Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2326 to 2350 of 2665 results

2326. Judah and Tamar

Genesis 38:1-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Momentarily Joseph drops out of the narrative to be replaced by his brother Judah. Judah marries a Canaanite girl by whom he has three children: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er marries Tamar, but he is put to death by God for an unspecified sin. As a result Tamar is left a childless widow. ...

2327. Judah’s Plea

Genesis 44:1-34

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... before they leave he slips his silver cup into Benjamin’s grain sack. This is Pharaoh’s cup, and the one with which he practices divination. Water divination was a common practice in Egypt, a method of determining the future. One might read the pattern of drops that fell from a cup, or one might throw something into the water in the cup, which would form patterns that were omens. The brothers maintain their innocence. Why do such a stupid thing, they ask? This incident reminds us of Rachel’s theft of ...

2328. God’s Chosen People Among the Nations

1 Chronicles 1:1-54

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 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 ...

2329. Priests and Levites

Nehemiah 12:1-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... special “binding” covenant in Nehemiah 10:2–8 had these family names, although there are some spelling differences. Since originally there were twenty-four priestly divisions (1 Chron. 24:7–19), and the same was true in later Judaism, two names may have dropped out of this list (12:1–7), or perhaps no representatives of those families were among the returnees. The list in 12:8–9 provides additional information to Ezra 2:40–42, which includes only the names of Jeshua, Kadmiel, and Hodaviah. As ...

2330. Prologue

Isaiah 40:1-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . By means of the questions introduced by the word “who” (40:12–17; cf. Job 3:8–22), Isaiah affirms that Yahweh alone is the Creator God. He needs no counselors. His sovereignty extends to all of creation, and especially over the nations, which are like a “drop” in the bucket or like a piece of “dust” on the scales (40:15). Yahweh is unique in that no one can compare him with anything the human mind may imagine (40:18–20). He is not to be likened to idols, which are powerless and fully ...

2331. Punishment of Destruction

Hosea 13:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . A second metaphor pictures God’s intervention as a divine drought that will scorch the land and dry up all its springs. As a result an enemy nation will come and plunder the wealth of the nation (13:15). A third description drops the metaphorical language and describes a barbarous military conquest in which people are killed by the sword, children are mercilessly massacred, and helpless pregnant women have their wombs ripped open (13:16). This hopeless scene of total annihilation is interrupted by one ...

2332. The Rich Man And Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... realms, one of blessing and one of punishment. But the parable should not be pressed too hard for such information since this is not the main point of the story. As Lazarus desired the crumbs from the rich man’s table, now the rich man wants just a drop of water from Lazarus (16:24). But he is denied. A chasm exists between Lazarus and the rich man, and now the rich man is reaping what he sowed. There is a clear message to Christian disciples here; they need to use their money prudently and generously in ...

2333. Apostles of Christ

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... be seen and regarded as wise. Similar contrasts are apparent between the apostles’ real “weakness” and the Corinthians’ self-designated “strength,” or between the apostles’ real “dishonor” and the Corinthians’ self-conferred “honor.” In verse 11, however, Paul drops the ironic comparisons as he proceeds in his attempt to teach the Corinthians that “no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:16). Like Christ, the apostles ...

2334. The Biggest Prayer Ever Prayed Under Heaven

John 17:1-11

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... . He knelt down, and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. (Luke 22:41-44) He prays for God the Father to make him sufficient for this hour that now has come. Second, he prays to the Father about what he has achieved. "I glorified you on earth by finishing the work ...

2335. The Invitation

Isaiah 55:1-9

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... catalogs are very inviting. Beautiful people without an ounce of fat modeling clothes, attempting to convince me that if I wear these clothes I will look exactly like them. Who are they trying to kid? Men in fancy garments doing yard work with not a drop of sweat on them and huge smiles on their faces, as if wearing that jacket makes you euphoric over yard work. Then there are the catalogs advertising all those cutting-edge gadgets and toys which are so essential to our existence on earth. For instance ...

2336. Dying To Live

Isaiah 43:16-21

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... yearns for the glorious death which leads to genuine freedom. The poet Louisa Tarkington expresses this yearning: I wish there was some wonderful place; In the Land of beginning again; Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches; And all of our poor selfish grief; Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door; And never put on again![4] There is a wonderful place to begin again: at the foot of the cross. Jesus says, “You can begin again. For I have died for all your shameful stuff. All you have to ...

2337. I Wonder Why My Prayers Go Unanswered?

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... love of God was in our hearts.” Are you still wondering about your unanswered prayers? God has an answer for you. But whatever your request, know that God’s answer will always involve your heart being changed by his love. Let us pray: Dear Lord, “Drop they still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and the stress, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace. Breathe through the pulses of desire they coolness and they balm. Let sense be dumb, let ...

2338. I Wonder about God’s Will for My Life

Romans 12:1-2

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... illustrated right before my eyes a few years ago. I was coming out of the church office, and I watched as a toddler got away from her mother and began to run toward a busy street. The mother was pregnant and had an infant in her arms. I immediately drop the books that were in my hands and ran after the child. I will never forget the look on the child’s face. She looked back at me laughing, determined to outrun me, not knowing she was headed for great danger. Fortunately, I was able to catch her before ...

