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 376 to 400 of 1164 results

376. Expectant Living

2 Peter 3:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

At this time of year, many children have already written, or are just sitting down to write, their letters to Santa. It's exciting trying to fit all your wishes into one well-worded little note. Maybe it would sound something like these letters: Dear Santa, Please give me a doll this year. I would like her to eat, walk, do my homework, and help me clean my room. Thank you, Jenny. Dear Santa, Thanks for the race car last year. Can I have another one, only this time one that is faster than my best friend's ...

377. Now

Mark 13:32-37

Sermon

Will Willimon

Our parable takes place in Galilee, in a world of absentee landlords and servants who are left on their own for years at a time. “You do not know when the time will come,” says Jesus. “It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work.” Here is a parable about masters and servants, employers and employees, about those who have and those who don’t have, and those who work for those who have. You know where our sympathies lie. In stories, we are ...

378. For All The Saints

Revelation 7:9-17

Eulogy

Barbara G. Schmitz

Music: For All The Saints For all the saints, who from their labors rest,who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy Name, O Jesus, be for ever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia! ("For All The Saints," The Hymnal 1982, 287) For All The Saints Today we come together to acknowledge the passing of a saint. I say "saint" because according to the New Testament, the word "saint" is used to describe a person who professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and who was a member of the Christian community. N. was such ...

379. Now, Even Now....

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

I can imagine castles in the air and kingdoms under the sea. I can picture a phoenix rising from an ashy fire or elves riding crickets on the forest floor. I cann imagine a thousand fanciful things better than I can imagine my own death. I've always seen the world only through my own eyes, comprehended it with my own mind, loved it with my own heart. How can I conceive of the world without me in it? So I persist in my illusion that I will always be here. I struggle not only with a fear of death, but the ...

380. Worry and Wonder

Matthew 6:24-34

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

Well, the orange alert has finally been lowered to yellow. The purported organizer of the 9/11 attacks is now under arrest. And this week, rather than protecting us from biological or chemical poison, it seems that duct tape is being promoted as the perfect cure for warts! Perhaps, just a bit of our terror has subsided. And yet unsettling news is still around us. Tens of thousands of our troops are still in Iraq. Contrary to the wisdom of most religious leaders, including the Stated Clerk and Moderator of ...

381. God's Pattern for Sainthood

Psalm 24:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

(All Saints’ Day) Lutheran pastor Martin Taylor tells a delightful story which he says he heard from another pastor, an elderly gentleman, at a pastor’s meeting. As a young man this pastor had been studying for the ministry and was asked to serve a small congregation in Canada over the summer months. His father who was also a pastor urged him to accept the opportunity, but he was reluctant. He was young, inexperienced. The idea of serving a congregation and especially the writing of sermons terrified him. ...

382. Counting the Cost

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

T. A. Kantonen

The Lenten season, to which Ash Wednesday opens the door, is a time for heart-searching. "The Son of God goes forth to war a kingly crown to gain," and we are asked, "Who follows in his train?" Our Lord’s path to his kingly glory passes through Gethsemane and Calvary, and if we are to be his followers, we too must "climb the steep ascent of heaven through peril, toil and pain." We must count the cost and be willing to pay the price of true discipleship. The portion of scripture before us is a direct ...

383. The Great Divide

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Some of us are old enough to remember the old Cat Stevens' tune, "Father And Son." That song, as you might recall, is in the form of a dialogue. The father speaks first and tries to share with his son some of the wisdom he's gained from his years of living. He says that it's not yet time to make a change, relax, and take it easy. Perhaps the son ought to look for a wife. The son, in the next verse, responds that his father is more interested in talking than listening. Dad then replies with his same message ...

384. Show Me Your Credentials

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

When you apply for a job, offer service to a customer, or try to get a license ... you will need to show your credentials. You will need to prove that you are who you say are and that you have the skills and abilities to deserve the job or get the license. The word "credential" is based on the Latin word credo that means "believe." Your credentials make you believable — credible. My evangelism visits to prospective members are often very revealing. Lately, I have noticed that many of them are asking me a ...

385. Meeting Jesus

John 3:1-17

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

My friend, Phil, had his vision checked regularly when he was a kid, just like most of us Baby Boomers did. The vision tester would come to the elementary school every year and everyone would go to the nurse’s office and read the eye charts. Then he went to junior high and high school and they didn’t test his vision any more. He went to college and graduated and started his career, got married, had a family and raised them and then, when he was in his mid-fifties he got Type-2 Diabetes and his physician ...

386. The Messiah For All

Ephesians 3:4-6

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. The hymns, "As with Gladness Men of Old" and "Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning," are two beautiful hymns for the Epiphany. There is only one ...

387. Ashes and Bugs

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

Ah, spring! The days are getting longer, and hopefully warmer. There are so many things to anticipate: the first robin, snowdrop flowers, and that garden perennial — asparagus. People are looking forward to their first chance to bring pictures from their well-worn seed catalogs to life. There is one thing we don't look forward to — the appearance of the first grasshopper. Descending on us like an army, they are ready to eat the best of what we planted, just when our gardens are starting to show promise! ...

388. Putting the Genie Back in the Bottle…

Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-7

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

When our twins were quite young — infants really — I remember a scene that played out on our living room floor. My son, ever the gregarious and energetic one had managed one afternoon to yank the leg off our old studio piano. He was sitting there gleefully pounding it on the carpet while his twin sister egged him on, shouting, "Go, Aaron, go!" In defense of my daughter, it needs to be said that the boy didn't require any encouragement. Furthermore, it didn't occur to either their mother or myself that we ...

