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 3301 to 3325 of 5000 results

3301. A Wandering Aramean

Genesis 12:1-8

Sermon

... mistake. Arameans are dirty; Arameans are devious. As an inheritor of an ancestry, it's important to know our common past is valuable. But it's also important to know it's not always beautiful. We should know we have the value of living in a long line of the faithful, but the ancestors of even the best of us seldom are something to brag about. Otherwise, we would think we are only pale successors and could never measure up to them. In the wake of the televising of Roots, historian Kenneth Thomas published ...

3302. Repent!

Acts 2:14-41

Sermon

... 's" to say to make things right with God. And repentance is for fundamentalists with their altar calls and fervent promises to start a new, saved life. But who speaks of repentance for congregations such as ours? Repentance was given a bad name by those cartoons of long-haired, wild-eyed old men carrying placards demanding REPENT - THE END IS NEAR. It's embarrassing, this repentance. It's foreign to us. That's why we feel out of our element before the Bible's repetition of the word. Yet it's there in page ...

3303. The Focus of Fitness

Jeremiah 18:1--19:15

Sermon

... . It may happen that the potter is dissatisfied with what is there, and will pick up the lump, make it into a ball, and start over. As long as the clay is soft and pliable, it can be reworked. But if there is a dry spot or some foreign substance, then the clay will need ... been starving. • People are killing themselves with drugs. So what? This is nothing new. • People are victims of injustice. So what? As long as it isn’t me, what do I care? The Son of God showed us how to care. He became one of us; he ...

3304. Authority Through Servanthood

Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... seductive force. I learned something about that at the tender age of nine. As a fourth grader I had a marvelous teacher whose name was Tillie Laughlin. Her name alone is a hint of her awesome gifts as a teacher; she was no ordinary person and as long as I live I am in her debt for her gifts in teaching us the basics of the English language. Diagramming sentences was her forte, and she made us diagram until we could see subject/predicate, noun/verb, and prepositional phrases in our sleep. (I envision her ...

3305. The Resurrection of the Body

John 11:17-37

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... . To know that the blank, the ache, and the emptiness which death brings have been met and conquered by one who is equal to the task is the best news we can ever receive. If you know what it means to listen for a footstep that never comes, to long for a voice that is no more heard, then you can cherish all the more this word of Jesus Christ which is so majestic and unfathomable. Each time we speak the Apostles’ Creed we conclude with this dozen-word phrase that spans all eternity in its meaning: "... the ...

3306. Where Easter Begins

John 20:1-9

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... can be lived with no reference to that empty grave in Jospeh’s garden. I think of such a person today. She is spending her twenty-fifth Easter in a hospital or nursing home. Shirley Krier is totally paralyzed by a crippling disease. Her husband left her long ago and has remarried. She has no children. Not more than a week ago someone stole the diamond out of her wedding band as she lay helpless in her bed at a nursing home. Such tragic and heartless mistreatment of one human against another lowers our ...

3307. Believing Is Seeing

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... by St. Matthew in his seventeenth chapter. In the face of worn out people who had given in to the problem and who could see nothing more because they believed nothing more, Jesus cried out with a holy passion, "O faithless generation, how long must I be with you? O perverse people, how long must I bear with you?" Then he brought the healing that restored the tortured life to wholeness. His disciples asked Jesus why they could not do anything for the lad. Jesus told them that if they had faith as a grain of ...

3308. The Miracle Of an Opened Mind

Luke 24:36-49

Sermon

Dean Lueking

... upon the lips of human beings. As the news of our redemption from sin is faithfully spoken, Christ comes to his people. He opens our minds. He does so through the scripturally-formed testimony that has come down to us from the apostles whom he chose so long ago. The Center Is Christ This is how we are to receive the Scriptures, as witness to the grace of God in Christ Jesus. From Moses onward in the Old Testament, up through the prophets and the Psalms, the whole story of Israel’s destiny under God comes ...

3309. Is the Lord Among Us or Not?

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Can the story of an event, which occurred almost three thousand years ago have anything meaningful or significant to say to us in our contemporary, human situation? The exodus of the people of Israel out of enslavement in Egypt happened that long ago. It is a story with which most of us are familiar; our lesson is a part of that story. In the lesson we find the people of Israel somewhere in the desert wilderness of the Negev, or Sinai area of the southern part of Israel, on their journey toward ...

