Numbers on Church Conflict

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Author

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 12:1-2, 1 Kings 12:16-20, Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 , James 4:1-3, Psalm 133:1

We may have more disagreements with nonbelievers, but our disagreements with fellow believers are more problematic and more emotionally charged.

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Two Stout Monks

Author

Brennan Manning

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 16:2-8 , Numbers 14:26-30 , Proverbs 17:22, Philippians 2:14-16 , Psalm 106:24-27, James 5:9

In his Rule for monasteries, St. Benedict considered grumbling a serious offense against community life. He wrote, “If a disciple grumbles, not only aloud but in his heart … his action will not ...

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Dwelling with Those We Love

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 37:45, Numbers 12:, Ruth 1:4, Romans 12:9–21, Matthew 18:21–35, Psalm 133:

An Irish church once had a humorous yet insightful motto that gets at the heart of the pain that often accompanies our relationships: “To dwell above with those we love will certainly be glory. But to...

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Institutional Inertia

Author

Tod E. Bolsinger

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 16:3, Numbers 14:4, Luke 5:37-38, Isaiah 43:19, Joshua 1:9

Churches, seminaries, and nonprofit organizations are notorious for saying they need change and then resisting the very leader they called to bring it. One of my consulting clients told me that he cal...

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Waking People up to Christ

Author

Bruce Larson

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 55:8-9, Jonah 4:1-11, Numbers 22:21-34, Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:23-28, Psalm 19:12-14

It takes a great deal of freedom and love to be therapeutic with a group. Many years ago when Emil Brunner, the great Swiss theologian, was lecturing in this country, it was reported that when he prea...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Author

Casey Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 21:4-9, Numbers 20:5, 2 Kings 18:4, John 3:9-15, John 1:29, 2 Timothy 2:8

Lent 2024: Do This in Remembrance Look to the Cross AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? What Have You Done for Me Lately? If only the people of God in the pages...

lectionary

Transfiguration Sunday (Guide B)

Author

William Rowley

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a), Luke 9:28-43, Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:19, Luke 9:22-27, Exodus 14:19-20, Numbers 9:15-16, Ezekiel 10:, Psalm 18:, Isaiah 4:, Daniel 7:9-14, Exodus 34:29-35, Deuteronomy 18:15-19, 2 Peter 1:16-18, John 1:4-9, John 1:14, Revelation 1:12-16, Exodus 13:21, Exodus 24:15-18, Exodus 40:34-35, 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, Luke 9:37

Preaching Commentary The Context Introduction The Transfiguration stands out like, well, a bright light on a dark mountainside in the Gospel of Luke. The customary earthiness of the rest of the go...

lectionary

Third Sunday of Easter

Author

C. Hassell Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 4:, Matthew 5:43-45, 2 Samuel 19:15-30, Numbers 6:4-9, Isaiah 65:24, Psalm 76:10

Preaching Commentary A Psalm of Trust Psalm 4, the lectionary psalm for this third Sunday of Easter, follows a psalm of lament (Psalm 3) in which David bemoans his political enemies, who included h...

lectionary

Second Sunday in Lent

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

John 3:1-17, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Joel 2:28, Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:null

Preaching Commentary Introduction This is a well-known passage full of well-known phrases, and yet reading and meditating on the text continues to offer fresh understandings and applications. John ...

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Avoiding the Holy Spirit

Author

Robert Morris

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 11:24-29, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Joel 2:28-29, John 14:16-17, Acts 2:1-4, Psalm 51:10-12

I grew up in church. However, this church was part of a denomination that avoided mentioning the Holy Spirit whenever possible. Our denominational leaders treated Him a bit like the crazy uncle who sh...

lectionary

20th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Charles Teixeira

Keywords

Scripture

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Acts 9:15-16, Acts 24:null, Romans 12:1, Philippians 2:17, Exodus 29:40-41, Leviticus 23:13, Numbers 15:1-12, Numbers 28:7, Numbers 28:24

Preaching Commentary Introduction Believed to be some of Paul’s last words of his long ministry, 2 Tim. 4:6ff are Paul’s closing remarks to his beloved disciple, Timothy. Imprisoned in Rome by this...

liturgy

For the gift of divine peace

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 6:24-26, Jeremiah 29:7, Isaiah 40:28-31, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Matthew 25:35-36, Psalm 34:17-18

Leader: For the gift of divine peace and of pardon, with all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord have mercy Leader: For the holy Christian Church, here a...

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Reading Scripture as a Black Man

Author

Bryan C. Loritts

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 2:13, Acts 8:26, Exodus 2:21, Numbers 12:1, 1 Corinthians 7:21, Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22, Acts 10:null

As a black man, I pause when I see that Jesus was taken to Africa as a baby for refuge (Matthew 2:13–18). My blackness will not allow me to gloss over the Ethiopian man whom Philip cozies up to in Act...

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Why the Church Must Tell of Miraculous Healings

Author

Dave Macphee

Keywords

Scripture

2 Kings 5:, Numbers 21:, Mark 5:19, James 5:14-15, Luke 8:39, Acts 14:3

While I was sitting in Starbucks reviewing my notes for this divine healing writing assignment, I had a valued member of our church sit down with me for an impromptu visit. When he heard the topic of ...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Author

Geoff Helton

Keywords

Scripture

John 10:11-18, John 9:null, Genesis 4:2-4, Numbers 14:33, 1 Samuel 16:11, 2 Samuel 5:2, Isaiah 56:11, Zechariah 10:2, Jeremiah 23:1-2, Jeremiah 50:6, Zechariah 10:2-3, John 10:11-18, Ezekiel 34:11-16, Psalm 23:, Luke 15:1-7, Matthew 18:12-14, John 13:1, John 15:13, John 9:34-35

Preaching Commentary Context Signs and Dialogue There’s a reoccurring pattern in Johns’s Gospel in which Jesus performs a sign, which is followed by dialogue and then commentary from Jesus that pr...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Author

C. Hassell Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 23:, 1 Samuel 16:11, 1 Samuel 17:20, 1 Samuel 16:13, Exodus 34:6-7, Exodus 15:null, Exodus 34:6-7, Deuteronomy 2:7, Numbers 10:33

Preaching Commentary The Danger of Familiarity Occasionally familiarity, paradoxically, turns into an enemy of understanding, or at least becomes an obstruction. Psalm 23, perhaps the most loved ps...

liturgy

The Lord Is Our Fortress

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 46:1, Numbers 6:24–26, Exodus 14:13-14, Joshua 1:9, Philippians 4:6-7

Pastor: The Lord of hosts is with us; People: the God of Jacob is our fortress . Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.Th...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, John 3:1-17

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

John 3:1-17, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Joel 2:28, Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:null

Introduction This is a well-known passage full of well-known phrases, and yet reading and meditating on the text continues to offer fresh understandings and applications. John 3:1-17 is the account o...

liturgy

We praise and thank you, O Lord, that

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 119:103, Luke 22:19, Psalm 34:18, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Matthew 28:19-20, John 14:16-17, Matthew 6:9-13, Numbers 6:24-26, Matthew 25:36, Psalm 33:12, Romans 8:26, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Acts 2:42

We praise and thank you, O Lord, that you have fed us with your Word [and at your table]. Grateful for your gifts and mindful of the communion of your saints, we offer to you our prayers for all pe...

Quote

Author

Tod E. Bolsinger

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 20:1–13, Nehemiah 6:3, Jeremiah 20:7–18, Mark 8:31–33, 2 Timothy 4:1–8, Psalm 78:70–72

Resilience for faith leaders is the ability to wisely persevere toward the mission God has put before them amid both the external challenges and the internal resistance of the leader’s followers.

liturgy

Adapted from Numbers 23:19-22

Author

Dustin Ray

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 23:19-22

Leader: God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. All: Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Leader: The LORD...

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Why Strike the Rock?

Author

Steven C. Roy

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 20:, Exodus 17:1-7

Why did Moses strike the rock? He was a man of faith, whose life had been characterized by trust in God (see, for example, the description of Moses in (Heb 11:24-29). So why did he fall into unbelief ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Numbers 21:4-9

Author

Casey Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 21:4-9, Numbers 20:5, 2 Kings 18:4, John 3:9-15, John 9:15, 2 Timothy 2:8

Ancient lens What's the historical context? What Have You Done for Me Lately? If only the people of God in the pages of the Old Testament were unique. We could then comfortably read their for...

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Let Questions and Doubts be Adequately Expressed

Author

Travis Dickinson

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 18:10-15, Numbers 13:14, Job 1:42, Matthew 14:22-33, Psalm 73:

It is quite common for Christians to experience doubts from time to time. Unfortunately, doubts about our Christian beliefs are often treated in the same way we would treat a common cold. We wait it o...

liturgy

Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 6:24-26, Joshua 24:14-15 , Isaiah 52:7 , Matthew 28:19-20 , Philippians 4:7 , Psalm 121:7-8

Pastor: Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. People: Amen. Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

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A Pastor’s Greatest Accomplishment

Author

Mark Batterson

Keywords

Calling

Scripture

Numbers 6:24-26, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Ephesians 3:20-21, Galatians 2:20

Dr. Halverson pastored Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland, for twenty-three years. He did what pastors do-everything from preaching and counseling to marrying and burying. But he believe...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide Psalm 4

Author

C. Hassell Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 4:null, Matthew 5:43-45, 2 Samuel 19:15-30, Numbers 6:4-9, Isaiah 65:24, Psalm 76:10

A Psalm of Trust Psalm 4, the lectionary psalm for this third Sunday of Easter, follows a psalm of lament (Psalm 3) in which David bemoans his political enemies, who included his own rebellious son A...

liturgy

Benediction for the Sent and the Steadfast

Author

Drew Edward Jackson

Keywords

Scripture

John 20:21, Numbers 6:24-26, Philippians 4:9, Micah 6:8

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you. May the Spirit ground you in the truth that you were created with divine purpose. May you take up your God-given vocati...

liturgy

PALM SUNDAY CALL TO WORSHIP

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 31:59, Zechariah 9:9 , Psalm 118:26a, Psalm 118:26a, 25a, Psalm 118:25a, Numbers 6:24-26

Pastor: Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion! People: Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Pastor: See, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and having salvation, People:...

liturgy

In peace, let us pray to the Lord

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 6:24-26, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Isaiah 58:6-7, Matthew 25:40, James 1:27, Psalm 82:3-4

Pastor: In peace, let us pray to the Lord: People: Lord have mercy. Pastor: For the work of [insert mission partner]. For families and children, that they would be healthy in body, m...

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