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 401 to 425 of 1164 results

401. But, Why?

Titus 3:4-7

Sermon

Scott Bryte & Kimberly Miller van Driel

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Merry Christmas! It’s finally here! After counting down the school days and the work days, the ...

402. The Temptations

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Jon L. Joyce

No matter how many times I look at this text, I come back to my first inclination: "Temptations of Ministry." Each of the temptations can be related to temptations of the individual Christian or the corporate Christian body today. In a sermon based on that theme, you might make several points which may not be obvious to the worshiper who has just heard the Gospel read orally: 1. Jesus’ temptation followed the "big" day of his Baptism when he learned his vocation. (You might even want to refer to the First ...

403. Denial Ain’t a River in Egypt

Isaiah 64:1-9

Sermon

Schuyler Rhodes

Have you ever denied something that, deep down, you know to be true? Have you ever turned from a situation or circumstance in order to avoid the uncomfortable process of dealing with it? Or maybe you have had the experience of keeping a stiff upper lip and pretending that something is not ... well, what it is. The term we use for this, of course, is denial. We all practice it to some extent or other. Some of us deny the fact that we're a few pounds overweight. Others of us deny the fact that the cars we ...

404. John 6:24-35

John 6:24-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

Immediately following John's rendition of the feeding the 5000, Jesus withdraws from both the crowd and his disciples for a time of peace and prayer. Considering his next encounter with the crowds following him, as related in this week's gospel text, it is a good thing he did! Seldom has a more ungrateful, obstreperous, and pathetically ignorant lot been more clearly portrayed than by John in this chapter. On the day after the miracle of the loaves, the throng wakes to find Jesus and his disciples had ...

405. John 6:24-35

John 6:24-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

406. The God Of Naomi

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: God Draws His People To Himself This drama is enhanced by the Biblical character, Ruth, wandering about the sanctuary as she talks. The strength in this piece lies in the individual portraying Ruth and her ability to convey heartfelt feelings. No staging is needed, other than a lapel or portable mike. Setting: Biblical times, when Ruth is older Character: RUTH: Middle-aged or older woman, gentle in nature, a sincere heart for God Costumes: Biblical dress Props: Basket with fruit, flowers RUTH: ( ...

407. A Light in the Darkness

Mt 5:13-20

Illustration

King Duncan

Let me tell you a story about one of the most remarkable young men who ever lived. This young man had been left blind in both eyes by a childhood accident. In nineteenth-century France, when this young man lived, blind children had little help and few hopes. But then a kindly priest, Father Jacques Palluy, took an interest in the lad. He was amazed at the boy's intelligence and eagerness to learn. With his parents 'permission, Father Palluy enrolled the boy in the Royal Institute of Blind Youth in Paris. ...

408. If I'd Only Known

Illustration

Earl R. Allen

Some wait in vain. The wife of Thomas Carlyle wrote in her diary of her hunger for a word of appreciation from her husband. After her death, Carlyle read the diary and with a broken heart, repeated over and over, "If I had only known! If! had only known!"

409. Faith or Hunger?

Illustration

Ellen Hammonds

My husband is a minister who conducts an expanded altar call at the end of his sermon. He asks those who wish to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, as well as those with prayers or other requests, to come forward. To the surprise and delight of the congregation our three-year-old daughter, without a word to me, got up and made her way forward. She waited patiently while the others ahead of her made a request. When her turn came, my husband leaned down to ask for her request. She ...

410. Proper 13

Mt 14:13-21 · Rom 8:31-39 · Ex 12:1-14 · Ps 143

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

The Miracle Of Feeding 5,000 A little lad was asked which was his favorite parable. He replied, "I like the one about the loafs and fishing." The kid may be confused whether the story of Jesus' feeding the 5,000 is a parable or a miracle. However, the miracle of multiplying is also a favorite of the gospel writers. This miracle of Jesus is the only one recorded by the four evangelists. In addition, there are two accounts of feeding the 4,000 which New Testament scholars consider to be different versions of ...

411. Stewards and the Hungry

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

So God called into existence his creation and then, according to Genesis 1:28, he said to us humans, "I’m putting you in charge." That makes us caretakers of all which God has given to us. That includes the Earth and all its natural resources. In the days ahead, we’ll discover that being a caretaker and steward involves a lot more than whether we tithe or not and what we put in the church offering plate. It involves our caring for our bodies, how we use our skills, how we apportion our time, and what we do ...

412. How’s Your Appetite?

Matthew 5:6 · Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

In any home where there are small children with parents who do not sanction a complete submission to television, the most familiar request is: "Tell us a story." And those stories are remembered for the rest of their lives. There is not a single adult or child, I dare say, who could not tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood, of Goldilocks and her bears, of the three little pigs, the big, bad wolf, and countless other favorite characters. This is true of a congregation or a reader. A congregation almost ...

413. The Rain Of Bread

Exodus 16:1-36

Sermon

There is nothing like heading out into the back country, carrying on your back everything you need to survive. Enjoying nature, listening only to the sounds of wildlife, having a bit of creation all to yourself. Of course, there is one downside to it all -- the food. Cans are out of the question, they're too heavy to carry. That leaves only the packaged, freezed-dried variety of food. The pictures on the outside of these packages look inviting, but the actual stuff is all texture and no taste. If there's ...

414. Proper 12

John 6:16-24, John 6:1-15, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: God fills us with the Bread of Life for our bodies and our spirits. COMMENTARY Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 11:1-15 (C) King David has consolidated his power and no longer personally engages in the risky task of doing battle with his enemies. Getting up from his afternoon nap, he surveys his capital from his balcony, when he spies a beautiful woman taking her bath; it is Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of David's valiant fighters. He has her brought to his palace and has sex with her. When she sends word ...

