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 4551 to 4575 of 5000 results

4551. Romans 10:5-15

Romans 10:5-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... For the Jews, one of the most difficult points of Paul's argument is in verse 12. Repeated from Romans 3:22 is Paul's insistence that there is now "no distinction between Jew and Greek," a central truth in the Pauline gospel. To those who have long lived with the identity of a "chosen people," however, this is not necessarily good news. Indeed, it smacks of a demotion. But as an example of how extensive and expansive the Lord's attentions remain, Paul insists that there is enough of all the divine bounty to ...

4552. Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Sidon, or Phoenicia - what today is part of Lebanon - was outside the established boundaries of Israel, God's chosen nation and people. It was an area rife with pagans and other suspect characters. Yet Jesus walks smack into it. Matthew's text suggests that it doesn't take long for one of the locals to discover the presence of these Jews and start making a scene. Matthew defines this person as a "Canaanite" woman - emphasizing her heritage as among the earliest inhabitants of this region. Canaanite meant a ...

4553. Philippians 3:4b-14

Philippians 3:4b-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... not yet "reached the goal" or obtained the perfection of unity in Christ he so desires. Though Paul confidently asserts that "Christ Jesus has made me his own" (as a baptized member of the Body of Christ), he also acknowledges that he has a long way to go before he achieves his goal of fully knowing the power of the resurrected Christ. Reaching this goal is, in fact, the Christian's lifelong journey of faith. Although his knowledge, his experience, is still limited, Paul commits himself to always striving ...

4554. Exodus 32:1-14

Exodus 32:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... laugh? Finally, Moses recalls for Yahweh that there is more than one covenant on the line here. A covenant has already existed with these people since the days of "Abraham, Isaac and Israel" (v.13). The second phase of this divine promise has been a long time coming. Could it not endure, Moses pleads, even through this egregious transgression? Moses the mediator gains the day, and Yahweh "changed his mind." But both Moses and Yahweh now know what is waiting for them at the foot of the mountain. Moses and ...

4555. Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... make a brief aside ("by grace you have been saved") that foreshadows his discussion in verse 8. Verse 7 reveals the purpose behind all of God's saving activity: to demonstrate, to manifest, the greatness of the divine grace. This gift is long-lived. "In the ages to come" is a long-term proposition, extending beyond human perceptions of chronological time and reaching into the realm of God's eternal reign. As Christ came in order to bring eternal life to fragile human beings, so this gift of God's grace also ...

4556. Mark 14:1-15:47

Mark 14:1-15:47

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... had predicted that Peter himself would deny him three times, Peter, together with James and John, fail three separate times to keep watch with Jesus. Unable to understand Jesus' agony or assuage his fears, Peter, James and John simply succumb to post-meal, long-day exhaustion. They fall asleep. It is Peter, however, that Jesus again singles out and reproaches: "Could you not watch one hour" (v.37, RSV)? According to Jewish scripture (Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15) and tradition, no act of denial or testimony ...

4557. Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... not only did her blood flow stop but she "felt in her body" (v.29) that she had been instantly and completely healed. For so long she had known what it was to feel the presence of disease and despair in her body that when it suddenly vanished, she could not ... not only did her blood flow stop but she "felt in her body" (v.29) that she had been instantly and completely healed. For so long she had known what it was to feel the presence of disease and despair in her body that when it suddenly vanished, she could ...

4558. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... -37 Jesus reveals the sweet center within this apparently bitter pill his disciples must swallow. Once again, however, Jesus' description defies the common standards of reason and expectation. It is in "losing" one's life that followers will find the saved life they long for. A life lost for Jesus' sake is in reality a life gained. Jesus uses two rhetorical questions to demonstrate to his listeners how life is not some bargaining chip that can be efficiently doubled or foolishly lost. Life is a gift beyond ...

4559. Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... different kind of "Lord" than a traditional royal personage. In verse 38, Jesus now moves from the scribes' erroneous theology to their bankrupt ethics. The verbal image Jesus draws of the scribe, self-consciously strolling about the marketplace dressed in the long robe and flowing tallith of a supposedly pious scholar, is hardly complimentary. The scribe's practiced air of superiority is a direct result of the bad theology Jesus dismissed in verses 36-37. The scribe supposes himself one of the appointed ...

4560. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... It seems reasonable to assume, then, that Paul's reference is not to some specific deficiency he perceived in the Thessalonians' faith. Instead, he feels that as their pastor he has more to offer them. His first visit had been cut abruptly short and Paul longed to continue building up the strength of the body of Christ in Thessalonia. Although most modern translations break up his direct prayer in verse 11, in the original Greek text, verses 11 and 12 are combined into a single sentence. The first phrase of ...

4561. From Cynicism to Faith

John 1:43-51

Illustration

G. Curtis Jones

... Catholic Church. His decision to convert was inspired in part by the life and witness of Mother Teresa. Commenting on the experience, this mellowed old iconoclast said there was "a sense of home-coming, of picking up the threads of a lost life, of responding to a bell that has long been ringing, of finding a place at a table that has ...

4562. Mark 1:14-20

Mark 1:14-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Jesus goes about building this kingdom through the establishment of a community of followers. When Jesus begins calling disciples to join him, it is hard for us to comprehend what an unprecedented act this is vis a vis the biblical tradition. In Israel’s long history, no learned rabbis, no revered holy men, no prophet called others to join them. The most famous or admired were sought out by would-be students who humbly hoped to be accepted into a select circle of learners. Jesus turns this tradition on ...

4563. Are You Better at Wearing or Bearing Crosses?

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... wear the cross. Jesus called his disciples to service, to sacrifice, to being the last, the least, the lowliest. When Jesus promised to make his first disciples “fishers of people” it was a mission that came with fishhooks in thumbs, raw and ripped hands, long days of hard work and the possibility of empty nets. Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24-25). Life’s “crosses” are not barricades blocking your ...

4564. Three Fishing Stories

Mark 1:14-20

Illustration

Jacob M. Braude

... told about the time his hook snagged a lantern from the depths of a lake. The lantern carried a tag proving it was lost back in 1912. But the strangest thing of all was the fact that it was a waterproof lantern and the light was still lit. For a long time the first man said nothing. Then he took one long deep breath. "I'll tell you what I'll do," he said slowly. "I'll take 200 pounds off my fish, if you'll put out the light in your lantern." Fish stories. Gotta love 'em.

4565. Football Fanatics and Religious Fanatics

Mark 1:14-20

Illustration

Maurice A. Fetty

... son might turn into a religious fanatic! I asked him if he thought being a sports fan was okay for his son. Of course, he replied. But when I pointed out that "fan" is the shortened form of "fanatic," he was taken aback. His long-neglected wife, a football widow of the first rank, wondered aloud why it was perfectly acceptable to be a football fanatic and not a religious fanatic. "Because," replied her husband without thinking, "unlike a religious fanatic, a football fanatic can be perfectly harmless." "Yes ...

4566. Experiencing God's Call in Our Lives

Mark 1:14-20

Illustration

Joe Pennel

... woman came to him after hearing his sermon on today's text. She had decided to leave medical school and go to work among migrant workers in the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Craddock did not manipulate her unexpected response. Instead, they talked for a long time about the meaning of her decision. Her parents were, understandably, furious with the new direction her life had taken. Like those fishermen, however, she heard the call and she stayed with it. And there have been others. People in the western tradition ...

4567. Can You See God?

Rom. 1:19-20; John 17:20-26

Illustration

Joel D. Kline

... nagging question, "Mom, can anybody really see God?" More gently his mother answered, "No, not really. God is a spirit and dwells in our hearts, but we can never really see God." His mother's answer was somewhat more satisfying, but still the boy wondered. Not long afterwards, the boy's grandfather took him on a fishing trip, and the two had a great day together. As the day was winding down, the sun began to set with unusual splendor. The grandfather was enrapt by the beauty, and the grandson was aware of ...

4568. A Very Different Top 10 List

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... creatures called mammals to thrive. Does anyone want to trade in their iPod for an eight-track tape player? Does anyone who works in an office miss the mimeograph machine, or typing and correcting carbon copies? The extinction of certain behaviors and attitudes is long past due. During his inaugural address as the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama recalled that only a few decades ago his own father would not have been allowed to sit and be served lunch at the majority of the restaurants in ...

4569. The World's Worst Bargain

Mark 8:31--9:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... hard to get people to quit thinking of her in that light a material girl. Actually, to many of us, she seems to be a very confused woman. Let’s face it, though, many people in this world live as if this is only a material world. Not long after Jesus taught about gaining the world and forfeiting one’s soul, there lived a man named Nero. You’ve heard his name before, as in “Nero fiddled while Rome burned.” That may be apocryphal, but we do know that this Roman emperor lived in glorious splendor. He ...

4570. Death Has Been Conquered

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... I said, `I’m a hospital myself, Doctor.’ I told him about all of these things I knew I had. “The doctor sat there for a long time before he said, `Yes, you’re in a bad way. You really are in a bad way. Now that you’ve diagnosed your case so well ... I said, `I’m a hospital myself, Doctor.’ I told him about all of these things I knew I had. “The doctor sat there for a long time before he said, `Yes, you’re in a bad way. You really are in a bad way. Now that you’ve diagnosed your case so well ...

4571. He Stands Alone

Mark 1:29-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... The ambulance arrived, so did a tow truck. She was taken to the hospital; we prayed for months; and she finally was healed.” But instead, he simply said: “She was dead.” Ratigliano then went on to tell how he and his wife grieved so deeply for so long over the death of their little girl. It was an awful time for them, the most difficult time in their marriage. Time went on, and they got pregnant again, finally, an answer to prayer, and that baby was about to be delivered . . . and it was stillborn. It ...

4572. God Loses, So We Can Win

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... Sundays I’m going to preach a series on the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the….” And Jesus goes on to call blessed the very people we usually call cursed. Jesus does that a lot. Just when we think we’ve got something figured out and nailed down, he comes a long and makes us wonder. In that Father’s Day sermon I observed how crucial it is for fathers to bless their sons. It’s been said that a father lets his son know he views him as a man, the son doubts he is. Another way to understand the doctrine ...

4573. The Father’s Blessing

Genesis 27:1-40

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... said with a smile, “What I’d rally like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys. See you later. Can I have them please?” REFRAIN I’ve long since retired. My son’s moved away. I called him up just the other day. I said, “I’d like to see you , if you don’t ... 10 minutes a day with their teenage sons. The single most predictable characteristic of men who commit rape and murder and spend long prison terms is growing up fatherless. God made us in such a way that fathers are essential to our becoming who we ...

4574. The Gifts of Word and Table

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... it feels good to be able to say it, because it is freeing. And, while you come to see at a particular point in time and in a particular place, in retrospect you can see God’s involvement with you long before you became aware of it. Just as the Risen Jesus walked and talked with Cleopas and friend long before they became aware of it. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” The embers of what our Wesleyan heritage calls ...

4575. You Must Start Over!

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... . But you’re not one of us. So just who are you and what are you up to?” Jesus’ response, in effect, says, “Nicodemus, what you know is getting in the way of your receiving what you need. I know your heart and mind. I know what you long for. It’s the Kingdom of God, that reality where everyone lives the life God created them for. And the truth is that you can’t enjoy that life, unless you are born anouthen.” III. Literally three meanings The Greek word has several meanings. It can be spatial ...

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