Login / Signup

John W. Clarke

John W. Clarke is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ who currently pastors First Congregational Church in Meriden, Connecticut. He is the author of What Good Is Christianity Anyhow?, A Quest for Silence, The View From the Cross, and Toward A Hope-Filled Life. Clarke is a graduate of Bangor Theological Seminary and Providence Theological Seminary (Otterburn, Manitoba, Canada).
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Bible Study

SermonStudio

Let’s Get Down To Basics -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
Hope has the potential of making all of us stronger and better focused.
Hope: How Is It Lived -- How Is It Visible? -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
For most people, the real impact of hope becomes visible when life decides to throw us a set of circ
Hope: An Expectation Of Something Yet To Be -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
Hope, as it has been pointed out, is in many ways the expectation that there is something yet to hap
Hope That Is Radical -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
When a Christian is asked, "Is hope real?" the answer should be apparent, but is it?
Our Hope Is A Forever Thing! -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
A little girl lived near a cemetery and often had to walk through it after dark.
Hope And The Power Of God's Presence -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
We must all come to terms with the reality that we can never understand the meaning of hope if that
Hopeful Understanding -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
Every time our human will trumps our need to discover God's will, we are in trouble.
Hope: Jesus -- And God's Loving Concern -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
We have established that hope goes hand in hand with a sense of knowing oneself.
Living Between Now And Not Yet -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted.
Preserving The Hope-Filled Life -- John W. Clarke -- 2008
For I can do everything with the hope of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

Sermon

SermonStudio

From the Courtroom to the Cross -- A King's Journey -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John W. Clarke -- Good Friday - B -- 2011
John records more details of the crucial events of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus than any other
Jesus and John at the Jordan -- Mark 1:9-15 -- John W. Clarke -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
Beginning in verse 9 Mark goes out of his way to communicate that Jesus quite literally went out of
Cleaning the Temple -- Cleansing Our Lives -- John 2:13-22 -- John W. Clarke -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
Having heard the gospel this morning let me introduce a word from Paul when he said to the church in
Should We Doubt Thomas? -- John 20:19-31 -- John W. Clarke -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2011
John's gospel has traced the development of unbelief, which culminated in Jesus' enemies crucifying
A Time Between Time -- John 17:6-19 -- John W. Clarke -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2011
Today is the last in the season of Eastertide.
Reflections of a Healthy Church -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John W. Clarke -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2011
Ascension Day is a good time for the Christian community to assess where it has been and where it is
Spiritual Discipline -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John W. Clarke -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2011
"Ashes, ashes, we all fall down," that refrain from a children's song says much in terms of the way
God's Love and You -- John 3:14-21 -- John W. Clarke -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
Let's begin this Fourth Sunday in Lent with our gospel reading for today.
A View from the Cross -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- John W. Clarke -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2011
In our text this morning we went to the place where Jesus Christ was crucified.
The Perfect Example to Follow -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John W. Clarke -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2011
As is often the case, John's gospel reports more of the contents of Jesus' instructions to his disci
The Gardens of Life -- John 20:1-18 -- John W. Clarke -- Easter Day - B -- 2011
I look forward to spring and I guess that we all do especially when we have had a hard winter.
What Is the Point? -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- John W. Clarke -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2011
What is the purpose of the church? Why was it established?
The Shepherd of Love -- John 10:11-18 -- John W. Clarke -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2011
As we continue our Easter journey, we are presented with an image that has stood the test of time.
Are We Withering on the Vine? -- John 15:1-8 -- John W. Clarke -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2011
Jesus made pronouncement statements in John's gospel.
Living a Joyful Life -- John 15:9-17 -- John W. Clarke -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2011
Throughout this Easter season we have talked about the importance of staying connected to Jesus even
Life Lived in Glory -- John 12:20-33 -- John W. Clarke -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
Today our Lenten journey takes us to a festival and attending the festival are some Greeks.
Expectations and a Cross -- Mark 8:31-38 -- John W. Clarke -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
These verses from Mark's gospel are a call to commitment, a call to sacrifice, and a call to give up
Gratitude -- A State Of Mind -- Luke 17:11-19 -- John W. Clarke -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2006
Today's Gospel Reading reminds us once again that Jesus' journey has a destination.
Lean On Me -- Luke 18:1-8 -- John W. Clarke -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2006
One of the tangible benefits of reading the Bible is that we discover that God calls people to servi
Prayer -- What's In It For You? -- Luke 18:9-14 -- John W. Clarke -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2006
The Gospel Lesson for this day is the familiar story about the tax collector and the Pharisee.
A Tax Collector Becomes Rich -- Luke 19:1-10 -- John W. Clarke -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2006
This chapter of Luke brings us ever closer to the end of Jesus' public ministry.
Putting Eternity To The Test -- Luke 20:27-38 -- John W. Clarke -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2006
Today's Gospel Lesson is one that is troubling if you care about fairness.

Free Access

The Perfect Example to Follow -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John W. Clarke -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2011
As is often the case, John's gospel reports more of the contents of Jesus' instructions to his disci
Are We Withering on the Vine? -- John 15:1-8 -- John W. Clarke -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2011
Jesus made pronouncement statements in John's gospel.
Reflections of a Healthy Church -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John W. Clarke -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2011
Ascension Day is a good time for the Christian community to assess where it has been and where it is
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For July 6, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
Carlos Wilton
(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

April Yamasaki
A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL