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 2551 to 2575 of 5000 results

2551. “You Have Given Me the Heritage of Those Who Fear Your Name”

Psalm 61:1-8

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... being a bona fide resident! As we determine the place and value of worship for our own lives, this is a helpful question to ask: “How much at home are we in the Lord’s house?” It is not necessarily negative to feel like a sojourner so long as we are on our way to becoming bona fide citizens. The language of the psalm alerts us to an important dynamic of its message. For example, the intensity of the suppliant’s spiritual plight can be inferred from the prayer expressions: “my cry” (61:1a), “my ...

2552. “Truly My Soul Finds Rest in God”

Psalm 62:1-12

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... ; cf. Deut. 32:15).6At the end of 62:2 is a word (rabbah, “very”) that seems extraneous. In verse 6 the text has the same expression (“I will not be shaken”) but without this extra word. Perhaps it is a scribal error. 62:3 How long will you assault me?Now David turns to his enemies with this rhetorical question. The verb “assault” (Polel of hut) does not occur anywhere else in the Hebrew Bible and has the object “man” (NIV: “me”), which may refer to the psalmist. 62:4 Surely they ...

2553. “When You Ascended on High, You Took Many Captives”

Psalm 68:1-35

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... not fit any of the genre classifications that we use. Some have called it a song of victory, and others just refuse to apply a genre label, which is probably the best approach. Hossfeld and Zenger suggest that it is composed of nine strophes, formed over a long period of time. To demonstrate the composite nature of the poem, they point to other Old Testament texts that have contributed to its formation: the ark saying in Numbers 10:35–36 (Ps. 68:1), the Song of Deborah in Judges 5 (Ps. 68:26, 35), Psalm ...

2554. God Subjugates Judah under Babylon

Daniel 1:1-21

Teach the Text

Ronald W. Pierce

... Daniel and his friends experience both the judgment of Judah’s exile and God’s blessing of their commitment to purity.7 1:16 So the guard took away their choice food . . . and gave them vegetables instead. The narrative does not specify how long the youths remain on these rations. It appears that Daniel does not observe this practice all his life, as he seems to interrupt his consumption of “choice food,” “meat,” and “wine” for three weeks during his early eighties (10:1–3). Perhaps this ...

2555. Winning and Losing

Philippians 3:7-14

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... , we like to have the best grades in our class, we like to wear the prettiest dress. Everybody likes to be No. 1. It's all right to enjoy winning, as long as we don't cheat or as long as we don't hurt other people. Unfortunately, there are some people who do cheat and do try to hurt other people. Those are the real losers in life. In days long ago, when someone won at a game they crowned him with a garland or wreath like this one. That was the same as a blue ribbon or a trophy. It signified ...

2556. Look Again

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

James L. Killen

... to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because her pregnancy was an act of God. She was chosen to be the mother of the long-expected messiah. And Joseph would have an important role to play in the working out of the purpose of God. The angel spoke of two names ... be God's salvation. Joseph must have played an important role in the life of Jesus as he was growing up. He did not live long enough to see Jesus carry on his ministry in the world. But others did. They saw how Jesus represented God present with us. He ...

2557. From Adam to Noah

Genesis 5:1-32

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the distinction between deity and humanity is maintained. Not so in Genesis 5. Push humanity as far back as possible and one encounters only “earthling” (a literal translation of “Adam”). The chasm between the finite and the infinite is never blurred in the Bible. The long life spans may also be a reflection of God’s blessing on the Sethites. Longevity in Old Testament thought is a sign of divine blessing on the godly (see Deut. 4:25; 5:33; 30:20). One of the names in this passage is well known ...

2558. Wise Options

1 Kings 3:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... positively by past interpreters. Indeed, Solomon’s response is effusive and correct: he asks for, literally, a “listening heart,” which could also be translated “obedient heart.” God’s response (3:10–15) is equally long, and on the surface, it looks like a commendation for Solomon’s choosing wisdom over riches, long life, or the death of his enemies (although there cannot be too many enemies left in Israel after the purge in chap. 2). But the fact that God gives him riches and honor anyway ...

2559. The Book of Law Found

2 Kings 22:1-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... book of the law (“the Torah”). It is not hard to imagine how the book was eschewed during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, and whether a cadre of priests kept it hidden or it was literally lost, the book is back on the radar after a long absence. The book is not only found, but it is also read in the king’s presence. Considerable scholarly energy has been expended on identifying the contents of this book, but most agree that Deuteronomy must form a significant portion of this scroll that is read aloud ...

2560. Bildad

Job 8:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... ’s protection (8:6). 8:8–10 · Eliphaz was the first to appeal to experience, primarily his own (4:8, 12–21; 5:27). Having heard Eliphaz draw on personal experience and having seen Job remain unimpressed, Bildad implores Job to heed experience based on long-standing ancestral tradition. He may well have in mind even the primordial (Deut. 4:32). Job must pay attention to the ages. 8:11–19 · This section is not without its interpretive hurdles. What is clear is that Bildad first draws on the image of ...

2561. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... with Job, this honored and revered figure, as he moves from his family circle (29:2–6), outward to his seat among the nobles at the city gate (29:7–11), to his fatherly care for the marginalized within his society (29:12–17). He anticipated a long, full life (29:18–20), devoted to enhancing life for others (29:21–25). 30:1–31 · Having listened in on Job’s self-assessment of days gone by, the reader is now in a position to understand more clearly Job’s social, psychological, and physical ...

2562. Psalm 79

Psalm 79:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Asaph portrays a gruesome picture of Jerusalem’s destruction (by Babylon?): the temple and the city ruined; bodies strewn about unburied, food for wild animals (79:1–4). Asaph issues the plaintive cry—“How long, O Lord?”—a cry not concerned about how long Israel’s enemies will dominate them but how long God will be angry with his own people (79:5). Immediately thereafter, and to the end of the psalm, Asaph alternates between his desire for God to act with vengeance against Israel’s enemies ...

2563. Recognize that Bad Days Can Bring about Good

Ecclesiastes 7:1--8:1

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Eccles. 4:1; 5:8, contra NIV’s “extortion”) can drive even a wise person mad, while a bribing gift can destroy the core of one’s being (literally “heart”). Perseverance and patience are to be valued over pride (literally “better long of spirit than high of spirit”), hasty and persistent reactions to provocation, and plaintive comparisons (7:8–10). Verses 11–12, which conclude the central section by comparing wisdom and wealth, support the possibility that verse 1a may continue the main ...

2564. Second Explanation

Habakkuk 2:2-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... say in response to his latest complaint (2:1–3). Again the language is figurative. As a watchman stands ready at his post to receive news from afar, so Habakkuk will prepare his soul for God’s message to him. The Lord’s reply is not long in coming. As a preliminary instruction, Habakkuk is told to write down God’s revelation. Just as men write important messages and information plainly on tablets or inscribe them on stelae so that passersby may read them, so the Lord’s prophet is to record God ...

2565. Encouragements, Appreciations, and Greetings

Philippians 4:2-9

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... loves, are to remain faithful to the Lord. Paul emphatically states that he not only loves the Philippians but also longs to be with them. Paul longs for them because they are his joy and his crown as a result of their partnership with Paul in the mission ... .” God will guard both the hearts and minds of the Philippians from the attacks they face and the effects of their long trial because they remain “in Christ Jesus” (4:6–7). Paul concludes this section with a list of ethical terms that connect ...

2566. The Womb of Amazing Grace

John 4:5-42

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... three days before, it seemed to him that nothing had changed. He decided that he should check to see if something might be wrong below the soil. He found a stick and began to dig some holes in the soil. Fortunately for him, he had not been doing that too long when his dad came to check on his garden and caught the youngster digging. "Son, what on earth are you doing?" the dad asked. "I'm checking to see why we don't have any peas yet," the lad replied. The dad had to exercise some restraint, which he did ...

2567. Live Spelled Backward

Matthew 26:14-27:66

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... is everywhere all the time. He was "among the sons of God." He is even within the confines of the church of the living God. But, you knew that, didn't you? Sometimes we Christians make the mistake of thinking Satan is working hardest in places he long ago left. He does not need to hang out in the so-called "worldly" places. His weeds of evil are well planted there and now are producing their godless harvest. They are "back-to-nature" gardens that no longer need tending. He has already taken possession of ...

2568. Called to Bigness

Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20

Sermon

James L. Killen

... is important for us to ask that question, because as we read the Hebrew Scriptures we hear them telling a story of a long and varied and often torturous history in which the Jewish people often departed from their essential faith in first one direction and ... of God. Knowing that this is true, churches tend to structure their congregational lives to attract people who are shopping in that way. So long as we are thinking in this way, we are not likely to be able to catch the vision of the bigness of the faith ...

2569. Falling Into Faith

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... never seeing it come to pass. It is very agonizing and painful. We can only stand on our tiptoes for so long. Soon our hope shrinks before our growing disappointment, we become hopeless, and an existential doubt settles deep within our spirit. God ... to see God’s will for our lives, and we begin to live out God’s promises. Haven’t you waited long enough? Haven’t you listened to the promises of God long enough? Isn’t it time for you to follow Abraham’s lead and open yourself to God’s power and plan ...

2570. A Happy Ending

Joshua 5:9-12

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... I have arrived. I am as clever as ever. I am going to stay here forever and ever.” It is at these listless moments that we become the most vulnerable to temptation, sin, and failure. The exploits of King David are a testimony of this. When he was young and longing to please God, he was driven by God’s dream for him. He went through all kinds of struggles in making himself ready to be king. He agonized night and day, day and night to make sure he was prepared for the future God had for him. Then he felt ...

2571. Wounded Healers

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... . What Jesus sees and feels on the cross is not pleasant. Isaiah 52 and 53 vividly describe the ugly and painful wounds Jesus suffers for us, reminding us of just how wounded we are. And as we hang on the cross with Christ, it does not take long to discover why he was willing to bear such wounds. Right here in front of us, right in our churches, there are some who suffer the wounds of loneliness. Right now, in our churches, there are some who suffer the wounds of depression. Right now, in our churches ...

2572. Love without Limits

Acts 11:1-18

Sermon

Charley Reeb

The eloquent preacher Tom Long tells the story of a small church-related college that held an annual event called Christian Emphasis Week. It was the task of the Christian club on campus to invite a speaker who would come and lead ... for Christ to pull us inside and wrap his warm arms around us. And would you believe there is enough room in his arms for everyone? There is room. There is plenty of room. 1. Thomas G. Long, Pulpit Resource, ed. by William H. Willimon, 29.1, p. 16. 2. Ibid., p. 18. 3. Quoted in ...

2573. In the Event of Power Failure

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... grin, and a “fake it till I make it” attitude, only to see it dissolve by noon? Look deep within. You possess a generator, a power source. It is Christ. And if you had ears to hear, you would hear him say, “Don’t you think you have ignored me long enough? Why don’t you pay attention to me? You don’t have to face life powerless. I am here to sustain you. I am here to guide you. I am here to empower you.” The old Celtic Christians talked about a “thin place.” By that, they meant a sacred ...

2574. I Wonder Why My Prayers Go Unanswered?

Luke 11:1-13

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... back door, he would bark and bark until someone finally got the message and let him out. One day Wiersbe was painting the outside of the house when no one was home. The neighbor’s dog started his ritual at the back door and barked and barked all day long. The sad thing, Wiersbe said, was that it never dawned in his little brain that all his barking was totally useless—no one was home to hear! Perhaps many of you feel like that dog. You have prayed and prayed for something and there seems to be no answer ...

2575. Elephants in the Room: Addiction

Romans 7:15-22

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... How do you get free from addiction? You get free by remembering a three letter word that has been taught in 12 step programs for a long time: H.O.W. Honesty If you want to be set free from the monster of addiction you MUST be honest about your addiction. You ... You must point out the elephant in the room. I recognize how difficult this is for many people. You have been conditioned for a long time to walk on egg shells around the addiction so that things don’t get to out of control. You have become real good ...

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