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 551 to 575 of 4959 results

551. A Love Triangle

Matthew 22:34-46

Sermon

David G. Rogne

... with himself. He was so totally engaged with himself that he fell into the water and drowned. What the ancient storytellers were trying to get across is that total preoccupation with self leads to destruction. However, there is another kind of self-love that is desirable. It is called self-esteem, self-respect, and acceptance that we are persons of worth because God is our Father and we belong to God's family. In his book Self-Esteem (Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982, p. 91), Robert Schuller provides a litany ...

552. Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Mark 14:1-11

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... tell you the truth: Here, again, is the solemn oathlike phrase peculiar to Jesus in the NT. See the note on 3:28. 14:10 Judas Iscariot: On the meaning of the name Iscariot, see the note on 3:19. 14:11 An opportunity to hand him over: The desire of the priests was information on where to find Jesus alone, or at least away from the pilgrim crowds among whom he was so popular and who might try to prevent his arrest. Judas was able to tell the priests where Jesus would meet (probably secretly) on Passover night ...

553. Jesus Before Pilate

Mark 15:1-15

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... trouble with the Jewish authorities on more than one occasion (see note), he may very well have seen this as an excellent opportunity to bedevil them by releasing someone they wanted out of their hair. His motive for trying to release Jesus was likely the desire to make life more difficult for the religious authorities so they would have less time to trouble him. Whatever the nature of his motive, Pilate finally agrees to the demand of the crowd and hands Jesus over to be executed. Thus, although the gospel ...

554. The Weak and the Strong

Romans 14:1--15:13

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... her master, not to a fellow slave. And he will stand, regardless of what the fellow slave may think or say, for the Lord is able to make him stand. A Christian is defined not by what others think, but by what God thinks. God does not desire sameness and uniformity within the body. God frees believers from the consciences of others (even of other believers) and enables them to be transformed to the image of Christ. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves ...

555. Orderly Worship

1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... that the other prophets are to evaluate the words of the prophets who speak, or he may mean that the rest of the congregation should assess what the prophets bring to the worship of the congregation. Since in this letter Paul exhorts the entire congregation to desire to practice the gift of prophecy, it is unlikely that he assumed prophecy to be the strict prerogative of a special group. Prophecy was for the good of the whole church, so it seems most likely that Paul is telling the entire church to practice ...

556. The Trumpets

Revelation 8:6--9:21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... from Egypt, the purpose of the plagues was to assert the lordship of God over the world’s most powerful ruler, the Egyptian Pharaoh. The plagues were a concrete demonstration of divine authority that intended to convince the Lord’s people of God’s desire to lead them to a promised land more plentiful than Egypt. Recall also from Revelation 2–3 that the unfaithfulness of John’s audience is due in large measure to cultural pressures, which molded and shaped Israel into a people more like Egypt (i ...

557. Balaam’s First Oracle

Numbers 23:1-12

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... is, not born of a human and so not a mortal. The divine word always comes to pass; God’s intent (here to bless Israel) is consistent. From the beginning, Balaam has said that he must speak the divine message—which is blessing, in contrast to Balak’s desire for cursing: I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. Jacob/Israel is not to experience misfortune or misery, for God is with them. The parallelism in verse 21 suggests that the King in the last line is the divine ...

558. David Counts the Fighting Men

2 Samuel 24:1-17

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... God of Israel. In addition, this final story reemphasizes the nature of human perfidy and God’s faithfulness and mercy. It also provides a context for the continuing story as recorded in 1 and 2 Kings. God still has a purpose for Israel, God still desires worship and service, God still acts on Israel’s behalf. The site is purchased, the sacrifice is made, the plague is over, life in the land continues under the blessing of God. The temple site is ready. This part of the narrative is complete, and the ...

559. Job's First Test

Job 1:6-22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... the NIV translators are theologically uncomfortable with the idea that humans can offer any blessing that will add to the completeness of God. Apparently the OT writers had no such difficulty, since they often talk about their desire and intention to return to God the blessing they have received. There is certainly something significantly different between desiring to “praise” God and wanting to “bless” him. The one wishes to verbalize reasons for which God is praiseworthy, while the other actually ...

560. Thanksgiving for the King’s Victories in Battle

Psalm 21:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... is a royal family in power over others (see on 137:8–9). 21:13 As in Psalm 20, this psalm closes with a petition addressed to Yahweh, except here it rings with praise: Be exalted, O LORD. In a psalm celebrating the king’s successes, this desire that Yahweh be the one ultimately exalted stands out in bold relief. Similarly, as the liturgy opened with attention to your strength, so it closes. Yahweh’s power, not the king’s, is to be the focus of the congregation’s interest. Additional Note 21:4, 6 ...

561. More Than Conquerors

Romans 8:28-39

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... : This must be our notion of the just man, that even when he is in poverty or sickness, or any other seeming misfortune, all things will in the end work together for good to him in life and death: for the gods have a care for any whose desire is to become just and to be like God (Republic, 10.613). Judaism likewise abounded with stories (e.g., Ruth, Esther, Judith) in which adverse circumstances came to a good end. A saying attributed to Rabbi Akiba (ca. A.D. 130) stressed God’s providence over all things ...

562. Balaam's Second Oracle

Numbers 23:13-26

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

563. David Builds an Altar

2 Samuel 24:18-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

564. Be Holy

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... 1, 7–9; 4:8–10; Rom. 12:9–19; Eph. 4:2; 5:19–21; Col. 3:16; Heb. 13:5), reproducing the rabbinic Hebrew practice of employing participles to express rules of conduct. See D. Daube, “Participles and Imperatives in 1 Peter,” in Selwyn, pp. 463–88. Evil desires (epithymia, longing, in good or bad sense): a favorite word with Peter (2:11; 4:2, 3; 2 Pet. 1:4; 2:10, 18; 3:3), but always with its negative meaning. The expression can characterize Gentile behavior (Rom. 1:24; Eph. 2:3; 4:22; 1 Thess. 4 ...

565. How Beautiful Your Feet

Song of Songs 7:1-13

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Huwiler

... and touch. The abrupt change of speakers also implies the sense of hearing. 7:10–13 The segment opens with another variation on the mutual possession formula (2:16; 6:3). Verse 10b is a counterpart to (or even a reversal of) Genesis 3:16, where the woman’s desire is for her man. In verse 11, the woman is speaking to the man. She suggests that they spend the night together in the countryside. This is the first direct invitation from the woman to the man. In 2:10–13 and 4:8, the invitation is from the ...

566. Like Fighting a Giant Tuna

Romans 7:14-25a

Sermon

King Duncan

... . And then he adds: “Discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” That’s true. If we could only discipline ourselves in all ways, we could have a remarkable life. The question is, how is it done? How do we win the battle over our own desires and actions? Legendary management guru Tom Peters understands this problem. Most of us have a to-do list, but Peters also has what he calls a “to-don’t” list--an inventory of behaviors and practices that sap his energy, divert his focus, and ought to ...

567. Treasure Hidden In a Clay Jar

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... successful treasure hunt. Such stories give us hope that someday we will be that fortunate too. Today, I want to invite you on the greatest treasure hunt of all. It is a hunt for the treasure that surpasses all others. People don’t recognize that it is the most desirable treasure of all because it is hidden in an innocuous and somewhat fragile clay jar. Why is it hidden in a clay jar and not displayed in, for example, a jewelry case? Well, there’s a reason. See if you can figure it out as you listen to ...

568. Searching for Happiness

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

King Duncan

... the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun . . . .” (17-18). (1) What a sad, miserable man. He had everything that life in his time could offer. And he counted it all vanity. Solomon had everything the human heart could desire except one. I’ll let you guess what that was. As I read his litany of despair, I couldn’t help but see many people today who are chasing happiness in a similar fashion--knowledge, alcohol, sensual pleasure, work, accumulation of wealth, sex. “Who wants to ...

569. An Absolute Cure for Boredom

Philippians 3:7-4:1

Sermon

King Duncan

... out of the car.” Paul didn’t want a drive-in experience of the Christian life. In his words he wanted to gain Christ and be found in him, and he wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and participate in his sufferings. Paul had no desire to simply be an observer from the comfort of his car. Carlo Carretto once put it this way, “The world and the Cross do not get along too well together, and comfort and holiness do not share the same room.” (3) Comfort and holiness do not share the ...

570. Next Man Up

John 17:20-26

Sermon

King Duncan

... bringing of the Kingdom of God upon earth, depends in part on our readiness to do our part. That is true of being part of a team. It is also true in terms of individual acts of discipleship. Ross Boone tells the story of his friend, Kevin, and his desire to minister to a non-believing co-worker. While Kevin was praying one day, he had a vision that God was calling him to pray with this co-worker. Kevin was really hesitant to believe that this vision came from God. He worked in a small, open-concept office ...

571. When Mickey Mouse Recognizes You...

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... the world’s largest case of fraud destroyed him and destroyed many of those around him. (2) My guess is that deep down most people long to be somebody. Jesus understood that. Jesus was a master psychologist. He knew that all of us crave recognition. He knew that the desire for status is an innate part of the human condition. Most of us don’t want to simply keep up with the Joneses—we want to be slightly ahead of the Joneses, the Smiths and everyone else on the block. It is very human to want to be one ...

572. Counting the Cost

Luke 14:25-33

Sermon

George Reed

... and unconditionally. We are in a right relationship with God and nothing else matters. This is what Jesus was getting at when he told us that if we seek after the kingdom of God, God’s reign, first then everything else will fall into place. Once God and God’s desire for creation are put first in our lives then we can sort out and reorder the rest as seems best to us. Whatever we turn our minds and hands to can become blessed if they are done to the glory of God and growth of God’s realm. Seek ye ...

573. Thy Will Be Done

Luke 20:27-38

Sermon

Molly F. James

... us of the ways in which we can behave like the Sadducees. Just as they needed a reminder, so do we. We need a reminder to broaden our vision — a reminder to change our perspective. We need a reminder that our calling as Christians is not to follow our own desires or our own categories — it is to follow God’s will. Every time we say the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy will be done.” We do not pray “my will be done.” Being a follower of Christ ...

574. Praise God! Selah!

Luke 1:67-80, Luke 1:57-66, Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:1-4

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... moan and groan when things don’t go our way. We are especially quick to blame God, negate God, ignore God, refuse to glorify God when things aren’t wine and roses. This is the lesson of Job! Even when we pray. Listen to our prayers: we want this; we desire that; God give us this; God fix that; God help us here; God make this happen! But how many times do we instead …just….listen? Listen to what God tells us is coming our way…..to what God has already given us in the presence and power of Jesus. As ...

575. Mending Fences

Luke 16:1-15, Luke 16:16-18

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... . And the good news for all of us is that no matter what we have done, what others have done to us, fences can be mended. Relationships can be healed. What relationships in your life need mending? Are there times you have overstepped? Has money, or power, or the desire to do it your way caused you to tear some fences? Do you feel guilty for things you haven’t done? Come to the table. Jesus’ table, where all souls are restored, all hearts put at peace. If you have mis-stepped, let Jesus show you how to ...

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