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 976 to 1000 of 1245 results

976. Just-Say-The-Word Disciples

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... missional context in which we find ourselves. “Plundering the Egyptians” meant that Chris’s followers are called to go out into the world — not stay, safe and sound, on our “side of the tracks.” Plundering the Egyptians means that we eagerly go into those places and encounter those people considered outside our neighborhood, our nationhood, our Plundering the Egyptians means learning from the world, and then, on the basis of that experience of learning, finding the best way to offer Christ to ...

977. Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... such an ample supply of goods — enough to keep him without need for “many years. The rich man’s advice to his “soul,” his life force? Time now to “relax, eat, drink, and be merry.” This rich man had a “golden parachute” and was eager to take “early retirement.” Jesus now points out the literally “fatal flaw” woven into all the greedy, good-time plans this man has made. This future-focused fellow is a “fool.” The man had charted his own destiny, envisioned his own future life ...

978. The Dirt on Jesus

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

979. The ME and the WE

Luke 15:8-10, Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... complaint these Pharisees and scribes had registered against him: “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them” (v.2). The term “prodechetai” (“welcomes”) suggests Jesus did not just “receive” these sinners, but that he had genuine “goodwill,” even an eager expectation, about the arrival of these “tax collectors and sinners” to his table. He was excited to see them, and looked forward to his time with them. The laws of ritual purity kept Torah observant Jews from dining with ...

980. Who's the Real Leader?

Joshua 3:1-4:24

Sermon

Argile Smith

... ? That’s a question we ask when we talk about leadership. Mountains of material have been written on the subject of leadership, and loads of conferences have been developed to make people into good leaders. In fact, corporations across the country are eager to do whatever’s necessary to instill good leadership skills in their most promising employees. Because leadership has been the focus of corporate attention, some people think that it’s not an important issue for them. They don’t ever intend to ...

981. When God Does Something New

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Sermon

Argile Smith

... , it was only a political demonstration. When you think about people walking into the face of their fear every Monday night, you have to conclude that their hearts had been stirred, but not by political speeches. Their hearts had been stirred by the Lord who is always eager to do something new among his people if we allow him to do it. Jeremiah’s prophecy promises us that God’s in the business of doing something new in the hearts of his people. It also promises that God’s ready to help people have a ...

982. Praying In Jesus' Name

John 14:5-14

Sermon

David O. Bales

... a worship leader directing me around the chancel, because worship is done differently in different denominations — even within denominations. When you visit a different church, you don’t always know what to expect. My wife and I visited here two years ago. I, ever eager to hear the sermon, chose to sit near the front, not realizing that no one would sit in front of us and you all know how you take communion here, but we didn’t. Thankfully we received whispered instructions from the folk behind us ...

983. When Fishermen Don't Fish

Matthew 4:18-22

Sermon

King Duncan

... wrestled the bass into the boat . . . the smell of fish frying in a skillet over an open fire. They could hardly wait. Finally spring break arrived. They loaded the camper and set out for the lake. They arrived at night, set up the camper and went to bed eager to get up the next morning and go fishing. But that night, a northeaster blew through. The next morning the wind was so strong they could barely open the door of the camper. The sky was gray. The lake was choppy. There was no way they could fish in ...

984. The Path of Joy

Psalm 118:1-29

Sermon

King Duncan

... is with us, and therefore, that we can handle life in a victorious way. Many years ago some men were panning for gold in Montana, and one of them found an unusual stone. Breaking it open, he was excited to see that it contained gold. Working eagerly, the men soon discovered an abundance of the precious metal. Happily, they began shouting with delight, “We’ve found it! We’ve found gold! We’re rich!” They had to interrupt their celebrating, though, to go into a nearby town and stock up on supplies ...

985. A Breath of Fresh Air

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Sermon

Tony Everett

... Think of all of our families and friends who settled here and even built that first sanctuary. What a legacy they left us! That cemetery must be filled with stories of hard work and love and faith.” “Yep,” said Bill. “Uh, huh,” agreed Ralph, eager to finish their hike. However, Sue, wanting to continue the discussion, asked, “Wonder what would happen if this bridge suddenly collapsed under our combined weight. I wonder what it would be like if we fell and, well, that was it. We would be laid out ...

986. Peace and Quiet in an Upside-Down World

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Tony Everett

... exclaimed. Showing him the map on his newspaper page, Dad said to Johnny, “Here is something really fun. See this map of the world? I’m going to tear it in pieces, just like a puzzle.” As Dad began to tear the world in small pieces, Johnny eagerly declared, “I’m really good at tearing paper.” and jumped in to help. Pretty soon Johnny and his Dad had the world in many pieces on the living room floor. “Now here’s my chance for some peace and quiet,” thought Dad. “Johnny, let’s pretend ...

987. Daddy, I'm Afraid

Romans 8:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... Liddy, but still sometimes confronting your fears helps. Some of us confront our fears. Others live in denial of our fears. Richard L. Jeske, a Lutheran pastor, tells of visiting a friend who lived in New York City several years ago. This friend was eager to sing the praises of that great city. “New York has everything,” he said to Jeske. “It’s the greatest city in the world.” So Jeske asked: “What do you like best about it?” And his friend said: “Freedom. Freedom to be yourself. Freedom ...

988. Ignite: Fire Extinguishers

Acts 15:1-21

Sermon

James Merritt

... , but this was a God thing. Paul was in a city called “Antioch” a Gentile city about 300 miles north of Jerusalem. He settled there with another teacher named Barnabas. Together they were offering God’s gift of grace and these Gentiles were eagerly receiving it. Reports began to filter back into Jerusalem that all these Gentiles were becoming Christians, but they are not becoming Jewish. As a male, in order to become Jewish you had to be circumcised. They were being baptized, but not circumcised. Can ...

