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David E. Leininger

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Bring Them To Me -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2007
The early church certainly liked this story -- it is the only miracle other than the resurrection th
God Cares About Justice -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2007
God cares about justice! Hardly a startling statement.
Swords Into Plowshares -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- David E. Leininger -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
September 11th.
Little Faith -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2007
If the gospel writer had not identified Peter as the one who wanted to walk on the water, we probabl
Church Fights -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2007
No one in the church today knows what Euodia and Syntyche were fighting about.
Payback Time -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2007
If there was ever anyone who had an excuse to look for revenge, it was Joseph.
One Nation, Under God -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2007
It is conventional wisdom that one must avoid talking about religion or politics if we want to stay
The Christian Family -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
George Burns once quipped, "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family ...
The God Of The Unlikely -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2007
Moses is one of the genuinely towering figures of the biblical story.
The Power Of Water -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- David E. Leininger -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
There is something powerful about water.
The Truth -- John 8:31-36 -- David E. Leininger -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2007
One of the first Bible verses my mother taught me when I was a little boy was "Lying lips are an abo
The Quintessential Evangelist -- John 1:29-42 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
With the decline of the mainline church, numerically, financially, and influentially, evangelism has
Memorial Day -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2007
The book of Joshua tells of Israel's conquest of Canaan, which appears to climax the long opening st
Fish Bait -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2007
A man was stopped by a game warden in a state park leaving a lake well known for its fishing, with t
Words Of Comfort -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2007
"Brothers [and sisters], we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve
Real Religion -- Micah 6:1-8 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2007
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice,
Talents -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2007
Three servants.
The Problem Of Hunger -- Isaiah 58:3-9a (9b-12) -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2007
The problem of hunger in the world never seems to go away.
Leaping Lepers -- Luke 17:11-19 -- David E. Leininger -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2007
Leaping lepers.
Planting And Watering -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2007
I am a Presbyterian Christian, and I am proud of my heritage.
To Die Is Gain -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- David E. Leininger -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2007
"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." So says the apostle Paul. Really?
Sunday Dinner -- Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2007
How many folks have tried to read the Bible all the way through but never were able to finish?
Family Resemblance -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- David E. Leininger -- All Saints Day - A -- 2007
The internet is a fascinating place to hang out.
Stuff -- Matthew 6:24-34 -- David E. Leininger -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - A -- 2007
Jesus' words about "stuff" hit us right where we live.
The Incredible Invitation -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- David E. Leininger -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2007
Imagine for a moment.

Worship

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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