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Arley K. Fadness

Arley K. Fadness is a retired ELCA pastor who has served numerous Lutheran parishes in South Dakota and Minnesota. He is currently a member of Custer Lutheran Fellowship in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Pastor Fadness is a congregational consultant who coaches churches in visioning processes, and he also conducts leadership retreats and workshops on “Finding Your True Flair.” A graduate of Augustana College, Luther Theological Seminary, and McCormick Theological Seminary, Fadness is the author of several CSS titles, including Blueprints For Advent and Christmas, Blueprints for Lent, Six Spiritual Needs in America Today, Holy Moses, Hey Joseph!, and Where’s Noah? He is also a contributing author to Sermons on the First Readings (Series I, Cycle A).
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Children's sermon

CSSPlus

The Right Treasure Chest -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2019
Hello kids,Thank you for joining me for this message I have just for you.
Making Plans -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2019
“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (v
Jesus Won! -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“Jesus answered him, It is said, 'do not put the Lord our God to the test.'”
Dancing Angels -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2019
“Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
Like A Mother Hen -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood un
One Master Only -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2019
“No slave can serve two masters...you cannot serve God and money.” (v.
Second Chances -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
 “Sir, let it alone for one more year...”
Start Seeing Lazarus -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2019
“Child, remember… Lazarus...” (v. 25a)
A Lost Boy Found! -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“he was lost and has been found.”
Extravagant Love -- John 12:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (v. 3b)
Do It, Jesus! -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2019
“The Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ ”  (v. 5)
The Parade That Fizzled -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2019
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (19:38a)
Beautiful Feet -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2019
“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one anoth
Gratitude Day -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2019
“He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (v. 16a)
The Day Jesus Died -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Good Friday - C -- 2019
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said,'it is finished,' then he bowed his head and
Mary's Amazing Surprise -- John 20:1-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Easter Day - C -- 2019
“I have seen the Lord.” (v. 18)
Never Quit Praying -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2019
“Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray and not lose heart.” (
Wonderful, Weird Things To Believe -- John 20:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“Thomas answered Him, 'my Lord and my God!'”
What Fun To Be Free! -- John 8:31-36 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2019
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (v. 36)
Breakfast At The Beach -- John 21:1-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“It is the Lord!”
Beggars And Braggers -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2019
“...all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (v.14b)
You're Safe! -- John 10:22-30 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.”
Bullies Begone! -- Luke 6:20-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- All Saints Day - C -- 2019
“Love your enemies...pray for them...do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Loving Arms -- John 13:31-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Jesus Finds Shorty -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2019
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (v. 10)

Drama

Sermon

SermonStudio

The Need to Feel that One Is Growing in Faith -- John 8:31-36 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 1997
Worship Aid
The Need for Practical Help in Developing -- Ephesians 4:11-16 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 1997
Worship Aid
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Lent 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Lent 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Lent 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A rock about the size of a tennis ball, baseball, or even a softball.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

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For March 30, 2025:

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Paul reread the parable again and sighed. Why had he agreed to lead the Bible study this week? When Pastor Luke asked him, he had been all excited and enthusiastic. He knew the parable of the prodigal son inside and out having read commentaries and stories about it before. He had actually preached a sermon on the passage when Pastor Luke was away and received great feedback from the congregation.

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Joshua 5:9-12
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Joshua 9:5-12

SermonStudio

Bonnie Bates
It is a well-known cliché that “God never gives us more than we can handle”, but I have sometimes found that not to be so. When my youngest brother died of brain cancer at age five, it was more than I could handle. When my first husband was emotionally and physically abusive, it was more than I could handle. When my second husband and I lost our twin sons at birth, it was more than I could handle. The COVID pandemic was more than we could handle. Wars and violence are often more than we can handle. Homelessness, poverty, grief, and loss are often more than we can handle.
John N. Brittain
I suppose we are all a little bit nervous about the prospect of a sermon on a Bible story as familiar and sometimes as overworked as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. "What can I possibly say that hasn't been said before?" And I know what's going through your minds: "Are we going to be subjected to the same old sermon yet another time?" Confronting a familiar Bible passage like this mid-Lent really serves to address the discipline of reading Scripture as part of our devotional life, particularly passages that are very familiar.
Charles D. Reeb
A. A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh, wrote a simple, yet telling poem in his work, Now We Are Six:

When I was One, I had just begun.
When I was Two, I was nearly new.
When I was Three, I was hardly Me.
When I was Four, I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I'm as clever as ever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.1

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to worship:

 While the Prodigal Son was still far off, his father saw him, ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. In our worship today, let us turn to God so that he may run to us, put his arms around and kiss us.

Invitation to confession:

 Jesus, for the times when we run away from you,

Lord, have mercy.

 Jesus, for the times when we have wasted our inheritance on dissolute living,

Christ, have mercy.

 Jesus, when we return to you,

Lord, have mercy.

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