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 2201 to 2225 of 5000 results

2201. Guided by the Spirit

John 16:12-15

Sermon

David R. Cartwright

... ministry as an associate minister in charge of youth and education. It was the typical associate position. It did not take me long to learn that youth and education is a big job all by itself. It was during this time that these two basic ... dear to you. It's too late to learn to swim when the boat has capsized. A young adult in the church bragged to me not long ago that he had cooked pancakes at a church breakfast. When he was a teenager, he never showed the slightest interest in cooking anything. I said ...

2202. The Extravagance of Love

Luke 7:36-8:3

Sermon

David R. Cartwright

... date. Right before I was to leave for England, in an advance celebration of my birthday, which would take place while I was away, my wife surprised me with the camera. It was more than she should have done, and almost more than I could accept. It had been a long time since I had been showered with such a lavish, tangible display of love and affection. Her only remark as she gave it to me was this: "I didn't want you to go to England without it." I will cherish the gift for the extravagant love with which it ...

2203. Reactions to Rejection

Luke 9:51-62

Sermon

David R. Cartwright

... . The Samaritans worshiped at the temple on Mount Gerizam, and they only recognized the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Jews, of course, felt that worship at Jerusalem was central, and they revered many more writings of the law and the prophets. This long-standing quarrel was not to be overcome in a day, and Jesus was to find that out. Nevertheless, he "set his face to go to Jerusalem." Evidently, the Samaritans could see it in his face. They could see his will and determination. As far as ...

2204. A Samaritan Took Care of Him

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

David R. Cartwright

... eighteen miles, the road drops from 2,500 feet above sea level at Jerusalem to 770 feet below sea level at Jericho. For as long as anyone can remember, this road has been noted for being one not everyone should travel on, at least not alone, and certainly not at ... had been working in that area for more than 100 years, day in and day out. No one ever saw fit to take notice of it long enough to flash it on the screen. But, let's not go overboard, not just yet. For there's still one character in the story that ...

2205. Prayer - What’s in It for You?

Luke 18:9-14

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

... . Jesus, however, was able to weave these tales in a way that touched each life then, and touches each life today. When we listen today with ears of faith, we are likely to find our own life within the life of the parable told by Jesus to his disciples so long ago. One theme that often finds its way into these stories is that there have always been those who place themselves on a higher level than the rest of us, even on a higher level than God! In many ways, the ancient Pharisee was a religious icon. As a ...

2206. What Price Must We Pay?

Luke 6:20-31

Sermon

John Wayne Clarke

... be determined by how you used the years you were fortunate to live. I use the word, "astounding," in the sense that the normal life span for a male in the time of Jesus was under 35 years of age. So, it was easy to think that how long you lived was the single most important factor in life. And, although longevity has its place, longevity without value attached to it, means very little. On this day that we celebrate All Saints, it is astounding that there were those in the early church and in later times ...

2207. The Promise that Won’t Be Broken

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sermon

Clayton A. Lord

... wasn't happy about the cancer. His faith was strong and in the following months he learned just how deep that faith was. As he shared his testimony, he was always quick to point out that he and Jesus were going through this together. He would say, "As long as Jesus holds my hand I knew everything, absolutely everything, will be all right." That is the same sentiment that Paul shares in Philippians 1:21 when he says, "For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain." It is that kind of inner peace that allows ...

2208. When Christ Is King

Colossians 1:11-20

Sermon

Donna Schaper

... 't believe me. Christ, pure and simple, is not always the poignant absence of material goods that a child experiences. Christ is also a presence and a present. There really is a lot at stake in Christ as king, isn't there? It is not just some night long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away when Wise Men spotted one star that was acting funny and traveled afar. No, it is about whether in the midst of these "dark streets shining with everlasting light" there is an energy that puts the ever-ready bunny to shame ...

