Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: responsibility, obligation, commitment, obedience, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, respect, deference, reverence, homage, job, task, chore, assignment, commission, mission, function, charge, part, place, role, concern, requirement, tax, levy, tariff, excise, toll, fee, imposition, impost, exaction, tithe, payment, rate

Showing 1 to 25 of 1053 results

1. Knowing What the Lord Requires of Us

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Moses’s style changes in 10:12, as marked by the words, “And now.” The interrogative “What does the Lord your God ask of you” is echoed in Micah 6:8. Moses gives five answers to this rhetorical question: (1) “to fear the Lord,” (2) “to walk in obedience to him,” (3) “to love him,” (4) “to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,” and (5) “to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees . . . for your own good” (10:12–13). But this is no call to formalism, for the people must ...

2. The Guilt Offering

Leviticus 5:14--6:7

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... Christ. Christ’s death not only removed sin before God like the Day of Atonement sin offering (Isa. 53:6; see Lev. 16:21) but also removed the guilt caused by offenses against God and other human beings. Teaching the Text The guilt offering was required for two types of sins: profaning God’s sacred property (Lev. 5:14–19) and swearing a false exculpatory oath concerning lost or disputed property (Lev. 6:1–7). The former involved the sacrilege of ill treatment of a sacred object; the latter involved ...

3. Marriage, Sexual Intimacy, and Spiritual Devotion

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... the realm of uncleanness, not vice versa. 7:15 if the unbeliever leaves.8 Paul has no authority over the actions of the nonbeliever. He can tell the believer not to initiate the divorce, but if the nonbeliever decides to divorce, the believer is not required to resist the action. The brother or the sister is not bound. Paul’s word choice, “enslaved” (doulo?; NIV: “bound”), could seem to indicate that he thought of a Christian’s marriage to an unbeliever as bondage or a form of enslavement.9 ...

4. The Sin Offering

Leviticus 4:1--5:13

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... and to rash or impulsive acts. It also makes accommodations for the poor by allowing them to substitute either birds or a grain offering in place of the usual female goat or lamb. Interpretive Insights 5:1–6 Three cases illustrate the kind of situation that might require a sin offering. 5:1 If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify. The first case is a sin of omission or ignorance where a person fails to respond to a public charge to testify. An announcement ...

5. Israel’s Ill-Placed Confidence

Amos 5:18-27

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... righteous, whose actions are flawless, perfect, upright, and just (Deut. 32:4; 1 Sam. 12:7; 2 Sam. 22:31; Job 37:23; Ps. 89:14). God is the righteous lawgiver, hence the one who establishes the norm for right conduct (Deut. 4:4 8; Ps. 19:7–9). He requires justice of all his creatures (cf. Gen. 9:5–6; Exod. 21:12, 28–29). God also judges righteously (Gen. 18:25; 1 Kings 8:32; Ps. 9:4, 9; Jer. 9:24) and defends and vindicates the weak and oppressed (Deut. 10:18; Ps. 103:6). The responsibility of ...

6. The Lord’s Case Against Israel

Micah 6:1-8

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... own desires, turning one’s eyes to God as a servant turns his or her eyes to the master (cf. Ps. 123:2) for guidance, approbation, and correction. It is such a humble walk with God that makes it possible to act justly and to love ḥesed, and thus this requirement sums up the other two. Israel is put in its place here and shown to be lacking. These are the things it should have done but has not done. It stands indicted at the bar of God and can make no further reply. This instruction is aimed entirely at ...

7. The Law of the Temple

Ezekiel 43:13-27, Ezekiel 44:1-31, Ezekiel 45:1-12, Ezekiel 45:13--46:24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... . 12–15). Comparing the temple liturgy in the Law of the Temple with the temple liturgy in Torah reveals numerous discrepancies. Talmud b. Menahot 45a discusses, as one example of these discrepancies, the offerings this section prescribes for the new moon. The Law of the Temple requires the prince to provide a young bull, six lambs and a ram, all without defect . . . as a grain offering one ephah with the bull, one ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he wants to give, along with a hin of oil ...

8. The Red Heifer

Numbers 19:1-22

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... ritual had been designated to go among the corpses to retrieve the censers of the 250 (Num. 16:39). Many would have been ceremonially contaminated by the corpses of that plague. This regulation fits into the larger complex of laws of clean and unclean that required anyone contracting uncleanness to avoid that which was holy and to take steps to return to a state of purity lest the sanctuary be defiled (Num. 19:13, 20; cf. Num. 5:2–4; 31:19; Lev. 11–15). Such laws taken together emphasize the holiness ...

