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 4301 to 4325 of 5000 results

4301. Epiphany 6

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Sermon Aid

... light, turn us toward the Gospel and Jesus only, if we are to have any hope at all. Deuteronomy 30:15-30 - "God's Idea of 'the Good Life.' " 1. Obedience is the key to the "good life. " The really "good life" is attended only by those who "love the Lord," "walk in his ways," and "keep his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances." They know the "joy of the Lord" and what the "good life" is all about. 2. Disobedience is destructive of any right and lasting relationship with God, and also of any real ...

4302. Lent 2

Genesis 12:1-8, Psalm 105:1-45, Matthew 17:1-13, John 3:1-21; 4:5-42, Romans 4:1-25

Sermon Aid

George Bass

... done to obtain the blessings of God. John 4:5-26 (27-30, 39-42) John's accounts of Jesus' encounters with people just beg to be told to people today, partly because they may be too long as readings, when they follow two other lessons. This lovely story, which sees Jesus at the well in Sychar, asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water, reveals the humanity of Jesus in his weariness and thirst, and his divinity in his consideration of an "outcast" woman. Jesus turns around the woman's question, "How is ...

4303. Proper 15 & Pentecost 13

Isaiah 56:1-8, Psalm 67:1-7, Psalm 78:1-72, Exodus 16:1-36, Romans 11:11-24, Romans 11:25-32, Matthew 15:21-28

Sermon Aid

... accept it. It is his intention that the good news should be preached to all people, so that all might know him to be a God of love and believe and trust him with all their hearts. Chris-tians and Jews do not have a corner on faith; God means all people to know ... but the central theme is, with Paul, "There's a wideness in God's mercy...." The cross of Christ tells us that. For the love of God is broader Than the measures of man's mind, And the heart of the eternal Is most wonderfully kind. 3. Repent and ...

4304. A Queen Bee’s Sting

2 Samuel 6:1-23

Sermon

... David’s eight wives. She would be barren of children, and would have to put up with catty remarks for 1001 nights in the harem of a Middle Eastern sheik. Why then does the author of Samuel seem to dislike Michal so much? Human motivations for hate or love or indifference are as tangled as the skein woven by fate. Perhaps the reason Michal is hated so much by Jewish tradition is because her hatred was not directed at David but at God. God had made David king and Michal could not accept this fact. God had ...

4305. A Father’s Friend

2 Samuel 9:1-13

Sermon

... name in Hebrew means "sold." The Son of David called Mephibosheth to his royal banquet table groaning with rich meats and heavy with delicious cheeses. Like Mephibosheth, we too are lamed. Lamed not by a nurse’s hasty fall, but by sin. Like him we are exiled from God’s love until the Son of David cries for us to return to his flock. From Calvary’s cross Jesus urges us to return to his table. From the Garden’s empty tomb he bids us to rise into new life. From the table of the Upper Room he invites us ...

4306. Epiphany 8

Matthew 5:38-42

Bulletin Aid

... and heed that vocation: that, laying aside our selfish motives and self-serving ways, we may become truly worthy citizens of your coming Reign in Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen Prayer of Confession God of perfect love, we confess that we fail regularly and miserably to emulate your righteous love as Jesus taught us to in word and deed, but instead pursue private and comfortable forms of personal piety that only make us look good and feel holy. Forgive us, O God, and set before us the Christ. Help ...

4307. The Resurrection of Our Lord

John 20:1-9

Sermon Aid

... the confession. Following several moments of silence, ask the people to sing "Morning Has Broken." Someone has written different words to the song. If you can find them, you might want to use them. 2. Or, you may want to use this prayer of confession: "Lord God of Love, we confess our weakness: In a world which does not know what it believes, we have not been strong in our belief in you. In a world of tension, we too have been beset by tensions of money, success, position. In a world confused by fear, we ...

4308. Easter 4

John 10:1-21

Sermon Aid

... Challenge Consider this: Distinguish between being responsible for, and to, others. As Christ's stewards, we are responsible to others, to love, to serve, to care, to appreciate, to affirm; we are not to do for others what they need to learn ... so many fools starving to death." There is no need for Christians to starve to death. Christ has given us his resources, his love, his Spirit, his power and presence to live full, whole, abundant lives - so let's do! Planning for Your Congregation I. Other Scriptures ...

