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 1276 to 1300 of 2173 results

1276. It Was a Dark and Stormy Evening! Father's Day

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

King Duncan

Welcome on this Father’s Day 2015. We know that not every Dad is a great Dad. And yet we know that some of the men in this church have committed themselves to being great Dads, and we want to give them the recognition they deserve. According to one expert, children go through 4 stages of dealing with their fathers. In stage one, they call you da-da. In stage 2 they grow and call you Daddy. As they mature and reach stage 3 they call you Dad. Finally in stage 4 they call you collect. A certain mother tells ...

1277. She Looked Great, But...

Mark 7:1-23

Sermon

King Duncan

One of the truisms of life is that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Things are not always what they seem. I read a delightful story, allegedly true, about a zoo in Spain that decided to conduct an emergency drill. The drill simulated how to handle it if a gorilla escaped from its enclosure. To make the drill more realistic, a zookeeper dressed up as a gorilla and took off loping through the zoo. Unfortunately, not everyone on staff was notified about the drill. Upon seeing a “gorilla” fleeing from its ...

1278. No Longer Strangers

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

King Duncan

I want to draw your attention to the 19th verse of today’s lesson from Ephesians. We read, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household . . .” “No longer foreigners and strangers.” Reflect on those words for just a moment. I have heard it said that a child is born untrusting. Perhaps that is why life begins with a cry. The infant is apart from its mother for the first time. It has become a separate human being. But also ...

1279. Peace Comes to Our Hearts

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

King Duncan

About this time of year many of us start getting a little frantic, don’t we? Christmas is so near. There is still so much to do. This is a frantic time for many of us. The season of Advent was supposed to be our chance to get ready, but in another week it will be over and the big day will be here. All the decorations will be in place, the packages will all be wrapped, the last card will have been sent--then, ready or not, Christmas Day will arrive. Are you prepared for Christmas? I mean the real Christmas ...

1280. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Colossians 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

Paul’s Greetings The opening greeting in this epistle is typical of the way in which Paul has addressed other churches to whom he has written (1 Cor. 1:1–3; 2 Cor. 1:1–2; Phil. 1:1–2; 1 Thess. 1:1–2; 2 Thess. 1:1–2; cf. Eph. 1:1–2). Although the form of these salutations is quite similar to contemporary Greek models, the content is distinctly Christian and, in the case of Colossians, sets forth statements that are important to the body of the letter. 1:1 Paul links Timothy with the writing of this letter ( ...

1281. An Army Officer Deeply Concerned

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

There is a ridiculous story going around about a country church one Sunday morning, where the preacher gave an invitation to the altar. “Anyone who has a special need that you would like prayed over,” he said, “please come to the front.” With that, a young man named Leroy got in line. When it was his turn, the preacher asked, “Leroy, what do you want me to pray about for you?” Leroy replied, “Preacher, I need you to pray for help with my hearing.” The preacher put one hand on Leroy’s ear, placed his other ...

1282. Focusing on the Core of God’s Guidance

Deut 4:44–5:33

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Applying the Decalogue: The larger context of 4:44–28:68 is Moses’s Second Sermon and involves the application of the the Decalogue. This opening section focuses on the core of God’s guidance (4:44–5:33). 4:44–49. As in Deuteronomy 1:1 and 29:1, so 4:44 introduces the next sermon with the similar rhetorical expression: “This is the law.” It begins with a summary of the story already rehearsed in chapters 1–3, a use of repetition that is not uncommon in other ancient Near Eastern narrative texts. 5:1–33. ...

1283. Israel Asks for a King

1 Samuel 8:1-22

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

8:1–15:35 Review · The Early Years of Saul’s Reign:Even though Samuel has led the people well as a judge, he will be the last to hold this charismatic office. Under pressure from the people, Samuel anoints Saul as the first king and thereby ushers in a new era of Israel’s history. Saul’s initial years as king are promising, and it appears that the unified nation will be a powerful one. 8:1-22 · Unlike most judges, Samuel appoints his sons to succeed him, but, like Eli before him, Samuel proves to be an ...

