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John E. Sumwalt

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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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StoryShare

A Lot Of Bull -- Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr., Craig Kelly, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "A Lot of Bull" by Alex Gondola
Free Stories/illustrations For Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 -- Luke 16:25 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
The Rich Man's Table By Rick McCracken-Bennett Luke 16:19-31
Looking For The Best -- Luke 12:32-40, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- Fanny Lee Seville, C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2007
What's Up This Week
The Ultimate Super Hero -- Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119:97-104 -- Fanny Lee Seville, Sandra Herrmann, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2007
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Ultimate Super Hero" by Fanny Lee Seville
A Thanksgiving Miracle -- John 6:25-35, Philippians 4:4-9, Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 100 -- John E. Sumwalt, Fanny Lee Seville, Timothy F. Merrill -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week "A Thanksgiving Miracle" by John Sumwalt
New Beginnings For A New Year -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Wayne Brouwer, John E. Sumwalt -- New Year's Day - A -- 2006
Contents What's Up This Week
Are You Waiting For Godot? -- Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Richard A. Jensen, John E. Sumwalt, Gregory Tolle, R.h. Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week
Blinding Light Or Illuminating Light? -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Psalm 126 -- Dallas A. Brauninger, John E. Sumwalt, Paul E. Flesner -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week
When The Big One Hits -- Matthew 18:21-35, Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12 -- John E. Sumwalt, Anne Le Bas, Steve Philip, Steven Fortney, Sue D'alessio -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week: "When the Big One Hits"
Dying For A Cookie -- Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Psalm 34:1-10, 22 -- Diane Henderson, John E. Sumwalt -- All Saints Day - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "Dying for a Cookie"
The Armor Of Light -- Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Psalm 149 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2005
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Seeking God -- Matthew 22:15-22, Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Psalm 99 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week Stories to Live By: "Seeking God"
Epitaphs -- Matthew 22:34-46, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 -- Marjorie K. Evans, John E. Sumwalt, Myron Talcott -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week Stories to Live By: "Epitaphs"
The Reformer -- Matthew 23:1-12, Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 -- Jo Perry-Sumwalt, Bonnie Compton Hanson, Victor Shepherd, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week
Dying For A Cookie -- Matthew 25:1-13, Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Psalm 78:1-7 -- Diane Henderson, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "Dying for a Cookie"
Home For Christmas -- Luke 1:26-38, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lisa Swanson Faleide, Charles W. Byrd, Edward W. Thorn, R.h. Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week
The King And The Maiden -- Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Psalm 96 -- Constance Berg, Frank R. Fisher, John E. Sumwalt, Paul Lintern, Stan Purdum -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2005
Contents What's Up for Christmas

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When The Big One Hits -- Matthew 18:21-35, Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12 -- John E. Sumwalt, Anne Le Bas, Steve Philip, Steven Fortney, Sue D'alessio -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week: "When the Big One Hits"

SermonStudio

That You May Not Grieve -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2004
John Sumwalt
Lambasting God -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-1 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2004
Maria Seifert
A Different Realm -- Psalm 123 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2004
Susan D. Jamison
An Unexpected Song -- Isaiah 49:1b, Psalm 40:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2004
Derrick Sanderson
Sufficient Grace -- 2 Corinthians 12:8, Psalm 46 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2004
Joyce Schroer
The Horse Whisperer -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2004
William Lee Rand
High And Lifted Up -- Romans 4:13-25 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2004
Laurie Woodard
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ash Wednesday
20 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
23 – Children's Sermons / Resources
16 – Worship Resources
19 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Lent 1
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Lent 2
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
35 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
There is an ancient legend first told by Christians living in the catacombs under the streets of Rome which pictures the day when Jesus went back to glory after finishing all his work on earth. The angel Gabriel meets Jesus in heaven and welcomes him home. “Lord,” he says, “Who have you left behind to carry on your work?”

Jesus tells him about the disciples, the little band of fishermen and farmers and housewives.

“But Lord,” says Gabriel, “what if they fail you?! What if they lose heart, or drop out?! What if things get too rough for them, and they let you down?!”
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Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Today interactions are handled through contracts. Contracts are legal agreements that involve work, services, or pay. Contracts can be (and sadly often are) broken when one party does not live up to the terms of the contract. Contracts are important, but they are not the way God interacted with Abraham. God’s way was deeper than the letter of the law on a contract.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. (v. 34)

Remember Pet Rocks? Some marketing genius in the mid-seventies packed rocks as pets that provided solid companionship and required next to no maintenance. The rocks came in boxes with ventilation holes and instructions for their care. Though the fad was short-lived, it lasted long enough to make its creator a millionaire.  And more recently, they’ve become a craze again in South Korea.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
As you all know, Terry Waite, the Archbishop of Canterbury's special envoy from 1980, was involved in negotiations to secure the release of hostages held in the Middle East. Between 1982 and the end of 1986, 14 hostages, for whom he was interceding, were released. But he himself was kidnapped in Beirut in January 1987 while involved in secret negotiations to win the release of hostages held in Lebanon, and he wasn't released until November 1991.

SermonStudio

David E. Leininger
The story of the transfiguration is one of those passages that have given the phrase "mountaintop experience" to our language. Peter, James, and John had joined Jesus and escaped from the crowd for some spiritual "R and R" up in the wilderness of (probably) Mount Hermon. Night had fallen and their eyes were heavy. Suddenly, they awoke with a start. Just yonder they saw Jesus take on something of a supernatural "glow" -- his face and clothes "as bright as a flash of lightning" (Luke 9:29). Then Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with the master.
George M. Bass
The Church Year Theological Clue
Gregory L. Tolle
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh -- my adversaries and foes -- they shall stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

Donald Charles Lacy
Boldness is necessary to accomplish ministry, especially that which is prophetic and points to judgment. Our dear Lord is boldly assertive and wants there to be no doubt about what his Father has sent him to accomplish. He provides both a lesson and model for us.

Our timidity in the face of odds is not becoming to those who profess to follow Christ. Only when it covers a determined soul for the faith is it in keeping with our commitment. Let's face it, some of the most timid souls in church can be downright raucous at athletic events!

Barbara Brokhoff
You have all made promises; and kept them, but some you have broken. Maybe you didn't intend to break it, but when the time came to fulfill it, it simply wasn't in your power to keep it. Or, upon re-thinking it, you decided it wasn't a good promise, so you reneged upon it.
And, you've had promises made to you; and they've been kept - some of them, but who has not been hurt by having a promise made, and then broken?

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