389. Stuck in Park

Acts 17:16-34

Sermon

Tony Everett

Martha had lived alone for several years, except, that is, for her dog, Otto, a three-year-old miniature Shih Tzu. Martha and Otto went everywhere together. Even where dogs were not permitted, Otto was content to wait patiently in the car for Martha to return. One particular sunny afternoon Martha had to make a quick stop at the corner grocery store. As was her custom, Martha rolled down the windows to make sure the inside of the car would be comfortable. Otto curled up on the backseat, and Martha started ...

390. Feasting and Fasting for Lent (Part II)

Luke 13:22-30

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Last Sunday I opened our Lenten season by sharing with you that we do not normally associate FEASTING with the idea of Lent. Most of us most likely have heard of the word FASTING. The whole idea behind the concept of fasting as to discipline our lives in such a way that the personhood of Jesus Christ would become a deeper reality in our spiritual journey. Since there is now a void left by our fasting, we can then fill it to the brim (feasting) with the attitude and lifestyle that develops commitment to the ...

391. Proper 20

Matthew 20:1-16, Psalm 106:1-48, Exodus 16:1-36, Philippians 1:12-30

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter - Psalms 105:1-6, 37-45 First Lesson - When the Israelites complain of hunger to Moses and Aaron, God sends bread from heaven. Exodus 16:2-15 Second Lesson - Paul shares with the Philippians the conflict between keeping on or being relieved by death from present suffering. Philippians 1:21-30 Gospel - Jesus suggests that those of us at this late hour of the Christian day may still be rewarded for our work as if we had been there at the beginning. Matthew 20:1-16 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The ...

392. Blessed Betrayal

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Don M. Aycock

Have you ever noticed how some things in life sometimes just don't seem to go together? I've always marveled at an expensive Cadillac with a squirrel tail tied to the antenna. It looks absurd. I heard recently of a fellow who saw this bumper sticker: "A WOMAN WITHOUT A MAN IS LIKE A FISH WITHOUT A BICYCLE." Well, you understand what I mean. Paul brings together some words like that, words that do not seem to fit. Listen to them again: The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread .... What a ...

393. Loch Ness, Locusts, and Bread

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Sermon

Bill Mosley

An atheist was spending a quiet day fishing on Loch Ness when suddenly his boat was attacked by the legendary Loch Ness monster. In one easy flip, the beast tossed him and his boat high into the air. Then it opened its mouth to swallow both. As the man sailed head over heels, he cried out, "Oh, my God! Help me!" At once, the ferocious attack scene froze in time, and as the atheist hung in mid-air, a booming voice came down from the clouds, "I thought you didn't believe in me!" "Come on, God, give me a ...

394. Proper 25

Mark 10:46-52, Psalm 34:1-22, Job 42:7-17, Hebrews 7:11-28

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22) First Lesson—Job’s encounter with God leads to deep humility and a new chapter in the book of life. Job 42:16, 10-17 Second Lesson—Jesus is exalted as the priest par excellence. Hebrews 7:23-28 Gospel—The loud and persistent cry of a blind beggar is not ignored by Jesus. Mark 10:46-52 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: Rejoice and sing aloud for joy. People: The Lord has done great things for ...

395. A Sunday Kind of Love

John 16:5-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

I have in my hand a three-way light bulb. The three-way light bulb was the first attempt at “mood lighting.” One light bulb could be switched on to three different levels of intensity, changing the amount of light it cast over a room. Trying to read? Click the bulb up to 150 watts. Just sitting around talking? Click down to 100 watts. Wanting to snuggle with your sweetie? Click down to 50 watts. One light bulb, but three different experiences of the light it produced. This Sunday is “Trinity Sunday.” This ...

396. How Much Should We Pack?

Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23)

Sermon

William G. Carter

As much as I like to travel, I am never sure how much to pack. When my wife and I take off for a week long vacation, we do our best to keep a week’s worth of possessions down to one suitcase. That is the goal. There is never a guarantee it will happen. Packing is determined by two contradictory principles: how do we move quickly? How can we be prepared for every contingency? How many pairs of pants can I take, or in my wife’s case, how many pairs of shoes? Should we pack a sweatshirt? Does it rain in New ...

397. Living Through Hard Times

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Sermon

Bonnie Bates

Sometimes it is hard for us to accept the hardships of this life. Certainly, in the current situation, with so many people in so many communities and countries still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is much worry and anxiety. Yet, worry and struggle have been a part of the human condition almost as long as human beings have been on the earth. As Paul wrote this second letter to the church in Corinth, he was reminding the people that he, too had struggled: “in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in ...

398. August 7-13

John 6:25-59

Bulletin Aid

RobertT D. Ingram

Theme: Those whom God draws to Jesus Christ cannot help but bow down in thanksgiving, praise and service as they feast on the bread of life. Call to Worship Leader: "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' " Congregation: God of life, we come to be taught by you. Leader: Jesus said, "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me." Congregation: We come. Feed us, Living Bread from heaven. Greeting Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father ...

399. Fulfilling the Vision

Acts 2:14-21

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

God said “I will pour out my spirit on all kinds of people and your sons and daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams and whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved". A vision. Without it a church flounders and with it a church flourishes. A vision is, in essence, a picture of God's preferred future. And the vision I want to share with you today is as old as the prophet Joel, as powerful as the one on the day of Pentecost and is as current as ...

400. A Last Appeal

Luke 23:33-43

Sermon

Richard Hasler

Robert Raines told the story of the day when a daughter was going through the things left over after her mother’s death, and she found this anonymous poem: I dreamed death came the other night. And heaven’s gates swung wide, With kindly grace, an angel asked me inside And there to my astonishment, Stood folks I’d known on earth — Some I judged and labeled as “Unjust” or “Little Worth.” Indignant words rose to my lips but none were set free For every face showed stunned surprise … No one expected me![1] I ...

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