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 351 to 375 of 426 results

351. Widows and Their Worries: Back to Bethlehem

Ruth 1:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the level of risk for them in finding a new home in Judah. It reflects the distance between Naomi’s people, the Israelites, and the Moabite women. It expresses the cross-cultural experience that awaits them. Nonetheless, Orpah and Ruth put Naomi first. They disregard the risks and doubts raised by Naomi, and in so doing they rival their mother-in-law’s resolve. Naomi retorts with an honest and humble confession (1:11–13), a second speech attempting to persuade them to keep their hope of a home ...

352. Judgment and Comfort: Part One

Isaiah 1:1-31

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... sacrifices, convocations, and individuals. In their rebellion against God, they have maintained “religion,” but in their practices they are corrupt. They cannot merit God’s grace by their “pious” activities. Their “hands are full of blood” (1:15), because they have disregarded the rights of the needy. It is impossible to pray for relief from the enemy as long as no compassion is shown to the oppressed. The proper response, then, to the grace of Yahweh is obedient faith (1:18–20). Obedient ...

353. A Marriage about to Break Up

Jeremiah 2:1-3:5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... him as young, lusty, and aggressive. But God’s favors, not Baal’s, made crops productive. God as partner spelled benefits. To walk after Baal was of no profit. “Worthless” is Jeremiah’s customary word for idols (8:19; 10:8, 15; 16:19). Disregard for God, departure from God, and courtships with another god spelled deep trouble for the covenant. In 2:9–13, a court lawsuit gets under way. It is the Lord Yahweh versus Israel. God the prosecutor claims that Israel’s behavior is unprecedented. Were ...

354. Keeping the Sabbath Holy

Jeremiah 17:19-27

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... Ten Commandments Jeremiah singled out the fourth because it was the easiest to observe; besides, it was a tangible sign of the covenant (Exod. 31:16–17). As with God’s instructions generally, so here, difficulty ensues for those who disregard them; blessing follows those who obey. After two three-month reigns (Jehoahaz; Jehoiachin) the promise of a stable monarchy (17:25–26) would be important. Political stability and religious commitment provide the setting for the good life. Appropriate sacrifices ...

355. Restoration of Isarel

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... contrast to Israel, the northern kingdom. “O righteous dwelling” (31:23 NIV 1984) refers to the temple on Mount Zion, God’s dwelling. A restored people will be a worshiping people. Farmers, settled on their land, often clashed with roaming shepherds who disregarded property rights. These will now coexist peacefully. The unexpected reference to sleep in 31:26 may mean: “This is all too good to be true.” The concluding section is in three parts, each beginning with “days are coming” (31:27–30 ...

356. Going Back on One’s Word

Jeremiah 34:1-7, Jeremiah 34:8-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... because the Babylonians leave to fend off the Egyptians, the king and others promptly go back on their word. The incident inspires a sermon. Covenant making must be taken seriously. The rescinding of covenant is ultimately an offense against God, for it disregards God’s stipulations. To profane or desecrate is to make commonplace, to rob something of its special character, to render something holy unholy. What if God in his covenant making waffled, as did Zedekiah? A paraphrase of the pun on freedom could ...

357. Vision of the Four Beasts

Daniel 7:1-14, Daniel 7:15-28

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... It appears that he is victorious over them until the Ancient of Days intervenes on their behalf and judges the horn. Then the righteous receive their reward: the kingdom. The angel explains that the fourth beast differs from the others by the intensity of its disregard of the laws of God and man. It “will devour the whole earth” (7:23). The ten horns symbolize the succession of power. But the little horn will wrest power from three other kings/kingdoms and will have less regard for human rights and for ...

358. The Great Day of the Lord

Zephaniah 1:14--2:3

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... one worthy of humanity’s loyalty, worship, and obedience. He is jealous of his rights as the king of the universe. The jealousy of God is therefore not an expression of suspicion but rather of precaution, so as not to permit his creatures to disregard his honor or to assume glory for themselves with little regard for him. The divine reaction of anger is an expression of his jealousy. His divine majesty has been wounded and demands retribution. The prophet began his oracles with an oracle of judgment on ...

