Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1851 to 1875 of 2157 results

1851. Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

Josh 16:1–17:18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the tribe of Manasseh, the firstborn of Joseph, and specifically, for Makir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of [the region] Gilead. Because he [Makir] was a warrior, he took Gilead and Bashan.” In this translation, reflected in most other major English versions, it is not the descendants of Gilead who receive Gilead and Bashan but, more generally, the descendants of Makir. This is consistent with Joshua 13:29–31, Numbers 32:40, and Deuteronomy 3:13–15, where the half tribe of Manasseh receiving ...

1852. Danites Settle in Laish

Judges 18:1-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The setting changes briefly in 18:1 as new characters are introduced who will play significant roles in the continued unfolding of the story. But first, the shortened version of the refrain appears again in 18:1a, perhaps to highlight the fact that the events to be narrated will again illustrate the anarchy that results from the Lord not being honored as king. The inability of the Danites to take possession of their allotted land has already been disclosed ...

1853. Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

1 Sam 11:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... mutilation was only appropriate for rebels or escaped prisoners of war, not for the subjects of newly conquered cities outside one’s domain. The text of 4QSama provides the necessary material to make sense of the rather abrupt beginning of 1 Samuel 11. Some Bible versions have added this material to the text of 1 Samuel (e.g., NRSV, The Message); the NIV includes it in a footnote at 11:1: Now Nahash king of the Ammonites oppressed the Gadites and Reubenites severely. He gouged out all their right eyes and ...

1854. Job's Second Test

Job 2:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... said, Janzen does compare the differences between Job’s first response (1:20–22) and his second here, arguing that Job’s initial stalwart confidence in God, God’s ways, and himself has eroded (Janzen, 51–55). If so, we may see an editorial nod in producing the final, canonical version of Job. Already in the narrative prologue, we may see a patient Job transforming into the increasingly impatient Job of the poetic core.

1855. Elihu's Words

Job 32:1--37:24

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... think the Elihu character is a late insertion. Not mentioned earlier or later by the narrator, and not acknowledged by human characters or God, Elihu admittedly has the earmarkings of a surgical insertion. Be that as it may, he is alive and well in the version before us, and we must reckon with him and his words at this juncture. Elihu, as a character, is young, brash, self-important, and dogmatic. Many find him quite unlikable. Elihu, as a speaker in the story, though, stands as a Janus-like figure, facing ...

1856. Psalm 43

Psalm 43:1-5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Psalm 43:2 parallels 42:9, and 43:5 essentially duplicates 42:5, 11; however, Psalm 43 is not simply a smaller version of Psalm 42. Psalm 43 explodes with greater emotional intensity than does Psalm 42—there are more commands and entreaties (significantly more considering the relative sizes of the two psalms). In the parallel verses (43:2 and 42:9, respectively), “stronghold” (i.e., “fortress”) evokes more forceful imagery than does “ ...

1857. Where has Your Lover Gone

Song of Songs 6:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... associated with army troops in dress parade. 6:11–12 · This section is crucial to the understanding of the Song, and yet verse 12 is the most difficult line of the poem to translate and interpret sensibly. (See the variations in the major English versions.) Literally rendered, the verse reads “I did not know, my soul, (it/he) set me in the chariot of Amminadab.” The confusion results from the ambiguous syntax in the verse, especially the relationship of “my soul” to the verbs in the line. (Here ...

1858. Jeremiah Thrown into a Cistern

Jeremiah 38:1-13, Jeremiah 38:14-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... “servant of the king,” is rewarded for his trust in the Lord; his life is spared when calamity strikes (39:15–18). Zedekiah makes a second and last attempt at an interview with Jeremiah (38:14–27). Some see this as another version of the earlier visit (37:17–21), but divergent details (two different dungeons; two different precipitating occasions) argue for two accounts. The place is in the temple, where state officials would have little reason to go. Jeremiah paints the consequences of a refusal ...

