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 76 to 100 of 1245 results

76. Some Women's Stories

John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

Carl Jech

... be: "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.") The smug self-righteousness of those who were about to stone this woman to death does become an issue of sexism, if we assume that it was men who were so eager to kill her while apparently not being equally eager to stone the male partner in the alleged adultery situation. Be that as it may, the fundamental point remains simply that Jesus is warning against "holier-than-thouism" in all its forms. He is questioning our right to turn anyone into ...

77. Believers Know Who Jesus Is

John 10:22-42

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

... who believe in Jesus know he is the Son of God, our Lord and Savior. People: Would that our whole world knew Jesus as Lord and Savior! Pastor: He is like a shepherd who faithfully cares for his flock, protecting them with his life. People: We come eager to know his voice, willing to follow wherever he leads, for we know he is the source of eternal life. Collect Everlasting Father: You have revealed yourself in the life of your Son, Jesus, who expressed your love as a perfect Shepherd who protects his sheep ...

78. A New Plan for Lent

Joel 1:1-12

Sermon

... 't we find the same reward by volunteering at a soup kitchen for the poor or at the county welfare agency? If you want to grow spiritually, why don't you do volunteer work at a local hospital or at CONTACT, the crisis phone service; volunteers are always eagerly sought. Placed as a volunteer among the anguished and the dying, our concerns about boredom on the job and the lack of direction in life seem petty. All that counts, in such work, is how well you can love and serve another. It's a great chance to ...

79. When God Says "Go"

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

... of the community. God had told Samuel he would find a new king for Israel among Jesse's sons. The prophet found many eager candidates - seven All-American men (or should I say All-Israelite men) each in the prime of life, three of them soldiers. ... have to try to be someone we aren't. No uniforms, no badges, no special tools are needed. Only some knowledge of his Word and an eagerness to live it and share it with others. But although God doesn't ask us to be someone other than ourselves, he does make us more ...

80. Christ's Passion Portraits

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Paul Hegele

... own who are zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:14) Our world desperately needs such zeal. We, too readily, wink at corruption and yawn at the arms race and glance away from the gaunt faces of hunger staring out from the T.V. news. We, too eagerly, admire people who are "laid back" - which simply means they're keeping a comfortable distance from life - and when we leave each other we, too mindlessly, toss the phrase "take it easy." Once we cared enough to say, "Goodbye," which was short for "God bless." Now ...

81. God Is No Respecter Of Persons

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

... is just that stark in its simplicity - "any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." When we allow ourselves to be such God-fearing, right-doing people in the daily affairs of life, we may be surprised, because we'll no longer be so eager to gain the world's respect. Our Bic pens can again be for writing, our Sears shirts can go unadorned, and we can walk in our boots without tripping. For the peace which comes from being valued by God and loved by God's people will be more priceless ...

82. God's Passion

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

... been "head over heels." Lovers go to dinner and a show; Christians took communion whenever possible. Lovers give expensive gifts; Christians sold all and gave it to the church. Lovers are eager to know all about their beloved; Christians spent their time learning from the apostles. Lovers whisper soft words to each other; Christians eagerly shared in prayers. As for Acts' words, "They enjoyed the good will of all the people," well, "everybody loves a lover." As Father Capon puts it: "The grandest - and the ...

83. Practicing and Preaching

Acts 7:54--8:1a

Sermon

... transferring of praise and natural worth to God. In truth, the audience of our worship is God. The people in the pews are the actors, who give God the glory in song and study. The minister is merely the director, who guides the people in their praises. Your eager participation is essential if God is to be glorified in worship. You've heard Jesus' words, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Usually we quote this merely to console each other when only a handful have ...

84. Communion Is Remedial

Matthew 9:1-8

Sermon

... Christian." (Ewald Plass; What Luther Says, Vol. II, p. 814-815) Luther was never one to mince words. He was quite emphatic about the importance of Christians receiving the Lord's Supper on a regular basis. Let's examine why we should come to the Lord's Table eagerly and regularly. First, we come because we need to come. If you were sick with a disease which you thought was incurable and you heard of a certain doctor who was able to give you a remedy for your illness, there is very little, if anything that ...

