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 951 to 975 of 2173 results

951. Which Jesus Do You See?

John 12:20-36

Sermon

Brett Blair

There seems to be little connection between the Greek's request and Jesus' response until you begin to speculate about why this leap in logic. Something appears to be missing. Why does Jesus seemingly ignore the Greeks request for an audience with him? Jesus knows that the Greeks "Seek Wisdom" and are only interested in debate and dialogue on theological philosophical issues of the day. Even if they are God Fearers they are perhaps noncommittal. Jesus draws a line in the sand now that this is Passion Week ...

952. How May We Come To God?

Psalm 24:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Almost without fail, when Jerry and I go to visit my parents down in Mississippi, we will come around to talking about the Bible. Mutt, my father, has his Bible by the recliner. He spends at least 15 hours a day in that recliner, and he reads a lot. Other than watching all the game shows on TV, some of the soaps, and a lot of sports, that's about all Mutt does. He reads. Co-Bell, my mother, doesn't read much. She says her eyes are not too good, and she's right – but I hunch she just doesn't like to read, ...

953. Saints in Shorts

Luke 6:27-36

Sermon

David J. Kalas

Seven years ago, our family moved from southern Virginia to northeast Wisconsin. As you might expect, spring comes later here. Fall comes earlier. And winter is a much different experience in northeast Wisconsin than it was in southern Virginia. The same temperatures that seemed bone-chilling in Virginia are good reason to leave the mufflers and mittens at home in Wisconsin. Of course, many of the retired folks in my congregation here take their cue from the geese and fly south for the winter each year. ...

954. Picture Perfect Close Up: Children - Get Under The Umbrella

Colossians 3:21

Sermon

James Merritt

We are concluding a series that we've entitled, "Picture Perfect". It is a series on the family. We have said for the last several weeks, "God desires for the family to show His love for His glory." We have seen how God has given each family member a specific role to play and a specific responsibility to fulfill. Husbands - Love As they relate to their wives, husbands are to always ask this question, "What is the loving thing to do?" Wives - Submit The question wives are to ask as they relate to their ...

955. Discipline and Means of Grace

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

We move now to talk about discipline and means of grace. In my definition of Spiritual Form I chose words very carefully – Listen again: “and appropriating by commitment, discipline and action.” Our discipline is armed at cultivating an awareness of the indwelling Christ. Paul’s words to the Romans make it clear. Listen to Paul in Rom. 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your ...

956. On the Ropes: Round 3 - Defending God

Habakkuk 3:1-19

Sermon

James Merritt

It is a man that I have never heard of before until I came across his name preparing this final message in Habakkuk. You would know him very well if you were a devote Anglican or if you knew very much about South Africa. He was the founder of the South African Mission Society. An Englishman, he felt the call of God to go to an unreached tribe in one of the most remote parts of the world to preach the Gospel in the middle of the 19th Century. Alan Gardiner set sail in 1851 with five other missionaries. ...

957. Jesus Is Tested in Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-42

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: At Gethsemane Jesus battles with the disciples as they desert him, within himself over the “cup” of his passion, and with his enemies at his arrest. He wins the internal battle regarding his willingness to endure the passion and its suffering, surrendering to the will of his Father. Understanding the Text Chapter 14 follows a natural chronological progression, from the Wednesday event of Judas’s decision to betray Jesus (vv. 1–2, 10–11) to the Last Supper on Thursday evening, when Jesus makes the ...

958. All in God’s Time

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Lori Wagner

"Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14 “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” Psalm 37:7 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 Trust, ...

959. Proper 12

Mt 13:31-33, 44-52 · Rom 8:26-39 · Gen 29:15-28 · Ps 105:1-11, 45b

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

TREASURES AND TRASH The parables in Matthew 13:44-52 continue the series of eight that are found in this chapter. The previous parables were told in public to a large crowd (see Matthew 13:1-3). Now Jesus moves into a house where the disciples came to him (Matthew 13:36). He first explains the parable about the weeds among the wheat. He then proceeds to tell the three parables in Matthew 13:44-52. Two of the parables, the treasure hidden in the field and the pearl of great value, are twins. The third ...

960. Ancient Christian References To Feetwashing

1 Corinthians 11:17-34, John 13:1-17

Sermon Aid

Brett Blair

Why did the early church call the Lord's Supper the Love Feast? Outside of the obvious reasons, one influence might be John 13-17. In the first 12 chapters of John the word love (agape) is used 6 times. In the next six (13-17), where Jesus celebrates the Passover Feast with his disciples, the word appears 31 times. The following excerpts are the early Church Father's thoughts on one of the events that occurred at this Passover meal: Feetwashing. One of Jesus' most compelling expressions of love toward his ...

961. Advent 1

1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31

Sermon Aid

E. Carver McGriff

Psalm Of The Day Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (C); Psalm 80 (E) -- "Lord of hosts, restore us." Psalm 84:8 (RC) -- "Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer." Prayer Of The Day Open our hearts, O God, to the incoming of your Spirit. Sometimes our days are long and we grow tired. Too often, we go for long periods of time with very little attention to your Spirit. Deep within us, though, is a hunger for the richness of that presence. Overcome in us, we ask, our dullness of mind, that we may know your presence and its saving ...

962. The Best Surprises

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation A Hymn: "Sometimes A Little Surprises" (Let the hymn be played through as meditation music, after which the lyrics may be either sung or read.) Scripture: Matthew 2:9-12 and 4:9-11 (NRSV) When they had heard the king, they set out; and there ahead of them went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house they knelt down and paid him homage ...

