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 526 to 550 of 1164 results

526. Who Is Jesus Christ?

John 14:5-14

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

There is a familiar greeting which I try to use at the beginning of each and every worship service. It comes from Paul’s Second Letter to the Church at Corinth: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (II Cor. 13:14) Now, that may sound simple and even trite, but I would suggest that that sentence contains the essence of the Christian Faith. It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we come to know the love of God, in the ...

527. Daily Choice

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Sermon

One of my earliest childhood sweethearts was, believe it or not, a woman named Sophie Tucker. I have never really figured out why, but something about that woman charmed and fascinated me when I was a child. She used to sing a song called "Life Begins at Forty." One of my great childhood goals was to buy a record of her singing that song. I even found out that she performed in a club in New York, and I began to make plans to get there to see her in person. I began to wonder ... was it she, or that song she ...

528. Empowered

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

A family driving a large camper pulled up in front of the church just as the pastor started toward home. Desiring to be friendly, the pastor introduced himself and expressed his admiration for the camper. The man of the family told him rather proudly: "This camper sleeps eight people." Then he asked: "What is the capacity of your church, Pastor?" The beleaguered pastor replied rather glumly, "Oh, it sleeps about eighty." It is embarrassing sometimes how little the modern day church resembles the church ...

529. Unexpected Invasions

Isaiah 64:1-9

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

He looked me in the eye with deep intensity, as young adults tend to do, and then he said, “Do you believe in miracles?" “Indeed I do," I said with all the authority of my office and ordination. “Good," he replied. “I need an especially big one this week." With that he disappeared in the crowd and I never saw him again although I continue to pray for him often when his face comes into my mind's eye. Here we are in December. December is not so much another month as it is another state of mind. In December ...

530. Your Money and Your Life

Matthew 6:19-24

Sermon

Robert Bachelder

In his classic treatise on politics, The Republic, Plato observed that the greatest enemy of justice is the family. Yes, the family! I daresay his claim will strike you as being rather silly. After all, most everyone agrees the family is a good and necessary institution. Sociologists continue to say the family is the vital unit or cell of society. We are all disturbed by the disintegration of the family as the divorce rate climbs. Many believe this phenomenon is as dangerous as running out of energy or ...

531. Facing the Glory Road

Matthew 20:17-19

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

Tell me, how would you like to have life served up to you? The newest neophyte among the Madison Avenue ad men will tell you. Every word of copy that they write promises to fulfill what they consider your deepest yearnings. You want it soft, just as soft as Puff facial tissues. You want it comfortable. You want it secure. You want to live in a kind of bovine, cud-chewing complacency, comfort, and contentment. You want to be born without labor pain to your mother, to live in a computerized, automated Utopia ...

532. The 4 Spiritual Flaws

John 6:1-15

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Want to attract young, floundering, post-high school people to a life of faith, fulfillment, and commitment? Would your first thought be to offer that age group a solid set of "divine directives" aka "Four Spiritual Laws?" Probably not. Unless you were Bill Bright in 1952, when he offered that gleaming, golden nugget of insight to a new generation of spiritual seekers. But the "laws" Bill Bright proposed were far from rude and reactionary. Instead they were redeeming and revealing. And they have touched ...

533. Lent 5

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, John 12:20-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Jeremiah addresses these words to the Jews in Babylon. Through him God promises to make a new covenant with them. Out of their suffering, sorrow and isolation in exile as slaves, a new covenant will be made. No time was given when the new covenant would be made; Christians see the new covenant made through the blood of Christ. The differences between the old and new covenants are in the facts that the law would be in the hearts and God would be known in an ...

534. Lent 1

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, John 12:20-36

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

535. Pentecost: The Neglected Factor

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

The book of the Bible most closed to modern Christians, I believe, is the book of Acts. It is actually the record of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of those who were left to carry on that first century after Jesus’ departure from the earthly scene. It is the account of the dynamic released in the world through men and women of prayer. Jesus promised, you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you. And he told those scared followers to wait in Jerusalem for the promise. For John ...

536. When Will The Pain Go Away?

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon

George Johnson

A young mother in her 30s with three children came to her pastor to talk about her husband's impending death. He was dying of cancer. "I'm afraid," she said. The pastor listened and asked a few questions to help her express her fear. One of the questions he asked was, "Are you afraid of losing your faith?" There was silence. "Yes," she said. And then there were more tears. There are times when one feels abandoned by God. If God really loved me would this be happening? Prayers don't seem to be answered. All ...

537. How Much Is Enough?

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

Johnny Dean

I will defend to the death my theory that the most perfect food, the one item that provides nourishment for body, mind, and spirit is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread. I have felt that way for as long as I can remember. When I’m feeling a little depressed or lonely or homesick, when I just want a snack, when I’m having lunch by myself, nothing satisfies the hunger of the body or lifts my spirits like a peanut butter jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread. It’s a complete meal. The ...

538. The Cross Way of Life

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

"He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me ... and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it." [Matthew 10:37-39] During the presidential campaign of 1976, Jimmy Carter became famous for his teeth. Cartoonists had a holiday exaggerating the size of his teeth. His teeth were prominent because he went across the country constantly smiling which certainly was an important factor ...

