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David Kalas

David Kalas is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Union Theological Seminary of Virginia. David has been a contributing writer for Emphasis Preaching Journal and has authored several books.
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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

We Wish You a Merry Baptism? -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- David Kalas -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2025
In the logic of the church year, we have spent four weeks anticipating the coming of the Lord, follo
An Unromantic View -- Luke 6:17-26, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- David Kalas -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2025
Valentine’s Day isn’t likely a prominent part of our liturgical calendar, and it doesn’t factor into
Do-Re-Mi Salvation -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- David Kalas -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
The charming and familiar song from “The Sound of Music” recognizes that reading begins with A-B-C a
Divine Recipe -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- David Kalas -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2025
What do you do on the night before God saves you? 
Under Attack -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- David Kalas -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2024
I asked the folks in my congregation once whether they struggled with sin.
Consider the Source -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- David Kalas -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2024
I was a young man and fairly new to the ministry.
Blameless and Upright, But... -- Mark 10:2-16, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- David Kalas -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2024
I heard a sad story today about a pastor whose church essentially had to close as a result of a scan
How Much I Love You -- Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 -- David Kalas -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2024
Young children are often fascinated by the effort to quantify love.
Lectionary With A View -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55), Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10 -- David Kalas -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2024
Not many things are quite as common — and, for that matter, quite as predictable — as the sunrise an
Hear Ye -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- David Kalas -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2024
Church announcements are an uphill battle. We print them in bulletins and newsletters.
When Good News is Inexplicable -- Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21 -- David Kalas -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
I spent a couple of days recently in a hospital room with a two-year-old grandson.
Our Three Course Meal -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- David Kalas -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2024
Perhaps your family, like mine, has certain traditional meals throughout the year.
The God of Fruition -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- David Kalas -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to b
Listening for a Motif -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17 -- David Kalas -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2024
In preaching about a certain passage once, I freely made reference to the Trinity.
Have a Heart -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43 -- David Kalas -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2024
Some years ago, a few of my kids and I embarked on a little exercise.
Jesus in the Middle -- Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 -- David Kalas -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2023
The medieval proverb declared that “all roads lead to Rome.” For a thousand years or so, Rome was t
What the Choir Needs to Hear -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- David Kalas -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2023
We have an idiom in our day that was born in the church but has worked its way into the broader cult
Rendezvous With God -- John 4:5-42, Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11 -- David Kalas -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023
A colleague of mine and I decided to meet one day for lunch.
A Love Relationship, More or Less -- John 18:1--19:42, Hebrews 10:16-25, Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- David Kalas -- Good Friday - A -- 2023
I have lived long enough to discover the truth of this principle time and again.
Living Toward a Destination -- John 14:1-14, Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- David Kalas -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023
Every day, multiple times a day, we are on our way somewhere.
What He Has to Say for Himself -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20 -- David Kalas -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2023
For so many Christians, including likely most of the people in our pews this Sunday, there are a han
Things That Need Fixing -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- David Kalas -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2023
Perhaps you have a list of things at home that need to be fixed, either when you get the time and op

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Divine Recipe -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- David Kalas -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2025
What do you do on the night before God saves you? 
Under Attack -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- David Kalas -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2024
I asked the folks in my congregation once whether they struggled with sin.
Listening for a Motif -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17 -- David Kalas -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2024
In preaching about a certain passage once, I freely made reference to the Trinity.

Sermon

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Prelude To A Sacrament -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- David Kalas -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2009
We have a table before us.
The Man Who Wasn't There -- Acts 16:9-15 -- David Kalas -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2009
I've never had a vision -- at least not of the sort that Paul had.
Heisman In The Hudson -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- David Kalas -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2009
In December of every year, the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City awards the coveted Heisman Tr
A Tale Of Two Peters -- Acts 5:27-32 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2009
When the curtain opens on Scene Two, we see a familiar scene.
Trumpet Medley -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- David Kalas -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2009
Listen to the sound of the trumpet. What do you hear?
Anatomy Of A Testimony -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- David Kalas -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2009
You see a man busily writing. His face reveals the intensity of his focus.
A Resume Of Righteousness -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2009
Statues don't perspire. The characters portrayed in stained-glass windows don't blink.
RSVP -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- David Kalas -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2009
When you and I send out invitations to events we are hosting, we typically include at the bottom of
Joshua's New Diet -- Joshua 5:9-12 -- David Kalas -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2009
What do you or your family pray at mealtime?
Profile Of A Savior -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- David Kalas -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2009
In the century and a half that cameras have been around, photographers have done us the great favor
That's Why We Call It Good -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- David Kalas -- Good Friday - C -- 2009
At the end of the day, God saw that it was good.
The Gospel According To Pronouns -- Acts 10:34-43 -- David Kalas -- Easter Day - C -- 2009
The gospel of Jesus Christ is personal.
God All Along -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) -- David Kalas -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2009
See him as he travels along the road to Damascus: the intensity in his eyes, the purposefulness of h
The Good Works We Leave Behind -- Acts 9:36-43 -- David Kalas -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2009
It's a poignant scene: the gathering place of mourners.
Look Who's Talking -- Acts 11:1-18 -- David Kalas -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2009
Professional sports has no statistic for measuring talking.
A Stupid Question -- Acts 1:1-11 -- David Kalas -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2009
Generous teachers sometimes assure their students that there is no such thing as a stupid question.
The Place Of Prayer -- Acts 16:16-34 -- David Kalas -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2009
"Where is the place of prayer?" they asked. "We're looking for the place of prayer."
A Match Made In Heaven -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- David Kalas -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2007
One of the great privileges of being a parish pastor is the opportunity to officiate at weddings.
A Blessing In Disguise -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- David Kalas -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2007
I wonder how many of us here are named after someone.
Do You See What I See? -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- David Kalas -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2007
In 1956, director/producer Cecil B.
Sentimental Slaves -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- David Kalas -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2007
Let me ask you to do a little remembering today.
The Proof Is In The Pudding -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- David Kalas -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2007
It is an incongruous scene: a multitude in the desert.
Appointment With Thunder -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- David Kalas -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2007
If you're like me, then you've spent your whole life in the church.

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The Man Who Wasn't There -- Acts 16:9-15 -- David Kalas -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2009
I've never had a vision -- at least not of the sort that Paul had.
The Gospel According To Pronouns -- Acts 10:34-43 -- David Kalas -- Easter Day - C -- 2009
The gospel of Jesus Christ is personal.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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When the curtain opens on Scene Two, we see a familiar scene. It is the austere, official chamber where the Sanhedrin hold court. The room is cold and intimidating. It feels even more so when the first characters begin to arrive on stage.

These are the members of the Sanhedrin: the leaders in the land who form the ruling council for the Jews of first-century Palestine. They are a distinguished looking group. They are well-dressed, well-manicured, and well-to-do. Their faces betray the seriousness of the purpose for which they have gathered.
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No cavalry rode to the rescue; this time the savior was technology. Here is how it happened. Longing for more intimate communication between preacher and congregation, the church purchased and installed a wireless microphone system. With an FM receiver in place and wearing a lapel microphone, the preacher could get out from behind the pulpit or lecturn and roam about, even into the midst of the congregation.

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