Sermon and Worship Resources

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John 18:33-37

Sermon

Thomas C. Willadsen

Today is the last day of the church year. The church year starts four Sundays before Christmas, so next week when I wish you all a happy new year, I hope to get a better response than blank stares. The last Sunday of the church is called both “Christ the King” Sunday, and “Reign of Christ” Sunday. This festival goes all the way back to 1925, when Pope Pius XI added it to the calendar. It was set as the last Sunday of the church year in 1970. When I learned this I was a little surprised. I love looking into ...

2. Imitating Christ's Humility

Philippians 2:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... self-denying mind as Christ manifested is made by C. F. D. Moule “Further Reflexions on Philippians 2:5–11,” in W. W. Gasque and R. P. Martin, eds., Apostolic History and the Gospel, pp. 264–76. He suggests the amplification touto to phronēma ... of what took place at the Last Supper: it was in full awareness of his divine origin and destiny, in full awareness of the authority conferred on him by the Father, that Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and dried them with the towel he had tied round his ...

3. The Son Superior to Angels

Hebrews 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... in the face of real difficulty for these Jewish Christians. Additional Notes The major concern with angels in the opening chapters of Hebrews has helped some scholars to reach conclusions about the addressees of the epistle. T. W. Manson saw a correlation between the argument of the author of Hebrews and that pursued by Paul against the Jewish-gnostic, Colossian heresy in which, among other things, the worship of angels is mentioned as a specific problem (Col. 2:18, cf. 2:15). He concluded that ...

4. Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... theme already developed in the Christ hymn (1:15–20) and reemphasizes that the Colossians do not need any additional source of revelation or authority for their spiritual life. Christ is not simply another of the spiritual forces that make up the fullness (plērōma) of the ... process of ascending to heaven (Schweizer, pp. 144–45). 2:14 A good description of some of these views is provided by W. Carr in his article, “Two Notes on Colossians (1. Col. 2:14; 2. Col. 2:18),” JTS 24 (1973), pp. 492–500 ...

5. God’s Love and Ours

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

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... 15 it is their own response to God’s act in Christ that brings them into fellowship with God. That the latter is the author’s concern is shown by the repeated use of the language of mutual indwelling (v. 12: “God lives in us”; v. 13: “we ... , “Judgment, Last,” ISBE, vol. 2, pp. 1162–63; L. Morris, The Biblical Doctrine of Judgment (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960), and W. Schneider, “Judgment,” NIDNTT, vol. 2, pp. 361–68. In the Gospel of John, ekeinos is used broadly of many people: John ...

6. Faith in the Son of God

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

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

7. The Healing at the Pool

John 5:1-15, John 5:16-30

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... and seems to be reserved for “solemn … or legal … utterance” (W. Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 2d ed., rev. W. F. Arndt, F. W. Gingrich, and F. W. Danker [Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979], p. 93). A good ... of man” or “what looked like a human being” (GNB). 5:28 Do not amazed at this, i.e., do not be surprised at the present authority of the Son to give life and to judge, for he will carry out even greater resurrection and judgment at the last day (cf. v. ...

8. Life Through the Son

John 5:16-30, John 5:1-15

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

9. God Disciplines His Sons

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

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... title to the people of the earlier covenant (cf. James 1:18, which refers to Christians as “a kind of first fruits”). On firstborn (prōtotokos), which refers to Christians only here in the NT, see W. Michaelis, TDNT, vol. 6, p. 881; Hughes, Hebrews, pp. 552–55; and note to 1:6 above. Moreover the author’s deliberate use of the word ekklēsia (church) may be intended to point to the church (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB, and JB). The word ekklēsia in itself, of course, does not necessarily signify the church ...

10. Warning Against Refusing God

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

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

11. Jesus Made Like His Brothers

Hebrews 2:5-18

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... treatise on the work of Christ, our high priest, in accomplishing atonement for sin. This was already announced in 1:3 and is the reason for the incarnation and death of Jesus, as we have seen from the present chapter. The author uses almost exclusively the word hamartia for “sin.” See W. Günther, NIDNTT, vol. 3, pp. 577–83. The words make atonement for the sins describe not so much the effect of the high priest’s work, as the work itself. The key Greek word (hilaskesthai) has been much debated by ...

12. Melchizedek the Priest

Hebrews 7:1-10, Hebrews 7:11-28

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... on 2:10. The verb underlying was given (nomotheteō) occurs only here and in 8:6 (with a different subject) in the NT. See W. Gutbrod, TDNT, vol. 4, p. 1090. Ps. 110:4, just quoted in 5:6 and about to be quoted again in vv. 17 and ... the priest appointed forever. The anti-type is truly without beginning and without end, just as the type is apparently without beginning or end. The authority of Christ’s priesthood depends on his identity as the Son of God. On the quotation of Psalm 110:4, cf. the earlier use ...

13. The Legitimacy and Superiority of Christ’s Priesthood

Hebrews 7:11-28, Hebrews 7:1-10

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

14. One in Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... 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 condition of the Gentiles before they became Christians. Though he already has done this to some extent, the emphasis in 2:1–3 was upon their alienation from God as individuals. In that condition, they had many things in common with the Jews, and so the author speaks about all of humanity. He goes on in 2:4–10 ...

15. Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel

Philippians 1:12-30

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... it must be exhilaratingly wonderful to be alive; “yet even for such a life, precisely for such a life, to die is gain” (F. W. Beare, ad loc.). If death meant (even temporarily) less of Christ than was enjoyed in mortal life—above all, if it meant (even temporary ... , as it is a token of perdition for their opponents: they will be destroyed, but … you will be saved. God is the author of the gospel: those who defend it may therefore expect deliverance and victory from him as surely as those who resist it ...

16. No Confidence in the Flesh

Philippians 3:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... was written about the same time as 2 Corinthians 10–13. Even if such people had not yet infiltrated the church of Philippi, they might well try to do so. It is not so certain as W. Schmithals thinks (Paul and the Gnostics, p. 73) that Paul’s language reflects an attempt already made to undermine his authority in the eyes of the Philippians. 3:5 Paul now lists seven things which at one time would have given him confidence before God. Circumcised on the eighth day, as every male Israelite child had to ...

17. The Ten Commandments

Deuteronomy 5:1-33

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... Human beings are made in God’s image, an image that no human has the right to destroy without the maker’s authority. But God does have that authority. Human life is a gift from God and belongs to God, and no human has the right to destroy the gift ... of their conversation would be all the commands. In Hebrew, the word is actually singular here (“the whole command,” kol-hammiṣwâ, as also in 6:1; 11:22; and 19:9, where the NIV inexplicably prefers plurals), and probably refers to the whole substance ...

18. Pressing on Toward the Goal

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... this rule” (Gk. hosoi tō kanoni toutō stoichēsousin), the influence of which is probably to be discerned in those authorities that add “rule” (kanoni) here. The verb stoichein (rendered live up to here in NIV) means “stand in line” ... implied that a different example is set by others—namely, those against whom a warning is issued in vv. 18, 19. See W. P. DeBoer, The Imitation of Paul. Warning Against Enemies Paul warns the Philippians against those whose example is morally harmful, not helpful. ...

19. The Unbelief of the Jews

John 10:22-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... rather that titles as such are irrelevant in his revelation of himself to the world. Right from the start of the discussion, the Jewish authorities have been trying to talk with Jesus about titles (vv. 23–24, 33), while Jesus responds by referring instead to his deeds, which, he ... someone in suspense). Walter Bauer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (2nd ed., rev. W. F. Arndt, F. W. Gingrich, and F. W. Danker [Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979], p. 24) can cite only one instance of ...

20. Accusations

2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... visit and the news from Titus, Paul did not want to return to Corinth for fear that he would have to use his awesome apostolic authority, which the Lord gave him really for building the Corinthians up and not for destroying them (2 Cor. 10:8; 12:19–21). Already in ... messianic title, see, for example, 4Q174 1.10; 4Q246 1.9; Luke 1:32; 1 Cor. 15:25–28; Rom. 1:3–4. See further L. W. Hurtado, “Son of God,” DPL, pp. 900–906. On Timothy, who is named as the co-sender of 2 Corinthians, see on 1:1. There ...

21. Encouragement to Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... to miss the point of vv. 11–12 rather widely to argue (as Hanson, p. 124): “The three titles given to Paul here are intended to enhance his sole authority in the churches which he founded.” For arguments on both sides of the question of who has been entrusted with the deposit in v. 12, see Kelly or Bernard for “entrusted to God,” and W. Barclay “Paul’s Certainties VII. Our Security in God—2 Timothy i. 12” for “entrusted to Paul.” 1:13–14 See Bernard (p. 112) for a full presentation ...

22. Doing What is Good

Titus 3:1-11

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... 7, the majority). Surely here the majority view is correct, since verses 4–7 are the complete sentence. Some are simply overconvinced that the author has used a prior source and that logos must mean a prior, established saying (see disc. on 1 Tim. 3:1). Both the position ... the government authorities (as in O. Cullmann, The State in the New Testament [London: SCM, 1957], et al.) and whether the “powers” are demonic or angelic. For the latest full discussion, with bibliography, see W. Carr, Angels ...

23. Keeper of the Keys

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder, so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” Isaiah 22:22 Remember those old, beautiful “master keys” that used to unlock every door in the house? The old doors had a large, fish shaped opening filled with secret crevices, and the master key was a large, ornate device with unique edges that would somehow activate each one. I’m including an image of one here: Because it could open any door, the master key was ...

24. Shining as Stars

Philippians 2:12-18

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... . He does not in this letter assert his apostolic authority, as he does in some others (cf. 1 Cor. 9:1, 2; 2 Cor. 3:1–3); it was not challenged at Philippi. Yet the note of apostolic authority is evident throughout the letter. His plea to them, ... that should motivate Christian slaves to obey their pagan masters. There is no support in the text or context for the view of W. Schmithals (Paul and the Gnostics, p. 98) that Paul is here warning his readers against the false security of those who believe that ...

25. Exhortations

Philippians 4:2-9

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... 16:14). 4:3 The loyal yokefellow is identified with Luke by M. Hájek (Communio Viatorum 7 [1964], p. 261–62) and T. W. Manson. The adjective loyal (Gk. gnēsios) has suggested Timothy to some, such as J.-F. Collange and G. Friedrich (cf. the adverb gn ... them. He is the God of peace; it is not only that he gives us peace; peace belongs to his very character. He is “the author of peace and lover of concord”: dissension and strife are “acts of the sinful nature” (Gal. 5:20). To have the God of peace ...

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