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Called Not From But To The Tax Office -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, Romans 4:13-25, Genesis 12:1-9, Psalm 33:1-12 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr., Craig Kelly -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
Be Joyful -- Luke 17:11-19, Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Psalm 65 -- John S. Smylie, Craig Kelly, David O. Bales, Keith Hewitt -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Be Joyful" by John Smylie
Sin That Grace Abound? -- Matthew 10:24-39, Romans 6:1b-11, Genesis 21:8-21, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- David O. Bales, Bryan Meadows, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Sin that Grace Abound?" by David O. Bales
Artist At Work -- John 1:43-51, 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Craig Kelly, John S. Smylie -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Artist at Work" by Craig Kelly
Be Joyful -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Psalm 100 -- John S. Smylie, Craig Kelly, David O. Bales, Keith Hewitt -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Be Joyful" by John Smylie
The Borrowed Book -- Matthew 10:40-42, Romans 6:12-23, Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13 -- Argile Smith, Craig Kelly -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "The Borrowed Book" by Argile Smith
A Stellar Calamity -- Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "A Stellar Calamity" by Frank Ramirez
Holy Games -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, Romans 7:15-25a, Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Psalm 45:10-17 -- Frank Ramirez, Scott Dalgarno -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
There are many facets to the life we have in Christ, but one of the most important is joy.
The Gift Of A John The Baptist -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Psalm 126 -- David O. Bales, John S. Smylie -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
Free Stories/illustrations For Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 -- Genesis 22:1-2, Matthew 10:40-42 -- John E. Sumwalt, Craig Kelly -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Who Is In Favor of Child Sacrifice? by John Sumwalt
Turning Dirt! -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Romans 8:1-11, Genesis 25:19-34, Psalm 119:105-112 -- Bryan Meadows, John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Turning Dirt!" by Bryan Meadows
The Days After Christmas -- Luke 2:22-40, Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Psalm 148 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Craig Kelly, Bryan Meadows -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
The Land's Sacred -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Romans 8:12-25, Genesis 28:10-19a, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 -- Argile Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "The Land's Sacred" by Argile Smith
Anticipation -- John 20:1-18, Colossians 3:1-4, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Argile Smith, David O. Bales -- Easter Day - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Anticipation" by Argile Smith
Sons From Far Away, Daughters In Nurses' Arms -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18, Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Psalm 147:12-20 -- David O. Bales, Frank Ramirez, Timothy F. Merrill -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Never Again Separate -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39, Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- David O. Bales, Craig Kelly -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Never Again Separate" by David O. Bales
Do This Remembering Me... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1--19:42 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez, Bryan Meadows -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
The Unexpected Tomorrow -- Mark 1:4-11, Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Peter Andrew Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Unexpected Tomorrow" by Peter Andrew Smith
God Time -- Matthew 4:12-23, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "God Time" by Keith Hewitt
Throwing The Thompson's -- Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Genesis 1:1--2:4a, Psalm 8 -- C. David Mckirachan, David O. Bales -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
All Along The Watchtower -- Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Psalm 62:5-12 -- Keith Hewitt, Argile Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "All Along the Watchtower" by Keith Hewitt
Hope On A Stick -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23), Romans 5:1-8, Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7), Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Hope on a Stick" by Keith Hewitt
A Light In The Darkness -- Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2008
What's Up This Week "A Light In The Darkness" by Alex Gondola
The Unsecret Weapon -- Matthew 18:21-35, Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "The Unsecret Weapon" by Frank Ramirez
Welcoming Mr. Forsythe -- Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 29 -- Argile Smith -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Welcoming Mr. Forsythe" by Argile Smith
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For November 16, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wildfires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However, as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez

Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

Scott Suskovic
Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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