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 926 to 950 of 1245 results

926. Vocabulary Lesson

Humor Illustration

... cowboys, and he couldn't control his excitement. He blurted out, "Look, Grandma, those cowboys are bowlegged!" The grandmother, being a very genteel lady, was deeply embarrassed by his rough language. She dragged her grandson home and worked all day on improving his vocabulary. The next day, the boy was eager to show that he had learned his lesson. As they passed by a group of cowboys, the boy remarked, "Grandma, what manner of men are these who wear their legs in parentheses!"

927. I Saw the Face of God

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Johnny Dean

... she took the precious gift and ran across the street where three small children waited. Maybe they were her siblings, maybe not. Very deliberately the girl peeled the banana. Then she carefully divided the banana into three equal parts and placed the precious food in the eager hands of those three young ones. 'One for you, and one for you, and one for you!' Then, for her own meal, she licked the inside of that banana peel." Jackson concludes the story, "And I will always believe that I saw the face of God ...

928. No Cleansing, No Refreshment

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... roughing up. But what exactly is Jesus so set on scrubbing off? Jesus’ anger is focused against the economic activities going on outside the Temple. The celebration of Passover brought observant Jews from all over the region to the Temple, pilgrims eager to make the required sacrifices and pious offerings in order to ensure their standing in the eyes of God and community. The animals displayed in the outer courtyard of the Temple, the Gentiles’ courtyard, made it unnecessary for long-distance travelers ...

929. 1 John 3:16-24

1 John 3:11-24

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... world’s goods,” “worldly wealth” or “material possessions.” The willing “sacrifice” of some of our worldly “stuff” for the sake of “a brother or sister in need” is for this author the most basic, most obvious, love-sacrifice Christians should be eager to embrace. 1 John rhetorically asks how “God’s love” could “abide” within those who could refuse to help a brother or sister “in need.” The author’s reference to “God’s love” in v.17 should best be understood as ...

930. Candidates for God’s Candid Camera

1 John 3:11-24

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

931. Acts 8:26 40

Acts 8:26-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... be a later scribal addition, and reflects a later concern over proper process and procedure. Luke’s focus here is instead on initiative and action — the initiative of the eunuch and the immediate and decisive action of Philip baptizing the eager man. Once the baptism is completed, so too is Philip’s Spirit‑directed witnessing to the Ethiopian eunuch. Through direct divine intervention Philip finds himself in a new place for his purpose. He is literally “Spirited away.” The Holy Spirit determines ...

932. Practicing the Presence

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

933. Don’t Get Into Things!

Luke 24:50-53

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , Peter is all set to break out the tools and physically build a holy encampment for these heavenly visitors — a kind of Moses-Elijah-Jesus museum. When Jesus miraculously appears walking on the water towards his boat bound disciples, Peter is the one who eagerly jumps ship to join him. Peter is a man of action. Sitting and waiting on the Lord is not his style. Peter had also denied Jesus three times. Judas’ traitorous actions led to Jesus’ arrest, but Peter’s cowardly denials denigrated his own ...

934. Only the Best

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... of her favorite singer, a gift certificate to her favorite clothing store from her older sister, and a card with $3 in change from her youngest brother, Billy(probably his paper route tip money, bless him), she hoped she had saved the best for last. With eagerness she unwrapped her parents' present, praying it was that new top she wanted. She laughed with glee as she found a box that contained a box that contained another box. "Oh, you guys are jokesters. This is too small for that top I wanted." "Open it ...

935. How Firm a Foundation

Luke 6:39-49

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

... won't take it?" Ask any doctor, and they'll tell you that this is a truth. Patients, who will not do as asked, should be fired. They really don't want to get well. "Exercise and diet. It'll bring down your blood pressure." Not a prescription we eagerly want to fill. Yet, how often do Christians profess Jesus as Lord and ignore his voice? We call him Lord and then refuse to do what he asks. It's foolish to see a doctor and disregard his instructions. Wouldn't you fire a worker when they did the same ...

936. Will He Find Faith?

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... only when we've gotten on his nerves so badly that he'll do anything just to get us to stop nagging? Surely we can't believe that of God! We know that God loves us, we know that God wants good for us, and we know that God eagerly listens and answers our prayers. Surely God is nothing like the judge, and that's the point of the story. It's not a comparison. God is not likened to the unjust judge. Instead, this parable is a contrast. The judge is this ... but God is that. The judge has ...

937. Begging and Bragging

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees did (and we know who's side Jesus was on there). So why is it that the Pharisees are always the bad guys when Jesus tells his little parables? Why is it that the Pharisees were so eager to stop Jesus from teaching that they arranged for his death? Here's the problem with the Pharisees. They were good people and they knew it. They followed the rules and wanted everyone else to see how well they did. But their problem was more than just a ...

938. Saint Who?

Luke 6:27-36, Luke 19:1-10

Sermon

Scott Bryte

... a good view of the parade. So, how short was he? Was he fantastically tiny? Spectacularly diminutive? Would his picture have made it into the Guinness World Records? To be honest, nobody knows. All we know is that he was shorter than the people standing in front of him, all eager to see Jesus, and so he had to climb a tree to get a good look. Well, maybe that's not exactly all we know. We know that he didn't ask politely to be let through to the front of the crowd, where he would have had a better ...

939. A Time To Laugh

John 20:19-31

Sermon

David E. Leininger

... 's church. On this particular Sunday, he was using squirrels for an object lesson on industry and preparation. He started out by saying, "I am going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is." The children nodded eagerly. "This thing lives in trees ... and eats nuts...." No hands went up. "And it is gray ... and has a long bushy tail...." The children were looking at each other, but still no hands raised. "And it jumps from branch to branch ... and chatters and flips ...

