Sermon and Worship Resources

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... controls all of history is able to give assurances about the future in this way. He relates the new idea of a Davidic dynasty to the old ideas of the Sinaitic covenant. This stresses the historical continuity of God’s control and shows that the original covenant may be developed but is not superseded. God’s choice of David and his house stands alongside God’s choice of Israel. This God was able to deliver Israel and can therefore be trusted to deliver David. In the final section of his prayer, David ...

202. Paul's Vision and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... ministry. Elsewhere in the Corinthian correspondence Paul adamantly claims that his apostleship is based on his vision(s) of Christ: “Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” (1 Cor. 9:1; cf. 15:1–8; Gal. 1:12, 16). Although his original christophany on the way to Damascus remains the pivotal encounter with the resurrected Christ, other revelations and visions should not be discounted (cf. Acts 16:9; 18:9; 22:17–18; 23:11; 27:23). The vision that Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 12:2–4 ...

203. Visit

2 Corinthians 13:1-10, 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... painful visit (2:1). The purpose of his absence was to give the church a chance to repent, which it had now done in part (cf. 7:9–11). Even now, the apostle does not want to have to judge the congregation, so in 2 Corinthians he repeats his original warning that he will not spare unrepentant sinners when he returns (cf. 12:21; cf. 1 Cor. 4:21). We do not know with certainty what kind of punishment Paul has in mind. Perhaps it was to be similar to the punishment incurred by the man who offended Paul ...

204. Faith or Observance of the Law

Galatians 3:1-14, Galatians 3:15-25

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... 3:28–31—to stress that Paul’s gospel is the outworking of Judaism, even of God’s giving of the law. For an interpretation that in some regards is complementary to the one given here, see N. T. Wright, who understands Paul to be affirming the divine origin of the law while at the same time considering that “the law cannot be God’s final word.” For Wright the key to Paul’s argument is his conviction that the unity of God means that God desires also a single family. The problem with the law is ...

205. Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin

1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 1:5--2:14

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... saves and advocates for sinners. He is our paraklētos, translated in the NIV as one who speaks … in our defense. The Spirit is the paraklētos in John 15:26 and “another paraklētos” in 14:16–17, in which it is implied that Jesus himself is the original. Before God, or in the presence of the Father (pros ton patera; cf. 1:2), Jesus intercedes for sinners and speaks on their behalf. The same function is attributed to him in Rom. 8:34 and Heb. 7:25. 2:2 The second part of the Elder’s christological ...

206. Gershonites

1 Chronicles 23:7-11

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... sources underlie these chapters? and What redaction processes can be detected in this literature? formed the focus of main interest of many Chronicles scholars. Following Klein’s summary (1 Chronicles, pp. 445–47), we may distinguish three basic positions in the debate on the origin of these texts. First, some scholars consider all of the lists in 1 Chron. 23–27 to be secondary. This group of scholars argues, on the basis of the repetition of 23:2 in 28:1, that the five chapters in between them form ...

207. Kohathites

1 Chronicles 23:12-20

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... sources underlie these chapters? and What redaction processes can be detected in this literature? formed the focus of main interest of many Chronicles scholars. Following Klein’s summary (1 Chronicles, pp. 445–47), we may distinguish three basic positions in the debate on the origin of these texts. First, some scholars consider all of the lists in 1 Chron. 23–27 to be secondary. This group of scholars argues, on the basis of the repetition of 23:2 in 28:1, that the five chapters in between them form ...

208. Merarites

1 Chronicles 23:21-32

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... sources underlie these chapters? and What redaction processes can be detected in this literature? formed the focus of main interest of many Chronicles scholars. Following Klein’s summary (1 Chronicles, pp. 445–47), we may distinguish three basic positions in the debate on the origin of these texts. First, some scholars consider all of the lists in 1 Chron. 23–27 to be secondary. This group of scholars argues, on the basis of the repetition of 23:2 in 28:1, that the five chapters in between them form ...

