Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: thirstiness, dryness, parched, craving, strong desire, longing, yearning, avidity, hunger, voracity, keenness, eagerness, lust, appetite, passion, love, crave, want, covet, desire, hunger for/after, lust for/after, hanker for/after, have one's heart set on

Antonyms: aversion, distaste, apathy, dislike, hatred, antipathy, disgust, disregard, abhorrence, acrimony, wet, animosity, animus, antagonism, bad feeling, bitterness, be averse to, detestation

Showing 2501 to 2525 of 3108 results

2501. Bringing the Gospel to Marriage

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Sermon

Gregory J. Johanson

MARCUS D. BRYANT is an ordained minister who served in a number of Christian Church congregations and on the faculty of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, before accepting his present position at Texas Christian University. There he is Professor of Pastoral Psychology and Pastoral Care at Brite Divinity School and a supervisor and consultant both at the Pastoral Care Center at Brite and the Azie Pastoral Counseling Center. His sermon published here was delivered at a seminary chapel service. In Bringing ...

2502. Lord, I Want To See

Mark 10:46-52

Sermon

Brett Blair

Helen Keller, so brave and inspiring to us in her deafness and blindness, once wrote a magazine article entitled: "Three days to see." In that article she outlined what things she would like to see if she were granted just three days of sight. It was a powerful, thought provoking article. On the first day she said she wanted to see friends. Day two she would spend seeing nature. The third day she would spend in her home city of New York watching the busy city and the work day of the present. She concluded ...

2503. Having to Stay When You Want Out

Titus 2:1-15

Sermon

Harold Warlick

One of the difficult aspects for many people during the Christmas season is travel. Christmas is certainly no longer “over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go.” Over fifty percent of all Americans now live over 500 miles from the place of their childhood roots. Going “home” for Christmas now means arriving at the airport an hour early, lugging presents to the UPS pick-up, renting a car, hoping you can get through the two-and-a-half hour layover in some big city airport, avoiding ...

2504. True or False?

Isaiah 1:1-31

Sermon

John W. Wurster

“Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah” (1:10; cf. Genesis 19). Sodom. Gomorrah. Remember? Places of wickedness, of violence, of perversity. Do you know any place like that? Places where sexuality is twisted and relationships are corrupted and social order is breaking down? Places where people seek to gratify personal desires at the expense of others, where individual pursuits take precedence over common well-being, where anything goes as ...

2505. Changing Seasons, Constant Love

Jeremiah 8:4--9:26

Sermon

John W. Wurster

Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven’t yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren’t quite right, ...

2506. Secondhand Religion

1 Kings 17:7-24

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

The life of Elijah is filled with fascinating experiences that help us to see God more clearly and live on a higher plane. Today’s Scripture reading is a good example of that. In a nation whose laws required its citizens to provide for the prophets, God used saucy, impudent birds noted for their thievery and dirty lifestyle to feed Elijah. “The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening” (1 Kings 17:6). Ravens live off dead carcasses and steal food stored up by ...

2507. Plumb Line Prophecy

Amos 7:1-9, Amos 7:10-17

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It’s the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline ...

2508. A Song of Promise

Zephaniah 3:1-20

Sermon

Harry N. Huxhold

In 1967 Shastokovitch, the Russian composer, wrote a symphony titled October. The work was to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. In East Germany that year the Protestant Church observed the 450th anniversary of the Reformation. However, the dominant theme in East Germany that year was “Roter Oktober,” “Red October,” because of the dominance of the Russian government. The people were to celebrate their release from the yoke of Russian tsars and the freedom they had ...

2509. Kingdoms in Conflict

John 18:28-40

Sermon

Brett Blair

Perhaps you have heard this story. It's a great story: Many years ago, when Hitler's forces occupied Denmark, the order came that all Jews in Denmark were to identify themselves by wearing armbands with yellow stars of David. The Danes had seen the extermination of Jews in other countries and guessed that this was the first step in that process in their countries. The King did not defy the orders. He had every Jew wear the star and he himself wore the Star of David. He told his people that he expected ...

