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 483 results

401. The Path of Dignity

Drama

William Grimbol

READER 1 Dignity ... a word not often used these days. Dignity ... a connotation we cannot affix to very many lives. Dignity ... a concept that is eroding, due both to a lack of usage, and a lack of people worthy of that spiritually significant brand. Dignity ... what does the word really mean? I believe that the term is best explained by the lesson we heard read from Hebrews, Chapter 12 ... "run with determination the race that lies before us" ... "eyes fixed on Jesus" ... "your struggle against sin" ... ...

402. Punny Headlines

Humor Illustration

A grab bag of Punny Headlines: Fitness Club Closes, Going Belly Up Ban On Runny Yolks Not Going Over Easy Lawyers Must Try Case In Union Suit Former Man Dies In California Woman Is Shot And The Bullet Is In Her Yet Include Your Children When Baking Cookies Jerk Injures Neck, Wins Award Church Folks Confident Of Beating Hell No Squeeze Expected In Corset Industry Father Of Ten Shot; Mistaken For Rabbit Former Girl Wins Top Honors In Dog Show Girl Becomes Methodist After Delicate Operation University's Food ...

403. Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Genesis 39:1-23

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Joseph in Potiphar’s House: Joseph goes from favorite son to bondservant and from chief steward to prisoner. Although Joseph appears prone to bad luck, the narrator makes it clear that God is directing Joseph’s destiny, including his setbacks, to his ultimate destiny of ruler as anticipated in his boyhood dreams. A key term in this episode is “hand” (yad). It captures the trust Joseph inspires and plays a key role in his fall. Potiphar places all things in Joseph’s “hand” (vv. 3, 4, 6, 8, 22, 23). But in ...

404. Not Always A Saint

Luke 24:13-35

Illustration

Brett Blair

One of the greatest voices of the church was St. Augustine. He lived between the 4th and 5th centuries in Rome and was a Bishop. After Rome fell and faded into dust it was largely Augustine's writings that kept Christianity alive and made it the most influential movement the world had ever known. It is remarkable that between the 8th and 12th centuries his writings were more widely read than any other. And that was 400 to 700 years after his death. But he was not always a saint. Before he was converted at ...

405. Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-12, James 3:13-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

Wisdom for the Tongue Like the Pauline churches, James’ church was a church of the Spirit. Though there were formal offices, such as elder (5:14), there was no ordination process or schooling needed to teach and preach. As a result it was relatively easy for people with some ability, but worldly motivation, to put themselves forward as teachers. (Our modern seminary-ordination process makes this take longer, but it is not successful in preventing it; rather, it makes such a person a more permanent fixture ...

406. Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18, James 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

407. The Infinite Becomes An Infant

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

The Miracle Of The Nativity Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is ...

408. The Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:1-18

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

The Writer’s Purpose Restated 3:1 After his lengthy tirade against the false teachers and their perverted life-style so dangerous to the well being of his readers, Peter turns—one senses, with warm relief—to address his dear friends directly. He now reverts to his opening exhortation to them to foster their spiritual life (1:5–8). This is now my second letter to you, he declares, although whether he means 1 Peter or some other letter, now lost, is uncertain. Since Peter is evidently not able to visit his ...

409. The Greatest Place in the World

Romans 12:1-2

Sermon

James Merritt

Where do you think is the best place to live in America, and where do you think is the worst place to live in America? You don't have to wonder because we now have the answer from Money magazine. Money magazine recently conducted a poll, using 41 factors ranging from a low crime rate, to future job growth, to clean air and water, and rated the best places in America to live, and the worst places in America to live. According to their scientific survey, the best place in America to live is Gainesville, ...

410. Living to Please God

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

The first three chapters of this letter are largely personal and historical in character, the last two practical and doctrinal. They are joined in the Greek by the conjunction oun, which sometimes expresses a logical connection, as in Romans 12:1 where the exhortation arises out of the doctrinal exposition (cf. also Eph. 4:1; Col. 3:5). But not here. The oun is simply transitional. In his report, Timothy may have noted a tendency, or at least a temptation, for the Thessalonians to slip back into heathen ...

411. Miracle Five: Healing A Withered Hand

Mark 3:1-6

Sermon Aid

Harold H. Lentz

Background Material Jesus and his disciples traveled about on foot. They would naturally take advantage of shortcuts. So this day they walked across some farmland that had been planted with wheat. As they were hungry, they reached out and plucked some of the kernels of wheat to satisfy their hunger. But they were seen doing so by some of Jesus' critics who immediately called him to account. But as they were stout defenders of the law, and of the scriptures, Jesus answered them out of their own religious ...

412. The King on a Donkey

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Some of you heard my story about the husband and the wife who had quarreled. It had been a high-pitch quarrel, each digging their heels in to preserve the position they had vehemently taken. Emotions ran high. Both were nursing their hurt feelings in defensive silence. As they were driving to attend a family wedding in a distant city — it was an uneasy and quiet trip, both of them starring straight ahead or out the window as the miles went by in icy silence. The angry tension between them was so thick you ...

