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 2826 to 2850 of 4959 results

2826. Jesus Out of Character

Mark 7:24-30

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... ; If they don’t know what it is and can’t get rid of it, they call it an allergy.” The woman comes into the house and throws herself at the feet of Jesus, begging Him to heal her daughter. He refuses...probably because he does not desire the immediate publicity and thronging which would follow an act of healing He had tried to heal in private, but all was in vain. He had sternly charged those whom he had healed not to talk about it, but they had disregarded His injunctions. (Sometimes I think that ...

2827. Dealing with Our Doubts

Mark 9:14-32

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... not for those who, like our man in today’s Scripture, are courageous and humble enough to deal honestly with their doubts. “I believe, help my unbelief.” Carl Michalson says that this form of intellectual ping-pong is necessary for any of us who desire to have a mature and satisfying faith. In a classic little book by John Oman titled GRACE AND PERSONALITY (New York: Association Press, 1961) he says: “Unbelief is a sin, not because we force ourselves to believe or to suppress doubt and inquiry, but ...

2828. On Being the Greatest

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... the way?’ But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest.” (v.33) They were struck dumb with embarrassment for they recognized the immense discrepancy between Jesus’ denial of Himself (8:31-34) and their own desire for self-aggrandizement. After all, Jesus had just told them about His own suffering and death as the means by which He intended to win the hearts of the world. And yet, in the very shadow of the cross, they were still arguing about positions ...

2829. On Claiming One’s Inheritance

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... is to be played. And Jesus pushed them into even deeper levels of understanding. He told us that it was not sufficient just to refrain from committing murder; one must not even hate. One must not merely refrain from committing adultery; one must root out the evil desire itself. Luther was quite right: properly understood, the Commandments can lead us only to despair. We know what is right, but we can’t quite do it. We see the goal, but we can’t quite reach it - not all by ourselves. Then, when we feel ...

2830. The Lord Has Need

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... will be done...in ME!” That changes things a bit. Most of us are quite willing to have God’s will be done - as long as it does not cost us anything. In George Eliot’s novel MIDDLEMARCH, a character named Dorothea sums up her faith: “That by desiring what is perfectly good even when we don’t quite know what it is and cannot do what we would, we are part of the divine power against evil - widening the skirts of light and making the struggle with darkness narrower.” Is that not the task of every ...

2831. Not the Seasons for Figs

Mark 11:12-19

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... Prof. Lamar Williamson in “Interpretation” says “This placement is a strong clue to the interpretation of the text. The fig tree is a symbol for (ancient) Israel, embodied in the Temple and its leaders. Each appears to be thriving; neither is bearing the desired fruit; both are condemned by Jesus.” (Lamar Williamson, INTERPRETATION: Mark, Atlanta, John Knox Press, 1983, p.206) What Mark seems to be saying is that Jesus cursed a fig tree for lying with its leaves. It looked good from the outside, but ...

2832. Palm Sunday (Prologue)

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... from the studio audience would tell the host what they would like to have and do if they could be “Queen for a Day.” And then, on the basis of applause, one woman was chosen, and insofar as they were able, the sponsors fulfilled her wildest desires. She was given a number of valuable prizes and for one day she reigned as “Queen.” That sounds like what happened to Jesus, doesn’t it? Jesus was crowned “King for a Day” on that first Palm Sunday. The crowds ran after Him, spread their garments ...

2833. Holy Tuesday

Mark 11:27-33

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... is not an emotion. It is a position. This is made clear by Jesus’ words that we are to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves.” How do we feel about ourselves? If we are mentally healthy, we usually look favorably upon ourselves. We desire our own highest good. Christian love is not like. Christian love is more akin to “benevolence,” which comes from the Latin “bene volens,” meaning good will: willing the good for the other, whether or not you happen to like him or her. Psychiatrist Harry ...

