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Third Sunday of Advent - C

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Children's sermon

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Be happy! -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Good morning! How many more days is it until Christmas? (Let
Coats and canned goods -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought two things that start with C today.
Make a prayer list -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Good morning, boys and girls.

The Immediate Word

Prepare Or Beware! -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Carter Shelley -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Dear Fellow Preacher,
Something To Get Excited About -- Luke 3:7-18, Philippians 4:4-7, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6 -- Scott Suskovic, Thom M. Shuman -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Zephaniah's exhortation to rejoice and exult in God's salvation gives us something to rejoice in.

Children's Activity

Children's bulletin

Commentary

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

It was obvious to everyone... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
It was obvious to everyone that Mike did not want to attend the company Christmas party.
By all accounts, President Warren... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
By all accounts, President Warren Harding wasn't an especially intelligent person.
Frank and Judy inherited the... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Frank and Judy inherited the family farm when Frank's father retired.
Rabbi Harold Kushner tells of... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Rabbi Harold Kushner tells of his yearly experience, looking out at a full synagogue on Yom Kippur,
Did you ever have a... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Did you ever have a minister call you and fellow audience members "venomous snakes"?
It would be Alice and... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
It would be Alice and Robb's first Christmas as a married couple.
Slate: a fine-grained sedimentary... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Slate: a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash.
The commercial culture may have... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
The commercial culture may have kidnapped the baby Jesus (or at least it may seem that way).
W. H. Auden, in one... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
W. H.
Immediately before this lesson are... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Immediately before this lesson are two interesting lines, in Philippians 4:2-3.

Worship

Sermon

SermonStudio

Truce Or Peace? -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Harold C. Warlick, Jr. -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Now here's a Scripture with which we can all identify, especially during the holiday season.
Same Question, Same Answer -- Luke 3:7-18 -- William G. Carter -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
"Preacher, why don't you tell me what you want me to do?" She stood with a frown on her face, while
A Song Of Promise -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
In 1967 Shastokovitch, the Russian composer, wrote a symphony titled October.
Singing Along The Way -- Zephaniah 3:14-18 -- Ron Lavin -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1991
In the time of John the Baptist, most of the people were not getting the point.
He Preached Good News -- Luke 3:10-18 -- James T. Garrett -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1991
Last Sunday we examined the beginning of John's sermon where he said the King is coming, prepare!
The Awakening -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Robert G. Tuttle -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1988
Zephaniah is saying to the Children of Israel, "Things will not always be as they are.
The Divine Opportunity -- Luke 3:10-18 -- J. Ellsworth Kalas -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1988
Opportunity comes with so many different faces that we often don't recognize it.
His Coming is to be Welcomed, Not Feared -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- James H. Bailey -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1985
One of the main objectives of the Moody Institute of Religion and Science is to relate science and t
What Shall We Do? -- Luke 3:10-18 -- Roy C. Nichols -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1985
It didn't take long for John's reputation to spread into the villages 'round about.

The Immediate Word

Prepare Or Beware! -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Carter Shelley -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Dear Fellow Preacher,

Preaching

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
Mary Austin
Alyssa Spradlin
For November 1, 2026:
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
Mary Austin
Alyssa Spradlin
For November 1, 2026:

CSSPlus

Wesley T. Runk
The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Good morning boys and girls. Does anyone here remember someone saying, “I am the greatest?” I remember hearing it many times by a prize fighter named Ali. Does anyone here remember Muhammed Ali? He used to say a lot of things and he was a very good boxer. He told everyone that he saw that he was “the greatest of all time.” Wow! Not many people say those kind of things about themselves.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sandra Herrmann
What is a saint?

According to the Roman Catholic church, a saint is a holy person who has been elevated by God to heaven, there to pray for those of us who need their help. There is a three-step process: the request by those who knew the person in life, and who attest to their holiness; a witness by at least two people that they asked the candidate to pray for them and their prayer was granted in a miraculous way; and an investigation by the Vatican into all this evidence. The declaration is made by the pope.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the people how they could be blessed by God and experience God's kingdom. In our worship today let us explore the Sermon on the Mount.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I'm full of pride instead of being poor in spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I'm overbearing and pushy, instead of being meek.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I'm not exactly pure in heart.
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:

StoryShare

John S. Smylie
Keith Hewitt
Bryan Meadows
Frank Ramirez
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Fifth Gospel" by John Smylie
"The Burden" by Keith Hewitt
"Up Stream" by Bryan Meadows
"A Magical Little Poem" by Frank Ramirez


What's Up This Week
John S. Smylie
Keith Hewitt
Bryan Meadows
Frank Ramirez
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Fifth Gospel" by John Smylie
"The Burden" by Keith Hewitt
"Up Stream" by Bryan Meadows
"A Magical Little Poem" by Frank Ramirez


What's Up This Week
Keith Hewitt
Larry Winebrenner
Peter Andrew Smith
Constance Berg
Sandra Herrmann
Contents
"New Leadership" by Sandra Herrmann
"Lost" by Keith Hewitt
"Three Paths for the End of October" by Larry Winebrenner
"Ahmad's Final Lesson" by Larry Winebrenner
"Freedom to Live" by Peter Andrew Smith
"The Fullness of Life" by Constance Berg


* * * * * * * *


New Leadership
by Sandra Herrmann
Joshua 3:7-17
Keith Hewitt
Larry Winebrenner
Peter Andrew Smith
Constance Berg
Sandra Herrmann
Contents
"New Leadership" by Sandra Herrmann
"Lost" by Keith Hewitt
"Three Paths for the End of October" by Larry Winebrenner
"Ahmad's Final Lesson" by Larry Winebrenner
"Freedom to Live" by Peter Andrew Smith
"The Fullness of Life" by Constance Berg


* * * * * * * *


New Leadership
by Sandra Herrmann
Joshua 3:7-17

SermonStudio

Mary S. Lautensleger
"Surprise! You're adopted!" If you were to hear those words from a trusted relative, surprise would be an understatement, I'm sure. Total shock would probably be more descriptive terminology for your emotional state as you examined the official court record and your original birth certificate. "Adopted" does describe each of us though, because we have been adopted by God into God's family. How do we know? The Bible tells us so.
James L. Killen, Jr.
When we put together the collection of things that we can believe, we need to ask a question about the person in the middle of the inquiry. What can we believe about ourselves? We don't often ask that question but it is a very important one. Some people are oppressed by low self-esteem. Others are led astray by exaggerated images of themselves. It is important to get a realistic understanding of who we are -- and of who we can be. The Bible has something to say on the subject that may surprise you. Are you ready? Hold on to your hat. The Bible says you were created and called to be saints.
Argile Smith
At an office meeting, Ben got the official news that he would become the manager of one of the most influential departments in the company. His colleagues admired him because of his tireless work, and they respected him as a dependable person in whom they could place their trust. They were glad when they found out that he had gotten the promotion. In order to celebrate the news with him, they bought him a gift. Well, it was actually more like a gag-gift, the kind that he would place on his shelf and chuckle over every time he saw it.
Joseph M. Freeman
Maybe both the best and the worst of us in humanity are far better preachers than we are doers and deliverers of what we preach and teach. And maybe maturity has everything to do with our genuine willingness to bring a greater congruity between our esteemed words and those actions compatible with, not contradictory of, those words. Jesus, fully divine and fully human, loved and valued not just the right deeds, but also the right motives and attitudes.
Mary Sue Dehmlow Dreier
Commotion At The Communion Rail

Tommy didn't budge.

When everyone else got up to leave the communion rail, he stayed kneeling. His folded hands were perched on the rail, and his little head was bowed so far down that his forehead was squinched against his thumb knuckles. His eyes were closed hopefully, as if he were waiting for a big present.
Charles L. Aaron, Jr.
As the movie Contact opens, the audience sees a precocious girl named Eleanor learning how to use a ham radio. Nicknamed "Sparks" by her father, she has reached a man in Florida, and is excited that her radio lets her speak with someone so far away. In a later scene she asks her father wistfully if she can call her deceased mother on the radio. He responds sadly that no antenna is big enough.
George L. Murphy
You know that old saying, "Be careful what you wish for, because it might come true"? We see examples of that again and again in life. During the war in Iraq, Hampton Sides, a journalist who had been slated to be "embedded" with one of our frontline Marine battalions, gave an interview on NRP (National Public Radio). At almost the last possible moment, Sides decided not to go with the Marines, but instead to report from Central Command in Qatar.
Richard C. Brand
It seems fair to say that the saints of the Lord have always shown us what it is to be worthy of God. It is why we remember them and rejoice for them. They have shown us what a life worthy of God might look like. To talk about the saints, we may talk about Kagawa in Japan, about Mother Teresa, about Bishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela, about D. T. Niles in India, and about Saint Patrick in Ireland. To know the stories of Dorothy Day in New York City and Oscar Romero in Latin America is to have examples of what it means to lead lives worthy of the God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
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