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 4959 results

251. Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... , or physical appetites that dominate one’s life (Gal. 5:19–21). Thoughts includes one’s intellectual and reasoning ability (cf. Col. 1:21). The consequence of such evil and ungodly action is to become objects of wrath. Thus, by following their natural desires, people became subject to the dreadful judgment of God (“we were by nature children of wrath,” RSV). Additional Notes 2:1 On spiritual death, see e. Best, “Dead in Trespasses and Sins (Eph. 2:1),” JSNT 13 (1981), pp. 9–25. Salvation to ...

252. Living as Children of Light

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... Christian life and forms the basis for the imperative to live out that life ethically. Thus the apostle reminds his readers: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. The new self, on the other hand, which the believers put on in baptism, is created to be like God. In Colossians 3:10, Paul talks about this new life as being renewed in God’s image. Undoubtedly, both Ephesians and Colossians allude to the restoration ...

253. Paul's Labor for the Church

Colossians 1:24--2:5

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... The last interpretation suggested has the support of a number of authors. As early as 1958, E. Hoskyns and N. Davey stated: “This does not mean that there was something lacking in Christ’s suffering, but that there was something lacking in St. Paul’s. He desires that his body may be, as it were, the arena where the obedience to God may be as wholly displayed as it had been in the passion of Jesus Christ” (The Riddle of the New Testament [London: Faber & Faber, [1958], p. 158). Similar statements are ...

254. Living for God

1 Peter 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Rom. 6:11–12). That is the “will of God” for all believers. 4:2 As they live the rest of their earthly life, ... Rev. 12:17). He who has suffered in his body: cf. Gal. 2:19–20 Is done with sin: cf. Rom. 6:7 4:2 Evil human desires (anthrōpōn epithymiais): lit. “for impulses of human beings.” NIV adds evil by way of interpretation since this is clearly what is meant (v. 3). ...

255. Making One's Calling and Election Sure

2 Peter 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... right actions in the sight of God. 1:6 The growing awareness of divine standards leads to the exercise of self-control. Left to themselves, human beings are not strong enough to discipline their passions but are liable to give in to evil desires (as Peter will soon point out: 2:10–12; 3:3). For Christians, self-control comes about through submission to their more powerful Master, Jesus Christ. From the practice of self-control develops perseverance, a patient endurance which sounds the note of trustful ...

256. The Lord’s Case Against Israel

Micah 6:1-8

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... , and it is good because it is the will of Yahweh, the Lord and redeemer of Israel’s life. There is no other good outside of God, no virtue, no ideology, no civil, political or religious scheme that can qualify unless it accords with God’s desire for human life. Thus, the Israelite speaker is addressed here as ʾādām, man, mortal, creature before the creator and subject totally to the creator’s definitions of good. God has created human life on this earth, and as its creator, God alone can say what ...

257. Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

Habakkuk 2:2-20, Habakkuk 1:12--2:1

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... 6b–17 (where NIV turns the singular expressions into plural). The opening of the description in verses 4a and 5a is difficult (see the additional notes) but it is clear enough that verse 4a refers to someone who is not upright in spirit or desire or appetite (nefesh) and that verse 5a similarly refers to someone who is arrogant (Prov. 21:24, the only other occurrence of this word, illustrates its implications). The remaining four lines of verse 5 put flesh on this and make clear that the “person” that ...

258. The Promised Glory of the New House

Haggai 2:1-9

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... to stir things up again, not let them settle down. He promises that Yahweh intends to take action to this end, and thus shake all nations when they see this happening. The result will be that the desired of all nations will come to the temple. The noun “the desired” comes from the verb for “desire” or “covet” in the tenth commandment in Deuteronomy 5:21. It is not a technical term but a word to denote the sorts of things that human beings delight in and appreciate and value. Yahweh here makes ...

259. Robbing God

Malachi 3:6-18

Understanding Series

Pamela J. Scalise

... Malachi does not quote their words, their identification as Yahweh-fearers provides the key to understanding them. “Those who fear the LORD” is a typical designation in the Psalms for worshippers (e.g., Pss. 22:23; 66:16; 115:9–13). In Malachi it epitomizes the response God desires from the people (1:6, 14; 2:5–7; cf. 3:5). It is the goal of Malachi’s ministry that the people to whom the prophet and the book speak may come to fear the Lord. They will recognize and honor God as parent, master, and ...

