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 1601 to 1625 of 2173 results

1601. The Season of the Nativity

John 1:1-18

Sermon Aid

Wayne B. Keller

Liturgical Color: White Theme: John's version of the Christmas story - The Word Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration Suggestion: Begin, In the Name of the Word, the Word made flesh, welcome to this Christmas celebration. God continues to present the Gift, we continue to receive, relieved of the Christmas rush. Continue with a litany of John 1 , using either the J. B. Phillipps' translation or Clarence Jordan's Cotton Patch Translation. Acts of Confession Suggestion: Begin, "We'll never be good enough to ...

1602. A Hand We Can Grasp

John 14:1-4

Eulogy

Alan R. Lindberg

Death Following Mysterious Disappearance This was a Funeral Sermon for two young people who disappeared from the community and whose remains were found many weeks later. As a parent of two young men, ages eighteen and twenty, I've tried this past week to put myself in the place of _____________ and _______ 's parents and their families. But I cannot. All I can do is to do what each one of us can do - to go with them into the depths of their sorrow and despair and walk with them along the road of this ...

1603. Jesus Calls Matthew, Jesus Heals The Leaders Daughter, Jesus

Matthew 9:18-26, Matthew 9:9-13

Drama

Dallas A. Brauninger

Suggestions: Use as an anthem. Characters: 6 readers - 2 women, young man, 3 older men Key: 1 = narrator 2 = Jesus 3 and 4 = Pharisees 5 = leader of the synagogue 6 = woman who hemorrhages 1: As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, 2: "Follow me." 1: And he got up and followed him. 1: And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to ...

1604. African-American Spirituality: The African's Gift To America

Exodus 3:1-22

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

As we commence celebrations of Black History this month, I want to say what a wonderful thing that we have time for formal observances of the great contributions black people have made to world civilization in general and to America in particular. We are a great people who have literally and spiritually come a long, long way. We have built the pyramids and originated the mathematical, medical, and physical sciences. We invented the first alphabet and gave to humanity its first language and systems of civil ...

1605. Joy Songs, Trumpet Blasts, And Hallelujah Shouts!

Joshua 5:13--6:27

Sermon

Carlyle Fielding Stewart

The Israelites have come to the end of a long, long journey. They had wandered in the wilderness for forty years and now have come to the valley of their dreams. Finally, after years of false starts, dark detours, and dashed hopes, they have come to the land which God had promised. They could have toiled out of the wilderness in forty days, but took forty years because of discontent, disbelief, and disobedience. But now God was willing, because they were willing, to move them into a paradise oasis - a land ...

1606. When the Tie That Binds is a Slipknot

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Sermon

Johnny Dean

Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above A man named John Fawcett wrote the words to that hymn in 1782. Mr. Fawcett obviously had no way of knowing what the church would be like in the year 2000. Today the "fellowship of kindred minds" is under a great deal of stress. The Methodists are still upset about their newest hymnal, mostly over the exclusion of some old favorite hymns. The average Catholic lay person continues to wage a war of ...

1607. Encounters With Christ II: Jesus and Mary and Martha

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

James W. Moore

Some years ago, The Archbishop of Canterbury was rushing to catch a train in London. In his haste, he accidentally jumped on the wrong passenger car and found himself on a car full of inmates from a mental hospital. They were all dressed in mental hospital clothing. Just as the train pulled out of the station, an orderly came in and began to count the inmates, “1-2-3-4…”… when suddenly he saw this distinguished looking gentleman there wearing a business suit and a clerical collar and he said: “Who are you ...

1608. Melchior Reminisces

Matthew 2:1-12

Drama

Edward G. Hunter

A Dramatic Monologue My name is Melchior. I am one of the astrologers that came to Bethlehem several years ago in search of the new-born King of Israel. I am from Persia, and am in the court of the King of Persia. We, as magi, study the stars and are convinced they foretell the destiny of individuals and nations. My brethren and I are deeply religious, also, and believe that the Great God of the universe directs all things in both nations and individuals. Our basic religion is Zoroastrianism, founded by ...

1609. Monologue: Naomi And Ruth

Ruth 1:1-22

Drama

Lynda Pujad

Naomi I said before to the people of Bethlehem to call me Mara, meaning a bitter woman. I was not always bitter. Once, I had a wonderful husband and two fine sons. They were the pride of my life. They meant everything to me. They married two nice girls in the land of Moab where we had gone to find food. I am Naomi. (Bows) In our home in Bethlehem, there was a famine and my good husband Elimelech decided we should move to Moab where there was no famine. It was a difficult decision for him to make because we ...

1610. Empty Prisons Without Walls

Acts 5:17-42

Sermon

Carl Jech

Introduction I shouldn't have much trouble keeping you awake today! Since the word prison brings to mind such topics as crime, victims' rights, vigilantee justice, and jailed demonstrators, I have little doubt that most of us have strong feelings and opinions on these and related issues.The most famous line in our text for today brings into particular focus the issue of civil disobedience for the sake of conscience. Having miraculously escaped from prison where they had been placed for disobeying the order ...

1611. No Ignorant Brethren

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

Sermon

Rev. Kenneth H. Sauer

The year has literally flown by. As I was inserting the check for today's offering in the envelope, I noticed that there are just six Sundays left. The new year will be upon us too soon! And with a new year will come new work, and obviously new money will be needed to do that work. That is why we have a funding program in the middle of November. If we expect the leadership of our church to present us with an intelligent plan for spending money next year, we must provide ourselves with an indication of what ...

