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 2173 results

976. Evil Deeds Lead To Destruction

1 Kings 21:1-29

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Listen to my words, O Lord, and hear my sighs. People: Listen to my cry for help, my God and king. Leader: I pray to you, O Lord; you hear my voice in the morning. People: At sunrise I offer my prayer and wait for your answer. All: Make your way plain for me to follow. Amen. Collect Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the hope that sustains us along life's journey, and for the hope that keeps us determined to serve you in all that we do. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, you have ...

977. Called To Be Free

Galatians 5:1-15

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: You are called to be free; but do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. People: We come seeking the power of the Holy Spirit to direct our lives. Leader: God has called us all to service. People: We pray for the Spirit to produce in us kindness and goodness, that we may be free to serve the needs of others. Collect Almighty God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, you have set us free. Give us this day a clear understanding that we were not ...

978. Riches Blind Us To The Will Of God

Luke 16:19-31

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord. People: The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey. Leader: You cannot serve God and wealth; for if you love the one, you will hate the other. People: We will serve the Lord with gladness, for the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever. Leader: Come, let us worship the Lord God Almighty. Collect Almighty God, make us loyal followers of our living Lord, that we may always hear his word, obey his ...

979. A Worker Who Need Not Be Ashamed

2 Timothy 2:14-26

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Come and see what God has done: People: His wonderful acts among people. Leader: Praise our God, all nations; let your praise be heard. People: He has kept us alive and has not allowed us to fall. Leader: Come, let us praise God together. Collect Lord, we would be your faithful disciples, workers for your kingdom who are not ashamed of our work. Fill us anew with your Spirit so that we may remain loyal and correctly teach the message of your truth by our words and deeds. In Jesus' ...

980. The New Covenant

Jeremiah 30:1--31:40

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: The judgments of the Lord are just; they are always fair. People: They are more desirable than the finest gold, sweeter than the finest honey. Leader: They give knowledge to me, your servant. People: I am rewarded for obeying them. Leader: Come, let us worship the Lord of the Church. Collect O Lord Jesus Christ, you founded the Church that it may continue your work of bringing all people to yourself. Make clear to each of us our part in the task. Grant to your Church a vision of a ...

981. The Truth Sets Us Free

John 8:31-41

Bulletin Aid

H. Burnham Kirkland

Call To Worship Leader: Come, let us praise the Lord! People: Let us sing for joy to God. Leader: Let us come before him with thanksgiving; People: and sing joyful songs of praise. Leader: Come, let us bow down and worship the Lord, our Maker. Collect Most Merciful Father, we pray for the Church founded by your Son, Jesus Christ. In the midst of the world's turmoil and secularism the Church stands in need of unity and renewal. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, renew in the whole Church, we pray, a ...

982. How to Motivate People

Matthew 10:1-42, Matthew 9:18-26

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

A few years ago a fellow took me on a tour of his sock manufacturing plant. He showed me the loading dock where raw materials were unloaded, the washing machines, fluffers, twisters, looms, finishers, and packagers. In all, I found out there were over 150 different steps taken to manufacture one pair of socks! Well, that set me to thinking about the church and the making of disciples. How many steps are there from conversion to discipleship? Let's look and see. The text reports an incident near the ...

983. Proper 10

Psalm 119:1-176, Romans 8:1-17, Matthew 13:1-23, Genesis 25:19-34

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS Genesis 25:19-34 is the story of the birth of Jacob and Esau. Psalm 119:105-112 praises divine instruction. Genesis 25:19-34 - "A Story Without Heroes" Setting. The Old Testament lesson for this Sunday begins a four week series of lessons from the stories of Jacob in Genesis 25:19-36:43. In the present form of Genesis, the cycle of stories about Jacob can be interpreted as continuing the divine promise of progeny that was introduced in Genesis 12:1-4a and that provided organization to ...