209. The Division of Priests

1 Chronicles 24:1-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... sources underlie these chapters? and What redaction processes can be detected in this literature? formed the focus of main interest of many Chronicles scholars. Following Klein’s summary (1 Chronicles, pp. 445–47), we may distinguish three basic positions in the debate on the origin of these texts. First, some scholars consider all of the lists in 1 Chron. 23–27 to be secondary. This group of scholars argues, on the basis of the repetition of 23:2 in 28:1, that the five chapters in between them form ...

210. The Rest of the Levites

1 Chronicles 24:20-31

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... sources underlie these chapters? and What redaction processes can be detected in this literature? formed the focus of main interest of many Chronicles scholars. Following Klein’s summary (1 Chronicles, pp. 445–47), we may distinguish three basic positions in the debate on the origin of these texts. First, some scholars consider all of the lists in 1 Chron. 23–27 to be secondary. This group of scholars argues, on the basis of the repetition of 23:2 in 28:1, that the five chapters in between them form ...

211. Army Divisions

1 Chronicles 27:1-15

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... sources underlie these chapters? and What redaction processes can be detected in this literature? formed the focus of main interest of many Chronicles scholars. Following Klein’s summary (1 Chronicles, pp. 445–47), we may distinguish three basic positions in the debate on the origin of these texts. First, some scholars consider all of the lists in 1 Chron. 23–27 to be secondary. This group of scholars argues, on the basis of the repetition of 23:2 in 28:1, that the five chapters in between them form ...

212. Officers of the Tribes

1 Chronicles 27:16-24

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... sources underlie these chapters? and What redaction processes can be detected in this literature? formed the focus of main interest of many Chronicles scholars. Following Klein’s summary (1 Chronicles, pp. 445–47), we may distinguish three basic positions in the debate on the origin of these texts. First, some scholars consider all of the lists in 1 Chron. 23–27 to be secondary. This group of scholars argues, on the basis of the repetition of 23:2 in 28:1, that the five chapters in between them form ...

213. The King's Overseers

1 Chronicles 27:25-34

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... sources underlie these chapters? and What redaction processes can be detected in this literature? formed the focus of main interest of many Chronicles scholars. Following Klein’s summary (1 Chronicles, pp. 445–47), we may distinguish three basic positions in the debate on the origin of these texts. First, some scholars consider all of the lists in 1 Chron. 23–27 to be secondary. This group of scholars argues, on the basis of the repetition of 23:2 in 28:1, that the five chapters in between them form ...

214. Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover

2 Chronicles 30:1--31:1

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... Passover, but to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread had separate origins in prebiblical times but were later on celebrated together or even merged into one festival. Apparently, the Hezekiah narrative uses the ... Bread and Passover apparently did not belong together from the start. Questions therefore arise about their respective origins and when, and for what purpose, these festivals were amalgamated. Second, it is also clear that the ...

215. Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

Ezra 4:6-24

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... agreement of Mithredath” (REB), a Persian official. The ancient versions variously found in the first Aramaic term a name or a common noun. The final sentence could be interpreted in a number of different ways. The last phrase, “in Aramaic” (NRSV) is widely regarded as originating in a copyist’s comment that what follows in 4:8–6:18 is not in Hebrew but in Aramaic, which was used for correspondence by and with the Persian authorities. The NRSV footnote takes it this way, as in Daniel 2:4, while ...

216. The Return to Jerusalem

Ezra 8:15-36

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... an early stage. 8:10 Bani has correctly been restored with the LXX and 1 Esd. 8:36. This clan name is found in the form “Binnui” in Neh. 7:15 (= “Bani” in Ezra 2:10). 8:14 The pattern of the list suggests that and Zaccur was originally “the son of Zaccur” (NJB), as 1 Esd. 8:40 attests (see BHS), and as the following “with him” in the MT implies. The NIV has changed this to with them with some ancient support, which looks like a correction made to cope with the textual alteration. There was ...

