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 3951 to 3975 of 5000 results

3951. Getting Through the Grief

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Sermon

William J. Carl, III

... knew and was using them myself. Imagine the tears falling from David's eyes and all who were gathered there the day he delivered his eulogy. You sense that a deep friendship has suddenly come to an end. It's not hard to say "good words" about someone you loved, but how hard it is to say them about someone who tried to do you in. Yet, David does exactly that when he speaks of Saul. Maybe it was easier to lump them together. A eulogy about Saul alone would have surely taxed David's patience, but throwing him ...

3952. One Month Prescription

Illustration

Staff

... . Are you willing to give it a try?" When couples accept my challenge, the results are invariably successful. My prescription for creating love is simple: do ten things each day that you would do if you really were in love. I know that if people do loving things, it will not be long before they experience the feelings that are often identified as being in love. Love is not those feelings. Love is what one wills to do to make the other person happy and fulfilled. Often, we don't realize that what a person ...

3953. Do You Know How to Listen?

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... us put up three shelters one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Mark tells us that he did not know what to say, they were so frightened. Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” That has always been the Christian’s primary task — to listen to Christ, for he is the one who can guide us toward better relationships and a more fulfilling life. It is like a man named Ron Mehl who tells about playing golf one time at ...

3954. That We May All Be One!

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... still had to get up and move around. Church unity had nothing to do with whether you sang in four-part harmony, loved classical music, or sang about nothing but the blood. Church unity had nothing to do with whether you dunked three times forward ... foundation of the world. There's a hurting world that does not know Jesus yet, but they know about God, and if we live the love of Jesus they will see Jesus clearly. That means we must be known by one name only — that of Jesus. Everything else is just details. ...

3955. Saint Who?

Luke 6:27-36, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... the Roman occupation. There were some who put personal gain or personal security ahead of loyalty to their nation, ahead of love of their own people, and ahead of respect for the promises of God. Zacchaeus was one of them. Zacchaeus was working for ... rid of all this dirty money, then I'll come to you." It wasn't like that at all. No, Jesus was just there, accepting Zacchaeus and loving him and spending time with him. Zaccheaus didn't expect this. He didn't ask for it. But now Jesus was on his way over for ...

3956. Advent 1

Psalm 25:1-10, Jeremiah 33;14-16, Luke 21:25-36, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... , which erases corruption; set in motion a contentment with life and things so that we are not caught in voracious buying. Thank you for Jesus who moved through birth, childhood to adulthood, and shared your wisdom and your grace with all the world. Refresh us with love to give away. Amen! Benediction May the beauty of a sleeping baby fill you with wonder, the curiosity of a toddler dance in your toes, the anticipation of a lover carry you into tomorrow, the peace of Christ soothe your mind, and the joy of ...

3957. Advent 2

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79, Luke 3:1-20, Philippians 1:3-11

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... a transparent honesty that erases corruption; set in motion a contentment so that we are not caught in voracious buying. Thank you for Jesus who moved through birth, childhood to adulthood, and shared your wisdom and your grace with all the world. Refresh us with love to give away. Amen! Benediction May the beauty of a sleeping baby fill you with wonder; the curiosity of a toddler dance in your toes; the anticipation of a lover carry you into tomorrow; the peace of Christ soothe your mind; the joy of Holy ...

3958. Advent 3

Isaiah 12:2-6, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Luke 3:1-20, Philippians 4:4-7

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... our God; my soul sings forth its praise; God immerses us in loveliness in many marvelous ways. Sermon Idea The primary theme for the third Sunday in Advent is joyful living. In Zephaniah, people are told that there is no reason to be afraid (3:15), that God’s love will give new life (3:17), and that God will be joyful with them (3:17-18). In Isaiah, the idea of being unafraid shows up along with the image that “fresh water brings joy to the thirsty” (12:3). At the other end of the continuum, John the ...

3959. Did You Come Here to Die?

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... applauds my sacrifice. “They that passed by reviled him.” Mine is for O Positive. His for positively all. Mine, at best, will prolong a life for a while. His, without doubt, can save all forever. (1) Jesus died for us. What do we do in response to such love? The truth is, most of us could answer . . . not much. There was an article in the news sometime back about a teacher’s aide in Pennsylvania who had been suspended without pay for a year. It seems that she had worn a necklace with a cross on it ...

3960. Epiphany 7

Genesis 45:3-11, 15, Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40, Luke 6:27-36, 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-50

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... to seek our own happiness and God will see to it that our hearts are satisfied. In these next minutes, let us explore our desires and our behaviors. If they are not aligned with God, we have opportunity to do that now. Pray with me. Community Confession Loving God — we have not always been able to do to others as we want them to do to us. We have betrayed best friends. We have avoided whole truths. We have even used our power to aggrandize ourselves rather than provide for people in need of companionship ...

3961. Pentecost

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, John 14:8-17, (25-27), Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... be fit into any one name, any one word, any one animal; so there are many ways to spell God and we need them all if our psyches are to be free. The task/goal is to help ourselves remember that God loves us; another is to practice loving the way Jesus loved. Whether it was fifty days after the ascension or fifty days after the crucifixion, Pentecost was a time of celebration, of jubilee. The Pentecost story is the first opportunity the disciples have at marketing their understanding of the Holy Spirit. Peter ...

3962. Proper 6

2 Samuel 11:26--12:10, 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a, Psalm 5:1-8; 32:1-11, Luke 7:36--8:3, Galatians 2:15-21

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... us to be cheerful and expects us to be honest. Leader: In Holy Presence, we learn to be do-ers of goodness, to be compassionate, and to be thankful for what life brings to us. All: Together, we will listen for God’s voice and be thankful for divine love. Prayer Of Thanksgiving Gracious God — thank you for this place and your presence among us. Thank you for bringing us to this point in our living and learning. We want to be happy and so we seek to be continually aware of your affirmation. We are loyal ...

