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Leah Thompson

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Children's Activity

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Sabbath laws -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Moving day -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Fortune and fame -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Law and order -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Seeking answers -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Angel -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Rejoice -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Perfect -- Luke 2:1014 (15-20) -- Leah Thompson -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Monopoly -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Me and my shadow -- John 12:1-8 -- Leah Thompson -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Follow -- John 1:29-42 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Expert witness -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Waiting out the storm -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Leah Thompson -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Follow Me -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Doing what you're ought -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Hands and feet -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Leah Thompson -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Lamp -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
What is truth? -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Leah Thompson -- Good Friday - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
'Yes, yes' and 'No, no' -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Missing person -- John 20:1-18 -- Leah Thompson -- Easter Day - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Sun and rain -- Matthew 5:38-48 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Surprise! -- John 20:19-31 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Big shadow -- Matthew 6:24-34 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Man overboard! -- John 21:1-19 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Sore afraid -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME

Children's sermon

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First impressions -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2011
But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!"
Prepare a place -- John 14:1-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
In my Father's house there are many dwelling-places.
Broken and mended -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2011
For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all. (v. 32)
Covered -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Leah Thompson -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you -- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but
Ask... and ask again -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2011
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith!
Father, Son, Spirit -- John 14:15-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. (v.
Juggling act -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2011
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly tha
We are the body -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (v. 23)
What do you see? -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2011
Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning?
Extra-terrestrial -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Leah Thompson -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
You are witnesses of these things. (v. 48)
Putting out fires -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2011
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (v. 21)
Burdens eased -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (v. 7)
Take up your cross -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2011
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake wil
Earn your stickers -- John 17:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. (v. 4)
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)
Activation -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2011
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as t
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.
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
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)
Silver and gold -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (v. 34)
Enriched -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2010
… For in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind. (v.

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Impossible -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
For nothing will be impossible with God. (v. 37)

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2010
Mothers, this is for you.
NULL -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
Freedom.
NULL -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2010
In Matthew's text today, however, Joseph seems to do a lot based on dreams.
NULL -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
When you are a child, your parents are invincible.
NULL -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2010
Before Europeans discovered America's shores, Native Americans built societies out of the rugged bea
Have you ever been in a bad argument with someone? -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Have you ever been in a bad argument with someone?
NULL -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2010
Adults who were adopted as children sometimes spend time, money, and other resources to try and loca
Expecting parents have to be careful... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Expecting parents have to be careful when it comes near their child's due date.
NULL -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2010
It was through a great change of opinion that Jesus fulfilled scripture.
NULL -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2010
Paul's 'mystery' in Ephesians was understood by the framers of the Declaration of Independence.
NULL -- Jeremiah 18:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
Elementary-school art teachers teach their students how to make "happy mistakes." If a student makes
NULL -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2010
An old folk song tells the story of a bloody battle between valley people and mountain folk.
NULL -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2010
Followers of the tradition of Jainism do not believe in harming any living thing.
NULL -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
Stop for a moment and evaluate your resources.
NULL -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2010
Persepolis is an autobiographical graphic novel about Marjane Satrapi, a woman who grew up in Iran a
NULL -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Leah Thompson -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2010
Sometimes we meet our equals -- or our superiors -- in situations where we'd rather not.
NULL -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2010
One character in the book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo is named Inspector Javert.
NULL -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2010
As a beginning piano student, you get used to your teacher correcting you at every step.
I heard a warning on the radio recently... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2010
I heard a warning on the radio recently.
NULL -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
We spend a lot of our time ignoring big problems. It is not a new phenomenon.
NULL -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2010
The musical Side Show is about Violet and Daisy, Siamese twins from a freak show.
NULL -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2010
In the 1985 film Clue, based on the board game of the same name, the guests of a mysterious d
NULL -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
Samantha likes to bribe people.
NULL -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2010
Charlotte and Nancy's friend Tess was a fashion disaster.
NULL -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- Leah Thompson -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2010
Joan Osborne's 1995 pop single "One of Us" asks questions that we don't want to know the answers to.
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Ascension of the Lord
25 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
19 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 7
27 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
20 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Pentecost
33 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
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For May 12, 2024:
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
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For May 12, 2024:

