Thomas Willadsen

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The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently Transitional Pastor at a Trinity Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Springfield, Missouri.

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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

The Dreams We Have for Children -- Matthew 2:13-23, Hebrews 2:10-18, Isaiah 63:7-9, Psalm 148 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2019

For December 29, 2019:

No Longer As a Slave -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2019

For September 8, 2019:

God Activates -- John 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2019

For January 20, 2018:

Ecological Jeremiad -- Luke 15:1-10, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, Psalm 14 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2019

For September 15, 2019:

Dishonest to Some, Clever to Others -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13, Psalm 79:1-9 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2019

For September 22, 2019:

What are We Doing Here? -- Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2019

For January 27, 2019:

The Backfire Effect -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2019

For September 29, 2019:

Allowance for New Ideas -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2019

For February 3, 2019:

By The Rivers Of Babylon -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 66:1-12 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2019

For October 13, 2019:

Preach or Plow? -- Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), Psalm 138 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2019

For February 10, 2019:

That's the Power of Love -- Luke 6:17-26, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2019

For February 17, 2019:

Getting a Pass, or a Second Chance? -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50, Luke 6:27-38, Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Ron Love, Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2019

For February 24, 2019:

Nevertheless, He Resisted -- Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 119:97-104 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2019

For October 20, 2019:

Fearing Fear -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a), 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99 -- Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2019

For March 3, 2019:

People of a Certain Age -- Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14, Psalm 65 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2019

For October 27, 2019:

In God We (Sometimes) Trust -- Luke 13:31-35, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 27 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019

For March 17, 2019:

No cuts, no buts, no coconuts -- Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019

For March 24, 2019:

Profiles of Grace -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019

For March 31, 2019:

No New Things! -- John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:4b-14, Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 -- Mary Austin, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019

For April 7, 2019:

Tell Everyone! / Setting the Table: from Passover to Passion -- Luke 22:14--23:56, Luke 19:28-40, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2019

For April 14, 2019:

Why Are You Weeping? -- Luke 24:1-12, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-18 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Easter Day - C -- 2019

For April 21, 2019:

Finding Resurrection Among Smoldering Ruins -- John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4b-8, Acts 5:27-32, Psalm 118:14-29, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019

For April 28, 2019:

Going to Extremes -- John 21:1-19, Revelation 5:11-14, Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Psalm 30 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019

For May 5, 2019:

The Lamb Has No T-Shirts -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Mary Austin, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019

For May 12, 2019:

Everybody In the Pool! -- John 14:23-29, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, Acts 16:9-15, Psalm 67, John 5:1-9 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019

For May 26, 2019:

Illustration

The Immediate Word

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Preaching

The Immediate Word

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The Immediate Word

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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 5

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

Passion/Palm Sunday

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

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...

Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

The Body of Christ, Given for You

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

For April 6, 2025:

The Body of Christ, Given for You by Mary Austin based on John 12:1-8.
Second Thoughts: Behold, New Things! by Dean Feldmeyer. God has set us down in an evolving universe and invited us to participate in the evolution of it.
Sermon illustrations by Tom Willadsen and Chris Keating.

CSSPlus

The Smell of Money

John Jamison

Object: A small pillow or cushion, a bowl, and a jar.

NOTE: This is a simple role-play story. You will need one boy to play the role of Jesus, and one girl to play the role of Mary. Since these are not speaking roles, this may be an opportunity to have a child help who might be hesitant to do a more involved role.

* * *

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

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Something New Something New

Frank Ramirez

This is not the same old thing. This is something new. Isaiah tells us to forget the old standards of life and truth. Our God conquers, so no longer judge the old way. Paul in prison says pretty much the same thing. And in the first supper, which takes place in the home of Martha, with Mary, Jesus, and the newly resurrected Lazarus in attendance, we see the world turned upside down as well. Something new. Something new.

Isaiah 43:16-21

Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2025)

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez

Isaiah 43:16-21

StoryShare

Extravagant Jesus Super Bowl Ads

John E. Sumwalt

Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” (vv. 7-8)

The first time I saw one of the “He Gets Us” Jesus ads during the Super Bowl two years ago, I sat up and said to my wife, Jo, “This is great! I wonder who is sponsoring this.” When I found out who, and what their motives were, I was deeply disappointed.

The Village Shepherd

Mrs Round Bakes Some Cakes

Janice B. Scott

Call to worship:

When Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus' feet with oil, the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. As we worship God today, may this whole church be filled with the fragrance of our prayers.

Invitation to confession:

Jesus, sometimes we fail to notice or appreciate beauty.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we resent the actions of others and are spiteful towards them.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Who's Pressing On?

Gregory L. Tolle

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own. (vv. 8b--12)

Psalm 126

Schuyler Rhodes

There's nothing quite as wonderful as looking at an old car that's been restored to its former luster. A 1932 Ford Victoria Coupe, rumbling down the road brings a thrill. The rust has been cleaned off, the torn upholstery replaced, and missing windows have been installed. It is a work of art. It is also a work of love. Such restoration projects, as anyone involved in them can attest, are not for the weak of heart. Restoring a classic automobile requires painstaking attention to detail and the patience of Job.

Fifth Sunday In Lent

Carlos Wilton

Theme For The Day
Worship is a blessed waste of time.

Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 43:16-21
A New Thing

Holy Extravagance

Donald Charles Lacy

In our spiritual voyages, surprises -- sometimes outlandishly -- come to us. We scratch our heads and wonder if what we are experiencing is fact or fiction. It may or may not be a time of inspiration. However, it may be one of instruction, as we view it in retrospect. You and I are to remember that every occurrence may very well be a teaching event.

Heisman In The Hudson

David Kalas

In December of every year, the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City awards the coveted Heisman Trophy. Voted on by over 800 media members, the Heisman is awarded to the most outstanding college football player during that season. Past recipients have included such notables as Roger Staubach, Marcus Allen, and Barry Sanders. It is a great honor, and it represents the broad and non-partisan recognition of a player's outstanding season.

Lent 5

Julia Ross Strope

You shall pass judgment on yourself. That is the hardest thing of all ...
If you succeed in judging yourself, it is because you are truly wise.
(The king on a planet to the prince)
-- Saint Exupery, The Little Prince

Call To Worship
Leader: You're here! Winter seems displaced by the new growth of spring. This is the fifth Sunday in Lent -- with one more to come: Palm Sunday.

(Candles counting the Sundays in Lent can be lighted.)

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Mary AustinDean FeldmeyerChristopher KeatingThomas WilladsenGeorge ReedKaty Stenta

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

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez