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 1576 to 1600 of 2415 results

1576. Proper 4

Lk 7:1-10 · Gal 1:1-10 · 1 Ki 8:22-23, 41-43 · Ps 96

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... he asks, "Am I seeking the favor of men or of God?" Gospel: Luke 7:1-10 Jesus heals a centurion's slave and commends his great faith. Today we begin a long series of gospel lessons from Luke extending from the Sermon on the Plain to the Passion account (7-19:27), from Pentecost 2 to Christ the King. For the balance of the church year a preacher can cover Luke's account of Jesus' teachings, parables, and miracles. Today's Gospel is the account of Jesus' healing the critically sick slave of a Roman centurion ...

1577. The Shared Life of the People of God

Galatians 6:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the new creation as the only way to salvation, and mercy for all the rest. But the new K.J.V. translates and punctuates in such a way as to make the prayer applicable to all. This certainly fits the universality of Paul’s gospel and the encompassing passion he had for all. So he prays for peace and mercy for all. B. The stigmata Paul’s opponents had accused him of preaching a man—made gospel and pleasing men. He was forced to defend apostleship because some said his preaching was not valid because he ...

1578. The World's Best-Known Widow

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... won’t miss, you’re not showing much faith. I think of David here - King David. Whatever David did, he did in a big way! “When he sinned, he sinned boldly. When he played, he played skillfully. When he fought he fought vigorously. When he loved, he loved passionately; and when he worshipped, he did so with integrity and conviction. Small wonder that we think of him as a man after God’s own heart.” There is a verse of scripture in II Samuel - II Samuel 24th verse that points the way for the way we ...

1579. Judas, A Person Like Us

Mark 14:43-52

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... ’ core sin was that of taking things into his own hands. He wanted to do it his way. And that is where most of us can identify. I don’t believe there is any question as to whether Judas loved Jesus. I believe he was loyal and passionately committed. Jesus was obviously attracted to him; He gave him a responsible position in that little band — made him the treasurer. There is some evidence of greed in Judas, but it couldn’t have been greed that led to betrayal. He could have demanded far more than ...

1580. Touching Hearts and Transforming Lives

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... , whatever I have placed in God's hands, those things, I still possess." Over the last year, I have become convinced that God has called us together for such a time as this. Never, in my thirty plus years of ministry, have I sensed the calling so clearly, felt the passion so deeply, as I do today. The hand of the Lord is upon us. Let us rise to new levels of service to meet the spiritual needs of this community and the world. We are at a pivotal point in the history of this congregation. I begin, today, to ...

1581. When It's Time To Unite

I Corinthians 1:10-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... we imagine that by speaking louder we will ever be able to listen and to hear? Maybe it is time to discern. Maybe it is time to hear the voice of God. Maybe it is time to hear another voice speaking with accents clear and sweet above the murmurs of passion as a determination of my self-will. Come to the table. We need to talk. Come to the table. We need to commune. We need to connect, to be together as a body. Come to the table. Sometimes I wonder, did Jesus have any idea when He lifted the bread ...

1582. Fulfilling the Vision

Acts 2:14-21

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... Disciples were drunk with cheap wine. But Peter said, “These people are not drunk as some of you suspect. It is just 9:00 o'clock in the morning." I need to tell you, I'm not drunk on Kentucky bourbon but I am high on the Spirit. I am passionate about life. I got a chance to live and I want to live it all. I have a deep devotion to the Lord. I just want to do whatever it is God wants us to do together. I am thrilled at the opportunity to know you and to make this ...

1583. Unexpected Invasions

Isaiah 64:1-9

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... crèche lovingly displayed in the home of a hostess. The minister also observed the holy infant was missing from the hand carved figures. The hostess, noting the minister's interest, came over to comment. “The crèche was purchased in Austria at the Oberammergau Passion play." “However," said the hostess, “we lost baby Jesus many years ago and we just never bothered to replace him. We haven't missed him very much." God may not be very profound these days, but our need for him is deep. Douglas Copeland ...

