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Richard A. Jensen

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The Immediate Word

I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All Flesh -- Acts 2.1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Day of Pentecost - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,

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Are You Waiting For Godot? -- Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Richard A. Jensen, John E. Sumwalt, Gregory Tolle, R.h. Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week

The Immediate Word

I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All Flesh -- Acts 2.1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Day of Pentecost - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,

Preaching

SermonStudio

Proper 27, Proper 28 -- Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We have chosen to discuss two texts together in one chapter.
Proper 27 Proper 28 -- Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We have chosen to discuss two texts together in one chapter.
Christ The King; Proper 29 -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We come to the end of the Church Year.
Resurrection Of The Lord -- Matthew 28:1-10 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Resurrection is the heart and climax of Matthew's story.
The Holy Trinity -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The closing verses of Matthew's Gospel include the Trinitarian formula in the call to go to all the
Christ The King -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We come to the end of the Church Year.
Advent 2 -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Enter John the Baptist. Matthew doesn't introduce this desert prophet until now.
Baptism Of The Lord; Epiphany 1 -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
This week's assigned Gospel story is a continuation of the story assigned for the Second Sunday in A
Proper 6 -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The appointed Gospel reading for this week begins with the words: "Then Jesus went about all the cit
Lent 1 -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The Gospel text appointed for this week has allusions to many, many stories throughout the Bible.
Proper 7 -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The Gospel assigned for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost comes out of the heart of Matthew 10.
Epiphany 3 -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
This week's Matthew text takes us from Part I to Part II in the outline of Matthew that we proposed
Proper 8 -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We come now to the final passage in the section of Matthew's Gospel which Robert Smith has called:
The Sermon On The Mount -- Matthew 5:1--7:27 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Our outline of Matthew's Gospel presented Matthew 1:1--4:16 as Part One which introduces Jesus of Na
Advent 3 -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
This week's Gospel text is our first big jump in Matthean order for this church year.
Proper 5 -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The Gospel text appointed for this week comes from Matthew 9.
Proper 9 -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The text appointed for this week omits 11:20-24.
Advent 2 -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Enter John the Baptist. Matthew doesn't introduce this desert prophet until now.
Proper 12 -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The whole of Jesus' discourse in parables in Matthew 13 demonstrates for us that Jesus did much of h
Baptism Of The Lord; Epiphany 1 -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
This week's assigned Gospel story is a continuation of the story assigned for the Second Sunday in A
Proper 13 -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We move this week from the parables of Jesus (last week's text was Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52) to Jesus
Lent 1 -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The Gospel text appointed for this week has allusions to many, many stories throughout the Bible.
Proper 14 -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Jesus is busy and active in this week's appointed text.
Epiphany 3 -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
This week's Matthew text takes us from Part I to Part II in the outline of Matthew that we proposed
Proper 15 -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The assigned Gospel text for this week skips over a couple of sections in Matthew's story.

Sermon

The Immediate Word

I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All Flesh -- Acts 2.1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Day of Pentecost - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,

Stories

StoryShare

Chasing Buzzards -- Luke 13:31-35, Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Psalm 27 -- C. David Mckirachan, Richard A. Jensen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Contents"Chasing Buzzards" by C. David McKirachan
Where's Jesus? -- John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Timothy F. Merrill, Constance Berg, Richard A. Jensen -- Easter Day - C -- 2013
Contents"Where's Jesus?" by Timothy F. Merrill
Fake Fire -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Timothy F. Merrill, Richard A. Jensen -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2012
Contents"Fake Fire" by Timothy Merrill
In That Day -- Luke 21:5-19, Isaiah 12, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Argile Smith, Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week "In That Day" by Argile Smith
Are You Waiting For Godot? -- Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Richard A. Jensen, John E. Sumwalt, Gregory Tolle, R.h. Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week

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Great Reversals -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1994
The theme of poverty, riches, possessions and the realm of God is a constant theme of Luke.
The Case Of A Grocery Store Fix -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
It happened just about every time she went shopping for groceries.
The Laughter Of Faith -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1994
God called Sarah, too!
The Wretched Of The Earth -- Luke 1:47-55 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
"Look down and see the beggars at your feet. Look down and show some mercy if you can.
The Faithful Harlot -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 1994
What's a bad girl like you doing in a list like this?
Jesus Must Be A Real Person! -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Richard A. Jensen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1994
A missionary worked some years ago among a very primitive group of people in Papua New Guinea.
A Bent Over Woman -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1994
The woman with the battered face.
The Uninvited -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 1994
"I was the guy that never got chosen by either side." The speaker of these words was a man by the na
Jesus, Remember Me -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1994
Sheila Stone had had the respect of everyone in her community.
Bearing The Cross -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 1994
At long last, Laura McDermott had fulfilled her lifelong dream.
A Shroud Unto Life -- Luke 24:1-12 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Easter Day - C -- 1994
Who will ever forget those first pictures?
The Joy Of God -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 1994
Dr. Yoshiro Ishida is an international church leader in the Lutheran Church.
''This Is My Body'' -- John 20:19-31 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1994
Tommy Russo tried and tried to go to church with his wife.
Final Payment -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 1994
The story of Mary Gordon's book, Final Payments begins with a funeral.
From All Nations, Tribes, Peoples, Languages -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1994
Mina lived in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Hear No Evil ... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 1994
Remains Of The Day is a powerful movie starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.
No More Tears -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1994
Can you imagine a four-year-old boy falling to his death from the 53rd floor of a New York City apar
Gospel Grandmothers -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 1994
United Church has a tradition. They were known for supporting their pastors very well.
God's Evangelism Plans -- Acts 16:16-34 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1994
The fall of Haile Selassie in 1974 did not bring the kind of peace that the Ethiopians had hoped mig
God Is Faithful To Godself -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 1994
His hands were surely trembling as he lifted his hammer to nail his theses to the door of the Castle

Worship

The Immediate Word

I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All Flesh -- Acts 2.1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Day of Pentecost - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,
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
and more...
Lent 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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

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

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
For March 30, 2025:

StoryShare

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

Mark Ellingsen
Joshua 5:9-12
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Joshua 9:5-12

SermonStudio

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.
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.
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

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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