Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 2026 to 2050 of 2273 results

2026. The Birth of God’s Son Announced

Luke 1:26-38

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R.T. France

Big Idea: Jesus will be miraculously born from a virgin mother and will be the Son of God and the promised Messiah. Understanding the Text The mention of “the sixth month” in 1:26, 36 ties this episode in closely with the preceding one (note “five months” in 1:24), and the angel’s news about Elizabeth (1:36) keeps the two angelic announcements closely linked, thus preparing for the meeting of the two pregnant mothers in 1:39–56. The similar announcements to Zechariah and to Mary by the same angelic ...

2027. The Baptism of Jesus

Luke 3:21-38

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R.T. France

Big Idea: Jesus is anointed as the Messiah at his baptism, and God publicly declares that Jesus is his Son. Understanding the Text This is the first appearance of the adult Jesus in Luke’s narrative. This and the following passage record his preparation for public ministry, which will begin in 4:14. The sequence from 3:20 is not strictly consecutive, in that John is here apparently still at liberty to baptize Jesus. Luke has rounded off John’s story, and now he goes back to locate the beginning of Jesus’s ...

2028. An Encounter across the Lake

Luke 8:26-39, Luke 8:22-25

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R.T. France

Big Idea: Jesus displays his unique power over both the natural elements and supernatural oppression. Understanding the Text Thus far, Jesus’s mission has been confined to the Jewish areas of Galilee, though we have heard of crowds from a wider area coming to hear him (6:17–18). The decision now to cross the lake takes him into Gentile territory on the eastern shore. It is only a brief visit, but it symbolizes the wider extension of the Jewish Messiah’s ministry to non-Jewish people, already signaled in 2: ...

2029. A Sick Woman and a Dead Girl

Luke 8:40-56

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R.T. France

Big Idea: Jesus’s extraordinary power to heal extends even to someone who has just died. Understanding the Text Two further miracles of healing add yet more weight to the impression of unlimited power that characterizes the whole of the Galilean phase of Jesus’s story and that form the basis for the key question of 9:18–20: Who is Jesus? After his authority has been asserted over the natural elements and the supernatural powers of evil (8:22–39), he now restores two women to life: one literally, from a ...

2030. Table Talk

Luke 14:1-14

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R.T. France

Big Idea: The kingdom of God reverses our conventional ideas of who really matters. Understanding the Text This is the third time Luke has depicted Jesus as an invited guest at a Pharisee’s table (see also 7:36–50; 11:37–54), and on each occasion Jesus makes things uncomfortable, challenging the social conventions and the moral values of his hosts and fellow guests. In this case, the meal setting continues into 14:15–24, in which Jesus will use the motif of a special meal as the basis for a parable about ...

2031. The Gospel of God in Christ through Paul

Romans 1:1-17

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C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, was divinely chosen to preach the gospel of God in Christ, the end-time fulfillment of the twofold Old Testament promise of the restoration of Israel and the conversion of the Gentiles. Understanding the Text Romans 1:1–7 forms the first half of Paul’s introduction to Romans (1:8–15 is the second half). The introduction, or prescript, to ancient letters consisted of three parts: identification of the author, identification of the recipients, and a salutation or ...

2032. The Story of Israel and the Story of Gentiles

Romans 1:18-32

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C. Marvin Pate

Big Idea: There is plenty of condemnation to go around for Jews as well as Gentiles. In this passage the story of Israel is reflected in the story of Gentiles—sin and judgment for both. But this bad news is designed to drive both to the gospel, the ultimate restoration of the Jews and conversion of the Gentiles. Understanding the Text Romans 1:18–4:25 is the unit of Romans that corresponds to the stipulation component of the Old Testament covenant formula. According to Paul, the stipulation for receiving ...

2033. Worship and Humility

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

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Preben Vang

Big Idea: Christian worship must happen in an atmosphere of humility and self-giving. Self-promoting pride desecrates Christ and brings devastation to his community. Understanding the Text The danger of an amalgamation between pagan and Christian worship loomed in the Corinthian setting. After pointing out how clothing (veiling) blurred what should have been a clear distinction between pagan and Christian worship practices (11:2–16), Paul now turns to the issue of the Lord’s Supper itself. The very rooms ...