1584. Hearing the Questions of Children

Genesis 22:1-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... might be an act of worship for Canaanites to sacrifice their children, but there is nothing right about you doing it!’ I urge you this morning to remember that the next time you are tempted to sacrifice your children on the altar of greed, in the pit of some passion, or in the service of some lesser God. In the moment of great trial, God calls you by name. Look up and listen to that voice—He is calling for you. The Lord will provide. He will provide faith for the journey. He will provide insights in the ...

1585. Does Prayer Make Any Difference

Matthew 26:36-46

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... is not the question. The question you asked me to answer at the crossroads of faith is “Does Prayer Make Any Difference?” Is prayer power or placebo? Is prayer wishful thinking or divine intervention? Does prayer change things or change us? When Palm Sunday fades into Passion Week we find our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane and there he falls on his face in prayer and this is what he says: “O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” Deep prayer, agonizing prayer, life and death ...

1586. The Fellowship of Kindred Minds

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... less likely to die of heart disease than non-church people. Such is the fruit of right living. Consider further the fruits of receptivity or hospitality. We need to make sure our doors are open and our little groups are welcoming. Have we,deep in our hearts, a passion for those who have not found the fellowship of faith? The difference between a church and a clique is an open door. I am going to ask every group in this church to do something for me. Whatever group you are in, whatever the age of the Sunday ...

1587. Furnishing It with Love

1 John 4:7-18

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... into everlasting life. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. IV. LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER The love of which I speak is neither the erotic passion of sex nor the sentimental ties of family. Christian love is the determination to do good, and not good only, but the highest good possible. Christians coined a word for it. They called it agape. We can aspire to that kind of love because we have been ...

1588. The Constant God in a Changing World

Psalm 48:1, 9-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... Come. Let's see what the psalmist discovered that day about the permanence and dependability of God in the midst of the city. I. THE LOVE OF GOD IS UNFAILING. “Within your temple O God, we meditate on your unfailing love" (Psalm 48:9). In a personal, powerful, passionate way, God loves you; He really loves you. There is nothing we can do to deserve God's love. There is nothing we can do to demolish God's love because God is love. His love knows no labels, no limits, no language; it lacks nothing. Saturday ...

1589. Crying Out of the Depths

Psalm 130:1-8

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... day and night for the sins of my people." When thrown into a muddy cistern for his unpopular prophecies, Jeremiah curses the day he was born. Jeremiah knows gloom, despair, daily agony, but Jeremiah also knows the Lord. The word of the Lord is fire in his belly and passion in his soul. Down in that damp, muddy, old cistern Jeremiah affirms, “The Lord is with me like a mighty warrior." “Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord. Lord, hear my cry." OUT OF THE DEPTHS WE CRY TO YOU, O LORD. LORD, HEAR MY CRY ...

1590. We Believe in the Holy Spirit

John 14:15-18, 25-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the gospel, there is power available that says you can. We ought to love our enemies—the Holy Spirit says we can love our enemies. We ought to forgive. The Holy Spirit says let me help you forgive. We ought to serve the least. The Holy Spirit gives us a passion for the least. We ought to live a Christ-like life. The Holy Spirit guides us into a Christian life. Why say you ought without the power to say you can! A little boy was on a camping trip with his dad. At dusk they found a place to camp ...

1591. Are You Able?

Matthew 20:20-28

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... in the waiting room as Mr. Olds. When I stepped behind the office door she said immediately, “I would have called you Rev. Olds but ministers are not supposed to get sick." Since when? One of Steven Spielberg's best movies is Saving Private Ryan. Like the passion of Christ, the horrors of war some of you fought, is more pain than my mind can comprehend or my emotions can bear. A private bounces off the boat for the invasion of Normandy kissing his cross. He survives by the philosophy of “Praise God and ...