3963. Show Me Your Credentials

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... are quick to point out. All this talk about forgiveness and mercy is just another lie to get us off the hook. We have heard this line before. It's just cheap grace, freedom to remain that same old sinners that we have always been. "God loves to forgive sins. We love to commit them. Isn't the world admirably arranged?" That is not the case at all. Christ does change our lives. Our making the sign of the cross in ashes on our foreheads and our willingness to face up to our dirty underwear at the beginning ...

3964. Pet Peeves and Pet Pleasures

Luke 3:21-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... on in search of a better city. A few hours later another traveler approached with a heavy load on his horse. He also announced he was seeking a new home. “What was it like in the town you came from?” inquired the gatekeeper. “It was wonderful. Filled with lovely people who were always there to help you. Even the politicians tried their best to do their best for the citizens. I wish I didn’t have to leave on account of my job.” “Well, that’s pretty much what you’ll find here,” reported the ...

3965. Hebrews 13: 1-8; 15-16

Hebrews 13:1-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ”) of their lives. They stayed the course and remained faithful to the end of their lives on this earth. Dove-tailed to that bit of human constancy, the Hebrews’ author offers the supreme support for human faithfulness: the unchanging nature of divine love and support. In the face of all of life’s changes and challenges, Hebrews’ proclaims: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (v.8). This is not a closed affirmation of any human perception of Jesus the Christ. Rather, it ...

3966. Nicodemus: A Young Old Man

John 3:1-21

Sermon

David O. Bales

... he practiced? Was the Pharisees’ minute and careful observing of the law God’s goal for everyone? Was his life’s commitment truly on the trail to God’s kingdom, or was his whole life traveling into a box canyon? Then he caught Jesus’ phrase, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). Nicodemus was check-mated in three moves. He sat like a cobra at the end of a charmer’s pipe. Nicodemus who ...

3967. Remembering Jesus

Matthew 26:17-30

Sermon

David O. Bales

... to be reminded about what’s really important, like the rich man who was marrying a much younger woman. In order to trust that she loved him more than his money, before they were married he had her promise that if he died first she’d bury his money with him ... other ways to do things. So in worship we practice remembering Jesus and how he achieved lasting change for humanity. He loved us, even to death. Along with our memories of the earthly Jesus we all bring our personal memories of experiences in which ...

3968. Expect the Unexpected

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

King Duncan

... valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. King David, the author of this psalm, understood the meaning of the phrase, “Expect the unexpected.” He was the youngest son in a farming family. When God called him ...

3969. What Does Jesus Look Like?

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Tony Everett

... their own God’s people were helpless and their efforts were hopeless. So God took the initiative to break this pattern. God began to bring into focus an even sharper picture of the depth of God’s own passion for the world. In Jesus Christ, God’s love entered the world and lived in the midst of the people (John 1:14). In Jesus Christ, God’s innocent, kind, and compassionate servant, God chose to defeat the control of sin and suffering. Aha! Now even more detail can be added to Jenny’s multi-colored ...

3970. Jesus and the Man Born Blind

John 9:1-41

Sermon

James W. Moore

... a terrific job with his prayer and God was certainly not mad at him. Just then an elderly gentleman walked over to the table. He winked at the little boy and he said: “I know God really well. We visit every day and I happen to know that God loved your prayer. It may have been the best one He has heard all day.” “Really?” the little boy asked.. “Cross my heart,” said the man. Then he leaned over and whispered into the little boy’s ear. Pointing at the woman at the next table who had made the ...

3971. Don't Roll It Back

1 Peter 2:4-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to be looking only in these places that they had built for his honor and glory for his presence and he wondered what he should do about it. One day God's attention was drawn to a commotion that was going on around a man in Italy. This man loved stones. All day he would chisel away at the barren slabs and after time, energy, and painstaking effort, the stone would live. It was almost as if he discovered something alive inside the stone and went about freeing it with a passion. He had set many people free ...

3972. How Does Your Garden Grow?

Matthew 13:31-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... bottoms of kennel cages?’ Wanna wash your hair in my sink? ‘No thanks, I’d just as soon use Psst, the dry shampoo for the bedridden, before I’d set foot in your bathroom.’” (“Dear Gangster . . .” Advice for the Lonelyhearted from The Gangster of Love (New York: Penguin Books, 1996), 18.) As one who was called first and foremost to be a “gardener,” Jesus, the Second Adam, was all focused on nurturing the next crop, not on judging the one that just showed up. Jesus saw himself in his first ...

3973. God Is Not Dead

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... see flawed worship. But that is not the end of the story. V. 21 goes on to record, Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.” Jotham was 25 years old when he became king. Now Jotham was a wonderful man; he loved the Lord and walked with God. But he had one problem: “And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the Lord). But still the people acted corruptly.” (27:2 ...

3974. She Had Great Faith

Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... this moment my ministry has been directed exclusively toward the Jews, but I am preparing to do a new thing.” The Canaanite woman was certainly not put off by his words for she came to him directly and knelt before him. With a crushing load of love for her suffering daughter, she pleads, “Lord, help me!” At this, Jesus made a reply that has puzzled scholars for two thousand years. Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Was Jesus calling this woman ...

3975. For Those Who Are Auditing the Class

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... . A short time later, John was able to have a bypass surgery and he was healed. Today he is a successful physician. He didn’t have to have a transplant. He didn’t have to take his father’s heart. His experience, though, provides an apt metaphor for the love our Heavenly Father has for us. (8) When Christ asked his followers to take up a cross, he knew that is where his life would end. He could not ask his followers to give their lives if he held his back. Christian faith is really not for those who ...

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