9. Paul Opposes Peter

Galatians 2:11-21

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... . The fact that subsequently Peter could be influenced by those promoting separation indicates the degree of social pressure that fell on a new religious movement that did not fit within the Jewish or the pagan ethos. A religion that embraced Jews and non-Jews, requiring only faith in Christ, faced the daunting task of creating a new social space for itself. The Greek for the verb to eat (synesthiō) is in a progressive tense, which suggests that it was over a period of time that Peter joined Gentiles for ...

10. Robbing God

Malachi 3:6-18

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... 6). Rain and abundant crops are among the primary blessings of the covenant (Lev. 26:3–5; Deut. 28:4–5, 11–12). The Lord’s offer, “Test me in this,” is made within the context of covenant. Israel will carry out the test by obeying the covenant requirement to bring the whole tithe, the full ten percent, and they will see the results when God gives them blessing (v. 10), as Deuteronomy 14:29 promises. This is not just a test of God’s power and will to do them good; it is specifically a test of ...

11. Miscellaneous Laws

Deut 23:15–25:19

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... be a proper limit (v. 3). There is to be no prolonged or indefinite beating. If forty lashes is the maximum penalty, it can be assumed that judges would normally sentence offenders to less. The final explanatory clause of the law bases the above requirements on (a) covenant bonds: the criminal is still your brother and that status must be borne in mind even when he is being punished; and (b) human dignity: viciously prolonged beating is “degrading” and humiliating for any human being (the Hb. is lit ...

12. New Dominion as a Blessing of the New Covenant: Dead to Sin

Romans 6:1-14

Teach the Text

C. Marvin Pate

... his promise. The same idea is present here in 6:11: Christians should believe it to be true that they have died and been raised with Christ to a new life. Here we see that not only is justification by faith, but also sanctification likewise is by faith. Faith is required to live a holy life because the Christian still lives in this age of struggle. 6:14 you are not under the law, but under grace. Verse 14 with 5:20–21 forms an inclusio for 6:1–13 by way of contrast. The pattern is the same pattern ...

13. Holiness of Priests

Lev 21:1–23:2

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... . 22:2 the sacred offerings. The term includes votive offerings of silver and gold (1 Kings 15:15), but here edible offerings are in view: grain offerings (Lev. 2:3), sin and guilt offerings (Lev. 6:17), and probably fellowship offerings that require a person to be in a ceremonially clean state to eat them (Lev. 7:20–21). not profane my holy name. On halal (“to profane”), see comments at Leviticus 21:9. On “name theology,” see “Theological Insights” below. Inappropriate behavior by priests ...

14. The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... the verb “rest” (shabat). It sounds like, but is not related to, the Hebrew word for “seven” (shibʿah), the day of the resting. God now expands the Sabbath command given first with the manna (16:21–30). This command is unique in the ancient Near East. It required that the people trust that they could survive without working every day. God, the owner of all of time, provided the seven-day week. God’s gift of the Sabbath gave the former slaves the gift of rest, but it was to be rest in the God ...

15. Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 12:27-47

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... at the beginning and end (vv. 27, 43). The vocal and musical contributions of the Levites were to express and stimulate that joy by praising God. This group of Levites had settled locally in villages south, east, and north of the city. Rites of purification were required, initially by the priests and Levites on their own behalf and then for the people, the old and new citizens of Jerusalem, and for the gates and the wall they were dedicating to the glory of God. To purify means to prepare for a sacred ...

16. Grain Offerings

Leviticus 2:1-16

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... covenant provisions for the priests (Num. 18:19) and of his promise of a perpetual kingship for the line of David (2 Chron. 13:5). 2:14–16 new grain roasted in the fire . . . oil and incense on it. This case is similar to 2:1–3 in requiring incense, but similar to 2:4–10 in that it is cooked. A small portion is burned, the rest to be used by the priests. On an offering made by fire, see comments at Leviticus 1:9. Theological Insights Distinctive is the grain offering’s acknowledgment of God as ...

