Sermon and Worship Resources

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1 Chronicles 2:3-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... his wife, and Perez and Zerah being the twin sons of Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law. Behind this short summary of Judah’s sons is, of course, the very enigmatic narrative in Genesis 38. It tells the story—amid the narrative of the highly exemplary other son of Israel, Joseph (Gen. 37–50)—of this ancestor who fathered twin brothers from his daughter-in-law, Tamar. This happened after the ancestor did not satisfy her legal rights, and she thus disguised herself as a prostitute to claim those rights ...

152. The End of Jehoshaphat's Reign

2 Chronicles 20:31--21:3

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... of the Chronicler, using again the well-known term kun to reflect the writer’s understanding of Yahweh’s kingdom as well established and well ordered. The failed maritime project comes as a very last confirmation that Jehoshaphat is not altogether an exemplary king. Another prophetic voice, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, interprets this event: because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made (20:37). To rely on alliances means not to rely on Yahweh. The ...

153. The Death of Josiah

2 Chronicles 35:20--36:1

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... during his reign). 35:22–24 Differences in depiction of the death of Josiah in various textual witnesses abound. Most scholars accept that the reason behind the various portrayals of Josiah’s death is the theological problem of why such an exemplary king died a violent death inflicted by an Egyptian pharaoh’s men. Christine Mitchell (“Ironic Death of Josiah,” pp. 421–35) develops a literary perspective on the issue. In her view, the Chronicler deliberately patterns the death of Josiah after the ...

154. Greatness, Real Greatness

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... of greatness. It has been said that that nation is proudest and noblest and most exalted which has the greatest number of really great men and women-not just those whom it honors, but also the "anonymous" great, the citizens who, in their little bailiwicks, live exemplary lives—the kind it would be wonderful if all of us lived. These are the persons James Russell Lowell had in mind when he wrote: The wisest man could ask no more of Fate Than to be simple, modest, manly, true, Safe from the Many, honored ...

155. In Need of a "Rally Monkey"

Luke 17:5-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... other people had for him not because he had a perfect heart within him. He accomplished so much because he had opened his heart to Jesus Christ, and he allowed Christ’s heart to beat in his chest. When the disciples heard Jesus tell them to live exemplary lives and to forgive those who sinned against them regardless of how often that occurred, the disciples asked for more faith. What they would learn is that what they needed was not more faith. What they needed was for Christ to live in their hearts. What ...

156. Keeping the Faith

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Molly F. James

... foremost, the church is in a whole lot of trouble if there is great chasm between the standards we have for our leaders and the standards we have for Christians in general. We are all called to be followers of Christ. We are all called to lead exemplary lives that point to the remarkable life-giving, saving witness of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And — and this is a very important and — we all fall short. No matter who we are, no matter what leadership position we are in ...

157. The Thorn of Discontent

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... a church “successful.” A “successful” church in Jesus’ eyes has a spirit that is broken, a contrite heart, a willing mind, an attitude of service. But for Greek “leaders” who have made their way in the world through their wonderful and exemplary “leadership,” this must have been a difficult concept to get across. They felt naturally that they would “run” the church the same way they ran their businesses. They approached the church as though it were a business entity, or a political ...

Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity. The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary.

Warren G. Bennis

159. The Dean's Dilemma

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... Be very careful what you wish for—you just might get it. It reminds me of the story I like to call “The Dean’s Dilemma.” An angel appears at a college faculty meeting and tells the dean, “In return for your unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward you with your choice of infinite wealth, infinite wisdom, or infinite beauty.” Without hesitating, the dean says, “Give me infinite wisdom!” “Done!” says the angel before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. All heads now turn to the ...

160.

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 ...

161.

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 ...

162. Daniel Interprets the Dream

Daniel 2:24-49

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... Joseph is reputed to be able to interpret dreams, Joseph replies, “I cannot do it . . . but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Gen. 41:16). So, Daniel is a man of prayer; a man of praise, thanksgiving, and worship; and a man of exemplary humility who, like Joseph, acknowledges God to be the source of his wisdom. 2:31–35 In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance (3:31). Colossal statues were common in the ancient Near East; those of ...

163. Charging the Assembly

1 Chronicles 29:21-26

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 ...

164. Scandal

Luke 22:14-23:56

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

... this Good Friday is his ability to die with courage and dignity, just as he had lived. When we see Jesus we buck up, and we get our act together, and we recover the best of our humanity. Of course, later theologians would further emphasize that exemplary character of Jesus’ life and death. Abelard saw in Jesus death the power of moral influence. We have grown complacent in our degradation, according to Abelard. Jesus came among us and all we could see was his goody-goody character, and we despised him for ...

Showing 151 to 164 of 164all results

Antonyms: deficient, imperfect

Showing all results

151. Judah - To Hezron's Sons

1 Chronicles 2:3-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

152. The End of Jehoshaphat's Reign

2 Chronicles 20:31--21:3

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

153. The Death of Josiah

2 Chronicles 35:20--36:1

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

154. Greatness, Real Greatness

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

155. In Need of a "Rally Monkey"

Luke 17:5-10

Sermon

King Duncan

156. Keeping the Faith

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Molly F. James

157. The Thorn of Discontent

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity. The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary.

Warren G. Bennis

159. The Dean's Dilemma

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

King Duncan

160.

Psalm 131:1-3

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

161.

Psalm 146:1-10

Understanding Series