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Children's Activity

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God's house is special -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Materials Pictures of a church, a school, and a house
Show us -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C
Teachers or Parents: Both lessons today talk about the
Get rid of bad habits -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B
Teachers: This week's lesson, in essence, reminds Christians
The peanut butter -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
The first miracle -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
Teachers or Parents: In this modern era when there are many in
Another name -- Mark 8:27-35
Teachers or Parents: We often hold the saints up as being
Getting in God's way -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Teachers or Parents: It is a fact of church life that some
Anyone who loves God -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B
Teachers: There are two phrases in this lesson worth having
The same in any language -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - A
Teachers: (This activity is based in the Second Lesson, not
What Jesus left his friends -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers: The Holy Spirit is promised to Jesus' friends in our lesson today.
The parable of the weeds -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Teachers or Parents: Here again we see a parable that shows
"Remember to say thanks" -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Teachers or Parents: We live in what is rapidly becoming a
What makes a king a king? -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
Teachers or Parents: On this last Sunday in the church year, we
So much from so little -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Ah ... the feeding of the 5,000. Today's story is a classic.
"Things don't last" -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
Teachers or Parents: It is very easy for children to
Tell God your troubles -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Have you ever been pestered? It's annoying, isn't it?
O come, O come, Emmanuel -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: Teach the children the words to the
Stuck together by love -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Materials Several colors of sturdy yarn, cut in 8-inch lengths
Three, yet One -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C
Teachers or Parents: Today's object lesson will stay with the
Eye of the needle -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B
Teachers: Jesus tells a rich man that it is easier for a camel
The joy of our favorite room -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
God's prophets tell the truth -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Teachers or Parents: God makes it clear in the Bible that His
No illusion here! -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: Optical illusions are used in today's
Jesus, our Commander in Chief -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Teachers or Parents: Children are interested in power, and
From the Father -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Teachers or Parents: Last week's activity used edible play

Children's sermon

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Taking Up the Cross -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Anna Shirey -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Today's passage introduces a difficult concept in the life of a Christian --
Giving with Nothing Gained -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: As we revisit this story about Jesus welcoming children, we can spend some ti
Raising the Temple -- John 2:13-22 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: In order to teach this passage to our children, we need to discern the differ
Salted with Fire -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: In this passage it becomes clear that Jesus' main concern isn't what we call
Learning to Swim -- John 3:14-21 -- Anna Shirey -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: The gospel of John is a difficult treatise even for scholars to understand.
Enough Room? -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: If we look at the entire passage here we see questions about the nature of re
The 'Lost' Fruit -- John 12:20-33 -- Anna Shirey -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: In just another two weeks we will be encountering the sorrow and loss of the
Leaving It All Behind -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Here we read Jesus' teachings on radical discipleship.
A Waste of Time? -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Anna Shirey -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: The assigned lectionary reading for Passion Sunday is very long and full of p
A Servant to All -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This is another of Jesus' teachings designed to help the disciples understand
Becoming a Servant -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Anna Shirey -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: How can we help our children encounter this Holy Week in a new way?
Sharing Your Need -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This passage about Bartimaeus invites some interesting questions about our re
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Ghoul? -- John 11:32-44 -- Anna Shirey -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Children are likely to have mixed feelings about Halloween.
When Friends Betray Us -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Anna Shirey -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This is probably one of the darkest lessons we will have to teach our childre
The Most Important Thing -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: It all comes down to love, doesn't it?
A Surprise Ending -- John 20:1-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Easter Day - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This story is so familiar to us we might not recognize the resurrection as a
We Are God's Hands -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: We are all pretty familiar with the story of the widow's mite, how Jesus comm
The Proof Is in the Touching! -- John 20:19-31 -- Anna Shirey -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Too often, I think, we have held up the story of Thomas as an example of the
Listen Closely! -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: We don't want to use this passage in Mark as a way of frightening the childre
Dinner with Jesus -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Here we have another one of these miraculous revelation stories, where Jesus
Seek Ye First -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Anna Shirey -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This is a very familiar verse to most of us and a good reminder for Thanksgiv
A True Friend -- John 10:11-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: If we've lived long enough, most of us have had the experience of friends we
A Different Kind of King -- John 18:33-37 -- Anna Shirey -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: The last Sunday before we begin the season of Advent, this Sunday is called C
Abiding in God -- John 15:1-8 -- Anna Shirey -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: During these spring months, one descriptor of God comes clear -- creativity.
Be the Clay! -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
First Thoughts

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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