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 2051 to 2075 of 2273 results

2051. “The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Lack Nothing”

Psalm 23:1-6

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: The Lord as David’s shepherd watches over him and, with his gentle agents of goodness and mercy, pursues him into the Lord’s house. Understanding the Text Psalm 23 is an individual psalm of trust (see the sidebar “Psalms of Trust” in the unit on Ps. 16).[1] Psalms of trust arise out of some trouble that the psalmist has experienced, although we cannot always determine specifically what it was. Yet through this experience the psalmist has learned to trust in the Lord. Sometimes these psalms ...

2052. “As the Deer Pants for Streams of Water, So My Soul Pants for You, My God”

Psalm 42:1-11, Psalm 43:1-5

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Even in adverse circumstances of place, atmosphere, and our own troubled thoughts, we can rally our hearts to joy and hope in God. Understanding the Text Psalms 42 and 43 are distinct psalms in the Hebrew (MT), Greek (LXX), Syriac, and Vulgate, which suggests that they were separate compositions. Yet the seamless relationship of the two poems is indicated by these factors: (1) they share a refrain (42:5, 11; 43:5); (2) Psalm 43 has no title (Ps. 71 is the only other exception in Book 2); (3) both ...

2053. “If I Were Hungry I Would Not Tell You, for the World Is Mine, and All That Is in It”

Psalm 50:1-23

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: One of the great dissimilarities between humanity and God is that we are needy people, but God needs nothing. Understanding the Text Psalm 50 is a perfect example of the kind of liturgical piece that might be recited in the seventh year when the Torah was read at the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut. 31:9–13).1Yet when the Book of the Covenant was discovered in the temple during Josiah’s reign (622–609 BC), it seems that this practice had not been observed for some time (2 Kings 23:1–3). In form- ...

2054. Serendipity

Matthew 13:44-46

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

My wife is a clown! Wait now—let me explain that. I mean that literally, not figuratively. I don’t mean she’s a clown in terms of being a cutup, an always-clowning-around type of person. I mean she is literally a clown, and she has been involved for about ten years in a clown ministry. Her name is “Serendipity,” given to her by a longtime preacher friend. One thing that name means is “unexpected” and “unsuspected.” The fellow suggested the name because God’s grace comes at unexpected times from unexpected ...

2055. Abraham and Ishmael

Genesis 25:1-11, Genesis 25:12-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Abraham remarries after Sarah’s death, and his second wife’s name is Keturah. Even though he himself felt he was past the age of fathering children before Isaac, he now produces six more children (25:2). The places represented by these names are all Arabian. The best-known of them (from the books of Numbers and Judges) is Midian. These six children of Abraham do not supplant Isaac as the son of promise (25:5). Abraham lives until he is 175 years old (25:7–11). This means, according to 12:4, that he lived ...

2056. Bitter Waters

Exodus 15:22-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

15:22–18:27 Review · Tests in the Wilderness: Neither the route of the Israelites to the mountain of God nor Mount Sinai itself can be identified with certainty, but the traditional location of the mountain in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula is fitting. The region is rugged, far from the traveled northern routes across Sinai, and isolated from those routes by a barren and desolate wilderness. The Israelites’ journey is fraught with difficulties, and their faith is tested. Likewise they test God. ...

2057. Covenant Ratification

Exodus 24:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Only Moses is allowed to approach the Lord (24:1–2). Those invited to ascend the mountain are granted a vision of the God of Israel while the people worship at a distance. The representative leaders include Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders. Nadab and Abihu are the eldest two sons of Aaron (Exod. 6:23), who later bring unauthorized fire into the presence of the Lord and are consumed by fire (Lev. 10:1–2). One of the possible explanations of that rash deed stems from this ceremony. Their ...

2058. Table and Lampstand

Exodus 25:23-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The table for the bread of the Presence (25:23–30) is placed on the north side in the Holy Place of the tabernacle (26:35). Twelve loaves of bread are regularly set out before the Lord on behalf of the Israelites (Lev. 24:5–9), a reminder of God’s faithful provision, most notably of manna in the wilderness. Accompanying the table are plates, ladles, pitchers, and bowls for pouring out offerings. On the south side (Exod. 26:35) is an elaborate lampstand with six branches extending out from a central shaft, ...

