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 3876 to 3900 of 5000 results

3876. The Father’s Blessing

Genesis 27:1-40

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... fill the God-hole. Just as mothers can point their children away from God, so can fathers. You can’t bless with the love of God, if you’ve not received it. In their attempt to prove themselves “somebody” through their achievements, fathers can be so ... moved away. I called him up just the other day. I said, “I’d like to see you , if you don’t mind.” He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I could find the time. You see, the new job’s a hassle, and the kids have the flu. But it’s sure nice ...

3877. The Golden Gate

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... lives doing what is unnecessary. C. The Psalmist continues: “My cup runneth over, it overflows.” The life Jesus came to give he gives abundantly. There is no scarcity. There is more than enough to go around, because this life is born in love and reborn in love and this love multiplies without end. So this life that Jesus came to give us abundantly is a life that is lived free from fear, uninhibited by enemies, not even death. It is life willing to risk losing life, because the promise is that there’s ...

3878. Your Money or Your Life?

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... , if they’d send to him the $10,000 their debt would be erased. Each Sunday the offering plate is passed and what we put in it reflects our gratitude for what we’ve been given and our compassion for those in need. We give out of love for the One who first loved us. Our offering is our worship. Today there’s an article on the front page of The Tennessean about how church members are now making their offering online. I know that’s the way we’re doing things. However, we need to keep the offering in ...

3879. An Unnerving Experience

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... New. But the center of our faith is Jesus. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the new Ark of the Covenant. If you come to a passage in scripture you do not understand, think about Jesus. Does the passage reflect the love and compassion of Christ? If not, then it is probably one that Jesus would say to us, “You have heard it said . . ., but I say to you . . .” Christ is the perfect revelation of the Creator. As the voice said to the three disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration ...

3880. The Darkness of a Youniverse

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... nothing is taboo, anything goes in the pursuit of calling out your name in the dark. No wonder this Youniverse is filled with people who do “what is right in their own eyes.” Oh, by the way, this Youniverse is the biblical definition of hell. John 3:16, God’s love of this world, requires of us John 3:21, for us to come into the light. We have a choice. Let there be Light. Let there be links. Or . . . Let there be Las Vegas. Let there be a de-linked Youniverse. When does night become day? When you can ...

3881. An Easter Heart

John 20:1-9

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the place(s) I’ve visited. I tell her that she “has my heart,” and to symbolize that I bring her back hearts made of every material imaginable in every form imaginable to convey to her the unimaginable love I have in my heart for her. Since the barn-owl has the face of a heart, sometimes these love-icons are in the form of owl figurines. My “heart hunts” are one of the favorite things I do “on the road.” Over the years, Soren has amassed a major heart collection, and often takes one or more ...

3882. The Healing of Jairus' Daughter and the Hemorrhaging Woman - Sermon Opener

Mark 5: 21-43

Illustration

James W. Moore

... death!" "No, Daddy," the little girl said, "I'm hugging you to life!" This was the greatness of Jesus. He took people where they were and hugged them to life. That is precisely what we see Jesus doing here in this dramatic passage in Mark 5. He is loving needy and hurting people, hugging them to life. This passage is a fascinating one because here we have a story within a story, or two healing stories rolled into one and the people involved could not be more different. On the one hand, the family of Jairus ...

3883. Proper 14

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Psalm 130:1-8, John 6:25, 41-51, Ephesians 4:25–5:2

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... circumstances. Hear our prayers for those who suffer from unidentified illness, and from illnesses that, though diagnosed, are beyond our present knowledge to cure. Give assurance to all whose days are numbered that you have not forgotten them and have a place prepared for all who love you and the family of God. God of all times and places, we praise you for all your servants who having been faithful to you on earth, now live with you in heaven. Keep us in communion with them until we meet with all your ...

3884. Proper 17

Psalm 45:1-17, Song of Songs 2:1-17, Mark 7:1-23, James 1:17-27

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... springtime, summertime, wintertime, year after year. Grant wisdom to those who counsel those to be married and grace to those working out difficulties in their relationship. Strengthen our society in its ability to care for children in families through the loving care of both parents and in substitute families for those who are orphaned. May we not put economic prosperity and corporate profits above the adequate care of children with working parents. Continue among us gifted writers and composers and movie ...

3885. Proper 4

Mark 2:23-3:6, Psalm 139:1-24, 1 Samuel 3:1--4:1, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... support of the household, or a mother on whom everything depended, has been taken away. Mend homes that have been broken, and bring together again those who have been separated from one another; and in such homes bless children who have been despoiled of the love that was their right to have. Comfort and heal those in illness and pain, those whose nerves have broken under the tension of living, those whom the kindly light of reason has left, those who in their own foolishness have become the victim of drugs ...

3886. Easter 2

Psalm 133:1-3, John 20:19-31, Acts 4:32-37, 1 John 1:1–2:2

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... too prone to go by our feelings and not to accept the witness of the apostles, believing his victory to be our victory over sin and death. Victorious Spirit, overcome our doubts and fears as we read and hear the apostolic witness. Increase our love as well, for we need to love others who are not as lovable as Jesus Christ. Amen Declaration of Pardon Pastor: Friends, hear the good news! The victory that defeats the world is our faith. People: We are victors over evil by believing that Jesus is the Son of God ...

3887. Proper 21

Psalm 91:1-16, Jeremiah 32:1-44, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... family and friends who are sick and in critical health and give us reason to rejoice in their healing or in your reception of them in the hour of death. Eternal God, the God not of the dead, but of the living, we remember with thanksgiving those of our loved ones whom you have received into the home of the blessed. Dust they were and to dust have returned but their spirits are alive and at home with you beyond our sight. Take us at the last out of all suffering and sorrow to your joyful Presence and eternal ...

3888. Easter 6

Psalm 67:1-7, John 5:1-9, John 14:23-29, Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... OF THE DAY Open our eyes, Divine Healer, that we may see glorious visions of what you will accomplish for humanity at the end of time. Open our ears that we may hear, and open our hearts that they may heed the words that you say. Let our love for you be made evident by our readiness both to trust and to obey your guidance by the Holy Spirit. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING We are thankful for glimpses of blue skies through clouds of trouble, good creator, for visions of a beautiful city beyond the dirt and ...

3889. Easter

Psalm 118:1-29, Jeremiah 31:1-6, Matthew 28:1-10, John 20:1-18, Acts 10:23b-48, Colossians 3:1-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND COMMEMORATION You are good to all, O God, and your compassion is over all you have made. Hear our intercessions in the name of Jesus Christ who was with you when you created the world and whom you gave to the world because you loved us so much. Renew the church by your life-giving Spirit, teaching us everything we need to know and reminding us of all that Jesus said to his disciples. Enable the church by the same Spirit to do even greater works than his, because he returned to you ...

3890. Easter 6

Psalm 66:1-20, John 14:15-21, Acts 17:16-34, 1 Peter 3:8-22

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... the hope that is in you, but make that defense with modesty and respect. PRAYER OF THE DAY Spirit of truth, grant us such further disclosures of the Father and the Son that we may be aware that God is with us and in us so that we may lovingly worship you and obey your commandments, even among those who do not receive you; through Jesus Christ, also our advocate with the Father. Amen PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING God everywhere, God with us, God in us, we may find you and know you anywhere. We are grateful that you ...

3891. Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Psalm 27:1, 4-9, Isaiah 9:1-4, Matthew 4:12-23, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... members who live abroad in strange cultures, that they may be received hospitably, and may we be open as well to those who live near us but may not speak our language or share our culture. Embrace the lonely and the weary with the comfort of your loving Spirit, and draw us all into close communion in your church. Hear our prayers for all who are tempted and striving and sinning, for those who have shamefully denied you and have lost heart and hope. Gentle Shepherd, find the lost and return them to your fold ...

3892. Shame On Who?

John 8:1-11

Sermon

James Merritt

... you to notice the last thing Jesus says to her in verse 11, "Go. From now on sin no more." (John 8:11, NASB) That one statement helps to clarify a great misunderstanding that some people take away from this story. We have all heard the saying many times, "God loves the sinner, but He hates the sin." Well, that is a theologically, absolutely, true statement. As you are going to see in a moment, this woman's sin is forgiven, but it is not excused. Jesus doesn't just wink at this sin. He does take her sin very ...

3893. Like a Good Neighbor – Jesus Is There

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

James Merritt

... won't stick my neck out for anybody." If you only do what you have to do in life, you are not a good neighbor. III. Love: What Is Mine Is Yours—I will Give It There is one other figure in the story who, as we all know, is the hero. "But ... special was not the color of his skin, but the compassion in his heart. No law could make the priest or the Levite stop, but love could make the Samaritan stop. You notice what the Samaritan did for this man: "...and went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil ...

3894. James 2:1-10

James 2:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... in them being “rich in faith.” God’s way and the world’s way are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Those whom the world despises will be “Rich” and will become “the heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him” (v.5). James’ words recall Jesus’ own beatitude — “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This promised “inheritance” is nothing less than the gift of grace and the endowment of salvation. In the first ...

3895. The Dark Side Arrives

Sermon

James Merritt

... shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods." Solomon held fast to these in love. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon was old ... who want you to join them on the dark side of sexual immorality that will say what you want to hear. They say things like "I love you"; "I will do anything to be with you"; "It can't be wrong if it feels so right"; "We deserve to have a little fun"; " ...

3896. The Bible: Head and Heart

Luke 4:21-30

Sermon

Gary L. Carver

... reject his Word because we just don't want to get involved; life is too crowded as it is. "Don't bother me with any more of those details. I may be in a rut but it's my rut and I like it." Then there are those who would love to change and have this new vision of a new reality in their lives but they just don't think they can do it. Well, let me tell you something. You can't! Not on your own power. It can only come about through the power and the presence of ...

3897. Weary in Well Doing

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Sermon

Donna Schaper

... down so that we could feel momentarily lifted up. We would not need such crutches. We would get out of bed in the morning eager to love someone and touch something of purpose and value. We would not go to bed at night until we had participated in God's plan to ... that life is sweet. The small has power both positive and negative. If a piece of foam can bring down a plane, a piece of love can lift it up again. How do we appear when we are no longer weary? When others are sour, we are sweet. When others are ...

3898. The Possible Dream

Genesis 45:3-11, 15

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... of a world power, and has saved his family, who will become the nation of Israel, from starvation. God does not cause evil things to happen but can and does work in and through those events to accomplish good. "Love your enemies." Miraculously, Joseph loves the jealous brothers, whose hatred deprived him of father and homeland, changing his life forever. "Do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27b). Surprisingly, Joseph greets the frightened brothers, not with swift justice, but with joyful reconciliation ...

3899. The Smell of Bread

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Sermon

Stan Purdum

... to the last hours of other people as they approach death. For one thing, there is the matter of Elijah trying to leave Elisha behind. I have seen people who had a terminal illness who for some time tried to stay upbeat and positive for the sake of their loved ones. I have also seen some of those folks come to a point where they can no longer carry the load of tending those who have gathered around them. Perhaps there is a point in the dying process where that kind of energy is gone, and the person seems ...

3900. Simeon and Anna: The Quiet of the Country

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the good of the Gentiles sa1vation in which he rejoices is for all people. So the second big idea wrapped in the persons of Simeon and Anna is that an experience of God should result in praise and witness and that all peoples are to be the recipients of love and grace. This is a personal matter, as well as a concern for the whole church. Let me share a story and I close. In the country of Sri Lanka, which used be called Ceylon , there is a small congregation with an unusual ministry. Sri Lanka is one of ...

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