359. Oracles of Judgment against Jerusalem and the Nations

Zephaniah 3:1-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... profane whatever is holy. The word “sanctuary” might also be translated “sacred” or “holy things.” Zephaniah does not specify whether the offensive behavior of the priests pertains only to the sanctuary or extends to all that is sacred. Profanation, nonetheless, is a disregard of God’s commands. In an indirect way Zephaniah warns Josiah not to trust the officials and religious leaders of Jerusalem. If he is to break away from the perverse pattern set by his father and grandfather, he has to be ...

360. No One Is Righteous

Romans 3:9-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... any excuse. In 3:10–18 Paul provides biblical evidence for his assertion that Jews have no advantage over Gentiles because they are sinners. In verses 10–12 he quotes Psalm 14:1–3 to confirm that the Jewish people are not righteous, as they disregard God. Psalm 14 laments the oppression of the righteous in Israel by evildoers within Israel (who say that “there is no God”). In verses 13–15 Paul shifts his attention from the abandonment of God to the wrongs done to the neighbor, citing a series ...

361. Questions about Food, Idolatry, and Freedom

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... of their behavior on the faith of the weak. Finally, Paul applies what he has said to the situation in Corinth. Some have already accepted invitations to dine in pagan temples in public view and are in danger of leading those with a weak conscience to disregard it and act insincerely. Thus the weak, for whom Christ died, will be led to abandon action that matches their convictions and perhaps even to depart from any attempt at morality, a path that leads to destruction (see 1 Cor. 5:5). When this happens ...

362. Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 20). For despite the fact that an idol has no real or personal existence, neither the reality nor the personal character of the evil that perpetuates a false worship can ever be doubted. Thus a Christian cannot participate in a meal at a pagan temple. To do so disregards realities and the inherent contradiction of trying to drink the cups of both the Lord and demons. Such action can only provoke the Lord to a jealous defense of his own unique right to be worshiped (Exod. 20:3; Isa. 42:8; Rom. 1:18–31) or ...

363. The Hidden Spiritual House

1 Peter 2:4-12, 1 Peter 2:13-25

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... silent about verbal witnessing), as on behavior. Non-Christians watch what we do. The word translated “see” means to watch over a period of time, implying prolonged observation. We must see to it that, even though we may be mocked (or apparently disregarded), the evidence of our lives will speak so loudly that, on the day of judgment, non-Christians will glorify God because they will have to concede that the testimony was laid before them quite unambiguously, even if they failed to heed it. What ...

364. Jesus or Niccolo?

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... Hebrews 4:15-16). When temptation comes your way will it be Jesus or Niccolo? The Bible says that we should keep on "looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3). Jesus or Niccolo? Who will you follow? Christ ...

365. A Jiffy for Eternity

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

... else in scripture, this conversation is recorded for our benefit. As witnesses to the heart-to-heart exchange that ensues we have an opportunity to learn as much as Nicodemus about what truly matters. What is intriguing is that Jesus essentially disregards Nicodemus' compliments and platitudes. Nor does the Lord take time to discuss whatever societal or religious relationships Nicodemus might have. Instead, the master turns his attention to the man's heart. In his own way, Jesus lets Nicodemus know that his ...

366. The Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... God has promised his providential care for life as we live it out daily in a normal fashion. He has not promised supernatural intervention when we decide to jeopardize life in order to prompt him to action. Satan’s deceptive use of Scripture disregards context and twists the words of God so as to make them imply something God never intended. How often this same procedure is repeated today in order to provide an apparent justification for personal prejudice! Some have interpreted this second temptation as ...

367. Jesus and Beelzebub

Mark 3:20-30

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... and all other sins, in that there is no forgiveness for the former. The idea of an unforgivable sin has haunted the minds of sensitive people in all Christian centuries, but all such anxiety is misdirected. As the context makes plain, Jesus’ warning is against disregarding his message by calling it Satanic (see esp. 3:30), a quite specific deed. A person doing such a thing would have no concern about Christ’s forgiveness for it. So, the very anxiety lest one may have done something that cuts one off ...

368. The Healing of a Blind Man at Bethsaida

Mark 8:22-26

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... disciples’ limited perception and their need for a fuller understanding of the meaning of Jesus’ mission. Additional Notes 8:22 Bethsaida: On the location of this town, see the note on 6:45. In a few ancient manuscripts we read “Bethany” instead, but this is to be disregarded in view of the strong support for the reading Bethsaida. Mark calls the place a village (vv. 23, 26), but we should think of a town of a few thousand people in the time of Jesus. 8:23 When he had spit on the man’s eyes: On ...

369. Jesus Before Pilate

Mark 15:1-15

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... legendary invention. This, however, is an argument from silence. Since the custom is referred to in all four Gospels, it must have been a part of ancient and commonly shared Christian tradition. Such a well-supported tradition should not be lightly disregarded. Further, there is some hint of the practice of releasing a prisoner at Passover in the ancient Jewish codification of rabbinic teaching called the Mishnah. (See Lane, pp. 552–53, for discussion and references to the literature.) Pilate senses that ...

370. No One Is Righteous

Romans 3:9-20

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... also stand under the prophetic condemnation of Israel. Calvin notes with typical sobriety that these vices are not conspicuous in any one individual, but are characteristic of human nature. His comment on verse 18 is a fitting summary, “every wickedness flows from a disregard of God” (Romans, pp. 128–29). 3:19–20 Paul follows the devastating testimony of Holy Scripture with his own conclusion: Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may ...

371. Righteousness Through Faith

Romans 3:21-31

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... served two functions. First, it covered sin provisionally. This is confirmed in verse 25, God did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. This does not mean that God overlooked or disregarded sin. The gravity of sin was equally heinous before Christ, although God allowed a partial remedy until a complete one should come. Patience with sin should not be mistaken for toleration of it. God, of course, would not be thoroughly good ...

372. Expel the Immoral Brother!

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... Corinth. From Paul’s comments in these verses one gathers the degree of misunderstanding was nearly complete, and while it is impossible to determine whether the Corinthians deliberately ignored or misinterpreted Paul, the earlier reference to arrogant disregard of the apostle (4:18) may indicate active resistance to Paul’s directions. In either case, Paul clarifies his position to preclude further misunderstanding. Paul had advised the Corinthian Christians not to associate with sexually immoral people ...

373. Food Sacrificed to Idols

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... to idols, Paul states what should have been self-evident, Food does not bring us near to God. From the discussion of this topic in chapters 8 and 10, one suspects that some members of the Corinthian congregation thought that their cavalier disregard for what and where they ate demonstrated their superior knowledge and religious freedom. Such aims did not edify either the relationships among the believers or the relationships between the carefree diners and God. In a balanced set of rhetorical phrases Paul ...

374. The Resurrection of the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... sin!” Moreover, he asserts that some are agnōsian, usually translated “lacking knowledge” and rendered ignorant in the NIV but best understood to refer to an active lack of knowledge about God. There is a difference between ignorance that actively disregards the truth and naiveté that is as yet uninformed. Paul charges the Corinthians with active ignorance; thus he sees himself naming their shame. Additional Notes 15:29 The practical nature and logical tone of the series of illustrative arguments in ...

375. Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

Revelation 15:1-8

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... s punishment of Israel will be if Israel fails to “pay attention to” God’s commands and keep all “the Lord’s decrees” (Exod. 15:26; Rev. 14:12). For those believers who wish to return to “Egypt” (or Babylon) and who are inclined to disregard God’s “eternal gospel,” John’s vision of the bowl-plagues is also a warning to repent in order to escape a similar destiny. 15:1–2 John sees another … sign, introducing the final celestial “sign” in a triadic sequence that began with the ...

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