Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 4927 results

1. A Point of Reference

Matthew 16:13-20

Illustration

King Duncan

... the workers reached the middle of the waterway, they found they were thirteen feet to one side of each other. Albert Steinberg, writing some time ago in the Saturday Evening Post, went on to explain that each crew of workmen had used its own reference point. No wonder they did not connect. In that same article Steinberg tells about a small disc on the Meades Ranch in north central Kansas where the thirty-ninth parallel from the Atlantic to the Pacific crosses the ninety-eighth meridian running from Canada ...

2. Point of Reference

Illustration

Dick Cupp

... and safety of his hut, he would freeze to death in a matter of minutes. Admiral Byrd could not see his hut or anything else in the freezing blizzard that would guide him to safety. His body temperature was dropping. If he struck out blindly, without a central reference point for a sense of direction, he would become hopelessly lost. Refusing to panic, the admiral assessed the situation. In his hand was a 10-foot pole that he carried with him to probe for holes in the ice as he walked. He struck the pole in ...

3. Reference

Luke 10:1-24

Illustration

Maxie Dunnam

One of the best letters of reference ever received at the University of Alabama Medical School, according to the Director of Admissions, came from an old mountaineer. The letter read: "I've known this kid from the day he was born. He played with my kids, helped me with the chores. I don't know if he ...

4. A Point of Reference

John 10:1-10; Psalm 23

Illustration

James Merritt

... all the road signs and any sign that named any town or village. They knew the Germans had maps of England, but if they couldn't locate themselves on those maps, they would be slowed in their progress as they approached London. Without any sign or any point of reference, the troops would just wander aimlessly around. The world does that to us. It takes our roads signs away. And we live our lives lost; not knowing where we are and don't know how to get to where we need to go, so husbands and wives will wander ...

5. The Reference Letter

Illustration

Staff

Have you ever been in a position where someone asks you for a reference to get a job and you find yourself in an awkward position? You don't want to lie, but you really can't tell the truth because it will hurt. Robert Thornton, professor of economics at Lehigh University, once composed the ideal letter to fit the situation: I am pleased ...

6. Ancient Christian References To Feetwashing

1 Corinthians 11:17-34, John 13:1-17

Sermon Aid

Brett Blair

Why did the early church call the Lord's Supper the Love Feast? Outside of the obvious reasons, one influence might be John 13-17. In the first 12 chapters of John the word love (agape) is used 6 times. In the next six (13-17), where Jesus celebrates the Passover Feast with his disciples, the word appears 31 times. The following excerpts are the early Church Father's thoughts on one of the events that occurred at this Passover meal: Feetwashing. One of Jesus' most compelling expressions of love toward his ...

7. By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-40

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... we know that our author views the Son as God’s agency in creation, we do not have this Christology reflected in the reference to creation by the word. Rather than logos for “word” (as in John’s logos Christology, John 1:1–3), here the Greek word ... LXX of Gen. 12:1. The word inheritance occurs only here and in 9:15 in Hebrews. As it is used here, inheritance (klēronomia) refers to the land promised to Abraham (of which Isaac and Jacob are said to be “heirs with him” in v. 9). This is indeed the ...

8. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... I die. The verb “die” (gawaʿ) is used only in Job (10:18; 29:18) and means “gasp for breath (in death)” and may refer to the “death rattle” among the dying. The Hebrew verb translated, “I will not deny,” is the same as that used to express ... in the fear of God (28:28). 31:26–27 Job now turns to consider the secret worship of sun and moon. There are numerous references to the worship of celestial bodies in Israel, so it must represent a real temptation faced by many (Lev. 26:30; 2 Kgs. 23:5 ...

9. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... . The term jealousy, or rather “zeal,” is drawn from the character of Yahweh as the sole husband of Israel (cf. Hos. 1–3; Ezek. 16; Isa. 50:1–2; 54:1–8; 62:5), which is spoken of, correspondingly, as his bride (cf. Isa. 49:18). Mark 2:19 refers to the Messiah as a bridegroom, and Ephesians 5:22–33 applies this image to the relationship between Christ and the church. Just as Phinehas, the OT prototypical zealot (Num. 25:1–13; cf. Ps. 106:28–31; Sir. 45:23–24; 1 Macc. 2:26, 54), was eager to ...

10. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

11. God Disciplines His Sons

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

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... perfecter (teleiotēs) is found only here in the Greek Bible and does not occur in Greek literature prior to the NT. Our author, however, uses several cognate words (see notes on 2:10; 6:1; 7:11). See G. Delling, TDNT, vol. 8, pp. 86–87. Jesus is referred to in Rev. 1:5 (cf. Rev. 3:14) as “the faithful witness” (ho martys ho pistos). On “faith,” see note to 11:1. For structural analysis see D. A. Black, “A Note on the Structure of Hebrews 12, 1–2,” Biblica 68 (1987), pp. 543–51. Some have ...

12. Warning Against Refusing God

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

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

13. Restoration of Israel

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... Goah), but some are. The Tower of Hananel is mentioned in Nehemiah 3:1; 12:39; Zechariah 14:10. The Corner Gate is cited in 2 Kings 14:13; 2 Chronicles 25:23; 26:9; Zechariah 14: 10. The valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown is a descriptive reference to the Hinnom Valley to the southwest of the city (see Jer. 19). The Kidron Valley is to the east of the city between it and the Mount of Olives. The Horse Gate is found in 2 Chronicles 23:15; Nehemiah 3:28. The order of these landmarks “is a ...