217. Israel to be Destroyed

Amos 9:1-10

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... hymn made up of 4:13; 5:8–9; and 9:5–6. The prophet has, however, made the hymn stanza an integral part of his proclamation and, indeed, has used the hymnic material to frame his announcement of Yahweh’s judgment. Thus, though these two verses may originally have been independent of 9:1–4, they now form the climax of that oracle and should be deemed neither late additions nor extraneous to it. Amos put these verses in their present position. The prophet has joined verses 5–6 with verses 1–4 by a ...

218. The Three Bs

Luke 3:1-22, Psalm 29

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... what baptism is all about. Through this saturation of blessing and of belonging, we become the beloved — those set apart by God’s love to become love in the world. Every time we baptize an infant or an adult, each of us is reminded of our original blessing — reminded of the waters of baptism that have washed over our lives and each of us is reminded of God’s voice in our lives. “You are my child, the Beloved with whom I am well pleased.” Remember your baptism, my friends. Remember that you ...

219. A Vision of Beauty and Hope

Isaiah 2:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

... nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” In the Garden of Eden, God set forth the original design for humanity. God created Adam and Eve to live in a relationship of trust with God and with each other. When we rejected God’s ways, we also rejected the unity that was meant to strengthen and protect the human race. And what took the ...

220. Little Ones

Luke 18:15-17, Matthew 19:13-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... children is here. In worship, in the presence of Jesus. For such is the kingdom of heaven. *The photograph for this sermon is used with permission and may not be used on any other site, nor copied, sold, or altered. Transgressors will be prosecuted. **See original tales at http://wackulus.com or http://www.denofgeek.com ***See www.metro.co.uk/2012. Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text Luke’s Witness to Jesus Blessing of Children (18:15-17) Matthew’s Witness to Jesus Blessing Children (19:1 and 13 ...

221. The Great Dinner

Luke 14:1-14, Luke 14:15-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... and bride, marriage, table, and feast, as well as robe, are all important. Mathew’s tale is more metaphor-rich in that the “robe” is introduced as he who is righteous, faithful, thankful, loyal, obedient. Even among those who are brought in who had not originally thought themselves “too good,” even among these can be those who do not love the Lord truly and honestly. The metaphor of house is multi-layered. While the Lord’s “house” may be seen as the Temple or as the kingdom of God with many ...

222. Redemption

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... the gifts of God’s heavenly kingdom. The fruit of the tree of life has ripened, and God’s heavenly table is set for all of God’s children. One of the most beautiful matrimonial stories in scripture is the story of Ruth. Ruth is not originally Jewish, so when her husband dies, and also the husband of her husband’s mother, the two are without lineage or home. They are forced literally outside of the Jewish community. The two then travel to the fields outside of Bethlehem, where Ruth gleans grain from ...

223. Secret Savior

Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:16-18

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... in the heavens and on the earth. And give our bread continually. And excuse us our offences as we excuse those who offend against us. And do not let us enter into the power of temptation. And protect us from all evil impulses [yetzer hara]. [The original Hebrew lacks the traditional ending later used in the early church: For Yours in the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.] Amen. [May it be so.] Why this prayer? Jesus gives us this particular prayer as an example of a very personal prayer. Let ...

224. Jacob's Sheep

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... s fire. We are powerful in healing, unpredictable and inexplainable in our unfailing mercy to others, undeniable in our love, unflinching in our faith. We are the walkers in the Way. The Apostolos, those sent forth to cultivate new communities in new places in Jesus’ origin-al Way. Like Jacob’s Sheep, we re-establish for every community the memory of what it’s like to be a healthy community of differences, and we reinfuse identity and meaning into the minds of the failing and the lost. In a world of ...

225. The Physician

Isaiah 38:1-22, Matthew 8:14-17

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... us to the way God made us. In Him, we enter into a new and restored kind of condition, in which we are new and improved, re-formed and re-created into the beautiful creature God designed us to be. In Him and through Him, the original image of God in us is restored, and our spirit redeemed. Jesus is the Supreme Artisan of Restoration. Yeshuah is the great Artist of Life and Master of Miracles. In the painting by Rembrandt, Jesus stands looking at us with arms folded meaningfully across his chest. His ...