1284. Dead Hearts and New Beginnings

John 3:1-17

Sermon

King Duncan

Some of you will remember when the first heart transplant took place. It was an amazing feat. The first transplant was performed in 1967 in Cape Town, South Africa by Dr. Christiaan Barnard. The recipient was Louis Washkansky, a fifty three year old grocer with a debilitating heart condition. Unfortunately Mr. Washkansky survived only 18 days after the operation. The first successful transplant was performed on Dr. Barnard’s third patient, a Jewish dentist named Dr. Philip Blaiberg. He survived for nearly ...

1285. Joseph: The Righteous Carpenter

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Charley Reeb

I have learned that there is one thing you should never ask God for unless you have really thought through it. And that is patience. I asked God for patience several years ago and God has never forgotten it. I am getting really impatient about it! I am reminded of this whenever I am in traffic. Did you hear about the woman's car that stalled in traffic? She looked in vain under the hood to identify the cause, while the driver behind her leaned relentlessly on his horn. Finally she had enough. She walked ...

1286. Wimps or Water Walkers

Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon

King Duncan

Somewhere I read about a family that decided to vacation in Colorado. They flew to Denver and rented a car. While there, they visited the Royal Gorge Bridge. This bridge is a little scary to drive across. It stands more than 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River. Walking out onto the bridge, the dad noticed it swaying in the wind. Then a car went past them, and the wood-plank roadway moved beneath their feet. “I don’t think I want to drive the car across this bridge,” said the father nervously. “What are you ...

1287. A Law Written On Our Hearts

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Sermon

King Duncan

You’ve seen her--the lady with the blindfold, a balance, and a sword. She is Lady Justice. She is supposed to represent our judicial system. Since the 15th century the blindfold has represented the idea that justice should be meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness. At least that’s what the lady with the blindfold is supposed to represent. For some of us that blindfold may represent the imperfection of some of those who make our laws. After all, there ...

1288. Everything You Need to Know about Love

John 15:9-17

Sermon

King Duncan

Our theme for today is love. Of course, ultimately every one of our messages is about love: God’s love for us and our love for one another, and the love we are called to have for the world for which Christ died. However we are going to focus a little more intently than normal on the meaning of love today. In our lesson from John’s Gospel we read these words: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my ...

1289. What's in Your Wheelhouse...That You Can Offer Jesus?

John 6:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

Father Jerry Fuller once told a story about a young couple in North Carolina who were set to open their own restaurant. All that was needed was the final health inspection and the issuing of their business permit. They were scheduled to receive the permit the next day. This occurred in September, 1989. The couple named their little restaurant “Our Place” and they were excited--as you might imagine--that they were finally ready to open. But that morning the winds and rains of Hurricane Hugo hit the Atlantic ...

1290. The Peace of Christmas

Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever noticed that peace is an elusive quality in our world today, whether in the Middle East or in Asia, or even right here in our own community? I read about an enthusiastic group of 1200 would-be peacemakers who began a “peace march” a few years back in Los Angeles. This group wanted to make a statement about the futility of war, and the importance of peace. A noble venture, wouldn’t you say? Before they had gone too far, however, the peace march stalled‑out. About half of the group had ...

1291. In Which City Do You Live?

Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

Sermon

King Duncan

I came across a report the other day from the United Nations about how more and more people are moving from rural areas and subdivisions into urban areas and big cities. That’s surprising to me because there are so many jokes about the drawbacks of living in a city. Comedian Anita Weiss says, “I moved to New York City for my health. I’m paranoid, and it was the only place where my fears were justified.” In a standup routine about traffic in Boston, Massachusetts comedian Lewis Black said, “The last person ...