1859. The Lord’s Call for Judah’s Repentance

Joel 2:12-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of garments publicly signified deep internal grief; however, the prophet asks not for outward expressions of mourning but for an internal response of true sorrow and penitence. In the prophetic address to the rebellious community, he adapts an abbreviated version of the formula in Exodus 34:6–7 describing divine attributes (originally recited by the Lord to Moses, who desired to see the presence of God). The formula reveals the inherent character of God, who forgives covenant misconduct and remains ...

1860. Edom’s Judgment Pronounced and Reaffirmed

Obadiah 1:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (see Hos. 7:8–11). Those who once shared food at a common meal (i.e., those in economic or political union with Edom) will lay a snare and entrap Edom unawares. (The last phrase of verse 7 is obscure, as the variations in the English versions attest.) It seems best to understand the reference to wisdom or knowledge as further irony. Edom is about to be deceived, in spite of all her wisdom. Pride distorts reality and blinds to the truth. This is why Edom is so easily deceived by treacherous allies ...

1861. A Promised Ruler from Bethlehem

Micah 5:1-4

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , this oracle begins by describing a time of distress for Israel from which she will be delivered. This third oracle, however, reverses priorities and concentrates on the positive note of deliverance. The first line of the oracle is extremely difficult. Some versions translate it as, “Marshal your troops, O city of troops,” but it is best to read it, along with many commentators, as, “Now gash yourself, daughter of marauder!” The act of cutting oneself was a well-known expression of mourning in ...

1862. The Justice and Patience of God

Malachi 2:17--3:5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . In response to their third question, “Where is the God of justice?” God comes in judgment. Even though this judgment may be delayed for millennia (2 Pet. 3:3–9), the judgment will certainly come on all who have broken his commandments. Even though the commentaries and versions are not in agreement as to the extent of the argument, 3:6 could be the conclusion of 2:17–3:6. The Lord has charged his people with wearying him (2:17). They should be destroyed. Though the Lord is vexed by the words of his ...

1863. Jesus Questioned about Fasting

Mark 2:18-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . 5:1; 54:5–6; 62:4–5; Ezek. 16:6–8; Hos. 2:19). While the bridegroom is present, fasting should be suspended, although it may be resumed when the bridegroom is “taken from them.” The root of Mark’s Greek verb here is used in the Greek version of Isaiah 53:8 to describe the vicarious death of the Suffering Servant. The significance of Jesus as the bridegroom is conveyed in two crisp metaphors or parables about a new patch that shrinks and tears an old garment (2:21), and new wine that bursts old ...

1864. The Resurrection

Mark 16:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... · Later resurrection traditions: Verses 9–20 represent one of the most difficult textual problems in the New Testament. The two oldest and most important Greek manuscripts of the New Testament omit the longer ending of Mark, as do several early translations, versions, and testimonies of church fathers. The literary character of 16:9–20 also differs from that of the rest of the Gospel of Mark. Twenty-seven new words occur in the longer ending, plus several stylistic features otherwise absent from Mark ...

1865. The Shepherds and the Angels

Luke 2:8-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... NIV is correct: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” The notion that God’s peace extends to “men of good will” is a serious distortion of the doctrine of grace, and the King James Version rendering (“good will toward men”) is based on an inferior text The story shows the spontaneous obedience of the shepherds (2:15), the amazement of those who hear the report of the shepherds (1:17–18), and Mary’s careful reflection over the events that ...

1866. The Triumphal Entry

John 12:1-11, John 12:12-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... into the city from the eastern hills (12:9–19). The triumphal entry into Jerusalem is narrated in each of the Gospels (Matt. 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–10; Luke 19:28–40), and John’s differences stem chiefly from his abbreviated version. The crowd celebrates Jesus’s arrival with festive displays and shouts. The Old Testament explanation in each account comes from Zechariah 9:9, although John amends Zechariah’s “Rejoice greatly” to “Do not be afraid” (John 12:15). This may be a unique allusion ...

1867. Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ; in 6:11–14 he gives an ethical explanation. He begins in 6:3 with a reminder of a theological truth he expects the Roman Christians to know already. Faith in Christ establishes a union with Christ with respect to his death. While English versions translate the verb in verse 3 as “baptize,” for speakers of the Greek language the term baptizō does not mean “baptize”—i.e., “to use water in a rite for the purpose of . . . establishing a relationship with God”—but “to put or go under ...

