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 1001 to 1025 of 1245 results

1001. Waiting Vs Watching

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... on those who watch. The difference between waiting and watching is illustrated in a story told of a Scotch fishing village. After days at sea, the skipper of a fishing boat was bringing his craft back home. As the boat neared the shore, the men gazed eagerly toward the dock, where a group of their loved ones were waiting. The skipper, looking through his glass, identified some of the women, saying, “I see Bill’s Mary, and there is Tom’s Margaret, and David’s Anne.” One man was very anxious because ...

1002. Break A Leg

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... astray. “Based on my experience with this kind of sheep, I knew I had no choice, so I broke its leg. The next day I took food and it tried to bite me. After letting it lie alone for a couple of days, I went back and it not only eagerly took the food, but licked my hand and showed every sign of submission and affection. “And now, let me say this. When this sheep is well, it will be the model sheep of my entire flock. No sheep will hear my voice so quickly nor follow so closely. Instead of ...

1003. Where Nobody Knew

Illustration

Ruth Harms Calkin

You know Lord how I serve You, with great emotional fervor, in the limelight. You know how eagerly I speak for You, at a women’s club. You know how I effervesce when I promote a fellowship group. You know my genuine enthusiasm at a Bible study. But how would I react, I wonder, if You pointed to a basin of water, and asked me to wash the calloused feet of a bent and wrinkled old woman, day after day, month after month, in a room where nobody saw, and nobody knew?

1004. Hidden Imperfections

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... your shoe.” Many a man, worried for fear he would not be able to cross a mountain, has had to stop some miles before he crossed the foothills because he had not taken time to clean out his shoes. That has been the source of failure in many Christian lives. Eager to avoid the big sins, your life may outwardly be one of extreme piety, but if there are hidden imperfections—little pebbles in your shoe—these will cause failure in your Christian life.

1005. Urim and Thummim

Illustration

Michael P. Green

The story has been told of a young man who was a recent graduate of a theological seminary. Educated beyond his intelligence, he had arrived at the spot where he thought he knew all the answers to all the theological problems and was eager to parade his knowledge. He came to a certain town where lived an elderly Christian layman who had never been to a Bible school or seminary but had taught himself the Word of God under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. In a very humble way, he had gained a ...

1006. Asa King of Judah

2 Chronicles 14:2-15

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... had settled among them for making sacrifices and entering into a covenant with God. The content of this covenant basically boils down to being faithful in seeking (darash twice in 15:12–13) Yahweh. This is indeed what all Judah did: they sought (biqqesh) God eagerly. And the outcome—which is by now not unexpected in the Chronicler’s typical theology—is that the LORD gave them rest (nuach) on every side. 15:16–19 This subsection uses some source material from Kings again (1 Kgs. 15:13–16). Asa ...

1007. Uzziah King of Judah

2 Chronicles 26:1-23

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... in 2 Kings 15:5. There, without citing any background circumstances, the Deuteronomist writes that “the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died.” The Chronicler adds that the priests hurried him out of the temple and that the king himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him. As in the source text, 2 Chronicles 26:21 states that the king lived in a separate house, but the Chronicler adds that he was leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD. Whereas 26:15 ...

1008. Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

Acts 16:1-5

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... met up (again?) with a young man named Timothy. He is introduced as a believer (“Look! a disciple named Timothy was there,” v. 1), and from verse 2, it would appear that he was one of relatively long standing. To find someone like this, ready and eager for service, must have seemed providential (see disc. on 1:10 for this sense of the exclamation “Look!”). But Paul’s decision to add Timothy to the missionary team was also guided by the good report that he had had of him from the brothers at Lystra ...

1009. In Berea

Acts 17:10-15

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... ’s use of the optative seems intended to give this sense), then tested it against their own study of Scripture (the verb “to examine” is used elsewhere by Luke of judicial inquiry; cf. Luke 23:14; Acts 4:9; 12:19; 24:8; 28:18). This they did with great eagerness, meeting with Paul, not only on the Sabbath, but every day (v. 11; cf. v. 17; 19:9; see disc. on 13:42). Thus the intellect and the will (but also the heart and, of course, the Holy Spirit; see disc. on 16:14) were involved in the response of ...

1010. In Corinth

Acts 18:1-17

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... to draw attention to the more settled frame of mind to which Paul had come. He seems not to have visited Corinth with any definite intention of making it a great center of his work. On the contrary, Macedonia had still filled his mind, and he had been eager to return, especially to Thessalonica (cf. 1 Thess. 2:17f.). But the vision may have given him a new perspective. He saw himself, perhaps, as released from the call to preach the Good News in Macedonia (16:10) and under a new imperative to preach it now ...

1011. Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos

Acts 18:18-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... reception (v. 20). The Ephesian Jews must have already heard much about “the Way” and no doubt would like to have heard more. But Paul would not stay, promising instead that if God willed he would return (cf. 21:14; James 4:15). Considering their eagerness, there must have been some pressing reason for his not remaining in Ephesus and making the most of this opportunity. He had his vow to complete, of course, but he may also have wished to be in Jerusalem for one of the festivals, perhaps the Passover ...

1012. The God of All Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... of the original nations, which, from a contemporary Jewish perspective, are approximately coextensive with the current Roman provinces. Once he has evangelized a representative number of people in a particular locality, Paul’s job as evangelist is over, and he is eager to proceed to unreached territories (cf. Rom. 15:19–20, 23). He expects the gospel to radiate out from the established center(s) to the rest of the nation/province. Hence, although 2 Corinthians is particularly relevant to the church at ...