413. How God Looks at Marriage

Mark 10:2-16

Sermon

King Duncan

A young couple decided to wed. As the big day approached, they grew apprehensive. Each had a problem they had never before shared with anyone, not even each other. The groom-to-be, overcoming his fear, decided to ask his father for advice. “Dad,” he said, “I am deeply concerned about the success of my marriage. I love my fiancée very much, but you see, I have very smelly feet, and I’m afraid that my future wife will be put off by them.” “No problem,” said his dad. “All you have to do is wash your feet as ...

414. Echoes of Eternity

Matthew 10:24-32

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who ...

415. If Only We Would Confess ...

Ezekiel 18:1-32

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

Someone had slipped a church bulletin under the study door. When I spotted it after the morning worship service and saw some notations on it, I assumed that the writer had jotted down an announcement or a date to be included in the newsletter that was to go to press Monday morning. Reading the note scrawled across the ritual, I knew it was meant, not for the newsletter, but for me. "Garbage!" the note read. "This is garbage and we will not tolerate any more of it." That note of judgment was not aimed at ...

416. I Am the Vine

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Jesus was the master of figurative language. He used stories to proclaim his great truths. He told parables, he painted word pictures, he referred to ordinary things in order that he might underscore extraordinary and eternal truths. The disciples would have been able to identify this image of Jesus, the image of the vine and the branches, fruit bearing and pruning, dead branches burned. They would have been able to identify with it because Palestine was the land of vineyards. But more than that, the vine ...

417. Communion Is Running No More

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be ...

418. Needed: Fidelity Insurance

Ephesians 5:22-33

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

An office telephone rang one day and a receptionist answered. On the other end of the line a female voice asked, "Is this the Fidelity Insurance company?" "Yes it is," the receptionist replied. "May I help you?" The caller said, "I hope so. I want to talk with someone about having my husband's fidelity insured." The surprised receptionist tried to explain that this was not the kind of insurance that Fidelity handled. Not even Lloyds of London offers that kind of policy. But wouldn't it be wonderful if ...

419. Who Loves More?

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

A friend tells about how when he was a small boy his father’s birthday rolled around, and he did not realize it until it was too late to get his father a birthday present. So, he went through all his resources and came up with 17 cents. He put the dime, the nickel, and the two pennies in an envelope and gave it to his father with a note: “I love you, Dad. Happy Birthday. Thanks for being the best dad in the whole world. Sorry I did not get you a gift. This is all I’ve got.” Years later, at his father’s ...

420. The Measure of Love

1 John 4:7-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

The historian, Will Durant, in his landmark series titled, THE STORY OF CIVILIZATION, has a volume called, "Caesar and Christ." Although Will Durant was not a Christian believer, he writes with great insight this about our Lord''s Ministry: "The revolution he sought was a far deeper one, without which reforms could only be superficial and transitory. If he could cleanse the human heart of selfish desires, cruelty, and lust, utopia would come of itself, and all those institutions that rise out of human ...

421. Don't Believe the Lie about the Truth

John 8:32

Sermon

James Merritt

I am convinced that in some ways children are far wiser than adults. Because children at least know that there are certain things that are absolutely true. I recently came across a list of great truths about life that little children have learned and totally believe. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats. When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back; they always catch the second person. Never ask your three-year old brother to ...

422. What Does the Bible Really Say about Divorce?

Mark 10:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

I enjoy humor about married couples. Comedian Brian Kiley said recently, “I love being married. When I was single, I got so sick of finishing my own sentences.” A pastor was teaching on Proverbs 16:24 which reads like this: “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” The minister then added, “In other words, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” One woman in the congregation put this advice to work immediately. She leaned over, put her head on husband’ ...

423. To Bow The Knee

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

Sandra Hefter Herrma

On this Passion/Palm Sunday, we both celebrate the triumphal procession that was due to Jesus as the Christ, and look forward to his betrayal and death just a few days later. And so, this passage from Philippians is exactly right for our text this morning. In it, Paul is quoting an early Christian hymn, a hymn that triumphantly extols Jesus, not just for the amazing work he has done on our behalf, but also for the very essence of who he was and is. It begins by stating a basic Christian belief, that Christ ...

424. Lent 4

Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:1-21

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Numbers 21:4-9 The people of Israel are fed up with the hardships of wilderness wandering. They grumble and complain about their food. This constitutes rebellion against God's and Moses' leadership. Their disobedience results in their being bitten by poisonous snakes. Realizing their sin, they ask Moses to pray that God will remove the serpents. He does not remove them, but he provides a cure a mere look at a raised bronze serpent. God provides a means of healing from the ...

425. Radical Surgery

Mark 9:42-50

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

I wish that Ted Koppel would run for president. Sometimes he seems to make more sense than all of the politicians put together. You know him as the popular moderator of ABC’s “Nightline” program. In a speech at Duke University a year ago he said this: “We have actually convinced ourselves that slogans will save us. Shoot up if you must, but use a clean needle. Enjoy sex whenever and with whomever you wish, but wear a condom. No! The answer is no. Not because it isn’t cool or smart or because you might end ...

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