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 776 to 800 of 1245 results

776. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... had been experiencing many of these Spirit manifestations. But their presence was causing more jealousy and division than any "common good." Instead of playing down the diversity of gifts present and possible, Paul happily enumerates them. He seems eager to demonstrate that whether an individual experiences the impressive gift of wisdom, the eye-opening gift of knowledge, the quiet gift of faith, or the more show-stopping gifts of healing, working miracles, uttering prophecy, discerning spirits, or ...

777. Luke 4:14-21

Luke 4:14-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the service. First-century scholars are fairly convinced that this was a common courtesy extended to visiting rabbis. Of course Jesus' case is not typical. His hometown status coupled with his new reputation suggested that those present in the synagogue would be eager to hear him speak. The scripture Jesus stands and reads is apparently the Haftorah, or weekly reading from the prophets. Luke's text doesn't make it clear whether Jesus chose this text on his own authority or was searching out the prescribed ...

778. Acts 16:9-15

Acts 16:9-15

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is a well-established "dealer in purple cloth" (a luxurious, upper-class commodity), Lydia herself is active only as a listener. It is the Lord who "opened her heart." This change of heart is what enables Lydia to receive Paul's words "eagerly" and seek baptism. Letting another work through her and determine her actions is evidently not a characteristic path for Lydia. For after her baptism, she becomes an active, determining participant in this missionary moment. Although the text does not specify Lydia's ...

779. Luke 9:51-62

Luke 9:51-62

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... their role (9:45-50), but here in verse 54 James and John patently disregard Jesus' earlier instructions about how they are to behave when they and their message are rejected (9:5). Because this is a Samaritan village, the punishment James and John eagerly suggest and happily volunteer to inflict recalls the judgmental fire that was called down on the Samaritan king by Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 1:1-16). With James and John clearly modeling how NOT to be genuine disciples, Luke leads immediately into three ...

780. 2 Kings 5:1-14

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... is not barred from any contacts or activities because of his condition. Nevertheless, the suffering and stigma associated with Naaman's skin disease are so monumental that they cause him to take great risks. First, he risks his position of authority by eagerly embracing the advice and direction of his wife's insignificant Israelite slave girl. Naaman next risks his favored position with the king by using this slave girl's unproven words as the impetus and inspiration behind a journey into the hostile lands ...

781. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ). Paul confidently asserts that the divine hand that has rescued him from his enemies up to this point will continue to keep him safe. That this "safety" is not necessarily a state of physical security is evident in Paul's clear expectation of martyrdom. The safe passage he expects and eagerly anticipates is into the "heavenly kingdom" that awaits him in the future.

782. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... to be far greater than had been suspected. Note that the servants of the master are not even included in this explanatory list of actors. Undoubtedly, the disciples listening to the first telling of this parable would have considered themselves the overly-eager servants. In this allegorical retelling, however, all those who listen to Jesus as the Son of Man and accept his words are counted together and undifferentiated among the "good seed." Verses 40-43 now describe the eschatological end-of-the-age and ...

783. Matthew 16:13-20

Matthew 16:13-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... for them. Jesus then asks, "But who do you say that I am?" The disciples are now on the spot. This is no parable or image or suggestion or story - this is a straightforward question. Biblical scholars often part ways at interpreting Simon Peter's eager leap into the awkward silence that followed. Some insist that Peter was simply the representative voice of all the disciples there - suggesting that his view was not unique. It was just that his unruly, impetuous nature got him first in line to speak what ...

784. Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... we will serve the Lord," had on his listeners. And perhaps that is also why, despite the impressive confession of loyalty the Israelites make in verses 16-18, Joshua reveals he is still not convinced (v.19). The words sound too much like what an eager-to-please people might mouth to their respected leader. Even considering that verse 17b is probably a later addition to the text, the people demonstrate remarkable cognizance of all God has done for them. Yet their promise to serve appears to be based only on ...

785. Ephesians 1:15-23

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... -present, ever- powerful. Yet it seems we cannot bring ourselves to completely trust in this "horn of plenty" God has provided. Our security interests compel us to hold back the flow of love, hoarding it against some imagined day of scarcity instead of freely, eagerly passing the plate to everyone. Jesus' judgment comes down hard on those "goats" who refused to give of themselves in tangible, substantial ways to others in need. The judgment scene in Matthew 25:31-46 declares that we will be judged less on ...

786. Mark 9:2-9

Mark 9:2-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . In sum, the reigning opinion is that Mark used every opportunity to show how stupid, awkward and ungainly the disciples were. As their chief spokesman, Peter is usually the most outrageously dense, even when given insights not revealed to the others. Peter's eager suggestion that he, James and John build three booths for Jesus, Moses and Elijah initially seems almost bizarre. We expect to hear words of wonder and awe and praise not an offer for a construction project! But surely Mark would not record such ...

787. Acts 8:26-40

Acts 8:26-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... place with this strange man. The eunuch is reading a scroll of Isaiah and has just reached the haunting, mysterious words of the fourth Servant Song (Isaiah 53:7f) when Philip joins him. When the eunuch confesses his confusion over this text, Philip eagerly provides the Christian interpretation. It is an interpretation based not only on the events of Jesus' life and death, but apparently on Jesus' own understanding of this scripture. As recorded in Mark 9:12 and Luke 17:25, Jesus himself concluded that the ...

788. Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Furthermore, these are the same possibilities considered by King Herod as he anguished over his execution of John the Baptist (see 6:14-16). That Jesus' own disciples, who have been traveling with him and taught by him along the way, eagerly mouth these same inaccurate descriptions emphasizes how completely they miss the target. Both Mark's readers and apparently the disciples themselves can hear the wrongness in these titles. Jesus now immediately asks for their response: "But who do you say that ...

