Nothing before You”

Psalm 39:1-13

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... psalmist joins the dirge as he prays, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). This means that the more keenly we recognize how brief our life is, the more fulfilled our life will be, because we will hopefully “redeem the time.” While Psalm 39:4b does not formally constitute a result clause (“so that I may know how fleeting life is”), it could be read like that (so KJV), and indeed that seems to be the purpose of the prayer. Pilgrims and strangers Literature ...

1575. “Endow the King with Your Justice, O God”

Psalm 72:1-20

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... context of the psalm is not clear, except that it definitely arises out of Israel’s monarchy. If it is written by David for Solomon, as we have suggested, then it probably comes toward the end of David’s reign in the first half of the tenth century BC. The hopes in the psalm expressed for Solomon’s reign are quite in keeping with the historical data of the book of 1 Kings. His reign was one of prosperity and peace (Ps. 72:3–7, 16; 1 Kings 4:21b–23, 26–28), and his realm extended all the way from ...

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