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 276 to 300 of 357 results

276. A Marriage Made In Heaven

Hosea 1:2-10

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... Israel, Judah, and for all who hear this word — though we are unfaithful, God will forever be faithful. We gather around this promise still today. We are unfaithful to God. Despite our intention to love God, our attention is drawn to the expensive, lovely, and coveted things of this world. We want them and they proceed to control us. Despite our professions of faith in God, we place our trust in human rulers. Despite our desire to serve God, we end up serving ourselves and hope that God will understand ...

277. Coincidence or Providence?

Acts 16:11-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... was made from a juice found in minute quantities in shellfish. It took thousands of these small crustaceans to make a yard or two of purple cloth. Purple dye was rare and purple fabric was worth its weight in silver. Franchises for dealing in purple were highly coveted. That Lydia was a woman of considerable means is also evidenced by the size of her house. At the conclusion of this short vignette, she invites Paul and those who are with him to stay at her house. What makes this impressive is that Lydia did ...

278. Your Home Page

Hebrews 13:1-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... their practitioners from inheriting the kingdom of God. Immediately this author warns against the pitfalls of another form of lust — the love of money. Yet the Hebrews’ author goes beyond defining this love of mammon as just another form of covetousness, correctly discerning that it is a driving fearfulness—of poverty, of diminished self-worth, of validated value — that leads people to seek stability in wealth. Rather than a fear-driven “go for the gold” attitude, this admonition reminds readers ...

279. Hebrews 13: 1-8; 15-16

Hebrews 13:1-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... practitioners from inheriting the kingdom of God. Immediately this author warns against the pitfalls of another form of lust — the love of money. Yet the Hebrews’ author goes beyond defining this love of mammon as just another form of covetousness, correctly discerning that it is a driving fearfulness — of poverty, of diminished self-worth, of validated value — that leads people to seek stability in wealth. Rather than a fear-driven “go for the gold” attitude, this admonition reminds readers ...

280. Odd Ducks in a Rubber-Ducky World

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... or wholly unexpected. Hard-core “birders” have “life lists,” where they keep track of all the species they have personally seen over the years. The “rare birds,” those who only occur in certain areas and at certain times, are among the most coveted “life list” accomplishments. Everyone wants to “score” some really “rare bird.” You may have never strapped on a pair of binoculars. You may not know the difference between a robin and a raven. But if you are sitting in church today you ...

281. Uncovering Cover-Ups

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... for power and notoriety. "Do your own thing so long as it doesn't hurt anybody" is the popular slogan. If it gives you pleasure or makes you happy, it's okay. The late Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and recipient of the coveted 1993 Templeton Prize in Religion, will be remembered by many as President Nixon's rough and tough "hatchet man." Now a remarkable "born again" Christian and tireless worker for prison reformation, Colson says that our culture has "spent the last several years determined ...

282. Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

Acts 20:13-38

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... of the congregation, are subject to the authority of God’s message (the Scriptures). 20:33–34 As the speech drew to a close, Paul once more set before the elders the example of his own conduct among them. Far from taking a reward, he had not even coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing (v. 33; cf. 1 Cor. 9:15–18). These were traditional forms of wealth in the ancient world and symbols of status (cf. 1 Macc. 11:24; James 5:2f.). Paul’s ministry had been entirely disinterested. Rather than rely ...

283. Rules for Holy Living

Colossians 3:1-17

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... that is forbidden but is pursued in order to satisfy one’s desires. Galatians 5:16, for example, says “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires [epithymia] of the sinful nature.” The last vice to be mentioned is greed (pleonexia), or covetousness (RSV), literally, a desire to have more, to appropriate another’s possessions. Since the NT has many warnings against this sin (cf. Mark 7:22; Rom. 1:29; 1 Cor. 6:10; Eph. 5:3), it is not clear whether its occurrence here is linked with ...

284. Concluding Exhortations

Hebrews 13:1-25

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... further that he has written “briefly” (NIV translates only a short letter), the implication being that he is able to elaborate these matters at greater length when the occasion presents itself (cf. the restraint in 9:5b and 11:32). In the meantime he covets the readers’ attention to the important document he is sending to them, though it seems lengthy and difficult. 13:23 The readers are now informed (I want you to know is lit., “know”) about the release of our brother Timothy. It is probable ...

285. Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... judge your neighbor fairly” (Lev. 19:15). If, as the Old Testament claims, God is an impartial judge and if they claim to judge according to his standards, how dare they act unjustly, prejudicing their decision in favor of the rich man because they covet his wealth and power? While looking at the specific example James gives, however, one must not ignore the wider application. Would he be any happier if the poor person were cold-shouldered in a worship meeting? Would the poor person be any less wronged ...

286. The Christian and the World

James 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... the sword, but not so many as have fallen because of the tongue” (Sirach 28:17–18; cf. 28:21). Likewise early Christians connected anger, jealousy, and murder (Didache 3:2; 1 Clement 3:4–6:3). So it is not necessary to assume a corrupt text. The term you covet is the verb form of the noun used in 1:14. This is further proof that both passages speak of the same desire or evil impulse. 4:3 The key word is pleasures, for it is the same word found in 4:1 (“desires [for pleasure]”—while the NIV ...

287. The Waters of Marah and Elim

Exodus 15:22-27

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... healing in the 613 Sinai laws is extensive (Exod. 19–Num. 10:10). Community order in itself is a health issue. Keeping the Ten Commandments (e.g., you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet) deeply reduces violent crime in any community. The Sinai laws are also full of legal procedures with extensive instruction on how to maintain a just court, establishing a system of rule by law rather than by force. The laws also addressed medical concerns, including ...

288. Ai Destroyed

Joshua 8:1-29

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... comparatively insignificant battle at Ai in more detail that the one at Jericho. This is because the lessons learned at the ruin named Ai are more important than the collapse of the walls at Jericho. Defeat at Ai teaches the perils of coveting and disobeying the commands of God. One should never underestimate the enemy, and ever-present danger demands a total dedication of resources, careful planning, and decisive action by the leader. The heaps of stones can teach every generation that the Lord ultimately ...

289. Restoration of Israel

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... This is not an absolute contrast between the old and new covenants. In the first place, we should notice that the new covenant does not eradicate the law. Further, the old covenant’s provisions were not strictly external (remember the tenth commandment [“You must not covet”] among other things). The old covenant was not simply an external religion expecting only appropriate external behavior. It, too, was a religion of the heart (Deut. 6:6; 10:12, 16; 11:18; 30:6, 14). We are probably to read this as ...

290. False Prophets

Micah 2:6-11

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... verse 6, it interprets Micah’s opponents to be other prophets who are preaching false words of weal. But in my estimation that is a misreading. Rather, Micah’s adversaries here are the powerful oppressors of verses 1–3 who, despite their greedy covetousness, feel religiously secure. The text of verses 6–7 is badly damaged, but it probably should be read as follows: “Do not preach,” they preach. “Do not preach these things (i.e., judgment). Disgrace will not overtake us.” Should this [i.e ...

291. The Promised Glory of the New House

Haggai 2:1-9

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

... 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 in a nutshell the promises expressed in passages such as ...

292. No Confidence in the Flesh

Philippians 3:1-11

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... sailors’ hope of making Phoenix and spending the winter there; Rom. 1:10, of Paul’s prayer that it may be possible for him at last to visit Rome; 11:14, of his hope to promote the salvation of his fellow Jews by moving them to covet a share in the gospel blessings so much enjoyed by Gentile believers. See BDF, §375. The noun exanastasis, “resurrection,” is unparalleled in NT; the addition of the prefix ex- before the regular form anastasis (used, e.g., in v. 10) reinforces the significance of the ...

