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 1376 to 1400 of 3108 results

1376. Advent 1

Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1-8 This pericope comes from the third section of Isaiah (chapters 56-66). It was written by an unknown author(s) in the period of 540-500 B.C. The Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. The exiles find a pathetic situation: Jerusalem is desolate and the temple has been burned to the ground. This passage is a lament and a cry for God to come and help them. The people are despondent and are impatient for God to come and do something about their ...

1377. In God We Trust – Or Do We?

John 4:46-54

Sermon

James Merritt

[Have everyone take out either a dollar bill or a coin] This is the most recognizable currency and the most universally accepted currency in all of the world. On this currency are four words that is the official motto of the most powerful nation in history. The words of course are - In God We Trust. It is interesting to know where this motto came from and how it came to be put on our currency. During the Civil War, Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase received a letter from a pastor in Pennsylvania ...

1378. The World’s Favorite Scripture

Matthew 7:1-6

Sermon

James Merritt

Everybody knows about the famous comedian, David Letterman, and his "top ten list." As you know, God also has a "top ten list" and it goes like this: 1. You shall have no other gods before Me. 2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image. 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 5. Honor your father and your mother. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness ...

1379. Pro-Choice is No-Choice

Proverbs 24:11-12

Sermon

James Merritt

The Declaration of Independence says: "All men are created equal," and goes on to say they are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." Now those rights specifically are "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Now this may shock you, but did you know that every person in America is protected by these words except two groups: convicted felons, and pre-born children. Now my question is: For what crime does a pre-born child forfeit his or her constitutional rights? I ...

1380. Cured Cripples and Crabby Critics

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon

Ron Lavin

Have you ever been crippled by something that happened to you? At age seventeen, Joni Eareckson, dove into the Chesapeake Bay, hit the rocks, and was paralyzed for life. She lives in a wheelchair today. Physically, she is still crippled by the accident, but she has overcome the excruciating mental and spiritual pain of her situation. Faith in Jesus Christ made a major difference in her life. Ron Heagy, a football player from Oregon, broke his neck in the Pacific Ocean in California when he dove into a ...

1381. Living in The Spirit of Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:6-12, Galatians 5:22-25

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Did you know that at one time generosity was illegal in Santa Cruz, California? That's right. It was illegal for someone to put money in other people's parking meters without their permission. The practice called "plugging coins" was considered an illegal act by Santa Cruz municipal code. The fine for a parking violation was $12.00. The penalty "plugging" thirteen dollar. Mr. Twister whose real name is Cory McDonald, is a professional clown and balloon twister, who has spared many car owners in Santa Cruz ...

1382. Is There Room For A Prophet?

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

After some last-minute Christmas shopping with her grandchildren, Grandma was rushing the kids into the car when four-year-old Jason said, "Grandma, Susie has something in her pocket." He reached in and pulled out a new red barrette. Though she was tired, Grandma knew it was important for Susie to take the barrette back to the store, tell manager what she'd done, apologize and then put the item back where she had found it. So, they did just that. Later, they stopped for a few quick groceries and at the ...

1383. Discover the Surprise of Christmas

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

Like that Santa, some of us have been desperately trying to grasp the allusive feeling of Christmas. The feelings we remember from younger days and simpler days. Like that Santa Ornament, determined to get those cookies, we go through all sorts of gyrations and antics trying to resurrect Christmases Past because in our memories they feel perfect and unencumbered. But the past is the past, and we're called to live in the present. But Christmas isn't really about the present (or the presents under the tree. ...

1384. Follow Your Questions (Series: An Invitation to Christian Discipleship)

John 20:24-31

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Why? Why? Why? Why? - Once more Americans are asking why? Why should thirty-two people lose their lives in a shooting rampage on Virginia Tech campus? Inquiring minds want to know why. You would think after the Oklahoma City bombings, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the high school shootings in Texas, Colorado, and Kentucky, we would eventually become too numb to notice. But something inside the human spirit will not let us off that easy. So people with ...

1385. Jesus’ Trail of Tears (Series: Questioning Our Values)

Luke 19:28-44

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

If you happen to love basketball as much as I do, March Madness is a strange mixture of cheers and tears. Wins and loses are determined in split seconds leaving fans in the arena shouting for joy or crying in pain. Such is life. Palm Sunday is a little bit like that. Children are singing. Hosannas are ringing; even the rocks begin to roll a little bit for joy. But not everyone this Palm Sunday is happy. Hear this scripture that has been shared from the Gospel of Luke from the Palm Sunday narrative, “As ...

1386. Born Again

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Nothing is more revealing of persons than the way they share themselves in conversation. Our Scripture lesson today provides one of the most profound encounters Jesus had with a person —— and the deep conversation they shared. The person is Nicodemus, and we need to refresh our minds as to who this person is. Nicodemus is a Jew, a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was one of the most important bodies in Judaism. It was a counsel of 70 men, with the High Priest as its chairman. The ...

1387. Fresh Every Morning - A Test

Exodus 16:1-36

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Albert Camus, distinguished French author, once described a fellow-writer who kept searching for the right word. Because he could never find it, he was last seen sitting motionless before a blank piece of paper. I feel like that sometime in my sermon preparation - sitting motionless before a blank piece of paper. What I want to communicate is so important, I must not fail. I feel the powerful impact of the scripture. The truth of it is so crucial, and I’m so committed to being faithful in preaching God’s ...

1388. The Gospel Through the Person

Galatians 4:8-20

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Here is one of Paul’s most tender passages. Yet, there is in it a harshness to it. Paul is firm in his confrontation, and calls a spade a spade. Listen to him again in verse 16: “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” But despite that tough confrontation, Paul pulls back the curtain of his own inner soul, revealing his anguish and pain, his personal limitations, his feelings of failure, his overwhelming sense of appreciation. Can’t you just feel the deep emotion and tenderness in ...

1389. The Harvest of the Spirit, Part 1

Galatians 5:16-26

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Many of you here this morning will remember Edward Sanford Martin’s poem, “My name is Legion.” Some of you may have memorized those poignant lines. Within my earthly temple there’s a crown; There’s one of us that’s humble; one that’s proud, There’s one that’s broken-hearted for his sins, There’s one that unrepentant sits and grins; There’s one that loves his neighbor as himself and one that cares for naught but fame and self From much corroding care I should be free. If I could once determine which is me. ...

1390. Liberated Women

Luke 7:36-50

Sermon

King Duncan

Barbara Walters, of Television’s 20/20, did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan, several years before the current Afghan war. She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands. She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands. From Ms. Walters’ vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to walk even farther back behind their husbands, and are happy to maintain the old custom. Ms. Walters ...

1391. Damaged Goods

Luke 7:36-50

Illustration

Mickey Anders

Bass Mitchell, my preacher friend from West Virginia, tells about the damaged goods bin at the grocery store where he worked in his first job. He says: "I started out as a bag boy but soon was promoted - given my own aisle to stock. Trucks brought in hundreds of boxes of food every week and we had to unpack them and put the stock on the shelves. Almost every week, however, we would open a box and find that some of the cans or cartons had been damaged. Some of the cans, for example had lost their labels, ...

1392. Finding Answers to Family Feuds

Genesis 25: 21-34

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

To live above with those we love, Well, that will be glory. To live below with those we know, Well, that’s another story. Family feuds. I would like to chat with you a few moments about that today. According to a survey done by Randy Carlson about eight years ago, 91% of American adults long to improve their relationships with their adult siblings. The pains of family life continue to haunt us, often for an entire lifetime. One of the most compelling stories of the Bible is the struggle between two ...

1393. Foundations are Critical

Matthew 7:24-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

We are Christians under construction, trying to build a life that really matters. Hundreds of you are now putting God first and practicing random acts of kindness on a daily basis. I can only imagine what God might choose to do with these simple acts of devotion. I know personally the powerful impact of fervent prayers, and I continue to thank God for you each day. A first time guest at our church last week wrote me to say, “I came searching for God and discovered God was there all along searching for me. ...

1394. The Power of a Personal Commitment

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

While my farmer father only had a fourth grade education, he was a wonderful story teller. One of his favorite yarns was about a chicken and a pig who encountered a hungry man beside the road. Moved with compassion, the chicken said to the pig, “Why don’t you and I go together and give this man a great ham and eggs breakfast?” The pig pondered the proposition for a moment and then replied, “For you that would be a contribution; but for me that would mean total commitment.” On this Sunday when we are asked ...

1395. Work, For the Night Is Coming

John 9:1-5

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why doesn't somebody come to help us? How could this happen in the U.S.A.? Where is God when it hurts? It's been another unbelievable week of questions in the light of human tragedy. While our inquiring minds want concrete answers, we gather for worship knowing full well that we must live the questions. So on our way to Holy Communion, let me ask two questions that seem to be on everybody's mind. I. WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER? I picked the Scripture for today long before ...

1396. Oddballs for God

1 Peter 1:17-23

Sermon

David O. Bales

Immigration reform swirls around us. Immigrants, documented and undocumented, live among us. All of us, even Native Americans, are offspring of immigrants. No matter how far you have to trace back, your ancestors experienced being strangers and newcomers on the American continent. Many of them experienced being aliens. Probably many of them felt they were exiles or even considered themselves banished to a new and strange place. Reports of immigration on the Oregon Trail tell that women more than men felt ...

1397. The Five-a-Day Rule

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

By now all last week’s hard-boiled eggs have been transformed into egg salad and consumed. Right? Of course, it goes without saying that the contents of all those Easter baskets have disappeared, except, of course, the nasty black jelly beans. On this Sunday the spiritual and sugar high of Easter Sunday is wearing off. Hence the colloquial designation of this week as “Low Sunday.” After the “high” of Easter, we come back to the everydayness of life. It is when we are most “low” in energy, in desire, in ...

1398. Because I Live (Memorial Day)

John 14:15-31

Sermon

King Duncan

Actor Martin Sheen is known for his deep religious and social convictions. Some of you will remember him best for his role as President Bartlett in the television show “The West Wing.” Sheen shared with motivational speaker Tony Robbins an interesting story about something that happened to him while he was making the movie Apocalypse Now. The cast had been filming under a grueling schedule deep in the jungles of the Philippines. After a restless night, Sheen woke up the next morning and realized he was ...

1399. Never, Never, Never, NEVER GIVE UP!

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Sermon

David E. Leininger

"Never give up. Never give up. Never, never, never, never give up!" Of course, you know who gave that advice ... Winston Churchill. It was Churchill's dogged determination during World War II that saved his nation from Nazi destruction. In a speech following the retreat from Flanders before the House of Commons on June 4, 1940, he thundered, ... we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seasand oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and ...

1400. Peace In the Midst of the Storm

Mark 4:35-41

Sermon

David E. Leininger

Suppose for a few minutes that you are one of them. There is no indication in scripture that you or any of your compatriots have any inkling as you set out in your boats that there might be anything amiss. To be sure, since a number of you are fishermen, you are aware that things like this can happen. After all, the Sea of Galilee is set in a deep gorge between two mountain ranges. The winds sometimes force themselves through the passes around Mount Hermon in the north and virtually explode on the quiet ...

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