Adversity on Ministry

lectionary

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 4:14-21

Preaching Commentary A Tough Way to Start Ministry In this captivating passage Jesus’ new followers discovered early on this was not going to be a ‘pleasure cruise.’ Jesus’ inaugural ‘sermon event...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Darren Pollock

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 6:1-6, 7-16, 1 Corinthians 9:24-26

preaching commentary A Tough Way to Start Ministry You don’t have to spend much time on Twitter or Facebook to be reminded that schadenfreude (taking joy from another's misfortune) is alive a...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 4:14-21

Author

Mark Brewer

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 4:14-21

A Tough Way to Start Ministry In this captivating passage Jesus’ new followers discovered early on this was not going to be a ‘pleasure cruise.’ Jesus’ inaugural ‘sermon event’ back home in Nazareth...

lectionary

Second Sunday in Lent

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 13:31-35, Luke 11:51, Jeremiah 23:6, Deuteronomy 32:11, Ruth 2:12, Psalm 17:8, Isaiah 31:5

AIM Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? On the Road to Jerusalem Luke 13 begins with Jesus teaching on the nature of the kingdom of God and it concludes with ...

lectionary

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Isaiah 6:1-13, Isaiah 9:2-7, Isaiah 11:2-9, Isaiah 38:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-7, Isaiah 50:4-9, Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-12

AIM Commentary Ancient Lens “ What’s the historical context?” Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled A contemporary commentator ends each daily program with these words, “Let not your hearts be trou...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 17:1-7, Genesis 12:1-3

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? From Noah to Abraham Last week, we looked at the story of Noah and how God became angry with the wickedness of the people, but decided ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 13:31-35

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 13:31-35, Luke 11:51, Jeremiah 23:6, Deuteronomy 32:11, Ruth 2:12, Psalm 17:8, Isaiah 31:5

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? On the Road to Jerusalem Luke 13 begins with Jesus teaching on the nature of the kingdom of God and it concludes with our passage, in w...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Galatians 6:1-16

Author

Darren Pollock

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 6:1-16, 1 Corinthians 9:24-26

A Tough Way to Start Ministry You don’t have to spend much time on Twitter or Facebook to be reminded that schadenfreude (taking joy from another's misfortune) is alive and well. Depending on w...

lectionary

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Darren Pollock

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 3:23-39, Galatians 3:null, Romans 3:20, Revelation 5:9-10

Preaching commentary The Law The ambiguous place of the law in Christian thought can be seen historically in battles between antinomians and legalists, each side finding New Testament support, and ...

lectionary

Second Sunday of Easter, Revelation 1:4-8

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

Revelation 1:4-8, Exodus 3:14, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 22:13, Ephesians 6:12

Preaching Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? A Letter to Real People In the understanding of, and preaching on, any section of the Revelation of John , it is ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Galatians 3:23-29

Author

Darren Pollock

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 3:23-29, Galatians 3:null, Romans 3:20, Revelation 5:null

The Law The ambiguous place of the law in Christian thought can be seen historically in battles between antinomians and legalists, each side finding New Testament support, and the present text would ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Revelation 1:4-8

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

Revelation 1:4-8, Exodus 3:14, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 22:13, Ephesians 6:12

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? A Letter to Real People In the understanding of, and preaching on, any section of the Revelation of John , it is critical to know that t...

lectionary

Second Sunday of Advent

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Malachi 3:1-4, Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 13:null, Matthew 25:null, Revelation 22:null

Check out our video discussion of the text with the author, Austin D. Hill. Click here to view! AIM Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Malachi’s Context ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Malachi 3:1-4

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Malachi 3:1-4, Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 13:null, Matthew 25:null, Revelation 22:null

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Malachi’s Context The book of Malachi, the last book in the OT canon, is often dated to some time in the first half of the 400’s BC. Th...

lectionary

13th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 6:10-20, John 8:44, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 1 Peter 5:8, Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 1:19-20, Ephesians 3:16, John 4:4, Matthew 16:18, Romans 16:20

Preaching Commentary Audience Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was probably intended for wider distribution and use among the various churches around Ephesus. As such, there is no particular crisis o...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide Ephesians 6:10-20

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 6:10-20, John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 1 Peter 5:8, Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 1:19-20, John 4:4, Matthew 16:18, Romans 16:20

Audience Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was probably intended for wider distribution and use among the various churches around Ephesus. As such, there is no particular crisis or pressing issue being ...

