Sermon and Worship Resources

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Luke 15:1-7, Luke 15:8-10

Sermon

Merle G. Franke

... wanted their church to be untainted by unwelcome people. And they wanted their pastor likewise to be untainted. I was tempted to appease them by assuring them, "You people are among the 99 who are saved. You're not the lost ones who need to be found." But as I reflected on it later, I wondered which ones were the lost? I didn't want to make a judgment on it, but I wondered just who were the lost? Were the lost sheep those harmless hippies who gathered in their groups and smoked pot and sang their songs ...

2. He Doesn't Know Which One

Humor Illustration

... session in a jovial mood Tuesday and told reporters a joke about the faltering Soviet economy. Grinning, the Soviet chief told the joke about himself, French President Francois Mitterrand, and President Bush. "They say that Mitterand has 100 lovers. One has AIDS, but he doesn't know which one," Gorbachev said. "Bush has 100 bodyguards. One is a terrorist, but he doesn't know which one." "Gorbachev has 100 economic advisors. One is smart, but he doesn't know which one," the Soviet president said. (AP)

3. Which One Do You Punish?

Humor Illustration

If you have more than one child in your family, you have probably faced a very familiar dilemma. A mother was telling about her three boys. "My boys are very loyal to each other," she said. "When one of them misbehaves, the others will not tell on him." Her friend asked, "How do you know which one to punish then?" "It's not too hard," she replied. "When one of them does something wrong, we send all three to bed without supper or TV. The next morning we spank the one with the black eye."

4. Going Home – Part One: Which Me Will It Be?

Luke 4:14-21

Sermon

John B. Jamison

Things began moving so quickly. First was the baptism at the Jordan River and the day after that, the first disciples began following him. They went to Galilee, where more disciples joined and the crowds began to appear, wanting to hear him speak. The next day, he performed his first public miracle at a wedding in Cana. The next day, he was back at the Sea of Galilee, in Capernaum, resting briefly before making the trip to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and take a highly visible stand against the ...

5. Walking in the Light

1 John 1:5--2:14, 1 John 2:15-17

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

... ’s own eyes (TEV, “what people see and want”), and the personal boasting in material possessions (tou biou; cf. 3:17, where the phrase ton bion tou kosmou, lit., “the life of the world,” means the material possessions of this world, the physical resources which one could use to help people in need). 2:17 A further reason for not loving the world (v. 16 was the first reason) is that it is temporary, passing away, and impermanent, while the true Christian lives forever (cf. 2 Cor. 4:18). The focal ...

6. Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin

1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 1:5--2:14

Understanding Series

Thomas F. Johnson

7. The Weak and the Strong

Romans 14:1--15:13

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... not observe them for the sake of conscience alone, attests that conscience is the final arbiter in such matters. But in relinquishing a given action to God in thanksgiving, the believer is granted peace and freedom, for one cannot dedicate a course of action thankfully to God about which one is in doubt. The rule in life’s exciting (if sometimes perplexing) drama, therefore, is to be united in things essential for faith, tolerant in things non-essential, and wise in knowing the difference between them ...

8. The Law and the Promise

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

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... its function in Deuteronomy. Whereas the Deuteronomy passage functions to encourage obedience to the law, Paul uses it to warn against law observance. The result of becoming a full proselyte through circumcision means accepting the proposition that not observing the law (to which one is now committed) is to be under a curse. This verse contains the first of four scriptural quotations arranged in a chiastic structure. The first and fourth (3:13) have parallel language, as do the second (3:11) and third (3:12 ...

9. Faith or Observance of the Law

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

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

10. Encouragement to Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... for the citation: promise and warning attached to a call for endurance in the face of suffering and hardship. Line 4: If we are faithless, he will remain faithful (cf. Rom. 3:3). This line is full of surprises, and it is also the one for which sharp differences of opinion exist regarding its interpretation. Some see it as a negative, corresponding to line 3. If we are faithless (i.e., if we commit apostasy), God must be faithful to himself and mete out judgment. Although such an understanding is possible ...

11. Elihu

Job 32:1--37:24

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... “downpour of rain” is a better translation of geshem matar / geshem mitrot in this verse. 37:7 Men. The final mem on the word “men” was omitted so that ʾanshe, “men of [his work],” should be ʾanashim, “men.” The error is one of haplography, in which one of two adjacent and identical letters is omitted. In this case, the original consonantal text ʾnshym m ʿshw became ʾnshy mʿshw through the accidental omission of the first of two consecutive mems in the middle of the phrase. 37:10 The ...

12. Apostles of Christ

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... the apostles have been left out of God’s eschatological kingdom. Thus, Paul adds a sad and sarcastic comment, How I wish that you really had [entered your reign] so that we might [reign] with you. For Paul, God was already establishing the kingdom over which one day God would reign with the saints. But God had not yet granted the privilege of reigning to Christians, who were still living with the all-too-real lingering power of evil around them. Paul’s sarcasm seeks to remind the Corinthians that they ...

13. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... is the misfortunes of life: persecutions, like those the prophets suffered (5:10; cf. 5:1–6); external misfortunes, like Job suffered (5:11); or being slandered by a community member (3:1–12; cf. 2:6–7). All of these are external misfortunes, which one could easily see as outside of God’s will, for they stem from the evil in the world and are attacks upon the righteous. The response to such evil is not counterattack (fighting violence with violence) or resignation (as the Stoics advised) but prayer ...

14. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:1-6, James 4:13-17, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

15. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:7-12, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

16. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:13-20, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

17. Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... apocalyptic eschatology, as is clear from what follows in 7:31b, “For this world in its present form is passing away.” Paul maintains that God saves the believers regardless of their worldly social status; remaining in the social state in which one was called demonstrates that what humans do does not effect salvation; worldly social change is not equivalent to salvation. Ultimately, the calling of Christians by God creates real freedom. All who are called are freed, in spite of social circumstances, to ...

18. Paul's Longing to Visit Rome

Romans 1:1-17

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... in faith. God’s righteousness both awakens faith and produces faith. Paul’s use of the present participle, everyone who believes (rather than an aorist participle which denotes completed action), denotes faith as an ongoing activity. Faith is less a quantum of something possessed than an orientation in which one participates actively and freely. The Greek word dikaiosynē can be rendered by either “righteousness” or “justification.” The former word usually refers to the character and activity ...

19. Prologue to the Law of the Temple: The Lord Comes Home

Ezekiel 40:1--43:12

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... either side. The text says nothing of the purpose of these alcoves (the words for the guards in the NIV of v. 7 are not in the Heb. text). However, as each is fronted by a wall one cubit high (v. 12), it seems likely that their purpose was the defense of the gate. The gate then opens into a large vestibule, through which one at last enters the courtyard. 40:17–37 Two other gates, to the north (vv. 20–23) and to the south (v. 24–27), pierce the wall around the temple complex of Ezekiel’s vision. Each ...

20. Righteousness Through Faith

Romans 3:21-31

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... , but, as Paul will explain in verses 24–25, Jesus Christ has satisfied the requirements of justice by his “sacrifice of atonement.” God’s righteousness cannot be earned (v. 28), nor is there anything one can give in return for it. It can be received only through faith in Jesus Christ as a gift of which one is absolutely unworthy. Faith is an attitude and action of pure receptivity. Paul does not say “the faith,” in reference to faith as a creed or formula. Faith as an affirmation of certain ...

21. Your Image of Tomorrow

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Mann

... what? - on the third day he will arise! You can count on it: there will be a third-day morning, a vindication of right and truth and beauty, a confirmation of love and an affirmation of power. And all of this is tomorrow, some tomorrow. I’m not sure that which one is of any great importance. Any one is good enough. If you want a proper image of the future, then get all of it into your picture. In Luke 12:16-21 Jesus gives us the parable of a rich landowner whose lands ...

22. Elihu Makes His Appearance

Job 32:1--37:24

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... destructive forces, but sometimes they can have marked beneficial effects. For example, the rare storms that come to desert regions can cause flowers to germinate after many years of apparent barrenness. Pictures or videos of a desert in bloom can illustrate 37:13, in which one of God’s purposes for the storm is watering the earth. Nature: Elihu uses the light of the sun to portray how humans cannot observe the full majesty of God. It is dangerous to view the sun directly, but watching a video of a ...

23. Job’s Reply to Zophar

Job 12:1--14:22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... a reference to the hard labor of a hired hand or a servant. Job uses the same word in 7:1, where he also describes humans as “like a hired man” (Heb. sakir, see also 14:6). On the other hand, Job may be suggesting another impossible scenario in which one who is suffering as he is might wait expectantly for restoration or renewal. If the dead man might live again, then it might be possible to wait out the long days of service in Sheol in expectation of being restored both to life and to God’s favor ...

24. Time and Stewardship

Sermon

Larry Powell

... :32), and kindling fire for the purpose of boiling or baking (Numbers 35:3). There were even rules prescribing the kinds of knots which one might tie on the Sabbath: It was unlawful for a camel driver or sailor either to tie or untie a knot. However, a knot which could be untied with one hand was allowed. A pitcher at a spring could be tied to a body-sash, but not with a cord. The amount of food one carried must be less in bulk than a dried fig - only enough honey to anoint a wound; enough water as could be ...

25. Redrawing The Landscape

Multiple Scriptures

Sermon

Harold Warlick

... . Her character is predictable. She sees other people as separate persons and doesn't try to merge with them or take them over. Over the long haul of their lives, guess who will have a more successful career? Betty. Which one is most likely to have a happier marriage and a happier family? Betty. Which one is most likely to live longer? Betty. Our success in the future will depend more on how we handle our relationships than it will on how we handle our property and our money. In this respect I think we ...

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