Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 208 results

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... He later enters into a three-week fast from meat and wine (10:3), indicating that before and after that particular fast he partakes of such things. Either the author of the book wanted to communicate that Daniel’s simple diet was only for his period of training, or it may be that chapter 1 and chapter 10 contain competing traditions. As the story develops, we see divine providence at work. In spite of the fact that Daniel was brought low by being taken to Babylon, God promotes him. The text notes that God ...

2. Instructions to Timothy

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... the Saviour of all men.” (2) The second half of verse 10 (NIV): “We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” (3) All of verse 8, with the balanced pairs of physical training and godliness (Barrett, Knight). (4) The second part of verse 8: “Godliness is profitable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and the future” (NAB, Kelly). For several reasons the fourth seems by far the best option. First, as we shall see ...

3. God Subjugates Judah under Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... , although “wine” is not among the “unclean” foods (cf. Lev. 11). He may have in mind food offered to Babylonian idols, but food from a “produce” diet is also offered to idols. Or he may wish to limit his indebtedness to the king, yet his training as a courtier further obligates him to the king. Instead of choosing only one option, Daniel seems to be moved by a combination of these concerns (and perhaps others) to resist full assimilation in order to retain his Jewish heritage.6 1:9 Now God ...

4. Paul Speaks to the Crowd

Acts 21:37--22:21

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... three). The second indicates upbringing at home. It is not clear how this relates to Paul’s claim in 21:39 to be a citizen of Tarsus. His birth and later years of residence may have been sufficient to establish the claim. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained, lit., “educated at the feet of Gamaliel”: Apparently the teacher sat on an elevated seat and his pupils on the ground at his feet, hence, perhaps, the metaphorical use of the phrase in 4:35, 37, and 5:2. There has been hesitation on the part ...

5. Manna and Quail

Exodus 16:1-36

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... by giving them surplus bread. Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. The Lord had succeeded in using their grumbling as a lever and opportunity to show God’s own glory, to train them in trust, and to give them a source of daily bread as well as weekly rest. We should not underestimate the weight and enduring influence of this gift and the command no one is to go out to gather bread (i.e., not to work). This first observation of ...

6. Restoration of Israel

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... passage derives from Hosea or vice versa. Not only is the gender of the animal different, the image is developed differently in both cases. In Hosea, the message is that Ephraim is a trained heifer, and for this reason God will put a yoke on her. In Jeremiah, Ephraim is not trained, and so God will have to train it. 31:31 Rata (The Covenant Motif in Jeremiah’s Book of Comfort, p. 90) points out that khadashah (“new”) can also be translated and understood as “renewed,” reminding us that the new ...

7. 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the knowledge and practice of scripture. In Greco-Roman culture the goal of “paideia” was to promote Greco-Roman civilization. In Paul’s context “paideia” is provided to the faith community not to develop an acceptable citizenry, but to “train” Christians in the ways of “righteousness.” The “usefulness” of scripture remains Paul’s central concern throughout all these activities. In the end it is his mission, and now Timothy’s mission to see that “everyone who belongs to God ...

8. Jesus Is Tested in Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-42

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... succumb to temptation. The question becomes, “How do we stand firm against temptation?” One key is to keep our eyes on our Lord. A great illustration of this fact is to talk about effective dog training. A well-trained dog keeps its focus on its master and takes its cues from his or her commands. For example, a well-trained dog will leave a treat alone, on command, by keeping its eyes focused on the master and not on the treat. Try that same trick with a puppy, and the puppy will immediately focus its ...

9. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Daniel 2:1-23

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... , then the first year becomes the second, and therefore, when the text says “the second year of his reign,” it really could be considered the third. The trouble is, Daniel 2:1 does not say when in the second year it is. If early, then the training period might be two years or less (a few months for the accession year, one full regnal year, and another few months for the “second” year of reign). This is difficult to square with the three years of chapter 1, unless one counts partial years as whole ...

10. 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... declares that all Scripture is "inspired" - or in older but somehow more invigorating language - "God-breathed." But besides its divine pedigree, Scripture also serves a specific purpose. It is "useful" in quite particular ways: "teaching," "reproof," "correction" and "training in righteousness" - that is, all the tasks of ministry. "Teaching" is the primary focus here. It is teaching Paul wishes Timothy to claim as his main responsibility. The larger category of "teaching" carries within it the necessary ...

11. Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... , however, is that the quotation in Ephesians differs considerably from Psalm 68:18, which is the only likely source of the quotation. Psalm 68:18 Ephesians 4:8 When you ascended on high, When he ascended on high you led captives in your train; he led captives in his train you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious. and gave gifts to men. The NIV translation indicates that there is a change from the second person (you) to the third person (he), and it shows that the author has changed the phrase ...

12. Children and Parents

Ephesians 6:1-4

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... of submission “out of reverence for Christ” in 5:21 serves the entire code. Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord (5:22); children are to obey their parents “in the Lord”; fathers are to raise their children “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (6:4); slaves are to obey their earthly masters “just as you would obey Christ” (6:5) as his slaves (6:6). Masters, likewise, are to let Christ, the Master in heaven, govern their attitude and conduct toward their slaves ...

13. Encouragement to Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... ” (lit., “compete lawfully”; Gk., nomimōs, as in 1 Tim. 1:8), which seems to reflect a similar concern to that in verse 4. But it is not totally clear what “according to the rules” means: either the rules of the contest or the rules of training (e.g., the Games required a ten-month period of strict discipline). It probably refers to the rules of the contest itself, since the concern is not with Timothy’s need for discipline as such but with his taking his share “in suffering.” The “noble ...

