Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1651 to 1675 of 5000 results

Luke 5:33-39

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... into new wineskins that are still capable of stretching. For further discussion see A. Kee, “The Old Coat and the New Wine: A Parable of Repentance,” NovT 12 (1970), pp. 13–21. Leaney (p. 128) thinks that Luke has misunderstood the Marcan form of this parable (Mark 2:21). On the contrary, Luke has not only understood it, but in revising it, the evangelist has brought home its point more clearly (see Fitzmyer, pp. 600–601). 5:36 parable: The word parable(s) occurs several times in Luke (6:39; 8:4, 9 ...

1652. Jesus At the Temple

Luke 19:45-48

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... . Additional Notes 19:45–46 When one compares the Synoptic account of the cleansing of the temple with that found in the Gospel of John, it is noticed that, whereas the episode occurs near the end of Jesus’ ministry in the Synoptics (Matt. 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–46), in John it occurs near the beginning (2:13–22). Because of this discrepancy some have suggested that the four Gospels are telling us of two separate temple cleansings, one at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and the ...

1653. The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:1-14

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... bodies and refuse them burial. In creating a public spectacle of their death and by not providing them a decent burial, the leaders of the anti-Christian kingdom have acted with unbridled disrespect. Without social manners there is left anarchy and chaos, which are the marks of the Evil One (cf. Rom. 1:29–31) and not of Christ. 11:11–13 To this point of the interlude, John has defended the vital importance of the faithful congregation in any city: by such a testimony the congregation restrains evil and ...

1654. Jesus the Lamb of God

John 1:29-34

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... dove out of the sky and rested on Jesus, signifying to John that Jesus was the Son of God (vv. 32, 34). John the Baptist here becomes a participant in the supernatural events attending Jesus’ baptism. The voice from heaven (“You are my Son, whom I love” Mark 1:11) goes unmentioned, but its place is taken by Son of God in John’s testimony. The baptism of Jesus is recounted only indirectly and in retrospect. It is not really part of the narrator’s six-day sequence. Already on the first day, John the ...

1655. “I Am from Him and He Sent Me”

John 7:25-44

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... he did not come on his own authority and they do not know the One from whom he came. 7:31 When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs? The question assumes that the Messiah is to perform miracles when he comes (cf. 2:18; 6:30; Mark 13:22), and that the sheer number or frequency of his miracles testifies to his identity. These notions, while not widely attested in Jewish sources, are assumed to be part of the Jewish expectation in 20:30, 31 as well: Jesus’ miracles bear witness that he is the ...

1656. The Glory of the New Covenant

2 Corinthians 3:7-17; 4:1-6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’ ” (cf. Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:25). As we have seen, the application of this text to Jesus Christ strongly implies that Christ sits at the right hand of God on the merkabah throne-chariot (cf. Mark 14:62). Also, this psalm is part of the background for calling Christ “Lord.” Hence, the one whom Paul preaches is none other than the co-occupant of the divine throne of glory, the Lord of all (cf. Rom. 10:12; Acts 10:36). Far from lording it ...

1657. Faith or Observance of the Law

Galatians 3:1-14, Galatians 3:15-25

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... or the revelation of the Lord. Hearing means more than noting that something has been spoken; it means understanding and responding to what is heard (cf. Rom. 10:16; 1 Thess. 2:13). It bears the same meaning in Paul and in the rest of the NT (e.g., Mark 4:23; 1 John 1:1; Heb. 2:3) as in our modern context when a person might say “I hear you,” meaning “I accept what you are saying.” The phrase “believe what you heard” emphasizes that the activity of the Christian is to believe. This way of being ...

1658. Be Holy

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... passing on divine teaching. Remember the Cost of Your Salvation 1:17 Following the example of their Master, who addressed his Father as Abba (Mark 14:36), Christians have learned to call on God as a Father (Rom. 8:19; Gal. 4:6). But such an approach commits ... nature of the divine is underscored by a quotation from Isa. 40:6–8 LXX. This chapter in Isaiah was much used in early NT preaching (Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 1:68; 2:25, 30–31; 3:4–6; John 1:23; 10:11; 11:40; Acts 17:29; 28:28; Rom. 11:34; 1 Cor ...

1659. The Ten Commandments

Deuteronomy 5:1-33

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... strictly legal texts, and the great depth of feeling in them, that condemn theft and thieves in no uncertain terms. Theft was condemned by the prophets as an indication of social breakdown and lack of knowledge of God (Hos. 4:2; 7:1), as the mark of a city that has degenerated to the level of Sodom and Gomorrah (Isa. 1:10, 23), and as utterly incompatible with claims to acceptable worship in the temple (Jer. 7:9f.). Psalm 50:16–18 ranks it with adultery as irreconcilable with covenant loyalty. Proverbs ...

1660. Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon

1 Kings 11:26-40

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... verse is much better understood in terms, not of his social status (a man of standing), but of his physique—he had the physical attributes of a warrior (cf. gibbôr ḥayil in Josh. 1:14; 6:2; 8:3; Judg. 11:1; etc.). It is such attributes that mark men out for leadership in the OT, and indeed for kingship (see 1 Sam. 9:1–2, where gibbor ḥayil is also best understood in these terms; cf. 10:23–24). Solomon advances a man eminently suited to be, and certainly destined to be, his successor. Not for the ...

1661. Solomon's Death

1 Kings 11:41-43

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1662. The Shunammite's Son Restored to Life

2 Kings 4:8-37

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... their assigned tasks (e.g., Matt. 17:14–21; Luke 9:37–43) and require Jesus’ own presence. Some of Jesus’ followers invest great faith in his ability to heal—and even to raise from the dead—when present (e.g., John 11:17–37; cf. also Mark 5:21–24, 35–43; Luke 7:11–17 for resurrection stories that pick up elements from 2 Kgs. 4). Nevertheless, the highest commendation is reserved for those who believe that only his words are necessary (e.g., Luke 7:1–10). 4:38 In that region: The ...

1663. Death in a Pot

2 Kings 4:38-41

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1664. Feeding of a Hundred

2 Kings 4:42-44

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1665. Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold

2 Kings 19:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... of course, that Hezekiah does look to Egypt, but the Assyrian is covering all the possibilities. His next assault is right on the mark. Do Hezekiah and his officials depend on the LORD? Well then, what of the fact that it is his high places and altars ... for two words in the construct to appear in apposition to one another (GKC §130e). 18:29 From my hand: The MT has “his hand,” marking out the latter part of the verse through to the beginning of v. 31 as the words, not of the king, but of the commander. ...

1666. Hezekiah's Prayer

2 Kings 19:14-19

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1667. Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall

2 Kings 19:20-37

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

1668. True Fasting

Isaiah 58:1-14

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... suggest comfort. In keeping with the present context, once again it concerns rebellion/sin (the words now recall Mic. 3:8). The people have assiduously responded to the invitation of 55:6: day after day they seek me out. They are eager to know my ways: there is a marked contrast here with 42:24 and 55:8–9. So they look like a nation that does tsedaqah and has not forsaken the mishpat of its God. NIV takes the edge off the tragedy and the irony and lets modern readers off the hook with its repeated seem ...

1669. Faces of Failure: The Disciples

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

Don Tuttle

... slowly began to die down and the swells began to lessen. The wind “ceased,” literally, “chopped off,” and “a great calm” came upon the sea. In fact, so dramatic is the change that the frightened disciples are stunned. “They are filled with great fear,” Mark says. More accurately, “they were greatly awed.” And they begin to ask one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?” Why? Because they knew only God reigns over the wind and waves. It is not just that God ...

1670. So, You Want to Get Well?

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... ." Jesus spoke in a Hebrew dialect called Aramaic, a common language of the time. Peter, one of the three apostles who heard the words spoken, must have felt it was important to retain the calm serenity of the Aramaic words. When he retold the story to Mark, he retained the original Aramaic. We are offered a choice in this dramatic story; a choice between the hysterical, out-of-control reaction of hopelessness in the face of death, or the serenity of Jesus who knows that for believers death is just a brief ...

1671. The Pointer

Mark 6:14-29

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... . It's not an exaggeration to say that John the Baptist might best be called "John the Pointer." He pointed out the sins of the people and forgiveness of those sins through Jesus Christ. John's preaching included pointing out the specific sins of King Herod. In Mark 6:14-29 we hear about John the Baptist being sent to prison for his preaching about Herod's sins with Herodias.1 John was arrested because he was pointing to the coming messianic king (a threat to Herod) and was pointing out Herod's sins of ...

1672. Jesus' No-Nonsense Guide to Discipleship

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... side of the road with his cloak, begging from passersby, and ready to catch any coin that might be thrown his way. Unlike most of the people in the gospel's miracle stories, Bartimaeus is identified by name. It may be that he was known to Mark's readers in the early church. Or perhaps this is an indication of the significance of his story. Bartimaeus is both his personal name and seems to function also as an honorific, for it literally means "son of honor." How ironic given his decidedly shameful occupation ...

1673. Jesus: The Original Superhero?

John 18:33-37

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... ' mission? How has Jesus demonstrated his love for us?" A study guide included scripture like John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." It even referred to Mark 10:45 which has also been part of this sermon series: "For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." On the one hand, popular culture might compare Jesus to Superman who uses his physical powers ...

1674. Why Bother?

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (Mark 12:43-44). The example of this poor widow could make a good stewardship sermon about giving to the church. But the context of her story suggests that Jesus was thinking about more than just money here. Just before the story of the poor widow, Jesus was talking ...

1675. Sheep Without a Shepherd

Mark 6:30-34

Sermon

King Duncan

... the PA system wasn’t working, so the first thing he said was “There’s something wrong with this microphone.” The people responded, “And also with you.” You and I know the truth. There’s something wrong with all of us. In our lesson for the day Mark tells us, “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a ...

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