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 5000 results

126. If You Want to Kill the Church

Illustration

Staff

Never go to your church or meetings held there, If you do go, be late, it's no one's affair. If the weather is bad, either too hot or snowing, Just stay home and rest, for there'll be others going. But should you attend, be sure and remember To find fault with the work, each official and member. Be sure to hold back on your offerings and tithes, The bills will be paid by the rest of the guys. And never take office if offered the post, But eagerly criticize work of the host. If not on a committee you're ...

127. Want What You Already Have

Illustration

Source Unknown

A man became envious of his friends because they had larger and more luxurious homes. So he listed his house with a real estate firm, planning to sell it and to purchase a more impressive home. Shortly afterward, as he was reading the classified section of the newspaper, he saw an ad for a house that seemed just right. He promptly called the realtor and said, "A house described in today's paper is exactly what I'm looking for. I would like to go through it as soon as possible!" The agent asked him several ...

128. How You Want To Be Treated

Illustration

Staff

Ross Perot was a straight talking business man and a presidential candidate in the 90s. Here's some of his advice on leadership and how to treat your people: "Never ask anyone to do what you haven't done before and wouldn't do again. That's a pretty fundamental rule in leadership...treat them like you treat yourself. Things you don't like, they don't like. You don't like to be jerked around, they don't either. You don't like to be talked down to, and they don't either. You would rather work with somebody ...

129. Want Milk?

Humor Illustration

Dear Telly, My milk cow has cut down on the amount of milk she gives. It gets a little less every day. Can you tell me how to make her give more milk? Farmer in Fresno Dear Farmer, Yes, I can. Hang a big sign on the barn door that says, "I love milk. It takes away my craving for beef." Sincerely, Telly D. Truth

130. Babies Wanted

Illustration

Michael P. Green

We live in a time of social decay, expansion of evil in the world, and worsening trends. Have we therefore reached a point where we should call it quits on having a family? No, absolutely not! Remember history’s lessons. Pharaoh was throwing Hebrew babies into the Nile River when Moses was born. The finest of Israel’s youth were led into captivity to serve a pagan and evil empire in Daniel’s day. Herod was murdering male children after God’s own Son was born. The past has been even darker than today. God ...

131. If You Want to See the Angels

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Have you ever seen an angel? Dr. S. W. Mitchell thought he had. Dr. Mitchell was a well-known neurologist in Philadelphia. After one very tiring day he retired early, but he was awakened by a persistent knocking at the door. It was a little girl, poorly dressed and deeply upset. She told him that her mother was very sick and needed his help. Even though it was a bitterly told, snowy night and he was bone tired, Mitchell dressed and followed the girl. He found the mother desperately ill with pneumonia. ...

132. Wanted: Male Mentors

Illustration

Lauren Ready

When a school in Dallas realized many kids wouldn’t have anyone to attend a “Breakfast with Dad” event, a local pastor stepped in to help. He never imagined how many men would show up after his plea for help. Pastor Donald Parish Jr. didn’t have high expectations when he put out a plea on Facebook for male mentor volunteers. It was an attempt to help Billy Earl Dade Middle School in South Dallas fill seats at their first “Breakfast with Dads” event. But school administrators had concerns no one would show ...

133. Help Wanted

Humor

A person in heaven was asked what it was like. "We get up at 4 in the morning, gather in the stars, hang out the sun, and roll the clouds around all day." "How come you have to work so hard?" "To tell the truth," said the saint, "we're a little short of help up here."

134. Where’s the Power?

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Daniel G. Mueller

... with them but he saw their plight and came to them, walking on the water. When the disciples first saw him, they were scared out of their minds, thinking he was a ghost. The Lord assured them he was not. Peter asked to walk on the water with him. He wanted to walk on the water. He made it a few steps and then began to sink. His desire was not enough to keep him up. Jesus could do it because he is God and can do anything. Peter, the man, was limited by his weakness (Matthew 14:29). We are ...

135. The Call to Downward Mobility

Isaiah 49:1-7

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... Council on Ministries meeting, I asked, “Over the past year how many times have you talked about your church with someone? How many persons have you invited to church with you?” I believe that, if we are finding what we’re looking for here, we will want to share it with others. II. Finding what we’re looking for And how do we find what we are looking for? The two answer their own question without being aware of it. They answer Jesus’ question with a question: “Where are you staying?” The Greek ...

136. Spiritual Marines

Luke 9:18-27

Sermon

James Merritt

... of the problems we have today can be traced to the mirror. If you don’t believe that self denial is a problem, let me ask you a question. Have you ever tried fasting? Have you ever tried going without any solid food for just twenty-four hours? If you want to see just how much you pamper your flesh and pamper yourself, you try it. You know Paul said, “I buffet my body and keep it under subjection.” Too many of us need to say, “I buffet my body and keep it over the table.” Do you know what keeps ...

137. Does Prayer Make Any Diﬀerence?

Mark 1:35-39

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... do it. Prayer is the single most important act for anyone who seeks to follow God. We can’t know the will of God for our lives unless we pray. We can’t be strong in the face of temptation unless we pray. We can’t be the people God wants us to be unless we pray. We can’t be healthy spiritually unless we pray. We can’t make lasting changes in our lives unless we pray. We can’t get faith right until we get prayer right. Jesus knew this. Jesus understood the importance of prayer and the difference ...

138. Staying Alive All Your Ministry Life: Will You Finish Well?

Exodus 32:1-33:6

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... them we cry, “God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There is the whole issue of abandonment. Sometimes when we pray, “Thy will be done,” it is a declaration of submission in which we confess that we do not know what is best but we want God’s will. We struggle, we wrestle, we stay in the presence of the Lord until our hearts are made tender, and we’re ready to trust God and surrender our will to Him. My favorite story about Lourdes has to do with an old priest at that famous healing ...