789. Mark 10:35-45

Mark 10:35-45

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... unconcerned with the grim and grueling ordeal just described, James and John are already focused on the eschatological future. In verse 37 their request is for good seats when Jesus has returned in all his messianic glory to rule and to judge. Their eagerness to have Jesus save them the best seats in the house (immediately on his right and on his left would be the seats of greatest honor) suggests that James and John expected this eschatological moment to arrive very shortly after they finally entered ...

790. Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46-52

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... you well" (v.52). There is no miraculous spitting or eye-rubbing or deep stares here, only faith. And Bartimaeus' faith is evidently more than enough. Just as this blind man's faith enabled him to raise his voice above that of the crowd, to persist in his demands, to eagerly come to Jesus, so his faith has healed him. That Jesus' faith in Bartimaeus is well-placed is evident by the fact that, having regained his sight, Bartimaeus now follows Jesus on "the way" to Jerusalem.

791. Mark 13:1-8

Mark 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... question to make sense of Jesus' answers. Jesus doesn't give a time frame, but instead issues a series of warnings, which while relevant to the question about "the sign," have nothing to do with the temple itself or to the moment the disciples are so eager to pin down. Verses 5b-23 constitute the second major section of Mark's eschatological unit in chapter 13. The theme that dominates in this section is that of the approaching end time. Mark's text emphasizes both the eschaton's inevitable arrival and yet ...

792. John 1:43-51

John 1:43-51

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... every man” and “every woman.” Yet this “average Joe” is the only one John specifically records Jesus as seeking out to “follow me.” Even if his later words will suggest Philip’s limitations, this disciple’s first instincts are right on. He eagerly seeks out another to share his experience of Jesus. John’s text identifies Philip, like Andrew and Peter, as from the Galilean community of Bethsaida. Since he immediately seeks out Nathanael it would suggest that he too is from that small town ...

793. Jesus' Good News of a New World · Part 2

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... s craving for what it had to have. Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s righteous – for God’s right order, for the new world God has in mind.” Blessed are those who seek God’s right order, with as much eagerness, single-mindedness, as we football players sought the water fountain after football practice. Several years ago on a mission trip to Eleuthra, an island in the Bahamas, I awoke one morning feeling like I had the flu. We drove out to the houses we were building ...

794. The Big E

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... know about him. But his much I know: Three years ago I was a drunkard. I was in debt. My family was falling to pieces; they dreaded the sight of me. But now I have given up drink. We are out of debt. Ours is a happy home. My children eagerly await my return home each evening. All this Christ has done for me. This much I know of Christ.”

795. Why Do You Keep Crying Aloud?

Mark 9:2-9

Illustration

Scott F. K. Kober

... disciples are given a genuine moment, a transparent happening that reveals will clarity that Christ above all men has pleased God and above all others speaks for God. It is this glimpse that will sustain their discipleship into the future. They will continue to cry out in a world not eager to listen.

796. The Miracle Fruit

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... is the truth?” is God’s answer. Everyone knows a Peter, a Pilate. Everyone IS a Peter, a Pilate. It was once said that just as Jesus is a reflection of who God is, Peter is a reflection of who we are. We are searching for truth and eager to follow truth, but full of dilemmas and issues and confused by the cognitive dissonance. Pilate was confounded because he knew something was wrong with what seemed to be right. He knew what was right but could not make himself do it because it was in such dissonance ...

797. Easter 7

Acts 1:12-26, 1 John 5:1-12, John 17:6-19

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... is telling the truth. Is a human calling God a liar? Is not God a God of truth? Can God lie? Truth is God's nature and thus he cannot lie. Since God says Jesus is his Son with whom he is pleased, we need to accept God's Word eagerly and gladly. 3. Have (v. 13). In this little word, there is tremendous truth concerning eternal life. John writes that the person who has Christ has eternal life. Christ is life, and to have him by faith living in you is to have eternal life. The emphasis is not upon ...

798. Easter 6

Acts 10:23b-48, 1 John 4:1-6, John 15:1-17, 1 John 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... " occurs nine times. In the gospel love and friendship are proved by obedience to Jesus' commandments, Jesus commands us to love one another. When the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded them to be baptized. This followed Peter's sermon which the people were eager "to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord." (Acts 10:33) In Lesson 2 John writes that we know we love God when we obey his commandments. According to the Psalm, we rejoice when we are obedient to God's laws. The ...

799. Epiphany 6

2 Kings 5:1-27, 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Mark 1:40-45

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... 7:14. b. The touch of pardon Isaiah 6:7. c. The touch of freedom Mark 7:33. d. The touch of healing Mark 1:41. Old Testament: 2 Kings 5:1-14 1. Let God heal you! (5:1-14). Need: This sermon reminds the people that God is eager and able to help and heal people with their needs, even as dreadful as leprosy was. Since God is love, he desires our welfare. He wants us to be healthy and happy. It is not God's reluctance to help us; it is our unwillingness to cooperate with him. Naaman ...

800. Proper 23

Job 23:1--24:25, Hebrews 4:1-13, Hebrews 4:14-5:10, Mark 10:17-31

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... be obeyed. Home and church should see a challenge here to teach the Bible to children and youth. 4. Look (vv. 21, 27). Look and love. How can we love if we do not see the person? Jesus looked at the young man and saw his fine qualities, eagerness for life and bright potential as a follower. Often someone asks, "What does he see in her?" He sees something he can love. Also, Jesus looked at his disciples when they were discussing the possibility of rich people entering the kingdom. To get his point across, he ...

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