415. Ruth Meets Boaz

Ruth 2:1-23

Understanding Series

Michael S. Moore

Naomi’s Reality: 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz. Jewish tradition is full of fables about Boaz. The Talmud identifies him as the minor judge Ibzan (Judg. 12:8) and reveres him as a patriarchal figure on the level of a Kirta or a Danil in Canaanite myth (b. B. Bat. 91a). According to the Talmud, he becomes a widower on the very day Ruth arrives in Israel and is rich enough to throw lavish wedding parties for every one of ...

416. Where Are Your Loaves And Fishes?

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

King Duncan

A thirteenyearold boy once read about Dr. Albert Schweitzer's work in Africa. He wanted to help. He had enough money to buy one bottle of aspirin. He wrote to the Air Force and asked if they could fly over Dr. Schweitzer's hospital and drop the bottle down to him. A radio station broadcast the story about this young fellow's concern for helping others. Others responded as well. Eventually, he was flown by the government to Schweitzer's hospital along with four and onehalf tons of medical supplies worth $ ...

417. The Good Life

Luke 6:17-26

Teach the Text

R.T. France

Big Idea: Jesus contrasts the blessings of life in the kingdom of God, with all its hardships, with most people’s idea of the good life. Understanding the Text Following after the selection of the Twelve, this is the beginning of a programmatic sermon on the blessings and demands of discipleship, which continues to the end of the chapter. The parameters are thus established for the role that the disciples will play in the developing story. Outline/Structure Luke 6:20–49 is a much shorter “equivalent” to ...

418. The Set Face And The Turned Head

Luke 9:51-56, Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

Larry Powell

"I know you've been sworn in and I've read your complaint." So begins Judge Wapner as another case unfolds on the popular television series, "People's Court." Repeating the phrase before each case, the implication is that the litigants have already placed their hands on the Bible and sworn to tell nothing "but the truth." However, courtroom cases do not progress far until it becomes apparent that either the plaintiff or the defendent is lying. Immediately, the whole matter of swearing-in comes into ...

419. Epiphany 8

Mt 6:24-34 · 1 Cor 4:1-13 · Is 49:8-18 · Ps 131

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 49:8-18 Through the prophet, God speaks words of consolation to his captive people in Babylon. The frightened and defeated people are beckoned from their hiding places. God promises that he will protect them, heal their wounds, feed them and lead them back to their homeland. The created world joins in the celebration for the redeemed but the downtrodden people find it difficult to receive the good news saying: "The Lord has forsaken me" (v. 14). Epistle: 1 Corinthians 4:1- ...

420. Sharing with Our Brothers

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Sermon

Ewart E. Turner

Paul wrote this appeal under great emotion. Word had come to him of the joyous sacrifices made by the impoverished churches of Macedonia when they learned that their beloved leader Paul was collecting money for the persecuted mother church in Jerusalem. With justifiable paternal pride, Paul overflows with joy at the free initiative of love exhibited by his "children" in the infant churches of Macedonia. A father and mother in an Ohio city recently told their pastor of a "first" in the life of their small ...

421. The Way Up Is the Way Down

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Phil Thrailkill

Potato chips, cheese curls, and candy may be some of your favorites, but for twenty-four mule deer in the Grand Canyon National Park, these indulgences proved deadly. Park rangers were forced to shoot more than two dozen mule deer who became hooked on junk food left by visitors. It was death by Cheetos and suicide by Snicker bar! Why eat twigs or chew bark if a Twinkie is nearby? Once deer taste the sugar and salt of snack foods, they develop an addiction and will go to any lengths to eat only junk food. ...

422. The Miracle of Christ

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

Robert G. Tuttle

I cannot close this discussion on "What It Is to Be a Christian," without going one step further. In the previous six chapters we have been thinking about the necessary ingredients of the Christian Life: Faith, Obedience, Moral Commitment, Caring, The Abundant Life, and The Assurance of Life After Death. But now it comes to me that I did not in my own life discover and work out these great qualities of living mathematically, mechanically, or by a sheer intellectual approach. Something happened to me! Then ...

423. Blessing, Testing, Response

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

King Duncan

Sometime back newscaster Paul Harvey reported that the average person blinks his eyes 13 times every minute. That's an interesting bit of trivia. But what really interested me was what I also read this week about the problem of world hunger. I read that 13 people starve to death every minute in this world. That means, of course, that every time you and I blink our eyes, another person has died from starvation. Now I am usually unaware of blinking my eyes. It's just an automatic reflex. I don't have to be ...

424. The Faith of a Saint

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a time-honored story about a man who walked into a bookstore to return a purchase. “It’s a Bible,” he said, handing it to a clerk at the cash register. “Was it a gift?” asked the clerk. “No, I bought it for myself,” he said, “and I made a mistake. “Didn’t you like the translation?” asked the clerk. “Or the format?” “Oh no,” the man said, “the format was clear and the translation was fine. I made a mistake.” The clerk said, “Well, I need to write down a reason for the return.” “In that case,” said ...

425. The Lord Speaks

Job 38:1--41:34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

God’s Appearance and Examination of Job Excursus: It should be clear from the outset that the fact God that appears in response to Job’s plea for a meeting immediately puts the lie to any claims to the contrary that Elihu and the other friends have made. God does appear in response to Job. His very appearance, therefore, proves Elihu’s earlier claim false—that God will not respond to Job because he has already spoken his final word of judgment in Job’s suffering. Deciding how to characterize this divine ...

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