85. Sticks and Stones

1 Samuel 17:1-58

Sermon

... finish. Picture the scene: Goliath of Gath standing well over seven feet tall. Probably a descendant of the native Anakite people of Hebron. Able to sympathize with Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s remark in his new autobiography that no one loves a Goliath. Like a dragon in a fairy tale, eager to demolish the latest version of St. George. Hear him as he bursts out in a rumbly bass, "Fe fi fo fum! I smell the blood of Jesse’s son: Be he alive or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread." Goliath taunted ...

86. Promising Words

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Sermon

... scrapbook memory and discovers scenes in which a shepherd boy defeated a Philistine Giant. Other photos in his memory bank portray that Robin Hood glen, where he recruited doughty mighty men eager and willing to fight for a nation’s freedom against godless foes. Tender moments are captured in snapshots of a lamb helped by a shepherd boy eager to remove a thorn from soft flesh. Memories of home are stirred as the king sees the faces of Jesse and his brothers. Flashcubes pop as David recalls the shepherd ...

87. Strong Words

1 Kings 2:1-12

Sermon

... . The psalmist sings his swan song in our passage. He gives to Solomon strong words before the curtain closes on the stage. It is almost night again. The skies of the desert are turning brown. In the pools of lamplight smoldering in the shadows I see an eager bright-eyed youth ... he is holding a lyre with eight strings ... He is ruddy ... His neck is as a tower of ivory ... His locks are bushy, and black as a raven ... his head is as ... fine gold ... His music is soothing, almost divine.1 David is looking ...

88. Claim Your Ministry

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

Robert Bachelder

... rescu'd man, His brightest form of glory shines; Here, on the cross, ‘tis fairest drawn In precious blood, and crimson lines. I said this point was not lost on St. Martin. But it has been lost on many of our Lord’s followers who were not so eager to serve as to engage in one-upsmanship. In our lesson today, for example, we see the sons of Zebedee avidly contending for first place in the heavenly sweepstakes. So Jesus says to them: "You know the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ...

89. How’s Your Appetite?

Matthew 5:6 · Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

... study, of being a servant. We Christians do not even read our manual as frequently as a good businessman reads the Wall Street Journal, much less become all-absorbed in patterning our life-style after it. Jesus is saying that he wants us to be as eager and ingenious in our attempt to be his followers as is the person whose primary pursuit is to be successful in business. He wishes our appetites for truth and goodness were just this ravenous! Think, too, of the person who loves pleasure and pursues it with ...

90. "Can Do" Christianity

Philippians 4:10-20

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

... was in his heart, in his mind, in his deeds. This is clearly evident because one of Paul’s favorite expressions was "in Christ." It occurs dozens of times. More than anything else, Paul wanted to be a man in Christ. He told the Philippians that it was his "eager expectation and hope ... that ... always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death" (1:20). Again he told them that for Christ’s sake, "I have suffered the loss of all things in order that I may gain Christ and be found in ...

91. IN THE BEGINNING ... THERE WAS LOVE ...

Drama

Marcia Millerf

... . On stage there are two tower-like structures which have steps on the downstage side. These should be painted white and set before black curtains. If this is not possible, use two white chairs placed on levels of the same height. CHARACTERS (1 man, 1 woman) THE GIRL: She is eagerly awaiting for life to begin. With the freshness of youth, she is bright, gay, playful, pretty, and almost-but-not-quite sure of herself. THE GIRL knows that life is about to be hers. She just wonders when. THE BOY: He is not ...

92. Caiaphas and Pilate

Drama

Jon Joyce

... carpenter to rebel tonight. A few pieces of silver was all it took. PILATE: [Trying to hide his alarm] One of those twelve men who always travel with him? [CAIAPHAS nods, a hint of triumph in his smile] How many of the others are that eager for rebellion? CAIAPHAS: I have no way of knowing, Excellency. PILATE: [Beginning to waver] Well, Caiaphas, I will have to say that I’ll give your request serious consideration. Although I had some information on the carpenter, I did not know that his close associates ...

