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C. David Mckirachan

C. David McKirachan is pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury in central New Jersey. He also teaches at Monmouth University. Two of his books, I Happened Upon a Miracle and A Year of Wonder, have been published by Westminster John Knox Press. McKirachan was raised in a pastor's home and he is the brother of a pastor, and he has discovered his name indicates that he has druid roots. Storytelling seems to be a congenital disorder. He lives with his 21-year-old son Ben and his dog Sam.
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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
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
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
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
Eunuch -- John 15:1-8, Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, Psalm 22:25-31 -- David O. Bales, C. David Mckirachan -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Eunuch" by David O. Bales
Witnessing To The Truth -- Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Psalm 47 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt, Argile Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Witnessing to the Truth" by Peter Andrew Smith
Witnessing To The Truth -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt, Argile Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Witnessing to the Truth" by Peter Andrew Smith
God's Spirit Changes Us -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Lamar Massingill, C. David Mckirachan, Frank R. Fisher -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
The Unexpected Tomorrow -- Mark 1:4-11, Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Peter Andrew Smith, C. David Mckirachan, Constance Berg -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Unexpected Tomorrow" by Peter Andrew Smith
One Frightened Puppy -- Mark 4:35-41, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Psalm 9:9-20 -- Sandra Herrmann, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "One Frightened Puppy" by Sandra Herrmann
Friedensstadt -- Mark 12:38-44, Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Psalm 127 -- Keith Hewitt, C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Friedensstadt" by Keith Hewitt
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
Mercy Triumphs -- Mark 7:24-37, Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Psalm 125 -- David O. Bales, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Mercy Triumphs" by David O. Bales
The Fire -- Mark 10:17-31, Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Psalm 22:1-15 -- Keith Hewitt, Larry Winebrenner, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Fire" by Keith Hewitt
Housing Crisis -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Psalm 89:20-37 -- John S. Smylie, Larry Winebrenner, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Housing Crisis" by John Smylie
Mistaken Identity -- Mark 10:46-52, Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22) -- Argile Smith, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Mistaken Identity" by Argile Smith
Mistaken Identity -- John 8:31-36, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, Psalm 46 -- Argile Smith, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Mistaken Identity" by Argile Smith
Senior Highs Aren't Dumb -- Matthew 6:25-33, Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Psalm 126 -- C. David Mckirachan -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
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
Holiday For Losers -- Mark 14:1--15:47, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16 -- C. David Mckirachan, Larry Winebrenner, Frank Ramirez -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Holiday for Losers" by C. David McKirachan
Primary Source -- John 20:19-31, Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, Psalm 133 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Hewitt -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Contents What's Up This Week "Primary Source" by C. David McKirachan
Do This Remembering Me... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1--19:42 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez, Bryan Meadows -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
Throwing The Thompson's -- Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Genesis 1:1--2:4a, Psalm 8 -- C. David Mckirachan, David O. Bales -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
Reading Past The Semicolon -- John 1:29-42, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11 -- C. David Mckirachan, John T. Ball -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Reading Past the Semicolon" by John Ball
It's Not My Fault -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- C. David Mckirachan, Charles D. Reeb -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "It's Not My Fault" by C. David McKirachan
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

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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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