17. The Priestly Portions of Sacrifices

Lev 6:8–7:38

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... NIVmg]) constitutes about two quarts of grain, the same as the poor person’s sin offering (Lev. 5:11). On “fine flour,” see comments at Leviticus 2:1–3. Priests eat other grain offerings (Lev. 6:16), but not offerings made for them, so they are required to burn this offering completely (v. 23). 6:25–26 These are the regulations for the sin offering. On “most holy” (v. 25b), see comments at 6:14–17 above. “Shall eat it” (v. 26) should be rendered “may eat it.” It would have been ...

18. Blood: Right and Wrong Uses

Leviticus 17:1-16

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... Israel’s exodus and covenant cannot (Exod. 12:43). Eating carrion is proscribed whether the animal has been killed by predators or has died on its own. Such food, besides being disgusting and unhealthy, cannot have had its blood properly poured out to God as required by verses 10, 13. It makes a person “ceremonially unclean,” making it dangerous to approach that which is holy. It is inconsistent with the holiness of God’s people: “You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal ...

19. Impurity, Repentance, and Jealousy

Num 5:1-31

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... provides for the cleansing from impurities of various sorts so that God’s people can remain in his presence. God himself is so pure that he cannot look tolerantly upon evil (Hab. 1:13). He demands pure offerings (Mal. 1:11). What could help keep Israelites pure? It requires fear of God and heeding God’s word (Pss. 19:9; 119:9). God can himself act so as to purify peoples (Zeph. 3:9). The New Testament also speaks of moral, religious, and sexual purity. Disciples are to be pure in heart (Matt. 5:8; 1 Tim ...

20. The Sacrifices of the Sacred Calendar

Num 28:1–29:40

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... we are creative, we can find ways to employ all the special days on our calendars for God. Numbers 28–29 seems to encourage us to do so. 2. We can give God more than the minimum. The Israelites are reminded that they can add freewill offerings to the required offerings (Num. 29:39). Similarly, we can and should make sacrifices beyond those that are expected. We should give a portion of our income to God to support the work of God. But from time to time God may lead us to give special gifts to him that are ...

21. Rules for Priests

Leviticus 21:1--22:16

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... of the priestly portions. Next the text considers the unintentional eating of priests’ portions by unauthorized people. In that case restitution is made to the priest, for he is the one who has lost part of his livelihood. The remedy is like that of a loss requiring a guilt offering. One-fifth of the value of the portion mistakenly eaten is to be given to the priest, plus the value of what is consumed. The matter of compensation leads to the conclusion of this section in verse 16, which is a warning to ...

22. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... mine” to extract and exploit it. The phrase a place where gold is refined parallels the first half of the verse and expands on the theme of human effectiveness in exploiting precious commodities hidden in the earth. The process of refining here seems to require washing and filtering pulverized ore in order to separate gold from the waste. Since gold is heavier, the lighter waste could be poured off after rinsing, and the precious metal would be left behind, perhaps in a process similar to panning for gold ...

23. Paul’s Second Visit to the Jerusalem Church

Galatians 2:1-10

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... is ambiguous. Does this phrase refer to Paul’s reason for bringing Titus to the Jerusalem meeting: because he was a Greek? Or does the phrase relate to the effect of Titus’ presence at the Jerusalem meeting: even though he was a Greek circumcision was not required of him? The words not … compelled to be circumcised take on a different meaning depending on how one reads 2:5. A number of manuscripts, including one Western text and Marcion, omit the words “to them [we] did not.” The reading of 2:5 in ...

24. Overseers and Deacons

1 Timothy 3:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... characterize an overseer. The first item on the list, the husband of but one wife, is one of the truly difficult phrases in the PE (cf. 3:12; 5:9, of the “true” widows, and Titus 1:6). There are at least four options: First, it could be requiring that the overseer be married. Support is found in the fact that the false teachers are forbidding marriage and that Paul urges marriage for the wayward widows (5:14; cf. 2:15). But against this are that it emphasizes must and wife, while the text emphasizes one ...

25. Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

Hebrews 10:1-18

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... note his repetition of it in v. 8) with the obedience of Christ and his final and definitive sacrifice. On the terminology of sacrifice, see C. Brown, NIDNTT, vol. 3, pp. 418–38. 10:8 On the categories of sacrifices, see preceding note. The expression the law required (lit., “according to the law”) occurs in Hebrews also in 7:5, 16; 8:4; 9:19, 22. In most of these instances, as here, there is the consciousness that what the law stipulated was only of a temporary character. Now that Christ has brought ...

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