Login / Signup

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).
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Children's sermon

CSSPlus

Listen! -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2017
Let anyone with ears listen!  (v. 9)Good morning boys and girls,
Wheat And Weeds Separated -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2017
...The Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; bu
The Kingdom Of Surprises -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2017
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the
Saving Hands -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2017
“...and he cried out, “Lord save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and saved him.”
Great Faith -- Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2017
Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith!
You are Jesus -- that's for sure! -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2017
Simon Peter answered, “You are Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (v.16)
Tug-O-Love -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be don
A Box Of Forgiveness -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2017
...how often should I forgive?....seventy-seven times...(v. 21b, 21b)
Math – Jesus' Style -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2017
...I chose to give to this last the same as I give to you...so the last will be first and th
The Very Best Of All -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2017
“The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most
All Are Welcome -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2017
“and gathered all whom he found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with gues
A Trick Question Exposed -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2017
“...give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperors and to God the things tha
The Greatest Commandment Of All -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2017
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
Always Be Prepared! -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2017
“Keep awake therefore...” (v. 13a)Good morning girls and boys,
Using The Jewel(s) Inside Of You -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2017
“well done, good and trustworthy slave...” (v. 23b)
Seeing Jesus Today -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2017
“...come you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you...” (v.
Someone's Coming -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
“The One who is more powerful than I is coming.” (v. 7a)
A Voice shouts "Straighten up" -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'made straight the way of the Lord.'” (
The Very Very Best Gift of all -- Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2017
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and laid him in a manger, because there was no roo
Growing up tall, smart and loved -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2017
“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom and the favor of God was upon him.” (v

Free Access

Tug-O-Love -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be don
A Trick Question Exposed -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2017
“...give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperors and to God the things tha
Always Be Prepared! -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2017
“Keep awake therefore...” (v. 13a)Good morning girls and boys,

Drama

Sermon

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

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
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.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Joshua 5:9-12
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL