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 1151 to 1175 of 1838 results

1151. Why You Should Study the Bible

Psalm 119:105

Sermon

James Merritt

... your Bible teaching. The Lord began His work in me through His Word…the Holy Spirit showed me just exactly what my problem was and what I needed to do about it. My problem was sin—a heart that would not forgive, and it was making me bitter….I turned to the Lord and asked Him to help me forgive; I continued in the Word diligently and the transformation process took place. The Lord delivered me from this depressive illness. The memorizing of Scripture is renewing my mind. This is the only key for anyone ...

1152. The Negative Verses the Positive

Matthew 14:13-21

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

... replied, "Do I look like the type of person who would have old whiskey bottles?" The little boy studied her for a moment and then asked, "Well, do you have any old vinegar bottles?" Isn't it tragic that some people go through life so negative and sour and bitter? And if you don't watch out, they will infect you with their thinking. How can we live positively in this world where much is discouraging? I think I see some clues in one of the miracle stories of the Bible. Jesus once fed 10,000 people with only ...

1153. Walking on the Water

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

King Duncan

... needs of the homeless. He found sponsors who would sponsor his nights in his pup tent with the idea of raising “$7,000 to buy Thanksgiving dinners for 100 families.” Christ blessed Bob’s commitment with $10,000 in donations, after 14 days of sleeping in the bitter cold. So you know what Bob did? He committed to repeating this each year, with a focus on raising funds for housing for the needy. In nine years, Shoe Bob has raised more than $5,500,000 in donations! In a recent year, over a thousand people ...

1154. Light Shining out of Darkness

Matthew 14:22-33

Illustration

William Cowper

... so much dread And big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain; God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.

1155. Tricked Into Forgiveness

2 Samuel 14:1-33

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... of the United States, who was such a pivotal figure in the early years of our state. His name is all over Tennessee. As you know, Jackson was a brilliant, fearless, charismatic leader with a volatile temper. He formed deep friendships but also made bitter enemies. Jackson was not a very religious man for most of his life. But in his latter days, facing illness and the prospect of meeting his Master, he tried to put his spiritual house in order. A Presbyterian pastor, Dr. John Edgar, visited Jackson ...

1156. Sending Good Messages

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... The children should not. Neither should a parent or fishing buddy get in on the argument. It is strictly private. Rule number two is this: NEVER YELL AT EACH OTHER UNLESS THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE. St. Paul urged us to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Eph. 4:31) Wise old Solomon advised that “a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov. 15:01) This rule will require considerable discipline. If alcohol consumption ...

1157. I Am the Keeper of the Zoo

Isaiah 11:1-9

Sermon

... . A grandfather is talking to his grandson a few days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Looking at his grandson, the grandfather says: "I feel like I have two wolves barking inside of me. The first wolf is filled with anger, hatred, bitterness….and mostly revenge. The second wolf is filled with love, kindness, happiness….and mostly forgiveness." At which point the grandson looks up at his grandfather and says: "Which wolf do you think will win, Grandpa?" And the grandfather responds: "Whichever one I ...

1158. Great Joy

Isaiah 35:1-10

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... disasters, like hurricanes and earthquakes, the seemingly endless pursuit of war and lingering torture and terror, the omnipresence of evil and the burden of sin. Can you sense it? Taste the dusty dryness of the soul…like an arid desert? Feel the harsh wind and bitter sting of the unfairness of life? Hear the screech owls of fear and the night hag of anger and resentment? Smell the sickening stench of death? If you can, then you are ready for chapter 35. The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad ...

1159. FEAR NOT! You've Got To Be Kidding!

Luke 1:26-37

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... papers: · Daily bad news from the auto industry, uncertainty about the state economy or personal security. · A questionable course in Iraq with no clear sense of how long it will go on, when it will end. · Fear of bird flu or bad weather or a bitter diagnosis from the family doctor. Add to that, fear-mongering TV preachers and politicians who use talk of terror for political gain until the fear of terror becomes its own terror. And add to that, panic-driven newscasters who can't even give the weather ...

1160. Joshua: Why These Stones?

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... to God's gracious care, a reminder of God's steadfast love. For Joshua and the generations that followed him, it was the Exodus…that great act of deliverance from slavery in Egypt which is re-enacted every year in the Jewish festival of Passover—the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread, the cup of deliverance through the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the houses. In the same way our Lord took the elements of that Passover meal…the same bread, the same cup, and said, "Do this in remembrance of ...

1161. Moses: A Traveling God in a Pop-Up Camper

Exodus 13:17-22, 33:7-11

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... be. (There are still those who are threatened by immigrants and newcomers to the land. Some things never change.) So the Bible says that, eventually, "a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph" oppresses them in bondage and slavery. Four hundred years pass...bitter years of oppression and hopes deferred. All the while, Joseph's bones await the deliverance. The turning point comes in that beautiful phrase, "God heard their groanings, and God remembered..." And when God remembers, God acts, because God always keeps his ...

1162. Joseph: Don't Bury Me Here

Genesis 50:22-26; Exodus 13:19-22; Joshua 24:32

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... go, we are supposed to take Papa Joseph with us…because we aren't home yet." Four hundred years pass. Generation after generation is born and dies in Goshen. In the meantime, the people find themselves entrapped in slavery by a new Pharaoh who knew not Joseph…bitter, brutal years of oppression. But all the time, there's Joseph's coffin gathering dust—a reminder that, one day, God would visit them and bring them out to the Land of Promise. During those dark centuries, I am sure at least once in every ...

