Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 2251 to 2275 of 2665 results

2251. Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-12, James 3:13-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... Cor. 10:13–16; Eph. 2:9). The tongue is like a small spark, which can set a great forest on fire, whether the forest is Palestinian scrub, dried to explosive tinder by the long dry season, or a California mountainside. A fire is left unguarded or a match is dropped; the action can never be taken back, for with a whoosh and roar it is soon eating up acres at a galloping pace. 3:6 The tongue also is a fire: With this James begins to pile up almost psychedelic portraits of the evil in the tongue. As a fire ...

2252. 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

... should see the deal I’m going to get,” or perhaps a more modest-sounding, “Well, tomorrow I’m going to Rome. My agent has lined up a fine shop right by the new agora. It is said only the wealthiest shop there.” And on it goes: name-dropping, allusions to places and persons of power, gloating over deals to be made, but all of it empty boasting, for only God controls their lives. James evaluates this harshly: It is evil, for it robs God of his rightful honor as sovereign and exalts a mere human as ...

2253. The Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:1-18

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... 21; 1 John 5:20). 3:2 This verse has a succession of genitives in the Greek, making translation difficult. The problem is often eased in English versions by the addition of through (NIV, RSV; not in the Greek). But the general sense is clear. Possibly a word has dropped out of an early MS, or the expression tou kyriou sōtēros, of the Lord and Savior, may have been added by the writer as an afterthought: “the command of your apostles, or, rather, I should say, of the Lord” (Bigg, p. 290). Holy prophets ...

2254. Bricks Without Straw

Exodus 5:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... predictive. The plan was contingent on God’s interaction with human anxiety, fear, and even resistance. God’s stated plan changed with events on the ground. The elders did not go to the pharaoh after Aaron was included (v. 1; the rabbis said they dropped out one by one because of fear, Exodus Rabbah 5:14). The foremen did go (God said nothing about them) and Moses and Aaron prudently waited to speak with them after the meeting (vv. 15–20). Thirdly, the plan could be effectively resisted. God ...

2255. Abimelech

Judges 9:1-57

Understanding Series

Cheryl A. Brown

... a woman in the final events of the story. 9:50–55 Abimelech then beseiged . . . and captured the neighboring town of Thebez. When he attempted a repeat of what he had done in Shechem he met with more than he expected: But . . . a woman dropped an upper millstone [about 27 lb.] on his head and cracked his skull (v. 53). The statement is deceivingly simple, but its simplicity communicates powerfully. The word “but” speaks volumes and calls us back to the bigger picture, to the role of the sovereign Lord ...

2256. Historical Records from Adam to Abraham

1 Chronicles 1:1-35

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... Genesis 10:1 there. Second, 1 Chronicles 1:17 in the Hebrew text is a shortened version of Genesis 10:22–23. The sons of Aram are included in Genesis, but they are left out in the Hebrew text of Chronicles. This part probably dropped out of the text during the long manuscript transmission process. The NIV therefore includes this phrase on account of some Septuagint manuscript evidence (see the footnote there). Third, the Chronicler omits the closing verses of the source genealogy (Gen. 10:30–32). In ...

2257. The Decree of Darius

Ezra 6:1-12

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... C. F. Keil). Another possibility is to insert extra material attested in 1 Esd. 7:11 after the first sentence, “Not all the returned exiles were purified, but the Levites were all purified together (and slaughtered . . . ).” This material could easily have dropped out due to a similar ending (Barthélemy, Critique textuelle, vol. 1, p. 537). 6:21–22 H. C. M. Vogt, Studie zur nachexilischen Gemeinde in Esra-Nehemia (Weil: Dietrich Coelde Verlag, 1966), pp. 51–53, has set out seven parallels, both ...

2258. Builders of the Wall

Nehemiah 3:1-32

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... party tackled two sections in at least three cases (vv. 4/21, 5/27, 18/24; and also perhaps in vv. 4/30), three other instances, here and in vv. 19–20, refer only to a second section. This seems to indicate that some material has dropped out of the list in its present form. 3:12 Daughters: There were probably no sons. Presumably sons, though they are not mentioned, generally helped the individuals responsible for sections in their role as heads of families. 3:16 Beyond him is lit. “after him” (NRSV ...

