Sermon and Worship Resources

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Philippians 3:4-11, 2 Timothy 4:7

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... to break the rules. We don't need to resort to making excuses. Why? Because coming in second or third or fourth or even dead last doesn't matter. We have already won. We have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and nothing to hide. The fourth-century desert monk, Agathon, tells a story about what it is like to live your life and run your race when you have nothing to lose. Some thieves came one day to the dwelling of an old man and said to him, "We have come to take everything that is in your house." He ...

2. Final Instructions

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... in terms. In the second half of the verse Paul reverts to the plural, making the complementary point to the singular noted above, that we are all expected to act in this way. The command is general to all Christians, literally “pursue the good” (to agathon diōkete), that is, make the best interest of others our aim and work constantly at achieving it (the force of the present imperative and of the adverb, pantote, “always”). The “try to be kind” of NIV is too feeble. Paul throws down a ...

3. Stand Firm

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... . 2:4 for heart), and strengthen you (stērizō, see also disc. on 1 Thess. 3:2) in every good deed and word. The repetition of good from verse 16 adds a certain emphasis to the word and underscores what Paul is saying in this prayer (for good work, ergon agathon, cf. Rom. 2:7; 2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 2:10; Phil. 1:6; Col. 1:10; 1 Tim. 2:10; 5:10; 2 Tim. 2:21; 3:17; Titus 1:16; 3:1; and for the collocation of work and word, cf. Luke 24:19; Acts 7:22). This ...

4. Paul’s Request for Onesimus

Philemon 1:8-25

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... building up his case. He feels a certain right to retain Onesimus on Philemon’s behalf, but he wants such a decision to come directly from Philemon (I did not want to do anything without your consent). The Greek literally reads “your good deed” (agathon), which recalls the same use of the word in verse 6, translated “good thing” in the NIV. But anything that Philemon chooses to do must be done willingly. Compulsion, constraint, coercion, necessity, and so forth are not the attitudes out of which a ...

5. Concluding Exhortations

Hebrews 13:1-25

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... , that great Shepherd of the sheep (thus GNB: “who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep as the result of his sacrificial death”; cf. JB). For the expression “blood of the covenant,” see Zech. 9:11. On covenant (diathēkē), see note to 7:22. Good (agathon) is also used absolutely in 9:11 and 10:1, where, however, it refers to the “good things” of the eschatological order inaugurated by Christ’s finished work. The readers are called to do the will (thelēma) of God in 10:36; here the prayer is ...

Agathon

Even God cannot change the past.

Agathon

This only is denied even to God: the power to undo the past.

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