Login / Signup

Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - 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 sermon

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The other day I attempted... -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
The other day I attempted to put a rather hefty thread through the eye of my needle.
One Sunday night D. L... -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
One Sunday night D. L.
Come on down! Those may... -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
"Come on down!" Those may be the most familiar words on daytime television as announcer Johnny Oleso
Traditions and written records, too... -- Zephaniah 3:1-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Traditions and written records, too, tell us that early navigators carried with them birds which the
Therefore wait for me, says... -- Zephaniah 3:1-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
"Therefore wait for me," says the Lord.
The Mayor:Believe... -- Zephaniah 3:1-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
The Mayor:
Any parent knows the frustration... -- Zephaniah 3:1-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Any parent knows the frustration of correcting wayward children.
There is a pastor in... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
There is a pastor in a very exciting congregation.
In the days when the... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
In the days when the American West was being settled, a territorial governor decided to pardon a you
The problem is never God's... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
The problem is never God's unwillingness to forgive, but people's unwillingness to repent and be for
We hear much talk about... -- Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
We hear much talk about "blocks" and "blockages." Someone will comment, "I am blocking on that name.
In Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
In Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC, preacher and writer, Frederick Buechner likens miracles
An electrician was performing some... -- Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
An electrician was performing some work in a church office while three preachers were discussing the
When the great tsunami of... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
When the great tsunami of 2004 hit Indonesia, some miraculous stories began to emerge.
One way to cross a... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
One way to cross a river with dry feet is by way of what is called a "fair weather crossing." These
When the high school football... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
When the high school football coach addressed his players before the first game of the season, he to
Pastor Smith received an interesting... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Pastor Smith received an interesting phone call from a member of his church.
Author E. B. White found... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Author E. B.

Preaching

Sermon

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
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
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL