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 1826 to 1850 of 2173 results

1826. Arise, O Church of God, Arise!

Sermon

"The eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him they worshiped him, even though some of them doubted. Jesus draw near and said to them: "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, to the end of the age." ( ...

1827. Proper 9

Exodus 1:1-22

Sermon

The Hebrews who went down to Egypt settled there as guests of the Pharaoh. To those semi-nomadic people, the land, even though passing through a period of exceptional famine, must have seemed lush and green compared with droughtstricken Canaan and the desert which they had crossed. They were there as resident aliens, but at the time it was easy to forget that fact, because they were accorded special privileges, thanks to Joseph's position at the Pharaoh's court. However, the time came when this favorable ...

1828. There’s Gotta Be a Day

Malachi 4:1-6

Sermon

We’ve heard that song before, haven’t we? We’ve heard it with some variations, but the theme is the same. Perhaps the same problems create the same theme - with some variations. Even the variations do not nuance the repetitions enough to make us pay attention, finally. If it were not for two things, Malachi’s oracle of God could be passed by as "just the same old thing." The oracle is from God. Secondly, it comes because God insists on keeping his covenant. He simply cares. There it is. Do we wish to ...

1829. The Fifth Sunday of Easter

John 14:1-4

Sermon

Kendall McCabe

Hearing this Gospel lesson read on a Sunday morning may come as a shock to many of us. It is not the setting we are used to. "In my Father's house are many rooms" is a phrase we tend to associate almost exclusively with funerals, and small wonder, since, in many churches, that is or has been the only Gospel lesson appointed to be read at the burial of the dead. Here on a spring morning, with the trees in bud and new life popping out everywhere, we have to remember funerals we have attended and heard those ...

1830. Christ's Passion Portraits

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Paul Hegele

The task before us that afternoon was simple enough. The newly remodeled church lounge had a wall which needed a picture; everyone agreed it should be a portrait of Christ. The question was - what should Jesus look like? Five hundred years before Christ's birth, Isaiah had predicted he would have "no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." Except for the unnerving remark, the Bible never mentions Jesus' appearance. So, which of the scores of paintings ...

1831. That They May Be One

John 17:6-19

Sermon

Dean Lueking

Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (John 17:11) Concerning Unity The truth we hear today concerns the oneness of the people of Christ. If I would ask you this simple question, "Are you for the unity of Christians?" there would be no doubt in my mind that all of you present would answer yes. If I could ask you another question, "... and would you be willing to die for the cause of unity among Christians?" I would anticipate a very ...

1832. Be Ready for Christ's Return

1 Thessalonians 4:13--5:11

Bulletin Aid

Call to Worship Pastor: The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, without warning. People: We who are God's children should be ready at all times, without fear. Pastor: Instead of fear, we should be full of joy, because of our salvation in Jesus! People: Praise God for our salvation in Christ Jesus! Collect Heavenly Father, who desires that we should each receive salvation through your Son: Keep us strong in our faith, and alert in our discipleship; that we may live as your children without ...

1833. Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Exodus 19:1-25

Sermon

Our "take-it-or-leave-it" attitude concerning God is evidence that we do not always fully appreciate who he is. You may have watched Marlin Perkins of TV's "Wild Kingdom." This wonderful animal lover and trainer has been trying to get people on a first-name basis with animals for most of his seventy-seven years. His wife, Carol, gave this account: "When Marlin and I were dating, I wanted him so badly that I never let him know how little I knew about animals. Soon after our marriage we went to the Belgian ...

1834. Promise or Threat?

Matthew 24:1-35

Sermon

"Wars and rumors of wars," Jesus said. Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, earthquakes, tribulation, even death sentences for the faithful, wickedness multiplied, and all the while the Gospel is preached around the world - these are some of the signs of Christ’s second coming and the end of the age. Tell me, would you consider his words a promise or a threat? My first recollection of any mention of Christ’s second coming goes back to when I was six or seven years old. My grandfather ...

1835. Getting Back To Work

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Brett Blair

Rabbi Harold Kushner tells a wonderful story about a bright young man, who was a sophomore Stanford pre-med student To reward him for having done so well in school, his parents gave him a trip to the Far East for the summer vacation before the start of his junior year. While there he met a guru who said to him, "Don't you see how you are poisoning your soul with this success oriented way of life? Your idea of happiness is to stay up all night studying for an exam so you can get a better grade than your ...

1836. A Senior Servant

2 Samuel 19:9-43

Sermon

Freshman servants are as easy to find as the circus-escaping elephant hiding behind a fire hydrant. Scores of fraternities and sororities are transformed into animal houses on every September day. Freshmen are turned into obedient coolies as they bow and scrape before upper classmen. Like a faithful Fido, the freshmen must minister to every need of their senior masters. It is part of the initiation process whose goal is to turn beanie-wearing frosh into proud-as-punch alumni, as they return in glory to ...

1837. A Glory Revealed by Abiding

John 8:31-41

Sermon

Jesus said unto the Jews who believed on him, "If you abide in my word, you will really be my disciples, and ... the truth will keep you free."1 - John 8:31f In one of his great hymns, Charles Wesley writes: Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature’s night. Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray - I woke; the dungeon blazed with light. My chains fell off; my heart was free. I rose, went forth, and followed thee. The words by Wesley serve well as a bridge between the message of last week’s ...

