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 1199 results

151. The Cost of a Priceless Gift

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Sermon

Clayton A. Lord

... of Christ. Giving yourself for the sake of the Lord. Have you ever read the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi? It goes like this: Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love;Where there is hatred, let us sow love; Where there is despair, hope;Where there is despair, hope; Where there is sadness, joy;Where there is sadness, joy; Where there is darkness, light.Where there is darkness, light. O Divine Master, grant that we may not so ...

152. The Possible Dream

Genesis 45:3-11, 15

Sermon

Mary S. Lautensleger

... way or another. Joseph's comments to his brothers remind us of the truth that all things work together for good in the lives of those who love God. In every family, there is envy, competition, and unfairness. The family is a place of dark secrets and love mixed with hatred. The very people we love are the ones who hurt us the most, and the ones we hurt. Life is not fair, but maybe we can look at life through the eyes of Joseph. A story that began with jealousy and deception turns out to be a story about ...

153. He Will Abundantly Pardon

Isaiah 55:1-13

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... we see with God's people in the desert, and ourselves in our own desert. We cling to the ways of violence instead of redemption, of hatred instead of risking love, of fear instead of overwhelming joy. It's not that the world is not dangerous. Of course it is. But we are ... return are hope and peace. It's not a message the world is ready for. We want to hold on to the old hatreds, the old grudges. We want to respond to hate with hate, to violence with violence. But God will abundantly pardon. Not just pardon ...

154. Tales of the Spiritually Stupid

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 18-22

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... them make sense of it all and it was his words, which inspired hope in Yahweh's redemptive power. This we profess above all else: Redemption is God's specialty. "For God so loved the world, he gave his only Son," the Bible says. When all the hatred and fear and corruption in the human arsenal had been inflicted upon the Son of God in a place called Calvary, he bore it upon himself and took it to the grave. Scripture tells us the mountains quaked and the heavens grew dim, and the community of disciples ...

155. East of Eden or Home

Genesis 3:1-24

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... ’s more, right and wrong were relative, and y motives were for the good of the country - or so I believed.” Chuck said that that night when he left Tom’s home and sat alone in his car, his own sin – not just dirty politics, but the hatred and pride and evil so deep within – was thrust before his eyes forcefully and painfully. “For the first time in my life, he said, “I felt unclean, and worst of all, I could not escape. In those moments of clarity I found myself driven irresistibly into the ...

156. The Third Kind of Love

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

James W. Moore

... -hate is so dangerous. It can lead to a volatile jealousy and cause us to hurt other people, even those closest to us. III. THIRD AND FINALLY, DISLIKING OURSELVES CAN LEAD TO SELF-PITY. Remember how Charley Brown put it: “I know the world is filled with hatred because the whole world hates me!” This kind of self-pity causes us to look for crutches… temporary attempts at “pick-me-ups” like drugs or alcohol… that only add to the problem. They don’t pick us up; they let us down. They don’t make ...

157. When It's Time to Reconcile

Romans 12:9-21

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... in their assets in a company headed for bankruptcy while the rank and file lose their hope for retirement? Somebody ought to examine that issue. As a minister of the gospel, I enjoy my American freedom of speech, but does that mean I am free to spread lies and incite hatred? God may hold Rev. Davis accountable for that in this city! Is it right for many of us, myself included, to own more than one house when much of the world does not have a place to lay its head? I’m sure some of you will give me an ...

158. When the Church Becomes a Culture of Complainers and Crusaders, What To Do?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , if you are going to do more than just sit there, if you are going to do something for God and the gospel, you will have people who criticize you. What did Jesus say? “Beware when all speak well of you.” Even Machiavelli shrewdly observed that "hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil ones." In fact, like Paul you won’t have mere critics. You’ll have crusaders. Roland Bainton, the great Reformation scholar of another era, said that the Crusader spirit had four premises: 1) the cause is ...