4309. Trinity Sunday

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Aid

... these: "We want the benefits of Christianity without the demands of Christianity; so, as someone said, 'What will the world think of God's love if all that it knows of it is what it sees in my life?' (author unknown)" Spell out some ways that we make ... II. Suggested Hymns Coordinator "Come to Us, Mighty King" "I Am the Light of the World" "Called by Christ to Love Each Other" III. Other Music Possibilities Music for Preparation: "Panis Angelicus" Response to the Scripture: "Nicene Creed" Response to the ...

4310. Ash Wednesday

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon Aid

... evidence of any sort to support it. An affirmation of faith made in spite of the fact that there is not one single thing left in the life of this captive people to suggest to them that they could possibly be cared for by a loving God, who loved them like a father. In fact, once that affirmation is made at the beginning, the whole movement of the text is downward into despair. For this people, all the supports of community, continuity, promise and tradition have been taken away. More than that, the exile ...

4311. Don't Let the Parade Pass You By

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... for peace: be rich in heavenly stocks. My observation is that some of the most miserable people I know are rich folks whose primary security is in their wealth. Their sense of well-being is tied to the stock market and they always wear a worried look. I love the story about a rich man who wanted to take his money with him beyond the grave. When he was nearing death, he prayed fervently about this matter. An angel appeared to him and said, "Sorry, you can’t take all your wealth with you after death, but ...

4312. A Brass Cross and a Barometer

Luke 6:1-11

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... and to improve the quality of life for people, not to be slaves to some arbitrary rules. What rules are binding on Christians and which are not? Obviously, the Ten Commandments are binding. Beyond that, Jesus operated with just two rules: love God and love neighbor. When making decisions we Christians would do well to ask three questions: What does Scripture say? What glorifies God? What serves the best interests of people? Scripture clarifies certain issues. Do you have an ethical issue regarding sex? The ...

4313. This God’s For Real!

Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon

... , the Living God tunes in to what the people who depend upon him think and say and tells them what they need to know. Loving guardians may not tell everything they know, nor at the moment you demand it of them. But they will tell what you need to ... what the newspapers and television news reporters may suggest, the world is not a jungle. It’s the province of a great and loving, Living God. That isn’t something to be proven with collected evidence. In fact, it must be said in spite of all appearances. But ...

4314. Let’s Face It

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Michael L. Sherer

... it go, like Linus and his blanket. It’s understandable, of course, that we would grow attached to life. God made it to be good. We’ve learned to like it. It can be enormously satisfying living in this world, especially if we live within the shadow of God’s love, but all the more reason for us to be ready to surrender to God’s purposes. After all, if life with God is good in this frail world, how much more will it be a satisfying life with him when we lay down this broken, poor existence. The pastor ...

4315. Naming the Divine Baby

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... to an old barn, filled with ancient kegs and boxes. There his father uncovered an old, dust covered object. It was one of the earliest Victor record players, with a huge megaphone-type speaker and the trademark of a dog on top. The father fondled the old machine lovingly and said, “Son, when I was a boy I worked three months in the fields to repay my father for buying me this thing. I wanted it badly. So, you see, when you came to me asking for a record player, I understood immediately. I had been there ...

4316. Midnight Turned Into High Noon

Isaiah 42:10-17, Isaiah 42:18-25

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... Jones’ eager reply, "I close the bargain right here." Then he rose from his knees, knowing that he was healed of the depression and gloom, possessed with life and hope and peace, because "He is able!" Now, my friend, that is light of the best kind! A glimpse of Love on a Cross-tree puts the mists to flight. Put your heart and your hurt and your hand in the nail-scarred hands of Christ. He allows (not sends) things that seem evil to you sometimes, but it is only so he can weave them into a pattern for ...

