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Somebody Else's Treasure -- Luke 7:36--8:3, 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a, Galatians 2:15-21, Psalm 5:1-8 -- Frank Ramirez, Craig Kelly -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2010
Contents"Somebody Else's Treasure" by Frank Ramirez
Waiting In The Light -- Matthew 24:36-44, Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Contents"Waiting in the Light" by Peter Andrew Smith
The Plow -- Luke 9:51-62, 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 -- Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Plow" by Keith Hewitt
Just Like -- Us? -- Matthew 3:1-12, Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 -- Keith Hewitt, Larry Winebrenner -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Contents"Just Like -- Us?" by Keith Hewitt
Practicing Responsible Freedom -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Psalm 30 -- Lamar Massingill, Larry Winebrenner -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2010
Contents"Practicing Responsible Freedom" by Lamar Massingill
Truckin' -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Contents"Truckin'" by C. David McKirachan
Disposition -- Luke 10:25-37, Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Psalm 82 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2010
Contents"Disposition" by Keith Hewitt
Taking His Joy Unto Ourselves -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Psalm 96 -- Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2010
Contents"Taking His Joy unto Ourselves" by Lamar Massingill
I Have Loved You… -- Luke 11:1-13, Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Psalm 85 -- Craig Kelly, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
Contents "I Have Loved You..." by Craig Kelly
God With Us -- Matthew 2:13-23, Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18, Psalm 148 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2010
Contents "Taking His Joy unto Ourselves" by Lamar Massingill
In Him All Things Hold Together -- Luke 10:38-42, Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Psalm 52 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
Contents"In Him All Things Hold Together" by John Sumwalt
The End And The Beginning -- John 1:29-42, Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Psalm 40:1-11 -- Keith Hewitt, Larry Winebrenner -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2010
Contents"The End and the Beginning" by Keith Hewitt
I Remember -- Luke 12:13-21, Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Psalm 107:1-9, 43 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
Contents"I Remember" by C. David McKirachan
You Were Adopted -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18, Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Psalm 147:12-20 -- C. David Mckirachan, Larry Winebrenner, Keith Hewitt -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2010
Contents"A Time for Everything" by Larry Winebrenner
Confusing Selfishness And Obedience -- Luke 12:32-40, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- Larry Winebrenner -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Contents"Confusing Selfishness and Obedience" by Larry Winebrenner
A Muddy Mucky Baptism -- Matthew 3:13-17, Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 29 -- Frank Ramirez -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2010
Contents"A Muddy Mucky Baptism" by Frank Ramirez
The Parable And The Prophet -- Luke 12:49-56, Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 -- Sandra Herrmann, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Parable and the Prophet" by Sandra Herrmann
Thirsty For Living Water -- Luke 14:1, 7-14, Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Psalm 81:1, 10-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Craig Kelly -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
Contents"Thirsty for Living Water" by Peter Andrew Smith
Of Pots And Potters -- Luke 14:25-33, Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Larry Winebrenner, C. David Mckirachan, Lamar Massingill -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
Contents"Of Pots and Potters" by Larry Winebrenner
Lost And Found -- Luke 15:1-10, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Psalm 14 -- Keith Hewitt -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2010
Contents"Lost and Found" by Keith Hewitt
Balm In Gilead -- Luke 16:1-13, Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Psalm 79:1-9 -- John E. Sumwalt, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
Contents"Balm in Gilead" by John Sumwalt
Treasures -- Luke 16:19-31, Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Treasures" by Keith Hewitt
Living The Word -- Luke 17:5-10, Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Psalm 137 -- Frank Ramirez, Larry Winebrenner -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2010
Contents"Living the Word" by Frank Ramirez
The Outsider -- Luke 17:11-19, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Psalm 66:1-12 -- Keith Hewitt -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Outsider" by Keith Hewitt
The Decision -- Luke 18:1-8, Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Psalm 119:97-104 -- Craig Kelly, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Decision" by Craig Kelly "Growing Up" by C. David McKirachan
UPCOMING WEEKS
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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...
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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.

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