2209. The Good News about Marriage

Mark 10:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... article highlights the confusion over how to treat single men and women, even in the church. We need to remember that marriage is not required for a fulfilling Christian life. However, if you choose to marry, God’s will is for the marriage relationship to be life-long. Marriage is for keeps. That is the goal. It doesn’t always work out that way, but it is still God’s intention. I know this is a painful message for many of you. Divorces happen today just as they did in Jesus’ time. Jesus told his ...

2210. Don’t Hope…Decide

Mk 10:1-12

Illustration

King Duncan

... he turned to their little girl (perhaps one or one-and-a-half). He kissed her and held her close. He handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, "I've saved the best for last!" and preceded to give his wife a long, passionate kiss. "I love you so much!" He said to his wife softly. Hargrove interrupted this idyllic scene to ask, "Wow! How long have you two been married?" "Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those," the man replied, as he gazed into his wife's face. "Well then, how ...

2211. God's Call for All

Acts 9:35-43

Sermon

Frank Ramirez

... 's found, for instance, in the Ten Commandments. The rules set up the framework for a just and equitable society, but Exodus 20:12 is especially helpful in understanding mutual aid. The verse reads: "Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." Here is a call to the people of God to take care of older, perhaps less productive members. Although the commandment is written in the context of a male-oriented patriarchal society it guarantees ...

2212. Tales of the Spiritually Stupid

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 18-22

Sermon

Lee Ann Dunlap

... God's wisdom and in so doing invited judgment upon ourselves. Yet spiritual foolishness need not be as large-scale as all that. Examples are evident in our own churchyard. Spiritual stupidity, like any other kind, happens when we don't stop to think about the long-term consequences of our actions, or when we refuse to listen to the warnings of others when the truth is right in front us. And believe this: We can be as obstinate and dense in our church relationships as any Darwin Award champion. Call it a ...

2213. I Heard My Brother Crying

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

James W. Moore

... and said, "Terri, you are so very brave. Weren't you scared? What were you thinking about when you ran into the burning house?" I love Terri's answer. She said, "I wasn't thinking about anything. I just heard my little brother crying." Let me ask you something? How long has it been? How long has it been since you heard your brother or sister crying? How long has it been since you stopped and did something about it?

2214. Family Matters

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

King Duncan

... child, but didn’t think they were going to have a family. Then late in their forties, a little girl was born into their home. By this time, they were very affluent and so they were able to give this child, for whom they had waited so long, every conceivable advantage. She was sent to the best private school, dressed in lovely clothes, sent to summer camp, given all kinds of lessons, everything they knew to do to make her existence a rich one. Therefore, imagine their dismay on the night of her thirteenth ...

2215. Mary and Joseph: His Obedient Servants

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... in perplexity. This is no main notion I’m proclaiming, no Pollyanna proposition, this is a gutsy gospel. So know this – the unraveling of perplexity may not come quickly. We may have to stay in “the valley of the shadow of death” for a long season. The winter of our discontent, our near-despair, may extend into what should be spring – time of new beginnings. We don’t control he schedule; God does. We only control our reaction and response. And our response must be to remain thoughtful, prayerful ...

2216. Jesus: What's in a Name?

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... They plead “Can anyone hear me? Is anyone there?” At the end of the movie there is a sweeping camera panoramic of the devastation and despair; and a shot of those seeking to make radio contact. The music floats almost imperceptibly into your attention as that longing, anguishing plea is sounded again: Is anyone there? Can you hear me? Is anyone there? And the music calls to your mind the words that we sing to it: “How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord, Is Laid for Your Faith in His Excellent ...

2217. The Greatest News Of All

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... had come to town for the census. The chief was about to close the office when his phone rang. Bureau Chief: (picking up phone) Middle Eastern News Services. You heard what? Angels singing? Shepherds on their way into town? New stars in the sky? Listen, buddy, it’s been a long, weird day and I’m not in the mood for jokes. What’s that? And, this is really on the level? Okay, look, I’ll send someone out to check on it, thanks for the tip. (hangs up phone, calls off left to Reporter) Hey, Ace, we got a ...

