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 1251 to 1275 of 2173 results

1251. A Most Successful Sermon

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

Sermon

King Duncan

Every pastor would like to have the kind of response to a sermon that Peter had on the Day of Pentecost. Three thousand people were added to the church after Peter had finished. Even more importantly, three thousand people had their lives profoundly changed. For most of them it was a change that would make them a pariah in their community and even in their own family. Some would go on to die for their faith. Their faith was no surface affair. It involved a complete commitment to the work of God. There is a ...

1252. A Service the Church Will Never Forget

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

King Duncan

Churches are funny places. Have you ever noticed that? Burt Kettinger tells about a small church in Rocky River, Ohio, just west of Cleveland where he grew up. This church had a small restroom behind the pulpit with a door right behind the pulpit for the convenience of the pastor. There was also a door on the other side of the restroom that led out to the church parking lot. One day the pastor was waxing eloquent on Rev. 3:20. With great pathos he exclaimed that the Lord is standing at the door of our ...

1253. Freedom!

Romans 6:3-11

Sermon

King Duncan

In his book Talking Straight Lee Iacocca shares some interesting stories about raising funds for the 100th birthday celebration of the Statue of Liberty. For example, there was a man from Poland who sent $2 for "this beautiful symbol." He never expected to see the statue himself, but at least he could dream about it. There was a money order from a refugee camp in Thailand. Seventy-eight homeless Vietnamese had passed the hat and come up with $114.19 as "our humble share for the rehabilitation of her ...

1254. When the Best People Were Left Out

Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a wonderful story about a group of military leaders who succeeded in building a super computer that was able to solve any problem large or small, strategic or tactical. These military leaders assembled in front of the new machine for a demonstration. The engineer conducting the demonstration instructed these officers to feed a difficult tactical problem into it. The military leaders proceeded to describe a hypothetical situation to the computer and then asked the pivotal question: attack or ...

1255. What Are You Afraid Of?

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

King Duncan

Fear. It can manifest itself in many forms. Chrysostom was the church leader of Constantinople in the fourth century when Rome was persecuting the Church. The Roman emperor had him arrested and charged with being a Christian. If Chrysostom did not renounce Christ, then the emperor would have this Christian leader banished from the kingdom. Chrysostom responded to the threat by saying that the emperor could not do so, “because the whole world is my Father’s kingdom.” “Then,” replied the emperor, “I will ...

1256. First Light

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon

Curtis Lewis

Have you ever seen the aurora borealis? That may not be a familiar term to you, and you may be asking yourself, "Is that a country?" "Is it some kind of strange animal that is nearly extinct that I have somehow missed?" Some of you already know what the aurora borealis is; for those who don't, they are called the northern lights. The northern lights occur in the far northern regions. Recently, while driving in an isolated northern area of the United States, I saw a brilliant display of colored lights that ...

1257. As Real As It Gets

Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

An unforgettable comment was made at the New York City Marathon, and was recorded by a newspaper reporter. When the wheelchair participants came into view and people began to applaud, a man alongside the reporter remarked, "Wait until the real runners come along!" Another person nearby said, "This is as real as it gets!" (Donald J. Shelby, "Unless the Race Is Worth Running,") That is where it is today with our scripture lesson. Jesus' call is "as real as it gets": "No one who puts his hand to the plow and ...

1258. The Prize of the High Calling of God

Hebrews 11:1-40, Philippians 2:12-18

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

I am intrigued by bumper stickers. Someone was smart. Since modern Americans spend so much of their time in cars, why not turn the bumper into a kind of chrome or, alas with modern cars, plastic bulletin boards. Thousands would get the messages as they come near the car in front of them. It was a brilliant idea. Religious folks have not missed this communication opportunity. So you have the traditional bumper sticker message: “Honk if you love Jesus”. And the more avant-garde, “In case of the rapture, this ...

1259. Called to Be Saints

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship All: Lord, we gather today, in the words of the apostle Paul, as your saints. Left Side: Sometimes it is hard for us to see ourselves as saints. (Note: NIV uses the word holy) Right Side: Other times we know that with your help we have done a good job. All: It is our hope and desire that you be glorified in our actions. Left Side: We mean to glorify you in our worship. Right Side: We strive to glorify you through our prayers. All: Descend and live among us, God of power and might. Collect ...

1260. Reformation

Psalm 70:1-5, Romans 3:19-28

Bulletin Aid

Frank Ramirez

Call To Worship One: Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me! All: Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me. One: Let those who say, "Aha, Aha!" turn back because of their shame. All: Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" One and All: But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, ...

1261. The Big Influence of Small Things

Matthew 13:31-35

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim:To teach that even though the Kingdom seems inconsequential it has ultimate influence. Props: Glass of water colored by dark food coloring. Another glass the same size with a small amount of liquid bleach. You may want to do this over a tray to avoid damaging the carpet. Please practice this before performing it. You want to use as little bleach as possible to achieve the desired results. Lesson: Good morning. Jesus said that, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took ...

1262. The 3 Rs of a Holy Life

2 Corinthians 13:1-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

An old adage warns, “bad things always come in threes.” Have you found this true in your own experience? That bad things (and good things) like to happen in community, in bunches? You say: we invent this connection by suddenly realizing that we got a flat tire on the same day that a computer glitch devoured our hard drive, shortly after our last contact lens just slid down the drain. I say: there seems to be something significant about the power of three. Today the church celebrates the Triune God—Father, ...

1263. Yesterday, Today, and Forever

Acts 8:26-40

Sermon

Ron Lavin

A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money." The pastor was busy taking care of his large congregation, but decided to see the old man. On the third visit, Ermil said, "I'm not very religious, and I don't ...

1264. First Class Freedom

Galatians 5:1-15

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Freedom. Freedom is the last word spoken by Mel Gibson in the epic movie Braveheart. It is also the first word spoken when he voiced the character, Rocky, in the claymation movie "Chicken run." I've always liked the irony and humor of that, even though I'm not sure anyone else ever noticed. Freedom, it's what we celebrated with parades and fireworks yesterday. Freedom, it's what makes this Nation so unique. In a sense, it's what brings us here today. Our freedom of religion allows us to gather and worship ...

1265. Planning Your Way Out

John 6:35, 41-51

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

A television news magazine told of a young, adventuresome man, full of life, flown into the desolate north country of Alaska in order that he might find himself among the natural beauty and mysteries there. He prepared for months. He carried sophisticated photographic equipment and more than 1,400 pounds of provisions. He packed boxes of notebooks, in which he intended to record his experiences. Record them he did. His carefully detailed notes describe his sense of wonder at the spectacular beauty of the ...

1266. Tough Talk for Tentative Disciples

John 6:56-69

Sermon

Robert Leslie Holmes

Many years ago, a missionary society wrote to David Livingstone, a Scottish Presbyterian pioneer medical missionary in Central Africa, and asked, "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you." Livingstone wrote back, "If you have men who will come only because there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." Every ministry and every ministry leader in the history of the Christian faith has faced tough times. Usually ...

1267. The Two Ultimate Questions of Life

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

King Duncan

Someone has made a list of what she calls “The World’s Worse Questions.” Are you ready for these? Will you promise not to get mad it I ask you something? Do you have any statistics to back up that statement? You don’t honestly expect me to believe that, do you? Haven’t you any sense of humor? You don’t remember me, do you? Have I kept you waiting? NOW what’s the matter? You asleep? So what? WHEN are you going TO GROW UP? (1) The World’s worst questions. A friend once asked Isaac Isidor Rabi, a Nobel prize ...

1268. Dancing for Joy (Thanksgiving)

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

King Duncan

In 1998 there was a film that was nominated for seven Academy Awards. It was titled Life Is Beautiful. Life Is Beautiful is a touching story about an Italian Jewish family that is taken to a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War. At the camp Guido, the father, uses his fertile imagination to shield his son Joshua from the horrors of life in this terrible place. He hides his son from the Nazi guards. He sneaks him food and tries to humor him. Guido does everything he can to hide their true ...

1269. Be Reconciled With God

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a 1973 motion picture titled Ash Wednesday. It stars Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor plays an aging woman who wants to return to the heights of her beauty. In pursuit of this obsession, she boards a plane to Switzerland, where she undergoes extensive plastic surgery. The doctors promise her that afterwards she will look twenty years younger. Following the surgery, with her bruised face wrapped in bandages, Taylor dons dark sun glasses and decides to go for a walk. Slowly, in great pain, she strolls the ...

1270. The Woman at the Well

John 4:1-26

Sermon

King Duncan

A couple of years ago, Jim Parsons on his blog, “adventures in revland,” told about a most unusual battle that was going on in Warsaw, Ohio between New Beginnings Ministries Church and the Foxhole Club, which is a club that provides adult entertainment featuring women gifted in a certain form of dance. It seems for years the church has protested the club. Church members had stood outside it with bullhorns, banners and cameras to take pictures of people’s license plates as they arrived at the club. The club ...

1271. Where the Church Gets Its Power

John 17:6-19

Sermon

King Duncan

It’s an exciting thing to be part of the church of Jesus Christ. We’ve got a good thing here, and we need to let the rest of the world know just how exciting it is. There’s an old story about a young high school football star who was being recruited by a coach from a major college. The coach had never seen the young man play, so he asked him some direct questions. “Son,” he said, “I understand that you do the passing for your team. Are you a pretty good passer?” “Am I a good passer?” the boy answered. “Why ...

1272. The Landlord's Dilemma - World Communion Sunday

Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

King Duncan

Once there was a man who owned a piece of property. He felt it would make a fine grape vineyard. So he planted a vineyard on the property and enclosed it with a wall. He wanted this to be a full-service operation, so within the wall he dug a winepress a vat where the grapes could be pressed and the juice extracted. And he built a watchtower to protect his vineyard because this was a lawless land and you never knew what vandals might do. Then, after making a sizeable investment in his vineyard, he rented it ...

1273. A Lesson from Jay Leno's Mom

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

King Duncan

Comedian Jay Leno had a long run on the Tonight Show before leaving it this year. Leno has always been a fascinating character. But one story out of his past is particularly memorable. When Leno was growing up, there was one firm rule in his family he had to follow. It was to never take the Lord’s name in vain. His mother used to tell him, “People might steal money because they have to eat. Or maybe they get into a fight to protect somebody, then they go to prison. But there’s no reason to ever take the ...

1274. Risky Business

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

King Duncan

Many of you have seen the delightful animated feature, Shrek. You may remember Eddie Murphy as a mouthy, arrogant, tactless donkey who can’t shut up to save his life. In one scene, Shrek, the big green ogre, travels to rescue Princess Fiona, while Donkey tags along with him. While Princess Fiona is trapped in a castle surrounded by boiling lava, Shrek and Donkey cross a wobbly, unstable bridge, and Donkey, out of fear, wants to turn around. In great trepidation, Donkey yells, “I’m not going!” Shrek replies ...

1275. Get Out the Ticker Tape - Palm Sunday

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a time-honored story about a little boy who was sick. It was Palm Sunday and the children waved palm branches to open the service. But this young man stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do we wave palm branches on Palm Sunday, Dad, and why do we call it Palm Sunday?” “You see,” his Dad explained, “when Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor him, so we got palm branches in the ...

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