293. Thanks for Their Gifts

Philippians 4:10-20

Understanding Series

F. F. Bruce

... burden is That go on pilgrimage: Here little, and hereafter bliss, Is best from age to age. “Be content with what you have” (Heb. 13:5) seems to have been a general precept in the early church. This attitude is the opposite of covetousness, against which both Jesus (cf. Luke 12:15) and his disciples uttered solemn warnings, describing a “greedy person” as “an idolater” (Eph. 5:5). The word rendered content (Gk. autarkēs) was current in Stoicism to denote the ideal of the totally self-sufficient ...

294. Abram and Lot Separate

Genesis 13:1-18

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... way. Usually several years elapsed between these encounters. On this occasion Yahweh came to affirm Abram with a special assurance in recognition of the gracious way he had treated Lot. By letting Lot choose the most fertile area of that region, Abram had avoided covetousness; he did not grasp after the land of promise at the risk of alienating his nephew. Yahweh commanded Abram to lift up his eyes. This command serves as the counterpart to Lot’s looking up and choosing the most fertile place (v. 10). We ...

295. Obedience Commanded

Deuteronomy 4:1-14

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... The parallel rhetorical questions show that the two are inseparable functions of each other. A government such as Ahab’s, which exchanged Yahweh for Baal, soon found it possible to sacrifice Yahweh’s just laws and Naboth’s honor and patrimony all on the same altar of covetous greed (1 Kgs. 21). The prophet Hosea saw that the demise of a just and caring society was the result of the loss of the knowledge of Yahweh (Hos. 4). 4:11 On the symbolism of fire here and elsewhere in the OT, see Miller, “Fire ...

296. Driving Out the Nations

Deuteronomy 7:1-26

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... conquered and certain groups of Canaanites were definitely still breathing, even if somewhat heavily from being put to forced labor (Josh. 13:13; 15:63; 16:10; 17:12f.; Judg. 1). 7:25–26 In Josh. 7, Achan disregards God’s command, “do not covet . . . do not take [silver and gold] for yourselves.” The subsequent destruction of his whole family was not the normal judicial consequence of theft (theft was not punishable by death in normal law), but a ruling under the special laws of the ḥērem, which ...

297. Miscellaneous Laws

Deut 23:15–25:19

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... flesh on to the basic principle of loving God through loving the neighbor. 24:1–22 The majority of laws in this chapter have to do with restraining exploitation and greed for the sake of protecting the needy. The eighth and tenth commandments (prohibiting theft and coveting) seem most closely linked to this section, but as before, the order of laws is not sharply defined. 24:1–4 As Jesus himself points out (Matt. 19:7–8), this law is not a command to divorce wives but a provision that regulates those ...

298. Naboth’s Vineyard

1 Kings 21:1-29

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... but two sides of the same coin, so far as the OT is concerned (cf. Exod. 20:1–17). Abandonment of God (Exod. 20:1–6) inevitably leads to abandonment of righteousness; we see the reality of this in 1 Kings 21—in this society given over to idol-worship, covetousness (21:1–6; cf. Exod. 20:17) leads on to false testimony, murder, and theft (1 Kgs. 21:13–19; cf. Exod. 20:13, 15–16). 21:4–14 We have already seen hints that it is Jezebel, and not the rather passive Ahab, who is the real driving force ...

299. Marriage, Sexual Intimacy, and Spiritual Devotion

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... , because it is based on his strength and righteousness, the darkness cannot overcome it. Quote: Erma Bombeck. Humorist and author Bombeck says of her family, “We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us ...

300. Unity and Community (Part 1)

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... of the prophetic promise.10 Illustrating the Text The gifts of the Spirit are meant for service, not for our self-glorification. Personal Stories: Tell about a time you were trusted by someone to buy or deliver a gift for a third party but ended up coveting the gift. Maybe your parents gave you money to buy Christmas presents for a sibling, or an organization trusted you to spend a gift budget on a peer. In any case, you shopped with your own preferences in mind, bought something you would have wanted, and ...

Showing results