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 5 (OT 10, Pent 2)
22 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
21 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
21 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 6 (OT 11, Pent 3)
29 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 7 (OT 12, Pent 4)
28 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
23 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
23 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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New & Featured This Week
The Immediate Word
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Nazish Naseem
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
Thomas Willadsen
For June 7, 2026:
- Trust Issues by Dean Feldmeyer based on Genesis 12:1-9 and Romans 4:13-25.
- Second Thoughts: Trusting the Promise in Everyday Life by Nazish Naseem based on Romans 4:13-25.
- Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Chris Keating, and Katy Stenta.
- Worship resources by George Reed.
The Village Shepherd
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners." In our worship today let us examine ourselves to discover whether we are the righteous, or sinners who need to repent.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, I'm probably no worse than anyone else and perhaps better than some.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, I see other people who regularly flout your laws and I think that is terrible.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners." In our worship today let us examine ourselves to discover whether we are the righteous, or sinners who need to repent.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, I'm probably no worse than anyone else and perhaps better than some.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, I see other people who regularly flout your laws and I think that is terrible.
Christ, have mercy.
StoryShare
Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
Craig Kelly
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Called not From but To the Tax Office" by Alex Gondola
"Praise the Lord, Make Melody to Him" by Alex Gondola
"Not My Home" by Craig Kelly
What's Up This Week
What's Up This Week
"Called not From but To the Tax Office" by Alex Gondola
"Praise the Lord, Make Melody to Him" by Alex Gondola
"Not My Home" by Craig Kelly
What's Up This Week
SermonStudio
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Genesis 12:1--9 (C)
God calls Abraham to leave his homeland and go to the country that God had promised him. God pledged Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. Abraham obeys God by setting out with his aged, barren wife and his nephew, Lot.
Lesson 1: Hosea 6:3--6 (RC); Hosea 5:15-6:6 (E, L)
Lesson 1: Genesis 12:1--9 (C)
God calls Abraham to leave his homeland and go to the country that God had promised him. God pledged Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. Abraham obeys God by setting out with his aged, barren wife and his nephew, Lot.
Lesson 1: Hosea 6:3--6 (RC); Hosea 5:15-6:6 (E, L)
Larry M. Goodpaster
Whenever the "new" bumps up against the "old" there is bound to be friction. It happens within the community where we live. Someone -- an elected leader or would-be community change agent -- comes along with a new idea, seeing new possibilities for the future, and there is a vocal hesitation. "Why should we change?" the long-time residents complain.
Schuyler Rhodes
There's an old rock and roll song titled, "I Don't Need No Doctor." The song, like so many of the era, is a song of unrequited love. The lyric, screamed out by a number of rock bands over the years, says, "I don't need no doctor, 'cause I know what's ailing me." And what's ailing the singer, of course, is the deprivation of the object of his affection. He is smitten, out of control in the painful, bittersweet carnival ride of adolescent love. "I don't need no doctor, 'cause I know what's ailing me." I remember many years ago swaying to the sounds of this song at a very loud outdoor concert.
Gary L. Carver
In his stimulating book, The Dynamics Of Belief, the beloved former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Don Harbuck, tells the story of a thirteen--year--old boy. Life for this young lad had been difficult. He and his younger brother had not only suffered through the loss of their mother, but they had borne the burden of an alcoholic father and his abject irresponsibility. In fact, the two boys often had nothing to eat. They lived on the berries they picked and the rabbits they killed and cooked over an open fire. Life for them was difficult, at best.
James L. Killen, Jr.
Down through the centuries, philosophers and theologians have come up with a number of classical "proofs for the existence of God." The truth is that these "proofs" are not likely to convince anyone who is determined not to believe in God. But they can be helpful guides to experiencing God for people who want to believe. Most of the proofs for the existence of God focus attention on the things that exist and the things that happen in the world around us and reason that there must be someone who is making those things happen.
Dallas A. Brauninger
First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-9
Theme: Go, Come, Be A Blessing
Call To Worship
Leader: Go!
People: Come!
All: Be a blessing!
Leader: We hear the word "blessing," and know it as a special word for someone else, certainly not for us. Then a person whom we respect tells us, "You are a blessing," and we ponder those words. Turn now to someone near you. Quietly say to each other, "You are a blessing." During this time of worship consider how, indeed, you are a blessing.
Collect
Theme: Go, Come, Be A Blessing
Call To Worship
Leader: Go!
People: Come!
All: Be a blessing!
Leader: We hear the word "blessing," and know it as a special word for someone else, certainly not for us. Then a person whom we respect tells us, "You are a blessing," and we ponder those words. Turn now to someone near you. Quietly say to each other, "You are a blessing." During this time of worship consider how, indeed, you are a blessing.
Collect
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less (UM368, PH379, NCH403, CBH343)
The God Of Abraham Praise (NCH24, PH488)
For The Beauty Of The Earth (CBH89, UM92, PH473)
Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling (CBH491, UM348)
Heal Us, Emmanuel, Hear Our Prayer (UM266)
This Is A Story Full Of Love (CHB315)
When In Our Music God Is Glorified (PH264)
Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing (LBW499, NCH459, PH356)
Anthems
God Of The Promise, Richard Hillart, Augsburg, SATB
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less (UM368, PH379, NCH403, CBH343)
The God Of Abraham Praise (NCH24, PH488)
For The Beauty Of The Earth (CBH89, UM92, PH473)
Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling (CBH491, UM348)
Heal Us, Emmanuel, Hear Our Prayer (UM266)
This Is A Story Full Of Love (CHB315)
When In Our Music God Is Glorified (PH264)
Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing (LBW499, NCH459, PH356)
Anthems
God Of The Promise, Richard Hillart, Augsburg, SATB
Emphasis Preaching Journal
When I sit down to plan the worship services for this Sunday, I will start by penciling in John H. Sammis' hymn, "Trust And Obey." If Sammis had chosen to devote individual verses in his hymn to biblical characters, he could easily have included some that we will read about this week.
R. Craig Maccreary
If you want to know how to get me to sing, though of course I am not sure that
anyone would want me to be singing, just get out one of the old favorite hymns like
"Standing On The Promises."
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
CSSPlus
Who can tell me what this compass does? (Let them answer.) A
compass always points north. It always knows which way is north.
Sometimes I get mixed up. If I'm in a strange place and get
turned around, I might think that south is north or east is
north. If I have a compass, then I can always tell which way is
north. It always points in the same direction. Does anyone know
which direction a compass will point? (Let them answer.) It will
always point north. Some cars even have a compass built in the
dash so that the driver can always tell which way is north.
Good morning! Have you ever seen one of these? (Let them answer.) Yes, this is a container of medicine. There are probably some in the medicine cabinet at your home. Have your parents ever told you anything about this kind of medicine? (Let them answer.) Yes, I'm sure they have told you never to open one of these vials, and, for sure, not to eat any. Why do you think they tell you that? (Let them answer.) Yes, this medicine is for a particular sickness, and if you take it when you don't need it or take too much, you might get sick and you might even die!