14. Signs and Oracles of Judgment

Ezekiel 4:1-5:17, Ezekiel 6:1-14, Ezekiel 7:1-27

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... days. The Lord tells Ezekiel, I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their ʿawon (v. 5). The Hebrew ʿawon can refer either to a sin (e.g., Exod. 20:5), or to its penalty (e.g., Gen. 4:13), but it is difficult to tell what the ... the clay brick in the midst of his model siege. Another third he is to hack with the sword all around the city (v. 2; again, a reference to the model siege in the first sign). The last third he is to scatter to the winds (v. 2)—except that he is to take a ...

15. Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... the best rendering of the phrase; yet one should still see that freedom per se is a secondary concern for Paul. In this verse Paul uses the singular form of the pronoun you and the second person singular form of a verb (you were called), although the references to “each one” and “a man” in the other sentences are generic singular forms of pronouns. Contrast v. 23, which is in plural forms. 7:22 The NIV catches the precise sense of Paul’s language with the word freedman. A freedman was a slave who ...

16. Trials and Temptations

James 1:1-18, James 1:19-27

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... antidote, not the poison. Furthermore, the character of God is not subject to change. He is the Father of the heavenly lights. The reference is to creation, and it (and the one to the new creation in the next verse) indicates the extent of God’s ... and 1 Tim. 1:20), is clear in James 5:19–20. 1:16 The idea of deception (planaō) occurs frequently in scripture, not referring to a simple failure in judgment, but to serious deviation from the truth, which strikes at the heart of faith itself: Rom. 1:27; ...

17. The Glory of the New Covenant

2 Corinthians 3:7-17; 4:1-6

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... 138:5; Isa. 35:2; 40:5; 58:8; 60:1; Ezek. 1:28; 3:12, 23; 10:4, 18; 11:23; 43:4, 5; Hab. 2:14). In view of our interpretation of 2 Cor. 2:14, it seems significant that the Targum interprets Ps. 68:19 particularly with reference to proselytes: “You ascended to the expanse, O prophet Moses; you led captivity captive; you taught the words of the Law; you gave gifts to the sons of men. But as for the rebellious who are becoming proselytes (and) are turning in repentance, there rests upon them the Shekinah of ...

18. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

19. A Call to Persevere

Hebrews 10:19-39

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... pp. 871–86. Underlying the words to enter is the Greek word eisodos (“entrance”), which occurs only here in Hebrews and is used in referring to entering God’s presence only here in the NT. Most Holy Place is literally “holy place” as in 9:8 and 25, but here ... priority and in light of it to endure great personal hardship and loss. Possibly it is the sharing of the sufferings of others referred to in these verses that was in the author’s mind when he wrote in 6:10 that God “will not forget your ...

20. Tyre, Sidon—and Israel

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

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... 1; 30:3; 40:2; 88:4, 6; 143:7; see the Additional Note on 31:15–17). Similarly, “the people of long ago” is apparently a reference to the Rephaim, a term the Hebrew Bible uses both for the ancient inhabitants of Canaan (Gen. 14:5; 15:20; Deut. 2:10–11) and ... what could it mean to say to the high priest, “You were in Eden, the garden of God” (v. 13)? The allusions this reference to Eden calls to mind concern more than the creation story. The lament also identifies its setting as the holy mount of ...

21. Personal Accountability

Ezekiel 18:1-32, Ezekiel 19:1-14

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... (see 45:11), and occurs in connection with construction (Exod. 5:18; 2 Kgs. 12:11), or the Lord’s care in creation (Job 28:25; Ps. 75:3; Isa. 40:12–13). Apart from Ezekiel, where it appears ten times, this word occurs most commonly in Proverbs where it refers to God’s judgment, weighing the hearts and motives of individuals (Prov. 16:2; 21:2; 24:12; see also 1 Sam. 2:3). Verse 25 reflects this latter usage, though in a negative sense (see also v. 29; 33:17, 20). If what Ezekiel says is true, then the ...

22. The Law and the Promise

Galatians 3:15-25, Galatians 3:1-14

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... if in verse 22 he were claiming that the law/Scripture had the capacity to imprison sin. His point rather is that the law was used by God for a particular period of time for certain limited purposes, a point he will reiterate in the following verse. Paul is referring to Scripture as that which testifies to the ways of God. God, not the law or Scripture, is the implicit subject of verse 22. When we look at the whole sentence, it is God who made the promise to those who believe. The second clause of the verse ...

23. The Blood of Christ

Hebrews 9:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... different parts of the OT (e.g., Num. 19:18–19; Exod. 12:22; Lev. 8:15, 19; 14:4). An argument in favor of the latter suggestion is the association of Exodus 24 and Leviticus 19 in the synagogue lectionary. In Numbers 19:18, we also find reference to sprinkling the tent and its furnishings; just as in our passage, it is on the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies that the blood is sprinkled. But in Numbers 19:18, although hyssop is used, water rather than blood is sprinkled. In any event, the ...

24. Faith or Observance of the Law

Galatians 3:1-14, Galatians 3:15-25

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

25. The High Priest of a New Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-13

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... for priestly ministry (leitourgia), which is common in the LXX, occurs again in 9:21. The word is generally spiritualized in the NT to refer to Christian ministry (see 2 Cor. 9:12; Phil. 2:17, 30), but in Luke 1:23 the original sense is retained. See K. Hess ... further words took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt (lit., “the land of Egypt”) are of course a reference to the exodus and are expressed in language that had much earlier become formulaic. This explanation of Israel’s plight as the ...

Showing results