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Online Sermons

What is SermonSuite

SermonSuite, a division of CSS Publishing, is an online collection of professionally published lectionary and non-lectionary sermons, children's sermons, sermon illustrations, exegesis, homiletical resources, and worship resources which have been developed over the years to help pastors deliver relevant, high impact messages and worship resources.

This site's collection of professionally written, edited and published resources can be accessed online 24/7 giving pastors a versatile collection of fresh, innovative preaching and worship material for building dynamic messages that connect with your congregation and keep your pews filled.

Category  ▶ Sermons Children's
Material		 Illustrations Exegetical
Material		 Worship
Material
Subscription
▼              ▼		          
The Immediate Word Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
SermonStudio Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Emphasis     Yes Yes  
StoryShare Yes   Yes    
The Village Shepherd Yes Yes     Yes
CSSPlus   Yes      
Gospel Grams 1   Yes      
Gospel Grams 2   Yes      

Components

Click on any of the following component names to learn more...

     The Immediate Word

     SermonStudio

     Emphasis Online

     StoryShare

     The Village Shepherd

     CSS Plus

     Gospel Grams 1

     Gospel Grams 2


The Immediate Word

The Immediate Word a theological perspective on today's headlinesThe Immediate Word gives a theological perspective on today's headlines and popular culture for your sermon, children’s message, and worship service. The Immediate Word gives a theological perspective on today's headlines and popular culture.

Cutting Edge: THE IMMEDIATE WORD gives you the tools to be cutting edge ... to put you in touch with today's most critical issues and to aid you in crafting messages and presentations that will truly help your congregants understand the Gospel in the context of what is current and most important to them.

Collaborative: THE IMMEDIATE WORD is a unique collaboration of some of the sharpest, most contemporary clergy of our day in a web based service that gives you weekly information, inspiration, and presentation material.

Enabling: THE IMMEDIATE WORD will enable you to create messages about matters that your parishioners are discussing and concerned about.

Timely: THE IMMEDIATE WORD posts the topic of the week and a brief introduction on Monday and the final product on Tuesday afternoon, giving you time to digest the material and then incorporate them into your preparations for the coming Sunday service.

Satisfaction Guaranteed: THE IMMEDIATE WORD is not only guaranteed to satisfy you, we believe it will actually energize your ministry. We are so confident that you will find THE IMMEDIATE WORD to be such a great value that if you are not completely satisfied with the service we will refund the balance of your subscription payment, no questions asked.

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SermonStudio

SermonStudioSermonStudio, a flagship product of the site, is home to thousands of sermons, children’s messages, outlines, sermon illustrations, worship services, exigetical resources, dramas, prayers, preaching resources, and more.

Within this component, you will find high quality resources for all liturgical seasons from Advent/Christmas all the way through Thanksgiving. You’ll find lectionary and non-lectionary content as well as funeral and wedding homilies, communion and baptism homilies, special occasion messages and others based on Biblical and general themes.

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Emphasis Preaching Journal Commentary and illustrations based on the LectionaryEmphasis Preaching Journal provides in-depth, scripturally sound, lectionary-based commentary on weekly texts, plus thousands of illustrations to help you create riveting messages.

For each Sunday, Emphasis writers and editors delve into the heart of the four lectionary readings, providing you with several fresh, solid ideas -- based squarely on the lectionary texts -- for creating messages that speak powerfully to your audience. The writers look for overall themes that hold the readings together, then they home in on the themes and the specific scripture links, suggesting multiple homiletical directions. Since a single idea each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, Emphasis suggests several, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.

Emphasis is like having a dedicated, thoroughly-versed research team right in your own study to help you create messages that are truly yours, and that speak powerfully to your audience.

Archives
Emphasis gives you even greater value by putting back issues of the journal at your fingertips. This access to the Emphasis archives, combined with the ability to find commentaries and illustrations based on lectionary, scripture, or keyword, makes Emphasis an efficient, indespensible, time-saving tool for your ministry.

