Bethany Peerbolte

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Reverend Bethany Peerbolte recognizes her calling is to make scripture relevant to young Christians, and Christians young at heart. She serves as the Associate Pastor of Youth and Mission at First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Michigan. Her blog, Millennial Epistle, seeks to connect scripture to trending topics and contemporary issues. Bethany’s commitment to diversity and inclusion has led her to work with Detroit Pride, The Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice, and the National Black Presbyterian Caucus. Bethany holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Divinity degree from Ecumenical Theological Seminary.

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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

Living Beyond Lyrics and Speeches -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18, Psalm 23 -- Christopher Keating, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021

For April 25, 2021:

The Hard Work of the Spirit -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8, Psalm 22:25-31 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Chris Keating, George Reed -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021

For May 2, 2021:

One Nation Under God? -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17, Psalm 98 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021

For May 9, 2021:

Whatever Happened to Justus? -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Katy Stenta -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021

For May 16, 2021:

Are We There Yet? -- Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Romans 8:22-27 -- Mary Austin, Katy Stenta, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Christopher Keating -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2021

For May 23, 2021:

Walking the Line -- Mark 3:20-35, 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1, 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15), Genesis 3:8-15, Psalm 138, Psalm 130 -- Christopher Keating, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2021

For June 6, 2021:

The Image of God -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 4:26-34, Psalm 20 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Chris Keating, George Reed -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2021

For June 13, 2021:

Waiting for the Lord -- and People -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 130, Psalm 30, Lamentations 3:22-33 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Dean Feldmeyer, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2021

For June 27, 2021:

The Love of Power vs. The Power of Love -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21, Psalm 14 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2021

For July 25, 2021:

Message or Miracle? -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35, Psalm 51:1-12 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Chris Keating, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2021

For August 1, 2021:

The Ingathering -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B, Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2021

For January 3, 2021:

Chaos Into Order -- Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11, Psalm 29 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2021

For January 10, 2021:

There’s Bad News and There’s Good News -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2021

For January 17, 2021:

And Immediately, God’s Mind Is Finally Changed -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Psalm 62:5-12 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2021

For January 24, 2021:

Non-Prophet Culture -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111 -- Christopher Keating, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2021

For January 31, 2021:

Dwelling in the Mystery -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9, Psalm 50:1-6 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2021

For February 14, 2021:

Searching for a Sign -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15, Psalm 25:1-10 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021

For February 21, 2021:

Flipping Tables Sunday -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17, John 2:13-22, Psalm 19 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021

For March 7, 2021:

Why Did It Have To Be Snakes? -- Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 -- Christopher Keating, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021

For March 14, 2021:

The Loss Before Life -- John 12:20-33, Hebrews 5:5-10, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-12, Psalm 119:9-16 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Chris Keating, George Reed -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021

For March 21, 2021:

No Quick Fix -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16, Mark 11:1-11, Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2021

For March 28, 2021:

Time Lapse Easter -- Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 25:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18, Mark 16:1-8, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Easter Day - B -- 2021

For April 4, 2021:

Peace Be With You -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48, Psalm 4 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

Easter 2

20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...

Easter 3

34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 4

30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

Do You Love Me?

John Jamison

Object: A sheep or lamb stuffed animal.

Note: For the best experience, when you ask the questions, take the time to draw the children out a bit and help them come up with answers. Make it more of a conversation if you can.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started! (Hold the sheep in your lap as you continue.)

The Immediate Word

Who And How Do We Follow?

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin

For May 4, 2025:

Who And How Do We Follow? by Dean Feldmeyer based on John 21:1-19
Second Thoughts: Praising God by Katy Stenta based on Revelation 5:11-14.
Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin and Chris Keating.
Worship resources by George Reed.

StoryShare

Vision of Heaven

John E. Sumwalt

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice… (vv. 11-12a)

Phillip Hasheider is a retired Wisconsin beef farmer and an award-winning author who was dead for six minutes and came back to tell about it. If you have ever thought about dying and wondered what it would be like, then Hasheider’s Six Minutes in Eternity is a book you will want to read.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Redirected Life

David Coffin

A medical worker is working long, hard, stress filled hours in an urban hospital setting. One day he or she is called into the administrator’s office to be terminated due to angering professionals in the upper echelon. The worker protests that it is, “My word against their word, why am I to be the scapegoat?” The administrator pulls rank! The worker is asked to turn in their badge and do not come into the premises again unless as a patient. The now unemployed medical worker still feels the calling to be a healer. So, they get a job at an alternative/natural health medicine store.

Sermon Illustrations for Easter 3 (2025)

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates

Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)
Martin Luther believed that the story of Paul’s conversion demonstrates that there is no need for special revelation. The reformer commented:

Our Lord God does not purpose some special thing for each individual person, but gives to the whole world — one person like the next — his baptism and gospel. (Complete Sermons, Vol.7, p.271)

The Village Shepherd

The Lakeside

Janice B. Scott

I've recently spent several hours by the lakeside, for I've been in retreat this past week in the little village of Hemingford Grey, in Huntingdonshire. A great delight for me was to walk to the flooded gravel pits, sit on a bench in glorious sunshine, and watch the water birds. For me, that's a wonderful way to become very aware of the presence of God through the beauty of his created world. And sitting like that for several hours, doing nothing but watching and waiting, I can't help but absorb the peace which passes all understanding.

SermonStudio

Put Your Net On The Other Side

Constance Berg

When Beth was a teenager, she lived on the streets. She smoked cigarettes and drank beer and her parents had said that she had to choose: her friends or her family. Beth chose her friends and lived from house to house and eventually in homeless shelters. She barely avoided being raped at one point. About six months of shelter-hopping was all she could take, and she found a shelter that sponsored her until she took the GED. They told her she was brilliant: she was just bored and dissatisfied with the status quo. The shelter supervisors suggested she look into community college.

Easter 3

James Evans

(For alternative approaches, see Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B; and Proper 9/Pentecost 7/Ordinary Time 14, Cycle C.)

The main theme of this psalm is captured profoundly in the movement within a single verse: "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with morning" (v. 5). Casting life experiences between light and dark is not unique or novel, of course, but the poet's treatment of these themes offers some fertile ground for reflection.

Third Sunday of Easter

Elizabeth Achtemeier

We have three different accounts of the conversion of Saul in the Gospel according to Luke (9:1-20; 22:6-16; 26:12-18). They differ in a few minor details, but essentially they are the same. In addition, Paul writes of his conversion in Galatians 1:11-16, and in 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 15:8-9, stating that at the time of his conversion on the road to Damascus, he saw the Lord. For Paul, that made him an apostle, equal to the twelve. An apostle, in Paul's thought, was one who had seen the risen Christ and had been sent to announce that good news.

Death To Glory

Richard E. Gribble, CSC

Once in a far-off land, there was a great king whose dominion extended far and wide. His power and authority were absolute. One day, as events would happen, a young man, a commoner, committed a grave offense against the king. In response, the king and his counselors gathered together to determine what should be done. They decided that since the offense was so grave and had been committed by a commoner against someone so august as the king, the only punishment that would satisfy justice was death.

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John Jamison

Dean FeldmeyerKaty StentaThomas WilladsenChristopher KeatingGeorge ReedMary Austin

John E. Sumwalt

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Mark EllingsenBill ThomasFrank RamirezBonnie Bates

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Constance Berg

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Richard E. Gribble, CSC

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Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates