Lent/Easter Resources

title:

Lectionary-based

Ash Wed.
Feb. 18 Lent 1
Feb. 22 Lent 2
Mar. 1 Lent 3
Mar. 8 Lent 4
Mar. 15 Lent 5
Mar. 22 Palm/Passion
Mar. 29 Maundy Thursday
April 2 Good Friday
April 3 Easter!
April 5

Non-Lectionary

Worship

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

Hear the Good News

Contemporary Worship Resources For Lent

Worship Innovations

From Life To Life

SYMBOLS OF SACRIFICE

HOLY WEEK CONFESSIONS

Visions Of Lent

Restore Me

Tenebrae For Modern Times

Returning Home

Life On The Edge Of Faith

Lenten Resources For Worship Leaders

And The Sea Lay Down

Bright Intervals

The Word Has Come Down

Living in the Light

Sermon

BIBLICAL PICTURES OF WATER

THE SEVENFOLD PATH TO PEACE

BIBLICAL PICTURES OF BREAD

SOUNDS OF THE PASSION

THE FOLLOW THROUGH ON FOLLOW ME

Paradise Restored

The Glory Of Our Weakness

The Psalms Were Made For Lent

The Victory of the Cross

SIX NAILS OF THE CROSS

An Idle Tale Becomes Good News

The Roads Jesus Traveled

The Vine and the Branches

The Isolated Jesus

Leading To Easter

THE VICTORY OF FAITH

The Victory of Faith

Turning Points

The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ

The Gifts Of Lent

Come Dine With Jesus

Behold The Man

At The Cross With Jesus

Affirming The Ash Heap

A Clearer Vision

Wounded For Us

Experiencing Easter

The Challenge of Starting All Over Again

Preaching

If a Sermon Falls in the Forest...

Monologues

The Attributes Of Lent

MY TOMB WAS EMPTY

Lent/Easter

Traveling Calvary’s Road

Traveling Calvary's Road

Easter

The Road to Victory

Drama

PERSPECTIVES ON THE PASSION

DATELINE: Jerusalem

Watch And Pray

The Last Covenant

VOICES

Visualizing The Parables

Why Did Jesus Die?

ThespianTheology

Roll Back The Stone

MEDITATIONS FOR THE SIX DAYS OF HOLY WEEK

Hey Joseph!

From My Point Of View

Conversations With The Savior

From A Soldier Of Rome To A Soldier For Christ

Voices Of Repentance

Who Is This Man -- This Jesus?

Holy Moses

Living in the Light

Children's sermon

The Glory Of Our Weakness

Speaking With Signs

Children's Sermons A To Z

Alleluia!

Bible Study

The Critical Questions... And More

New & Featured This Week

Reading the Jesus Files

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

For February 22, 2026:

Reading the Jesus Files by Chris Keating. Jesus temptations bring us face to face with the questions of his identity and calling as God’s Son, inviting us to discover the possibilities of Lent.
Second Thoughts: Worship Me by Dean Feldmeyer. Worship: (verb transitive) 1. to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power

Nicodemus came by night. Why by night? Why in darkness?

In her book Learning to Walk in the Dark,¹ Barbara Brown Taylor describes numerous biblical images in which darkness — night’s most obvious quality — is “bad news.” Taylor notes that in the New Testament darkness stands for ignorance and, in the case of John’s gospel, darkness stands for spiritual blindness.

The Night Talker

Robert F. Crowley

Theme

"Born Again" -- it's a cliché nowadays. But it isn't understood today anymore than when it was first mentioned.

Summary

Nick, the teacher, seeks Jesus, the teacher. He has some questions and Jesus has the answers and the time to explain them. This is a modernization of the Nicodemus-Jesus encounter.

Playing Time: 3 minutes

Place: Wherever Jesus spends the night

Props: None

Costumes: Contemporary, casual

Time: Last night

Cast: JESUS

NICK -- a teacher

Voice in a Vacuum

Tony S. Everett

At first reading it seems as if today's text is all about Abram's journey from relative obscurity to universal fame; from being a childless husband in a tiny and insignificant family to becoming the founding father of a great multitude of nations. Now what would it look like if we read this story with God as the main character? What would it look like if we examined the text from the perspective of God's initiating action instead of Abram's immediate faithful response?

For Example

David O. Bales

If you're going to study a subject or learn a profession, a good strategy is to investigate one of the earliest theoreticians or practitioners. If you study physics, you might start with Albert Einstein. There were others, but he's a good beginning. If you're interested in drama, you could turn to William Shakespeare. Other playwrights are around, but he'll give you a good start. If you're considering nursing, you could read up on Florence Nightingale. The work of other early nurses would benefit you, but she's a helpful start.

Faith To Follow

Lee Griess

How much faith does it take to follow? How much trust in God must we have? What does it mean to be part of the kingdom? How can we be born again? That's the question that Nicodemus asked. That's the theme for our time together this morning. How much faith does it take to follow? I came across an interesting idea this past week. I read an article about businesses that reward their employees when they make a mistake. Have you heard about this new trend?

Are You Born Again?

Mark Ellingsen

It was late, almost bedtime, when the Jewish leader came to Jesus' residence. Into Jesus' presence came Nicodemus, one of the best-known Jewish professors in all of Israel (a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin). Nicodemus finally reached the short ruddy-faced leader of the disciples, and he said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him (John 3:2)."

Lent 2

Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler

Confession And Absolution
P: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: Gracious God, you call into existence the things that do not exist.
You give life to the dead and new life to the living.
C: Break open our hearts, that what is in us might be poured out before you.
You have come into the world, O Lord, not to condemn us,
but that we might be saved through you.

Silence to recall our struggles with sin and the power of evil

Second Sunday In Lent

Dallas A. Brauninger

First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-4a
Theme: Obedience

Call To Worship

If Abram could have faith in God, trust God in his heart, and be unafraid -- Abram, who was of an older age when God sent him on a journey to leave his own country and go to another land that God was yet to show him -- then so might we follow God's call to embark upon a new birth, a journey of faith. Come, for God is calling.

Collect

When you send us on a mission, O God, we also choose to obey you. We will try to be brave and to trust you in our hearts. Amen.

Lent 2

Thom M. Shuman

Call To Worship
One: Like Abraham and Sarah,
God calls us out of our comfort zones to new adventures.
All: In this season of discipleship,
may we respond with the trust and faith they model.
One: Like Nicodemus, we seek answers for our questions
from Jesus, especially the ones that awaken us at night.
All: In this season of questioning Jesus,
may we commit ourselves to listening
to what he has to say to us.
One: Like Paul, we affirm that our faith
is based on what God does for us,

The Village Shepherd

The Friday Club

Janice B. Scott

Call to Worship:
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. In our worship today let us explore how different people respond to that love.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I hide my love for you because I am afraid of what people might think.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I find it difficult to understand your words and your stories.
Christ, have mercy.

StoryShare

Get Up And Go

Frank Ramirez
John S. Smylie

Contents
What's Up This Week
"Get Up and Go" by Frank Ramirez
"Three Field Goals and a Touchdown" by John Smylie

What's Up This Week

Words, Words, Words

Frank Ramirez

Contents
"Words, Words, Words" by Frank Ramirez

* * * * * * *

Words, Words, Words!
by Frank Ramirez
John 3:1-17

Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."
-- John 3:3 NRSV

Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
-- John 3:3 KJV

Let me tell you a story about a word.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Turning points

In the three texts today hearers meet three classic figures: Abraham, who receives a call of God and gets to respond; Paul, who comments on those who get called and who respond, in the hope that those who read him might find themselves called and in need of response: and Nicodemus, a shadowy figure who never fully emerges from the shadows in the Fourth Gospel text.

Journey into the world

Jules Verne wrote some fascinating books about journeys. They were spectacular journeys like into the center of the earth or to the moon or to no particular destination at all. Those journeys so captivate the human imagination that they became movies, movies renewed for each generation. Other authors, too, have captivated our attention with journeys -- up rivers or through jungles or to impressive mountain peaks.

