Sermon and Worship Resources

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Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

... in minor trouble and failing vocationally. But Dr. White had been a faithful friend, trying to encourage this parishioner to win out over his problems. We'll call the man Ed Smith. The evening of the first tent meeting, a parishioner knocked on Dr. White's parsonage door to inform him that the visiting preacher had publicly shamed Ed Smith, calling him a drunk and a failure in life. Dr. White immediately became angry at this defamation and spluttered his anger in the presence of the lady who had brought ...

2. Riddles and Metaphors

Ezekiel 15:1-8, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ezekiel 17:1-24

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... Van Dijk-Hemmes, “The Metaphorization of Woman in Prophetic Speech: An Analysis of Ezekiel 23,” in On Gendering Texts: Female and Male Voices in the Hebrew Bible [ed. A. Brenner and F. van Dijk-Hemmes; Biblical Interpretation Series 1; New York: Brill, 1993], pp. 169–70; and Blenkinsopp, Ezekiel, p. 76). On the other hand, as Daniel Smith-Christopher notes, we have no reason to think that Ezekiel’s audience was predominately or exclusively male (“Ezekiel in Abu Ghraib: Rereading Ezekiel 16:37–39 ...

3. Body

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... ., Pauline Theology, pp. 182–99 (here pp. 187–93). This is the first explicit OT quote in 2 Corinthians (cf. also 6:2, 16, 17, 18; 8:15; 9:7, 9, 10; 10:17). Cf. D. Moody Smith, “The Pauline Literature,” in It Is Written: Scripture Citing Scripture: Essays in Honour of Barnabas Lindars (ed. D. A. Carson and H. G. M. Williamson; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988), pp. 265–91, here p. 275: “In 2 Corinthians Paul’s use of the OT is if anything more incidental, and even casual, than in 1 ...

4. Daniel’s Training in Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... . The placement of the gods of conquered peoples under the victors’ gods was a great ancient propaganda tool. But the Jews had no such images, so the temple vessels from Jerusalem served the same purpose (D. L. Smith-Christopher, “The Book of Daniel,” The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. 7 [ed. L. Keck; Nashville: Abingdon, 1996], p. 38). 1:3 The word Ashpenaz comes from an Old Persian word meaning “guest” (L. F. Hartman and A. Di Lella, The Book of Daniel [AB 23; Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday ...

5. Redefining Life

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... Turned Out To Be (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993), p. 34. 2. Lawrence O. Richards. The 365-Day Devotional Commentary (Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Publishing, 1990), p. 957. 3. Paul Smith, Romans 8:28: God's Plan For Our Good (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), pp. 163-166. 4. The Greatest Lesson I've Ever Learned, Vonette Zachary Bright, ed., (San Bernardino, CA: Here's Life Publishers, 1990), p. 49. 5. "In Their Own Words" By Col. William Francis, The Asbury Herald, Volume 112, No. 2 & 3, pp. 10-11 ...

6. The Ashes of Our Lives

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... started off managing his business in an upstairs loft of his brother's appliance shop, moving over to the black smith shop sharing space with inventory, bubble packers, and, of course, his hookers. When he set up his own office space, ... the ashes, while the ashes are in the wind? Oh, the eagle flies, the eagle flies, Oh, the eagle flies.2 From the ashes of fire (Ed), from the ashes of shame (Peter), from the ashes of tragedy (Carmen), and from the ashes of your lives, comes new life. Jesus says, "Come, come ...

7. One in Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... 21; W. Meeks, “In One Body: The Unity of Humankind in Colossians and Ephesians,” in God’s Christ and His People, ed. J. Jervell and W. Meeks (Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 1977), pp. 209–21. The Gentiles Apart from Christ The apostle begins by describing the ... the expressions near and far is given by D. C. Smith, “The Ephesian Heresy and the Origin of the Epistle to the Ephesians,” Ohio Journal of Religious Studies 5 (1977), pp. 78–103. Smith’s investigation leads him to conclude that it is not ...

8. God’s Love and Ours

1 John 4:7-21, 1 John 5:1-12

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... , Epistles; Nestle; TEV 12/13: Brooke, Epistles; Bruce, Epistles; Bultmann, Epistles; Dodd, Epistles; Grayston, Epistles; Jackman, Letters; Kysar, I, II, III John; R. Law, The Tests of Life (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1914, 3d ed.; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1968), p. 16; Marshall, Epistles; Smith, First John; Stott, Letters; M. M. Thompson, 1–3 John; A. N. Wilder, “Epistles”; UBS, NEB, NIV, NRSV, TEV 16a/16b: Brooke, Epistles; Brown, Epistles; Culpepper, 1 John; Perkins, Epistles; Westcott, Epistles; Nestle ...

9. Faith in the Son of God

1 John 5:1-12, 1 John 4:7-21

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

10. Purpose-Driven

Jeremiah 1:1-19

Sermon

King Duncan

... the presiding judge, the court reporter, a deputy and a federal agent. Then he escaped. Now this man who had earlier in the day killed four people in cold blood was in Ashley Smith’s apartment. He tied her up with masking tape, a shower curtain and an extension cord. Ashley pleaded with him not to hurt her. She told him that she had a 5-year- ... Monday! (Nashville, TN: Everywhere Press, 1998, p. 32). 4. Craddock Stories, Mike Graves and Richard F. Ward, eds. (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2001), pp. 125-126.

11. The Glory Departs

Ezekiel 8:1-18, Ezekiel 9:1-11, Ezekiel 10:1-22, Ezekiel 11:1-15, Ezekiel 11:16-25

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... synagogue of Dura Europas captures this vivid image. See the illustration in W. Lemke, “Ezekiel, The Book of,” in HBD (rev. ed.; ed. P. J. Achtemeier; San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1996), p. 321. The idol that provokes to jealousy. 2 Chronicles 33:7, 15 says ... (particularly relating to the Lord’s rising, or appearing) does occur in the HB; see, e.g., Ps. 84:12 (M. S. Smith, The Early History of God [San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1990], pp. 115–16). Josiah, as part of his reforms, had removed from ...

12. Shockproof

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

James Merritt

... t die in the night he had better look out in the morning.” That is not forgiveness. When we forgive, it has to be final. I didn’t end the story of Dawn Smith Jordan. What did she do? She said when she got that letter she was angry. She was frustrated. She was irritated, because she did not want to forgive the murderer of her sister, but ... as God has forgiven you. [1] “Should All Be Forgiven?”, Time, April 5, 1999. [2] 1001 Illustrations That Connect, EDS. Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Elshof, p. 89.

13. Tyre, Sidon—and Israel

Ezekiel 26:1-21, Ezekiel 27:1-36, Ezekiel 28:1-19, Ezekiel 28:20-26

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... old Canaanite texts, the Rephaim are fallen heroes and kings from ancient days, who were consigned to the place of the dead (M. Smith, “Rephaim,” ABD 5, pp. 675–76). You will not return or take your place in the land of the living. The NIV ... of Tyre: The Editorial History of Ezekiel 28,” in Love and Death in the Ancient Near East: Essays in Honor of Marvin Pope [ed. J. Marks and R. Good; Guilford, Conn.: Four Quarters, 1987], p. 214; see also Newsom, “Maker,” p. 162). 28:14 You were anointed ...

14. The following resources were used for John's letters.

1 John 5:13-21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Commentary. Translated by Reginald and Ilse Fuller. New York: Crossroad, 1992. Smalley, Stephen S. 1, 2, 3 John. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco: Word, 1984. Smith, D. Moody. First, Second, and Third John. Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1991. Stott, John R. W. The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary. 2nd ed. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. Thompson, Marianne Meye. 1–3 John. IVP New Testament Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992 ...

15. Not Far From the Kingdom

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

... continued, and the chief came forward bringing his son. The circuit rider pressed for a verdict. The chief rose again, came forward, saying, "I gave my blanket, my pony, my son. Now, I give myself." He was "not far from the kingdom of God." 1. See Warren Thomas Smith, Augustine. His Life and Thought (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1980), p. 47. 2. The Journal of the Rev. Charles Wesley, M.A. (London: Wesleyan Methodist Book-Room, [1849] n.d.), 1:90-95. 3. The Book of Hymns, number 528. 4. Nehemiah Curnock ...

16. How Many Times?

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... killed their son. In fact, the first question they asked when Ron walked through the door was, "Do you know how Mr. Smith is doing?" They had been praying for him all night. (5) There are people like that in this world. They forgive those ... , THE 911 HANDBOOK (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997), p. 43. 3. CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATIONS FOR PREACHERS, TEACHERS, & WRITERS. Craig Brian Larson, ed. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1996), p. 17. 4. "Now Here Comes the Tough Part," June 8, 1997, p. 9. 5 ...

17. When God Is The Problem

Psalm 13:1-6

Sermon

Robert G. McCreight

... , lives in perpetual disillusionment because the children will have nothing to do with their parents. And the list goes on at great length. You remember our former attorney general, Ed Meese. He had a memorable way of putting it. Meese liked to recall the advice of the man who preceded him in that office, William French Smith, who advised Ed Meese that there would be days in this position when he would feel like the javelin competitor who won the coin toss and elected to receive. Some people go through ...

