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 176 to 200 of 376 results

176. Attics, Basements, Closets

Psalm 130:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... was officially set back in the so-called age of chivalry championed by so many who look at our present-day leaders with highbrow disdain. In the 14th century Robert Erdeswick of Stafford was the first English gentlemen (according to Maurice Keen, Origins of the English Gentleman: Heraldry, Chivalry and Gentility in Medieval England, c. 1300-c.1500; Arcadia; December 2002). Yet this first English gentleman was indicted for breaking and entering, assault and battery, and attempted murder. (In the 14th century ...

177. Christ’s Holy Checkmate

John 20:1-18

Illustration

Eric Ritz

... there grinning smugly. He thinks he has the victory in hand. He is pointing at the chessboard with an evil leer and he is gloating. As you look at the painting, you can almost hear the devil shouting: "Checkmate! Game's over! I win!" However, a person with a keen eye who knows the game of chess can see that the match is not over at all. As a matter of fact, just a few years ago, an internationally famous chess player was admiring the painting when all of a sudden he lunged forward and exclaimed: "Wait a ...

178. When Losing Your Baggage Is a Good Thing

Hebrews 12:1-2

Sermon

James W. Moore

... led the tour and he is amazing. He is a great Bible scholar, a respected archaeologist and he lives in Jerusalem six month of each year, so he knows the land, the languages, the customs and the culture incredibly well. All of that put together gives him keen insights into the teachings of Jesus and the truth of the Bible. On top of all that, he never gets tired. He is like the Energizer Bunny… he just keeps going and going and going. That pretty much summarizes the daily schedule we had in those ten ...

179. Prison Break

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... rare instrument was proudly displayed behind a sealed and solid glass case. Resting in its velvet couch, the violin lay imprisoned in its climate controlled coffin. The collector said that it had become his prized possession, and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave, when he had an idea. “Could I play the instrument once more before it’s consigned to silence?” he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso released the violin from its fancy casket and filled ...

180. Looking Into the Eyes of the Risen Christ

John 20:11-18

Sermon

James W. Moore

... and grandchildren and you visit a bit… and then he says, “May I have a moment?” He sits down at his computer and pulls up the test results. He stares at the screen and studies it intently. Then, he pulls up another report and studies that with keen interest… then to a hard copy and then back to the screen… and you watch him. You watch his face, his expression, his body language. You watch for any sign and you listen for any sound that will give you an advance signal for what is coming… because ...

181. The Power of Testimony

John 4:1-26

Sermon

Mark R. Smith

... testimony is a natural outgrowth of our gratitude. In fact, when we are thankful, we can’t help but want to tell others. Secondly, a main function of good testimony is that it elicits action from the hearer. This is the part that keen businesses use to their advantage. Satisfied customers are far better advertisement than even the slickest of New York marketing firms can produce. Word of mouth, as the scripture today bears out, is a powerful motivator – especially when the words are well measured and ...

182. The Love of a Father - Sermon Starter

Mt10:29-31

Illustration

King Duncan

... that Joseph must have been a very special kind of father. We center much of our attention on his mother, Mary, but Joseph must have also combined those very special qualities of strength and gentleness that we associate with Jesus. Jesus had a very keen knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures. In the Jewish home it was the father who had the primary responsibility for his son's religious instruction. Of course we know that Jesus had an unique relationship with God. Still, I have to believe that Joseph ...

183. This Is Not a Race

Prov. 4:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:7

Illustration

Bill Bouknight

... They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, crew members made disparaging remarks about the slowness of the other boat. Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. The competition was keen as the boats roared down the Mississippi. One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising crew member took some of the ship ...

184. Manual Labor Is Not the President of Mexico

Proverbs 6:6-8

Sermon

James Merritt

... 10:4: "He who deals with a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes one rich." The diligent person in Proverbs is the opposite of the sluggard. The word diligent means "to cut or sharpen." It denotes the worker who is sharp, decisive, and keen. He wants to work, make a difference, and contribute to his family and society. The ant is a focused worker. The job of most ants is to find food so that the colony can eat. Their hunger naturally drives them to their job rather than to the welfare ...

185. His Way is the Right Way

Psalm 23:3

Sermon

James Merritt

... of a sheep is it is stupid. Once a sheep has gone astray it cannot find its way back home. Now it becomes a matter of great urgency that that sheep be restored to the flock, because, first of all, sheep don’t even have a keen sense of smell, and left to themselves they’ll eat poisonous weeds or they’ll drink polluted water and they’ll die. Furthermore, sheep are defenseless. Tigers claw, bears crush, mules kick, snakes strike, but sheep are defenseless. So it becomes a matter of urgency for ...

186. Joshua: Why These Stones?

Sermon

John E. Harnish

... through this church across the years. I am humbled and overwhelmed to step into the stream of this church's past: the smile on the faces of people who speak of a still-beloved Dr. Runkel, the powerful pulpit of a Jim Wright and G. Ernest Thomas, the keen mind of a Bob Ward and the visionary passion of a Bill Ritter. But more, I am overwhelmed by the commitment of the people of this church: · Hundreds of Rummage Sale volunteers (and by the way, we need more!) · The building of a church in Costa Rica · Lay ...

187. No-fault Religion

2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13), 14-17

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... described the situation in terms unrepeatable here, but suffice it to say he felt he got a raw deal from the so-called no-fault divorce system. "Shouldn't the person who violates the marriage contract somehow be held accountable?" he asked. He was not that keen on no-fault divorce. So why then, you might ask, would we discuss a topic like no-fault religion. At first glance, it would appear that a no-fault religion would be one where "anything goes." At the very least it would be a watered-down, Reader ...

188. Finding Unity through Christ

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... others. This type of thinking is highly destructive to the concept of a world community. We don't seem to see or recognize our need to view all people of the world as our sisters and brothers. In business we all know that competition is keen and central to the capitalism we practice. However, as with nationalism, excessive competitive spirit can lead to greed, unfair business practices, and unlawful methods of operation — all in an effort to get ahead of the other guy. The other company should not be the ...

189. Make the Most of God’s Gifts

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... Harding met little Timmy Noble. Timmy, a member of the Angels, was eight years old and a tow-head just like his son Rick. Unlike his son, however, Timmy was not a good player; he did not have the gifts for baseball. He did not possess the keen eye to be a good hitter and he did not have the strong arm needed to be a good fielder. But Timmy Noble had some very important qualities, nonetheless. He had courage and a big heart — how can one measure such qualities? He had determination and, most especially ...

190. Seeing and Not Being Seen

John 12:20-33

Sermon

David T. Ball

... when they all heard a voice booming down from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” This is getting confusing. What I do want to latch onto in all of this, and I can’t say whether this is what prompted Jesus’ wordy reply, is the keen interest that the Greeks had in seeing Jesus. It doesn’t say that they had an important question to ask him; just, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Can you relate to that? I sure can. I remember as a child, when I was learning about Jesus and the ...

191. Wanted: A Lasting Marriage. Only Good Chemists, Bad mathematicians, Expert Soul-O-Flexors Need Apply

Mark 10:2-16

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to divvying up the effort you put in, it is good marriage strategy to have enough mathematical savvy to keep track of the emotional deposits and withdrawals you and your spouse are making. When your bank account is nearly empty, every deposit or withdrawal is keenly felt. In relationships, every act of love or caring is like money in the relationship bank. Each argument or instance of uncaring is like a withdrawal from the account. To be happy, couples must have a reserve of love and caring to help them ...

