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E. Carver Mcgriff

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Bible Study

SermonStudio

How To Read The Bible -- Luke 24:32 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
It is above all through the Bible, the book of the Word revealed and incarnate, that God speaks,
Was Jesus Really Divine? -- John 10:30 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
He comes to us as one unknown, without a name, as of old by the lakeside He came to those who kne
What About Miracles? -- Matthew 12:39 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
It is, therefore, inaccurate to define a miracle as something that breaks the laws of nature.
Why Do We Have To Suffer? -- 1 Peter 2:19 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail.
Why Do We Speak Of The Trinity? -- John 15:26 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
God's power of creation is given to us through the Holy Spirit.
Does God Help Us? -- John 14:16 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
The reason I can't help thinking of God is because God is here.
Can Prayer Change Things? -- Matthew 7:7 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
Let's stop making prayer profound, theological, and subject to traditional patterns.
What Does The Bible Mean By "Sin"? -- Romans 3:23-24 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
I fall back dazzled at beholding myself, all rosy red, at having, I myself, caused the sun to ris
What About Praying For Loved Ones? -- Colossians 4:3 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
Jesus prayed for others ...-- B. Harvie Branscomb* * *
Is There A Hell? -- Matthew 3:12b -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
One of the most pathetic aspects of human history is that every civilization expresses itself mos
Do We Have To Go To Church? -- Matthew 4:10b -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
The church is that place in human society where men are disturbed by the word of the eternal God,
What About Inclusive Language? -- Matthew 6:9 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
If, through omission or commission, I have inadvertently displayed any sexist, racist, culturalis
Jesus And Family Life -- Matthew 19:14 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
Mama, just look at me one minute as though you really saw me ...
Would Jesus Allow Divorce Today? -- Matthew 6:14 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
The experience of falling in love probably must have as one of its characteristics the illusion t
What About Homosexuality? -- Luke 6:21b -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
Do good and stop talking.-- Motto of the Waldensians in a small church in Italy
Is There Life After We Die? -- John 6:47 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
To live is to risk dying. I'm ready for it.

Preaching

SermonStudio

Third Sunday In Lent -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 55:1-9 (C)
Proper 9 -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: 2 Kings 5:1-14 (C)
Fourth Sunday In Lent -- Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Proper 10 -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Amos 7:7-17 (C)
Fifth Sunday In Lent -- Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 43:16-21 (C, RC, E)
Proper 11 -- Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Amos 8:1-12 (C)
Sunday Of The Passion (Palm Sunday) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Proper 13 -- Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Hosea 11:1-11 (C)
Maundy Thursday / Holy Thursday -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Proper 14 -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 (C)
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Good Friday - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 52:13--53:12 (C, RC, E)
Fourth Sunday In Advent -- Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
The Resurrection Of Our Lord (Easter Day) -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Easter Day - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
The Transfiguration Of Our Lord -- Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Third Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 9:1-16 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Proper 7 -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 8:26-39 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a (C)
Fourth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 9:36-43 (C)
Second Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4-8 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 5:27-32 (C)
Fifth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 11:1-18 (C)
Proper 12 -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Hosea 1:2-10 (C)
Sixth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 16:9-15 (C)
Proper 15 -- Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Luke 12:49-56 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 5:1-7 (C)
The Ascension Of Our Lord -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 1:1-11 (C, RC, E)
Proper 16 -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 1:4-10 (C)
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Sermon