984. Proper 14

Genesis 37:1-11, Matthew 14:22-36, Romans 9:30--10:21, Psalm 105:1-45

Sermon Aid

Marion L. Soards, Thomas B. Dozeman, Kendall McCabe

OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS The Old Testament texts explore the power of God in history. Genesis 37 introduces the story of Joseph and Psalm 105 reviews Israel's entire history of salvation. Genesis 37:1-4, 12-36 - "The Power of Oppression" Setting. The Old Testament lessons for the next two Sundays come from the story of Joseph. The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 provides a hinge between the preceding ancestral stories of Abraham and Sarah-Hagar, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Rachel-Leah Genesis 12-36), and ...

985. Blind Man’s Bluff

2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Psalm 20:1-9

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: The Lord answers you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you! All: May he send us help from the sanctuary, and give us support from his kingdom. One: The Lord remembers all your offerings, and regards with favor your best efforts. All: May he grant us our heart's desire, and fulfill all our plans. One: May we shout for joy over God's victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. All: May the Lord fulfill all our petitions. For now I know that the Lord ...

986. The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Mark 4:30-34

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

4:30–34 This parable concludes the list, and it has the most elaborate introduction (4:30). In addition, there is the concluding statement (4:33–34) about the parables. But let us look at the parable itself before we turn to this statement. The point of the parable is the contrast between the insignificant mustard seed and the fully grown plant that it produces, not the process involved. So, the lesson is not that the kingdom of God comes by quiet, prolonged growth, but rather that, though many might think ...

987. God Gives the Pharisees the Finger!

John 7:25-44, John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Prop (Animation): Scale or coins (three types) and blackboard with the words: mene, mene, tekel, upharsin; clay pot Judging. It’s something we do almost without thinking. Judging. And justifying. And we’re so GOOD at it! We love to sit on our holy thrones (or in the case of football, cause it’s the season now –lounge in our armchairs) and cast judgments upon those people who are on tv, in the spotlight, on trial, or in any way aren’t in our circle of friends. Many of us judge our friends too! All you have ...

988. Little Ones

Luke 18:15-17, Matthew 19:13-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Animations: stuffed lamb or if you dare, a real lamb; Youtube: “Do Sheep Only Obey Their Master’s Voice?”; (optional: book of fairytales) How many children do we have in worship today? Raise your hands! Why don’t you come on up! All of you… I wonder if you’d come on up and help me with someone. [Bring in the lamb….if you can have some of the children help to hold his leash.] Do you know who this is? Her name is Nessa. Would you like to pet her? [Allow the children to sit up front anywhere they like.] There ...

989. The Catch

John 21:1-14, John 21:15-25, Acts 10:1-8, Acts 10:9-23a, Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Props and visuals: fishing boat / fishing net / tablecloth and stick / backpack / diaper bag / purse or satchel You know how some dreams won’t let go of you? Sometimes God has a message for you, and speaks in this “forgotten language” of dreams. Sometimes God needs to prepare you for something that’s hard for you to hear. In our scripture story today as told in the Acts of the Apostles, God was preparing Peter for his visit with Cornelius. And for something even greater! But as everything goes with Peter, ...

990. The Thorn of Discontent

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Lori Wagner

DISCONTENT Like a thorn in the flesh, like a fly in the mesh, Like a boat that is chained to shore, The wild unrest of the heart in my breast Tortures me more and more. I wot not why, it should wail and cry Like a child that is lost at night, For it knew no grief, but has found relief, And it is not touched with blight. It has had of pleasure full many a measure; It has thrilled with love's red wine; It has hope and health, and youth's rare wealth-- Oh rich is this heart of mine. Yet it is not glad--it is ...

991. Crossing Over

Luke 10:25-37, Genesis 48:1-22

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Why did the chicken cross the road? Well, I spent some time this week investigating the whole chicken and road dilemma and here are some of the best explanations I’ve found: Machiavelli: The point is that the chicken crossed the road. Who cares why? The ends of crossing the road justify whatever motive there was. Thomas de Torquemada: Give me ten minutes with the chicken and I'll find out. Timothy Leary: Because that's the only kind of trip the Establishment would let it take. John Locke: Because he was ...

