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 2426 to 2450 of 3108 results

2426. Journey To The Cross II: Jesus And The Hemorrhaging Woman

Mark 5:21-43

Sermon

James W. Moore

One of my favorite authors today is a professor at Loyola University in Chicago. His name is Father John Powell. In addition to being a best-selling writer, he is also a highly popular lecturer, teacher, and counselor. In his book entitled Through The Eyes of Faith, he tells about his prison ministry. About once a month, he visits a prisoner in the state penitentiary. He describes how difficult that is for him personally… the atmosphere is dismal, dark, depressing… and charged with suspicion. However, on ...

2427. WHEN WINNING MEANS LOSING

Illustration

John H. Krahn

For the Christian, life is idyllic. As you embrace Christ, your problems become opportunities, heartaches turn into joys, and bad times fade into the past. Your career succeeds as it never has. Your relationship with those around you is enhanced. Unkind words once directed toward you no longer make their way to your ears. Temptation runs against you, then retreats in dismay. Money is no longer a problem, for you’ll have more than enough. Lovely flowers moving in the fresh breeze send their fragrance your ...

2428. GRASSHOPPERS

Illustration

John H. Krahn

Having spent some time in the wilderness, Moses sent out spies into the land of Canaan. They returned telling of people who were giants, of cities which were fortified, and of a land flowing with milk and honey. Caleb, a very godly man, said, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to conquer it." However, the majority of the spies replied, "Not against people as strong as they are, they would crush us. We were in our sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." If we perceive ...

2429. GUTS TO BE CHICKEN

Illustration

John H. Krahn

Anyone who thinks Christianity is for sissies doesn’t know very much about it. The teachings of Jesus Christ are most challenging. Once he said, "If you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other." On the surface it seems as though our Lord expects us to be cowardly. Can you imagine how his words sounded to the disciples? They were rugged men of the sea, not panty-waists. Looking deeper at his teaching, we see that Jesus Christ was calling forth from us a greater strength than hitting back. He suggests we ...

2430. The Gospel According to Christ’s Enemies

John 11:1-16

Sermon

Richard Hoefler

John begins his story, "A man named Lazarus, who lived in Bethany." "Lazarus" means "God helps," and "Bethany," some scholars suggest, is a figurative play on the word that means "House of Affliction."1 Thus the plot of the story is prepared for us. God helps a man in a house of affliction. All of us dwell in that same house, and our affliction is that, like Lazarus, one day we will die. We will be struck down, carried out, and placed in a tomb. It will be sealed with a stone of sorrow. And the haunting ...

2431. A Thinking Person’s Thankful Prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Raymond Gibson

Dr. Wayne Dehoney, a Baptist pastor in Louisville, Kentucky, tells of a college freshman who attended his first dormitory prayer meeting. Rather unexpectedly he was called upon to pray a sentence prayer. The young man had a slight speech defect which became pronounced when he was under pressure, and thus he prayed: "Lord, make us more thinkful for all our blessings." That young man prayed a better prayer than he realized. Our English word thank stems from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "think," and certainly ...

2432. Holy Handicap?

2 Cor 12:9

Sermon

Robert Noblett

Reserved parking in shopping malls, newly constructed ramps into public buildings, motorized wheelchairs, special hardware in restroom facilities, experts seen translating the spoken word into sign language for those in the television audience with hearing deficiencies, even monkeys trained to meet the everyday needs of paraplegics and quadriplegics - all are signs that we are, as a nation, becoming more sensitive to the special needs of the handicapped. Everywhere we go we are faced with reminders of ...

2433. Winners, Losers and the Gospel

Mt 16:25

Sermon

Robert Noblett

For those of us who have spent some time in the Buckeye State there was a sadness about the demise of Woody Hayes as chief helmsman of Ohio State Football. Hayes, during the final moments of the Gator Bowl between Ohio State and Clemson, had directed his right forearm toward the throat of Clemson player Charlie Bauman, who had just intercepted an Ohio pass and preserved a Clemson victory. Shortly thereafter, Hayes was fired for his behavior and a career marked by glory ended in disgrace. Really what ...

2434. THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Drama

Marcia Miller

The story of The Good Samaritan is written in Luke 10:30-35. The full explanation of this simple play is given by The Greeter within the first speeches of the play. It was written in this style so that it would be specific and not just a rewriting of the New Testament story that is so familiar. It is not a subtle theological approach; it is direct. But in its directness it is hoped that the discoursive language does not outweigh the entertainment value. CHARACTERS THE GREETER The Greeter can either be male ...

2435. The Guy With The Donkey

Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

There is an old story about a pastor who was having problems and decided to leave the ministry. But he ran into trouble finding another job. Finally, in desperation, he took a job at the local zoo. The gorilla had died, and since it had been the children's favorite animal, the zoo officials decided to put someone in a gorilla costume until a real replacement could be found. To the minister's surprise, he liked the job. He got lots of attention and could eat all he wanted. There was no stress--no deadlines ...

2436. Jesus Makes House Calls

Matthew 14:22-36

Sermon

John R. Brokhoff

Pentecost XII Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were ...

2437. Boomerang Words

Luke 6:37-42

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: A boomerang. Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever wished that people would mind their own business and leave you alone? Maybe that is too strong a way of saying it, but have you ever hoped that people would not notice what you did wrong, or stop picking on you for every little thing? I am sure that you have felt like this, but I wonder if you ever thought that other people sometimes think about you in the same way. Let me show you something that all of you have played with or seen someone ...

2438. Love of God, Self, and Neighbor

Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon

Jerry L. Schmalemberger

The religious people of Jesus’ day got together to try to trap Jesus with their questions. They asked him about paying taxes. They asked him about rising from death. We read today that they asked him what was the greatest commandment. The Jewish rabbis liked to distill the meaning of religion into little phrases like the ones we put on our Burma Shave signs. They had 632 laws and rules for the practice of their religion. They tried to break it down into a couple of inclusive commandments. "Teacher," he ...

2439. Justification and Reconciliation

Romans 3:21-31

Sermon Aid

T. A. Kantonen

Two fundamental and interrelated concepts in Paul’s message of salvation are justification and reconciliation. When the apostle speaks of salvation in terms of vicarious sacrifice and redemption, he is describing salvation as a purely objective salvation-occurrence. The saving sacrifice has already been made. The redemptive deed has already been done. The victory over the forces of evil has already been won. Justification and reconciliation, on the other hand, show how what Christ has done can become for ...

2440. EPISODE 5: THE FIFTH WEEK IN LENT

Drama

Robert Clausen

EPISODE 5: THE FIFTH WEEK IN LENT BISHOP GOVERNOR CAPTAIN JUDAS THOMAS MARY MAGDALENE JESUS JOHN PETER [The BISHOP and the GOVERNOR are together.] BISHOP: I thank you, Governor, for taking time to see me. GOVERNOR: My pleasure, Bishop. What’s on your mind? BISHOP: I bring you some information. GOVERNOR: Indeed. What kind? BISHOP: It pertains to the peace and welfare of the state. I’m sure you will be interested. GOVERNOR: It’s very possible. What’s it all about? BISHOP: It has to do with a religious ...

2441. A Vital Night Call

John 3:1-21

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

One of the things that pastors, doctors, fire-fighters, and police have in common that they all receive occasional night calls. And most pastors would agree that some of our most significant opportunities to help people have come in response to night-time calls, usually of an emergency nature. However, not all of our night calls are that significant. Dr. Robert Ozmont of First united Methodist Church in Atlanta received a call one night about 2:00 AM. He did not know the lady who called; she had found his ...

2442. A Reason For All To Be Thankful

Romans 8:28-39

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

One must be very careful with a Thanksgiving sermon. In the first place, not everyone feels thankful; and those who do are not thankful for the same things. In fact, one person's cause for thanksgiving could be another person's cause for gloom. I could illustrate that in the political realm, but I better not. I could illustrate that from the world of sports, but I don't think I need to. Some people are thankful for their jobs, while others despise their jobs but don't know where to find other employment. ...