2339. The Power of Patience

Luke 2:22-40

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... marriage! Joseph asked, “Who is the father?” This is when the soap opera fades out for a commercial! The story continued as Mary told Joseph that she had not been with any other man. He said, “Well Mary how did it happen? Did a stork come?” Mary dropped the bomb on Joseph and told him that the child in her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Now, honestly, if you had been Joseph, would you have believed her? “Really, Mary? So I am supposed to believe this? Sure. You need to get your head examined ...

2340. Mission Possible!

John 1:43-51

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... to be like Jesus — to love like Jesus — to make a difference like Jesus — to change the world like Jesus. The Bible says we have been empowered to be like Jesus. I think this is what compelled Philip and the rest of the disciples to drop everything and follow him. Jesus simply said to Philip, “Follow me” and he did, right on the spot (John 1:43). There was a great call of adventure and meaning in those two simple words of Jesus. Philip and the disciples couldn’t resist. Jesus’ irresistible ...

2341. True North

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... worry yourself sick. All you have to do is two things and you have it. Here it is: Love God with all your being and love other people like you would love yourself. You do that you have the law down.” You can see the Pharisees’ jaws drop. They had dedicated their lives to poring over 613 laws. They interpreted them and debated them. Along comes this carpenter from Nazareth and he wraps them all up in one sentence! The Pharisees were so preoccupied with the details of the law that they failed to see the ...

2342. Pop Verses: Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... worry yourself sick. All you have to do is do two things and you got it. Here it is: Love God with all your being and love other people like you would love yourself. You do that you got the Law down!” You can see the Pharisees’ jaws drop. They had dedicated their lives to poring over 613 laws. They interpreted them and debating them. And along comes this carpenter from Nazareth and he wraps them all up in one sentence! The Pharisees were so preoccupied with the details of the law that they failed to see ...

2343. The Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... order to get water to satisfy the grumbling Israelites (Exod. 17:1–7). It is not our prerogative to place God on trial. Faith is simple trust, not “doubt looking for proof” (Barclay, vol. 1, p. 69). 4:8–11 Having failed in his first two attempts, Satan now drops all pretense. He takes Jesus to a very high mountain and shows him all the kingdoms of the world. In a move that can be understood as nothing other than a naked power play, he offers Jesus all he can see if he will only bow down and worship ...

2344. Despair, Hope, Easter, and Pentecost

John 20:10-18

Sermon

Tom Garrison

... I had heard about what had happened to him, and when I nodded, he said anxiously: "What's left for me, Preacher? What do I do now that my body is broken and my career is over?" It is the first question that always comes to mind when the bottom drops out and the way things used to be is no more. What about tomorrow? Do I even have one? These are the questions I dare say most adults have asked at one time or another, and for that reason we would do well to ponder again the Easter story, for ...

2345. Death, Risk, and Confidence

Matthew 10:24-39

Sermon

Tom Garrison

... the border and take us to the place he has already prepared." It proved to be a word of hope. On the authority of Holy Scripture, this man was given to believe that what he was about to experience was not walking out on a pier and dropping into nothingness, but rather venturing onto a bridge, where there already was another and in whose company the transition would be made from realm to realm. You can then let the authority of the book be the basis of your hope. However, there is another way, not altogether ...

2346. What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 13:24-30

Sermon

Tom Garrison

... try to capture this bandit. One morning a Texas Ranger saw Jorge making his way into this country. He witnessed him robbing a bank and then stealthily followed him back over into Mexico to his hometown. As Jorge was relaxing in a cantina, the Texas Ranger slipped in, got the drop on him, and put his big .45 to his ear. Then he said to him loudly, "I know who you are, Jorge Rodriguez, and I know what you have been doing. Unless you give me back all the money you have taken from those Texas banks, I am going ...

2347. Rat Poison

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

Kristin Borsgard Wee

... case with as much kindness as I could muster. As we talked, I began to see things I hadn't seen before. She told me she had suffered a series of miscarriages and might not be able to have a child. Her husband lost his job and suddenly the veil dropped. I felt my poison begin to dissipate. I was so consumed by my anger that I didn't really see her or her feelings. I began to feel the waters of grace flowing over me and the wind of the spirit of forgiveness blowing through my bones. My voice became ...

2348. Talented People

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

David G. Rogne

... you didn't. Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie all over your car rug? I thought you'd hit me, but you didn't. And remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal and you showed up in jeans? I thought you'd drop me, but you didn't. Yes, there were lots of things you didn't do. But you put up with me, and you loved me, and you protected me. There were lots of things I wanted to make up to you when you returned from Vietnam. But you didn't ...

2349. Joseph: The Righteous Carpenter

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... asked, “Who is the father?” This is when the soap opera fades out for a commercial! The story continues as Mary told Joseph that she had not been with any other man. He said, “Well Mary how in the heck did it happen? Did a stork come?” Mary dropped the bomb on Joseph and told him that the child in her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Now, honestly, if you had been Joseph, would you have believed her? “Really, Mary? So I am supposed to believe this? Sure. You need to get your head examined. Have ...

2350. Signs of the End of the Age

Mark 13:1-31

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... note to the reader to understand the term properly (cf. Rev. 13:18 for a similar aside about a coded expression). The Matt. 24:15 parallel has “standing in the holy place” for “where it does not belong,” and the Luke 21:20 parallel drops the code term altogether and openly refers to “Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,” describing the siege as “the time of punishment” prophesied in the OT. (For a full discussion of Jewish resistance to Roman rule in the first century, see David M. Rhoads ...

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