Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: thirstiness, dryness, parched, craving, strong desire, longing, yearning, avidity, hunger, voracity, keenness, eagerness, lust, appetite, passion, love, crave, want, covet, desire, hunger for/after, lust for/after, hanker for/after, have one's heart set on

Antonyms: aversion, distaste, apathy, dislike, hatred, antipathy, disgust, disregard, abhorrence, acrimony, wet, animosity, animus, antagonism, bad feeling, bitterness, be averse to, detestation

Showing 2101 to 2125 of 2173 results

2101. The Lord Decides to Build David a House

2 Samuel 7:18-29, 2 Samuel 7:1-17

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord’s irrevocable promise to David is reliable and guarantees the realization of his purposes for his covenant community. Understanding the Text David has transported the ark, the symbol of God’s presence, to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5). Knowing that the Lord is the true King of Israel (2 Sam. 6:2), who has defeated his enemies (5:17–25; 7:1), David naturally desires to build a “house” (a temple, or palace) for this victorious King.1The Lord will eventually allow a temple to be built (1 Kings 5–6 ...

2102. Fighting Wars and Keeping a Promise: David Establishes an Ideal of Kingship

2 Sam 8:1–10:19

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord blesses his chosen servants when they rely on his protection and seek to reflect his character in their dealings with others. Understanding the Text The narrator’s positive portrayal of King David continues in these chapters. Once David became king over all Israel, he conquered the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem and then turned the tables on the Philistines. He brought the ark to Jerusalem and intended to build a house (temple) for it. But then the Lord surprised David by announcing ...

2103. “O Absalom, My Son, My Son!”

2 Sam 18:1–19:8

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord’s discipline, once decreed, is inescapable and just; it often brings great sorrow in its wake. Understanding the Text As the previous episode came to an end, David was in serious danger. But the preceding episode made it clear that David was not alone and that the Lord, while using Absalom as an instrument in his discipline of David, is going to bring about Absalom’s defeat (17:14). This episode tells how that happens. The Lord halts Absalom’s coup in its tracks, but in the process David ...

2104. Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

1 Samuel 15:1-35

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: The Lord gives greater priority to obedience than to religious formalism. Understanding the Text In this account the narrator’s pro-David/anti-Saul agenda continues to gain momentum. In chapter 13 Samuel announced that Saul would have no royal dynasty, placing the king on thin ice. Chapter 14 did nothing to ease our concerns about Saul, as he exhibited a preoccupation with his own honor and an obsession with religious formalism, particularly oaths. He was ready to execute his own son, and he ...

2105. God’s Protection Takes the Form of a Faithful Friend

1 Samuel 20:1-42

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Big Idea: Sometimes God protects his chosen servants through other faithful servants who are willing to put God’s agenda above self-interest. Understanding the Text Saul persisted in his efforts to kill David, but Jonathan saved David again, risking his own life in the process. David was finally forced to run away, setting the stage for the next part of the story: David needs to wander from place to place to escape Saul’s hostility. As in the previous chapters, the narrator presents contrasting responses ...

2106. “In the Lord I Take Refuge”

Psalm 11:1-7

Teach the Text

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 ...

2107. “You Will Fill Me with Joy in Your Presence”

Psalm 16:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: The unity of our life in God involves both the journey and the destination. Understanding the Text In literary form, Psalm 16 is an individual psalm of trust.1 Nowhere in the psalm does God speak, nor do we hear other voices in the psalm—no enemies, no oppressed cries, no accusers. The psalmist is alone with God, and the intimacy of his relationship permeates the poem. Psalm 16 represents a plateau in progression from the dismissive fool of Psalm 14, who says there is no God, to the searching ...

2108. “When I Awake, I Will Be Satisfied with Seeing Your Likeness”

Psalm 17:1-15

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: When we encounter false accusations, through faith we hope to awake in the wonder of God’s likeness, which is true reality. Understanding the Text Some scholars identify Psalm 17 as a prayer of innocence, based particularly on 17:3–5.[1] Others, in view of 17:1–2 and 6–9, consider it an individual lament. While the categories of form criticism are helpful, the psalmists were not working with those categories as such, and they were sometimes inclined to mix genres. Obviously the psalmist is ...