260. Jacob Apprehension in Meeting Esau

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... to deceit as the means to get his own way. Rather, he places his relationship with God above all personal gain. Jacob, the one who had deceived and used others, thus became the one who struggled with God until God molded him into the vessel he desired. The reference to his prevailing with men points to his prevailing over Laban and Esau. His new name, however, does not shield Jacob from the obstacles and tragedies of life. He will continue to have dealings with people who deceive him, causing him great pain ...

261. Parables of the Kingdom

Mark 4:1-20

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... 8:33). Then the believer will have a new retirement plan: treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19–21). Friendship with the world turns one into an enemy of God (James 4:4) and will bring his wrath. As in Mark 4:18, desire for possessions deceives and leads to a life of worry, choking out the life of the Spirit (see also Rom. 8:1–13). 4. Receptivity is paramount to bearing kingdom fruit. According to the parable of the sower, receptivity is everything. As the seed addresses every ...

262. A Call to Servanthood and Suffering

Mark 10:46-52, Mark 10:35-45, Mark 10:32-34

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... ” in the Gethsemane prayer (14:36). As for “baptism,” the metaphor of submersion is used of a calamity in one’s life (Job 9:31; 22:11; Pss. 42:7; 46:3; Isa. 43:2) or of divine judgment in Isaiah 30:28.5 10:39 We can. In their desire to be princes in the final kingdom, James and John think of the cup as the golden goblet of royalty, and the baptism as an anointing to highest office. “Of course we can do that!” they say. So when Jesus exclaims, “You will indeed experience my cup and baptism ...

263. Israel Demands a King

1 Samuel 8:1-22

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... do the job they expected the ark to do. So they request a king to lead them into battle, as the ark has done at Jericho. Since the surrounding nations believe that their deity leads in battle through the person of the king, this request is consistent with their desire to have a king like the nations around them. From the people’s perspective, they are not asking for a king instead of God, but they do want a king as a means to compel God.3 From God’s perspective, this is a rejection of his rule, because ...

264. Meet Israel’s New King

1 Sam 9:1–10:8

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... , 18; 8:22; 13:5) and Samuel, through whom the Lord delivers his people (Judg. 10:12; 1 Sam. 7:8).6This may be another signal that Saul’s kingship will not be patterned after that of other nations. their cry has reached me. The people’s desire for national security has motivated them to demand a king like all the other nations (8:20). While the Lord views their proposal as a rejection of his rule (8:7), he recognizes their need for security as legitimate. He promises to provide for this need through his ...

265. Eliphaz

Job 4:1-5:27

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... is futile for Job to call out for an intercessor in heaven to intervene and help him, because his sin has disqualified him from assistance. None of the holy angels (see 4:18; cf. 1:6; 2:1) will take up Job’s cause. Later, Job expresses his desire for such a mediator to present his case before God (9:33; 16:19–21). 5:2–3 Resentment kills a fool. Eliphaz uses two familiar categories from traditional wisdom (fool, simple) to imply that Job is not wise, so he will be destroyed by his foolish attitudes ...

266. Elihu Makes His Appearance

Job 32:1--37:24

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... , Elihu claims to speak for all men who truly understand. He is supremely confident of his analysis of Job’s situation, and just as certain that Job speaks without knowledge and insight. 34:36–37 To his sin he adds rebellion. In verse 36, Elihu expresses his desire that God would exact his full judgment upon wicked Job. Elihu’s rigid logic has led him to conclude that Job is not at all a victim as he has claimed. Rather, he is an obstinate fool, a scorner whose words against God are prompted by a ...

267. “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God”

Psalm 19:1-14

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... equate the God of creation with the creation itself. Sinful human nature leans in the direction of pantheism. It is invoked in the temptation narrative: “The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom” (Gen. 3:6)—the fruit was virtually a substitute for God. Second, we hear the voice of Scripture (19:7–11) informing us about what kind of God is the God who speaks in nature. John Calvin is attributed with the saying, “From ...