SermonStudio

Doing The Right Thing -- Acts 1-11 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1999
A well-known businessman in this community was recently asked to do something for the United Method
Repentance: A New Relationship -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1999
There's a story about a convention of psychiatrists who had gathered in a large auditorium near Gran
Church As Redemptive Community -- Acts 4:32-35 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Some people aren't comfortable with this passage because it seems to them to be a forerunner of cert
Times Of Refreshing -- Acts 3:12-19 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Our text is part of a sermon preached by Peter following the healing of a crippled man.
Jesus: The Only Way To God? -- Acts 4:5-12 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
These words attributed to Peter, "There is salvation in no one else," raise a difficult issue.
Kindness In Action: Evangelism -- Acts 8:26-40 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Let's play Sherlock Holmes for a bit and see what deductions we can make about the characters in thi
The Sadness Of God -- Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel tells a haunting story from the concentration camps.
Rainbow In The Sky -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
"My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; so it is now ."
Rules For A Happy Life -- Exodus 20:1-17 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
America's premier Protestant preacher of the early part of this century, Dr.
Persevering In The Faith -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
Many years ago, a friend of mine remarked that several years earlier he and his wife had quit attend
Written On The Heart -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
A place to start with this passage is the use of the word "husband" by Jeremiah to describe the mess
Standing Firm -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1999
Some years ago, a Methodist Bishop of national reknown was asked to speak at an annual conference of
Wonderful Story -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
There's a great story being used in business circles to define the buzz-word "paradigm." It seems a
On Not Being First -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
We Americans have long had a love affair with winners.
Death Shall Be No More -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Easter Day - B -- 1999
Someone I love very much goes each year to a cemetery near her home, carrying a small teddy bear.
Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire -- Acts 10:44-48 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Charles Wesley began one of the Methodist Church's favorite hymns with this line: "Come Holy Ghost,
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 3
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4
36 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
3 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christmas!
27 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
3 – 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 crèche, or manger scene. Any size and style is fine as long as it includes shepherds. Have the creche set up before you begin.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” (vv. 13-14)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Isaiah 62:6-12
Isaiah proclaims, “Look, your savior comes.” We celebrate on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day the coming of our savior into the world – not as one full of power, but as a babe, vulnerable and human, as one born among us. Yes, God has great things in store for this babe, great lessons to teach us and for us to absorb as we watch this babe become a child and then a man. But in this quiet moment, this moment in a stable, born of indigent, immigrant parents, we see our own vulnerability portrayed in the Christ child.
Wayne Brouwer
There is a powerful scene in Herman Melville’s great epic, Moby Dick, where Captain Ahab stands peg-legged on the deck of the Pequod during a violent storm (chapter 119). His obsession with the White Whale has carried the craft and crew to exotic and frightening locales, and now it seems as if divine providence might be unleashing furious anger against this ill-fated quest.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For December 22, 2024:
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For December 22, 2024:

SermonStudio

Derl G. Keefer
I read an old legend about a Christmas party that Satan and his pack of demons were having in hell. As the demonic guests were departing, one laughed and grinned and sarcastically said to Satan, “Merry Christmas your majesty!” At that, Satan replied with a growl, “Yes, keep it merry. If they ever get serious about it, we’ll all be in trouble.”

Today the focus is all about the Messiah and we need to be serious about it. It is the birth of the baby Jesus, the Messiah. It is the coming of God…the doctrine of incarnation. It is the intervention of God’s presence among humanity.
Stephen P. McCutchan
... He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
-- Psalm 96:13

Gregory L. Tolle
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
James Evans
This psalm gives us the proper theme for a Christmas Day celebration: "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises" (v. 4).

Carlos Wilton
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see Christmas Day, Cycle A; see also Easter 7, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)

The lectionary includes two sets of readings for Christmas Day: those appointed for dawn services, and those appointed for services that take place later in the day. Psalm 97 is designated as one of these early-morning readings.

William Powell Tuck
Christmas is usually associated in our memory as a time of great joy. But for many it is also a time for cynicism. There are some people for whom Christmas is difficult. It is a time of struggle, depression, loneliness, and anxiety. There are more suicides during the holiday season than at any other time of the year. A comment by a woman in a nursing home indicates the feeling of some: "No one really cares. No one cares about me now.
Mark Wm. Radecke
Because Jesus was Mary's firstborn, there were four words that she and Joseph did not have to hear as they made the arduous trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Four words that make long journeys longer. Four words that strike terror in the hearts of parents of every time and every place. Four words from which even the youngest child seems to be able to craft a sentence: Are we there yet?

I am struck this year by the number of journeys the narratives of Jesus' birth and infancy entail:

* Mary and Joseph's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem;
Julia Ross Strope
Gathering music
Christmas medley

(Light the Christ candle.)

(Invite adults, children, and youth ahead of time to bring a favorite gift for a one-sentence show and tell.)

Greeting
Leader: Merry Christmas!

People: Merry Christmas!

Leader: Settle your Christmas gifts on the pew beside you and find the space within your minds and hearts to sing, pray, listen, and talk.
James R. Wilson


Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let us celebrate, for Christ our savior has been born!
People: Is our Messiah, the promised one, among us this day?
Leader: Surely I say unto you, Christ the Lord is with us even as we speak.
People: Are even sinners such as we welcome in Christ's kingdom?
Leader: Praise to the Lord God Almighty, for in Christ we are all welcome!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
After baby Jesus grew up to be a man, he got into terrible trouble, and wicked people killed him. But a good man called Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus's body gently in his own grave, which he'd made ready for when he should die. After that the wicked people searched for Joseph of Arimathea, and so he ran away from Jerusalem carrying with him a special cup like this one, which contained some of Jesus's holy blood.

Special Occasion

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