2443. That Hallowed Name (The Third Commandment)

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

The coming Olympic Games to be held in Atlanta remind me of an Olympic gold medalist from Georgia. He is Paul Anderson of Tekoa, Georgia. Paul is the only American to ever win a gold medal in the heavyweight division of Olympic weight lifting. He is a dedicated Christian who for many years operated orphanages allover the Southeast. He traveled widely, putting on weight lifting demonstrations and witnessing for Jesus Christ. I recall some twenty years ago sitting on a wooden platform with ten other men and ...

2444. The Sabbath - Delightfully Different

Exodus 20:1-21, Mark 2:23-3:6

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

I grew up in a Methodist preacher's home. Papa was strict about the Sabbath Day. No work was allowed on Sundays. When Mama pointed out to him that cooking and cleaning were work, Papa knew he was cornered. So, he took us out to lunch on Sundays, but he felt bad about making the restaurant personnel work on the Sabbath. Papa did not like the idea of watching television on Sundays, but I noticed that he often peeped at the TV late on Sunday afternoons when his beloved Washington Redskins were playing ...

2445. Much Obliged

Hebrews 12:14-29, Psalm 116:1-19

Sermon

Bill Bouknight

There is a quaint expression that you often hear in the rural sections of our country. Instead of saying "thank you," folks say, "Much obliged." It's really a beautiful expression. "Much obliged" means that I am much obligated to you for what you have done for me. I want to declare that we are a "much obliged" people this morning. I call us to do exactly what that old beloved hymn from the brown Cokesbury hymnal advised, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God ...

2446. Abraham and the Meaning of Consecration

Genesis 22:1-19

Sermon

Don Yocom

If God has done His part, and we believe that He has, what then must we do to be fully consecrated Christians? The answer to this question is in God’s Word, and an illustration of it is the experience of Abraham on Mount Moriah with his son, Isaac. In the realm of spiritual living, we progress from the beginning works of faith to a deeper experience of surrender to God. We present ourselves, but God sanctifies. He is willing to give of His Spirit whenever we meet the test. Time and time again in the lives ...

2447. Remember Lot’s Wife

Luke 17:20-37

Sermon

Don Yocom

Judgment is a broader thing than we surmise. It reaches into the very substance of things in life. Actually, all of life comes under its scrutiny, for we are constantly being judged. Jesus was most popular when he fed the multitude, in his earlier ministry; but as he began to bear down in his preaching, people turned away to the extent that, at one time He asked His disciples if they, too, were going to leave Him. Jesus showed His knowledge of the Bible (the Old Testament in His day) by His reference to ...

2448. The Way I See It

Drama

Sarah Walton Miller

This skit, based on Luke 15:11-32, is a series of monologues in which each character gives his version of the conflict. The older brother has been made an older sister to show the story’s adaptability. Simple staging: four stools or chairs, so arranged that there is the illusion of isolation, each from the others. Always use any available levels. Actors, use your stools: stand by, sit or lean on them at will. Avoid eye contact with the other players. Freeze when not speaking. Characters are the FATHER, ...

2449. Family, Family, Who’s Got the Family

Drama

Sarah Walton Miller

Why not age-cast this skit? It will mean more to the teenagers. CAST: Barbara, age 15; Susan, age 6; Mother and Grandmother. PROPS: Chair for Grandmother and for Mother. Handwork for Grandmother. Doll and doll dress for Susan. Barbara’s necklace and lipstick. [GRANDMOTHER enters, sits and begins handwork. SUSAN enters, sits on floor to dress doll and put necklace on doll. In a moment MOTHER enters, sits wearily.] MOTHER: [sighing] What a day. GRANDMOTHER: You wear yourself out for nothing. Cleaning those ...

2450. People Who Wear Red...

Acts 10:34

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Some sticks of gum and some bright colored item of clothing. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have a favorite friend? All of you. How many of you like a certain kind of person, like good ball players or girlfriends who have lots of dolls? Almost all of you like some kinds of people better than others. Do you think that God likes some people better than others? It is an interesting question, and one that a lot of people have talked about for a long time. I like some people better than ...

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