2510. Father Knows Best?

Luke 6:17-26

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes: This drama works for the topics of: the Beatitudes, understanding the Bible, or wisdom Cast: Dave: A man with questionable knowledge. Adam: Dave's Son Props: A Bible A chair A cup of coffee A kitchen table of some sort Setting: Family kitchen (LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE on Dad. He is sitting on a chair, drinking coffee and reading the Bible. Adam comes walking up…) Adam: Mornin’ Dad. Dad: (never looking up) Morning Adam. Adam: Whatcha doin’? Dad: Reading the Bible. Adam: Really? Don’t you ...

2511. We Are Known By Our Parents

Luke 4:14-30

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Some wedding announcements that are found in the Sunday paper. Cut them out and read them at the proper time. Good morning, boys and girls! I brought something along this morning that I thought all of the girls would like to hear and see. How many of the girls ever look in the paper at the pictures of the brides? (Let them answer.) Aren't they beautiful? Someday every one of you will probably have your picture in the paper, and there will be a little write-up about your wedding and how pretty it ...

2512. When Our Children Teach Us

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

James W. Moore

Some years ago, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an article by Dr. Paul Ruskin on the “Stages of Aging.” In the article, Dr. Ruskin described a case study he had presented to his students when teaching a class in medical school. He described the case study patient under his care like this: “The patient neither speaks nor comprehends the spoken word. Sometimes she babbles incoherently for hours on end. She is disoriented about person, place, and time. She does, however, respond to ...

2513. Father Knows Best?

Matthew 5:1-12

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes Our pastor decided to work his way through the Beatitudes so I opened up Matthew 5 to get some ideas. What struck me was that believers and non-believers alike could easily gloss over these as nice, little one-liners by Jesus. Since I knew that Pastor Ray would be dissecting the verses for the congregation, I thought I would have fun with the drama and show that without the wisdom of God we can't really understand what His Word says. So, in typical Dave Marsh fashion, I decided to take it ...

2514. The Dilemma (A Drama about Tithing)

Mark 10:17-31

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes: The original everyman in church, trying to figure out what in the world tithing is all about. Pretty funny stuff if you ask me... I like to do pre-recorded voice over (V.O.) in some dramas. It's really effective because it allows us to hear what someone is really thinking. So, just record the actor speaking into a mic, add some reverb to it so it sounds like it's hollow and you're good to go. Cast: Dave: A normal guy at church Mark: An offering collector Props: Chairs Pre-recorded V.O. ...

2515. Sticky Situations (A Drama about Lordship)

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes: Every now and then I wear a rubber band around my wrist that reminds me of something I need to do. I thought, "what if someone had something on them to remind them of stuff they've given (and need to continue to give) to God?" Of course, I took this to the extreme... Cast: Dave: An average Joe. Tina: Dave's wife who is trying to practice Lordship Props: Lots of yellow 'Post-its' A list (could be page 2 of the script) Setting: A family room (LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE where Dave comes walking ...

2516. Morning Madness (A Drama about Service)

Drama

Dave Marsh

Director's Notes: We know there are certain facts when it comes to how God uses his people within the church: 1) The Spirit gives unique spiritual gifts to believers. 2) The Spirit leads believers to use these gifts within (and outside of) the church. The problem is that sometimes we see a need in the church and feel compelled to fill it immediately. While this can be a good thing for short term situations (a family needs money), it can be a bad thing for long term situations, especially if we don't have ...

2517. His Trial

Luke 22:66--23:25

Sermon

Brett Blair

On Friday of Holy Week the streets were filled with people. It was not an ordinary market day crowd. It was religious tradition that brought these people together. It was the festival of the Passover and Jews from far and near had migrated to the holy city of Jerusalem. It was this same religious fervor that created a certain tense atmosphere in the city. Jesus, the Nazarene carpenter, the one whom some called Messiah, had been placed under arrest by the Roman authorities due to pressure from the Jewish ...

