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 151 to 175 of 215 results

151. Palm Sunday

Psalm 31:1-24; 118:1-29, Isaiah 50:1-11, Luke 19:28-44; 22:14-23:56, Philippians 2:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... justice. Forgive any compromise of integrity and any indifference to miscarriages of justice. Have mercy on us for the sake of Jesus Christ, your suffering servant and our Savior. Amen. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Sympathetic Parent, Suffering Servant, Consoling Spirit, forgive our apathy in the face of your identification with our sins. We are still so insensitive to the abhorrence you have to all evil. Despite your holiness you forgive our sins both deliberate and unknowing. Hear us as in the silence we bring ...

152. Fish Bites

Acts 17:32-34

Sermon

James Merritt

... a street corner in New York City. He stopped a man and said, "Sir, do you know what the two biggest problems in America are?" The man said, "I don't know and I don't care." The man said, "You got both of them - ignorance and apathy." This group is not interested in the Gospel, but it is not offended by the Gospel. These people represent the largest segment of the unchurched in America. Thirty-six percent fall into this category which represents fifty-seven million people. These people are not resistant to ...

153. A Breadbasket Full of Goodies

John 6:25-35

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

... the busyness that is so much a part of all of our lives. Maybe you are lucky enough to be in that category of people who have been so blessed, that even those blessings don't look all that good anymore. How, then, can we overcome our mind-set of apathy and move toward a true spirit of thanksgiving in a culture that teaches us to enter into the rat race and compete for status with a world of unthankful people. I don't pretend to have all of the answers, but I do think we need to recognize God's ...

154. Advent 2

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-20, Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... need cleansing from sin. God starts his purification at the top, for "like priest, like people." The state of the church ultimately depends on her leadership. In addition to ordinary sins, clergy persons have special sins, such as professionalism, sloth, and apathy. 3. Offerings (v. 3). When the religious leaders are cleansed of sin, they will offer "right offerings." Because of the sin of greed, their offerings might be of secondary quality. A worthy sacrificial animal had to be without spot or blemish ...

155. We Serve a Risen [and Rising] Savior

Luke 24:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... out in the darkness in search of the light. Jesus’ resurrection was perfect. But every generation of disciples have to keep practicing. And this is not “air guitar” practice. We will get it wrong sometimes. We will hit sour notes and clashing chords. Apathy. The Crusades. The Inquisition. Witch Trials. Michael Servetus escaped the Inquisition, but was burnt at the stake by John Calvin. OK . . . you’re right. It is true that Calvin didn’t want Servetus to be burnt at the stake for heresy. He wanted ...

156. To Live Is to Choose

Matthew 7:13-14

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... choose With all in life to win Or all to lose. With all in life to win, or all to lose. Decision making is perilous for in our decisions we win or we lose. Our decisions may be wrong but we have to run that risk. To move from apathy to responsible living isn’t always a rosy path. Sometimes it’s stone strewn. We run the risk of rejection and resentment. The possibility of mistake is always present but choose we must. Now while there are momentous decisions that we must make, these decisions are not made ...

157. The Power to Resist Temptation

I Corinthians 10:13-17

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... with those who rejoice. Greed—the need to get, to have, to hold. Money, power, prestige, perks. Gluttony—addictions to eating and drinking. Appetites that go unrestrained. Anger—rage, resentment, bitterness. Getting even instead of getting over. Sloth—apathy, despondency, “I don't care" attitude about all of life. Lust—love distorted by turning people into things and using them for selfish gain. Pride—superiority. Considering ourselves better than others or praying as the Pharisee did, “God ...

158. The Power of a Vision

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... or white, nor Muslim nor Christian nor Jew, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth. Surely by now we’ve understood that greed won’t work, and selfishness won’t work, hostility won’t work, materialism won’t work, hedonism won’t work, apathy won’t work—maybe it’s time to give the love of Christ a chance in the world. The love of Christ compels us, motivates us, pushes us forward, sets our direction. The love of Christ is the driving force of human life. The love of ...

159. Three Basic Attitudes about Life

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

King Duncan

... drive her car into the Miami River. They watched indifferently as the woman climbed on the car’s roof and screamed that she couldn’t swim. The woman drowned. So many incidents like this have happened that newspapers now have a special file tabbed “Apathy.” (1) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” The expert answered: “‘Love the ...

160. The Porch Light's On

Isaiah 60:1-6

Sermon

Tony Everett

... much had been done to rebuild the city or its temple. Even the moral, social, and religious practices had become perverse and polluted. The joy of the returning exiles quickly dissipated into despair. Their resolve quickly degenerated into a submissive fatigue and apathy. Yet, God's resolve to reform them as God's faithful people remained powerful. God's resolve to bring goodness and well-being to them remained firm and unchanging. Through this band of returning refugees, God would make light shine as a ...

161. Trusting in the Best of Things at the Worst of Times

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Wallace H. Kirby

The year 1653 was not a good time for religion in England. Destruction and apathy about the faith and the church were widespread. But Sir Robert Shirley saw beyond the evil and chaos - he founded a church. And on a plaque in that church is this tribute to Robert Shirley. It reads: "He stood for the best of things in the worst of times." Trusting in the resurrection can bring us to heroism large and small.

162. The Irrational Season

Romans 14:1--15:13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Portland, Oregon. *Haiti is facing yet another explosion of agony as the deadly cholera outbreak becomes epidemic. Some are saying that as many as 500,000 could come down with cholera. There is hunger and holocaust. Germ warfare and genocide. Abuse and apathy. Disease and disinterest. Global warming, global warfare, and global god awfulness. That is the world of Reason. But Advent beckons us to live in the world of the Season — the Season of Anticipation, of Acceptance, of Accolades. This is the Second ...