Quote

Author

Paul David Tripp

Keywords

Scripture

Jeremiah 1:7-8, Hebrews 13:21, Deuteronomy 31:8, Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Isaiah 41:10

God never calls you to a task without giving you what you need to do it. He never sends you without going with you.

Quote

Author

Charles F. Stanley

Keywords

Scripture

James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 34:19

Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God's most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that...

Quote

Author

Catherine Booth

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 18:16-19, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Isaiah 43:2

The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over.

Quote

Author

Robert Ingersoll

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 13:1, Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Matthew 20:26-28, 2 Samuel 23:3-4, Daniel 4:30-37, Ecclesiastes 4:1, Proverbs 29:2

Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test.

lectionary

17th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a, James 3:13-18, James 4:1-3, 7-8, James 1:16-27, Galatians 5:22, Proverbs 1:7, Psalm 37:4, James 4:3, Philippians 2:1-5, Psalm 121:null, Psalm 30:null, Jeremiah 11:18-20, Psalm 54:null, James 1:16-27, Galatians 5:22, Proverbs 1:7, Psalm 37:4, James 4:3, Philippians 2:1-5, Psalm 121:null, Psalm 30:null

Preaching Commentary James' Intent James, the brother of Jesus, the leader of the earliest Christian church in Jerusalem, writes this letter to scattered Jewish believers who were going through...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Hebrews 9:24-28

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

Hebrews 9:24-28, Hebrews 1:1-4

Jesus, Not Nero, is Supreme To understand any written document one must understand the purpose for which it was written. Sometimes this is stated overtly, as in the Preamble to The Constitution; som...

lectionary

24th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

Hebrews 9:24-28, Hebrews 1:1-4

Preaching Commentary Jesus, Not Nero, is Supreme To understand any written document one must understand the purpose for which it was written. Sometimes this is stated overtly, as in the Preamble t...

lectionary

24th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 46:, Psalm 91:4, Genesis 2:20

Preaching Commentary “Historical insecurity” and “cosmic instability” are the ingredients of existential fear that inspire this Psalm of Trust, according to James Mays in his Interpretation Comment...

lectionary

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, Acts 9:1-18, Hebrews 12:2, Colossians 3:9-10

Preaching Commentary Besieged from All Angles The context of this passage is best summed up with the words recorded throughout the letter: Trouble, Distress, Suffering, Hardship, Death at work, Jar...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide James 3:13-4:3; 7-8a

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

James 3:13-4:3; 7-8a, James 3:13-18, James 4:1-3, 7-8, James 1:16-27, Galatians 5:22, Proverbs 1:7, Psalm 37:4, James 4:3, Philippians 2:1-5, Psalm 121:null, Psalm 30:null, Jeremiah 11:18-20, Psalm 54:null, James 1:16-27, Galatians 5:22, Proverbs 1:7, Psalm 37:4, James 4:3, Philippians 2:1-5, Psalm 121:null, Psalm 30:null

James' Intent James, the brother of Jesus, the leader of the earliest Christian church in Jerusalem, writes this letter to scattered Jewish believers who were going through very difficult times. ...

Quote

Author

G. Campbell Morgan

Keywords

Scripture

2 Timothy 3:12, John 15:18-19, Matthew 5:10-12, 1 Peter 4:12-14, James 1:2-4, Romans 8:31, Acts 14:22

If you have no opposition in the place you serve, you're serving in the wrong place.

illustration

Trust: That Rare & Priceless Treasure

Author

Paul de Jaegher

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 22:1-14 , Exodus 14:13-14, Proverbs 3:5-6 , Matthew 8:23-27, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 37:3-5

Trust is that rare and priceless treasure that wins us the affection of our heavenly Father. For him it has both charm and fascination. Among his countless children, whom he so greatly loves and whom ...

series

Psalm 22 | Feeling Forsaken by God

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 22:, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34, Hebrews 2:12

Ancient lens What’s the historical context? A Structured Complaint The Psalmist organizes his complaint against God in three sections. The first two sections dramatize the complaint (vv. 1-11 and...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Psalm 46

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 46:null, Psalm 91:4, Genesis 2:20

“Historical insecurity” and “cosmic instability” are the ingredients of existential fear that inspire this Psalm of Trust, according to James Mays in his Interpretation Commentary series on the Psal...

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