539. Moses: On the Manna Diet

Exodus 16:1-5

Sermon

John E. Harnish

The story begins with the people grumbling…not only their stomachs, but their souls as well. So they form a "Back to Egypt Committee" whose mantra is "Why'd you bring us out here…everything was so much better back in Egypt." I guess just about every time the people of God begin to journey into an unknown future, they have to deal with the "Back to Egypt Committee," a desire for the good old days. Well, God heard their grumblings and, lo and behold, God provided—quail for protein and a generous serving of " ...

540. Do You Have Any Leftovers?

John 6:1-15

Sermon

James Merritt

Without question, I can tell you what my absolute, all time, favorite meal is. It is so special that I only get to eat it once a year. It is so special, and so good, and so tasty that it is worth the wait. It is not just what I get to eat that makes it the most special meal of the year, but who I get to eat it with. It is the time of year I get to eat it and it is the occasion that brings me to the table. Can you guess what meal this is? It is Thanksgiving. The reason why Thanksgiving is my favorite meal ...

541. The Ten Commandments #8: No Stealing

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Have you ever been robbed? Someone broke into your home or business or car or locker at school and took something? I have. A few years ago, someone broke into my car while it was parked on the street and took some things from the back seat. They were not expensive or irreplaceable, but it was a rotten feeling none the less...not so much that something I owned was stolen, but the feeling that part of ME had been violated. Has that ever happened to you? There is a tie between us and our property that has ...

542. Doing Our Best

Romans 12: 1-13

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Once to every man and nation Comes a moment to decide In the strife of truth with falsehood For the good or evil side. In the wake of worldwide terror, I have wondered aloud and pondered deeply what the leadership role of the church should be in a time such as this. Should we push forward or pull back? Should we unveil a new vision for this congregation or wait for a better day? I have asked many of you to give us some guidance. You have said to me without exception, “Howard, the Church is needed now more ...

543. Proper 13

Ephesians 4:1-16, 2 Samuel 12:1-31, John 6:25-59

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

Theme: Receiving the true bread of life, Jesus Christ. COMMENTARY Old Testament: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a This text continues the story of David's sin with Bathsheba and spells out the consequences. After Bathsheba's period of mourning, David brings her into his household and marries her. He might have thought that he had gotten away with his crime when Nathan the prophet tells him the story of the rich man who took the poor man's little ewe lamb to slaughter for a feast. David unknowingly pronounces ...

544. Nobody's Perfect--Except Jesus

Hebrews 4:15-16

Sermon

James Merritt

One of America's favorite pastimes is making excuses. We all love to make them, and some people are especially creative in cooking up excuses when they are in the kitchen of trouble. The following are some true excuses offered to police officers in relation to automobile accidents. I think you will find them interesting: "An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car, and then disappeared." "I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment." "The ...

545. Called to Be Saints

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Warren Thomas Smith

"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you." (v. 12) Who is a saint? The historic definition is one whose life is worthy of imitation by all of Christendom. Some add that a sense of humor is a prerequisite, along with having performed miracles. "She is a saint," we say. What do we mean? We usually have in mind a person whose goodness, unselfishness, love, is unmistakable. Ah, but ask that one, "Are you a saint?" The answer: "Of course ...

546. How to Beat the Devil

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

(Note: I've chosen to wait until the end of the sermon to introduce the button images - EASY button versus REJECT and RESET buttons. You may choose to introduce them much earlier.) With the Super Bowl finally out of the way, we can now focus on something really important - basketball! In basketball things change so much more quickly than in football. Partly because there are three-point shots; partly because of the trumping effect of last second foul shots; partly because the basketball court is still the ...

547. Proper 13

Romans 8:28-39, Isaiah 55:1-13, Genesis 32:22-32, Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Genesis 32:22-31 Jacob returns home with his wives, children and flocks but, fearing the wrath of his brother Esau, he sends them on before him, remaining by himself. He wrestles with an angel of God until daybreak. The angel cannot overcome Jacob and asks to be let go. Jacob refuses until he receives a blessing. The heavenly visitor notes that Jacob has striven with God and man but has prevailed. Old Testament: Isaiah 55:1-5 Like a hawker on the street, God bids his people to ...

548. How to Affair-Proof Your Marriage!

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

Country singer Gene Watson croons: Slip into something soft, And then come slip into my arms again. Strip away your conscience and Take off your wedding band. Cheating has become America's national pastime. Statistically, 65 percent of men have affairs by age forty. For women, it's 35 percent. Talking with a pastor who had demitted the ministry due to sexual misconduct, he confided, "I never thought it could happen to me. But it did. For fifteen minutes of rolling in the sheets I sacrificed everything ...

549. The Greatest Story Ever Told

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

When a child is very young, mirrors don' t mean anything to him or her. But one day, sometime between six months and one year old, the child suddenly catches on. She recognizes that the creature holding her is the same one she has been trying to train for months, the very same one who will grin from ear to ear each time she says "Da Da", the same guy who will come quickly if she screams. She also notices that if she raises an arm, the good- looking baby in the mirror will do likewise. Suddenly, with a ...

550. What’s Going On in Your Orchard?

John 15:1-17

Sermon

Charles L. Koester

She had been brutally murdered on a neighborhood bus. A young, teenaged girl. Cut down in the prime of life by a man suddenly gone berserk. The bus driver, struggling with her assailant, was himself injured. The morning after the tragedy, I was in a drugstore when this young lady’s father entered. I did not know him, but was told by the druggist, "That’s the girl’s father." I immediately assumed he was in the store having a prescription filled for a sedative of some sort. I could well imagine the effects ...

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