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John Jamison

John B. Jamison served as a pastor of United Methodist churches in Illinois for over twenty years. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as well as a masters and a Ph.D. in Education. John spent extended time studying in the Holy Land and uses that experience as a source for his sermons and children's sermons. John has written for radio and television, has authored three novels, and is an award-winning children’s book author. When he is not writing, John enjoys painting, gardening, playing the guitar, and spending time with his wife Patricia, their adult daughter, Tricia, and two grandchildren, Ben and Emily.

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Children's sermon

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Jesus the Influencer! -- Mark 1:29-39 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2024
Object: A phone, iPad or tablet, or anything you could use to show examples of "inf
Keeping Quiet! -- Mark 9:2-9 -- John Jamison -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2024
Object: Today’s story makes a great role-play experience.
In Secret! -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John Jamison -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2024
Object: Three stacking cups.
Time Out! -- Mark 1:9-15 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: The object for this message is the Time-Out hand sign to use with the child
Me! Me! Me! -- Mark 8:31-38 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: One piece of clear glass and one mirror.
My Father's House! -- John 2:13-22 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: This message makes a good role play.
Light and Darkness! -- John 3:14-21 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: A copy of the
Now Is the Time! -- John 12:20-33 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: This message makes a great role play.
She Did What She Could! -- Mark 11:1-11 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2024
Object: A small bottle with some perfumed oil in it.
Sore and Stinky Feet! -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John Jamison -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2024
Object: A box about one foot tall, as wide and long as you want to use, and a cushi
It Is Over! -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
Object: A big rock.* * *
Don't Be A Goat! -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- John Jamison -- New Year's Day - B -- 2024
Object: A sheep and a goat. You could use a toy, a stuffie, or a photo.
Why Are You Crying? -- John 20:1-18 -- John Jamison -- Easter Day - B -- 2024
Object: A big rock.* * *
King Herod the Carrot! -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2024
Object: A carrot. If possible, get one with the leafy top still on it.
We Have Been Sent! -- John 20:19-31 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Object: You will need two things for this message.
Peace Be With You! -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Object: A large stick.* * *
For The Birds! -- Mark 1:4-11 -- John Jamison -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2024
Object: A bird of some type.
Can You Hear Me? -- John 10:11-18 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Object: A hearing aid.* * *
We Can't Fool God! -- John 1:43-51 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2024
Object: Bring a collection of things your children can use to create disguises for
Branches! -- John 15:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant.
The Chain! -- Mark 1:14-20 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2024
Object: A length of chain.
Afraid of Jesus? -- Mark 1:21-28 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2024
Object: The children and their actions will be your objects today.
God Bless You! -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- John Jamison -- All Saints Day - A -- 2023
Object: A handkerchief.

Free Access

Me! Me! Me! -- Mark 8:31-38 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: One piece of clear glass and one mirror.
The Chain! -- Mark 1:14-20 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2024
Object: A length of chain.

Illustration

StoryShare

Child Sacrifice -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Sandra Herrmann, John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2011
Contents "Child Sacrifice" by Sandra Herrmann (Micah 6:1-8)

Sermon

SermonStudio

Actors -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John Jamison -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2015
Whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
Simple Faith? -- Mark 1:9-15 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
It all sounds so simple. It’s just so nice, so easy, and so straightforward; almost comfortable.
The Bethsaida Boys -- Mark 8:31-38 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
After Jesus was baptized by John, he went to spend time in the desert lands east of the Jordan River
Zeal! -- John 2:13-22 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Have you ever had one of those times when you had just had enough?
Rebirth -- John 3:14-21 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
The city of Jerusalem was packed with strangers during the Passover feast, so you could walk a long
Some Greeks -- John 12:20-33 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Jesus was back in Jerusalem for another Passover.
The Week -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Where It Ends -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John Jamison -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2015
All of the plans and preparation had been completed and they were all gathering together in the room
Out of Control -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Have You Ever Screwed Up? -- John 20:1-18 -- John Jamison -- Easter Day - B -- 2015
Have you ever screwed up? I mean, really, really screwed up?
Uncertain Certainties -- John 20:19-31 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
It was Sunday evening.
Fish Tales -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever had to sell an idea or a concept or a belief?
The Shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
He woke up just as the sun was peeking over the top of the mountains to the east, just as he had don
Tangled Up in the Vines -- John 15:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
This passage from John is one that has created great comfort for many people, and at the same time h
What a Friend -- John 15:9-17 -- John Jamison -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
In your mind, I’d like you to picture a good friend.
Travel Arrangements -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John Jamison -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2015
It was an amazing moment. Everything that had happened before now seemed to lead up to this.
Making Sense -- John 17:6-19 -- John Jamison -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with?
The Prodigal Father -- Romans 8:14-17 -- John Jamison -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2006
It wasn't their first fight. Like most fathers and sons they had their disagreements.
Boast Of That! -- Romans 5:1-5 -- John Jamison -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2006
He had been looking forward to Sunday afternoon all week.
The Dream -- Galatians 1:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2006
It was an October Monday morning.
My Earlier Life -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- John Jamison -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2006
You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism.
The Difference Between Knowing And Doing -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- John Jamison -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2006
It is difficult to be the church. What we have been asked to do here is not easy.

Free Access

The Week -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Making Sense -- John 17:6-19 -- John Jamison -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with?
Tangled Up in the Vines -- John 15:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
This passage from John is one that has created great comfort for many people, and at the same time h

Stories

StoryShare

Child Sacrifice -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Sandra Herrmann, John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2011
Contents "Child Sacrifice" by Sandra Herrmann (Micah 6:1-8)
The Reason For The Season -- Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 -- David E. Leininger, John Jamison -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week "The Reason for the Season" by David Leininger
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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
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Bonnie Bates
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Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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