18. Here Comes Jesus

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

James Bjorge

... talk man comes forth from the wings to entertain his audience and television viewers. As the herald of the show, Ed McMahon plays an important role in getting the show off the ground with gusto. Jesus was coming to stage the ... as God’s man with God’s message. And that message is pointed with power. It was never like the satirical suggestion in Charles Merril Smith’s book, How to Become a Bishop Without Being Religious. Make them laugh, make them cry, make them feel religious. Never be specific as to the ...

19. Past / Future

Mark 1:35-39, Mark 1:29-34

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... Leo, I want you to take over this new position and really run with it. I know you'll do a fantastic job. LEO: Right, Mr. Smith. I'm ready. Thanks again for the opportunity. JOEL: (AS HE IS TURNING TO LEAVE) Oh, Leo, I forgot to tell you that there was a ... be the new responsibility, Leo. Now, we all have confidence in you. We all know you can do it. So just relax and I'll have Ed take care of this minor mistake. You just settle into the new work. (JOEL TAKES THE PRINTOUT FROM LEO) MOMMA: You see, I just knew ...

20. The Fountain of Truth

2 Peter 1:12-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... Jeremiah and John, Amos and Acts, and Proverbs and Paul, we have God's complete once-for-all revelation. We don't need Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen White, Nancy Fowler, golden tablets, dreams and visions, or another testament; all we need is what we have, which is ... it, and you will have joy on earth and life everlasting. 1. Out of My Treasure, ed. Willie White, p. 25. 2. The Best of Billy Sunday, ed. John R. Rice, p. 93. 3. Cited by Michael Scott Horton, Made in America, p. 25. 4. James T. Draper ...

21. It's Not a Snuggie Love

Mark 15:1-15, Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... love cannot last. No matter how good it may feel for a moment, Snuggie love cannot last. The crowds that “Hosanna”-ed Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem, cried out, “Crucify him,” when Pilate asked what he should do with this “King of ... act like saints.” (Jonathan Edwards as quoted in John E. Smith, “Piety and Its Fruits,” in The Return to Scripture in Judaism and Christianity: Essays in Postcritical Scriptural Interpretation, ed. Peter Ochs [New York: Paulist Press, 1993], 288). Cross-training ...

22. A Hearing Heart

1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14

Sermon

Stan Purdum

... this gift of discernment for. Let us seek it and use it. 1. Cited by William Barry and William Connolly, The Practice of Spiritual Direction (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1986), p. 102. 2. Selections from the Writings of Thomas Coke, Warren Thomas Smith, ed. (Nashville: The Upper Room, 1966), p. 15. 3. M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1983), pp. 62-66. 4. These questions have been drawn from two sources: Gerald May, Care of Mind/Care of Spirit (San Francisco: Harper ...

23. Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... in his article, “Ps LXVII 19 (= EPH IV 8): Another Textual Tradition or Targum?” NovT 17 (1975), pp. 219–24. See also G. V. Smith, “Paul’s Use of Psalm 68:18 in Ephesians 4:8,” JETS 18 (1975), pp. 181–89. 4:9 For further explanation of these ... Christ’s descent at Pentecost, cf. G. B. Caird, “The Descent of Christ in Ephesians 4, 7–11,” in Studia Evangelica, vol. 2, ed., F. L. Cross (Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1964), pp. 535–45. 4:11 An old but valuable discussion can be found in J. B. ...

24. The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1-27

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... of sin rather than the Lord’s miraculous power over nature; that is, “the glory of God is manifest for the salvation of man in Jesus” (so D. M. Smith, John, p. 30). This, then, is the essence of God’s Word which is the light of truth (cf. John 1:9; 1 John 2:8) first seen ... Less convincing is Peter DuBrul’s, “Jerusalem in the Apocalypse of John,” in Jerusalem: Seat of Theology, ed. D. Burrell (Jerusalem/Tantur: Ecumenical Institute for Theological Research, 1982), pp. 57–77. We noted in the ...

25. The Thousand Years

Revelation 20:1-7

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... The Future of the World: An Exegetical Study of Revelation 19:11–22:15, SBT 2/25 (Naperville, Ill.: Allenson, 1972); D. C. Smith, “The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ: Some Observations on Rev. 20:1–10,” RQ 16 (1973), pp. 219–30; R. G. Clouse ... . 676–81; J. F. Walvoord, “The Theological Significance of Revelation 20:1–6,” in Essays in Honor of J. Dwight Pentecost, eds. S. Toussaint and C. Dyer (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), pp. 227–38. For a complete bibliography, see J. Zens, “Rev. 20:1 ...

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