159. Epiphany 3, Ordinary Time 3

Psalm 27:1, 4-9, Isaiah 9:1-4, Matthew 4:12-17, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Bulletin Aid

Amy C. Schifrin

... hidden hostilities toward your children. Leader: We confess to you, O God, All: our lack of trust in your presence, our need to control, our insatiable appetite for praise. Leader: We confess to you, O God, All: our fear of speaking the truth in love, our self-hatred, our moments of utter despair when we no longer believe you are at work in us. Leader: Come and hear us now, that what we try to hide from others may not be hidden from you. Silence for reflection and personal confession Leader: God hears the ...

160. Can Teach, Can Do

Mark 1:21-28

Sermon

Robert J. Elder

... say to him, "My goodness, how long have you felt this way?" and "What do you think you should do about it?" Jesus simply says, "Shut up and get out!" The reason that Hitler was a success is the same reason that the evil of hatred prospers today. Hitler recognized the unifying power of hatred, the tribal, us/them appeal of it, recognized that is simply how things are, and made the most of it. No one was willing to stand up and say to him, "Be silent, and come out!" A friend — let's call him "Bill Jones ...

161. Skin Game

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon

Robert J. Elder

... between tribes, peoples, and racial groups, probably more than any other feature of the human anatomy. White skin, olive skin, red skin, black skin, yellow skin, combinations of those skin types, all these have been known to provide rationales for walls of enmity and hatred. How ironic that human skin, a tiny fraction of an inch thick, covering every human body, precious to us, life-preserving and absolutely crucial to our well-being, has also been the cause for so much division and sorrow. I had a friend ...

162. A Difficult Day to Follow Jesus

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

King Duncan

... . I got my daughter up in the middle of the night to see the scene. As you were marching across the courtyard, the camera zeroed in on your face and I’ll never forget your face. It was full of anger and hatred, animosity. I have never seen so much anger and so much hatred written on a man’s face. That’s not the Nelson Mandela I know today.” Mandela said, “It’s interesting you should say that because as I left the prison block and marched across the courtyard, I thought to myself, ‘They’re ...

163. Were You There?

John 19:17-27

Sermon

King Duncan

... were also there when they crucified him including the mob that cried, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Ignorant people, stirred to hatred by molders of public opinion who had their own selfish agenda. Those people, like those molders of opinion are still around ... today crucifying Christ time after time with their anger, their hatred, their greed. The question of the night is, of course, were we there when they crucified our Lord? And the answer ...

164. God Can Turn Your Trash Cans into Treasure Chests

Psalm 51:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:2,7) What is the worst, the least, the last in your life? God can turn it around and make it your greatest instrument for healing and for blessing. Moses was a murderer, he recycled his rage and hatred and became the greatest leader in Israel's history. Jacob was a thief and a rogue. He recycled his cunning, and became the father of the nation. David was an adulterer. He recycled his passion and became the greatest of the kings. Esther was a harem girl. But ...

165. Screaming at the Television

Ephesians 4:17--5:21

Sermon

King Duncan

... true religion. But Paul’s heart had been changed. He truly became a new person on the road to Damascus when he was confronted by the risen Christ. Christ had performed a great work in his life and so, later in life, St. Paul was able to return hatred with love, anger with gentleness, and slander with words of kindness. Not many people reach that level of spiritual maturity. There are some people we encounter whose hearts are filled with anger. We see it on the road road rage it’s call. We see it in our ...

166. Serving the King of Kings

John 18:28-40

Sermon

King Duncan

... of reading and soul searching, Tom surrendered his life to the King of Kings. Slowly his animosity toward black people began to dissolve. He renounced the Klan and his past life of racial hatred. After eight years Tom was released from prison and he began a remarkable new life. Instead of going back to a life of hatred, Tom worked to promote racial reconciliation. He co-authored with Dr. John Perkins, a black minister, a book titled, He’s My Brother. He’s since been ordained into the ministry and has ...