1838. Respect: Lesson for Victorious Living

Ruth 4:1-12

Sermon

Christian unity teaches respect for the whole Body of Christ. The ancient Hebrews learned ways of doing things and the necessity of valid transactions; this gave the early Christians a format from which they could move forward in the faith. Repect was at or near the top of the list. The characters of Boaz, the elders, Naomi, Ruth, and the others in our passage evidence this in ways that do not seem to be present in today’s striving for equality. Could they have known something that we don’t? As one reads ...

1839. I ... Oh ... U

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

It all started with Ol’ Zeke in some prehistoric dinosaur patch, foraging for food, having things pretty much his own way, and feeling a bit superior when his ape family relatives dropped in to visit on weekends. Then we are told mythically that the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helper fit for him." And by whatever early beginning story you subscribe, the end-product was very much the same. Ol’ Zeke was no longer the only dude in the dinosaur patch, and man ...

1840. Let’s Face It

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Michael L. Sherer

With the familiar parable which forms the text for this day, we draw very near to the close of the church year. Since the Middle Ages, Christians have used the closing days of the old church year to focus on "last things": the end of the world, the end of life, the promise of things to come, the thought of the return of Christ (one of the themes celebrated during Advent, the next season on the church’s calendar). The parable of the wise and foolish virgins fits well into the pattern. The bridegroom is ...

1841. What Do You See?

Isaiah 52:13--53:12

Sermon

Barbara Brokhoff

Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man. And His form more than the sons of men; So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider. Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender ...

1842. Peter’s Net

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Richard F. Bansemer

The sermon is from the fifth chapter of St. Luke, verses 4 and 5: "... (Jesus) said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.’ " Unless someone here is extremely wealthy, and very lucky, and easily contented, each of us has wanted something in our lives, but could not have it. Usually we can have whatever we wish, if the wish is reasonable and reachable. But there are ...

1843. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Romans 13:1-7

Sermon

Carroll Gunkel

What are you to do if you are a Christian in a non-Christian society? More than that, what are you to do if you are a Christian in an anti-Christian society? What are you to do if you have been reared in a theological atmosphere steeped in Romans 13 with its emphasis on obedience to those in authority? What are you to do if you have been taught that your political leaders hold their mandate from God and that disobedience to these leaders is a sin against God? What are you to do if you are forced to ...

1844. Do I Dare Be Different?

Matthew 5:10; 10:1-42

Sermon

Wallace H. Kirby

William Inge was one of England’s most outstanding preachers. At the beginning of this century, because of his insight and forthrightness, he was either greatly admired or bitterly disliked. After the First World War he was speaking at a public gathering, and in his speech, he urged that realism instead of revenge be his country’s guide in its treatment of a defeated Germany. Three days later, Dr. Inge received a letter which rebuked him for what he had said, and then added: "I have been praying for your ...

1845. He Bore Our Sins

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

Every year during Lent, the role of Christ bearing his cross to Calvary is re-enacted in the village of Sartene, Corsica. This has been going on ever since the Middle Ages, and it always draws a big crowd of villagers and thousands of tourists who come for the occasion. Time magazine, when reporting on one of the more recent episodes, called it "one of the world’s most brutally powerful Holy Week processions." And the report was a graphic description of what happened: A grotesque lump of a man ... barefoot ...

1846. Overcoming Self

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Dennis Kastens

Some children were choosing up sides for a game of cowboys and Indians. The first boy who was chosen by the captain of the Indian side came up and whispered to him, "Choose Cory next - he’s so great at dying!" So Cory was chosen. As the game progressed you could see what the boy meant, for when the cowboys threw a bead on Cory and shot him, he let out a moan - no blood-curdling scream, no over-acting - just a moan. He staggered forward and pitched over on his face, twitching once or twice before he went ...

1847. I AM THE CHURCH

Illustration

John H. Krahn

I am the Church. Most of you associate me with steeples and stained glass windows. And in one sense, you are right. One of the ways I can be described is by my individual architectural style. I am usually constructed with the finest materials, and my cost per square foot is often quite high. I think this is appropriate because I make a visible statement to the world about the feelings of my members towards the Lord. I am a visible witness to the community. When I am allowed to look run-down, my appearance ...

1848. The Agony and Ecstasy of Sight

John 9:1-12

Sermon

Richard Hoefler

The miracle story of Jesus healing the man born blind is placed against the background of a puzzle that has plagued humankind ever since the first person stubbed his toe on a stone and cried out in pain. It is the question of why there is suffering in the world. Despite the many attempted solutions and suggested answers, people are still not satisfied - only more confused. The stubbed toe still hurts. Is the stone we stumble over placed there by chance or circumstance? Are we somehow engaged in a dangerous ...

1849. A Liturgical Drama For Advent

Drama

Tom Eberle

Advent The seasons of the church calendar are like the headings for each act of a theater production. They provide the particular setting in which one element of the divine drama of God’s revelation in Christ is presented to us. The liturgical seasons are sometimes thought of as optional observances, like a fancily-iced cake. They make worship more attractive, but are not part of the basic recipe. This collection of liturgical dramas for worship is written, not as frosting, but with the intention that the ...

1850. A SUNDAY OF THE PASSION [PALM SUNDAY] SERMON-DRAMA

Drama

Tom Eberle

The Sunday of the Passion [Palm Sunday] Modern reformers of the church calendar suggest that the observance of the passion of Christ be limited to Holy Week instead of extending it through the Lenten season. Because of this emphasis, the Sunday before Easter is designated the "Sunday of the Passion" rather than "Palm Sunday." The story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem might appropriately be used as part of the processional on Passion Sunday, but the focus of the day should be on the inauguration of the week ...

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