1868. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ruin and loss (Jer. 25:31; 48:3; Hag. 2:22; 1 Tim. 6:9). This destruction is “eternal” (Matt. 18:8; 25:41, 46; Jude 7). This does not imply annihilation but rather that the chastisement will endure and will not end. The following statement, drawn from the Greek version of Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21, makes the association between God’s presence and judgment (Num. 16:46; Judg. 5:5; Ps. 34:16; 96:13; Jer. 4:26; Ezek. 38:20; Rev. 6:16; 20:11). The thought is not that they will be separated from the “presence ...

1869. Making One’s Calling and Election Sure

2 Peter 1:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1:1–2 · Salutation: The letter opens with the identification of the author as “Simeon Peter” (RSV; NIV: “Simon Peter”)—this work uses the more original form of the name, Simeon (as in Acts 15:14), rather than the shortened version Simon. He is writing to those with “a faith as precious as ours”—so, to faithful believers. The expression “our God and Savior Jesus Christ” is unusual and unlike similar expressions later in the letter. If our author is following the normal rules of Greek ...

1870. One Like a Son of Man

Revelation 1:9-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... among the seven golden lampstands of God’s heavenly temple (1:12–13). Lampstands, or menorahs, were furnishings in the earthly tabernacle (Exod. 25:31–40), Solomon’s temple (1 Chron. 28:15), and Herod’s (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 3.199). However, these earthly versions were pale imitations of the seven glorious lampstands seen by John (Heb. 8:5). Even though the divine origin of “one like the son of man” is ambiguous in the Aramaic text of Daniel 7:9–14, it is clear in Revelation that ...

1871. What Was That All About?

Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon

James L. Killen

... The people stood in the sun and heard John deliver his passionate message. Then they watched as John did what they had heard he would do. He invited all who were sincere about their repentance to wade into the river with him and go through a version of the Jewish rite of puriﬁcation. This was a ritual typically used when a non-Jew adopted the Jewish faith. Ordinarily Jewish people would have resented any suggestion that they needed this kind of puriﬁcation. But when John called for the penitents to come ...

1872. Elephants in the Room: Depression

Lamentations 3:17-26

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... . He is captured and held captive in a pagan city, hundreds of miles from his home. To make matters worse, his fellow Jews chastise him for having any faith in God! Take a look at something the writer of Lamentations said. This is from then Contemporary English Version: I cannot find peace or remember happiness. I tell myself, “I am finished! I can’t count on the Lord to do anything for me.” Just thinking of my troubles and my lonely wandering makes me miserable. That’s all I ever think about, and I ...

1873. Unstoppable Love

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... , oppressed women, and unclean lepers. He healed on the sabbath and didn’t care which laws he broke. For Jesus, love is the highest law. Jesus’ love is unstoppable and limitless. It knows no bounds. Nothing can stop the love of God! Our culture has its own version of lepers today. We of-ten set up boundaries and taboos against those we misunderstand, fear, or hate. Some of us think that Jesus’ love stops short of them but we are wrong. A colleague of mine loves to tell the story about a woman who was ...

1874. True North

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40) Jesus’ answer was revolutionary. He quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. He said if someone follows these two commands he or she will keep the essence of the law. Jesus was saying, “You want the CliffsNotes™ version of the law? You want me to sum it up for you? You don’t have to memorize all these little rules and laws and worry yourself sick. All you have to do is two things and you have it. Here it is: Love God with all your being ...

1875. Pop Verses: Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... hang all the law and the prophets.” –Matthew 22 Jesus’ answer was revolutionary. He quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. He said if someone follows these two commands he or she will keep the essence of the Law. Jesus was saying, “You want the Cliff Notes version of the living out the faith? You want me to sum it up for you? You don’t have to memorize all these little rules and laws and worry yourself sick. All you have to do is do two things and you got it. Here it is: Love God with ...

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