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StoryShare

StoryShare -- stories of faith for preaching and teachingStoryShare is a treasure trove of good stories that relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. All of the content in StoryShare is lectionary based and serves to help you illustrate the weekly readings. The stories can be used as illustrations or, in some cases, as standalone homilies. Along with new stories being added every week, a subscription to StoryShare also gives you access to the archives, so if the new stories don't catch your eye, it's likely something from the archives will work for you.

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The Village Shepherd

The Village Shepherd sermons, children's stories and liturgies, and prayers based on the lectionaryThe Village Shepherd offers sermons, children's stories and liturgies, and prayers based on the lectionary. This content is sure to touch your heart, because they reflect the simple virtues and tranquil serenity that characterize Reverend Janice Scott's English countryside pastorate. The questions "Where is God in this particular situation?" and "Where does the Gospel story cross our own human story?" are always at the heart of these meditations -- but rather than finding overt answers, instead you will be gently led to make your own connections and discover the powerful ways in which God works. Janice Scott has the unique ability to find interesting details in ordinary life that illuminate scripture, while still challenging even the most intellectual reader. And that gift is precisely what also makes her an outstanding communicator with children.

For every Sunday in all three lectionary cycles you will find:
  • A homiletical message for each Gospel, Second Reading, and First Reading.
  • Children's stories based on the Gospel for the week.
  • Children's liturgy and story based on the Gospel. (The story included with the liturgy is different from the story mentioned above.
  • A group of intercessory prayers for your worship service.
The convenient search engine enables you to quickly find exactly what you need -- all the rich content of The Village Shepherd can be searched by lectionary, scripture, or keyword.

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CSS Plus

CSSPlus - children's sermons and activities based on the LectionaryCSSPlus (Children Sermon Service) offers great children's sermons for lectionary and non-lectionary users. CSSPlus is a subscription service of children's messages that provide one new children's message per week for each Sunday of the year based on the lectionary Gospel. In addition to the children’s homilies, each week includes several different children’s activities which are perfect for use in Sunday school or at home during the week.

Lectionary users will find this component useful because every entry is referenced and searchable by lectionary.

Non-lectionary users will find CSSPlus equally useful because every entry is also referenced and searchable by scripture reference and keyword.

So, whether you are a lectionary user or a non-lectionary user, this component will provide you a vast selection of great children's messages from first-rate communicators with children, and you'll quickly find just what you are looking for.

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Gospel Grams 1

Gospel Grams - children's activities for ages 5-7 based on lectionary textsGospel Grams 1 providers lectionary-based children’s activity bulletin to communicate the Gospel for children ages 4-7. Gospel Grams 1 is an activity bulletin designed to communicate the Gospel to young children at their own level. Instead of kids drawing cars or flowers on scrap paper or the regular worship bulletin, why not give them their very own bulletin that will reinforce the Gospel message for the day in fun and interesting ways.

Geared to children ages 4-7, Gospel Grams 1 uses imaginative Bible word games and puzzles, coloring pictures, and stories to engage kids with the Gospel lesson for the day. And because it is lectionary-based, the children will be on the same "scriptural" page as the adults.

In all, there are 56 Gospel Grams per lectionary cycle. Since they are downloadable pdf files, you can print as few or as many as you need -- therefore keeping waste to a minimum.

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Gospel Grams 2

Gospel Grams 2 provides lectionary-based children’s activity bulletin to communicate the Gospel for children ages 8-10. Gospel Grams 2 is an activity bulletin designed to communicate the Gospel to young children at their own level. Instead of kids drawing cars or flowers on scrap paper or the regular worship bulletin, why not give them their very own bulletin that will reinforce the Gospel message for the day in fun and interesting ways.

Geared to children ages 8-10, Gospel Grams 2 uses imaginative Bible word games and puzzles, coloring pictures, and stories to engage kids with the Gospel lesson for the day. And because it is lectionary-based, the children will be on the same "scriptural" page as the adults.

In all, there are 56 Gospel Grams per lectionary cycle. Since they are downloadable pdf files, you can print as few or as many as you need -- therefore keeping waste to a minimum.

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title: 
Online Sermons & Sermon Illustrations

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
For March 1, 2026:

SermonStudio

Marian R. Plant
David G. Plant
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.
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
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?
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.
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?
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)."
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
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.
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

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

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
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

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.
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

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.
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.
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

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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