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 2926 to 2950 of 5000 results

2926. Why Matter Matters

2 Peter 3:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... us to accept the sacrament of matter. With the birth of Jesus, physical matter doesn’t just “matter,” but is deemed good. Even more than that, this incarnated physical matter is not just good, it is as sacred. As Paul put it (Romans 5:5), “the love of God is poured into our hearts.” God poured the divine essence into human flesh. The birth of Jesus blows apart any division between the “sacred” and the “profane.” The promise of the new heaven and the new earth that 2 Peter reminds us of is ...

2927. Traveling Tables

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... going all year round. The table feeds not just our bodies, but our souls. The table provides us with a sense of being and belonging that we long for during the rest of the year, not just over the holidays. Christians are a people called to live and love the Table. Not to over-indulge in food, but to bend over backwards and over-indulge in hospitality. The Table is our Temple. It is the place where Jesus called his followers to gather and live and give. The Table is what Jesus transformed from a place for ...

2928. The Condemning Heart

John 3:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... in response to this story. It was John 3 verse 17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” She noted that many of us have been familiar with John 3:16 from childhood, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” But, she notes, verse 17 is just as powerful: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world ...

2929. What Are You Waiting On?

John 11:1-16

Sermon

James Merritt

... that three things happen. I. God Is Glorified Jesus The first reason why God waits and the first clue that Jesus gives is found when He first hears of Lazarus’s illness. Let’s go back to verse three. “So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’” (John 11:3-4, ESV) There are four words that not only tell us why God ...

2930. Blessed Are the Abnormal

James 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” That’s an abnormal way of looking at life, but that is the Jesus way. But think of it this way: it’s not normal for the Son of God to give his life for our sins. Thank God, Jesus was abnormal. If he was, we wouldn’t ...

2931. Final Greetings

Ephesians 6:21-24

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... , which carries the meaning of immortal, incorruptible, or imperishable, may be just another way of saying forever. The NIV (as RSV, GNB) takes this word in connection with love, meaning that God’s grace is for those who love the Lord forever. Some commentators, however, feel that this makes an unjustified distinction between two kinds of love—eternal versus transient—and connect it instead with God’s grace. This has the effect of applying the word to God’s unlimited grace rather than to human ...

2932. Rules for Christian Households

Colossians 3:18-4:1

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... by the fact that in Ps. 33(32):18, for example, it is equated with hoping for God’s grace. What fear really means is a way of living which is afraid of nothing except of losing this one Lord, in the same way that a person who is in love fears nothing so much as losing the affection of the beloved” (Schweizer, p. 225). 3:25 It is interesting to note that the phrase there is no favoritism clearly is applied to masters in Ephesians 6:9, a point in favor of applying it to masters in Colossians as well ...

2933. Request for Prayer

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... ) in the sense, “to make straight” (see disc. on 1 Thess. 3:11). Here it carries the sense, “to direct.” But in each case the thought is of the removal of obstacles which hinder the desired end. This prayer is that the Lord would direct their hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. The heart is a comprehensive term for the inner self (see disc. on 1 Thess. 2:4; for Christ see note on 1 Thess. 1:1). Paul is praying, therefore, that their whole being might be concentrated on the ...

2934. Making One's Calling and Election Sure

2 Peter 1:1-11

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... Christian life (cf. James 2:20), but only the beginning—as a seed is intended to be the first stage of growth and ultimate maturity. Peter lists seven qualities, each of which is to be supplemented by the next, culminating in the characteristic Christian virtue of love (1 Cor. 13). As the new life of Christ within the new believer, begun by faith at conversion, is matured, so goodness will be developed. The goodness referred to in verse 3 is a divine quality. Here in verse 5 the human situation is in view ...

2935. Jonah's Anger at the Lord's Compassion

Jonah 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... reveled in being forgiven, but he wants no other wicked persons like himself to share in the same forgiveness. He is the model of the unforgiving servant in Jesus’ parable (Matt. 18:23–35). Third, Jonah is being told—as are we and all readers—that God’s love extends to the whole sinful, wicked world of violence and wrong. Jonah, who is really a symbol of all of God’s elect in this story, full of piety and orthodoxy, is not the only one to whom the Lord of heaven and earth extends forgiving mercy ...

2936. Going to War

Deuteronomy 20:1-20

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... . its laws on polygamy, slavery, and divorce). Seen from this perspective on the one hand, and in the light of the horrors and extremes of cruelty in ancient warfare on the other, the provisions of 20:5ff. and 21:10–14 are an exercise of neighbor love within the constraints of the grim reality of warfare. 20:1–4 Horses and chariots were the pride of the great ancient Near Eastern imperial armies, and Israel did indeed face them in the Canaanite wars. To a mere human calculation of odds they would induce ...

2937. Christian Success and Christlikeness

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... those belonging to God’s kingdom8is not their ability to talk but their empowerment by God’s Spirit. Those who truly belong to God’s kingdom evidence God’s presence; their pride is in Christ, not in themselves. 4:21 with a rod of discipline, or . . . in love. Paul now turns his reminder in verse 15, that they have a multitude of tutors (paidag?gos) but not many fathers, into a choice. How do the Corinthians want him to come when he returns for a visit? As a disciplinarian tutor who uses a rod9to ...

2938. The Lord Decides to Build David a House

2 Samuel 7:18-29, 2 Samuel 7:1-17

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... 8:47 = 2 Chron. 6:37; Esther 1:16; Job 33:27; Ps. 106:6; Prov. 12:8; Jer. 3:21; 9:5; Dan. 9:5). I will punish him. The verb used here (yakah) refers to corrective discipline. According to Proverbs 3:12: “The Lord disciplines [yakah] those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” The use of this same verb in 2 Samuel 7:14 is consistent with the preceding declaration that the Lord will regard the Davidic king as his son. a rod wielded by men. Several proverbs mention the “rod” (shebet) as an ...

