Login / Signup

Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Children's Activity

Commentary

Children's bulletin

Children's Liturgy and Story

Children's sermon

CSSPlus

Do you look like Jesus? -- Romans 8:28-30 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know what Jesus
Stuck on Jesus -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever been lost in a store from your mom or dad?
Heaven's pearls -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever been shopping with someone?

The Immediate Word

Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily

Children's Story

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
William J.
NULL -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
In today's instant information culture, we can easily see how something can grow from the proverbial
At a gloomy time in... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
At a gloomy time in his life, when he was near bankruptcy after a vain attempt at
You know the old saying... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
You know the old saying, "What goes around comes around."
Pam was at a turning... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Pam was at a turning point in her life. She signed up for an in-depth Bible study at a
Geoffrey Chaucer told a marvelous... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Geoffrey Chaucer told a marvelous tale of a trickster getting tricked. Actually, he had the
A friend told me of... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
A friend told me of a perfect prayer he'd heard. His congregation was experiencing strife.
Over our fifty-plus years... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Over our fifty-plus years of marriage, my wife has prepared many great meals. She's
For many, their favorite verse... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
For many, their favorite verse in the Bible is Romans 8:28: "We know that all things
An antiques dealer is making... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
An antiques dealer is making the rounds of the garage sales, looking for merchandise.
About thirty years ago, a... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
About thirty years ago, a farmer in Xian (SHEE-on), China, was plowing his field when
Jane was running late one... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Jane was running late one afternoon for an appointment and as she drove into the church
The mustard seed, though tiny... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
The mustard seed, though tiny, produces a plant that can accommodate many birds. The
Genesis 29:15-28 At... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39, Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Genesis 29:15-28
My husband is one of... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
My husband is one of a growing number of people who collect PEZ.
Dick was nervous. His oldest... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Dick was nervous. His oldest child, 16-year-old Sarah, was going out on her first date.
Jerry lived in the inner... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Jerry lived in the inner-city area of Cleveland, Ohio.
Jesus loves me, this I... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
To have the Spirit intercede... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
To have the Spirit intercede for us when prayer becomes difficult or impossible is not altogether un
Thomas Aquinas was one of... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Thomas Aquinas was one of the greatest theologians in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
In his book, Disciple, Juan... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
In his book, Disciple, Juan Carlos Ortiz describes the cost of becoming a Christian.
A story in the newspaper... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
A story in the newspaper in March of 1998 told of a Northern Indiana resident who lived on the shore
Jack and Irene had been... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
Jack and Irene had been married in our church in 1937, and they'd been faithful members ever since.

The Immediate Word

The Treat In The Trick -- Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
This week our lectionary passage from Genesis brings us the strange story of Jacob being tricked by
The Good News Is Always Present -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39, Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC, Scott Suskovic -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Bad news seems to be inevitable these days, and in a world of media saturation, it is difficult, if

Intercession

Preaching

The Immediate Word

Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily

Sermon

SermonStudio

The Problem With Finding The Kingdom -- Matthew 13:44-52 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
I don't know about you, but when I finished reading these parables of the kingdom, I wasn't so sure

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?
  • Second Thoughts: The Helpers by Katy Stenta based on Amos 7:7-17.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL