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 251 to 275 of 3108 results

251. The Discipline of Witnessing

Isaiah 43:1-13

Sermon

Today we talk about witnessing, or "TELLING OTHERS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST." This is even more difficult for most of us. For, quite frankly, we Presbyterians don’t like to think about witnessing. We leave it to the Mormons, or the Jehovah Witnesses, or some of the fringe groups; we much prefer to do things "decently and in order." Somehow witnessing sounds too fanatic! Someone has characterized us as being parallel to those men who belong to the military reserve. We go to drills once a week but we are not on ...

252. Building A Home

John 14:15-31

Sermon

King Duncan

An interesting idea appeared recently in THE NEW YORK TIMES magazine. It is a video tape produced by Quality Video of Minneapolis titled, "Video Baby." It is designed for consumers who are devoted to family values but can't seem to find the time to start a family. This 30-minute tape shows two infants doing what babies tend to do, like crawl around the house, play with a rattle, take a bubble bath and turn lunch into a complete mess. There's no narrator (and no cleanup), so once the tape is in the VCR ...

253. Making Compassion a Verb

Mark 6:30-44

Sermon

David G. Rogne

The Superintendent of Schools was having a bad year. Some contentious issues were being dealt with by the school board. One Sunday, during the coffee hour after church, I heard the Superintendent say in a particularly loud voice, "For crying out loud, it's my day of rest, too!" Someone had approached him about a concern in the school district, and he felt that there was no place he could go to get away from it. I learned right then not to approach people about business matters when they are not on duty. ...

254. Still Sinners, Still Forgiven

Romans 5:1-8

Sermon

William G. Carter

I have an announcement to make. Today's sermon is not for everybody. It was not planned for a general audience. It was not written to whom it may concern. No, today's sermon is intended for people who have a hard time feeling forgiven. The rest of you can listen in. Once in a while, I run across somebody who has difficulty feeling that the good news of the gospel is for them. They don't have any problem believing all the outrageous things that church takes to be true, like God becoming a human or the ...

255. Time for a New Wardrobe

Isaiah 61:1—62:12

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

I am betting that at least one of us gathered here today got the gift of new clothing for Christmas. This is a safe assumption. How many of us, over the years, have torn open packages of argyle socks or paisley shirts? How many of us have gazed into a box to discover slacks and skirts, blouses and vests; sweatshirts and pajamas, all of a dizzying array of colors and styles? When I was a boy, clothing was a staple for Christmas gifts, because there was little available cash for frivolities like toys or ...

256. What We Do, We Do to Others, Too

Matthew 18:1-9

Children's Sermon

Marti Kramer Suddarth

Object: Paper fan; Card stock printed with scripture reference and verse; Decorative paper, one sheet per child; Printed directions for making a paper fan, one per child, copied from this chapter (Sit down next to one of the children and fan yourself with the paper fan. Hold the fan so that it also blows air on the child sitting next to you.) This breeze feels good. I made this fan myself by folding a piece of paper backward and forward. (Stop fanning. Show the folds.) It’s not very big, but it’s just the ...

257. Naomi and Ruth

Ruth 1:1-22

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

Judah’s Famine and Elimelech’s Death: The story of Ruth has a specific historical context, the days when the judges ruled (lit. when the judges judged). The act of repeating a seminal Hebrew root twice (shepot hashopetim), however, immediately implies that Ruth’s opening line attempts to do more than just situate the book historically. Hebrew, like English, repeats words for emphasis (GKC 117p). Ruth, in other words, is very much a story about mishpat (“justice,” from shapat, “to judge, rule”). 1:1 The ...

258. Pop Verses: John 3:16

John 3:16

Sermon

Charley Reeb

Today I continue our series “Pop Verses.” We are taking a closer look at some of the most popular Bible verses. We are going to find out why they are so popular and how they apply to our lives. What you might discover is that some of these verses don’t mean what you think they mean or they mean a lot more than you think they mean. You see, quite often our favorites verses are just that – they’re verses. They’re not read in light of the passage in which they appear. This can lead to a misunderstanding about ...

259. Almond Joy!

Numbers 17:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of its root.” (Isaiah 11:1) “Jeremiah, what do you see? I see an almond branch. You have seen well, for I am watching to fulfill my word.” (Jeremiah 1:11-12) Props: menorah, shepherd’s rod, almond tree, almonds “You are the apple of God’s eye.” So says the psalmist in psalm 17:8. God is watching over you. God is protecting you. God is watchful of what happens to you in your life. And at certain key moments, God will leave God ...

260. On Golf, Swimming, Gardening and Lent?

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

As the days lengthen (remember the meaning of Lent?) and get warmer, I begin to think about that game some of us play that keeps us humble -- golf. It is a game I find frustrating, challenging and fun all at the same time. This last fall, I was playing a round with someone who is quite good at the game. I am always open to tips and pointers and we were having a very good time, until we ended up behind a foursome that was playing in front of us. They had one golfer who was not very good. He would hit three ...

261. If There is A God, Why Is There Suffering In the World?

Jeremiah 12:1, Romans 8:18-28

Sermon

Charley Reeb

I conclude our series with most challenging question of all. I am sure it has been on many of our minds the last few months and weeks as we have seen the devastation that Hurricane Matthew has caused. Out of that suffering comes the granddaddy of all questions: “If there is a God then why do people suffer?” Another way people ask this question is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” In theological circles it is called the theodicy question. The process of the question goes like this: If God can’t ...

262. The Big Chaise Lounge

Matthew 11:25-30

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A chaise lounge chair. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you did some hard work this week? (Let them answer.) What is the hardest thing that you had to do? (Let them answer.) That is some pretty hard work. Were you just worn out with what you had to do? I mean, did you feel as if you had to just lie down and call it quits for a while? (Let them answer.) Sometimes when I have really worked hard and I think that my back will break or my legs will bend like a noodle, I drag myself over to my ...

263. The Family of Judas

Drama

William Grimbol

SETTING: Monologues by the father, mother, brother, sister and grandmother of Judas TIME: Christ's ministry FATHER OF JUDAS: I am just so angry with that ... that Jesus ... that self-proclaimed Messiah ... why he knew exactly what he was doing, taking those twelve fine young men down a dead-end path. You can't tell me for a second that Jesus didn't know what he was doing ... he knew he'd be crucified ... he even predicted it, I'm told. No, he knew. He tempted fate every chance he had. He challenged the ...

264. When a Member of the Family Dies

John 11:17-37

Sermon

R. E. Lybrand

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been buried four days before. Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Judeans had come to see Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother's death. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "If you had been here, Lord, my brother would not have died! But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask him for." "Your brother will rise to life," Jesus ...

265. Family Reunion

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

I hope that for many of you Thanksgiving Day provided a wonderful family reunion. Why is it that as one gets older, one appreciates family reunions more? Do you remember how much we hated them as teenagers? Teenagers still do. Standing around and making small talk with strangers who share nothing in common with you except a last name. Having older persons pat you patronizingly and marvel at how much you've grown. Then they discuss whose nose you have, whose eyes you have, and even whose ears you have. ...

266. A Fresh Start

Joel 2:28-32, Joel 2:18-27

Sermon

Mark Ellingsen

Have you ever felt that you were absolutely at the end of your rope, left without hope? Sometime during the years of 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. that is the way the people of Judah felt. It seems that their land had been ravaged by a plague of locusts which had had catastrophic consequences. Once a harvest has been destroyed, you cannot repair it. If a building has burned to the ground, you cannot repair it. In those instances you need to start from scratch with a fresh start. Have you reached the end of your ...

267. Last Words

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

King Duncan

[While King Duncan is enjoying a well deserved retirement we are going back to his earliest sermons and renewing them. The newly modernized sermon is shown first and below, for reference sake, is the old sermon. We will continue this updating throughout the year bringing fresh takes on King's best sermons.] Original Title: Last Words New Title: Before It's Too Late, Turn Around A lawyer was trying to console a weeping widow. Her husband had passed away without a will. "Did the deceased have any last words ...

