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 1351 to 1375 of 3108 results

1351. The Tree That Didn't Get Trimmed

Romans 11:33-34

Drama

Matthew Powell

Cast Storyteller 1 Storyteller 2 Fir Tree Actor 1 (plays Woodsman and Grocer) Actor 2 (plays Lady Shopper and Farmer's Wife) Actor 3 (plays Child, Customer 1, and Cemetery Man) Actor 4 (plays Customer 2 and Farmer) (The two Storytellers stand at opposite ends of the playing area; the Tree stands in the center. Actors 1-4 sit slightly back until they "enter") Storyteller 1: If you walk through a grove of balsam trees you will notice that the young trees are silent. They are listening. Storyteller 2: But the ...

1352. Christmas 1

Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Colossians 3:1-17, Colossians 3:18-4:1, Galatians 3:15-25, Hebrews 2:5-18, Matthew 2:13-18, Matthew 2:19-23

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Isaiah 63:7-9 (C); Isaiah 61:10-62:3 (E) The prophet counts Israel's many blessings. When the Exiles returned to Jerusalem, conditions were far from good. In today's Lesson 1, the prophet recalls God's blessings on Israel in the past and asks, "Why not now?" On the basis of past "steadfast love," the nation should take courage and hope that Yahweh's blessings will continue. The covenant made at Sinai means they were the people of Yahweh, and as such he saved them from the bondage in ...

1353. Proper 20

Exodus 16:1-36, Isaiah 55:1-13, Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11, Philippians 1:12-30, Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 16:2-15 Yahweh provides food for the Israelites in the wilderness. Only a few weeks after deliverance from Egypt, the people complain about the lack of food. They murmur against Moses and Aaron, but God knows that they complain about him. They doubt whether Yahweh cares about them and his ability to provide for them. In response to their complaints, Yahweh sends quail in the evening and bread, "manna," in the morning. To this day the manna is a mystery - "What is it?" Moses ...

1354. Jesus Breaks Our Chains

John 11:1-45

Sermon

Richard Gribble

He was chained, held bound in a life of torment and blasphemy. In the end, however, God would set him free. John Newton, a name probably not familiar to many of us, was born in July, 1725, to a pious English woman and her seafaring husband. From his earliest days, young Newton was attracted to his father's side of the family and to the life at sea. Thus, when he was only eleven years old he became an apprentice aboard his father's vessel, a cargo ship which ferried products throughout the major ports of ...

1355. Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

There's a new morning ritual. We've only engaged in this ritual activity the last few years. But let's acknowledge how our morning rituals have changed in a very short time. The ritual? Actually it's not just a morning ritual. It's an all-day ritual. But it's most heavy in the morning: deleting the overnight invasion of junk e-mails. In this massive assault, there are always two or three cut-rate, can't-pass-it-up, how-can-you-not-consider-buying-this ads for life insurance policies. Visual versions also ...

1356. The Jesus RX and the Biology of Belief

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Every year or so another great cure-all springs from science, folk medicine, or common sense and becomes the hottest "new cure." [Bring some show and tells to pass out to your people-or just show them off. Maybe some people in your church collect old, 19th century remedies and containers they were sold in. Use them as symbols of what you're preaching about. Maybe even have a display set up.] How many of you sucked on and sucked down zinc lozenges a few winters ago when some anonymous "studies" suggested ...

1357. The Longest Distance in the Universe

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Kids in 4-H are usually involved in some kind of rural, agricultural activities. They raise sheep and goats, chickens, rabbits, and llamas. The 4-H fair has horse shows and dog shows and judging contests all designed to measure the abilities of the kids and their critters. Just as the Boy Scouts have their well-known pledge, the 4-H-ers have their own pledge and commitment. In fact the 4-H motto is the reason for the designation "4-H." The four h's are head, heart, hand, and health and a 4-H-er promises to ...

1358. Patience

James 5:7-12

Sermon

King Duncan

I hope you are getting excited as Christmas nears. I heard about one dad who was shopping in a toy store. He said, “That’s a terrific train set. I’ll buy it.” The clerk said, “Great, I’m sure your son will love it.” The young father said, “Maybe you’re right. I’ll take two.” It’s an exciting time of the year, but it is not without its frustrations. Years ago, the Associated Press carried a story about a group of post office customers who mutinied while waiting in line. According to those who were there, ...

1359. Remember God

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Sermon

James W. Moore

Her name was Mary Lou. His name was Tom. There were both in their 80’s and they were celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary. A news reporter was there to cover the big event and he asked this question: “Mr. Tom, so many marriages are failing today… and yet here you and your wife are celebrating 60 years together. How did you do it? What is your secret?” Mr. Tom didn’t even have to think for a minute how to answer that question. Without a moment of hesitation, Mr. Tom said with a warm smile: “Well, the ...

1360. Believe in Jesus

Acts 16:25-34

Sermon

James W. Moore

Some years ago on a ranch in South Texas, an elderly woman was critically ill. She was in her 90’s and was at the point of death. All of the family, the ranch hands and the neighbors had gathered around her bed. Quietly, respectfully, they waited and watched and prayed. The doctors had told them that the end was near and there was nothing else that could be done medically… and that it wouldn’t be long now. Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door. It was a traveling, revival preacher. He had arrived ...

1361. There's an Elephant in the Room and Her Name Is Katrina

Exodus 14:10-15

Sermon

James W. Moore

There is an elephant in the room and her name is Katrina. Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive storm to hit the United States in historic times. It caused extensive damage to the coastal regions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama when it slammed ashore on August 29, 2005. By late morning of August 29, the storm caused several sections of the levee system in New Orleans to collapse. Subsequent flooding over most of the city resulted in horrendous damage, destruction and death. Estimates are placing ...

1362. The Gospel According to Winnie the Pooh

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Transition times. Life is full of them . . . times of transition. As Eve allegedly said to Adam as they were leaving the Garden of Eden, “We are living in a time of great transition.” Transition times. No times are more filled with possibility and promise. No times are more filled with peril and despair. In transition times, everything is possible, and everything could fall flat and fail. Think about every time you started a new school. Think about the first time you moved out of your parent’s home. Think ...

1363. The Gift of Newness

2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Sermon

James McCormick

What picture pops into your mind when someone says the word, “church”? Is it a picture that quickens your pulse and stirs your blood? Or, is it a picture more likely to encourage a snooze? Is it characterized more by excitement and adventure? Or more by dullness and predictability? If we are talking about the first century church, those questions are easy to answer. Those first century Christians became so excited about their message that onlookers accused them of being drunk. They became so energetic ...

1364. Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments

1 Peter 3:15

Sermon

James Merritt

What issue do Americans feel more strongly about, and have a stronger opinion about, than any other issue? James Patterson and Peter Kim, in their groundbreaking book, The Day America Told the Truth, discovered that Americans feel more strongly about abortion than any other issue, whether it be alcohol abuse, the death penalty, pornography, flag-burning, affirmative action, or communism. 75% of Americans see abortion as either right or wrong, with no gray area in between.1 Abortion has become a fact and a ...

1365. Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments

Proverbs 24:11-12

Sermon

James Merritt

1366. The Attitude of Gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Sermon

James Merritt

Rudyard Kipling was a best selling English author at the turn of the century. He wrote one of the best books for children of all time, entitled, The Jungle Book as well as the poem "Gunga Den." He made a tremendous amount of money with his writings. A newspaper reporter came up to him one time and said, "Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over $100 a word." Kipling raised his eyebrows and said, "Really, I certainly was not aware of that ...

1367. The Way Over Is Under

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

James Merritt

It was known as the Roaring Twenties. It was a time very much like to the Soaring Nineties. Morals were being turned upside down. The Stock Market was rocketing to new heights. "Let the good times roll" was the national motto. Perhaps the biggest name of the decade was a man named Babe Ruth. He had single-handedly put baseball on the map and made it the national pastime. The major league owners realized they needed a Commissioner to oversee the game of baseball and preserve its integrity. In 1921 they ...