2034. Message to Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Jesus commends his church for contending for a pure faith but challenges them to do so out of love. Understanding the Text Following the prologue (1:1–8) and the introductory vision of Christ (1:9–20), we find messages to seven particular congregations in Asia Minor (2:1–3:22). The focus in chapter 1 was on Jesus Christ, who is now the risen and glorified Lord over all. The seven messages are part of Christ’s “revelation” through John to his servants. Since every church is charged to “hear what ...

2035. Worthy Is the Lamb Who Was Slain

Revelation 5:1-14

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Jesus, the crucified and resurrected Lion-Lamb, is worthy to carry out God’s plan of redemption and judgment for the world. Understanding the Text Revelation 5 continues the throne-room vision that began in 4:1. Following the worship of God as sovereign Creator, the scene shifts to the Lamb as Redeemer. John sees a scroll in God’s right hand, and the heavenly worshipers fall silent as the mighty angel asks, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (5:2). This brings us to a ...

2036. The Protective Sealing of God’s People on Earth

Revelation 7:1-8

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Before God pours out his wrath on a wicked world, he will give his people spiritual protection. Understanding the Text The interlude of Revelation 7 stands between the sixth and seventh seal judgments. (There is another dramatic interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets in Revelation 10:1–11:14, but no interlude at the end of the bowl judgments.) Interludes in Revelation often shed light on the current situation of God’s people and offer insight into their present responsibilities and ...

2037. Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

Revelation 15:1-8

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: Because of his holy and righteous character, God will finalize his wrath against evil, resulting in justice and vindication for his people, all to the praise of his glory. Understanding the Text Revelation 15 introduces the bowl judgments of chapter 16, the third and final series of seven judgments (seals in 6:1–8:1, trumpets in 8:2–9:21; 11:14–19). The unit of 15:1–8 is marked off by the inclusio (“bookends” marking the beginning and the end) of seven angels with seven plagues completing the ...

2038. The Garden City as Paradise Transformed

Revelation 22:1-5

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J. Scott Duvall

Big Idea: In the transformed paradise of the new Jerusalem, God’s people will experience his perfect presence, worship him, and reign with him forever. Understanding the Text This is the final part of John’s vision of the new Jerusalem in 21:9–22:5. In 22:1–5 John describes the eternal city as a garden, much like the original Garden of Eden. But now we learn that paradise has been not only restored but also transformed into the perfect eternal paradise. John draws imagery and language from Ezekiel 47:1–12 ...

2039. Preparations for Worship (Part 2)

Num 8:1-26

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Worship involves a sense of God’s presence and a need for personal purity. Understanding the Text Numbers 7 ends with God’s revelation to Moses from above the ark of the covenant (Num. 7:39); it continues in Numbers 8 with a specific message from God about the golden lampstand and about the consecration of the Levites in preparation for tabernacle service. More generally, both Numbers 7 and Numbers 8 are part of the final preparations necessary to make the tabernacle and its maintenance staff ...

2040. Israel Celebrates the Passover

Numbers 9:1-14

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: We need to recall how God saved us. Understanding the Text The book of Numbers begins with the census initiated twelve and a half months after the exodus (Num. 1:1, 18). But in Numbers 9 (and probably Num. 7–8 as well; see comments as Num. 7:1), the book flashes back to the previous month (Num. 9:1)—that is, to the very month when the tabernacle had been completed (Exod. 40:17). Precisely one year after the initial Passover, the Israelites begin the first annual Passover commemoration around ...

2041. Balak to Hire Balaam

Numbers 22:1-20

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: God protects his people from those determined to harm them. Understanding the Text In Numbers 21 the Israelites move out of the desert to the western edge of Canaan. They have passed around Edom and gone through Moab into territory north of Moab claimed by Amorites Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, whom they defeat. Though Israel has passed by Moab without attacking, Balak king of Moab feels vulnerable. Moreover, Sihon’s territory now occupied by Israel has previously been occupied by ...

2042. The Sacrifices of the Sacred Calendar

Num 28:1–29:40

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: People can worship God through the regular cycles of life. Understanding the Text In the desert God prescribes a system of sacred space for Israel (Lev. 1–8), whose people camp around the tabernacle while they travel through the desert (Num. 1–4). Leviticus 23 describes the various sacred times that Israel will commemorate upon entering the land. Now in Numbers 28–29, as the conquest draws near, God reiterates the system of sacrificial worship in conjunction with Israel’s sacred times around ...