CSSPlus

The Spirit is like the wind

Good morning, boys and girls. I remember a big wind about a week ago and it was really something! I was just walking along when a hat flew right into me. It was a hat like this. The man it belonged to was running down the street, trying to catch it.

Other strange things happened that windy day. It started to rain so I put up my umbrella. I thought it would protect me against the rain, but the wind turned my umbrella inside-out. Instead of protecting me, it was leading me, pulling me faster and faster.

For love or money

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know what the word love means? (let them answer) Love is a word with many different meanings. When you love someone you trust him, you honor him, you care for him, you share with him, you are honest with him, and you know that he shares his love with you. Do you get paid to love someone? (let them answer) At the end of the day, does anyone say to you, "Here is the dollar I owe you for loving me today?" (let them answer) Love is so precious we could never put a dollar amount on it.

Born again

Good morning, boys and girls. Can any of you remember what it was like being a very tiny baby? (Let them answer.) Do you remember wearing clothes like this? (Hold baby clothing up as you ask the question.) Can any of you fit into this? (Let them answer.) Each of us was small enough once in our life to fit into this. Why can't we fit into it now? (Let them answer.) We've all grown bigger. We aren't babies any more. Do you think any of us will ever be able to fit into this piece of clothing again? (Let them answer.) Will we ever become a tiny baby again? (Let them answer.)

Special Occasion

Funeral Resources

Wedding Resources

Baptism Resources

Communion Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

Lent 2

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

Lent 3

29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...

Lent 4

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

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

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Lent Easter Resources

Lectionary-based

Non-Lectionary

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

Hear the Good News

Contemporary Worship Resources For Lent

Worship Innovations

From Life To Life

SYMBOLS OF SACRIFICE

HOLY WEEK CONFESSIONS

Visions Of Lent

Restore Me

Tenebrae For Modern Times

Returning Home

Life On The Edge Of Faith

Lenten Resources For Worship Leaders

And The Sea Lay Down

Bright Intervals

The Word Has Come Down

Living in the Light

BIBLICAL PICTURES OF WATER

THE SEVENFOLD PATH TO PEACE

BIBLICAL PICTURES OF BREAD

SOUNDS OF THE PASSION

THE FOLLOW THROUGH ON FOLLOW ME

Paradise Restored

The Glory Of Our Weakness

The Psalms Were Made For Lent

The Victory of the Cross

SIX NAILS OF THE CROSS

An Idle Tale Becomes Good News

The Roads Jesus Traveled

The Vine and the Branches

The Isolated Jesus

Leading To Easter

THE VICTORY OF FAITH

The Victory of Faith

Turning Points

The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ

The Gifts Of Lent

Come Dine With Jesus

Behold The Man

At The Cross With Jesus

Affirming The Ash Heap

A Clearer Vision

Wounded For Us

Experiencing Easter

The Challenge of Starting All Over Again

If a Sermon Falls in the Forest...

The Attributes Of Lent

MY TOMB WAS EMPTY

Traveling Calvary’s Road

Traveling Calvary's Road

The Road to Victory

PERSPECTIVES ON THE PASSION

DATELINE: Jerusalem

Watch And Pray

The Last Covenant

VOICES

Visualizing The Parables

Why Did Jesus Die?

ThespianTheology

Roll Back The Stone

MEDITATIONS FOR THE SIX DAYS OF HOLY WEEK

Hey Joseph!

From My Point Of View

Conversations With The Savior

From A Soldier Of Rome To A Soldier For Christ

Voices Of Repentance

Who Is This Man -- This Jesus?

Holy Moses

Living in the Light

The Glory Of Our Weakness

Speaking With Signs

Children's Sermons A To Z

Alleluia!

The Critical Questions... And More

New & Featured This Week

Christopher KeatingNazish NaseemThomas WilladsenKaty StentaDean FeldmeyerMary AustinGeorge Reed

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

Marian R. Plant
David G. Plant

Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler

Frank Ramirez
John S. Smylie