1368. How to Handle the Mess of Stress

Exodus 18:23-27

Sermon

James Merritt

One of the most famous psalms in all of the Bible, and one of the most well known passages, is the 23rd Psalm. It is a psalm that has given rest, refreshment, and even revival to untold numbers of people. But someone has written another version of this psalm that I believe is a great reflection of the day and age in which we live. The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest. It makes me lie down only when exhausted. It leads me to deep depression. It hounds my soul. It leads me in circles of frenzy for ...

1369. Fatal Attraction

Matthew 5:27-30

Sermon

James Merritt

A teacher was working with a grammar lesson and she said to one of her students, "Willie, what is it when I say ‘I love you, you love me, he loves me?'" Willie replied, "That's one of those triangles where somebody gets shot." Well, it used to be a situation where somebody would get shot—with a gun. Today it's a situation that gets shot with a television camera. Television refers to adultery, to sex outside of marriages, 13 times more frequently than it mentions intimacy between a husband and a wife. There ...

1370. Is Jesus The Only Way?

Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

It may surprise you to know what many Americans consider to be the most serious sin. No, it’s not murder. Even murder can have mitigating factors. According to an article by Daniel Taylor in “Christianity Today,” many Americans consider the worst sin to be intolerance. And guess who are the worst sinners, in the minds of many Americans.... We evangelical Christians! One writer said, "Christians are seen as the pit bulls of culture wars small brains, big teeth, strong jaws, and no interest in compromise." A ...

1371. John the Stall Cleaner

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

“Prep Time.” Do those two words have as much meaning to anyone here as two other new words to the English language: “Thanksgiving pants.” [Those are pants with elastic or expandable waists.] I won’t ask how many of you are still wearing those “Thanksgiving pants” to church this morning. Anyone who is trying to organize and host a get together during this busy holiday season knows that what takes the most time is “prep time.” Even Rachael Ray, who cheats by having all her veggies pre-washed, her chicken ...

1372. Was Jesus the First Buster?

Matthew 21:23-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

As the first, in-your-face Buster, Jesus said: "Don't listen to people's WORDS; look at their DEEDS." 1996 is a very significant year for baby boomers because it is the year the first wave of boomers hit 50. Boomers like rocker Bruce Springsteen and actor Diane Keaton, director Steven Spielberg, basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and singer Dolly Parton (to name a few) are squinting into the sun of their golden years with a mixture of joy, fear and modulated anticipation. Boosters, the GI generation born ...

1373. Philippians 3:17-4:1

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

The sense of closeness Paul feels with the Christians in Philippi reveals itself in the familiarity and straightforwardness of this letter. There are Pauline candor and intense emotions _ both tears and joy _ throughout this text. Philippians has always been one of the best-loved of all Paul's letters, in part because we can feel the pulse beat of Paul's own concern and commitment to this community beneath only the thinnest skin of literary and theological concerns. The portion of the epistle read this ...

1374. Jesus Is Contagious!

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

Here’s a startling image for this wintry Sunday morning. You may have seen it already. Picture a man in a tacky, grey, “rat suit” - ears, fur, tail, the whole deal. The rat-suited man is writhing on a public sidewalk, pretending he is gasping for breath. Next to this “rat-man” is a hand-lettered placard declaring, “Cyanide is in cigarette smoke - the same as it is in rat poison.” This image is currently a public service announcement on PBS stations. But here’s the real kicker. The “tag line” that ...

1375. Thin Spaces

Matthew 17:1-13

Sermon

Mike Ripski

A few Sundays ago I observed that in the Celtic Christian tradition there is an appreciation for what are called, “Thin Spaces” – those times when heaven and earth intersect. Those occasions when extraordinary and ordinary merge. When John Wesley had the experience of having his “heart strangely warmed” – that’s an example of a “Thin Space.” Jesus took three of the disciples, Peter, James, and John up on the mountain. There they saw Jesus transfigured before their blinded eyes. They saw Moses and Elijah ...

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