2834. Good Friday

1 Corinthians 1:18--2:5

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... is that to us? No, there must be something more that was accomplished by Christ’s death on Calvary, than merely the example of a good man (even God Himself) suffering and dying for us. Neither of these views is totally wrong, but both leave something to be desired. 3.) A third view of what happened on the cross has been set forth by a Swedish bishop and theologian of our own day. Some 35 years ago, Swedish theologian Gustav Aulen wrote a little book which has had an enormous impact on the church, a book ...

2835. Blessings Beyond Our Dreams (Part 2 )

1 Chronicles 4:1-23

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... it was 20 I wanted, the youth and the free spirit. I was retired, but it was middle-age I wanted, the presence of mind without limitation. My life was over, and I never got what I wanted." Small wonder. "If only" is the loser’s creed. Jabez had no desire to play that game. So notice in verse 10, "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel." The one great privilege Jabez had was that, as a Jew, he was a Son of the Covenant. He had been named and claimed by God. Jabez cries out to God and declares ...

2836. The Road to Somewhere (I am the way, truth, and life)

John 14:5-14

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... next time.'' Then," he said: "Buddha came and looked into the well at me and said: ''My child, you must quit the condition in which you find yourself. Relax, fold your arms and meditate. Soon you will find Nirvana, which is the peace we all desire.'' I called out: ''Father Buddha, if you would help me out of this well, I could follow your teaching, but I cannot follow your instructions in this horrible place. Please help me!'' Then there came another man. His face reflected sorrow and suffering. He came ...

2837. The Lord's Prayer: Our Father

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... boys and a neighbor walked by and shouted, "Mr. Killebrew, if you keep playing baseball out on your front lawn, you will not have any grass left." Mr. Killebrew said, "Dear sir, I am not raising grass, I am raising four children." It is my hope and great desire that everyone here today knows that the God who Jesus describes as Abba, Father, delights in you, whether you are male or female, young or old, rich or poor, black or white, American or Asian. All are precious in his sight. This God loves you so much ...

2838. The Lord's Prayer: Deliver us from Evil

Matthew 6:5-13

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... that EVIL is the word LIVE spelled backwards. So Evil, in the sense that Dr. Peck shares, is the exact opposite of the way that God intended us to LIVE. Instead of living life with God''s design, we "lust" to live on our own dreams and desires. Dr. Calvin Miller shares in his marvelous writing AN OVERTURE OF LIGHT on page 46: "All lust is strong narcotic Nominating different hungers Which we suppose we need: Wine, wantonness, food and leisure All kill us one link at a time And in the coiling, spiraling ...

2839. GIVE ME YOUR SINS: The First Word

Luke 23:26-43

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... a gun and taking his revenge, he joined God''s team and continued the missionary witness that his father had given his life for. You can only forgive like that when you have stood at the foot of the cross. Yes, we often do hold onto grudges and desires for vengeance like they were valued treasure--but it is a type of treasure that will bury us without hope or love. Perhaps some of you have heard about a woman who was rushed to the emergency room because she was quite ill. After a battery of tests, the ...

2840. I THIRST: The Fifth Word

John 19:28-37

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... divinity in order to completely identify with us. We know that in John 7:37 Jesus declares: "If any one thirsts, let him come to me and drink." Jesus knew that in the soul of every human being there is a sense of want. The soul of every single person desires to be filled, and there is no joy in the human soul unless God fills it. We are not here to manipulate life to serve our own ends. We are here to serve the living God. That is our number one priority in life. Everything else is a poor substitute ...

2841. Sealed with a Prayer: The Seventh Word

Luke 23:44-49

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... his eyes spotted the writing on the bottom of the painting which read: "All this I did for thee. What hast thou done for me?" In that moment, he saw the truth about God, and the truth about himself--and the power of the Cross. It reawakened in him a desire to recommit his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Church. We have probed the meaning and the mystery of the Cross. Now, let the "Cross" do it''s work. Pick it up and carry it. It will be the most meaningful thing you have ever ...