163. Last Christmas Letter

Matt. 2:13-23; Luke 2:1-20

Illustration

Martin Luther King

... these people, you, all of us must have not only hope for the unknown future but also confidence in our capacity to change the menacing present. Let us put hands and heart, mind and muscle to this task. Let us not give up, for surrender and apathy are nothing but failure. In our work let us see scorn and ridicule of us for what they are, scornful and ridiculous. “Keep your hand on the plow,” the old spiritual admonishes. “Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me ’round,” the freedom song declares. This is ...

164. Oops! I Did It Again

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon

King Duncan

... ? One pastor says he heard this pastor tell this and he just shook his head in disbelief. But then he realized that there are churches all across our land who have already voted against The Great Commission by their inactivity, by their apathy, by their nonchalant attitude toward anything spiritual. There are people who call themselves “Christian” around the world, starting right here in our own community, who have already voted against The Great Commission by their don’t-care attitude regarding our ...

165. Jesus Brings New Life

Isaiah 63:7--64:12

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... confidence and conviction that we are in much better hands with God. Sin in its many manifestations creates deadness in us that, knowingly or unknowingly, is palpable and visible to most, especially those who know us well. The deadness we find inside is apathy, problems with addictions and other aberrant behavior, or our penchant for the new and the finest when the ordinary will satisfy. These are all manifestations of the darkness in our lives. As we began this season of grace, this Advent period of ...

166. Disease of the Soul

Illustration

James Packer

... ever heard of the spiritual disease which people in medieval times called accidie? It is something that threatens all Christian workers after the first flush of enthusiasm has worn off. It's a form of sloth but not at the physical level. It is apathy of the soul. It shows in a certain toughness of mind and wariness of spirit which often results from hurt and disillusionment. People with accidie in this sense have grown cynical about ideals, enthusiasms, and strong hopes. They look pityingly at young people ...

167. Who Cares?

Humor Illustration

... you upset about the use of illegal drugs by the youth of America?" "No, that doesn't bother me very much. Looking puzzled, Dick asked, "Well Tom, if you're not bothered by poverty and hunger, war and drugs, what are you worried about?" Tommy replied, "I'm worried about apathy."

168. When You Need An Excuse….

Humor Illustration

... you need an excuse for getting out of something you don't really want to do, remember these. It starts out, "I'd love to, but . . ." The man on television told me to stay tuned. I have to check the freshness dates on my dairy products. I'm observing National Apathy Week. I'm being deported. I've come down with a really horrible case of something or other. My Psychic Friend advised against it. None of my socks match. My chocolate-appreciation class meets that night. I have to study for a blood test.

169. Proper 12

Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 85:1-13; 138:1-8, Hosea 1:2-10, Luke 11:1-13, Colossians 2:6-19

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... or another when they are backed into a corner. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One. Community Confession Listening God — violence and hunger are apparent in every nation. Betrayals and dis-ease plague our homes. Apathy and fear breed in our faith family. Individually, we are hungry for something that is not satisfied with calories and flavors. Restore our vision of what is possible when you are among us. Open our ears to your voice; open our mouths to ...

170. Proper 20

Psalm 79:1-9, Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, Luke 16:1-15, 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

... people who care about the earth and the poor of the world. Give us courage to travel the path you set before us. Amen. Sermon Idea Civilizations rise and fall. Often the “enemy issues” have to do with the morals, poverty, affluence, and apathy of the citizens. David and Solomon’s Jerusalem/Israel is no exception. It is painful to read the prophets’ and psalmist’s perceptions of what was happening. Perhaps the distress current readers feel is because we see some of our own country’s story ...

171. Responsibility Comes with Privilege

Acts 8:4-8

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... and highly technological world challenges us in many ways. Self-autonomy, desire for personal advancement, and the need to always shine above others often does not allow us to spend the time that is necessary to meet our responsibilities. Additionally, we fall victim to apathy, indifferentism, laziness, and even a sense of fatalism. We say, "Why should I get involved? Things will be the same with or without my effort." It is easy to take this road because it is well-traveled and quite popular, but for the ...

172. Raised to New Life Today

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... gives promise to a collective resurrection for our world. If we start with ourselves we can initiate a tidal wave that can bring our world to new ways of acting and thinking. American society is dominated by the secular and a pervasive sense of apathy and indifferentism. Our nation trumpets its idea of the separation of church and state, but too often today this good idea, which was initiated to keep harm from occurring to either of these great institutions, now brings problems to both. The perception that ...

173. Fire from Heaven

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... remains are the basics: the Holy Spirit, who brings Jesus to life in his body, the church. When the fire of God begins to lick at our lives, it is because we are being refined. And that refinement burns out the hypocrisy, the mediocrity, the apathy, the extras, the self‑righteousness that infects us all. For eighty years Moses had heard about God, read about God, recounted the exploits done under the anointing of God. But it was not until Moses drew near to that burning bush, and stood before the holy ...

174. Lost Baggage: The Middle Seat

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Sermon

James Merritt

... for those who are on the inside. Yet, I Peter 4:17 says this, “Judgment must begin at the House of God.” (1 Peter 4:17, KJV) We expect to come to church and hear the pastor deal with divorce, immorality, pornography, materialism, greed, selfishness and apathy outside the church with judgment, but when it comes to all those things inside the church we expect mercy, because after all who are we to judge? The truth of the matter is we’ve lost the ability to judge those outside the church, because we ...

175. Seismic Shift

2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Sermon

James Merritt

... you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.” (II Corinthians 7:8, ESV) When they received this letter they could have had a lot of emotions. Anger, arrogance, apathy, but instead they were full of grief and full of sorrow. Paul said that was a good thing. Do you know why? Grief and sorrow are signs of a broken heart. Whenever we sin, we should have a broken heart, because we have broken the heart of God. Though ...

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