963. The Virtue Of Self-Management

Proverbs 3:1-35

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Words Of Preparation from Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while he may be found,call upon him while he is near,let the wicked forsake his way,and the unrighteous their thoughts;let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. A Prayer Of Preparation (May be offered in unison) Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we ...

964. What Can I Do With Who I Am?

John 1:19-28

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Words Of Preparation Matthew 16:13-17 (TEV) Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" "Some say, John the Baptist," they answered. "Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet." "What about you?" he asked them. "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." "Good for you, Simon son of John!" answered Jesus. "For this ...

965. Advent 1

Matthew 24:36-51

Bulletin Aid

Theme: God's reliable unpredictability Exegetical note This passage comes toward the end of Matthew's version of the "Little Apocalypse" in Mark 13 and, like its source, emphasizes the unpredictability of the expected and desired parousia, and the consequent need for watchfulness and readiness. For Advent, the passage provides an excellent reminder that, despite the reliability of God's promises, God acts in God's own good time, and therefore predictions and pronouncements about when (or, for that matter, ...

966. Christmas, Third Proper

Hebrews 1:1-14

Bulletin Aid

Theme: A comprehensive, cosmic Christ Exegetical note The author here begins his tight argument for the superiority of Christianity over Judaism by forging a Christology that has both Jewish Wisdom and Hellenistic elements. Though lacking any reference to Incarnation, the author speaks of the Christ in a protological ("through whom he created the world") and an eschatological ("the heir of all things") light, but depicts his real significance as being in the present, as the (1) reflection of God's nature ...

967. Epiphany 2

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Sainthood in solidarity Exegetical note Paul's typically "Christianized" version of the standard ancient epistle greeting here (vv. 1-3) revolves around two focal ideas: "call" and "church." His own call is specific: to be an apostle. Their call is more general, but yet universal in scope: to be saints, not just in their local church, but in solidarity with all who everywhere profess Christ. Call to Worship (based on Psalm 40) Leader: May those who seek God rejoice! People: MAY THOSE WHO LOVE ...

968. Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6:1-4

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Christian penance as closet piety Exegetical note Jesus' (or Matthew's!) criticism here is directed, not at the three types of piety specified (almsgiving, prayer, and fasting), but at what must have been (and probably still is) the irresistible tendency to make these public spectacles for popular approval. The sayings recorded here, therefore, commend a kind of "closet penance," built on the conviction that acts of repentance should be private matters between the individual and God, and not ...

969. Easter 5

1 Peter 2:4-12

Bulletin Aid

Theme: God's transforming power and mercy Exegetical note Whoever this letter's real author was, it certainly does reflect what often appears to be the great Apostle's tendency to put his foot in his mouth. Here he jumbles and mixes three metaphors: newborn babies, living (?!) stones, and the New Israel (although he doesn't quite call it that). The most important theological thing he says comes in verse 10, after even he appears to have given up on his dubious images: God's power and mercy are utterly ...

970. Easter 5

John 14:1-4

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Apocalypse now Exegetical note This passage begins three chapters of Jesus' "farewell discourses," which follow directly the foot-washing and "new commandment." Among several distinctively Johannine themes here is the notion of Jesus' "coming again" presented in verse 3. But its elaboration does not occur until vv. 15ff., where it becomes clear that what John has in mind is not an event of the distant future, but rather precisely the gift of the Holy Spirit, which, in effect, makes the apocalypse a ...

971. Proper 5

Matthew 9:9-13

Bulletin Aid

Theme: God's medicine of mercy Exegetical note Jesus' association with the despised (here, tax collectors and sinners) and his pronouncements about the need of the sick for a physician and God's desire for mercy all direct the reader's attention to the point that God's interest is not in the self-righteous (who may also be termed "the supposedly-righteous"), but to those who need God's "medicine" of mercy to make them "well." Call to Worship Leader: Let us trust in God's steadfast love People: LET OUR ...

972. Proper 7

Matthew 10:1-42

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Grounds for Christian courage Exegetical note As a part of his parting commission to his disciples, Jesus urges them not to fear on three (rather loosely related) grounds: (1) that what has been hidden (probably the Reign of God proclaimed, often obliquely, by Jesus) will be revealed; (2) that, compared with God's power and providence, nothing is fearsome; and (3) that the faithful will have an advocate in heaven before this God in the person of the Christ. Call to Worship Leader: Let us worship the ...

973. All Saints' Day

Matthew 5:1-12

Bulletin Aid

Theme: The features and the future of saints Exegetical note Matthew's version of the Beatitudes is a bit more interpretive of Jesus' actual teachings than Luke's version. For this particular Sunday, the sayings are best taken as revealing the features of true saints: they are poor in spirit, gentle, "hungry" for justice, merciful, pure-hearted, peace-making, reviled and persecuted, and (probably because of these last two) sorrowful. But, as the second clause of each beatitude shows, they also have a ...

974. The Supreme Sacrifice

Hebrews 10:1-18

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: As we come to worship the Almighty, we do not come with sacrifices to appease a distant God. People: No! We come to praise "God With Us," and give thanks for the coming of Jesus to show us what God expects of us. Leader: What does the Lord require of you? People: To do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God. All: Praise be to God! Collect O Lord, our God, the time draws near when we celebrate your coming while the world in solemn stillness ...

975. The Wise Men From The East Visit Jesus

Matthew 2:1-12

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Like the Wise Men of old, let us, too, come seeking the Lord Jesus. People: We have come to inquire where we might find him. Leader: Follow the guiding light, and it will surely lead you to him. People: What joy is ours, for we have found our King. All: We will bow down and worship him. Collect O Lord, our God, you have revealed yourself to us in the infant Jesus, who grew to be a man, shared your love, was crucified, and rose again on the third day. Through Jesus we know that you ...

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