3310. Breath for Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Sermon

... no one responded. He jumped and tried to reach the top, but could not reach it. He clawed and tried to make steps so he could climb out, but to no avail. Finally, he sat down in the corner and decided he would wait until the morning. It was not long until another man came walking along the same way and fell into the same grave. The first man simply sat in the corner and listened while the second man yelled and yelled. He reached for the top and could not reach it. He clawed and tried to climb out. Finally ...

3311. Whose Meal Is It?

Exodus 12:1-30

Sermon

... Red Sea and the enemies of God died in the Red Sea? Do you remember how they passed through the wilderness? It took a long time to pass, but they passed through it. Then they crossed over Jordan into the Promised Land. Do you remember? It needs to be ... , who is Jesus Christ. Remember it was for us, it is for us and it is about life and about love. I love to sit around long tables, or even better, large round tables where the whole family can gather and sit and look into each other’s eyes so that you see ...

3312. Loosed from the Pangs of Death

Acts 2:14-41

Sermon

... When death comes there is a state of shock because of the finality of it. It does not matter if it happens suddenly or after a long illness. It is simply hard for us to deal with the reality of it and to turn loose and accept what has happened. I am ... We are the Easter people. We are people of the Resurrection. The glorious good news of the Resurrection is not that once upon a time, a long time ago, God had power and raised up his Son, Jesus Christ. It is that that same God lives, and because he lives he has ...

3313. There's Only One Right Way

Matthew 24:1-35

Children's Sermon

... one real way to the center of the maze. Did you know that it is the same way with real life? Jesus told us a long time ago that there would be a lot of what he called "false prophets" who would try to teach us wrong ways of living. Some ... you get the things you want. Some of these false prophets will teach you that it doesn't make any difference what you believe as long as you believe something. But Jesus teaches us differently, and his teaching is that we should believe in him and no one else. He says ...

3314. The Big Advantage

John 16:5-16

Children's Sermon

... in my Bible this week to see what special thing I could tell you. Did you know that the Bible is more than just one book? It is a whole library of books, for there are 66 books in the Bible. Some of the books are very long, while others may only be one page long. The Bible is a very important book, the most important book in the whole world. Someone once asked me if I had an advantage with God because I read my Bible so much. Do you know what the word advantage means? It's a very special ...

3315. ADVENT 1

Jeremiah 33:1-26, Luke 21:5-38, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon Aid

... in the world prior to his return and urges his disciples to prepare for the end by watching and praying. By the time Luke composed his gospel, the Parousia was delayed. In Luke's apocalyptic discourse he regards the church as here to stay for a long time. During this waiting period for Christ's return, there will be distress, fear, and foreboding among the nations. In the church there will be dissipation, drunkenness, and cares about life. As the fig tree tells of the coming of summer, Christians are to see ...

3316. Proper 12

Lk 11:1-13 · Col 2:6-15 · Gen 18:20-32 · 2 Ki 5:1-15

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... is the best. 2. No is Not the Answer. 11:5-10. Need: It is common practice among us to ask once and forget it. How long should we pray for something? Is unanswered prayer a "no" answer? in the text Jesus teaches that there is no limit to the number of times ... The church is the heaven, the salt, the society. If it were not for the church, perhaps the nation would have been destroyed long ago. But Sodom was destroyed because ten righteous people were not in the city. Diogenes could not find one honest man in his ...

3317. PROPER 13

Lk 12:13-21 · Col 3:1-11 · Ecc 1:2; 2:18-26 · 2 Ki 13:14-20a

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... , he takes off the worldly ways of life and puts on Christ's way of life. Though he lives in the world, he now lives in Christ who is in the heavens seated in glory at the right hand of God. Surely, the average church member has a long way to go to realize this goal set forth in this Lesson. The sermon is needed to encourage and prod members to increasingly add the transcendental dimension to their daily lives. Outline: With a transcendental quality of life a Christian A. Puts off the earthly ways of life ...

