Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 176 to 200 of 201 results

Jeremiah 50:1--51:64

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

50:1 The superscription that begins the final oracle against the nations identifies the object of this long section as Babylon. It introduces not only the last grouping of oracles but also what are by far the longest in the oracles against the nations. The prophet pulls out all the stops to articulate the destruction that was coming Babylon’s way. Jeremiah understood that the Babylonians were being used by God as an instrument of his judgment against Judah and the other nations, but this fact did not ...

177. Woe to Nineveh

Nahum 3:1-19

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Yahweh Confronts the Bloody City: Chapters 1 and 2 only hinted at the reasons for Yahweh’s anger, but the opening and close of chapter 3 are more concrete. Here Yahweh speaks all through the chapter. Yahweh confronts the city because it is responsible for the deaths of so many people as a result of its desire to accumulate wealth, which has led it into empire-building and war-making. Its apparent strength will not save it. 3:1–4 Woe is an over-translation; the Hebrew hoy resembles English “Oh,” which we ...

178. Love the Lord Your God

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

One Lord, One Love, One Loyalty: 6:1–6:3 This section starting back in 5:32 links the earlier recollection of the past events at Horeb and the actual exhortation and teaching of the law to the present generation that is launched at 6:4. Since it has now been established that Moses is God’s authorized spokesman, then the people’s obedience to what he tells them is effectively obedience to God, and any deviation to the right or to the left will be a rejection of the way of the Lord. In Hebrew, chapter 6 ...

179. The Year of Canceling Debts

Deuteronomy 15:1-11

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Release of Debts and Slaves: Those who see the order of the Decalogue reflected in the structure of the laws in Deuteronomy 12–26 relate the whole section from 14:28 to 16:17 to the fourth (sabbath) commandment. The sabbath commandment focused on the needs especially of the dependent sections of the population (5:14) and was motivated by God’s redemptive action on behalf of Israel when they were oppressed slaves (5:15). Chapter 15 is saturated with the same social concern and the same motivation. It is the ...

180. Miscellaneous Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 21:1-32, Ezekiel 22:1-31

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

In the Hebrew Bible, a new chapter starts at 20:45—appropriately, as 20:45–49 is less in continuity with the preceding judgment God pronounced on the leaders of the exilic community than with the following oracles God directed against Jerusalem (21:1–17, 18–24; 21:1–16; 22:1–16) and its leadership (21:25–27; 22:23–31; see the discussion below of the curiously-placed oracle against Ammon, 21:28–32). While it is difficult to find unity in this section, there are clear signs of intentional arrangement here: ...

181. Jesus as True King of Israel

Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 2:13-18, Matthew 2:1-12

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Matthew contrasts Jesus’ identity as the Messiah—the true King who enacts Israel’s return from exile—with Rome’s client-king, Herod, affirming Jesus’ identity through Old Testament testimony, God’s protection, and worship of Jesus by the Gentile magi. Understanding the Text Matthew 2 narrates the political threat that Jesus’ birth creates for Herod and the ensuing need for Jesus’ family to flee the country. After time in Egypt, they return, settling in Nazareth. Themes of God’s protection and ...

182. Sermon on the Mount: Final Warnings and Call to Obey Jesus’ Words

Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 7:15-23, Matthew 7:24-29

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Jesus’ final words in the Sermon on the Mount warn against those who claim to belong to God but are disobeying God’s will. Those who are wise will put Jesus’ authoritative words into practice. Understanding the Text The final section of the Sermon on the Mount focuses on putting into practice Jesus’ teachings and provides warnings about those who do not obey God’s will. Jesus speaks of bearing fruit being the mark of a disciple (7:15–20; see also 12:33–37; 13:18–23; 21:18–22, 43). Bearing fruit ...

183. Jesus Announces His Impending Suffering and Death

Matthew 16:21-28

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Though they have just confessed Jesus as the Messiah, the disciples struggle to understand his revelation that he will suffer, die, and be raised, and that they are to follow in his cruciform footsteps. Understanding the Text This passage begins a new section, signaled by the formula “From that time on Jesus began to [explain]” (16:21 [as in 4:17]), narrating Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (16:21–20:28). Jesus and his disciples travel from Galilee to Jerusalem, with Jesus teaching the Twelve along ...