992. Proper 10

Romans 8:9-17

Bulletin Aid

Second Lesson: Romans 8:9-17 Theme: Live by the Spirit Call to Worship Pastor: Throughout life we must struggle with the conflict between our human nature and God's Spirit. People: We want to live by God's Spirit, but our human nature has such strong control over us. Pastor: If we live according to our human nature, we end in death; but if we live by God's Spirit, we are raised from death to life. People: May God's Spirit enable us to put to death our sinful ways; that we may live with him. Collect Eternal ...

993. Deathbed Confessions

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

Did you know that Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis and one of the most important figures of the early 20th century was a teller of jokes? He was. In fact, way back in 1915 he told a joke about a minister who was summoned by a group of anxious relatives. They wanted him to extract a deathbed conversion from an atheistic and unrepentant insurance salesman. The meeting between the minister and the insurance salesman took place, and the longer the meeting continued behind the hospital's closed ...

994. Godstruck

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Props: Instead of the whale song suggested, you can use as your opening image a dandelion (aka “lion’s teeth” in spore stage), a horn (trumpet or actual shofar–which you can find on amazon for about $30), or a balloon (and some helium if you dare). You may also want to scroll some Hubbel space photos on the screen along with some cosmic music if you begin your sermon with “creation.” We are not the only creatures that sing. Has anyone heard the voice of an Orca whale? It sounds a lot like an erratic ...

995. Trust in Me

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Animation: Youtube video of Kaa’s Song from the original Jungle Book There are so many impossibilities that become realities in the Christmas story that one hardly knows where to begin. But here’s one that you may not have thought of before. Mary is too young, and Elizabeth is too old, to have a child. The word we translate as “virgin” really means pre-pubescent maiden. So here we have a post-menopausal woman, Elizabeth, and a pre-pubescent woman, Mary, that God chooses to use to bless the world with good ...

996. The Great Dinner

Luke 14:1-14, Luke 14:15-24

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Animation: sweet rolls or some other food to feast on / juice It’s dinnertime! So everyone scrambles to the table to get the best seat, claim the biggest pork chop, peek at the choicest rolls… It’s the story of almost every large family, buffet, or large gathering. Who gets the last piece of cake? How does it work out in your family? Is it first-come, first serve. Or does it go to the eldest? Or the littlest? The saddest—the one who can beg the best? The quickest? The one with the best or most convincing ...

997. I Shall Rise Again!

I Corinthians 15:19-26 · Luke 24:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

For more than 1,400 years, a Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has stood at the highest point in the City of London. The cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognizable sights of this great city with so many historic sites. St. Paul’s was designed by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London destroyed an earlier cathedral that stood on the same site. Before work could begin on the new cathedral, the remains of the old cathedral had to be cleared away. Once the site had ...

998. A Question of Trust

Romans 5:1-5

Sermon

King Duncan

Does it seem to you that it is getting more and more difficult to trust anybody? It seems to get more and more discouraging to simply answer the telephone, for fear of being bombarded with scam telephone calls. It’s just as discouraging to turn on a cable news program for fear of being bombarded with fake news. And when it seems humanity can’t get any lower, we’re even afraid to open our email. Why? According to the Worldstart Computer Tips & Techniques Newsletter another email scam has been making its ...

999. Dynamic Preaching January 2024 Sermons

Sermon

King Duncan

[Note: While King Duncan is enjoying a well deserved retirement we are going back to his earliest sermons and renewing them. The newly modernized sermon is shown first and below, for reference sake, is the old sermon. We will continue this updating throughout the year bringing fresh takes on King's best sermons.] Original Title: Preparing for a Royal Visit New Title: Getting Ready Mark 1:1-8 January 7, 2024 (Baptism of the Lord) A little boy attended his first symphony concert. He was excited by the ...

1000. Into the Wilderness

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

Jesus was tempted. We know the story is there, but it isn’t our favorite, is it? Somehow it tarnishes our ideas about Jesus. Was he as wimpy as we are, almost ready to step over the edge of whatever morality we might have left, at the first offer? Ray Stedman, great twentieth-century preacher, remembered a morning at a restaurant. He was the featured speaker at a large church conference out east and was finishing his presentation notes as he ate breakfast. The eatery had unique décor, including good ...

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