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Stephen M. Crotts

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Bible Study

SermonStudio

Nowhere Man? -- Psalm 1 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,
What Sort Of World Is This? -- Psalm 2 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? -- Psalm 2:1
How To Be Happy In An Unhappy World -- Psalm 8 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him?
Directions Included! -- Psalm 19 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. -- Psalm 19:7a
Intensive Care -- Part One -- Psalm 23:1-3 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures.
Intensive Care -- Part Two -- Psalm 23:4-6 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with m
At Peace In A Fearful World -- Psalm 27 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
Am I That Forgiven? -- Psalm 32 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgr
Blowing Away The Clouds Of Depression -- Psalm 42 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
The Good Now Days! -- Psalm 46, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. -- Psalm 46:1
No More Stingy Hosannas -- Psalm 107 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!
Forward, Retreat! -- Psalm 120 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
In my distress, I cry to the Lord, that he may answer me: "Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, f
How To Heal With Humor -- Psalm 126 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
The Mattress Gospel -- Psalm 127 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for h
Getting Away From It All To Get Back To It All -- Psalms 120-134 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2008
Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord! -- Psalm 134:2

Monologues

SermonStudio

William Bradford Speaks! -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2003
Willa Cather wrote, "The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or woman." And in a v
Christopher Columbus Speaks! -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2003
Five hundred years ago a man dreamed of reaching the east by sailing west.
Martin Luther Speaks! -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2003
On July 6, 1415, Prague preacher John Huss was led to the stake to be burned as a heretic.
Saint Patrick Speaks! -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2003
At one time nearly 100 years ago the nation of Ireland suffered a severe potato blight.
Saint Nicholas Speaks! -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2003
(Saint Nicholas, in his vestments, proceeds in to the beautiful taped fanfare of a Christmas song.
Paul Speaks! -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2003
His name is Saul, Hebrew meaning "loaned." He was named after an earlier Saul, the first king of Isr
Tenth Leper Speaks! -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2003
(Levi ben Judah walks into the nave in a three-piece suit, wearing a fedora and carrying a leather b

Sermon

SermonStudio

A Sense of Place -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2011
Novelist William Faulkner only knew about 100 square miles of rural Mississippi but he made it fasci
The Dangers of Being Religious -- John 8:31-36 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 2011
Jeff Foxworthy has made a career of telling redneck jokes.
How to Love God -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2011
In the rock opera Jesus Christ: Superstar, Mary Magdalene sings a song, "I Don't Know How to
Preview of Coming Attractions: The Second Coming -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2011
One summer my wife and I took a vacation week and went to a South Carolina beach just to relax.
Pontius Pilate on Trial -- John 18:33-37 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2011
Have you ever seen a warning sign at an old railroad crossing? "Stop! Look! Listen!" it reads.
Easter Now! -- John 11:32-44 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- All Saints Day - B -- 2011
In the cartoon Winnie the Pooh, someone asks Pooh Bear, "What's your favorite season?" "I like them
Love Actually -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2011
A young man visiting a very small town in Virginia struck up a conversation with an older gentleman
The One that Got Away -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2011
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good
Teach Your Dollars to Make More Sense! -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2011
And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury.
The End of Worry -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2011
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall dri
From Legalism To Obedience -- Matthew 5:17-20 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them b
Do The Old Rules Still Apply? -- Exodus 20:24, 7-8 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Of Logs And Specks ... -- Matthew 7:1-6 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion -- Matthew 5:21-26 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
You have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall b
Praying Through -- Matthew 7:7-11 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Adultery: Saying No And Knowing Why! -- Matthew 5:27 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery."-- Matthew 5:27
The Most Famous Thing Jesus Ever Said! -- Matthew 7:12 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
So, in everything, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this sums up the law an
Lust: The Fire Inside -- Matthew 5:27-30 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery wit
Door Number One Or Door Number Two? -- Matthew 7:13-14 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
Enter by the narrow gate.
Divorce: The Deadlock Of Wedlock -- Matthew 5:31-32 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
It was also said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce." But I s
The Heart Of The Matter -- Matthew 7:15-23 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
A Woman's Place -- Matthew 5:27 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
... everyone who looks at a woman....-- Matthew 5:27
The Measure Of Success -- Matthew 7:24-29 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built h
Don't Waste Your Breath! -- Matthew 5:33-37 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You shall not swear falsely, but shall
You Guys Are Really Gonna Be Different! -- Matthew 5:38-42 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- 2009
You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, D
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...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

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

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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