14. God Disciplines His Sons

Hebrews 12:1-13, Hebrews 12:14-29

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... character of suffering, despite its present pains, is a familiar motif in the Bible (cf. Ps. 119:67, 71, for benefits in the present life; 2 Thess. 1:5–8 and Matt. 5:10–12, for benefits in the life of the future). With the word trained (gymnazō), the author returns to the athletic games for his imagery, thus ending the passage with language from the same font as that used in verse 1. The fruit of righteousness is called peaceful (eirēnikos) because it is the resolution of the “struggle” (v. 4 ...

15. Warning Against Refusing God

Hebrews 12:14-29, Hebrews 12:1-13

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

16. Yahweh Speaks as the Master Teacher

Job 38:1--41:34

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... because it can become reckless in its eagerness for battle (cf. Jer. 8:6). Its powerful features are not the result of its training by humans, because humans can harness only in part the power that Yahweh has given to this animal. No human can take credit ... it would submit itself willingly to becoming a bond slave (41:4; cf. Exod. 21:6). Would Job be so silly as to think that he could train it as a pet for a little girl to lead around on a leash (41:5)? No, Leviathan is much too powerful for a human like Job ...

17. Nabuchadnezzar’s Dream and Daniel's Interpretation

Daniel 2:1-23, Daniel 2:24-49

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... implying that some of the sages were already being killed. The “wise men of Babylon” most likely includes all those within the city of Babylon (cf. 4:29–30), not the broader “province” or kingdom (cf. 2:49). The status of the Judeans in the training program at this time is uncertain, as they are associated with the sages but not advanced enough to be called with them. Regardless, they are now under imminent threat of death. 2:14 Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. The Aramaic phrase ...

18. Instructions to Timothy

1 Timothy 4:1-16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... . It is not noble philosophizing, counters Paul, but “old wives’ ” storytelling that promotes physical discipline as being the key to inner balance. The point of Paul’s “physical training is of some value” is that such training is of little benefit when compared with “godliness” that “has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (4:8). What is really worth the effort (see verse 10, “we labor and strive,” both athletic terms) is the ...

19. The Rights of an Apostle

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... athlete or with a purpose (the ideas are not antithetical), Paul wants the believers to conduct their lives with alacrity and deliberateness. 9:25 Cf. 7:9, where one finds the only other NT occurrence of the verb egkrateuomai, translated here goes into strict training and at 7:9 as “control themselves.” It is important and instructive to note that in Gal. 5:23 the noun form egkrateia (“self-control”) appears in Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit. Moreover, see R. Garrison, “Paul’s use of ...

20. Isaiah 50:4-9a

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... thus an instructed as well as an instructing tongue. This suggests that the Servant was not born with any miraculous gift of speech, but that like any disciple, he was carefully trained and instructed by an intimately present and nurturing God. The instruction that this Servant receives, however, is no narrow, old-school train of thought. It is a new and vital word which serves to "sustain the weary." The vitality of these words comforts and freshens. With true discipleship-discipline, the Servant receives ...

21. Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... (John 13:34; 1 John 4:16). This is “to walk worthily” of God and only such a life befits the people of God’s kingdom. Perhaps Paul arrived at his description of God as the one who calls you into his kingdom and glory via this train of thought. A variant reading, with the aorist participle, would hark back to God’s “call” in Christ—“come to me” (Matt. 11:28 etc.)—or to that moment when the believer first responded to that call. But NIV accepts the better reading of the present participle ...

22. Paul's Charge to Timothy

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... of Luke: The Relation of Luke–Acts to the Pastoral Epistles,” p. 66). The explanation offered in the commentary, however, is fully in keeping with the full context of the letter, if seen as coming ultimately from Paul. 3:14–15 There is considerable literature on the training of Jewish children during this period, of which the main component was the study of the Law (see, e.g., Jos., Against Apion 1.60; 2.173–78). In the Mishnah tractate Pirke Aboth 5.21, a rabbi from the end of the first century A.D ...

23. What Must Be Taught to Various Groups

Titus 2:1-15

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... being a model, godly wife. 2:4–5 Paul next directs his instruction to the younger women but does so by way of the “older women” in verse 3. The latter are to be teachers of good, so that they may train the younger women. The verb translated train, sōphronizōsin (see disc. on v. 2, sōphronas, “self-controlled”), is highly unusual, literally meaning to “bring someone to his or her senses,” although there is some evidence for it to mean something like “advise,” or “urge.” Since what ...

24. The Waters of Marah and Elim

Exodus 15:22-27

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... difficulties finding water and food. The Lord uses these opportunities to build new faith and trust. The NIV says God “tested” them, translating a word (nasah, v. 25) that means “trained” or “proved.” The Lord proved that the people could learn to follow God’s instruction for their own well-being. The training, which was not easy, could be described as “trial runs.” In the narratives, however, the people did not pass or fail the “tests.” They learned more about, and proved their ...

25. Water from the Rock

Exodus 17:1-7

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... . First, they did not wait on the Lord to provide for their need. They assumed, in spite of their recent experiences, that they must do something. Perhaps they thought that God did not know what they needed. Second, they assumed that if the Lord tested, or “trained” them, they also were free to test the Lord. This is what one did with other kinds of gods. If the god did not produce results, one changed gods. This was the original form of conceiving and creating a god that is one’s personal “water ...

Showing results