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Showing 176 to 200 of 4963 results

176. A Honeymoon at Church Camp: A Real Homecoming

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Sermon

Tony Everett

... well, remembering how this is the most romantic spot in the whole camp. Here is where I proposed to you. Here is the very spot where you agreed to be my Christmas bride. Here is where we pledged our eternal love!" With her heart softening, but just a little, Rachael remained firm. "Come on, Wally. Let's go back to our cabin and go to sleep." "But you don't understand, honey. When I was gazing into the well, my lucky fifty-cent coin fell down there," whined Wally. "This was the coin I held in my hand on the ...

177. The Faithfulness of God

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... seem odd, in challenges that force us to reflect upon the goodness of God. Despite our many lapses in judgment, work, and action, God remains faithful. It is the only way God can be. The Pauline author puts it very powerfully: "If we have died with him, we will ... with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-13). As God has been ever faithful to us, so must we be ever faithful ...

178. Touched

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... (16:20‑22). Flushed with joy and fleshed out with peace, the disciples are ready to receive the commission Jesus now gives them. Throughout this “locked room” scene John refers to “the disciples.” Nowhere is it made clear whether this refers to the remaining eleven of Jesus’ chosen companions, or if other “disciples” are present. In light of John 13:20 and 17:18‑20, there is no reason not to assume that a larger group is present and is receiving this first-hand commission from Jesus. The ...

179. How Connected Are You?

John 15:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... Christ. In our lesson for the day from the Gospel, Christ says to us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear ...

180. The 4 Spiritual Flaws

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... passage, Jesus showed us how we are to host heaven on earth in our homes everyday, not wait for some heavenly home. 2. Spiritual Flaw #2: "I can do it on my own!" As long as the crowd remained standing, they retained control over their own destiny. They could go off on their own and get some food. They could go home. To remain standing is to say "I can feed myself. I can do it on my own." Jesus says to all "I-can-do-it-on-my-own" types, "Sit Down." Or in other words, Trust me. Put your future ...

181. Turn On the Light

John 8:12-30

Sermon

James Merritt

... . I spent last night thinking about how terrible my family situation is…how I don’t deserve half the things I have, yet I still remain ungrateful even though I realize it. I know I am just a useless person in general. I was trying to eat dinner tonight and half ... ) Even if you shine a light or show a light, if you keep the light to yourself and refuse to share it then others will remain in dark places. To put it simply, it is criminal to be in a world full of darkness and keep the only light that there is ...

182. The Fall of Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 36:15-23

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... 10; 52:15–16, 24–30. No individuals or groups are mentioned in 2 Chronicles 36:20, but those taken into captivity are collectively called the remnant, who escaped from the sword. This might be the Chronicler’s summary of what is called “the people who remained in the city” in 2 Kings 25:11 and Jeremiah 39:9; 52:15. The Chronicler, however, omits any mention that some vinedressers and tillers of the soil were left in the land (according to the other three versions). On account of this omission, the ...

183. Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison

Acts 12:1-19a

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... :42). After this, though he was wont to make his residence in Jerusalem (Josephus, Antiquities 19.328–331), Herod “went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while” (v. 19b; see note on 1:8 and the disc. on 21:10), which remained, as under the Romans, the administrative capital of his realm. Additional Notes 12:2 With the sword (cf. Mark 6:27): According to Mishnah, Sanhedrin 7.1ff., the Sanhedrin had power to inflict four kinds of penalty: stoning, burning, beheading, and strangling. This passage ...

184. The Trial Before Felix

Acts 24:1-27

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... been by meeting Christians in the ordinary course of his duties or by hearing about them in Caesarea or from his wife, Drusilla, who was a Jew. 24:23 Meanwhile, Paul had no redress and no choice but to wait and hope for discharge. He remained a prisoner, though he was granted the privilege of what the Romans called “free custody” (custodia libera) as befitting his status. This meant that his friends could visit him and attend to his needs. 24:24 Since this little incident adds nothing to the history ...

185. Accusations

2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... third time. 10:7 The apostle exhorts the Corinthians: “Look at the things according to the face!” (NIV: you are looking only on the surface), referring back to verse 1. Hence, Paul’s exhortation seems to be an invitation for the Corinthians, especially those who remain hostile to him, to take a closer, more realistic look at him as an apostle, even if they are evaluating according to “the face” rather than the heart (cf. 5:12). Paul maintains that he is also a genuine apostle of Jesus Christ. In ...

186. Paul’s Second Visit to the Jerusalem Church

Galatians 2:1-10

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... to know that despite the overwhelming and intimidating opposition he experienced during that assembly at Jerusalem, he did not allow himself to be put in the position of a subordinate. He did this for the sake of the truth of the gospel, so that it might remain for the Galatians. Paul presents himself as the real defender of the gospel. For Paul the truth of the gospel is what he has already given the Galatians (1:9) and what he will reiterate during the course of the letter—that “a man is justified ...

187. Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... :15; cf., e.g., Luke 17:21). But, if Jesus was right (and the evidence of his life, his miracles, his resurrection, and the Pentecostal outpouring assure us that he was), then the kingdom clearly had not come in the manner expected. For the time being, it remained a personal and partial (though real) experience for those who submitted to God’s rule in Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 13:12). Only when Jesus returns will the kingdom be fully established and God’s rule become all in all (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24f.). Thus ...

188. Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves

1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... to meet the qualifications given in verses 9–10. Now he advises what young widows should do, since they are rejected as being “true widows.” Nor does this contradict 1 Corinthians 7:39–40. There Paul said she is free to remarry (a believer), but it is better to remain single. Here he still holds that it is better to be single (5:9, 12), but the situation in Ephesus has now caused him to advise remarriage (again, as vv. 11–12 imply, to a believer). As so often in this letter (see disc. on 2:2; 3:6 ...

189. Encouragement to Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... v. 7 (p. 108). It is arguable that an interpretation that makes good sense both of the details and the context is to be preferred to this procedure. Basis for the Appeal With this paragraph Paul brings to a fitting conclusion his long appeal for Timothy to remain loyal—even to the point of suffering. His loyalty is to be primarily to Christ and the gospel, but it will be evidenced by his loyalty to Paul, a prisoner because of the gospel, and by faithfulness to his own ministry (1:6–14). When this appeal ...

190. Warning Against Falling Away

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... to speak of the possibility of a return from apostasy. The readers must be made to see the seriousness of what they are contemplating. The severity of his statement is to be explained by the situation and context of the readers. If they are to remain faithful to their confession in the face of persecution, they must understand the nature of apostasy. This is not a time for words concerning God’s grace and the possibility of restoration. In any event, because it is both difficult and uncertain, a way back ...

191. Melchizedek the Priest

Hebrews 7:1-10, Hebrews 7:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... from the tribe of Judah—and not Levi—becoming a priest. The implications are wider, however, as will be seen below (see vv. 18–19, and 8:7, 13). But despite his insistence upon the necessity of a change in the law, the author’s basic perspective remains: Christianity stands in continuity with the past as the fulfillment of what God promised he would do. 7:13–14 It was plain that he of whom these things are said (Jesus, the Son of David) belonged to a different tribe (the tribe of Judah) and thus ...

192. The Legitimacy and Superiority of Christ’s Priesthood

Hebrews 7:11-28, Hebrews 7:1-10

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

193. By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-40

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... only made him confident of the eventual deliverance of the sons of Israel but also gave occasion for him to give instructions about his own remains. These instructions were duly accomplished, according to Exod. 13:19 and Josh. 24:32. On the unusual use of the Greek word mnēmoneuō (spoke ... describes in general language the various kinds of victory won through faith. These, like others who remain unmentioned, conquered kingdoms; this is probably an allusion to the victories recorded in Joshua and Judges, but ...

194. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... that is not the end: In heaven the wronged continue to raise their cry, “How long?” (Rev. 6:9–11), for they have an audience in the very presence of God. This is indeed effective resistance, for God will hear. James has finished his argument. All that remains for him is to summarize (5:7–11) and to add a proper epistolary conclusion (5:12–20: oaths, health wish, purpose). Here his pastoral heart comes out as he advises the community how to live during these “last days.” 5:7 Be patient is his ...

195. The Golden Calf

Exodus 32:1-33:6

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... and the writing on them three times each. They represented the agreement the people had made with the Lord in the book of the covenant (24:3). The work of the living God in history and in the lives of these specific people is at stake. Whether hope remained for God’s project in time and space depended on what happened next. Joshua, who was with Moses (24:13), heard the noise of the people shouting and thought it was the sound of war (or “fighting”) in the camp. The mention of Joshua helps to validate ...

196. The Fall of Jericho

Joshua 5:13--6:27

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... (Soggin, Joshua, p. 77). The question calls for a positive answer, but the negative one can also make sense in the context. The negative answer has the sense that as commander of the army of the Lord, the visitor does not need to take sides. The Lord remains independent and will judge what side to support by how the people obey or do not obey their orders from God. In either case, the answer identifies the stranger as the commander of the heavenly hosts and does not commit God to support one side or the ...

197. Land Still to Be Taken

Joshua 13:1-7

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... said to him, “You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over” (lit. very much land remains to be possessed). God delivers first-person instructions to Joshua, a direct oracle, reminding him that possessing the land has not ended. In his ... an unknown group (Amorites?) east of the Jordan (area of Og and Sihon), and the Gebalites (Byblus or Lebanon) remain outside of tribal control. In the instructions, God promises again to drive out the inhabitants, even the Sidonians, but ...

198. Ruth Meets Boaz

Ruth 2:1-23

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

... deep in Syro-Palestinian culture well explains why so many Israelites, in spite of attempts to police them, go on worshiping these deities at high-place sanctuaries (1 Kgs. 3:2; 12:31; 13:2). In 1967, a team of Dutch archaeologists found the remains of a sanctuary very much like Micah’s only twenty miles east of Shechem. Its present-day Arabic name is Deir ’Alla (probably ancient Succoth). Inside the Dutch found plaster fragments containing an oracle of Balaam, presumably the same Balaam who speaks in ...

199. David’s Victories

1 Chronicles 18:1-13

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... Samuel 11–12, only to link up with the text again in 2 Samuel 12:29. First Chronicles 20:1 is therefore a merged version of 2 Samuel 11:1 and 12:29. This creates a logical contradiction in the text, however, because David is indicated to have remained in Jerusalem (according to 1 Chron. 20:1) but is then involved in the battle in the next verse. These verses report the final battle against the Ammonites, in which David not only won political control over them (with David putting the king’s crown on his ...

200. Jesus Predicts His Death

John 12:20-36

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... will bring salvation to the Gentiles. The sequel to verse 24 is verse 32. When verses 24 and 32 are placed side by side, they look like two stanzas of a single pronouncement: (a) I solemnly assure you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit (v. 24, NAB). (b) And I—once I am lifted up from the earth—will draw all men to myself (v. 32, NAB). The symmetry between (a) and (b) centers on the contrast between the phrases ...

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