1292. About Unclaimed Luggage

Luke 15:1-7, Luke 15:8-10, Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

King Duncan

Have you ever been on a flight where the airline lost your luggage? It’s a helpless feeling. In most cases, the lost piece of luggage is returned . . . eventually. But every year, thousands of items are lost or left behind on America’s airlines and never claimed. Eventually, all those lost items end up in the small town of Scottsboro, Alabama, at a store called the Unclaimed Baggage Center. This store, which takes up an entire city block, has arrangements with nearly every airline to buy luggage that ...

1293. The World's Most Extraordinary Club

Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

Series: Seeing God More Clearly in 2020 When you were a kid, did you ever create your own exclusive club? Only you and your best friends could be in the club, and everyone else was an outsider. You got to create the rules, the club name, the secret handshake. And you got to decide who you let into the club and who you kept out. It gave you a feeling of real power. Rev. Will Nickles tells a story of when he was around seven years old, and his older brother started a secret club with a friend next door. Will ...

1294. God Powered Impact

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Frisch weht der Wind.” [Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner, quoted by Tristan, as he escorts the newly captured Isolde via sailing ship to his home in Cornwall] Wind is the most powerful force on the earth. The wind moves everything that exists, and anything combined with the power of wind can be a beautiful or equally destructive force! Think of tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires –all of them dynamically fueled by the power of wind. Is it any wonder then that the ancients equated the wind with the ...

1295. Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Brick layers are not bad people. Brick layers are some of the most skilled artisans and craftsmen around. They’ve learned an important trade. They build homes. They build bridges. They build walkways. They build walls. And sometimes, we have to have a few walls for protecting intimate space and private rituals, don’t we? But when you start brick laying for brick laying’s sake, when you become obsessed with building walls to protect or flaunt territories, or to acquire and exclusivize space, you have ...

1296. Vendetta

2 Kings 1:1-18

Sermon

Lori Wagner

You probably all know the play by Shakespeare called “Romeo and Juliet.” Even if you aren’t a Shakespeare fan, or even if you detest trying to read an older version of English, modernized versions of the play in the form of movies and references have made the story timeless. For those of you who may not know the whole story, it centers around two families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Another family, the Verona family is in different ways tied to both. But the famous feud takes place between the ...

1297. Calling All Wide Receivers!

Luke 2:8-20

Sermon

Lori Wagner

This is the season of Christmas, but it’s also the season of …..football! How many of you are watching the Eagles play the Washington Redskins today at 4 pm? Go Eagles! Or maybe you’re a Chicago fan! I may not be a wicked-sharp aficionado about football, but I do know that one of the most important players in the game is the “wide receiver.” Wide receivers are the guys hovering out there along the periphery of the field, ready and able to receive the ball if the quarterback throws it their way. They are ...

1298. The Thorny Price of Perfidy

Esther 3:1-15

Sermon

Lori Wagner

Roses may be everyone’s favorite flower, but they can come with a price –thorns! In fact, the controversial multiflora rose, sporting bunches of white flowers, from which rose hip tea is made, has become one of the most invasive, vicious, dangerous, and nearly unstoppable plants in the US and Canada today, thwarting farmers’ and gardeners’ best efforts to eradicate the thorny plant. Appearing to be a beautiful addition to one’s landscape or hedge, this problematic rose sports thorns that curve downward, so ...

1299. The Pit of the Soul

Luke 9:1-9

Sermon

Lori Wagner

“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.” Proverbs 26:27 In this month leading up to All Saints Day, we in our culture search our souls for the “ghosts” of the sins that haunt us and will not let us alone. We spend the month of October delving into the darker side of our psyches, fascinated by the human mind and its penchant for sin. We play at masking ourselves with false faces. And yet into this time of play seeps a time of awareness of our human faults ...

1300. Would You Like to Live Forever?

John 10:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

Let me ask you a question: what would you be willing to do to live forever? I’m not talking about eternal life after you die. I’m talking about avoiding death altogether. Human beings have always searched for a way to cheat death. In Hollywood, Florida, there is a church called the Church of Perpetual Life, and its focus is on extending the healthy human lifespan on this earth for as long as possible. The church’s motto is “Aging and death can be optional.” What a great marketing slogan for a society that ...

Showing results