2109. “I Will Praise Your Name, Lord, for It Is Good”

Psalm 54:1-7

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

Big Idea: Faith affirms God and worships, and in that context confronts the ongoing conflict between truth and evil. Understanding the Text Psalm 54 contains most of the characteristics of an individual lament, including an address to God, petition, lament/complaint, confession of trust, vow to praise, and assurance of being heard.1 It is another of the thirteen psalms that have historical titles (see the sidebar). Psalm 54 belongs to a minicollection (Pss. 52–55) that is joined together by the phrase “A ...

2110. Daniel Interprets the Dream and Confronts Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 4:19-27

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

Big Idea: The Most High God blesses and judges even the most powerful rulers of this world regarding their belief in him and their treatment of those they govern. Understanding the Text See the unit on 4:1–18 for a discussion of the larger context, structure, and comparisons of this literary unit. Against this backdrop, 4:19–27 forms the center of this narrative, shifting the story line from the telling of the dream to its interpretation and at the same time changing from first person to third when ...

2111. How to Escape Being Possessed By Our Possessions

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Somewhere along the way I saw a cartoon of an elderly man of obvious wealth on a canopied death bed, surrounded by servants, family members, lawyers, and all sorts of “hangers-on”. It was quite clear why most of the people had gathered there, but now the old gentleman is sitting up with his arms folded and a very determined look on his face. One bystander says to another, “Someone just told him he couldn’t take it with him, and so he says he isn’t going.” We chuckle at that. It’s a caricature that is not ...

2112. Isaac and Rebekah

Genesis 24:1-67

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Abraham loses one family member (a wife), then gains another (a daughter-in-law). He is now old (somewhere between 137 and 175). Isaac is near forty (25:20) and still single. To remedy this situation Abraham sends a servant (Eliezer of chap. 15) to Aram Naharaim (“Syria of the two rivers”) to obtain a bride for Isaac. Abraham makes two specific requests. The girl must not be a Canaanite. Isaac must not be unequally yoked. But are Mesopotamian girls any less “pagan” than Canaanite girls? Second, Isaac and ...

2113. Deliverance at the Sea

Ex 13:17–14:31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

The Hebrew phrase yam sup means “sea of reeds.” This may refer to the region north of the Gulf of Suez, which, in antiquity, was characterized by large, shallow lakes and extensive swamps. The water level was higher four thousand years ago, and the north end of the Gulf of Suez may have merged with the Bitter Lakes region, all of it being called yam sup. It would not have been navigable without the miracle that dries it up and allows the Israelites to walk across on dry ground. Furthermore, this body of ...

2114. Ten Commandments and the People’s Response

Exodus 20:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Overview: When Jesus is asked which commandment is the most important, he affirms two fundamental principles that characterize the Law and the Prophets: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:28–34; Matt. 22:34–40; Luke 10:25–27). The Decalogue (literally the “Ten Words,” or the Ten Commandments) itself opens with “the Lord your God” (20:2) and closes with “your neighbor” (20:17). ...

2115. Gideon's Retaliation

Judges 8:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

After killing the two generals, the Ephraimites launch a strong complaint against Gideon for failing to involve them earlier (8:1–3). But Gideon credits the Ephraimites with the more significant accomplishment, and a potential internal conflict is averted. As Gideon and his three hundred men continue to pursue the escaped Midianite kings east of the Jordan, he seeks help from two Israelite towns, Sukkoth and Peniel (8:4–9). Each, however, refuses to help, and in response, Gideon threatens punishment on his ...

2116. Psalm 25

Psalm 25:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Has David (cf. 24:4–6) lived a completely godly life? Psalm 25:7, 11, 18 clearly says no. David confesses his sin and seeks God’s help. Yet, despite being a sinner, he is strongly committed to the Lord (25:1–2, 5, 15, 20–21). Near the beginning and the ending of this psalm, David declares that his hope is in God (25:5, 21) and prays that God would never allow him to be shamed by his enemies (25:2, 20; though, as David says, no one who trusts in God is ever truly put to shame—25:3). Throughout this acrostic ...

2117. Wealth is Meaningless

Ecclesiastes 5:8--6:12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

5:10–6:9 Review · Qoheleth concludes his examination of foundational human activities with an extensive and highly structured analysis of wealth. This section can be subdivided into three distinct scenarios involving wealth on the basis of the threefold use of “I saw” (5:13; 5:18; 6:1) as well as the striking verbal and conceptual parallels between 5:10–12 and 6:7–9. Two negative portraits (5:13–17; 6:1–6) frame a positive one (5:18–20). These three observations are in turn framed by an introduction and a ...

