Login / Signup

Elaine M. Ward

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Children's sermon

SermonStudio

Everywhere There Was God -- John 4:5-42 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
One day Jesus stopped at a well where he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water.
Samuel -- 1 Samuel 3 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once there was a boy called Samuel. Though Samuel was only a boy, he helped Eli in the temple.
The Glory Of God -- Psalm 19 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
It was a new church for Sam.
Intercession -- Matthew 5:43-48 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
There was once a man who dreamed of a beautiful home, and soon all of his time, energy, money, and a
God Is Great, God Is Good -- Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Every Sunday one of Betsy's parents drove into the circular drive of the church to deliver their chi
"Do Unto Others" -- Matthew 7:12 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once a week we go to the grocery store the day I get my allowance.
The Blessing Of God -- Psalm 133 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The psalmist says that God gives good gifts.
A Sunny Day -- Romans 8:26b -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
"It's raining!" Brad said, sadly.
The Christmas Tree -- John 1:5 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Martin Luther stood silently under the cold, starry night, surrounded by the fir and pine trees of t
Endless Peace -- Isaiah 9:7 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The children were playing happily in the room. The dogs barked. The cats meowed. The lions roared.
God's Mercy -- Psalm 51:1-17 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The psalms (Show the Psalms in the Bible.) were the prayer poems of the people.
Brother Lawrence -- Psalm 150:6 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The greasy, sticky pots and pans were piled precariously on the sink.
Good News -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
John the Baptist, preparing the way for Jesus, found himself in prison for telling the truth, and he
Balance -- Luke 5:15-16 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
A boy was walking down the road, tired, hungry, lonely, limping on his left foot.
God's Steadfast Love -- Psalm 66:8-20 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
One night a mother, praying with her daughter, asked her how she felt when she prayed.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses -- Luke 11:4 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once Abraham invited a beggar to his tent for a meal.
All God Does, God Does Well -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Some things we can't explain, and we call them mysteries and trust God's love no matter what.
Animals At The Manger -- Luke 2:8-16 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
(Children like to make noise.
Have Mercy Upon Us! -- Psalm 123 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The two-year-old was visiting her grandparents, and as they gathered around the table, holding hands
Teach Us To Pray -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
In our Bible story for today, Jesus went up the mountain by himself to pray.
When He's Here -- Psalm 23 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
It was Father's Day and the minister had gathered the children around him at the altar, including hi
A Little Child Shall Lead Them -- Isaiah 11:6 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
During the winter months the church offered shelter for the homeless: dinner in the evening, sleep a
The Lord's Prayer In "New Haven" -- Luke 11:2-4 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once upon a time in a town called "New Haven," the mother sat on her son's bed and they talked toget
Good Luck? Bad Luck? Who Knows? -- Psalm 78:1-7 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
An old Chinese farmer had an old horse for tilling his fields.
Treasures -- Matthew 6:19-21 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
A stone worn smoothIn a sweaty hand,A scrap of string,

Illustration

Sermon

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL