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David E. Leininger

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Adult study

SermonStudio

God, The Father -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father...." Really?
God ... Almighty -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty...." Do you now?
Maker Of Heaven And Earth -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth...." No surprise.
Jesus Christ ... Our Lord -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son,
Suffered ... Dead ... Buried -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
He Descended Into Hell -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
He Rose Again -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
He Ascended -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
He Shall Come To Judge -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son
The Holy Ghost -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in the Holy Ghost...."
The Holy Catholic Church -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
We have stretched from the sublime, soaring through the heights of creation with almighty God; we ha
The Communion Of Saints -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of Saints...." Those last two
The Forgiveness Of Sins -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of
The Resurrection Of The Body -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
"I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of
The Life Everlasting -- David E. Leininger -- 2008
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him s

Biblical Study

SermonStudio

No False Witness -- Deuteronomy 19:16-21 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, the two men involved in the di
No Covetousness -- Matthew 6:24-33 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
No one can serve two masters.
No Stealing -- Exodus 22:1-4 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cat
No Adultery -- John 8:2-11 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he
No Murder -- Genesis 9:1-7 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill
Honoring Parents -- Mark 7:1-13 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jes
God's Name -- Matthew 5:33-37 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, "Do not break your oath, but keep
The Sabbath -- Mark 2:23--3:6 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they bega
No Idols! -- Isaiah 44:9-17 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.
One God, Only One -- Matthew 19:16-22 -- David E. Leininger -- 2007
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t

Illustration

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t

Preaching

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t

Sermon

SermonStudio

Christmas Construction -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- David E. Leininger -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Ancient Babylon is the setting for our text.
Do You Hear What I Hear? -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 -- David E. Leininger -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Years ago, a wise teacher of preachers advised us to prepare our sermons with the Bible in one hand

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t

Stories

StoryShare

Where Have All The Good Samaritans Gone? -- Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 1:1-14, Amos 7:7-17, Psalm 82 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2022
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Follow The Star -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Psalm 29 -- David E. Leininger, David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Rick McCracken-Bennett, Frank R. Fisher -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2022
Note: This installment was originally published in 2007.Contents

SermonStudio

Repressive Religion -- Luke 13:10-17 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2009
I wish it were not so, but it is. Religion can be horribly repressive sometimes.
A Faith That Makes A Difference -- Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2009
This familiar account of the conversion of the Philippian jailer begins with Paul and Silas curing t
When God Overdoes It -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2009
A couple of years ago, a fascinating book by Mitch Albom hit the bestseller lists, Tuesdays with
The Legacy Of Jesus -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- David E. Leininger -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2009
A certain widow expected to inherit all her late husband's wealth.
Eyes Up! -- Luke 21:25-36 -- David E. Leininger -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2009
A bit of a contrast, isn't it? The sweet strains of "Away In A Manger" followed by "...
A Faith That Matters Between Sundays -- Romans 3:19-28 -- David E. Leininger -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2009
On October 31, 1571, an Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther marched up to the castle churc
Choosing A God -- 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2009
For sheer drama, there is little in fact or fiction that can surpass the stories of Elijah in 1 King
The Speed Bump On The Road To Bethlehem -- Luke 3:1-6 -- David E. Leininger -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2009
In the movie Life Or Something Like It,1 every day at the corner of Fourth and Sanders in dow
Year-Round Christmas -- 1 Kings 17:1-24 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2009
"When elephants fight, the grass suffers." So goes an old African proverb.1 The elephants in questio
Ready Or Not, Here He Comes! -- Luke 3:7-18 -- David E. Leininger -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2009
John is an amazing character, isn't he? Not what we would expect as we come up to Christmas.
The Forgiveness Business -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2009
It's a wonderful story. At least, it is to me. Others might not like it so well.
The News From Nazareth -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- David E. Leininger -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2009
"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer...." We hear a lot about old Rudy these days.
Our Family Inheritance -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2009
We speak of being "baptized into Christ." Baptized ... wanna fight? Let's talk about baptism.
The Trouble With Stables -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- David E. Leininger -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2009
What do you know about stables? They are not pretty places. The light is not that good.
Lust -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2009
Remember the furor that arose a few years ago when Jimmy Carter was interviewed by Playboy ma
Silly Goose -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- David E. Leininger -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2009
Great words -- as succinct a description as can be found anywhere of what we are called to be and do
Greed -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2009
Scripture offers a wealth (if I may use that term) of material about greed, about the love of money
God's Picture -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- David E. Leininger -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2009
An old story has it that a little boy was feeling very lonesome for his father.
The Good Samaritan -- Luke 10:25-37 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2009
This is a familiar story.
The Gospel By Starlight -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2009
"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
A Tale Of Two Sisters -- Luke 10:38-42 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2009
With a title like "A Tale Of Two Sisters," this should open with something like, "It was the best of
Washed Clean -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- David E. Leininger -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2009
You may have seen the movie that came out several years ago called O Brother, Where Art Thou?
God's Plans -- Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 -- David E. Leininger -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2009
Martin Luther considered Psalm 118 his favorite. He wrote, "This is the psalm that I love ...

Worship

The Immediate Word

Clouded Vision -- Acts 1:1-11, Acts 16:16-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
There is an ancient apocryphal story about Jesus' arrival at the Pearly Gates following the As
Being A Neighbor In A World In Crisis -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
After the horrors of the first half of the twentieth century, many of us hoped that the human race h
Struggling With Depression -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is a depressing world out there.
The Uses and Abuses of Power -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We cannot read much in the newspaper or watch the evening news without encountering some reference t
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.

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