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Derl G. Keefer

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Colonel Robert Green... -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Colonel Robert Green "Bob" Ingersoll was a lawyer, a Civil War veteran, political leader, and an ora
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 (2014) -- Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
Genesis 29:15-28
As a child coming... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2014
As a child coming home from school one afternoon, I heard my mother talking to someone.
John tells us that Jesus... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2014
John tells us that Jesus is the word who became flesh. He is God incarnate.
Dr. John Bowling, President of... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
Dr.
I was at a church... -- John 14:15-21 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
I was at a church service where the minister had a large glass jar resting on a stand.
Paul realized that the... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
Paul realized that the people he is communicating with would be facing a difficult world.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2014) -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany of Our Lord (2015) -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2014
Isaiah 60:1-6
The multitude that John saw... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Derl G. Keefer -- All Saints Day - A -- 2014
The multitude that John saw wearing white robes in his vision in this passage are holding palm branc
Sermon Illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2014) -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2014
Acts 1:1-11
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 (2014) -- Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
Genesis 32:22-31
During my seminary career... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Derl G. Keefer -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
During my seminary career, I was pastor of a rural church with a parsonage for us to live in.
This is Paul writing to the church... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2014
This is Paul writing to the church at Ephesus that Christ brings freedom and confidence to all who w
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2014) -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2014
Joshua 3:7-17
The power of the church... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2014
The power of the church is Christ.
Jacob is in hot water... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
Jacob is in hot water!
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2014) -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 -- Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Genesis 12:1-4a
Sermon Illustrations for Baptism of Our Lord (2015) -- Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2014
Genesis 1:1-5
Paul writes to the Thessalonians... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2014
Paul writes to the Thessalonians that he has been a messenger of encouragement to them and, in essen
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 5 (2014) -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 7:55-60
In this scripture... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
In this scripture Matthew paints the picture of a Christ who needed solitude after hearing of the de
The Hebrew word... -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Derl G. Keefer -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
The Hebrew word "blessed" suggests the idea of strength.
Just like the creation narrative... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- Derl G. Keefer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2014
Just like the creation narrative tells of the beginning of life so baptism is the symbol of God's be
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 (2014) -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2014
Joshua 24:1-3a

Preaching

Sermon

Stories

SermonStudio

Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
The Holy Spirit gives love, inspires eternal hope, and sets the spiritual captive free.
Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
The will to excel is through the Spirit from God.
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Fear
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Gossip
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Fear
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Government
Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
It is God's will that you should be filled with His Spirit and be controlled by His righteousness.
Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
The Holy Spirit is our defense attorney.
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Cross
Mom Is More Than A 3-Lettered Word -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Motherhood holds the keys to the soul.
Mom Is More Than A 3-Lettered Word -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
"The future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother." (Napoleon Bonaparte)
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Association
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Alcohol
Mom Is More Than A 3-Lettered Word -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
An old Jewish proverb says, "A child without a mother is like a door without a knob."
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Love Sign in a pet shop: "Love Guaranteed Forever." (Quoted by King Duncan)
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Success
Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
"I should as soon attempt to raise flowers if there were no atmosphere, or produce fruits if there w
Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
The Spirit, not chance, determines destiny.
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Following God's Plan
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Grace
Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
"The Comforter has come! The Comforter has come!
Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Holiness begins in God.
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Cross
Mom Is More Than A 3-Lettered Word -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
There is no joy like the joy that a mother puts in the heart of her children.
Mom Is More Than A 3-Lettered Word -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
President Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying, "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel m
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

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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
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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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