268. The Chicken or the Egg

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

In his book Dateline America, Charles Kuralt tells of a sign he saw on the door of a cafe in Indiana. It said, Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Closed Thursday. (Dateline America, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979, p. 223) Now, that’s what is known as sending out mixed signals. I. THE CHURCH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO SEND OUT MIXED SIGNALS, TOO. For instance, one minister relates that during one summer vacation he and his family visited a church in Ohio where he was moved by the worship experience: the ...

269. Learning to Give Thanks

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

King Duncan

Did you know that not everyone has been brought up to smile? When McDonald’s restaurants invaded Russia, the bosses--all of whom were American--insisted that the Russian young people working behind the counter give customers the standard Mickey D smile. Russian customers were outraged--and insulted--because in Russia smiling at strangers means you’re making fun of them. How did Mickey D Russia solve the problem? They hired personnel which they called "Smile Explainers" to shout into bullhorns at customers ...

270. With Friends Like These ...

Job 38:1-7 (34-41)

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a favorite book of children and adults alike. Things are always going wrong in Alexander's life, and we can identify with his laments. Alexander goes to bed with gum in his mouth and wakes up with gum in his hair. His teacher likes his friend Paul's sailboat picture better than Alexander's invisible castle, which she can't quite see. At the lunch table, while others are enjoying various delicious sweets, Alexander discovers that his mother is ...

271. Eating in the Echoing Hall

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

Sermon

Stan Purdum

Here's a question for you: In considering your life to this point, what things, if anything, do you regret? Regret, of course, is a feeling of disappointment or distress about something you wish could be different, and in reality, not many of us get through life without a few regrets. As Frank Sinatra crooned in his song "My Way": "Regrets? I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention." And that's likely how it is with many of our regrets — we might wish that a certain thing had turned out ...

272. Your Face Gives You Away

Luke 9:28-36

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome to worship on this Valentine’s Day, 2010. That’s a reminder to the husbands in the congregation, just in case you forgot. According to one source, it is easy TO TELL YOU FORGOT VALENTINE’S DAY. Here are some dead giveaways: The kids tell you that Mom “went to bed early” and “locked the door” . . . while you were taking out the trash. Hallmark calls, offering discounts on apology cards. You wake up with a florist’s ad stapled to your forehead. (1) Just a friendly warning. And I also need to say ...

273. God’s Weather Report

Matthew 5:38-48

Sermon

Charles L. Aaron

In the 1985 movie, Witness, Harrison Ford plays a tough Philadelphia detective who uncovers corruption within his department. To protect himself and a young boy who has witnessed a murder, Ford's character, John Book, hides out among the Pennsylvania Amish, the community from which the little boy comes. In one scene of the movie, Book and several of the Amish go into town for a day of shopping. While they are in town, the buggies driven by the Amish are involved in a traffic jam with a car. The occupants ...

274. For the Hearing Impaired

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

James Merritt

Of all the topics that a pastor talks about, by common consensus everybody would agree, the most sensitive topic that a pastor talks about is - money. However, the most difficult topic that a pastor deals with is the one we have been talking about for the last couple of weeks in the series we’ve entitled, “Missing Person.” We have said that a missing person is any person who is far from God - any person who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The very first command that Jesus ever gave ...

275. Eliphaz

Job 4:1-5:27

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

How Eliphaz Explains Job’s Adversity Big Idea: Eliphaz explains Job’s adversity as a standard case of God’s retribution for sin. Understanding the Text Job’s three friends, who arrived on the scene in 2:11–13, wait until after Job’s opening lament in chapter 3 before they speak. From chapter 4 through chapter 27, the friends and Job speak alternately, as they all try to explain Job’s adversity. Eliphaz is the lead speaker in each of the three cycles of speeches, and his words introduce the key points that ...

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