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John M. Braaten

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Marital Horticulture -- John M. Braaten -- 1997
____________ and ____________ we have gathered together this afternoon just for you.
One Husband's Counsel -- John M. Braaten -- 1997
____________ and ____________, what a marvelous day this is for us!
The Beauty Of Marriage -- John M. Braaten -- 1997
____________ and ____________, this is a very special day in your lives.
The Story Of The Scandalized Neighbors -- Luke 15:11-24 -- John M. Braaten -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
I don't know what this world is coming to.
Two R-Rated Stories -- John 8:1-11 -- John M. Braaten -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
We are going to look at two R-rated stories from the life of Christ this morning.
That's Our God For You! -- Luke 19:28-40 -- John M. Braaten -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1991
Palm Sunday is an event in Christ's life that many people, particularly young people, enjoy.
Portrait Of A Powerful Servant -- John 13:1-15 -- John M. Braaten -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1991
Jesus loved to paint portraits for the soul. He did it through his actions as well as his words.
The King Who Came To Die -- John 19:l6b-22 -- John M. Braaten -- Good Friday - C -- 1991
"The King of the Jews." That was the title which Pilate nailed above the cross where Jesus hung.
Beyond Togetherness -- John 17:20-26 -- John M. Braaten -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
There's a story which many of you have heard and it is a fitting introduction for our text.
Safe With The Shepherd -- John 10:22-30 -- John M. Braaten -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
Listening to a television talk-show one night I heard the cartoonist Jules Pfeiffer discussing a com
A Farewell Gift -- John 14:23-29 -- John M. Braaten -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
I have never liked saying "goodbye," it always elicits feelings of finality.
The Pitfalls Of Practicing Piety -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John M. Braaten -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 1991
I have never liked the word "beware." It always seems to be written in intimidating block letters wh
Good News From A Graveyard -- John 20:1-18 -- John M. Braaten -- Easter Day - C -- 1991
If wild applause was ever in order in the church, Easter is the time.
A Word For All Reasons -- John 20:19-31 -- John M. Braaten -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
Easter has happened.
Act III, Scene 2 -- John 21:1-14 -- John M. Braaten -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
Each year we in the church are involved in a great drama.
A Strange Kind Of Glory -- John 13:31-35 -- John M. Braaten -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
It is often difficult for Christians to get past the idea that those who have given themselves to th
The Greatest Wonder Of All! -- John 20:19-23 -- John M. Braaten -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1991
The celebration of Pentecost, with its mighty demonstration of power by the Holy Spirit, is a good t
Our Christian I.D. -- Luke 4:1-13 -- John M. Braaten -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
Given that you and I are reasonably good people, it probably does not amaze you to read that Jesus w
Finding Our Roots -- Luke 9:28-36 -- John M. Braaten -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
Ever since Alex Haley’s novel, Roots, hit the bookstands in the mid-70s, there has been an increasin
Planted For A Purpose -- Luke 13:1-13 -- John M. Braaten -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
A hole is blown open in the cargo area of a 747 jumbo jet, and nine people are sucked out and killed
Except We Become Like Children Death of a Twelve-year-old Boy -- Matthew 18:1-5 -- John M. Braaten, Anthology -- 1989
Preached at the funeral of a twelve-year-old boy who died of a congenital heart defect.
Never Separated Death of an Alzheimer's Victim -- Romans 8:31-39 -- John M. Braaten, Anthology -- 1989
Who shall separate us from the love of God?
Marital Horticulture -- John M. Braaten -- 1987
(Name) and (name) we have gathered together this afternoon just for you.
An Offer from God -- John M. Braaten -- 1987
(Name) and (name), you haven't exactly had what would be called a whirlwind romance.
The Crisis of Marriage -- John M. Braaten -- 1987
(Name) and (name), I rejoice with you today, and I know your families are pleased, too - glad that y
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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Martin Luther believed that the story of Paul’s conversion demonstrates that there is no need for special revelation. The reformer commented:

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I've recently spent several hours by the lakeside, for I've been in retreat this past week in the little village of Hemingford Grey, in Huntingdonshire. A great delight for me was to walk to the flooded gravel pits, sit on a bench in glorious sunshine, and watch the water birds. For me, that's a wonderful way to become very aware of the presence of God through the beauty of his created world. And sitting like that for several hours, doing nothing but watching and waiting, I can't help but absorb the peace which passes all understanding.

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When Beth was a teenager, she lived on the streets. She smoked cigarettes and drank beer and her parents had said that she had to choose: her friends or her family. Beth chose her friends and lived from house to house and eventually in homeless shelters. She barely avoided being raped at one point. About six months of shelter-hopping was all she could take, and she found a shelter that sponsored her until she took the GED. They told her she was brilliant: she was just bored and dissatisfied with the status quo. The shelter supervisors suggested she look into community college.
James Evans
(For alternative approaches, see Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B; and Proper 9/Pentecost 7/Ordinary Time 14, Cycle C.)

The main theme of this psalm is captured profoundly in the movement within a single verse: "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with morning" (v. 5). Casting life experiences between light and dark is not unique or novel, of course, but the poet's treatment of these themes offers some fertile ground for reflection.

Elizabeth Achtemeier
We have three different accounts of the conversion of Saul in the Gospel according to Luke (9:1-20; 22:6-16; 26:12-18). They differ in a few minor details, but essentially they are the same. In addition, Paul writes of his conversion in Galatians 1:11-16, and in 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 15:8-9, stating that at the time of his conversion on the road to Damascus, he saw the Lord. For Paul, that made him an apostle, equal to the twelve. An apostle, in Paul's thought, was one who had seen the risen Christ and had been sent to announce that good news.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
Once in a far-off land, there was a great king whose dominion extended far and wide. His power and authority were absolute. One day, as events would happen, a young man, a commoner, committed a grave offense against the king. In response, the king and his counselors gathered together to determine what should be done. They decided that since the offense was so grave and had been committed by a commoner against someone so august as the king, the only punishment that would satisfy justice was death.

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