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G P S -- Luke 18:9-14, Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Psalm 65 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2010
Contents"G P S" by Keith Hewitt "Growing Up" by John Sumwalt
The Worst Days -- Luke 19:1-10, Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Psalm 119:137-144 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Worst Days" by Peter Andrew Smith
Of Dreams, Saints, And Kingdoms -- Luke 6:20-31, Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Ephesians 1:11-23, Psalm 149 -- Larry Winebrenner -- All Saints Day - C -- 2010
Contents"The Worst Days" by Peter Andrew Smith
Brother Beahm Is Here! -- Luke 21:5-19, Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 12 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2010
Contents "Brother Beahm Is Here!" by Frank Ramirez
The Crazy Woman With The Perfume -- John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:4b-14, Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 -- Sandra Herrmann, Keith Hewitt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2010
Based on Revised Common Lectionary texts: Isaiah 43:16-21
Passionate Sense -- Luke 22:14--23:56, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Passionate Sense" by Peter Andrew Smith
The Clearing -- John 18:1--19:42, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, Psalm 22 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez, Larry Winebrenner -- Good Friday - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Clearing" by Keith Hewitt
The First Witness -- John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Larry Winebrenner -- Easter Day - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The First Witness" by Larry Winebrenner
Told Ya So -- John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, Psalm 30 -- C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Told Ya So" by C. David McKirachan
The Cell -- Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Keith Hewitt -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Contents"The Cell" by Keith Hewitt "Angels Among Us" by Constance Berg
My Sheep Hear My Voice -- John 10:22-30, Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, Psalm 23 -- Larry Winebrenner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "My Sheep Hear My Voice" by Larry Winebrenner
A Time For Everything -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- Larry Winebrenner, C. David Mckirachan, Keith Hewitt -- New Year's Day - A -- 2010
Contents"A Time for Everything" by Larry Winebrenner
The Great Starvation Experiment -- John 14:23-29, Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, Psalm 67 -- Frank Ramirez, Larry Winebrenner -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Big Mike And The Harmonica -- John 17:20-26, Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, Psalm 97 -- Craig Kelly, Keith Hewitt, Constance Berg -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Big Mike and the Harmonica" by Craig M. Kelly
The Mountain -- Mark 6:14-29, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Ephesians 1:3-14, Psalm 24 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Mountain" by Keith Hewitt
The Lad's Miracle Of Sharing -- John 6:1-21, 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, Psalm 14 -- Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
More Important Than Being Right -- Mark 1:21-28, Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Psalm 111 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
No Substitutes -- John 6:24-35, 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, Psalm 51:1-12 -- Argile Smith, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "No Substitutes" by Argile Smith
The Greatest Glory -- Mark 1:29-39, Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Greatest Glory" by Keith Hewitt
The Final Robert -- John 6:35, 41-51, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, Psalm 130 -- David O. Bales, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Final Robert" by David O. Bales
The Deserving Recipient -- Mark 1:40-45, 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Psalm 30 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Larry Winebrenner -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
My Stone Soup -- John 6:51-58, 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, Psalm 111 -- Frank Ramirez, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "My Stone Soup" by Frank Ramirez
Listening -- Mark 9:2-9, 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Psalm 50:1-6 -- Argile Smith, Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Listening" by Argile Smith
Hard Sayings -- John 6:56-69, 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 84 -- Craig Kelly, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Hard Sayings" by Craig Kelly
Sign Of The Cross -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Psalm 51:1-17 -- C. David Mckirachan, Larry Winebrenner, C. David Mckirachan -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Sign of the Cross" 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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