Numbers on The Center

Quote

Author

Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Keywords

Scripture

Hebrews 12:10, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Psalm 34:5, Psalm 121:1-2, Numbers 21:8-9, John 3:14-15, Micah 7:7

For every one look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.

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The Cross our Spiritual Centerpiece

Author

Judith Couchman

Keywords

Scripture

John 3:14-15, Numbers 21:4-9, Genesis 22:, Philippians 2:8, Galatians 6:14, Colossians 1:19-20, 1 Corinthians 1:18

God could have chosen any method to save us, but he used the cross. The cross is our spiritual centerpiece, the sign of our soul’s emancipation. However, the pre-Christian cross might offer a sliver ...

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...

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...

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...

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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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...

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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...

Quote

Author

John Stott

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 16:1-36, Mark 10:46-52, Matthew 15:21-28, Numbers 21:4-9, Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:24-25, Ephesians 2:8-9

Faith’s only function is to receive what grace offers.

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...

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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...

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...

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...

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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

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...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, John 6:35, 41-51

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

John 6:35, 41-51, Isaiah 54:13-14, Exodus 16:1-36, Numbers 11:1-9, 2 Samuel 18:5-33, Psalm 130:, 1 Kings 19:4-8, Psalm 34:1-8, Ephesians 4:25-32, Ephesians 5:1-2

Ancient Lens What's the historical context? Back to the Wilderness As he has been doing, Jesus calls the people’s minds back to the wilderness during The Exodus and reminds them of the manna ...

lectionary

12th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

John 6:35, 41-51, Isaiah 54:13-14, Exodus 16:1-36, Numbers 11:1-9, 2 Samuel 18:5-33, Psalm 130:, 1 Kings 19:4-8, Psalm 34:1-8, Ephesians 4:25-32, Ephesians 5:1-2

Ancient Lens What's the historical context? Back to the Wilderness As he has been doing, Jesus calls the people’s minds back to the wilderness during The Exodus and reminds them of the manna ...

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Brené Brown Struggling to Belong

Author

Brené Brown

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 12:null, Joshua 2:null, Matthew 9:9, Mark 5:1-10, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 19:1-10, John 4:1-42, Galatians 3:28

Belonging can be such a fickle and painful process in life. As the popular researcher and writer Brené Brown describes in her book, Braving the Wilderness, she struggled to fit in after moving to New ...

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.

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...

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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 ...

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...

Quote

Author

Julian of Norwich

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 42:14, Isaiah 66:13, Hosea 11:4, Isaiah 49:15, Deuteronomy 32:18, Numbers 11:12, Luke 13:34, Psalm 36:7, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 63:7, Psalm 91:4, Matthew 23:37, Ruth 2:12

I saw the blessed Trinity working. I saw that there were three attributes: fatherhood, motherhood, and lordship—all in one God. In the almighty Father we have been sustained and blessed with regard to...

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...

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What Does it Mean to be Blessed?

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 32:24-30, Numbers 6:24-26, 1 Kings 17:8-16 , Matthew 5:3-12 , Luke 1:46-55, Psalm 34:18

The word blessed has been among the vocabulary I’ve removed from my daily life. In the faith of my young adulthood, it was a word that filled my conversations: a term to close out emails or to d...

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The Terrible Darkness of Mother Teresa

Author

Mother Teresa

Keywords

Scripture

1 Kings 19:1-18, Job 3:1-26, 30:20-23, 42:1-6, Numbers 11:10-17, Matthew 26:36-46, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Psalm 13:1-6

Many of us assume that our spiritual heroes do not have to experience the same inner-wrestling that we do. Mother Teresa, beloved across the world is one such figure we might “assume” didn’t have to d...

liturgy

May God go before you to show you the way

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 27:18-23, Joshua 1:1-9

Pastor: May God go before you to show you the way, Beside you to accompany you Behind you to encourage you Below you to support you Above you to protect you And may He go within you to ...

liturgy

Healing is the province of God. We may beg it, but not command it

Author

Calvin Miller

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 8:2-3, James 5:14-15, Hosea 6:1, Revelation 22:2, Numbers 12:, 2 Kings 5:

Healing is the province of God. We may beg it, but not command it. We may seek it, but not apprehend it. It is God's high prize to give or withhold. It is a treasure of grace. Kept, it blesse...

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The Themes of Epiphany

Author

Fleming Rutledge

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-6 , Numbers 24:17 , 2 Kings 5:1-19 , Matthew 2:1-12 , John 1:29-34, Psalm 72:10-11

Serious attention paid to the themes of the season following the Feast of the Epiphany, in particular, can be a strong antidote to a weak Christology. To be sure, all of the church calendar is formed ...

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