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 1926 to 1950 of 5000 results

1926. A Place for You

Ruth 1:16-18

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... that nobody knew anything about. Obituaries were to be written according to a standard form. It was like painting by the numbers, it's not a very creative or exciting prospect at all. But this man did not look upon it that way. He had a dream that he wanted to be a great writer, so he didn't look upon this task as a menial and mechanical task. He thought, "I am going to approach it like writing sonnets, where the challenge is to create something new and beautiful within the forms that are given, that cannot ...

1927. A Radical Faith

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... trip to Germany, where we rented a car and visited the so-called Luther sites, the towns and cities where Martin Luther lived four hundred years ago, and where the Reformation began. It was a wonderful time and we are very grateful to your generosity in making it possible. We want to show you our slides, so we have decided we are going to have a potluck supper on Wednesday, June 25. You are all invited. You may feel that making you watch our slides is a heck of a way to say thank you, but we are going to do ...

1928. Are You Feeling Sheepish?

Psalm 23, John 10:11-18

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... when the balance beam seems to get wider and wider, and I have no fear of falling at all." That is called "entering the zone," and it is remarkably like what the 23rd Psalm is talking about. Think of "entering the zone." The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with ...

1929. Get a Charge

Matthew 21:28-32

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... Assyrians to get them to repent. He hates the Assyrians, and he fears that the Assyrians have the same feelings toward him. So he doesn't want to go there. He knows the price that may be paid if he goes there. He knows what's going to happen to him. So he ... to define who they were and what they believed, but the Methodists put beliefs in hymns and sang them. Charles Wesley did that. So I want you to notice the second verse of the hymn with which we will sing to close the service. It goes like this. To serve ...

1930. He's Here Somewhere

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... , which is where the angel found Mary, and said, "Blessed are you among all the women of the world." But I would guess that if you wanted to keep it quiet, you would do it in Nazareth, in Galilee. You notice what it says in Luke's wonderful story of the birth of ... in their lives that they were now homeless. At 2:00 a.m. he went in and woke up Tom. He said, "Wake up! Wake up! I want you to come and see this. Granted I am no theologian, but I think that Jesus is down there."1 It was promised. "Those who show ...

1931. Honoring the Fathers

Hebrews 11:17-22

Sermon

Mark Trotter

1932. Like None Other

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... who felt that they weren't worth very much, weren't treated very well in this world, and perhaps their self worth was the result of the way the world treated them. He went to them, and said, "You are a child of God." The Church baptized children because they wanted to say that to all children. Now it may take a while for them to realize that. But in baptism we are saying, whether you realize it or not, or whether you believe this or not, like Jesus in his baptism, in your baptism God is saying, "You are my ...

1933. The Big Temptation

Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... Lord's prayer refer to the three things that the devil offered Jesus: the kingdoms of this world, the power to do whatever you want in this world, and the glory that belongs to divinity. And all three he rejected, because those three things belong to God alone. We ... but in God's plan. Your plans may fail. You may never realize the fulfillment of your plans. You may have a future you don't want. So don't be tempted to think that you are in charge of your future. "For thine is the kingdom and the power and the ...

1934. The Light of the World

John 20:1-18

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... gospel message. You may have to go there, but you don't have to stay there. Jesus' Resurrection means that in any area in your life in which you find yourself trapped, down into the depths of life where life is distorted to be unlike the way God wants it to be, you don't have to stay there, because of the Resurrection of our Lord. Years ago there appeared a story in the newspaper in Galveston, Texas. It was about a woman and her parakeet, whose name was Chippie. It seems that the woman was cleaning Chippie ...

1935. This Nation, Under God

2 Samuel 7:1-9

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... pillar of fire by night. All of this directly out of the imagery used in telling the story of Israel. But the parallel that I want us to look at this morning is the phrase in our Pledge of Allegiance of "One nation, under God," and to look at what the ... he who gives you power to get wealth." So on this day, as we hold up the story of our nation to the story of David, I want to suggest to you that the Fourth of July celebrates not only an event, it celebrates an idea, a vision. For in a very real sense that ...

1936. Try to Be Nice

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... let go his frustration. "Watch out for the dogs." He got that off his chest. Then he said, "There's one more thing that I want to get off my chest. Euodia and Syntyche, for God's sake stop fighting." That is what opened our passage for this morning. Epaphroditus must ... would have to start all over again." He said, "There are people like that who are determined to keep old wounds open. They don't want to heal." There is a time for sorrow. There is a time for guilt. There is a time for anger. There is even a ...

1937. Two Women

Luke 1:39-45

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... Unfortunately it is just a gesture against the great tide of advertising that commercializes Christmas. But I'm all for it. I like their slogan. I think we ought to put Christ back into Christmas. In fact, that's what we do here during the Advent season. So if you want to put Christ back into Christmas, then come to church. But I wonder if you have ever noticed, the story of the Nativity, as Luke tells it, is really a story about Mary. So I have a slogan. I think you ought to put this on your bumpers, "Put ...

1938. When to Hold On

II Timothy 3:14-4:5

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... faith is a noun, and it refers to that tradition that we have received. "The Faith," that is what it is called, is a noun, what we have received. The Church's job is to preserve it, and make sure it is passed on to the next generation. I want to talk about that in light of our church, and in light of the contemporary church in our time. It is common knowledge that the old traditional mainline churches are declining in membership. There are a number of reasons why that is happening. I have my own opinion ...

1939. Where's Your Spirit?

Acts 19:1-7

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... people to repent. I had a call some years ago from a woman who said that she was having trouble with her son, and she just wanted to give me warning that she had told her son that if he doesn't shape up, she is going to send him to Rev. Trotter ... the 1960's the change was made in the liturgy for baptism so that symbolically now we are baptized by water and by the Spirit. I want to say something this morning about the meaning of each of those acts. First, we have been baptized by water. That means that by God's ...

1940. While You Are Waiting

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

Mark Trotter

... what we deserve, some more. My observation is that most of us get more than what we deserve. If we got what we deserve, we probably wouldn't want it. So I don't think it is true that we get what we deserve. It is more true to say that we get what we expect ... will be the way Jesus is, so wait for that. What will it look like, this waiting? Most of us are willing to wait for something that we want. I am willing to be patient if, in the end, I am going to get what I am waiting for: the job that I covet, or the ...

1941. In the Darkness of Suffering, There Is the Light of Life

John 1:1-18

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... of Rome had come down hard upon everyone. Add to that the lives those people had to face filled with disease and hunger, sickness and death, injustice and persecution. Yet, in the midst of all that suffering, the life of Jesus was, “the light of all people.” I want to say to you that whatever it is you face, Christmas holds for you the promise of help and hope, the promise of light and love, the promise of joy and peace. In the darkness of your own suffering, there is a light that still shines. It is ...

1942. Epiphany 6

Matthew 5:17-37, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 3:1-23, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119

Bulletin Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... the free will to reject God's loving advances. Not to choose is a choice. To reject God's offer is a bad choice. In this sermon we want to see the two sides of the issue, the side of those who deny our having a choice, and the side of those who hold to a ... 3. To prefer life or death - v. 17. b. Before you make the decision, know this - 1. God knows your choice - vv. 8-19. 2. God does not want you to sin - v. 20. Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (C, E) 1. Partners In God's Service (3:5-9). Need: The problem in a ...

1943. Easter 5

Acts 7:54--8:1a, 1 Peter 2:4-12, John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14, Acts 17:1-9, Acts 17:10-15

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... . This is a call for church members to begin examining the scriptures to test what is preached and taught. Lesson 2: 1 Peter 2:1-10 1. Invitation. Is there a theological significance to an invitation extended by God to us? It is a sign of grace - Christ wants us to be with him in his kingdom in spite of our moral condition. It means also we do not choose Christ but we are chosen. Furthermore, we respond voluntarily and not by force. Can we then justify the user of pressure or manipulation to gain new church ...

1944. Proper 26

Matthew 23:1-39, Joshua 3:1-4:24, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Malachi 2:1-9

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... the pastor better and in enlisting the congregation in better support of the pastor in his work of leadership. Outline: The kind of pastor I want to be. a. One who practices what he preaches - v. 3. b. One who does for God what he asks others to do - v. 4 ... Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 1. A Life Worthy Of God (2:9-13). Need: What kind of lives shall we live? As a citizen, we want to live a life worthy of our country lest our nation be ashamed of us as "ugly Americans." A child should try to live a life ...

1945. Road Rage

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Susan R. Andrews

... hyperbolic, John the Baptist is simply telling the truth. And so, John's voice crying in the wilderness of a weary world is a booming voice of accountability. And I believe that most of us are here today partly because, like those restless people of long ago, we want to be held accountable. We need to be held accountable. But the good news of our Advent faith is that John's voice of accountability is also a loud voice of hope. "Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight." John is quoting Isaiah ...

1946. Try This on For Size!

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... come who recognize their need. He says, "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Who does he want to come? "All who labor and are heavy laden!" Do you fit into this category? Do you admit that you have a need? Then come to ... . He challenges you, "Take my yoke upon you." He promises you, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." This yoke that Christ wants you to wear represents your calling in life. It is true that God has work for you to do. Better than anyone else in the ...

1947. Praying Through

Luke 18:1-8

Sermon

Stephen M. Crotts

... to happen! That very afternoon the landlady stopped me while I was emptying the trash. She said, "Stephen, for some time now I've been wanting to ask you to be the groundskeeper for this apartment complex. You can do the work between your studies. It'll be good exercise ... a free will. You might be praying that God will save your son. But your son's heart may be stoney toward God. You want him saved. And there is nothing God would like better than to save him, but here is a barrier. God has given your son ...

1948. Four Cornerstones

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... common good. 1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has arranged the parts (insert name here) every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. We're birthed in the image of God. There is no higher compliment on earth than that. Never forget who birthed ... before everyone was about to leave the church, the director asked the boy if he'd been happy in his role as a stone. "Why did you want to play the stone?" she asked. With a big smile, the boy replied, "It felt so good to let Jesus out of the tomb!" The rolled ...

1949. Poison Control

Romans 7:7-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... I asked, 'How you doing today?' He grabbed my hand, looked into my eyes and said, 'Well, Preacher, I'll tell you. I'm not the man I used to be, and I'm not yet the man I'd like to be, but I'm more the man God wants me to be than I've ever been before.' (Extraordinary Loving for Ordinary Lovers, Sermons from Hyde Park United Methodist Church; Tampa, Florida) Can you state it any better than that? Let's say with Paul this morning: "I'm not the person I used to be, and I'm ...

1950. WaterFire Disciples

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... all over the city had the exact reverse effect of what Cincinnati predicted when years ago it laughed out of town an artist who wanted to do the same thing for that city except this time with pigs. Now this year it's trying to do what it ... re called to burn without burning up to burn without being consumed by the fire. An inflammable faith isn't a biblical faith. Jeremiah didn't really want to be a prophet to Judah. But he found that "If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name', there is ...

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