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John E. Sumwalt

John E. Sumwalt is a retired United Methodist pastor and the author of nine books for CSS Publishing Company, including How to Preach the Miracles and the Vision Stories series. He and his wife, Joanne Perry-Sumwalt, were the original editors of StoryShare. John is an acclaimed storyteller. He writes a weekly spiritual column for several Wisconsin newspapers.
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Waking Up to Racism -- John 15:9-17, Psalm 98 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Contents“Waking Up to Racism” by John Sumwalt
The Doghouse at the White House -- Mark 7:24-37, Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2021
Contents “The Doghouse at the White House” by Frank Ramirez
Speaking Tender -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2021
Contents“Speaking Tender” by John Sumwalt
The Real Messenger -- Malachi 3:1-4, Philippians 1:3-11 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
Contents “The Real Messenger” by Frank Ramirez
Yes, God Speaks to Us Directly -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Psalm 62:5-12 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2021
Contents “Yes, God Speaks to Us Directly” by John Sumwalt
Pause, Sign, Ponder, Reflect -- Psalm 4, 1 John 3:1-7 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Contents"Pause, Sign, Ponder, Reflect" by Frank Ramirez
Wrong Way Reitway -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, Psalm 126 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
Contents “Wrong Way Reitway” by John Sumwalt

StoryShare

Wrong Way Reitway -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, Psalm 126 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
Contents “Wrong Way Reitway” by John Sumwalt
Think And Let Think -- Luke 12:32-40, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2016
Contents "Think and Let Think" by John Sumwalt
Would Your Church Be Missed? -- Luke 17:5-10, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26 -- John E. Sumwalt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2016
Contents "Would Your Church Be Missed?" by John Sumwalt
The Shining -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a), Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Psalm 99 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2016
Contents "The Shining" by Keith Hewitt
Ringing Without A Permit -- John 20:19-31, Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, Psalm 118:14-29, Revelation 1:4-8 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
Contents "Ringing Without a Permit" by John Sumwalt
How Can Things Be Better? -- John 2:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Psalm 36:5-10 -- Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2013
Contents"How Can Things Be Better?" by Lamar Massingill
Prodigal Parents -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32 -- John E. Sumwalt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Contents"Prodigal Parents" by John Sumwalt
The Blindness -- John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, Psalm 30 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Contents"The Blindness" by Keith Hewitt
The Cost Of Standing Up For God -- John 17:20-26, Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, Psalm 97 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Contents"The Cost of Standing Up for God" by Frank Ramirez
The Bishop's Shining Face -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a), Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Psalm 99 -- John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2013
Contents"The Bishop's Shining Face" by John Sumwalt
Ruining A Good Funeral -- Luke 7:11-17, 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24), Galatians 1:11-24, Psalm 146 -- C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2013
Contents"Ruining a Good Funeral" by C. David McKirachan
This The Judgment Of God? -- Luke 10:38-42, Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Psalm 52 -- Sandra Herrmann, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2013
Contents"This the Judgment of God?" by Sandra Herrmann
Preaching Enhancing Drugs -- Luke 12:32-40, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2013
Contents"Preaching Enhancing Drugs" by John Sumwalt
The Amen Code -- Luke 15:1-10, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Psalm 14 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
Contents"The Amen Code" by Frank Ramirez "Gun Stories" by John Sumwalt
Knowing No Limits -- Luke 21:5-19, Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 12 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2013
Contents"Knowing No Limits" by Frank Ramirez
A Christmas Reminder -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Contents"A Christmas Reminder" by John Sumwalt
No More War On Christmas -- Luke 3:7-18, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Isaiah 12:2-6 -- John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Contents"No More War on Christmas" by John Sumwalt
Cousins -- Mark 1:9-15, Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Psalm 25:1-10 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
Contents"Cousins" by Keith Hewitt "A Crying Shame" by John Sumwalt
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For November 16, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wild fires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

Scott Suskovic
Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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