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 483 results
Sermon
Telling the story of Christ's birth was not enough for Matthew! He also told about two reactions to the birth of the Messiah. The first reaction, as Matthew told it, was from the Magi who came from the East to Jerusalem and asked the question, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews?" Contemporary customs - children dressed in faded bathrobes, tired Christmas pageants, and unsightly stable scenes in church parking lots, have taken away from the wisdom of the Wise Men's story. It is difficult to understand ...
252. No Longer Strangers
Ephesians 2:1-10
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
Chapter Two of Ephesians is one of Paul’s clearest statements about the Cross as God’s power for redemption. In this chapter, Paul used the most dramatic image he could have used to describe the estrangement of the Gentiles, and the reconciling power of the Cross. His image was the Temple in Jerusalem. The layout of the temple painfully marked the separation of the Gentiles. Inside the temple walls were a series of courts. The innermost court was the hallowed “holy of Holies” into which the High Priest ...
253. An Empty Cup
Job 23:1--24:25
Sermon
King Duncan
Series on the Book of Job, #2 Suggested song for silent meditation: "The Day is Dawning" Suggested video clip: "Shadowlands" About 90 minutes into the movie. Scene starts in the cloakroom at the cathedral. C.S. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) is putting on his robes while speaking to a colleague. The move "Shadowlands" tells the true story of C.S. Lewis, one of the most influential Christian theologians of the 21st century. Late in life, Lewis fell in love with a woman named Joy Gresham. Not long after their ...
Sermon
King Duncan
I’ve asked [our children or a member of the choir a cappella] to give the opening to today’s sermon: Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Now hear the word of the Lord. Toe bone connected to the foot bone Foot bone connected to the leg bone Leg bone connected to the knee bone Knee bone connected to the thigh bone Thigh bone connected to the back bone The back bone connected to the neck bone The neck bone connected to the head bone Oh ...
255. Temptation
Luke 4:1-13
Sermon
David E. Leininger
Temptation. Oscar Wilde is quoted a saying, "I can resist everything -- except temptation!" Humorist Robert Orben has observed, "Most people want to be delivered from temptation but would like to keep in touch." Another wag has asked, "Why is it that opportunity knocks only once, yet temptation bangs on the door constantly?"(1) Once there was a small boy who wanted a pair of skates. His parents, hoping to teach him the value of money, informed him that he would have to save the required amount from his ...
256. Walking in the Light
1 John 1:5--2:14, 1 John 2:15-17
Understanding Series
Thomas F. Johnson
Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin The next two sections of 1 John are on the theme of walking in the light. The first section, 1 John 1:5–2:2, addresses the theme in relation to the issue of sin, while the second section, 1 John 2:3–11, focuses on walking in the light in relation to obedience, especially to the love command. The terms walk, light, and darkness occur throughout the section (1:5–7; 2:6, 8–11) and unify it. The Elder’s opponents are always present in the background. They have made ...
257. Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin
1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 1:5--2:14
Understanding Series
Thomas F. Johnson
Walking in the Light and the Problem of Sin The next two sections of 1 John are on the theme of walking in the light. The first section, 1 John 1:5–2:2, addresses the theme in relation to the issue of sin, while the second section, 1 John 2:3–11, focuses on walking in the light in relation to obedience, especially to the love command. The terms walk, light, and darkness occur throughout the section (1:5–7; 2:6, 8–11) and unify it. The Elder’s opponents are always present in the background. They have made ...
Understanding Series
James R. Edwards
The Election of Israel What remains of God’s promises to the Jews now that the Messiah has come and the Jews from whom and for whom he came have, for the most part, failed to recognize him? That is the theme of Romans 9–11. Finding the exact term to describe Paul’s discussion of the theme is somewhat difficult. On the one hand, Romans 9–11 is more or less an excursus complete in itself. The beginning declaration (9:1) and the concluding doxology (11:33–36) delimit it clearly from the remainder of the ...
Sermon
Phil Thrailkill
I had heard of the place for years, but never seen it until Tuesday in Chicago- The Pacific Garden Mission. Lori and I were on the way from a science museum to an art exhibit (I believe vacations are for learning!), and there it was on the left side of the street. I first knew it through the dramatized radio program Unshackled which tells the stories of those whose lives were turned around by faith in Christ and the help of the mission. Down-and-out to up-and-on is a story line with endless variations. ...
260. The Catch
John 21:1-14, John 21:15-25, Acts 10:1-8, Acts 10:9-23a, Acts 10:23b-48
Sermon
Lori Wagner
Props and visuals: fishing boat / fishing net / tablecloth and stick / backpack / diaper bag / purse or satchel You know how some dreams won’t let go of you? Sometimes God has a message for you, and speaks in this “forgotten language” of dreams. Sometimes God needs to prepare you for something that’s hard for you to hear. In our scripture story today as told in the Acts of the Apostles, God was preparing Peter for his visit with Cornelius. And for something even greater! But as everything goes with Peter, ...
Sermon
Phil Thrailkill
It is because we are a people of such high intelligence, and perhaps the threat of product liability litigation, that the following warning labels were recently found on consumer products? On a Duraflame fireplace log: "Caution - Risk of Fire." On a children’s Batman costume: "Warning: Cape does not enable user to fly. On a bottle of hair coloring: "Do not use as an ice cream topping." On a cardboard sun shield for a car: "Do not drive with sun shield in place." And, for the first time parent, this label ...
Sermon
King Duncan
Ken Davis tells a delightful story in his book, I DON'T REMEMBER DROPPING THE SKUNK, BUT I DO REMEMBER TRYING TO BREATHE. He writes that one morning, not long after Diane and he were married, he saw her wedding ring lying on the bathroom sink. He thought it would be great fun to make her think it was lost, so he hid the ring. That evening, Diane asked him if he had seen her ring. He wasn't ready for the joke to be over yet, so he said no. Late at night, he woke up to the sound of uncontrollable sobbing. " ...
Teach the Text
C. Marvin Pate
Big Idea: The key issue in this controversial text is the role of the law in light of the work of Christ. Paul reverses the Deuteronomic curses and blessings: non-Christian Jews experience the Deuteronomic curses because they attempt to be justified by the law, while believing Gentiles are justified because their faith is in Christ, so to them belong the Deuteronomic blessings. Understanding the Text Romans 9:30–10:21 forms the second unit in Romans 9–11 (9:1–29 is the first, and 11:1–32 is the third). The ...
Understanding Series
Elizabeth Achtemeier
God the Shepherd of Israel (4:6-8): 4:6–8 It is declared in Micah 4:1–5 that in the eschatological future God will rule over the nations of the world from Zion, and that Zion will become the center of the world to which all peoples will stream for worship and instruction. But what of the wounded and scattered people of Israel, who have become like sheep without a shepherd? (For the expression, cf. Num. 27:17;1 Kgs. 22:17; 2 Chron.18:16; Zech. 10:2; 13:7; Mark 6:34 and parallel; Matt. 26:31). Yahweh himself ...
265. New Wine
Acts 2:1-13
Sermon
Barbara Brokhoff
On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the waiting disciples, there were a number of extraordinary events occurring: there was the sound of a rushing wind, cloven tongues of fire appeared, and they all began to speak in other languages and the Holy Spirit gave them ability. The Jews who were visiting Jerusalem, from all nations, hearing them speak in their own tongues, were amazed at this startling phenomenon. They came to the hasty, false conclusion that the disciples must be drunk, and ...
Sermon
Rolf E. Aaseng
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:2-3). In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!" (2 Peter ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
One of my favorite writers is Loren Eiseley. He is an anthropologist and naturalist who can blend scientific knowledge and imaginative vision, and record his findings with the perception of a painter, the words of a poet, and the heart of a prophet. I share one of his stories in his own words, because the way he puts words together is powerful and inspiring. “The sound that awoke me was the outraged cries of the nestling’s parents, who flew helplessly in circles about the clearing. (A raven had raided ...
Sermon
King Duncan
Since we are talking about getting the proper nourishment, today, I thought I would share with you eight dieting tips that I picked up recently. Tip 1: If no one sees you eat it, it has no calories. Tip 2: If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, they will cancel each other out. Tip 3: Calories don't count if you eat with someone and you both eat the same amount. Tip 4: Food taken for medicinal purposes does not count. This includes toast, hot chocolate, and Sara Lee chocolate cake. Tip 5: If you fatten ...
269. Sexual Discharges
Leviticus 15:1-33
Teach the Text
Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: God wants to promote life, virtue, and an awareness of his holiness among his people. Understanding the Text Leviticus 15 completes the section in Leviticus on uncleanness (Lev. 11–15). The preceding chapters have treated unclean animals (Lev. 11), uncleanness due to childbirth (Lev. 12), and uncleanness due to “leprosy” (Lev. 13–14). The present chapter (Lev. 15) treats uncleanness due to sexual emissions. All this prepares the way for Leviticus 16 on the Day of Atonement, a chapter that will ...
Understanding Series
John E. Hartley
The Rape of Dinah: A number of years after Jacob settled in the vicinity of Shechem (33:17–20), a man named Shechem, the son of Hamor, rapes Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. The approaches of the two parties to resolving this offense reveal the deep conflict between two different ways of life: shepherds in conflict with urban dwellers and worshipers of one God in conflict with polytheists. Several acrid terms in the story convey the brothers’ outrage at Shechem’s act of passion against their sister: violated (’ ...
Sermon
James Merritt
There was a young preacher who was going to preach his very first sermon, and he wanted to have a smashing introduction. So he went to an older pastor he knew, and said, "Do you know of any surefire introduction that is guaranteed to get everybody's attention?" The old preacher said, "As a matter of fact I have an illustration that works every single time." He said, "When you walk to the pulpit, make this statement: ‘Some of the greatest days of my life I spent in the arms of another man's wife.'" He said ...
272. A Call to Arms
Exodus 17:8-16
Sermon
James Merritt
Whether or not you are a boxing fan, names like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield will certainly conjure up pictures of big-fisted gladiators. C. D. Blalock is not as well known, but he did something in the ring that should make him the most famous boxer of all time. In the 1930s Blalock stepped into the ring to fight another boxer, but he didn't really need another opponent. Because in one of the strangest moments in boxing history, Blalock took a huge uppercut at his rival, ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
Last words are important. Let that truth sink in. Last words are important. East Side Baptist Church is a little country church down in Perry County, Mississippi. It is the church in which I was converted under the preaching of Brother Wiley Grissom, a fifth-grade educated pastor who preached the Gospel with power. The church is about 200 yards up the hill from our old home place. Behind it is a cemetery where I’ll be buried someday. Mom and Dad—whom in my adult life I affectionately called, “Mutt” and “Co ...
Sermon
My earliest memory of church is a rather traumatic one. My earliest memory is that of being attacked by a fox. That’s right, a fox! The year was 1950. We had just moved to Minneapolis where my father had become an associate pastor in a large, urban congregation. Of course, everyone was anxious to meet the new pastor and his family - at that time, two little boys. This was a fashionable congregation, full of the 50s version of Yuppies. That year, the women of the church were all sporting boas, not a la ...
275. Victory
John 19:28-37
Sermon
Burton F. Blair
A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." John 19:29-30 By the third hour of the afternoon, Golgotha’s hill had become an eerie place. A thick darkness had fallen over the Hill of the Skull. The darkness had gathered over the hill around noon, but now, it was a little after three o’clock and the darkness was giving way to the returning of daylight. By now, it ...
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