Login / Signup

SermonStudio

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

Worship

Drama

Sermon

SermonStudio

It Came To Pass -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1996
One of my father's favorite stories was about a Bible study class that shared their favorite Bible v
From Singleness To Solidarity -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Zan W. Holmes, Jr. -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1996
The book of Ruth is one of the world's most beautiful stories of human solidarity in the face of tro
From Rejection To Redemption -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 1996
Gloria Steinem has written a book titled Marilyn.
When The Odds Are Against Us -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1996
I recently had the privilege of introducing Maya Angelou who addressed a luncheon honoring Cecil Wil
When It's Hard To Give Thanks -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1996
Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) was the first black artist to acquire an international reputation in
Ready Or Not -- He Comes -- Mark 13:33-37 -- John A. Stroman -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
There is a passage in the old Jewish book of Zohar, that goes like this: "Whenever the Jews on earth
Have You Heard The Good News? -- Mark 1:1-8 -- John A. Stroman -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
Have you heard the good news?
A Voice Crying In The Wilderness -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- John A. Stroman -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
The people wondered who John the Baptist was.
How Odd Of God -- Luke 1:26-38 -- John A. Stroman -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
In every generation if we are to apprehend the abiding forces that will dominate and direct the futu
A Moment Of Decision -- Mark 1:4-11 -- John A. Stroman -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1996
Experiences have the effect of changing the direction of our lives.
Pass It On -- John 1:43-51, John 1:35-42 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1996
Here we see the dynamic of witness. Look at what took place.
Drop-Everything-Discipleship -- Mark 1:14-20 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1996
This text is a statement about a radical discipleship.
By What Authority? -- Mark 1:21-28 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1996
Two remarkable things happened. Jesus' words in the synagogue left the people amazed.
The Demanding Crowd -- Mark 1:29-39 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1996
Jesus was mobbed by the crowds.
A Hands-on Religion -- Mark 1:40-45 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 1996
A leper confronted Jesus and said to him, "If you want to, you can make me clean." I would imagine
The Power Of A Rumor -- Mark 2:1-12 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 1996
Most sermons on this text deal with one of two things: either a detailed account about the four
What Shall We Do With The New Wine? -- Mark 2:13-22 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B -- 1996
Jesus knew that his message was different. In a sense it was startlingly new.
With Our Heads In The Clouds -- Mark 9:2-9 -- John A. Stroman -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1996
The crowds were gone. Jesus was alone with his disciples.
Discovering The Unexpected -- Luke 2:22-40 -- John A. Stroman -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 1996
Have you ever looked forward to something and when it happened, it was so much more than you an
God Is Down To Earth -- John 1:1-18 -- John A. Stroman -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 1996
William Barclay is convinced that John wrote the fourth gospel for the sake of this fourteenth
The Highest In The Lowest -- Luke 2:1-20 -- John A. Stroman -- 1996
During a cold winter's night in Bethlehem in the Judean hills, the pains of childbirth came upo
You Are My Witness -- Mark 16:15-20, Luke 24:44-53 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1996
The inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president of the Republic of South Africa goes down in the ann
Beware Of Your Piety -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1996
Whatever happened to Lent?
Easter Jogging -- John 20:1-18 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Easter Day - B -- 1996
He is Risen. "He is Risen, indeed," we respond. We sound the trumpet.
Easter Power -- John 20:19-31 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
Storms that knock out electrical systems make us mindful of how dependent we are upon power.

Pages

Children's sermon

Worship Service

Preaching

Stories

Prayer

Devotional

Poems

Pastoral Resources

Children's program

Pageant

Adult study

Youth Resources

Monologues

Church Programs

Meditations

Candlelighting service

Biblical Studies

Humor

Faith Development

Bible Study

Children's Resources

Self Help

Liturgy

Illustration

Spirituality

Biblical Study

Inspirational

Christian Life

Easter

Lent/Easter

Church Growth

Sacrament

Healing

Death

Funeral

Memorial

Observance

Christian

African-American History

Thanksgiving Day

Marriage Ceremony

Wedding Vow

Home Blessing

Church Anniversary

Women's Day

Men's Day

Church Leaders

Mother's Day

Gathering Prayer

Unison Prayer

Thanksgiving Prayer

Intercession

Fellowship

Christian Faith

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...

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

Wildcard SSL