1612. The Call of the Disciples - James, A Fisher of Men

Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:12-17

Drama

Thomas Blowers

A Dramatic Monologue My name is James and I was one of the twelve selected by Jesus to follow him. I still remember the first time I saw him. I looked down the shore of the lake down to where Simon and Andrew were fishing and I saw a stranger approach. Usually Dad, my younger brother, and I were first to reach the shore of the lake to begin a day of fishing, but for some reason that morning Simon and Andrew had a head start. So while we were still mending our nets, they were already off shore casting for ...

1613. What Jesus Saw In Martha

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

James W. Moore

1614. Keep The Devil Out!

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Because of the book and movie, The Exorcist, there is probably more talk about the Devil than ever. The movie earned even more than The Godfather - $180 million. For blocks, people lined up waiting to enter the theaters. One theater operator reported that, at each showing, there were four blackouts, six vomiting spells, and many spontaneous leavings during the show. Today, we are pre-occupied with the Devil. In New Jersey, a twenty year old lad persuaded his two best friends to drown him because he ...

1615. Proper 8

Genesis 32:22-32

Sermon

When we encounter this weird story of Jacob, wrestling with a mysterious stranger at midnight by the River Jabbok, we are suddenly plunged back into a strange and mysterious world, filled with demigods who wrestle with human beings - a misty, shadowy land, where the strength of a man is pitted against the powers and mind of a divine being. It was midnight. Jacob had, long before, sent his family and property across the River Jabbok hoping to keep them safe. He divided them into two groups and sent them by ...

1616. The Simplicity of God's Call

Romans 8:28-39

Sermon

This sermon is purposely laid out in prose format. The young man looked up from the ground. Tears filled his eyes. The funeral procession had come to a halt, but standing there beside him was a figure of compassion. The young man's voice was choked with tears: "What do I do now," he said. "He's gone." And as if asking a question to which he expected no answer, he said this: "What sense does life make?" And at that moment, the voice of the figure whispers down to him, his voice filled with the utmost ...

1617. Hunger, Health, and Happiness

Luke 14:1-14

Sermon

One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, "When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place ...

1618. Jesus Knows

John 14:15-31

Children's Sermon

Object: A baseball bat. Good morning, my young friends. Let me tell you how good it is to see you here on this beautiful spring day. It has been fifty days since Jesus came back from the dead. Fifty days since Easter, and we give this day a very special name, Pentecost. Did you know that something we all love very much was born on this day? That's right, many years ago today the Church was born, and it has lived a wonderful life. Maybe we should sing Happy Birthday to the Church. [Sing if desired.] That ...

1619. God’s Safety Net

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

D. Wayne Burkette

Political jargon over the last decade has given us a new understanding of an old term. The term is ‘safety net.’ My first recollection of a safety net was at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus when it was still performing under the big top. Who could forget those daring acrobats balanced on the trapeze or high wire and, under them, a net. When the act was finished they would fall gracefully from their lofty perch into the open arms of the net, a kind of tease, I suppose, a hint of the ...

1620. The Housing Problem

Luke 11:14-28

Sermon

Harold Warlick

One of the most nerve-wracking experiences in life is finding a place to live. It's as true for college students as it is for older adults. Everyone at some time or another has to house hunt, roommate hunt, room hunt or apartment hunt. In fact, one of the biggest changes in life occurs at the end of the freshman year in college when you can actually have a choice as to where you will live and with whom you will live. The freshman experience is an unknown experience. The school assigns you a roommate and a ...

1621. Consecration Come Unto Jesus

Luke 7:36-50

Bulletin Aid

Leader: Jesus went to have dinner with one of the Pharisees. A woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that he was there and brought an alabaster jar of perfume. She washed his feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and poured perfume on them. Women: She ministered to Jesus where Simon failed to minister. She served without worrying what others would think. Men: Simon was upset that this sinner touched Jesus. If he were a prophet, how could he bear this woman touching him? Leader: But ...

1622. Sermon Opener - What Will He Find?

Luke 18:1-8

Illustration

Theodore F. Schneider

Every pastor has been touched and troubled when there have been those in the congregation who suddenly have faced unemployment. Like an ambush from two sides, unemployment attacks us with the fear of financial insecurity on the one side and the loss of self-esteem on the other. Job searching can deepen both. In just such a moment I encountered Brian. He is a competent and creative person whose skills and personality cannot be long overlooked. "It will work out, Brian," I said. "God does provide." "I hope ...

1623. What Will He Find… When He Comes? - Shorter Version

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Theodore F. Schneider

In Paul’s great letter to the Corinthians he addresses many issues: conflicts, divisions and hardships abound on every side. The crowning achievement of that letter is the 13th chapter. The chapter on love. At the end of that chapter Paul says that of all the qualities of our faith there are three most important: Faith, hope and love. I would like to spend our time this morning on hope. In difficult times we must have hope. But hardship is relentless and can come in many ways. I am reminded of Lucy's ...

1624. A Glory Revealed in Liberty

John 8:31-41

Sermon

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, ‘You will be made free’!" They answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. So if the Son makes ...

1625. Train Whistle In The Night

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

It was a dark scene but a busy one. The natural light of day had long since given way to the artificial light of night, but activity seemed to be everywhere. Religious services had just ended throughout the city, and ushers were returning the rubberwheeled collection baskets to their appointed resting place at the end of a long aisle. Still more ushers were busy at another task - pulling paper tapes, counting coins, and sliding drawers. Not our typical picture of a religious service, but very religious ...

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