192. The Oblivious Obvious

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... boat in a demonstration of divine power and authority. When Jesus causes the nets on Simon's boat to fill with fish _ almost to the breaking point _ Simon suddenly realizes this is not just a gifted speaker or a talented teacher that he has welcomed aboard. Keenly aware of the eternal gulf separating himself and Jesus, he cries out the obvious to Jesus: "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:8)! Now there's a confession one doesn't hear very often anymore. It doesn't get much simpler than ...

193. On Time

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... "the times" we inhabit that we might live fully in the time God has chosen us to live. God wants all of us to be "On Time." It would serve us well to remember something else: The gospels reveal that Jesus was not the only one with a keen sense of timing. The Devil was equally canny at discerning the most advantageous time for his work. When Satan failed to defeat Jesus in the desert, he swiftly withdrew, waiting "until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13) - an "opportune time" that was grasped at the Mount of ...

194. Ephesians 6:10-20

Ephesians 6:10-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that we enjoy salvation. The Sword of the Spirit is an offensive means at the disposal of all Christians when confronting enemies. The word of God is also compared to a sword in Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is alive and active. It cuts more keenly than any two-edged sword." God's presence is always vitally present in Christian life through access to God's word. The ability to discern the Spirit is closely tied to Paul's final directive, to "pray in the Spirit at all times." Prayer, too, is more an ...

195. Hebrews 13:1-8

Hebrews 13:1-8

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... reach over the walls and through the bars to those languishing in prison. Good intentions notwithstanding, the instinct for self-preservation told these struggling Christian enclaves to stay away from those in prison. Associating with those in jail would only bring down the keen eye and long arm of Roman law on the rest of them. Better to stay their distance and keep their peace. But the author of Hebrews insists that true phil¡a meant that every captive Christian was an imprisoned family member, and thus ...

196. Acts 17:22-31

Acts 17:22-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... shocking conclusion. They are "ignorant" human beings. Until now, God, out of divine generosity, has overlooked their denseness. But the time has come for repentance a term Greek philosophers generally found little use for in their logical dialogues. Paul was keenly aware that under the cool rhetoric of pagan thought, there was, nonetheless, an undercurrent of insecurity. Those Athenian altars to an "unknown god" hinted not only at attempted piety but at a fearfulness that some unknown, unappeased god may ...

197. Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... literal view, Caesar, as an illegal usurper of God's holy land, is clearly not entitled to collect taxes or tribute from God's people. In each of the three synoptic versions of this confrontation, the gospel writer makes it clear that Jesus was keenly aware of the malicious motivation behind the questions posed by the Pharisees and Herodians. The implication is that the response he will give is composed not only to give an answer to the question, but to undercut the ugly intent of the whole setup. When ...

198. Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... and empty, useless husks of chaff is for the farmer. A "granary" suggests a safe haven, even a heavenly home, for those the Messiah judges "ripe kernels," who are then carefully gathered into his shelter. The chaff weightless and useless is an image keenly susceptible to the apocalyptic powers of both wind and fire. The wind can easily blow the chaff away, while the explosive, blazing, all-consuming fire of such dry, tinder-like chaff is well-known. A fire burning in a wheat field is virtually unstoppable ...

199. Jeremiah 1:4-10

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... look at their own age, their own times, and deplore the fact that they have been born into a period of tremendous upheaval and change. It always appears that past generations enjoyed a stability and continuity unknown in our own day. For all who keenly feel the movement of the earth under them, Jeremiah is a greatly comforting and companionable prophet. Without a doubt, Jeremiah's prophetic life span covered some of the most tumultuous years in Israel's history. Jeremiah must have been born about 645 B.C ...

200. 1 Samuel 3:1-10

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... this week's text), sometimes haunting (Jesus' call to Mary Magdalene), sometimes harrowing (recall the challenge issued to the "rich young man"). Even though in this case Jesus' call may seem somewhat casual, John's gospel is anxious to let its readers know that these first two disciples were nevertheless keenly aware of Jesus' true being and mission. Thus in verse 41, Andrew proclaims to his brother Simon Peter that in Jesus he has found the Messiah.

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