167. Born at Bethlehem — Hope

Micah 5:1-4

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... . But inside my heart, I felt as though I carried a promise from God. At twelve, I didn’t know what to call the feeling inside of me. But I know now it was hope."1 Many people in our world have lost hope through the ravages of poverty, hatred, terrorism, natural disasters, and a host of other things that have taken the wind out of their sails. You and I have the opportunity to share with them the greatest news available that can lift their spirits and their very lives. They can put their hope not in a ...

168. Restarting Joy - Rejoice

Isaiah 55:10-13

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... and help them laugh (see joy) in the future? It comes from deep within — because people like Lucy Mabery set their sails for joy regardless of how the wind blows.[1] This is how Isaiah must have felt. His beloved Israel had to fight the foes of hatred, prejudice, and misery from external circumstances, but Isaiah says to hang on. He writes, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands" (Isaiah ...

169. Are You Part of the Scandal?

Luke 15:11-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Nazareth.” (The Human Condition [1958], 236-43). Forgiveness doesn’t mean you’re pollyannaish about the world, or plaster over the cracks in people and history. Forgiveness looks square in the face of wrong, and chooses healing and reconciliation rather than hatred and revenge. It may be the hardest thing in the world to do offer true forgiveness. Scandalously hard. There were three great holocausts of the 20th century: Russia, China, and Germany. Two were done by atheists — Stalin in Russia, Mao in ...

170. Seventy-Seven

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... it gains us something. A paperweight. A watch. A spa certificate. Maybe even a friend. But learning how to either extend or receive forgiveness always COSTS us something. It costs us our anger. It costs us our right to revenge. It costs us our high road to hatred. Offering forgiveness forces us to retract our claws and recall our true cause, the cause of Christ and His kingdom. The call to forgiveness calls us to hear what drives our heart. Are we driven by love? Are we driven by service? Are we driven by ...

171. Turning Pity-Parties into Praise-Parties

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... with him. Even when his hands were cuffed and smashed, Paul knew that Jesus was there with him, holding his hand. How could he had worry? Instead of reacting to the world with hatred, anger, violence, vengeance — there is another way. Instead of looking at a world fractured by war and rivalries and hatred, look towards Christ. One of the apostle Paul’s favorite words used in his writings is “moros” — a word usually translated as “fool” but best translated as “crazy.” Paul admitted to being ...

172. The Messed Up

John 4:1-26

Sermon

James Merritt

... the original tabernacle. Fast forward to the time of Jesus and because of their inner-marriage and idolatry Samaritans were so gross to Jewish people they were seen as even lower than Gentiles. Between the Jew and the Samaritan was a fire of hostility and hatred that was so hot that to touch it meant a first-degree burn. For Jesus to be in Samaria at all was not only unusual, but it was bordering on scandalous! Samaria was considered a filthy, unclean area and the Samaritans were considered filthy, unclean ...

173. Freedom In Christ

Galatians 5:1-15, Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... and say that they can conjure the dead and promise to charm the Gods with sacrifices and prayer” (Laws 909b; trans. Jowett). Under the Roman emperors sorcery became a punishable offense. Hatred indicates “hostile feelings and actions” (so BAGD, p. 331). The vices listed in the rest of the verse identify manifestations of hatred. Discord has also the meaning of strife or contention; jealousy or envy (cf. Rom. 13:13) suggests, as Burton puts so well, “the eager desire for possession created by the ...

174. Life by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

175. Rend Your Heart

Joel 2:12-17

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... not accept that good news, and we try to turn away from God’s loving lordship. Therefore violence walks our city streets, and loneliness sits in our living rooms. Blood pollutes the ground, and fears and hatreds haunt our loves. Yet God says “but” and promises us a kingdom of good in which mourning and crying and pain, hatred and evil will be done away forever. Thus when God says “but” to us here in Joel 2:12—and God speaks directly in the first person to us, through the prophet Joel in verses ...

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