2118. Be Joyful & Reverent

Ecclesiastes 11:7--12:8

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

11:7–10 · The second subunit presents Qoheleth’s final commendation of joyful living, although the typical reference to eating and drinking is lacking here. The subunit begins by affirming that it is good to be alive (11:7, literally “to see the sun”; cf. 6:5). We should enjoy the light of each day God grants us, not knowing how many we will have and keeping in mind the many dark and meaningless days to follow (11:8). The reference here is to our death, as in 6:4, rather than to difficulties during life, ...

2119. Where has Your Lover Gone

Song of Songs 6:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

6:1–3 · Convinced that the maiden’s lover is indeed better than others and worthy of such loyal devotion, the harem women accept the maiden’s charge (6:1). They too will join the quest for the absent lover, if she can only provide some clue as to his whereabouts so they might commence searching.The maiden’s enigmatic response (6:2–3) almost defies explanation. Is she speaking literally of his vineyard or of a secluded garden haunt the lover frequented? If she is, she should go there and seek him out ...

2120. Ephraim

Isaiah 28:1-29

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

28:1–33:24 Review · Oracles of Woe: The material in these chapters is loosely connected by the repetition of “woe” (28:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1) and seems to date to the period of Judah’s troubles with Assyria, during the reign of Hezekiah. 28:1–29 · This section comes from a time before the fall of Samaria when the enemy of Israel was already on the horizon. Assyria is likened to “a hailstorm and a destructive wind” and “a driving rain and a flooding downpour” (28:2). Imagery of overflowing water is ...

2121. Coping with Conspiracies

Jeremiah 11:1-17

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

11:1–20:18 Review · Stories about Wrestling with People and with God: The preceding chapters, though grim with dark announcements and heavy accusations, have had a formal cast. Only rarely has the prophet expressed personal anguish. In chapters 11–20, however, Jeremiah as a person is much more at center stage. In these stories Jeremiah wrestles hard to persuade his audience of their serious situation. He engages in sign acts. Here also we observe a man wrestling with God as he deals with frustrations and ...

2122. A Dirge for Israel’s Kings

Ezekiel 19:1-14

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Almost all of this chapter is poetic; it is a lament in two parts over the fall and collapse of monarchs in Judah, here styled as “princes of Israel.” In the first part (19:2–9), reference is made to a lioness (Judah?) who sees two of her cubs captured and carried off. One of the cubs is taken to the land of Egypt, the other to the land of Babylon. It is more than likely that the two cubs represent Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin. In the second part of the lament (19:10–14), the analogy is about a fruitful vine ...

2123. Second Explanation

Habakkuk 2:2-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Having voiced his protest against God’s explanation, Habakkuk assumes the position of a prophetic watchman (cf. Isa. 21:8; Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 3:17; 33:2–3). Habakkuk will wait in earnest anticipation for what God will say in response to his latest complaint (2:1–3). Again the language is figurative. As a watchman stands ready at his post to receive news from afar, so Habakkuk will prepare his soul for God’s message to him. The Lord’s reply is not long in coming. As a preliminary instruction, Habakkuk is told ...

2124. The Knowledge of God

Malachi 2:1-9

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

In the second disputation, Malachi charges the priests with not giving honor to God; they offer defiled and blemished offerings and sacrifices. In this third disputation, focus shifts from their cultic function to their function as teachers of God’s word. The key word is “warning” (literally “commandment,” 2:1, 4). Malachi repeats the word and purposely builds up suspense so as to stimulate the question, what commandment has been broken that causes the Lord’s curse to rest on the priests? It is not until ...

2125. All Israel Will Be Saved

Romans 11:25-32

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Paul now proceeds to explain the mystery of Israel’s salvation. He begins by underlining the significance of the following explanation of God’s sovereignty, warning the Gentile believers not to be proud (11:25). The “mystery” that Paul refers to is not a particular secret that only he knows and now reveals. Rather, it is a reference to the divine plan of salvation, which has been hidden but which God now has revealed to his people (cf. Dan. 2:18–19, 27–30; Dead Sea Scrolls, Rule of the Community 3:22–23; ...

Showing results