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John Jamison
Object: A sheet large enough for your children to stand around it. A dozen or so golf balls, or other small unbreakable balls. If you have a large number of children you could use two sheets to make room, or just ask for volunteers to play the game.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! But we’re not starting with the story today. I have something else I would like you to try. (Lay the sheet on the floor and put the balls in the middle of it.)
John Jamison
Object: A piece of clothing that a superhero might wear. I used a simple cape made from a sheet, but you could also use a belt, a ring, or anything else your favorite superhero might wear.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Over the Christmas season, I saw a picture of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with his wife Brittany and their two young children. Like many people, the Mahomes’ took their kids to see Santa Claus. Patrick, Brittany, and Santa are all smiles, however, two-year-old daughter Sterling and one-year-old Bronze looked just like thousands of other kids, scared, and wanting to be somewhere else. It reminded me of how alike people are.
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Bill Thomas
Acts 1:1-11
As I write this, world events have inspired any number of Christians in my area to speculate that these are clear signs of the end. By the time you read this those great events will be history, but don’t worry, stuff is happening as you read this that is causing some to speculate those current events are clear signs of the end.
Frank Ramirez
Today’s scriptures call upon us to listen carefully — to Jesus, through his words in the New Testament, and to the Spirit helping us to interpret that word and speaking directly in our hearts. And sometimes God is also speaking to us in the created universe. But make sure it is God we are listening to, and not ourselves.

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Mark Ellingsen
The lessons for this Festival of Ascension all testify to the heavenly power and cosmic presence of Christ. 

Acts 1:1-11

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
…God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son. (v. 11b)

Have you ever experienced the presence of God? Have you felt, seen, heard, smelled, tasted or known in some way that the Creator was near?

My colleague Becky Ardell Downs, pastor of John Knox Presbyterian Church in Houston, tells of a time forty years ago when she was attending the funeral of her uncle in the Chicago suburbs. He had died of multiple sclerosis at a relatively young age.
Frank Ramirez
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9)

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)

Defying gravity! What a concept? Is there anyone here who has not dreamt at one time or another that you were actually flying? Or floating? Or in some way defying gravity?

SermonStudio

John Jamison
Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with? Everything you read before it makes sense, and everything after it, but that one passage just sits there staring at you, almost defying you to understand why it is there and what it means.
Stan Purdum
Both Psalms 47 and 93 (the alternative psalm for this day) are enthronement psalms, praise hymns celebrating God's rule over the nations. They were most likely used on festal occasions when Israel again declared that God was its king.

While Psalm 47 was for Israel's celebration, verses 1-2 call all the nations of earth to recognize God as their monarch as well. Verses 3-4, however, return to the specific relationship between God and Israel.

David H. Webb
Today is Ascension Sunday.

Today we commemorate the day when Jesus bid farewell to his followers and friends and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

In some ways it's an anxious day. "How will we go on without him?" they surely whispered among themselves. "How can we possibly maintain the strength and perspective -- the motivation to live according to his teachings and promises? How can we live with determination and purpose if he is not here to sustain us?"

John T. Ball
One of the blessings of God is the gift of writing, of putting our thoughts and observations on clay tablets or jars, on parchment, or on paper. Scholars are not certain when humans first began to write. Many think it happened in Samaria, the civilization between the Tigris and Euphrates, now modern-day Iraq. It may have happened about 3000 B.C.E. Nor is there a consensus on how writing was first used. It may have come from Shamans using it to pass on their skills and secrets. Or writing could have originated as a means to inventory the goods of merchants.
Mark J. Molldrem
Mark -- warlike

Shirley -- bright meadow

Jennifer -- fair lady

Jeffrey -- God's peace

Jesus -- God saves

What's in a name? Ever since God gave Adam the privilege of naming all the creatures, humankind has had a fascination with names. Names are important. Parents take great care when they select a name for their baby. They know the name will be with this new person for a lifetime and will identify him or her to other people.
Jerry L. Schmalenberger
It simply was unthinkable that the appearances of Jesus should grow fewer and fewer after Easter until they finally 'petered out' and melted away. That would have effectively weakened the faith of all people who had seen him. There had to come a day of dividing -- when Jesus of earth became Christ of heaven.
Richard E. Gribble
Many years ago one of the most popular shows on weekly television was Mission Impossible. Each episode of the show opened in a similar way. The head of the Impossible Missions Force, or IMF for short, would be found alone in some isolated office, home, or similar space. He would find a large manilla envelope, generally hidden in a desk drawer or possibly in a safe. Inside the envelope he would find materials that described the next mission of his IMF team. There would be lots of printed material, photographs of the principal people involved, and often maps to show various locations.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Sandy wasn't very good at prayer. Privately he thought it was probably a waste of time, although when things went really wrong he always found himself praying. He wasn't sure that God ever heard his prayers.

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