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 1226 to 1250 of 3108 results

1226. People With Power To Forgive

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

Jesus began his earthly ministry preaching, teaching, healing and forgiving sins. And now at the end of his earthly ministry in his post-resurrection appearance to his disciples, Jesus is passing on to his disciples the ministry of preaching, teaching, healing and forgiving sins. Through the gift of the Holy spirit they are to be empowered to continue the work he inaugurated. We often overlook in the gospels the connection between forgiveness and healing -- healing that is both physical and spiritual. ...

1227. The Blind Guiding The Blind

Psalm 92:1-15, Luke 6:46-49, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, Isaiah 55:1-13, Luke 6:37-42

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

The passage for today has what is described as a parable. It is a one-sentence parable, more like a saying than a typical parable. It is only one or two sentences long. The passage actually contains four such parables or sayings. While the passage is part of a longer discourse of Jesus addressed to "a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people" (Luke 6:17), this section seems more directly addressed to the disciples. The first of the parables or sayings deals with an analogy to a blind ...

1228. Proper 6

Luke 7:36-50, Galatians 2:11-21, 1 Kings 21:1-29, Psalm 5:1-12

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

Forgiving Debts Two of the most difficult practices which emerge in Jesus' ministry are forgiveness and gratitude. A frequent charge against Jesus was that he preempted the prerogative of God when he presumed to forgive sins. It is difficult to know which is harder to do: to forgive another or to forgive oneself. Lavish expressions of gratitude for acts of forgiveness are rare. Persons do not like to admit their indebtedness. If we owe someone gratitude for something that he has done for us, we feel ...

1229. God's Most Unmistakable Message

John 20:1-9

Sermon

Don M. Aycock

Easter Sunday is a string tied around the finger of the world, reminding us that God loves us absolutely. It reminds us that Jesus' cross is not the last word. A cross is cruel enough, but a worse cruelty would be to forget the one whose crucifixion benefited us. How do you feel when no one remembers your birthday or anniversary, or when someone forgets your name? You see, three men died on crosses that gruesome spring day so long ago. Three died, but only one is truly remembered. Why? It is because he ...

1230. Baptism And Self-Esteem

Mark 12:28-34

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

Every once in awhile I am surprised by a film which offers a message that I never expected. When I checked out Brubaker, an old Robert Redford film from the late '70s, from my local video store I expected some romantic adventure from one of Hollywood's biggest stars. That's not at all what I got. Instead I saw a wonderful and thought-provoking portrayal of human nature. Brubaker turned out to be a spellbinding film about the futile attempt of an enlightened prison warden to reform a hopelessly corrupt ...

1231. The Agenda Factor

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sermon

William L. Self

Architecture and power are Siamese twins joined at the hip. Rulers have always wanted to translate their power into brick and mortar -- from the tower of Babel and Egypt's pharaohs to Chairman Mao, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler. I. M. Pei, in his contract given by FranÁois Mitterand to renovate the Louvre, was commissioned to re-establish the glory of France. Serious resources have been committed by rulers to display their strength and grandeur with architecture. David had finally consolidated his ...

1232. The Burdens Of The Past

Haggai 2:1-9, Haggai 1:1-15

Sermon

Robert P. Hines

Recently a young man who participates in Civil War reenactments was giving a talk about his hobby. He shared with the group how a soldier in that war carried his own food supply with him. A bag of food weighed about seven pounds. The rifle he carried weighed ten pounds. The blanket and backpack weighed another forty pounds. This means the typical soldier in the Civil War carried over fifty pounds of material and weaponry with him all the time. Carrying that much weight must have been a heavy burden that ...

1233. God's A Catcher

Exodus 17:1-7

Sermon

Gerald Whetstone

Amid all the exotic sights and excitement of a circus there's one moment which for me holds more daring, beauty and grace than any other. A moment when the clowns cease their pratfalls, while tigers pace and snarl in their cages, elephants shift their bulk from side to side, the ringmaster hushes the crowd, and cross-pathed spotlights illumine upturned faces in scattered circles around the arena as they focus high, high above the ground. The moment is this: an aerialist lets go of the trapeze and sails and ...

1234. Week Two Of Lent

Sermon

Richard Gribble

Reflections:Week Two Of Lent Monday Week TwoDaniel 9:4-10Luke 6:36-38 The Compassion Of God Joseph Girzone, the popular author, tells the following story in his parable Joshua And The Children.1 Over a hundred years ago in France, a butler attached to a wealthy family knew where the family kept all their money, hidden in a vault underneath their chateau. The butler methodically plotted to kill everyone in the family and steal the money. One night when everyone was asleep, he crept into the house and first ...

1235. Thanks, Dad

Exodus 20:1-21

Children's Sermon

Teresa L. Major

Object: None. Lesson: Father's Day is a time to thank Dad. Text: Exodus 20:12 There are many special days in a year and today is one of those days. Who knows what today is? (Children respond.) Today is Father's Day. We take time today to thank our fathers for all they do. I know some boys and girls don't have fathers; that might make you feel sad today, but if you don't have a father, you can thank someone who is like a father to you. This morning, I want to tell you a story about my father. This is a true ...

1236. An Arranged Wedding, But An Intentional Marriage

Genesis 24:1-67

Sermon

R. Robert Cueni

Can anyone doubt the troubled state of marriage? Across the nation, we average one divorce decree for every two marriage licenses. In some parts of the country, as many divorce as marry each year. In spite of this high divorce rate, people do not give up marrying. In fact, a higher percentage of people marry today than a century ago. It seems this problem can, at least in part, be traced to the high demands we make on marriage. Particularly, we have tremendously high emotional expectations. Our ancestors ...

1237. Called To Serve

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

Phyllis Faaborg Wolk

A recent poll asked participants to describe themselves. Individuals were requested to list five ways in which they identify themselves. From Jesus' description of the scribes and Pharisees in our gospel lesson today, we can just about guess how those religious leaders would have answered such a poll. They probably would have described themselves by saying, "I'm a rabbi, a teacher, a father of the faith, a guardian of our traditions, and a scholar of God's word." Each of these titles demanded a great deal ...

1238. The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

The parable has given us a new meaning for talents. At the time of the parable it was a unit of measure for silver or gold. Now we have talent shows, talent searches, talent contests. The beauty pageants that came under attack from feminists for being sexist with their emphasis on bathing suit competitions have tried to shift to the talent of the women. Scholarships are offered as prizes so that talented competitors may continue to develop their talents. Some people still put the emphasis on the monetary ...

1239. Troubled By A Talking Whirlwind

Job 38:1-7 · Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

I will never forget that Saturday morning. I can still see, in my mind's eye, the spring sunshine rushing through all the windows on the east side of the house. And I can hear, in my mind's ear, the enthusiastic jabbering of that college freshman who had come by the house to get me to listen to a new record album. That was over 35 years ago, but I can still remember it as if it were yesterday morning. Mike was at East Carolina University. He had been introduced to opera -- rock opera. Now he was ...

1240. Wedding: On The Right Track (for a long-time relationship)

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bulletin Aid

Derl G. Keefer

The Apostle Paul writes about how real love can be recognized and nurtured. Hear these words from 1 Corinthians 13 and 14:1 (TEV): Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal... When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child ...

1241. Ananias And Sapphira, Liars

Drama

Peter C. Garrison

Ananias and Sapphira's problem isn't so much that they had money and didn't give it to the church, but that they lied to God. Remember, money is not the root of all evil; the love of money is ... (Note: Verse 11 contains the first reference to the followers of Christ being called a "church' or ekklesia: the called out/chosen ones.) (Please read Acts 4:32--5:11) Ananias And Sapphira Ananias has just been carried out dead. Joseph of Cyprus (the Levite who sold his field and gave the proceeds to the church) ...

1242. You Can Be Eternal

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

Michael B. Brown

There are lots of things I don't know. I am quick to admit I have a lot more questions than answers. For example: I do not comprehend the difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol nor why nature has decreed that good cholesterol is never found in things like coconut cream pie. I do not understand why every moveable part on an automobile automatically malfunctions two months after the warranty runs out. I do not know why Robert Redford and Candace Bergen age glamorously while I simply age. ...

1243. Lent 5

John 11:1-16, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:1-17, John 11:17-37, John 11:38-44

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:12-14 God instructs Ezekiel to preach to the dry bones scattered over the valley floor and as he preaches to them they come together, as flesh and sinew cover them. The dry bones represent the people of Israel, who have been taken captive and live hopeless lives in a strange land. The message is that God will carry his people home and fill their lifeless carcasses with his Spirit. This word of hope helps lift the people from their depressed state. Epistle: Romans 8:8-11 ...

1244. Repentance: A New Relationship

Joel 2:1-11

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

There's a story about a convention of psychiatrists who had gathered in a large auditorium near Grand Central Station in New York City. Somehow, a pigeon got in the room and was swooping back and forth above the gathered men and women. However, no one mentioned the bird. It seemed no one wanted to be the first to ask if anyone else saw a pigeon. I mention this to remind us that we each have an inward life of thoughts and perceptions about which no one else knows. It's a private world where we pretend, ...

1245. Made New By 180 Degrees

Luke 3:1-20

Sermon

Richard A. Wing

For those of you who have come here a mite tense today, I have good news for you. Without tension you cannot know the ultimate joy of Christmas. Without facing tension, Christmas is almost certainly missed. We have a tension between our texts today. We find tension between what John says and what Paul proclaims in Philippians. Two things emerge from the texts. First, the essential problem with John the Baptist. William Willimon, Chaplain at Duke University, says that John the Baptist reminds us of ...

1246. Palm Sunday

Bulletin Aid

Jack Brownlee

ORDER OF SERVICE Opening Words L: Let us worship God, our creator and redeemer, the God of Love. P: God continually preserves and sustains us. L: We have been forgiven with a powerful and engaging love. P: Christ has entered into our hearts and lives, waiting for us to recognize his Lordship over us. Hymn "All Glory Laud And Honor" Prayer Of Confession (Unison) Our hearts break, O Lord, as we watch the poverty and loneliness that confront us on the street and in the news: we feel powerless to respond. We ...

1247. For Goodness Sake

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon Aid

Clement E. Lewis

Instrumental Meditation Something Worth Thinking About: There is so much good in the worst of us, And so much bad in the best of us, That it ill behooves any of us To find fault with the rest of us. -- Anonymous Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good .... Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. -- Romans 12:9, 21 The heart of a good man is the sanctuary of God. -- Madame Anne Germaine de Stael Hymn: "I Would Be True" Scripture: Mark 10:17-22 (NRSV) As he was setting out on a ...

1248. The Wisdom In Waiting

Luke 12:35-48

Sermon

W. Robert McClelland

"Fear not!" Jesus says. These are the same words spoken by the angels to the Bethlehem shepherds on the occasion of his first coming. Now they are used to speak of his second coming. The reason why we need not fear is because God's good pleasure is to give us the kingdom. We cannot earn it. We cannot build it. It is a gift of grace. Despite all the evidence to the contrary and all attempts to oppose it, the promise has been made. The kingdom of God is on the way. We are to wait for it and be ready. The ...

1249. Elijah and the Widow of Zarapheth

1 Kings 17:7-24

Sermon

George Paul Mocko

Elijah and the widow of Zarepheth - with all of its wondrous, miraculous content, is still a warm and human story, filled with so many details reflecting everyday life in the eighth century B.C. Times were once better for this widow. Her house has an upper room, an indicator of some prosperity. But after her husband died, it must have been a few years ago, things went from bad to worse. One by one all the servants had to be let go, even the last one. Now she was out having to scrounge for her own fire wood ...

1250. A Fireside Chat

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

In the middle of the 20th century the fireside chat became a popular event: dignitaries who sit down before a fireplace, and there, in a more or less person-to-person manner, address the listeners. The intention, of course, is that each hearer will feel it is a personal message on an important mater. By radio Roosevelt had his fireside chats. Jimmy Carter did the same thing, only by television. Billy Graham used ot do them during his Christmas specials. But the fireside chat of our text is not an easy, ...

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