Mary Austin

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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

Birthing Hope -- Matthew 16:13-20, Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Psalm 124, Isaiah 51:1-6, Psalm 138 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2023

For August 27, 2023:

The Authentic Me -- Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28, Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2023

For September 3, 2023:

The Antidote to Fear -- John 20:19-31, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Psalm 16 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For April 16, 2023:

Empathy and Encouragement -- Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14, Ezekiel 33:7-11, Psalm 119:33-40, Psalm 149 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2023

For September 10, 2023:

Walking with Hope In Your Heart -- Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Elena Delhagen -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For April 23, 2023:

Will the Good Shepherd be Stopping By Soon? -- John 10:1-10, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, Psalm 23 -- Mary Austin, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Elena Delhagen, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For April 30, 2023:

You Want Too Much, Jesus -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35, Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 114, Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2023

For September 17, 2023:

The Spirit of Mothering -- John 14:15-21, Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, Psalm 66:8-20 -- Elena Delhagen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For May 14, 2023:

Mission: Control -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Psalm 19, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46, Isaiah 5:1-7 -- Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Katy Stenta, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2023

For October 8, 2023:

Jesus' Thoughts and Prayers -- John 17:1-11, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, Acts 1:6-14, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For May 21, 2023:

The Wild and Crazy Wedding Feast -- Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Exodus 32:1-14, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Isaiah 25:1-9, Psalm 23 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2023

For October 15, 2023:

We Are the Holders of Hands -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22, Psalm 9 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2023

For October 22, 2023:

Dare We Hope For Peace? -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17, Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18, Psalm 1 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2023

For October 29, 2023:

Jesus Gives the Job Description -- Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12, Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A, All Saints Day - A -- 2023

For November 1/5, 2023:

The Door is Closed -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13, Amos 5:18-24, Psalm 70 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2023

For November 12, 2023:

Awakened by Hope -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023

For December 3, 2023:

Obedient to Dreams -- Matthew 2:13-23, Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18, Psalm 148 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2023

For January 1, 2023:

Mea Culpa -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023

For December 10, 2023:

Immersed in Righteousness -- Matthew 3:13-17, Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 29 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2023

For January 8, 2023:

What Are You Really, Really Looking For? -- Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Katy Stenta -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2023

For January 15, 2023:

The World Turned Upside Down -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023

For December 17, 2023:

At Home in Capernaum -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2023

For January 22, 2023:

All Means All -- Psalm 96, Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:26-38 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B, The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2023

For December 24/25, 2023:

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Beyond the Rule -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023

For January 29, 2023:

Three Is a Magic Number -- Matthew 28:16-20, Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Psalm 8 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2023

For June 4, 2023:

Illustration

The Immediate Word

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An Alternative Language -- John 20:19-23, John 7:37-39, Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Numbers 11:24-30, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2023

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For January 29, 2023:

Jesus' Feedback Sandwich -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), Psalm 112:1-9 (10), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2023

For February 5, 2023:

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Jesus Hits Pause -- Genesis 12:1-9, Psalm 33:1-12, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2023

For June 11, 2023:

God Makes Room For Us -- Matthew 17:1-9, Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Psalm 2, Psalm 99 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2023

For February 19, 2023:

Preaching

The Immediate Word

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Sermon

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Worship

The Immediate Word

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

Lent 2

20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...

Lent 3

34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Lent 4

30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

Two Sons

John Jamison

Object: A rock about the size of a tennis ball, baseball, or even a softball.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

What is Forgiveness?

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin

For March 30, 2025:

What Is Forgiveness? by Dean Feldmeyer based on Luke 15:1-3,11b-32
Second Thoughts: Reconciling Christ by Katy Stenta based on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.
Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin and Chris Keating.
Worship resources by George Reed.

StoryShare

The Old, Old Story

Peter Andrew Smith

Paul reread the parable again and sighed. Why had he agreed to lead the Bible study this week? When Pastor Luke asked him, he had been all excited and enthusiastic. He knew the parable of the prodigal son inside and out having read commentaries and stories about it before. He had actually preached a sermon on the passage when Pastor Luke was away and received great feedback from the congregation.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

God Saves Us By His Grace!

Mark Ellingsen

Joshua 5:9-12

Sermon Illustrations for Lent 4 (2025)

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen

Joshua 9:5-12

SermonStudio

Seeking The Presence Of God

Bonnie Bates

It is a well-known cliché that “God never gives us more than we can handle”, but I have sometimes found that not to be so. When my youngest brother died of brain cancer at age five, it was more than I could handle. When my first husband was emotionally and physically abusive, it was more than I could handle. When my second husband and I lost our twin sons at birth, it was more than I could handle. The COVID pandemic was more than we could handle. Wars and violence are often more than we can handle. Homelessness, poverty, grief, and loss are often more than we can handle.

Where Am I?

John N. Brittain

I suppose we are all a little bit nervous about the prospect of a sermon on a Bible story as familiar and sometimes as overworked as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. "What can I possibly say that hasn't been said before?" And I know what's going through your minds: "Are we going to be subjected to the same old sermon yet another time?" Confronting a familiar Bible passage like this mid-Lent really serves to address the discipline of reading Scripture as part of our devotional life, particularly passages that are very familiar.

A Happy Ending

Charles D. Reeb

A. A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh, wrote a simple, yet telling poem in his work, Now We Are Six:

When I was One, I had just begun.
When I was Two, I was nearly new.
When I was Three, I was hardly Me.
When I was Four, I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I'm as clever as ever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.1

The Village Shepherd

The Wandering Minstrel

Janice B. Scott

Call to worship:

While the Prodigal Son was still far off, his father saw him, ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. In our worship today, let us turn to God so that he may run to us, put his arms around and kiss us.

Invitation to confession:

Jesus, for the times when we run away from you,

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, for the times when we have wasted our inheritance on dissolute living,

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, when we return to you,

Lord, have mercy.

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John Jamison

Dean FeldmeyerKaty StentaThomas WilladsenChristopher KeatingGeorge ReedMary Austin

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Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen