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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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StoryShare

God's Ledger -- Mark 5:21-43, 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Psalm 130 -- Craig Kelly, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "God's Ledger" by Craig Kelly
The Third Heaven -- Mark 6:1-13, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Psalm 48 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Third Heaven" by David O. Bales
Friedensstadt -- Mark 12:38-44, Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Psalm 127 -- Keith Hewitt, C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Friedensstadt" by Keith Hewitt
The Lad's Miracle Of Sharing -- John 6:1-21, 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, Psalm 14 -- Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Come Away With Me -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23, Song of Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27, Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 -- Sandra Herrmann, Lamar Massingill, Larry Winebrenner, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Come Away With Me" by Sandra Herrmann
Blue Sky Thunder -- Mark 9:38-50, Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Psalm 124 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Blue Sky Thunder" by Keith Hewitt
Encounter In The Darkness -- John 14:1-14, 1 Peter 2:2-10, Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 -- Keith Hewitt, Scott Dalgarno, John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Encounter in the Darkness" by Keith Hewitt
Would That All Were Prophets -- Numbers 11:24-30, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
Free Stories/illustrations For Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 -- Genesis 22:1-2, Matthew 10:40-42 -- John E. Sumwalt, Craig Kelly -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Who Is In Favor of Child Sacrifice? by John Sumwalt
Turning Dirt! -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Romans 8:1-11, Genesis 25:19-34, Psalm 119:105-112 -- Bryan Meadows, John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Turning Dirt!" by Bryan Meadows
Hope On A Stick -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23), Romans 5:1-8, Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7), Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Hope on a Stick" by Keith Hewitt
It Was A Long Time Ago -- Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:1-8, Exodus 1:8--2:10, Psalm 124 -- David O. Bales, John E. Sumwalt, Craig Kelly -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "It was a Long Time Ago" by David O. Bales
A Stellar Calamity -- Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "A Stellar Calamity" by Frank Ramirez
The Unsecret Weapon -- Matthew 18:21-35, Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "The Unsecret Weapon" by Frank Ramirez
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
..
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: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?
  • Second Thoughts: The Helpers by Katy Stenta based on Amos 7:7-17.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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