2518. Why Do You Seek The Living Among The Dead?

John 20:10-18

Sermon

Brett Blair

It was Sunday, the first day of the week, the day after the Jewish Sabbath. At early dawn we are told that some women came to the grave of Jesus, taking with them spices to anoint the body in the tomb. Mary Magdalene was there that morning. Tradition tells us more about her than the written record does. Historically she has been portrayed as a common harlot who had her life radically changed by the man Jesus. There was Joanna, a wealthy women, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, who, tradition says, ...

2519. Real Gratitude

Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

James W. Moore

I want to begin this morning by telling you about two of my most prized possessions. The first one is a simple ordinary rock. It’s a rock with some green and yellow paint splattered on it. I use it as a paper weight on my desk. I have had it for over 30 years. It’s not worth a lot, but I cherish it. If I tried to sell it, I couldn’t get much money for it, but you see, I would never even consider selling it, because I treasure it so much. Why is it so special to me? Not because of what it is. Not because of ...

2520. Remembering 9/11

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

David E. Leininger

"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD--a lasting ordinance." or as the King James has it, "You shall observe it as an ordinance forever." The establishment of the Passover, one of the most important of all Jewish festivals. And they HAVE observed it forever. Every year since, and down to our own day, Jewish families have gathered at the traditional Seder meal. The patriarch of the household asks the children, "What makes this ...

2521. Remember!

Deuteronomy 31:30--32:47

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Oft in the stilly night, Ere slumber's chain has bound me, Fond memory brings the light Of other days around me.(1) Memories...we like them...and we need them. And as those words of Thomas Moore remind us, we are comforted and instructed by them. That is why a day such as this is a GOOD day. I have WONDERFUL memories of Oakdale. I remember our first night together - a covered dish dinner, our Erin just one week old (and now a sophomore in high school), and Emily Beamguard insisting that I sing. I remember ...

2522. Be Careful What You Wish For, You Just Might Get It!

1 Samuel 8:1-22

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Graduation. Big time. Congratulations on a job WELL... DONE - the emphasis for parents is on WELL, but we know the emphasis for you graduates is on DONE. I appreciated what the President said to the graduates Friday at Chelsea's commencement: "I ask you at the beginning to indulge your folks if we seem a little sad or we act a little weird. You see, today we are remembering your first day in school, and all the triumphs and travails between then and now...Though we have raised you for this moment of ...

2523. Do I Matter?

Psalm 8:1-9

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Interesting news this week. According to the population clock at the United Nations, there are now six-billion of us on this whirling planet.(1) Someone decided that a baby boy born to refugee parents in Sarajevo, a region returning to life after a decade of death and destruction and war, would be the perfect symbol for the push toward our next billion or so. According to UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan, the birth of little Adnan Nevic "should light a path of tolerance and understanding for all people." We ...

2524. Good News in the Ashes

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Ash Wednesday. In the Christian church, the first day of Lent, occurring 6½ weeks before Easter. In the early church, the length of the Lenten observance varied, but eventually it began six weeks - 42 days - before Easter. But this provided only 36 days of fasting (because Sundays were not supposed to be fast days). So, in the 7th century, four days were added before the first Sunday in Lent in order to establish 40 fasting days, in imitation of Christ's fast in the desert. The custom of using ashes today ...

2525. Grace and Golf

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sermon

David E. Leininger

"Beatin' balls and beatin' balls." That title comes from our fair city's attention to golf this week with the presence of the PGA Tour here for the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic. (It will always be the GGO to me though.) "Beatin' balls and beatin' balls." Whoever happens to win this afternoon will undoubtedly offer a phrase like that to anyone looking for advice about how to win at golf. Get out on the practice tee and spend hour upon hour upon hour upon hour "beatin' balls and beatin' balls." As ...

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