139. Quitters

John 6:60-71

Sermon

King Duncan

... intent we are on following Christ, no matter how hard we try to keep crickets from distracting us, there will be times when we will falter. We are not Christ, just as Simon Peter was not Christ. That does not mean, however, that deep in our hearts we do not want to serve Christ. He is our Lord. He is our Master. He is the one who has the words of eternal life. He is the one whom we believe is the Holy One of God. Martin Copenhaver is a minister in the United Church of Christ denomination. United Church of ...

140. Living Large for God (Part 3)

1 Chronicles 4:1-23

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... of wealth and prosperity" mentality. Well it can be read that way, but not if you read it though the eyes of Jesus. Ray C. Stedman is correct when he says that, "while this prayer is very personal, it is not selfish." (4) Jabez is praying for something that God wants him to have. (5) God’s will for Jabez--and for us--is that all our needs will be met. God’s will is for us to be healthy and happy. Even the Lord’s Prayer contains requests for daily bread and forgiveness. And God’s will is that we ...

141. Can't Get No Satisfaction

Exodus 20:17

Sermon

James Merritt

... covetousness in my life. I am saying to that particular dollar bill, "I can get along without this. Somebody else needs it more than I do and I don't have to have it." I read an incredible story about a congressman who took his son to McDonalds. The son wanted some French fries, so he bought him a super-sized order and they sat down to eat. As that congressman sat there he began smelling those fries and he thought he would have a couple of them, so he reached over and started to take some. His son looked at ...

142. Ordinary or Extraordinary?

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Sermon

James Merritt

... God can give. The Bible says, "It is the Lord's blessing that makes a person rich, and hard work adds nothing to it." (Proverbs 10:22, GWT) When you seek the blessings of God, it has nothing to do with you. It has everything to do with God. I want you to notice something about this request for blessing. Jabez left it entirely up to God to decide what the blessing would be. He left the timing of the blessing up to God, the form of the blessing up to God, the content of the blessing up to God, and ...

143. Satisfied Customer

John 6:25-59

Sermon

James Merritt

... is amazing how the crowd saw Jesus the wrong way, but Jesus saw them the right way. When they looked at Jesus they didn’t see a Savior. They saw a baker. When Jesus looked at them, He didn’t see just hungry stomachs. He saw hungry souls. What Jesus wants you to understand is this. A full stomach will only last you for a little while, but a full soul will last you forever. There is only one thing that can fill your soul and that is the Bread of Life. Think for a moment about how bread is made ...

144. What's In It For Me?

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... the cup or being baptized with the baptism. We can't trust God. We can't let go. We have to run our lives the way we want. We can't help but ask, "What's in it for me?" Every human being that has ever walked the face of the earth has resisted making ... in it for me?" But Jesus dies for us. And because he dies for us, we can have that place of honor and privilege we so desperately want. When we come to his table to eat and drink, he is granting us that place of honor at his right and at his left hand. When ...

145. Why You Should Spend Time with God

Psalm 37:4-7

Sermon

James Merritt

... for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” (Ps. 5:1-3) David said there was a time every morning when he simply spent time with God. I want to share with you in this message why you should spend time with God, because there are tremendous benefits and blessings that will accrue to the person who will “be still and know that He is God.” (Ps. 46:10) Leveraging is a popular investment strategy. When you use leverage ...

146. Why Are Christians So Judgmental?

Matthew 6:2, 5, 16, Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... of them are folks who used to come to Sunday school here as children and youth and they are no longer here. Some may be sitting next to you in worship today and are curious about the topic of this message. But the majority of them are not here. You want to know the biggest reason they are not here? It is not because of Jesus. It is not because of theology. It is not because of worship style. It is because of the Christians they have known. Barna did an eye-opening study in 2007. Barna is like Gallup, but ...

147. Prayers for the Sundays After Easter

Bulletin Aid

Rolland R. Reece

... other relatives if she is lonely. We could have defended a co-worker, the day before yesterday, but with work so scarce we didn't want to place our own job in jeopardy. We can't be too careful. You know us, don't you, Lord? We wish we were more ... . But we don't talk about this rebellion. We've hidden this knowledge in a small secret place in our hearts. We don't even want you to know. Then one Sunday we hear ourselves singing: I was sinking deep in sin Far from the peaceful shore Very deeply stained within ...

148. The Voices Of Christmas

Drama

Jerry Nordstrom

... would be an angel and put some money in my checking account. Three or four thousand ought to do. That’s a dear. I’ll be home for sure on the 24th. Tell Martha to set for fourteen, and tell her I’ve decided on the pheasant. CHILD: And I want a virtual reality machine. PATIENT: Last year I tried to watch a church service on television on Christmas Eve. But I went to bed. It’s not the same. MERCHANT: (On phone) You have got to suppress that news item! The snakes haven’t bitten anybody. It’s no big ...

149. No Excuses

Luke 9:57-62

Sermon

James Merritt

... calling. But every one of us has been called and given the duty of preaching and extending and building the kingdom of God. If you want to know how much your life is really counting for God, when you go to bed every night, ask yourself this question: What did I ... What he was saying to her was, would you be willing to marry me knowing "that Jesus Christ will be first in my life?" I want to make it plain. The Lord Jesus will not play second fiddle in the orchestra of your life. He will not serve as Vice ...

150. Let's Get Ready to Rumble

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sermon

James Merritt

... angel of light." If you could see the devil in bodily form, it would shock you how attractive he would look. It would even shock you how gracious and kind he could seem to be. You would never know that he is the most wicked force in the universe. I want you to understand this devil is interested in darkness and wickedness. We're so fond of saying that "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." Well, I think we ought to add to that this reminder: "Satan hates you and has a wicked plan for your ...

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