2939. “Taste and See That the Lord Is Good”

Psalm 34:1-22

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... relationship to the negative fear that would harm us. The more we fear the Lord, the more the dread and terror of circumstances lose their hold on us. The answer to the question posed by the middle verse, “Who is the person who desires life and would love to see many good days?” (34:12, author’s trans.), is answered by the larger psalm—it is the one who fears the Lord. The moral code of verses 13–14 is an ethical description of that person, and the implications of this lesson are life transforming ...

2940. “As the Deer Pants for Streams of Water, So My Soul Pants for You, My God”

Psalm 42:1-11, Psalm 43:1-5

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this that is red in His apparel, His garments stained in blood; this whose visage is marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; this from whose head and hands and feet sorrow and love flow mingled down? This is the Christ. “I am the rearguard,” says Jesus.13 A hunger for God Biography: Frank Laubach. There have been many Christians in history who have earnestly sought the Lord, reminiscent of the psalmist in 42:1–2. One example is Frank ...

2941. Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36-50

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of the woman and the status of Jesus.) Jesus responds to Simon’s silent protest by telling him the parable of the two debtors (7:41–42). The point of the parable is plain—the one who is forgiven the larger amount will respond with more love and gratitude. A denarius was worth approximately a day’s wages. Simon’s reply (7:43) simply reflects a careful rabbinic answer. Jesus then applies the parable to the treatment that he has received from Simon and the woman (7:44–47). Jesus does not criticize ...

2942. Living as Children of Light

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Father’s newly adopted community and against the Spirit, who has been set as a seal on that newly united humanity (Eph. 1:13). Attending to these injunctions is what it means to put on the new self, to walk in newness. 5:1–6 · Therefore walk in love: Were it not for the intrusion of the phrase “therefore . . . walk” in 5:1–2, it would be natural to assume an unbroken connection between 4:32 and 5:1–2, in view of their shared emphasis on imitating God. The break, however, introduces a third way ...

2943. Thanksgiving and Prayer

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... :9). Paul and his associates also add here that grace and peace come “from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” placing the Lord Jesus along with the Father as the agent of salvation. 1:3–12 · Thanksgiving and Prayers for the Faith, Love, and Steadfastness of the Persecuted Thessalonians: The apostles begin the second epistle with a thanksgiving to God for the church (1:3–5), then discuss the final judgment of the persecutors and the relief the Lord will give to his afflicted (1:6–10). This ...

2944. Accept His Peace

John 4:1-26, Romans 5:1-11, Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... not 2,000 years ago. Today we would say that this woman had a serious problem with her relationships, particularly with men. Maybe she had a poor relationship with her father. We don’t know her situation, of course, but we do know that in order to give love you must have experienced love. Chances are this woman had such a low opinion of herself that she could not relate to a man as an equal but only as an object which he might use and cast away at his pleasure. Now she was looked down on by her community ...

2945. In Remembrance

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command. ‘It must be done . . . ,’ he said, and withdrew. The angel spoke again. ‘It would be less painful . . .’ The Creator interrupted softly. ‘But it wouldn’t be love.’” (4) And it wouldn’t be love, not in its most extreme form. Breaking the bread and drinking the cup reminds us of just what the cross cost God. It’s like a chart posted on the Daily Infographic website. It is a listing what it calls “The ...

2946. Apostles of Christ

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... ’s statement may mean either that he had already sent Timothy or that he is about to do so. The NIV translates this in a way that suggests the latter, but the matter is ambiguous and not crucial. More important is the description of Timothy: my son, whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. As Paul’s son (Gk., lit. “child”) Timothy is in a position not only to tell the Corinthians about Paul’s ways but also to show them the manner of life to which they are called. Timothy is already known to the ...

2947. The Trustworthy Lord Over Nature, Nations, and Armies

Psalm 33:1-22

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... stated until verse 18. He seeks not the “righteous” or the “upright” but those who fear him and whose hope is in his unfailing love. (c) The psalm’s literary form is not wise instruction to the people or even a prayer to God; it is hymnic praise. ... high theology need not entail a comfortable lifestyle for God’s people. This gap between what is possible under the sovereign and loving God and what is certain for God’s people in the here and now may help explain the posture of the congregation ...

2948. The Lord is God

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... them to become part of that very people of the God of Abraham (Ps. 47:9). The particularity of God’s historical actions must always be set within the universality of God’s redemptive purpose. To paraphrase a familiar NT text, God so loved the world, that he chose Israel. The grand climax of the whole sermon invites similar missiological and ethical reflection as its opening challenge. The emphasis on the uniqueness of Israel and of Yahweh speaks to the contemporary question of the uniqueness of Christ ...

2949. Deathbed Confessions

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... is its own reward’ is true. There are other reasons that we maintain our wedding vows, run our businesses in an ethical way, and love our families besides the fear of hell. We seek to live virtuous lives not out of fear but because we have looked around and ... of God we will seek to do right, because in the long run it is in our best interest and in the interest of those we love. There is a second reason why this is a troubling question. If God rejoices when one lost sheep, one lost coin, one lost boy is ...

2950. The God Who Comforts

Isaiah 40:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... came and went. A few days later another letter came from the old lady addressed to God. All of the workers gathered around while the letter was opened. It read: “Dear God, How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift. By the way, there was $4 missing. I think it must have been those thieves at the Post Office. Sincerely, Edna.” (1) Well, the ...

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