2259. The Agreement of the People

Neh 9:38–10:39

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... of a priest, since priests benefited in part. The old ruling that Levites tithed their tithes, giving them to the priests, was retained. The Levites were to deposit them in the temple storerooms. Verse 39a, a later addition to the text as its dropping of the “we” references of the pledge shows, clarifies the foregoing in a number of particulars. Both laity and Levites had to pay the tithes, the former presumably through the system set up in verse 37b. Verse 39 specifies the items on which tithes ...

2260. I Have Come Into My Garden

Song of Songs 5:1-16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... a glistening quality. It evokes a sense of luxury. The phrase “mounted like jewels” could be an image of a statue with jewels inlaid for eyes. Murphy suggests that only the first half of the verse is about eyes, and that the word for “teeth” has dropped out of the second half (Song, p. 166). Indeed, it makes sense to think of milky white teeth and their careful placement. It would be natural also to discuss teeth with other parts of the face. There is, however, no external evidence for this reading ...

2261. The Indictment and Punishment of Israel Spelled Out

Amos 4:1-13

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... Israel has not returned to God, God will return to it, verse 12a—such is the meaning of this line. The Hebrew reads, “Therefore, thus I will do to you, O Israel,” and many commentators have thought that the mention of some specific punishment has dropped out of the text. But “thus” refers to “return” in the preceding line. God will “return”; God will never again “pass by” (7:8; 8:2 RSV). In total judgment God will meet this rebellious folk, and of that meeting, Amos now warns them ...

2262. The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

Nahum 1:1-15

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... But in the content of the lines, the MT’s arrangement makes sense; and vv. 9–11 seem to be further triplets. 1:7 The first line is rather short. The LXX has “to people who wait for him,” which makes for a more regular line and might have dropped out of the MT. But the LXX may have filled out the line from Lam. 3:25, and the MT draws attention to its assertion by its brevity. In the second line, more literally Yahweh is a refuge in “the day of trouble.” Sometimes the context indicates that “the ...

2263. People Who Are Down on Themselves

Galatians 3:26--4:7

Sermon

King Duncan

... were running high, as they still are today. All the customers in the diner froze as Harry announced his national origin. The next morning, as the pastor was getting ready, he heard a report that the United States had begun bombing Baghdad. The pastor dropped what he was doing and ran to the subway, hoping to reach the diner before Harry opened that morning. He wanted to reassure Harry of his friendship and love. As the pastor rounded the corner, however, he saw something amazing. The whole regular morning ...

2264. Celebrating Christ the King

Ezekiel 34:11-16, Matthew 25:31-34, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... burning apartment building. An apartment caught on fire. The babysitter saw no way to exit the second floor safely with the two-month-old baby she was keeping. The baby was as helpless as this doll. Panicky and in a bit of a daze, the sitter took the chance of dropping the baby to Harris below. Harris made the catch, and the baby was completely unhurt. James Harris is a hero, isn't he? He was there and caught the baby. Some times in life we fall. I don't mean like falling off of a building. I mean that some ...

2265. A Certain Small Shepherd

Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 15:4-13

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... the church. As they looked on the newborn, Jamie suddenly rushed from the building to his own home where he gathered his meager presents--an orange and a dime--and his shepherd's costume and crook. Then he returned to the church. Going to the mother's pallet he dropped to his knees and said, "Here's a Christmas gift for the Child." He laid the orange beside the baby's hand. "And here's a Christmas gift for the Mother," putting his dime in the woman's hand. Jamie's family fell to their knees, trembling with ...

2266. Teach Them To Your Children

Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... , with you brain, you might someday find a cure for cancer, or design a new kind of rocket, or write beautiful music that will inspire people for centuries. The brain is priceless. Did you know that a lot of people never use their brains, though. They drop out of school. They never try to learn anything new. How sad. Today is Father's Day. You know what the best gift you can give your parents is? Keep growing--not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. Make something out of that million dollar brain ...

2267. Understanding the Trinity

John 16:12-15

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... . What is an ice cube? That's right, it is frozen water. Do you know what a cloud is? It is condensed water, isn't it? It is water that the sun has lifted from the lakes and seas and turned into clouds. Under certain conditions, those clouds start releasing drops of rain, don't they? What is rain? It is water. God has a wonderful system for watering the earth. It is all water--as a liquid in the glass, frozen in an ice cube, condensed in a cloud, falling in the form of rain. In the same way Christians ...