93. No Retaliation

Matthew 5:38-42

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... the only way to prove him wrong is to refuse to retaliate. Millions of Americans who are convinced that O.J. Simpson is guilty are yearning for retaliation. Suppose all of us answered this question honestly: Am I more eager that Mr. Simpson suffer for what I believe he did, or am I more eager that he experience salvation through Jesus Christ? Do you know what our honest response would be? The heart of Jesus' message in this text is this: Don't retaliate. Instead, win over the aggressor with tough, wise love ...

94. Trinity

Isaiah 6:1-13, Romans 8:1-17, John 3:1-21

Bulletin Aid

Paul A. Laughlin

... holy is the God of hosts! People: THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF GOD’S GLORY! Leader: Before the majestic holiness of God, we sense with Isaiah our utter unworthiness and uncleanness. People: YET, WITH THE PROPHET, WE RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS, AND ACCEPT WITH EAGERNESS OUR VOCATION IN SERVICE TO GOD. Collect All glorious God, before whose majesty we stand in awe and shame, send your grace upon us; that we, like Isaiah, may be cleansed of our sins, and may thus accept with joy and confidence the tasks that ...

95. Simeon

Drama

Charles L. Koester

... the "consolation of Israel" to appear. How our people, and our world needed the Christ who was to come. Your scriptures tell you little about me. You do not even know my age! Only my name, Simeon. But permit me to serve you as a symbol of those who eagerly awaited the Christ. I knew He was coming soon because God’s spirit had revealed to me that I should not see death before I had seen the Lord’s Christ. With that knowledge you will never know how expectantly, how excitedly I awaited Him each day. He ...

96. Commanded By Example

John 13:31-38

Sermon

O. Garfield Beckstrand, II

... his love knew no end. No words or deeds could shake, exhaust, or destroy his love. He saw the wickedness and hypocrisy within human hearts. He knew when a person was lying, for he was frequently a victim of those lies. He knew when a person was eager to criticize him, for he was ridiculed because he healed on the Sabbath. He knew men’s hearts could be treacherous, for he was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. He knew how weak and unstable people could be, for his closest disciples denied him. He knew ...

97. No Huggies

Mark 10:13-16

Sermon

... be obedient; they want to please their parents and other adults. I recall the time when, as a teenager, I jokingly suggested to the three-year-old boy across the street that he bite his brother. Guess what he did? I learned then that a child is eager to obey, eager to serve, including in much more positive ways than biting a brother! In the child Jesus identifies the model of the disciple, the model of the person who wants to follow him. In the child Jesus finds the model for us. The children in the gospel ...

98. A Soap Opera For Saints

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... occur in our own community today. Hearts are broken, reputations are ruined, lives are destroyed. David and Bathsheba were so eager to hide their sin, but things like that rarely stay hidden. Their adultery becomes the talk of the kingdom ” and ... physical desire. Can David and Bathsheba experience forgiveness for their sin? Of course, they can. God is gracious and compassionate. God is ever eager to remove His children's sins and to heal their lives. Can David and Bathsheba undo the wrong they have done and ...

99. God Of Compassion

Mark 6:30-44

Sermon

King Duncan

... We are going to have to expand our theology to accommodate a quartet rather than a Trinity - Father, Son, Holy Spirit and the Big Cougar in the sky. Where do we get such ideas about God? God is neither an angry, vengeful ogre eager to punish, nor a pliable, insecure smiley-faced waiter eager to please. God is God. But more than that God is the God revealed in Jesus Christ. And the overwhelming image that Jesus gives us of God is that of compassion. That is the word we encounter in the sixth chapter of Mark ...

100. We Haven't Seen Anything Yet!

1 Corinthians 2:9

Sermon

King Duncan

... moment of eternity. We do not have to wait until we cross the river of death to experience God’s love and God’s beauty. The wondrous things of this world are but a foretaste of greater things to come. Thus we anticipate the future with eagerness. In the meantime, we cling to our faith. Someone has imagined that once an enormous computer was built by all the world’s greatest scientists. Into that computer was fed all of the world’s knowledge. Then the computer was asked this question, “How did the ...

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