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 2226 to 2250 of 5000 results

2226. Philemon 1:1-20

Philemon 1:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... canonical letter to Philemon aptly demonstrates Paul's mastery of this communication form, leaving us little doubt about the outcome of this thorny situation. At the outset Paul reminds Philemon that he is part of a "beloved" community, a community identified by its love for one another. Paul not only identifies Philemon as a companionable friend, but as an equally active co-worker for the cause of Christ with Paul himself. Like Paul, then, Philemon is designated as one who is working to bring the gospel ...

2227. The Most Stubborn Man in the Bible

Jonah 3:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity . . .” Can you believe that? Jonah was upset that God had changed his mind about destroying Nineveh he was so angry that he asked God to take his life so angry that he literally wanted to die. Then Jonah went out on a ...

2228. Jesus Baptism and Ours

Isaiah 42:1-9

Sermon

Mike Ripski

... child, God’s Beloved, and this child brings God pleasure.” The purpose of the Church is to declare this to be the truth and to help very child of God to be convinced it is the truth by making it experientially so. When we know Who loves us and enjoys us, a Light that cannot be extinguished is lit within us that shines through us. One of our United Methodist historically Black Colleges, Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, is the setting for the movie, “The Debaters.” It’s about the black college’s ...

2229. Proper 18

Proverbs 22:1-16, Mark 7:24-37, James 2:1-13

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

... is sound, we buy stock in it. If we believe in the church, we will support it. If we believe in God, we will obey him in loving our neighbor. PREACHING POSSIBILITIES Gospel: Mark 7:24-37 1. Do touch me! (7:32-33). Need: In this instance Jesus used touching to heal. He ... Christ, we can relax, for he takes away our hangups. Outline: Be opened – a. Open your mind to truth. b. Open your heart to love. 3. Why did he sigh? (7:34). Need: After he touched the deaf man, he looked to heaven in prayer and then Jesus ...

2230. A Life of Trust

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Sermon

King Duncan

... it doesn’t matter. If you hug Curt, Curt will hug you back. He can’t tell you how he feels, so instead he cries out in delight. Everyone around him takes care of him. He thinks the entire universe was made as his sandbox. Every person that meets him loves him,” says Nelson. “He’s got great big eyes. If you ask him a question and he can figure it out, he’ll give you a little double take [as if to say] ‘Yeah, I know what you’re saying.’ And if you say something that delights him, he cackles ...

2231. Easter 5

Psalm 148:1-14, John 13:31-35, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... with all your saints, we give thanks to you and bless your name. Use your church in the power of the Spirit to do more great things for the renewal of your world and all humanity, through Jesus Christ. Amen. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND COMMEMORATION Loving God, you so loved the world that you gave your only Son Jesus for its salvation. You have taught us to pray for all kinds of people in all kinds of circumstances, so hear us as we exercise the priestly role with which you have entrusted us. Great Physician ...

2232. Second Sunday after the Epiphany

1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-12, Psalm 36:1-12, John 2:1-11

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... of Christ our Lord. Send forth your Spirit of truth upon your church throughout the world that all who confess your name may agree in the truth of your Word in writing and especially in the Word made flesh. May we live purely, honestly, and in godly love that Christ may be glorified. Accompany the messengers of the gospel to every land, and uphold them that they may uplift Christ and hasten the promised time when all people shall know you, their God and Savior. God of all nations, bless our nation that true ...

2233. “Bad Form” and Bad Jesus

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... that calls us today to break down barriers in this twenty-first century world. Jesus did not come to make us into “Christians.” Jesus came to create a new humanity and to show us how to be authentically human. A new humanity that can live in love and relationship with God as God intended, and with each other. The story of the First Adam is the story of brokenness and separation from God. The story of the Second Adam, the Last Adam, Jesus the Christ, is the story of a new creation, a new humanity, and ...

2234. Bad Form and Bad Jesus

Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

2235. Me - A - Missionary?

Acts 1:8

Sermon

James Merritt

... basis of everything we are going to be talking about over the next two weeks. The first is the word "God". The second is the word "loved" and the third is the word "world." If you want to know why God is a mission-minded God and if you want to know why ... people just like you and me. I told you last week, there is no "plan b" for God to reach this world and to show His love except us. Either we will be his witnesses or there will be no witness. Think about this: Christ alone can save the world, but Christ ...

2236. American Idol

Exodus 20:4-6

Sermon

James Merritt

... was, "Why waste time worshipping a created god when you could worship the creator God?" Let me ask you a point blank question. What is your idol? If you are not sure whether you have one or not, answer two questions. First of all, "What do you love the most?" I heard about a wife who had just had all she could take of football. For week and weeks and weeks, her husband had been glued to the television every Saturday and every Sunday completely ignoring his wife. One weekend she had enough, she planted ...

2237. The King and His Castle

Matthew 16:13-18

Sermon

James Merritt

... . That is why the church is called a body, and Jesus is called the head. That is why the church is called the bride and Jesus is called the groom. That is why the church is called the building and Jesus is called the foundation. You cannot love one if you do not love the other. But notice what else Jesus said, "...and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (v.18) Now think about that. Jesus said even hell won't be able to stop His building program. If you think about it you realize that gates are ...

2238. A Day of Singing

Zephaniah 3:14-20, Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... and rejoice with all your heart . . . Verse 17 of this same chapter says something even more interesting. Listen very carefully to this: “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Did you get that? God takes such delight in us that God sings over us. I can visualize a mother hovering over a crib singing quietly to her newborn infant. Can you imagine God singing over us? Can you hear ...

