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 126 to 150 of 4962 results

126. Epiphany 8

Isaiah 49:8-26, Matthew 6:25-34, 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... sit down and let God do it all. By faith we work with God in fulfilling our needs, yet without anxiety. We do our part in providing for our needs in the confidence they will be met. 4. First (v. 33). A life without worry is the result of having one's priorities in proper order. In verse 24, God is to come first over mammon, and he only is to be served. Next, life is more important than food, drink, and clothing (v. 25). Trust should have priority over worry (v. 33). Today is of greater concern than tomorrow ...

127. No Longer Home Alone

John 15:13-17

Sermon

Arley K. Fadness

... makes friendship an event and not a feeling. A friend is also determined by the degree to which one can take people into one's confidence. Is he or she trustworthy? Jesus said, "I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." Do you have one good friend? If you do, you are a most lucky person. Three times, I remember, I was painfully lonely. The first time was when I was a child. I was literally home alone. I was not abandoned, but my parents just took a little longer to get home from ...

128. How Free Are We?

John 8:31-41

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... man who quit his job sorting potatoes. The job was simple. All he had to do was to sort potatoes into three piles: large, medium, and small. But he soon quit, saying, “The decisions are killing me!” Authoritarian governments and authoritarian religions have one advantage: they eliminate the necessity of having to make decisions, of having to think for ourselves. This is surely one of the reasons why modern fundamentalist movements in all of the world’s religions have become so popular in recent years ...

129. Zeal!

John 2:13-22

Sermon

John Jamison

... you did with the sacrificial animal that you purchased, after you purchased it. Some said that you could just get it from the vendor and take it to the priests. Others argued that if you touched the animal yourself, it became unclean, so the only option was to have one of the temple workers take your animal from the vendor to the priest, which would be done for a small fee. One of the religious rule books of the day describes that argument: “Jose ben Joezer says: On a festival day a man may not lay his ...

130. Straight Talk, Due Process and Grace

Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon

William J. Carl

... Dominoes.” Of course, Shaw met his match for speaking straight when he took on Churchill. Shaw once sent Churchill two tickets to the opening night of his play, Saint Joan with this note, “One for yourself and one for a friend -- if you have one.” Churchill replied expressing regret at being unable to attend, but asking for tickets for the second night, “that is, if there is one.” And then, of course, there’s the famous old rivalry between Lady Astor and Churchill where with some exasperation ...

131. Harmony Within The Family

Genesis 11:1-9

Sermon

King Duncan

... together, he gave them the ability to communicate with one another, to commit themselves to one another, to "feel with" one another. Isn’t this a good day for each of us to make a new commitment to the family-this family-or to the family at home if we have one and to the greater human family of which we are a part? Communication, commitment, compassion-simple ingredients for harmony within the family. * Bill J. Vamos, THE LIFE THAT LISTENS (Waco: Word Books, 1980).

132. Bitterness: How to Overcome What You Undergo

Hebrews 12:14-15

Sermon

James Merritt

... do not turn away." (Mt. 5:40-42) Someone may borrow money from you and never pay it back. They may borrow something from your home and you will never see it again. Just mark this down. When someone does you wrong—and they will sooner or later—you have one of two choices: You can get bitter or you can get better. You must first of all deal with the source of your bitterness. II. Determine the Course of Your Bitterness We are expressly warned in v.15 that if a root of bitterness does spring up, it "causes ...

133. Parades and Crosses — The Challenge of Ministry

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... devil's advocate for a minute. It's only natural for people to compliment you and encourage you as a young man. But think how little esteem most people have for a sermon. No one wants to be preached to or to hear a sermon. And you know we have one of the better preachers around. When I was on the board of deacons, you should have heard the complaints if our minister preached beyond the hour. He was reminded again that the head can only absorb as much as the bottom can endure. "Frankly, I don't think most ...

134. Peter's Confession, Christ's Prediction

Mark 8:27-30

Sermon Aid

Richard A. Jensen

... to be able to see! Such is Mark's description of outsiders (Mark 4:11-12). The disciples then enter the picture. Their response to Jesus' feeding the multitudes is even more ironic, filled with even greater comedy. They are with Jesus in the boat and they only have one loaf of bread. How can they all eat when there is only one loaf? They've seen Jesus do bread miracles but they have not believed what they have seen. Their eyes, too, are blind. We seem to have reached a climax here in terms of the blindness ...

135. The Forgotten Virtue

Philippians 2:1-11

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

... to interest him in another parish, membership in the church, and he said, "Well, Pastor, I can see why the church needs me, but tell me one reason why I need the church?" The pride of self-sufficiency. And yet, that same man, so-called self-made man, did not have one thing, nor did he achieve one iota of anything on his own. Self-centered persons see only what affects them. The only music that they can hear is the blowing of their own horn. The story is told of a writer who was telling a social group at a ...

136. LENT: The Passion of Christ: "Denied!"

John 13:36-38; 18:12-27

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... , their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. [13] First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. [14] Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. [15] Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, [16] but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple ...

137. The Love of the Shepherd

Ezekiel 34:1-31

Sermon

King Duncan

... not exaggerated. The girl stared at the countless carved wooden faces, some of which were hideous and most of which were grotesque. Finally she asked, “I have been looking for one that looks like the ‘good shepherd,’ but I don’t see any. Don’t they have one that cares?” (6) This is no disrespect to Buddhism. Buddhism is at heart a philosophy not a living faith. Theoretically it is possible to be a Buddhist and a Christian. Here is the important thing do not look to Buddhism to tell you what God ...

138. The Incarnation: What and Why?

Hebrews 2:10-18

Sermon

James L. Killen

... . The book says, "Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace [let us approach every experience of our lives] with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews ...

139. Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Luke 17:11-19

Sermon

James W. Moore

... month. But, let me tell you something… we made it… the five of us… and I’m so proud of who and where my kids are today. I’d put them up against anybody’s kids.” And then listen closely to what the older woman said next. She said: “I have one piece of advice to give you. It’s the best advice I know. You may not be able to give your kids designer clothes or sports cars or trips to Europe… but there is one thing you can give them.. that’s better than all of that anyway… You can ...

140. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

John 3:1-21

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... , “born of God,” has appeared already in the prologue (1:13; cf. also 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18). Only in verse 5 is water mentioned in connection with this new birth. To be born again or born … of the Spirit is to have one’s life radically transformed by the power of God. It is like beginning life over again, with new perceptions and new relationships. But what has water to do with it? Are water and the Spirit two distinct elements, or one? Is Jesus saying that a person must be “born of ...

141. The Ultimate Question

Isaiah 42:1-9

Sermon

Louis H. Valbracht

... our lives are ultimately purposeful. The most modern of philosophies is, of course, existentialism. And existentialism concludes that it is exactly the opposite, that human life is absurd, meaningless. I like these epitaphs from the collection of tombstone inscriptions that I have. One was suggested by Ogden Nash for his tombstone. It was stated merely: "Nash's Ashes." That took care of him. There was a man named "Thorpe." His inscription was: "Thorpe's Corpse." That took care of him. And then, I always ...

142. The God of Lost Sheep

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... charged with abusing its own lamb. No sheep has ever been charged with stealing from a neighbor or with murder. Sheep don’t knowingly abuse their own bodies or minds. They don’t hate other sheep who are of a different color or economic level or religion. Sheep only have one or two ways they can become lost. Humans have thousands, and we seem to be inventing new ones every day. My guess is that all of us feel lost from time to time. Some of us have hurts that were inflicted on us early in our lives, and ...

143. Fingerprints and Lovemarks

John 17:20-26

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . Love is the divine gift that defies all physics. When love is divided in two, you don’t get half as much, you get twice as much. When love is hoarded, it shrinks. When love is squandered, it spreads. Here is an example of what I mean. When you have one child, you love that child with all your heart, mind and soul. There is no love held back in reserve for a “rainy day.” Then you have another child. Does the love for your first child get winnowed down in order to make some love available for this new ...

144. Marriage is Forever

Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:1-12

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

... ? Jesus' world of the First Century was actually very similar to the Twentieth Century in this respect: the institution of marriage was in crisis. In Bible times, divorce was the prerogative only of husbands. A woman could not get a divorce for any reasons. A husband could have one for the asking. All he had to do was to write a bill of divorce in front of two witnesses. Not even a lawyer was needed. You can debate the wisdom of that. Rabbi Hillel claimed that any fault whatsoever that a husband found in a ...

145. The Lord's Prayer: Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... ." Contrast this with the real Jesus, who, dying on a cross with nails in his hands and feet, blood flowing from the side which had been pierced by Roman spears, saying to those beneath him, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they have done." To have one who hung beside him cry out, "Remember me," and to hear the words, "Today you will be with me in paradise," models the fact that the heart of a resurrection faith is learning how to forgive. [3] Yes, anybody can play the part in a play, but to ...

146. Oaks in the Shadows

Job 12:1--14:22

Sermon

... close. You see, I care and I will be your oak as you journey. When the road seems barren and uncaring, come by for awhile, rest, and know an outreach you’ve never experienced before. You may never have had an oak on your pathway before, but you have one now." To the handicapped he was saying, "I see beyond your outward frame, and I will help you to see beyond it, too. Together we can move past the self-pity and depression you must feel along your way. Together we may even find an inner glow and strength ...

147. Is There More Than One Way to Heaven?

John 4:19-26

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... goes for immortality. Islam and Christianity would say it is appointed to a person once to die and after that the Judgment. Hindus, in the name of reincarnation, say we keep coming back again and again until we get it right. Which way is it? You have to have one or the other. It is true in the issue of salvation. Christianity affirms that God in Christ comes down to us to save us by faith through his grace that he empowers within us. Every other religion on earth teaches that we are saved by works; that ...

148. Rules For A Happy Life

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

... questions to be feared, and eyes to be avoided, and subjects which must not be touched, then the bloom of life is gone. Put off that day as long as possible. Put it off forever if you can." Fifth: The Rule Of The Most Admired Person You Know. We all have one or more people who influence our lives. Perhaps it's a favorite teacher or a minister. Maybe it's a parent or perhaps a colleague in your work. Or it could be a special friend. Maybe more than one of these. I have two friends, clergy, who have set ...

149. Death Of A Dream - Birth Of A Church

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

... , "Let us build a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we can make a name for ourselves." It was not a monument to the glory of God, it was a shrine to themselves. They were ambitious for the pride and the glory of their own names. They did have one thing in their favor. They had a strong chance of their project being a success, because they were united. They had one mind: "Let us make a name for ourselves." You can accomplish a lot if there is unity in the plan. In the horse-and-buggy days, a boy ...

150. In Praise Of Goofing Off

Mark 6:30-44

Sermon

King Duncan

... . Jesus answered with a Biblical precedent set by King David and then said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." The point is this: YOU AND I NEED ONE DAY A WEEK IN WHICH WE DO NO WORK. None. Absolutely none. God means for us to have one day a week in which we worship and visit friends and relatives and take a nap and go bicycling with our family and do whatever it is that helps to refresh and rekindle our minds, our bodies and our spirits. We need one day a week for goofing off. That ...

Showing results