4317. No Longer Spectators - But Participants!

Acts 2:14-41

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... and murder him. (v. 23) The cross was no accident. Over and over again we are reminded that the cross is in the eternal plan of God. We must never set God and Jesus against one another, making God heavy, angry, and wrathful, and Jesus sweet, gentle, and loving. It was by God that Jesus came! But still, God allowed wicked humanity to kill him. The crucifixion was the greatest crime in history. It shows what sin will do. Sin took the purest life and fairest form that ever lived in this dark world and nailed ...

4318. Christians Die Well

Acts 7:54--8:1a

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... of Grace and Power" (verse 8) Because of his faith in Christ who had saved him through his unlimited, unending, unfathomable love, Stephen was a radically different person. Graciousness became a part of every fiber of him. Faith in Christ had redeemed him ... have in the days of our lives. Paul wrote to Timothy, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) I recently read, on the same day, from two different sources, the experiences of two cancer ...

4319. Jesus Gives Us Tomorrow!

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... more famous than when he left. Jesus is about to turn their disaster into blessing. We read in Luke, "... and lifting up his hands he blessed them." What do you suppose he said in that blessing? Would it have been the Old Testament blessing they knew and that we also love!? "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Do you know that a blessing is what we call a benediction? I don’t mean as ...

4320. The Danger of Being Religious

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

... , I’ve become so busy I can no longer concern myself with individuals." She responded, "Charles, that is quite remarkable. Even God has not reached that point yet." Some of us in the church minimize and overlook the individual in place of numbers. How we love to boast of our church attendance! According to some, bigger is always better. This was not Jesus’ way. For him, religion was a one-to-one relationship. The one lost sheep was as important as the ninety-nine which stayed in the flock. He emphasized ...

4321. Victim or Visionary

John 19:28-37

Sermon

Robert Bachelder

... these things: peril, sword, death, and the others?" And he rejoins: "If God be for us, who can be against us." Yes, life can be mean, Paul says, but let us remember also that with the worst there is the best. Always there is God; and of his love we have had rich experience. In every encounter with adversity, there is God himself: the God who makes himself known in the life and most especially in the death of the victimized lamb, Jesus Christ. Yes, you heard me correctly. I said that God makes himself known ...

4322. Abraham’s Promise Perpetuated

Romans 4:1-25

Drama

Richard F. Bansemer

... Congratulations, and God bless. Finally, person number six is a child. Children all, according to directions, your name is not to be named, but you know, don’t you, that this is about you. You have been given many good things by our benefactor. You have persons who love you. You have friends. You have a warm bed and a lot of toys. Although you may already know it, you should be reminded that not many miles from here, there are children who have no parents, who will sleep on dirt floors, and will be hungry ...

4323. "I Was Hoping for a Longines"

Sermon

Peter Rudowski

... and say, "It doesn’t work!"? Maybe they got the hint. Did we grouse enough or complain enough? Did they care enough to listen? Did they love enough to listen? There is a certain amount of anxiety in all of us as we prepare to open those gifts and to see what we ... Jesus Christ, born in a manger. That gift of a baby boy is given to everyone who mourns this night because of a death of a loved one this year. It hurts. We feel all alone. But that gift says we are not alone, for God has given us his presence and ...

4324. A Tale of Two Cemeteries

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

George Bass

... graves that encircle the church on All Saints’ Day. A few persons might connect the worship on that day with All Saints’ Day as they make their way to the building; on the way out of the church, all of the people might pause before the graves of their loved ones to say a prayer of thanksgiving for them and, perhaps, to reflect upon the resurrection and the two-fold nature of the church in this world and the next. It is a long distance to Rome and Campo Verano; this church and cemetery are the only ones ...

4325. Gabriel Speaks to Mary

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

George Bass

... have totally committed their lives to Christ for the gospel’s sake - and become modern martyrs - leave us speechless. If asked, "Do you love God enough to die for the Christian faith?" we might answer with a ready "yes" - as long as we know that our lives ... not grieve for me as dead; but rejoice and be glad, because I ... am united to Him in Heaven whom while on earth I used to love with my whole soul." She, too, might have said, as that other Virgin before her, "I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to ...

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