940. Ascension

Psalm 47:1-9, Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... ; let there be enough nurture and money for each day. God of Teachers and Students — humankind is learning so much about how the universe functions. We are learning how the human body works, what it will tolerate, and what causes it to die. We eagerly pass all this knowledge on to the next generation. Let us also mentor them in compassion, honesty, gentleness, and kindness. Amen. Benediction As you leave here, greet one another. As you leave here, look up for signs of Divine creativity. As you leave here ...

941. Easter 5

Psalm 148:1-14, John 13:31-35, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... companionship and Divine Presence. People: We are glad to be here and to thank God for life. Prayer Of Thanksgiving (unison) Living God — thank you for renewed zest for living and for surrounding us with opportunities to be creative. Our minds are eager to receive your Word; our hearts are ready to experience your expansive love. We honor you with careful attention during this hour. Amen. Call To Confession Consider the week behind us. We cannot return to those hours. Their patterns for decision-making ...

942. Easter 6

Psalm 67:1-7, John 5:1-9; 14:23-29, Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and satisfying relationships. We appreciate who you are and who you are making us to be. In this hour, stretch our minds and expand our souls so that we may dream ways to make your love palpable in this neighborhood, this church, and this nation. We eagerly listen for your voice. Amen. Call To Confession Our words and our behaviors indicate the beliefs that motivate us. Sometimes our soul’s hopes are betrayed by what comes out of our mouths and by where we go. These silent moments can reveal changes that ...

943. Easter Day

Psalm 118:1-2, Isaiah 65:17-25, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

Call To Worship Leader: Christ is risen! Christ lives! People: Indeed! Christ is alive! Leader: Hallelujah! Prayer Of Thanksgiving Christ is alive! How grateful we are that the tomb is empty! That we, too, can be fully alive! We eagerly sing and pray our delight. We express our joy with the news that Jesus lives! This resurrection morning, we welcome new life, new opportunities for creativity, new ways to be your people in this place. We feel your power and your grace. Thank you. Amen. Sermon Idea The ...

944. Epiphany 3

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19:1-14, Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... , give people a new sense of what it means to be a nation within a global environment. Mothering God — we are a part of the Body of Christ. With our skills and thoughts, nurture this place and this whole community. Help us each to play our part eagerly and happily. Fathering God — our Body of Christ is a small part of the whole. As we work with one another for goodness and beauty here, inspire us develop justice and mutuality, lodging and food, education and hope for all peoples. God of Body and Soul ...

945. Epiphany 5

Psalm 138:1-8, Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... ancestors used to make you “real” for themselves don’t open our imaginations to you. There must be a myriad of ways we can experience your empowering presence, a million ways we can perceive you with all our senses! Our minds are alert; our souls are eager. We sing and pray, listen and speak our appreciation for your dynamic presence. We are ready to imagine you for our times. Amen. Call To Confession Newness of life is available to us as we let go of burdensome memories and painful replays of what ...

946. Epiphany 6

Psalm 1:1-6, Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 6:17-26, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... vital energy of this place. The culture, the environment, and our bodies are changing so fast! We are grateful for this time to sit and think, to listen for your voice, to sing and pray. Thank you for your dependable presence and your sturdy love. We are eager to participate with your Spirit. Amen. Call To Confession The past is done; the present is now. Now is the moment to be freed from haunting memories and sin. Now is the moment to receive fresh direction for your days and nights. Let’s pray in unison ...

947. Pentecost

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, John 14:8-17, (25-27), Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... and go. Thank you for your dependable care of us and of all creation. Thank you for inviting us to be cocreators with you. In this hour, we await your revelation and we explore ways to spell and say, “God.” We are eager to be engaged with your Spirit. Amen. Call To Confession Throughout the global village this morning, people are pronouncing “God” in their own languages, spelling “God” with their own alphabets. Everywhere, people are asking questions about the meaning of their lives. We have ...

948. Proper 7

1 Kings 19:1-15a, Psalm 42 and 43, Isaiah 65:1-9, Luke 8:26-39, Galatians 3:23-29

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... Prayer Of Thanksgiving Holy One — as wild creatures search for water, so we search for you. We thirst for the living God! Thank you for being among us, for preparing refreshment for our bodies and souls. In the midst of the hassles of the world, we are eager to receive your grace and to respond with gratitude. Amen. Call To Confession We each have demons that haunt us. In these next moments, we have opportunity to pay attention to internal chaos and to allow the Holy Spirit to give us peace and a plan to ...

949. 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

... songs and prayers, with deep thoughts and with honest conversations. Thank you for being among us, enthusing us with Spirit, promoting gentleness and blessing. We sing our thanks and our hopes; we lay before you and one another the concerns of our hearts. We eagerly receive your strength. Amen. Call To Confession Jesus gathered friends and taught them what a new social order could be like. He sent them to other places to give people the same dream. He valued hospitality and loyalty. He encouraged no one to ...

950. Proper 10

Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Psalm 25:1-10; 82:1-8, Amos 7:7-17, Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... for our lives. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One. Community Confession (Unison) Ceaseless Creator — we do not want to be like walls out of kilter or people with crooked behaviors. Create in us minds that are eager to live into mystery and to be bear-ers not of plumb lines but of hope and nurturing actions. Let our living reflect the teachings of Jesus and the light of your love. Amen. Sermon Idea The story of Amos’ plumb line is easy to transpose ...

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