2218. “Unto Us A Child Is Born... Next, On Omar”

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... ’ll be going home another way. Wise Man 2: Speaking of which, we should be going. Wise Man 3: Yes, we have a long journey ahead ... and, besides, our camels are double-parked. Omar: Well, thank you for being on our show. Ladies and gentlemen, a big ... somewhat nervously at the audience.) Omar: Mary, Joseph. I can’t thank you enough for coming to visit with us. Joseph: We can’t stay long. We have to get to Egypt very soon. Mary: The dream the Wise Men talked about? Joseph had the same dream. God told us ...

2219. The Word Made Flesh

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... much. Leah: Esther knows a lot more about that prophecy stuff than I do. Can you tell me why she’s so excited? Joseph: Because, a long time ago, God made a promise to us. To send someone who would lead us out of darkness to the light of salvation. This child ... he’s everything the prophets said ... Father: Yes, I see that. (to Mary and Joseph) You don’t know what this means to me. How long I’ve waited to see this moment. I didn’t think it would happen in my lifetime. Joseph: It’s not going to be an ...

2220. A Miracle Child

Exodus 2:1-10

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... fathers. But there’s more here. More than the natural love of a mother, and the more that is here is here to teach you and me, all of us, about faith and commitment. Moses’ mother hid him for three months; now you can’t keep a child hidden very long; but she was able to keep him hidden for three months, bravely opposing the edicts of the king. And when the writer of the book of Hebrews set up that great gallery of faith in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, and hung in that gallery all the people of sacred ...

2221. You Can’t Stop God

Luke 1:39-56

Illustration

Thomas Long

... the entire cell block vibrating with the sounds of a joyful gospel song. When they went to see what was happening, the prisoners triumphantly pushed the remaining mattresses through the cell bars, saying, 'You can take our mattresses, but you can't take our souls.'" Tom Long says, "It was the hymn singers who were in jail, but it was the jailers who were guilty. It was the prisoners who were suffering, but the jailers who were defeated. It was the prisoners who were in a position of weakness, but it was the ...

2222. The Word that Changed the World

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... are sixty, a year is one-sixtieth of your life. It is practically nothing at all. Our boys and girls think next Christmas is a long, long way off. Those of us who are older, know better. A cover on the magazine The New Yorker a few years ago says it ... The cover showed Father Time and the New Year Baby sledding together down a steep hill at great speed. Father Time, with his long beard flowing backwards behind his head, has an expression of panic, dread, terror and fright on his face. The New Year Baby, with ...

2223. Joshua People Always Look Forward With Hope

Joshua 1:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... this village as well as many of the other of the 3,000 distribution sites moms walked for miles with kids on their backs and in tow to receive these medical service and to receive a net. Many siblings, boys and girls, as young as 7, walked the long journey to bring their younger siblings while the moms were at home preparing for the next meal. They weren't just walking miles and waiting for hours in line to receive vaccinations and a net; they were waiting in line to receive life. Everyone who we were able ...

2224. Joshua People: Remember, Remind and Recommit

Joshua 24:14-18, 2 Peter 1:10-17

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. [13] I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, [14] since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ ... t mean God gave up. We need to remind ourselves and others that Jesus is still working. God will never take a vacation. As long as people seek God and even when the quit seeking God, God will continue to seek them. God in Christ is looking for people ...

2225. Superman: More Than A Super Hero

John 1:1-5, 9-14; John 13:31-32; John 20:30-31

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... to rely on our own power or the power of this world, the power of worldly, fictional heroes we're like the little boy who received a Superman cape for his birthday. Ecstatic, he donned the cape and ran as fast as he could around the backyard. It wasn't long, though, before he came back into the house with the cape in his hand. In disgust, he threw it on the floor and in anger said, "This thing doesn't work." (5) B. One of the things Brian Singer and the writers of Superman and every other comic book that ...

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