2239. Cordially Yours

Mark 12:41-44

Illustration

King Duncan

... that would make more of an impression. So he gave the telegraph operator a message to send. The message was this: "I love you. I love you. I love you. John." The telegraph operator said, "Son, for the same amount of money you can send one more word." So he amended his message and it read like this: "I love you. I love you. I love you. Cordially, John." Many of us profess our love for God, "I love you, I love you, I love you," but when push comes to shove our devotion is more like "cordially" than it is ...

2240. No 2nd Class Citizens

Galatians 4:4-7

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... for his own funeral. I promise you." That father did a good job of labeling each of his children with their faults and mistakes. Those tapes will play over and over in their heads and hearts and souls. And people do that to each of us, and to those we love all the time. They remind us of our weaknesses, our failures, our errors, our sins, and for some reason, they won't let us live them down. The Good News is that our heavenly Father is not like that. In Galatians 4:4-7 (NRSV) Paul writes: [4] But when ...

2241. Leaving ‘Last Chance’ Heading For ‘Needmore’

Romans 12:9-11

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... and despondency. They don't know that God is a God of Second Chances, not Last Chances. They don't know that God wants to love them not thump them on the head. They don't know that God wants the best for each us, and isn't trying to make ... we need in our daily Christian walks. All of us, especially those folks leaving "Last Chance," Need More Hope; Need More Faith; Need More Love and Grace and Mercy so we don't slip back into that "Last Chance" mentality. Slipping back into that "Last Chance" mentality is a ...

2242. Harmony and Humor: The Ties That Bind Christianity’s Many Christianities

Luke 4:14-30

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... despair. From city streets, the cries of grief rise up to hills above; In all the sorrow, pain and death, where are you, God of love? 2. A woman sifts through rubble; a man has lost his home, A hungry, orphaned toddler sobs, for she is now alone. Where are you ... sing them if we were honest: I Surrender Some There Shall Be Sprinkles of Blessings Fill My Spoon, Lord Oh, How I Like Jesus I Love to Talk About Telling the Story Take My Life and Let Me Be It is My Secret What God Can Do There is Scattered Cloudiness ...

2243. Thanks for the Memories

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... now sought to honor her parents in all things. She started cleaning her room, putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. It didn’t take long for her parents to notice and to ask “What’s happened to you? You are different.” Love does make people different. This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. And this is my prayer: that your discernment will be pure. So that you will be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day ...

2244. Is God For Real? (Series: Read Faith For Real People)

Acts 17:16-34

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... .” That Christians or Muslims would consider any war to be holy is a training ground for relentless evil. What have we who believe in God done to the God in whom we believe? The Apostle John had a better idea, “Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love” (I John 4:8). Last September, I preached among the ruins of a church were John penned these words. John was old then, probably in his nineties. As I preached, I kept thinking how this disciple who knew Jesus up close and personal ...

2245. The NFL of Grace

Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon

Billy D. Strayhorn

... us have run in the wrong direction at some point. But because of the forgiveness of Christ, the game is only half over. We don't have to give up. Jesus is God's way of getting rid of a bad reputation. The Nudging Grace of God whispers God's love to us, and the Forgiving Grace of God gives us a second chance. III. Leading Once we've accepted that Forgiving Grace. God's Leading Grace takes over, leading us into a life that everyday becomes more and more like the life of Jesus. That's what the disciples did ...

2246. The Most Powerful Word

John 13:31-35

Illustration

Margaret Guenther

... each other as brother and sister. We glared at each other and marveled at her naiveté. The idea of loving somebody because we were supposed to boggled our minds. We have cheapened love by using the word carelessly. We have confused the sentimentality of the Hallmark card with the deep, dark mystery of love that is manifested for us in the incarnate Christ. Yes, love can be warm, enfolding and sheltering. Yes, love can feel good. But love can also be strong and difficult. It can be an impossible challenge.

2247. Who Will Cast the First Stone?

John 7:45--8:11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... even closer home and probe deeper our own disposition. Why is it that we find it so easy to judge and condemn, so difficult to love and forgive when we know that that is the only way of redemption? I’m not talking about criminals and prisons now. I’m talking ... evil and pain and darkness and sin in our life and in the life of the world. Listen — we never know whose love and prayers, whose fidelity to faithfulness and righteousness is giving us the guidance and the strength we need in the present moment, ...

2248. The Calling of Our Baptism

Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 28:18-20

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... don’t believe you can make a round trip from the airport to Brentwood and back to the airport in 30 minutes, I am here to tell you it can be done. I just don’t recommend it. At baptism we are claimed as children of God. Who is more loved than a baby surrounded by family and a community of faith being marked as a child of God? What is more meaningful than an adult who suddenly realizes that they belong to God and that they should come home to claim their true identity? The Church never gets better than ...

2249. What is the Future of Marriage?

Mark 12:18-27

Sermon

J. Howard Olds

... you go home and read the Bible?” she asked. I did. Once you leave the paradise of Eden, the Bible gets messy when it comes to marriage. When Sarah couldn’t have children, she insisted that Abraham sleep with her handmaiden, Hagar, whom she later hated. Jacob loved Rachel, but he had to marry Leah first because she was the oldest of Laban’s daughters. King David had several wives, but that did not keep him from having an affair with a married woman by the name of Bathsheba. King Solomon had a harem of ...

2250. The Real Real Estate

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the rest of his days? But this rich farmer had no investment in relationship with God or with others in his community. In Jesus’ parable the rich man only talks to himself. Why? Because he is the only person he truly cares about. He loves his “stuff.” He loves himself. The rest of the world, its people, its problems, are none of his concern. He believes that by increasing his worldly wealth he will assure himself a long, carefree existence. The truth is this: What the rich man guaranteed was that he ...

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