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John Jamison

John B. Jamison served as a pastor of United Methodist churches in Illinois for over twenty years. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as well as a masters and a Ph.D. in Education. John spent extended time studying in the Holy Land and uses that experience as a source for his sermons and children's sermons. John has written for radio and television, has authored three novels, and is an award-winning children’s book author. When he is not writing, John enjoys painting, gardening, playing the guitar, and spending time with his wife Patricia, their adult daughter, Tricia, and two grandchildren, Ben and Emily.

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Children's sermon

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True Light! -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2025
Object: A small candle and a bright flashlight.
Being Honest! -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2025
Object: A large paper bag with candy or stickers inside, depending on what you are
No Junk! -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- John Jamison -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2025
Object: A garbage bag. * * *
Quiet Time -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- John Jamison -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2024
Object: A hard-boiled egg, a teaspoon, and a bowl.
Just Me! -- John 6:1-21 -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2024
Object: Twelve baskets.
Jesus the Influencer! -- Mark 1:29-39 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2024
Object: A phone, iPad or tablet, or anything you could use to show examples of "inf
Bread of Life! -- John 6:24-35 -- John Jamison -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2024
Object: A basket filled with different kinds of bread.
Keeping Quiet! -- Mark 9:2-9 -- John Jamison -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2024
Object: Today’s story makes a great role-play experience.
Who Am I? -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- John Jamison -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2024
Object: A copy of a birth certificate.* * *
In Secret! -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John Jamison -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2024
Object: Three stacking cups.
Time Out! -- Mark 1:9-15 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: The object for this message is the Time-Out hand sign to use with the child
Bread From Heaven! -- John 6:51-58 -- John Jamison -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2024
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
Me! Me! Me! -- Mark 8:31-38 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: One piece of clear glass and one mirror.
Kind of Confusing! -- John 6:56-69 -- John Jamison -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2024
Object: A large wooden club and a winter jacket.* * *
Lips and Hearts! -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- John Jamison -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2024
Object: A drawing or photo of lips and a drawing or photos of a heart.
My Father's House! -- John 2:13-22 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: This message makes a good role play.
Influencers! -- Mark 7:24-37 -- John Jamison -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2024
Object: Fancy, dark sunglasses like a famous person might wear.
Light and Darkness! -- John 3:14-21 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: A copy of the
Now Is the Time! -- John 12:20-33 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: This message makes a great role play.
Picking Up Our Cross! -- Mark 8:27-38 -- John Jamison -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2024
Object: A small cross to give to each child.
She Did What She Could! -- Mark 11:1-11 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2024
Object: A small bottle with some perfumed oil in it.
The Great Debate! -- Mark 9:30-37 -- John Jamison -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2024
Object: A whiteboard, or large piece of paper you can write on.
Sore and Stinky Feet! -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John Jamison -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2024
Object: A box about one foot tall, as wide and long as you want to use, and a cushi
One of Us! -- Mark 9:38-50 -- John Jamison -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2024
Object: A pack of Post-It Notes® and a big piece of cardboard or board t
It Is Over! -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
Object: A big rock.* * *

Illustration

StoryShare

Child Sacrifice -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Sandra Herrmann, John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2011
Contents "Child Sacrifice" by Sandra Herrmann (Micah 6:1-8)

Sermon

SermonStudio

Actors -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John Jamison -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2015
Whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
Simple Faith? -- Mark 1:9-15 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
It all sounds so simple. It’s just so nice, so easy, and so straightforward; almost comfortable.
The Bethsaida Boys -- Mark 8:31-38 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
After Jesus was baptized by John, he went to spend time in the desert lands east of the Jordan River
Zeal! -- John 2:13-22 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Have you ever had one of those times when you had just had enough?
Rebirth -- John 3:14-21 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
The city of Jerusalem was packed with strangers during the Passover feast, so you could walk a long
Some Greeks -- John 12:20-33 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Jesus was back in Jerusalem for another Passover.
The Week -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Where It Ends -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John Jamison -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2015
All of the plans and preparation had been completed and they were all gathering together in the room
Out of Control -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Have You Ever Screwed Up? -- John 20:1-18 -- John Jamison -- Easter Day - B -- 2015
Have you ever screwed up? I mean, really, really screwed up?
Uncertain Certainties -- John 20:19-31 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
It was Sunday evening.
Fish Tales -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever had to sell an idea or a concept or a belief?
The Shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
He woke up just as the sun was peeking over the top of the mountains to the east, just as he had don
Tangled Up in the Vines -- John 15:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
This passage from John is one that has created great comfort for many people, and at the same time h
What a Friend -- John 15:9-17 -- John Jamison -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
In your mind, I’d like you to picture a good friend.
Travel Arrangements -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John Jamison -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2015
It was an amazing moment. Everything that had happened before now seemed to lead up to this.
Making Sense -- John 17:6-19 -- John Jamison -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with?
The Prodigal Father -- Romans 8:14-17 -- John Jamison -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2006
It wasn't their first fight. Like most fathers and sons they had their disagreements.
Boast Of That! -- Romans 5:1-5 -- John Jamison -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2006
He had been looking forward to Sunday afternoon all week.
The Dream -- Galatians 1:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2006
It was an October Monday morning.
My Earlier Life -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- John Jamison -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2006
You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism.
The Difference Between Knowing And Doing -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- John Jamison -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2006
It is difficult to be the church. What we have been asked to do here is not easy.

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The Week -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Making Sense -- John 17:6-19 -- John Jamison -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with?
Tangled Up in the Vines -- John 15:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
This passage from John is one that has created great comfort for many people, and at the same time h

Stories

StoryShare

Child Sacrifice -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Sandra Herrmann, John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2011
Contents "Child Sacrifice" by Sandra Herrmann (Micah 6:1-8)
The Reason For The Season -- Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 -- David E. Leininger, John Jamison -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week "The Reason for the Season" by David Leininger
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
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36 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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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 garbage bag.

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The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For January 12, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the logic of the church year, we have spent four weeks anticipating the coming of the Lord, followed by two that celebrate his arrival. Now, with the liturgical and seasonal remembrances of his birth and epiphany completed, we fast forward to his baptism. That is essentially what the gospels do, and we follow their lead.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Isaiah 43:1-7

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Ted looked out over the field behind his grandparent’s house and sighed. He tried to ignore the noise from the family gathering inside and concentrate on the trees next to the house. What was wrong with him? He had been so excited to be baptized, so enthusiastic about becoming a Christian and part of the church, and now that it was over all of that excitement seemed to evaporate. Had he made a mistake?

“What are you doing out here?” Sam asked from behind him.

Ted shrugged as his older brother joined him at the railing on the deck. “I just needed some air.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
I was very disturbed to read in the papers recently about those two teenage girls who both died, apparently in a suicide pact, just before Christmas.

I was even more disturbed to learn that one of the girls had developed a deep interest in things spiritual. The implication was that it was partly due to her unshakeable belief in the eternal nature of the soul and the continuation of life after death, that had encouraged her to take this terrible path.

SermonStudio

James Evans
The references in this psalm to God's appearance in the storm are strongly reminiscent of the creation narrative. The idea of the "Lord enthroned over the flood" (v. 10), connects with the image of God's presence "brooding over the waters."

Raising these images in connection with the baptism of Jesus, however, provides an opportunity to not only expand our thinking about baptism, but about creation as well.

Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
A certain physician started to practice medicine in a large city. His ambitions were strong and opportunities seemed plentiful there. Success was his right from the start. His practice became almost too large for him to handle. Fame and praise were heaped on him to overflowing. But he forgot that a doctor should do more than heal sick bodies. For this physician, a patient was only interesting if the sickness was interesting and then only as a stimulus to further his fame.
William G. Carter
One Saturday when I was seventeen or eighteen, I had an unusual religious experience. I was serving on my church's board of deacons, and one of the middle-aged members of the board was driving me around so we could drop in and visit some older members of our church.

This was during the late seventies, at a time when our congregation was going through some turmoil. A number of people had been caught up in the charismatic movement that was going through a numbexound that day was very involved in the movement.
Steven E. Albertin
I'm glad to see that so many of you are wearing your nametags this morning. We have been struggling for some time to get you to wear them and it seems as though our latest solution is working. Putting the nametag table right next to the greeters so that you can't miss them as you walk into the church seems to do the job. Having everyone wear nametags is important to us because at Christ Church we don't want people to feel anonymous, disconnected, alone. In this church relationships matter. Relationships are at the heart of what we are about.

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