2059. Priestly Attire

Ex 28:1-43

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The mediating role of the high priest as he represents Israel before God is symbolized in the priestly attire. The ephod (28:6–14), a finely crafted garment of linen with strands of gold interwoven among blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, is worn over the priest’s robe. It has shoulder pieces on which are engraved the names of the children of Israel. Aaron bears these names before the Lord as a memorial. The breast piece (28:15–29) is a square piece of material attached to the ephod, folded double and worn ...

2060. The Golden Calf

Ex 32:1–33:6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

32:1–34:35 · Apostasy at Sinai:Moses’s role as covenant mediator is particularly poignant in these chapters. Repeatedly he appeals to the Lord on behalf of the wayward people, seeking God’s forgiveness and promise of his continuing presence with them. Neither comes automatically, but Moses persists, even offering himself as a substitute. Finally, in asking to see God’s glory, Moses is given assurance of God’s forgiveness (Exod. 34:6–7). 32:1-29 · While Moses is on the mountain receiving the instructions ...

2061. Sanctuary Supplies and Service

Num 7:1–8:26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

7:1–89 · Following this reminder of Aaron’s blessing at the time when the ritual system was inaugurated (see Lev. 9:22), Numbers 7 fills in some details regarding establishment of the sanctuary: gifts for the sanctuary presented by chieftains on behalf of their twelve tribes (not including Levi). The gifts belong to two main categories. First is a practical offering of carts and oxen that the Levites will use to transport the sanctuary (7:1–9; cf. chap. 4). Second is a set of offerings for the dedication ...

2062. Renewing the Covenant with Our God

Deut 27:1-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Israel is to conduct a reaffirmation of the covenant after she enters the land (27:1–8). The people are to set up large stones coated with plaster, as was done in Egypt, on which the law is written (cf. Josh. 24:26–27). Moses is now referred to in the third person, which has not happened since 5:1. An altar is to be erected on Mount Ebal, where the curses are to be recited and which is chosen as the place of sacrifice for both burnt offerings and peace/fellowship offerings. Ebal may have been chosen to ...

2063. Allotment for Benjamin

Joshua 18:11-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The first lot comes out for Benjamin, and the description of its inheritance, the most detailed among the seven tribes, includes both a delineation of its boundaries (18:11–20) and a list of its major cities (18:21–28). Where its tribal boundaries are concerned, its northern boundary (18:12–13) is essentially the same as the southern boundary of the Joseph tribes delineated in Joshua 16:1–3, except that instead of continuing westward toward the Mediterranean, Benjamin’s boundary takes a sudden southward ...

2064. Towns for the Levites

Joshua 21:1-45

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Then the Levites, who did not receive an allotment as per prior arrangements, come to the leaders and remind them of the Lord’s command to provide towns for them to live in with pastureland for their livestock. So, in accordance with Numbers 35:1–8, each tribe assigns a number of towns with surrounding pastureland to the Levites (21:1–42). Note that these towns are not to be construed as “inheritance” for the Levites because the Lord has already ordained that they are not to receive any inheritance in the ...

2065. The Lord Call's Samuel

1 Sam 3:1–4:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Samuel’s calling is told in 3:1–10. For the third time in the book, we read that Samuel ministers “before the Lord” (3:1). He serves as a kind of apprentice priest, and at this point is probably about twelve years old. The Lord begins to speak to Samuel one night while he is sleeping in his usual place near the tabernacle. Apparently it is close to dawn, because verse 3 mentions that the golden lampstand in the Holy Place is still burning. Every evening olive oil was brought in to keep the lamps burning ...

2066. David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17:1-58

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The setting of young David’s famous first military victory is the Valley of Elah, about fifteen miles west of Bethlehem. The Philistines have amassed their troops there in an apparent attempt to reassert control over the emerging Israelite monarchy. Instead of trying to engage the Israelites in full battle, the Philistines send out a champion fighter named Goliath to challenge the Israelites to send out a soldier of theirs for one-on-one combat. The outcome of the battle will thus hinge on the struggle ...

2067. David at Adullam and Mizpah

1 Samuel 22:1-5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

After his narrow escape David travels about twelve miles further inland, to the cave of Adullam, in the western foothills (22:1–5). This is close to the place where he killed Goliath, in the Valley of Elah. Word of his whereabouts reaches his family and other individuals who are in trouble with Saul’s regime. About four hundred malcontents join him and are molded by David into an effective and loyal fighting force. Managing this motley crew would have been both extremely difficult and an excellent ...

2068. War Between the Houses of David and Saul

2 Samuel 2:8-3:5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The general of Saul’s army, his cousin Abner, has managed to survive the Battle of Gilboa and emerged as the most powerful figure of the northern tribes. Instead of unifying the nation under David, Abner decides to place Saul’s remaining son, Ish-Bosheth, on the throne of Israel (2:8–11). His reasons for doing so are not entirely clear, but later on even Ish-Bosheth suspects that Abner wanted the throne for himself (3:6–8). The name Ish-Bosheth means “man of shame,” but this was a later development, a sort ...

2069. Army Divisions, Officers and Overseers

1 Chronicles 27:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

First Chronicles 27:1–15 enumerates David’s military, including the various levels in the army’s chain of command. Verse 1 makes it clear that David’s army was not an ad hoc force but rather a standing army on defined rotation, able to defend Israel constantly. First Chronicles 27:16–22 lists the leaders of the tribes of Israel, leaving out the two tribes of Gad and Asher, separating Aaron from the rest of Levi, and dividing the Joseph tribes into three groups (Ephraim, half Manasseh, half Manasseh), to ...

2070. Creating the Temple Furnishings

2 Chronicles 4:1-5:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Having reviewed the construction of the building structure in chapter 3, the Chronicler now focuses attention on the creation of the various furnishings and utensils to be placed within the temple to facilitate worship. Second Chronicles 4:1–8 provides an account of the fashioning process. The bronze altar, which has sixteen times the surface area of the former altar in the tabernacle (Exod. 27:1–8), replaces David’s temporary altar at this site (1 Chron. 21:26). It is positioned in the inner court of the ...

2071. Completion and Dedication of the Temple

Ezra 6:13-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Tattenai and the other officials immediately obey the king’s decree. This indicates the degree of order in the Persian Empire at the time. It is amazing how quickly the small community of Jews finishes the temple once they trust God and decide to do it with all their heart. It is less than four and a half years; they began in September of Darius’s second year (520 BC) and finish in March of his sixth year (516 BC). Again, notice the emphasis on God’s providence in 6:14–15. God uses the preaching of the ...

2072. Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

Ezra 7:1-10

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

7:1–10:44 Review · The Second Mission: The Return under Ezra: Chapter 7 begins the second stage of the rebuilding of the community in Ezra-Nehemiah. Fifty-seven years have passed since the accounts of chapters 5 and 6. The author does not pretend to give a complete history of the period; rather, he chooses the events that were significant for the continuation of the Jewish community. Here he introduces Ezra. 7:1-10 · Ezra has all the necessary credentials for the mission assigned to him. The Jews have ...

2073. Ezra Reads the Law

Neh 7:73b–8:18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

7:73b–12:26 Review · Spiritual Renewal According to the Torah:Now that the reconstruction of the wall is finished, no time is wasted in making sure the community keeps its priorities in order. The people recognize the influence that times of spiritual renewal have had in their own past history under Asa (2 Chronicles 14–15), Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29–31), and Josiah (2 Chronicles 34–35). The seventh month was an ideal time to seek another renewal, for the first day was the Feast of Trumpets, which later ...

2074. The Third Feast—Esther Becomes Queen

Esther 2:1-18

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In chapter 2, physical beauty and sexual attraction become once again major themes of the story. In chapter 1, the author informed us that Vashti was stunning. After her removal from royalty, the king’s attendants seek attractive young virgins from all the provinces of the empire and bring them to the citadel of Susa. Following twelve months of beauty treatments, these young women are to be presented to the king as would-be queens (2:2–4). The young virgins who have been chosen for the royal pageant are ...

2075. The Initial Appeals of the Parents and Lady Wisdom

Proverbs 1:8-19

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Proverbs 1:8–19 contains the first parental lesson out of ten (or more) in the prologue, exhibiting the basic structural features that the additional lessons will follow. On the basis of posited Egyptian literary models, scholars have often divided up this section into a number of originally independent “lectures.” Nevertheless, a convincing case can be made that the prologue as a whole presents a carefully composed and unified argument. Michael Fox lists the following three features as typical in these ...

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