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 1838 results

151. Three Wise Men

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... the corruption of man, so it helped show me my desperate need for God. It led me to Romans 8 where Paul provides the answer to the tormented cry of the human soul evoked in Chapter 7: “It is in Christ Jesus that we’re set free.” “Bitter? Never.” “Sure, Watergate calls my world to crash around me and sent me to prison. I lost many of the mainstays of my existence the awards, the six-figure income and lifestyle to match, arguing cases in the highest courts, position of power at the right hand ...

152. There's Something about Con Men

Luke 16:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

... two men whom he calls Jim and Bob who worked in the same division at AT&T Wireless. Both of these men lost their jobs when AT&T merged with Cingular Wireless in 2005. When the news reached Jim that he was going to be laid off, he grew very bitter. He was 54 and immediately began to lament about company politics, and how he had given his life and soul to AT&T only to be treated with no respect. He grew extremely fearful. He said, “What company would want to hire a person at my age?” Bob, Jim’s ...

153. You're Not Home Yet

Illustration

Ray C. Stedman

... no one cares a thing about us. Here is a man who has been on a big-game hunting expedition and when he comes back everybody makes over him but nobody gives two hoots about us." His wife said, "Dear, you shouldn't feel that way. Try not to be bitter about it." But he said, "I can't help it, I just can't help it, it doesn't look right. After all, if God is running this world, why does he permit such injustice?" As the boat neared the American shore, his spirit became more and more depressed. He ...

154. Playing the Blame Game

John 9:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... one to blame, then there’s no control, and that is scary. Pastor Joan Dennehy tells about a girl in the 8th grade who came home one day to find a yard sale sign in front of her home. Her neighbors were picking through her family’s belongings. Her bitter mother tells her that her father has ruined the family business the same way he has ruined her. When they move to Florida a month later, everything they own fits neatly into the trunk of the car. The first thing the girl notices at her new school is that ...

155. Love That Surpasses Knowledge

Ephesians 3:14-21

Sermon

Thomas Lentz

... certain sign of arrogance, narrow-mindedness, and ignorance than to stand apart from those who think differently from us." Too often, we allow differences to grow walls among us. How helpful it would be for us to remember that the one for whom we harbor bitterness, the one who holds a different opinion, the one who has different values, the one who dresses oddly ... all these are individuals whom Christ loves and for whom he died. God grant you strength in your inner being to grasp the depth of this love ...

156. Running the Race

Philippians 3:4-11, 2 Timothy 4:7

Sermon

Steven E. Albertin

... , blameless." In other words, he had a closet full of trophies and gold medals. He was admired by his peers. And he was sure that God was proud of him, too. But he found himself in prison, in danger of losing his life. What kind of justice was this? Bitterness and anger could have poured from his lips. Yet, with an amazing sense of grace and peace, Paul felt no need to lament his fate. He felt no need to parade his trophies and ribbons for all to see and demand better treatment. What many of us would cling ...

157. The ABC's of Grief

Lamentations 1:1-6

Sermon

Chrysanne Timm

... nearly all of them at some time or another have used the word "orphaned" to describe their feelings. Generally, the death of our parents leaves us as the patriarchs and matriarchs of our families, and this can be a very lonely and uncomfortable feeling. The most bitter grief we can bear is the death of a child. Words cannot begin to describe the sense of loneliness and abandonment parents experience when a son or daughter dies. No matter how old we are as parents, I am not sure that anything prepares us for ...

158. A Complicated Disciple

John 18:15-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... . Luke adds these telling words, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.” It was then that Peter remembered the words the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And Peter went outside and wept bitterly. Boy, that could have been me . . . and it could have been you . . . denying Christ. That’s why this story has been told millions of times over these two thousand years. It’s our story. That doesn’t keep it from stinging. After all, Peter ...

159. Simon the Sorcerer

Acts 8:9-25

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... far did he seem to be from God. Verse 23 reads literally, “For I see that you are for a gall of bitterness and a chain of sin.” The second half of this statement is reminiscent of Isaiah 58:6; the first half is derived from Deuteronomy 29 ... preposition eis. It is generally taken as equivalent to en, “in,” meaning that Simon was in this condition, that he was “a bitter and poisonous plant” and a captive to sin. But the preposition has been understood as equivalent to hōs “as,” denoting the ...

160. Living as Children of Light

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... is to be “put off,” he substitutes a virtue that promotes human relationships: Lying is replaced by truth (4:25); anger is removed by reconciliation (4:26); a person who once robbed goes to work (4:27); harmful words give way to helpful ones (4:29); bitterness, passion, anger, and insults give way to tender-heartedness, forgiveness, and love (4:31–5:2). 4:25 The exhortation that each one must put off falsehood uses the same word (apotithēmi) that was used in 4:22. Lying is to be put away because it ...

161. God Disciplines His Sons

Hebrews 12:1-13, Hebrews 12:14-29

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

... are to see to it that no one misses the grace of God. The members of the community are to be accountable for one another (which may also be the point made in 10:25). The exhortation is restated in the language of Deuteronomy 29:18 about a bitter root that can grow and defile others around it. The appropriateness of the allusion is plain from Deuteronomy 29:19: “When such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, ‘I will be safe, even though I persist ...

162. Warning Against Refusing God

Hebrews 12:14-29, Hebrews 12:1-13

Understanding Series

Donald A. Hagner

163. The Passover

Exodus 12:1-30

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... must burn it. This may also reflect care not to profane it. The first Passover meal, like subsequent remembrances of it, was eaten along with bitter herbs. The rabbinic tradition identified varieties of bitter herbs including lettuce, dandelion, and chicory. People today often use horseradish. Eating these herbs was a reminder that their lives had been “bitter with hard labor” (1:14). The expression “Eat it in haste” has a secondary meaning in Hebrew: Eat it with trepidation. The word for “haste ...

164. Weeping and Mourning

Micah 1:8-16

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... people (cf. Amos 7:2, 5; Jer. 7:16; 11:14; 14:11; 15:1). Jeremiah even tries, vainly, to shut up the word of judgment inside himself so he will not have to proclaim it (Jer. 20:7–9). But when Judah’s punishment nevertheless must come, Jeremiah weeps bitterly (Jer. 8:22–9:1), just as Isaiah cries out, “How long, O Lord?” (Isa. 6:11) when he hears God’s word of ruin, and just as Paul is filled with anguish over the unbelief of his compatriots and wishes he were cut off from Christ for the sake ...

165. What Can I Do With My Guilt?

Hebrews 10:11-18

Children's Sermon

King Duncan

... ? We know that there are germs and viruses and that when a person sneezes, it's a reflex action. Wouldn't it be great, though, if we could sneeze out all of our bad habits? All our bad thoughts? All of our anger? All our hatred and all of our bitterness? Wouldn't it be great if somebody was acting in a way they shouldn't, all we would have to do would be to sprinkle a little bit of pepper on them and make them sneeze and they could get rid of all their bad feelings and bad thoughts? We ...

166. Amaziah King of Judah

2 Kings 14:1-22

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... 24). It is, rather, because in this period immediately after Elisha’s death there is still deliverance to be found, in spite of idolatry. The promise to Jehu stands (2 Kgs. 10:30); the compassion of God is still active (13:23). When God sees, therefore, how bitterly everyone is suffering (v. 26; on slave or free see the additional note on 1 Kgs. 14:10), a prophet like Elisha is sent to announce deliverance and salvation (Hb. yšʿ; v. 27; cf. the commentary on 2 Kgs. 13:5, 20–25). But Israel’s respite ...

167. The First Four Trumpet Judgments

Revelation 8:6--9:21, Revelation 8:1-5

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... the Egyptians. 1st Trumpet (Rev. 8:7)…Hail and fire mixed with blood….7th plague (Ex. 9:22-25) 2nd Trumpet (Rev. 8:8-9)…Burning mountain turns sea to blood…1st plague (Ex. 7:14-24) 3rd Trumpet (Rev. 8:10-11)…Blazing star makes fresh water bitter…1st plague (Ex. 7:14-24) 4th Trumpet (Rev. 8:12)…Sun, moon, and stars darkened…9th plague (Ex. 10:21-23) 5th trumpet (Rev. 9:1-11)…Hoard of scorpion locusts…8th plague (Ex. 10:1-20) The first trumpet recalls the seventh plague where God sends ...