2043. Reviewing the Past

Numbers 33:1-56

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Joe M. Sprinkle

Big Idea: Reviewing God’s dealings in the past helps people to keep following God in the present. Understanding the Text All the major events in the book of Numbers are now complete. So this seems an appropriate occasion for the book to review what has gone before by listing campsites from Egypt to Canaan, starting with Rameses in Egypt, where Israel had lived, and ending at the plains of Moab with some forty campsites in between. Verses 1–15 take us to Mount Sinai. Verses 16–36 list camps in the desert. ...

2044. Israel Demands a King

1 Samuel 8:1-22

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Even when the Lord regards his people’s lack of faith as a rejection of his authority, he warns them of the negative consequences of their rebellion. Understanding the Text Israel demands to have a king like the nations that live around them. They complain about the injustice of Samuel’s sons (1 Sam. 8:4–5), but the underlying reason for their demand is their desire to have a military leader who will ensure national security (v. 20). The request is surprising because the Lord has demonstrated his ...

2045. David on the Run

1 Sam 21:1–22:5

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Even when faith wavers, the Lord confronts his chosen servants with their divinely appointed destiny. Understanding the Text As David left Jonathan, he knew that Saul was now fully committed to murdering him. The king tried to kill him in a variety of ways, but each time David escaped (chaps. 18–19), once through the Lord’s direct intervention (19:23–24). Apparently unaware of Saul’s latest attempts to kill David (19:9–24), Jonathan was confident that his father would not harm David (cf. 19:6–7 ...

2046. David Flees to Gath—Again

1 Samuel 27:1-12

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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: When faith wavers, the Lord’s chosen servants sometimes compromise their identity and resort to desperate measures that place them in a precarious position. Understanding the Text Convinced that Saul will never really abandon his quest to kill him, David, for the second time in the story, seeks asylum with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath (cf. 1 Sam. 21:9–15). On the first occasion David was alone, got cold feet, and left in fear. But on this second occasion, he has his own private army with ...

2047. Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

Job 6:1–7:21

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Daniel J. Estes

Job’s Frustration with His Friends Big Idea: Job’s adversity shapes how he views God, his friends, and himself. Understanding the Text After Eliphaz’s first speech in Job 4–5, Job responds in chapters 6 and 7. In chapter 6, Job indirectly refers in a few places to what Eliphaz has said, but he does not actually refute him point by point. Job’s speech, rather, is an emotional outburst in which he defends himself and attacks his friends. Job is clearly frustrated with his painful situation (6:1–13) and with ...

2048. Job’s Hope against Hope

Job 19:1-29

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Daniel J. Estes

Big Idea: In a situation that seems hopeless, Job maintains a ray of hope in God. Understanding the Text In chapter 19, Job responds to Bildad’s second speech. Job uses a mixture of lament and legal language to express how abandoned he feels by his friends (19:1–6), by God (19:7–12), and by the full range of people in his community (19:13–19). In the final verses of the chapter, Job pleads with his friends for compassion (19:20–22), he articulates his hope for a redeemer to take up his cause (19:23–27), ...

2049. Job Feels Both Confidence and Terror

Job 23:1--24:25

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Daniel J. Estes

Big Idea: God’s justice draws Job toward confidence, but God’s sovereignty intimidates him. Understanding the Text In Job 23, Job rejects what Eliphaz has just said in the previous chapter, when he counseled Job to “submit to God and be at peace with him” (22:21). This is yet another indicator that the communication between Job and his friends is breaking down. Instead of speaking directly either to his friends or to God, Job speaks in a soliloquy, as he did in chapter 3. His internal conversation reflects ...

2050. “In the Lord I Take Refuge”

Psalm 11:1-7

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C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: When our theological foundations are threatened, our fears are disabled by remembering God’s just and majestic character. Understanding the Text Psalm 11 is an individual lament. The lament is quite brief (11:1b) and obviously grows out of the immediate threat of danger that David faced (11:2), which itself grows out of the nature of the wicked “who love violence” (11:5). It is that bigger problem that shakes the foundations of faith and life (11:3), until Yahweh’s vision from his heavenly throne ...

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