1592. Singing With the Saints of Glory

Revelation 5:11-14

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... the remedy is radical, —That the Lamb is worthy. As our Catholic friends say, “O Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. O Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, grant us your peace.” A teenager leaving the Passion of Christ movie came up to me and said, “For the first time, I understand the meaning of Holy Communion.” The Body of Christ broken for me. The blood of Christ shed for me. Twila Paris sings: Your only Son, no sin to hide But you have sent Him from ...

1593. Checking Out the Scene

John 1:35-42

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... he would return to his laboratory and work on peanuts. Listen, God is speaking. Can you hear Him? The Spirit never screams. He doesn’t knock down doors. He comes as a very polite guest. O Let me hear you speaking in accents clear and still, Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will, O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control, O speak and make me listen, thou guardian of my soul. STOP, LOOK, LISTEN. Will you do those three things for seven days?

1594. Stepping Into the Stream

Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... do with our relationships if we trusted him enough to be loving? What might God do with our character if we confessed our sin, acknowledged our temptation, and pursued holiness in thought, word and deed? What might God do with our time if we became passionate about rescuing the perishing, caring for the dying, and hearing the cry of the needy? What is God calling you to be and do that cannot be done without God’s intervention? Are you willing to attempt something big enough that failure is certain unless ...

1595. The Door of Forgiveness

1 Timothy 2:1-15

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... for they know not what they do." Before He prayed for His own pain; before He mentions His mother; instead of calming His frightened disciples, Jesus opens the door of forgiveness to his enemies. Because of Mel Gibson's movie our country is abuzz about The Passion of the Christ. From Larry King to Diane Sawyer to the person you bump into at the lunch counter, everybody has an opinion. Some love it. Others hate it. I sense that most of our discussions, and maybe the movie itself, miss the point. The question ...

1596. Einstein and the Church

Luke 9:51-56

Illustration

Brett Blair

... leaders and institutions which should have opposed the Nazi philosophy bowed meekly to its authority. Only one institution met it with vigorous opposition and that was the Christian Church." Einstein confessed, "That which I once despised, I now love with a passion I cannot describe." The commitment of the Church in standing against evil made a profound impression upon Albert Einstein. Those individuals in the 1930's understood the cost associated with their actions, and they did not back down. The church ...

1597. The Power to Belong

Acts 4:32-35

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... , no band, no marketing plan, but they managed to win the world for Christ. They had no political power, no personal prestige, no great persuasive ability, but none of that mattered. They had a risen Savior. They had victory in Jesus. They had passion in their hearts that could not be denied. They had a commission from Christ that could not be ignored The fastest going United Methodist Church in America today is named the Church of the Resurrection. For Adam Hamilton and that great congregation in Kansas ...

1598. The New Road

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... just talk the talk, or walk the walk? Integrity is kind of like the weather, everybody talks about it, not many people do anything about it. Integrity is: Long-term good taking charge of short-term desire, being sexually pure in the heat of passion, business ethics under the pressure of making a living, believing goodness to be worth it when it appears otherwise. John Huss was a Roman Catholic priest back in the early 1400's. He criticized the Church for restricting the sacrament and selling indulgences. He ...

1599. The Compassionate Christ

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... yes, I wanted to come and see you." But the old lady smiled and said, “It's O.K., you can never force the heart." Jesus said in Luke 6:36, “Be compassionate as your father is compassionate." Compassion is more than political slogans and passionate sermons. Compassion is justice and mercy for all. Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things. Compassion is the willingness to act on the need at hand. Compassion is the conviction to do what you can with what you've got. Compassion ...

1600. David: The Problem of Family

2 Samuel 18:28-33

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... once said “Life is not a matter of reaching our goals. It is a calling to reach our potential. Nothing else is good enough." We struggle with the tendency toward mediocrity. We park our lives in moth balls, smother our impulses with activities and drown our passions with conformity until we gradually retire from life neatly wrapped in plastic and cellophane. That's not the way it was meant to be. If David could go from leading sheep to leading a nation, by the grace of God you can become all you were ...

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