268. “The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation—Whom Shall I Fear?”

Psalm 27:1-14

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... two psalms together. Moreover, at the sanctuary the psalmist stands on “level ground” (26:12, mishor), the same kind of level-footed place where he meets his oppressors (27:11; NIV: “straight path”). Outline/Structure Part 1: The psalmist’s trust in the Lord and desire to dwell in God’s house (27:1–6) Part 2: The psalmist’s prayer for God’s mercy (27:7–13) Final counsel: Wait for the Lord (27:14) Historical and Cultural Background In Book 1 of the Psalter, Absalom’s rebellion is never ...

269. “Trust in the Lord and Do Good”

Psalm 37:1-40

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... moral decay, and dwelling in the land was contingent on their moral behavior. The benefits of the life of faith are the possession of the land—that is, the land inherited from the Canaanites—and security in it (37:3, 9b, 11, 22, 29, 34), the fulfillment of their desires (37:4), God’s defense of those who trust him (37:5–6), posterity (“future,” 37:37; cf. Jer. 29:11), and abundance in time of famine (37:19, 25). These are all more or less tied to the inheritance of the land (37:18). Those of us ...

270. “I Waited Patiently for the Lord; He Turned to Me and Heard My Cry”

Psalm 40:1-17

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... the earth. After praying each part, take moments of silence for the congregants to consider how they might use that part of their body to serve the Lord. As you close in prayer, ask your listeners to join with you as together you recite Psalm 40:8, “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” The hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be” could be fitting in conjunction with this psalm and prayer. Turn your heart to God. Props: Show an optical illusion that contains two different images ...

271. “Your Love Is Better Than Life”

Psalm 63:1-11

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... bests when they believe they’ve taken a performance booster.”12In other words, expectations matter. What might happen in worship if every Christian came with the expectation that they were going to see the power and glory of God? Choose to prepare for worship by expecting to meet the Lord! Desire God. Theological Book: When I Don’t Desire God: How I Fight for Joy, by John Piper. Piper writes about fasting as a way to deepen our hunger for God. He quotes William Law: “If you don’t feel strong ...

272. Job’s Opening Soliloquy

Job 3:1-26

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... resting place of all who have died, is a preferable place to be. His wish balances extremes. Sheol’s dreadfulness is diminished; Job’s misery is heightened. Sheol here is little more than a peaceful realm where human status and rank are equalized—Job desires it! But Sheol elsewhere is a dark (Job 10:21–22; 17:13), snatching-away (Job 24:19), entangling, destructive enemy (Ps. 18:4–5)—Job prefers this? His present life is truly miserable. Job’s train of thought is first to question rhetorically ...

273. Paul’s Ambition and Joy Is the Gospel of Christ

Philippians 1:12-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... (1:19). He claims that, through the help he has received, he will be delivered. In 1:20, Paul details how he was helped and the nature of his deliverance. Ultimately, Paul’s goal for his life is to continually exalt Christ in his body (1:20). He desires the courage to glorify God no matter the circumstances. Just as Paul has recognized his role as an example for the Philippians, he reminds them that his life is the result of following the supreme example of Jesus Christ. Paul goes on to add the short and ...

274. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... great responsibilities. The second part of the prayer is that God “by his power” will “bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith” (1:11b). “Desire for goodness” (Rom. 10:1), or “goodwill” (see Phil. 1:15), is their desire to do that which is good, or, alternately, the good may be the source of their desire or goodwill. This second interpretation is preferable, as it parallels the following phrase, “deed prompted by faith” (literally “work of ...

275. The Invitation

Isaiah 55:1-9

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... is the greatest invitation ever given to humankind. Let me share with you for whom The Invitation is intended. The Invitation is for all who have been searching for meaning and fulfillment but have never found it. The Invitation is for those who have always desired so much more out of life. The Invitation is for those who feel empty, lost, and without hope. The Invitation is for those who continue to thirst and hunger for ultimate satisfaction. The Invitation is for those who have ever cried out, “What is ...

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