168. Israel Celebrates the Passover

Numbers 9:1-14

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... presumably the Passover lamb is to be offered, and from the family gatherings, where it is to be eaten. The requirements are identical except for the date. 9:11 fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. This is one month after the regular Passover. unleavened bread and bitter herbs. See Exodus 12:8. Unleavened bread is a reminder of the haste at the very first Passover, in which there was no time to wait for the yeast to make the bread dough rise before the Israelites fled Egypt (Exod. 12:39). The ...

169. “Cast Your Cares on the Lord and He Will Sustain You”

Psalm 55:1-23

Teach the Text

C. Hassell Bullock

... and also called by the peculiar term “A maskil of David.” Psalm 55 considers faithfulness in the context of a social covenant that has been broken—in fact, broken by one who has been the suppliant’s bosom friend. The lesson the suppliant has learned from this bitter disappointment is to throw his burden on the Lord, and the Lord will sustain him. While Psalm 55 is not an imprecatory psalm as such,1it does show a tendency to move into that mode of passion (55:15, 23). In light, however, of the strong ...

170. Are You a Pillar or a Pillow?

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Sermon

King Duncan

... a little hypocritical. But at least we are here and we are trying! Even worse, however, is how we sometimes treat each other. There was a Channing Pollock play a few years ago, titled The Fool in which a young Anglican clergyman finds himself in a bitter quarrel with one of the most powerful men in his parish. The quarrel becomes so serious that the layman finally exclaims, “Either you leave this church, or I do.” The young clergyman answers, “A church that is too small for two little men like you and ...

171. Instructions for Passover

Exodus 12:1-30

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... , bundled together, used for sprinkling the blood, has aromatic properties that counter the stench of blood. The Israelites are to consume indoors the roasted sacrifice with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. They are not to break any bones of the sacrificial animal (Exod. 12:46; cf. John 19:36). In time the bitter herbs came to represent the bitterness of slavery and unleavened bread the purifying from the leaven of sin. Yeast affects the entire loaf of bread; so also the pollution of sin ranges ...

172. The Lord's Supper

Mark 14:12-26

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... of Christ the new Passover sacrifice, replacing the traditional lamb (in keeping with his use of the title “Lamb of God” to describe Jesus, 1:29, 36). The procedures for the Passover meal required the eating of a roasted lamb sacrificed in the temple, bitter herbs, a fruit-paste dish, unleavened bread, and red wine. The participants had to recline at the dinner, demonstrating their freedom obtained at the Exodus from Egypt. One of the participants (Jesus in this case) acted as host of the meal and led ...

173. The Passover

Numbers 9:1-14

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... herbs. The unleavened bread was part of the tradition because the Israelites could not wait for the yeast to rise when they left Egypt in a rush. The bitter herbs are reminiscent of the bitter experience of slavery in Egypt. The appeal is successful, showing that the instruction to the Israelites could have some flexibility. At the same time, however, this ruling is not to lead to any general laxity in observing the festival. The festival is to be kept fully, according to verse 12, ...

174. Stages in Israel's Journey

Numbers 33:1-56

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... a reminder of the mode of habitation on the journey (note the Feast of Tabernacles or “Booths”). The location is uncertain. Etham was probably an Egyptian fortress on the way as the people moved toward the wilderness, through the sea. They arrive at Marah, “bitterness,” in the Desert of Etham and move on to the oasis of Elim. They then proceed to the Red Sea, yam-sup, which means “sea of reeds or vegetation.” Vegetation grows around the body of water, here probably the northern end of the Gulf ...

175. Job's Second Reply to Eliphaz

Job 16:1-17:16

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... in the singular—indicating that, as in his description of his human detractors in verses 10–11, Job considers God the true enemy. Job depicts God as without pity, and his attack as deadly, piercing Job’s inner organs and spilling “gall”—a symbol of bitterness and anger—on the ground. 16:14 Using explosive language, Job describes God as a warrior rushing to hand-to-hand combat. Pressing the attack home, allowing no escape, he bursts upon Job and rushes at him again and again. The Hebrew employs ...

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