1163. Bart and Homer, Father and Sons

1 Samuel 20:24-42

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... unfortunately, King Saul is still with us. Tell me…how long are we going to tolerate violence against our children in this world? How long will we put up with handguns in the homes and AK-47s on the streets? How long will we allow Saul's bitter spears of child abuse and child neglect, hunger and homelessness, poor education and inadequate health care to "pin our children to the wall"? How long will we tolerate the violence of King Saul against all of our children? Just this morning in the Free Press, our ...

1164. The Sacrifice Play

Matthew 16:21-28

Illustration

William J. Carl, III

... of weakness but I hardly think of any of the Atlanta Braves or Minnesota Twins as weak. Baseball's one thing; life is quite another. Who sacrifices anything any more in a time like ours? Who really denies themselves and takes up crosses anymore? Actual sacrifice can lead to bitterness, especially when you thought you were trusting God's plan for your life and suddenly you realize that you have to sacrifice all your greatest hopes and dreams as burnt offerings on the high altar of the providence of God.

1165. Building Bridges

Matthew 18:15-20

Illustration

Bob Tasler

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in their 40 years of working together. It began with a small misunderstanding, and grew into a major difference, and finally exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence. One morning, there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there ...

1166. Training for a Purpose

Titus 2:11-14

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... the right ways is a pure work of art to watch. Demagoguery doesn't rear its ugly head. Our works are free from egotistical yearnings. Our love is for more than a bit of kindness. Our motivations are pure and undefiled. Aggressiveness and helpfulness do not collide in bitter disagreement. We know who and what we are. The babe in Bethlehem is elevated for all to see how beautiful it is! Now it can be said and felt that those Christians have something I don't have and I want it! The stars in the heavens sing ...

1167. Looking Out for Others

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Sermon

Donald Charles Lacy

... level of maturity. My experience is that even the saints from time to time fall from lofty and respected heights. The history of the church provides excellent examples. However, we do know those who went through such episodes became stronger. Even though they wept bitterly, as did Saint Peter, the powerful pain of it all enabled them not only to return to their former level but above it. It is so important to practice what we preach before our weaker brothers and sisters. When can we ever say to them ...

1168. The Paradoxical Power of Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... allows himself to fail in power politics in order to succeed in the politics of the heart. He allows himself to be pierced with spears of hate in order to send forth arrows of love and forgiveness. Overwhelmed and beaten down, derided and spit upon in bitter hostility, his blood and bruises became a balm for our wounds of strife, our gashes of hatred. Oh, the paradoxical power of weakness. When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died; my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt ...

1169. Jesus Is the Recipe for Eternal Life

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... away falsehood and speaking the truth. If we are to treat others with dignity we cannot deal in untruth. As Jesus himself said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32). Paul then speaks of the need to rid ourselves of anger, bitterness, and wrath. We must not allow the sun to set on our wrath. In other words, we must let go of the things that keep us apart from one another. We are to live peaceably. The next ingredient in Paul's recipe is the need for honest work. Paul ...

1170. Coming Home

Mark 14:12-16, 22-36

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

... their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food — but ordinary and innocent food." We assemble again to partake of ordinary and innocent food as nothing more and nothing less than the body of Christ. Collect Here in this upper room We brave all bitter weather, Where heart and mind together Dispel an ancient gloom, To drain the cup and break the bread In full accord with what he said. Amen. Prayer Of Confession We drink and eat anew in the kingdom of God, that is near and not yet arriving ...

1171. When Life Isn't Fair

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... . But when Iacocca told his teacher, she simply advised him to let the matter rest. It was, he recalls, his first lesson in the fact that life would not always be fair. (3) How many times have you and I looked at life and complained, somewhat bitterly, “Life isn’t fair.” Even God doesn’t seem to play fair. Jesus told a parable about a landowner who went into the market place early in the morning to hire laborers‑‑a common practice in rural communities in some places even today. Those he hired ...

1172. Saving Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

Illustration

Donald Dotterer

... country pastor. Most of the time the pastor is inept. The bored villagers he serves ignore him, his church all but deserts him. There is one wealthy parishioner who is particularly harsh on the poor minister. In part this is because of her personal bitterness toward God. However, as this woman draws near death, the priest somehow manages to break through the barriers and helps this woman to surrender her life to God. With his help, she is able to believe in eternal life. The pastor shares these words ...

1173. Christ’s Twin

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... your business?” The executive replied, “No, I haven’t given much thought to those things. My main satisfaction has come from the love of the game, and winning in the end. I’ve had to overcome some pretty significant obstacles and handicaps, and contend with some bitter opposition from my competitors. But I’ve beaten them all and I came out on top.” (3) I know some of you have no problem with that. Competition is the American way. Is it always the best way? I’m reminded of what happened years ...

1174. If It Were Up To Me

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... parable of grace. Had the story concluded with verse 10, we'd be left with the happy portrait of a succulent feast being punctuated by the chatter of the guests and the clank of flatware against china. That's not how it ends, however. Instead Matthew leaves us with the bitter image of bouncers tossing someone out on his ear. We're left to hear not the clank, clatter, and chatter of a fun dinner party but the sound of wailing and gnashing of teeth. If it were up to me, I would have cut the story off a few ...

1175. When What’s Holding You Up Lets You Down

2 Samuel 18:33-19:8

Sermon

Shirley Gupton Lynn

... . If we are alive, we will. But we do choose what we will do with it. The options are really only two. Suffering will make us stronger because we trust God to see us though it and use it for someone's good or weaker because we choose to be bitter and miss our chance to grow. Like David, when what's holding us up, lets us down, let's examine our options. III. David accepted his suffering, examined his options, then chose his action. Scripture says, "The king rose and took his seat in the gate; and when the ...

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