2842. Where the Bread Loaf Is Not a Stone

Matthew 7:7-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... physical food or fun. Life is not just food and fun. The richest can be the poorest if they do not know that; and the poorest can be the richest if they do know that." (2) Jesus knew that the real human hunger, beneath all our other hungers and desires, is the hunger for God. When we deny that hunger for God, or attempt to satisfy it with false and empty substitutes, we end up with only a proud self-righteousness. And something inside of us dies. Please, do not fill your life with "pectin" only to discover ...

2843. The First Commandment: Who's on First?

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... student''s life. He eventually wound up taking the young man home. When God is not the No. 1 priority in our life--without our eternal home in God--we make ourselves susceptible to those who would wish to shape and mold our lives for their own desires and profit. Israel had just been delivered from such a disastrous situation. The only way they could remain a free people was to follow the God who had set them free from Pharaoh''s harsh bondage. They were headed for the Promise Land, not just anywhere. But ...

2844. The Second Commandment: What Is Your Golden Calf?

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... jealous of others gods, not because they threaten Him, (He really is very secure) but because they threaten us. When Israel was guilty of idolatry it was Israel who suffered, and God’s jealousy was His distress at her folly and His sorrow at her suffering. His desire was to have her worship only the highest and the noblest. He was jealous of the false gods she went after because they were not worthy of her. He thought more highly of His people than they did of themselves. They were too easily pleased. It ...

2845. The Third Commandment: God's Last Name Is Not...?

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... It makes my conversation so pleasing to everyone. 6. It leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind as to my good breeding. 7. It impresses people that I have more than an ordinary education. 8. It is an unmistakable sign of culture and refinement. 9. It makes me a very desirable personality among women and children of culture and refinement. 10. It is my way of honoring God, who said, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain." I believe no person is poor who has in his or her breast and on his or her lips ...

2846. The Fourth Commandment: The Rhythm of Rest or the Rat Race

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... of Africa. The hunters from New York City wisely acquired the services of some of the natives who knew the land to help carry the provisions. The head of the safari paid the natives well and worked them long days and nights to get to their desired location. Everybody was tired and weary. Finally, one of the natives was selected to tell the safari leader they needed a rest--a day off. The safari leader, being a good New Yorker, offered to double their salary (overtime as we would call it). However, the ...

2847. Don't Let Your Tongue Bite You

James 3:1-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... I try to get a word in.) I talk and share with our church secretaries. I talk on the telephone. I meet people for lunch. I have appointments to talk--I pray. Simply put: we all talk a lot. Now you can see why God is concerned about it--and desires us to consecrate it to Him. I am told that two kinds of birds fly over our nation''s deserts: the hummingbird and the vulture. The vulture sees nothing but rotting meat because that is what the vulture looks for. They thrive on a diet of dead and decaying things ...

2848. Hissing in the Garden

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... letters of instruction and insight on how the Christian community is to resist the power of evil and its trappings and temptations. The Bible resounds with a crystal clear message. There is a power at work in the world whose mission is not of God''s design or desire. You may call it a variety of names but nevertheless it is very real. You may call it the devil, satan, the serpent or simply evil. The point is that even Jesus had to wrestle a power hostile to God working on the human scene. The Christian ...

2849. Love: The Greatest Commandment and the Greatest Challenge

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... arm. That night as Ken and Joni were discussing the event, Ken explained what happened in a beautiful description of Christian love. He said, "She set aside her goal in order to help a confused friend reach the finish line." That''s what love is, to set aside our desires in order to help someone else fulfill their needs. What the world needs now is more of that kind of love. (1) In John 13:34-35, Jesus gives his farewell command to his disciples. The time was short; if they were ever to hear his voice, they ...

2850. Blank Walls or Filled Lives (Part V)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... opening ourselves to the vision of life that God has for us so we will not see blank walls but have lives filled with purpose with God as the focus and destination of our journey. May our labors for the Lord reflect His love, not our desire for prestige and power. I want to share in closing a writing by Edith Lillian Young titled "Disappointment--His Appointment," which expresses exactly what happens when Paul sees his imprisonment in jail as a strategic place that God has placed him for the advancement of ...

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