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Confusing Selfishness And Obedience -- Luke 12:32-40, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- Larry Winebrenner -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Contents"Confusing Selfishness and Obedience" by Larry Winebrenner
A Muddy Mucky Baptism -- Matthew 3:13-17, Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 29 -- Frank Ramirez -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2010
Contents"A Muddy Mucky Baptism" by Frank Ramirez
The Parable And The Prophet -- Luke 12:49-56, Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 -- Sandra Herrmann, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Parable and the Prophet" by Sandra Herrmann
Thirsty For Living Water -- Luke 14:1, 7-14, Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Psalm 81:1, 10-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Craig Kelly -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
Contents"Thirsty for Living Water" by Peter Andrew Smith
Of Pots And Potters -- Luke 14:25-33, Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Larry Winebrenner, C. David Mckirachan, Lamar Massingill -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
Contents"Of Pots and Potters" by Larry Winebrenner
Lost And Found -- Luke 15:1-10, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Psalm 14 -- Keith Hewitt -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2010
Contents"Lost and Found" by Keith Hewitt
Balm In Gilead -- Luke 16:1-13, Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Psalm 79:1-9 -- John E. Sumwalt, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
Contents"Balm in Gilead" by John Sumwalt
Treasures -- Luke 16:19-31, Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Treasures" by Keith Hewitt
Living The Word -- Luke 17:5-10, Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Psalm 137 -- Frank Ramirez, Larry Winebrenner -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2010
Contents"Living the Word" by Frank Ramirez
The Outsider -- Luke 17:11-19, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Psalm 66:1-12 -- Keith Hewitt -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Outsider" by Keith Hewitt
The Decision -- Luke 18:1-8, Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Psalm 119:97-104 -- Craig Kelly, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Decision" by Craig Kelly "Growing Up" by C. David McKirachan
G P S -- Luke 18:9-14, Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Psalm 65 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2010
Contents"G P S" by Keith Hewitt "Growing Up" by John Sumwalt
The Worst Days -- Luke 19:1-10, Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Psalm 119:137-144 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Worst Days" by Peter Andrew Smith
Of Dreams, Saints, And Kingdoms -- Luke 6:20-31, Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Ephesians 1:11-23, Psalm 149 -- Larry Winebrenner -- All Saints Day - C -- 2010
Contents"The Worst Days" by Peter Andrew Smith
Brother Beahm Is Here! -- Luke 21:5-19, Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 12 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2010
Contents "Brother Beahm Is Here!" by Frank Ramirez
The Crazy Woman With The Perfume -- John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:4b-14, Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 -- Sandra Herrmann, Keith Hewitt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2010
Based on Revised Common Lectionary texts: Isaiah 43:16-21
Passionate Sense -- Luke 22:14--23:56, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Passionate Sense" by Peter Andrew Smith
The Clearing -- John 18:1--19:42, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, Psalm 22 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez, Larry Winebrenner -- Good Friday - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Clearing" by Keith Hewitt
The First Witness -- John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Larry Winebrenner -- Easter Day - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The First Witness" by Larry Winebrenner
Told Ya So -- John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, Psalm 30 -- C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Told Ya So" by C. David McKirachan
The Cell -- Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Keith Hewitt -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Contents"The Cell" by Keith Hewitt "Angels Among Us" by Constance Berg
My Sheep Hear My Voice -- John 10:22-30, Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, Psalm 23 -- Larry Winebrenner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "My Sheep Hear My Voice" by Larry Winebrenner
A Time For Everything -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- Larry Winebrenner, C. David Mckirachan, Keith Hewitt -- New Year's Day - A -- 2010
Contents"A Time for Everything" by Larry Winebrenner
The Great Starvation Experiment -- John 14:23-29, Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, Psalm 67 -- Frank Ramirez, Larry Winebrenner -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Big Mike And The Harmonica -- John 17:20-26, Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, Psalm 97 -- Craig Kelly, Keith Hewitt, Constance Berg -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Big Mike and the Harmonica" by Craig M. Kelly
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 3
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4
36 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
3 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christmas!
27 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
3 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For December 15, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
How many frustrated preachers have wished in the back of their minds that they could begin a sermon with John the Baptist’s words, “You brood of vipers!” (37). Before anyone jumps the gun on this, consider the end of Luke 3, “he [King Herod] shut up John in prison (3:20). In anxious times, weighing one’s words carefully when emotions run rampant, and tempers are short is good wisdom. John’s desired outcome was for people of faith to bear advent fruit, not simply fly off the handle at their poor judgement.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Zephaniah 3:14-20
In this season of hope with Christmas looming, there is still a lot of despair. Rising prices putting pressure on the American family have led 78% of our families to live paycheck to paycheck (as per a 2023 Payroll.org survey). Of course, the Christmas Season is often a time of gloom and regret for some of us. In response, based on this lesson's word of assurance, Martin Luther comments on God's love:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (v. 16)

Sometime in the spring of 1951, my parents, Leonard and Bernice Sumwalt, stood before the congregation of the Loyd Evangelical United Brethren Church and made a promise that had a profound effect on my life. Our pastor at that time, Miss Sarah Mower, said to them:

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John Jamison
Object: Two shirts and two sandwiches or little bags of chips or cookies.

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

SermonStudio

Mary Austin
On this third Sunday of Advent, we hear again from Paul’s letter to the believers at Philippi. Many scholars believe that he wrote this letter from prison, perhaps even during his last prison term in Rome, before his death, but we don’t know for sure. It’s clear that he wrote from a prison cell somewhere, and that he wrote about his deeply held idea of cultivating joy in all things.
Derl G. Keefer
Moline, Illinois, September, 1977 was the place and date for a special gift that Terry Schafer purchased for her policeman husband, David. It was a pre-Christmas gift. She had a fear that it might be too expensive, but nothing was too good for her husband! She loved him with all of her heart and wanted this to be special.
James Evans
(See Proper 28/Pentecost 26/Ordinary Time 33, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)

The theme of joy is highlighted in this reading from the prophet Isaiah, which is why the text is frequently employed during Advent. The poet sings, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (v. 3) and "Shout aloud and sing for joy ... for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel" (v. 6). The key to joy is those closing words in verse 6, in which the prophet celebrates the presence of God in the midst of the worshiping community.

Steven E. Albertin
I recently saw a survey conducted by the Muzak Holiday Channel concerning the most popular Christmas songs played at this time of the year. They are 1) "The Christmas Song," 2) "White Christmas," 3) "Winter Wonderland," and 4) "Silver Bells." It is interesting to note that they are all secular songs that focus on the "warm fuzzies" and sentimental feelings of the season. There are no Christian or religious songs here.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

John the Baptist called people to turn to God for help and support. In our worship today let us follow his advice and turn to our Lord.

Invitation to Confession:

Lord Jesus, we are sorry for the times we turn away from you.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we are sorry for the times when we ignore you.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, turn your face upon us, that we may turn again to you.

Lord, have mercy.

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