1013. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... as a bridegroom, and Ephesians 5:22–33 applies this image to the relationship between Christ and the church. Just as Phinehas, the OT prototypical zealot (Num. 25:1–13; cf. Ps. 106:28–31; Sir. 45:23–24; 1 Macc. 2:26, 54), was eager to keep Israel pure from foreign influences, especially intermarriage, which would subvert its devotion to the one true God, so also Paul was zealous to keep the church a pure virgin until the Parousia, when Christ will receive the church for himself. 11:3 The apostle ...

1014. Paul’s Second Visit to the Jerusalem Church

Galatians 2:1-10

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... directed now continually to remember the poor. The context would suggest the former meaning. Just as the church affirmed his gospel so they encourage him to continue to do what he is already doing—remembering the poor. Paul’s expression is not the expression of one eager to please but an affirmation that he wishes to continue to do the same thing to which he is already committed. Paul’s point is that he is not under the Jerusalem church’s authority; rather, he is an equal partner in the gospel. It ...

1015. Life by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... and actions” (so BAGD, p. 331). The vices listed in the rest of the verse identify manifestations of hatred. Discord has also the meaning of strife or contention; jealousy or envy (cf. Rom. 13:13) suggests, as Burton puts so well, “the eager desire for possession created by the spectacle of another’s possession” (Galatians, p. 307); the word for fits of rage connotes intense anger. Selfish ambition is a difficult word to translate but bears the sense of self-seeking, strife, and contentiousness ...

1016. Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... for the day of redemption.” A similar thought concerning redemption is expressed in Romans 8:23, where Paul discusses the future glory of God’s people and God’s creation: “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” This great hymn of praise (vv. 3–14) ends with a note that has been sounded several times before with respect to God’s elective purpose for humanity. Hence, election and sonship are ...

1017. Final Instructions

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... the qualifying phrase reminds us that Christian leaders are themselves under the Lord’s authority (Jesus’ authority; see note on 1:1) and that the style of their leadership must reflect that authority—“Be shepherds of God’s flock … not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2f.). The verb itself illustrates this. Proistēmi’s meaning ranges from having authority over others (cf. Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 5:17) to ...

1018. Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves

1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... , being excluded from among the genuine widows. Her reputation (lit., “having had witness born of her”) for good deeds includes four specific items, plus a generalizing conclusion (devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds; NAB, “In a word, has she been eager to do every possible good work?”). This last item suggests that the list is merely representative of her godliness, not definitive of her duties. Included are: (1) A woman who has brought up children. That this should be included as a good ...

1019. Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:3-10

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... is simply citing a proverb as support for his contention that greed is a trap full of many hurtful desires that lead to all kinds of sin. The living proof of all this is found in the wayward elders in the church of Ephesus. Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith. They have “sold out” the gospel for different doctrines and in so doing have pierced (lit., “impaled”) themselves with many griefs. Thus their final indictment is a tragic one, and for Paul a painful one. Here were good ...

1020. Godlessness in the Last Days

2 Timothy 3:1-9

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... the False Prophet 6: “They went about the country practicing quackery and sorcery, and ‘trimming the fatheads’—for so they style the public in the traditional patter of magicians. Well, among these they hit upon a rich Macedonian woman, past her prime but still eager to be charming and lined their purses fairly well at her expense” (Loeb, vol. 4, p. 183); and Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.13.3. Cf. also the story of the lady Paulina (Jos., Antiquities 18.65–80) and her readiness to please the god ...

1021. Paul's Charge to Timothy

2 Timothy 3:10--4:8

Understanding Series

Gordon D. Fee

... as evidenced by the situation in Ephesus, has already begun. But in this case it probably also represents the passing-of-the-baton nature of this final charge. Timothy is to carry on Paul’s ministry in a world in which there is no promise of eager response—even on the part of God’s people. The description is a familiar one; however, in this case it focuses on the believers themselves, rather than the false teachers, and it clearly lays some of the blame at their feet—despite the emphasis heretofore ...

1022. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philemon 1:1-7

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... (v. 5) is repeated in this verse: You … have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Although there is no way of knowing specifically what Philemon has done, the result was a cheering or refreshing (anapauō) of their innermost feelings (hearts). Paul is not as eager to describe Philemon’s actions as he is to accentuate his spirit; that same spirit of love will determine how he responds to Paul’s request regarding Onesimus (cf. v. 20, where the same word is used). The relationship of Paul to Philemon is ...

1023. Jesus Made Like His Brothers

Hebrews 2:5-18

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... prophecy, but also as the fulfillment that occurs in corresponding patterns of events that find their telos, or goal, in Christ. The author of Hebrews makes extensive use of midrashic commentary on OT texts in his treatise; indeed, he seems eager to derive his arguments from the Scriptures, and this undoubtedly reflects the importance of the OT to his readers. (See Introduction, under “Form and Structure.”) Commentators are almost equally divided concerning whether the pronoun him in v. 8b refers to ...

1024. Warning Against Falling Away

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... church (1 Thess. 1:3). This verse should not be taken to imply salvation by works. The point is not that God is obligated or that the readers have some claim upon him for their past performance, but simply that God looks upon them favorably and is eagerly willing to sustain them in their time of need. 6:11–12 For diligence (spoudē), which occurs only here in Hebrews, see W. Bauder, NIDNTT, vol. 3, pp. 1168–70. The emphasis in the original is more on the full assurance (or possibly, fullness) of hope ...

1025. By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-40

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... (7:2), but this is perhaps influenced by Hebrews. The argument that God’s people find their true home elsewhere than in the present world (cf. vv. 13–16) is found in several other places in the NT (e.g., Phil. 3:20: “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”; cf. 1 Pet. 1:1, 17; 2:11). An argument similar to that of the present passage is found in Hebrews 3:7–4:11 where entrance into the land of Canaan was found not to provide the rest that God ...

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