3318. Proper 15

Lk 12:49-56 · Jer 20:7-13; 23:23-29; 38:4-10

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... -2, 12-17 Surrounded by past faithful ones, we are to run the race of faith with Jesus as our model. On the basis of a long list of people of faith in chapter 11, the author of Hebrews calls upon us to run the race of faith. The faithful of the past ... Faith. 12:1-2. Need: For the Christian, life is a matter of keeping and living by faith. In Hebrews 1 1 , we were given a long list of people of faith. "Therefore" of our text refers to the faithful of Hebrews 11. On the basis of others' faith and in the light ...

3319. Proper 19

Lk 15:1-10 · Hos 4:1-3, 5:15--6:6 · 1 Tim 1:12-17 · Ex 32:7-14

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... teach new truths, nor to perform miracles to demonstrate the power of God. No, he came to save sinners. For this reason, the cross is the central symbol of the church. We may not accept some teachings and we may doubt some miracles, but they do not matter as long as we accept Jesus as our Savior. 3. Example (v. 16). "If he can do it, I can do it, too!" If anyone like Paul who actively sought to destroy the church, cursed Jesus' name, and put to death believers in Christ - if anyone like that can be forgiven ...

3320. The Nativity of Our Lord

Luke 2:1-20 · Isa 9:2-7 · Tit 2:11-14

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... is the happiness that withers with the Christmas tree which is discarded soon after Christmas day. Joy is different from happiness. It is deeper because it is based on good news: a Savior is born to save us from our sins. It is a joy that remains long after the Christmas celebration is over. For this reason people who are unhappy at Christmas because of unfortunate circumstances can still have a great Christmas of joy. 4. Peace (v. 14). The Prince of Peace is born and the angels sing of peace on earth. In ...

3321. Christmas 1

Lk 2:41-52 · Col 3:12-17 · 1 Sam 2:18-20, 26

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... stand before God clothed with the perfect robe of righteousness given to us by Christ. 3. Continued (v. 26). Samuel "continued" to grow physically, spiritually, and socially. Jesus went one step further in his growth - mentally. For how long does one need to grow? Each needs a continual growth as long as we live. When we stop growing, we begin to ripen, rot, and die. One never reaches the point of perfection. The Christian keeps growing in faith, grace, and godly living until death. Lesson 2: Colossians 3 ...

3322. The Baptism of Our Lord

Lk 3:15-17, 21-22 · Acts 8:14-17; 10:34-38 · Isa 42:1-7; 61:1-4

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... and at baptism. In this case, the Spirit did not come even though they heard the Word and were baptized. The laying on of hands is a means of communication and transmission. The Spirit may come from God through a Spirit-possessed person to one longing for the Spirit. And the church still lays her hands for the transmission of the Spirit: baptism, confirmation, ordination, and healing. PREACHING POSSIBILITIES Three Lessons: Isaiah 61:1-4; Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Sources of the Spirit. Need: How ...

3323. Lent 4

Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 · 1 Cor 1:18-31 · 2 Cor 5:17-21 · Isa 12:1-6 · Jos 5:9-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... but to get them to become one with him. This is the reason for today's church to go to the worst, to criminals, to anti-God people. C. Sinners are wanted by God. The gospel story of a waiting father tells us about the heavenly Father who yearns, longs, waits for the sinner to come home to him. There is a warm welcome waiting, no questions asked, no scolding - only the joy of reconciliation. 2. With Whom Do You Identify? (Luke 15:11-32). In the parable there are three characters: the father and two sons. Ask ...

3324. A Desperate Question

Matthew 11:1-19

Sermon

George Bass

... , he was bothered by the reports that filtered down to him about the kind of ministry Jesus was engaged in. The training mission, on which Jesus had sent the twelve, seems to have precipitated a kind of personal crisis causing him to doubt that Jesus was the long-expected Messiah, and the matter had to be settled before it was too late. He must have wanted to die in peace; he had to have an answer to his question. In the movie, Desperately Seeking Susan, it is not really Susan, a veritable free spirit, who ...

3325. Joseph’s Dream

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

... in which an angel spoke to him, he believed. Had he heard about Zechariah? He probably knew nothing about that incident, but Mary must have told him her story about Gabriel’s appearance to her and his incredible news; Mary was to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah! Gabriel didn’t even make a personal visit to Joseph when he was awake, but simply appeared to him in a dream. And what a dream that must have been! Joseph must have awakened with a start, perhaps hoping the dream would go away. When ...

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