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Children's Activity

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Amazing faith -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C
Teachers or Parents: The faith of the Roman centurion is an
Christmas angels among us -- Luke 2:1-20 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A
Teachers or Parents: Talk about a recent or upcoming Christmas
Familiarity breeds contempt -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Teachers or Parents: There is a possibility that we can become so
Enemies and friends -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B
Teachers or Parents: In our war against the devil and his
From the Father -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Teachers or Parents: Last week's activity used edible play
"Keep on asking" -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Teachers or Parents: We can never overemphasize the power of
Jesus, our Commander in Chief -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Teachers or Parents: Children are interested in power, and
Touch and see! -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: We perceive what is true and what is
"Be ready!" -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C
Teachers or Parents: Being ready to meet the Lord when he
Taking beautiful pictures -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Materials:Construction paper
A little girl's glory -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers: Today's lesson is a part of the prayer that Jesus prayed before his death.
Advent calendar -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers: This is the first Sunday of Advent and a new church
How to ask for help -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
The drama of today's lesson is perfect for children to explore. The story is pretty cut and dried.
Hey, God! I'm the greatest! -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Today's reading is another very easy one for children to understand.
The kingdom of Heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Teachers or Parents: Jesus gave many illustrations about the
The sick need medicine -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A
Teachers or Parents: Jesus came to save sinners from the
Samantha and Henry -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Materials 2-inch white pom-pom 3/4-inch white pom-pom
Heart, soul, mind, strength -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B
Teachers: Use the portion of scripture, "Love the Lord with
Embarrassed -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
Teachers or Parents: One of the biggest fears we all have in
God's word -- John 1:1-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A
Teachers or Parents: In the middle of all the activity
Watch out for greed! -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
How do we define ourselves? When we think of our lives and our worth, what are the criteria we use?
Till death do us part -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B
Teachers or Parents: The words of Jesus in this week's Gospel
The bread of life -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus talks about the bread of life in
"Luke, the physician" -- Luke 1:1-4; 24:44-53 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Teachers or Parents: It is good that our children know more
Forgiving a debt -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Teachers or Parents: Who is worthy of teaching about

Children's sermon

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Resting in Green Pastures -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Our passage from Mark shows Jesus doing something he did frequently, but also
What is a neighbor? -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. (v. 10)
Only you -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of ri
Word for all -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
But is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, accor
To eat or not to eat... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Leah Thompson -- 2011
Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord.
Receive -- John 20:19-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2011
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (v.
Emptied -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
But emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
Impossible -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
For nothing will be impossible with God. (v. 37)
Big numbers -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times." (v. 22)
Finally, farewell -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2011
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one
Betrayed -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Leah Thompson -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. (v. 26:16)
A purifying clean -- Titus 2:11-14 -- Leah Thompson -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2011
He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for hims
Fall -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far bet
Promises to keep -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2011
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (v. 20b)
Feet -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Leah Thompson -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2011
Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no
Read all about it -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Leah Thompson -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2011
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great
What Is Concealed Now Is Revealed -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Anna Shirey -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: This lesson focuses on the nature of revelation, to suddenly "see" something
Rise -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Trust -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righ
Just deserts -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Leah Thompson -- Good Friday - A -- 2011
Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. (v. 18:27)
Pointing Out the Christ -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Anna Shirey -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: I want to focus a bit on John the Baptist -- who is such an interesting chara
Good works -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
"Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly
Arise! -- John 20:1-18 -- Leah Thompson -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and
Seeing into the Heart -- John 1:43-51 -- Anna Shirey -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: Here we are looking at Jesus' first "recruiting" mission, as depicted in John
Account-able -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. (v. 7)

Sermon

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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play for your children and requires no additional objects.

Note: You can use this role-play with a large or very small group. You will want one child to play Thomas, one child to play Jesus, and the rest of the children to play the disciples. When I have had only had one or two children, I have “volunteered” an adult or two to help out.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For April 27, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Acts 5:27-32
The Acts of the Apostles begins with the ascension of Jesus, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit who galvanizes them to begin the spread of the Good News of Jesus the Christ. It is not long, despite signs and wonders, that the apostles find themselves facing real opposition. Arrest and threats. However, in the leadup to this passage, they ignore these threats and continue to share the Good News. The news about this comes to the religious leaders while they’re debating what to do about them.
Frank Ramirez
Sometimes movies end with the “happily ever after moment.” Finally — Hooray! Sometimes movies begin with the “happily ever after moment.” Roll up your sleeves. The real fun is just beginning.

Acts 5:27-32

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Every eye will see him…. (v. 7)

The speed of news is not quite instantaneous. There’s this traffic cop called the speed of light that strictly enforces that 186, 242 mile per second speed limit built into our universe. If there’s a way around that limitation it remains the stuff of speculation — out of this world speculation.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Thomas had never seen his friends so excited. Peter's eyes were shining, and he could hardly contain his impatience. John was always quieter than Peter, but even he seemed full of barely suppressed eagerness. They were both tugging at Thomas, while at the same time dancing round him.

Thomas reluctantly agreed to go to the cave with them, although he continued to think they were mad. "If there was nothing there last week, how can it have changed now?" he kept asking.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Anyone can throw a party. It's easy to jump up and down and shout loud "alleluias." Pay the DJ, set out the drinks and the buffet table, and that's about it. At first, it's a blast! Whirling bodies and pulsing rhythms fill the night. Laughter and clinking glasses seem like an endless and joyful dialogue. But, by midnight it all starts to get a little old. People get tired of shouting and dancing and head home because they have to work the next day. The DJ was only hired for a few hours and he, perhaps, has another gig at an after-hours club across town.
Richard E. Zajac
... Unless I see... I will not believe...

I must credit the Reverend R. Maurice Boyd for this talk. Many of its ideas stemmed from "Consequences of Candor," a chapter in his book Corridors of Light.1

__________
David Kalas
When the curtain opens on Scene Two, we see a familiar scene. It is the austere, official chamber where the Sanhedrin hold court. The room is cold and intimidating. It feels even more so when the first characters begin to arrive on stage.

These are the members of the Sanhedrin: the leaders in the land who form the ruling council for the Jews of first-century Palestine. They are a distinguished looking group. They are well-dressed, well-manicured, and well-to-do. Their faces betray the seriousness of the purpose for which they have gathered.
Henry F. Woodruff
No cavalry rode to the rescue; this time the savior was technology. Here is how it happened. Longing for more intimate communication between preacher and congregation, the church purchased and installed a wireless microphone system. With an FM receiver in place and wearing a lapel microphone, the preacher could get out from behind the pulpit or lecturn and roam about, even into the midst of the congregation.

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