989. Living “I Don’t Know” While “In the Know”

Matthew 21:23-27

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... universal know-it-all. It’s name is . . . . . Google. But even in a world where the phrase “Google It!” has become every parent’s answer to every question we can’t answer, we still have that suspicious feeling that Google is sometimes too eager to show off what technology “knows,” and what humans don’t. And no one likes a show-off. Those “in the know” are the most respected, the most powerful, and the most influential. Knowledge offers a way to power and prestige. Portals to knowledge ...

990. Turning Pity-Parties into Praise-Parties

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... occasion for good and an occasion for God, and is thus at the heart of religion. . . God’s plan is so perfect that even sin, tragedy and painful deaths are used to bring us to divine union. God wisely makes the problem itself part of the solution” (Eager to Love [2014]). God wants to make whatever problem you are having part of God’s greater solution, for you and for those around you. That’s the very meaning of resurrection. I love how the whole Praise Magazine and all its racks can be found in the ...

991. About that Salesman

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... , he asked the salesman, “By the way, what sort of vacations do you take? Where do you go?” The salesman retorted, “Oh, I just go to the seaside. Bad back. Could never carry all that stuff.” (2) O. K., let’s get this straight. The salesman was eager to weigh down the customer with all these hiking and camping goods, but he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, carry all that stuff himself. This sounds very much like an analogy that Jesus once used. He said, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in ...

992. Still Surprised After Christmas

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... surprise of Mary’s condition. In keeping with the theme of things unexpected, I assume that stable accommodations for them and for Jesus’ birth were unhappy surprises to Joseph and Mary. And while every new mother expects to have visitors — eager to congratulate, anxious to hold the baby — they are usually family and friends, but Mary and Joseph found themselves visited by complete strangers. First came the shepherds with their fantastic tale, and then, later, the Wise Men came — exotic guests ...

993. The Two Faces of Thanksgiving

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... come home.” After spending years being salt water creatures they finally and fully feel the pull of home. They MUST go back. They journey through the ocean, go back into the fresh water rivers, navigate through locks and dams and bears and eagles and eager fishermen, and finally — a few of them — make it back to their family table, to the place they were born and nurtured. The simple salmon “embraces” every part of its family heritage, at a huge, indeed at an ultimate, cost. When we intentionally ...

994. While It Was Still Dark

John 20:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... so well known. It is a dark world which only makes sense if Christ be raised. And so we read these words: “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb . . .” The darkness also speaks of the eagerness with which Mary of Magdala hastened to the tomb to perform this one last act of love for her Master. She had waited through the Sabbath and the dark hours before the dawning of Sunday morning. Now she could wait no longer. Remember there were no street lights ...

995. When You Drop the Ball, What Next?

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... are seeing something “new” and are witnessing in Jesus a remarkable and an unexpected form of “authority.” This triumphant showing at the Capernaum synagogue comes at the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, just after he has called his first disciples. The eager readiness of these witnesses to follow Jesus’ message and mission would seem to put an immediate stamp of unqualified success on his ministry. And yet. You know the rest of the story. When you catch the ball, and heal the sick, the ...

996. Can Two Become One?

Matthew 19:1-12

Sermon

James Merritt

... to do but has bitter consequences. A woman recently got engaged and went to work and was telling everybody about her engagement. A friend of hers came up to her and said, “I would like to give you some advice before you get married.” The lady eagerly said, “Please do.” She said, “The first 10 years of marriage are the hardest.” The lady said, “Really? How long have you been married?” She said, “Ten years.” I’ve been married 37 years and I can tell you marriage is hard. Two becoming one ...

997. Peace Comes to Our Hearts

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... . Advent and Christmas are a time for gentleness--unless, of course, you’re headed for the mall. I’m kidding, of course--at least I think I am. Some people have actually broken into fights over Christmas bargains. Others have been trampled by an avalanche of eager shoppers. It’s hard to be gentle at Christmas. I read about two nicely dressed women who were standing outside a department store a few days ago waiting for it to open. They started up a conversation. The first lady was a somewhat smug woman ...

998. Saints Are Awake to Life's Deepest Joy

Luke 6:20-31

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

... the love of Christ. Simply being in the presence of the joy of his faith seemed to strengthen Jane. The day came when Harold neared death. Jane stood by the hospital bedside. For a moment, she set aside her role as Harold's caring pastor and became his eager student. "Help me understand," she said. "What it is like to know you are about to die? I know appropriate Bible passages. I have read the great theologians. I can cite the pious cliques and easy answers. I need to know what it is really like to move ...

999. An Extraordinary Wedding Gift

John 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... much harsher than it really was. The word which in English is translated “woman” is, in the Greek, a term of endearment. It is not a term of scolding or contempt, but of great affection. It does, however, speak to Christ’s lack of eagerness about revealing his messianic mission. The time was not quite here for that. Nevertheless, Mary said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Those are important words: “Do whatever he tells you.” We’ll come back to them in a few moments. Nearby ...

1000. I Don't Get No Respect

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

King Duncan

... disrespected. Above all else, they want respect. Don’t we all? The truth is, though, there are people who go through their entire lives and never feel respected--particularly among those closest to them. I’m not going to ask if there is anyone here who was ever eager to leave home as a youth because you never felt like the people in your own family respected you. I’m not going to ask if anyone here couldn’t wait to leave high school and get on to college--preferably one far, far away--because you ...

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