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David O. Bales

David Bales was a Presbyterian pastor for 33 years. He is a graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary. In addition to his ministry he also has taught college: World Religions, Ethics, Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek (lately at College of Idaho, Caldwell). He has been a freelance writer for Stephen Ministries. His sermons and articles have appeared in Interpretation, Lectionary Homiletics, Preaching the Great Texts and other publications. For a year he wrote the online column "In The Original: Insights from Greek and Hebrew for the Lectionary Passages." His books include: Gospel Subplots: Story Sermons of God's Grace, Toward Easter and Beyond, Scenes of Glory: Subplots of God's Long Story, and To the Cross and Beyond and Beyond: Cycle A Sermons for Lent and Easter. Dave has been a writer for the CSS online subscription, StoryShare, for five years. He can be reached at dobales.com.

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StoryShare

Beyond Comparison -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16 -- David O. Bales -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2018
Contents “Beyond Comparison” by David O. Bales
Failures For Jesus -- John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Mark 16:1-8 -- David O. Bales, John Fitzgerald -- Easter Day - B -- 2018
Contents “Failures For Jesus” by David O. Bales
Vows -- Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:25-31 -- David O. Bales -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Contents “Vows” by David O. Bales “Helena’s Touch” by David O. Bales
Of Prophets And Heifers -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, Psalm 20, Mark 4:26-34 -- David O. Bales, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2018
Contents “Of Prophets And Heifers” by David O. Bales
Serving Light -- Mark 6:1-13, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Psalm 48 -- David O. Bales, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2018
Contents “Serving Light” by David O. Bales
Prophetic Jitters -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- David O. Bales -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2018
Contents “Prophetic Jitters” by David O. Bales
Buzzkill -- Mark 9:30-37, Proverbs 31:10-31, Psalm 1 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2018
Contents “Buzzkill” by Keith Hewitt
Peter's Everything -- Mark 10:17-31, Hebrews 4:12-16 -- David O. Bales -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2018
Contents "Peter’s Everything" by David O. Bales
Blessings Of Unconventional Marriage -- Mark 12:38-44, Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Psalm 127 -- David O. Bales -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2018
Contents “Blessings Of Unconventional Marriage” by David O. Bales
Pilate's Point Of View -- John 18:33-37, Revelation 1:4b-8 -- David O. Bales -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2018
Contents “Pilate’s Point Of View” by David O. Bales
A Rainy Road To The Jordan -- Luke 3:7-18, Philippians 4:4-7 -- David O. Bales -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Contents “A Rainy Road To The Jordan” by David O. Bales
Aunt June's Thanksgiving -- Luke 17:11-19, Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Psalm 65 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2017
Contents "Aunt June’s Thanksgiving" by John Fitzgerald
The Conversation -- John 1:1-14, Psalm 98, Isaiah 52:7-10 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2017
Contents "The Conversation" by Keith Hewitt
Most Improved -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23), Psalm 100, Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- David O. Bales, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2017
Contents "Most Improved" by David O. Bales
Jesus And Religious Know-It-Alls -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Zechariah 9:9-12 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2017
Contents "Jesus And Religious Know-It-Alls" by David O. Bales
Moses: Prepared -- Romans 12:9-21, Exodus 3:1-15, Jeremiah 15:15-21 -- David O. Bales, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2017
Contents "Moses: Prepared" by David O. Bales "Re-call" by David O. Bales
If You Don't Forgive -- Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 14:1-12, Psalm 114, Psalm 103:1-13 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2017
Contents "If You Don’t Forgive" by David O. Bales
Late -- Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Psalm 23 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2017
Contents "Late" by David O. Bales
Incident In Jericho -- Matthew 23:1-12, Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 -- David O. Bales -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2017
Contents "Incident In Jericho" by David O. Bales
Honest, Not Courteous, Prayer -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- David O. Bales, John Fitzgerald -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2015
Contents "Honest, Not Courteous, Prayer" by David O. Bales
From The Redemption Of A King To A King Of Redemption -- John 18:33-37, 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8, Psalm 132:1-12 (13-18) -- Frank Ramirez, Sandra Herrmann, Zan W. Holmes Jr., David O. Bales -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2012
Contents"Render Unto Caesar" by Frank Ramirez
Render Unto Caesar -- Matthew 6:25-33, Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Psalm 126 -- Frank Ramirez, Sandra Herrmann, Zan W. Holmes Jr., David O. Bales -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2012
Contents"Render Unto Caesar" by Frank Ramirez

Free Access

Further Visions To Follow -- John 1:43-51, 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- David O. Bales, John Fitzgerald -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2018
Contents "Further Visions To Follow" by David O. Bales
Buzzkill -- Mark 9:30-37, Proverbs 31:10-31, Psalm 1 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2018
Contents “Buzzkill” by Keith Hewitt
The Conversation -- John 1:1-14, Psalm 98, Isaiah 52:7-10 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2017
Contents "The Conversation" by Keith Hewitt
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Baptism of Our Lord
29 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
40 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 2 | OT 2
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 3 | OT 3
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
Nazish Naseem
For February 1, 2026:
  • What the Lord Requires by Dean Feldmeyer. The world’s requirements are often complex and difficult. God’s requirements are simple and easy. Kinda.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the people how they could be blessed by God and experience God's kingdom. In our worship today let us explore the Sermon on the Mount.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I'm full of pride instead of being poor in spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I'm overbearing and pushy, instead of being meek.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I'm not exactly pure in heart.
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
Stories to Live By: "You Fool"/ "Us Who Are Being Saved"
Shining Moments: "A Comforting Dream" by Harold Klug
Good Stories: "Mercy, Mercy" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "The Souper Bowl of Caring" by Jo Perry-Sumwalt


What's Up This Week
by John Sumwalt

Sandra Herrmann
John Jamison
Contents
"Child Sacrifice" by Sandra Herrmann (Micah 6:1-8)
"Ka-Chang" by John B. Jamison (Matthew 5:1-12)


* * * * * * * *


Child Sacrifice
Sandra Herrmann
Micah 6:1-8

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles....
-- 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Micah 6:1--8 (C, E, L)
John N. Brittain
The other day I stumbled onto a Discovery Channel show about underwater archaeology (not basket weaving). The archaeologist described the process of identifying the probable location of an underwater wreck site, the grueling work involved in beginning the process, and the same kind of methodical work that characterizes all scientific archaeology. But then her eyes twinkled as she described the joy of uncovering the first artifact, or recognizing a significant discovery. And that of course is what it is all about, the final product of discovery.
Tony S. Everett
Late one night, Pastor Bill was driving home after spending the past 23 hours in the hospital with his wife, celebrating the birth of their son. It had been a glorious day. His wife was peacefully resting. His extended family was ecstatic. His son was healthy. Surely God was in heaven and all was right with the world.

Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
When I'm teaching a class, and want to get a discussion going, I often begin with something that's called a sentence stem. I start a sentence and let the participants complete it. This morning, if I were to ask you to complete this sentence, what would you say? "Happy are those who...." What would you use to complete the thought?
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: Demands On God
Message: All these demands don't make sense, God. Lauds, KDM
R. Glen Miles
What does God want from us? The answer is simple, but it is not easy to put into practice. What God wants is you. What God wants is me. God wants our whole selves. The prophet Micah makes it fairly clear that ultimately God does not care too much about religion and the things that come with it. Religion isn't a bad enterprise. It is okay as a way of reminding us about what God wants, but in the long run being good at religion is not what God desires. What God requires is us. It is simple to understand but not necessarily the thing we would offer to God first.
John B. Jamison
It was a strange sound. Some said it was a kind of "clanging" sound, while others said it was more of a "ka-ching," or more accurately, a "ka-chang!" It sounded like the result of metal hitting metal, which is exactly what it was.

In the valley off to the west from the hillside is a steep cliff rising up the face of Mount Arbel. The face of the cliff is covered with hundreds of caves, with no good way to get to them without climbing straight up the cliff. That's why the Zealots liked them. They were safe.
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
Prayer Of Dedication/Gathering
P: Our Lord Jesus calls each of us to a life of justice, kindness, and humility. We pray that in this hour before us our defenses would fall and your love would be set free within us.
Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit, your mercy knows no end.
C: Amen.

Intercessory Prayers

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
We have a prejudice in favor of things complex. Not that we necessarily desire complexity, but somehow we trust it more. We figure that complexity is the prevailing reality in our world, and so we feel obliged to be in touch with it. We would love to hear that this thing or that is really quite simple, but doctors, politicians, futurists, ethicists, economists -- and even some preachers -- keep discouraging us. It's actually quite complicated, we are told, and there is no simple answer.
People tend to say in times of personal or community disaster, "God works in mysterious ways." The point they are making is that when we can't figure out any logical answer to a situation, it must be the work of God. It is one way of making sense out of an inexplicable event.
Schuyler Rhodes
In 1993 brothers Tom and David Gardner began a financial information service they named The Motley Fool. Dressed in their trademark court jester hats, the motley fools can be seen and heard offering their advice and warnings concerning the stock market on a variety of talk shows and financial news channels.

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have spent time around babies? (let them answer) Babies are so cute when they are happy but hard to please when they are upset. Babies can't talk, can they? (let them answer) So when they don't get what they want they cry. When they are hungry they cry. When they are sleepy they cry. When a stranger tries to hold them they cry. How do we know if babies are sick, hungry, or tired? (let them answer) Most of the time a baby's mom can figure out what's wrong even when we can't.
Teachers or Parents: Have the children sit on the floor and pretend that they are on a mountaintop and learning at Jesus' feet. Ask: "How is this classroom different from classrooms you have seen?" "How is it like them?" Read various portions of the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5-7) that they might understand (such as Matthew 7:7-11 -- prayer; 7:12 -- the Golden Rule; 7:15 -- being true). Be careful -- many parts of the Sermon on the Mount are difficult for children to understand and may lead to great misunderstanding and perhaps fear.

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