184. Jesus Is God’s Faithful Son in Gethsemane and at His Arrest and Trial

Matthew 26:31-35, Matthew 26:36-46, Matthew 26:47-56, Matthew 26:57-68, Matthew 26:69-75

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Although Jesus predicts and witnesses the disciples’ desertion and prays for God to change his fate, he as the Messiah, the Son of God, proves himself faithful to God’s will even to the point of suffering and death. Understanding the Text Matthew’s passion story continues with Jesus’ prediction of the disciples’ desertion and Peter’s denial (26:31–35), Jesus’ time of prayer in Gethsemane and arrest there (26:36–56), and Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin (26:57–68) followed by Peter’s denial (26: ...

185. Marriage, Sexual Intimacy, and Spiritual Devotion

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Husbands and wives must protect each other from sexual temptation and recognize their obligation to take care of each other’s sexual needs. They are co-owners of each other’s bodies. Understanding the Text Although Paul’s discussion on sexual immorality in chapter 6 makes the transition to his discussion on sexual obligations in marriage smooth, chapter 7 introduces a new section that continues through 11:1. After his extended discussion of the Corinthian Christ followers’ troublesome allegiance ...

186. The Daughters of Zelophehad (Part 1)

Numbers 27:1-11

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God’s people will receive their rightful inheritance. Understanding the Text The plague of Numbers 25 and the census of Numbers 26 mark the end of the first generation after leaving Egypt and the emergence of a new one. But how does the unit on the daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 27:1–11) fit into this sequence? One answer is that the purpose of the census of Numbers 26 is to determine allotments in the land, and this passage is related to the fair distribution of the land.1 But why does the ...

187. The Lord Chooses a New King

1 Samuel 16:14-23, 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: When choosing his servants, the Lord gives priority to inner character, not outward appearances. Understanding the Text In the previous chapters Saul lost his dynasty (13:13–14) and then his position as king (15:26–28). Chapter 16 is a turning point in the story: the process of Saul’s actual removal from kingship begins. God withdraws his Spirit and sends another spirit to torment Saul and undermine his kingship. Prior to this, the Lord announced that he would raise up “a man after his own heart ...

188. Daniel's Prayer

Daniel 9:1-19

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Jeremiah’s “Seventy Years” (9:1-6): Big Idea: Yahweh faithfully fulfills his prophetic word and keeps his covenant with his people, whether for blessing or for judgment. Understanding the Text Daniel 9 is woven into the book’s overall literary structure in several ways. First, it advances the chronology of chapters 8–12. Second, it forms the middle of Daniel’s final concentric Hebrew section, which is framed by the parallel units of chapter 8 and chapters 10–12. Third, it covers the same long-range time ...

189. Prologue

Job 1:1-5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Notice: This commentary on the book of Job does not explore the book chapter by chapter. Every reader can experience the book in that fashion. Rather, we have focused on sections and characters, attempting to present to the reader a vista that sees the whole of them in a less fractured setting than the setting in the story. This context will then complement a chapter-by-chapter reading. 1:1–2:13; 42:7–17 Review · Prologue and Epilogue: A significant poetic story plays out between these two bookends, but ...

190. You Shall Be My Witness

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

A picture is worth a thousand words. So let me try to paint the picture, with words. Better, you paint the picture in your mind as I tell the story. An 83-year-old grandmother is standing in the checkout line of a K-Mart store. She chats with a young boy who is very proud of his $5.98 watch he has just purchased. Somewhere in their friendly conversation she asks the boy where he goes to Sunday school. He doesn’t go. “Really? I think you’d like it. Could I call your mother and see if I can pick you up. We ...

191. Called to Bigness

Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20

Sermon

James L. Killen

Lots of Christians think of Judaism as a worn-out, rigid old religion that needs to be replaced. Apparently Jesus didn't think that way. When Jesus gave the teachings that are parts of the Sermon on the Mount, he was speaking as a Jew to Jews. He apparently thought of himself as part of a vital religious tradition through which God had been at work for centuries and through which God was just about to do something new and even greater. When Jesus spoke of fulfilling the law and the prophets, he was calling ...

192. The Woman and the Dragon

Revelation 12:1--13:1a

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

With the exaltation of the slain Lamb, the heavenly temple has been opened and the promise of salvation has been fulfilled (11:19); a new age of salvation’s history has begun. According to the eschatology of the earliest church, Christ’s death and exaltation constitute the penultimate moment of salvation’s history and look ahead to the ultimate moment, the parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ, when the salvation of God’s people and the restoration of God’s creation will be completed in full. The church’s ...

193. How Long, O Lord?

Psalm 13:1-6

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

In the words of H. Gunkel, the pioneer of form-critical study of the Psalms, Psalm 13 is “the model of a ‘lament of the individual’ . . . , in which the individual components of the genre step forth most clearly” (Einleitung in die Psalmen [Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1933], p. 46). It exhibits a compact, tightly woven structure. 13:1–2 The opening lament names all the parties involved in the distress: Yahweh, the speaker, and the speaker’s opponents. The psalm gives worshipers occasion to lament ...

194. Betrayed by God in Battle?

Psalm 44:1-26

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

Adversity is never easy to bear, but what makes it worse is feeling that God has brought it on (v. 4). What makes it unbearable is the utter disappointment of what were believed to be legitimate expectations from God. As one turns to prayer, God becomes both the problem and its solution. Psalm 44 is a prayer psalm lamenting a battle defeat. The people have been killed, despoiled, and dispersed (esp. vv. 10–11, 19, 22). The survivors feel humiliated (vv. 13–16) and downcast (v. 25). The psalm contains no ...

195. The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Matthew 18:21-35

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

Humility and Forgiveness: We come now to the fourth major discourse of Matthew. It ends with the usual formula in 19:1–2 (cf. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 26:1). Chapter 18 reads very much like an early church manual and deals with subjects such as humility (vv. 1–4), responsibility (vv. 5–7), self-renunciation (vv. 8–10), individual care (vv. 11–14), discipline (vv. 15–20), fellowship (vv. 19–20), and forgiveness (vv. 23–35; cf. Barclay, vol. 2, pp. 173–74). 18:21–27 Peter comes to Jesus asking him how many times ...

196. Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

Daniel and His Three Friends Avoid Defilement: Chronological notations frame the opening chapter. It begins with the third year of King Jehoiakim of Judah, at which time the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem (1:1). It ends with the first year of King Cyrus of Persia (1:21). These are roughly the parameters of the exile; apparently they are also the bookends for Daniel’s career. Nebuchadnezzar deported to Babylon the Jewish leaders, including Daniel and his friends; Cyrus conquered Babylon ...

197. Make-Over Melody

Humor Illustration

King Duncan

In dire need of a beauty make‑over, I went to my salon with a fashion magazine photo of a gorgeous, young, lustrous‑haired model. I showed the stylist the trendy new cut I wanted and settled into the chair as he began humming a catchy tune and got to work on my thin, graying hair. I was delighted by his cheerful attitude until I recognized the melody. It was the theme from “Mission: Impossible.”

198. For The Love of God is Creative

1 Corinthians 2:6-12 · Psalm 8

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

In Bil Keane's FAMILY CIRCUS, little Billy is watching television. The speaker boldly says, "Remember this, my friends, great things never happen until some person in this world makes them happen." Billy's mind gets to thinking about the snow, the reflection of the moon on the lake at night, the waves crashing at the beach, a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, a gorgeous sunset and a beautiful waterfall and then he says, "Oh, yeah?" (1) Billy had the youthful wisdom to give credit where credit is due, ...

199. For The Love of God Is Empowering

Matthew 22:36 -40 · John 4:1-32

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

I heard about an executive who was given a prank gift for his birthday, a penguin. He decided just to accept it in the spirit in which it was given, so he called in one of his employees and said, "Will you please take this penguin to the zoo?" The employee never returned to work that day. That night, however, he appeared at the executive's house, with the penguin. Exasperated, the business executive said, "I thought I told you to take the animal to the zoo." "I did," said the young employee. "He enjoyed it ...

200. Equipped for Our Calling

Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23)

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

This morning we’re going to start off with a little confession time. It’s good for the soul. Every once in a while, do you wish you could call in “sick” to work and have a day to relax? There’s an old term that is used for skipping out of some obligation, like not going to work or school when you’re supposed to. It’s called “playing hooky.” It comes from an old Dutch term for the game “hide-and-seek.” So a person who is playing hooky from work is hiding from their boss for the day. (1) It’s a good thing ...

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