2268. Jesus Walks on the Water

John 6:16-24

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... not so much enter their world—the boat and the storm on the lake—as give them a glimpse and a taste, however fleeting, of his world. The disciples’ reaction is not expressed (contrast Mark 6:51–52; Matt. 14:32–33). As soon as they reach shore, they drop out of the story until at least verse 60 (possibly, vv. 66 or 67). It is left to the reader to sense the mystery of what has happened and to wait for the explanation that only Jesus’ words (and they only in part) will later provide. The next day ...

2269. Jesus Teaches at the Feast

John 7:14-24

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... people of the land” (Hebrew: ‘Am Ha-’aretz) who knew nothing of the law of Moses (cf. 7:49). Yet his words belied any such conclusion. To those willing to obey God they were recognizable as God’s own words (vv. 16–17). Finally, after dropping the hint that he is a wanted man, and giving the somewhat broader hint that he has performed a miracle, Jesus invites his hearers to penetrate the disguise and discern his true identity: “Stop judging by mere appearance, and make a right judgment” (v. 24 ...

2270. Jesus’ Love and the World’s Hatred

John 15:1-17

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... confusing in the present context because Jesus, instead of assuming that his disciples are disciples, speaks of the possibility of them becoming disciples (showing yourselves to be is, lit., “that you might become,” v. 8). It is helpful to remember a clue dropped much earlier when Jesus was addressing a group of “believers” who turned out not to be believers at all: “If you hold to [lit., “If you remain in”] my teaching, you are really my disciples” (8:31). The clue was that discipleship ...

2271. The Third Appearance

John 21:1-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... to become one of cannibalism! It is true that Jesus has fish of his own prepared for the meal (v. 9), but he also tells the disciples to bring some of the fish you have just caught (v. 10). An easy way to clear up the confusion would be to drop the notion of symbolism altogether, but a better way is to recognize that fish are used by the narrator in two distinct ways: first, as a metaphor for the new community brought into being as a result of the disciples’ mission (cf. the “one flock” of 10:16), and ...

2272. Jacob Apprehension in Meeting Esau

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... way of referring to God contrasted with that of Israel’s neighbors, who referred to their gods in relationship to a place; e. g., Baal Ekron was Baal of the town Ekron. 32:22 The Jabbok runs from the Transjordan plateau westward into the Jordan River. Dropping several thousand feet in a short distance, it cuts a deep gorge in the hillside. 32:28 The meaning of “Israel” is popularly interpreted as “he fought with God.” There is no scholarly consensus on the meaning of this name based on an exact ...

2273. Solomon's Daily Provisions

1 Kings 4:20-28

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... 1 Kings 10:26–29, just before we hear again of Pharaoh’s daughter (11:1; cf. 3:1) and of Solomon’s apostasy. Once more, as if to bring us down to earth in the midst of this heavenly picture of the great king and his kingdom, the authors drop into the text (in a curious place, as if to catch our attention—why not place vv. 26 and 28 together?) something of a time bomb. It is a bomb that will tick away quietly, along with all the others in 1 Kings 1–11, until the combined explosion occurs ...

2274. An Axhead Floats

2 Kings 6:1-7

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... their “meeting” with Elisha, Hb. yšḇ lipnê, in 4:38 and 6:1). A new meeting place is being built—the NIV’s place . . . to live (for Hb. māqôm lāšeḇeṯ) overstates the building’s function (cf. Gen. 43:33; Ezek. 8:1)—and someone drops a borrowed iron implement (axhead is a plausible guess) in the water. Elisha has experience in manipulating waters, however (2 Kgs. 2:14), and he is able to make the iron float like the piece of wood he has thrown in beside it. It is an amazing event ...

2275. Famine in Besieged Samaria

2 Kings 6:24-7:2

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... pods: The extremity of the situation, confirmed by the woman’s awful story in 6:26ff., is already evident in the Hb. from the reference here to the “food” that was available, although it is somewhat obscured by the NIV’s seed pods for Hb.’s “pigeon droppings.” The point is that there was really nothing at all worth speaking of to eat—thus the cannibalism, which is hinted at or explicitly described as a consequence of siege in other places in the OT (Deut. 28:53–57; Lam. 2:20; 4:10; Ezek. 5 ...

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