Login / Signup

Kenneth Cauthen

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Adult study

SermonStudio

The Approach: Does Thinking About Evil Help? -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1997
No statement, theological or otherwise, should be made that would not be credible in the presence of
Definitions And Distinctions: Being Clear About What We Mean -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1997
He died all alone in a little cabin far removed from his family.
The Meaning Of Freedom: Could We Do Better If Only We Would? -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1997
She was only sixteen years old when the court sentenced her to death for her crime.
The Meaning Of Sin: The Mystery Of Iniquity -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1997
Shortly after 9:00 a.m.
Injustice And The Demonic: Dealing With Unfairness And Getting Free From Bondage -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1997
"I don't care what the Bible says." He spoke in anger and exasperation.
The Tragic And The Ambiguous: Unavoidable Suffering, Irredeemable Loss, And Good Inseparable From Evil -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1997
The words stabbed me in the heart. They come back to me again and again.
God, Evil, And Hope: Opportunistic Love Overcoming Evil -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1997
I knew when I saw him coming that something was wrong. I didn't know the news was that bad.
It's Okay, Life Must Go On! -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1997
Here is a letter a father wrote to his children on the first anniversary of their mother's death.

Sermon

SermonStudio

Rejoicing In Life's "Melissa Moments" -- Matthew 17:1-8 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
What do you do with your mind when you are engaged in some routine task?
Living With The Weeds In The Wheat -- Matthew 13:24-30 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
Life is a mixture of good and evil. Experience and observation keep that fact before us.
One Of These Days1 -- Matthew 6:25-32, Psalm 103 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
It was not what he said.
Why Roman Soldiers Love The Sermon On The Mount -- Matthew 5:38-48, Matthew 26:6-13 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
Every now and then someone suggests that it would be wonderful if everyone lived by the Sermon on th
Jesus -- That Troublemaker! -- Matthew 10:34-42 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
His loyalty to Jesus got him into one predicament after another.
Two Ways To Get Crucified -- Matthew 27:33-44 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
A generation ago liberals learned that while segregationists might be wrong, they are not dumb.
Famous Unknowns -- 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
My title is an oxymoron. An oxymoron is an expression that appears to be self-contradictory.
The Amazing Dr. Hobbs -- And The Other Side Of The Story -- James 5:13-18 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
"I don't know how the universe works. I don't understand the great mysteries.
Lightning Bugs Over The Mudhole -- Psalm 103 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
The usual way is to speak of the problem of evil.
Risking Spirit -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Mark 14:22-26 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
A Communion Meditation
On Using The Bible With Integrity -- Philippians 3:12-16; 4:8-10 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
It happened in a large department store in Wilmington, Delaware.
Holding On And Pressing On -- Philippians 3:8-16; 4:8 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
Sometimes we Baptists make jokes about ourselves.
The Good Iranian -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
The only time I got a bit scared during the whole episode was when he told me he didn't know the way
The Reign Of Christ In A Complicated World -- Ephesians 1:15-23, Acts 1:6-11 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
Drugs, children killing children in schools, AIDS, terrorism, torture of dissidents, abortion, earth
Is It Any Fun Being Good? -- Romans 12:9-21, Psalm 1 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
An underground current in our thinking has it that being good is no fun at all.
Memories, Memories, Memories -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
Reflections For Maundy Thursday
The Deacons And The Demons -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
"I don't care what the Bible says." He spoke in anger and exasperation.
The Day God Cried -- Romans 1:18-32; 3:23-26; 5:6-11, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
She was only sixteen years old when the court sentenced her to death for her crime.
Why Do We Suffer? -- Job 1, Psalm 69 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
He died all alone in a little cabin far removed from his family.
Consolation In Suffering -- Romans 8:28-39 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
I knew when I saw him coming that something was wrong. I didn't know the news was that bad.
A Sermon For Saturday -- Matthew 27:46, Psalm 22 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
What do you do when there is nothing more you can do?
The Cross-Shaped Scar In The Heart Of God -- Genesis 6:5-8; 9:12-15 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
The words stabbed me in the heart. They come back to me again and again.
The Gospel In Six Words1 -- Romans 5:6-11, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
Bradley wanted to be good for nothing. His mother was. That was sufficient for him.
The Multiple Uses Of Grace -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Kenneth Cauthen -- 1993
You may have made use of a household oil having the brand name "3 in 1." It claims to clean, oil, an
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Maundy Thursday
15 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
11 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Good Friday
20 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter!
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
For April 20, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A bowl and a towel.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent

Have you ever gotten in trouble for not doing what you were supposed to do? (Let them respond.) Maybe it was something you were supposed to do at home, or maybe it was something you were supposed to do for someone else. Well, our story today is about the time Jesus’ friends didn’t do what Jesus told them they were supposed to do.
John Jamison
Activity: The Easter Game. See the note. 
John Jamison
Object: A box of Kleenex?

