Login / Signup

William J. Carl, III

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

Sermon

The Village Shepherd

God Never Gives Up On Us -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15) -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2008
Note: There is no content for Proper 5 / OT 10 / Pentecost 3 from The Village Shephe

SermonStudio

God Never Gives Up On Us -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15) -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2008
Have you noticed that no matter how much of a mess we make of our lives, God never gives up on us?
Finding Our Roots In God And Country -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2008
It's a scary thing to go back and explore your roots.
The Real Underdog! -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2008
Every boy I knew growing up in the Midwest loved this story. We acted it out.
Dancing In Holy Places -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2008
Dancing in holy places -- that's the theme of this text.
What A Way To Start A Church! -- Acts 2:1-21 -- William J. Carl, III -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2008
What a way to start a church! It's certainly not the typical format for new church development.
Getting Through The Grief -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2008
Getting through grief may be one of the hardest things we do as human beings.
Having Trouble Sleeping Through The Night -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 2008
Having trouble sleeping through the night? You're not alone. Samuel did, too.
The Many Faces Of God -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- William J. Carl, III -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2008
Think of all the faces we show the world every day.
Samuel Was The Search Committee -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2008
I don't know about you but when I was growing up I always loved hearing the story of Cinderella.
Finding The Right House For God -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2008
Have you ever noticed how some families move a lot?
God Never Gives Up On Us -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15) -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2008
Have you noticed that no matter how much of a mess we make of our lives, God never gives up on us?
The Problem With Finding The Kingdom -- Matthew 13:44-52 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
I don't know about you, but when I finished reading these parables of the kingdom, I wasn't so sure
Straight Talk, Due Process and Grace -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
It never ceases to amaze me how periodically someone joins the church thinking with great naivete th
The Problem With Miracles In Our Time -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
If the truth be known, most of us would have to admit that we walk a very fine line between believin
Rocky -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
It is said that Winston Churchill never liked talking to subordinates.
Church People Beware! -- Matthew 21:28-32 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
I don't know about you, but I don't think much of the choices Jesus offers in this passage.
Who's Keeping Score? -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
What we have in our passage is the contrast between a theology of grace and a theology of keeping sc
You Provide The Bread -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
When I was growing up, church picnics were a big thing.
Living Sacrifices -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
If we're really honest we have to admit that Peter speaks for all of us when he rebukes Jesus for sa
The Faith Of Outsiders -- Matthew 15:21-28 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
Have you ever had an inner emotional pain that would not go away?
The Unfairness of God -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Have you ever noticed how sometimes life just isn't fair?

Free Access

What A Way To Start A Church! -- Acts 2:1-21 -- William J. Carl, III -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2008
What a way to start a church! It's certainly not the typical format for new church development.
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

CSSPlus

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

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
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 43:16-21

StoryShare

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

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

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

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

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.
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.)

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL