UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 11
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 12
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 13
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
New & Featured This Week
The Immediate Word
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
For August 11, 2024:
- A Grumbler’s Paradise by Chris Keating. Jesus confronts those who grumble and murmur about him by inviting them to trust in the promises he offers.
- Second Thoughts: Fighting Fire with (Smaller) Fire by Tom Willadsen. Addressing your anger before it consumes you is helpful advice.
- Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Katy Stenta.
Emphasis Preaching Journal
Wayne Brouwer
In Hendrik Ibsen’s famous drama Peer Gynt, the hero of the story tries to find the meaning of his life by traveling and interviewing others. At one point he visits an asylum where “lunatics” are kept. Their craziness, thinks Peer Gynt, must arise from the condition that they are, as he puts it, “outside themselves.”
Not so, says the director of the asylum.
Outside themselves? Oh no, you’re wrong.
It’s here that men are most themselves—
Themselves and nothing but themselves—
Sailing with outspread sails of self.
Not so, says the director of the asylum.
Outside themselves? Oh no, you’re wrong.
It’s here that men are most themselves—
Themselves and nothing but themselves—
Sailing with outspread sails of self.
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
2 Samuel 18:5-8, 15, 31-33
David’s willingness to forgive his son Absalom suggests a comment by Victorian-era English poet William Blake: “Where mercy, love, and pity dwell, there God is dwelling too.” Martin Luther offered several comments about the profound love of God (reflected here in David’s love of his wayward son). The reformer noted that “Our Lord God must be a devout man to be able to love knaves. I can’t do it, although I am myself a knave.” (Luther’s Works, Vol.54, p.32). And elsewhere he added:
David’s willingness to forgive his son Absalom suggests a comment by Victorian-era English poet William Blake: “Where mercy, love, and pity dwell, there God is dwelling too.” Martin Luther offered several comments about the profound love of God (reflected here in David’s love of his wayward son). The reformer noted that “Our Lord God must be a devout man to be able to love knaves. I can’t do it, although I am myself a knave.” (Luther’s Works, Vol.54, p.32). And elsewhere he added:
StoryShare
John E. Sumwalt
Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. (vv. 31-32)
Every one of us needs to forgive someone and to accept forgiveness from someone. And it is a toss-up as to which is more difficult.
I have collected a number of favorite forgiveness stories over the years. I do not know the source. If I have purloined one of your stories, please forgive me.
Every one of us needs to forgive someone and to accept forgiveness from someone. And it is a toss-up as to which is more difficult.
I have collected a number of favorite forgiveness stories over the years. I do not know the source. If I have purloined one of your stories, please forgive me.
CSSPlus
The Village Shepherd
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Invitation to Confession:
In our worship today, let us come to Jesus to drink at his fountain of living water and eat of the living bread that he offers us, so that we will never be spiritually hungry or thirsty again.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, help us to drink your living water.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, help us to eat your living bread
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, help us to live forever.
Lord, have mercy.
SermonStudio
Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
United in the grace of Christ.
Collect of the Day
After recognizing Christ as the true bread that gives life, we pray for this bread that He may live in us and that we may live as His body in the world. Justification (as Intimate Union), Sanctification, and church are emphasized.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 130
See Pentecost 3.
or Psalm 34:1-8
United in the grace of Christ.
Collect of the Day
After recognizing Christ as the true bread that gives life, we pray for this bread that He may live in us and that we may live as His body in the world. Justification (as Intimate Union), Sanctification, and church are emphasized.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 130
See Pentecost 3.
or Psalm 34:1-8
Stan Purdum
Because the organizing principle of the lectionary is that the psalm is supposed to be a meditation on the First Lesson, we may be forgiven for puzzling about the pairing of Psalm 130 with 2 Samuel 1. The two readings match in neither subject nor tone. The 2 Samuel lection gives us David's lament over the death of Saul and Jonathan, while Psalm 130 is a penitential prayer and a plea for help (and no, we don't buy that mourning over the death of a loved one is akin to mourning over one's sins).
William E. Keeney
Friends told me recently that they had bought a bread-making machine. Such machines cost from under $100 on up. They can bake a wide variety of breads depending on the type of machine bought. They can make one to two pound loaves in a couple hours, or you can set the more expensive ones to bake over a longer period of time and have fresh baked bread ready when you want it.
Thomas W. Lentz
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
-- Ephesians 4:29
-- Ephesians 4:29
Charles And Donna Cammarata
Call To Worship
A celebration of the God who is our foundation.
Leader:
The one constant,
People:
The unchanging reality,
Leader:
That we can always count on,
People:
That will never disappoint us,
Leader:
Is this,
People:
That the Father,
Leader:
Our Father,
People:
In heaven,
Leader:
Will never,
People:
Ever,
Leader:
Abandon or forsake us.
People:
Praise God!
Leader:
With hearts, and hands,
A celebration of the God who is our foundation.
Leader:
The one constant,
People:
The unchanging reality,
Leader:
That we can always count on,
People:
That will never disappoint us,
Leader:
Is this,
People:
That the Father,
Leader:
Our Father,
People:
In heaven,
Leader:
Will never,
People:
Ever,
Leader:
Abandon or forsake us.
People:
Praise God!
Leader:
With hearts, and hands,
