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 4726 to 4750 of 5000 results

4726. When God Says, “No”

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Steven Molin

... say, "No." We don't do it to be mean, to be disagreeable, or simply to exert our authority; we do it because we love these little ones in our care, and their health and safety is dependent upon us. So when little Susy asks for chocolate before dinner, ... not a sermon about me and my prayers; it's about you ... and yours. All of us who bear the name "Christian" stand before a loving God who wants the best for every one of his children. What we cannot now see, we one day will understand, but for now, trusting ...

4727. Oh, The Things We Worry About!

Matthew 6:25-33

Sermon

... . "God of grace, on this day of Thanksgiving, we come before you with prayers of gratitude, and prayers of need. We look to you, Lord Jesus, to give us what is necessary, confessing that we long for more. But mostly, we thank you for your promise of love and life eternal. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen." Now having said all of that, I predict that there will be a lot of worrying today. Children will worry that their favorite pie will be in short supply and they will have to eat Grandpa's mincemeat! Football ...

4728. Becoming Like Jesus

1 John 3:1-7

Sermon

Nancy Kraft

... -to-face. Later in John's letter he talks about what it means to be like Christ. It means to love as Christ loved. "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7). Are we living as children of God? Are we ... allowing God's Spirit to work in our lives so that we are growing more and more Christlike in the way we love one another? As children of God, we're not called to become Christians. We're not called to become church members. We're ...

4729. Bothered and Bewildered

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Sermon

Gibson “Nibs” Stroupe

... him. The city of Corinth had a rough reputation. Prior to its fall to Rome 140 years before the birth of Jesus, its nature as an urban seaport had given rise to a temple to Aphrodite, where over 1,000 prostitutes hooked up the pilgrims with the goddess of love. After Rome took it over, the city was cleaned up a bit, but its reputation remained. Chapter 18 of Acts tells us that Paul came to Corinth after his sojourn in Athens. We are also told in Acts 18 that it is in Corinth that Paul solidifies in his ...

4730. Wiping Away the Tears

Revelation 21:1-6

Sermon

Patrick J. Rooney

... are more than they can bear. One line when the woman stands sobbing quietly beside the hospital bed of the man she has loved for more than sixty years. One line when the child, her face twisted in grief, stands at the graveside of her father killed ... believe that which they have not seen, when they almost cannot believe that which they do see before their own eyes as the one they love wastes away with his sickness and the senseless violence goes on all around us. It is fair to ask how I can believe such a ...

4731. God Enjoys AND Enjoins Us

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is easy to just “be there.” It is much harder to be there for the long haul, the hard times, the big tests, the final curtain. Just “showing up” at your wedding might get you married, but it doesn’t build a living, loving, fighting, mortgage paying, in-law juggling, overdrawn, children challenged, lifetime relationship. Just “showing up” at the birth of your child might make you a “parent,” but it does not make you a changing diapers, up-all-night, learning dinosaur names, cheering at rain ...

4732. Don't Mess with the IRS

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... grandmother in the nursing home and makes her happy with his stories and his harmonica playing. He is a lot like Jesus. I hope he wins. But if he doesn’t it won’t matter. He will still be the same good old Anthony.” And it was signed, “Love, Anne.” (5) I like that. He “makes [my grandmother] happy with his stories and his harmonica playing. He is a lot like Jesus.” There are people I’ve known through the years like Anthony the plumber. Some are members of this church. They take being a good ...

4733. The Place beyond Revenge

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22

Sermon

Donna Schaper

... Anniversary Eight years and yet 9/11 feels like yesterday! Give us the power to forget and remember the horror — both, not either. Let us remember our incredulity and fear, our impotence, and our morbid curiosity. Let us remember the love we have for loved ones lost, even those we only know by newspaper name, even those long forgotten by the numbness that has become our protection and armor. Let us remember firemen and police, mayors and presidents, and all whose spiritual budgets, and lungs, remain ...

4734. Something by Tolstoy

Illustration

Staff

... and enticed her to tour Europe with a vaudeville company. Brodzky was devastated. At their parting, he reached into his pocket and handed her the key to the front door of the bookstore. "You had better keep this," he told her, "because you will want it someday. Your love is not so much less than mine that you can get away from it. You will come back sometime, and I will be waiting." She kissed him and left. To escape the pain he felt, Brodzky withdrew deep into his bookstore and took to reading as someone ...

4735. A Woman's Guide to Men's Gifts

Humor Illustration

... . No one knows why. Rule #2: If you cannot afford a cordless drill, buy him anything with the word ratchet or socket in it. Men love saying those two words. "Hey George, can I borrow your ratchet?" "OK." By-the-way, are you through with my 3/8-inch socket yet ... him anything for his car. A 99-cent ice scraper, a small bottle of deicer or something to hang from his rear view mirror. Men love gifts for their cars. No one knows why. Rule #4: Do not buy men socks. Do not buy men ties. And never buy men bathrobes ...

4736. No Time for a Sermon

Hebrews 1:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... bringing attention to himself, but lifting up the arms of others for ministry. Luther didn’t have an “ego” that “edged God out.” He had an e-g-o that “educed God open.” In the front of the parsonage he grew spectacular roses which he loved to give away, especially to children. And in his basement he ground rocks into gemstones, which he turned into jewelry and cuff-links which he lavished on parishioners. He drew out of rocks and roses spiritual lessons he wanted to pass on. If Luther felt an ...

4737. I Am Baptized!

Mark 1:9-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... he should be baptized by Jesus. He was baptizing the Son of God. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” The other people on the banks of the Jordan River that day had no idea of the significance of this event. Christ’s true identity was still hidden from them. But John knew, and even more important, God knew: “You are my Son, whom ...

4738. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of a superior position. Paul pounces on that “puffed up” spirit. Instead of congratulating them on their insights, the apostle pulls the plug on their inflated egos. In its place he offers that which is available equally to all — love. It is love, not unique knowledge, that “builds up.” It is in loving God that disciples know and are known by God. Knowledge of God and being known by God is a relationship experience, not a purely intellectual exercise. It is through this web of relationships that ...

4739. Don’t Be Childish, Do Be Child-like

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... and told his daughter, rather childishly, "I'm coming to school tomorrow. I've tried to be a follower of Jesus, and he taught me to love my enemies and all that, but I'm going to ask Jesus to excuse me for about fifteen minutes while I beat the heck out of ... before he could see me. When I'd see him, I'd begin smiling and waving and gushing at him like I was just head over heels in love with him, like I was going to eat him up. The other kids got to teasing him about me having a crush on him, and now, the only ...

4740. I Want My Dollar Back!

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... verses she wrote about giving words she meant from her heart. They went like this: Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to thee; take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of thy love. Take my feet, and let them be Swift and beautiful for thee. Take my voice, and let me sing, Always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be Filled with messages from thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my ...

4741. Screaming at the Television

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

King Duncan

... But Paul’s heart had been changed. He truly became a new person on the road to Damascus when he was confronted by the risen Christ. Christ had performed a great work in his life and so, later in life, St. Paul was able to return hatred with love, anger with gentleness, and slander with words of kindness. Not many people reach that level of spiritual maturity. There are some people we encounter whose hearts are filled with anger. We see it on the road road rage it’s call. We see it in our offices people ...

4742. Be a Night Light

James 1:1-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , "that He stooped so low as to become one of those creeping, crawling creatures of that floating ball?" "I do, and I don't think He would like you to call them 'creeping, crawling creatures' in that tone of voice. For, strange as it may seem to us, He loves them. He went down to visit them to lift them up to become like Him." The little angel looked blank. Such a thought was almost beyond his comprehension. "Close your eyes for a moment," said the senior angel, "and we will go back in what they call Time ...

4743. Proper 9

2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30:1-12; 66:1-20, Isaiah 60:10-14, Luke 10:1-24, Galatians 6:1-16

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... , and the company is good. People: We come here to be with each other as we thank God for creation and for divine love. Leader: Together we see the wonderful things God does and we can rejoice. People: Together we also recognize the not-so-good things in ... of heaven. With money and talent and skills, we manifest Divine hospitality. With a gentle manner and kind demeanor, we make Holy love conspicuous. As the plates/baskets come to you, give what you can to expand the health of the planet. Doxology "The Lone, ...

4744. Proper 14

Psalm 33:12-22, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Luke 12:32-40, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One. Community Confession God of the Past, Present, and Future — our concepts of thinking and faith, trust and belief are enmeshed. We have faith that you are the I AM, our God. We trust that you love us. We believe that you are the Creator of the universe. But you are Great Mystery to us and we do not fully know what you expect from us. We do not think you want blood sacrifices. We think that our caring for the earth and for strangers ...

4745. Proper 18

Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, Jeremiah 18:1-11, Luke 14:25-35, Philemon 1-21

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... society. We pray for people who get caught on the craggy edges of filibusters and votes, rebellions and power plays. Most of all, we yearn for an end to hatreds and wars. We pray for peace. God of Foundations and Spires — we believe you ask us to love you more than anything or anyone. Grow us deep into the mysteries of heaven and earth; grow us outward with respect for creatures and all nature; grow us with thoughts and experiences to appreciate who you are shaping us to be. Some of us function as guides ...

4746. Liturgy of the Palms

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Luke 19:28-44

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... events and environments so it is not strange to think that at one moment we say, “Hosanna” and the next, “Away with him!” Our souls exist within a continuum: “Thanks be to God” at one end and “to hell with it” at the other, “God’s love is eternal” (Psalm 118) to “there is no God” at the other. Contemporary Affirmation The Holy comes to us in many different ways. God continues to create in and around us, leading us to food for our souls and our bodies. We find courage in Jesus of ...

4747. Liturgy of the Passion

Luke 22:14-23:56

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

4748. Made for Joy

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) Don’t worry about your future this Advent season. God is in control. Don’t worry about disappointing your family or your friends. Let them know you love them. That is the greatest gift you can give them. That is the gift God gave us in the stable of Bethlehem. In the words of St. Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near ...

4749. Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45

Sermon

King Duncan

... years are met in thee tonight.’ That holy thing God had started leaped up to our hearts and every one of us wanted to join that group of singers saying, ‘I have disabilities, too. My spirit and heart have been disabled by cynicism, hurt, and anger. I would love to have your innocence and purity leap out of me as it does your little choir.’” (3) It is only right that at Christmas we should be mindful of those for whom life is a struggle. It is only right at Christmas time that we should be reminded ...

4750. Acts of God?

Luke 13:1-9

Sermon

Brett Blair

... ripped through New York and New Jersey. God was not in the floodwaters that swamped New Orleans. He was not in the cockpit of those planes on 911. He did not cause these things to happen. I’ll tell where God is. He is there in the last moments as loved ones try to help one another get out of harm’s way. He is there in the fireman’s suit. He is there behind the police badge. He is behind the scalpel and the syringe. He is there in the Coast Guard officials, marines, Red Cross, EMTs, Salvation Army ...

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