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

Today is the day we call Good Friday, and it is the day that Jesus died. What happened on Good Friday is the story I want to tell you about. It is a short story, but it is also a very sad story. (Show the Kleenex.) It is so sad that I brought a box of Kleenex with me in case we need it. Let’s hear our story together.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Acts 10:34-43
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Isaiah 65:17-25
The vision of Isaiah, the new heaven and new earth, a world we cannot begin to imagine, moves us from the sorrow of Good Friday and the waiting of Saturday, into the joy of the resurrection. Isaiah proclaims from God, “no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress.” What a moment, what a time that will be. What hope there is in this prophecy? God’s promises are laid out before us. God’s promises are proclaimed to us.
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
It’s unclear whether the original prophet is speaking about his own sufferings as a prophet bringing an unwanted word to people who want to believe all is well (and which could have led to severe physical punishment on the part of the authorities), or to the nation as the suffering servant who have suffered under the lash of a foreign oppressor, much as God’s people suffered under the Egyptians. These are legitimate interpretations, and perhaps there’s a bit of truth in all viewpoints.
Wayne Brouwer
When Canadian missionaries Don and Carol Richardson entered the world of the Sawi people in Irian Jaya in 1962, they were aware that culture shock awaited them. But the full impact of the tensions they faced didn’t become apparent until one challenging day.
David Kalas
What do you do on the night before God saves you? 

The children of Israel had been languishing in hopeless bondage for centuries. How many of them had lived and died under the taskmaster’s whip? How many of them had cried out to the Lord for help without seeing their prayers answered?  And so, as surely as their bodies were weighed down under the weight of their physical burdens, their spirits must also have been weighed down under years of bondage and despair.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
It is perhaps not widely known, but the Community Blood Center has a website that contains stories of blood recipients.  I spent some time on that website as I thought about this passage. One of the stories that struck me was Kristen’s. Kristen’s time of need came during the birth of her first child. After a smooth pregnancy, she experienced serious problems during delivery, which led to a massive hemorrhage. She needed transfusions immediately, and ended up receiving 28 units of platelets, plasma, and whole blood.

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. (v. 14)

Mary weeps as she comes to the tomb that first Easter morning. She weeps because her dearest friend is dead. When this friend comes up behind her she turns around and sees him, but she doesn't really see him. Do you know what I mean?

Mary thought Jesus was the gardener. She implores him, "Sir, if you have taken him away tell me where you have laid him…"  She sees him but she doesn't see him.
Peter Andrew Smith
I’m sorry but I have some bad news. John heard the words of the doctor again as he sat in the pew waiting for the service to start on Good Friday. He was at church because he was a regular and he hoped, he prayed that he could escape the rising fear and dread that had come from the medical appointment yesterday. The doctor had been sure there was no problem when John had told him the symptoms he was experiencing a couple of weeks ago. The doctor even told him to just ignore them as they were a sign of getting older.
John E. Sumwalt
In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ (v. 25)

I was seven years old, the same age as my grandson, Leonard, when I asked the big communion question in the barn while helping Dad, the first Leonard Sumwalt, milk cows in 1958.

SermonStudio

Bonnie Bates
All my life I have struggled with the concept of calling this day of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion as “good.” What could possibly be good about Jesus being arrested, tried, convicted, and crucified? How can we call this feast day “good”?
Wayne Brouwer
When I was a pastor in rural southern Alberta, we held our Easter Sunrise worship services in a cemetery. It was difficult to gather in the dark, since neither mountains nor forests hid the spring-time sun, and the high desert plains lay open to almost ceaselessly unclouded skies. Still, we mumbled in hushed whispers as we acknowledged one another, and saved our booming tones for the final rousing chorus of “Up from the grave he arose…!” We did not shake the earth as much as we hoped.
Dennis Koch
Gospel Theme:

Different paces and paths to resurrection faith

Gospel Note:
John here obviously mingles at least two Easter morning traditions, the one featuring Mary Magdalene and the other starring Peter and the beloved disciple. The overall effect, however, is to show three different paths and paces to resurrection faith: the unnamed disciple rushes to the empty tomb and comes to faith simply upon viewing it; Mary slowly but finally recognizes the risen Christ and believes; Peter, however, simply goes home, perhaps to await further evidence.
Pamela Urfer
Cast: Two Roman soldiers, FLAVIUS and LUCIUS, and an ANGEL

Length:
15 minutes

FLAVIUS and LUCIUS are seated on their stools, center stage.

FLAVIUS: (Complaining) What was all the hurry about for this burial? I don't understand why we had to rush.

LUCIUS:
(Distracted but agreeable) Hmmmm.

FLAVIUS: I don't know why I even ask. It's so typical of the military: Hurry up and wait.

LUCIUS:
True.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
The liturgy can start with a procession in which a child carries the Easter candle from the West end of the church to the altar at the East end, stopping at intervals to raise the candle high and cry, "Christ our Light". The people respond with "Alleluia!" All the candles in church are then lit from the Easter candle.

Call to worship:

The Lord is risen, he is risen indeed! Let us rejoice and be glad in him!

Invitation to confession:

Jesus, we turn to you.

Lord, have mercy.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL